Warnings and disclaimers: See chapter 1

Many thanks to CorieHall for the beta on this story.

Chapter 21 Escape route

Dean held the scream in at having the spike removed from his shoulder which felt as bad as having it driven in. Dean's vision swam as Sam helped him sit up and he leaned against Sam as he did a quick bandage job. Sam took the time to hold Dean in a sloppy hug for a minute and Dean allowed it knowing it would make Sam feel a little better. Getting more upright was even harder with his feet wrapped up but he managed it with Sam's help.

Sam wrapped Dean's jacket around his shoulder and helped Dean up every step of the way. Sam guided Dean to the only door they could see with a faded green exit sign above it but it was hard work for both of them. Dean was leaning heavily on Sam as being upright for the first time in a week, having nothing to eat for some time and having some blood loss was adding to the pain of his new wounds. Sam hated seeing his brother in pain and it was harder for him to see Dean keeping the pain in than him hauling Dean's weight along. Dean moved like he was on the desk of a ship even with Sam's help. Dean spared a last look at the body on the floor that had too much blood surrounding it for the boy to still be alive. Dean didn't like taking human lives but would do anything to protect his family.

Just as they swung the outside door open, they came face to face with their dad struggling with a man older than Dean that looked similar to Jeremy. Dean didn't think but brought his right foot up and snapped it into the guy's head knocking him out instantly. Sam juggled holding Dean up who had slumped down and a somewhat dopey father.

Sam let John gently down to the ground where he lay looking glassy eyed but blinking like he was trying to clear his head.
"Don't fall asleep dad! Where's the Impala?"
John roused enough to point toward the road just visible between the close buildings.
Sam didn't hesitate leaving John where he was and dragging Dean off to the car. It wasn't a long trip but Sam need all the muscles he had built up because Dean officially had nothing left and barely had his eyes open. He still tried to help but the moments were weak and slow. Sam was surprised to find the Impala's door was wide open as if waiting for them.

Sam lay Dean gently in the back with his jacket under his head then ran back for his dad. John was sitting up when he got back and looked a little sharper.
"You okay to get up?"
"Yeah. He… Sammy what happened?" Sam helped John to his feet.
"That guy is Joe's brother who is really Jeremy who is the son of some hunter that got killed in Florida almost a year ago. They had Dean but now he's in the car." Sam pointed at the unconscious body on the ground even as they skirted around it on their way to the car.
"Whoa, what?" John started to slow down in his confusion.
"Dean's in the car and hurt dad. That's all that matters for now. I will explain later. Come on."

Sam had John at the car and hauled him into the front passenger seat. John looked over to the back seat and saw Dean lying there covered in blood. He rubbed a hand over his face in worry trying to fight off the effects of the dart he had managed pull out of his neck before it sent him under. Randy had tossed him in the Impala and driven there like a bat out of hell easily overpowering John with drugs in his system. He was still struggling to get his brain in gear to tell him what was going on.

Just as Sam was about to slide into the driver's seat, Bobby came around the corner in his truck. He skidded to a stop behind the Impala and ran out and hugged Sam quickly checking him for injuries. He saw Dean in the back and swore as he took in the injuries. He saw John looking troubled and quiet.
"They drugged dad but I think it's wearing off. Straight to the hospital?"
"I hate saying this Sam but we need to take him to the motel and look after this ourselves."
"But…"
"Look at the wounds Sam. They are going to think we or someone else did that to Dean. It looks to ritualistic to be getting away with. The cops will be all over us."
"But the blood…"
"I know Sam we can deal with it. I will go get supplies from a medical supply warehouse I saw on the other side of the river. Get back to the motel and I will meet you there. Try to keep John awake and get him helping."
Sam looked troubled but nodded trusting Bobby's word.

Bobby took off and Sam drove the Impala to the motel stealing looks in the mirror at Dean as he drove. John's emotions seemed to range from perplexed, sad, worried, tired and rubbing his eyes like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Sam couldn't blame him. He felt like he just got off one of the scary, toss you about rides at the fair just from the today let alone the events of the week. He took Dean into the motel and lay him down on a bed with John trailing behind. Sam ignored John and went to the trunk and pulled out their two biggest first aid kits. Sam grabbed a stack of clean towels from the bathroom and laid one under each of Dean's still slow bleeding wounds.

John wasn't much help and Sam knew it was probably the drugs so he issued orders in the hope he would pull himself together with something to do. Sam helped Dean swallow some strong painkillers while John emptied the contents of the first aid kits. Sam was a little worried how Dean clutched his stomach after taking the pills and filed it away to ask Bobby about. They started work by pulling Dean's dirty jeans off then his boxers, keeping Dean's dignity with a towel over his hips and groin.

Dean nodded to Sam in thanks as they started on Dean's right foot which seemed to be bleeding the most. John insisted he inspect the inside to make sure there were no damaged arteries or bones. They washed the wound out before they started to sew, Sam on the top John on the bottom. The holes themselves were small enough but were still bleeding sluggishly as they sewed. Sam kept up the chatter to encourage Dean as he refused to fall asleep despite the fact he felt dead on his feet. He was so happy to be back with his family he didn't mind the pain he was enduring as the patched him up.

TBC