Timeline- This story takes place in the late fall before Sam goes to college (although no one in the family yet knows his plans) 13-year-old Adam has been with the Winchesters for over a year at this point and is hunting, training and going to school.
Adam startled at the sound of the motel room door handle clicking open and snapped off his Game Boy, shoving it under the pillow behind him and pretending to be deeply enthralled by the open book of supernatural lore in front of him. He glanced over at Sam who was at the tiny motel room table to see his brother give him a half-hearted eye roll.
"Hey boys!" Dad said as he and Dean walked into the room, tossing two bags of supplies on the floor next to the motel bed where Adam was sitting.
"What'd you get?" Adam questioned enthusiastically, jumping up from the bed to peer down into the bags.
"Nun-ya!" Dean said laughing, coming from behind his father to put Adam in a headlock before using his weight to throw them both down backward onto the bed.
"Dean!" Adam screeched, scrambling out from Dean's hold and throwing an elbow in his brother's ribs for good measure.
Dean gave an "Umph" at the retaliation, but chuckled and let his younger brother losoe allowing Adam to hop off the bed once more and reach down for the bags.
Adam grabbed the first bag and threw it up on the bed to investigate. He shuffled through the groceries Dad and Dean had brought back looking for anything interesting.
"Hey!" John said, noticing Adam digging through the bag, "Don't crush the bread!"
"Sam look!" Adam said "Twinkies!"
"Yeah, and they're mine!" Dean said, swiping the box from Adam's hand and holding it out of his younger brother's reach.
"Dean!" Adam whined, trying to reach around Dean to grab the box, really only a little annoyed. Over the summer he and Dean had finally come to an understanding and since then Dean had been relishing breaking in Adam's new little brother status. When they weren't hunting or training, Dean was making it his life's goal to tease Adam in any way he could.
"Dean…" their father reprimanded gently, more for Adam's benefit than anything.
"Fine." Dean said yielding and putting the box within Adam's reach, "But only one each for you little twerps," he said nodding towards Sam.
Sam just rolled his eyes at the comment and went back to his computer.
"What's this bag then?" Adam questioned, leaning over to pick the other bag off the floor and place it on the bed. Opening it he shuffled through the contents becoming confused.
"Rope? Duct Tape? Zip ties?" He asked, looking up at his father for an explanation.
"Yeah," John said, shrugging off his coat and throwing onto the motel bed behind Adam and Dean, "I realized that we haven't practice escape methods with you yet Adam."
"Seriously Dad?" Sam moaned from the table.
"Yes seriously, Sammy," Dad answered not looking at his middle son. "Adam, I know you've been practicing knots with Dean. So now we are gonna put some of that training to use."
Dad walked over to where Dean and Adam were sitting on the bed and reached into the brown paper bag between them pulling out a wrapped length of coarse brown rope.
"Escape is one of the most important things I could teach you. If you are ever caught you have to be able to get out and get out quick," he said, beginning to unspool the rope in front of Adam.
Adam didn't know why but his stomach gave a little roll at the sight of the rope and he felt uneasiness begin to build in his chest. He eyed the rope in his father's hands skeptically. It was innocent enough, just a plain brown rope, one that looked it would be used to tie up horses or something.
"This is what we are gonna practice with today," Dad said, holding out the rope for Adam to touch, "Its hemp rope. I'm sure you and Dean have used it practicing your knots."
True enough Dean had made Adam learn to tie and untie knots with just about every kind of rope there was. Dean was pretty damn thorough with all the training he put Adam through and he took it just as seriously as Dad did.
"There are a few techniques you can use to help you escape if you are ever going to be tied up. Sammy, hop up and let me use that chair," Dad said, motioning over to Sam.
Sam stood up reluctantly but didn't comment and handed the chair over to his father. Dad grabbed it and set it down in front of Adam and patted the seat.
"Sit here," he said.
Adam hesitated to follow the order, already feeling nervous about this particular training exercise.
"I'm not gonna tie you up. Just sit so I can show you what to do." Dad said calmly.
Adam slowly stood up and moved to sit in the chair, wishing there was something he could think of to say or do to get out of this training. Normally he liked all the hunter's training that Dean and Dad were teaching him. He wasn't great with the weapons, but he was getting better and he loved the badass feeling he got whenever he got it right. But this rope stuff was already making him uncomfortable and they hadn't even done anything yet.
"Ok, first thing," Dad said, pulling Adam's focus back to the task at hand. "If you are being tied to a chair like this one, you need to create as much slack as possible in the rope. So, slump in the chair or arch your lower back. Anything you can do to create space for yourself."
Dad stood behind Adam and clasped his hands strongly around his upper arms. "If a rope is being tied around you, take in a big breath and puff out your chest," he continued.
