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. Hope you enjoy. I have no knowledge or training in medical areas. I Have tried to keep everything as realistic as possible, but, as medical knowledge is not my area of expertise, just beware that there may be some mistakes in the next few chapters.
Special Note: 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 TWENTY-SIX
Dean froze at the doctor's words, once again hearing his little brother's agonized screams as Dead Fucker had taunted him over the phone, Dean not being able to do a single damn thing to prevent that from happening to his brother, the helpless frustration rolling through him as he was once again reminded of that horrendous act, hoping like hell his suspicions on what was happening to his brother was wrong, but now realising with dread, horror and anger that his assumptions had been correct, considering what the doctor had just revealed to him.
"I'm aware," Dean stated as calmly as he could, the only sign of his roller coaster emotions was his eyes twitching as he tried to suppress and force down his emotions once more. "How … bad is it?" Dean finally asked, feeling sick, guilty and worried all at the same time. If only he'd gotten to his brother sooner …
"There was significant tearing but we were able to stitch it up and he shoulder make a full recovery."
Dean couldn't help but wince at her words. "Should?" Dean questioned, suddenly apprehensive now. "What do you mean by that?"
"Sorry," Elizabeth blushed. "Wrong choice of words. Physically he will make a full recovery." She amended.
Dean nodded slowly, relieved that his brother wouldn't have any lasting physical effects over this. He also knew that it would take a lot longer for Sam's psychological wounds to heal.
"Okay." Dean breathed, a brief smile upon his lips before it was gone again. "That makes me feel … I can deal with that." Dean added firmly, almost as if he was talking to himself. "Thanks Doc."
Dean was about to walk back toward his brother, thinking that the conversation was over, but Elizabeth's hand upon his arm stopped him in his tracks.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this Dean, really I am, but … when we were stitching Sam up … there was also significant scarring in that area."
Dean blinked, confused at the doctor's words. "What exactly does that mean?"
"This wasn't the first time that Sam has been sexually assaulted."
"What?!" Dean's eyes grew round with shock and horror, glancing over at his brother to the doctor and then back to his brother again. This wasn't the first time … someone had … his Sammy; his baby brother had been raped before? When? How was this even possible?
Dean closed his eyes, suddenly feeling nauseous and dizzy at the same time. Some fucking protector he had turned out to be! "Are you sure?" Dean asked so quietly that Elizabeth had to strain to hear what Dean had said as he looked at her in a desperate, hopeful, pleading way.
Elizabeth blinked back the sudden hot, stinging sensation in her eyes as she swallowed back her emotions, struggling to maintain her professionalism. "Of course, we don't know that for sure." She said as gently as she could. 'But, I've unfortunately seen these types of injuries a lot more than I would like to admit, and that type of scarring … it's a definite red flag for sexual abuse."
Elizabeth saw Dean sag a little, deflated at this news and she couldn't help but feel for this man; this Hunter that she barely knew but who obviously loved and adored his younger brother very much. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, the words not nearly strong enough to portray how she was feeling but it was the best that she could offer this obviously distraught man beside her.
Dean gritted his jaw together, determined not to fall apart in front of the doctor, quickly locking down his emotions, a numbness spreading through him as he nodded stiffly at the woman's meaningless words. "Is there anything else I should know?"
DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW
"What the fuck Caelan?" Caleb said, confused and bewildered by his friend's explanation, a slight shiver of apprehension running through him.
Caelan hadn't been wrong when he'd told Caleb that this was big. At the time, Caleb had been running on pure adrenaline and righteous anger at what these two … idiots … so-called Hunters … had done to his friend.
Although Caleb hadn't been around the Winchester siblings as much as Caelan had, Caleb still considered Sam and Dean to be his friends – John and Dean having saved his hide on more than one occasion – and Caleb was a loyal bastard. His friends were like his family, so Caleb would do everything in his power to protect and defend them to the best of his ability.
After hearing Caelan's explanation of both his thoughts and what he had learned so far about this secret organisation that not even Caleb had heard about before today, Caleb knew that he should get as far away as he could from both Caelan and the Winchesters.
But … Caleb had never been smart and he most definitely was not a coward! So, instead of running, like most other people would have, Caleb silently vowed to help his friends, no matter what that may cost him.
