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

Bait

Chapter 7 – Finding Sam

Sam groaned as he got up from his latest stumble down the steep incline. He had been moving, keeping the sun at his back for most of the morning. He was so thirsty…he hoped he would find water soon. Sam shivered once again as the biting wind blew over his bare chest. He felt like he was losing the battle; each step was getting harder and harder.

Sam knew that he would have to stop soon. He also knew he needed to hide his scent…the vampires would be able to easily track him. Sam had periodically cut pine bows to hide his trail and hopefully mask his scent. He hoped it worked, because if not, the vampires would find him soon.

A few hours later, Sam glanced up at the sun. It would be dark in a couple of hours. Great, if he didn't freeze to death from the cold, he would probably be found by the vampires. He had not seen any sign of a town or other residences in the deep woods. But Sam was starting to not care. The pain of his wounds and blood loss were taking its toll on his body and mind. He pulled out his cell phone one more time…maybe this time it would work.

Sam punched in Dean's number and waited…one ring, two rings and then…

"Sammy…is that you?" Dean's anxious voice came over the line.

Sam sobbed and almost dropped the phone…his fingers were numb from the cold.

"Deeeaaannn…so cccold…I can't do it Dean…I'm sorry" Sam fell to his knees.

"Sammy…Sam! Listen to me! Dad and I are here looking for you…do you know where you are?"

"No…I've been going downhill…sun is ahead of me…Oh God, Dean, it's almost gone…I can't do it again…I can't!"

"Sammy…we are already on your trail…do you hear me…I won't let them get you again…just stay put…I'll find you!"

Sam fell to the ground unconscious.

ooooooooo

Earlier that day, Dean climbed into his father's truck. He had packed his back pack with everything he could think of, just in case they had to walk in. He glanced at his father, remembering his reaction to the disc, he knew that his father was probably just as deeply affected. He decided to wait until his father wanted to talk about it…if Sam had been here, Dean wouldn't have been able to keep him quiet…but his father…he always kept his thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Dean decided to try to get some sleep…he needed to be sharp when they rescued Sam.

John looked over at the sleeping figure of his oldest son. He was glad that the boy had finally dozed off. He figured that Dean probably hadn't slept at all since Sam had gone missing. Shaking his head, he didn't want to think what would happen to Dean if they couldn't save Sam.

John gripped the steering wheel so tightly, that his knuckles were white. He kept seeing his youngest screaming in pain and humiliation. This time, none of those bastards were going to get away…no one hurt his boys and got away with it!

Two hours later, John pulled the truck into a stand of trees about a mile from the ranch. Gently shaking Dean, he motioned for him that it was time to go. Both men grabbed their back packs and got ready to hike to the ranch. John handed Dean a bag of ash and proceeded to dust his clothes form his own bag. The smell would help hide their scent…no sense letting the bastards know they were coming.

Dean and John arrived at the ranch by noon. Neither of them had to talk, John led and Dean followed…the old routine kicking in. They quickly searched each of the buildings. They verified that Sam was not in any of them and that the vampires were all asleep upstairs in the large farm house. Both men walked into the barn and stopped, each deep in their own thoughts.

Dean touched the bloodied rope that had held his brother. Looking closely at the ground, he could see where a heavy body had fallen on the ground. "That's my boy!" Dean thought to himself as he realized that his brother must have gotten himself free. But now where was he!

John had begun checking the perimeter and eventually found Sam's trail. He signaled to Dean, who joined him as they began following the uneven footsteps down the hill. John smiled as he saw the signs that Sam was thinking enough to try to hide his trail. If you didn't know what to look for, it would have been easily missed.

"Your brother can't be too bad off Dean…he's still able to try and hide his tracks!" John said trying to encourage his oldest son. He knew that Dean was taking this hard…and that he probably blamed himself. But John knew where the real blame belonged…he should have finished the job!

"Yeah…well Sammy always was the best at hiding…let's just hope he doesn't hide too well…we have to find him Dad!"

