Time, Tattoos and Trouble.

Third in the Decebal Trilogy

Disclaimer: Not mine never was and never will be...sigh just my own fevered imagination and the odd original character.

Author's Note: I have loosely based this small town on Sleepy Eye Minnesota, now I have never been there, or for that matter, I have never left Australia. So after researching the town etc, I have created one of my own based on it. If there is a Sleepyville in Minnesota or anywhere else that sounds remotely like what I describe then I humbly apologise.

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CHAPTER 6 Come out, come out wherever you are.

Bobby eased Sam down on the couch and checked his injuries carefully, 'damn Sam looks like you dodged a bullet this time, and aside from some new bruises I can't see any new injuries.'

'Dean?' Sam blinked trying to concentrate on what Bobby was saying, 'where's Dean?'

'I'm sorry Sam but Decebal he...'

'No, no, no it's not happening!'

'What Sam what's not happening?'

'My vision.' Sam mumbled lifting his face up to look at Bobby, he blinked back the tears and cleared his throat a little, 'I saw Decebal feeding off Dean, there was so much blood and I saw Dad and Jo.'

'Where were they Sam?'

'With Ruby the dominatrix.'

'Were they?'

Sam shook his head miserably, 'they looked happy Bobby they, they have them entranced.'

'Damn it all, okay first things you said we had to help Ash and Ellen?'

'Yeah, ah Dad and Jo were snatched at the roadhouse.'

'Okay son I hate doing this to you but...'

'Just help me out to the car Bobby.' Sam said handing him the impala keys.

'Something you want to tell me about?' Bobby asked eying the keys warily.

'Not going to let Dean drive and kill himself, so I got them when he was fussing with my hands.'

'Even with holes in your hands ... dang you boys are good.' Bobby grinned 'okay let's get this show on the road.' Carefully he helped Sam sit upright first and then grabbing one of the heavy winter coats from a pile near the door, Bobby wrapped Sam up in it before helping him to stand.

'Bobby ...'

'Nope we do it my way or I cuff your ass to your bed.' Bobby warned snagging a blanket under his arm, 'you ready or you just gonna start imitating a gold fish?'

Sam snapped his mouth shut and let Bobby help him out to the impala the short trip from the house to the car exhausting him but he rallied enough to slide into passenger side, let Bobby tuck the blanket around his legs before bucking the seat belt.

'Stay put.' Bobby said his voice sounding gruff but the grin took the edge off.

'As if I'm going anywhere.' Sam mumbled, 'trussed up like a turkey dinner.'

'Yeah well to a certain Dom and demon you are a turkey dinner.' Bobby shot back as he hurried back to the house to get a few extra things.

'Ya know you've been hanging around Dean too long.' Sam yelled after him. Sighing heavily he slid down the seat a little more so he could rest his head on the back of the seat, automatically folding his long legs to accommodate the small space. A coughing spasm hit just as he got comfortable desperately he tried to cover it up not wanting Mr Mom number two hovering. As the spasm eased, Sam pulled his hand away from his mouth and stared at the white bandage in dismay. This time the blood spatter didn't come from his hand. Sliding the offending sight under the blanket, he gasped for breath and closed his eyes. Not wanting to acknowledge this new problem, not yet.

'Okay Sam we ready?' Bobby asked sliding into the driver's seat he turned to gauge the health of his passenger, 'damn Sam you're too pale we're going back inside.'

'No, no Bobby please just drive I'll be fine I just need to rest.' Sam protested wheezily, 'just tired.'

'Okay but if you cark it I aint hanging around for Dean to bust me to hell and back again.'

'Just drive Bobby.' Sam said with a small smile, 'but please no mullet rock.'

'Huh?'

'Don't worry.' Sam uttered as he felt sleep calling him from the recesses of his mind, unable to stay away any longer he let his eyes close and finally felt his breathing ease slightly.

'Hang tight Sam.' Bobby whispered as he pulled out of the lot, driving the impala a lot more carefully than his old truck, knowing full well if anything happened to Dean's 'babies' he will be six feet under, Sam first and then the car itself. Bobby grinned to himself and settled back as he drove towards the roadhouse mindful of the traffic and the speed limits.

