Typical Disclaimer: This story has the typical violence you'll see in the show along with all the angst. I try not to get too off character or too violent, but I'm giving it a mature rating just to be on the safe side.
I of course own nothing and get nothing but the satisfaction of writing the story and hopefully making it enjoyable for others as well. Comments are always welcome, good or bad. Thank you to everyone and I hope you have been enjoying it.
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Sam woke with a start; he must have fallen asleep again while they were driving. It was dark already and Carol looked really tired. He thought it was really strange that he'd slept so long after they'd stopped for a late lunch. They were pretty sure they'd lost the guys and used cash instead of the credit card that Karen had given to Carol. She pulled off an exit and Sam realized they were going the wrong way, "Where the hell are you going?" Sam barked a bit more roughly than he'd intended.
Carol jumped at the sound and the car swerved lightly, "I … I uh … thought we should go this way for a while. We'll stop and get some cash from a teller machine using the credit card. They'll think we're going this way and then we'll back track a ways for a hotel room before heading to Palo Alto in the morning." Sam frowned, but knew it wasn't a bad tactic to make sure they weren't being followed and they did need some more cash. Sam's mind wandered about what he'd do once he got to Stanford. How could he start his life again if they would be looking for him all the time? He couldn't just register in his name but he didn't exactly want to start all over again in college with a new identity. He'd need to get new driver's license and school records. He didn't have his phone, his dad's journal, or anyway to get in touch with any of the usual contacts. He knew where Bobby lived though, and could probably get help there.
"What does Karen want from me?" Sam suddenly asked. Carol looked over at him questioningly, "are you serious?" Sam raised an eyebrow at her, "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know." She smiled at him and turned her eyes back to the road, "you'd be surprised Sam. You know what she uses me for?" Sam shook his head. "She has me find weaknesses in people's armor so to speak. Find their fears and hopes and dreams so she can manipulate them. To be honest, I don't know what she'd want with you but only because there are so many different things you can do." A smile crossed her face, "you're extremely smart and a good hunter. She might want you for the position you could get yourself into with the lawyer school. She's got a couple of detectives that she uses to manipulate crime scenes, so maybe she'd use you to help there. You've got a good head on your shoulders." She glanced over at Sam again, smiling.
Sam digested the information. Carol pulled the car over to a small teller machine out in front of a bank and got out. Sam watched her go and pulled out a lot of cash and then returned to the car. "Ok, let's back track and find us a good hotel for the night, shall we?" The smile on her face seemed genuine and perhaps a little mischievous. She turned the car around and headed back towards the Interstate.
Sam watched the scenery go by for a long while thinking about everything Carol had said. They changed Interstates and were once again pointed towards California. After was seemed to be an hour or so, Carol moved off and pulled into a simple motel, "how's this?" Sam blinked, looking around at where they were for the first time, "this is fine." They pulled their bags out of the car and entered their room after Carol came back from the office with their room key. Sam sat at the end of his bed looking at the blank screen of the turned off TV while Carol took a shower. He'd made his decision.
Carol came out dressed in a small shirt and boxer set of sleeping clothes, "I'm pretty sure I saved you some hot water." She smiled lightly, "not that the motel shouldn't have plenty." She went over to her bed, tossing her clothes onto her bag. "I want you to take me back tomorrow."
"What?" Carol sat down on her bed looking anxiously at Sam. "Take you back where?" Sam glanced over at her with solemn eyes, "I want you to take me back to Karen's." Sam was surprised when Carol stood up, "what? Why?" She moved around to stand in front of Sam as he remained seated on the edge of his bed, "I thought you wanted to go back to school, to get away from this life?" Sam stood up and looked down at her, "if you go back to Karen and I'm not with you, how long before those goons show up?" Carol just lowered her head, not sure what to say. She took Sam's hand, "I think you can do whatever you put your mind to it. Even if it's keeping away from those goons." She put Sam's hand on her shoulder and stepped closer to him. She could feel his nervous energy and his urge to step away, so she stopped and just looked up at him, "I'll stay with you as long as you want and leave any time you ask." Sam smiled lightly, "I would just be putting more people in danger if I went back to school." He took a deep breath and his shoulders sagged, "tomorrow we'll head back to Karen's place and see what it is she wants me to do." Carol still had one hand on Sam's where it rested on her shoulder, and she put the other hand on his chest lightly. She could feel his warm skin through his shirt and the resignation in his mind.
