The Institute

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from Supernatural nor do I profit in any way. I just write for the love of writing about the boys and hurting them on the odd occasion.

Warnings:

Rated for language, violence and torture.

NO Wincest or Slash involved in this or any of my stories.

Author's Note: This is not a supernatural story as such, though the demon may make an appearance later on.

Just one little other thing no agencies or agents were brainwashed, manipulated or tortured in anyway. :0)

CHAPTER 2

Dean sat behind the wheel of the impala and sighed heavily, two days had passed and still no sign of Sam, the strangers or their car. Scrubbing at his bloodshot eyes he decided to call it a day and head back to Sandy's home. A hot shower and an early night sounded wonderful but he knew that the early night wouldn't happen. He has probably slept a total of a couple of hours sleep since Sam's disappearance.

Blinking furiously he slammed his brakes on just as the lights changed red, swearing as that car sped passed him. Checking his rear vision quickly he flicked his indicator on and skidded around the corner eager to follow them. Slowly slightly Dean kept an eye on the car ahead of him watching as they veered off on a side road ten minutes from town. Deciding to make sure that they didn't notice the impala he pulled off on the same side road and hid the car behind trees, grabbing a weapon, binoculars and a few other odds and ends he jogged down the road.

Finally, he found a large concrete fence surrounding a property at the end of the road. Solid iron gates stood imposingly baring any entry to those who did not have access codes. Cussing under his breath Dean worked his way around the perimeter making a mental note of how approximately big it was. Damn it Sammy was better at that than he was. Finding a tree just far enough away to climb without being noticed Dean nimbly climbed into the thick brush of greenery and branches. Grabbing his binoculars from his pocket, he focused in on the buildings in the compound.

The car parked in front of the building caught his attention first and then he slowly moved his focus towards the building. Looking a lot like a modernised asylum or prison than anything else. Armed guards stood at the main gates and around at the rear of the compound at a smaller albeit the same iron gates, probably where supplies, laundry and other deliveries came and left from.

His frown deepening, Dean turned his attention back to the main building, he watched in horror as armed guards herded a group of young people all dressed in white baggy pants and shirts across the area between buildings. They all moved in a dazed shuffle. He refocused the binoculars even more to try to see if Sam was amongst them; his heart sank when he didn't see his lanky brother but at least he knew where to start looking, it was the beginning of the end in the search for Sam.

Sam opened his eyes and gazed up at the prettiest brown eyes and face he'd seen in a long time. 'Ah hey,' he mumbled embarrassed when he realised that he was lying with his head on her lap.

'Hi Sam, do you remember who I am?'

'Grace?'

'Yeah otherwise known as subject twenty-one,' Grace smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair, relishing in the feel of strength radiating from him, not just the physical strength it was more a metaphysical strength that came from him and the person he is.

'What happened?'

'What do you remember Sam?' She asked helping up to a sitting position.

'Ah some doctor, a lot of pain and ... you.' He kept holding her hand not wanting to break the connection just yet. 'What is this place Grace?'

'The full name is Cold Haven Institute for Advanced Studies, better known as Cold Hell for Psychics.'

'How, how long have you been here?' Sam asked wrapping his frozen fingers around Grace's smaller hand relishing in the warmth.

'I – I really don't know anymore, I mean I used to keep track but ... it's been a long time,' Grace admitted her free hand straying to cup his face, a small sweetly sad smile on her face, 'I am so sorry Sam.'

'For what?'

'Bringing you back, they hurt you so badly Sam, you were ... you were dying and they made me heal you.'

'I don't understand ... wait a test? They wanted me to bring on a vision and then, then they oh God, Grace I am so sorry.'

'Why Sam it's not your fault.'

'They forced you to help me,' Sam said incredulously drawing Grace into his embrace.

Cuddling against his muscular chest Grace sighed and felt herself relax for the first time in a long time, 'I can't ... you ... you're a healer?'

