Oh where, Oh where has your big brother gone?

Disclaimer: as per chapter 1

Author's note: Sorry it has taken so long to update, I did have a chapter written to post last night, but had a slight mishap and well lost the file to the ether so I had to write another version of it tonight sob, over eight pages in Word. Oh and don't worry I haven't forgotten Dean the next chapter is about Dean ... I just wanted to set up this very important bit for Sam and John. Mmmwhahahaha.

One last thing, I had a very interesting question asked the other day in a review, if I have set this in an AU as Dean 'died' a wanted man in the episode Skin and his records would be on police file. As a rule, I try not to use specific storylines and plots for the actual episodes, I prefer to create my own and use the characters and their back-stories instead. Having said that however, sometimes you can't avoid using the episodes as references but as a rule, I try not to. So, in my timeline, the episode never happened, it is roughly a year after Jess' death and Sam is discovering his true powers. Thanks so much for this question and for all of my reviews I really do appreciate them and will answer each question individually and as succinctly as possible. I tend to ramble!
Enough of that let's get on with the update.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 8

'Get used to those Kid coz where you're going you gonna have to.' Sheriff Ralph Jolley sat up and watched as Sam started to wake after his latest round of surgery. The officer had, for a brief moment, a twinge of guilt about the damage he and his men did to the young man. He didn't intend on permanently injuring him or anything but still the kid killed his only brother in cold blood.

Sam opened his eyes and stared blearily at the sheriff, not sure, who the man was or what he had just said. Moaning softly he tried to rub his eyes he realised that he had his wrist trapped in a new set of handcuffs and chained to the hospital bed's railing. 'What the?'

'Can't have you absconding from the hospital can I?'

'What is going on?' John demanded as he entered the ICU cubicle.

'Ah Counsellor I was wondering when you were going to turn up.' Sheriff Jolley laughed as he brushed past John, 'oh by the way as soon as the Doctors give the okay your boy will be facing a bail hearing and end up back in his cell. Better get used to being locked up Stretch; you're looking at life in jail.'

'I suggest that you leave now Sheriff' John snarled in a low voice, 'and trust me it will be you in jail before Sam ever is.'

'Tsk, tsk, Counsellor such a temper. No jury would convict me over a righteous slapping.'

'Slapping? Righteous? Sheriff you damn near killed Sam, he has had to have two surgeries on his internal injuries you and your men have caused. Believe me charges are going to be laid.'

The sheriff snarled gave Sam a dirty look and pushed past John deliberately knocking into him. 'Watch your back Counsellor.' He threatened.

John waited until the man was out of earshot before he went to his son's side, 'Sammy? Hey Son it's good to see you.'

'Dad.' Sam croaked, 'so thirsty.'

'They left some ice chips for you, nothing else for a while.' John carefully tipped a few chips into Sam's mouth from a spoon realising that he missed so much of Sam's young life, he had relied on Dean so much to care for the boy while he hunted. I am so sorry Sammy.

'Dad, that Sheriff he ...' Sam tried to put his words together to make a coherent sentence but his mind was just too foggy, instead he lifted his handcuffed hand and looked at his father, his usually bright eyes dull and despondent.

'Listen to me Sam, this is going to be over very soon I promise you, I am going to find Dean and it will all be over.'

'How Dad? I fucked up and now I'm paying the price, maybe I should be locked up for everyone's sake.'

'Samuel I never ever want to hear you talk like that.' John scolded his youngest, but then he saw the look on Sam's face and immediately regretted the words, 'listen to me Sam please I need you to hang on and to concentrate on getting well, that's all I need you to do for me, the rest I'll take care of.'

'You heard the sheriff Dad; I may as well plead guilty and save everyone a lot of pain.'

'How can you plead guilty when Dean's still alive?' John said, leaning over his son he brushed the heavy fringe and gently cradled Sam's face in his hand, 'you're my son Sam I love you and Dean, the two of you are my life, I will not let this go any further than necessary.'

'I'm sorry Dad.' Sam whispered turning his face away from his father, 'for everything I am so sorry.'

John sat down and rubbed his hands over his face, he didn't know what to say to Sam to make him feel better, ah Mary I need you the thought rang through his mind, the boys need you, I am lost here. He looked up and stared around wildly, he was sure he felt someone touch his shoulder. Whimpers of pain brought his focus back and he immediately returned to his son's bedside. Sam lay pale against the stark white of the hospital linen, his eyes open but unfocused and his mouth slack. Worried John leaned in closer to Sam and tried to rouse him, when he realised that Sam was watching something or someone else, he was in the midst of a vision.

Dean hung limply from the wooden frame, his left leg twisted awkwardly under him, his shoulders snapping under his weight. Long bloody welts covered his bare torso, both back and stomach, two long and ornately handled daggers protruded from Dean's right shoulder and right thigh.

