Summary: AU: Stanford Era: "Dean … Sammy's in trouble." A late night phone call sends Dean Winchester and long-time friend, Caelan Hagan in a desperate search to find Sam before the unthinkable happens; uncovering lies and secrets involving the youngest Winchester, that have been years in the making.

Warnings: Violence, swearing, physical abuse, torture, implied adult themes.

Disclaimer: I don't own the supernatural characters.

Author's Note: Just another possibility on why Sam left for Stanford. Hope you enjoy. I have no knowledge or training in medical areas. I Have tried to keep everything as realistic as possible, but, as medical knowledge is not my area of expertise, just beware that there may be some mistakes in the next few chapters.

Special Note: Special thanks to Mimmi85 for your kind review. Here's another chapter just for all you guys who have taken the time out to read this story and to all the people who have this story on their alerts or have put it on their favourite lists. Thanks. It means a lot.

DEMON SPAWN: THE PHONE CALL

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Caelan raised his eyebrows quizzically, urging Adams to elaborate on what exactly his question meant and what Caelan was supposed to have seen.

"When the cars were coming toward us at the warehouse … you saw it, didn't you? You saw the limo, right?"

Caelan nodded wordlessly, hearing Stewart's gasp of surprise in front of him.

"There was a limo?" Stewart asked, turning accusing eyes toward his friend, protector, partner, and lover.

"Yeah." Adams ruefully admitted, a blush heating his checks. "It was probably your Dad Pete, I know, but … he couldn't find us there together Pete." He said, an almost desperate quality entering his tone.

"What the hell are you talking about Hank?" Stewart growled, his blue eyes flashing with anger now. "We could have been rescued. If we had stayed and not followed these two … imbeciles out into the fucking wilderness … we could have been home by now and … why Hank? Why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me that Dad might be … dead? Why did you make me believe that our lives were in danger?" Peter demanded, hurt and dismayed by his lover's deceitfulness.

Adams hung his head, ashamed at his lover's accusing, angry and hurt filled words. "I'm sorry Pete," he mumbled, his face turning a brighter shade of red. "But our lives are in danger." He fixed Stewart with a heartfelt look. "Well … maybe not your life," he quickly amended. "If your Dad … Pete, your Dad knows about us." Adams began earnestly, gently reaching out a hand to stroke Stewart's check lovingly.

"He … he wasn't happy. I overheard your Dad and my Dad arguing about it before … before we were called in to …" Adams shook his head, determined to stay on track. "Your Dad told my Dad that we could no longer be hunting partners. He wants you to "carry on" the family name and line and you can't do that with me. So, he said that we had to separate, and if we didn't … I would be taken by the organisation to be … reconditioned so that I would have no more "inappropriate" feelings toward you. I'm sorry Pete. I'm sorry I lied to you but … I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from you and –"

"Lies!" Stewart yelled, interrupting Hank as he slapped Adams' hand away from his face and jumped to his feet, his blue eyes flashing with rage. "My Dad would never recondition you! You're family! Our Dads are best friends. You're just … jealous because I've entered into a pre-arranged marriage. I can't believe that you would stoop so low as to lie to me about all of this. How could you? I thought you loved me!"

Adams scrambled to his feet, desperately trying to pull his enraged lover into his embrace but Peter stopped him with a dirty, disgusted, hateful glare.

"You know I wasn't sure about this arranged marriage," Peter said, his voice shaking with emotion, obviously very hurt and disheartened by his partner's words. "But now … because of this stupid stunt that you've pulled and your insanely jealous and neurotic ways … maybe it's time for me to settle down with a normal life and have a normal wife and raise a couple of normal children."

"Pete, baby, please," Hank begged, his expression crumbled, completely devastated. "Don't say such things. I love you." Adams declared passionately, grasping Stewart's wrist as he tried to pull Peter into his embrace once more.

