Coercion
Coffeemaniac
Rated T for violence, language and suggestive situations. Possible trigger warning but probably nothing to worry about. No slash.
Reviews are welcome. Feed the writer.
Season 3: Dean is scheduled for hell. Sam's powers haven't developed.
Setting: Ranch Head, Wyoming (near the center of the Devil's Gate built by Samuel Colt)
Part 4
After dinner, Sam felt overly full. He knew his body had adjusted to minimum rations when one cheeseburger and a bowl of green salad made him feel bloated. Exhaustion hung off his limbs. His thoughts were slow and muddled.
Eddie asked him if he was all right and Sam felt a distant alarm go off in his brain. He managed to dribble out some words, wanting to know what they'd done to him but no one answered the question. Eddie told him to relax. Ava told him to enjoy the feeling.
Somewhat detached from his body, Sam had to admit that the constant pain radiating through his muscles had vanished.
When Eddie wrapped an arm around Sam's waist to help him stand, Sam's knees buckled. Both of them stumbled before Ava joined in to help steady them. Sam laughed. He did not giggle because Winchesters might utter a hearty guffaw but they never giggled. Eddie and Ava started maneuvering him out of the kitchen and down the hall. Assuming they were heading to the bathroom and wondering if he would get another shower, Sam worked at not falling down.
The panicky sensation of knowing he'd been drugged hovered at the fringes of Sam's mind but mostly, he just felt loose and distant, as if it was someone else being manipulated. He didn't care…about anything. He wanted to dance, or sleep, or find a vampire that needed decapitating. He couldn't decide.
Eddie pushed while Ava tugged him into a bedroom he hadn't seen before. A double, maybe queen sized bed sat in the middle of the room, two dressers and a desk filled up more space. A mirrored sliding door on one wall was probably a closet. Ava pulled the bedding back while Eddie pushed him to sit down. Sam obeyed, compliantly following their directions even if his mind kept asking him "why". For some reason, whatever they said, he cooperated.
"Must be the drugs," he said, explaining his behavior to himself.
"Yeah, okay," Eddie said. "Lay down."
He did.
When Ava took his arm and locked his wrist into some kind of restraint, he let her. She covered him up with the blankets after that and it was soft and comfortable in the big bed.
"Close your eyes and go to sleep," Ava said.
She gently stroked his hair and Sam started drifting. Part of him wanted to fight, to refuse the peace offered by the warm bed but most of him surrendered.
"Shsh," Ava said.
"That'll do it," Eddie said. "If Duke wants him to look better, he should have told us sooner."
"A good night's rest will help," Ava said.
Sam listened to them as if he were eavesdropping from a distance. A fading thought that he was being used or manipulated floated through his mind but he couldn't force himself to care. Sleep beckoned like a siren's song and he followed comfort into the dark.
SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL
At seven in the morning, Dean rubbed his face with one hand while he clutched a cup of coffee. He rode in the passenger side of the Sheriff's cruiser. Duke drove. Brian Myers sat in the backseat. No one spoke as they traveled down the two lane highway passing narrow turn offs that would lead to farm houses. In some cases, trees blocked the view but Dean knew the big, old homes were there, hiding away from the road.
Duke had explained that Sam would be brought to the same house where the two of them had been separated the week before. He said it wasn't safe for Dean to know where Sam was living.
"I give you that and you'll start thinking about escape. It's better for both us not to open that door," Duke said.
For the moment, Dean accepted it because he wanted to see Sam. He'd abide by their rules while he mentally mapped out the area.
Dean recognized the road that led to the big, three level house where he had agreed to Duke's terms. Just seeing it send a surge of anger through him. The Sheriff might believe he'd grown complacent, possibly even sympathetic to Ranch Head but he was wrong. Dean didn't care about the town or its people; not as much as he cared about Sam and their freedom. All he wanted was to reunite with Sam and escape. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill Duke or Brian but he'd do whatever was necessary to save his brother.
As soon as they left the main road, Duke pulled off to the shoulder, hovering between a ditch and the rocky pavement. Dean carefully set the coffee in the cup holder and stiffened, wondering if they planned to try and kill him there. Maybe the meeting with Sam was a ruse and they just needed to get him out of town. Maybe Sam was already dead.
"Relax, Dean," the Sheriff said and Dean hated how he always said that. As if a calm command would actually make anyone relax. "I just want to talk to you for a minute."
"You sure? This isn't just a good place to drop a body, is it?"
Duke chuckled before he shifted to lean against the driver's door.
"We're not going to kill you," he said. "I just want to lay down some ground rules. I know you're itching to see your brother and you're probably coming up with all sorts of ideas for grabbing him and breaking free. I understand that. I'd be doing the same thing if I was you. But, I think you can see my side of this too and I can't just let you leave. You're saving lives here. Ranch Head needs you until you can figure out how to keep the monsters out. You know that, right?"