Then everything blurred and shifted, when the vision cleared Sam was the one hanging from the frame, his long legs buckled under him, his surgical scars burst open and bleeding profusely, a female demon appeared in front of him, she smiled wickedly and morphed into a demonic form of Jessica. Wearing her face and speaking with her voice, she ran a taloned fingernail down Sam's chest stopping at the seeping wound and started to gouge into it. 'You're mine now Sam; it's time to make you pay for killing me.'

Sam screamed, long and loud, panting heavily he blinked and stared at his father, 'gonna hurl.' He managed to get out before his stomach finished somersaulting and expelled the tiny amount of fluid and bile in it. John grabbed the kidney dish on the bench next to him and held it for Sam while he retched and spat out the last remnants of fluid.

'What was it Sam? What happened?' John asked as he eased Sam back into the bed and wiped his sweaty face with a damp washcloth.

'Dean ... he was ... tortured ... then Jessica...' Sam broke off and winced as he tried to get comfortable, 'ahhh hurts Dad.'

'I know Son, but hang in there I just need you to hang on for me.'

'I saw Jessica Dad, but it wasn't her it was...' Sam stared up at his dad through the veil of tears, 'it was different Dad, it was like I was being shown what was happening rather than seeing it what could happen.'

'You mean that it has already?'

'Kind of ... Dean's been hurt bad, I don't know how much longer he can last.'

'Ah Mr Granite and young Sam I presume' A distinguished looking doctor strode into the cubicle closely followed by a wary looking nurse. 'I am George Norris I am the surgeon who worked on Sam here.'

'Mr Norris, how's he going?'

'Well I can tell you now Mr Granite your client is one very lucky young man, and at the moment his prognosis is excellent, we got the small bleeder, no signs of massive infection. Now this doesn't mean he can get out of hospital tomorrow and run a marathon but if he keeps improving over the next few days we can look at release in about a week.'

'Thanks Mr Norris, that's great news.' John smiled at the surgeon and turned to face Sam, 'see things are looking better all of the time.'

'Right well, I'll leave you to it, ' The surgeon nodded his head, gave his patient a friendly pat on his arm and then strode out ready to see the next one.

'Dad?'

'Things are gonna work out Sammy, now you heard the doctor all you have to do is concentrate on getting well enough to get out of here in a week.'

'No Dad, we have to go and find Dean.'

'Sam no, for one you have just had two rounds of major surgery, two you're handcuffed to the bed and three I said so.'

'Dad it's Dean...'

'I mean it Sam, stay and rest. Dean is going to need you at full strength if your vision comes true.'

Sam opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself and nodded miserably he knew that his father was right. Anyway, he was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. 'Dad, do go just yet please.' He whispered his fingers twisting around his father's, 'just stay a little longer.'

'Sh Sam, just relax and go to sleep I promise I'll stay here until you are sound asleep.' John soothed Sam, gently brushing his fingertips through Sam's tangled hair 'you need a hair cut Sammy.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam sat propped up in his wheelchair ready and waiting, while his father finished his phone call, and then they could get out of there. He had signed his release papers an hour ago and Sam was itching to leave.

'Going somewhere Mr Winchester?' The sheriff asked as he strolled up the corridor whistling tunelessly and swinging a pair of handcuffs from a finger.

'Do you have a personal supplier of those things?' Sam asked his eyes narrowing suspiciously at the man.

'Can't have you free when you leave here boy, you're coming back to the jail where you belong.'

'I'm afraid you're wrong there Sheriff.' John interrupted, 'Sam will be coming with me and we are going straight to the courthouse for a bail hearing.'

'What are you on about Granite?'

'With the extenuating circumstances of Sam's arrest and subsequent hospitalisation for injuries sustained in your custody I was able to schedule an immediate hearing with the circuit judge.'

'Circuit? Nah that's not right, it should be Judge Coleson.'

'Sorry to disappoint you, but Coleson has been replaced for Sam's hearing.' John couldn't help smiling as he delivered his last piece of news. 'It'll be Judge Bert Fredricks and I have also secured the services of Syd Rylands an expert criminal lawyer he's waiting for us there.'

'Why aren't you representing your client? You that worried that he's as guilty as sin?'

'No actually the exact opposite, now if you will excuse me Sheriff Jolley my client and I have a court case to go to.'

Sam exhaled and rested his head against the back of the passenger seat in his father's truck, his stitches pulled and itched, and he felt exhausted already, just by leaving hospital. 'We really are going straight to the courthouse?'

'Yep, Syd's waiting for us.'

