Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place.

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

Disclaimer. . . . . . Still only playing in Kripkies sandbox.

A.N. . . . . . As always I'd like to thank everyone for reading, I hope that you enjoy he latest chapter. I'd also like to thank everyone for the awesome response to my tag to Lazarus Rising, I know I thanked you all personally but I thought you deserved a shout out here also. So for all of you who read, reviewed or added to favorites that fic, this chapter is dedicated to you. Thank You

Caleb struggled to rise to his feet eager to get to Sam and offer the youngster some much needed comfort. His body though had other ideas choosing this moment to betray him. His head throbbed with such intensity he had to grab hold of it, his hands digging deep into his scalp in an attempt to take his mind off the pain that ravaged there, he could swear blind there was a heard of elephants stampeding through his brain, his stomach doing somersaults as a result. Try as he might he could do little to stop his descent back to the floor, or stop the bile and undigested food that suddenly rose up from within. Managing to turn to his side and get his hands underneath him, Caleb pushed himself up enough before expelling his stomach contents onto the dirt and litter strewn floor, dry heaves wracking his body long after the contents were gone.

Falling heavily back down, Caleb forced himself to manoeuvre away from the acrid smelling mess, closing his eyes and breathing heavily through his nose as he did so. The sight and smell setting off his stomachs churning once more. After a few minutes he felt well enough to attempt to get to Sam once more, learning from the last attempt to stay as low to the floor as possible he started crawling along the floor reaching Sam just as he seemed to shake himself free of the nightmare that gripped him, his eyes gaining focus, and his limbs beginning to move again.

As Sam's emotion filled eyes settled on Caleb's his sobbing increased and intensified in strength, and he flung his small, thin body into the older hunters chest, his arms clinging around Caleb's neck with surprising force, mumbles falling from his mouth.

"Hey, hey Sammy, it's okay. It was just a nightmare. It was just a dream."

Even though he spoke the comforting words, Caleb was unsure of their truthfulness. Never in his life had he seen anyone react that way to a dream as Sam had; his lifeless unseeing eyes burning themselves deep into the older hunters mind, a sight he was sure he would never forget. Shaking of his fears, his worries, Caleb turned his attention back to Sam and crooned yet more soothing words, trying desperately to get the youngster to stop sobbing.

"It's okay now Sam. Your awake now. I'm here, your safe, nothing is gonna hurt you now. Please stop crying."

"Bad man hurt you."

Unsure he had heard right, Caleb asked Sam to repeat himself, coaxing him with promises of safety, and returns to Dean and his Dad. The more reassurances he gave the more Sam's sobs began to subside, turning into sniffles and then finally hiccups. Around gasps for air the youngster managed to croak out the words again, his eyes brimming once more at the thought of what he had seen in his dream.

"Bad man hurt you, Sammy don't want you to be hurt."

Mistakenly thinking Sam was talking about the blood that Caleb could feel drying and crusting on his face from the blow Evan had given him, he tried yet again to reassure and calm down the child he loved as though his own.

"Sammy, it's okay. It's just a scratch. I'm fine, I'm okay."

"Bad man hurt Caleb."

"No, no buddy, it's okay. I swear to you Sammy, this is nothing, just a owie." Caleb replied , hiding how much it really hurt from Sam.

"Bad man gonna shoot Caleb."

Caleb tried, as best he could with his arms tied behind his back, to push the youngster away wanting to see Sam's face as he asked. "Sam, what do you mean?"

"Bad man gonna get mad, hit Sammy and shoot you." Sam managed to get out around sobs that had started in earnest again.

Caleb was glad for the fact that the nausea had already drained his face of most of it's color, as he felt what little was left go. He had overheard a conversation between John and Jim a few months back that had spoke of someone being able to see events happening before they actually did, no name mentioned but Caleb now guessed that they had been on about Sam. If that was the case, then this day just got a hell of a lot worse. Sam was psychic; Sam was a child; Sam was a human psychic child; exactly the thing Evan was wanting to hunt down and destroy, no wonder John turned down the job This was bad! Did Evan know? Had he already guessed John's secret? Caleb prayed that he hadn't found out yet, prayed that he never would.

Coaxing Sam back onto his lap Caleb spoke up. "Sammy, I promise you that nothing bad will happen to either one of us. Your Dad will be here soon to rescue us and get us out of here, you'll be back with Deanie soon. What you saw was just a very bad dream."

"No! Caleb got shot."

"Sammy, listen to me please. What you saw was just a nightmare, a nightmare I need you to stay quiet about. The bad man must never find out about it, you mustn't mention it in front of him, do you understand?" At seeing Sam's confused look, Caleb tried to explain himself better. "Sam, Evan is a very dangerous man and he wants to hurt lots of people, and if he finds out about your dream he will hurt both of us, so you must keep quiet about it, okay?"

At seeing Sam nod this time, Caleb relaxed and calmed down a little, he watched as Sam tried to put on a brave face for him, yet his always expressive eyes betrayed just how scared and worried the youngster was; scared, worried and very tired.

"Come On Sam, scoot your bum back up the bed and try and get some sleep." Caleb's heart broke as he saw the tears form and raw tear appear in Sam's eyes. "Hey, it's okay. I'll be right behind you, I'll scare all the nightmares away, I promise. Now come on lay back down."

Caleb watched as Sam settled once more on the dirty cot before awkwardly manoeuvring behind him, Sam turning his small body and burying his face in Caleb's chest once he had done so. He let out a sigh of relief after a few minutes when he felt Sam relax against him and his breathing evened out, his young body demanding rest even though he fought so hard against it. Caleb though was unable to sleep, numerous thoughts racing through his mind. Why hadn't John told him? Or for that matter Jim? How long had they known? How did they find out? How they hell was he going to get both him and Sam safely out of here? Could he get both him and Sam safely out of here?

It was with that thought in mind that Caleb did something he hadn't done in years, he prayed. Prayed that John would find them. Or that he could figure a way out. Prayed that he could keep Sam safe until then. Prayed for Sam's future.

A.N. . . . . . . Hope it was okay? More coming your way soon, catch you later, Peanut x