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 13 Trap? What trap? Oh that trap?

'daddy?'

'Yes Dean?'

'What did that man try to hurt me?'

'What man son?'

'That bad man on the stairs, he tried to hurt me.'

'I didn't see a man on the stairs.'

'Yeah, he was all fugly with a big nose and crooked teeth and he had hair that stuck out all over the place.'

'Dean!'

'True Dad, honest, an I could see straight through him.'

'A ghost?'

'Yeah sumfin like that, he tried to hurt me.'

'What did he do son?'

'He put his hand on ... he felt so gross and disgustin' I didn't like it Dad.'

'Dean where did he touch you?'

'Down there.'

'Dean?'

'He, he touched me down there and it felt creepy and awful.'

'What else Dean? What else did he do?'

'He tried to pull me towards 'im an-and then ... but I got away daddy.'

'You're a very brave boy Dean.'

'I know coz I'm your son.'

'Dean when did this happen?'

'Just afore when you checked on Sammy in the car.'

'You okay Dean?'

'I'm cool daddy but I don't like that bad man.'

'Don't worry daddy will get the bad man can you go back out to the car and lock yourself in with Sammy?'

'Daaaad!'

'Dean!'

'Okay, I'm goin' can you make sure that the bad man stays away?'

'Gonna dust and burn him son, now I want you to go and stay with Sammy.'

'Dad!' Dean sat up panting heavily, wide-eyed he stared around the room, his heart pounding so hard it felt as though it was going to burst through his chest at any moment. 'Dad?' He cried out again hoarsely as memories came flooding back.

Rolling over onto his side he clutched his sheets tightly and watched his brother sleeping, a habit he formed from the first time the brothers shared a bedroom and more often than not the same bed.

'Fuck.' He mumbled wearily, he felt wired, wide awake and itching no spoiling to get into something physical. 'Sammy?'

'You okay Dean?' Sam's eyes snapped open and he stared at Dean waiting for his sight to normalise and focus properly. 'Hey what is it?'

'Fine, m'fine just a – a nightmare.' Dean mumbled unsure of how much to tell Sam, this is so freaking stupid usually it was Dean trying to pry information out of Sam.

'Do you want something? We got some codeine.'

'Nah I'm good, just don't feel like going back to sleep.'

'What was the dream about Dean?' Sam asked stifling a yawn he pushed himself up a little more until his back rested against the headboard. 'Dean?'

'When we were kids shit Sam ... before Dad used to leave us alone I was probably no more'n five or six.'

'It was a memory more than a nightmare?' Sam asked genuinely concerned for Dean's wellbeing.

'Kindof both.' Dean moved until he mimicked Sam's seated position bringing his knees up to his chest Dean wrapped his arms around them and tried to collect his thoughts. 'There was this really old house that was supposedly haunted by a murderer's ghost, I was busting to go pee and Dad said that I had to hold on but I couldn't so he said to go in the bushes and then come back. You were sound asleep in the car so Dad let me go in with him as long as I stayed by his side.'

'Yeah so what happened then?'

'Well ah he heard you cry and went out to check on you, I – I thought I heard something move upstairs and saw this really cool dog up there. So I headed up to get it hoping that Dad would let me keep it.'

'Well we both know the answer to that question.' Sam mumbled flashing back in his mind to the last time they brought up having a pet to their father.

'Yeah well I got to the top and the dog was gone, then there was this creepy ass looking dude, he grabbed me ...'

'Dean?'

'Ah sorry Sammy drifted off in thought there.' Dean admitted ruefully, how do you explain a ghost molesting you?

'What happened after he grabbed you?'

'He ah did a few gross things...'

'Like what?'

'Geeze Sam.'

'What?'

'Do you need to know the minute details?'

'It will help.'

'Help what?'

'Help understand the dream or memory and why now.'

'Okay Sammy you wanted to know, that fucking ghost grabbed my balls and cock, man I was five years old, who does that to a kid?'

'Dean I ...'

'He tried other stuff but I managed to pull away and then Dad came back in and the ghost disappeared.'

'And?'

'I told Dad, he sent me back out to the car and as far as I know he dusted the bastard.'

'You were molested at five?'

'At least it wasn't you Sammy.'

