Thanks once more for the kind reviews. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying the story.

Locked up

Chapter seven

Dean walked over to one of the guards.

"I need to see the warden."

"About what?"

"That's between him and me."

"If it's about your brother, forget it. He tried to escape and that's punishable by three months in the hole."

"Three months!"

"It teaches you cons not to try it again."

Dean was sick at the thought of his brother being alone in a cell for three months but at least he'd be safe from Marlin and if he could get out and bring back help…

"Also first time offenders get ten lashes." The guard continued interrupting his thoughts.

"What!"

"Those are the rules. He'll be brought up to the yard before sunset and tied to those posts over there. If he doesn't learn his lesson and tries it again, he'll get twenty."

"That's bullshit!"

"Not here it isn't, the warden runs a tight ship. He doesn't take kindly to people trying to disrupt it."

"I want to see the warden NOW!"

The guard pulled out his radio.

"Sir, one of the newbies wants to see you…..Yeah….okay." The guard hung up and looked at Dean. "You're in luck, he'll see you."

Warden's office

"I'll do it." Dean said as soon as he walked in the door.

"I figured you would."

"But I don't want my brother hurt."

"Oh, you must mean the whipping."

"Yeah I mean the whipping." Dean glared at the warden.

"Well you're brother tried to escape you know?"

"Yeah, and I'm sure one of your guards told you what happened out there between him and Marlin. I want my brother away from that jerk."

"He'll be away; he'll be in isolation till you get back."

"And the whipping?"

"I can't call that off. He tried to escape and that's one of my rules. I'd lose the respect of the cons if I didn't go through with it."

"What if I say I won't do the job if you go through with it?"

"Well then I'd say your brother will get a lot more then just a sore back." The warden gave a small smile. "Don't worry about him, he's a strong kid; he'll get through this just fine."

Dean shut his eyes and looked down trying to hide his pure hatred for this man. He knew he had to get out; he had to find help and get this place shut down. He had no choice but to go through with the warden's plan. If he didn't, he didn't know what would happen to Sam.

"So you'll do it?" The warden asked.

"I don't have a choice."

"Your brother will be fine while you're gone, you have my word."

Dean was temped to say that his word didn't mean crap but he kept his mouth shut.

The warden then gave him a map showing where the houses were located. He told him he'd be taken out of his cell at lights out and given a car and a change of clothes. He was to be back by morning.

Sundown

All the convicts, including Dean, were taken outside to witness the punishment.

Sam was brought out of the isolation cell handcuffed between two guards.

Dean shut his eyes and shook his head sadly as he looked down; he knew there was nothing he could do. When he looked back up his eyes were filled with tears. He could see Sam looking around, probably for him; he obviously didn't know what was in store for him. He was led over to two poles that were standing upright in the ground.

"Strip him down." The head guard ordered.

Sam's cuffs were removed and he struggled in vain as his jumpsuit was pulled off of him. He stood in front of them with only his boxers on as he was pulled over to the poles and a hand tied to each of them. He stood there shivering in the cool night, his arms outstretched between the two poles. He swallowed hard as a guard walked up behind him, a long whip dangling from his hand.

"Begin."

TBC