IT'S ALL IN THE CARDS

DISCLAIMER: The usual, not mine to own but I love to play ... no money passes hands for this story or any other I write. I wish but nope not yet. No Laundromat washers or dryers were harmed or destroyed in the writing of this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the combination of three story ideas, and thanks and LovinJackson for the wonderful input and ideas for this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: Sam is 18 and Dean is 22 – 23 (set between new years day and Dean's birthday to begin with.) Before Sam goes to Stanford.

S—D

Chapter Nine

Then:

'De?' the familiar childhood name for his brother now became the strongest link Sam had to keep him grounded, to stop him from floating away altogether.

'Yeah it's me Sammy, it's me.'

'Hurts De.' Sam tried to bury his face against Dean's chest when he caught a glimpse of the man and woman standing in the doorway. The man, the man called dad, Sam felt a connection but wasn't sure what it was, then he shifted his gaze to the woman and he stiffened. Terror filled his senses and he struggled against Dean's grip he had to get away from her. She glowed red with danger didn't anyone else see that?

'Sam what is it, hey settle down Sammy.' Dean struggled to keep Sam still, the fear radiating from his baby brother. 'Sammy.'

'No, no she spidery … all spidery … all red … go … no … she … spidery.' Sammy cried out and tried to push Tess away from him, though she was across the room from him.

'Tess?' Dean glared up at the psychic, 'what does he mean?'

'I-I don't understand.' Tess wept trembling she looked up at John and then back to Sam and Dean, 'I don't understand.'

'Get her out of here dad!' Dean growled, he tenderly covered Sam's eyes with his fingers and pulled him closer, whispering softly in his ear to calm him down.

John stared down at his two sons concern and anger warred across his face, but the choked back sob from Tess pulled his attention back to her, gripping her arm tightly he pulled her out of the room, he wanted answers and he wanted them now.

Now:

John pushed Tess into a chair and then too restless to sit down himself started to pace in front of her, the reaction Sam had to Tess was so definite and violent and yet she had done nothing untoward, all she had done was help them. 'What's going on Tess?' He finally asked, raking his fingers through his greasy hair he stopped pacing and stared down at her, worried at her lack of a response. 'Tess?'

'I-I don't understand John,' Tess lifted her tearstained face upwards to stare at him, tears trickled down her cheeks unheeded, her eyes swollen and reddened, 'I have no idea why Sam would react to me like that.'

'He said that you were all red, glowing red, what's that mean?' Dean demanded storming into the room he ignored the look his father shot him and went straight to Tess, 'Sam was terrified of you what is going on?'

'Honestly Dean, John I do not know anything ... all I do know is that I have given up everything to help your family, my shop, my reputation everything and now ...' Tess gazed up at Dean and then John, 'look maybe it'll be best if I left.'

'Yeah maybe ya should.' Dean snarled, 'I'm going back to Sam, how bout you pack up your...'

'Dean!' John snapped, 'I'm sorry Tess, it's just that we're both worried about Sam.'

'Yeah right...' Dean mumbled, 'look I don't care what you two do I'm going back to my brother.'

John watched Dean, still mumbling under his breath stalk upstairs to his brother's room, before he turned and looked down at Tess again, 'I'm ... not sure what to ah ... how about I get you a motel room in town, that way you're still close by to keep an eye on and far enough away from Dean so won't cause anymore ...'

'Sounds ... John honestly I can go home.'

'What if I don't want you to go home?' John asked sliding his large calloused fingers around Tess' slim wrists he tugged her to her feet and then wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, 'what if I want you to stay?'

'John I ...' Tess whispered her voice and breath swept away when John pressed his mouth to hers, the kiss starting as something soft and chaste but fast became more urgent and passionate. They only broke apart when they heard a soft whimper behind them paling Tess pulled away from John and covered her mouth with her fingers. 'Oh God.'

'Tess?' John turned around curious to see what could cause such a reaction from her when he saw his youngest son standing in the hallway arch, 'Sammy?'

'D-Dad? Spidery web ... head hurt ... red lady?' Sam let his gaze sweep across their faces unsure of what he saw but for some reason he didn't understand it didn't feel right. 'De?'

'Sammy what are you doing downstairs?' John barked out harsher than he intended, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the hurt, lost look form on Sam's face replacing the strange innocent one.

'Daddy?' Sam flinched at his father's tone and rubbed his forehead backing away from the couple, 'head hurts, wants De!' Sam cried out stepping away from his father's reaching hand, 'I wants De don't want ... no go back, no bye bye.' Sam crashed past his father escaping the confines of the house closing in on him. Running as fast as his battered body could stand, Sam fled from his confusion, pain, and fear, and sought out the only place he felt truly safe.