"Old news," Dean said.
"All right then. This is what's going to happen...I'm going to drive to the old farmhouse where Sam is waiting for you. I'm going to give you fifteen minutes to assure yourself that he's in good shape. There won't be any time for catching up or making plans. When I say that it's time to go then we go…no extensions…no arguments. If you try anything then Brian will shoot your brother first. It sounds harsh, I know, but he's your weak spot. We both know that."
"You hurt Sam, you'll be dead before you…"
"No," Duke interrupted. "I said he'll shoot Sam first…you're second. It won't be a conversation. Are we clear?"
Dean swallowed back the fury raging through him. Duke and Brian had no idea who they were dealing with if they thought they could threaten Sam and get away with it.
"Understood," Dean bit out through clenched teeth.
"If it's too much for you…if you can't see him and behave, I can turn around now. Get you new pictures instead, maybe that video talking thing. I don't want to kill you, Dean."
Freezing up, Dean's breath hung heavy in his lungs. He shook his head slowly.
"I can do this."
"All right then," Duke said, the seriousness replaced with his usual agreeable tone.
Dean wished he could shoot him right then and the ferocity of it surprised him. Over the last week, he'd started to like the Sheriff and Brian and some of the others, at least a little bit. But, laying out the threat again, leveling his aim at Sam, infuriated Dean.
He flipped the visor down and looked into the mirror lodged there. Adjusting his posture allowed him to see Brian in the backseat. The young deputy with the expectant wife rubbed the back of his neck while he stared out the window. His lips were pressed together and his free hand was fisted tightly in his lap. Dean wondered if he would follow Duke's order.
Calming himself, he left the visor down while they rounded some curves on the dirt road. He remembered every detail of the first time he had been taken there, and recognized the farm house as it came into view.
Two people stood outside at the edge of the unpaved drive. Dean knew Eddie Brennan, a stocky man of medium height who looked like a weasel, a greasy weasel, in Dean's opinion. He had never met the female before but knew her name was Ava. She looked like an aging cheerleader. Eddie stood with his arm strategically dropped around Ava's hips. She leaned away from him, perched with most of her weight on one leg.
Duke stopped the car in front of them.
"Stay here," he said then stepped out of the car.
"Where's Sam?" Dean said to Brian.
"Probably in the house or maybe Eddie's car. Duke will bring him around."
"He better be in good shape."
The silver sedan belonging to Marco Rivera pulled in behind Duke's cruiser. The mayor stepped out on to the side of the road, patting down his dark hair as the wind tousled it. He strode without a glance towards Dean or Brian.
Duke reached out a hand to his boss and they shook but Dean thought that the sheriff looked unhappy. Rivera shook with his brother-in-law next then gave Ava a quick hug.
All four of them looked towards Dean and exchanged words. Dean flipped them off. As a group they scowled or frowned in varying degrees before looking back at each other.
Duke and Eddie spoke for another moment then Eddie pointed towards the side of the house. They started walking in that direction. Overgrown grass and a heavy willow tree made it difficult for them. When they disappeared from view, Brian said,
"They're getting him."
Dean guessed that too but he was watching Rivera and his sister. The mayor gestured in jabs with one finger while he spoke. Spittle flew from his lips. Ava watched him with her arms folded and a bland expression.
The siblings faded from Dean's attention when Duke guided Sam through the thick foliage. Sam stared at the ground, testing each step as he made it. Eddie followed behind them like a puppy.
SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL
Sam shifted, blinking his eyes and forcing the fog in his brain away. With his arms handcuffed behind him, it was hard to find a comfortable position on the low couch. Eddie and Ava had planted him in the dusty sitting room of the abandoned house and told him to stay there.
Whatever drugs they slipped him the night before lingered annoyingly in his system. Despite sleeping deeply, he felt the remnants like a hangover, keeping his thoughts jumbled and distant in his head.
Shifting again, still trying to ease the pressure on his shoulders and back, Sam looked up when he heard the front door clatter closed. Through the uniform squares of glass in the parlor doors, he watched the Sheriff and Eddie use a key then walk in.
Duke hesitated in the center of the room before he turned to Eddie.
"He looks half dead. What'd you do?"
"Just gave him some stuff. You wanted him to sleep, right?"
Duke eyes switched back and forth for a moment then he glared at Eddie.
"What was it?"
"The stuff Helen used to take for her cancer treatments. She was tired all the time when she took it."
"Scopolamine," Duke said.
Alarms sounded in Sam's tired brain but the panic stayed dull, refusing to trigger action.
