Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Writer's block is the work of the devil. Thanks to those of you that reviewed. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as you have the last couple. Again sorry for the delay.
Nadia watched as Dean made his way up the brick path that lead to the wrap around porch. It made her stomach twist and turn thinking that nothing but another nightmare was about to begin. She was entering another hell alongside the only man that knew anything about the past hell. What would they make you do this time? They had already degraded her more than anything she even knew.
A low moaning from the bed made her turn toward her daughter. She looked so much like her father it wasn't even funny, especially considering that she didn't have a true enough clue about her past. She only knew that at the funny age of fourteen her mother had found herself alone pregnant in a world that would shun her.
"Mama?" Maria's voice was heavy with sleep.
Wiping tears from her hot cheeks she turned toward her. "Hush baby. Just go back to sleep okay?"
"I had a nightmare. These men broke in. Are we hostage?" The sleep slowly receding from her voice and eyes.
Even in the dark she could see the fear on her mother's face. Whatever those men downstairs had down to her years ago, it had her scared to death. It absolutely floored her that her mother was scared about anything. Never in her nine years had she seen the remote sign of hysteria and yet now it didn't seem to end.
She hated seeing her daughter so scared, until now she never wanted to tell her about the past and what the hell had happened. Her innocence should not have to be shattered. She closed her dark eyes and groaned in frustration. This was not good and where the hell was Dean? They had kept him for too long.
"Mom?" Nadia's worried voice broke through to her thoughts.
"Don't worry about it Maria. Just go back to sleep…" Her voice trailed off as her bedroom door opened and a tall man was pushed it, quickly followed by Juan Martinez.
"Just get comfortable. We'll be ready in just a few minutes and then we'll move to our newest location." Juan said, smiling cruelly at them all and walking out of the room.
Dean looked at Nadia; she looked just as scared and small as she had when she was fourteen. Just beyond her shoulder standing at the edge of the bed, stood a small girl who looked close to ten at the most. Her hazel eyes were large and questioning. In all reality she looked almost identical to pictures of his mother when she was little; he vaguely remembered looking at them with his grandma shortly after the age of seven.
"What the hell happened? You said that you weren't coming here to help me." Nadia said taking a step forward, her knees shook.
"Yeah well that's before he said he'd like to have some fun with your daughter. You know how he likes them young."
He watched her dark eyes widen. "He told you that? God we have to come up with an idea on how to escape."
"I think she'll be the only one to escape. Calm down Nadia, just take a deep breath and relax. This is no different than the last time."
"Last time?" Maria asked, her hazel eyes locking on the stranger.
"Don't ask questions Maria. Especially right now." She took a shuddering breath and her eyes fluttered shut.
Dean could only stare as the girl glared at her mother. The look was almost identical to the one Sam held when talking to or about their father while growing up. This couldn't be happening, someone would have told him. Then again what could he have done? He had been seventeen years old and in as much trouble as the world and his father would allow.
"Nadia?" He asked, his voice never leaving a whisper.
She smiled softly. "Yeah, Maria this is my friend Dean. Dean this Maria."
Dean swallowed hard. "It's nice to meet you Maria. How do you like living here?"
In the dark Maria shrugged. "It's a nice old house. Downstairs where we have our washer and dryer it used to be a place for the old farm people to put their dead. Every now and then you can hear some of them crying into the night."
"I used to hear something similar to when I was little and living in an old house."
"Hello! We need to figure out how to at least get her out of here." Nadia stated firmly. She couldn't, no wouldn't put her daughter through the same hell she had gone through herself.
Dean nodded. As much as he'd like to find out about the little girl he knew that her safety had to come first. He needed to think, he needed Sam. They had taken his cell phone and had put it on the table next to the front door along with his gun and the knife he always kept near.
He knew they'd take them both by gunpoint. Thankfully they hadn't brought in another person, then again they didn't know about the girl. It was so much easier to think of her as the girl and not let any emotions get in the way. Thoughts ran so fast through his mind and he wanted nothing more than a nice rousing bout of sex, brought on the most judicial way; picking up some chick at the bar, then at least he'd have a clear mind.
"I'll have to run by myself Mom." The small voice made the big decision for herself and her mother. "How long will any of this take?"
Nadia gnawed on her bottom lip and shot a look at Dean. "There's no telling."
Dean licked his lips, "How good are you at shoplifting?"
Even in the dark room he could see the small smile that graced her lips, "Pretty good. Mom tells me all the time that she's going to have to send me to boot camp eventually."
"Good. Downstairs on the table by the front door is my cell phone, a knife and a gun. If you can grab all three and once we are out the door run like hell."
Nadia nodded and continued for him. "They may threaten to shoot us but ignore them and get into the woods. Get as far away from the house as possible. You remember where I keep the extra set of keys?"
Maria nodded. "Yes. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Remember what the therapist said? You have to relax and breathe slowly." She shot a look at Dean. "She has some issues she needs to deal with. I think this is one of those things."
Dean smiled slowly and nodded. "Yeah but really can ya blame her?"
"No not really. What exactly do I call you? Mr. Winchester, Mr. Dean or just plain Dean?"
"Dean. Do you know how to shoot a gun?"
She shook her head and sent her blonde hair flying about her. "No sir."
"Okay…" He began and was interrupted by the bedroom door flying open.
Juan and Jorge stood there, sick smiles on their face. "Are you ready to go? We certainly are."
Juan stepped forward the gun pointed directly at Nadia's head. "You'll move slowly and quietly. Any sudden movements and her head is gone, then it'll be the girl's turn."
Dean heard Nadia swallow hard and he nodded. There was no way he could risk their deaths, especially if there was any way Maria could get to Sammy.
"Now just one foot in front of the other, real slow all of you." Jorge said back stepping his way back into the hallway.
Juan stood his gun at the ready as the small group filed passed him. This was going to be fun, so much fun. He couldn't wait until he was able to feel alive again. He shot his brother a sick smile and an eyebrow wiggle over the top of the little girl's head.
Quietly the group made their way down, Nadia's heart growing heavy with every step. What if Maria wasn't able to get away, would they do the same thing to her as they did to her? Would there be a way of bargaining her daughter's safety?
As they passed the front door out of the corner of his eye Dean watched Maria subtly grab everything he told her to. He couldn't help but be impressed because Juan never even noticed her hands move from her sides.
The night air was cool and sweet against everybody's sweat soaked skin. It was almost as refreshing as a long drink of water. They stopped by the car and Maria saw her opening and without thinking dashed toward the woods.
Juan raised his gun and pulled off one shot after her. In the darkness they could hear a soft 'umpf' and with a sad little smile turned back to his future.
"Thanks alot you idiot." Dean said sourly. "You missed the little girl and hit your hostage in the shoulder instead."
"A little blood never hurt anyone." Juan replied, his heart leaping at the chance of making one of them bleed more.