Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!
Ties that Blind
Chapter 8 – Friend in Need
"JO! Dean…she's burning…we have to help her!" Sam cried as he collapsed into his brother's arms.
Dean stepped back like he'd been slapped. "Jo? Sam, are you sure?" But Sam wasn't answering, he was gasping as the pain in his head continued to increase. Dean saw that Sam was going to be sick and quickly ran to get the trash can. "Hold on Sam, I don't want to change sheets bro'…here you go!" Dean helped Sam sit just in time as Sam's dinner made a repeat appearance.
Dean continued to rub Sam's back. "Try to relax Sam…I know it hurts, but you have to calm down, take slow even breaths, that's it." Dean could see the tears flowing down Sam's face as the spasms continued to rack his body. He could tell that each spasm was causing Sam pain from his badly bruised ribs. "Aw Sammy…I wish there was something I could do!" Dean watched helplessly as his brother struggled to get his breathing back under control.
"Dean…have to tell Ellen…maybe Ash can help…" Sam continued to gasp as he saw Jo's terrified face in front of his eyes. He felt Dean help him lay back against the pillows on the bed rest, but the pain in his ribs and head were making it almost impossible for him to think straight.
"Here you go Sam, you need to take these and get some rest." Dean handed Sam the pills and water. Sam took the pills but shook his head as he struggled weakly to get to his feet. But Dean wasn't going to give in this time. "Damn it Sam, if I have to tie you to the bed, I'll do it. You're exhausted and I know that your ribs are hurting. We can't do anything for her if you pass out!"
Sam sank back, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to catch his breath. He felt Dean move off the bed. Soon a soft cloth was pressed against his face as Dean wiped the sweat and tears from his face. "Dean have I told you lately how glad I am that you are here? I mean, Dad would never have…you know…just…Thanks!" Sam sighed as he let his body finally claim the rest it so desperately craved.
Dean watched as Sam's breathing evened out. He knew that Sam was glad he was back, but the guilt and anger over what his father had done to save him was always just below the surface. The only thing that made it bearable was lying on the bed in front of him. He was glad that he could be here for Sam, but he wasn't sure that his life was worth the life of his father or anyone else.
It was times like this that Dean felt the loss of his father. He felt the full weight of the responsibility that his father had placed on his shoulders just before he died. But now, Dean had no one to help him with his task. His father hadn't always been there, but Dean always knew that if he really needed his father…he would come through. "So why did you leave me old man?" Dean said quietly as he moved to the desk.
Dean reached for his cell phone and made a call that he hated to make. Another family might be destroyed unless he and Sam could pull another rabbit out the hat. The only problem was, could they stop Sharon without killing her? Dean didn't want to kill the poor girl. From the sounds of things, she'd had a rough time of things. But if it came between her and another innocent person dying…he would do what he had to. He had done it before and he would do it again.
"Hello Ellen…I think we may have found Jo." Dean began as he heard the noise of the bar in the background.
"Dean, where is she!" Ellen cried.
"Well, I'm not sure exactly, but it looks like somehow she may be working on the same case we are. She is somewhere in Chicago Ellen."
"How?"
"Sam…well, he kind of…he had a vision Ellen and Jo was in trouble." Dean was now glad that Ellen knew Sam's secret. It made it easier to explain things to her now.
"So, it hasn't happened yet, right…and Sam's visions can be changed right Dean?" Ellen motioned for Ash to come over.
"Yeah, if we can figure this out before it happens, we can save her. But the only problem is, Sam is a little out of it right now and I can't leave him. Do you think Ash can help us with some research?"
"You tell me what you need and we'll get it to you…I'll be on the next plane out of here. Just tell me where you and Sam are staying."
Dean gave them the information and hung up the phone. God he was so tired. But he knew that if they were going to help Jo, they had to move quickly. Dean jumped as he heard his brother's soft voice coming from the bed.
"Ellen's on her way right Dean?" Sam slowly sat up on the bed, holding his rib cage as the pain from his bruises made movement difficult. He ran a shaky hand through his hair as he tried to stand. As he started to fall, he felt a firm hand on his elbow, helping him to the chair by the desk.
"Yeah, she should be here by tomorrow morning. Any idea on where Jo was being held little brother?" Dean watched as Sam closed his eyes, he knew that the visions were getting more painful for his little brother, but this time he hoped that Sam had seen enough to give them a clue.
