Summary: AU: Stanford Era: "Dean … Sammy's in trouble." A late night phone call sends Dean Winchester and long-time friend, Caelan Hagan in a desperate search to find Sam before the unthinkable happens; uncovering lies and secrets involving the youngest Winchester, that have been years in the making.
Warnings: Violence, swearing, physical abuse, torture, implied adult themes.
Disclaimer: I don't own the supernatural characters.
Author's Note: Just another possibility on why Sam left for Stanford. Introducing new character, Caelan Hagan. Hope you enjoy.
Special Note: Special thanks to Mimmi85 and Kas3y for your kind words of encouragement. Here's another chapter just for all you guys who have taken the time out to read this story and to all the people who have this story on their alerts or have put it on their favourite lists. Thanks. It means a lot.
DEMON SPAWN: THE PHONE CALL
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Peter Stewart exchanged a frantic look with Hank Adams before he turned wide, pleading eyes – nope, nowhere near the power that Sam's perfected puppy-eyes had over him! – upon Caelan once more. "Look, okay, you're right," Peter admitted, a desperate, humbled tone to the Hunter's voice that Caelan had never heard before.
"Hank and I … I'm not going to lie, we … did some shady crap, okay? But we weren't the ones who kidnapped the kid; or fucked him up like that. When Hank I were called in … to offer assistance … Sam … he was already in bad shape. We'd only been there an hour before you guys turned up."
Peter's tone turned pleading, almost begging. "I know we shouldn't have … participated in that but we aren't the master-minds behind this Hagen. We were just called in at the last minute, I swear!"
Caelan's eyes narrowed at Peter's words. If what he said was true then … these guys were nothing but pawns in a much larger game that Caelan had no clue who was involved with this particular game. It could be anyone ... with no idea of how many more people were involved or what the fuck this was all about!
Caelan took a deep breath and let it out slowly, determined not to show the sudden uneasiness that had settled within the pit of his stomach because of this whole fucked up situation especially to these two fuck-heads before him!
Caelan shook his head as he realised that these two sorry sons of bitches were meant to be caught; they were meant to take the blame for this while the true instigators of this very real and dangerous game managed to get away without any repercussions at all.
Damn, these guys were good!
Stewart and Adams had obviously been set up in order to take the blame for Sam's abduction and torture … but why? Why would they go after two of the most prominent families within the hunting community? Unless … that was exactly what they had intended to do; to get rid of the two wealthiest, well-known, respected and admired families within the hunting circle.
If Caelan wanted to take down the hunting community, that's where he'd start. Take out the families who had generations of Hunters – by sullying the very names that made other Hunters respect and admire them – behind them; all of that experience, knowledge and … tradition, not to mention the Hunters unspoken code of conduct … would be gone; leaving room for something or someone else to take its place.
Holy crap! What in the hell had Sammy Winchester gotten them all involved in?!
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Dean's expression softened at his younger brother's agitated state, squeezing the back of Sam's neck in a comforting, reassuring gesture. "Listen to me little brother," Dean told Sam in a firm, confident voice. "You will never be put in that contraption ever again … I will kill any bastard who tries to do that to you, okay kid?"
Sam nodded, looking far from convinced at Dean's words. And really, Dean couldn't blame the kid for not believing him. How many times had his brother been in this predicament and Dean been oblivious to Sam's traumatized state of mind?
"Sammy, I swear to you, right now, on Mum's … grave … that those bastards will never get their hands on you again!"
Sam took a moment to search Dean's eyes, looking for signs of deception or deceit before he nodded. "Okay Dean," he said softly, his tone suggesting that he believed his big brother's words completely and Dean felt a surge of relief fill him.
Thank God his little brother hadn't lost all faith in and belief in him. And Dean knew that he would make good on his promise. If any bastard – and Dean didn't care how far up the Hunter's chain they were; how respected or admired or even if he knew them; if they – dared to come after Sammy again, they would face the full wrath and protectiveness of Dean Winchester. No one touched Sammy and got away with it!
