Chapter Fifteen
"You're not going anywhere," said one guy, aiming the shotgun at Dean.
Sam glanced sideways at Dean, who gave him a subtle nod. Sam raised his hand as Dean reached into his jacket. Sam sent a jet of water towards the two guys as Dean pulled out his pistol. The two guys stumbled under the water onslaught as Dean raised his gun, aiming for the knee cap of the guy with the shotgun.
Sam suddenly felt an electric jolt, and he cried out in pain, losing his concentration. Dean turned to see the Asian owner standing on the other side of him with a remote in his hand. Dean raised his gun, aiming at him.
"Don't even think about it," said the owner, raising the remote. "Or the merman becomes tomorrow's special."
Dean glanced over at Sam, who lay slumped over the tank's lid, breathing heavily.
The owner saw how Dean's arms were completely wet and yet finless, and he frowned. "You're not a merman."
"No," said Dean, tightening his grip on the pistol. "I'm the hunter that's your worst nightmare."
The owner looked over at Sam, narrowing his eyes. "The merman has a hunter friend…Well, they certainly left that out of the contract."
"I'll bet they did," said Dean, glaring at the owner. "You let my brother go right now, or you're gonna be sorry."
"Brother?" said the owner. He shook his head in annoyance. "Well, we'll have to fix this little problem, won't we?"
Something collided with the back of Dean's head, and Dean fell off of the ladder to the floor.
"No!" Sam called feebly, raising his hand again to fight back with his abilities.
The owner pressed the button on the remote again, and Sam convulsed before passing out and falling to the floor of the tank.
"You bastard!" Dean yelled, charging towards the owner and getting a punch in.
One of the security guys grabbed Dean from behind, and Dean raised a leg, kicking the guy in the shin. The second guy punched Dean before Dean got in a few swings to the guy's face. The first guy kicked Dean in the back, and Dean hit the floor hard. He turned as the second guy swung his shotgun down towards him. Dean grabbed the shotgun, pushing it up towards the guy's face and hitting him in the jaw. The first guy aimed a kick at Dean's head, dazing him.
The second guy grabbed Dean's arms, pulling him up and handcuffing him. He hit him in the head again, and Dean's head lolled to the side, watching as the owner stared shrewdly at him.
"Take him downstairs," said the owner. "Bring the merman."
Dean passed out as they began dragging him towards the door.
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Sam stirred, looking around the tank in confusion. Remembering everything, he jolted up to find that the tank was only five feet tall and ten feet long.
"Ah, look who's awake."
Sam looked through the glass of the tank to see he was now in a basement of some sort. The owner stood in the corner next to a chair where Dean was tied to, looking at Sam in concern. It looked like they had hit him a fair few times before Sam woke up. Across from him was another tank, containing Lizzie. Sam's eyes widened when he saw her.
"Are you okay?" asked Sam.
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Lizzie. "You?"
"Yeah," said Sam. "For now."
"Well, well, well," said the owner. "We got ourselves a problem. I paid good money for a decorative addition to my establishments. I don't need these…complications."
"Complications, huh?" said Dean. "Then why don't you let us go."
"Why?" said the owner. "So you can come back and take care of me? You're a hunter."
"I'm also a great humanitarian," said Dean with a smile. "I'll even let you go."
The owner leaned down into Dean's face. "You think I was born yesterday?"
"Not with that face," growled Dean.
The owner stood up away from Dean, nodding. One of the security guys punched Dean in the face. Sam banged on the glass of the tank, glaring at the owner, who looked at him.
"And now I need to take care of this," said the owner, stepping towards Sam's tank. "I can't have more of your family coming to get you. And, frankly, you've been an incredible nuisance."
"What about your precious decorative addition?" said Dean, looking in concern at Sam.
"The bounty hunters have promised a replacement," said the owner. "With no cost to me." He smiled at Sam. "You might want to say goodbye to your brother."