As a hunter he knew Scopolamine as 'devil's breath'. He knew it could cause memory loss and some people claimed it could make people zombies and rob them of free will.
"Ava's been putting it in the cereal," Eddie said. "And she put it in the hamburger last night. All it did was keep Helen calm and she slept a lot. We figured it would keep him under control."
Duke shook his head and sighed.
Knowing he should be angry but weighed down with indifference, Sam said, "Being tired is a side effect, you moron. It's prescribed for nausea."
"So you won't puke, good for you," Eddie said.
Duke grabbed Eddie's arm and pulled him close. "Don't give it to him again," he said.
Shoving him away, Duke turned his attention back to Sam.
"How do you feel?" He said.
Still stunned to find out he'd been drugged since he was captured, it took a moment for Sam to understand the question. He glanced around then said, "I don't know."
"Well, pull yourself together. Dean can't know about this."
"Just tell him not to say anything. He does whatever you say," Eddie said.
Sam recoiled when Duke bent down, getting close enough that their noses almost touched.
"Do not tell Dean about the drugs. You tell him that you're tired but you're not hurt."
"Okay," Sam said but his brain taunted him with the words 'devil's breath', 'devil's breath', 'devil's breath'.
Duke stood back up.
"This is a babysitting job," he said to Eddie. "All you have to do is keep him alive. Stop with the crap."
"We have to do something for fun." Eddie said.
Sam reached the surge of anger that tried to rush up but it just wouldn't come.
"No. No you don't," Duke said. "The City is paying you to do a job, so just do it. No more drugs, no more screwing around. I mean it."
"Hey, you're the one that said to keep him weak. We were just following your orders."
"You're an idiot."
Eddie shrugged as if he didn't care but his reddened face proved Duke had embarrassed him.
Stalking over to the sofa, Duke grabbed Sam's chin between his fingers and shoved his head back and forth, looking closely at him. Sam pulled back, hating the contact and the stolen privilege.
"Your brother is going to pitch a fit when he gets a look at you," Duke said. "Stand up and let's get you out there."
Sam doubted that Dean would say anything about his appearance. Dean would be more interested in escaping.
SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL
Dean darted out of the car when he saw Sam, barely hearing the second door shut as Brian followed him.
"Damn it, Dean, slow down," Brian ordered.
Sam stumbled over something. Duke caught his arm, steadying him.
Stalking up the road, Dean only stopped when he heard Brian's gun cock.
"Wait or he'll take him away before you get any chance at all," Brian said.
Fighting his instincts, Dean stilled. Sam looked in his direction but his expression remained bland. The lack of any reaction scared him.
"Hey, you doing all right?" Dean called out.
Before Sam could answer, Duke moved between them.
Facing towards Dean, he said, "Come on over. There's a seat on the other side of the car."
Peripherally, Dean had already seen the wrought iron garden bench. He walked over to it but didn't sit. Brian followed taking his handcuffs off his belt when they stopped.
"Sit down and give me your hand," Brian said.
"Bite me," Dean said.
"You won't get to talk to him unless you do this our way," Brian said.
"I didn't agree to the handcuffs," Dean yelled to Duke.
"It's not your show, son," Duke said.
Maybe not, Dean thought, but he had anticipated something like this. A strategically placed handcuff key was tucked in the sleeve of his jacket. He also had a paperclip, just in case they found the key. Grudgingly, he put out his arm and allowed Brian to attach him to the arm of the bench.
Once he was secure, Duke said something to Sam who seemed to be listening but his face was slack and unchanging. Sam ambled slowly to the bench. Brian moved a few feet away while Duke and Eddie sauntered closer.
Dean noticed Ava and Marco slip away, going towards the house.
"You all want to back up," Dean said. "You hijacked our lives; you can give us some privacy."
"Sorry," Duke said. "We're staying put. If anyone knows how lethal you are, it's me. Not taking any chances you might decide to do something stupid."
Dean shifted back on the bench, giving himself more leverage against the handcuff. Gingerly he worked his fingers into the seam of his jacket.
"Are they backing you up on the hunting?" Sam said.
"They did last night. Mostly they just hover around waiting for an 'all clear'."
"They're going to get you killed."
"Don't underestimate me. What about you? How's your arm?"
Sitting heavily, Sam shook his head and fiddled with his hands for a moment.
"I hate being stopped like this…when your deal is counting down. I can't do anything to get you out of it."
"Sam, you can't…"
Dean stopped, taking a moment to study his brother. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and there were hollows at his cheeks. He doubted that Sam was ready for an attack on their captors. But, the brutal truth was, they didn't have many options.
"They treating you all right?" Dean said. "Where'd those clothes come from?"
"I don't know."
"I gave Duke your bag so you'd have stuff."
"I haven't seen it."
