Sorry it's been so long since my last post. My job has changed and I'm now suuuuuper busy. This is an extra-long chapter to make up for the wait.

Sam recognized the loud and unmistakable sound of Dean's gun firing at close range. He turned into the living room with a "What the hell?" Gavin was lying on the floor with blood seeping into his t-shirt from a shoulder wound. Dean was standing over him, a restraining boot on top of his chest. He was pointing his gun at the thug's head.

Gavin squirmed on the filthy carpet, both hands still bound behind his back. "Where did he come from? Who is he? He came out of the wall…" Gavin's face was white with shock.

Dean explained to Sam. "The goddamn lunatic went feral when he saw Cas. Tried to charge me again." He spoke down to Gavin. "Consider yourself damn lucky it's just a flesh wound – try anything like that again and I'll put you down for good."

Bill spat poison at Dean. "You know who you're threatening? Think you're Johnny Big Bollocks 'cos you got a shooter in your hand? You need to fuck off back to your own manor double-quick 'cos as soon as I get free I'm gonna cut your fucking gonads off, you gobby yank..."

Dean snickered. "Maybe it's because I only understood every third word you just said, but are you serious?" He looked around and saw no-one was laughing except for him. "You ARE serious! You do realize I'm pointing a gun at your butt-ugliest pal?"

"It's his brother," clarified Sam.

"Ahhh…well that explains a lot…yeah – same matching red throbbing vein just up by your foreheads, here." Dean poked Gavin in the head with the gun. "The ugly stick that hit you guys must have worked overtime getting that detail just right."

"Says the pretty-boy whose own brother can't stand him…" Bill hissed. It was the wrong thing to say at the wrong time, and even Sam winced. Dean's face turned red as he contemplated battering the shit out of Bill, but a panic-stricken Gavin called out first. "Fuck's sake you bunch of fuckers, shut the fuck up! I'm fucking bleeding out here!"

"So?" Dean was mad. "Who gives a fuck?" Castiel stepped forward, but Dean held up a hand. "Cas, I think the least our silver-tongued friend here deserves is to heal up the same way he was gonna let Sam's girlfriend heal up after he broke her nose. As in – nope."

Nope was right. Gavin was a nasty piece of work – the sadistic look on his face when he had stood over Lara with his knife at her throat would stay in Sam's memory for a long time. In fact – seeing as Lara was the one he messed with, she deserved a say in this. Sam called for her to come out of the kitchen. Gavin yelped, and Bill recoiled in surprise at seeing Lara appear in their living room wearing completely different clothes and with her previously damaged nose intact. "What the hell?" His voice was high pitched. "What's going on? Where's everyone coming from?" He almost broke his neck trying so hard to look into the kitchen to see if anyone else would appear.

Lara hovered behind Cas, hesitant to get too close to the thugs that had terrorized her. "Is…he…Gavin in danger of bleeding out?" She asked, just about able to say his name out loud.

Castiel answered. "No. His wound is superficial. Painful, certainly, but not life-threatening. Unlike the arm wound Sam suffered at their hands, which would have killed him." It appeared Cas also wasn't feeling too charitable towards Gavin.

"You're sure he won't die?"

"You can trust me Lara, I won't let that happen. Even after everything he did to you and Sam."

"In that case he can wait for a bit." She looked at Sam, wanting to justify herself. "I'm gonna have nightmares for the rest of my life because of this vile nutter. It'll do him good to learn what it's like to be a victim for a change."

"Fine with me…" Sam reassured.

"What are you doing?" Bill sounded desperate. "Call an ambulance before he bleeds to death!"

"Like you were gonna do for me?" Sam had had enough of Bill's whining. "We aren't calling anyone. Not until we leave anyway, and that might be a while."

Sam went over to young Alfie with his knife out. Alfie's eyes went wide, and Archie almost overbalanced trying to stand up. Sam pushed the uncle back down and then quickly cut the zip ties from his nephew's wrists. "Find something to wrap around the wound. Make sure you put pressure on it." He looked at Bill. "Hey – I know what will help him – a nice cup of tea maybe? You seemed to think that would cure my arm." He rolled up a bloody sleeve and flexed his elbow, showing Bill the unblemished skin.

