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.

CHAPTER 20 Those were the days my friend

Decebal and Dean both worked to free Sam from the debris of the dungeon. They threw Ruby's body on a pile of rocks without another thought; frantic Dean pushed the last of the rocks away from Sam's body and sat back in horror. 'Oh God Sammy?'

Decebal stared down at his quarry feeling equally horrified as Dean, that beautiful body marred and destroyed, the ugly carvings standing out on the grey coloured flesh. 'Sammy?' Dean cried again, his tears falling freely as he brushed a stray lock of hair from Sam's ashen face, 'if he's dead Decebal you're gonna get sent back to the fires of hell so fast that you'll only singe your hair.'

'He's not dead, I – I can hear his heart it is beating , barely but still beating. Though there is something wrong with him.'

'Sammy? Hey dude you with me?' Dean tried to cajole Sam back to consciousness, his voice breaking through the haze, giving Sam something to grab as he slid towards oblivion. As his eyelids fluttered and tried to open Dean held his breath and silently tried to will his brother to come back to him. 'Hey Sammy boy that's it, come on back to me.'

Sam looked up at his brother and his frown disappeared into a smile, soft and unsure at first but definitely a Sammy smile. Taking Dean's hand Sam squeezed it tightly, tears shining in his eyes.

'Sammy? What is it bro?' Dean swallowed deeply there was something wrong with his brother and it terrified him. 'What did she do to you?'

Sam blinked and tried to remember exactly, and then he lifted a shaking hand to his mouth and grimaced.

'Sammy?' Dean stared at him with a confused look as he tried to work out what Sam was trying to tell him when it dawned on him, Sam hadn't made a sound. 'Oh Gods Sammy.'

'We have to get him out of here Dean.' Decebal growled his only thoughts were to get the brothers away and hidden before anyone else comes to find them. He sliced the leather ties with a small knife finally freeing Sam from the bed. For the first time since finding Sam, Dean realised that his brother was naked and a ring was still in place at the base of his penis. Forcing a lump of bile back down Dean grabbed a blanket and covered his brother with it, and then he carefully picked Sam up cradling him against his chest, not caring what it did to his own injuries.

With a snarl Decebal waved a hand and they disappeared, leaving the bodies strewn around the building, he knew that the hunters would find Ruby's lair and would do the clean up. Without finding Sam or Dean, the irony was sweet for the demon as he made sure only traces of the boys remained.

'Put Sam on the bed.' He told Dean as they reappeared in an opulently decorated bedroom, 'I will get the medical supplies.'

'Decebal this is not over.' Dean looked at the demon with a vicious stare, 'not by a long shot.'

'I'll be back.' Decebal vanished before Dean could launch into another tirade.

A soft tug on Dean's arm brought his attention back to Sam, 'do you feel up to do some writing?' He watched Sam nod noting that the simple movement was stiff and very slow.

Handing Sam a small notebook and a pen he found in a drawer in the bedside table his breath caught when he watched just how difficult it was for his brother just to hold the pen. 'What did that bitch do to you?'

Sam stared sadly at his brother, then with a shaking hand wrote, 'forced poison, R ded with antidote.'

'She forced poison down your throat and then died with the antidote?' Dean interpreted his short cryptic message, Sam nodded his head and then after a pause to regain his strength started to write again. 'black stuff ... freezes numbs ... no talk ... no feeling.'

'Ah fuck Sammy, did you ah you know?'

Sam gave him a small smile and nodded sleepily, it was taking all of his strength just to keep his eyes open. But he wanted to make sure Dean knew what Ruby had done, 'drug me ... sacrifice me.' Sam's hand slipped down as he tried to get the words written before he passed out. Dean carefully extricated the pad from Sam's long fingers and stared at it, the shaky smeared words, that said so much.

'How is he?' Decebal asked appearing at Dean's side carrying a large box of medical supplies.

'She poisoned him with this black stuff that sounds like froze his vocal cords and everything, he can't talk and can't feel anything.' Dean looked up at Decebal murder flared in his eyes darkening them to almost black. 'She died with the antidote.'

'Dean this was not my doing.'

Dean continued talking as though he didn't even hear what Decebal said, 'she drugged him and was going to sacrifice him. What do you know about this Decebal and don't you dare to fucking lie.'

'I-I know that the Master had these scientists developing different toxins, but I would have to take a sample to get it analysed.' Decebal said showing no signs of his usual sadistic dominating persona, for now he did nothing but show compassion for the two brothers and a slightly clinical approach that had Dean immediately suspecting more than Decebal's apparent caring. It was too different, way different from Decebal's usual demeanour.

