Road Less Travelled

Follow up to my story Two Hunters and a Baby, so if you haven't read that one it might pay to and then come back and revisit this one, coz it might get a little confusing.

Disclaimer: Sigh nope still nothing ... hmm what to do?? Okkies I promise I will send em home after I finish playing with my boys!!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sam woke and instantly knew that something was wrong, the clinic was quiet, too quiet even for someone with hearing problems. Gradually he sat up and waited until the vertigo passed and then he lowered his feet to the floor, pointedly ignoring his wheelchair.

'Sam what the living daylights do you think you're doing!' Bobby groused as he came into the room just as Sam attempted to stand by his own volition.

'Leave me alone Bobby.'

'Dang it all Sam what about Dean? Whatcha think he's gonna say?'

'He's not gonna say anything if he doesn't know.' Sam huffed, 'well you just gonna stand there or you gonna help me?'

'Geeze keep ya panties on, someone got up on the wrong side this morning or what.'

'It's too quiet.'

'Come again?'

'It's too quiet Bobby, I woke up and ...' Sam sighed as he sank into the wheelchair and rested his head on his hands, 'I dunno how to explain it ... it felt quiet.'

'Okay I think I understand,' Bobby frowned and waited for Sam to give him cues on how to go, 'so where too?'

'Where are they all?'

'Having breakfast out on the patio.' Bobby said taking the brakes off the wheelchair, 'Mickie's callin' for her uncee Sammee.'

'Funny Bobby, so funny.'

'Aw come on Sam what's wrong this morning?'

'Nothing, everything I dunno,' Sam ran his hands over his face and tried to shake the uneasiness he woke up with. 'Where's Dean?'

'Last I saw him he was feeding his daughter ... why?'

'Nothing major it's just ...'

'Just what?' Bobby stopped and went around to crouch down in front of Sam, 'what's going on with you Sam?'

'I – I have a bad feeling ... I'm just being paranoid, let's go and get breakfast before Dean teaches Mickie too many bad eating habits.'

Bobby pushed Sam's chair the rest of the way in silence, mulling over what Sam had said and asked, or more like what he didn't ask. They found Dean covered in baby food and Mickie giggling so hard that she had tears running down her chubby cheeks.

'Wow Dean she is your daughter.' Sam quipped, 'she even eats like you!'

'Oh funny, ha ha.' Dean grumbled as he tried to clean the sticky oatmeal from his shirt, 'so not funny Mickie.'

'No honestly it's a good look for you Dean.' Bobby added chuckling when he heard the soft laughing coming from Sam, 'want some coffee?'

'Please thanks Bobby.' Sam looked up and gave his friend a small smile, 'for you know ...'

'Oh geeze get a room you two.' Dean muttered, 'too soppy in here or what princess?' he picked Mickie up and immediately stripped her soiled pyjamas off, 'someone needs a bath.'

'I'll bath her if you like.' Maggie said as she stepped through the doorway, 'come on munchkin let's let these men to their coffee.'

'Dang I know I liked that woman for a reason.' Bobby smiled and took the fresh pot of coffee from her.

'Keep it up Bobby and you might get some cake later on.' Maggie grinned and carried the squirming toddler inside to bathe.

'Sammy you okay?' Dean turned around to look at his brother, when he saw the dark smudges under Sam's eyes and the pallor of his cheeks, 'what's wrong?'

'Just tired I guess,' Sam smiled slightly and gave his shoulders a small stretch, 'actually I might go and see if I can give Maggie a hand in bathing Mickie.'

'Sammy?'

'I'm fine Dean really, just tired.' Sam slowly pushed his wheelchair away from his brother and friend, he needed time to think and to disconnect from his thoughts at the sametime. 'Okay Sam you really are losing it.' He muttered as he swung into the bathroom in time to see Mickie completely douse Maggie with bath water and bubbles.

S—D

Dean turned to face Bobby, 'so we ready to go?'

'What are you going to tell Sam?'

'We're going for supplies.' Dean said a little sharper than he intended and winced when he saw the lines around Bobby's eyes tighten. 'Sorry I didn't mean to ...'

'Yeah I know we're all on edge here but you gotta keep it together Dean.'

'Why? Why do I have to keep it together?' The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them and the look of shock on his friend's face was the undoing of Dean. 'Oh God Bobby I am so sorry.'

