The Nutcracker.
Summary. . . . . . . . Trying to bring a sick Sam some Christmas cheer, Dean unwittingly places his brother in danger.
Disclaimer. . . . . . . Still only playing with Kripkies toys, but boy am I having fun!
A.N. . . . . . . . . . Well this is a super early post for me, but some reviewers requested a quick update and I had nothing else to do this morning so here it is, chapter 14. Enjoy! Peanut x
"What do you mean, you have a plan?" John asked, his nerves frayed. "This is Sammy we're talking about here, do you know how to kill this thing?" He whispered out, his voice menacing.
Bobby placed a hand to his gradually graying beard, his fingers nervously playing with the coarse hair. Turning sorrowful eyes John's way, he answered. "No." He held up a hand, to stop John's barrage before adding. "But we think we can contain it."
"What are you going on about? Contain it? I want it dead! I want to be able to get Sam out of here. I want him to not have to worry about this thing for the rest of his life. I want it smashed, and chipped into little pieces for what it has done to my son."
"And you think that Caleb and I don't? You think that we don't care about what it has done to Sammy? You're a stubborn fool if you really think that John. We care about that boy as if he were our own." Bobby curbed down anger that had risen within him, and took a deep breath before finishing. "Look at what trying to burn the beast did to Sam, John. Do you really want to take a risk? Do you really want us to chip away at it? Do you really want to see if the burning that Sam received was a one off? I don't wanna take that chance. The solution we have isn't ideal, but it's better than harming Sam even more. Seriously John, look at your son, does he look as though he can take much more?"
John turned watery eyes Sam way, guilt eating away at him as he took in the raw, redness of the burns that stood stark against the otherwise paleness of his skin; the shrunken eyes and cheeks; the wasted away body; and the desperate attempts of battered lungs to drag in air. Sam needed help, not another dose of hurt. He placed a quick kiss to his son's damp forehead before looking back Bobby's way. "What do you have planned?"
John's face paled as he listened to Bobby's plans, not liking one bit the thought of what he would have to do. He silently thanked the older man as he walked away after reciting the first part of what was going to happen, giving the two Winchesters a moment to themselves. John lifted his damaged son further into his arms, remembering times past when Sam had wanted loving all the time, only to receive it when he was too ill to remember, all other times he was pushed away as John claimed to be too busy. He promised himself, as he held Sam close, whispering reassurances in his ears, that things would change if Sam got through this, that he would be the loving father both his sons needed. Caught in the moment, John didn't hear Caleb approaching until the hunters hand clamped down on his shoulder, causing him to jump slightly aggravating the throbbing in his back.
"I'm sorry John, but it's time to do this. We're ready for Sam."
John gave Sam one more hug before reluctantly relinquishing hold of his youngest son. Caleb picked the young boy up with ease, cuddling the precious child to his chest before reaching down to help John stand. Once securely on his feet they slowly made their way over to where Bobby stood guard over the nutcracker. With it's mouth gagged, the beast was unable to taunt the men, but his eyes spoke volumes. The dark orbs radiating evilness, their sights set firmly on Sam, hunger and lust evident. With a shudder Caleb placed Sam next to the nutcracker on the alter, Sam's body subconsciously moving away from the cold evil they lay beside him.
Taking the vessel that the nutcracker had previously held, Bobby started reciting, the old text falling gracefully from his lips as he recited it over and over again. John blanched and rushed to grab Sam, as both the youngest Winchester and the nutcracker began to buck and rise off the table, only to have Caleb's strong arms hold him back. Profanities and abuse sprang from his lips towards the younger hunter, yet Caleb's hold stayed firm, knowing that if he let go and John got to Sam, the eldest Winchester would regret it. Tears fell from all three men's eyes as they heard the pitiful mewls that came from Sam, the longer the ritual went on, the cries of pain breaking each of their hearts, all three sighing in relief as Bobby's words trailed off and the ritual was finally finished.
As soon as Caleb's grip of steel was removed from John's body, the father rushed towards his too still son, dismayed to see the further damage the ritual had inflicted upon his gravely ill child. He cradled Sam's limp form to his chest, using all the strength he had, and pushing down the agony that flared in his back, he picked up his son determined his child would not stay a second longer than he need to beside the beast that had taken him. John looked Bobby's way, his eyes sorrowful and dewy. "Can we kill it now?"
Bobby's shake of the head no, nearly broke John completely. "He's still bound in part to Sam. I couldn't find a way to completely break the spell it made. Once it's tasted it doesn't stop. If we kill it, we kill Sam."
"So what can we do? I don't want Sam to be constantly looking over his shoulder. And I don't want him hurt all the more. How can we top this?"
As John paced nervously back and forth in Dean's room later that day, waiting not so patiently for news of his youngest son, Bobby and Caleb finished wrapping the last of the blessed bandages around the mummified nutcracker. Picking up the figure that had created so much pain they placed it inside a wooden box, symbols and wards visible, carved deep within the wooden structure. Closing the lid on the intricately patterned cedar, they locked it securely, Bobby reciting words over the hex box, protecting the outside world from the inside form. Placing it on a dust covered shelf, he left the caged room, waiting for Caleb to lock the metal door before both men exited the lock up storage unit and securely locked the outside door. Racing back to Caleb's jeep, they quickly headed for the highway, both eager to return and wait out Sam's fight back to life.
To Be Continued. . . . . . . . . .
A.N. . . . . . . As always I hope that you enjoyed reading the chapter, and I thank you all for taking time out to do so. I hope that the quickness of the update makes up for the shortness of the chapter. Will catch you soon, Peanut x