Chapter 25. Trade
He thought he nearly had it but the door just wouldn't budge and he had nearly dropped his Zippo a couple of times. /That's all I need/ he thought /set fire to the closet while your still inside/.
He gave a frustrated growl and wiped the perspiration off of his forehead. It was getting a little stuffy in there and he was afraid that if he didn't get out the closet soon he was going to suffocate.
His idea with the knife had turned out to be a fruitless endeavor, although he thought he had nearly gotten close a few times, so the only option he could see right now was just to continue to kick the door down. The only problem with that plan was that it was going to make a lot of noise and possibly draw attention to him self. But the other option wasn't so pretty either.
"Dean Winchester gets taken out by a closet." He laughed a little at his own joke and then shook his head and thought that maybe he was suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning or something because it wasn't all that funny.
"Well maybe Sam would think it was amusing," he muttered and then shook his head as if to clear it, "Focus Dean."
"Okay," he said to himself as he backed up into the back wall again and got into position to try and kick it open again.
"Prepared to get your ass kicked," he told the door, although when he thought about it that was probably the wrong analogy since doors didn't exactly have asses.
"God now I'm talking to doors, I really need to get out of here."
Dean braced himself and then with all the strength he had, he kicked out at the door. It didn't even budge. He braced himself and kicked the door again and it still didn't budge.
"Of course … I have to … get … the only … freaking … closet … with … an …extra … freaking strong … door!" He punctuated every breathless word with a hard kick to the door and finally on the last kick he heard wood splintering.
He leaned against the back of the closet catching his breath. There was definitely less air in here than before, now that he was breathing heavier. The more he panted the less oxygen he felt he had and Dean realized that if he kept going the way he way going he was probably going to hyperventilate before he got free. The closet seemed to be shrinking in size and Dean tried desperately to get it together.
After a couple of minutes he got himself under control and retook his position against the back of the wall and prepared to kick the door open. Counting to three he kicked out again and felt the door give some more. Dropping his Zippo when the gas finally ran out he managed two more well placed kicks and the door swung open. Dean burst out of the closet breathing heavily and the rush of fresh air that hit his lungs nearly did him in but he managed to stay on his feet. He bent over at the waist, his hands gripping his knees for support while he replenished his oxygen supply.
Once he felt a little better he stood all the way up and squinted at the light coming through the window. He had been in the dark for so long that his eyes weren't quite used to the light. Looking back into the closet he saw now with the light just how small a space it was and shivered slightly at the thought of how much time he had spent cooped up inside of it.
Dean ran a hand through his hair and found that it was drenched with sweat and with one last look at what had been his prison he walked as quietly as he could to the door at the end of the hallway. He knew that on the other side of that door was the upstairs foyer. He had no idea how he was going to get away without anyone knowing but he needed to get to Sam and make sure that nothing had happened to him. He needed to warn him that he was in danger and if the kid didn't believe him he thought that he might just cause him physical harm. He also hoped that Stacey hadn't drawn attention to herself because right now he could use all the help he could get.
Dean took a steadying breath before reaching for the door knob. The plan was to get across the foyer and into his room to get to his back pack and see what he had on him that could possibly be beneficial in this situation. He didn't think he had much that would help but it was better to be safe than sorry.
He slowly turned the knob and opened the door a crack so he could peer into the room. No-one was there as far as he could see so he opened the door completely and stepped out. He started for the door on the opposite side of the room that led to his room. He got half way across when he heard someone running up the stairs.
"Winchester how the hell …"
"Oh you have got to be kidding me," Dean complained when he heard Rodney shout at him using Mr. Taylor's voice. /Am I copping a life's worth of bad luck or something?/ he asked himself.
Dean was in two minds. Should he run or turn around and face the guy. If he ran where the hell would he run to? The stairs were the only exit. That realization caused him to turn around and face the possessed man.
"Mr. Taylor … oh no wait … Rodney." Dean smirked making sure to keep a decent distance between himself and Rodney.