'How come you got Syd to defend me?' Sam asked swallowing down hard on a bitterness rising from deep within, 'you don't think that I am guilty do you?'

'I am going to ignore that question Sam, no but if I defend you and someone finds out that I am not Tom Granite and actually your father ... '

'You'll be in the cell next to me.' Sam finished for his father.

'Yep now, take it easy till we get there, ha looks like we have a shadow.' John said as he watched the sheriff's car following close behind them.

'There's something not right about him Dad, him, and that prosecutor Decebal.'

'Yeah I know, but we'll get it all worked out Sam, Syd knows everything that's going on.'

Sam sat silently next to his father and his defence lawyer Syd Rylands, he watched the workers quietly file in and get set up for the extraordinary out of session hearing with the circuit judge. They all glanced at Sam, but shifted their focus when they met his even stare, 'do you really think that kid's a killer?' One of the clerks whispered, not realising that in the silence of the room her voice carried to Sam.

'Nah he's too cute and innocent looking.' The other one said, 'anyway look at him he couldn't knock a feather off your shoulder he looks that ill.'

'Yeah poor kid heard that bastard Jolley gave him a real working over.'

'Swear that man has made a deal with the devil.'

The hearing was short and to the point, Syd successfully argued for Sam's release on bail, the prosecutor snarled as the decision was made and turned a flame-filled stare to the young adult, 'it's not over yet.' He growled as he strode out, the sheriff tailing him, cowering under the dark man's anger.

'Thanks Mr Rylands.' Sam said with a slight grin, but then he paled and gasped he struggled to stay upright as the pain speared through his skull.

'Do you think that you're going to get away from me that easily?' the Master taunted Dean, the young man naked and beaten, he still had blood seeping from the long welts covering his body. He dragged himself across the floor trying desperately to get some distance between him and his tormentor. 'So hey why don't you find a fly to pull it's wings off for a while and give me a break?' Dean quipped as he pushed himself wearily up against a wall, 'I'll just stay here and have a rest for a minute while you go and annoy someone else.'

'Still the clown until the end.' The Master sighed as he squatted down next to Dean; gripping his victim's hair, he viciously pulled his head backwards exposing his neck. Laughing maniacally, he flicked his fingers and his claw-like nail sliced through the tight skin, turning his face, he dropped Dean's lifeless body. 'Your turn next Sammy.' He said.

Sam let out a shuddering breath and stared up at his father, realising he sat on the floor surrounded by worried-looking people including the judge. 'what happened?' He asked bright red patches appeared on his colourless face, 'why am I on the floor.'

'You fainted Son.' The judge said, his voice soft and caring, 'do you need to go back to the hospital?'

'No, no thank you Sir, I just need to lie down for a while.' Sam said floundering with what to say, 'just need to rest.'

'Mr Granite can you take care of your client?' The judge said putting emphasis on the word client, giving John a conspiratorial wink he stood up and went to leave, 'good luck Son, but somehow I don't think you'll need it.'

'Thanks Bert.' John smiled shaking the man's hand, 'I appreciate your help in all of this.'

'I hope you find Dean and don't worry I am going to make sure that Jolley rots in his own cells.' Bert Fredricks grinned and clapped John on the back, 'next time we meet for a beer though.'

When John had, Sam settled on his bed in their new motel room he sat down opposite him and waited for him to explain his vision. He had to stop himself from demanding Sam to talk and to wait for him to speak of his own volition.

'Dad, I saw Dean he was trying to get away from that prosecutor Decebal,' Sam started to speak and then stopped when he could feel heavy sobs slowly rise in his chest. 'Dad I saw him cut Dean's throat ... he killed him and then ... and then he turned as if he was looking straight at me and said that I am next.'

'Decebal?'

'Yeah it was definitely him.'

'Well that explains a lot, a helluva lot.'

Sam tried to shift his position and winced when the movement caused his stitches to pull on the still mending wound.

'For now Sam you need to rest, you're no good for yourself or for your brother in your condition.'

'Dad I...'

'No but Dad I mean it Samuel, you can't help find your brother from a hospital bed can you.'

'No Sir.' Sam said hating the way he sounded like a petulant child.

'I'm going to go and get us something to eat, I want you to get some sleep Sam, when I get back we'll work out how to get Dean back.'

'What about Decebal Dad? If he's the one who has Dean then?'

'Sleep Sam we'll talk about it when I get back.' John said as he quickly shut the door behind him and locked it with the key, effectively trapping Sam in the motel room. 'Sorry Sam but I have to do it.' John pulled the keys to his truck out of his pocket, gave the locked room one last look and then with a determined air got in to the vehicle and started it. 'I'll bring your brother back to you Sam, you just hang in there.' John muttered as he straightened his shoulders and squealed the tyres as he pulled away.

TBC