I have no real excuse other than it's been a rough week. I'll try to start posting daily again.

~TH~

It was certainly not the first time Caleb had woken up tied to a chair. He had to wonder what that said about his lifestyle.

It was however the first time he could remember waking up tied to a chair with Dean standing over him.

"Welcome back to the land of living."

Caleb grinned back. "No thanks to you."

"I told you to get out. It's more warning than the rest of the Brotherhood is going to get."

"So I heard." His head was pounding. Even if Dean wasn't wearing warding there was no way he could read him or anyone else.

"Yeah. And you heard too much. You'll be lucky if they let you live now."

"I'm sure you argued real hard for my sake."

"I told you to get out before they got there. But you just had to play hero like always. Don't try to pin this on me."

Caleb laughed. "What can I pin on you then? Your plan to take down the Guardian? To take out your father?"

"Trust me." Dean crouched down, making himself eye level with the other hunter. "In the end, everyone will get what they deserve."

"You included?"

It was Dean's turn to let out a harsh laugh. "Maybe when this is all over. But let's be real Damien, when have I ever gotten what was owed me?"

"Christo."

Dean straightened, eyes flashing only in humor. "Nice try. But this is all me."

"I don't believe that."

"Believe what you want." He shrugged. "Doesn't change anything."

"Why?" If Dean was going to betray them he at least had a right to know why.

"Because I was done being dragged around by the Brotherhood."

And this time when Caleb laughed it was nearly hysterical. "So you decided to be dragged around by a bunch of lowlifes instead? You're still being bossed around and stepped on, Deuce."

The punch was unexpected, and yet it didn't hurt as much as it should have. The fact that Dean had lashed out like that hurt more than the actual hit. Caleb had sparred with Dean. He knew the kid's limitations. He knew that this particular punch was half hearted at best. He'd taken much worse in sparring matches when Dean was ten.

Dean grabbed him by the shirt, pulling them closer together. "Listen Reaves, there is much more going on than you could even begin to understand. Just sit back and play your part and they might let you live."

Caleb was released with a shove.

"Oh good." How long Jamison had been in the room was a mystery. It could have been the whole time for all Caleb knew. Dean straightened, putting on the good little soldier act Caleb had seen him put on for John on numerous occasions. "Now that he's awake we can move on. Jake, give him the phone."

Thug number one, Jake apparently, handed Caleb's phone to Dean.

"Make the call." Jamison motioned when Dean didn't move.

The hesitation caught everyone's attention.

"It's too late to back out now, Winchester."

"I think-" He glanced at Caleb before clearing his throat. "I think you might want to gag him first. I have a feeling he won't make this easy."

Jamison laughed. Caleb felt like he'd been punched again, but this time full force and with brass knuckles.

A strip of something was forced between his teeth and his head was yanked back as they tied it. The entire time he glared at Dean who was pointedly avoiding him.

"There we are, your buddy should stay quiet now. Make the call."

The phone only rang a few times before the pastor picked up. Caleb could only hear half of the conversation but even that was too much.

"Uh, hey Pastor Jim… Yeah, yeah I know it's- it's Caleb." And Dean actually sounded upset. The little wobble in his voice was a nice effect. Very Sam trying to get his way when he wasn't actually hurt that bad but wanted sympathy. "He's hurt- I don't- It's not something I can take to the hospital. You need to get here. You're the closest contact." The situation once again made itself clear and Caleb felt a knot form in his stomach. They were using him as bait to lure Jim here and kill him. He'd know that but it was only now sinking in. "Yeah it's the abandoned Gym in Oliver Springs, off Old Hen Valley. I can send you the exact coordinates. Jus- just get here, yeah? It's in his chest… near his heart just- get here."

He snapped the phone closed. Jamison gave another hearty laugh, clasping him on the back. "You should have been an actor, Dean. Tom Cruise couldn't have performed such a winning performance."

Dean smiled, but even from a distance Caleb could see that Dean was shaking.

"He, uh, he'll be here as soon as he can be. Should be about three hours."

