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 12 Operation Save All Winchesters

'Daddy where do demons come from?'

'From a very bad place Sammy.'

'Why do they hurt people?'

'Coz they are bad, evil creatures who don't know any better.'

'Daddy?'

'Yes Sammy?'

'Where do the demons go when you kill em?'

'They go back to Hell Sammy, where they came from.'

'How come they don't come back?'

'Coz when they are sent back they have to stay there.'

'Daddy?'

'Yes Sammy.'

'What do demons look like?'

'What do you mean Sammy?'

'Well if they use people an' you get em outta the people ... what do they look like?'

'Often they are formless clouds of smoke.'

'But do they look like ... monsters?'

'Sometimes that is why they take over people and that way they can be bad and no one notices.'

'Oh ... daddy?'

'Yes Sammy.'

'How come I see them?'

Sam moaned and started coughing in his sleep; he made a gurgling choking sound and gasped for each breath, his chest hurting even more. He wanted to wake up but was afraid that if he does, he would have to acknowledge his pain and confusion; it was much nicer lying in the oblivion of unconsciousness.

'Damn it Sammy ... time to wake up.' The order broke through his foggy thoughts, Daddy? No, no not Dad he's ... missing who then oh Dean. Sam slitted his eyes open and tried to calm his breathing down, his throat hurt and his head pounded yep he must be conscious again. 'Dea-Dean?'

'That's it kiddo time to come back to the land of the living.' Dean grinned letting go of the breath that he didn't realise he was holding. 'Easy, just take nice and easy breathes.'

'What?'

'Something attacked you in your sleep.' Dean explained succinctly.

'Why does my hip hurt like hell?' Sam frowned his eyes widening from slits to round and wide-open. 'Dean my hip it feels like...'

'It kinda got burnt.'

'Kinda got burnt?'

'Bobby broke the hold Decebal had with that brand.'

'By burning me?'

'Ah yeah he had to use ... Decebal can't do anything to you through that anymore.' Dean explained wearily leaning down he started to scratch under his cast, 'we thought that...'

'Dean ... hey Dean I'm okay.' Sam said swallowing on another coughing fit he laid back against the pillows and watched his older brother, 'you look like shit Dean.'

'Yeah well you aint any oil painting yourself Sammy.'

'Sam ... it's Sam.'

'Whatever ... get some rest Sammy.'

'Dean what's wrong?'

'Nothing.'

'Don't shit me Dean tell me what's wrong?'

'Honestly Sammy nothing, it was just ... something Bobby said earlier got me thinking that's all.'

'Which is what?'

'That you were easy prey.' Dean said deliberately not telling him what else Bobby said, 'but Decebal doesn't know what we know.'

'Which is?' Sam asked dejectedly, 'seems to be that he pretty much controls my strings.'

'He doesn't know that we could break that brand's hold and he doesn't know that we have something stronger than even he is.'

'What Dean?'

'Us, no matter what he does he can't break us up.' Dean smirked, 'I'll go and get ya something to drink, feel like eating something?'

'Just a drink will be fine.' Sam said smothering a yawn 'thanks Dean.'

'We're gonna be fine Sam I promise.' Dean said giving Sam a cocky grin before heading into the adjoining room to see if Bobby and Josh had anything to drink in their room.

Sam sighed heavily and tried to accept what Dean had said but something deep down inside of him still held a big pocket of doubt. Gingerly he got out of bed and padded quietly to the bathroom, splashing water on his face he stared at his reflection in the small mirror and let his fingers glide over the bruises ringing his throat, no wonder it hurt to swallow. Suddenly starting to shiver violently he turned the shower on as hard as he could and let it get scolding hot before stepping under the needles of water. He wanted to be warm again; he glanced down at the waterproof covering over his hip where they burnt the brand to break Decebal's hold. 'Why me?' He mumbled despondently as large heavy sobs pushed their way up his throat, sliding down the wall he sat curled into a tight ball, his tears mingling with the shower and swept down the drains.

'Sammy you okay in there?' Dean called from the doorway, 'come on dude you'll look like a prune.'

Sam lifted his head and took a deep cleansing breath, his tears long since dried but the sobs kept wracking his frail body, 'be out in a minute.' He called shutting the water off Sam climbed out of the cubicle and scrubbed himself dry with the rough towel. Shivering again he wrapped the towel around his hips and went to find some clean clothes when he was greeted with Dean sitting next to the door holding out a clean bundle. 'Thanks.' He mumbled before disappearing into the bathroom again.

'Sammy talk to me.' Dean said as he waited for Sam to re-emerge from the bathroom, 'what's going on in that freaky head of yours?'

Sam stood in the doorway and stared around the room unable to meet Dean's steady gaze. 'It's never gonna end is it Dean? I mean we get rid of Decebal and he keeps coming back ... what the fuck are we doing?'

