Hate is a four-letter word
Disclaimer: Nope still nothing but my fevered imagination working overtime as per usual. So Eric Kripke has the honour of owning Supernatural and the characters we all love to hurt.
Disclaimer Number 2 Very important, this story is going to contain hate crime I just want to say that I do not advocate any kind of hate crime ever, in fact it goes against all of my principles but it will be a very important part of the story. I am hoping that the ending will resolve issues brought up throughout the plotline.
Warning: Graphic violence and sexual assault if you are squeamish about these things then please go read one of my tamer stories.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Caleb caught Dean just as he collapsed, his shaking legs would not hold up any longer, 'damn it Dean look at me.'
'Cal?' Dean blinked at him, 'wha happened?'
'You fainted you girl.' Caleb answered with a grin, 'we have to get Sammy outta here but these chains ...'
'No, go pl-please l-leave me.' Sam muttered pushing weakly at Caleb's hands, 'n-no.'
'Calm down Sammy you have to let Cal help you.'
'No let me die.' Sam cried out pressing harder against the bricks groaning as his reopened his newly healing wounds, 'let me die, please ... just let me go to Dean.'
'Sammy ... Sammy open your eyes and look at me.' Dean said trying desperately to get Sam to calm down enough to free him, Caleb checked the brothers once more before he went back to the door to check for danger. He couldn't believe that they hadn't found them yet.
'Guys we have to go now.' He whispered as loudly as he dared.
Dean cupped Sam's face in his hands and made his younger brother look at him, what he saw in Sam's eyes broke his resolve and he felt his own tears demanding release behind his eyes. 'Sammy look at me bro.'
'No, no, no trick.' Sam squeezed his eyes shut and pressed harder against the wall.
'No Sammy no trick it's me I'm still alive dude, and so are you.'
'Dean?' A soft whisper cut through Dean, 'Dean no?'
'Yeah look at me Sammy, that's it I'm right here little bro.'
'They, they killed you.' Sam clutched at Dean's arms, large tears rolled down his face, 'I'm coming Dean, I'm not livin' without ya.'
'Damn, Sam, Sam look at me really look at me, we have to get going dude and I have to get these chains from your wrists and ankles.'
Sam sighed and nodded his head before resting his burning forehead against the cool bricks, it didn't matter if Dean was haunting him or a hallucination he would be with him sooner rather than later.
Wiping his shaking hands on his ragged jeans Dean turned his attention to the chains trapping Sam to the wall, 'Cal I can't...'
'Here try this.' Cal produced Bobby's knife, 'we gotta get going.'
'Kay we're hurrying.' Dean muttered as he forced the knife into the link just below the lock. Mere seconds later he had Sam's ankles free but when he moved to work on the chains around Sam's wrists he encountered a problem. 'Ah fuck Sammy.' The iron links embedded so deep that he could see the white of bone. 'We might have to leave em on for now Sammy, will do too much damage if I remove em now.'
Sam blinked and slowly nodded but remained silent, worried Dean regarded his brother's face carefully; taking in the dullness of his eyes and the gauntness of his cheeks. Clearing his throat Dean went to stand only to find himself toppling over again, immediately Caleb was at his side but he pushed him towards Sam, 'no he needs the help more.'
With Sam propped between the two other hunters they finally made their way from their cell. Both Dean and Caleb were on extreme alert, already aware of just how easy that their escape is they both watched for any signs of a trap.
Bursting through the outer doors, they started heading towards the forest wall surrounding the compound when spotlights snapped on and ensnared them in a prison of white light.
'The prey are ready, remember hunt, trap and kill. I want three bodies brought back to me by the end of the night.' A menacing voice boomed from a loud speaker, 'there will be a reward for the first ones to return with the bounty.'
A loud cheer erupted from the shadows making both cal and Dean shiver, 'let me go Dean, I can't.' Sam whispered in his brother's ear.
'Aint leaving ya behind Sammy.' Dean vowed tightening his grip on Sam's waist band.
'Keep moving guys.' Caleb said, 'ignore them just keep heading for the trees, they're gonna let us get that far before they start.'
'What about Bobby?'
'Don't worry bout Bobby Dean, I have a feeling that he will be leading one of the hunting packs to get us out safely.' Caleb said trying to sound more positive than he felt.
Just as they reached the relative safety of the trees, Sam's head arched backwards, the tendons corded in his throat and he let out a primal cry of pure pain before his legs gave out and he started tumbling forward. Before Dean or Cal could react quickly enough Sam collapsed face-forward, the impact bone-jarring and painful.
'Sammy?' Dean dropped to the ground next to his brother and quickly felt for a pulse, 'he, he's alive.' He blinked up at Cal and then went to help his brother when he saw a silver object glinting in the moonlight. 'Cal?' Carefully he pulled the object from Sam's neck and held it up, 'they used a dart.' He uttered the words in complete disbelief.
'The bastards.' Cal swore, 'going after the weakest of us first.'
