Oh where, Oh where has your big brother gone?

Disclaimer: nothing's changed, as per chapter 1

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CHAPTER 11

Decebal floated down until he stood directly in front of the youngest Winchester, 'you are a good-looking boy aren't you Samuel.' He said running a scorching finger down Sam's cheek, 'and to have endured so much all to save your dearly departed brother ... whoops I mean your nearly departed brother.'

'What do you want Decebal?' Sam asked his voice calm and low, 'you have me let my father and brother go.'

'And what would you do for them Sam? What are you willing to give for their freedom?'

'I have already given more than enough Decebal you made sure of that.'

'Oh yes ... your beating, you didn't do as you were told to do Samuel what else could I do except punish you for your disobedience?'

'I don't owe you any obedience; now let them down from the crosses.'

'Hmm, what a quandary I find myself in ... your brother has been a delightful guest by the way, aside from providing interesting entertainment he has proven his fortitude and strength, he never gave up on you, did you know that? And your father – now he's an interesting man, the one I wanted and instead of giving himself up, he tried to save his eldest son. His favourite son. The one who obeyed his father; it seems young Sam you don't like to obey your superiors.'

'Gee you like to talk don't you?' Sam ground out, sounding much like Dean which brought a twinge to his lips in an almost smile.

'One thing your father failed in teaching you boys how to speak to your betters, such sarcasm from such youngsters it is a sad state I must say.'

'I learned from the best.' Sam quipped deliberately ignoring the attempts to get him to react in anger. 'So what we just going to stand around talking or are we going to work things out finally?

'I will agree with you on one point we are wasting time.' Decebal said waving his hand at Sam he sent the young man sprawling, pinning him to a wall. 'Please resist me Samuel I need a good workout.'

Sam stopped moving and stared at his brother and father as they hung from the grotesque crosses and then he returned his gaze to the Master demon a small smile playing across his face, as he flicked his wrists and slipped to the ground effortlessly breaking the invisible hold. Suddenly Decebal found himself flying down the length of the barn crashing into the few remaining spectators.

'A challenge I willing accept.' He breathed brushing the dirt from his clothes as he stood up, 'you do need to learn a lesson in respect don't you.'

'Perhaps you are the one who should learn a lesson in respect.' Sam said his voice low and even, 'let them go Decebal.'

'Well that's an issue that is going to cause a problem for you, you see Samuel I don't want to and as soon as you realise that you cannot stand up to me then I will have all three of the famous Winchester family and I will be in control.'

'Do you mean that all of this is for nothing but control?' Sam asked in disbelief, 'you kidnap and torture Dean, you force me to betray my father and then have me arrested on trumped up murder charges where I am almost beaten to death. And now you have both my Dad and Dean hanging from crosses and expect me to lay down and beg your favours for what? For you to have control? What a fucking megalomaniac!'

'You have a dirty mouth Samuel.' Decebal snarled as he launched himself at the young man, knocking him hard into the wall splintering the wood.

Sam lay so still that he appeared to be unconscious then slowly he stood. Shaking the splinters from his hair he walked back towards Decebal, apparently unaware of the cuts and splinters, he received from crashing into the wall. Moving slowly he walked towards the demon, flexing his shoulders as he walked. When he raised his gaze to stare at his family both Dean and John stared in disbelief, instead of Sam's hazel eyes flecked with blue and green they were dark almost black and shining with a red light. He smiled at them and then returned his attention to the demon who stood frowning at his young opponent. This was not right, someone was intervening the boy's powers hadn't fully developed yet and what he was doing was not possible.

Hissing he backed away and brought his arms up, bringing up a swirling windstorm a blinding, choking dust filled wind effectively blocking him between Sam and himself.

'This is not over Samuel Winchester, not over at all.' Decebal's voice rose above the howling wind.

Coughing and holding his hands over his eyes Sam tried to stay upright then just as it came up the wind dropped suddenly, the air clearing instantly. Wiping the dust from his face and his watery eyes Sam gazed around trying to work out what had just happened.

He was alone in the barn, Decebal and his cronies were gone, 'Dad, Dean!' He called out running towards the end where Decebal had them crucified, 'Dad! Dean!' Sam yelled sprinting towards their still bodies, his heart thumped hard against his chest, the lump in his throat constricted his breathing as he focused on them.

'Dad?' He whispered standing beneath the cross he stared in horror at his father's still form, with a single thought he undid the ropes binding his father's arms and the nails flew from his hands, and then he floated down to Sam's waiting arms.

'Sammy?' John's eyes flickered open and he smiled up at his youngest son, 'Dean?'

Sam wordlessly lowered his father down until he rested against the wall and then he focused on releasing his brother from the other cross. With infinite care and tenderness, he controlled Dean's descent until he held him in his arms. Weeping openly he passed his hand over Dean's face, 'Dean please no...'

'Dude you're crying on me.' Dean whispered managing a slight grin.

'Dean!' Sam yelped, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

'Where's Decebal?' John asked as he managed to stagger over to his sons, his relief so plainly written across his face, 'where did you ... what did you ... Sam what you did?'

'I really don't know Dad, it's just I knew I had to save you guys and it just came out of me.'

'Your eyes went all freaky Dude.' Dean said, 'ah mind not so much of the hugging Sammy I still got my rep to consider.'

'Decebal vanished Dad,' Sam started as he helped Dean to a sitting position. 'It's not over is it? It's never gonna be over.'

'We're going to be fine Son as long as we stick together.' John said trying not to show his pent up emotion, 'but for now we need to get your brother to some medical help.'

'No Dad!' Dean said, 'no I just want to get cleaned up and have a shower, I'll be fine.'

'Dean please.'

'No!' Dean said as he managed to get to his feet, swaying badly he gripped Sam's arm for support as he forced himself not to think about fainting or hurling in front of his father, 'you can patch me up when we get back to the motel room.'

As they drove back to the township, Sam chewed his lower lip as he drove lost in the confusion of how he fought Decebal on his own terms. He had fought for his father and for Dean not the other way round he didn't understand what had happened or why.

Dean stared miserably out of the window; his body ached in places that he didn't know existed, he was alive and with Sam and his father again but it didn't feel right. He didn't feel right it was as though there was a peace of his soul missing. Something that Decebal had taken from him and he couldn't fill it. He wanted to feel gratitude to Sam for freeing him, for stepping up and being the warrior instead of the scholar for a change but he couldn't. He wanted to be happy that his Dad was safe and with them but it all felt so wrong.

It was always Dean saving Sam's scrawny ass, Dean working with Dad to vanquish the nasties, now he had been the victim and Sam the hero. It grated against his nerves, and it just plain felt wrong. He felt wrong and hated himself for feeling it.

TBC