Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…just having fun!

Den of Thieves

Chapter 15 – Dad to the Rescue

John quickly lowered himself into the mine shaft. As he hit the floor, he pulled out his flashlight and looked around. From the dirt on the floor, he could tell that his guess had been right. The boys were heading away from the entrance. He frowned as he saw the glint of golden trails following his son's. From the number of trails, it looked like the boys were going to be severely outnumbered.

John reached into his pack and pulled out three of the guns he had brought with…each fully loaded with consecrated iron rounds. Knowing that a person could easily get turned around once he went deeper into the tunnel…John reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of white chalk. Stepping over to the nearest wall, he placed a large X. Shifting the pack higher on his shoulder, he started down the tunnel to where he hoped his boys were.

oooooooo

Dean winced as Thomas used the large knife to slice into his arm. The blood ran down a small channel in the rock and was collected in the chalice. Dean sighed as he tried to listen for any sounds of Sam. He hoped his brother would be able to make it to the outside…with his injuries, he wasn't sure that Sam would be able to walk a few feet; much less the distance to the mine's opening. Dean had to believe that Thomas would be true to his word…the alternative was unthinkable.

The rock table was very uncomfortable and Dean was already sore from his previous encounters with the pixies. As the blood continued to slowly drip from his arm, Dean hoped that he wouldn't lose too much blood…he would need his strength soon to make his escape.

"You're awful quiet hunter…I hope the ceremony is not boring you."

"Naw…I was just admiring your decor…I gotta say, you should really consider firing your interior decorator!"

Thomas chuckled as he approached Dean. He gently cupped Dean's head in his hands as he bent down close. "You still have a little time left…but first, I have to have a little taste to tide me over."

Dean tried to struggle against his bonds as he felt the spirit place his hand lightly on his chest. Suddenly Dean's body arched on the table as he felt a terrible pain shoot through his body. Dean tried not to scream, but the pain was too intense.

Thomas just grinned as he listened to the sound of Dean's screams and continued to feed. Soon it would be time to end the hunter's life…but first the ritual had to be completed. Thomas removed his hand and watched as Dean's eyes closed. "Sleep well hunter…for it will be your last…I want you strong when I rip your soul from your body and feast!"

ooooooooo

Sam had allowed the pixies to lead him slowly down the tunnel. At least they appeared to be leading him towards what he assumed was the entrance. All he knew was that is was the same direction they had come from when they had attacked them earlier. Sam still had his pistol in his pocket, but unfortunately it would not have enough bullets to get rid of all of the pixies that now surrounded him. The only good news was that most of the pixies had remained outside the door of the hidden room…most likely to guard their master.

After walking for about 30 minutes, Sam could no longer keep himself upright. He had to stop and rest for a minute…but how to let the pixies know…so far they had not communicated other than to giggle, growl or moan.

"Hey…do you guys speak?"

The only response from the pixies was to have one of them slice at his leg with one of their clawed hands.

"Ok…so no talking, but you obviously understand. Look, I need to stop…I need to rest…just a moment before going further...do you understand?" Sam felt like he would have better luck trying to converse with a potato. He tried trudging a few more feet before he finally collapsed to the ground, holding his ribs as he fell…He felt the pixies climbing on his body, tugging at him, tearing his shirt even further as their claws dug into his skin.

"No…leave me alone!" Sam cried as he tried to throw the monsters off, but there were too many. Each slice into his skin brought more agony to his already exhausted body. Sam screamed as the pixies continued to torment him. Before he let the darkness take him, he thought about Dean…he hoped that his brother was having better luck. "I'm sorry Dean" Sam said softly as he fell unconscious to the floor.

oooooooo

John heard a scream...Hold on Sammy, I'm coming! John thought as he quickly extinguished the light. Feeling his way forward, he could hear a low moaning coming from just around the next bend in the tunnel. He quickly pulled out one of the guns he carried…he wasn't sure what he would encounter, but he was sure that he was going to kill whatever son of a bitch had made his son scream.