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Dean groaned and slitted his eyes open, he could remember arguing with Sam and then Decebal appearing. 'Fuck!' He exclaimed trying to sit up. Angrily he pulled at his bonds but the more he struggled the tighter they became. Now fully aware Dean finally took in his new surroundings. Displayed spread-eagled on a large bed, naked and exposed to whoever came into the room. A noose around his neck prevented him from lifting his head off the mattress prickled at his throat.

'Ah so how is my pet doing this morning?' Decebal asked appearing suddenly at the foot of the bed. 'So whatcha think you like the new meat-suit?' Decebal turned around posing like a model. 'Six feet tall, blonde and so heavenly muscular I think he's hmm let me think oh yeah twenty three years old.'

'You're sick.' Dean muttered thickly, turning his face towards the wall he refused to look at the new version of Decebal.

'Look at me Dean.' Decebal hissed reaching down he gripped Dean's left ankle and twisted it cruelly feeling the tautness of the tendons ready to snap.

Dean gritted his teeth and kept focused on the same spot on the wall; he conjured an image of Sam in his mind and hardened his resolve to return to him and to keep his baby brother safe.

Snarling Decebal wrenched his ankle completely making Dean scream out in agony, hearing the tendons pop as they snapped under the force. 'Bastard.' Dean screamed his back arching with the pain.

'Look at me.' Decebal snarled as he reached down for dean's other ankle, 'or I will hobble you forever.'

Dean slowly turned his head back to glare down at Decebal swallowing hard on the rising bile.

'You never told me what you think of my new meat suit.' Decebal pouted perching himself down on the edge of the bed, his fingers tracing along the fast swelling ankle.

'Bit young for you isn't he?' Dean ground out.

'Oh but I was thinking of young Sam he's the same age isn't he?'

'You fucking bastard.' Dean screamed straining with renewed strength against the ropes holding him tight especially the noose. 'Let me up and we'll really see what I think of your new meat suit.'

'Oh my dear boy calm down before you have a stroke.' Decebal said in a patronising tone, 'you are here for the long haul. But tell me where oh where is young Sammy, he's not where he should be.'

Dean stopped straining as he heard the words, not where he should be, laughter bubbled up his throat, 'somewhere where you will never find him.'

'Stop laughing Dean.' Decebal snapped his assumed face infused with red rage he lashed out at Dean striking blows to all parts of his exposed body but Dean kept on laughing unable to stop as his hysteria took hold. Sam was safe, thank you Bobby!

Unable to break Dean Decebal pulled back and stared down at the fresh bruises and cuts mingling with the colours of the dragon, the tattoo now covering Dean's slim hips. 'How would Sammy feel if you died laughing at his expense?' Decebal flung the words at Dean with little result, he tightened his fist ready to strike again when he stopped and instead stood with his hands raised over Dean, pushing them together.

Dean's breath left his body in one long gasp as the dragon tightened around him, squeezing his life out and into the ether. Gasping Dean fixed his gaze on Decebal as his vision blurred and had tiny white dots dancing in front of his eyes. 'I win.' He pushed out with a last breath his face now white with a bluish tinge to his lips.

'No!' Decebal screamed and pulled his hands away before Dean stopped breathing that was too close, he could not allow himself to be goaded like that again. Disappearing from the room, he left Dean desperately gasping for breath and clinging to whatever consciousness remained in him.

Lying back on the mattress he let the tears finally fall, his whole body ached interminably but his left ankle was on fire.

'Sammy.' He whispered his brother's name as a mantra to calm himself down, amazed that the reaper wasn't standing over him Dean let himself succumb to the numbness of unconsciousness just as the door swung open and his father shuffled into the room.

'Dean?' John whispered bending over the bed he ran a finger down Dean's face, 'Dean?'

'Five more minutes Dad.' Dean murmured in an automatic response.

