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

Home Sweet House

Chapter 9 – Escape to No Where

Sam worked on the door hinges while he thought about what Nick had told him. In a way, it made Sam feel better that he was not the only one…but then, thinking about the sacrifice that Nick's Dad had made…Sam knew that some day, either Dean, his father or both would do the same…and for what? Sam shook his head, sometimes he really did wish he had never been born. He wasn't sure that he would be able to continue if he didn't have his family to fall back on…he admired Nick's strength…his ability to continue even after suffering the loss of his family to the demon.

Sam loosened and pulled out the last pin, leaving the door just resting in place. Moving over to Nick, he gently shook the young man's shoulder "Come on Nick…the door is free…we have to make our escape now before it's too late!"

Nick moaned as he opened his eyes. He grinned at the sight that once again greeted him. "So, how on earth did you come to be dressed as a gladiator?" Nick couldn't help but giggle as the man in front of him blushed.

"It's a long story…can you manage to stand?" Sam decided not to wait for an answer as he reached over and helped Nick to his feet. Nick swayed for a moment, but remained standing as Sam went over to remove the door from the hinges. Sam then returned and placing his arm around Nick's waist, helped him out into the corridor.

Their progress was slow but steady. Sam kept a wary eye out for Marie or any other surprises. Nick paused for a moment, trying to catch his breath. "Can we wait…just a moment?" Nick asked, groaning in pain from his cracked ribs.

Sam helped Nick sit against the wall. He quietly handed Nick one of the knives he had brought in with him. "Here, you keep this…it may come in handy before we leave. Just rest for a moment while I scout ahead a little ways…I'll be right back!" Nick nodded, too tired to care at this point.

As Sam moved out of sight, Nick turned his head and looked up towards the ceiling. Smiling, Nick spoke to the bobbing globe of light that had appeared. "Thanks, if it weren't for you, I'd still be trapped…what…Oh, no!…is he ok?" Nick listened as the spirit told him about Dean's capture. "Can you tell me where he is? Yes, I know it will be dangerous…but we have to help him. He and his brother may be the key to freeing all of us before this is through…yes, you can trust them…could you scout ahead for me and let me know if the way is clear?" The globe of light bobbed and then disappeared just as Sam came back into view.

"Sam…we have to hurry…your brother is in trouble!" Nick cried as he tried to get quickly to his feet. He bent over and groaned as his ribs protested the movement.

"How do you know he's in trouble?" Sam asked as he helped to steady Nick.

"My spirit friend told me…he's in another chamber with that monster…she's torturing him!" Nick's breath was coming in short gasps as he tried to move faster.

"Slow down Nick…you won't do me any good if you pass out! Look, I'm going to get you out of here…then if you can direct me to the chamber I'll go in after my brother." Sam hated to waste the time, but Nick was not in any condition to fight…assuming he had any kind of fighting skills to begin with. "Dean, hold on!" Sam thought as he placed his arm around Nick's waist once more.

"No…there isn't time…besides, you will need me to help youcommunicate with the spirit…unless you cantalk toit? You said you have abilities…can youhear him?" Nick noticed the look of frustration that came over Sam's face.

"My powers…yeah…well, unlike you, I can't seem to control them…they just appear and disappear on their own…Damn it…just once, I wish I could get them to work when I want them to and how I want them to. The last time I tried my telekinesis I almost broke my brother's ribs…and the visions…I never know if they have happened or are going to happen!" Sam hadn't meant to air his feelings to Nick who was almost a complete stranger…but he felt a connection to the young man.

"Sam…I understand, believe me…my first few attempts to help the spirits almost ended in disaster. But with patience and practice…I have been able to control my abilities. But then again, my abilities are not as strong as yours. I'm sure with time…"

"Time…something we never seem to have much of…ok, you can come with, but you need to do as I say…If I say go…then you go…agreed? Sam watched the stubborn look on the young man's face…he began to understand how Dean felt when he acted the same way. Sam sighed "Come on Nick…maybe we can get Dean and get out of here before anything else bad happens!"

A short time later, Sam and Nick arrived in the central room of the basement. Sam looked at the other hallways, wondering which one would lead him to his brother. "Nick, did your friend tell you which hallway?"

"No, but he should be back shortly…I asked him to scout ahead for us…make sure the way was clear. He'll come back to get us once it is safe!" Nick slowly lowered himself to sit on the steps. He watched as Sam paced the room, looking down each hallway as if he could sense where his brother had gone. After a few moments, Sam joined Nick, sitting next to him on the steps.

