Chapter 13

Sam fell to the ground and scrambled away as best as he could. He had been at this for… he had no clue. Time seemed to have slowed and dragged out. Part of it was because it was a constant hounding by Joseph Turner and the other part was that his energy was flagging due to his injuries. He knew Dean was there… well he was initially and Sam actually caught sight of his brother but lost track of him after Joseph jumped in and turned into his wolf man appearance.

Truth be told, Sam had never seen anything like it before. He was familiar with werewolves and he had been introduced to a sort of shifter werewolf, courtesy of Lykos, and then there was the Venator that was like Angela but could 'vamp out' or in his case 'wolf out' like her but this was a cross between human and wolf. There was the hairy part along with the snout and they could stand on tow legs and converse but their movements were fast when they moved on all fours.

So far Sam held his own pretty good but the constant chasing and running was wear and tear and Joseph did give him a couple of good licks. That added a few scratches and more bruises to his already bruised body. He was able to retaliate but it was mostly using the environment against Joseph and that would get him only so far. He clambered to his feet and tried to hide between some of the larger boulders that had been left around.

"Playing hide and seek Sammy? Not very sporting."

Sam looked around as he took a breather to check his abdomen. With the amount of red that was showing through, he was aware that something would have to be done or he would be in certain trouble. So what if he wasn't exactly being sporting for the guy. He had to work with what worked for him.

His respite wasn't going to last for long since out of nowhere Joseph caught up to him and took a swipe at him. Sam barely dodged the blow but the rock where his head had been suffered for it with a deep gouge. It had Sam wondering how the guy could do that and not feel any pain but that was pushed away by the fact that he had to dodge another blow. He sidestepped and tripped on a rock and fell down to the ground with a thud. Another rock poked him in the stomach and it felt like he was winded.

"Getting a little slow there," Joseph growled out. He then charged forward ready to grab Sam. He reached out with his claws fully extended, ready to do some serious damage. He growled in pleasure at the prospect

Sam rolled out of the way but felt a burning sensation on his lower leg and he couldn't help but cry out. He looked and saw that it was a deep cut starting just above his right knee and most of it was on his lower leg on the side. The red showing through was not a pretty sight and he struggled to get to his feet and stumbled from the pain. He looked to see Joseph looking at him like he was a crippled prey or something.

Suddenly a roar echoed throughout the tunnels. Sam watched as Joseph pricked his ears to listen. He took the moment to start putting some distance between him and wolf man but he couldn't help but overhear what was being relayed.

The sword of vengeance! She is here for them! The vampire is here!

Sam knew what that meant. She was here and judging by the way the growls and roars were sounding, she was pissed. That didn't matter. She was there to rescue him and Dean and that thought alone was comforting.

"So she came for you after all Sammy," Joseph said.

"The name is Sam," Sam replied. As much as he hated the nickname, there were only two people who could call him that. Everyone else could just stick it where the sun don't shine. He stood ready to defend himself. Just knowing that she was here gave a little more push to keep fighting.

"So now you want to get picky? Too late," Joseph growled. If she had come for the two that tried to rescue the others, then he had an advantage. They obviously meant something to her and judging by the way Sam looked, he would be able to get her right where he wanted her. He would finish what he should have done the last time they met.

"All I know is that you pissed her off and she's not nearly as nice when you do that," Sam replied. He steadied himself, ready to run.

Joseph growled and took after Sam. Since his leg was injured, Sam did a hopping limp run and he slowly down considerably. It also didn't help that his wrists were still shackled together and the chains felt heavy. It was not really a surprise but a painful reality when Sam felt his arms jerked from the forceful yank on the chain and he fell to the ground. He landed on his bad leg and he gritted his teeth as he hissed at the pain. It was agonizing when he started to get dragged along the ground towards the center of the cavern. At least it wasn't too long a ride because Sam was certain he would pass out.

Joseph held onto the chain ready to yank it up. The other was being a perfect toy for his pack members who needed to let off steam. He had been perfect bait to lure Sam in. It was all a set up since he loved having fun with his playthings that eventually became food. Plus he was certain that she sent them. It was typical of her and she turned people against their own kind. He looked down at the limp form. Sam was pretty smart. He knew when to get up and when to stay down.

Sam was biding his time and he was certain that Joseph knew that too. He had been through two rounds with the guy and it was enough for Sam to realize that the chances of getting out alive and outsmarting someone who knew the caves like Dean knew every inch of the Impala was a slim chance. Funny thing was that was what he thought when she started teaching him tricks that her kind and others he had met would do. He thought she couldn't be beat.