'Yep, a touch empath, I feel pain radiating from anyone and ... well if I don't heal them I start to feel ill, it is a physical pulling as well as an empathic one.'

'Grace I-I don't know what to say, I am just so sorry that you were forced into that situation because of me.'

'It's okay Sam, do you know one thing's funny though.'

'What's that?' Sam asked gently tilting Grace's chin to make her look up at him.

'I have never, never felt a connection like this with anyone else Sam, normally I heal them and that's it but ... but with you it's different, I can feel your strengths and they fill me, make me feel stronger.'

'Oh isn't this charming, get up subject twenty-two and move to the other side of your cell.'

'Come in and ask me that.' Sam snarled moving to stand between the guards and Grace.

'Sam please.' Grace's timid whisper cut through him, 'please don't defy them.'

'Listen to her subject twenty-two or she will suffer.'

Sam glanced down at Grace and then silently moved to the other side of the room; passively letting them put handcuffs on him, keeping his gaze locked with Grace's.

'Much better subject twenty-two, you will learn.' The darker haired guard smirked as he punched Sam hard in his stomach making him double over and gasp in pain.

Grace screamed and jumped up to run to Sam, but the other guard grabbed her and dragged her out of Sam's cell, 'you're needed elsewhere.'

'Leave her alone,' Sam panted trying to catch his breath and work through the pain firing in his stomach. The only reply he received was a hard punch to the side of his head, dazing him.

'Come on subject twenty-two you have work to do,' the guard roughly dragged Sam out of the cell and down the hallway in the same direction as the other one took Grace.

'The ... name ... is ... Sam.' came the pain-filled retort. The guard laughed and tightened his grip on Sam's arm.

Dean sighed and decided to give up and return in the morning when movement in the courtyard caught his attention, pulling the binoculars back out he quickly focused in on the new arrivals.

'Fuck Sam.' He whispered as he focused in on his brother, dressed in the same white pants as the others, although he was bare-chested. The guard half-pulled, half-dragged him from the main building. Dean held his breath as he tracked his brother's movements, noticing the way Sam held his stomach and pulled back against the vice-like grip.

'Come on Sammy, that's it Dude.' He grinned coldly, his baby brother still stubborn and defiant to the end. 'Ah fuck it Sammy.' His grin faded as they watched them attack Sam. They must have gotten sick of his stubbornness, but three against one handcuffed and hurt Sam. Scrambling down the tree Dean desperately tried to find a way in to help his brother but the wall was impenetrable, the only ways in were the two gates and aside from being solid iron they were also heavily guarded.

Jogging back to the impala he tried to block the images of blows raining down on Sam, he had to do this the smart way and not just go in guns blazing. 'Fuck why can't it be something I can handle, where's all the demons gone?' He growled aloud as he gunned the car and sped off.

Sam's body jerked spasmodically as the three guards pummelled him with punches and kicks, he had given himself over to unconsciousness minutes ago, now they just did it out of pure cruelty at the deepest level.

'What is going on?' Doctor Schlatter roared as he came stalking out of the lab building. 'What have you done?'

'Subject twenty-two tried to escape Doctor.' One of the guards panted as he landed one last kick to Sam's back.

'Escaping while unconscious that is a new one.' The doctor snarled, 'you two pick him up and carry him into the lab, you go and get the healer.'

'But Doctor...'

'Don't argue with me or I will make sure that you get punished yourself.'

The guards carried Sam between them the rest of the way in silence without waiting for further instructions they lifted Sam back onto the medical table and strapped him down, then both stepped back and waited. The threat of punishment by the doctor was enough for them to remain silent and obedient. They had seen what happened to the last guard who had angered the man.

'Sam!' Grace cried out and then lowered her gaze and stood meekly next to the guard, 'forgive me,' she whispered.

'It is good to see you learning fast subject twenty-one, heal subject twenty-two and then you can rest until you are required. Silently Grace walked over to the table and reluctantly placed her hands on Sam. her stomach rebelling when she saw the big black spongy bruises already forming on his torso, two of ribs jutted out of his skin where they split the skin over the broken pieces.