'Who said that you were going to touch Sammy?' Dean snarled, his inner guard dog making an appearance. 'I'll look after him.'

'Whatever is best, just two things to remember Dean, one is the fact that no matter what the two of you are still my prisoners, remember our truce ... the second I am probably the only chance you have of finding out what she used on Sam and where the antidote is.'

'I am going to take great delight in killing you when this is all over.' Dean vowed before turning his attention back to Sam. 'Okay little bro let's see what she did to you.'

Sam's eyes fluttered open when he felt the light touch on his arm, at first he was coiled ready to strike but when he heard Dean's voice filtering through the fog in his mind he calmed instantly and tried to follow it out of the dark fog and back to the light.

'Sammy I ah need to take a swab of that stuff from your throat and this is not gonna be pleasant for the both of us.' Dean tried to make his voice sound light and worry free, but from the way his hand shook he was feeling anything but. 'Here we go dude I just want you to relax your throat as much as you can.' Dean placed his fingers on Sam's chin and held his mouth open, even in the crude light he could see the staining leading towards Sam's throat. Taking a deep breath he used a long thin swab to pass over the top of his throat trying not to set off any gag reflexes but to his shock and dismay Sam showed no signs of discomfort at all. Finally, he pulled the swab out, let go of his breath and stared at it in horror. The tip, smeared with a thick black substance and smelt of burnt flesh gave him a tiny idea of what Sam's was suffering through. 'Damn me.' Dean glanced up at Sam after he tried to school his features into a calm mask, 'did you feel me doing that?'

Sam looked at the swab with an air of macabre fascination and then back at Dean shaking his head no. He didn't even realise what Dean had done.

With undisguised disgust, Dean handed the swab to Decebal and then gave Sam's injuries his full attention. He used butterfly strips on Sam's split cheek and on the cut along his hair line. Thankful that he didn't have to stitch them, slowly he traced his hands down Sam, searching for any signs of injury obvious or hidden, paling even more when he saw Sam flinch when he pressed down on his abdomen, it felt rigid to the touch and it obviously hurt Sam, meaning possible internal bleeding, at the least bruising. He felt Sam stiffen when he went to roll his brother over and that made his panic meter to rise exponentially. 'Easy Sammy, it's alright I got ya.' The words slid from his lips as he managed to get Sam onto his side. 'Ah fuck Sammy this just aint right.' The welts some closed over with scabs others wept with puss and were red with infection stood out on his paler than normal skin. The bruises on Sam's hips shaped like fingers had Dean shaking with anger, 'dude did they?' He whispered unable to finish the sentence. All he could see in an answer was the tiny nod of Sam's head and the trembling running through the abused body. With a gentleness that belied his strength and his rage, Dean cleaned and dressed the visible wounds, knowing that the infections was bad enough to go septic. 'I dunno what to do Sammy, I really don't know what to do now.' Dean whispered digging through the pills until he found some strong painkillers, 'here Sammy can you sit up a bit to take these?' With some manoeuvring, they managed to get Sam upright enough, so that there was no pressure on his back but he could swallow without obstruction. 'He needs to be in hospital Deci.' Dean said without looking at the demon, 'I'm sure Sam has internal bleeding among other things, I can't ... can't help him here.'

'Out of the question, the Master still seeks the two of you, for his sacrifice.' Decebal said startling Dean with the admission. 'What? Do you think that I am going to hand over my favourite pets just so he can feed em to a dragon demon?'

'Gee thanks Deci ... I think ... anyway Sam's in a bad way really bad I can't do anything for him, I'm not a doctor.'

'No but I can get one for him.' Decebal said disappearing before Dean could say anything else, taking the sample with him.

'I am so sorry Sammy.' Dean said as he faced his brother's inquisitive but pain-dulled eyes. 'What's the matter dude? Pain?' Dean reacted to the flicker of emotion on Sam's face and the fact that he was now whiter than white.

Sam grimaced and gripped his head, squeezing it tightly, his mouth opened with a silent scream.

'Vision? You're having a vision?' Dean cried out incredulously, 'ah shit no Sammy not now.'

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John let his head fall back against the back of the seat and sighed deeply, his body ached interminably, he felt numb inside after the degradation and humiliation Decebal forced on him, stuff that John could tell no one about, it had to be filed away and forgotten. He had to be strong to find his sons and to bring them home.

