The Preacher
I feel I should point out that this story was completely written before the fabulous Dark Side Of The Moon aired on tv so any similarities are entirely coincidental.
Disclaimer: Don't own them, more's the pity.
Once again I would like to thank sjd for lending me her ears when I needed to have a rant and for looking over this for me.
Chapter Three
"Put the shotgun down child, it's of no use to you right now." The preacher nodded towards the weapon Dean had instinctively raised.
"Oh yeah, well lets just see about that shall we." Dean spat as he pulled the trigger.
The preacher's spirit didn't waver, he remained standing directly in front of Dean, the condescending smile still lining his face "I did try to tell you your weapon would have no effect but you wouldn't listen, as usual Dean Winchester thinks he knows best. You know son, it's not a good personality trait to ignore advice, particularly when it's good advice, like now for instance."
"Where's my brother, I want him back right now and he better not be hurt or believe me you're gonna see a side of my personality that you couldn't even begin to imagine." Dean's glare as he growled the words belied the fear that was coursing through him at the preacher's immunity to the rock salt.
"Your brother's just in there" the preacher pointed towards the opening of the cave "go get him Dean. It was never my intention to separate the two of you, I know how much he means to you, it's just a shame that he doesn't feel the same about his brother but that's the way of the world I suppose." The preacher took a step back as he finished speaking.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh I'm sorry, did I say that aloud, take no notice of an old man, sometimes I forget myself. Go get your brother Dean, he needs you right now."
"And you're just gonna let me walk in there and take him."
"Of course, why wouldn't I?"
"Then why d'you take him in the first place." Dean shot back.
"I didn't take your brother, it was my associate, who acted entirely without my consent and has been dealt with accordingly so please Dean, forgive us and go to your brother." The preacher faded from view as he finished speaking leaving Dean alone at the mouth of the cave.
Directing the beam from the flashlight around the opening of the cave Dean took the first tentative steps into the darkness, his eyes at first straining in the dim light but soon becoming accustomed to the gloom "Sammy, Sammy you in here" he called, stopping to listen for any sign of his brother.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
"Dean." The word tumbled from Sam's lips as he fought his way through the fog to consciousness. Blinking to clear his vision Sam peered through the dark in an effort to establish where he was.
The last thing Sam remembered was soaring up and through the trees of the woods as the talons of the creature gripped him tight, as his brother hurtled along the ground in a vain attempt to keep up with his winged captive and then nothing, everything went dark until a few moments ago when he awoke here, in some kind of cave.
Sam attempted to stand but made it no further than his knees before he fell back against the wall as a myriad of pain lanced across his shoulders and down his back causing his breath to come in short sharp pants and sweat to break out on seemingly every part of his body.
He didn't know how long he'd been sitting here, waiting for the pain to subside, for the fire burning his body to abate, for some way to get out of here and was becoming increasingly desperate to see his brother, to know that Dean was okay. Sam knew that Dean still wasn't back to one hundred percent after their last hunt and knew his brother would be tearing the woods apart looking for him.
Trying again to get his body to obey his minds command to move Sam grimaced as he struggled to his knees once again before he once again fell backwards, his body impacting with the cold, hard stone wall, a string of expletives issuing from his mouth; and then he heard it, the most welcome sound he'd ever heard.
"Sammy, Sammy you in here?"
"D e a n" he groaned before clearing his throat and forcing a little more power to his voice repeated "Dean."
Within seconds Sam's face was bathed in the beam of the flashlight, a shadowy outline rushed toward him until he could clearly see the familiar features of his big brother.
"Sammy thank god." Dean gasped as he placed comforting hands on either side of Sam's face. "Are you hurt?" As soon as the words fell from his lips Dean could've kicked himself, of course the kid was hurt, he'd been plucked from the ground, whisked up and through the trees, flown through the sky and deposited in a cave.
"M'kay Dean." Sam whispered.
"You always were a bad liar Sam, c'mon let's get you outta here." Dean grasped his brother's forearms, cursing at the heat radiating off of his brother and attempted to lift him but slowly released his grip at the gasp of pain issued from the kid.
"S'okay Dean, try again, I can do it." Sam's voice slurred.
"Uhuh, I don't think so kiddo, there's only one way you're gettin outta here" and then without warning Dean pulled his brother forward, fighting to ignore the cries of pain and hefted him over his shoulder before slowly straightening his knees and cautiously making his way out of the darkness and into the early evening light.
As he stepped out of the mouth of the cave Dean knew his brother had lost the fight to stay conscious as his body went limp and the weight he was carrying increased but he was just happy Sammy had managed to stay aware long enough to be found.
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"At last" Dean breathed a sigh of relief as he finally laid his precious but heavy cargo on the ground within the circle of salt at their camp site.
