Skirmish

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

A/N: I meant to say this earlier, and it's probably apparent, but I'm not a medical expert. I researched enough to use some big words, but other than spelling them right, I don't guaranty any accuracy. Shocking, right? LOL. This is a bit of a transition chapter; there's a little of this and a little of that. And a lot of angst, of course. As always, thanks for reading... big things are about to happen.

oooOOOooo

Well i don't claim to know the meaning of a wife
But i lost a lover who could've been my life before
And i can't understand why you treat me so bad
After all of the good times and smiles i had before
I guess that was all before
Yes that was all before...

Fade Away – Steve Carlson (from the album, Rollin' On)

oooOOOooo

She had another half hour left in her shift, but Gretchen was not looking forward to going home. Winchester and his friends knew where she lived and she had to wonder how much they'd already figured out. Eventually, they would try to talk to her and she doubted it would happen in a public place. She considered not going home, but her ego wouldn't let her hide. She had a lot of experience and knew things about her craft that very few did. She wasn't going to be chased away when she had so much to lose; and she knew she wouldn't be alone at her house tonight.

The person she was working for was powerful and she vacillated between awe of him and fear. Both were probably reasonable feelings, but her overwhelming motivation was his promises. She could do so much more with what he could give her and the thought of it was intoxicating. Besides, she only had another day before she was to move on. Dean would recover from his illness and her employer would take over.

Gretchen didn't know what he had in mind and she really didn't care. The Winchesters, like the other people she'd been hired to hurt, meant nothing to her. The guilt she'd begun to feel about how she lived her life already started to disappear with her sudden future prospects.

oooOOOooo

Caleb left the hospital to make some phone calls while Aidan headed to the cafeteria to get coffee for himself and John. He really just wanted to give the family some time alone, but coffee was rarely a bad idea.

John stood just inside his son's room. He didn't like the pallor of Dean's skin, or the way he seemed to melt into the bed. The dark circles were pronounced and there was a slight sheen of sweat on his face. He watched as Sam held his brother's hand, looking none too healthy himself. John knew he wasn't sick, but worried about Dean. Since Sam was born, they'd never spent a night apart and he'd certainly never seen his brother this ill.

Sam glanced at John when he stood next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder, but quickly turned his attention back to Dean. He was still sleeping.

"You were right, Sam. Out in the hallway? We should be concentrating on fixing this and I shouldn't be picking fights."

Apologies weren't common with John and this was about as close to he ever got to one. He understood Sam was probably angry with him, and he deserved to be. All John ever wanted was to protect his sons. From the moment they were born, and he held them for the first time, he wanted them to feel safe. He expected he and Mary would do that together, but she was taken from him and their young boys so he was left to do it alone, without her maternal tenderness. John was ill-equipped to handle two young boys on his own, especially considering the circumstances of his wife's death, but he did his best.

"Dad, you're the best one to deal with that old woman. You have to go."

Once again, John wished he could be in two places at once. John's friends were good, and the people Caleb brought wouldn't be with him if they weren't too, but John had a way with intimidation plus he had a vested interest. But Sam was scared and needed him here. Caleb was right; he had to be a father first.

"Caleb and Aidan can handle it."

Sam looked at him wide-eyed. "Really?"

John nodded. "Yeah."

He could almost feel the relief flow from his son and kneeled down beside him. "You've done great since Dean got sick, Sammy. I'm proud of you."

Sam blinked away the tears. "Thanks, Dad."

Aidan walked into the room; he handed John a cup of coffee and Sam a soda. He'd lost all track of time and had no idea when any of them had eaten last so he also brought assorted pastries from the cafeteria. Sam distractedly picked at one of them.

Caleb joined them a few minutes later.

"The guys are already at Grandma's house and they've pretty much cleaned all the herbs and other paraphernalia out of it. There's someone in the parking lot downstairs watching her car in case she goes somewhere else after her shift is over. I'm going to head over to the house. What's the plan here?"

"I'll come with you," Aidan said and they looked toward John.

"I think my place is here with my boys."