'Dad should have known better than to take you in there with him.'

'Damn it Sammy don't turn this around on Dad.'

'Why not? You were five years old Dean, I was a year old we should have been in warm safe beds not traipsing around after ghosts that molest kids.'

'Geeze Sam, now I know why I wasn't going to tell you.'

'Okay I'm sorry, it's just ...'

'I know, fuck Sam what is it about me that says open invitation for all perverts?'

'Guess we're just lucky?'

'Oh funny Sammy, very funny.'

'Yeah I thought it was.' Sam said with a small dimpled grin, relieved that a lot of the building tension seemed to be evaporating.

'Thanks dude.' Dean mumbled.

'No probs.' Sam answered just as succinctly.

'So I am gonna shower seeing that I am now wide awake.' Dean said sitting up, just as he stood up and turned his back on his brother for a second he heard Sam's sharp intake of air. 'Hey you okay Sam?'

'Dea-Dean your back!' Sam gasped, 'hold still for a sec.'

'Sammy you're not instilling a lot of confidence in me over here.' Dean said shakily.

Sam pulled himself out of bed and managed to reach his brother flicking on the harsher overhead light he stared at the spans of Dean's back.

'Dean the tattoo.'

'What about it?'

'It's started to ... man it's changed and started to fill in your back again.'

'Oh man.' Dean limped hurriedly to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror trying to get a better look at it. 'Another dragon?'

'Yeah this time it is green and purple and massive fangs, fuck.'

'What is it Sammy?'

'The fangs have blood dripping from them.'

'And?'

'Dean ... it's your blood, its actually dripping from them.'

'Sam?' Dean turned to look at his younger brother when the pain flared in his back, 'damn it Decebal got dusted.'

'You think Max?'

'If it is then he has help.' Dean added miserably, 'okay so shower and then planning.'

'Sounds like a plan ... Dean you sure that you're okay?'

'Peachy, Sammy just ... peachy.'

While Dean showered, Sam filled both Bobby and Josh in on what Dean told him, leaving out the bit about the child-molesting ghost.

'So the tattoo just reappeared again?' Bobby asked incredulously, 'man that's a tough break.'

'Sam!' Dean yelled from the bathroom, his voice filled with panic, paling Sam managed to make his way to the bathroom, just as Dean called for him again.

'I'm coming in dude.' Sam called as he tried the door and heaved a sigh when he found it unlocked. He found Dean sitting on the floor of the shower cubicle, the water a dull pink in hue, 'Hey Dean.'

'Fuck Sam I don't feel so good.' Dean mumbled, 'back feels like it is on fire literally.'

Carefully Sam took his brother's arms and helped him to stand, and then led him to the toilet where he could rest while Sam turned the shower off and grab some towels.

'Th-thanks.' Dean whispered feeling mortified that he had to get help to get out of the shower.

'Let's get you back into bed Dean.' Sam said softly, 'oh Dean.'

'What?'

'You know how you said that your back feels like it is burning literally?'

'Yeah what, what is it Sam?'

'The dragon's breathing fire, very large flames and they cover your entire back, the dragon just above your hip, his snout on your shoulder blade and the rest is all flame.'

'Sam ... I ah ...' Dean let his head droop forward his face burning with humiliation.

'Sam, Dean you two alright in there?' Bobby's gruff voice broke into their combined states of panic.

'Yeah Bobby we'll be right out.' Sam called as he placed Dean's arm around his own neck and tucked his into the towel around his brother's waist. 'You ready?'

'Let's do this.' Dean mumbled.

Ever so slowly they made their way out of the steam-filled bathroom and into the main room, Sam eased Dean down onto the edge of his bed and then exhausted he made his way to his own, immediately slumping against the pillows. 'Let Bobby see your back Dean.'

'Dean?' Bobby frowned at the sickly grey pallor of Dean's face and the sheer exhaustion written across Sam's face.

'Take a look.' Dean whispered hanging his head low.

'Fuck me.' Bobby breathed as he took in the new tattoo appearing on Dean's back, this time a lot faster and aggressive than the last one.

'Sam said that I'm bleeding where the fangs are.'

'Yeah you are just small drops now though.' Bobby pushed his cap back and stared thoughtfully at the gothic design for a few minutes.

