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BLOOD CARTEL

Chapter Fifty-Four

Dean returned to staring out of the window, a solitary figure sat on the window seat lost in his own thoughts. He didn't really think that Sam had anything to do with Celeste's death, he knew his brother and it wasn't in his nature but right now he didn't want to feel, to be on the other end of one of Sam's chick flick moments, he was afraid that just one look into those sympathetic eyes and he would shatter into a million pieces. As he saw it, the only way he could deal with his lose was to push the pain deep down in true Dean Winchester fashion closing him off to everyone. Even when he heard a soft knock at the door he didn't turn, he heard the shuffle of feet across the carpeted floor and the sound of the silver tray being placed on the bedside table, there was a brief moment when he thought Little Poppet was going to speak, she paused and stood for a moment, there was nothing she could do or say to make him feel better. To his relief she finally retrieved silently from the room

He never really thought he was the kind of guy that would be able to have a family, a wife 2.4 kids, not in his line of work but now he kinda got used to it, Celeste and the baby, it wasn't perfect but it was something a least. He stared out of the window until he could no longer see the fields through the darkness of the night, turning he saw the cold cheeseburger and fries that Little Poppet had left on the table, Nikolay's way of consoling him with his favourite food. For the first time he dared to look around the room, even in the dim light from the moon he could still see Celeste's dressing gown hanging on the back of the door, her hair brush on the dressing table, suddenly he needed to get out of there, standing he grabbed his jacket, the Armani suit had become second nature to him as he slipped the jacket on. Opening the door to his room he made sure the hallway was clear. Outside Dean automatically wandered towards the woods, realising where his feet was taking him he stopped, down hearted he turned away from the direction of his brother.

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Nikolay paced back and forth in the small space between his desk and the window "I want Campbell's scent, I want him hunted down like a dog for this"

"You'll have it" Vladimir promised as he studied Nikolay; since they escaped the burning church there had been something niggling away in the back of his mind "What happened in the church?"

Nikolay stopped his pacing and shot his master a puzzled look "What?"

Vladimir had been Nikolay's master far too long to be fooled "Don't play games Nikolay, after Celeste was shot you could barely stand, I've never seen you so weak"

Nikolay looked away and walked over to the window, he hadn't told his master the consequences of the ritual, the fewer that knew the better but to keep it from his master now would show mistrust in him "We share the same life force; if one of us dies we both die"

As Vladimir pondered on this news there was a weak knock at the door "enter" Nikolay command

As commanded Little Poppet walked in nervously her eyes cast downwards "Master"

Nikolay could see that the servant girl was trembling with fright "What is it?"

Even though it wasn't her fault Poppet knew her master would punish her "Young Mr Aleksandrov, he… he's not...in…his…room, I went to collect the tray" she managed to stammer out "It was empty"

"What!" Nikolay shouted out which only made Poppet tremble even more "get the guards to check the grounds"

"Yes master" Poppet was relieved that she had been dismissed from her master's sight

"He is a wild stallion, untameable" Vladimir had seen it in the slave's eyes from the first day he had met him and now he had learnt about the bond all he could see now was trouble ahead for Nikolay "He will be the death of you"

Nikolay rounded on Vladimir "This is not funny, master"

"Whose laughing, you had better find him before your enemies do, he his your Achilles heel and what with this Campbell on the loose, now is a dangerous time" it was his opinion that Nikolay was too soft in his ways for his liking "It's obvious you are incapable of taming Dean, I think it's best you leave his punishment to me"

Nikolay stormed from his study, angry over his master's lack of faith in him, he could tame Dean he just needed more time to do it

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Bobby lifted his head from the witchcraft book he was currently reading as he heard the sound of a car pulling up outside, quickly he reached for his shotgun with one hand and his cane with the other. As he headed towards the front door, the old hallway clock chimed 2 o'clock a second later there was a knock on the door followed by "Bobby its Dean"

"Dean!" Bobby was shocked went he opened the door and saw Dean standing there, a quick look over Dean's shoulder told him that Dean was alone "What the hell are you doing here" Sam had phoned him earlier and of course told him everything, the kid needed to someone to talk too, seem it was going to be his night for listening

After stealing a car in Iron Falls, Dean found him on Bobby's doorstep the place he classed as home "Needed to get away for a while"

Bobby pulled Dean into a tight hug "It's good to see you boy" but he knew Dean turning up like this spelt trouble; he hated Dean being a slave just as much as Sam but he had to ask "are you going to get into trouble for this?"

