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 14 – Blind Panic

Sam slowly came to, his head was pounding and his arms and hands were painful. As he moved his legs, he realized that he was alone. "Dean?" Sam said softly, afraid that the demon might still be within hearing, but there was no sound except for his heavy breathing.

Sam painfully pushed himself up, feeling with his hands until he found the steps that he had fallen down. Luckily for him, it appeared that he had only fallen down the last few steps. His head must have hit the wall causing him to black out. He had no idea how long he was unconscious, but he knew that Dean would be frantic by now. Sam shook his head, but regretted the motion as a wave of vertigo hit him. Taking a deep breath, he knew that he had to get out in the open…but the thought of being alone with a crowd of people around him scared him. How would he know that the person helping him wasn't possessed?

Deciding that staying here wasn't an option, Sam carefully climbed the steps, feeling his way until he reached the top. He knew that the door was somewhere to his left. Once again feeling his way, Sam carefully moved his hands along the wall until he felt the cool metal of the door. Sam put his head against the door for a moment, trying to quell the fear that was threatening to overwhelm him. "I can do this. All I have to do is get back into the lobby…Dean will find me." Sam thought, but the fear in the pit of his stomach made him freeze in fear. What if the demon was waiting on the other side of the door? He had been lucky last time…he figured that Dean's voice had probably scared the demon off. But could he be lucky twice.

Taking a deep breath Sam opened the door and stepped through. He was immediately surrounded by noise, but he didn't hear the one thing he wanted most. He couldn't hear Dean's voice. Sam felt his way along the wall until he felt a chair. Once again feeling around, he determined the chair was empty. He decided the best thing he could do was sit and wait for Dean.

A loud thump in front of him made Sam jump until he heard someone apologize. "Sorry Miss, I didn't see you, let me get your bag…" Sam swallowed, his senses on high alert as he strained to hear his brother's voice in the din of voices flowing around him. His head hurt and all he wanted to do was lie down. It was past time for his medication and the burns on his arms and hands were really beginning to hurt, he groaned as he felt his head beginning to swim. He needed Dean and he needed him now.

Suddenly, Sam realized he had his cell phone in his pocket. Reaching into his pocket he gasped in pain as he pulled out the cell phone. His fingers were stiff and sore, but all he had to do was find the speed dial number…and hope that Dean had his cell phone on. Sam felt the number pad and pressed what he hoped was the right number. The phone rang once, twice and then he heard the voice he had longed for since he woke up. "Sam, please tell me this is you!" Dean said urgently into the phone.

"Dean…I…I'm lost…please in the lobby I think…" Sam's breathing hitched in his throat as he felt his eyes filling with tears. He was afraid…he couldn't see if there was danger and it scared the crap out of him.

"Sam, it's ok. I need you to stay calm…I'm in the restaurant. I'll be there in 2 minutes. Don't move Sam, I'll find you. Stay on the phone with me Sam, you tell me if anything threatens you ok…I'm almost there." Dean could hear the hitch in his brother's breathing. He knew that Sam was close to losing it as he ran down the hallway and burst into the lobby. His green eyes searching the lobby he saw Sam leaning in a chair on the opposite side of the room. "I see you Sam…I'm coming over to you now." Dean closed his phone and moved quickly across the room.

Dean was shocked at Sam's appearance. His bandages were filthy, the bandage on one of his hands was gone and the other wasn't in much better shape. There was a large bruise on Sam's forehead and he could tell from the way his brother was holding himself that he wasn't far from collapsing. "Sam" Dean said softly as he approached his brother. He didn't want to startle Sam.

"Dean?" Sam whispered turning his head as if he was trying to see Dean. God he hated not being able to see his brother. He reached out with his hands, needing to feel his brother. He felt Dean gently push his hands back and place a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm here Sam. Let's get you to the room ok…then we can sort this out." Dean looked around and was surprised that no one had noticed his brother. But then he was off in a corner of the room next to a potted plant. He could feel his brother trembling under his fingers as he helped him stand. "Take it easy Sam, we'll have you in the room in a jiffy…I've got you." Dean soothed.

Suddenly Sam reached up and grabbed Dean's shoulders in his hands. "Cristo!" Sam said quickly and then sighed with relief when he didn't feel his brother jerk from his grasp.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing?" Dean watched as Sam took a deep breath.