Bills mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. "I…don't understand…"

Sam leant forwards to face him, almost nose to nose. "First correct thing you've said all day. You don't understand a goddamn thing that's happening here and you know what? I don't care to explain any of it to you. Guess I'm not that civilized after all." He stood away as Alfie grabbed a sweatshirt from the back of a chair and began to wrap it around Gavin's shoulder.

"I've got a right to know what's going on in my own flat," complained Bill.

"Um…no…you lost any rights when you kidnapped me and Lara to extort my brother."

"I said it before and I'll say it again – you were fucking lucky that we got the job instead of others I could mention. My crew did the bare minimum to achieve maximum results. Stop acting like a pussy - no one died or got properly hurt…"

"No one got hurt?" Sam was amazed at Bill's gall. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"It was all superficial – the blood and that. To get Dean to hand over the necklace. You had food, water…and other than a bloody nose, your girlfriend was well looked after. There's other outfits would have done all sorts to a pretty girl like her…"

"You mean it, don't you?" Sam came closer. "You actually think you're some kind of superstar because you didn't rape someone? You want a medal for that?"

"Why not?" Bill was unrepentant to the last and Sam was done with him.

"Because you're trash. The lot of you. Dean – let's get these guys into the 'pleasuredome' – I can't stand looking at this douchebag any longer."

"What's the pleasuredome?" Dean asked.

"Oh nothing…just the charming little guest room that Bill provided for me and Lara. According to Bill he's hosted plenty of visitors there – but I don't think he ever got the chance to spend any time in there himself."

"Then lead the way, brother of mine. Come on fellas…up, up, up! On your feet!"

Sam wasn't happy with Dean's cozy repartee, but he let it go for now. All was not forgiven, but there was a time and a place to remind Dean that Sam had meant every single word the last time they spoke. Sam grabbed Gavin under the arms and hauled him to his feet.

As Sam and Dean herded the four men into the nauseating bedroom, Dean whistled at the sheer volume of blood. "Jeez – whose is all this?"

"Mainly mine. Bit of Lara's, bit of Bill's. No harm done though, eh Bill? No one got hurt, did they?" Sam took great pleasure in cuffing Archie and Gavin to the bar above the mattress. Gavin was entirely reluctant to get down on the mattress, and it took a lot of gun waving and threatening words before he finally lay down. The chrome bar that Sam had been chained to was reserved for Bill. Alfie, he left free for now.

"At least get me my fags?" pleaded Archie. "You know – my cigarettes. C'mon guys – I done nothing to you…I never laid a finger on you or the woman, Sam…"

"Tell you what..." Dean answered amicably. "Tell me the time and place of tomorrow's meet up with that Haversham asshole, and I'll personally go get 'em for you. I'll even leave you uncuffed so you can smoke as many of your cancer sticks as you like."

Archie looked at Bill, who was red-faced and huffing with his arms stretched up over his head. "Tell 'em fucking nothing!" He answered, viciously.

"That's the way you want to play this?" Said Sam. "You want to be difficult?"

"Why the fuck not? Disrespect me and this is what happens." He was straining hard against the cuffs.

Sam sighed. "Fair enough. I'm pretty sure I can find out myself, anyway, without your help. Enjoy the pleasuredome guys, see you tomorrow." Sam made to leave.

"Hang on!" Bill cried out. "You gonna leave us chained up all night? I can't even take a piss like this!"

Sam ventured over to Bill. Stepped up close enough to smell his breath. "Like you left me, you mean? You tortured me and now you want to talk about respect?" Sam pulled the small knife out of his trouser pocket and smiled "How about I really make us even, and cut your arm wide open? Return the favor, as it were." Bill's red face grew pale, and Sam wondered if he was going to stroke out.

"Oh don't cry – I'm not going to cut you." Sam put the knife away in disgust.

"Well I am!" Dean exclaimed. "He tortured you? Step aside Sam, and let me introduce him to my less pleasant side."

"He's not worth it Dean. Besides – I've got other things to be getting on with." Sam turned around. "Alfie – you're with me and Dean. Outside, now!" Reluctantly, Dean took Sam's lead and grabbed a hold of the kids arm. Dean dragged him out of the room, to the cries of his enraged uncle. Sam slammed the door shut and bolted it.

The kid was nervous – no doubt about it, he almost tripped over his own feet as he clattered down the corridor. It was obvious he was wondering why he had been singled out. Sam kept that tension ramped up by not saying a word to him, until he had been forced into Sam's chair by the coffee table. Dean went and stood behind him, and Alfie visibly cringed and hunkered down.