Sometimes being loyal and not a coward was not a good combination, forcing Caleb to run toward danger instead of away from it. But … Caleb knew in his heart that he could never abandon his friends. His pride and stubbornness wouldn't let him act in such a cowardly way. So, toward the danger he would charge …
"So, you think this organisation is full of what … Hunters?" Caleb demanded incredulously, hating to think that some of the people he trusted the most could be involved with this.
"I don't know Caleb," Caelan sighed, running a tired hand over his eyes, trying to wipe away his exhaustion and worry. He hated to be apart from Dean and Sam so long. He wanted to get to them now, but he also knew how important it was to call this organisation off of their backs. They couldn't do their damn jobs if they had to be constantly worried about and on the alert for other Hunters scrambling to attack them as well. They had to get this damn target removed from their backs!
"But it's safe to assume so. Stewart, Hank and their Dads are definitely a part of this organisation; plus the sick fuck who orchestrated Sammy's abduction and torture session to begin with." Caelan paused to look closely at his friend who was gaping at him as if he couldn't believe this was actually happening. Caelan knew how Caleb felt. How many times today had Caelan had to remind himself that this was real and in no way an induced nightmare? Too many fucking times to count!
"And because we don't know who is exactly involved in this secret organisation, we don't know who we can trust." Caelan watched as Caleb's expression turned to horror once Caelan's words penetrated his numb mind.
"That's why I … I'm sorry I pulled you into this Hags. I didn't realise how big it was. I just wanted some help dealing with those two fuck-heads." Caelan jerked his head in Stewart and Adams' direction before turning back to his friend once more. "If I'd known …"
"What?" Caleb demanded. "You wouldn't have called me in? Is that what you're saying?" Caleb almost growled, becoming angry now. "For fuck sake Caelan, how many times do I have to remind you that you don't need to handle this shit alone?
Haven't I proven that I will always back you up both on hunts and your personal issues – like your kamikaze, suicidal act of going after old-school Hunters because you felt they knew more about your Dad's death than what they were telling you? I thought you fucking trusted me!" Caleb's light brown eyes hardened with an anger that Caelan had rarely seen within his friend's eyes, while Caelan could only stare up at Caleb completely dumbfounded and confused by his friend's words.
Where the hell had this come from?
Caelan frowned and couldn't help his own indignant anger from surging within him. "Of course I trust you! Why the fuck do you think I called you?" Caelan retorted, fighting to keep his voice low and not give into the rising irritation within him.
Caleb closed his eyes at Caelan's sharp retort, breathing deeply to calm himself down. Maybe he had been a tad out of line there, but, for fuck sake, you would think that after all of these years that Caelan realised that Caleb didn't abandon his friends … not ever!
"I was just trying to say that if I'd known how dangerous this was going to be, I would have warned you." Caelan said almost defensively now. "Geez Hags, someone needs to take a damn chill pill!"
Caleb couldn't help but chuckle in agreement with Caelan's assessment. Yep, he was too damn on edge for his own good! "Sorry man, I just … I would have been more pissed if you hadn't called me! And, as I recall, you did warn me how dangerous this could be. You told me that if I got involved with this, I could have Hunters gunning for me … I just didn't think there would be a whole damn organisation of them!"
Caelan laughed bitterly. "Yeah, this isn't exactly how I thought this would go down either!" Caelan clapped Caleb on the shoulder and grinned at him weakly. "Glad you're with me Hawkes, I don't think I could have done this by myself.
When this is all over, what do you say, you and me go to the nearest bar we can fine; drink, play some pool; instigate a brawl, have some hot kinky sex with the hottest chicks we can find and make a damn weekend of it?"
"A vacation? Oh Hags, I didn't know you cared." Caleb teased before he returned his friend's grin and held out a hand. "That sounds like the best damn plan I've heard in a long time. I'm in!" Caleb whole heartedly agreed, sealing the agreement with a boisterous handshake.
Now all they had to do was to survive this latest misadventure they were involved in to make good on the deal that they had just struck with each other.
CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH
Dean felt his cool, detached, Hunter's mask slide into place as Elizabeth spoke to him about all of the other, older scars that they had noticed upon his baby brother's body while they had examined him.
Most of it looked like whip marks, Elizabeth had explained, mainly upon Sam's butt checks, upper and inner thighs. There was some burn marks upon Sam's groin, which looked like cigarette butt burns, but they couldn't be entirely sure that's what had caused the marks.