'Dang it Dean whatever I ... don't you ever apologise for being human, you're allowed to feel too.'

'It's just ... I have to be strong for Sam, and for Mickie and ah damn it they're the only family I have left oh yeah and you old man.'

'Nuff of the old.'

'Yeah, yeah I can't afford to lose it Bobby.'

'Dean you were raped and tortured.' Bobby said deciding it was time to stop 'pussy-footing' around with Dean. 'You're allowed to be human.'

'Yeah well I'm Batman didn't you get the memo.'

'And Batman still had his weaknesses; he was still allowed to feel once in a while.'

'I'm no victim Bobby.'

'I didn't say that you were, but ...'

'No buts Bobby, we go in find the enemy, kill em, salt and burn. Done deal.'

'What about afterwards Dean? When you get to stop and think about what that bitch did to you?'

'Bobby.'

'No Dean, it's just you and me here, if you can't talk to Sam then talk to me.'

'I can't talk to Sam about this.'

'Why?'

'Look what they did to him Bobby ... he's so strong Bobby, they did ... they did things to him and ... I have to be strong, I can't.'

'That's bullocks and you know it Dean, dang it boy what they did to the two of you was awful and demeaning and shouldna happened to you or anyone for that matta. But that doesn't take anything away from the fact that you were both victims, they did those things to the two of you. You're allowed to be scared, angry, sad, whatever you're allowed to be human Dean.'

'I aint in need of twenty cent therapy Bobby.'

'Yeah well I aint givin' any, I'd charge more.' Bobby shoved his cap up his head and dragged it back down before he spoke again, 'so whatcha want to do?'

'Get cleaned up and head out, scope out the area and see what's going on.' Dean said, 'thanks Bobby.'

'For what?'

'For ...' Dean shrugged and then heard his daughter squealing and yelling for her daddy, 'saved by the baby.' He grinned and went to go inside.

S—D

Sam watched Maggie playing with his niece while she bathed but decided to join the others and to try and stop analysing his every thought. Slowly he wheeled himself back to the patio door and went to reach for the handle when he heard the heated discussion between Bobby and Dean. He knew that it was wrong to listen but he found that he couldn't help himself.

He felt his breathing hitch as he heard Dean's words, each one dug in a little deeper and his shame grew a little more. His hearing still not the best made him strain to hear everything his brother said and most of it added to his own pyre of guilt and self-loathing, it was his fault that Merci had raped and tortured Dean. If he had been stronger then none of this would have happened.

'Damn it Dean.' he muttered and pushed the chair away from the door and headed back into the clinic. He knew what his brother was intending to do, and decided that it was time for him to stop acting the victim and be the hunter he was supposed to be, broken body and all.

With shaking hands, he reached up to open the main doors and then wheeled himself through them and out the front of the building. He scanned the area first to make sure that no one was watching before he manoeuvred the chair to the footpath he kept going until he was sure that he was out of sight before he set the brakes and managed to lift the foot rests, he had his canes braced on the back of the chair, craning around he reached the first one and used it to balance himself. When he felt ready he grabbed the other one and slowly but surely made his way on foot. Shuffling slightly and leaning heavily on his canes he managed to keep himself upright and mobile.

He could see the garden from his vision so clearly he knew that he would recognise it immediately. Hot, sweaty and in pain Sam clenched his teeth and dragged his unco-operative body down another street, only coming to a stop when he saw the garden.

His breath came in ragged gasps and he could see black dots in front of his eyes as he took cover under a large tree and watched the house.

'Nice to see you up and about Sammy boy, I really didn't think that I would see you so soon.' A familiar voice came from the shadows, slowly Sam turned around to see Cornase standing behind him. 'Nice to see ya Sammy.'

'I should've known, you gave me that vision didn't you.' The realisation dawned on Sam as he realised the trap he walked into.

'Yeah, probably making ya suffer like I did was a bit of overkill but it was fun.'

'Why don't ya get a life?' Sam turned and went to move away when his legs gave way and he stumbled to the ground. 'Damn it.' He spat out as he landed heavily on his still healing wrist. 'Damn it all to hell.'

'No my darling boy, not all just you.' Cornase gloated as he hovered over Sam's inert form, 'I have missed you beautiful boy.' He sighed and ran a hand down Sam's face and neck, 'I have truly missed you.'

TBC