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 13 – Payback

Sam held up his hand as both his father and brother started to object. "We don't have much time…they'll be coming soon." Sam quickly laid out the plan to both Dean and his father.

"Look, we can assume that they don't know about you yet, Kate still thinks I'm on my own up here, lost in the woods. We need to use her thirst for revenge against her. It will blind her to everything but getting to me. Dean you and Dad need to hide in the woods here…they will be coming from the other side, following my scent…I will be out in the open, a short distance from you here. Just far enough out, so they can't catch your scent. Once they are all in the open…you need to open fire…in my vision there were only four of them…Stephen and Sheila were not there…so we need to watch out for them." Sam stopped, it was the longest speech he had made in days, and it had tired him. He waited for his father and brother to object, and truthfully, he knew they could stop him easily in his current condition.

Dean watched the play of emotions over Sam's face. He understood Sam's need to be a part of this…in fact, he was beginning to think, it would be good for him…otherwise, he would see himself as a helpless victim. Glancing at his father, Dean could see that he was also struggling with the decision…but from the look he gave Dean, he could tell that they both were coming to the same conclusion.

"Ok Sammy…you're right, we need to draw them out into the open and you're the best one for the job!" John said quietly, almost laughing at the shocked look on his youngest son's face. John was beginning to realize that his sons were grown men with valid opinions and good instincts. It was hard, but he would try to curb his need to be in charge…just a little.

"Dean, break out the weapons and find yourself a spot over to the left. I'll take the right. Sam…you can't be out there without any weapons…do you think you can handle a knife?" Sam nodded his head yes, still in shock that his father was following his plan.

"Great, the knife has been soaked in dead man's blood. It won't slow them down as quickly as the arrows, but it will have enough to get their attention and weaken them. Are you sure you're up to this Sam?" John asked as he saw the Sam grimacing in pain from the movement.

"Yeah Dad…I'm tired and sore, but I'll be alright. Dean…did you keep my jeans? I need to change back into what I was wearing or they will be suspicious."

"Sure, I have them, but you can't go walking around out there without a shirt…you need to keep those wounds covered or they'll get infected…besides, what good will it do if you die from pneumonia…maybe we should rethink this plan" Dean looked at his father with concerned eyes.

"Dean…no problem dude…they don't know that I didn't snatch one of their T-Shirts…I noticed that some of them had plain white T-Shirts…just let me borrow yours, it will hide the bandages and also be better, because its not my size"

"What do you mean not your size…I can't help it that you decided to grow into the Jolly Green Giant!" Dean smiled as he helped Sam change clothes. He insisted though that Sam keep the coat on until the last possible moment.

All three men paused as they watched the sun dip below the horizon. They were as prepared as they could be, the trap was baited, now all they had to do was wait.

Sam stumbled out into the meadow, barely keeping himself moving. His abused body was screaming at him to stop, but he had to keep up his end of the plan. He could feel the worried eyes of his brother and father on his back…he wouldn't let them down. Finding a rotting log not far from the tree line, Sam sat down. He let the calm of the forest seep into his mind, calming him. He wondered where Sheila and Stephen were right now. He had gotten used to trusting his 'instincts' as he like to call his ability to sense things…and right now, they told him that neither one of them would be coming.

He sighed as he thought about his promise to Sheila…he knew that the girl that he had dinner with no longer existed. But he wasn't sure that he could look her in the face and kill her. Sam had learned a long time ago, that life wasn't fair. The innocent died, the evil sometimes prospered…he just wished that this time, he could have saved the innocent life.

Sam snapped his head up and looked at the tree line opposite him…he couldn't explain it, but he knew they were there, watching him. Sam refused the impulse to look back towards his father and brother, but instead chose to get up and start walking towards the right…as if he was still trying to escape. He ignored the four vampires as they came from the woods, Kate in the lead.

It wasn't hard to pretend that he was exhausted and ready to fall…he just hoped he could stay standing long enough to watch his father and brother kill the bastards.

"Sam…don't bother running anymore…stop now and I'll make it easy on you!" Kate called in a cold voice.

