-1Thank you all so much for your wonderful feedback, and critiques, the over-whelming response as prompted me to get the second chapter out as soon as possible so here it is and I hope you enjoy it as much as you did the first.
-Part 2- Nightmares and Memories
The smell of rotted flesh and dried blood filled Dean's nostrils as he fought to free himself from the ties that were binding him to the wall of the dark cave, He had no idea where the hell he even was…. The only thing he knew is he had to get free, he had to find Sam and make sure that he was alright…. Letting his eyes scan the darkness surrounding him he frowned able to make out a few other bodies in his presence each hung the same as him bound by their wrists, faces filled with battle scars….
His heart leapt into his throat at the sound of approaching foot steps his pulse quickening as the haggard yet powerful woman can came into view, from the looks of her Dean knew she was one of the more ancient demons they had faced, somewhere around three-hundred he'd guess….
"My Brother is so going to fry your ass you stupid bitch!" He growled his body wiggling like a worm on a hook feet kicking as she came eye to eye with him, "He's going to find me, kill you and then we are going to rip you open and play with your insides just for fun!"
The old woman said nothing as her mouth opened and a truly demonic cackle was sent ringing through the cave, even in the Darkness Dean could see the twinkle of delight in her eyes, the enjoyment that seemed to devour them. But still she said nothing.
"DEAN!…" Sam's voice rang through the cave with the same power and loud ringing as the witches cackle and the bound man let out a sigh of relief.
"He's coming for you…" He whispered venomously
"Dean…." Sam appeared before him a smile creeping across his lips at the sight of his older brother, "Oh god, there you are man… I thought you were a goner…." He step in closer closing the gap between the two of them…. "Let's get you ou-"
"SAMMY!" Dean struggled to free himself even harder now as the witches hands came up from behind his younger brother grasping hard and strong around his thin neck, his brother face growing frightened and cold almost instantly.
"LET HIM GO BITCH!" He couldn't fight the tears back as he watched his brother watching him eyes filled with fright and pleading for him to help as his body grew limper by the second… "LET HIM GO! SAMMY HOLD ON!"
"LET HIM GO! NOOOOOOOO SAMMY!" Sam frowned deeply as he watched his brothers body thrash in the passengers seat of the 69' Impala.
Reaching over he laid a hand on Dean's shoulder and called his name using the other hand to steer the car to the side of the road and pull over.. "Dean…. Dean wake-up" He attempted to keep his voice calm as he shook him lightly. "Dean."
"NO!" Dean gasped for air as his vacant eyes flew open still only leaving him in darkness, his breathing hard and broken as he took in as much air as he could fit in his aching lungs his head swiveling back, forth, up and down as if he were trapped in some sort of box fighting to find a way out…… "no…" His whisper was more of a sob than a word as he felt his brothers hand on his shoulder and placed his clammy sweat drenched palm over it his fingers shaking heavily….
"It's okay…" Sam reassured him, "It was just a nightmare…"
Dean's head bobbed up and down not trusting his voice to speak as he leaned back further in the seat and licked his dry lips….
"We're almost there…" Sam continued thankful that his brother could not see the worry stretched across his features as he studied him.
"Y-you know…" Dean cleared his throat in an attempt to find his voice… "You know we're going to have to go back and face her don't you?"
"Right now we need to get you somewhere safe… Don't worry about her, you need some recovery time."
To tired to argue no matter how badly he wanted to Dean simply settled for giving his brother a very unpleased look .
"Don't look at me like that…" Sam quipped as he started the engine before noting his right hand was still resting on his brother's shoulder Dean's fingers still gripping to his flesh. "How are you feeling?" He knew the question was stupid, in fact it was probably the stupidest thing he had ever let slip from his mouth but the silence of the car was killing him therefore he knew it must have been just as bad if not worse for his brother…
Dean smirked a little trying to keep his witty banter facade intact even as his insides were crumbled. "Dark?"
"Very Funny." Sam's retort was quick as he pulled back out on to the highway…. "We should be there in about another 15 minutes or so and you can finally try to get some real rest….." He concluded before finally sliding his hand free from underneath Dean's and reaching forward to turn the car stereo back on, which he had previously turned off so that his brother could rest without disturbance.