'Saving lives, especially Jo and Dad.'

'What if we ... what if Jo has turned?'

'Then we'll deal ... now let's get you back to bed, Josh has gone on a food and drink run.'

'Dean please ... listen to me neither of us are in any condition to go up against the tooth fairy let alone a Master Demon, Dad and Jo are missing most likely...'

'Don't you say that Sam do you dare say that.'

'What else am I to think?'

'Dammit Sammy we can't afford to give up now, if we give up then Decebal has won.' Dean stood up and faced his younger brother anger flaring in his eyes, 'look at me Sam, look at me.'

'I can't...'

'What is going on?'

'Dean I see him when I go to sleep, I hear him when I am awake. Bobby might have broken the brand's hold but he is still in me and I ...'

'Sam ...' Dean yelled and immediately regretted it when he saw Sam flinch, 'I can't ... we have to deal Sam, we deal, suck it up and keep going ... that's what we do.'

'And a great job we've done of that, Dean we're both walking breakdowns.'

'Hey at least we can say good looking breakdowns.' Dean said pushing his anger away for now, 'Sam what Decebal did to the two of us, no one should experience but we are still here and we are still kicking that is the important thing not what we can or can't do.'

'And Decebal?'

'We find him and toast him ... haven't had a good demon burn for a while.'

'Dean!'

'Sammy!'

'Jerk!'

'Bitch!'

'Boys.' Bobby interrupted their banter as he stood watching them from the adjoining doorway, 'Josh is back you two gonna settle down and eat something?'

'Just a drink will be fine.' Sam said with a yawn, 'man I'm tired.'

'Get into that bed now.' Bobby scolded, 'you been up way to long and Dean you get into yours as well.'

'But Bobby.' Dean started to protest but saw the look on Bobby's face and then limped over to his bed mumbling under his breath.

'I heard that Dean.' Bobby said trying not to laugh at how young these two act at times but before he could say anything else Dean's cell phone rang insistently.

'It's Dad.' Dean announced simply as he stared down at the caller ID. 'Dad?'

'Dean? Ah thank God you're alive.'

'Where are you?'

'Not sure ... Dean I don't have much time, Jo is with me.'

'What's going on Dad?'

'We were taken, they killed Ruby.'

'Now that's a great loss ... not.'

'Can the sarcasm son I have to warn you.'

'Warn me about what?'

'Max.' John said before the phone cut out and Dean sat staring at it confused.

'Dean what is it?' Sam asked starting to get out of his bed to go to his brother.

'Sam you stay put ... Dean what's wrong?' Bobby asked moving between the boys.

'Dad ... he ah said Ruby's dead.'

'So?' Sam asked the relief palpable.

'Dad and Jo ... Max has them.' Dean kept going he felt dazed, 'Sammy Max is alive.'

'Ah shit Dean.' Sam said then looked up at Bobby, 'help me up.'

Wearily Sam sank down on the bed next to Dean and watched his brother carefully as the precisely constructed mask cracked and fell away. Starting to shake uncontrollably Dean stared at Sam, 'he's alive.'

'Dean he is not going to come anywhere near you.'

'He has Dad and Jo Sam what am I supposed to do?'

'We'll work this out Dean.'

'Sam, Dean who the hell is this Max?'

'He ah was one of Decebal's henchmen.' Sam explained moving almost unconsciously to place himself in front of Dean between him and the door. 'He was the one in charge of Dean when Decebal first took him.' Sam felt a slight tug on his T-shirt and nodded imperceptibly. For now, they reversed roles and Sam protected Dean as fiercely as his brother did for him.

'Boys neither of you are in any condition...' Josh started to speak breaking his self-imposed silence.

'We don't have a choice.' Sam said sadly, 'he has Dad and Jo.'

'Sam ...'

'If we don't he'll only ... ah fuck.'

'Sam what is it?' Bobby asked noting how the boy suddenly paled.

'The device ... I know who put it in me, to counteract Decebal ... they can use me as bait for Dean. Both of them are fighting over me to get to Dean.'

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'Well done John.' Max said smiling broadly he patted the other man's cheek, 'nice to see you can follow orders when you want to.' John glared at the man silently, knowing the futility of arguing with Jo's life at stake. 'What no smart arse remarks? No snarky come backs? Where did Dean get his mouth from if it wasn't daddy dearest?' Max ran his finger down John's bare chest letting it hover over his belt buckle. 'Though I do know where he gets his good looks and build from.'

'Get the fuck off me.' John ground out fighting against the restraints holding him against the wall, 'let me go and I'll show you where Dean learnt all of his moves from.'