Stewart whirled around and hit Adams squarely upon the jaw, causing Adams to release his hold on Stewart's wrist as he lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at Peter, shocked and confused by Stewart's violent reaction.

"You and me … we're done." Peter said, his voice icy cold, surprisingly calm and steady, his blue eyes narrowed with anger and hate.

Hank held a hand to his jaw, his light green eyes wide with disbelief and pain. "You can't mean that." He said softly, refusing to believe that it was all over between them. "After everything we've been through … you can't mean that!"

CH DW SW CH DW SW CH DW SW CH DW SW CH

"What?" Dean asked in surprise before Sam's words sunk in and Dean was adamantly shaking his head. "Hell no, dude, I am not leaving you here!" Dean snapped, almost insulted by his brother's ludicrous suggestion.

"Come on Sammy, I'm not going to leave you when we haven't even caught all of the bastards who were responsible for drugging, kidnapping and torturing you! Do you know how long it took for me and Caelan to find you?! No way dude, I am not going through that again!"

Sam rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation, even though he was secretly relieved at his brother's words, he couldn't help the independent streak in him that just wanted everything to return back to normal. He wanted to demand that Dean treat him like an adult instead of a child, forcing him to go to Dad instead of staying here with him … that's how Sam could achieve in working to put this whole horrible experience behind him and never talk about this ever again … but, Sam couldn't help the irrational side of him that wanted Dean close. Whenever Sam was hurt or sick, the mere presence of his brother was enough to make Sam feel safe. And right now, after everything that happened, that's all Sam truly wanted was to feel safe again.

Still, that didn't mean he was going to give in to his inner child's demands. So, he kept pushing for Dean to go to their Dad because … because that's what Sam would normally do. And right now, as well as needing Dean, Sam needed a healthy dose of normality as well. So, he shut down the child's voice within him, insisting that Dean stay with him, as Sam called upon his stubborn nature that demanded to be independent and his need to prove to Dean that he was still capable of doing things for himself.

"Dean, you just said it man, I won't be by myself; Caelan's here dude, he can babysit me till I can sign myself out and then we can meet up with you and Dad." Sam touched Dean on his shoulder to get his attention. "Honestly Dean, I think I'm safe here at the hospital. He would have to be suicidal to show up here! I honestly don't think we will be seeing him again anytime soon … or ever again." Sam smiled, a genuine smile this time and was rewarded by Dean's soft smile in return.

"Maybe you're right," Dean agreed, sitting down upon the side of the bed, throwing a casual arm about his brother as he pulled Sam hard against his side. "But I promised you that I would be here with you throughout your entire hospital experience and I intend to keep my promise. Besides," Dean nudged Sam's shoulder gently and grinned playfully. "I wouldn't trust anyone else to look after you when you're hurt … not even Caelan! So, you can stop this stupid talk of me leaving you by yourself. You need to get some more sleep little brother, and maybe in the morning we can go and meet up with Dad, okay?"

"Okay," Sam said distractedly, too relieved that Dean was staying to really push for Dean to leave him here by himself. Not even Caelan – as close as he was to the family – could make Sam feel as safe as Dean could. And Sam needed to feel safe … He didn't want to have the nightmares that he knew would be coming into existence as soon as he closed his eyes. He didn't want to be trapped in his own head, within a nightmare, unable to find his way out, reliving everything in extremely vivid detail … even though he wanted nothing more than to push this to back of his mind and never talk about it ever again!

Sam tried not to freak out at Dean's suggestion to sleep as he rested his head against his brother's shoulder, trying to get some sense of security, before the ultimate fear of being suffocated within his dreams forced Sam to speak out and voice his doubts to his older brother, even as he tried not to sound like an emotionally charged, needy child!

"Dean … I don't want to go back to sleep …" Sam shivered violently, knowing that if he went back to sleep then he would go straight back into the unremembered nightmare – or a new nightmare featuring Sicko torturing him! – he had awoken from.