As John came close to the bend in the tunnel, he felt something at his feet. He bent down and felt it with his hand. A smile forming on his lips as he felt the heavy handle of a pick axe. This could come in handy he thought as he continued to the bend and peered around the corner. His smile quickly changed to a grimace as he saw his son.

Sam's flashlight had fallen and was casting an eerie glow. John could make out about 20 pixies taking turns tearing at his unconscious son's body. Sam moaned as if he could still feel the claws digging into his flesh.

John rounded the corner, firing the pistol and immediately killing eight of the pixies before they realized that they were no longer alone. The pixies growled and turned towards John, standing between him and his fallen son. "Let's see how well you do against someone who is not unconscious you filthy little cowards" John snarled as he lifted the pick axe and charged the pixies swinging it in wide arcs.

As he swung the pick axe, he could hear the pixies scream as they were hit; pierced by the iron head of the axe. The pure iron in the head of the axe killed any pixie it hit on the spot. John kept using the axe to clear his way to his son. He heard Sam groan and saw his son slowly sit up against the wall. "Sam, just stay still…just let me finish cleaning up this mess first!"

"Dad?" Sam couldn't believe his eyes. His father was acting like a man possessed as he continued to use the pick axe and guns to kill the pixies. A few of the pixies had gotten behind John. As one of the pixies got close enough to John to bite him…a shot rang out, followed by a number of other shots. John jumped, but stayed focused as he killed the last two pixies with his own gun. He quickly reached for his flashlight and used it to make sure that there were no other surprises lingering in the tunnel before he walked over to kneel by Sam.

"Nice shooting son...Sammy…hey son…how are ya doing?" John couldn't believe that Sam was still with him. He was bleeding from the many wounds inflicted by the pixies. His eyes were glazed and the sweat on his face had mixed with the blood, which was the only color on his son's pale face.

Sam winced as he moved and immediately reached for his ribs. "I'm fine Dad…but you gotta help Dean…Thomas has him…he's going to kill him…we have to…" Sam struggled to keep himself awake…his body was screaming for sleep, but he had to get to Dean.

"Calm down Sammy…we need to take care of you first and then we'll go after Dean together…you need to let me tend to you son…Dean can take care of himself until we can get to him." John didn't like the shallow breathing or the heat he felt on Sam's skin as he tried to clean the wounds. While he was worried about Dean, he knew that he had to get Sam on his feet. He couldn't leave him here alone in his condition.

"Dad…Thomas is a spirit, but he has been using some kind of spell that allows him to possess a body shortly after the person has died. He's feeding on their souls as they die."

"How many more pixies do you think are down here?" John asked as he gently removed what was left of Sam's coat and shirt. The original bandages were badly torn by the pixies. He quickly cut through the bandages, revealing the extensive bruising on Sam's rib cage.

"I don't know…we've killed quite a few of them….ouch…hey careful!" Sam winced as his father touched one of the broken ribs.

"Hold still Sam…I need to see how bad it is!"

"It's bad ok…just tape me up and let's get going…Dean can't have much more time!"

"I said, sit still Sam…that's an order!" John shook his head as he continued to feel Sam's ribs. "Jeez Sam…what have you done to yourself…looks like you have at least 3 cracked ribs!"

"Well I guess falling into the mine shaft and being tossed around by a demented spirit can do that to you." Sam tried to contain his groan as his father began the process of binding his sore ribs.

"Sam…you said that Thomas was a spirit…did you find his bones?" John took off his own shirt and coat and gently helped Sam shrug into them. The sleeves were way too short, but at least it would keep Sam warm until he could get him out of here. John pulled his T-Shirt out of his jeans, hoping it would cover the gun he had slipped into his waist band.

"Yeah, Dad…and apparently all the bones of his victims…" Sam groaned as his father helped him stand. Sam leaned slightly forward, trying to slow his breathing and fighting against the dizziness he felt. His father placed a steadying hand around Sam's waist. He grabbed his pack and started to lead Sam down the tunnel.

"Come on son…we have a spirit to torch!"

TBC

Raven524 : Guess that's enough Sammy pain for tonight. Let me know what you think…too much…too little…just right…just R&R!