"Fat Chance." Dean mumbled as he ran a hand through his hair and sighed before resting his head on the side of the Impala listening to her engine purr like the panther she was and picturing her in his mind in an attempt to remove the images permanently embedded there.
- Pulling into the Lucky Star Motel Sam climbed out of the car and made his way around to the other side opening the passenger door and lacing his fingers around his brother's arm. "we're here…" He whispered crouching down a little. He knew his brother had not fallen back to sleep, but he also knew he was a million miles from reality as he repeated himself. "We're here…"
"I heard you."
"I just wanted to make sure."
"She took my eyes not my ears Sammy."
"It's Sam."
"Okay whatever." Dean slowly shifted his body toward the sound of his brother's voice lifting his leg's over the side of the car and uneasily standing on his sore legs… Slightly relieved when he felt his baby brothers arm wrap around his waist even if he wasn't going to let on about it. "Dude I can handle it you know?"
"Sure you can…" He slowly helped him toward the front office, it might have been easier just to leave him in the car, but Sam swore he was never going to leave him alone again unless it was absolutely necessary… not if these were the types of things that were going to keep happening…
"My sunglasses."
"Okay…" Sam nodded a little fishing in his brother's pocket and pulling out a pair of black rimmed dark shades carefully sliding them over his eyes…
"Do I look like Stevie Wonder?" Dean asked just as his foot slipped on a small rock and he stumbled with a growl feeling his brothers grip on him tighten.
"Take it slow Dean" Sam warned… "Were not in a hurry…"
"You try being the one locked inside your head without a light switch and let me lead you around like a dog!"
"Dean! I'm trying here alright?"
"I know… This just… sucks… I'm so going to kill that bitch twice"
The minute those words crossed his lips Dean's body froze her face taking over the darkness her crooked smile, her evil eyes…. and then a bright light bright and gut twisting as his knees gave way and his head pounded, sending his crumpled body directly into his brothers grasp.
Stumbling a little Sam tighten his hold on Dean and steadied the two bodies. As he listened to his brother begin to gag from the pain in his head his eyes aching and burning in their sockets…
"Dean… Dean what is it?" He rubbed his back in an attempt to sooth him a little feeling his muscles tense as he choked… "Breathe Dean…Talk to me come on…"
"My Eyes…." Dean managed breathlessly…."My Head…."
Feeling himself begin to panic Sam swallowed hard, "Just…Deep Breaths…" He let his eyes wander from his brother to the Hotel office no more than five feet from where they stood in the deserted parking lot. "Just hold in there alright?"
"Forcing his muscles to relax Dean nodded steadying his wobbly knees…"Okay…."
"It's just a few more feet okay?"
Another nod.
Opening the door to the office Sam guided Dean inside and slid him into the closest chair he could find giving his shoulder a squeeze… "I'm going to go get our room now…" He whispered as Dean tilted his head back against the cool glass of the window.
"How can I help you today?" A young woman who looked to be no more then 22 smiled softly at Sam her long dark hair resting in a ponytail on top of her head as she spoke.
"A room, ummmm we need a room." Sam reached into his pocket and fished out his wallet pulling out a fake ID and credit card holding them out to her.
She nodded taking them and letting her eyes move to the obviously slightly older man in the chair by the door. "Alright…Mister O'Donnell." She nodded reading the name off of the card before beginning to type his information into the computer. "Will you be needing a king or two queens?"
"Two queens please." He tilted his body a little to glance back at Dean who was still sitting in the same position he had left him in.
"And how long will you be staying?"
"Um, I-I don't know…A week,…."
"Is your friend alright?" She asked following his gaze curiously."
"My Brother…" Sam corrected her as he turned his attention back to the desk, "He's my brother, and he'll be alright."
"Alright…" She fished under the desk for a moment and before holding out two keys. "Room 206."
"Is that on the second floor?"
She nodded.
"Can we have something on the first please….My brother he um, he can't… you know he can't see, and uh…" Sam felt guilt creep up on him even saying the words, and even more so when he saw the look of pity cross over the young woman's face."
"Oh, I'm so sorry…" She responded sadly, "Yes of course…. How does room 103 sound?"
"Yeah… Sure…" Sam nodded holding his hand out for the key with as much of a smile as he could muster.
