Chapter Four

Mike made his careful way through the desert, avoiding the low brushes and piles of rocks, acutely aware of the scorpions, the snakes, the other bugs that would just love to eat him whole and alive. His mind wandered back to the last men they'd caught and beaten, Phil's idea, teach them a lesson, make sure they didn't come back or hurt anymore people. Yet Mike had known there was a deeper reason, a sadistic side to Phil that liked to see the pain he had caused, who got off on it, the horror in the men's eyes as they had realised they could quite possibly die out here in the desert, possibly cease to exist without a soul knowing what had happened, except Phil and Mike. The grim reapers of the desert Phil had named them. He'd wanted to do this again, had been itching, and the second he'd seen those two guys drive into town , Mike had seen a light go on in his eyes.

The power.

The power to take life elevated a man beyond that of any drug, and Phil was hooked. Mike was scared. How could he say no to the one person he admired, idolised, the one person who petrified him. No, he could never say no. Did that mean he was a bad man? Or a weak one?

Sweeping his light from left to right , Mike gazed to the east and smiled. Few outsiders knew how close their town was to Foxbrow, five miles, five short miles if you travelled straight across the desert. By road it was almost three hours. Three hours east was Foxbrow, five hours south and you hit the city, full of lights and noise and people. But out here? Out here they had their own lights, their own noise, they controlled the people. It was only sheer dumb luck that had those last two ingrates find their way to Foxbrow, took them a day to do it and according to Mike's cousin there they'd been barely standing by the time they'd stumbled into town, neither willing to say what had happened except their car had broken down and they'd got lost in the desert. Had fallen along the way, had a fight with each other. Honestly officer, that's all that happened.

Mike walked carefully past a large gathering of rocks, picked his way through the brush and swept the torch back and forth. He paused, stilled his breathing and listened deeply.

There had been a noise.

He listened, willed his heart to slow and cease the pounding that was drowning out the night. Wait, there, again, a rustling.

Dean watched Phil carefully. The Sheriff was on his third cigarette leaning back against his car, hands flicking across the headlight, causing Dean to wince in pain each time the weight of the light was allowed to cascade back into his vision.

Yet he refused to look anywhere else than Phil.

He was gonna have his revenge, he'd taken enough of these types, these men who thought they were the authority, they were the governing mind above all others on how people should live, what they should believe, who should live, who should die.

So maybe there was residual Gordon anger. Dean was willing to admit that, but he was intent on taking it all out, Gordon, Mike all of it, out on Phil.

What was it with people wanting to hurt Sam? Gordon had a look in his eyes toward his brother that Dean had a hard time not shooting him for, there had been a lazy anger, almost carefree. The way he'd cut into Sam's arm, so swiftly, almost as if he was cutting cheese. If only he'd known, known about Sam. Thank god the guy had been clueless. Dean knew he had to protect his brother, he had to make sure he was safe, but it was so hard, he was so tired, the only thing that gave him energy, that reminded him he was breathing was the kill. That thought alone scared him, he was so close, so close to crossing the line and becoming the kind of man he never wanted to be. Yes he enjoyed the life, enjoyed the hunt, but only to a point. Seeing the chaos caused, the hurt left behind by the demons, the poltergeists, the dead come back to haunt, breaking the hearts of their loved ones all over again. How could he enjoy that? With the consequence in his heart he maintained a balance; with Sam on his side his humanity was intact.

How easy would it be to leave the consequence behind?

How easy to close his eyes and only see the hunt and rush of the kill, ignore the pain and blood and screams of the victims?

How easy?

Too easy.

Sam though, Sam kept that part of him alive and aware. If people like Gordon knew about Sam then how was he going to keep him safe? How could he protect him from hunters? How could he fulfil the promise John had asked him to make when he'd been only five.

"Look after Sammy, don't let anything happen to him Dean, he's your responsibility, look alive dude."

"Yes Daddy."

"I mean it Dean, Sam has to be watched, be safe, Daddy has to go speak to this nice lady here, I'll just be in the next room, but you watch out for Sammy."

"Yes Daddy."

A kind and soft spoken black woman leaned down into Dean's line of sight. She took his tiny hand in hers, covered both hands in a grip, as she tightened her hold she took a sudden intake of breath. Her eyes cast down to him sadly, she smiled, barely concealing the pain in her features as his young emotions washed through her.

"Poor child, poor baby. It's gonna be ok though Dean, you trust me child. I know you'll be ok."

Phil stepped forward slowly, Dean hadn't looked away, not once, and Phil had to admit that unnerved him. This one couldn't be set free, he had hate in his eyes and a firm resolve washed out from him across the grit and dirt to snake it's way up and around Phil's limbs, reminding him this boy was dangerous. The deep hatred, the firm set of his jaw, he was waiting for an opportunity, one Phil wasn't going to give him.

He reached for his gun, placed firmly behind his back. Dean tracked his movements with his eyes, never once looking away.

Never once showing his fear.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many many snowballs of love to you all for your reviews and support, if i didn't get back to you i'm very sorry but please know i'm so thankfull you've taken the time to read and review X

So , should i leave the boys alone now, or do you think they can handle some more?