Kneeling beside his brother Dean got his first proper view of the injuries an unconscious Sam had sustained and cursed at the dried blood and obvious gouges clearly visible on each shoulder even through his brothers crimson stained clothing.
"Right, better to do this whilst you're out of it sunshine." Dean began the difficult task of removing the clothing from Sam's upper body and let out a string of expletives as the sight of his brother's injuries assaulted his eyes. The skin on the shoulders was a rainbow of blues, greens, yellows and reds with rivers of white puss seeping out of six deep puncture wounds, three on each shoulder.
"God dammit you bastards I'm gonna fry you for this." Dean hollered to the surrounding woods.
Returning his attention to his brother Dean lit a small fire before using some of the water out of their store of drinking bottles to initially clean the wound before bracing himself for the next step, a step he really didn't want to take, knowing how much agony it would inflict on his brother but also knowing that it was the only way he had to fight the infection which was obviously coursing through Sam's body.
Delaying the inevitable for as long as possible Dean busied himself with threading a needle and putting it to one side in readiness for the time when he would possibly have to stitch the wounds.
Knowing he had to do it now Dean pulled the flask of holy water out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the ground beside him before scooting back a little and levering his brothers torso up and onto his lap before pulling the unconscious young man further up until he was able to get his arms around him and for a moment or two simply held onto the kid, dreading what he was about to do but knowing there was no other option.
"Sorry Sammy" he whispered as he unscrewed the lid from the small silver flask before tilting it and letting the blessed water pour into the still weeping open wounds.
The reaction of the unconscious young hunter was immediate, as soon as the holy water made contact with bare flesh it sizzled and scorched it's way through the infected wounds causing Sam to rear back, his arms flailing and body bucking in an attempt to escape the agony coursing through him but Dean held on tight, continued to whisper encouraging murmurings to his brother until once again he had to watch as the kid succumbed to the blessed release of unconsciousness.
Sure that his brother would remain still Dean released his grip and scooted out from behind Sam, gently laying the young man straight chanting the same two words repeatedly "sorry Sammy" whilst he readied himself for the next step, cauterizing the wounds.
Although Sam struggled whilst Dean cauterized the deep gouges it was nothing compared to when the holy water was administered and nothing Dean couldn't cope with easily.
With that job done Dean sat back and waited, waited for Sam to wake so he could assess how strong a hold the infection had on his brother.
"Dean."
Hearing his name huskily whispered had Dean spinning from where he was tending the fire and rushing to his brother's side.
"Sammy, welcome back bro. How d'you feel?"
"Like I've been plucked from the ground by a giant fucking emu and dragged through the trees and across the skyline before being dumped in a cave." Sam croaked.
"Yep, that about covers it kiddo." Dean smirked as his brother squinted at him through half closed lids, relieved that Sam at least was coherent and could remember everything that'd happened. "No really Sam, how'd you feel."
"My head hurts, my shoulders hurt and I'm a little hot but apart from that, okay I guess."
"Here, take these" Dean handed his brother two pain pills and a bottle of water "they'll help with the pain and should bring your temperature down.
"Thanks Dean."
"You're welcome, after all there's only room for one hot guy around here and you're looking at him." Dean grinned.
Sam huffed but couldn't prevent his dimples making an appearance "Jerk."
"Bitch." Dean replied before pausing for a beat and leaning close to his brother peered directly into the younger mans eyes."
"Dean?" Sam questioned.
"How many fingers am I holding up."
"Dean I don't have a concussion."
"Maybe not but something's not right."
"Whaddya mean, I feel fine, considering."
"Emu."
"What?"
"You said Emu."
"So."
"Sammy, if you're seeing rogue emu's then…"
Sam rolled his eyes "Funny Dean."
"I thought so." Dean chuckled at the look of exasperation lining his brother's face.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
"So how we gonna do this?" Dean looked to his brother.
"Well we know that rock salt or silver or lead or holy water and apparently salting and burning has no effect, the only thing which could change that is if we were able to read the ritual Bobby gave us whilst we were filling it full of whatever and salting and burning it." Sam looked expectantly at his brother.
"It's all we have left to try so count me in."
Dean checked their stock of salt and holy water before laying their weapons out whilst Sam pored over the ritual for what Dean thought must be the thousandth time, committing the words to memory.
"I say we move on it at first light." Dean looked to Sam for confirmation.
"Yeah, I guess we could both use a good night's sleep. I'll take first watch…" Sam's words were cut off as Dean interrupted.
"Nonono Sammy, you are gonna get some rest tonight, I'll keep watch."
"Dean I'm fine."
"I'm not saying you're not it's just you took first watch last night so it's only right I do it tonight, that's all." Dean finished.