Sam turned to face the vampires as they fanned out to surround him. "Hello Kate…I'm sorry that two of your friends will no longer be joining you…but I kind of killed them!"

Kate looked around, but couldn't sense any other danger as she advanced on the defiant young man. She almost admired him…it would be a shame when the time came to kill him. "Now why did you have to do that Sam…after I showed you such a good time…by the way, your little friend Sheila can't wait to see you again!"

Sam's face paled, but he continued to try to distract the vampires. "You bitch…what have you done with her…where is Stephen?"

"Sheila is now where she belongs…she has joined us. She and Stephen went into town to pack her things…no sense in alarming the police with her disappearance. But she'll be back in plenty of time for dinner!" Kate actually licked her lips in anticipation.

Sam shuddered as he remembered the last time, in the barn. He just needed to get her a little closer. "You couldn't break me then and you won't break me now…badder things than you have tried and failed!"

Kate actually growled as she advanced towards Sam. The other three had almost completed the circle. Sam felt himself falling to his knees, his spurt of energy quickly fading. He saw Kate smile as she closed in for the kill.

Suddenly the sound of arrows filled the night as the three vampires behind Sam quickly fell to their knees with arrows sticking out of their chests. Kate dropped to the ground as soon as she saw them coming. Jumping up quickly, she ran towards Sam, grabbing him before anyone could react…she pulled him in front of her as a shield. "Come out whoever you are, or I'll snap his neck!"

Sam could feel her tightening her grip around his throat. He tried to pry her arm from his throat, but she was too strong. He watched as Dean and his father both came out of the woods, but rather than dropping their weapons, they advanced on the three vampires and quickly decapitated them.

Sam felt Kate's grip loosen as she stared in disbelief at what had happened. He knew this would be his best chance, he grabbed the knife that was attached to his belt and using his body weight, dropped from her grasp. As she reached down to grab him once more, he buried the knife into her heart up to the hilt. He watched as she stepped back for a moment. "Sam…you know that won't do you any good!"

"True…but there should be just enough dead man's blood in you to at least slow you down!" Sam used the last of his strength to kick Kate in the chest, sending her backwards and away form him. He could see his father and Dean running towards him, just before the world went dark, he saw his father remove Kate's head from her shoulders. He almost shuddered at the pure hatred he saw in his father's eyes and was glad that he was not on the receiving end of his father's fury.

Dean ran directly to Sam, catching him as he fell the rest of the way to the ground. "Way to go little brother…you got her!" He wasn't sure if Sam had heard him, but he had never been more proud of his brother than right now. He had stood his ground and faced the bastards that had humiliated and tortured him. He just hoped that it would help him when the nightmares came.

"Dean…how is he?" John asked as he cleaned his machete and placed it back in the sheath. He scanned the woods to make sure that no other threat was visible.

"I'm not sure…I need to get him someplace where I can check his wounds again…I think he may have torn the stitches again in the wound on his shoulder." Dean shook his head as he saw the blood seeping through the T-Shirt.

John went back into the woods and returned with the travois and their gear. Dean and his father loaded Sam back onto the travois and continued towards the ranch. There was still plenty of night left, but with only two vampires left, they decided to continue.

A short time later, the ranch came into view. Dean waited, while his father checked it out. He didn't like the rosy hue on Sam's pale face. He touched Sam's forehead and frowned…the fever was much higher than it had been before. "Damn it Sammy…you just had to hurt yourself again!"

John returned a few moments later. "The ranch is clean…let's get Sam into the house. It will be warmer there and you can take a look at his wounds while I go and get the truck."

Dean nodded and followed his father to the house. He and his father both carried Sam into the house and placed him gently on the couch in the living room. Dean quickly built up the fire in the fire place while his father brought in his weapons. "Here…keep a close watch…the other two are still out there somewhere…I should be back shortly…have him ready to go!"

"Yes Sir" was all Dean replied as began searching his back pack for the first aid kit. He would take care of his little brother and protect him…after all that was his job!

TBC

Raven524: See begging does work…just kidding. Thanks again to all those who are sending reviews. It does brighten my day! Unfortunately, I don't think the boys are done yet…but then who knows…I could just let them rest for awhile…they need it! (LOL)