The door to the motel burst open as the two men they'd lost earlier came through the door. Carol turned and advanced towards them keeping herself between them and Sam protectively. Sam just watched as she tried to talk to them. "What the hell are you doing? I told you before that I'm watching him," before she could finish her sentence one of the men struck her across the face with the back of his fist, spinning her almost around and she crumpled to the floor and stopped moving. Sam advanced instinctively to try to protect her. He could fend off one of them, but as soon as one got a good shot in the two of them were able to take him down. After several blows to the mid-section and face, Sam lost consciousness and sunk into a dark, deep sleep.
Carol blinked her eyes slowly, focusing her vision on the blood staining her shirt. She took a deep breath and looked up at Karen. "Well," Karen snapped, "what's the verdict?" Carol stood up, "it's done. He's ready to come home. I need to be injured when he wakes up; a blow to the face, to my left cheek." Karen smiled evilly and happily obliged. Carol slowly picked herself up off the floor, blinking back the tears from the pain. She took a deep breath and glanced at Karen, "I should get changed." Karen just nodded and watched Carol walk from the room before turning back to Sam. She picked up the medical supplies that had been keeping him unconscious for the past two days.
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Sam began to stir lightly. He could feel something cold touching him gently around his eye and forehead. He struggled to open his eyes and realized that his right one was swollen almost shut, again. Carol's voice whispered softly, "hey there. I was getting a little worried about you. You've been asleep for a couple of days." Sam frowned and turned his head towards her. Her cheek was red and swollen slightly, a couple of stitches mended the cut that marred her cheek. He lifted his hand slowly and lightly touched her face. She winced a little but grabbed his hand as he pulled it away, "it's ok." She smiled mischievously, "I look better than you do," she winked and let go of his hand. Sam chuckled lightly and cringed as his ribs ached.
She reached over and grabbed a glass of water, "thirsty?" Sam nodded and tried to sit up a little as he sipped at it. He looked around the room and realized that he was back at the house. The door was open and he could see down the hallway to where the stairs were. No one was there. Carol noticed him looking around, "most everyone is outside or downstairs." She put the towel in a small bowl of water and wrung it out before brining it back to his forehead. He stayed propped up on his elbows and closed his eye, letting her gently touch his wounds again. Her touch was much softer than the first time he met her this way. He remembered she was angry about him not wanting to be here and he felt strange that now she was … something else, he couldn't quite decide what to think about her.
"Are you hungry or ready to try to get out of bed?" Carol got up and moved the table with the water bowl out of the way. "How 'bout I go downstairs and fix something for you to eat. I could use a little something myself." Sam grabbed her by the forearm and stopped her. She stopped and looked at him with a light smile on her face, "what's wrong? Are you not hungry?" Sam smiled through slightly swollen lips and let go of her arm, "yeah, that sounds good." He lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes. "Ok, I'll be back in a few minutes, you rest." He listened as she left the room and walked down the hall then down the stairs.
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For several days Sam stayed in the room letting Carol take care of him. He was able to move around better now and as Carol came in with breakfast he decided that he'd get out of the room today. She's stayed with him most of the time, only leaving when he would lie down to sleep or was called away by Karen. She brought the tray of food in and set it up on the table as Sam slowly drug himself out of the bed. They sat next to each other as they ate quietly. She poured him another glass of juice, "you're quiet this morning. Are you feeling any better?" Sam smiled, "yeah. I was thinking about going outside today. I'm getting cabin fever I think." She returned his smile and brushed his hair lightly away from his eyes, "I like walking in the woods and there's a small creek that runs through the property on the other side of the barn."
