Chapter Twenty Five

Dean watched in painful agony from his side of the room as Doc Jones braced one leg against the headboard, he had hold of Sam's arm and in a quick movement, betraying his frail appearance, he pulled the joint and twisted the bones back into socket, running it home with a quick tug.

To his credit Sam only screamed once. Nicki was sat behind him, holding his body still with both hands wrapped around his torso, as the bone and socket once again met ,the reverberation made it's way into her bones and rattled around her mind in a sickening dance.

Grace had stepped outside under the pretence of checking up on the men currently removing the separated head and body from her kitchen.

Mike Winters and his brother Charlie lifted the torso into a black body bag and zipped up the carnage as Grace made her way into the room.

Mike had been the deputy in Lockton for almost ten years, his brother for at least five. Together they covered for Albert Jenison on his yearly two week holiday in Florida, the old man loved to sit on the beach and watch the girls walk past. Truth be told Mike was always surprised when he came back. The thought of leaving those golden shores to come back here just didn't seem to fit right.

But then they all stayed here out of love for the community. Funny to think how it took the town's death throes to pull everyone together.

Grace had called Mike and Charlie two hours previous. Something about drifters and kidnapping and fighting for her life. Everyone in the surrounding counties knew Grace, many had come to her for help, including Mike when his wife had left him with his baby daughter, he'd fallen apart but found himself here, on her doorstep. She took him in and helped him stand up again to face the world , so when Grace called for some help of her own, the men leapt into their cars and made it across the county line in record time.

The horror that greeted them was straight out of one of those bad movies that Charlie's son insisted on watching with his Uncle when he stayed over. The last one, called Cry Wolf or something, had really shaken Mike. To think his fourteen year old nephew was watching stuff like that.

Unnerving.

Yet here he was, standing in a kitchen full of blood and a woman with her head currently rolled facing her ass.

Not something you see every day, even in a horror movie.

Grace had recounted the story, Nicki had come to stay, she'd disappeared but then arrived back with the two brothers who the Doc was now seeing to. Nicki had told her side of the story, being kidnapped, bound and locked in a room in one of the abandoned factories, how Dean had been taken too, injured and tortured at the hands of the drifters. Mike noted the state Dean's body was in, the marks on Grace's neck and Nicki's head, the beaten appearance of Sam. It all seemed so familiar. Mike and Charlie had been trying to find explanations for the disappearances which had plagued this county and the surrounding area, the bodies found, mutilated and beat to hell.

The drifters, a gang of them, intent on causing chaos and pain.

There weren't many outsiders Mike trusted, heck, there weren't many people Mike trusted. But the fact these two young men had fought tooth and nail to save first Nicki, and then Grace and Nicki, well hell, in his book they were hero's.

"Do you need anything Mike?"

"No Gracie it's all fine, we're gonna clean up a little here for you and then be on our way. We have all ya'll statements so we'll be in touch if we need anything else"

"Thanks honey, sorry to call you out here like this."

"Gracie it's no bother, I wish you could have called me sooner. I'm just glad everyone is ok, and that our drifter problem is finally over. Although I'm concerned about the way these boys dealt the self defence. But if you say they saved you Gracie then I believe you. We just need to take a run to that warehouse to see if their story stands up."

"They said they had to fight their way out of there too honey"

"I know Gracie, and I'm expecting some bodies. I just hope they aren't all headless because that's not something I'll be able to explain to the bosses"

"You saying you'd arrest those two boys?"

"No Gracie, I'm saying that I wouldn't be able to explain that to the bosses"

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Sam carefully attempted to roll himself over to face the other bed where his brother was currently cocooned in a blanket and fast asleep. Unable to lay fully on his side, Sam settled instead for rolling his head to observe his sleeping sibling.

He looked so peaceful, so innocent and young. Yet the bruising on his face and the bandages across his wrists, the wrapping around his torso, it all spoke of such a different way of life than he deserved.

Dean wanted to give Sam back his innocence and allow him a normal life, well, Sam wanted the same for Dean. Neither could provide that for the other. So instead they held onto the only thing they had that was truly theirs, that no one could take away, come hell or high water it was theirs and theirs alone and they would defend it to the death, even if it meant goading an attack in order to buy an opportunity for freedom.

They had each other. No matter what.

Dean had another broken rib to add to the two already broken, the bruising on his abdomen was now doubled thanks to a sneaky kick from Kate, his thigh was re-stitched and bound tightly and his concussion had taken a step toward severe. All in all big brother was quite the mess.

Not that Sam had gotten off lightly, hell no.

Sam's left arm was strapped and immobilised against his body, his own concussion giving Dean's a run for it's money, plus he had a bruised torso, not broken, but turning a lovely shade of colour dependant on what hour it seemed to be.

But they were alive.

And they still had each other.

Nicki crossed the room and sat on the edge of Sam's bed. She raised a glass of water to his lips. Drinking slowly he took in her appearance, bruised face, split lip. She was lucky.

"Thanks" He managed to croak out when he'd had his fill, his mind felt full of cotton wool and any movement seemed to come from some place deep underwater. That Doc sure had great painkillers.

"Go back to sleep Sam"

"You ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. It's over. I didn't think it would be but it is."

"You're gonna be ok you know"

"Actually you're right, I am. Thanks to you and your brother."

"It's our pleasure" Sam allowed his eyes to drift closed, but a whimper from the other bed caught his attention and his opened them in a snap, sending pain running through his skull.

"Hey, easy Sam, It's ok, I got him"

Nicki stood and quickly made her way around the beds to sit next to Dean. She shushed him and ran a hand along his forehead and hair. All the while talking quietly about Mustangs and Impala's.

"You'll have to take me for a ride in that car of yours Dean, maybe, if I get her fixed, you can come for a ride in my Mustang. I think you'd like her, she's a great drive and purrs like a cat"

Sam watched as Dean's furrowed brow relaxed, his breathing evened slightly, not to the same extent had Sam have been the one to calm him, but still, noticeably so. He allowed his eyes to close once more, safe in the knowledge that tonight, he didn't need to watch out for nightmares, tonight he could sleep soundly, knowing his brother was alive and Nicki was watching over them both.

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I know we're on the home stretch now but i hope you guys don't mind some more fussing from Grace!

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