'Hmm nope can't do that, anyway I have a date with a gorgeous little blond haven't heard her scream for a while.'

'Leave her alone.' John rasped out only to receive a hard punch in his side.

'Hmm only it is so much fun to play with you.'

'Why?' John pushed out past the pain and glared at Max.

'Why what Johnny?' Max asked aiming another punch to the same place, enjoying hearing the grunt of pain coming from his prisoner.

'Why Dean?'

'You see Decebal denied me ... it was all my idea snatching Dean, setting Sam up but Decebal wanted to take the glory.' As Max spoke he emphasised each point with another blow. 'I got to look after Dean ... personally and damn that boy is just too sweet ya know but Decebal he even took that from me.'

'You fucking ...' John's voice faded as the side of Max's flat hand slammed against his throat.

'Now where was I? Oh yes your delectable eldest son, Decebal took it all from me and then when you rode in and saved him ... I thought I would have a chance to get Dean then but no, Decebal had to ruin it then too but I have been busy and now Decebal cannot deprive me of what I want.'

'What is it with you idiots and my eldest boy?' John managed to get the question out of his rapidly swelling throat.

'Aside from being a walking sex-god? He is so beautifully tragic, stoic, stubborn, proud, and utterly shattered inside. He has two weaknesses that are so much fun to exploit, his brother and you.'

'I am no weakness for my son.' John said softly, Sammy definitely is but not John he knew that from a long time ago. 'They are my weaknesses.'

'Ah that is true, hence your little visit here.' Max smirked. 'But I digress, when I put that device in little Sammy's neck ... I knew it would cause Dean to worry and to get careless. Though Decebal in his arrogance almost wrecked that for me too.'

'You're crazy.' John's head snapped to the side as Max's hand connected with his face, 'crazy and stupid.'

'Now Decebal is out of the way I can finally claim my prize and cause some mayhem along the way.'

'Who did you make a deal with?' John gritted out spitting out blood.

'Why Johnny you're not as stupid as you look.' Another voice entered the conversation, blinking John focused on the newcomer, 'hey Johnny long time and all of that.'

'What are you doing?'

'Playing with my favourite human family.'

'Leave Sam and Dean alone.'

'You see I can't do that Johnny, not yet anyway.'

'Look you got me ... fine let Jo and the boys alone and I'll stay.'

'Hmm nice offer but gee I already have a contract with Max here.'

'So what ...' John swallowed hard the swelling in his throat making it harder to speak, 'what did Decebal do to you?'

'He defied me.'

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Jo moaned and sat up slowly pulling her broken arm closer to her chest, sniffing she blinked furiously and tried to work out where she was. They threw her in there so long ago Jo didn't know if it was day or night. Her body ached all over and her broken arm was going numb. 'I want to go home.' She muttered, 'anytime would be nice.'

Pushing herself up the wall, she managed to stand and stagger to the door, 'hey motherfuckers how about letting me outta here.' She yelled kicking the door angrily.

A painfilled scream silenced Jo and she listened intently as she heard it again, her heart skipping a beat as she realised that it was John. They must be torturing him for him to make a sound let alone scream. Swallowing hard she started kicking the door and screaming herself determined to break their concentration or something. Realising that if she could hear John then the place wasn't that big and that they could hear her.

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John hung limply from the restraints; he lost conscious after they brought out the branding iron giving him the same marks Sam bore on his hip save for Decebal's personal mark.

'Time to put the second part of our plan into action.' Max smirked, 'I have implanted both John and Jo with a special little device, I gave Sam one and made him nice and sick there for a while, gave him the most wicked nightmares made him very susceptible without causing permanent injury.'

'Sounds interesting.' Came the bored sounding response.

Ignoring it Max continued as he activated the devices with a small controller. 'They will be under my control the whole time.'

'Whole time when?'

'After we let them go.'

'And this gets us our prizes how?'

'We can control John and Jo they will bring the brothers to us, you can have Sam for whatever you want and I will finally have Dean all to myself.' Max grinned lasciviously and strutted over to John, twisting his fingers in his prisoner's hair he viciously yanked his head up. Moving in he sniffed in John's scent and then kissed him hard on the lips, 'hmm tastes almost as good as his son.'

'You don't have time for that.'

'Patience, patience makes perfect.' Max purred rubbing himself up against John, 'though it isn't as much fun when he is out of it and can't enjoy my special treatment.'

'Get your mind on the job.'

'Hey now no need to panic it's all under control.' Max grinned when he heard Jo screaming and yelling again, 'will someone shut that little cow up?' He yelled, 'now where was I?'

'Call me when you are ready to deliver my prize.'

'Yeah whatever.' Max muttered turning his attention back to John when he heard the soft moans of conscious returning to the manacled man. 'I ah have some unfinished business.'

TBC