"Ssh, you're okay Sammy," Dean soothed as he ran calming fingers through his baby brother's hair. "If you have any more nightmares, I'll wake you up, okay?"

"You promise?" Sam asked doubtfully, hating the way his voice sounded so pitifully, young and vulnerable.

"Promise." Dean smiled.

Sam nodded, stifling another yawn before he experimentally closed his eyes. "Okay Dean, I trust you." Sam said, his words beginning to slur as sleep came up to embrace him.

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Peter Stewart stood over Hank Adams, his nostrils flaring with anger, hurt visible within his blue eyes, clenched fists at his sides and as he raised a fist to strike Adams again, Caelan quickly got in between the two quarrelling love birds, placing a restraining hand upon Stewart's upper chest to hold him in place.

"Sorry guys," Caelan said in an authoritative, no nonsense voice. "I don't have time for your little lover's spat. Stewart, call your Dad and get this fucking organisation off of our backs or so help me, I will beat you back and blue until you do what I say."

Out of the corner of his eyes, Caelan saw Hank get to his feet, growling in protective fury because of Caelan's threat. "And you …" Caelan whipped his eyes toward the possessive Hunter. "Stay the hell out of this … unless you want me to call my friend over here and let him beat you up for what you did to his friend, Sam Winchester." Caelan tilted his head slightly, not backing down or feeling intimidated by Adams' threatening growls.

If Hank Adams wanted this to be a fight, then by God, Caelan would let this be a fight, but not until he had guaranteed his brothers safety by removing the damned target from their fucking backs!

"Good choice," Caelan smirked when Adams finally backed down as Caelan turned back toward Stewart. "You tell your Dad to call off this organisation Stewart, get the target removed from our backs and all debts are repaid.

I won't come after you for what you did to Sammy and I will try to keep Dean away from you for as long as is humanly possible. Or … if you don't do what I say … I will personally hand deliver you to John Winchester and let both John and Dean teach you why you should never mess with one of their own.

Your decision Peter. You decide if you want to live another day or if you want to die." Caelan moved closer toward the Hunter, his hand clamping down uncomfortably upon Stewart's shoulder and offered him a crooked smile. "The choice is yours Peter," Caelan repeated, grinning in triumph when he saw Stewart retrieving his phone, obviously deciding to place the call to his father and decided to save his own ass for another day … just like the fucking coward he was!

CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH

It never ceased to amaze Dean how young and vulnerable his kid brother looked when he was sleeping. Sam managed to look even more vulnerable than before because of the various bruises that littered his too young and innocent face; and Dean couldn't help but swallow hard at the overwhelming fear that surged within him. If the two Hunters hadn't found Sam in time, Dean could be just as easily be staring at his brother's cold, dead body right now.

Instinctively, Dean tightened his hold about his sibling protectively, that image leaving a sour taste in his mouth, his heart clenching painfully within his chest at the thought of never being able to see or talk to his pain in the ass little brother again.

As it was, Dean already felt guilty as hell at what had been done to Sam at the hands of those sadistic fucks … who were supposed to be Hunters; who were supposed to help people; who Dean had naturally trusted because he always assumed that all Hunters were honourable and stuck to the unspoken Hunters code of never hurting one of their own.

Dean could have kicked himself for being so gullible and blind. If Sammy had been punished for years, how was it that Dean had never noticed? How were they able to get away with doing this without John or Dean having the slightest hint that something was going on? How the hell had Sammy managed to hide this from them for so long? Why hadn't he told either Dean or their Dad what was happening? Sam had to know that Dean would believe anything that Sam told him … didn't he? Did he not say anything because he was scared no one would believe him … or, was it because of something else?