'Bobby?' Sam's voice startled the older man, 'what's wrong?'

'Nothing, just got a feeling I've seen this before.'

'The design?' Dean asked lifting his head up he turned to face Bobby, 'you've seen it before?'

'Not exact but damned near to it.' Bobby sighed, 'I'm a gonna go and check out a few things, Joshua wants to check the two of you out, now I don't want to hear about the two of you misbehaving.'

'Us?' Dean managed to grin, 'why Bobby we're offended.'

'Yeah butter wouldn't melt in our mouths Bobby.' Sam added.

'Yeah, yeah and pink elephants can fly south for the winter.' Bobby tossed back, 'coffee and rolls are on the bench.'

'Thanks man.' Dean grinned, 'food ... ah sweet food.' Limping over to the bench Dean picked up a roll and took a huge bit from it.

'Dean that's just plain ... gross.' Sam laughed.

'So Dean ready for me to ... ah okay Sam how about I start with you?' Josh said as he watched Dean wolfing down the roll with a coffee chaser.

'Guess.' Sam sighed as he slid back down on his bed, 'but I am feeling better.'

'Yeah okay how about you let me be the judge of that.' Joshua grinned as he picked up his bag of tricks and sat on the edge of Sam's bed.

Ten minutes later he patted Sam's shoulder and went to stand up, 'get some sleep kiddo.'

'Josh?' Sam yawned, feeling strangely dizzy and floating, 'what?'

'Just something to help you rest.' Josh smiled pulling up the blankets, 'sleep well Sam.'

'Dude you so did not drug him!' Dean snapped.

'Dean sit down before you fall down.' Joshua thundered, 'and no just gave him a small injection to help him sleep. He needs it to combat the fever.'

'Fever?'

'Yeah for now it is a lo-grade but if he pushes himself he will end up a lot sicker.'

'He just can't cut a break can he?'

'Hmm what about you Dean?'

'M'fine.'

'Uhhuh so you're bullshitting the bullshit artist are you?'

'So okay, my back burns like a bitch, my ankle is killing me and is still too swollen and I have a killer headache.'

'Go on.'

'What else do you want to know?'

'Everything.'

'Okay everything doc you want everything, I still can't piss properly and having a crap is like liquid acid.'

'Other than that?'

'Oh I'm fan-freaking-tastic.' Dean grinned mirthlessly.

'Hmm so want to lie down on the bed for me?'

'What no foreplay?'

'Dean!' Josh's voice rumbled through the small room, 'want me to give you a sedative too?'

'Nuhhuh I'm going, I'm going.' Dean sighed and laid down visibly wincing when his back made contact with the mattress.

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John moaned and tried to lift his head, he knew one thing that he was no longer chained but in fact, he was now lying on a soft bed. Naked. Groaning loudly he tried to sit up but found himself still restrained but this time it was with soft leather straps, 'what the?' Blearily he looked around and tried to workout where he was now. The bedroom was large and airy, with high windows letting the sun stream in, filling the room with warmth but all John felt was a chill running through his abused body. Confused he took a mental inventory of his injuries.

'Ah so the sweety awakes.' Max laughed as he sauntered in, 'my, my Johnny boy if looks could kill.'

'What have you done?'

'Nothing I haven't done to your son.' Max said with a wink, 'so delicious what would you like to do today?'

'Kill you.'

'Ah now I see the famous Winchester wit coming through.' Max draped himself on the side of the bed resting his head on his hand he reclined back and regarded John, 'you are a treat I will give you that, what your son lacks I suppose a certain maturity and hmm experience.'

'Fuck you.'

'Thanks but not now I just showered.' Max laughed again, 'when I was with Decebal I had to act like the hired help, it was such a chore but now, now I have the power I can be my true self and I can take who I want, when I want.'

'And like to hear yourself talk, don't you ever shut up?' John shot out his anger getting the better of him, 'you are lucky though Max I don't remember what happened last night.'

'Oh I can give you a blow by blow description.' Max sat up smirking, 'oh I made a funny! Blow by blow ha, I do amuse myself.'

'Yeah well you know what they say about small things amusing small minds.' John's head snapped to the side as the blinding slap came from nowhere, 'nice whatcha gonna do for an encore?'