Josh glanced over at his silent passenger and frowned, he was too quiet even for the usually stoic Winchester, he seemed too Sam like, introspective and guilt-ridden. 'You and your son are more alike than you realise.' Josh thought as he started to slow the truck down.

'What's going on?' John blinked and peered around sleepily.

'Hitting a town thought we had better do the speed limit don't wanna have the cops slowing us down.' Josh said risking another look at his friend, 'John I think it's time we stop and check out things.'

'They're close aren't they?' John said suddenly fully awake and more like his old self.

'John?'

'I can feel Decebal ... kinda like a toothache that isn't too bad but just won't go away.' John seemed to be talking more to himself than to Joshua, 'he's here Josh and I know the boys are too.'

'Okay that tears it we're booking into a motel.' Josh said turning into the first one they came across with a vacancy sign lit. 'Be right back.'

As John fidgeted and fought the impulse to get out of the car and run to his boys, Josh got them a twin share room, with two single beds and a colour TV. When he got back to the car and looked in at John his heart missed a beat. 'What is it John? You look totally strung out.'

'N-nothing, nothing at all.' Came the mumbled reply as John kept rubbing at his arms and scratching his beard.

As soon as they let themselves into their room for the night, John headed directly for the bathroom, without a word to Josh, the next sound filling the silence was his retching as he lost his meagre stomach contents down the toilet.

Josh paced the main room, torn between giving his friend privacy and going to help him, when he heard the shower start and gradually allowed himself to relax.

Pulling out his cell, he decided to check in with Ellen and Bobby, a brief almost argument ensued when Ellen found out that John was with Joshua and that they kept going rather than returning to the others. Then it calmed down to a discussion about the health of both hunters, 'he'll be fine to travel tomorrow Joshua so we'll catch up to the two of you.'

'Thanks Ellen, John had this weird reaction when we got here and said that he can feel Decebal's presence.'

'Okay that is weird.'

'Yeah so I think we might use this as our base and work it all out from here.'

'Good thinking, okay well we'll head out as soon as it's light.'

'Thanks Ellen, we're staying at the Union Motel, first one on the right as you come into Edgerton.'

'Fine we'll see ya'll tomorrow, oh and Josh.'

'Yeah Ellen.'

'You two take care ya hear.'

'We will and thanks again.'

'That Ellen?' John asked watching Joshua close his cell from the bathroom door. Josh turned to stare at a newly showered and dressed John Winchester.

'Yeah it was, they'll be here tomorrow, Bobby will be well enough to travel. You look better man.'

'Feel it.' John stepped into the room and stretched to his full height, filling the small area with his immense presence, 'let's get something to drink ... and eat.'

'Let me have a quick shower and we'll get going.' Josh said heading towards the bathroom, 'you did leave some hot water didn't you?'

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Chaos reigned; he could see, hear and feel the battle raging around him but he couldn't make a sound or touch anyone. He had no way of warning them and it was killing him. But, then again, what if he was already dead? Blood red colours streaked across the sky and the smell of burning flesh and sulphur permeated every pore and assaulted every sense. Two large reptilian shaped demons sliced his father apart, razor sharp talons ripping through flesh like knife through butter. Screams deafening and horrific growls intensified as the battle raged on.

All around him lay the bodies of his loved ones, his father, Ellen, Josh, and Bobby on the altar next to him Dean lay. His body lifeless and his head turned to face Sam, eyes wide open but glazed over and unfocused. Frozen in his death throes.

Blood still poured from every orifice in his body as the demon raped and murdered Dean, tearing him inside and out.

A shadow passed over Sam and suddenly all he could see was the face of the dragon demon, he felt the claws slicing into his skin as the monster impaled him on its rock hard erection.

Sam's fingers dug deep into Dean's arms as he clutched his brother tightly, not wanting to let go, it was all too real and he was terrified. Desperately he tried to force himself to make a sound, anything to let Dean know what he saw but all he succeeded in doing was coughing up blood, the strain too much for his damaged throat.

'Hey, hey Sammy calm down, please calm down.' Dean tried to sooth him, hating not knowing what caused a reaction like this in Sam.

Sobbing, Sam picked up the pad and tried to control himself enough to write the note, 'sacrifice ... me ...you. DD kill Dad, Ellen, Bobby, Josh. Blood everywhere. You ded ... rape and kill us.'