As Elizabeth continued to talk, and while Dean's outward appearance was cool, calm and collected, inside Dean's emotions were boiling inside of him like a damn inferno, a deep-seeded rage and hate for these bastards who had fucking tortured his kid brother for … God knows how many years … coiling and slithering within him, knowing that he would never be able to get rid of this newly founded rage and hate until he had exacted revenge upon the sick A-holes who had hurt his brother!
Dean's jaw twitched almost convulsively, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as he tried to breathe through his newly formed rage-hate, desperately trying to keep his emotions under control beneath his cool exterior, not wanting the doctor to see the pounding fury that was coursing through him.
Although, if he was completely honest, most of what he was feeling was eighty per-cent guilt for not only what had been done to his brother but for not noticing the various scars that Doctor Elizabeth had told him about that littered his little brother's body.
There was a time when Dean knew everything about this kid; he could tell by one look into Sam's expressive hazel eyes what his brother was feeling; if he was hurt or trying to hide an injury of some kind. When had all of that changed? When had he lost the ability to be able to tell why his brother was hurting? Not only physically, but emotionally and mentally was well?
Dean had thought that he'd had a close bond with his little brother. He'd prided himself on being able to anticipate Sam's needs before Sam even knew what he needed or wanted. It was his job to look out for his younger brother's needs. Being the oldest, it was Dean's responsibility to take care of his younger sibling.
But … even more than it being Dean's job or responsibility to look out for and protect his pain in the ass little brother, it was a part of who he was. Keeping Sammy safe … it was ingrained within his very being, and it … it pissed him off that he had failed his baby brother in such a disastrous, monumental way.
Dean forced a smile upon his taunt lips as the doctor laid a hand upon his arm, asking him if he was okay, concern and worry within her blue eyes. Dean nodded mechanically, verbally assuring the doctor that he was fine and needed to get back to his brother now.
Elizabeth smiled, vowing to check in with Dean within the next few hours and then Dean was left alone … alone with his self-incriminating thoughts as Dean tried to puzzle out when exactly everything had gone to shit, and how he'd stuffed up so badly, failing to notice his little brother's emotional and physical pain.
Almost reflectively, Dean made his way toward his brother's bed, eyes travelling over the length of Sam's body to make sure that his little brother was still comfortable and at peace, free from nightmares.
Satisfied that Sam seemed to be free of invading nightmares for the time being, Dean pulled the seat closer toward his hospital bed and sat down, instinctively grasping Sam's hand in his own, silently soothing and reassuring his brother that his big brother was here and that Sam was going to be okay as he once again contemplated when he had become so complacent in his older brother duties, as well as being Sammy's protector.
Dean recalled that Sam had always been a relatively clingy kid, always needing physical touches to reassure and soothe him; whether that be by ruffling his hair, squeezing the back of his neck, clamping a hand upon his shoulder or the infamous one-armed hug that Dean bestowed upon his brother infrequently (his way of saying "I love you" to his extremely emotional sibling).
Sam would have no problem in initiating physical contact if he needed it, either crushing Dean in a full-fledged, round the waist, enthusiastic hug which caused Dean to chuckle and return the favour with his one-armed hug or to pat Sam's head in recognition, his checks blushing red with embarrassment if he was around other Hunters his own age or trying to impress the next girl of his choice.
But Dean had never growled or gotten angry at Sam's affectionate ways, or dissuaded the way Sam would fling himself into Dean's arms every day after school or when he returned after a hunt with Dad or another Hunter.
And while Sam had never been shy about voicing his opinions or expressing the emotional issues that Dean tried to avoid like the plague, as Sam grew older, he became more … hesitant … unwilling to shower Dean with his full-fledged hugs or shying away from the frequent touches of affection that Dean was now used to bestowing upon his emotionally sensitive younger brother, his huge hazel eyes now asking for permission to either hug or receive the reassuring physical gestures that he craved instead of initiating contact himself.
Dean let out a weary sigh, knowing that he would make himself sick with worry or drive himself to the brink of insanity if he continued to wallow in these morbid thoughts.
There were only two things that Dean knew for certain. Sam would recover from this and tell Dean exactly what those bastards had done to him now and in previous years; and the sons of bitches who had hurt Sam would suffer the wrath of an irate Dean Winchester!
DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW CH DW
Caelan held his breath when Peter Stewart finally ended his call, not able to tell on this wannabe Hunter's expression if he was successful in getting this damn organisation from off of their backs or not.