Dad then moved his hands down, grasping one of Adam's wrists in each hand and pulling them around to his back behind the chair. Adam felt his pulse begin to race and his chest tighten at being restrained.
"If your wrists or arms are being tied, tense your muscles and try to pull your arms apart. It's all about forcing them to use more rope than necessary. Then when they leave or are distracted, you can relax and you'll have enough slack in the ropes to get free. Most of the time the thing tying you up is not any sort of professional, so use that to your advantage."
"Yeah, so get free and kick it in the ass," Dean interjected.
Adam nodded vigorously, trying to his best to take mental notes and remember all the things he had to do. He'd forgotten how hard training with Dad could be. Unlike Dean or Sam, Dad would rattle off orders and instructions and expect Adam to remember them instantaneously and was always irritated about having to repeat himself. Adam was petrified of embarrassing himself in front of his father. The last thing he wanted to do was forget any of the critical instructions Dad gave him and fail. He wished he could stop and write all this stuff down. He always did better if he could write it down and look at it again later. Sam was always happy to let Adam take any kind of notes he wanted, even in the middle of training. And Dean never got mad or impatient about having to show Adam more than once how to do something. Even when he was first starting out and couldn't even hold a knife the correct way, Dean would show him over and over and correct him, which Adam was thankful for, even if was being called dumbass the whole time.
Adam felt Dad's tight hold release his wrists and watched as his father came around to stand in front of him. He motioned for Adam's hands once more, which Adam obediently held out for him, trying to squash the fear beginning to roll in his belly.
"Having your hands tied in front of you is the best circumstance you can hope for," he said, taking a tight grip around Adam's wrists again. "Try to appear compliant. Stick out your arms, but point your elbows outward, there just like that," he said, moving Adam's elbows out to demonstrate. "That lets you put tension on the ropes, makes a space between your wrists and give you some slack to work with. Even if you can only get a half inch of slack in the rope, it will be enough for you to get free."
"Ok," Adam said, nodding and twisting his wrists in his Dad's vice-like grip.
"Good," Dad said, nodding to him. "You just twist your wrists opposite each other and pull and you should be able to loosen the rope enough to pull it over your hand. Use your teeth if you have to, ok?"
Adam nodded again, sensing the tightness in his chest again and aware that he was already straining a little under his father's tight grip.
"Sam you wanna show him?" Dad asked releasing Adam and looking behind him.
Sam scoffed but before he could get out the sarcastic remark that Adam knew was burning in his throat Dean spoke up.
"I'll do it Dad," he said from his spot on the bed where he had been watching Dad's instruction intently.
Dad nodded and sat down next to Dean on the bed. Dean dutifully put out his arms for his father and Adam watched with sickening interest as Dad wound the ropes around his brother's wrists.
"See Dean's arms?" Dad asked, drawing Adam's attention away from the rope to Dean's straining arms, muscles flexed hard.
Adam nodded again, his throat too dry for words.
Dad finished tying the rope and nodded at Dean "Go ahead son."
Dean immediately went to work. He started twisting his wrists and pulling at the ropes in what looked like a pretty painful way, but if it hurt Dean never let on. He was intently focused. Adam watched closely as Dean was able to pull the rope loose enough that he could use his teeth to slide up one of the ropes over the joint of this thumb and off his hand. It seemed like only seconds later that Dean was able to loosen the rest of the rope and untie himself completely, looking up at Adam with a wide Cheshire cat grin.
"See kid? Easy," he smirked.
Adam just stared back feeling sweaty, sick and unsure. He tried to sneak a deep breath to calm down, not wanting Dean or Dad to know just how freaked out this little training exercise was making him.
"Just stay calm Adam," Dad said, noting the fear Adam was trying so desperately to hide, "Panic will only make it harder to get free."
Adam gave an embarrassed nod unable to meet his father's eye; afraid of the disapproval he might see there. He hated when Dad knew how afraid this new life made him. He wanted to be as tough and unafraid of the rest of the Winchesters, but he had a nagging fear he'd never measure up.
"Alright Adam, you ready to give it shot?" Dad asked.
Adam could feel his father's eyes studying him, searching him for something, but ignored the probing looks and continued to stare at the carpet, wishing he could be somewhere else.
"Dad," Sam piped up from behind him, "I'll go."
Adam breathed a tiny sigh of relief and gratitude that Sam had noticed his discomfort and offered himself up, despite his perpetual hatred of all their father's training. Adam didn't look up from his intense study of the motel carpet fibers but watched from the corner of his eye as Sam walked over to stand in front of their father; arms outstretched waiting for his turn with the ropes.
"Adam, watch closely" Dad ordered, taking Sam up on his offer and forcing Adam to look up from the floor.
Adam grit his teeth and made himself to watch as Dad wrapped the rope around Sam's wrists, pulling tightly on the final knot.
"Alright, go."