It's a matter of who is smarter Sam. Even someone who has experience can be outmaneuvered.

Well he did manage that. He could bide his time. He just had to figure out how to capitalize on it. Right now the best thing to do was to play possum. His leg was killing him though and at the moment he couldn't tell if it was his leg or his abdomen or… whatever. It didn't help when Joseph nudged his bad leg with his foot. It made Sam grit his teeth and groan.

"Don't worry Sam. I have a nice little surprise for the bitch. I will finish what I started that night finally."

Not if she gets you first, Sam thought to himself. He lifted himself slightly to look in the direction Joseph was looking. How the guy knew she would be coming from that direction was beyond him but knowing Angela, she was either going to focus or do something worse. He didn't forget what Nick mentioned in their last conversation. All he could do was pray and hope that she wouldn't do anything foolish since she was still recovering. He couldn't help but say out loud, "And she probably thinks the same thing about you."

Joseph smiled at that. He could see that Sam found little use in pretending he didn't know her. Yet he also found it suspicious. She would not hire stupid hunters. She would have taught them a thing or two about killing without mercy. She would have made them into murderers just like those that he put an end to at Sojourner. He replied, "I don't doubt that. We have a… history together."

"I'll bet," Sam retorted. He didn't care for the fact that Joseph implied it was something of a relationship but he knew better. He knew it was a form of goading and knew that Joseph meant they met once before. That he didn't doubt since she had been around for a long time. They were bound to come across people she met previously and they had.

"Do I detect a little bit of jealousy?"

"No, just being a pissed off human and one that knows you're in for a rough ride." Sam realized he was probably laying it on a little thick since he knew that she wasn't one hundred percent and yet she was causing mayhem.

"That I look forward to. It's been a long time."

Sam didn't say anything but was given a slight kick for the sheer hell of it. His thoughts drifted to his brother. Knowing Dean, he would be raising holy hell and if he heard the shouts, he would be doing whatever it took to get free.

Dean was pissed. They used him. They used him to lure Sam and his baby brother was paying the price for his refusal to tell the douche bag anything about Angela. It did occur to him that he and Sam were going to get the crap beaten out of them anyway but he felt that he could have done more.

They told him that his brother had escaped and was somewhere in the tunnels. They told him to call for him. He refused. He refused even after they punched him in the stomach repeated causing the cuts to reopen and bleed. It also made him throw up from all the hitting and that seemed to amuse them more.

Dean realized his mistake when he called out weakly to his brother after becoming disoriented. He cursed himself and he watched as that Joseph prat give his Sammy a nasty hit. That was when Dean saw the shirt tied across Sam's abdomen and the red stain. He cursed the bastard and tried breaking free to help his brother.

He was stopped when he was given a clothesline that nearly broke his neck… well it could've broken his neck if it had been any harder. He landed with a thud and he felt a rock dig into his lower back near his kidneys. It hurt like there was no tomorrow and he cursed because there was nothing else to do. They were laughing at the fact that they had gotten him to hand over Sam on a silver platter for their 'boss' fun. Then that Joseph told them to take him and have their fun with him.

Well I'm sure they are having fun, Dean thought as he picked himself up even though the effort was trying. They managed to dislocate his shoulder in the process and give him a couple of new gouges on his arms and torso. The bastards had sharp claws and they weren't afraid to use them.

Dean held his upper arm in support and the injured limb flapped about uselessly. He stared at the two things that were having fun with him. They were debating on whether or not to kill him. That was when he heard the one thing that drove him stark crazy. He heard Sam's cry of pain.

Dean knew that both his and Sam's pain threshold was pretty high since they had been on the job for as long as they had even with Sam's furlough at Stanford. For Sam to cry out as he did, that meant whatever happened really hurt and given that he had already been injured when he walked into the trap… Dean saw red and knew he had to get to his brother.

Since the two were distracted, Dean took a chance and started running. He had a good start as he went back the way they came. The thing was that they dragged him a fair distance and the tunnel was dimly lit. He stumbled along the way. The only thing that kept him going was the fact that Sam was hurt and he needed him.

Dean had good momentum but it was short lived when something pummeled into his back. He landed hard and felt for sure that he twisted something. He certainly did something to his wrist in the fall but that was superseded by the fact that he felt hot breath on the back of his neck as he was pinned. One of those things was on his back and Dean felt like he was getting crushed.

"Going somewhere, maggot?"

Dean grunted since his air was getting cut off. He retorted, "Yeah. Up yours furbag."

