Of Werewolves And Humans

Chapter 5 ~ Wherever You Go I'll Follow

THEN:

Dean continued to whisper silent promises into the man's ear, mumbling soothing things and some time later Sam started to relax. Wherever because of Dean's words or because of exhaustion …

NOW:

Dean held him protectively in his arms while Sam drifted off into a deeper sleep again. That was when Dean started to feel the lack of sleep and exhaustion on himself. He closed his eyes, promising himself he wouldn't fall asleep. Just closing and resting his eyes. And ten minutes later he was gone too far to recognize Bobby's return and Ellen's arrival. Too deep asleep to feel Sam stir – anouncing his awakening.

Sam tensed, as he felt the heavy weight of an arm around his middle. The warmth of another body flush against his back. He swallowed around the lump in his throat, fighting back the sob that dared to come over his lips. He sniffed, unshed tears glistened in his eyes as they slowly opened. He closed his eyes once more, his hand shifting carefully over the arm of the man behind him. Long fingers wrapped around it, trying it to lift it from him.

But Dean just tightened his hold on him, not wanting to let go that easy. His instincts were awake and high alert even in his deepest sleep. He wouldn't let his mate go.

Either kind of danger or threat would have woken him right in that moment.

Sam let out a shuddering breath, as he opened his eyes again. It had to be the same man who had been sitting on his bed before. The same man, who had bought him from his previous owner. And god help him – he didn't want this anymore. Didn't want to be everyone's doll.

Sam's breath hitched and a hopeless hiccup wrenched from the back his throat. Tears started to pour down his cheeks, dripping onto the stranger's bicep and seeping into the pillow under his head.

Dean's eyes snapped open and the - from sleep - dilated emerald-green eyes focused within a split moment. He felt the human in his arms shake, felt the dampness of the pillow against the skin of his bicep and the wetness against his skin.

„Sam?", he asked, his hand moved to the man's hip, where he let it rest. „It's okay. - I didn't want to …" Dean sighed and shook his head slightly. „I didn't … we didn't do anything, kiddo. - You had a nightmare."

Sam tried desperately to stop himself from crying. He wasn't allowed to cry. Wasn't allowed to act like he did right now and he knew it. - So would the was no use for him. He was probably one of the worst kind-of-hookers everyone had ever seen.

Dean brushed gently over the soft skin under his hand, gently rubbing circles with his thump into it. „You wouldn't wake up." …. and I didn't know what else to do. „I was worried you'd hurt yourself ...", the younger Winchester tried to explain.

„Yes Sir." Sam swallowed a sob as he brushed the wetness from his cheeks with his open palm. „I'm sorry, Sir."

Dean closed his eyes and let out a long breath. „Let me hold you, okay? - You'll see nothing bad's gonna happen."

More tears fell from Sam's eyes. He felt so helpless … „Yes sir."

„And stop calling me sir, Sam.", he added a few moments later. „I'm not that old."

The human male sniffed, his body shook with sobs and hiccups – wrecked from crying. „I'm sorry, sir.", he gave back after a couple of moments, when his voice seemed to be stable enough again.

After a long while – as no tears were left – Sam's weeping subsided and he found some kind of comfort in the wolf's embrace. And Dean just lay there, holding him gently. He didn't dare to move, nor to shift just a bit ever since the crying had stopped. Dean didn't want to do something wrong – not after he had finally calmed down.

„See?", Dean asked softly. „Nothing's happening, Sam. - We're not going to hurt you. - We're here to help you."

He felt the human tremble in his arms, as he drew in a shallow breath.

„You're going to be okay, you know? - There's no punishment. Nothing you've to be afraid of." Dean pulled back a little, as the human shifted. His arm, where Sam's head rested on, had fallen asleep and was completely numb. But it didn't matter to him – not at all.

The human pulled his arms up and pressed them against his body, as if he wanted to shield himself from whatever he was afraid of. Dean guided his hand up towards Sam's, wich now rested against his chest and cupped them in his smaller one.

„My dad brought some clothes for you. - And I smell that Bobby's cooking something for us." He inched closer again and tugged the blanket up a little higher.

The man tried to be nice. Real nice. And Sam just couldn't believe that the man seemed to think that he was that stupid. Sam wasn't free and he'd never be. He KNEW that. They had made that clear at the very beginning. They had made a lot of stuff clear to him. And soon he had understood. He knew that there wasn't someone who'd come for him. Who'd save him.

Sam had tried to flee, but he had failed – and got punished. The guys who had bought him from his father had locked him into a bedroom with two others. A collar around his neck. A shackle around his left wrist that was attached to a chain, wich was anchored at the bed-end of the bed. - Yeah, it had been hard at the beginning. Sam was hardly able to accept his fait back then. Sometimes he didn't understand why this all was happening. Even after all these years.