Sam examined his brother's face for any sign that Dean was not being wholly truthful and was satisfied that it was nothing more than Dean taking his turn so conceded and after grabbing his duffle and placing it under his head as a pillow he turned onto his side and closed his eyes calling over his shoulder "Don't forget to wake me and don't go outside of the salt circle, night Dean."
"Night Sammy."
Dean kept his eyes on his brothers stretched out form and knew the moment he passed from wakefulness into sleep mode, a small sigh escaping his lips as the events of the day played out in front of his eyes.
Shaking the images away Dean sat upright, his eyes intermittently scanning the surrounding tree line for any sign of movement before returning to his brother and then the book of rituals Bobby had given them although it was becoming increasingly difficult to read the scrawled words as his eyes grew heavy and his body sagged.
A sharp crack had Dean's eyes springing open and his body upright as he squinted through the dark to identify what if anything was approaching, his lips curving into a smile as he spotted a rabbit hopping into the clearing and stopping directly in front of him, but still on the other side of the salt line.
"Hey there bunny, whatcha upto, you got a lady bunny waitin for you to bring home the bacon huh, wish I could help but I'm all outta carrots." Dean whispered to the fluffy creature before it skittered away as a hand fell on his shoulder causing him to catapult to his feet.
"Talkin to bunnies Dean!" Sam's grinning face greeted him.
"What you doin creepin up on me like that?"
"I wasn't creeping up on you I was merely coming to take my turn at keeping watch, blame the bunny." Sam chuckled.
"It's not funny Sam" Dean scowled at his brother "and anyway, it can't be time yet."
"It is" Sam paused before continuing "to both. Now go get a couple hours rest. No arguments."
"Okay, okay I'm goin" Dean moved back further into the circle before lying down and closing his eyes.
Sam sat behind the salt line silently running the ritual through his mind until he became aware of a soft voice calling his name. He looked back at his brother only to find him fast asleep and slowly turned around to once again face the tree line, knowing even before he did what he would see.
The preacher was sitting cross legged directly in front of him, no more than an inch from the salt line.
"Sam" the word was softly spoken "I just wanted to check you're alright after today's unfortunate incident."
Sam made to move but the preacher stopped him with his next words.
"I haven't come to hurt you Sam. There's no need to wake your brother, I know you want him to rest, that you're worried about him. I can help, that's all I want to do, help you understand what is troubling Dean, after all, he's not going to confide in you, he never does, he's not one to open up to anyone, he's going to continue to keep it all bottled up and eventually he'll crack, he won't be able to cope with the weight of it all.
Talk to me Sam, I really do only want what's best for the two of you."
Sam nodded, deep inside he knew he should tell the preacher to go to hell and then wake Dean as quickly as possible but there was something, he couldn't put his finger on what exactly, but there was something about the preacher and the tone of his voice that made him feel safe and he wanted to know what his brother was hiding from him so he nodded his consent for the spirit to continue.
The preacher stood, the smile dropping from his face and turned towards the tree line where he raised his hand and called out "It's safe to show yourself."
A rustling of leaves brought forth a young boy, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, in the blink of an eye he was standing beside the preacher, his eyes resting on the cross legged form of Sam.
"He'll see me."
"Don't worry child, as far as Sam Winchester is concerned he is having a conversation with me and will continue in that state until I decide otherwise." The preacher reassured his companion.
"What about the other one?"
"Fear not my boy, he will remain asleep for as long as it is necessary. Now go, take a look at them, a good look, you will not have better opportunity to discover exactly what we are up against."
The young man stepped over the salt line as if it weren't there and sidestepping the trance-like Sam made his way over to the deeply sleeping Dean where he kneeled beside him and bent over, examining every contour of the face he had imagined for so many years, the face of the man who had ruined his life. He ran his fingers over the oblivious young hunter's skin and hair before standing upright and pulling his leg back slammed his foot into Dean's ribs, again and again and again before once again falling to his knees and driving a clenched fist into either side of the hated face, the immediately reddening skin giving instant satisfaction, the whole time recounting the story the preacher had told him of this very man's father coming into these woods and destroying his family so many years ago, unfortunately the man responsible for the atrocity had managed to escape, along with his accomplice before he was able to be brought to trial. "You shall not be so lucky." The kid muttered even as he once again viciously thrust a foot into the sleeping man's ribs "The sins of the father…"
"That is enough for now, after all you don't want to spoil the game; you do want your vengeance to be sweet don't you? If you continue in this way it will all be over within a matter of minutes and you deserve more, I want you to have more." The preacher pulled the young man away from the object of his anger.
"Yes, I want my revenge to be sweet but it's so hard to stop, I just want to inflict the agonies of the world on him, I want him to beg for a reprieve and then I want him to beg for death.