S—D

'What the hell is going on?' Dean demanded as he thundered down the stairs, droplets of water clung to his face and scalp fresh from his shower, 'I have a five minute shower, and when I go back Sam is gone and you two look like ... what did you say to Sam?'

'Dean that's enough!' John snapped his patience finally at the end of its endurance, 'there is no need to speak to either of us like that.'

'Where ... is ... Sam?' Dean asked glaring at his father, 'he's supposed to be in bed.'

'He came downstairs and ah ...' John took a deep breath and steadied his gaze on the wall just behind Dean's head, 'he saw me and Tess ... ahh kissing.'

'He saw you two kissing?' Dean stared at Tess and his father with a look akin to disgust and morbid curiosity, 'first ... ew too much information and second Sam made it downstairs on his own?'

'Dean you do not ... yeah, yeah he did, he made it down himself.'

'Where is he now?'

'He – he ran outside.'

'He ran?' Dean shook his head, he should know by now never to be surprised by his baby brother, even when he is so damned close to death's door, well he will be when Dean gets hold of him for making him worry.

Without another word to his father and pointedly ignoring Tess, though he didn't know why he did that, Dean hurried outside to find his wayward brother. 'Sammy?' He yelled slamming the door behind him Dean stopped and stared around trying to work out where Sam would go. He stared at the church but shook his head, he knew Sam wouldn't go there in case someone walked in, he turned and glanced down the path to the graveyard and then to the barn but rejected all of the buildings. A small smile formed as he realised where Sam would feel the safest.

'Hey little bro whatcha doing out here?' Dean asked as he opened the rear passenger door and slid in next to his brother.

'De?' Sam smiled sleepily and pushed himself against Dean's side resting his aching head on his big brother's shoulder, 'De find me.'

'De found you, so you want to tell me what's going on?'

'Safe here,' Sam smiled softly showing his deep dimples for a moment Dean could have sworn he saw his brother again, not the broken Sammy but his Sammy.

'You feel safe in the impala?' Dean asked smiling back at Sam as he realised what his brother was getting at, the impala was the only true home the boys had known especially Sam, Dean had fleeting memories of their home in Laurence but with the passing of years the memories faded and were replaced with their home on four wheels.

'Uhhuh ... home.' Sam hummed and looked around the interior of the car, his long fingers gently caressing the worn leather seats, 'safe for us Dean.'

'You and me huh?'

'Yeah dad ... got Tess now ... just us De.' Sam nodded absently, 'gotta go now.'

'Go where Sam?' Dean asked watching his brother carefully, for the first time since they found Sam he was starting to act more like his old self. 'Where do we have to go?'

'Far ... dangerous here for others ... Not Father will come and hurt them.' Sam sighed sadly, smothering a yawn he twisted around until he sat up against Dean's side and rested his head on his big brother's shoulder, the physical connection kept the bad away.

'We're safe with Pastor Jim Sam.'

'No!' Sam shook his head and scrunched his eyes closed, 'No! Not safe Pastor Jim hurts, Dad hurts ... we go and – and they, they safe.'

'Okay, okay calm down Sammy, how about we go and talk to dad let him now that we're gonna take a little road trip.'

'Sorry De.' Sam whispered, 'sleepy.'

'Sammy we gotta get you inside dude, you're too big for me to carry now.'

'Wanna stay here,' Sam pouted he lifted sad puppy eyes up to look at his brother's face, 'safe home ... pala.'

'I know Sammy but first we have to get the doc to check you to make sure that you'll be okay to travel and then we're gotta pack...' Dean let his voice trail off when he noticed Sam was sleeping soundly, a soft sigh escaped from his parted lips. 'Sleep well little brother, I'll try to work it out.'

S—D

Sam fidgeted under Markus' ministrations, he pouted and refused to answer any questions. He wanted to be in the impala where he felt the safest but the doctor wanted to give him a check up, his back itched like crazy and still hurt but he felt better, his head was weird but then Dean said that his head was always weird. 'Ouch!' He yelped when Markus found a new sore spot, 'no more hurts.'

'You are getting better Samm...Sam but ...'

'I am better Doc, not but nuthin'.' Sam scowled up at his doctor and new friend, 'just wanna go with De in the 'pala.'

'I know you do Sam but I don't think ... you still need medical attention for at least another week Sam do you understand? You could get a bad infection or worse.'

'Gotta go, not safe gotta go.' Sam shook his head and started to rock himself, lost in his own thoughts.

'So Doc how's the kid going?' Dean asked unable to stay away any longer, 'he ready to get ... what's going on?'

'We were talking and then he started to say it's not safe and he had to go then he – he drifted off and started rocking lost in his own thoughts just before you came in.'