Smiling John ran his finger down the length of Dean's body, taking in the new bruises and cuts and the garish form of the dragon entwining itself around his body. 'Dean?' John asked again as he reached the swollen left ankle pausing there he stroked his long callused fingers over the swelling, 'time to wake up son the Master needs you.' Wrapping his fingers around Dean's ankle he squeezed viciously and watched as his eldest son was jerked back to consciousness by the flames igniting once again from the instant pain. Screaming Dean tried to sit up but the noose tightened and he fell back onto the mattress dazed and sobbing in pain.

'Real men don't cry.' John hissed 'I always knew that you were the girly one, not Sam he is just an overgrown baby but you're the girl Dean. Too weak to fight back, cries like a little bitch and always on heat.'

'Dad?' Dean croaked as he tried to focus on one of the two John Winchesters he could see. 'What ... what's wrong Dad?'

'Nothing's wrong with me, except that I got lumbered with two pansy-assed cry-baby sons who can't stand a little pain.'

'No Dad not you.' Dean whispered in dismay when he saw the blank look in his father's eyes contrasting with the look of disgust twisting his handsome face.

'Oh quit sooking cry-baby the Master requires your presence.' John undid the ropes holding Dean down but left the noose around his neck, reaching down he physically hauled his son off the bed and forced him to stand on his wrecked ankle, holding the rope tightly in his hand John pushed Dean to start moving forward.

'Walk.'

'I – I can't he broke my ankle.' Dean said through clenched teeth.

'I said walk.' John snarled and shoved Dean hard between his shoulder blades forcing him to either walk or fall forward onto his face.

Limping heavily and using the wall for support Dean moved slowly along the passageway desperately trying to think of a way to get through to his father. 'Dad I – I know that you're in there somewhere, please we need you. I need you.'

'Shut the fuck up and keep walking.' John pushed him again this time Dean was unable to stop himself and he tumbled face down, the wind knocked from his lungs as he collided with the hard floor. John tightened his grip on the rope and raised his fist ready to strike Dean but when he saw his son's pale bruised face and the unbridled fear in his eyes John hesitated something felt so wrong. 'Dean?' He whispered blinking furiously he shook his head realising that he had his eldest cowering beneath him waiting for the strike.

'Dad?' Dean whispered not daring to say anything else as he watched the internal struggle play out on John's face.

'Oh god Dean I am so sorry.' John said dropping the rope and lowering his fist, 'what have I done?'

'Dad, it's okay, we're going to be okay.'

'I have to get you out of here.' John said holding his hand out to help Dean up.

'I – I can't Dad, he broke my ankle.' Dean mumbled, 'I let him get a drop on me.'

'You and me both son.' John said ruefully, 'okay, so we have to work out a way to get you out without too much notice, not easy if you can't walk.'

'Nice understatement there Dad.' Dean quipped, 'you said that Decebal wanted me for something?'

'Yes, I – I was to bring you to him using whatever force necessary.' John said unable to meet Dean's gaze, 'what I said back there Dean ...'

'Don't sweat it Dad, Decebal has a habit of making you say things you don't mean.' Dean brushed the hurt aside and forced himself to focus on their current situation. 'Help me up Dad please?'

John gripped Dean's forearms and helped him to a standing position his left foot held delicately off the floor. 'He's going to start getting suspicious if we don't do something.'

'Take me to him Dad; we still have to find out where Jo is and what exactly Decebal is up too.'

'Your ankle Dean I don't think it's a good idea.'

'I'll lean on you until we get there; it's the only way for now Dad.' Moving slowly John took the bulk of Dean's weight as he helped him down the passage pausing only when they stopped at the ornate set of doors. 'Sorry son.' John whispered letting go of Dean he took the rope in his hand and forced himself to empty his mind and act as though he was still under the demon's influence.

'What took so long?' Decebal sneered when he saw John push Dean through the doors, the young prisoner skidding to a halt at the end of his rope, literally. 'Were you being a bad little boy for your daddy?'

'Go fuck yourself.' Dean mumbled trying to push himself up to a kneeling position when Decebal planted his foot on his back and forced him down to the floor again.

'I kind of like having you splayed out like this in front of me,' Decebal smiled and then turned his attention to John, 'you have done well for your first test go back to your mistress now.'