Sam looked around at Lara, who was still over by the kitchen talking to Cas. He really didn't want to do this in front of her – show her the side of him he had tried to run away from. But all running had done so far was bite him in the ass.

"The meet up tomorrow." Sam was abrupt with the kid. "When and where?"

Alfie stayed sullen, so Dean placed a hand on his shoulder. Gripped it until the kid yelped out loud. "I dunno!" Dean gripped harder as the boy wriggled. "Ow! I swear it, arsehole, let go! I don't know shit!"

Sam raised an eyebrow at him. "But your uncle knows, right?" Alfie gave Sam his best evil-eyes death-stare.

"I'll take that as a yes-he-does. So tell me Alfie – how do we get him to talk without us hurting you or him, eh?"

Alfie squirmed and picked at Dean's fingers trying to loosen them.

"Seriously Alfie you need to think, because if he doesn't tell us willingly he will have to tell us un-willingly. You know what I mean by that? I think you do…you must've seen plenty of that kind of thing go down in this flat…"

Alfie had. "Why don't you look on Bill's phone, maybe? I know you've still got it, so shouldn't you check on there first, before getting all gangster?" The boy had a point. Sam ignored the teen's angsty-sarcasm and tossed Dean the cell. Dean carefully scrolled through messages, before leaning forwards and speaking directly into the cringing boy's ear.

"Alfie, man that was a good try but unlucky for you, you don't get the cigar."

"Come on - last chance to help you and your uncle out here?" Sam really did want to give him every chance, but he clammed up again. So he had to change tack. "How old are you Alfie? Sixteen? Seventeen?"

Alfie looked at him scornfully. "What d'you want to know that for, you fucking weirdo…"

"I'm just trying to find out if you're a man or a boy. Which is it?"

"I aint no boy. I'm fucking eighteen man, got my own wheels and a fit bird."

"Really?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, really. Why – you only interested in kids?" He taunted.

Sam sighed. Time for plan B. "Ok. Dean – take the 'man' into the other bedroom and secure him tight." Alfie's eyes suddenly went wide.

"What's your play Sammy?"

Sam bristled at his brother's use of the familiar nickname. "Just do it, ok?"

Dean was starting to get visibly pissed at Sam's cold shoulder. Castiel also frowned, but before Dean could say anything Cas stepped forward and grabbed hold of the teen's arm. "I'll go with you. I've a feeling this one could be a handful." With a look that could melt lead, Dean turned his back on Sam and grabbed Alfie's other arm.

The teen yelled some very colorful obscenities as he was forcibly dragged back down the corridor by Cas and Dean. That was fine with Sam – he wanted Archie to hear the fear in his nephew's voice.

Sam took the moment to speak to Lara. He needed to explain what was going to happen here, and give her the chance to leave if she wanted. As he stepped up to her she took hold of his bloodied shirt sleeve.

"You ok Sam?"

He was taken aback at her concern for him. "Am I ok? Are you?"

"Yeah, mostly. So long as you don't count being totally weirded out. Um… Sam, you really weren't kidding about being mad at your brother, were you?"

"You noticed that huh?"

"You're not exactly hiding it." She shrugged. "Obviously I don't know what went on between you – but from what I can see it doesn't look like he wants to fight. The opposite, in fact. Is there no way the two of you can reconnect?"

Normally Sam would have lashed out at the interference, but Lara genuinely was just trying to help. "Honestly? I don't think so. Look, at the moment I'm more concerned about you anyway. You shouldn't be here - you should be at home taking it easy. Or at work doing whatever that important thing was you had to do today."

"Yeah, like I could concentrate on giving a PowerPoint to the board to get them to upgrade to a new server system." She laughed at herself. "Ridiculous. It seemed so important – I was up half the night preparing. Now it's a joke that I spent so much time on something so irrelevant..."

"Irrelevant?" Sam was troubled. "No – don't think that!" He took hold of her shoulders. "This is what I'm talking about…this…here…it's not normal. Please don't let what happened today change who you are. What you do is normal and right and you can't ever think otherwise!"

"If that's true then why is it again that you're so desperate to go meet this guy tomorrow?" She looked sad. "If you're not going to reunite with your brother then why are you still here?"