John was staring out of the window in Dean's room, but looked toward the door when he heard it open.

"Mr. Walcott, I'm Dr. Rowley. My specialty is infectious disease and I've taken over your son's case. Can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

John glanced at Sam, sitting on the edge of his brother's bed. "Sam can hear what you have to say. He needs to know anyway."

The doctor nodded. "The blood work came back. Dean has Septicemia; which is what Dr. Lowry suspected. We're going to move Dean to the ICU where he'll receive more specialized care. We'll continue with the antibiotics and fluids. We've already seen some improvement and there's no reason to think that won't continue. I know a lot of things have happened in a short amount of time – are there any questions I can answer for you?"

John cleared his throat. "Not right now."

"Okay. Someone will be here soon to move him and I'll check in on him in a little while."

Once the doctor was gone, John took a good look at Sam. He was shaking and his eyes were filled with tears. John put his hand on Sam's shoulder.

"Dean…" Sam whispered.

"He's going to be okay, Sammy."

"He's so sick."

"I know he is; but the doctor –"

"This doesn't have anything to do with doctors."

John turned Sam around and looked into his eyes. "We'll fix this."

Over the years, Sam had questioned his father's tactics not because he didn't trust him, but because he wanted to understand him. John had never failed to protect them and Sam knew he'd do his best now. If anyone could save Dean, it was his father.

oooOOOooo

Gretchen stopped by the nurses' station in the surgical ward when her shift was over and asked about Dean; she was pleased to find out that she had been successful and he had contracted a potentially dangerous infection. There was no sign of intruders when she returned home and the car that had been following her continued on as she pulled into her driveway. She set her purse down on the kitchen table and slipped out of her sweater as she walked to the back of the house.

"What the…." She stared at the empty bedroom. The work bench hadn't just been emptied of its contents, the entire bench was gone. She opened the closet where other supplies were stored and found it empty, too. As she turned toward the hallway, she felt strong arms around her and a hand was clamped over her mouth before she could scream.

Gretchen felt herself being forced into a chair; it was a wooden chair she didn't recognize and her wrists were tied to the arms.

"Don't scream." She heard a male voice behind her. "Not that any of your neighbors are close enough to hear you. We thought it would be nice to have a little chat with you, but none of us thought you'd be willing to participate. Now, if you answer our questions truthfully, you'll get out of here pretty much unharmed."

He walked around to her front and smiled. "My name is Joshua. Yours is Gretchen and you're a practioner for hire. I have more of a job description than a job title, and it's not really important at the moment. You'll become acquainted with some of my skills if you choose not to cooperate. Maybe you're wondering who these others I'm referring to might be. Don't worry, Gretchen, you and I aren't alone. And if you feel that I won't hurt an old woman, you may as well stop thinking that way right now."

"What do you want?" she asked quietly.

"Are you hard of hearing? I want some information."

"About what?" her voice was shaking, but her eyes were angry.

"For starters, I want to know who you're working for."

"I don't understand. I'm just a hospital volunteer."

"Oh please. I already told you that I know you're a practioner for hire. You're well-versed in Voodoo, Hoodoo, witchcraft and a few other lesser known disciplines. You've lived in Atlanta, Memphis, Bismarck, Albuquerque, Mobile…." he smiled at her. "You've worked for the good guys, the bad guys, the ones somewhere in the middle. You've helped just regular people get revenge. You really don't care who you work for, as long as the check clears."

"I prefer cash," she spat.

Joshua smiled at her. "Good to know. So who paid you this time?"

"Why should I tell you that?"

"Because you don't have any of your toys here to help you and you're at my mercy."

She grinned. "You think so?"

Joshua glanced toward the door as another of his partners walked in.

"Let me introduce you to Lars."

Gretchen paled a little at the 6'5" man who now stood just behind Joshua.

"He's got an interesting ability in addition to being psychic. He can block whatever mental mojo you're used to being able to throw at people. You can't control anyone here, Gretchen. But we can control you. And we will get our answers," he leaned close to her. "If you don't want to tell us, we'll get them from you in some other way. If we have to pluck them from your head, it could be very painful for you."