'Yes Master.' John said tonelessly risking a quick glance to his son; he backed out of the room not wanting to anger the demon further for Dean's sake.

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'Sam? Son we're here.' Bobby said gently shaking Sam's shoulder, after three attempts Sam opened his eyes and focused on Bobby, trying to remember why he was behind the wheel of the impala and not Dean.

'Bobby?' He croaked out, licking his dry lips he stared blearily at the ramshackle roadhouse in front of them. 'Dean?'

'Decebal has him, remember Sam we've come to help Ash and Ellen and then ...'

'We go after Decebal.' Sam finished for him, memories of the last day coming back to haunt him.

'You okay to come with me or want to stay here?' Bobby asked unsure of how Sam was feeling about all of this.

'Come,' Sam said pushing himself upright a little more, 'gotta use the bathroom anyway.'

'Okay but no overdoing it,' Bobby warned rushing around to the passenger side door, he helped Sam out of the car and waited for the young man to regain his balance. 'Sam?'

'I'm okay Bobby just give me a sec.' Sam said swallowing a couple of times against the tickle in his throat. 'Damn thirst.'

'Take it easy Sam, first things first we get you inside and out of this wind.' Bobby said as the wind started to pick up around them sending a chill down the spines of both men.

After seemingly ages, Bobby managed to manoeuvre Sam into the bar and got him seated before he drew his gun and checked the deserted building. 'Be careful Bobby.' Sam called softly, his own gun clutched as tightly as possible in his right hand; blood seeped through the bandages again.

When ten minutes had passed Sam started to lever himself up onto his feet, something was wrong he could feel it, lurching forward he managed to get to the bar before his knees started to buckle, bracing himself on the wooden bar he pulled himself along towards the private entrance.

'What the hell do you think you're doing?' Bobby demanded as he came back into the bar and found Sam struggling to stay conscious let alone walking.

'What ... took ... so ... long?' Sam asked, 'worried...'

'Sit down before you fall down.' Bobby said pushing a stool behind Sam, gratefully the younger hunter sat down and rested his burning head on the cool wood of the bar.

Wordlessly Bobby went behind it and found a bottle of water, going back he gently lifted Sam up to rest against his chest, grunting under the unexpected weight and lifted the open bottle up for Sam to sip from.

'Thanks.' Sam rasped relishing the cool fluid running down his raw throat. 'Ellen?'

'Big lump on her head but overall she's okay just fighting mad, she's tending to Ash and then she'll be right out.'

'Ash?'

'That's what took so long, finding him ... he was tied up in the cellar, hidden unconscious behind boxes, we had to haul his ass back upstairs before we could check him out.'

'Okay?'

'Yeah he is,' Bobby frowned with Sam's one-word questions, 'listen Sam you need to rest son.'

'No, no we need to find out what happened ...' Sam shook his head and instantly regretted it. 'Argh hurts so much Bobby make it stop.' He pushed the words out as another coughing attack started, this time Bobby saw the blood stained mucous erupt from Sam's mouth.

'Ah shit Sammy what the hell did that freak do to you?'

'It's Sam.' Sam said roughly trying catch his breath. 'don't feel so good.'

'Come on you're lying down if you like it or not.' Bobby said his worry deepening when Sam didn't offer any argument and let the older man help him into the private quarters area, easing Sam down onto the couch Bobby lifted his legs up and made him as comfortable as possible. 'I got your meds in the car I'll be right back.'

'Bobby?'

'Yeah Sam?'

'Thanks.'

'Don't ... don't mention it.' Bobby ducked his head hiding his eyes under his ever-present baseball cap and jogged out to the car.

'Oh God Sam?' Ellen gasped when she took in Sam's gaunt appearance, the fading bruises and welts but especially the bloodstained bandages wrapped around his hands.

'Ellen?' Sam rasped opening his eyes slightly he stared at the woman hovering next to him. 'Ellen?'

'It's okay Sam you rest.'

'They got Dean.' Sam mumbled as sleep took him captive again.

'Bobby ... he's not getting any better is he?' Ellen asked as she turned to face the man entering her living room.

