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 14 – Broken

Nick helped Dean get Sam back upstairs in the orphanage. He and Dean were both concerned by the tremors that continued to rack Sam's fevered body. "Dean, maybe we should just take him to the hospital. I can come back and finish this."

Dean sighed. "How long will it take you to help them?"

Nick shrugged. "Not long if they are willing to go…but some of them may be afraid."

Dean knew that Sam wouldn't want him to leave the children and he also knew that he couldn't leave Nick unprotected, just in case one of the kids didn't want to go quietly. "Well why don't you get started while I run out to the car and get some clothes for Sam. I'm not sure that the hospital will be the best thing for him right now."

Nick remembered Sam's reaction when they had mentioned the hospital. He couldn't even imagine the torture that Sam had endured. "Ok Dean…I'll try and make it quick."

Dean patted Nick on the shoulder and after checking on Sam one more time, headed out to the Impala to get what he needed.

Nick closed his eyes and relaxed his mind. Soon he could feel the children coming to him. He smiled as he saw them walking towards him, smiles replacing the look of sorrow that had been there before. "Hello, are you all ready to move on?"

Peggy stepped forward and placed a hand on Nick's arm. "Most of them are ready to go but a few of us will need to stay around for a little bit."

Nick looked at Peggy and smiled. "Peggy, you and the other children have done a wonderful thing here…something that most adults would never be able to do. You deserve to rest."

Peggy's smile faltered for a moment as she looked at Nick. "You don't understand. Six of us are still in Sam's mind. The drugs combined with what happened to him have made him lost. He can't find his way back yet. If we leave, he might be lost forever."

"You mean that some of you are still talking to Sam?"

"Yes, they are preventing him from going where no one can reach him. If he goes there, he'll never come back. He'll end up like Timmy."

"Timmy?"

"Yes, he wouldn't do what the demon wanted. So the demon used the same drugs on him. He never spoke again. He's trapped in his mind until he dies."

Nick looked at Sam and saw tears running down his cheeks as he moaned. "But you can't stay with him forever…We need to find a way to help Sam."

Peggy shrugged. "All I know is that if we leave now, Sam may not recover and we owe him."

"Why do you think you owe him Peggy?"

Peggy looked at the ground and scuffed the floor with her foot. "Well, we kind of pulled him here with our powers. Once Susie saw him in her vision and once we read your mind and found out you knew him…well, we drew him here. It's our fault that Sam was hurt."

Nick jumped when he felt a hand on his arm. "Hey Nick, how's it going?" Dean asked quietly. He was still unnerved that he couldn't see who Nick was talking to.

"Dean, I'm glad you're back. It seems that we may not be able to leave her just yet with Sam."

"What do you mean, are one of the kids not willing to go?" Dean pulled the shot gun from his pack and stood ready to defend.

"NO! No, you don't understand Dean. Some of the kids are connected to Sam, even now. They were the ones that helped him hold the demon. But they are also keeping him from slipping away."

"What do you mean slipping away…what the hell is going on!" Dean went to kneel next to his brother as he looked to Nick for answers.

"Dean, the drugs combined with the torture that Sam has endured has him confused. He's trying to find his way back, but he's lost. The kids are keeping him from giving up. We need to figure out a way to neutralize the drugs he was given."

"Great…just how the hell do we do that!" Dean patted Sam on the shoulder as his brother began to moan again. "Shh Sammy, don't worry, we'll figure this out."

Nick paused and then pulled out his cell phone. "Hey Stan. No I'm fine, but I have a little problem here that I need your help with. Great! How soon can you get here?" Nick talked for a few more minutes before he hung up and joined Dean beside his brother.

"Look Dean, I have this friend who is a doctor. He does research for a major drug company outside of Chicago. He may be able to help us isolate the drugs and come up with a way to help Sam fight this."

"Are you sure about this guy…I mean, does he know about…you know?" Dean wasn't sure he was ready to trust Sam's health to some stranger.

"Yes, Dean, he actually knows quite a bit about the spirit world. I helped him out a few years ago when a poltergeist decided to take up residence in his home. It's the best we can do Dean, unless you want to try the hospital. But then the children would have to stop helping him. They don't have the power to sustain long contact outside of the orphanage."

Dean sighed. "Sammy, you get yourself into more trouble…ok Nick. Let's see if we can get him comfortable. I'm going out to the car to get our camping supplies. We'll need to make a list of things we'll need and then one of us can run out for supplies."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sam was sitting in the fog talking to one of the little boys who were still in his mind. "So, why are you still here?"

"We're here to help you Sam. The drugs in your system are dangerous…if we don't help you block the images, you'll end up like Timmy."

"Timmy?"

The children quickly told Sam about what had happened to one of the other children who had received the same treatment. Sam's blood ran cold as he realized how close he had come to doing the same thing. If the kids hadn't stopped him…"But you can't stay here forever. There has to be another way for me to fight this."

Sam watched as one of the kids seemed to be listening to someone. "Sam, your brother and Nick are trying to get someone to help you. A doctor is coming who may be able to help you get rid of the drugs from your system. We can help you until they figure it out. You just need to keep listening for your brother's voice."

Sam could hear a low murmur in the back of his mind. He closed his eyes and concentrated until it became louder. He headed for the voice, blocking out the other whispers that were trying to drag him back.

"Dean?" Sam whispered softly, he was trying to focus, but his eyes weren't cooperating. He groaned as the pain from the wounds on his body began to remind him what he had endured. Sam couldn't help the tears that began to flow from his eyes as he tried to break through the fog that seemed to be trying to smother him.

"Hey there Sammy…welcome back." Dean smiled as he saw his brother blink. His hazel eyes were unfocused and glassy, but they were at least open.

"Dean? The demon…gone?" Sam couldn't remember what had happened after he blacked out.

"Yes, he's toast. That reminds me…once you're feeling better; I'm going to really kick your ass. What did you think you were doing taking on that demon alone." Dean kept his tone light, trying not to frighten Sam, but he had misjudged his brother's ability to understand what was happening.

Sam blinked and sobbed. "I'm sorry Dean…please don't let him hurt me anymore. I'll do what you want, just don't hurt me!" Sam tried to curl into a ball as the horror of what was done to him assaulted him once again.

"Ah Sammy…" Dean felt the tears in his own eyes begin to fall as he watched his brother tremble in front of him. He tried to comfort Sam, but as he touched his brother, he only retreated further until his back was against the wall and his knees were pulled to his chest. If the bed hadn't been against a wall, his brother would have been on the floor. Dean looked at Nick. "How long before your friend gets here?"

Nick looked at his watch. "I'm going to get him at the airport in another hour…it won't be long now Dean. I'm sure that Stan will be able to help him."

Dean watched as Sam was gazing at the corner of the room, mumbling to himself. "I hope so Nick, I really hope so."

TBC

Raven524: So has Sammy's choo choo finally gone around the bend? Or will Nick's friend be able to figure out a way to help him…hmmmm…why not tell me what you all think? Just hit the little button and let me know!!