"Where the hell do you think your going?" Rodney snarled taking a step forward.
Dean took a step back, "Me? Oh I was thinking maybe I would go find myself a few graves and do us all a favour by getting rid of all you sons of bitch's," Dean told him cockily.
"You're a cocky little bastard aren't ya?" Rodney asked.
"You're not gonna get away with this ya know."
"Oh yeah and who's going to stop us boy?" Rodney challenged, taking another step towards the young hunter.
Dean took another step back, still trying to keep a distance between them.
"I know what you are. You don't belong in this world and I know how to send you back." Dean threatened.
Rodney raised his eyes a little, showing that Deans admission of knowledge hadn't gone unnoticed, "How you are you going to do anything boy, if you're one of us?"
"One of you?"
"That's right. We don't need you telling anybody what we're doing so we're making a swap. You, instead of your brother and let me just say that Tommy should get a kick out of having you for his new body."
"Well I'm happy for Tommy I really am but I'm sorry he can't have this body it's already being used," Dean told him faking a smile.
"You haven't got a choice in the matter kid, now come here." Rodney demanded taking a few more steps towards his target.
Dean glanced behind him and saw that if he backed up any further he would be backing himself into a wall so he turned back to the advancing man, "Like hell I don't," he said rushing the teacher.
Dean ducked his head and speared the man right in the stomach with his shoulder taking them both to the ground. Rodney clutched at his stomach as Dean regained his footing and the teen kicked the downed man in the stomach and then in the head for good measure. Seeing that Rodney was down he made a mental note to apologize to Mr. Taylor, once he got him back, for kicking him so hard. He kind of wished that it had of been Mr. Graham instead since there was no love lost between them.
He made it to the stairs and was about to proceed down them when something grabbed his ankle, causing him to lose his balance. He tried to grab onto the banister to no avail and squeezed his eyes shut as he inevitably tumbled down the stairs landing at the bottom with a grunt followed by a groan of pain.
It took him a couple of seconds to get his bearings but Dean risked opening his eyes and found that surprisingly he couldn't feel any major damage. He was surprised he hadn't broken his neck during the fall. Or an arm or a leg but evaluating himself he found that everything seemed intact just a little sore … well maybe a lot sore but he could move.
He struggled to get to his feet when he heard footsteps coming from not only the top of the stairs but from the classroom as well. He'd made it to his knees, feeling a bit dizzy when the door to the classroom opened and Mr. Graham's form walked in and took in the scene.
Dean could feel something wet slide down his face and brought his hand up to his head while making it the rest of the to his feet. His hand came away from his head with blood on it, "Son of a …" he cursed and then looked up at the approaching old man.
Dean all of a sudden felt angry. Nothing was going right. Every time he thought he might be winning something happened to prove him wrong. Acting out of his anger and the need to get free and warn Sam he charged the old man throwing a punch that connected solidly with the teacher's chin, once the man was down Dean brought out the small knife in case the old man tried anything again. He didn't want to kill him but with their extra strength these guys were hard to fight off.
Pierce had not been expecting a physical attack and Dean smiled a crazy smile when the grey haired man ended up flat on his back. His victory was short lived when he felt something smash on the back of his head. The knife slipped from his fingers and skidded across the room as Dean fell. He never felt himself hit the floor.
Pierce watched as the older Winchester brother slumped to the floor once again unconscious and then looked up to see Rodney standing there holding a broken vase with a satisfied look on his face.
"What the hell happened?" Pierce demanded, struggling to stand using the old legs of his host.
"I came upstairs to get him out of the closet and found him in the damn foyer; how he got out I don't know." Rodney explained, rubbing his still aching stomach.
Pierce waved a hand in the direction of Rodney's face, "What happened to you?"
"The damn bastard attacked me. The kid is stronger than he looks." Rodney brought his hand up to his tender nose and felt a trickle of blood.
