Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!

End of Innocence

Chapter 11 – Hiding

Dean and Nick were quickly following the young girl through the maze of hallways and rooms that made up the basement. Dean shivered, the atmosphere just screamed evil. He expected Jason to jump out any moment, hockey mask and all. "How much further?" Dean asked quietly.

Nick paused and placed a hand on Dean's arm. "Shhh…Peggy says we need to stay here for a moment." They were standing outside a doorway that hopefully would lead them to Sam.

Suddenly they heard the screams. "SAM!" Dean yelled as he headed for the door. Nick grabbed him and placed a finger against his lips. "Dean you have to be quiet and wait…just a moment. Peggy says they are drawing the demon away from Sam, but if you give our position away you'll never be able to help him."

Dean nodded. "Fine, but if the way isn't clear within the next 5 minutes, I'm going in!"

Dean's eyes filled with tears as he heard the continuous screams coming through the door. He was going to kill the bastard. He didn't care if he had to follow him into hell, he would kill him. Suddenly there was no sound. Dean began to move towards the door once again.

"No, not yet…Wendell is still in the basement area. Peggy will let us know when the way is clear…she says Sam is ok…he's just resting." Nick swallowed. He knew that Dean was anxious and he couldn't blame him. He had never heard Sam scream like that…even when he was being tortured by the ghoula last Halloween. He only hoped they could get there soon.

Dean paced trying to be patient, but when it came to his brother…patience definitely was not his middle name. Just when Dean thought he could wait no longer, Nick motioned for him to follow.

Dean watched as Nick continued to follow the unseen ghost. He had done some weird things in his life, but this was definitely ranking up there. He just hoped that 'Peggy' was on the level. Dean saw Nick stop outside a door and nod at what he figured was the ghost child. Dean was through waiting, he quickly walked up to the door and pulling out his lock picks went to work.

While Dean worked, Nick looked thoughtfully at Peggy. The little girl had a look in her eyes that belied her young looks. Nick couldn't help but feel sorry that she had lost her innocence at so young an age. "Peggy, thank you for helping us." Nick said softly.

"Tell Dean he needs to hurry…Sam needs him now." She cocked her head as if she was listening to something. "Wendell will be returning shortly, you need to get to Sam now. We have to hide him until it's time."

"Time for what Peggy?"

"To get rid of the demon silly. Sam and Dean have to help us banish the demon so that you can help us find our way home. But Sam is too weak right now. I know a place where Wendell won't be able to find us…you need to get Sam and follow me now!" Peggy's eyes were looking frightened again as she looked around.

"Dean, we need to hurry. Wendell is on his way back. Peggy has a place we can hide."

Dean paused a second, cursing the old lock as he continued to work on opening it. "No way Nick, I'm grabbing him and heading out of here."

"Dean, you won't make it…remember upstairs. If the demon finds us, we won't be able to fight him. We need to get Sam someplace safe…if Wendell gets hold of him Peggy says he will be lost."

Dean grunted as the lock finally gave way. He rushed into the room and stopped, his mind refusing to acknowledge what he was seeing. His little brother was naked and strapped to a table. An IV was hooked up to his arm and there were electrical leads glued to various parts of his body. The wounds on Sam's body were numerous and Dean didn't even want to think about what had made some of them. Sam's body would twitch periodically, but other than that involuntary movement Sam appeared more dead than alive.

"Oh God, Sammy!" Dean moved forward quickly pulling the IV from his brother's hand as Nick began to remove the restraints. Nick grabbed an old blanket that was lying in the corner and helped Dean drape it over his brother's body. Dean quickly picked Sam up in a Fireman's carry and turned to leave the room. "Which way Nick!" Dean grunted.

Nick grabbed Dean's back pack and the shot gun and once again took the lead. "This way Dean…hurry, Peggy says he's almost back!"

Dean picked up the pace as his mind swirled with hatred for the being that had done this to his brother. He could feel Sam's body tremble and heard him mumble as they moved quickly through the maze. "Shh Sammy, I've got you." Dean comforted as he quickly lost track of where they were going. His focus was on getting Sam somewhere safe so he could check him out.