They finished eating. Carol pointed over to a dresser, "I explained to Karen that she didn't have to hurt you any more and that you had decided to come home. So she had me go buy you some clothes. I also told her that the brutes did this for no reason. Once I told her what they did she stormed out of here. I haven't seen those two guys since." Sam smirked lightly as he stood and walked over to the dresser. He went through eat drawer and was impressed with the items she'd picked out. He felt her close to him and turned to find her standing next to him. She put a hand on his lower back as she looked into the drawer he had opened, "do you like them? I tried to buy things that were the same style as you've been wearing." He put his arm around her shoulder and lightly touched her cheek with his other hand, "they're fine. Thank you."
Carol smile and moved away from him. She gathered the dishes up, "I'll let you get dressed." She turned and headed out the door, "see you downstairs?" Sam nodded and closed the door behind her.
Once dressed, Sam went downstairs. He could hear water running and followed the sound to the kitchen where Carol was washing the breakfast dishes. He looked out the window towards the garden and barn. He could see a group of people working in the garden and moving in and out of the barn. The water turned off and Carol turned around, noticing him standing behind her, "well hello there. You ready for your walk outside." Sam nodded, still looking out the window. She walked to stand next to him and pointed out towards the barn, "if you want to walk by the creek, just go straight out past the right side of the barn. You'll hear it and should be able to find it easy." She pointed to her right, "through the woods on this side will take you over to Karen's house. The property is pretty big. You'll know when you reached the edge of the property by the barbed-wire fencing." She looked back at Sam, "I haven't met any of the neighbors, but I'm sure some exist somewhere on the other sides." She smiled and shrugged.
Sam walked towards the kitchen door that led outside. As he opened the door he realized that Carol was still standing back where they had been talking. He turned towards her questioningly. She smiled back, "be careful, you're still a little beat up." He raised his eyebrows, "you're not going with me?" She suddenly brightened and her smile got bigger, "do you want me to walk with you?" Sam looked outside again and thought about it for a second before turning back to her, "Yeah, I do." Her eyes brightened as she left the house and took Sam's arm as they headed for the barn.
Sam could feel the eyes of the other people on him as they walked past the garden. Once they reached the barn, Sam could hear grunts and thumping. He hesitated as he listened and Carol said, "They're working out. They've got punching bags, weight lifting benches, ropes that reach the upper rafters and such in there to keep in shape. Want to go in?" Sam shook his head and smiled down at her, "maybe later." Sam was still a little sore, but they walked casually through the woods until they reached the creek. It was just as Carol had described; nothing major, but quiet and peaceful. There was a fallen tree on the other side, so they carefully jumped the creek and took a seat on it. Carol held on to his hand and leaned into him as they watched the later go by.
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Missouri escorted her customer to the door and bid her farewell. As she turned to go back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee she brushed her hand across the T-shirt that Dean had given her. It belonged to Sam and she had folded it neatly and set it on the bookshelf where she could pass her hand over it each time she walked to and from the door or kitchen. This time she sensed something and stopped. "Come on Sam, reach out to me boy. I know you can do it."
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They sat by the water for a long time. Sam's mind wandered from his current situation to past events. He missed Dean and his Dad. He glanced down at Carol where her head was resting on his chest just under his shoulder. He had his arm wrapped around her shoulders and she didn't appear to be reacting at all to his thoughts. "Maybe she's keeping her promise," he thought to himself. He looked back to the creek and let his mind wander again. He thought about Sarah and then Jess. Missouri's voice popped into his head and he remembered how she tried to comfort him during his last visit with Carol. He missed her since she was the last friend he really had left, except for Bobby. He thought about their adventure in his old house and his mom.
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Missouri stood there for a long time. She could feel Sam's sorrow and her heart broke. She could hear the light gurgle of water and a pulling sensation to the east. "That's it Sam, that's it honey, tell me where you are."