Dean felt his hair being grabbed and his head was pounded into the dirt. For guys that were pretty strong, they were well in control of their strength. Dean was certain they could squish his head to a pulp but something held them back. He was certain that Joseph exerted some influence over these things but then he heard the words echo through the tunnel. He was amazed that the tunnels hadn't collapsed from all the echoes. The words that were growled were not clear at first but they became clear once Dean managed to focus even though his lack of air was making him want to pass out.

The sword of vengeance! She is here for them! The vampire is here!

Timing couldn't be better Angie, Dean thought as he struggled. He was being held down and he could feel the grip of the ape on top of him tightened around his arms. He couldn't do much except wriggle around.

"The vampire is here. What do we do?"

"We carry out orders. Joseph will handle her."

Dean listened to the conversation. Apparently Joseph knew about Angela but the insistence on calling her a vamp was utter ridiculousness. Yeah she had vamp blood in her but she had human blood too and while it took a while for him, he asserted that she was more human than most real humans. He basically saw her as a human with superhuman strength and super cool powers. He said, "Knowing her, she'll take care of him. Not bad for a human."

There was a growl and Dean felt pressure on his head. "Shut up. She's not human. Not the one that carries the sword of vengeance."

"The name is Absolution, assphat." Dean couldn't help it. If they were going to refer to her by name or her sword by name, they better sure as hell better get it right. It just sounded stupid when they got it wrong. Somewhere though in the back of Dean's mind, he was under the impression that Joseph told them that out of some hatred of her.

One of Dean's captors growled and got off of Dean to give him a good kick in the gut. Dean flew a little and hit the wall. He dry heaved feeling sick from the punches and that last kick to the gut. Usually he would have a quip to say about people getting sick from a beating but now having to go through it, he could sympathize.

"Not so tough now are you?"

Dean gulped some air and looked at the assphat. His eyes felt heavy but he managed to spit out, "I'm still kicking aren't I?"

For his troubles he was hauled to his feet and brought up close to the wolf man's face. He could smell the doggy breath and a bunch of other odors that he was sure was going to make him even more sick if he learned what those smells were. The wiry hair left a good brushing to be desired and maybe a flea bath. It was amusing to think of that even though he was being gripped tightly by both arms.

The guy growled, "Not for long."

"Dude, you need a tic tac. Maybe a flea bath," Dean replied. If his arms were free, he would have been making gestures to emphasize the bad breath. As it were he couldn't and was pinned against the wall forcefully and effectively winding him.

"That is the least of your worries."

Dean would have said something but then he heard a sound. At first he thought it was the general cacophony of the growls and roars. When it sounded again, it was much clearer. He grinned and started chuckling even though he was a mess.

"What's so funny?"

Dean continued to chuckle and it didn't help that he was slammed into the wall again. Catching his breath he became quiet so they could hear it. There was no mistaking it. He knew that cry from anywhere. He then replied, "I think you're the ones that need to be worried."

The two numbskulls looked up to hear. Dean knew that they heard it. He studied them and it looked like they were actually scared. They better be. He had seen what she did to the Venator and he was sure that she gave a hell fight to the yeti and probably a dozen other things that she had done before hooking up with him and Sam. He let out in a childish taunt, "You're in trouble."

Of course that didn't sit well with the two. The one holding Dean held him up and began squeezing him but left his arms free. Dean felt the pressure on his ribs. They were going to squish him to death. The amusing thought of what she was going to do to the asshole Joseph for hurting Sam crossed his mind. Definitely the virago was going to be set free.

The pressure brought him back to reality and Dean's instincts to struggle to survive kicked in. He twisted and used his good arm to pound on the wolf man's own arm. It was not effective but a good attempt at trying to get the guy to release him. He was throttled a little but he kept at it. Suddenly he heard a whirring sound and the nearest torch got knocked to the ground where it stayed lit. The next thing Dean knew, he was falling and he landed with a dull thud and hit his head on the wall of the tunnel. Of all the hits he had taken, that one made him see stars and really threatened to knock him out. Still Dean managed to keep his eyes open and he watched a blur jump in and swung a sword. He could hear blood spatter as it moved until a familiar hand touched him and softly asked, "Dean?"

She had heard the call echo through the tunnels as the word was passed through. She tensed up in fear but was ready to defend the two that had been placed in her care. She could face the vampire and if she had to, she could kill her. She would protect the children and yet she had doubts. That injured hunter had placed doubts.

She knew that hunters had the tendency to shoot first and asked questions later. That was what Joseph said since he had experience with them. She had been nervous when she brought the water to the hunter and checked to make sure that he wasn't dead. She was surprised that he didn't even try to attack her when she came in. Then again the injuries sustained probably didn't allow for that.