"I don't know Dean; it was a warehouse I think. There were boxes piled around the room. I could feel the train when it ran by the building so that tracks must be really close to the building. I'm sorry Dean, but I couldn't get anything else." Sam looked down at the table. He hated the helplessness he always felt right after one of his visions. Why couldn't they give him enough information to find the person?
"Don't sweat it Sam…that might be enough. Let's see if we can get a listing of warehouses that are close to the elevated train. There can't be that many." Dean watched as Sam sighed and started to do the search. He was bothered by his brother's mood…he seemed like he was giving up.
"Great…while you're doing that, I'm going to make a few phone calls, maybe we can figure out where Jo is staying. She's probably at a hotel somewhere in the neighborhood." Dean pulled out the phone book and started to call around to the hotels and motels in the area.
Sam printed out the list of warehouses. There were only three that seemed to fit what he remembered. All of them were not far from where they were staying. "Dean, there's only three of them here…maybe we should just check each of them out."
Dean held up his hand as he wrote something down on the pad of paper in front of him. "Thank you, no, don't tell her. Her mother is on her way here and will want to talk to her. I really appreciate your help!"
"You found her Dean?" Sam asked, feeling hopeful for the first time that night.
"I found her room; she's staying at a motel less than a mile from here. Come on, we need to go check it out." Dean grabbed his coat while Sam moved slowly to grab a shirt. He groaned as he pulled it over his head, getting stuck part way. He felt his brother pulling the shirt down and then holding his coat for him. "Thanks" Sam mumbled as he stuffed the list in his pocket and followed Dean out to the car.
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Jo shook her head as she tried to focus on her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was entering the warehouse, then lights out. Her head was pounding almost as much as her heart as she realized that she was tied to a chair in the middle of a large room in the warehouse.
"Hello…Sharon, are you there?" Jo called, listening as her voice echoed in the empty room. Well this couldn't be good. She tried to loosen the ropes, but the harder she pulled, the tighter they seemed to get. She felt a sob escape as she realized that she was trapped and no one knew where she was. Suddenly, she realized that in her rash to prove herself, she had misjudged the situation. Dean was right…her inexperience made her a liability.
Jo looked around and sighed. She would just have to wait for Sharon to show up again and then hope she could talk her way out of this one. After all, the girl had no reason to suspect she was being hunted. She figured that it had to be getting close to morning. She had come to the warehouse a little after midnight. She just hoped that she'd live long enough to see the dawn.
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Dean quickly opened the hotel door while Sam kept watch. Both boys quickly entered and quietly closed the door. Sam went to the desk and began to read through the folders that were neatly labeled. "Looks like she has done her research Dean…she knows its Sharon…look here, she managed to get some background on the Mendleson's. It appears that the father and son both were accused of knocking the kids around. But no charges were ever filed."
"Anything there telling us where she might be?" Dean asked as he headed to check out the message pad by the phone. He turned on the light and noticed the impression on it. He looked at the impression under the light and smiled. He wrote down an address and passed it to Sam. "Look familiar?"
Sam glanced at the address and smiled as he pulled out the list from his pocket. "I'd say we have a winner here Dean…let's go. I don't think that she has much more time."
It wasn't long before both boys were standing outside the warehouse. "So how do you want to handle this Dean?" Sam asked, afraid of the answer.
"We go inside and find Jo…if Sharon tries to stop us, we may have to shoot her Sam. Can you do that?" Dean watched the emotions flow across his brother's face.
"Yeah…but we try to stop her first right Dean?" Sam couldn't give up on the woman. He had to believe it wasn't too later for her, that she could be saved.
"All right Sam. But I mean it, if she threatens you, you have to shoot her." Dean passed Sam a gun and watched as Sam placed it in his coat pocket. He also didn't miss the quick intake of breath as he brother moved forward. "Sam are you sure you're ok to go in here? I mean, your ribs…"
"I'm fine Dean. Let's go. Jo doesn't have much more time." Sam quickly picked the lock on the door and entered followed closely by Dean.
TBC
Raven524: Ok, bonus chapter…I'm waiting for tonight's episode and got bored…so I decided to keep going! Hope you like it!