Dean watched his little brother rocking himself and his heart started to constrict making it hard to breath, 'S-Sammy?' He called out softly and laid a gentle hand on Sam's arm, 'hey little bro you in there?'

'They're gonna hurts, all hurts ... my fault all my fault, Not Father comin' gotta go.' Sam shook his head and rubbed at his forehead with hard almost frantic movements, 'all red, spider webs, all spidery red, Not Father ... bad men hurts Pastor Jim, hurts Dad, kill Doc and – and no, no gotta go... spiders comin' ... webs all red. Sam's fault all Sammy's fault ... daddy knows why ... daddy knows why.'

'Ah Sammy.' Dean breathed as he wrapped his arms around Sam's thin shoulders and pulled him into a hug, 'doc I gotta get Sam outta here just tell me what I have to do to look after his back and stuff.'

'It's not as simple as that Dean, I'll tell you what ... as a compromise I'll show you how to clean and dress his welts and give you enough stuff to see you through for a few days, then I want you to call me and I'll meet you to do another check up on Sam and replenish what you run out of.'

'Look doc I appreciate ...'

'That's it Dean, I'm not doing this to make things difficult for you, but the last thing we want is for Sam to end up back in hospital because of an infection. Aside from the fact that I am pretty much unemployed at the moment so a nice road trip vacation will do me good.' Markus grinned, 'that or I go with you and Sam and be with you twenty-four-seven.'

'Alright, alright look I'm planning on driving to a friend's place in South Dakota he has a salvage yard, Bobby Singer dad can give ya directions meet us there in three days?'

'Sounds like a plan,' Markus crouched down in front of Sam and cupped his chin in his hand, 'Sam I'll see ya in three days okay?'

'Gotta go, spider's web coming, red all red ... go Uncle Bobby's safe home ... pala home, don't ... want ... want ... want hurts head hurts.' Sam whimpered and scrunched his eyes shut, 'light hurts.'

'I'll give you something to take the hurt away okay Sam?' Markus waited until he got a nod from Sam that he understood what was asked before he left the room to get some medication and other supplies the boys would need.

'It's gonna be okay Sammy, I promise it's gonna be okay.' Dean whispered his voice muffled as he cradled his younger brother against his chest, wrapping him in a protective hug.

'De home.' Sam sighed, 'pala home.'

'yeah Sammy, the impala is home and is safe.'

'And you De, De home ... my home.' Sam pressed against Dean's chest and sighed happily, 'my home.'

S—D

John sat on the porch and watched as Dean loaded the impala with their bags and medical supplies, he hated the thought that he would be separated from his boys, but when Dean explained everything in detail he understood, he didn't like it but he understood why the boys were leaving for a while. Especially when Dean told him exactly what Sam had said, including Daddy knows why. How could Sam possibly know that?

A cold chill ran down his spine as he scrubbed his hands over his face and scratched at his beard, as he thought about what else Sam said, the fear he had for all of them that his Not Father was coming and would hurt them all. John shook his head, even with his brain damage and acute pain Sam still managed to surprise him, but was it all linked? Did the demon have something to do with what appeared to be forms of prophecy or visions Sam was exhibiting?

Tess watched the Winchester men from the living room window, clutching her ever-present cards tightly she took in everything going on outside, from the way that Sam sat in the passenger seat patiently waiting for his brother who was still packing the trunk and the way John sat presiding over them, protecting them, it came to him as easily as breathing.

Tess, felt tears form as she tried to remember her own father she could see his form in the distance but whenever she tried to get close to him his face disappeared, no features nothing only a blank shape.

S—D

Past:

May 3rd 1971

Rome River Iowa

'Daddy, daddy you came!' A very excited five year old jumped into her father's arms, 'you remembered!'

'How could I forget my Princess' birthday?' He laughed hugging her tightly, 'hmm let me see did I get her a present?'

'What daddy? What did you get me?' She demanded impatiently.

'You sit down here okay?' He lowered her down onto the large covered swing and pulled a small box from his pocket, 'this is the first part of your present,' he watched her as she gingerly pulled at the pink tissue paper, opening the tiny box she gasped in delight at the tiny locket lying on a tiny satin pillow, a single diamond glittered on the front of it, flicking the catch open, inside she found a tiny picture of herself as a newborn and her name and birth date engraved opposite it.

'Oh Daddy it's so beautiful.' She breathed, excitedly she held it up for her father to place it around her neck, 'I'm never, ever taking it off!'

'I'm pleased you like it my darling.' He brushed a kiss on her forehead, 'now would you like the rest of your present?'

'Yes, yes please daddy.' She clapped her hands together and bounced impatiently where she sat, 'what is it daddy?'

'Well my princess, you are a very special child, and one day you will grow into a very beautiful, strong and powerful woman, people will bow to you princess.'

