Oh where, Oh where has your big brother gone?

Disclaimer: as per the first chapter, nothing changes much anyway!

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CHAPTER 22

Sam paced the small cell nervously worrying his lower lip; he was able to make shapes out now without squinting but nothing had real definition and nothing had a face.

Frustrated he let out a roar and thumped the wall with his fist, relishing in the sudden pain shooting up his arm. He was still alive.

'Sammy?' A weak and faded voice came from behind him.

'Dad?' Sam asked turning around he tried to pinpoint where his father's voice came from.

'Straight in front of you now, just take three strides, keep your hand on the wall as a guide.' John instructed his son, 'that's it one more step okay now just feel your way down the wall.'

Sam let his hand slide down the wall with his own momentum until he knelt easily, reaching out with a shaking hand he reached for his father, 'Dad?' He whispered brokenly, 'it's a trick isn't it.'

'No Son it's no trick.' John said as he grasped Sam's hand and lifted it to his own face.

'But, I don't understand Decebal ... he freed you and Dean.'

'Decebal lied to you Sammy, I was only a few feet away when he did that to you.'

'Why? I don't understand.' Sam said hating the way he sounded, like frightened child.

'Neither do I son, but I know that Dean is still somewhere nearby and I'm here.'

'What did you do to you Dad?' Sam asked letting his fingers linger on his father's stubbled cheek.

'Don't worry about me, Sammy what happened to your sight?' John asked needing to know.

'He ah...' Sam stammered, he could feel a blush stain his cheeks, 'tried to sell me to another demon.'

'He what?'

'He let the demon ... he let the demon.' Sam faltered, 'Dad he let the demon inspect me, I was strapped to a table and that creature ... he ah put his hands on my head and I really don't remember much about what happened, except when I woke I couldn't see and I had trouble remembering for a little while.'

'Sam I – I am so sorry.'

'Dad, please it's okay, I can see shapes now, though I am trying to hide it from Decebal.' Sam whispered moving closer to his father, a part of him wanted John to take him in his arms and hold him tight, to reassure him that this is all just a horrible nightmare. But reality speaks and dreams wither.

'Sam I know that he used me against you and Dean.' John started unsure exactly what to say to his youngest son but he had to try and heal something between them.

'I know Dad, I know it wasn't you doing ... what he did. He made you do things just like he ah made that sheriff and the others remember when this all...' Sam ducked his head slightly and rubbed his forehead with his fingertips suddenly feeling very tired.

'Sam are you okay son?'

'Dad, I ah ... my head.' Sam toppled forward into his father's arms as the pain seared his brain and nerve endings.

'Sh it's alright Sammy I'm here, I've got you.' John whispered holding his son tightly, 'I've got you.' Ignoring his own injuries and pain John cradled his youngest against his chest as he shook with pain.

They stayed there locked in each others arms drawing comfort from each other as the time passed slowly for them, gradually Sam stirred and moved away from his father slightly as the headache eased. 'Dad?'

'Yes Sammy?'

'I-I-I-I ah thanks.' Sam finally managed to get out, confused at why he was so tongue tied around his father all of a sudden. 'Dad, what – what do my eyes? What colour are they?' Sam said urgently turning his head towards his father's voice he blinked a few times and opened them.

John gently put his fingers on Sam's chin and tilted his head slightly to catch the better light, 'they are looking clearer Sam, still white but not thick milky white.' He announced a hint of excitement in his voice, 'what can you see?'

'Shapes are getting clearer, I ah I can see you but nothing definite it's like I umm like I am standing in a thick fog and can see you but like a shadow. Sorry I'm not making sense am I?'

'No Sam that makes perfect sense.' John said his voice heavy with relief, 'your eyes are clearing, Sam your blindness may not be permanent.'

Uncurling his lanky frame Sam eased himself up against the wall until he stood and stretched to his full height, his body hurt so much but his spirit wasn't anymore, 'Dad what about you? How are you?' Sam asked as he groped downwards to his father, 'can you stand?'