Dean stared at the note in disbelief, unable to grasp what Sam was trying to tell him for a few minutes and then it all clicked into place. 'You and me get sacrificed to the dragon demons? They kill Dad and the others and rape and kill us?'

Sam nodded his head and took a shuddering breath, before he wrote again, 'no Deci.'

'Should have known ... the bastard.' Dean snarled, 'could you talk?'

Sam held Dean's stare for a moment before dropping his gaze and concentrated on the interesting stain on the floor. he shook his head no and let the sobs take over.

Exhaustion reigned and soon Sam was asleep, resting on his least injured side, Dean hoped that this was a respite for Sam but somehow he knew that it wouldn't last for long and his brother will be wanting answers again. 'What the hell do I tell you Sammy? I have no freaking idea what is going on or why this time ... we are so screwed and I have no idea how to help you.'

'Perhaps I can answer that.' Deci sneered as he reappeared at the foot of Sam's bed, 'how is he?'

'Not so good, he should be in a hospital Deci.'

'And as I said before that is out of the question however, you are not to say a word or do anything in anyway to inhibit things.'

Dean opened his mouth to retort angrily when he saw Sam move restlessly, grimacing with pain. 'Whatever just help him.'

'Good, good.' Decebal smiled secretly surprised at how quickly Dean acquiesced but then again Sam was always Dean's Achilles' heel. The doctor stepped away and revealed the person standing behind him.

Dean frowned, for some reason the person looked very familiar, determined not to get pushed aside Dean took a seat on the other side of the bed next to his brother but out of the way. His agreement to remain silent was hard however, but when he opened his mouth he saw the hungry look on Decebal's face as the demon stared at Sam's naked torso and thought better of it, instead he moved closer and laid a protective hand on Sam's shoulder.

'Has he made any sound?' the stranger asked Dean, who in turn looked at Decebal worried that it was a trap to get him away from Sam.

'You can answer the question Dean.' Decebal said enjoying Dean's discomfort immensely.

'Aside from the constant beatings,' Dean stared directly at Decebal as he spoke, 'they whipped him, with both leather and a cane. They drugged him and from the puncture wounds visible, I'd say that it was often. She poisoned him with that black gunk that has numbed and frozen his throat right down to his stomach. He cleaned most of his wounds where I could but some of the welts on his back ... they're infected ... not sure if they've gone septic but ...' The litany of injuries he recited became too much for Dean and his voice broke, clearing his throat he kept his gaze locked with Decebal's when he finished, 'and they raped him, more than once and from what I can work out he was raped by ... men and ...'

'Thank you.' The stranger said sincerely, before turning back to Sam.

'Where do I know you from?' the question formed in Dean's mind and he started to lose himself in his faded memories trying to think of from where.

Doctor Ted Davies followed Decebal into the room with a feeling of impending doom in his stomach. The deal he made nearly ten years ago was nearly up but Decebal bought the contract and said that he would release him from it if he worked exclusively for the demon, in his various enterprises. Torture was a mainstay of these enterprises and kept the doctor very busy. Widowed at fifty and estranged from his daughter, he figured he had nothing to live for when his wife died in an accident; ironically, the deal he made was for a cure for his wife Jill after her diagnosis of terminal cancer. She survived the cancer only to die a year later, a drunk driver smashed her car into a river killing her instantly. The crossroads demon refused to budge the deal was for surviving cancer not anything else.

Wracked with grief he embraced the dangerous life working for a demon and professional criminals, anything was better than living without her in the house.

His tastes changed rapidly, he took to the vices his new life offered with a vengeance. Including a taste for young men, captive young men who had to do whatever he wanted without fighting back. Decebal fed his sexual appetite with complete abandon; the one that was exceptional was the young man now hovering over his severely injured brother. The beautiful young man with bright green eyes and freckles you wanted to lick off. The muscular lean body still made him weak at the knees the only thing missing was the collar and lead and the submissiveness.

Though, this new guard dog behaviour, the protection of a sibling made the good doctor want to take him, there and then, instead he turned his attention to his patient and tried to deny his lascivious thoughts.

Dean moved his stare from the doctor to Decebal, he kept his promise and didn't say a word, instead he focused on trying to remember where he knew the doctor from and what he did to Sam.

The realisation flared in Dean's mind with brilliant clarity, his eyes wide and glassy as he remembered what those hands touching Sam did to him when he had no choice. When he was passed around like a piece of meat to whoever Decebal wanted to have him. The doctor was the most constant of his abusers, and the most debauched.

That same doctor now had his hands on Sammy.

TBC