Dean closed his eyes, trying to reign in his steadily increasing frustration, anger and guilt. There was no point in Dean wallowing in "what if's". It had happened (possibly for years because Dean hadn't had a change to ask Sam about it yet). Dean had to put the past behind him – although, when Sam was feeling better, he was going to have a very long talk with his younger brother and find out exactly what those bastards had been doing to him for all of these years and then he was going to exact his own brand of punishments upon those assholes! – and concentrate on helping Sam through the latest trauma of what he had experienced today … because there would be fall out of what had occurred today, of that, Dean was one hundred percent certain. Sam wouldn't be able to keep his composure about all of this for long. As it was, Sam was already starting his "clingy" stage. That was one of the main reasons why he hadn't gone off to be with their Dad as Sam had suggested … that, as well as the other reasons he had told Sam.

Dean was too damn grateful to stay locked in these morbid thoughts for too long. Grateful that he had gotten to Sam in time before he had suffered any more abuse, both physically and mentally; grateful that he was holding a – although beaten and slightly broken – warm blooded body instead of a cold, dead corpse; grateful that he had time to fix things and to help Sam through any and all psychological problems that might crop up because of the abuse that he had suffered through.

And now that Dean knew what had happened to his brother – well, what he speculated actually, but it was becoming more and more obvious that this had been happening for years – he could help to give Sam some piece of mind by going after those sons of bitches who had the audacity to lay their stinking, filthy hands all over his baby brother! He could –

Dean's eyes popped open at the soft sound of someone clearing their throat to get his attention. Dean relaxed when he saw it was only the doctor who stood before him and not some mentally unstable Hunter who was out to torment his brother some more!

DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW

Caelan was watching Peter Stewart like a hawk while he was on the phone to his father; not that Caelan could hear a word that Stewart was saying! And even if Stewart did manage to pull another one of his sneaky tricks … honestly what would it really matter now? They already had a mysterious organisation on their asses, wanting to silence them for things that they knew nothing about … how much worse could it get?

"Everything okay over here Hags?" Caleb asked softly; and even though his body language portrayed someone who was relaxed and at ease, Caelan could tell by the tone of his friend's voice and the way that his eyes were constantly sweeping the area for unknown threats that Caleb would be ready to fight in an instant if Caelan gave him the go ahead, no questions asked.

"It's all good Hawkes … you can stand down," Caelan replied just as softly, noticing Caleb relax slightly – just enough to shoot Caelan a questioning look – before he returned to observing the area around them.

"What's going on Caelan? I thought we would be moving out by now and dumping those two idiots! They're only slowing us down and we need to move fast if we're going to stay ahead of these asses!"

Caleb turned to look at Caelan, his light brown eyes worried and serious now. "I don't mind admitting to you Caelan that this whole thing is freaking me out right about now. And staying in one place for too long is making me nervous as hell! The longer we stay in one place, the easier it is for them to track us down. You know this … so, what the hell are we still doing here with these two losers?" Caleb demanded in an aggravated hiss.

"Relax Caleb," Caelan soothed his friend. "We'll be on the move soon enough … without these wannabe Hunters to slow us down." Caelan promised. "I'm hoping that Stewart's Dad can get these ass clowns from off of our backs."

Caleb frowned, looking more confused than before by Caelan's explanation.

Caelan debated whether or not to tell Caleb any more than he had already. The more that Caleb knew, the more danger Caelan was unwittingly putting his friend in. And then Caelan realised how stupid that thought was. This organisation had most likely already spotted Caleb with Caelan, meaning that Caleb was now marked like the rest of them to be silenced.

Trying to protect his friend from this seemed kind of … redundant, considering that Caleb was now in the same category as Caelan and the Winchesters … so, what harm would it do to reveal to Caleb everything that Caelan knew?

There was no harm in it at all. In fact, it would be downright foolish and irresponsible of Caelan to not tell Caleb everything that he knew. How else could Caleb defend himself and his friends if he had no idea of what the was up against or if he was missing vital information in order for him to make some kind of plan in order to either out run or defeat this organisation?