Sam fidgeted, rubbing his head and twitching like he was nervous. He kept looking around as if he couldn't focus on one thing.
Dean felt the lock click at his wrist and he shifted to cover the sound.
"Go for Eddie," Dean said, not waiting for Sam to move.
Diving towards Brian Myers, Dean slammed a hard punch into the deputy's face, sending him tumbling. Dean rolled towards the cruiser. He slid the gun out of the hidden holster and came up on his feet to find Duke pointing his service weapon at him. Dean propelled himself over the hood of the cruiser and landed smoothly on the other side. So, far no one had fired a shot.
When he landed, Dean took a quick inventory. Brian was lying on the ground, face down and not moving. Duke had taken cover behind Marco's car. Sam stood next to the bench, his head darting around as if looking for something, his hands clenched tight at his sides. Eddie popped his head up next to Duke's then ducked back down.
Furious to see his brother frozen, angry at him and worried too, Dean moved along the cruiser adjusting his plan mentally. He hoped to fire a few shots, grab Sam and make a run for it. They'd need a lot of luck but the only real threat was Duke so he just needed to keep him at bay while they escaped.
As he drew closer to Sam, Dean chanced a look over the car to find that Duke and Eddie had split up and were at opposite ends of the mayor's car. Eddie was inching closer to the bench.
Dean fired a shot to warn him back. Eddie yelled out in fear or protest, probably both and Sam leaped off the bench. He barreled towards Eddie and all Dean heard was a scream and the sound of scuffling gravel.
He darted from behind the car only to have Duke shoot at him, forcing him back. The noise of cursing and heavy breathing, the thunk of body blows, and the dusty mist filling the air punctuated that fight that Dean couldn't see. Normally, Eddie would have been easy prey but Sam looked like a kitten would give him trouble, and Dean just wanted to get there and help.
He started to go only to be stopped again but gunfire. This time it was a rifle and came from further away but the bullets hit close and Dean dove back down again.
Another shot sounded. Eddie screamed. And everything seemed to slow down.
With both hands clamped over the blood gushing from his chest, Eddie hovered for a moment on the other side of the car. Then his legs gave out.
A moment later Duke dragged Sam into view with a gun against his head and blood trickling from his cheek and forehead.
"Drop it and come out, Dean. This ends now or it really and truly ends now."
"Son of a bitch," Brian Myers said from behind Dean.
Dean dropped the handgun, his plans crashing inside his head, stunned at the failure.
"Cuff him," Duke said.
Dean shoved backward but Brian must have been expecting it. He clunked him in the side of the head with the gun and Dean sank to his knees. Brian grabbed his arms, roughly pulling them back and handcuffing him. His head was pounding from the blow and his eyes were watering but Dean spotted Marco and Ava standing on the stone walkway. Ava held a shotgun propped against her shoulder.
Dean's heart beat ferociously in his chest. Now that he was standing, he could see Eddie's body with blood pulled around him. He expected the Sheriff to declare them too much trouble. He expected a bullet for him and Sam.
Duke pushed Sam against the car and handcuffed him. With a reddened face and narrowed eyes, he ordered him Sam to his knees.
"That was stupid, really stupid," Duke said to Dean.
"What's wrong with my brother? What'd you do to him?"
Duke didn't answer. Brian picked up the gun Dean had stashed so carefully, but, ultimately for no reason. The deputy shoved the weapon into the back of his waistband.
He touched the back of his head then looked at the blood on his palm. He gave Dean a disappointed glare.
"Don't give me that stink eye, what'd you expect?" Dean said.
"Thought we were getting to trust each other," Brian said.
"I'm a prisoner, dumbass."
Brian's eyes dropped and Dean guessed that he hurt his feelings.
"All right, pipe down," Duke said. "Brian, get Dean in the car."
"Tell me what's wrong with Sam," Dean said.
"Say 'good bye'," Duke said. "Can't imagine we're going to do this again."
Regret and fury washed over Dean. How dare they separate him from his brother?
"What about Kristen?" Marco called out from his place beneath the willow tree. He was holding Ava's shotgun while she stared at her dead husband.
Duke closed his eyes for just a moment but it was enough for Dean to know that Marco had said too much.
"Who's Kristen?" Dean said.
"A girl," Sam said. "In a cage. In the basement. She's their leverage on me."
"You sick son of a bitch," Dean said to Duke. "You know about this?" He twisted to look at Brian. "You too?"
"Your brother wasn't just going to stand around waiting to get rescued, was he?" Duke said.
Any remnant of liking he may have had for either of them disappeared. At least now he understood why Sam hadn't escaped from Eddie and Ava on his own.
Dean's body tensed, his muscles preparing to attack even before his brain caught up. He started to spin around when pain crashed through his skull.