Dean frowned as some of Sam's words began to filter through to his mind. "What do you mean it's all wrong Sammy?" he gently prodded his not quite catatonic younger brother.
Sam blinked at Dean sluggishly and Dean wasn't sure if Sam could even hear or understand what he was saying anymore as Sam's eyes slowly focused upon Deans, blinking rapidly while he processed Dean's question.
If Dean didn't know any better, he'd swear that Sam was high as a kite right now, but Dean did know better and Dean had to assume that it was shock settling in (unless those bastards had drugged him before Dean and Caelan arrived!); or blood loss (cause the kid could be bleeding internally for all Dean knew as he hadn't had a chance to completely assess his younger brother's wounds yet, too pre-occupied with getting Sam out of that damn box and then keeping him calm so that he didn't reach super, extreme, hyper panic mode!) or he could have a concussion or it could be something as simple as exhaustion. Although knowing Sammy and knowing that he never did anything by half-measures, it wouldn't be simple; and knowing their luck Sammy could possibly be suffering from a combination of shock, blood-loos, concussion and exhaustion.
Right. Questions later. First thing was first, he had to get Sammy out of here and get him some medical attention now!
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Now they were fighting a secret war with an unknown enemy with unknown objectives and who obviously had no trouble in playing dirty to get what they wanted. And with not knowing exactly what their intentions were, Caelan knew that they needed to keep things as they were until they found out what this unknown enemy's true objective was. And in order to do that, that would mean … they would need to keep the structure of the hunting community as stable and intact for as long as possible until they could figure out what the hell was going on.
Caelan's eyes grew round as a sudden horrible, sickening thought occurred to him. To keep things as they were – stable, intact and whole – that would mean keeping the Stewart and Adams families firmly fixed upon the pedestal within the structure of the hunting community. And in order to do that … they would have to destroy all evidence of Peter Stewart and Hank Adams of ever being involved in the torture of Sam Winchester.
Fuck!
Dean Winchester was going to be pissed when he learned that these bastards might actually get away with what they had done to Sammy.
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"Okay Sammy, I have no idea where your clothes are, but I did happen to find a couple of blankets in the top cupboard over there. It will have to do until we get you out of here, okay?" Dean forced a reassuring smile upon his lips as he wrapped one blanket around his brother's waist and the other around his shoulders, noticing that Sam's shivering had become worse since he had gone in search of something to drape over his naked traumatized little brother. "Okay dude, think you can stand?"
Sam looked at Dean, perplexed, confused about what he was expected to do. Hadn't Dean asked him a question before? Something about why it was all wrong ….
"It's the wrong date," Sam whispered, tears immediately jumping into his large hazel eyes. "I fucked up Dean … wasn't expecting it … not – not today! And … it's not long enough." Sam's eyes clouded over with horror, shuddering with revulsion, lost in memories only he could see for a few terrifying moments (especially for Dean!) before Sam's eyes cleared and he refocused upon Dean once more.
"Supposed to last for … I don't know … maybe a couple of weeks?" Sam shrugged helplessly. "Hard to keep track of time when you're in there!" he told his brother, a disturbed, haunted tone entering his voice as he stared morbidly at that "box" in the middle of the room. "Wasn't expecting it Dean," Sam murmured, almost as if in apology. "Haven't had to …" Sam shook his head and swallowed hard, frustration beginning to flare up within his hazel eyes now.
"We had an agreement. We had an agreement Dean! If I left … if I didn't contact you … they – he – was supposed to leave me alone. We had an agreement Dean!" Sam insisted, desperately pleading with Dean to believe him.
"Sammy, it's okay," Dean told his distraught little brother; squeezing the back of Sam's neck in a calming, soothing manner. "I believe you little brother. I believe you, okay?" Dean crouched down so that he could look Sam in the eyes, offering his brother an encouraging smile. "I'm sorry little bro, I shouldn't be … pushing you so soon … but you're okay now; you're safe. You're safe Sammy, I promise."