Out running them was their best choice for now. At the moment, they had no idea of who they were up against and how they operated. Before they could even think about defeating this organisation, they had to know who they were up against; which meant that Caelan could see a lot of research in the foreseeable future.

Caelan let out a low sigh, only just know realising the danger that he had willingly pulled his friend into. Caelan shouldn't have called Caleb in for back-up but … it was too late for regrets. All Caelan could do now was to keep going forward and hope like hell that they all made it out of this alive as Caelan opened his mouth and decided to tell Caleb everything that he had discovered, his theories and speculations.

No more secrets; secrets had a way of causing doubt and mistrust. If they were all going to survive this, then Caelan had to be up front and honest with his friend. It was the least he could do after dragging Caleb's ass into this whole mess!

CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH

"Oh, hey Doc," Dean greeted her, automatically sitting up straighter when he noticed the way the doctor stood beside the two of them, the professional, emotionless mask upon her features.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she began, her tone automatically soft and low so as to not disturb her peacefully sleeping patient.

"You didn't." Dean assured her. "I was just resting my eyes for a minute."

Elizabeth nodded, her expression softening in concern. "Has he been in a lot of pain?"

"Nah, not too bad, considering," Dean waved away the doctor's concern with – what he hoped was – a reassuring smile, even though it trembled upon his lips. "He's been having a few nightmares … but, that's to be expected after … " Dean's words trailed off as he floundered on how exactly to finish that sentence, not wanting to tell the doctor any more than was strictly necessary.

Elizabeth knew the basics of what Sam had gone through in order to be able to treat him correctly and Dean could tell by the look upon her face that she had been able to fill in a lot of the blanks by Sam's various injuries … it didn't take a genius to figure out that his baby brother had been tortured!

"Of course, that's only natural." She agreed sympathetically before her "professional" mask slipped back into place. "I was hoping I could have a private word with you,"

Dean blinked at her blankly.

"In order to discuss Sam's more … delicate injuries."

"Oh." Dean nodded slowly as understanding suddenly hit him. "Of course,"

As Dean removed his arm from around Sam's shoulders, Sam grunted in displeasure, tightening his hold about his brother's shirt, frowning slightly. "Ah …" Dean bit on his bottom lip, leaning down to whisper soothingly within his brother's ear before he was able to extract himself from his younger brother.

Once Dean had gotten Sam into a position that he knew should cause Sam the least amount of pain – lying slightly on his side, pillows supporting both his back and his front, to keep his body supported as well as offering some kind of comfort – Dean followed the doctor to Sam's doorway and stopped so that he was still inside Sam's room, but far enough away where they could talk in private, out of Sam's hearing range.

"Sorry," Dean mumbled, blushing slightly in embarrassment when he noticed Elizabeth's look of surprise when Dean refused to leave his brother's room. "Sam's really clingy at the moment. If he wakes up and he can't see me, he'll freak out, so I'd rather stay here so that I can keep an eye on him." Dean offered up an explanation.

"Of course," Elizabeth agreed, smiling warmly. "I completely understand and it's no problem." She gently assured Dean before she returned back to "doctor" mode once more. "Most of Sam's injuries are not as bad as you would think considering what he's been through. All of his wounds are clean with no sign of infection so far, but we're giving him doses of antibiotics just to be on the safe side."

Dean nodded; glad that Elizabeth was using words that Dean could understand and not the medical jargon that most other doctor's used, making it almost impossible to understand what they were saying.

"Sam's injuries appear to be healing nicely, with no serious complications at all. If things continue as they are, Sam will be released within the next couple of days."

"Really?" Dean let out a sigh of relief." "That's really good news Doc. Thanks. The way you wanted to talk to me in private though, really had me worried." Dean laughed.

Elizabeth's smile was strained, noticing the way Dean's eyes would travel to his brother to check on him every few seconds before returning his attention back to her. "Yes, well, what I wanted to discuss with you …" Elizabeth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm not sure if you're aware or not … but Sam has been sexual assaulted."

TBC