Sam, Dean and Lizzie watched in horror as the owner reached down to the bottom of the tank, pressing a few buttons. Sam watched him for a moment before he felt the water growing warmer around him. He frowned down at the floor of the tank, where bubbles were beginning to form and rise to the surface. The owner was boiling him…
Sam raised his arms, banging on the glass of the tank.
"No!" Dean yelled, also realizing what was happening. "Stop!"
Sam used the force of the water along with his fists to try to break the glass, but it seemed to be reinforced like the one before. The water was becoming uncomfortable.
"No!" Lizzie screamed. "Don't! Sam!"
Sam rushed to the top of the tank, but the lid was closed tight. He put his hands on it, but quickly brought them away as they burned against the iron. Sam looked down at the water and back at the lid, putting his hands on it again. He yelled in his head as the iron burned, but he pushed with all his strength to get out.
"Stop!" Dean yelled, struggling in his bonds. "Stop it! Sam!"
Sam gave up on the lid as the water grew very, very hot. He went back to pounding on the glass as the temperature turned scalding. Sam yelled in his head as he brought his tail forward, using all of his enhanced strength to try to break the glass.
"Sam, no!" Lizzie screamed. "Stop hurting him!"
As the water grew unbearable, Sam's strength began to fade, and his tail began to thrash weakly.
"Sammy!" Dean yelled.
Sam's tail hit the glass feebly one more time before he passed out, falling to the bottom of the tank.
"No!" Dean yelled.
"No!" Lizzie screamed.
Lizzie glared at the owner and spotted some pipes running along the ceiling. She raised her hand, and water burst out of the pipe, hitting the owner and the guards with incredible force. They each hit the wall hard, getting knocked out. Dean struggled with the cuffs a little more before he managed to pull one hand through, scraping his knuckles against it. He pulled the ropes off of his body, the cuffs hanging from one wrist. He rushed towards Sam's tank, turning off the heater and unlocking the lid.
"Sammy!" Dean yelled, reaching into the water.
The water burned him, and he pulled his hand back out quickly.
"Dean, move!" Lizzie yelled from above the water in her tank.
Dean stepped back, and Lizzie forced the water to carry Sam out of the lid and onto the floor.
Dean rushed towards Sam, shaking him. "Sam? Sammy!"
Sam was out, his skin slightly red and blistered.
"Sam, no!" Dean yelled.
"Dean, get me out!" Lizzie called. "I can help him!"
"Sam, come on!" Dean yelled, shaking Sam again.
"Dean, I can heal him, but you have to get me out!" Lizzie screamed.
That finally got through to Dean, and he jumped up, unlocking her tank. Lizzie made the water carry her out of the tank, and she landed next to Sam. She put both hands on the sides of his face, lowering her face towards his and kissing him.
Healing kiss… Dean realized.
Lizzie kissed him for several moments, finally pulling away. Sam's skin was less red now, more like a mild sunburn, and the blisters were gone. Sam gasped as he sat up.
"Sammy!" Dean called, kneeling over him. "Sam! Say something!"
Sam looked up at Lizzie, wide eyed. "Wow…"
Lizzie giggled at him as Sam smiled at her.
Dean rolled his eyes. "Alright, you lovebirds, keep it in your pants."
Lizzie and Sam blushed as Dean put a hand on the side of Sam's head.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Dean.
"Yeah," said Sam, wincing as he tried to sit up, tears falling from the corners of his eyes in pain. "I'll be fine."
"Sam!" cried Lizzie. "Your tears!"
Sam and Dean looked at her.
"What?" asked Sam.
Lizzie sighed. "Too late…"
Dean suddenly pulled his hand away from Sam's head, and they both looked down to see that Sam's tears had fallen onto the bloody scrapes of Dean's knuckles. The tears sparkled as they rushed into Dean's bloodstream. Sam's eyes widened as he looked up at Dean.
Dean looked from his hand to Sam's face. "You've gotta be kidding me…"