One Hundred Days

Disclaimer: see chapter one

S—D

Chapter Fourteen

Then:

The stench of blood hit the two seasoned hunters as they moved deeper into the basement, Bobby heard a small whimper slip from Dean but made no indication that he had heard anything. Swallowing deeply Bobby kept Dean behind him as they searched the basement, finally ending up at a supply closet, the only part of the room they hadn't searched.

'Ready Dean?' Bobby whispered as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the closed door.

'Ready Bobby.' Dean answered.

In the closet, Sam heard the two voices he so wanted to hear before he died but not like this, not like this. He screamed against his gag but even he couldn't hear his own voice, swallowing down on his rising panic and tears Sam tried to ready himself for the inevitable. 'Bye Bobby, bye my Deanie, love you.'

Now:

Memorial Hospital

Grangeville Kentucky

John opened his eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings, everything seemed to be doubled which brought up a choking giggle followed by a rough cough.

'Nice to see you awake Mister Singer.' A soft female voice came from the two fuzzy and identical nurses standing next to his bed, 'just in time for me to take your temp.'

'Which one are ya?' John choked out as he tried to stop his need to giggle again.

'My name is Nancy and I'll be your nurse for this afternoon,' she smiled warmly as she placed the thermometer in his ear, 'just a second here.'

'Where's my sons?' John asked abruptly losing his momentary mirth.

'Your sons?' the nurse read the temperature readout and made note of it as she spoke, 'that would be Dean and Sam?'

'Yeah you know em?' John frowned, 'please don't tell me that one of them's in hospital again?'

'No, no Mister Singer please calm down, Dean had an appointment with one of our doctors today, I saw them when they arrived.'

'I-I don't understand.' John laid back against his pillows, 'you know my sons but they're not patients and they're not here with me?'

'I knew Sam and Dean when Dean was first admitted here, after a while some people seem to leave lasting impressions, so did your sons they are both wonderful young men.'

'That's true.' John blinked and tried to bring the nurse's face into focus, she wasn't classically beautiful but there was something about her that made her attractive. Her soft features gave her a gentle, caring look; not overweight but with curves in all of the right places and her average height she looked very much like a stereotypical nurse. 'Sorry what was your name agin?'

'Nancy, Nancy West now Mister Singer I need to check your surgical site, and I promise my hands are warm.' There was flash of a dimpled smile and John felt a tug on his heart, something was so wrong, wrong with Sam.

'Call me John, ah Nancy ... ah Nancy!'

'Whoops sorry bout that.' Nancy grinned and continued to check the wound, and then cleaned and redressed it, 'it's looking good John.'

'Where did you say Sam and Dean were?' John tried to ignore the tightness and pain radiating from his abdomen where she had just finished cleaning and dressing.

'Ah Dean had an appointment with one of our doctors, Tom Gardiner he was Dean's main physician when he was originally a patient here.'

'Oh.' John closed his eyes and tried to breath through the pain spiking from all over his body.

'Now John you are on a PCA, so you can control your pain relief,' Nancy placed the button control in his hand and pressed his fingers gently, and watched as the pain lines around his eyes leech away. 'Don't let me find you not using it ... there is a reason why the doctors prescribe the pain relief and I don't want to get into trouble if you don't use it.'

'Yes Ma'am.' John opened his eyes and gave her a sloppy grin, 'than-thanks Nancy.'

'Get some rest and as soon as I see those boys of yours I'll send them your way.'

'Thanks again Nan...' John's eyes drifted shut as the medication worked relaxing him to the point of sleeping.

'My pleasure John,' Nancy said as she brushed his hair from his face, 'sleep well.'

S—D

Basement Level

Memorial Hospital

Grangeville Kentucky

Bobby placed a hand on the door handle to open it when Dean pushed it out of the way shaking his head, 'no uncle Bobby.'

'What? What is it Dean?' asked Bobby with a shocked stare on his craggy face.

'D-Dunno but...feel's a –a ....'

'Just slow down and take a breath son.' Bobby coached him when he saw Dean struggle with his rising panic and frustration.

'Kay ... feel ... like ... a ... t-trap.' Dean pushed the words out, he wasn't sure why or how he knew but he knew that something was wrong and dangerous behind the cupboard door.

'I trust ya instincts Dean but how are we gonna find out what's going on.' Bobby pushed his cap back and scratched his head before returning it to its usual position.

Dean stared at the door chewing his lower lip, desperately he tried to ignore the nagging voices telling him he was a worthless idiot and tried to concentrate on the problem at hand, 'we need to ...'

'To what son?' Bobby gently encouraged Dean, trying to bolster his confidence and trust. 'We need to what? It's your call.'

'M-make a hole?' Dean phrased it as a statement but it still came out sounding like a question; he cleared his throat and tried again, 'we need to make a hole in the door so we can see ...'