"You'd torture an old woman?"

Joshua smiled at her. "You're torturing a young man, his family and his friends. You don't get to dish out what you won't take yourself."

She began to look a little uncertain and Joshua turned away from her, satisfied he'd made his point.

oooOOOooo

Dean opened his eyes, acutely aware that his head was pounding. He remembered he was in the hospital and as he looked around, he saw his brother asleep in a chair close to the bed. His father was leaning against the wall, staring out of the window. Dean tried to speak, but no words came from his dry throat. He swallowed and tried again.

"Dad?"

John immediately turned toward the bed, not sure he'd actually heard anything. He saw Dean's eyes were open and he moved toward him.

"Hey there," John sat on the edge of the bed.

"Water?"

He reached for the pitcher on the table and poured water into the cup, then helped Dean to drink.

"I'll get some ice chips for you –"

Dean held onto his wrist. "Don't go."

"I'm right here, Dean."

"What's wrong with me?"

"You have an infection, but it's being treated and you're going to get better soon."

"Different room?"

"Yeah, you're in intensive care now."

"What day is it?"

"It's Friday afternoon."

"Only Friday?"

John nodded and Dean looked toward Sam, who was still asleep in the chair.

"Is he all right?"

"He's fine. How do you feel?"

"Worse every time I wake up."

"I'm sorry, Dean. I promise this is almost over."

"Old woman…." Dean was having trouble speaking.

"You need to rest, son. Aidan, Caleb and some others are taking care of the old woman."

"Sammy was at her house."

John nodded. "Yeah, he helped Aidan search it."

"Found picture of me."

"I know. Lie back, okay? Rest. I'll tell you what we know."

Dean shifted to get a little more comfortable and John told him what they'd found out so far.

"Make sure Sammy is safe," Dean said quietly when his father finished speaking.

"I'm fine, man." Sam sat down on the edge of the bed, opposite his father. "And you will be, too, as soon as Aidan and Caleb take care of the old woman."

"Stick close to Dad," Dean said as he drifted back to sleep.

oooOOOooo

While Joshua and Lars were working on Gretchen, Aidan and Caleb were salting the doors and windows of her house. Others laid out the protection devices of their choice and everyone had easy access to weapons. They were hunters and used to dangerous work, but this was personal for most of the group. They all either knew, or knew of, John Winchester and had a healthy respect for him. Whenever anyone hurt one hunter, there were always more behind him to help.

"How do you think it's going at the hospital?" Aidan asked Caleb when they finished with the salt.

"I don't know. John's probably about ready to crawl out of his skin. I can't believe he decided to stay there instead of be here."

"I think it's the right choice," Aidan said quietly. "Those kids –"

"I know," Caleb agreed quickly. "They need a father more than they need a drill sergeant, but that's the direction John has gone. It's been a long time since I've seen him this way with the boys."

"Me, too."

"I'm worried about Sam."

Aidan looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"The way he and John were butting heads the last time I was with them; there's trouble on the way unless this situation teaches John a lesson."

"John?" Aidan couldn't help but laugh. "Give him a couple of weeks after Dean is well and he'll be the same hardass he's always been."

Caleb leaned back against the wall. "You're probably right."

"He loves them, but –"

"He's got tunnel vision."

"Exactly."

"So what do you say, Gretchen?" Joshua asked from across the room. "Are you going to cooperate?"

"What's in it for me if I do?"

"Wow, you really haven't been paying attention, have you?"

Joshua wasn't someone John worked with very often, but they knew each other. He tended to be undisciplined and had less than honed morals. Even though most hunters operated on the fringe, Joshua operated on the fringe of the fringe. He didn't necessarily make a distinction between supernatural and human.

Pastor Jim was basically an unelected leader of the group; there was one in every generation of hunter, it seemed. He taught them that their job was to fight paranormal evil because they were the only ones who could and that there was a system in place for dealing with human evil. He was afraid that Joshua's teetering between the two and blurring the lines might get them all in trouble some day.