Stewart blatantly ignored the desperate, pleading look upon Hank Adams face as he turned to Hagen, a slow smile spreading over his features as he walked toward Hagen and his … friend.
"You're off the hook Hagen," Peter told him. "The old man has given you and Dean a pass, sending his deepest apologies and his reassurances that the organisation will now cease any and all efforts from tracking you down and eliminating you. You are now free to go and to do whatever the hell you want, without having to worry about the organisation coming after you."
Caelan breathed a sigh of relief, almost shocked at how easy this all seemed after everything they had been through in order to find Sammy and rescue him from his tormentors. It was a little … too easy. Surely, there had to be some kind of catch or … nothing was ever this easy!
The organisation had been bound and determined to sweep this little incident under the rug … they hadn't seemed to be too concerned with taking them all out along the way. And now, just after one phone call from Wannabe Hunter, Peter Stewart, they had been spared coming to blows with this mysterious secret organisation?
Wow … Stewart's Dad must be high up on the chain of command than Caelan thought or …
"My father's sending the limo to pick me up now." Stewart continued, that annoying, smug look upon his face once more. "My father said he would leave you alone as long as I was unhurt. Considering that Dean Winchester has broken my nose and left my face all bloodied and bruised … I would advise that you be long gone by the time the limo gets here."
God, Caelan hadn't missed seeing that condescending smirk. He wanted nothing more than to smack the smirk from this pompous wannabe Hunter's face!
But … a deal was a deal, and unfortunately, Caelan was a man of his word. So, as much as it pained him to do so, Caelan would walk away and leave Peter Stewart intact, even though every instinct was screaming at him to cause damage of some kind because he had helped to hurt his little brother.
Caelan briefly closed his eyes, clenching his hands into fists, fighting the urge to pound this fucker into the ground as he gave Stewart a courtesy nod before he touched Caleb on the arm and jerked his head in the direction of Caleb's Ute, wordlessly telling his friend that they were done here.
Caleb nodded and silently followed his friend toward the car, glad to leave these idiots behind. These two made Caleb feel dumber just by being around them!
"Oh … and Hagen!" Stewart called before the two Hunters had gone more than ten paces away from them.
Caelan stopped and looked back at Stewart over his shoulder, arching an eyebrow warily, not liking the cocky gleam that entered Stewart's blue eyes.
"F.Y.I … you and Dean are absolved from the organisation's wrath for now, but if you try to interfere with our plans, stop us or try to find out more about us … all bets are off!" Peter grinned at Caelan's shocked expression, motioning to the men in the tree line, to be ready to defend him because when he revealed this next piece of information, he knew that Caelan would be itching for his blood!
"Hagen … you, Caleb, Dean … and even John Winchester, are included in this one-off deal. The Demon Spawn … also known as little Sammy Winchester … is not under our protection."
Caelan's breath caught in his throat at Stewart's words. Wait … what? Sammy wasn't included? But … he was a damn Hunter too! And what the fuck was all of this Demon Spawn crap that Stewart was talking about?
Caelan's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening at the unveiled threat perceived within Stewart's words. "And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Caelan demanded in a low, dangerous voice. Stewart wasn't the only one who knew how to intimidate people!
Peter Stewart laughed, delighted at the predicament that he was now about to present to the two Hunters. "Sam's fair game Hagen." Stewart explained, his voice cold and icy at the same time. "He … well, let's just say that he's important to the organisation.
If they feel that Sam needs to undergo another round of … conditioning … and if any of you try to stop that from happening or get in our way … we will hunt you down and kill you!" Stewart's eyes narrowed so that Caelan could see how deadly serious Peter was before he offered Caelan a bright, fake smile once more.
"And just so you're aware … the organisation will be reacquiring Sam Winchester in …" Stewart checked his watch and chuckled darkly. "Well … right about now actually; Dean, of course, will try to stop them because he loves his little brother so damn much!" Stewart's voice rose mockingly, his face twisting into a look of sick disgust at the thought of having that Demon Spawn as any sort of kin what so ever!
"If you want to save Dean's life … best you get to the hospital as fast as you can before Winchester does something stupid to get both of them killed! Because if the organisation can't obtain and control Sam Winchester, the Demon Spawn, then they have direct orders to kill him!"
TBC