'We have to get him to shelter Cal.'
'We find shelter and then you look after Sam and I'm gonna find Bobby, this is gonna end.'
'Caleb you can't go by yourself, they'll kill you.'
'You need to concentrate on Sam keep him safe and alive.' Caleb laid his hand on Dean's shoulder and squeezed it slightly, 'and keep yourself alive.'
'Caleb.'
'Dean.'
'Reeves.'
'Winchester.'
Sam moaned and tried to lift his head but was unable to hold it up and he fell forward again but this time Dean caught him before he could finish his descent. 'D-Dean?'
'Here dude, you hang in there okay.'
'F-Feel s-s-strange.'
'They tipped you Sammy, something on a dart but I got ya.'
'Y-you d-died.'
'No, no I didn't Sam I'm right here with ya and we're gonna get out of this.' Dean gently lifted Sam to a sitting position and then squatted in front of his brother, noting the unfocused and glazed stare, 'hey Sammy can you see me?'
'Mm Dean d-d-don't f-f-feel so g-g-good.'
'We have to get him out of here Caleb.' Dean stared up at their friend as he cradled Sam to his chest, 'he's not gonna ...'
'We're all getting out of here,' Caleb said as he helped Dean lift Sam between them they half-carried, half-dragged him through the brush moving in silence and in perfect synchronicity. They could hear the order given and the yells of men and the yelping of dogs. 'Fuck, they got freaking dogs.'
'What else would they have?' Dean spat out bitterly, 'probably got us lo-jacked or microchiped or whatever. They're just playing with us Cal.'
'Over there.' Cal pointed to a small outcropping of rocks nestled into the side of a hill.
'Come on Sammy, stay with us.' Dean tightened his grip on his brother as they made their slow but sure way over to the rocks. Cal moved forward to take point and to check out the cave before Dean and Sam reached there. The less Sam moved the better and Dean was not fairing much better.
'Nice and deep and fully enclosed Dean,' Cal reported minutes later, 'the opening is tight and easy to defend.'
'Cool let's get sasquatch in there.' Dean glanced at Cal with a small tight grin on his face, 'man he might be skinny but damn he's heavy.'
'And tall.'
'Too freaking tall.' Finally, Dean was able to ease Sam down to the ground, quickly bunching his jacket under Sam's head for a makeshift pillow. Caleb shrugged out of his for Dean to drape over his brother.
Tenderly Dean brushed Sam's fringe out of his eyes and closely inspected the newest wounds; starting with his face Dean trailed his gaze down Sam, his fingertips grazing along the various cuts and abrasions. 'How can?' Unable to finish the question aloud Dean swallowed on the rising bile and set his mind to tending to Sam's injuries while Caleb scouted the area and set up protections knowing that the few things they had to use wouldn't amount to much. 'Dean how is he?'
'Bad ... Caleb I'm really worried bout his wrists,' Dean scratched at his stubbled chin, exhaustion hitting him squarely causing him to yawn uncontrollably. 'They – they ...'
'Dean, dude you're walking death lie down man I'll take care of Sam.'
'Cal...'
'No buts now either sit or lie it's up to you but I want you down on the ground now.'
'Aw gee Cal I didn't know you were into that sort of kink.' Dean smirked as he cautiously lowered himself to a seated position against the cave wall then he lifted Sam's head and shoulders before sliding in to rest them on his lap. A soft pain-filled moan slipped from Sam's lips and Dean looked down to meet a pair of dull green eyes staring up at him. 'Hey.'
'Hey Dean.' Sam ran the tip of his tongue over his cracked and dry lips, 'where?'
'In a cave.' Absently Dean started to stroke Sam's hair, feeling his brother turn his head and move closer enjoying the contact.
'How?'
'How did we get here?'
'Yeah.' Sam blinked and shifted his gaze to take in their new surroundings, 'Dean ... why-why are m-my hands still t-t-tied?'
'Had trouble getting them off and we had to get going.' Dean explained patiently, keeping the soothing strokes on Sam's hair going, 'not sure how we're gonna get them off ya but we will Sammy.'
'Bobby?'
'He's okay, hopefully he'll be here to help soon.'
'My – my vision?'
'I know Sammy ...'
'Thought you were dead Dean.' Sam turned his face away from his brother's scrutiny, humiliation at his breakdown still fresh in his mind. 'They ...'
'Hey Sam it's alright just calm down.' Dean soothed his brother, 'try and get some sleep.'
'Dean, Dean please l-listen to me.' Sam grasped Dean's free hand tightly in both of his larger ones, 'the demon, I know who it is.'
'Sammy?'
'Dad's journal ... '
'What about it?'
'L-look up ... Barakas.' Sam panted out as a wave of pain washed through him, drowning him in a white haze, 'D-Dean?' Sam cried out as his eyes fluttered closed and he slumped against his brother, unconsciousness mercifully taking him away from his pain for just a while.
'Cal do you know anything about a demon named Barakas?' Dean looked up at his friend, 'what is it?'
