Warnings and disclaimers: See chapter 1
Extra warning for torture, pain and suffering.

Many thanks to CorieHall for the beta on this story.

Chapter 18 Stuck like a bug

The pressure on Dean's wrist was very tight as Jeremy placed the pointy spike on his palm. Jeremy used his other hand to pull Dean's hand open. Dean found it difficult to pull his hand away and knew the muscle relaxant had kicked in. Jeremy took a long moment to look at Dean's hand and moved the spike to a particular spot in his palm. He pressed the spike harder watching carefully as the bones moved and the skin started to part.

Jeremy looked over to Sam who was breathing hard with his eyes shut.
"Hey Sam you should watch this."
Jeremy kept his eyes on Sam as he slowly pushed the spike in harder. The spike passed through the other side and into the thick rubber mat Dean was lying on.

Sam had a deep frown on his face watching Dean deal with the pain. Jeremy pushed on until the spike was firmly embedded in the rubber effectively pinning Dean's hand to the mat.
"See I didn't lie, Dean. I said it wouldn't hurt a bit and it doesn't. It hurts a lot." Jeremy tittered a small laugh at his own joke.
Sam saw there was very little blood thus far and was hopeful he had missed a vein or bone.

Dean didn't make a sound even though the pain was shockingly jarring through his hand. In a move that surprised Sam, Jeremy unlocked the handcuff on Dean's right wrist seeming to be confident that Dean couldn't move that hand.
"It's okay boys. I know the human hand so well that you will bleed very slowly. So well in fact we can have some more fun. Just as well I know the foot just as well huh? Now this time Dean I want you to yell as loud as you can. Don't worry you won't' wake the neighbors."
Jeremy moved down to Dean's foot and stretched it out flat on the mat. As his foot was stretched the spike through Dean's right hand pushed against the flesh and moved slightly. It wasn't in the rubber as deep as Jeremy thought Dean was sure.

Sam gulped as Jeremy effortlessly found the spot he was looking for between the bones on the left side of his right foot and started pressing the spike in. Dean's ankle stretched painfully as the foot was pressed flat to the mat and the sharp stabbing pain began again.
"Dean!" Sam called feeling useless and never wanting to comfort Dean more as he yanked against the chains.
"It's okay Sammy. I'm okay." Dean tried vainly to keep the groan out of his voice as he was forced to call out with clenched teeth.
"Damn you asshole, leave him alone."
"Okay Sammy." Jeremy stood and unsnapped the cuff from Dean's foot.
"Don't call him that." Dean ground out around the pain. Cramps started on Dean's lower leg but he barely felt them through the other pain. Dean could feel the sweat pouring down his face now.

Jeremy walked to Dean's other side pulling out another spike and flipping it as he went.
"Why don't you lie there and bleed to death verrrrry slowly Dean? Just in time for daddy to be dragged in and watch his boy die."
"Why don't you curl up and join your psycho daddy in hell?" Dean panted out.
"Very nice Dean. Always with a snappy comeback. You never let me down!"

Jeremy pushed the spike through Dean's left hand making him groan slightly even as his teeth clamped down on his lower lip.
"Jesus leave him alone goddamn it. Dean didn't do anything! He tried to stop dad from chasing the Quanlier. He tried to save you!" Sam knew he was hurting himself with how hard he was puling at the chain but he couldn't feel the pain so worried he was about his brother.
"I'm sure Sam. Even if he did we still need John to feel the pain we felt when our dad died in our arms." He unlocked the next cuff as he spoke.

He moved over to Dean's left foot with another spike and Dean succeeded in moving his foot out of his grip.
"Well look at you, Dean. Randy said you had the best tolerance to pain and medication he had ever seen." Jeremy grabbed the foot back roughly, stretching it slowly and even slower than before pushed the metal into the skin gaining a small groan from Dean.

"Good work Dean, I'm sure I would be yelling out by now. Everyone else screamed the joint down. It's painful huh? But you're being strong for your little brother. I can understand that."

Bobby had searched for John in the area where the hunter was supposed to be to no avail. He was wishing the stubborn hunter would just pay the money and get himself a cell phone when his own rang in his pocket. He knew the number straight away.
"Ellen? How are things?"
"Same old same old Bobby."
"I have a message for you from Rufus."
"Rufus?"
"Turner."
"Oh yeah. What is it?"
"He recognized the kid in the picture, well his father more than the kid. He says he ran into Jeremy Randall a few years back hunting in Mexico."
"He from Mexico?"
"No just doing a hunt. Apparently he takes a lot of hunts down south. Rufus said to stay away from him. He is a Vietnam vet who saw a little too much Agent Orange. He has two boys, one twenty six the other is nineteen. His wife had a few miscarriages after he came back from Nam. They had all but given up when she got pregnant with Jeremy Jr. The older son Randy followed his father into the service. Got out a year ago on a psyc discharge."

Ellen took a breath.
"Jesus." Bobby muttered.
"That's not all. You know how most people get into hunting because of losing a loved one?"
"Yeah."
"Well the story goes Randall's neighbor was a hunter. Randall saw him fighting with a Rugaru one night and demanded he tell him all about it. They hunted together on and off for five years until his hunting buddy was found dead after a hunt. According to Rufus cause of death was multiple puncture wounds."
"Puncture wounds?"
"Yeah. Randall's weapon of choice is a sliver plated spike. His hunting buddy used to use steel spikes in a custom made crossbow but Randall often argued he was chickenshit not getting closer."
"What's the silver plating?"
"Randall was a silver platter before he went to Nam'. When he got out he tried his hand at security before he started hunting but had a hard time keeping a job."
"Did anyone ever try to get him for the hunter?"
"No one was game according to Rufus. He is supposed to be a real bad ass. Certifiable according to anyone who got close enough."
"What happened to his wife?"
"Nothing. She still lives in the family home."
"Hmm. Anyone know where he is?"
"Hasn't been seen in over a year. His kids have been and the rumor is they are hunting without him."
Bobby blew out a sigh.
"Okay. Thanks Ellen."
"You be careful you hear?"
"Yes ma'am."

Bobby hung up and kept up his search churning over the details he had be told. It was sounding more and more like a set up the more he thought about it. Bobby skidded to a halt as a piece of paper flew up and hit him in the face. Bobby pulled it off and shone his flashlight on the paper to see a map with John's pencil marks. Damn. Now he had John to find as well. Bobby held on to the paper bolting for his truck. He felt the best place to be was where Sam had disappeared and he needed to get there fast.

TBC