'You ... What are you doing here?' An angry woman ran towards them, 'get away from her now.'

'She is my daughter I have a right to see her for her birthday.' He replied placing a hand on the little girl's head, 'you cannot stop me.'

'Yes I can and I will ... you will never get your hands on her again, I am her mother she has no father.'

The little girl's lips trembled and tears ran down her face as she watched her parents fight over her, their voices were so loud and so horrible that she wanted to runaway.

S—D

Tess absently fingered the tiny locket hanging around her neck as she made her way outside and take a seat next to John, her leg brushing his, 'how are you doing John?'

'I'm fine, they're the ones who need the worry and concern,' John jutted his head in his sons' direction, 'am I doing the right thing letting them go Tess?'

'I think that it's the only thing you can do John, they would have gone anyway and at least with your blessing they know that they can call you when needed.'

'Am I needed Tess?' John turned to look at the younger woman, 'sometimes I think that they only need themselves and that I'm ... redundant.'

'Never, John those boys love you ... and need you.'

'Yeah well we'll see.' John shook himself and placed a very carefully crafted mask on his face as he went down to say goodbye to the boys, 'call me when you get to Bobby's Dean.'

'Yes Sir, we'll see you in a few days,' Dean gave Tess a small wave, said goodbye to Pastor Jim who just managed to get there before they left before he turned back to his father, 'be careful dad.'

'You too son, take care of Sam for me.'

'You know I will dad.' Dean nodded thoughtfully before he got into the car, 'you want to say goodbye to them Sammy?' Sam stared at Dean with a look of confusion and something else that Dean couldn't quite work out but he didn't like it anyway, 'Sammy?'

'Bye Dad, Pastor Jim, Tess, Doctor Welby,' Sam called out giving them all a small wave before he turned around and stared out the window, 'web coming Dean we gotta go.'

'Sammy?' Dean hesitated wondering if he should call the trip off and let the doc look at Sam again.

'Gotta go Dean, please.' Sam stared at his brother with his full puppy look and quivering lips.

'Okay Sam we're gonna go.' Dean shook his head and couldn't hide his smirk, 'dang Sammy if we could bottle the effects of your puppy look we'd be millionaires.'

S—D

Two Days Later

Room 21

Desert Glow Inn

Sam moaned and twisted again, his sheets now wrapped around his sweat drenched torso like a burial shroud. He shivered with a chill, even though his skin glowed with the heat of fever, a whimper escaped from his lips as his back arched in response to the pain inflicted on him in his dream.

'Sammy?' Dean mumbled sleepily, turning to gaze at Sam's bed, he watched as his brother's back arched and blood sprayed over the bottom sheet and mattress. 'Oh God Sammy!'

'Please no more.' Sam wept reaching out to a person only he could see, Dean pushed himself out of bed and hurried over to Sam's, 'where are you Dean?'

'Hey Sammy, Sammy I'm right here,' Dean tried to gently shake Sam's shoulders but nothing happened, 'dammit Sammy, wake up for me.' he yelled and shook him a little harder, unintentionally tightening his grip on Sam's biceps eliciting a gasp of pain from his baby brother.

'No, no ... Dean? What?' Sam blinked up at Dean and tried to focus on his face, 'please no more.'

'Sammy, Sammy hey it's me dude, please look at me.'

'They hurts me Deanie.' Sam whimpered curling his large body around Dean as he sought comfort from his brother's embrace, 'they hurts me again.'

Dean carefully lifted Sam's T-shirt and gasped audibly at the sight, fresh welts stripped across Sam's already damaged back. 'Dammit Sammy.'

Sam clutched at his sibling even tighter when he heard Dean cuss, his pain-filled mind unable to process the difference between his dream and waking world. 'Not Father coming.'

'Sammy?'

'Not Father comes and he hurts you.' Sam wept clutching at Dean's T-shirt, 'don't want him hurt you, De my home.'

'It was just a dream Sam.'

'No, no Father ... Not Father told me.' Sam weakly pushed himself away from Dean needing to get him to understand, he knew what he wanted to say but it wouldn't come out right. 'He comes with ... spidery webs ... glides in ... shadows ... then Sammy go bye-bye don't wanna go bye-bye De, want stay home with you and pala.'

'He's not gonna get you Sammy, I'm not gonna let him.' Dean promised desperately trying to get through to Sam when he felt the chill form in the air, the bedside light flickered, 'ah fuck! Sammy we gotta go.'

'You can't leave now Dean, I have just arrived.'

'Not Father.' Sam cried out and tried to hide his six feet, five inch body behind Dean, 'no, no go way, don't want you, no you make Sammy go bye-bye.'

TBC

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