"Just had to be sure Dean…can we go now?" Sam asked tiredly, he wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to stay on his feet.

"Sure Sam, come on." Dean quickly guided Sam through the lobby and into an elevator. It didn't take long for Dean to find the room. Using the key that Ellen had given him, he quickly opened the door and entered. He settled Sam on the edge of the bed before he reached into his pocket. He dialed Ellen and told her that Sam was in the room.

"Ok Sam, I'm going to go get Jo in here to sit with you until Ellen gets here. I have to go move the car before it's towed. I'll be back in less than 10 minutes ok?" Dean watched as Sam swallowed before answering.

"I'll be fine Dean…just be careful ok…it was a demon, he may still be out there." Sam groaned as the pain in his arms and hands continued to throb. All he wanted to do was sleep, maybe when he woke up he'd find out that this had all been a nightmare.

"No sleeping yet Sam. We need to get you cleaned up and get some food in you so that you can take your pain meds…I know it hurts, but can you hold on for just a little more for me?" Dean watched as Sam nodded, too tired to answer.

Dean knocked on the connecting door before opening it and entering the other room. He noticed that Jo jumped when she saw him entering. "It's just me Jo, can you sit with Sam until your mother or I get back? I need to move the car…maybe you could read the room service menu to Sam and place an order…I should be back before they get here. I'll knock once, then pause and knock again three times. Don't open the door unless you hear that knock." Dean looked at Jo and saw the guilt in her eyes. "Look Jo, you made a mistake, now learn from it. I'm trusting you to watch out for Sam while I'm gone…can you do it?"

"Sure Dean, I'll watch him…don't worry, he'll be safe with me." Jo assured Dean. She was shocked that Dean trusted her to go near Sam, much less protect him.

"Good, I'll be back in 10 minutes!" Dean left the room and listened as the dead bolt was slid into place. As he headed out of the hotel, he looked around making sure that there was no one suspicious following him. He'd have to make sure that both rooms were protected until they could figure out their next move. "Just wait…I'm going to send you back to hell you bastard!" Dean said as he quickly parked the car and grabbed the rest of the things they would need.

Jo walked over to Sam and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She felt him jump and look wildly around. "I'm sorry Sam, it's Jo…you're safe." Now that she got a good look at Sam, she felt the tears well in her eyes. This was all her fault. Her mother was right. She had no business hunting…sure she wanted to help people. But what had happened to Sam wasn't worth the price.

Sam heard the hitch in Jo's breathing and guessed that she was upset. "Jo, it's ok. I really look worse than I feel…well almost anyway." He said with a smile.

"I'm so sorry Sam. I should have listened. I just wanted to prove to Mom that I could handle myself…but I realize now that I was wrong. Can you ever forgive me?" Jo sat next to Sam.

"Jo, there's nothing to forgive. If you decide to continue hunting going forward, you'll soon learn that with hunting come big risks. Look what happened today…Dean looked away for just a moment and a demon managed to get his hooks into me. We are experienced and yet we are still learning. You have to accept your limitations Jo, listen to others who have more experience and learn from them. Some day you may be a great hunter…but for now, you need to have patience." Sam reached over and felt for Jo's hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze, hissing as the action caused more pain to travel up his arm.

Jo turned to Sam and gently moved his hand back to his lap. "Thanks Sam…I don't deserve to be let off so easy, but thanks. Now your brother wanted me to help you figure out what you wanted to eat so…" Jo stood and grabbed the room service menu from the desk. "You look like you could use a steak, salad, bake potato and how about this for desert…it says Death by Chocolate." Jo heard Sam laugh softly.

"Jo, I don't eat that much…how about soup and salad." Sam tried.

"Are you kidding? That's rabbit food…you need to eat to get your strength back Sam and I'm going to make sure that you do." Sam shook his head as he heard Jo place the call to room service. Why did people always ask him what he wanted and then proceed to tell him what he was going to have. His head jerked as he heard a knock at the door. He heard Jo quickly replace the phone receiver and walk towards the door.

"Jo, who is it?" Sam called.

"Shhh…quiet Sam." Jo whispered as she drew closer to the door, her heart in throat as she reached for her small knife.

TBC

Raven524: A little bonus chapter for all those who are able to still find the story (darn site grrrr). I have been reading the reviews…a heartfelt thanks to all of you!