'That's a great idea Dean,' Bobby clapped his hand on Dean's shoulder and squeezed it, 'we can use ...' He glanced around the basement until his gaze dropped on a small rubber mallet lying on top of a toolbox. 'That's perfect kiddo.'

Dean turned to where Bobby was staring and saw the mallet with a determined look on his face Dean hurried over at grabbed it, and then with the strength of an overprotective big brother worrying over his sibling he started to smash the wooden door, creating a hole a few inches above the handle.

'Easy Dean I'd say ya did it.' Bobby said catching Dean's arm, 'ya made the hole kiddo.'

Dean blinked and stared at the hole trying to work out exactly what he had just done and then he heard a soft whimper and he snapped out of his reverie. 'Sammy?' He crouched down and tried to peer into the darkened interior of the cupboard. 'Too dark.' He muttered when he felt Bobby press a torch into his grip, 'thanks Bobby.' He grinned and went back to his inspection. The torchlight beam immediately illuminating the small area. 'Oh God Sammy.'

'Dean what is it?'

'S-Sammy's hurt.' Dean swallowed deeply and tried to control his ever-present emotions, Sam needed him, 'sumefin's wrong ... S-Sammy can you hear me?'

Dean held his breath while he waited for his brother to answer and then he tearfully looked up at Bobby, 'he's not answerin'.'

'Sh, it's gonna be okay boy, we need to find out if it's safe to open the door,' Bobby coached Dean trying to keep him relatively calm, 'can ya shine yer light down a little and see if there's a problem with the door?'

Dean swallowed deeply and angled the torch down a little, 'ah fuck.'

'What is it Dean?'

'There – there's a-a knife pokin' from the-the door an', an' a rope round Sammy's neck.'

'Okay Dean can yer let me have a look?' Bobby asked gruffly already imagining the horrific trap poised for Dean and Sam.

'Kay.' Dean nodded and shuffled away a little, 'too dumb anyways.'

'No, no dang it all son ya aint dumb I just wanna see so we can workout what to do.'

'Not dumb?'

'Nope but we'll both be dumb if we don' git yer brother outta there.'

Bobby crouched down and peered into the hole to get a better look and had to hold his breath to stop himself from cussing the moon blue and scaring Dean more than necessary. 'Okay we need to cut that rope first,' Bobby muttered and then stared in surprise at the penknife in Dean's hand dangling in front of his face. 'Thanks Dean.'

'Sammy gave me the knife coz I lost mine.'

'Ah well he's lucky he did,' Bobby smiled grimly 'now my arm's not long enough or skinny enough to git through that hole and cut it away from Sam, do ya think ya can?'

'Me?'

'Whatcha think?'

'K-Kay.' Dean nodded and took up his original position in front of the door, he took a deep breath, wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs and then with the knife clutched tightly in his hand he pushed through the hole and slowly moved his hand around until he touched the taut rope.

A muffled whimper startled Dean and he almost dropped the knife, his heart pounded against his chest as he realised that Sam was awake, 'hang on Sammy,' he started to repeat softly as he started to hack at the rope with his small knife.

After what seemed to be an eternity he felt the rope give way, 'got it,' He yelped happily.

'Way to go Dean.' Bobby patted Dean's back and turned to acknowledge the small group standing in the doorway silently watching the scene unfold in front of them.

Dean pulled his arm out and then attacked the door with gusto, smashing it open and finally freeing his baby brother. 'Sammy, it's okay I'm here,' Dean scrambled over the broken door to the huddled form pressing against the wall, 'it's okay Sammy, I'm here now.' He whispered as he carefully eased the gag away from Sam's mouth, 'it's kay now.'

S—D

Sam held his breath and braced himself to fall onto the knife blade but nothing happened. Releasing his breath, he craned his head to try and see anything he heard the voices again, it wasn't a dream then. After a few more seconds dragged out, he heard something strike the door, unable to stop himself he whimpered and tried to press against the wall, terrified that it was Hook coming back to do something else to him or worse to do something to Dean in front of him. Suddenly, the door shuddered and a large crack appeared with a loud crackling sound. Blinking rapidly Sam tried to calm down but his own exhaustion and overwrought emotions overwhelmed him and he slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

A tugging on the rope dragged Sam back to awareness and an unbidden whimper escaped as he felt it pull tight. With no warning, the rope snapped and Sam felt his head connect with the wall with the abruptness of it all.

Without any time to absorb what was happening, the door started to shake violently, he could hear heavy pounding and then the wood splintered sending the fragments over him and the cupboard interior. 'Sammy, it's okay, I'm here,' the repeated words started to thaw the chill deep inside of him, his abused body tingled with life once more.

'Dean?' His brother's name slipped out barely louder than an exhaled breath when hands reached in and removed the gag.

S—D

Brenna came to a skidding halt just inside the basement door surrounded by hospital security guards, none of them moved as they witnessed the rescue attempt, not wanting to disturb what seemed to be a very tense and dangerous scene playing out in front of them.