Just like Dean, Sam pulled and twisted against the ropes slowly working them loose enough that he could pull on them. He wasn't as fast as Dean had been, but it seemed like no time at all before he was completely untied and handing the rope over to his father.
"Did you see how calm Sam was Adam?" Dad asked, taking the rope from Sam and nodding at him to take a seat on the other motel room bed.
"Yes sir," Adam choked out, rubbing his sweaty palms against his jeans.
He knew it was his turn now. His mind raced to find any excuse that might get him out of this.
Time seemed to slow as he watched his father move toward him, rough brown rope in hand. Adam tried to breathe, but there was no air. He scrunched his eyes shut trying to stop the blackness that was clouding the edges of his vision.
"Adam?"
He heard his name called, but it sounded very far away. Adam knew his eyes were still clenched shut but he was focusing on every piece of biology he had learned to keep himself from passing out.
'It's just fear. You are fine. You are gonna be fine. You are not going to pass out. You can breathe. Take a breath. Breathe. There. Breathe again.' he chanted internally.
When he opened his eyes the scene in front of him hadn't changed. Dad still stood in front of him rope in hand. Dean was sitting on the bed behind Dad, watching Adam, Sam was leaning against the headboard of the other bed, absently playing with some zip ties his eyes intently scrutinizing their father.
"Dad I…I… uh" Adam stammered, trying to force his voice not to wobble. "Maybe I should study the knots more before doing this."
"Adam, you're knotwork is fine. This is the next lesson." Dad said, no sympathy in his voice.
Shit. He did not want to do this. He really, really did not want to do this. Why didn't he want to do this? Sam and Dean were fine with it. Yeah, it was messed up for your own Dad to tie you to a chair, but logically he knew there was a reason behind it. That one day being able to escape from being tied up could save his life. But damn, he really, really didn't want to do it now.
Dad didn't seem to notice Adam's inner turmoil, or if he did he ignored it. Before Adam could get out the words of his next protest Dad had lifted his wrists from his lap and started winding the rope around them.
The second the rope touched his arms Adam knew why he hated this. It was a visceral, physical memory that hit him like a punch to the gut and stole all the air from his lungs. Uncontrollably his mind flashed. Bright, blinding visions of his mother, the ghouls, and his own bloody arms rushed at him. The feeling of coarse ropes holding him down. The sounds of screams. His own. His mother's. The coppery smell that filled the air and made his stomach roll.
"No!" he screamed, shooting up from the chair, shoving away his father's hands and the half tied rope.
Adam rushed backward, tripping over his own feet trying to get away and landing on the rough, uneven motel carpeting
"Adam!" Dad shouted, startled.
"What the hell?" Dean said, standing up.
"No. No. No." Adam chanted, frozen on the floor, the visions of trauma still haunting him too clearly. Again Adam turned himself inward, trying to breathe and take control of his body and his mind. He didn't even notice that Dean had crossed the room and was next to him, until he was being gently lifted off the ground.
When Adam finally came back to himself he found he was sitting on one of the motel beds, leaning on a stack of pillows. Sam was on the bed next to him, Dean pulled up in a chair on the other side and Dad was sitting on the end of the bed near his feet. Each of them wore the exact same look of worry and shock.
"Sorry," Adam mumbled, embarrassed and ashamed.
"Son?" Dad questioned gently "What was that?"
Adam couldn't meet Dad's eyes and couldn't answer his question. The last thing he wanted to do was remember again. He didn't even know he did remember some of that stuff. Until now, he'd been happy that his brain had chosen to black out most of his mother's death. He intentionally never thought about it. The only glimpses that he knew of appeared in his nightmares and truthfully it was easier to believe the whole thing was a nightmare.
"Adam?" Dad questioned again, his voice still soft "Was it….?"
The question hung in the air between them, adding weight to the already heavy room.
Adam gave a tiny nod, feeling unwanted tears slipping down his cheeks.
"Wait? What?" Dean asked suddenly from beside him.
"Dude." Sam chided, then mouthed the word 'Mom'.
"Oh," Dean said flatly.
"Alright," Dad said patting Adam's leg and standing up. "We're done for the day. Let's get out of here and get some fresh air."
Adam gave a huge sigh of relief, which earned a small weak smile from his father. He began to feel the horrible fear that had been plaguing him from the moment he set eyes on the ropes start to dissipate. His stomach was still clenched and the tremor of fear and shock was still pulsating through his veins, but at least he could breathe a little now.
"Get your shoes on boys, let's go for a jog."
He couldn't hide the grimace that crept up on his face at the idea of another run today, but he'd gladly run a 100 miles if it meant he didn't have to get tied up. Even Sam didn't start an argument about the extra run, just grabbed Adam's shoes as he picked up his own and tossed them at his younger brother.
Part 2 of this story is in the works! Hope you like it!