"We have to get him to the cabin and get this mess cleaned up before anyone finds it." Pierce ordered.
"Did you get both of our teams squared away?"
"Miss Northam and Miss Franklin or should I say Mrs. Collins are minding both of our teams. That will give us time to get Tommy his new body."
"I know I'll feel better once we get this kid out of the way. He's too much trouble and doesn't seem at all scared, like he's witnessed something like this before. We have never come across something like that. It could be trouble."
"He won't be trouble for long."
"What about his brother? Do you think he knows?"
"We'll worry about that when we have to and if he does we'll let his big brother deal with him." Pierce produced a sly smile across Mr. Graham's face.
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"What about this leaf? Do we have one of those?"
Sam turned in Daniel's direction and looked at the leaf he was holding up for Sam's inspection, "We have tons of different leaves Daniel."
"Oh wait!" Daniel exclaimed as he spotted something else.
Sam walked over to where Daniel was standing beneath a tree, "Look. " Daniel pointed up.
Sam looked up into the tree but couldn't find anything, "what?"
"Look up there … it's a birds nest. That would be perfect because I bet no-one else has found one."
"We shouldn't take it though."
"Why not?"
"Because what if the bird is still using it?" Sam asked trying to get his friend to see reason.
"Oh I didn't think of that. Damn … that would have been good."
"I think it's great!"
Both boys turned around at the new voice and saw Jay, Lynda and Jennifer standing behind them.
"What?"
"Are you deaf kid? I said I think that the birds nest is great. What do you think guys?" Jay asked turning to look at Lynda and Jennifer. Sam still had to get used to the short hair on his brother's friend.
"I think its perfect Jay," Lynda purred sidling up to Jay now.
Sam's eyes narrowed in confusion. First Lynda was all over Dean and now Jay. Sam realized that he didn't exactly know her all that well but she hadn't seemed like that type of person when he had first met her.
"Move out the way," Jennifer demanded, bringing Sam back to the situation at hand.
"Why?" Daniel asked, looking confused.
Jay stalked forward and pushed the boy away from the tree, "She said move!"
"Jay what the hell has gotten into you?" Sam asked angrily, picking up the Daniel's glasses that had fallen and then extending a hand to his friend to help him up.
"Nothing, Sammy. I'm just sick and tired but being kind and nice to every single person I meet … I mean come on. It makes me sick."
"Yeah well I like the old Jay better," Sam told him standing slightly in front of Daniel who was repositioning his glasses.
"Well suck it up Sammy because the old Jay is gone. The new Jay acts the way he wants to and takes what he wants when he wants it and right now I want that birds nest."
"You can't!" Daniel shouted.
"0o0o0o, are you going to stop me twerp?" Jay asked in mock horror making Lynda and Jennifer laugh.
"No. But I will." Sam made sure his friend was behind him. He didn't trust Jay right now.
Jay laughed, "So the mini Winchester wants a go does he? But who will come to your rescue when big brother isn't around huh?"
"Leave him alone Jay!" Everyone turned around to see Stacey walk up towards them.
"What is this, a mothers club meeting?" Lynda asked tiredly, rolling her eyes.
"Stay out of this little sister," Jay barked towards Stacey emphasizing the words little sister, causing Stacey's blood to boil since she knew that he was anything but her brother.
"I said leave him alone!" she stated, stepping in between Sam and the possessed boy, "Why don't you and your little friends scamper off and threaten someone your own size."
"Now why would I want to do that?"
"Because I said," Stacey told him through clenched teeth.
"After I get my birds nest." Jay reached up to grab hold of a branch to pull himself up.
Sam pushed past Stacey and yanked Jay down from the tree, "I said you're not touching that birds nest!"
"Why you little …" Jay began, getting to his feet.
"Boy's forget about the birds nest, come on." Stacey dragged Sam away from the tree by his t-shirt. Daniel glanced quickly at Jay and then the birds nest before quickly following Stacey and Sam.