"Dean?!" Sam cried out suddenly, grabbing hold of his brother's shirt in both desperation and dismay; almost causing Dean to lose his footing because Sam's sudden, unexpected action had startled him so much. "Dean! Oh God … what … what are you doing here?!"
Dean frowned, becoming instantly concerned by his brother's confused and agitated behaviour. Kid obviously has a concussion, Dean thought, trying to keep his smile light, easy and reassuring, not wanting to spook or startle the kid any more than necessary. "Sammy, it's okay. I came to … help you … remember?"
"No …" Sam moaned, extremely distressed now. "Dean, no, you can't be here!" Sam tightly gripped Dean's shirt within his hand, his eyes growing wide with fear. "You have to go Dean! You have to get out of here before he comes back."
"Sammy, it's okay –"
"No!" Sam wailed, violently shaking his head. "You don't understand. You have to get out of here Dean … before he comes back. You don't … the things he'll do to you … please Dean," Sam urged beseechingly. "Please Dean; you need to go now, while you can, before he gets back. He said … God Dean; I won't let him do that to you Dean. I won't let him!" Sam declared fiercely, clutching at Dean's shirt with both hands now, almost as if he could pull Dean away from the perceived threat that Sam saw.
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"Who called you in?" Caelan demanded irately, feeling extremely frustrated at these sons of bitches that would most likely be let loose after today, receiving no punishment for their crimes …
Fuck that!
If these guys were going to get away with what they had done to Sammy then Caelan was going to make damn sure that before they left here today, they would be leaving with a couple of … mementoes … marks (or scars, whichever way you wanted to look at it) that would be a constant reminder of what they had done here today.
Even if they did somehow walk away from this unharmed … Caelan would hope that the daily reminder of the … scar … that they would forever display would at least make them remorseful for the abhorrent acts that they had participated in here today.
Adams might one day feel shame and embarrassment for his actions but Caelan didn't have high hopes that Stewart would feel anything … other than his normal arrogant, cocky, self-assured, thinks-he's-better-than-everyone-else attitude that he seemed to have adopted for his everyday use.
And really, that was the only thing Stewart had going for him – his name and his wealth – everything else that Stewart had trained for and prepared for in order to become a Hunter … he sucked at it … big time; which was why Adams was by Stewart's side constantly … not as a partner … more like a glorified bodyguard!
Man, these guys were idiots! Caelan didn't even have to physically hit them in order to hurt them. All he really had to do, in order to bring Stewart crumbling to his knees, was to take away all that wealth, respect and admiration that he had inherited because of his name (the hard work that his father, grandfather great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather had achieved by living and breathing the life of a Hunter, thereby gaining the respect and admiration from other old-school families and Hunters alike).
The most easiest and simplest way that Caelan could completely destroy Peter Stewart … because he had all of the evidence right here … was to show other Hunters a couple of photos of them torturing Sam and wait for the damning evidence to bring Peter Stewart's world crashing down around him. No one would ever want to do business with the Stewart family ever again. No business, no money; no money, no respect; no respect … game on for other Hunters to really show you how they feel when Hunters attack their own for no probable reason or cause.
Yes, if Caelan wanted to, he could bring Stewart's world crashing down around him. But … at the moment, they had more pressing issues to discuss.
"So?" Caelan inquired, his tone abrupt, short and blunt, leaving no question in either Hunters minds that Caelan would be getting a name from them … one way or another. "Who was it that called you guys in?"
"We can't tell you that." Peter stammered nervously. "We tell you that and we may as well be signing our own death warrants!"
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"Sammy," Dean cupped his brother's face in his hands, their foreheads almost touching, forcing Sam's panicked hazel eyes to look into his calm, concerned green eyes. "Sammy, no one's coming to hurt me … or you, okay? We got the bastards who did this Sammy. Me and Caelan took them down; no one's coming to hurt us little brother … I promise."
Sam frantically searched Dean's eyes before he gave Dean a barely visual nod, slowly uncurling his fists from around Dean's shirt. "Okay Dean," Sam breathed, his tense posture beginning to relax; even managing to offer Dean a weak, apologetic smile. "Okay."