Sam's bladder was calling for release ever since he had woken up – and crying had just improved the need of a bathroom. He knew he shouldn't have drunk that much. Sure he felt better now. His head didn't hurt that much. Even his stomach seemed to have settled halfway. But now he had to wait until the man would let him move.

Dean Winchester sniffed and rubbed his nose against Sam's shoulder-blade. „You haven't eaten your breakfast ...", he began then. „Aren't you hungry?"

Sam bit his lower lip. Thinking of giving the right answer – though he knew there wasn't a right or wrong one anyway. „No, sir."

Dean frowned – thinking. How could he possibly lure the human out of his mental prison without pushing? There had to be something … something he needed. Or wanted so bad that it was worth to leave the dark place he was in.

„Do you want to get cleaned up? - I mean … you've to feel gross, don't you?", he asked, thinking that he should start with standard needs, and the man hadn't been in the bathroom ever since.

All Sam thought was BATHROOM. So yeah, if it meant to get a cold shower and had the chance of releasing his overfilled bladder, he'd take the chance. So he nodded.

„Yes, sir."

With that Dean pulled his arm free,sat up forcefully and was on his feet in no-time. „Awesome. - C'mon, I'll help ya'." He smiled and reminded himself: Baby steps. - There was no hurry. No need to push. They had time.

Sam slowly uncurled from his fetal position, rolling onto his back. He pushed away the pain, telling himself that he had to if he wanted to get to the bathroom in time. So the only thing that showed that he was in pain, were the pain filled lines all over his face and a pleading expression in his eyes.

„Okay. - Look, we've to leave the room. The bathroom's on the other side of the living-room." Dean bit his lower lip – again thinking. „There'll be other people outside probably.", he said then, „My dad and Bobby are around here somewhere. - But don't you worry. They wouldn't hurt a fly."

Sam didn't look at him. He sat up awkwardly, the crispy air chilly to his skin. He sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments, trying to hold onto something while the spinning room slowly got to a hold. Then he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Everyone else would've looked up at the person who was touching him, but Sam didn't. He just tensed. He knew the man wouldn't let him go on his own. They never did.

„I'll help you, okay?" Dean tried to sound as uncaring about Sam's reaction as possible. „I'll help you to get to the bathroom and then I'll wait outside … And you'll holler if you need something?"

„Thank you, sir." Sam swallowed hard. „Yes, sir."

So Dean helped him to his feet, wrapping one arm of the man around his shoulders and he placed one of his around the taller man's waist to stabilize him. They made their way to the bedroom door without any problems. Dean then opened it and guided him outside.

His father and Bobby were sitting in front of the TV on the couch. The volume was turned down and barely audible for any human around.

The moment Sam seemed to realize that there were two other people in the room, his erratic heartbeat seemed to climb up rapidly again. He was shaking now and by the time they reached the bathroom across from the room they were in right now, Sam was ready to break down, curl up and stay where he'd fall.

Dean glanced at his father and Bobby, grateful that they ignored them. They didn't even glance at them or watch what Dean and Sam were doing. But Dean knew they were alert and ready to hurry up if they'd need any help.

„There you go.", Dean muttered and skipped the bathroom door open, switching on the light with his free hand.

By the time he helped Sam sitting down on the toilet bowl, he was covered in sweat, his breath coming in short pained puffs.

„You think you're able to handle the rest on your own?", Dean eyed him curiously. Not sure if it'd be a good idea to leave him alone.

Sam nodded. „Yes sir.", he choked out, one arm wrapped around his ribcage as he tried to catch his breath.

„Call when you're done and I'll bring you back." Dean hesitated for a moment before he left and closed the door behind him.

He leaned with his back against it and looked towards the two men on the couch, wich finally decided to give him attention. Then there was silence for a while. Everyone of them seemed to listen for any noises inside the bathroom.

„Why didn't you wake me?", Dean asked silently.

„The two of you were fast asleep and Ellen said she's in no hurry.", Bobby answered calmly, glancing towards the kitchen. „We figured it's better if we wait. - In daylight he looks even more horrible by the way."

John nudged Bobby in the side and growled silently. „The shopping bags are in my bedroom by the way."

Dean cocked an eyebrow at his father and pushed away from the door. Again stopping for a moment. „I'll be right back, Sam. - Just getting something for ya'."

Sam eyed the shower stall curiously and thought about taking a long hot shower. But he figured that his wounds wouldn't take it so kindly. Besides he didn't think that he'd be able to stay on his feet long enough to shower.

Instead he turned on the water at the sink beside him and gulped some of it down greedily in case he wouldn't get any. He had learned the hard way to take what he could get in time.

The younger Winchester was back in no time in front of the door, knocking. „You okay in there?", he asked hesitantly with a pile of clothes in his hands.

„Yes, sir.", came back muffled.

