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 8 – The Cave

John walked quickly through the thick woods; he was worried about the frantic look he had seen in his young son's eyes. He knew this time, Sam would take more care…those bastards had done more than damage his son's body…they had touched his soul. He felt bad about leaving Dean to handle Sam, but John knew that if anyone could help Sam, it was Dean. He had given up that right long ago…in the choices he had made to keep his family safe.

He stopped as he saw a group of overgrown bushes at the base of what looked like a small hill in the terrain. He parted the branches and smiled when he saw the entrance to a small cave behind…perfect! But first he had to make sure that nothing else was currently calling this home. Moving into the cave, he noticed that though narrow in the beginning, the interior got bigger; ending in a fairly large cave. He saw signs that an animal may have used this cave in the past, but there were no recent tracks or droppings to indicate it was still in use. Thanking whoever was watching over them…John quickly headed back towards Dean and Sam.

ooooooooo

Back at the farm house, Kate stretched lazily as she remembered last night's fun. She had been right, Sam was an excellent lover…too bad he had to die. Getting up, she decided to go out and see how her captive was doing. Tonight he would suffer again…only this time, Sheila would have center stage.

Kate entered the barn expecting to find Sam…but all that met her gaze was an empty barn. "Everyone come here at once!" Kate screamed as she exited the barn and started to smell the air. He may have gotten away, but he wouldn't get far in his condition…she would simply follow his scent.

"Stephen…go check on the girl!" Kate commanded as she started to divide up the group for the hunt. She sent the two girls and a man heading towards town. She sent the other two men heading down the mountain into the woods. She would wait for Stephen and then they would head up the mountain…hoping to catch Sam's scent. So far she could not detect anything, he must have hidden it somehow…but she knew that they would find it eventually.

Stephen returned quickly "She's gone…that bastard must have taken her with him…this time I'm going to kill him!"

"All in good time Stephen…don't worry, we'll find them both before the night is out…come on baby…the hunter is now going to be the hunted…this should be fun!" Kate smiled, this might be better, this way Sam would really suffer when they caught him…and she would…nothing would keep her from her revenge on the Winchester family!

ooooooooo

Dean caught Sam as he fell forward, unconscious. He gently lowered his brother to the ground, concerned by the ice cold feel of Sam's skin and the slightly blue coloring around Sam's lips. Sam's body continued to shiver in the cold night air. Grabbing his back pack, Dean pulled out Sam's Jacket and quickly put it on his brother's limp frame. He was glad that Sam had passed out for now, it would make getting him to wherever they needed to go much easier. He could carry Sam without worrying about the additional pain that would be inflicted from his many wounds and bruises.

Dean kept a wary eye on the woods surrounding him…as the sun began to fall below the horizon; he knew that the hunt for Sam would begin. His eyes blazed with hatred at the thought of those animals getting their hands on his little brother. He would kill them all for what they had done!

He gently pushed Sam's bangs from his eyes, grimacing at the black eye that was almost swollen shut. Sam should be in a hospital…but he knew that it would take him and his father at least 2 days to get him out of this remote location.

Dean jumped and reached for his cross bow as he heard a faint rustling coming from the direction his father had disappeared in…he wasn't taking any chances with Sam this time. Dean smiled as he heard a soft whistle…the signal he and his father used many times to let the other know it was not the enemy approaching.

"Dean…how's he doing?" John asked quietly as he looked at the battered face of his youngest son.

"Not good Dad…we need to get him someplace where I can take care of him…we'll have to carry him…I don't think he can make it there under his own power" Dean said softly.

"I found a cave about half a mile from here…we'll take turns carrying him, it's kind of a steep climb" John added quickly, trying to make sure that Dean understood he didn't doubt his ability to carry Sam the whole way.

"Dean, help me get him on my shoulders…I'll take the first bit since I will need to lead you in at the end…ok?" John was trying not to bark orders…it was hard, but after the demon incident in Salvation, he was trying to be more of a father than a drill sergeant.

Dean started to argue, but stopped as he saw the look in his father's eyes…he could see his father needed to help Sammy as much as he did. "Fine, I'll take up rear guard…those bastards are probably on the hunt as we speak!"