But you're right, as always your wisdom humbles me; I shall put this right." The young man then moved over to Sam and taking the large hands in his own he curled the hunters fingers closed until a fist had been formed and then rubbed the knuckles across the rough ground until they were red and beginning to bruise before wiping the dirt from them and replacing the hands and uncurled fingers to once again lay on Sam's knees."
Looking to the preacher and blushing under the proud scrutiny reflected in the beloved face the young man followed his mentor out of the circle and into the darkness of the surrounding trees.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
"C'mon Dean, wake up." Sam called as he pulled himself upright, stamping his feet to get the circulation going after having sat cross legged during his watch.
The first thing Dean noticed when he tried to move was the sharp stabbing pain around his mid-section, the second, his head hurt like hell.
Thinking it must've been the position he'd slept in coupled with the fact he'd been lying on the cold hard ground for a few hours Dean tried to sit up, thinking he could stretch the kinks out once he was on his feet but fell back with a groan before he'd even managed to get as far as his knees, his breath coming in short, sharp pain filled gasps.
Hearing the unmistakeable sound of his brother in pain Sam spun around to see what was going on with Dean and rushed to his siblings side when it became obvious he wasn't gonna be getting up on his own anytime soon.
"Dean? What's goin on with you?" Sam fell to his knees. "God Dean, your face, it's covered in bruises."
"Hurts Sam." Dean's hand hovered over his stomach.
"Your stomach hurts?" Sam questioned.
"Everything."
"Okay, okay, I'm gonna take a look." Sam spoke quietly, his voice calm whilst inside his mind he screamed 'please don't let it be appendicitis, I won't be able to get him out fast enough, please don't let it be anything serious.'
Carefully peeling the layered clothing back Sam blinked in disbelief at the sight of Dean's discoloured torso "You're covered in bruises here too" he looked into his brothers eyes, flinching at the pain reflected in the green gaze.
"Bruises? Where'd I get bruises from?"
Sam mulled it over for a moment "Maybe you did it when you came after me; did you fall or, or crash into something?"
"N o."
Sam rubbed a hand across his forehead at a loss as to what had caused his brothers injuries.
"Help me up." Dean held a hand out to Sam.
"Maybe you should just stay there for a while, wait until the pain eases a little." Sam tried to persuade his brother even whilst knowing it'd be useless, there was no way Dean was going to comply.
"No, now are you gonna help me up or do I have to do it myself." Dean barked.
Sighing, Sam shook his head, "don't be an ass Dean, give me your arm."
Scrunching his eyes closed Dean prepared himself for the agony he knew was coming but still cried out as his body rose.
Once Sam had gotten his brother to a sitting position he scooted over to his duffle and fished out the small bottle of pain pills he'd brought along and shook two out into the palm of his hand before grabbing a bottle of water and rushing back to his brother's side.
"Here, take these, they'll help with the pain." Sam stretched his arm forward, palm open with the pills sitting in the centre.
"Thanks Sam." Dean swallowed the pills and waited for them to kick in.
Twenty minutes later and still in pain but able to at least move now Dean ventured a look at his injuries, cursing when he saw the mottled skin, 'what the hell.'
"Here, I got you some more water." Sam held the bottle out to Dean.
"Thanks Sammy" Dean looked up and reached out to take the bottle from his brother when he noticed the bruises on Sam's knuckles. "How d'you do that?" Dean nodded to the red skin on his brother's hand.
"Do what?" Sam looked questioningly at Dean.
"That Sam." Dean inclined his head toward the bruised hand.
Sam pulled his hand up; a look of confusion etched on his face as he took in the marks that he knew hadn't been there a few hours earlier. "I don't know." He looked at Dean and knew what was going through his brother's mind.
"You're kidding right! You don't really think I did this to you?" Sam's voice was incredulous.
"You tell me Sam. I go to sleep fine and wake up covered in bruises and find you with swollen and bruised knuckles. What am I supposed to think?" Dean accused.
"Screw you Dean. I wouldn't do that, you know I wouldn't, how could you think that." Sam turned away and strode to the furthest point away from his brother he could get to without actually crossing the salt line leaving Dean looking at his retreating back and knowing deep down that Sam hadn't attacked him but unable to find his voice to speak the words.
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"It's going well my boy, better than I could ever have hoped and it's all thanks to you." The preacher smiled down on the young man and placing a loving arm across his shoulders urged him further back into the trees in order that they wouldn't be spotted by the warring brothers sent to destroy them.
'No one has ever gotten the better of me and you two will be no different.' The preacher smiled as he muttered the words to no-one in particular, his mind filled with images of the youngest of the two and the powerful vibe he'd given off and practically salivated at the work the boy could do for him.
He dismissed the older of the two as nothing more than an irritation to be dealt with.
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T.B.C.
Thanks for reading.