Struck by Lara's words, Sam realized it was true - he could just…leave. Why was he even still here? Lara was safe, and Dean and Cas could easily take care of these guys. If they'd truly been so busy mopping up the remaining British Men of Letters on their own, then they could surely take down the last man standing without his help? And he didn't know how much longer he could hang around Dean before the not-even scabbed over wounds flared up again. Time apart hadn't helped him see what had Dean done as any less of a betrayal – it was only his brother's (and Cas's) steadfast refusal to leave London – to keeping him safe without him even knowing they did it - that made him think hard about what he really wanted. It wasn't only his body that had been worked over today –his emotions had taken a beating too.

If he walked out of this apartment now, where would he go? Back to work? The thought of going back to the bank unexpectedly filled him with a cold sweat. London – and the mindless drone work – had been a way of him healing from what Dean, and the British Men of Letters had done to him. Stability, a steady pay check and routine had been like laying a frozen bag of peas across his inflamed mental state. But the last few hours had re-exposed his former life as a hunter – and forced him to evaluate why he did what he did. Ultimately, it came down to the fact he felt like he owed it to Dean and Cas to see this through. And to see Bill and his gang brought down hard.

"Lara - if you'll let me I'll buy you a good bottle of wine and a steak dinner and then tell you the whole depressing story of why I've got to stay. But it's going to have to wait until all this is done."

She looked at him seriously. "I get we don't have time for the full shebang right now, but I'm trusting you to tell me everything when this is over. And I'll hold you to that wine…a good bottle. No cheap crap…" She smiled, then looked up to see Dean coming back into the room. "Sam – what are you going to do to that horrible little shit Alfie? You're not going to beat him up or anything are you?"

Sam crinkled his eyes. "Not been here long enough to totally get English sarcasm. Did you want me to beat him up, or not…?"

"No, you silly sod. He's a proper little shit bag, but it's the rest of them that deserve a punching more."

"Not sure Cas will agree..." Dean loudly joined in their conversation. "The slippery little fucker can throw a punch…" Castiel followed him into the room, gingerly rubbing at his jaw.

Sam stifled a smile before Cas could see it, then looked back at Lara. "I'm not gonna hurt the kid, don't worry. But I am gonna make it sound like it. I just need to convince his uncle to tell me where the meet up is tomorrow."

She nodded. "Ok. Go do what you got to do." Her trust in him almost made him reach over to kiss her. And then run the hell away so that she was well out of the sphere of tragedy that cursed his life. She didn't notice his wobble and carried on chatting. "Meanwhile I'm going to search this nasty kitchen for something to drink. All that talk of wine made me thirsty."

"If you find the good stuff, count me in." Dean smiled at her, full wattage. "Or even the cheap stuff, I'm not fussy."

Lara nodded and went into the kitchen, loudly rattling through cupboards. Dean looked at Sam with a grin. "I like her Sam. And it's pretty obvious she likes you…"

Sam thought about altogether ignoring Dean's awkward attempt at small talk, then changed his mind. "Yeah, well we're not together."

"You mean you never made a move?"

Sam wanted to say 'it's none of your damn business'. Instead he said "I've only known her two weeks. Before today, we probably said all of about ten words to each other."

"…and? When there's chemistry, there's chemistry! Who needs words, anyway?"

"I do, Dean." Sam was getting frustrated. "Anyway, can we get back on track? Bill's will never talk, and neither will Gavin. But Archie? I think with the right leverage – aka Alfie, he will."

"Sam…it was you these bastards fucked with, so it's your play. But if the Marlboro-Lite Man in there doesn't spill then things are going to get messy real quick. Haversham is the last Man of Letters alive who tried to have you murdered and I'm not letting him get away. Even if it means the pleasuredome gets a lot bloodier. And I mean a LOT." Unwavering determination burned through Dean's green eyes, and Sam's heart chose that moment to betray him with a sudden ache at how much he had missed his fiercely protective brother. He forced it down.

"Let me go do this then." Sam quickly outlined his plan, before picking up a rickety dining chair and carrying it into the other bedroom. Dean and Cas stayed behind with Lara.

