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.

CHAPTER 18 Vision or Trap?

No one noticed the sleek black car parked just outside the bar, no one noticed the two young men sitting inside. They all went about their business not wanting to know or even care.

Dean turned to face Sam as they sat in the impala readying themselves to go in, his younger brother hadn't moved or said anything since arriving, the only tell-tale sign of his still being conscious was the nervous habit he had just developed of running his fingers through his newly short-cropped hair.

'Sammy, you don't have to do this, you don't have to see her again.' Dean said keeping his voice deliberately soft and free of anger.

'It – it's okay Dean, I'll be okay.' Sam mumbled clearing his throat he straightened his shoulders and turned a pale face to his brother in a show of defiance, 'we going or what?'

'That's my boy.' Dean grinned handing Sam a small handgun, 'for the boot, back-up.' He said shrugging with a mischievous grin.

Sam shook his head but still placed the ankle holster on and slipped the loaded gun in, 'good to go.'

'Cool, let's go mess some minds.' Dean grinned even wider, itching to get some more payback on the institute freaks.

The brothers paused inside the doorway taking a quick recon of the room, their gazes met with Bobby's and then Caleb's as they did, though there was no outward indication that they had seen either of the men.

Bobby nodded slightly in one direction and then turned his back and went back to drinking his beer. 'Over there Sammy.' Dean whispered unconsciously stepping in front of Sam. He felt a slight tug and pull on his T-shirt and his heart skipped a beat, when he was little and scared Sam would grip the back of his brother's T-shirt and hold on for dear life. Now at the age of twenty-three he was doing it again. 'Come on Sammy.'

They slowly made their way through the early evening crowd towards the table at the back of the room. Stopping suddenly Dean barely gave Sam time to pull up before they collided. 'Son of a bitch.' Dean ground out his eyes darkening with instant anger.

'Dean what is it?' Sam whispered his breath catching when he saw the young woman with Grace. 'Oh God.'

'It's not too late Sammy, they haven't seen us yet.' Dean turned his upper body enough to look at Sam, 'we can get you out of here and get Bobby and Caleb to deal with them.'

Sam stared down at Dean, his free hand moving unconsciously to his hair, his green eyes darkening with unbridled fear, 'it is a trap isn't it.' He mumbled so softly Dean could barely hear him.

'We're outta here.' Dean declared moving to Sam's side to allow his brother to continue holding on and began weaving back through the crowds to the front door.

By the time they reached the outside, Sam was starting to hyperventilate, his face flushed with humiliation.

'I'm sorry Dean.' he whispered unable to look at Dean.

'Sorry why?' Dean asked as he unlocked the passenger door and helped Sam in.

'For being such a coward, Dad would really be proud.'

'Sammy listen to me.' Dean said squatting down next to the car to be eyelevel with his brother, 'you are not a coward, if anything you are the bravest man I have ever met and ever will. And yeah Dad would be proud of you coz, hey no Sam look at me, he would be proud of you coz you survived everything that they did to you and gave it back to them by escaping.'

Sam turned tear-filled eyes away from Dean and settled back into the car. 'I'll be fine if you want to go back in Dean.'

'Aint leaving your sorry ass anywhere Sammy, you're stuck with me.' Dean grinned moving around to the driver's side he pulled out his cell and started to text message Bobby and Caleb. 'Okay so we go back to the motel and regroup, we gonna stop this Sammy.' When he received no answer, Dean turned in his seat to face Sam, his own gaze following Sam's. Two pretty, young women came out of the bar, laughing, and chatting they seemed to move towards a small blue car parked down the other end of the car park.

'Damn it,' Dean cussed then he saw Bobby trailing behind the women while Caleb stood outside the door apparently getting some fresh air. After a few moments, Caleb made his way over to the impala moving around to Dean's side he crouched down out of sight.

'Bobby's gonna follow em.' Caleb said without swapping pleasantries, 'how's he doing?' he added nodding towards Sam's still form.