They all watched as Dean finally broke through the door and was able to peer inside with the light of a torch and then only moments later, armed with just a penknife he reached inside and appeared to cut something free. Bobby gave them a quick glance over his shoulder but never said a thing he just went back to watching over his nephew. They all wanted to cheer when Dean broke through the door and freed Sam from what appeared to be a certain death.

S—D

Dean's hands ghosted over Sam's face as he took in the cuts and bruises, especially around Sam's left eye, 'oh Sammy,' he cried out as he took in the abuse Sam had suffered, 'my Sammy.'

'My Deanie,' Sam whispered breathlessly, he managed to focus on his brother's face tilting his head enough so he could use his right eye without straining.

Ignoring the others in the room Dean crawled closer to his brother and tenderly wrapped his arms around him cradling Sam against his chest. 'Sammy safe now.'

'Sam ya hang in there kiddo.' Bobby said crouching protectively next to the brothers, 'we're gonna get ya help.'

'Bobby?' Sam blinked a few times to clear his sight and then fixed his gaze on Bobby's face, 'thanks.'

Brenna finally broke her trancelike state and hurried over to the small family, 'Tom and a nurse will be here in a few minutes,' she said pulling her cell phone out of her pocket she quickly rang the doctor and told him where they were. The security guards moved with professional stoicism and efficiency they blocked off the basement, called in the police and then two of them went to wait for the medical help.

'You're going to be fine Sam,' Brenna said helping Bobby to cut the ties away from his wrists and ankles. As his frozen limbs were freed, Sam cried out as his atrophied muscles spasmed and pain surged through them.

'Sammy?' Dean cried out not sure how to help his brother.

'It's ... kay De.' Sam breathed through the agony as the tingling of pins and needles replaced the hurting.

'I gotcha Sammy,' Dean rubbing his hands down Sam's arms trying to help relieve the tingling. 'I gotcha.'

'Knew ... you ... would.' Sam pushed the words out, he still had trouble catching his breath, 'argh ... d-damn.'

'What's wrong Sam?' Bobby asked his worry meter spiking when he saw the blue ring around Sam's mouth.

'C-Can't ... catch ... breath.'

Brenna moved closer to Sam and with a quick glance at Dean to make sure that she didn't set him off gently probed around Sam's throat, the bruises vivid against the paleness of his skin but it was when she inspected the swollen area and raw, red rope burns her worry exploded. 'Dean can you slide behind Sam and keep his head and neck up, that's it, that's great ... Sam the doctor is going to be here real soon, but I'm just gonna listen to your chest okay?'

Sam blinked weakly and found himself relishing the comfort from his big brother; it felt good, felt so right. T-Tired.'

'I know Sam but can ya try to stay awake until the Doc gets here?' Bobby asked still concerned with the blueness of Sam's lips, 'ya brother did it all, he found ya Sam.'

'Knew ... he ...' Sam coughed; it sounded strained, tight and breathless, leaving him limp and exhausted against Dean's chest.

'Can you give us any idea on who did this to you?' One of the uniformed security guards stood slightly away from the injured man and his family not wanting to intrude but needing to get as much information as possible.

'Leave him alone.' Dean snarled glaring at the man.

'No ... it kay De ...' Sam whispered as he tried to look up at the man with his one good eye. 'Hook ... used .... work ... lab ... tech.'

'I know who he is,' the man virtually snarled with the realisation, 'don't worry we'll find him.' with that he turned on his heels and strode away issuing orders to the other guards.

'Sam?' Doctor Tom Gardiner ran towards his friend and new patient with a nurse and orderly close behind him.

'He can't breath Tom.' Dean declared, 'help him.'

'I'm gonna do just that Dean,' Tom spared a warm smile for his patient, 'sounds like you're a bit of a hero Dean.'

'Nah just a big brother.' Dean ducked his head, a slow blush spreading across his face.

Tom listened to Sam's breathing, and gave him a cursory exam before he allowed them to lift Sam onto the gurney.

He started to raise the head of the stretcher but stopped and thought for a moment before continuing to lift it up and then he turned to Dean, 'Dean can you hop up on the gurney so we can have Sam rest against your chest? It'll be better for his breathing because the head of the gurney won't go up high enough?'

'Sure doc,' Dean agreed happy to help though he hated relinquishing his contact with Sam, he propped himself against the raised end and held his arms out for his six feet five inch baby brother. Tom, Bobby and two of the guards carefully lifted a semi-conscious Sam onto the gurney and rested him against Dean's chest tipping his chin back a little so his head rested against Dean's shoulder.

'Okay let's get outta here.' Tom said gathering up his supplies he walked alongside his patients with Bobby and Brenna on the other side of the gurney, the orderly and nurse at either end guiding it and two security guards in front with another two bringing up the rear. An imposing sight as they surrounded the brothers protectively.

TBC