"Sam…my friend will be back…don't worry!"

"So, who is this friend of yours anyway?" Sam asked, wanting to concentrate on anything but his brother suffering at the hands of the ghula.

"His name is Cedrick. Evidently, he was murdered in this house…from what he told me, it was not a pleasant death" Nick shuddered at the memory of what he had been told.

"Let me guess, he became an item on the menu…right?" Sam could see from the disgusted look on Nick's face that he had guessed correctly. "Look Nick, a ghula is a female version of a ghoul. Ghoul's are normally created from a violent death of the individual and are normally associated where the event took place…in this case this house. She is trapped in this house and unfortunately has a taste for human flesh.

Nick swallowed "Ah…alive or dead?"

"Both" Sam said as he patted Nick on the shoulder "But don't worry, both Dean and I have come up against ghouls before. To kill them, you need to behead them and then burn the remains. But that still doesn't explain why the other's are trapped here…do you have any idea?"

"No, it doesn't make sense…Cedrick could only say that if you die in this house, your spirit will be trapped in it forever." Nick shivered not only from the dampness of the basement, but the thought that if he died here, he would never be able to join his parents.

Just as Sam was getting ready to start searching down one of the hallways, he saw Nick look up towards the ceiling. "Cedrick is back…come on…your brother is this way…if we hurry, we may be able to free him before the monster returns!" Nick let Sam help him once again get to his feet. Determined not to hold Sam back, he motioned for him to go ahead. "I'll follow you as close behind as I can…Cedrick will warn me if there is any danger. Go quick!"

Sam was going to argue with Nick, but once again realized short of throwing the man over his shoulders and hauling him outside, he couldn't force Nick to follow his orders. "Ok Nick…but you watch yourself…first sign of trouble and I want you out of here…Cedrick if you can hear me…watch his back!"

A short time later, Sam found the same set of stairs that Dean had gone down earlier. As he cautiously moved down the stairs, Sam listened closely, hoping to hear some sign of his brother. There was an eerie glow at the bottom of the stairs, casting a reddish light on the chamber below. As Sam entered the chamber, his breath caught in his throat.

In the center of the room was a stone altar, complete with manacles and what appeared to be blood. Along the walls were various torture instruments and chains and further in was…"Dean!" Sam cried as he saw the limp form of his brother hanging from the wall. Sam moved quickly over to his brother and gently reached up to remove the manacles holding him there. There was no key, so Sam quickly pulled out his lock picks and started to work on the locks.

Sam's eyes began to tear as he looked at the damage to his brother's chest. It looked like he had been attached by a wild animal…it was almost as bad as the wounds that the Wendigo had caused. Sam looked at the amount of blood on the floor and grimaced…if he didn't get Dean down soon and stop the bleeding his brother could easily bleed to death.

Finally Sam managed to lower his brother to the floor, using his cape to cover his brother. "Dean…can you hear me…heh…this looks pretty bad…you've lost so much blood…Dean!" Sam let the tears fall as he cradled his brother's head in his lap.

Dean groaned and opened his eyes, smiling at the vision of his brother in full gladiator gear looking down at him with concerned eyes. "Hey bro' what took ya so long?"

"I don't know…I decided to stop for a pizza on the way…can you stand Dean? We have to get out of here before…"

Sam never saw the blow coming as he slumped to the floor next to his brother. Dean, ignoring the pain in his chest, rose on unsteady legs and took a protective stance over his brother's body. "Come on bitch…if it's fun you want…I'll show you what fun is!" Dean ducked as the torch handle that Marie had used on Sam sailed harmlessly over his head. Leaping forward, Dean kicked at the legs of the monster and managed to knock her over. Rolling back up onto his feet, Dean headed for the bag that was laying a short distance away…if he could just get to the bag…he could end this now.

Dean winced as he felt the ghula tackle him from behind, landing with all her weight on Dean's back. Dean felt the wind knocked out of him. The room began to spin and his eyes began to lose focus. "How dare you!" Shrieked Marie as she used her claws once more to rake Dean's back. Dean groaned in pain as he tried once more to buck the monster off his back. "How dare you try to steal my sacrifice…you must be punished…yes my master says you must be punished…you will watch…you will watch as the sacrifice is purified and cleansed…then you will watch as he dies for my master…yes…you will watch me kill him and then you will be my first meal!"

TBC

Raven524: A little grizzly I know…but I warned you. Unfortunately, I think it's going to get worse before it gets better…thanks for the wonderful reviews up to now…but keep them coming…or who knows, you might find yourself on the menu next! (wink)