'Not good.' Dean answered as quietly as he could, 'jump in the back Cal, we'll catch up with Bobby at the motel.'

'Something hinkey was going on Dean.' Caleb said as he slid smoothly into the backseat and leant against the back of the front seat.

'Like what?' Dean turned his shoulders to make sure he could keep an eye on Sam and see Caleb while they talked.

'They had a picture of Sam and was handing it around the bar asking if he had been in already.' Caleb shot a glance to the silent Winchester shaking his head slightly when he saw Sam once again run his fingers through his short hair absently. 'You made the right call by leaving before anyone recognised Sam.'

'Let's get the hell outta here,' Dean said suddenly starting the car, 'I have a bad feeling about this.'

'Dean?' Sam turned his head to his brother blinking furiously, 'they're calling me again.'

'Sam?'

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.' Sam cried out as he opened his door just as Dean started to reverse out of the park. Swearing under his breath Dean slammed his foot on the brake and grabbed Sam's arm at the same time.

'Damn it Sammy what the freaking hell do you ... Sammy?' Dean cried out as Sam slumped backwards unconscious, blood trickling from his nose. Caleb helped Dean bundle the younger man into the car again, then within minutes, they sped out of the car park heading back to the motel. Caleb kept his hand cupped under Sam's chin from behind keeping him upright.

Dean ran his hand through his hair as he paced the small motel room, Caleb sat watch by the door, and Sam remained quiet and unresponsive on the bed. 'I don't understand Cal, I mean I thought that when we got him away from there ... he seems worse now than even when ... fuck!'

'What?' Caleb looked up as Dean suddenly stopped and stood staring down at Sam.

'I knew his escape was too good to be true.' Dean muttered, 'Cal can you help?'

'Help what?'

'Undress Sam.'

'Ah excuse me!'

'Damn it Caleb they have some sort of tracking device on him, or something that is screwing with his mind. Look for any new incisions we might have missed.' Dean said as he carefully undid Sam's jeans and slid them down his long legs, Caleb watched Dean for a few more seconds, before he reluctantly started sliding Sam's arms out of his shirts.

'Dean.' Caleb said quietly a look of utter shock on his face, 'dude I think I've found something.'

Dean moved up next to Caleb and stared down to where the other man left his fingers resting. A small lump in Sam's armpit with a freshly healed cut over it stood out clearly against Caleb's finger.

'Ah okay the first aid kit is in the bathroom can you get it Cal?' Dean dropped to his knees next to Sam's bed to get a closer look at the foreign body in Sam.

'Dean?' Sam blinked and tried to focus on the shape next to his bed, 'Dean is that?'

'Yeah dude right here buddy.' Dean said softly brushing Sam's shortened hair, 'I'm right here.'

'Dean ... what's wrong?'

'Nothing Sammy, it's okay we found a little lump that we didn't know about in your armpit.'

'Dean I'm nearly naked why?' Sam asked his voice tinged with fear.

'Calm down Sam, you had another blackout in the car ... you were gonna jump out while I was driving.' Dean took a deep breath and took a seat on the bed next to Sam so he could maintain a strong eye contact. 'Sam, I got to thinking that your escape and rescue, you said yourself was too easy.'

'Yeah I – I ... oh, God Dean what have they put in me? Get it out please.'

'Sam you have to stay calm, we gonna get it out. Something tells me that this is how they start controlling your shining, but it's also a locator.'

'So that is how they found us so easily?' Sam asked his voice shaky with pent up fear and tears.

'Yeah so can you lie still and let me cut it out?'

'Dude yesterday would have been good.' Sam tried to joke but instead turned his face away from Dean and squeezed his eyes shut.

'Sammy, stay with me dude please.' Dean said tenderly cupping his hand under Sam's face and forced him to turn back to look at him. 'We're going to get this out and finish it once and for all.'