"I see you still need people to rescue you Sammy!" Jay shouted at their retreating backs.
Sam shrugged out of Stacey's grasp, obvious to everyone that he was fuming.
"Sam I need to speak to you," Stacey told him.
"What the hell turned him into such a creep?" Sam ranted as he paced.
"God Damn it Sam that's what your brother has been trying to tell you!" Stacey hissed loud enough to show her anger but not so much that they would be overheard.
Daniel was standing back a bit, watching the exchange.
"Oh not you too," Sam complained.
"Sam, just listen to me okay?" Stacey pleaded, trying to get through to the hard headed boy.
"What?"
"I think Dean is in trouble."
"Why?" Daniel piped up coming into the conversation making Sam's eyes roll. It was obvious that Daniel had some sort of a hero worship going on for the oldest Winchester brother, ever since being grouped together.
Stacey glanced at Daniel before turning back to Sam, "Look Sam I'll give you the short version okay. Dean wasn't feeling sick; he went to look through Mr. Graham's office. When I left during lunch today I was going to check on him when I saw Mr. Taylor carrying him upstairs. He was definitely unconscious."
Sam just stood there, trying to digest what he was hearing, "What happened?" Daniel asked, alarm in his voice.
"I don't know exactly what happened but I know he took him through the door to the teacher's rooms. I would have followed but Mr. Graham caught me upstairs and told me to return to lunch. I didn't want him to know that I know."
"Know what?" Daniel asked becoming exasperated that no-one was listening to him
"Look when we get the chance, just come with me and I'll show you. I know they have him locked away somewhere in there, I'm sure. I wouldn't make something like this up Sam … your brother needs us and right now we are the only people that suspect anything."
Sam closed his eyes and sighed and tried to reason within his own head the few possible scenarios as to why his brother would be carried upstairs, unconscious and taken into the teacher's hallway. He couldn't really think of any rational ideas.
"Okay, but how are we going to get up there without alerting any of the teachers?" Sam asked.
"Guys, will someone please tell me what's going on?" Daniel almost yelled in frustration.
Sam and Stacey looked at each other for a moment and then turned back to look at the boy next to them. Sam had really been hoping that it wouldn't come to this. Was it too much to ask for just one normal summer?
"Okay but you're not gonna believe this."
"Try me," Daniel replied confidently.
"It is slightly possible, "Sam began glancing at Stacey again and saw that she looked annoyed at his phrasing, "that the camp is being over run by spirits, possessed by them."
"How do you know?"
Sam winced, although he wasn't prepared to tell this particular secret he knew that he should, "I know because that is what my family does for a living. We hunt ghosts and other supernatural things."
Daniel looked between his friend and Stacey trying to work out whether they were bullshitting him or not. He knew Sam could sometimes seem a little mysterious and by the look on his face he could see that Sam really believed what he was telling him.
"That's so cool!" Sam looked at his friend, shocked at the reaction. He had expected to be called crazy. But then again he realized it wasn't as if he was talking to Mike here.
"I mean not that people are being possessed or whatever or that Dean has been captured but ya know it's kind of like we're in a movie." Daniel explained excitedly.
"It's not all that it's cracked up to believe me," Sam told him dejectedly.
"Guys, can we get back to the subject at hand please? Dean needs our help."
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Ten minutes later found the three teenagers sneaking through the back door of the building. Since Mrs. Collins and Miss Northam were looking after the other teams as well, it had left the back area completely vacant. With all the kids in one place it was easier for them to sneak away and not be missed.
"We have to be careful boys; it can't be a coincidence that Mr. Graham and Mr. Taylor are missing at the moment," Stacey told them as they all slipped through the back door.
"If your right about this, I just hope that we aren't too late," Sam whispered.
"We probably wouldn't be in this position if you had just believed us in the first place!" Stacey whispered back sharply.
"Oh so this is my fault now?" Sam turned around to look at her.
"Sam I didn't say that I just …"
"Shut up both of you!" Daniel demanded when he got tired of them bitching back and forth with one another.