After a while longer Missouri quickly left the bookshelf and grabbed the phone. Dialing the number she didn't have to wait long before she received the greeting. "Dean? This is Missouri." Dean's voice was haggard and tired. She knew that he was still filled with sorrow as well as a touch of hope, "please tell me you have some good news." Missouri didn't want to disappoint him if she was wrong, but she had to tell him what she knew. She related the things she'd felt and what had come to her mind as she'd stood by his shirt. Finally she said, "Pack up; we're going to Richmond, Ohio."
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The day passed quietly. Sam and Carol returned to the house where she explained the herb garden that they used for making various poisons and hallucinogens. While looking out the window she pointed out each of the individuals they could see and gave Sam their names and abilities. Most of them were the spoon benders that were raised in abusive relative or foster homes. They were good for brute work according to Karen. There were a couple of others like Carol, who could sense emotions and pick up on thoughts. One teenage boy she pointed out had a dream vision once, but the ability hadn't repeated yet. Carol explained how the non-brutes were taught various skills to put them in positions that would be beneficial to Karen like government and medical fields.
As evening came Carol began cleaning up with a few others and told Sam to go on to bed. He was resting but staring at the ceiling when he heard the commotion. At first it was just angry voices, and then he heard the distinctive sound of someone being struck. He'd heard as well as felt it enough to know that sound. He quietly left the bed and headed down the hallway, stopping before he reached the stairwell and listened. Karen's voice was angry, "if he's well enough to walk in the woods, then he's well enough to start working with the others. I will not have you screw this up with your infatuation. You're his sitter not his girlfriend." Carol's voice was submissive, "I just thought you should know that he wanted to go to school to be a lawyer and could help you there." Karen's snapped back, "I don't need you telling me what to do or how to use the people under my watch. Do I make myself clear?" Carol must have nodded because Sam didn't hear a response. A few steps were heard before the front door to the house was opened and closed roughly.
He stepped away from the wall to stand in front of the top step as Carol began climbing them slowly; her head lowered watching her feet. As she neared the top of the stairs she noticed Sam standing there, wearing his boxers and a T-shirt. She couldn't help herself as she examined him that she blushed and turned her gaze back to the floor. She'd raised her head enough that Sam noticed the red mark on her cheek just under her eye that must have been where Karen hit her. Sam took her hand and led her to his room, directing her to sit on the bed, "wait here a second." Sam went back down the hallway to the bathroom and ran some cold water over a wash cloth before taking it back to his room.
Carol sat on the bed looking down at her hands when Sam came back and sat down beside her. He gently placed the cool cloth against her cheek, "this should help a little bit," he said softly. Carol leaned her head into his touch and closed her eyes. Sam bent down, kissing her lightly on the forehead, "you going to be ok?" Carol raised her head and smiled lightly. Sam bent again, this time kissing her lightly on the lips. She returned the kiss and reached up cupping the back of his neck lightly with her hand while her fingers wrapped themselves in his hair. Sam dropped the wash cloth and placed his hand against her jaw while wrapping his other arm around her shoulder.
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Sam woke as the bed shifted slightly and the covers moved causing cool air to brush his skin where Carol's warm body had been. He opened his eyes as she slipped out of the bed and picked up her clothes. She smiled as she looked back and noticed his eyes opened. "I'll be back with breakfast in a little bit," she whispered as she picked up the rest of her clothes and headed out the door. Sam got up and stepped lightly down the hallway to the bathroom and showered. By the time he came out, Carol was already in his room with breakfast set up.
As Carol gathered the dishes, Sam followed her downstairs and helped to clean them. Once they were done he went to the kitchen door that led outside, "I guess you better introduce me to everyone and let's get started with whatever I'm suppose to be doing." He smiled back at Carol who returned the smile and nodded, "sounds good. Let's go to the tent and tables." She pointed to where three people sat around a table under the wall-less tent.