'I'm so tired Dean ... I'm so tired of all this shit.' Sam murmured, 'I just want to end it.'

'We will little brother we will.'

'Ah excuse me guys, don't wanna intrude on this perfect chick moment but we gonna do this or not?' Caleb asked finally interrupting the quiet conversation.

'Dean please ... end it.' Sam whispered desperately clutching his brother's arm.

'I am gonna Sammy, I promise.' Dean swallowed deeply as he cleaned the area and injected a small local anaesthetic and then with a shaking hand picked up the sharp scalpel glancing up when a hand covered his and took the sharp surgical knife from him. 'I got it Dean.' Caleb said, 'watch Sam.'

Dean swallowed and nodded, not wanting to let Caleb do the cutting but flashes of what they had him to do Sam kept flashing in his mind. Moving around the bed, he sat on the edge of the mattress and held Sam's hand tightly, keeping the contact with his brother solid and grounded.

'Son of a bitch.' Caleb exclaimed as he finished the cutting and exposed the small device, swabbing away the blood he took a pair of tweezers and carefully extracted it, with a small suctioning sound and a light pop it came free though as Caleb tugged it away Sam screamed and tightened his grip on Dean's hand. 'Fuck!' Cal snarled.

'What is it?' Dean's head shot up and stared down at the bloodied contraption in Caleb's hand.

'It has a lead running from it, I'm gonna have to cut it but I have a feeling ...'

'What Caleb?' Dean snarled his reigned in anger started to break free with each passing moment.

'It may be connected to Sam's nervous system or worse.' Caleb gave Sam a sympathetic look before staring directly at Dean, 'I'm not sure what's gonna happen when I cut it.'

'Do it Cal please.' Sam cried out, his voice tight with pain, 'now.'

Swallowing deeply Caleb took a small pair of scissors and snipped the lead off the device, Sam's back arched as shockwaves coursed through his body, his mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.

'Sammy?' Dean turned back to his brother as Sam started to convulse, 'Sammy?'

Caleb dropped the small box and picked the tweezers up, 'hold him down Dean.' he said as he probed the area deeper in the cut, following the lead as far as he could.

Dean gripped Sam tightly, with one arm across his chest and shoulders the other holding Sam's arm away from where Caleb was working. The convulsions passed enough for Sam to lie limply under Dean, conscious but not aware of what was happening.

After ten minutes of tense silence, Caleb produced the last of the lead, a small contact pad covered with viscous fluid and blood. 'Got it.'

Minutes later, he had the wound resewn and cleaned before tapping a gauze pad over the stitched wound and then wrapped a light bandage around Sam's entire chest and underarms. 'It's over Sammy.' Dean said passing a hand over Sam's face, 'it's all over, Caleb got it out.'

'Gone?' Sam whispered hoarsely.

The ringing of Caleb's cell phone made all three men jump startled, blushing slightly Caleb finished wiping his hands and pulled the phone out. 'Bobby.' He said as he took the call outside letting the brothers have some privacy.

Dean slid a clean pair of sweat pants up Sam's legs, worried that his brother laid there so compliant. 'Sit up a little Sam and I'll help ya with your T-shirt.' Sam turned his face slightly but showed no sign of hearing Dean's request. Sighing heavily Dean hauled his brother upright and rested him against his shoulder, reminiscent of how he would dress Sammy when he was little and too sick to do much. 'It's gonna be okay now Sammy.' He said settling is brother back on the pillows, 'okay we can't have you lying in the blood and gunk but I can't carry you dude, you're gonna have to give me some help okay?'

Sam nodded slightly and accepted Dean's helping hand to get out of the bed and move across to the other one, when settled he let out his held breath and kept his eyes shut.

'Sammy take these for me dude.' Dean gave him a couple of tablets and held the water for Sam to sip. 'Just some codeine Sammy.'

As Sam rested his head back on the pillows he stared at Dean and with a shaking hand reached out to grip Dean's. 'Stay please.' He whispered, 'don't wanna be lone.'