"There we go," Dean grinned, gently squeezing his brother's shoulder in approval. "C'mon Sammy, let's get you out of here," Carefully Dean manoeuvred his freakishly tall younger brother to his feet, supporting Sam's weight until the kid's legs became as steady as they could considering his little brother's batter, bruised and exhausted state.
"Don't worry Sammy; those bastards won't live past tomorrow once Dad gets his hands on them. It don't matter that those two idiots grew up in the life or that their fathers are seasoned Hunters; their family names demanding respect and admiration … nope, all the money and respect in the world isn't going to help either one of them when Dad gets his hands on them!" Dean chuckled, supporting Sam's weight as they took an experimental step forward. "And I don't mean to boast or anything … but those two chuckle-heads had nothing on me and Caelan!"
"Two?" Sam frowned, feeling the smile slipping, his heart beginning to pound in both fear and dread.
"Yeah; Peter Stewart and Hank Adams. Never would have pegged either one of them as the suicidal, sadistic type … but hey, what do I know?"
Sam stopped dead in his tracks, causing Dean to look at Sam questioningly, becoming even more alarmed when he noticed his brother's face growing whiter and paler with every second that passed.
"Sammy, maybe we should sit down for a minute," Dean advised, automatically beginning to guide Sam to a chair that he could sit upon and rest.
"Dean … Peter and Hank … they weren't the ones who drugged and kidnapped me. They arrived later … after he called them."
"What?"
"You didn't get the other one?" Sam asked, his whole body beginning to shake in fear. "He … he got away? Sicko …" Sam closed his eyes, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Sicko … he planned this Dean. He planned for Peter and Hank to take the blame for this. He was the one who called you and …"
No! Dead Fucker had escaped?! But how?
Dean clicked his jaw back, determined not to show his disappointment and rising concern to his younger brother. He didn't have time to worry about the Dead Fucker right now. The only thing Dean could think about and concentrate on right now as getting his brother the medical attention that he needed. Everything else could wait until after Sammy was declared physically fit and healthy.
"Don't worry Sammy, it's okay," Dean quickly assured the quaking young man beside him. "I don't care how long it takes, but I will personally hunt that son of a bitch – Dead Fucker – down and end him myself!" Dean promised, protectively holding his baby brother in his arms. "He's never gonna get near you again Sammy … no one's going to get near you again, I promise." Dean vowed vehemently, knowing that this was one promise that he would keep. Because Dean wouldn't rest until that SOB; Dead Fucker was dead at his feet, his punishment for ever having the audacity of putting his God damned filthy hands all over his kid brother!
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"If you don't give me a name Stewart, then I make damn sure that some of these pictures – especially the ones that capture your beautiful eyes – make the rounds anonymously to all of the Hunters in your rich, elite club. Most of the old-school Hunters still abide by the unspoken rule of honour and conduct and how we never hurt one of our own … unless it's life or death.
You think all of those families will see your view on how Sam is no longer a Hunter because he left the hunting life to become a civilian?" Caelan watched Peter squirm uncomfortably at Caelan's barely veiled threat.
Black-mail wasn't something Caelan would often resort to … he found black-mail to be crude, cruel and morally wrong, but this was the only language that Stewart understood. You could threaten to beat him, argue with him until you were blue in the face, try to make him see reason and Stewart would still emerge with that cocky, self-appointed arrogant smirk upon his face.
No, the only thing this bastard truly feared was to have his wealth, power and the respect that he demanded from other Hunters to be stripped away, leaving Stewart with nothing to shield him or hide behind, having to earn respect and admiration the hard way … like everyone else.
Unfortunately for Stewart, as well as lacking in the skills required to be a Hunter, Stewart had zero personality in which others could form a close bond with. He'd spent most of his life putting down other Hunters and laughing in their faces if they made a mistake, so he really had no one to blame but himself now that the tables had turned and he realised just how easily Caelan could tear his whole world apart; everything he knew and loved would be gone in an instant and for the first time in his life, Peter Stewart felt truly afraid.
TBC