Tears ran down her face as once again she absorbed Sam's pain and healed his horrendous injuries.

'Very good subject twenty-one you are doing extremely well.' The doctor smiled and waved for them to take her away and then he turned his attention back to Sam.

'You are very resistant subject twenty-two,' the doctor mused, 'I appreciate a strong will but listen to me carefully, if you do not start to behave and continue to act defiantly then you will suffer each and every time, is that understood?'

'Yes.' Sam spat out not wanting Grace to suffer anymore he bit his tongue to stop himself from arguing with the doctor.

'Very good,' the doctor muttered as he reconnected Sam to the computers and monitors surrounding his head. Frantically Sam tried to control his breathing as he started to remember the previous attempt to make him produce a vision. Maybe he could fake one but then again with all of the machinery the doctor had him connected to Sam knew deep down that, that was impossible.

'Very good, test two; subject twenty-two starting at sixteen hundred hours. Sensory deprivation, beginning with sight.' Ignoring the look on Sam's face the doctor quickly placed tape over Sam's eye lids making sure he sealed them before he placed a thick blindfold over them. Sam's breathing hitched and he started to hyperventilate as he listened for any sounds or indication that he was not alone.

'The subject's blood pressure has risen substantially as his respirations and pulse rates; he obviously has trouble with panic attacks when confronted with uncomfortable situations.'

'Ah no,' Sam cried out thrashing around trying to free himself from the restraints, 'no ... ah my head.'

'Subject is showing signs of psychic activity,' the doctor cried out excitedly as the vision blasted through Sam's mind.

Bright lights flared blinding him and then flashes of complete darkness, he could hear his own heart beating frantically. The acrid stench of burning flesh and fear filled the air choking him. As the lights dimmed and his sight normalised he could see a burning building, charred remains littered the floors of each cell, none able to escape the inferno. He ran blindly through the thick smoke, coughing and choking trying to escape the flames when he skidded to a stop. Grace lay on the floor just ahead, her head tilted to one side, her eyes open but cloudy and unfocused. Her mouth gaped open 'run Sam, save Dean.' Her voice cried out of her dead body.

Sam gasped and cried out Dean's name, and then he started to dry retch. His empty stomach rebelling violently. The doctor quickly undid the throat strap and lifted Sam's head just as he vomited up a small amount of fluid. Panting heavily Sam winced under the blindfold with the onslaught of a migraine.

Delighted the doctor took samples from Sam's vomit before he removed the blindfold and tape. 'Subject has physical reaction after the psychic event, interesting possible success with deprivation of the sense of sight.'

'Coincidence,' Sam croaked out, 'can't ... control ... them.'

'You are not permitted to talk subject twenty-two,' the doctor snarled, 'however as you achieved a vision during this test you will not be punished. Unless of course you do not cooperate with the rest of the examination and testing.'

Sam stayed silent and tried to get himself to calm down he had to start thinking clearly, the fire was going to be here in the institute and for some reason Dean was involved.

'Subject twenty-two listen to my questions, you may answer each one.' The doctor leant over Sam and stared at him closely. 'What are you called.'

'Sa ... subject twenty-two.' Sam ground out, his voice hollow.

'What are you called?'

'Subject twenty-two.'

'What are you called?' This time when the doctor asked the question he flicked a switch sending a current through Sam's body, his muscles spasming uncontrollably.

'Th-thought n-no p-punishment.' Sam ground out, screaming as another jolt of electricity seared through him.

'No speaking, no again what are you called?'

'Sam Winchester.' Sam spat in the doctors face, his scream dying on his lips as he lost consciousness, his heart almost stopping with the force of the shock.

'Take him back to his cell, but I don't want him healed for now.' The doctor ordered wiping Sam's spittle from his face onto a sterile pad intent on using it later for further study.

TBC