'Yes son.' John said through gritted teeth, as he gripped his son's hand and stood up, wincing with the movement as his battered body protested from being disturbed. He had been sitting in the same position for so long that his tortured muscles and aching bones had time to rest. 'Ah.'

'Dad?' Sam asked his voice rising slightly with worry, 'what is it?' He tried to reach for his father's face when John grabbed his hand and stopped him.

'Sam it's okay, I'm just a little stiff that's all, been sitting for too long.'

'You sure?' Sam asked desperately wanting to check his father out simply by looking at him, 'your arm?'

'My arm?' John felt confusion rise for a moment before he remembered his broken limb, 'it's kinda numb.' He finally admitted.

'I am so sorry Dad this is all my fault.' Sam said his fear rising once again.

'No, no Sam listen to me it is not your fault, none of this is because of you.' John spoke as calmly and as evenly as possible. 'We have to stay strong Sam, we have to stay focused for Dean.'

'Dean, Dad do you know what happened to him?' Sam asked feeling more shame and guilt rising in him.

'Decebal got his men to separate us when he had you ... when he.'

'When he tried to enter my head.' Sam finished for his father, 'I ah don't really remember what he did or um didn't do.'

'Sam don't let it get to you, you are stronger than he is, remember that. He fears you.'

'Fears me?'

'Yes, why do you think he is trying to control your abilities your visions.' John floundered for words as he tried to reassure Sam, privately he still didn't understand his youngest or his abilities are or becoming. 'Listen to me we are going to find your brother, we gonna kill this demon and we are all walking out of here, do you understand me Sam?'

'Yes Sir.' Sam said but his voice didn't reflect the surety of his words. 'Dad ... I ah it feels so long ago since they arrested me for killing Dean and now he's missing again. Dad it feels so...'

'Yeah I know Son.' He whispered he rubbed his face with his good hand and looked up at Sam's, he wore a look of sheer guilt mixed with total exhaustion. His son barely over the life-threatening beating he received at the hands of a corrupt sheriff and now he has lost his sight, all because of a lustful demon. 'Sam I need you to concentrate do you remember hearing anything that may help us find Dean? Or perhaps any rooms that he had taken you too?'

'The – the room he had me in when he was going to ahh sell me.' Sam said shuddered as he brought that particular memory up from the murky depths of his mind, 'it was like a surgical room, the table it was a metal one and he had me strapped down, there –there was a large light overhead.'

'Like a surgical unit?'

'Yeah, I ah remember waking up and thinking that he was going to have someone cut me up or dissect me or something.' Sam's voice started to crack as he spoke, his long frame started to shake violently, he winced and his lifted his hands to his temples as another pain shot through his terrorised mind. 'Hurts to remember, fuck Dad make it stop please make it stop.'

'Sam listen to me, you have to focus, concentrate on your breathing and focus on my voice.' John spoke sharply reaching up with his good arm he cupped his hand at the back of Sam's head and gently applied enough pressure for him to lean into his father a little. 'Just listen to my voice Sammy, Decebal did something to trigger a response in you when he was invading your mind. Breath and focus on my voice.'

'Dad please make it stop.' Sam cried dropping to his knees he clutched his head and moaned and started rocking, 'it hurts.'

'Sammy you have to listen to me ... you have to ah.' Suddenly John dropped his hand from Sam's shoulder losing the tenuous contact

'Dad? Dad where are you?' Sam cried out, tears streamed down his face unchecked as he floundered, the pain in his head tore through him and down his neck. 'Dad?'

'I am afraid your father is rather indisposed.' Decebal said mockingly, he stared down at the shaking young man sobbing uncontrollably as the pain intensified when he heard Decebal's voice. 'Aw Sammy, what's the matter?'

'Stop, stop the pain please.' Sam begged between his ragged breathes. 'I – I ah please stop.'

'Why Samuel I am only getting started.'

TBC