Warnings and disclaimers: See chapter 1
Many thanks to CorieHall for the beta on this story.
Chapter 2 Bites and bad feelings
Sam pulled the map towards him to show he was interested.
"I think there is someone else on this hunt. Another hunter, maybe more," Dean said with reluctance.
Sam looked up from the mass of green ringed with black circles drawn in felt tip pen.
"Tracks?"
"Yeah and some shells like they have taken some shots at it. Blood too."
"You told dad and he disagrees."
"Yeah. It's one of those hunts anyway. This Quanlier bites on the run and the marks could pass for alligator or crocodile. But the real problem is that it doesn't have a nest just a regular hunting ground which is right here."
Dean pointed to a shaded area in pen in the middle of a dense green area. Deep, swampy, everglades.
"Shit Dean. Aren't there pythons in there?"
"Oh yeah. And a stack of poisonous snakes."
"Have you seen a cotton mouth?" Sam's natural interest in wildlife was coming out.
"No, thank goodness but I got up close and personal with a dusky pigmy rattlesnake."
"How do you know it was a dusky pigmy?"
"Cause I had to kill it so I could get anti venom. I didn't have my geek boy with me who could have told me what it was."
"Are you saying it bit you?" Sam smiled sure Dean was pulling his leg. They had sat at the table only a few hours ago and had dinner together, surely he would have noticed or someone would have told him. Come to think of it Dean hadn't eaten as much as he normally did. Sam had even teased him that he was picking at his food.
'Damn, missed that one.' Sam thought angrily.
Dean lifted his left foot off the chair onto the edge of the table. Sam could see the yellowness of Betadine solution painted on his calf.
"Holy shit Dean! Why didn't you say something? Or dad?" Sam got up with a rough scrape of his chair and came around the table for a better look.
"What's to tell? It happened last night or early this morning. It's okay now. At least it wasn't a diamondback; there is a shit load of those in there."
Sam ran his fingers over the hot, slightly swollen skin of Dean's calf. He turned Dean's leg into the light so he could see the fang marks sticking up in two rough dots.
"You have your boots on?"
"Yeah, the taller ones too but it got me as I was coming out of the water. It was hiding in the mud," Dean said with clear distaste like the creature had been cheating.
"Early this morning?"
"Just on dawn, yeah."
"So you went to the hospital, with the dead snake and had the anti-venom?"
"Yeah. It's cool now Sammy. It's even starting to itch a little."
"Why didn't you call and get me to come to the hospital?"
Sam was torn between being mad and disappointed. He and Dean did everything together.
"You had a dentist appointment this morning, right? For that cracked tooth."
"Yeah, first thing. Wait… dad took me to that. Why didn't he stay with you?"
"I didn't need him to take me, I took myself."
"You drove yourself to hospital Dean? Are you suicidal? Dad should have at least driven you."
"I'm not five Sam. I told dad to take you. I know how you hate the dentist. You're not in pain anymore are you?"
"No, but I'm sixteen Dean. I can do things on my own too."
"Yeah but you shouldn't have to. I would have been there if I could."
"Actually I was surprised dad came instead. I asked him and he said you were still out scouting the area."
"That's what I told him to say Sammy so it's not his fault."
"Instead you had to suffer on your own. Snake bites are very painful Dean. Don't try to be so macho and brave all the time."
"But I am macho and brave." Dean grinned.
"A poisonous snake though Dean. You can't be feeling well."
'That's why he is drinking water.'
"Oh I feel real well, Sammy."
Dean lifted his hands and pretended he was stroking something round and soft in midair. Sam recognized Dean deflecting his concern away. A classic Dean move.
"Dean don't be an ass, you don't have to go through this on your own. What about Bobby? Or Pastor Jim?"
"Bobby had something else on and the pastor is busy with church commitments. It's okay Sammy. It's part of the job; don't worry so much."
"Someone has to worry, you don't seem to care."
"It's just part of hunting, buddy. Injuries happen sometimes. Well okay, they happen pretty often." For once Dean gave a grimace like he didn't like that part of hunting.
Sam sat and sipped his water for a moment contemplating what they had been talking about.
"What are you going to do about the hunt?"
"Nothing I can do. I told dad what I thought. If he chooses not to listen there is nothing I can do."
"Remember what you taught me? Go with your gut as it's…"
"…almost always right. Yeah I know."
"You want me to talk to him?"
"No Sammy. You go have your fun."
"Dean, I'm not…"
"I didn't mean it like that Sammy," Dean interrupted, "I just want you to enjoy it while you got it. The way you are growing dad will have you hunting as much as us soon. Be a kid while you have it."
"While dad endangers your life?"
Sam spoke softly despite his anger at the man.
"Such a drama queen Sammy. It's not my life that's in danger, it's whoever else is out there. Don't worry I will watch out, not just for dad but for anyone else as well."
"As you always do Dean. What is the plan?"
"We are setting the trap near the middle of his hunt zone and using a fresh killed pig as bait. Pretty simple. As long as we stick to it we should be okay."
"Make sure you do Dean."
"Aye aye, Sammy. Now what say we hit the hay? I for one am ready for some sleep."
Sam looked at him uneasily.
"I'm fine, Sam, but thanks for caring anyway."
"Anytime Dean."
TBC