Dean leaned into the hug for minute before he pulling away "probably" he smirked before turning towards Bobby's study

Bobby caught the sadness in Dean's eyes, if only he knew what was going on that head of his, "want a beer or something stronger" Bobby asked as he followed Dean down the passage

"Whiskey" Dean replied as he entered Bobby's study and made himself at home on the old battered sofa

In the kitchen Bobby his lent his shotgun and cane against the wall on his way to the cupboard "Sam called said you blamed him for Celeste's death" closing the cupboard behind him Bobby picked up to glasses and headed into his study

"I don't blame him; it's just easier this way" Dean found it easier to push Sam away

"Easier how and for whom?" Bobby limped over and handed Dean one of the empty glasses and filled it for him

"He thinks I've given in" Dean down the whiskey in one "maybe I have, I don't know anymore" he had spent the whole afternoon just staring out the window at nothing, thinking. Sam needed to move on, forget about him, he was a lost cause, suddenly he felt awkward opening up to Bobby "How's the knee?"

Bobby had a feeling Dean wanted the conversation drawn away from him "A few more weeks and I can lose the cane" Bobby pulled up a chair and sat down opposite "I'm sorry about Celeste" Bobby poured himself and Dean another drink "but I'm with Sam on this one it's time for you to pull out"

A sad look crossed Dean's face as he stared at the liquid in his glass "Nikolay won't just let me go" through the bond they shared Nikolay knew where he was, knew his every thought, he had nothing of his own

Feeling Bobby intense glare Dean stood and walked over to the bookshelf, turning his back on older hunter he ran his finger across the spine of a few books "I thought I could do it you know, bring down the cartel but now I know I'm not strong enough"

"You idiot, your much stronger now" Bobby stood and limped across and made Dean turn to face him "You were a mess Dean, the nightmares, the panic attacks, Nikolay had you jumping at your own shadow, your own determination got you through that kid"

Feeling ashamed that Bobby had seen him at his most vulnerable he lowered his eyes "Bobby, I've just made matters worse by going back. Sam was right I should have kept running" unknowingly he had walked right into Tobias's hands, handing his blood on a silver platter

"Then tell him" Bobby snapped back, Dean was hiding something, something from Sam

Dean turned away "I can't, its best this way, this is my problem, my mess. I have to live with it"

Bobby grabbed hold of Dean and spun him round "look here boy, whatever trouble your in were not going to just leave you there with that monster"

The monster his blood had created "You have too, Sam can't kill Nikolay, not this time, not ever" he won't let him; he didn't want Sam blaming himself, Sam won't be able live with himself knowing he killed his own brother

The noise of another car pulling into driveway drew their eyes towards the window "Who the hell is that?" Bobby limped towards the window

Dean watched as Bobby headed to the window and looked out of the closed blinds, he didn't need to look "It's Nikolay; he's come to take me back"

Bobby turned in amazement "You told him you were coming here?"

"No"

"Then how?" Bobby headed for his machete

"This is the reason I want you and Sam to forget me" Dean started for the front door half expecting Nikolay to kick it down

For an old man with a bad knee Bobby moved quickly blocking Dean's path "Come on Dean, you've got to help me here, through me a line, anything" his voice pleading "just give me something I can work with?"

Dean tiredly ran his hand over his mouth and down to his chin "You need to find an old witch called Clara" but he doubted it would do much good, maybe then once they knew the truth, what he was they'll leave him alone. Dean took one last long look around taking in the homely feel and the smell that was uniquely Bobby's before he side step around the old hunter and walked to the door

Nikolay stepped on to the porch and looked around the rows of old cars, Dean's scent was strong here, it was past and present, a place he had come often where he felt save.

Dean opened the door as expected to see across looking Nikolay stood there "How am I supposed to protect you if you go wandering off?"

"I doubt you were thinking of me" Dean turned to see Bobby's surprised expression as he stood in the doorway "Thanks Bobby for everything" Dean started towards the waiting car

Nikolay recognised the old hunter as Bobby closed the door in his face. Turning he followed Dean stopping him half way to the car "Dean you're trying my patience, I ordered you to stay in your room but once again you defy me, how many more times do you expect me to turn a blind eye. Your disappearance as not gone unnoticed by my master; how does that make me look when slaves undermine my authority?"

"I came back to slavery of my own free will; I've accepted that I'm yours, what else do you want from me?" Dean questioned, he was hot and tired, he ached all over maybe he should have taken the doctor's advice and rested, feeling the sweat running down his back Dean tiredly made his way over to the car, under his breath he whispered "if you wanted a lap dog you should have got a dog" he didn't remember taking the last few steps, suddenly he was clutching onto the car door, his body was on fire, his legs unable to support him, Nikolay was immediately at his side helping him into the car, the journey back to the mansion was a blur