'Can hear them dude, I'm gonna go do some recon, you two be alright?'
'Yeah go,' Dean returned to his watching over Sam, 'go and bring Bobby back here.'
'Dean?'
'Go Cal we'll be fine.' Dean muttered refusing to look up as Caleb crept out of the cave and into the darkening of night. When Caleb disappeared into the dark Dean heaved a sigh and finally let his own pain register. Gasping he tightened his grip around Sam's shoulders and slumped forward as he too became swamped with waves of pain and exhaustion.
----------------
Bobby paced the small medical room impatiently, his worry for the boys imploding him, but he had to make sure no one saw any signs of it. Burying it that deep Bobby even surprised himself. The doctor did a good job of stitching the slice across his side, cut enough to show the intent behind it but shallow enough not to touch anything important, a simple flesh wound that hurt like a bitch.
'Singer ready to go?'
'Yes Sir.' Bobby said without turning around he pulled his battered trucker's cap on and with his elbow tucked neatly by his damaged side strode after the new arrival.
'The prey have been bled and released into the wilds,' Sheriff Derek Sampson explained as he led the way through the winding corridors, 'the lads are rearing to go, so if you aint too injured.'
'I'll forget that you said that.' Bobby growled staring hatefully at the man who was supposed to uphold the law in this God forsaken town.
'Owkay, my youngun Dick is in the group, I want to make sure that he gets his first blooding.'
'I'll see what I can do.' Bobby nodded at the man and then pushed past eager to breath fresh untainted air.
'Oh by the way Singer.' Sheriff Sampson called out, 'The lord Barakas wants to see all three bodies for himself.'
Bobby turned slowly until he faced the shorter, fatter man, 'what exactly does the Lord Barakas want with these boys anyways? I heard that they aint even fags, just brothers.'
'Oh the Lord knows that already, he has been after the sons of John Winchester for a long time.'
'Fuck that, I aint getting involved in personal vendettas.'
'Got no choice Singer, once you sign that contract it's a binding deal.'
'What the fuck do you know about all of this?' Bobby growled grabbing the man by his collar and slamming him against the wall, 'I signed up to rid the world of impurity not to do some dirty work for vengeful demons.'
'Easy, easy no need to get ya panties all twisted.' Sampson patted Bobby's forearms and tried to talk himself out of the predicament his mouth got him into again.
'What exactly is goin' on here Sheriff?' Bobby calmed himself a little but kept a death grip on the sheriff's shirt.
'We are an Arian force, and one to be reckoned with, our boys are the best, highly trained and skilled, they are gonna show this world exactly what it means to be white.'
'Yeah, yeah enough of the hard sell already heard it, what about the rest?'
'Oh that, well let's just say that when the commander met Barakas things changed for the better, our men grew stronger, more powerful, more accurate. Yeah they're boys an' still like to have a bit of fun now and then but hey boys will be boys and we don't bide freaks and fruits in our town.'
'Go on ...' Bobby urged the obviously fanatical man, 'tell me more.'
'Not much more to tell, only the Commander speaks to the Lord Barakas, any questions must be sent through him, we recruit men to his and our cause and in return he makes sure that we know where the latest upstarts are.'
'Sounds like a perfect little setup, what about other demons though, don't step on any toes?'
'Nah, he had a bit of trouble with one apparently but so far he's behavin'.'
'So nuff of this jawin' let's go get us some fresh meat.' Bobby grinned coldly, in his mind, he was quietly strangling the sheriff.
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Dean woke with a start, his breathing hitched and sweat running down his neck, staring wildly around his surroundings he desperately tried to remember where they were and what was happening. 'Sammy?'
'Dean? You 'kay?' Sam blinked and tried to lift his heavy arms, a small gasp of panic slid out when he realised he couldn't raise them at all.
'Yeah how about you Sammy?'
'My – my arms they're numb.' Sam finally admitted it aloud and made himself cringe, 'can't feel anything at all.'
'Sam?'
'Feels strange Dean ...' Sam managed to ground out the words before his body arched, muscles and tendons quivering like a well strung bow, his eyes snapped open and suddenly Sam was plunged into another scene far from where they are.
'Sammy?' Dean repeated his brother's name as a mantra to keep both himself and his brother connected while he waited out Sam's vision, he watched his brother's eyes. Watching a scene only, Sam could see his eyes moved with each movement tracking them, normally the colour of a summer ocean they were cloudy and dull, his pupils blown wide. Constricting with the fluctuations of movement and light. 'Sammy you still with me?'
'Argh.' Sam's entire being shuddered as he fought to bring himself back to his own reality. 'D-Dean?'
'Here bro, I'm right here.'
'Bobby ... Bobby's in danger I – I saw them.'
'Them do what?'
'They – they executed Bobby ... ' Sam pushed the words out before slid back into unconsciousness. Shocked Dean looked up to meet Caleb's steady gaze, 'damn.'
TBC