Sam and Stacey both looked a little sheepish and both whispered and apology before making it to the stairs. Stacey crept up the stairs first, Daniel next and Sam bringing up the rear. Once they all reached the top Stacey stopped and turned to the two younger boys.
"Okay this is the last place I saw him."
Sam nodded and she turned around and opened the door slowly and the three teenagers stepped through. What they found on the other side of the door formed a pit in Stacey's stomach. She took quick steps over to the open closet door and looked inside. Sam and Daniel came up from behind her as she was studying the splintered door. The door had obviously been kicked outwards by something and Sam had a feeling that that something had been his brother's foot.
"You think this is where they put him?" Daniel asked.
"Looks like Dean's handy work," Sam quipped as he stepped into the closet when something shiny caught his eye.
He bent down and picked up the object to find that it was his brother's Zippo. He knew it was Dean's because he remembered when Caleb had given it to him. He had borrowed it during a hunt he had been on not long ago with the other hunter and Sam remembered that when Dean had tried to give it back the psychic had told him to keep it, telling him that he should have his own anyway.
"What's that?" Daniel asked.
"It's Dean's lighter."
"That confirms that he was here."
"Yeah."
"Well he obviously broke out of here but did he manage to stay free?"
"I don't know, but if he is free he would have tried to contact us by now," Sam told them.
"Come on, lets get out of here before we get caught as well," Stacey suggested, getting nods from the two boys.
The three made their way out of the teacher's area and into the upstairs foyer, taking a quick look around but not finding anything. They all silently walked down the stairs and were about to head over to the office when Sam all of a sudden stopped.
There, lying near the front door, against the wall was Dean's small hunting knife. Sam rushed over to it and picked it up.
"What?" Stacey asked alarmed at Sam's frantic actions.
"It's Dean's knife." Sam held up the small knife for his friends to see, "I'm not so sure that Dean is safe yet."
"Why? Maybe he accidentally dropped it and doesn't know its missing."
"No. Dean is never willingly unarmed, I mean the guy sleeps with a damn hunting knife for Christ sake!" he exclaimed, "He would know if it was missing."
"Wow your brother is like awesome," Daniel said with awe at finding out some of Dean's other traits. He had never met anyone quite like the Winchester's.
"Yeah well being awesome doesn't help him if he's possessed or worse, dead. God, this is all my fault." Sam began to pace and Stacey could tell that he was starting to panic.
Stacey walked up to Sam and grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a little shake, "Sam we can't afford to freak out right now! Dean, not to mention the rest of us are in some serious trouble!"
Sam took a shaky breath and nodded his agreement, "It's just that he is always there for me ya know and the one time he needs me I totally ignore his misgivings and land him in some serious crap! God it's a wonder he doesn't hate me."
"Sam I can tell you this one thing. I don't think your brother could ever hate you. It's just not in him. Besides this is not your fault and we are going to get him back!" she told him determinedly.
Sam hung his head for a minute trying to gather his thoughts when a thought occurred to him, "Oh God does this mean that Jay and Lynda and the others are possessed?"
"Yeah … I mean my brother can be a pain in the ass to me sometimes but he's not a total jerk. Actually he's a pretty damn good brother and I'd like to get him back."
"We will!" Sam assured her, "You know you are taking this all extremely well," he added in admiration.
"Don't let me fool you, on the inside I'm a mess and once this is all over with I'll let myself freak out a little. Are you okay now Sam?"
"I will be when I get my brother back."
"Good that'll have to do. Now, Dean said that we should probably call your Dad if we could."
Sam groaned. He hadn't even thought about his dad, "Oh I'm so looking forward to that conversation," he muttered sarcastically.
TBC ...
I hope you all enjoyed that ... John and Caleb WILL be arriving next chapter, that i can promise you. I wont have a chance to work on the story tonight so the next chapter will more than likely posted on Friday. So i guess i'll see you then :-)