'Do not test me John.' Max snarled suddenly no longer the happy monster, 'I am quite dangerous when you get to know me.'

'Yeah well thanks but no thanks.' John spat in Max's face, taking a perverse delight in watching his spittle slide down the man's face.

With an unholy roar Max jumped from the bed and before he knew what was happening John found himself flipped over onto his stomach his wrists trapped in barbed wire. 'What the fuck do you think you are doing?' John bellowed unable to process what was happening as he felt himself attacked from behind. The violence and the pain overrode every other sensation, for the first time in his life John finally understood what his sons had endured during their captivities.

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'Dean! No!' Sam screamed repeatedly thrashing in his bed, his eyes wide-open and glassy but unfocused, he swung out wildly fighting an unseen opponent. 'Dean!' He screamed again and then slumped back on the bed bonelessly. His head lolled to one side and he stared unseeingly towards Dean's bed, a thin line of drool dribbled from his mouth.

'Oh God no, Sammy.' Dean desperately tried to get through to Sam but his brother remained unresponsive. 'What happened? Can someone tell me what the fuck happened?' Dean stared up at Bobby and Joshua, 'Josh you gave him something could he have had a reaction?'

'No, no can I check him over?' he asked preferring to ask and not shot by an overstrung and overprotective brother.

'Kay.' Dean finally agreed and moved down Sam's bed slightly but staying close enough for him to see everything the medic does.

'Sam can you look at me?' Josh asked tapping Sam's cheek lightly, with no response he gently rolled Sam's face towards him and held him by the chin while he checked his eyes and facial responses, then he took his temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate. His concerned look fast became one of worry as he jotted down some notes and then rechecked his injuries before pulling the sheets up and tucked them in around Sam. Tenderly he stroked the younger man's cheek and heaved a sigh of relief when Sam responded slightly to the touch.

'Dean dude can you move very slowly and carefully up here and keep contact with Sam?' Joshua said keeping his hand touching Sam's cheek he stood up and made room for the older brother.

Confused, Dean did as he was asked and placed his hand where Joshua had his, immediately Sam responded visibly this time and moved his head to the direction of Dean's hand.

'Talk to him Dean, nice and quiet.' Josh said moving away slowly and taking Bobby with him.

'Hey Sammy, dude it's me Dean.' Dean whispered leaning in slightly closer to Sam, 'you're scaring me here Sammy, what's going on in that freaky head of yours?'

An hour later the brothers slept peacefully next to each other, Dean's hand still rested on Sam's cheek but both looked relaxed and relatively pain free.

'Josh what the hell happened?' Bobby asked his face pale as he watched the boys.

'Not sure Bobby, Sam's nightmare or whatever it was, spiked his blood pressure through the roof and his temperature caused him to seize, he should be fine once he wakes up.'

'But, there's a but coming.'

'We'll have to keep an eye on him until his BP and temp return to normal, he's gonna have to stay as calm as possible.'

'And ah how is that possible with what they are facing?'

'Not sure Bobby but if Sam keeps seizing he could end stroking, with brain damage or worse.'

'Shit.'

'You said it dude.'

'What the fuck did these two kids do to deserve all of this?'

'Born at the wrong time and wrong place I guess.'

A scraping sound at the motel room door startled both older men into hunter mode, Bobby cracked open the door while Joshua stood guard over the sleeping brothers.

'Oh my God ... John.' Bobby exclaimed, opening the door he just managed to catch the bleeding and broken man, 'Joshua get Jo.'

They helped the two former captives into the room before checking the area around the motel room. Josh and Bobby exchanged glances knowing that they would have to move everyone within the hour.

'John?' Bobby crouched in front of his friend, concerned when he saw him visibly flinch, 'John what happened?'

'Dean? Sam?' John muttered listing to his side he tried to focus on Bobby but all he could see and feel was a white-hot pain surging through his body.

'They're right there in the next bed John.'

John tried to turn, but the effort was too much for him, and he fell backwards unconscious. Jo's sobbing filled the silence in the room, glancing over at the boys Bobby found himself staring into Sam's unfocused glassy stare.

'Could things possibly get any worse?' he muttered aloud.

TBC