John nodded as he got Sam situated on his shoulders in a fire man's carry. He couldn't remember the last time he had carried his son…he looked at Dean with a new sense of admiration…he knew that Dean had carried Sam more than once in the past and did it with ease. Grunting slightly, John started up the hill towards the cave with Dean bringing up the rear.

A short while later, John helped Dean lower Sam to the ground in front of the cave…pushing the brush aside, he grabbed Sam's shoulders and Dean grabbed his legs. They carefully carried the injured young man into the large chamber at the back of the cave. Dean stretched his tired muscles as he looked around the dark cave. A few moments later, the cave was illuminated by the lantern his father had pulled from his pack.

"Great location Dad…but do you think they will miss it?" Dean asked as he started to pull out the bed roll he had brought with him.

"I think so, but just to make sure, I'm going to go back out and hide our trail. Make sure you dust Sammy's clothes with the ash I gave you…we don't need them following his scent into here." John removed his back pack and placed it against the wall. He grabbed his own cross bow and went out into the night to make sure that his boys would be safe.

Dean began to get things ready so that he could work on Sam. He smiled as he saw signs of an old fire pit near the back wall of the cave…taking a closer look at the wall, he noticed the Indian paintings on the wall…this must have been used a long time ago by the Indians who lived in the area. Thanking the Great Spirit or whoever was looking out for them…Dean quickly built a small fire from the wood that had been left behind.

He placed the bed roll near the fire and went back to get Sam. Lifting his brother one more time, Dean gently placed him on the bed roll, removing the jacket so he could start working on the wounds that covered his little brother's chest and back. Sam moaned, but did not wake as Dean went back to get his pack and grab his father's bed roll. He would need to use that to keep Sam warm.

He wished he had some ice for Sam's eye, but that would eventually heal on its own. His biggest concern right now was to clean and bandage the bite marks…in particular the one on Sam's shoulder was looking real bad. It was raw and swollen with puss oozing from the wound. Dean was glad that Sam was still unconscious as he started to clean the wound…it looked like the bastard had damaged the muscles underneath. "Well little brother, once again you managed to get yourself banged up pretty good…but don't worry…Doctor Dean will make it all better!"

Dean felt Sam shudder as he cleaned each wound on his chest and back. A few of them needed stitches, which Dean did quickly as he didn't want to cause his brother any more pain. The heat from the fire had at least stopped Sam from shivering from the cold, but Dean noticed that Sam's body was also beginning to burn with fever. He would have to wake Sam soon so that he could give him the antibiotics, pain pills and fever reducer.

"Ok Sam, I've finished with your chest and back…that wasn't too bad was it?" Dean kept talking to Sam, trying to let him know that he wasn't alone anymore. "Now I know you hate showing those chicken legs of yours, but I have to clean the wounds that I saw…" Dean swallowed, he didn't want to remind Sam he had seen the torture and the damage that had been done.

Sam moaned again and began to open his eyes. "Hey there little brother…just like you to wake up when all the work is almost done!" Dean smiled at the confused look in his brother's eyes. "Look Sam, we need to get your pants off so I can clean the wounds…besides I actually remembered to bring you clean clothes…so we can get you out of these dirty ones!" Dean was trying to keep it light, knowing that Sam hated to be fussed over.

Dean reached down and began to unbuckle Sam's belt…he wasn't prepared for Sam's violent reaction. Sam hit Dean full force in the jaw, knocking him backwards. "No…don't touch me! I mean it…if you touch me again I'll kill you!" Sam's choked voice screamed as he crawled towards the front of the cave, away from Dean.

Dean immediately jumped to his feet and rushed to stop his brother. "Sammy…it's ok bro', it just me…you have to be quiet and let me finish…Sam?"

Sam's fevered brain still had him back on the horse ranch, he couldn't focus on anything but escape…turning once more, he lunged for the cave entrance. But before he could react, he was grabbed by another person who was entering the cave. "Nooooo! Leave me alone…please…just leave me…please!"

TBC

Raven524: Hurray...the site is letting me upload, at least for now. Thanks to all who have been sending in reviews...I am trying to answer back, but the site has been really slow today. Keep sending them in...they are better than a caffeine rush!