Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…just having fun!
Den of Thieves
Chapter 4 – Warning
Dean pulled into the driveway beside the older home. He glanced at his watch, groaning at the time—3:30 a.m.---nothing like knocking on someone's door in the wee hours of the morning. Dean walked up the steps and rang the bell. After a few moments, the porch light was turned on and an elderly man opened the door.
"What can I do for you young man?" the man yawned as he finished tying his old faded bathrobe.
"It's my brother…he fell into the river earlier tonight…he's pretty banged up and I think he may be suffering from hypothermia."
"Take it easy…where is he?"
"I left him in the car…I know it's late, but the hospital is…"
"Don't worry…being a country doctor and the only doctor in these parts…I'm used to being woke up…bring your brother in and I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks…you don't know how much I appreciate this!" Dean said as he quickly went back to the car to retrieve Sam. Sam hadn't moved since Dean had lowered him into the car 20 minutes ago. Dean carefully opened the passenger door, being careful to catch Sam as he slid sideways.
"Sammy…hey little brother, can you wake up for just a minute…the nice doctor says he will take a look at you."
Sam heard his brother, but wasn't sure he could do what Dean wanted. His mind felt fuzzy and his body felt slightly disconnected. "Dean…ok…just give me a moment…I can't seem to feel my legs"
"You just let me do most of the work…I would rather take you in upright than carry you, I don't want to injure your ribs any more than they already are…come on!" Dean pulled Sam's legs around, carefully placing them on the ground. Next he helped Sam stand, placing his brother's arm over his shoulder and carefully placing his arm around his brother's waist…guiding him towards the house.
It took a few moments, and a lot of grunting from both boys, but eventually Sam was lying on an examination table in a room located off the living room. Dean was standing to the side, watching as the Doctor carefully removed Sam's coat and T-Shirt.
"Son, could you help me hold him up, I need to listen to his chest." Dean supported Sam as the Doctor continued his examination. Sam's head was hanging on his chest, his shaggy bangs covering his eyes. Dean could still feel the trembling in Sam's body.
"Is he going to be ok Doc?" asked Dean as he gently lay his brother back down onto the table. The Doctor continued his exam for a few more moments and then reached over for a thick blanket, he covered Sam.
"Let's step out here and let the boy rest for a moment."
As Dean started to leave the room, he felt Sam's hand grab his own. He glanced at his brother and saw the worried look in his eyes. "Don't worry Sammy, I'll be right back"
The Doctor watched the two boys and smiled as he saw the older boy pat the younger one on the shoulder.
"Well, let me introduce myself first...I'm Doctor O'Reilly…but most folks around here just call me Doc."
"Thanks Doc, my name is Dean and that is my brother Sam…now can you tell me how he is doing?
"Sure, sorry, he'll be fine. He just needs a warm bed, some good food and a little rest. He has significant bruising, especially on his rib cage…but the ribs don't appear to be broken. He'll be sore for a few days, but I expect, he'll be up and around within the next 24 hours."
Dean sighed and looked out at the car. He hated to use their emergency credit card, but he guessed that would be better than dragging his brother back to the camp site. "Hey Doc, is there a reasonably priced motel nearby?"
"No need son, I have plenty of spare rooms here. Besides, I'd like to keep an eye on your brother for a little while, just to make sure there are no complications. Why don't you help me get your brother into one of the rooms, the sooner we start getting him warm…the better!"
Between the Doctor and Dean, they managed to get the lanky youth into one of the beds in the adjacent room. There was a daybed in the same room for Dean.
"The bathroom's through there and the kitchen is down the hall and to the right. Help yourself to whatever you need. If he has any problems, my room is at the head of the stairs…otherwise, I'll check in on you in the morning."
Dean shrugged out of his jacket and sat on the edge of the daybed looking at his sleeping brother. As he tiredly rubbed his hand through his hair, he thought about the events of the day trying to make sense of what was going on. Like Sam…he couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was happening in the woods. "Ah hell…so much for the vacation!" he thought as he stretched out on the bed. As Dean drifted off to sleep, he wondered what had really happened to Sam…well tomorrow he and his brother would have a long talk.
Sam had slept for a few hours when he started to quietly moan in his sleep.
The house was dark and Sam could feel the evil that lived within the walls. He felt like he had to enter, but he held back. He wasn't sure what was in there, but he had a feeling he didn't want to find out.
Suddenly Sam felt something pulling at him…as he pushed away, he felt himself falling…falling into darkness. As he landed at the bottom of the pit, he felt something soft and warm beside him. Pulling himself up with a groan, he reached into his pocket for a flashlight. The soft glow of the light began to tremble as Sam got his first look at what was beside him…
"Dean…Oh God, Dean!" Sam yelled as he sat up straight in the bed, his unfocused eyes searching.
Dean jumped from the bed and went over to his brother. He gently pushed his brother back down onto the mattress. "Sammy…it's ok…I'm here…come on bro'…wake up…it's just a dream…you're safe"
Sam blinked and finally focused on the face of his brother. As awareness came to him, Sam's face grimaced in pain and he grabbed for his ribs. "Man…remind me not to do that again!" groaned Sam. As the pain subsided, Sam looked up at his brother who was quietly sitting on the edge of the bed. Sam sighed…he knew that look…Dean wouldn't leave until Sam had told him about his nightmare.
"Look Dean…can we just hold this discussion until tomorrow morning? I promise, I'll tell you everything…I'm just so tired…" Sam yawned and his eyes were already starting to close. He smiled when he felt his brother gently pull the blanket up around Sam's shoulders.
"Ok little brother…you rest…but tomorrow we talk." Dean said quietly studying his brother's pale face. As Sam's breathing became more regular, Dean couldn't resist reaching up to move Sam's bangs out of his eyes. His hand resting briefly on Sam's forehead, checking for fever and when he found none, he sighed with relief and returned to the daybed.
ooooooooo
Dean came instantly awake as he heard someone quietly enter the room. He started to reach under his pillow when he recognized the doctor. "Sorry Dean, I didn't mean to wake you, I just wanted to check on our patient."
"No problem Doc." Dean said as he sat up on the edge of the bed.
The doctor gently moved the blanket, listening to Sam's chest. After being satisfied that his patient was doing fine he turned to look at Dean. "I bet you're hungry…why don't you join me for breakfast before I leave to make my rounds?"
Dean sat at the table, looking into his cup of coffee as if its murky depths could give him some answers. He started as the Doctor asked him a question.
"Huh…sorry Doc, guess I had my mind somewhere else…what did you say?"
"I asked where you boys had been camping."
"Oh…our camp site is located about 15 miles from here, next to the river…why?"
The Doc looked out the window as if he was trying to decide how to answer the question. Dean immediately became alert. "What is it Doc…is something going on around here?"
"Well Dean, most folks around here stay away from that stretch of the forest and the ghost town located near it. They say strange things happen up there…strange and dangerous."
"What do you mean dangerous Doc?"
The Doc looked at Dean with concerned eyes "They say that people who stay up there never come back…Dean you and your brother need to leave as soon as he is able…you can't go back up there…it's not…safe."
TBC
ooooooooo
Raven524: Love the guesses so far…all I can say is…all will be revealed soon…Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and guesses (Game Show Host…don't think so, even I couldn't do that to the boys). As always, let me know what you think by R&R!