"Weren't you listening when I told you that we could just as easily pluck the information from your thoughts, but it would be painful for you?"

"And you care about that?"

"Personally? Not really. But some of the others here care."

Gretchen looked at him as if trying to decide if he was serious or not. The truth was, she didn't know who she was working for, but she didn't think Joshua would believe her. She wasn't particularly interested in having her thoughts invaded and he knew very well that if she fought it, and that it was natural instinct to fight, it would indeed be painful.

"What if I don't know?"

Joshua looked at her. "You don't know who you're working for?"

"Not exactly."

"What, exactly?"

Her eyes flicked to Lars.

"I don't know who he is."

"Okay. Let's start with what he wants. Did he want you to hurt Dean/"

"He wanted me to hurt John through Dean. He didn't care how I did it, but he wanted Dean to get sick. For every step forward, there was to be a step backward."

"What's this person got against John?"

"I didn't ask."

"So what's the point of hurting Dean?"

"He didn't tell me his entire plan, but I got the feeling it was to distract John."

"Any idea why?"

"No."

Joshua paced circles around her as he spoke and stood behind her as he thought about what to do next. He really didn't care about inflicting pain; in his book, she was just as evil as some of the monsters he fought. He realized his opinion was the minority, but Lars would read her thoughts if that was the only way to help the Winchesters.

Before Joshua could make up his mind, there was a clap of thunder outside and a flash of lightning The overhead light in the room brightened and then blew out. A radio turned on and forced loud static throughout the house. He heard the scuffling and the voices of the other hunters; they all knew what was happening.

Gretchen's chin fell to her chest as the hunters scrambled.

"What's going on?" someone demanded.

"We all know what it is. Get weapons!" Lars shouted as he rushed out to the hallway.

"Get me Winchester," Gretchen said quietly.

Joshua stared as she lifted her head to look at him. Her formerly blue eyes were now a bright gold and the smile on her face was more confident than before.

"Aw, shit," he muttered.

The smile broadened and the seemingly old woman pulled out of the chains holding her arms to the chair. "Get me Winchester or his boy is dead."

"Caleb! Aidan!"

They were in the room a moment later, each shocked at what they saw. Joshua was pinned to the wall and Gretchen was sprawled comfortably on the chair that only a moment ago held her prisoner.

"Get Winchester here. Now."

"Who are you?" Aidan asked.

"If I have to go to him on my own, I will. But if I do, his boy dies."

Aidan and Caleb exchanged a look.

"I'll get him," Aidan said.

oooOOOooo

The nurses in ICU were just as understanding as those in the surgical ward where Dean was before and they allowed his father and brother to sit with him as long as they didn't get in the way. But right after the shift change, the family was forced from the unit. John insisted that Sam come with him to find some food because neither one of them had eaten in hours. He didn't expect anyone to answer their phones at the house, but as he stood in the courtyard outside the cafeteria, John dialed Caleb's number just the same.

"John," he answered. "Aidan is on his way to the hospital."

"Why? What's going on?"

"We need you here."

"Caleb –"

"We salted the doors and windows; we took all the precautions."

"But?"

"It must be the demon she's working for –"

"What?" John was becoming exasperated.

"The old woman is possessed. The demon wants you."

"Fuck!" John grumbled. "God damnit!"

"I'm sorry John. I don't know how it happened."

"I'll come as soon as Aidan gets here to stay with Sammy," John said. "I need to call him. We're not in the same room; Dean's been moved to ICU."

"Why?"

"The blood work came back and it's the infection they suspected."

"John –"

"I have to call Aidan," he said and hit the end button. John looked at his son through the large window and as he dialed Aidan's number, wondering what he was going to tell Sam.

"Hey, I'm on my way there –"

"I just talked to Caleb and he told me what was going on. I need you to stay with Sam."

"Whatever you want, John. I'll be there in maybe ten minutes."

"We're in the cafeteria. Dean's been moved to ICU and they made us leave for a little while."

"The ICU? He's worse?"

"No, but he's not better."

"I'll be right there."

TBC