Rather he just sat there and had a conversation about her and of all things his friend's scent. It was a thing to ponder. It was faint on the hunter but strong and she couldn't understand it at all. How could someone who was supposed to be a violent killer have a scent that was associated with things that were not violent?

The hunter seemed to know it but he wasn't willing to share. Rather he was thoughtful about it. Then he started asking her why she was here. It seemed all he wanted to do was talk. She thought it was some type of trick and left before he could poison her mind anymore. He didn't know what it was like to be a freak and alone.

Now she was with the two children that were under her care. Like her, they were orphans and had nowhere else to go. When they arrived, she was told to watch and teach them. So far she had been able to avoid having them go through one of the sporting events that Joseph liked to have them do. Did she really have sympathy for humans?

There was a howl and one of the kids asked, "Is it true Mary Lou? Is she here?"

Mary Lou looked down at the kid who was tugging on her shirt. The kid was looking at her a little afraid but she had that excited look that kids got when they were about to meet legends and stuff like that. Mary Lou replied, "I think so Laura."

Laura bounced on her feet and looked at her best friend and said, "Jared, the vampire is here!"

"Cool beans."

Mary Lou resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was then that she heard more roars and growling. She knew what that meant. It meant that the others were out for the kill. That meant the vampire was also here to kill. Yet she was here to rescue the two hunters. For some reason that was what Mary Lou thought and was certain of. Certainly someone with the scent of wild roses wasn't a cold blooded killer? Could Joseph be wrong about her?

Mary Lou had to see for herself. She couldn't take the kids with her though. Turning towards them, she put on her best face of authority and said, "I am going to check it out. You two stay here and keep quiet. You got it?"

"Fine. Man you are bossy, Mary Lou," Jared said in good humor but with a tinge of disappointment. He wanted to see the famous vampire with the sword of vengeance in action. He heard the stories even though he thought Joseph's embellishments were a little over the top.

Mary Lou knew that they would obey. Making sure that they were hidden in their spot, she took off down one of the tunnels. She knew the tunnels just as well as Joseph. It was one of the benefits of being someone that wasn't noticed half the time. She followed the sounds and took roundabout ways so that she wouldn't be seen.

She managed to catch up with the vampire. She was holed up in one of the main access ways and even Mary Lou realized that was a bad spot. A body could get easily pinned down. Still it allowed for Mary Lou to observe the vampire in action.

The vampire was holding her own fairly well. Mary Lou noticed that even though her sword was out, she never used it unless she saw the look to kill in the others' eyes. She was surprised that the vampire could land that hard of a punch. She saw two of the more seasoned Lupei fly with the force of her punch but they were back on their feet and went at her to kill.

Mary Lou's eyes widened as she heard the vampire give an ululating sound and flipped over one of the bodies before running slightly up the wall of the tunnel and pivoting off to deliver a kick to another one. Mary Lou could tell that the neck had snapped from the force since the body dropped and refused to get up.

When there was one left, Mary Lou saw the vampire grab her and demand where the hunters were. She could make out the glowing orbs of the vampire's eyes and the saw the gleaming silver of the sword. She then noticed the vampire sniff the Lupei she was holding. The look on the vampire's face told Mary Lou that the vampire knew that the girl Lupei was done for. The vampire said something about harming the hunters brought a penalty.

Mary Lou couldn't watch anymore. The vampire wanted what was hers back and Joseph had the others harm them. It was going to be a blood bath. She made her way back to the children and said that they were going to leave. They were almost out when they came face to face with the vampire. Mary Lou tensed since she could tell that the vampire was sniffing and had her blade pointed at her. She said, "Please don't hurt me or them." She motioned to the kids behind her.

The vampire took a moment to study them. She then said, "You have Sam's scent on you. Did you hurt him?"

It was an odd question but Mary Lou answered, "No. I tried to help him. He was not like other hunters."

The vampire lowered her sword and Mary Lou tried not to be disgusted by the blood dripping off. She kept the kids behind her to prevent them from seeing too much. The vampire asked, "Have they been taught like the others?"

"No."

The vampire's expression softened a bit. She then said, "Take them out. Go out the main entrance. Teach them that not all hunters are killers."

Mary Lou was surprised but she was quick to obey. She took the kids by the hand and led them out. She was greeted by another like her but not. He said that he had shelter for them and to wait at the base of the hill. Along the way she pondered about the vampire. What a strange creature; a hell hath fury and yet full of mercy.

A/N: Looks like Sam doesn't catch a break and Dean is just being Dean and paying the price for it. Looks like everyone knows that Angie is on the warpath. Stay tuned for next time on Pack of Strays...