'Dunno what it is Ellen, his hands are showing no signs of healing, he's got an infection and a temperature, the welts on his stomach are not scabbing properly and now he's coughing up ... bloodstained muck.'

'What did that thing do to him?' Ellen mused moving away slightly while Bobby got some medication into Sam, mainly through injections. 'That thing has Jo.'

'And Dean and John,' Bobby sighed heavily, 'I honestly don't know what to think I only heard about what happened to them the last two times but seeing this up close...'

Bobby choked off his words feeling the unaccustomed emotions bubbling to the surface, 'I aint never seen damage done like this before and yet they still keep surviving.'

'Winchester stubbornness.' Ellen smiled softly brushing Sam's hair from his eyes, 'pure unadulterated stubbornness.'

'Must be.'

'Coffee?' Ellen asked staring at her old friend, 'you look like crap.'

'Well thanks for the compliment.' Bobby grinned back, 'coffee be great.' He followed Ellen into the kitchen after making sure that Sam was asleep.

Sam moaned and tried to get comfortable, he could hear the voices in the background but they were just noises, 'Hey Sammy come on dude wake up.'

'No Dean wanna sleep go way.'

'Nah uh time get up lazy bones we got some serious stuff to get done today.'

'Go way.'

'Nope not gonna happen, geeze Sammy come on, you were the one bugging me about going sledding yesterday.'

'Sledding?'

'Yeah come on sleepy get your ass outta bed, if we don't do it now then Dad will want to go and this will be our last chance.'

'Owkay, don't want daddy to get mad.' Sammy said pushing the blanket away he stood up and smiled at his older brother, 'gee Dean you getting shorter?'

'Nah string bean you're getting' taller, talk about it, kids these days born with steroids in em.'

'Sam?' Bobby called urgently as he came back into the living room and saw Sam making his way to a door only he could see.

'Hey Dean do you think daddy will be mad going without him?' Sammy asked frowning.

'Nah he's still asleep, come on slow poke.'

'Sam son where are you going?'

'Sledding with Dean, be back later daddy promise be good for Dean.' Sam smiled.

Gently Bobby gripped the younger man's shoulders and guided him back to the couch, 'sorry son but you're sick and not allowed out in the snow.'

'Not fair, Dean said I could go, he's waiting for me.' Sam pouted.

'I know but that's the rules Sam, Dean will just have to wait.'

'Mmm sleepy daddy.' Sam whispered his eyes sliding shut again he wrapped his longer fingers around Bobby's, 'don't go way.

'Not going anywhere Sam, not going anywhere.' Bobby said his voice huskier than ever before tears stung his eyes. He took in the feverish sheen on Sam's face and the clamminess of his skin; he must have been hallucinating from the fever.

Over the next few hours Ellen and Bobby sat vigil over Sam, his fever seemed to worsen with each passing moment, at times he struggled against Bobby's grip trying to follow Dean somewhere only Sam could see, other times he lay limply his glazed eyes unfocused and breathing laboured.

'Damn Ellen we're losing him.' Bobby muttered, 'and I have no fucking clue on what to do.'

'It's like someone is making him sicker, or something.' Ellen mused aloud. 'Bobby has Sam been in contact with anyone else besides you and Dean since you got him back.'

'No ... oh fuck.' Bobby's eyes widened in horror, 'just before Dean was taken Sam managed to get himself to the top of the stairs, there was a shadow or something behind him that pushed him, Ellen help me, we have to strip him down.' Bobby urgently started tugging Sam's shirtsleeves over his bandaged hands as Ellen managed to undo the buttons and slide his shoulders free, then she tackled his T-shirt, her face paling when she saw the damage done to his chest, 'keep it together Ellen.' She berated herself, 'so what we looking for?'

'The push came from behind so if there is anything it will be around his shoulders or neck.' Bobby said rolling Sam gently onto his side mindful of the weeping welts on his stomach and chest. 'Run your fingers along his skin and see if you feel something or see something that ...'

'Like this?' Ellen pointed to a small puncture wound at the base of Sam's neck, the skin around it looked puckered and infected.

'Damn what did they give him?' Bobby muttered as he stared down to where Ellen pointed.

TBC