'Not going anywhere Sammy.' Dean said, brushing his fingers through Sam's hair absently, he sat next to his brother until Sam fell into a deep exhaustive sleep.

'Dean?' Caleb whispered coming back into the room, he put the cell down and indicated for Dean to join him away from Sam.

'What did Bobby find out?' Dean demanded unable to take his gaze away from his sleeping brother.

'Not good dude, looks like Grace and Sandy headed back to the institute, Bobby's had it staked out, lots of movement going on. Trucks in and out ... the two girls left and he followed them back to Sandy's place.'

'So he thinks that Grace was with them all along?'

'Looks like dude.'

'Fucking little bitch!' Dean exclaimed, 'she did a number on both me and Sam, she must be important coz she's definitely a healer.'

'Dude, their sisters.' Caleb finally blurted out the last fact Bobby had found out.

'Sisters?'

'Sloane's brats the pair of them.'

'I'm gonna kill em Caleb, they're worse than the creatures we hunt.'

'Dean!' Sam screamed repeatedly thrashing in his bed; he tried to fight off an invisible enemy. 'Dean NO!' he cried out sitting upright he tumbled out of the bed still in the grip of the dream-terror.

'Sammy?' Dean ran straight to Sam and crouched down in front of him, 'Sammy dude wake up it's a dream.'

'No, no please Dean don't.' Sam cried out pushing away from Dean he scrambled backwards until his back hit the wall and stopped him. Mewling softly he pulled his knees up and started rocking, chanting, 'no Dean.' under his breath.

'Sammy?' Dean tried again, swallowing down on his own rising emotions, he felt so helpless, and that alone fuelled his rage. 'Hey Sammy please look at me.'

'No more please, no more.' Sam wept cringing and shivering, 'I can't ... hurts please stop them.'

'Sammy dude it's okay they can't hurt you anymore.' Dean persisted trying to get Sam's attention.

'No please, no get off me ... get off me now.' Sam cried out his head snapping up, his eyes wide open and wild looking, panting heavily he pushed himself harder against the wall. 'No don't ... no!'

'Sammy?' Dean tried one last time, not willing to touch his distraught brother and send up off again.

'They ... they ... no ... no more.' Sam wept brokenly, 'I can't do it ... can't control it.'

'Dean he's reliving what they did to him.' Caleb gasped, 'dude we're gonna have to talk soon.'

'I – I know.' Dean mumbled watching Sam weep and rock harder, worried that he was going to reopen his wounds Dean looked up at Caleb, 'in the first aid kit you should find a syringe.'

Caleb immediately searched through the contents and found the needle filled with a mild sedative and passed it to Dean without comment.

'I'm sorry Sammy.' Dean murmured as he moved quickly, jabbing Sam's arm with the injection before his brother could react.

Wide-eyed Sam blinked at Dean as he started to feel himself calm down, 'that's it bro nice deep breathes.'

'Dean?' Sam blinked and tried to focus on the familiar face in front of him, 'where?'

'In the motel, dude you're going to be okay.' Dean said wrapping his arm around Sam's shoulders, he helped his younger though taller brother up and guided him back to bed.

'Dean ... what happened?'

'You had a bad dream.'

'No, no Dean I was there I was back there ... they ... they did things to me.' Sam protested slightly jumping when he heard a light tapping at the door.

'Bobby.' Caleb confirmed before opening the door and lowering his drawn weapon, confused Sam stared at Dean and then moved his gaze to Caleb and Bobby and then back to Dean.

'What's going on Dean?' Sam asked yawning deeply.

'Nothing Sammy, just get some rest okay, you're safe now.'

'They want me back Dean.' Sam mumbled as the sedative worked and he slipped back into drug induced sleep.

'Bobby, Caleb, we have to finish this and finish this now.' Dean declared as he finally left his brother's side and joined the other two hunters at the table.

TBC