Alfie was sat on the floor, tied to an old water pipe. He would have panicked and run if he could, at the terrifying sight of Sam holding a chair above his head, but Dean had him bound too tight. He wasn't gagged though, and he screamed as Sam brought the chair crashing down against the wall next to him. Other than a few minor splinters (to both him and Sam), the teen was completely unharmed. Sam then picked up a chair leg and started battering the wall and the floor around him. He was making a lot of noise and Alfie's terror helped provide the remaining sound effects.

The scene set, Sam shoved an old t-shirt into the boy's mouth so that he couldn't ruin the fake-out, and then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He waited in the hallway a couple of minutes, letting the silence sink in before going into the pleasuredome. As he entered the bedroom, the three men – who had been talking in furious loud whispers - quickly shut up. Sam forced himself to look like he was about to have a panic attack. "Um – Archie, I'm not gonna lie to you…we've got a bit of a problem." Bill started shouting and yelling as Sam walked past him without even a glance in his direction.

"What…what?" Archie asked, as Sam uncuffed him from the wall.

"Just…you need to come with me…it's Alfie…he…" Sam stopped talking and re-cuffed Archie's hands behind his back. He saw Bill and Gavin shoot worried glances at each other. "I'll explain everything, but you need to come with me now."

Archie couldn't get out of the room fast enough, didn't even look back at the two mates he was leaving behind. Chomping at the bit, as Sam locked the bedroom door behind him he went to try and get into the other bedroom. Sam, instead, pushed him down the hallway and towards Dean and Cas.

Sam waited until they were all the way into the room before letting Dean take over. "Archie…your name's Archie right?"

"The fuck?" Archie was anxious, his breathing shallow. "Yes…Archie…whatever. What's going on? Where's my nephew?"

"Thing is Archie, you might want to take a seat."

"No, no I'm alright – just tell me…" Sam pushed him down onto the couch, anyway.

Dean coughed. Looked down at his feet, scraped at his fingernails, gazed anywhere but Archie's eyes. "Thing is….thing is we got a bit rough with Alfie. A bit too rough. We didn't mean to, but he fought back."

Archie's voice trembled. "What…what have you done?"

Dean finally looked at him, putting some urgency into his voice. "He's in a bit of trouble and I reckon we need to call an ambulance. Like, right now."

Alfie stood up, panicking. His forehead was pale and sweaty. "Do it then!"

This time Sam spoke. Slowly and deliberately. "If we did ring for the paramedics, my brother and I would need to leave before they arrive." He paused. "And if we go now, it means we won't get to find out where Sir Haversham is supposed to be meeting Bill tomorrow..."

There was a silence.

"You see where I'm going with this? I don't want the kid to die, and I know it sounds cold, but we aren't leaving here until we get the meet up details…"

"You're lying. You're mother-fucking lying." Archie was angry and confused. "I've been in this game a long time and I know a kidder when I see one…"

"Man, I really wish we were." Sam went behind him and uncuffed him. "Believe me…I got no love for you or your psycho friends, but I that doesn't mean I wanted Alfie to suffer like this…"

Archie rubbed his jaw like it was giving him pain. He went to head for the room, but Dean gently held him back. The older Winchester was good – Sam could almost see tears in his eyes. "Cas and Lara are in there with him now and they need space to work. She knows a bit of first aid but the boy needs more help than band aids and sterile wipes." He handed a sweating Archie his cigarettes and a lighter. "C'mon pal – calm yourself down and have a smoke. You need a second to think things through. But only a second, because I don't think the boy has a lot of time to waste…"

Archie lit up, with shaking hands. "I…I don't know if you're playing me…" He dragged deeply then absently he moved his hand down to his left arm and began rubbing it. Archie made a weird moaning noise then suddenly dropped his cigarette to the floor. He clutched at his chest, face twisted in pain.

"Shit!" Dean jumped up to catch the guy before he fell. "Cas! Get out here!"

"What the hell?" Sam didn't know what was suddenly happening right in front of him. "Is he having a heart-attack? Dean?"

"I don't know, I think so! CAS!"

"Archie – its ok – we were making it up…Alfie's ok – he really is!" Sam tried to ease Archie's anxiety but it was too late – he saw the light fade from the man's eyes before he'd even got the first word out.

Castiel was out of the kitchen in seconds, with Lara right behind him. Cas grabbed Archie from Dean's arms and laid him down onto the floor, before looking up at the boys, shock evident in his blue eyes.

"He's…he's dead."

Anyone needs a Cockney to US translation just let me know! :-)