Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place.

Summary. . . . . . . After John refuses to take a hunt he has been asked him to do, a fellow hunter takes drastic measures to ensure his participation.

Disclaimer. . . . . Don't own, so don't sue!

A.N. . . . . . . As always I hope you enjoy, happy reading, Peanut x

Both John and Jim rushed into the house as the phone continued to chime, John's heart pounding in his chest as he wondered if it was Evan calling him again; wondered if the other hunter had people watching him. As they reached the living room though it was Jim that picked up the phone and answered, leaving John just watching intently, trying to judge who it was from the Pastor's expression, until the older man spoke and John's racing heart could slow down; only to start increasing again as he listened to the one sided conversation.

"Caleb, it's good to hear from you. How are you doing my boy?"

John's eyes rolled as he heard the other hunters name being mentioned. He hadn't spoken to Caleb for over a year, ever since they had fallen out over John leaving his boys in the Impala while he hunted.

"I'm well Caleb, things are quite quiet around here for a change."

"John? John Winchester? Why here's standing right beside me, let me put him on to you."

Jim passed the phone over and settled into a chair to wait, something in Caleb's tone wasn't sitting quite right with him, something was wrong.

"Caleb, what's going on? If you want me to help with a hunt right now, you're asking the wrong person." John unintentionally barked his questions out, wanting to finish the call as soon as possible and continue on with his quest to find Sam. He prepared for the backlash he knew he would get from the other man, but when it came John quickly realized how unprepared he really was.

"What the hell John! You stupid son of a bitch! If you needed someone that desperately to look after Sammy, you could have called me you stubborn bastard. What the hell possessed you to leave him with that deranged psycho?"

"What? I didn't, Sam was taken Caleb. Wait! Have you seen him? Where's Sam, Caleb? Where's my son? If he's been hurt. . . . . . if you've hurt him. I will kill you all."

"Woah, woah, back it up a little! What do you mean Sam's been taken? Taken why? And do you really think that little of me now John, that you think I could ever, would ever, hurt Sam or Dean?"

"Evan took Sam because I refused the hunt that your unethical scrawny ass obviously didn't. As for whether you'd hurt my boys, I guess I don't know you that much any more, you took this hunt. Now I'll ask again. Have. You. Seen. My. Son?"

"Yeah, he's in the basement of the house Evan is renting. Apart from a few bruises he looks okay, tired, dirty, confused and terrified, but generally okay. What do you mean unethical? And for that matter scrawny?"

John sighed and rubbed a hand over his face before answering. "Caleb, do you even know what the hunt is for? Did you even ask? It's for human children. Human children with psychic abilities. That's what I mean by unethical."

"You're wrong! You're wrong! We're hunting werewolves, a pack of them. Cassie's with them."

John breathed deeply to quell the rage that was rising. Rage that wanted to tear Evan Miller apart. When he had turned down the hunt, Evan had obviously gone after other hunters, playing on their worst fears to coerce them into joining him, the fact that he had told Caleb they were hunting werewolves confirmed this, and just how low the callous hunter was willing to go. Evan knew, as John did what had befallen Caleb's family, John could still clearly remember the day he had first met a just out of teens Caleb, mute and pasty white and petrified, severely injured in an attack that had seen his Mother, Father, and Sister, all mauled and bitten by a pack off the beasts. He could still remember the day two months later when he had watched as the younger man had shot his parents through the heart with silver bullets, Caleb's sister though had gotten away, and the hunter had spent years since tracking her down. His hatred for Evan grew stronger as John realized he would stop at nothing to get his way.

"John, please tell me you're lying?"

"Caleb, I'm sorry but I can't!" John replied solemnly. He listened as Caleb drew in some deep breaths before answering in a tone that brought a renewed sense of pride for the younger man to John's heart.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Look after my son Caleb. If you can get the hell out of there and make your way to any of the safe houses, but not if it risks Sam's life or your own. Where are you?"

"6121 Mason Ave, Sioux Falls."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can. Be careful, Caleb. And take care of Sammy for me."

Caleb's hands shook with uncontrollable rage. He couldn't believe he had been so stupid. He couldn't believe he had fallen for Evan's lies, that he had allowed his obsession to find his sister to be used against him. He knew of the man's reputation, just as John did, but yet he had still fallen into his trap. He ran a hand through his short, dark hair in an attempt to calm down and reassess the situation. John was on his way, alls he had to do in the mean time was keep Sam safe. He breathed deeply through his mouth and spoke out loud to himself. "You can do this! You can watch over Sammy, until John arrives."

The creaking of the floorboards behind him turning sharply around, his eyes meeting the cruel and vicious smiling face of Evan, and his head the heavy butt end of his gun. As he crumpled to the ground and darkness encroached, Caleb struggled to keep it at bay, hearing Evan's mocking voice as he lost the battle. "You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have turned against me. I'm afraid looking after Sam is going to get so much harder for you now."

Caleb groaned as pain brought him back to awareness. He tried forcing heavy eyes open, only to have them slam shut again as the harsh light of an unshaded bulb set off a drum solo within his head. Breathing slowly he waited for the nausea to settle before attempting to open his eyes again, managing this time to at least get them halfway there.

Looking around he immediately noticed that he was in a basement of some kind; a basement that was different from the one he had seen at Evan's rented house. He cursed himself for being so stupid as to have been caught, for not realizing that Evan could have been listening. He started slightly when his ears picked up a noise behind him. Controlling his frustration, he strained to pick up the sound again. Whimpering. Someone was whimpering. He attempted to sit up, doing so with difficulty as he realized for the first time that his hands were tied behind his back. Turning around his heart filled with sorrow at the sight that befell him. A bruised and dirty and soiled Sam Winchester lying on a ratty blanket strewn cot, caught in the throes of a nightmare. As he attempted to move and offer comfort, Caleb could only watch as Sam shot bolt upright, eyes staring yet unseeing, calling his name.

A.N. . . . . . Things in real life have thrown a curve ball at me this week, so I still haven't gotten my laptop fixed, fingers crossed though by the end of the day I should have, or at least bought a new one. Thanks as always for reading, and to all of you who have reviewed, I hope to be back to personally replying to you soon. Just know I do appreciate each and every review that comes through, and thank you. Catch you soon, Peanut x