„May I come in?" Dean knew Sam wouldn't say no – just because he wasn't used to say NO. Though he figured that taking advantage in this case wasn't bad at all.

„Yes, sir." Sam tugged his boxers back up, before the door opened and sat down on the toilet bowl again.

Dean lurked inside, spotting the human on the bowl and entered then. He kneeled down before him, laying the dark fabric beside his feet.

„My dad got you some clothes. - Might as well put them on, huh? Before you catch a cold." Dean smiled up at him, but still – the man's eyes were hidden behind overlong strands of hair. And he just wouldn't look at him.

Without asking if it was okay that he'd help him, he took the dark-brown sweatpants and looked up again. „I'm gonna help you to get dressed. - I don't think you should bow down and strain your back or ribs too much." With that he took Sam's left foot and let him slide into the pants and then the right one. He tugged them upwards over Sam's legs and knees. The next thing he saw were these fluffy socks in black. All cosy and soft. Dean honestly doubted his father's mental state at this point. - On the other hand, John was right, since he wasn't able to buy any shoes for Sam without trying them on, this seemed to be one of the better possibilities.

The floor in the cabin was cold and didn't warm up at all. So yeah – probably it had been a good idea to get socks like this. Though … somehow it seemed weird to Dean, since he knew just girls who were wearing them.

Dean took Sam's foot in his, his fingertips on Sam's bottom of his foot. The skin there didn't feel as it was supposed to and he frowned. Looking up at Sam for a moment, then back at the foot in his lap. Then Dean lifted it up slightly and took it in - closely. - There were scars.

„What happened to your feet?" Dean looked up again, with a mix of anger and confusion, „Who did this to you?", his voice broke.

„I tried to run, sir.", Sam answered silently, „This way i couldn't … It was my fault. - I just shouldn't have run."

Dean's gaze dropped on the big foot in his lap. „Does it still hurt?" He knew the scars were old ones. Though Dean knew that scar tissues sometimes hurt even when they were a couple of years old. - Specially on body areas like this.

„Sometimes, Sir." Sam stole a wary glance at the man on the floor, feeling gentle fingertips brushing over his toes. „But it's not bad, sir."

Without wasting any more thoughts about fluffy socks and scars, he slipped Sam's feet into a pair of them and rose with a sweater-vest in his hands.

The human was shivering violently by now. - Probably it was already too cold in the cabin for a human being. Dean had to admit that he and the others didn't feel the cold as intensive as humans. Werewolves had a different metabolism after all.

„Sam?", Dean asked and laid his hand on the human's yaw, guiding his face up. „Look at me." It wasn't an order, nor a plea. It was requested with such warmth and tenderness, leaving some room for Sam to decide if or if not to follow his request.

And Sam looked up – for the first time in a long time – looking in someone else's eyes. So it was that hazel-green eyes met emerald-green ones.

Dean smiled, brushing chestnut-brown bangs out of Sam's face and behind his ear. These eyes reminded him of something – SOMEONE. So familiar and though strangers.

Moments later the human male was on the verge of tears again.

„You're freezing." Dean helped him into the sweater-vest and zipped it up. „I'll bring you some hot chocolate later. - For now you'll go back to bed." He laid his hand on Sam's yaw again and guided it up to look into these unbelievable vivid colours of his eyes. „I want you to look at me when we're talking, Sam. - I want to know if you understand me, or not." Dean's voice had dropped an octave.

„Yes sir."

Dean nodded and helped him on his feet. Tugging the sweatpants up over his hips. „You did real great so far." He smiled, and wrapped an arm around Sam's lower back. „Now lets get you back to bed and warmed up again, huh?"

„Yes sir." Sam felt grateful for the clothes and the chance to rest before they would start to work on him. He knew it was stupid to feel that way. - Because deep down inside him he knew that no one should be treated the way he had been and would be in the future. Though – he had to take what he got. And somehow he sure deserved all of this.

The man didn't go with him to bed again. He just tugged the covers around him and then left, leaving a fresh glass with juice on the nightstand. It didn't last long until he drifted off to sleep again.

Sam woke to a gentle voice. Someone was saying his name … and something about waking up. But he didn't want to. It was warm, it was comfortable and he didn't get beaten up in more than a day by now. He didn't want to wake up from a dream like this. Didn't want to face reality again.

But obviously he had to.

„Sam. - C'mon." Dean glanced up at the blonde woman beside him. „Ellen's here. - She's gonna have a look at your ribs and stuff." He squeezed the man's shoulder gently.

Finally Sam's eyes blinked open and he glanced up sleepily. Freezing as soon as he saw the man and a woman standing beside his bed. - His gaze immediately dropped as he was taught to do.

„There you go, kiddo." Dean smiled, though his heart sank as Sam wouldn't look at him, again. „That's Ellen. - She's going to check you over."

„Yes, sir."