"Perfect!" Jamsion said, once again pounding Dean on the back. "Gives you plenty of time to say goodbye to your buddy here."

Dean glanced at Caleb, turning as soon as eye contact was made. "I'll be in the office."

"He better not chicken out on us, Jamison."

"He won't. Trust me. But you try looking the man who practically raised you in the eyes and pulling the trigger. Let 'im catch his breath."

Caleb glared at his best friend's back until Jamison stepped in front.

"How we feeling, Reaves? Having fun yet?"

A growl was all he could muster around the gag.

"He's been so helpful. We couldn't have done any of this without him."

He started circling around the chair and Caleb couldn't help but feel like a caged animal. He silently cursed Dean for taking his last defense with the gag.

"You know we've been closing in for- for years. But it's not as easy as you'd think. The Brotherhood is big. But getting close to the Guardian?" He let out a whistle. "Now that's hard to do. So few people actually know his personal life. But Dean? We couldn't have gotten a better asset. Dean knows everything. Birthdays, work hours, favorite foods, everything. And he wasn't even hard to find. It's amazing what people will do when they're abandoned at their lowest point." It was a very pointed statement and Caleb felt a stab of guilt at it. He hadn't abandoned Dean. He hadn't.

"You know it's funny." The man continued, "He would talk and talk. Answer any question. Volunteer information, but he wouldn't talk about you." Caleb grunted as a hand came down hard on his shoulder. Jamison leaned in putting his mouth by his ear. "You're his weak spot."

He stood, moving back around to Caleb's front. "It's the only reason I'm letting you live. I want to see just how loyal he is. Afterall, once a traitor always a traitor, right?"

Caleb maintained eye contact, glaring his only form of defiance.

"Can't say that I blame him though. After what went down at the Farm. I'd leave too."

The uncertainty must have flashed in eyes before he could stop it.

"You don't know. That's- that's rich! They didn't tell you? You spent all this time looking for him and you didn't even know why he left? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The Brotherhood always liked to keep its secrets."

He pulled a chair out across from Caleb, flipping it backwards and resting his hands on the back.

"Apparently your boy Dean has some secrets about the almighty Knight. Some things kept within the family, if you know what I mean. Dean was angry, and rightly so. I know I wouldn't feel safe knowing my Knight treated his kids like that. But I'm not in the Brotherhood, so what would I know?"

There was no way what this man was suggesting was true. Deuce would have told him. He would have talked to him first before going to anyone else. Then they would have hunted down John together.

"Seems little brother never got it, but watching it, that has to do a number on ya. Can't blame him for leaving."

Caleb hoped he conveyed his disbelief and the "you're a liar" sentiment that he wasn't able to verbalize.

Apparently he had. A small chuckle. "You don't have to believe me, I'm just telling you what your buddy told me. Seems he took it all to Murphey, and the good pastor? Took Johnny's side! Told him they had to keep it quiet for the good of the Brotherhood. Imagine finally opening up about something like that and being shot down. Told to keep quiet because your daddy was too important." He shook his head. "I can certainly see how that would cause some hurt feelings, can't you?"

He stood up, scooting the chair away. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to go make sure our friend is okay." He patted Caleb's leg. "I'll be sure to let you know when the great Guardian gets here. Sit tight until then."

Jamison let out another laugh as he left, shaking his head at his own lame joke.

Caleb didn't know what to think. He honestly didn't know what to think. His head was pounding and this new information was just making it worse.

It didn't make sense.

Jim wouldn't respond like that. He'd be furious. Might even take John's ring if he knew. But… the Triad had always worked hard to stay out of John's parenting business. And their reason had always been keeping peace within the Brotherhood.

But John wouldn't ever actually- he was rough on his kids but he'd never actually- but he had on occasion-

His head was too screwed up for this.

He'd have to find a way to talk to Dean. And he'd have to trust Dean would do the right thing in the end regardless of the real circumstances.

~TH~

Thoughts?

You know it's said the best way to sell a lie is is to mix it with truth.

But they also say why lie when the truth hurts more.

Let me know any thoughts that may be had.