"I know son…we will, just be patient!" John placed a calming hand on Dean's shoulder as the men continued down the hill.

John noticed that Sam's tracks were becoming more staggered and there were signs that he was falling frequently. He knew that Sam must be running out of steam. He prayed that his injuries would not be life threatening…although, this time they would also have to worry about his mind.

Dean jumped when he heard his cell phone ring. Grabbing it out of his pocket, he answered when he saw it was from Sam.

A few moments later, Dean looked at his father who nodded in understanding…they had to get to Sam quickly.

ooooooooo

Sam opened his eyes slowly, the world around him a haze. One minute he was freezing and the next, he was burning up. He tried to figure out where he was, but his mind just couldn't seem to focus. He tried to sit up, but his body refused. He closed his eyes again, almost ready to accept the darkness that awaited him.

Suddenly he heard a rustling of the bushes not far from where he lay. Looking wildly around him, he tried to find a place to hide. He saw an old log, not far from where he was. If he could get over there, he might be able to hide on the other side of it.

Since walking was definitely out…Sam crawled to the log and dropped down behind it….pulling some of the debris from the forest floor to help hide his body and hopefully his scent. Sam held his breath as he waited. Dean said he would come and Sam believed him. He just had to stay hidden until Dean could find him.

The sound of footsteps was getting closer. Sam tried to stay still, but his body would not stop shaking. He looked up and saw a boot land on the log. Sam whimpered and rolled away, intending to flee. He couldn't get caught again…he couldn't. Just as he started to try to get to his feet…he heard a word that stopped him.

"Sammy…Sammy…stop, it's me!" Dean said softly, trying not to startle his brother. He didn't like the wild look he saw in his little brother's eyes. From the flush on Sam's cheeks and the sweat mingled with blood on his brother's body, Dean was pretty sure Sam was running a fever.

Dean held out his hand, talking calmly to the frightened man sitting in front of him. He watched as Sam blinked, trying to focus on the face of the person approaching him. Sam flinched as Dean touched his shoulder, backing away from the touch. "Come on Sammy…it's me, let me help you!"

Dean crouched down so that Sam could see him more clearly. He wasn't prepared when Sammy launched himself at Dean, grabbing onto his coat and burying his head in his chest. Dean looked at his father as Sam continued to sob into his shoulder. His own tears threatened to fall as he gently stroked Sam's back, trying to calm him.

"Dean…we don't have time for this. We have to get moving and find a place to hole up for the night…they will be hunting us soon" John said quietly, trying not to spook his youngest son. He wished he could take the pain away…but since he couldn't, he would do what he was best at…he would protect his son from any further harm.

"I know Dad…just give us a minute ok?" Dean understood the urgency, but he didn't want to scare Sam…the kid had suffered enough.

"Look, Dean…you get him ready to travel…I'll scout around and find us some place where we can hole up for the night. I'll be right back!" John didn't wait for Dean's reply, but started to hunt for a safe place for him and his boys.

Sam's sobs were beginning to lessen as Dean continued to rub his brother's back. A few moments later, Sam pushed back from Dean, feeling ashamed of his weakness. "I'm sorry Dean…I'm fine…can we get out of here now?"

"Sure kiddo…we're just waiting for Dad to come back…he's finding us a nice safe spot to spend the night."

"Dean…did you see…I mean…did you and Dad watch…" Sam couldn't finish the sentence. All the shame and guilt came rushing back.

"Yes Sam…we did…it was you're Morse code that led us here…way to go!" Dean tried to gloss over the fact that he had seen something that Sam may have wanted to keep to himself.

Sam couldn't look his brother in the eye…he wished now that the vampires had finished him…he couldn't stand to see the disgust. Shuddering once again with cold, Sam finally gave in to the darkness that had been calling to him for so long.

TBC

Raven524: Another chapter bites the dust (sorry couldn't resist – LOL). I'm not sure when I'll update next as holiday weekends tend to get hectic…will try to have another chapter up by Sunday. Remember to R&R!