It seemed like they had been walking for a long time before they came to a small area of the basement that had a room with a small bed in it. The door was missing and there was no window, but the room had markings on the walls and ceiling that Dean recognized as various protection symbols. "What is this place?" Dean asked as he gently lowered Sam onto the sagging mattress.

Nick listened for a moment and smiled softly. "Peggy says this is the place that they kids used to come to get away from Wendell. Evidently, one of the older kids had books on various supernatural subjects that he managed to smuggle in with him when his parents left him here. He knew a great deal about demons and had taught all the others what he knew…that is until Wendell killed him." Nick sighed "He was only 12 years old Dean."

Dean shook his head. "This Wendell dude is going down Nick…I don't care what it takes, he's going down!" Dean reached forward and frowned when he felt the heat on his brother's forehead. Sam had yet to wake and that also worried Dean. "Damn, he's running a fever. God only knows what the bastard used to make these wounds, but more than one of them probably has caused an infection. I really need to get Sam to a hospital!"

Nick appeared to be listening to Peggy again as Dean reached into his pack and pulled out some of the medical supplies he had brought with him. He concentrated on the more serious wounds, grateful that while they were numerous…none appeared to be life threatening. He couldn't figure out why Sam still hadn't woken up.

"Dean, Peggy says that Sam has been given strong drugs to break his will. He is weak, but he is still trying to fight. I guess some of the other kids are with him, trying to help him…but he needs to hear your voice Dean…talk to him…she says he will hear you. But don't be surprised if he is disoriented…the drugs are making him see things that aren't real Dean."

"Damn it…ok. Sam…hey there little brother. You've had enough time to relax. I need you to wake up for me now. Sammy…please open your eyes. I promise you'll be safe." Dean watched as Sam's eyes began to move. His brother was trying to come back.

"That's it Sammy, you can do it. I'm here for you Sam…just open your eyes and you can see me." Dean jumped as he felt Sam's hand grab his arm in a tight grip.

"Dean…Oh God, please tell me you're real…please I can't take any more of this…I can't tell…Dad is mad Dean and I don't know why. Why is he mad Dean? I don't want to go to the demon Dean. Please don't make me go!" Sam cried as tears fell from his eyes, his body shaking with the emotion that was pouring from him.

Dean pulled Sam into his arms and began to rock him like he did when he was a small child. "Shhh Sammy, no one is mad at you. I'm here and I'm real. Just hold onto me. Ignore everything else and just hold on. I'm not going anywhere." Dean watched as Sam began to calm down. His eyes were blinking as if he was trying to see through whatever was scaring him.

"Dean?" Sam struggled to look into the concerned eyes of his brother. He could feel Dean holding him and took strength from the comfort that his brother was offering him. "Where?"

"Unfortunately, we are still at the damn orphanage. But we are safe Sam. One of the kids created a protected room. He won't be able to find us here. Can you tell me what hurts?" Dean watched as Sam swallowed.

"Everything Dean…I tried to fight him Dean, but he was just too strong…I'm sorry." Sam tried to look away from his brother. Disgusted with himself for being so weak.

Dean grabbed Sam's head in his hands and gently turned his face so that he could see into his brother's eyes. He was shocked at the lost look that was reflected back at him. "Sam, I want you to listen to me. Whatever you did, or think that you did, none of it matters. Do you hear me? You're alive and you didn't let him win. You have nothing to be sorry for…nothing!" Dean watched as a small spark seemed to ignite in his brother's eyes. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Nick placed a hand on Dean's arm. "Dean, we need to do something to get rid of the demon. He won't let us leave, especially now that he is after Sam. If we leave this room, he will sense us and he will attack. Peggy says the kids are getting weaker and won't be able to draw him off again any time soon. Any idea on what we need to do?"

Dean sighed. "Well normally, we'd trap him and then use a banishment rite to send him back to hell. But we don't have time to set that up."

Dean felt Sam struggle to sit up. "Whoa there Sammy. You need to take it easy for a bit. Don't worry we'll figure out a way to get you out of here."

"I know what we have to do Dean…there is only one way that we can leave. I have to be the bait."

TBC

Raven524: Yeah! Looks like the alerts are starting to work again!! Hopefully they will stay up for a while this time. Meanwhile, I hope you all are still enjoying the story. Don't be bashful, just hit the little button and let me know what you think!