Ellen and the younger wolf shared a short worried glance. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed. „That's our patient.", she said with a sad smile on her lips. Her smoke-rough voice filled the room with emotional warmth. „So … May I have a look at you?"

Sam stole a glance at her face. She smiled at him. „Yes, Ma'am." He shuddered and closed his eyes as she tugged the blanket down.

„First I'm gonna check ya' head, hon.", she informed him. „But … you gotta look at me when we do so."

Sam nodded and turned towards her, his gaze glued to a spot on the wall.

Ellen hovered over him, fumbling a penlight out of her medical case. „Fine, and now you've to look at me.", she muttered.

Sam obeyed. He looked into friendly big brown eyes. The woman touched his cheek like he'd do with any other patient.
Sam flinched at the sudden movement.

Ellen examined his chest and ribcage, his stomach and his back. And with every area she took in, her face darkened further. She also took a look at Sam's feet (because Dean asked for it). And Sam let her. He just pulled back into himself, into a save haven deep down in his mind. Where it was just him and a golden field of wheat. The sun and blue sky above him. Where birds sang and everything was okay. Where he didn't feel any kind of pain or embarrassment.

Where he was truly safe and on his own.

Ellen sat down at the table, holding her mug of coffee in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other one. She sighed deeply and looked up at the three men that were with her. Then she put the mug down.

„Concussion. Three cracked ribs. - Lacerations … a whole lot of old scars and new once. Nothing lethal as far as I can tell. He's starved and dehydrated. - I'd say he's about twenty-six years old. His teeth are okay as far as I can tell. His temperature is a little bit high – maybe because one of the gashes on his back is infected." She took a breath. „His ears are okay as far as I can tell." She looked at Dean. „He sure hears you – he's maybe just too wrapped up in his own world to can follow what you're sayin'." She paused again and sighed. „I'd say you let him rest a lot. - But get him up twice a day to walk around a bit. - I'll leave you some meds and antiseptic wash-lotion. Maybe you can get him into the tub." She frowned, looking at the three of them, who hung on every word that left her lips. „Other than that … i can't tell you anything about his mental state except the obvious."

Dean nodded, making a checklist in his mind. „What can we do about his feet. - I mean …"

Ellen nodded. „The scar tissues. - I know. You can use marigold salve to keep the skin soft and tender. - It's going to ease the tension and it's going to hurt less … or even stop hurting after a while."

Dean nodded understanding. „There's no chance you got the salve with you too?" He gazed at her full of hope.

She shook her head and chuckled. „I'm no wandering drugstore, hon." She took a sip from her coffee. „So you're planning on keeping him here for a while by the looks of it ..."

Bobby brushed over his beard. John leaned back in his chair, scooping down a bit and Dean held her gaze as her look shifted towards him. - Determination in his eyes. „Yeah – he's going to stay for a while."

Ellen grinned. „Fine. - I don't think a hospital or mental ward would be the right place for him anyway." She sniffed, looking into the ingredients of her mug. „I'll leave you antibiotics too. - If he should start to cough, start with them. Twice a day with a lot of fluids. - We don't want him to develop pneumonia or something."

Dean nodded again.

„You guys should start off with light meals. Boiled vegetables and chicken, rice, potatoes … that kinda things. - Try and get as much fluids into him as possible. Other than that … i guess the three of you will be able to handle the situation." She grinned at Dean, catching his gaze. „Never thought you'd fall for a human, kid."

He glared at her in respond. „I'm not a kid anymore. - I'm thirty. Besides … I am not falling for him. He's my mate. A fact I can hardly change – obviously." With that he jumped up, pissed as hell within a second. „I'd have chosen a werewolf if it would've been on me. - But sadly I'll stuck with a human nutcase in this."

Leaving three stuttered pack-members behind, he got back into his bedroom – where the human was fast asleep again. Dean's eyes glistened with rage and sorrow. He didn't mean to say the things he had. And even when he said he would've chosen someone else as mate. Deep down he knew he didn't want to change it. In an oddly wise he was pretty cool with the fact of how Sam was and WHAT he was. And somehow it didn't really matter tha the was a nutcase either …

Maybe it were just his Winchester genes that had made him say that. Maybe because he wasn't used to show his soft core to others. At least not to the three outside, to whom he had always been the master of cockiness.

Dean went to his closet and put on fresh pyjama bottoms. With a sigh he crawled on the bed, settling on the free space beside the human and crawled under the covers. He watched the human male sleep silently, as the last sunbeams danced on his pale cheek. He saw the dried moisture of tears and the way he pressed his arms against his torso.

Tomorrow would be a new day with new tasks. Trying to get the human into the bathtub and walk around a little bit more. Maybe trying to get him used to Bobby and John at some point.

…... to be continued

you guys know I LOVE bacon. - So what'd you say? Do I get some? :P