"Let's go…" He whispered moments later replacing his hand on his brothers arm and helping him up.
"I heard you, you know?" Dean sighed tiredly as they made their way to the hotel room.
"Heard me what?" Sam retorted trying to sound innocent.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm going to be alright…"
"I know Dean… I know." He propped him up against the wall unlocking the door and pushing it open.
Flipping the light on he slowly led his brother inside careful of the door jam. "The rooms definitely not one of the better we've stayed in, but it's going to have to do for now." He scanned the room grimacing at the disgustingly orange 70's shag carpet with matching cream walls and disturbing floral bedspreads… "If I were you I'd be slightly happy I didn't have to look at this place, it looks like they haven't remodeled since Kennedy took over office…" He joked mildly.
Dean managed a chuckle as he felt his brother extending his hand, "Okay so uh… There's a table here with a TV on it…it's square and the feet kinda jut out so if your not careful you are gonna whack yourself on it and go flying…"
Noting the uneasy tone in Sam's voice Dean frowned inwardly and sighed, "You don't have to treat me like I'm friggin retarded I can find my way around you know…"
"Would you knock it off and let me help you? Last thing you need is to fall on your ass and hurt yourself… I don't need that on my co- Nevermind."
"Sam?" Deans frown deepened and his head cocked as he halted his steps. "You know that what happened to me isn't your fault right?"
"I-I know."
"I'm serious Sammy."
"I know."
"You didn't know where to find me and even if you did… I should of never let myself get caught in the first place alright? So this is my own doing and not yours alright?"
"Alright." Sam nodded even though on the inside he knew his brother was only trying to make him feel better, after all this was his fault and he blamed himself so therefore he knew Dean must have as well. "Anyway." He forced the conversation to continue leading dean to the other side of the room hand still stretched out in front of him, "This is the far wall and it leads to the bathroom, which is rather munchkin sized, you got a tub a sink and a toilet all squeezed into about 6 cubic feet so be careful in there…. You might smack your gut on something or you know whatever…"
He turned them around a little and stepped forward a few feet to the center of the room where the two queen sized beds were leaning his brother down…."And here are the beds."
Dean breathed out a sigh of relief letting his body welcomingly rest on the soft mattress his fingers roaming it softly. "Now this part I like."
"There's two bedside tables up toward the top with lights above them-"
"Won't be needing those." Dean interrupted flinching when he felt his brother kneeling down and removing his shoes resisting the urge to yell at him… or grunt even.
"You will soon."
"We'll see… Well you'll see…"
"We're going to figure this out you know?"
"Mhmm."
Sam slid the glasses off his brother's face and tucked them back safely into his shirt pocket before against Dean's wishes helping him resituate on the bed. "Comfortable?"
"Yes sir." came a quiet dry retort.
"Good now at least try to get some rest will you?"
"Sam?"
"I'm not going anywhere alright?"
"That's not what I was going to say…."
"Then what?" Sam asked making his way over to the other bed and taking a seat on it pulling out his laptop…"
"Thanks man…"
"Rest Dean."
"Mhmmmm…"
Like clockwork the minute soft sleep sounds came from the bed opposite his Sam's phone began to vibrate in his pocket and pulling it out an unavailable flashing on the screen Sam flipped it open…"Hello?"
The voice on the other end brought instant relief as Sam sat up a little more on the bed and breathed out a sigh. "Sammy?"
"Dad?"
"It's me son. Where are you, is your brother alright?"
"Thank god… We're at the Lucky Star three miles into Great Bend Kansas."
"Is Dean alright?" John Winchester's voice rose a little in worry.
"No…"
"Tell me what happened."
Sam's voice dropped lower to a whisper as his brother's body stirred slightly in the other bed and he told his father everything he could about the Witch of Pine-Forrest Woods, Dean's capture, rescue and current condition nearly losing his composure a few times along the way.
"Alright son…" Their father's voice sounded just as uneasy, "Just try to hold it together for a little while longer alright, try to get some rest…. But keep your eye on him, I'm on my way I'll be there as soon as I can…"
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"Hurry." Sam whispered before hanging up the phone and leaning back against the hard wooden headboard he was exhausted but he knew there was no way he was going to be resting any time soon, he had to watch over his brother…. Protect him…. He had to make sure he was alright.