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.
If there is anything I have left out or you are still unsure about, please feel free to message me. You never know, I may have left it unintentionally unresolved for a reason (possibly a sequel).
Special Note: Thanks to Kas3y and Cheetah Grrl for your kind words. 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. Thanks to everyone for their patience and continued interest.
DEMON SPAWN: THE PHONE CALL
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Dean squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the impending impact of a bullet to pierce his skull, his brother's terrified screams echoing in his ears … but the excoriating pain that went along with a bullet wound never happened.
Dean opened his eyes, peering around him, his eyes widening with surprise when he noticed the guy in front of him with the gun, was laid out cold at his feet.
"Hey Dean, did you miss me?" Caelan stepped up beside Dean, grinning at his friend's shocked expression.
"Caelan," Dean breathed. "You son of a bitch!" he laughed and couldn't help the relief that was flowing through him. Trust Caelan to step in and save Dean's ass in the nick of time. "What the hell took you so long man?"
"Just choosing my moment brother," Caelan winked at Dean cheekily. "You know me … I've gotta make a grand entrance and be the centre of attention."
Caelan made a final sweep of the area before he gently grabbed Dean's arm with the intention of leading – dragging if he had to – his friend out of the exit doors and toward safety. "Come on dude; let's get the hell out of here."
"But … Sammy –"
"Is fine. Don't worry Dean, Caleb's got the kid." Caelan assured the anxious, over-protective older brother.
Dean breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his little brother being supported by Caleb; the two goons that had kept Sam from him also knocked out cold on the ground. "Okay." Dean relented, allowing Caelan to escort him toward the doors.
"Let's get going before more idiots from the goon patrol decide to show up. And Caelan …" Dean paused, his expression unusually serious. "I owe you big for this one bro," he said sincerely, offering Caelan his gratitude in as close to a chick-flick moment as he would allow himself with anyone, except Sammy.
"Anytime," Caelan nodded, accepting Dean's praise, his tone light, but also conveying his own true feelings with how he felt about Dean and would always consider him a brother.
Within moments, Dean was flanking Sam's other side, instantly putting out steadying hands to stabilize his wildly swaying little brother. "Easy Sammy, I've got you," Dean soothed, seeing the emotional exhaustion upon his kid brother's wobbling lower lip, tears welling in his hazel eyes at the sight of Dean while he desperately tried to keep his turbulent emotions under control.
"Dean, I thought I'd lost you." Sam wailed, his voice cracking and breaking under the strain of his emotional distress, knowing that this was just many of the emotional breaks he would experience while trying to decipher and deal with everything that had transpired today.
"Yeah. I thought I'd lost you too, little brother," Dean replied softly, squeezing Sam's trembling shoulders, displaying his affection before relaxing his hold into a more secure, comforting, familiar grip. "It's okay Sammy, you're safe now."
Sam nodded, not trusting himself to speak at the moment as he desperately clung to his older brother, trying to regain control over his emotions, their freedom mere inches away.
Caleb and Caelan each had a hand to the exit doors, about to lead their injured friends out the door, when a bullet ricocheted off the ground in front of them, their way to freedom suddenly blocked as a wall of armed men descended outside the hospital doors.
"Please, gentlemen, why don't you stay for a minute? We have much to talk about."
The four Hunters exchanged looks of dismay, frustrated at being so damn close to freedom, only to have it cruelly snatched away from them at the last minute. As one, the four of them turned toward the voice who had spoken to them, their hope diminishing as the lobby was now crawling with more armed men and old man Senior Stewart – Roger Peter Stewart the third – smiling brightly at the front of the armed men, his soldiers ready to do battle, ready to shoot them if they tried to escape.
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"I'm afraid not." Nirkish admitted sheepishly. "Sam Winchester barged into the hospital once he realized his brother was in danger … before I could stop him."
John closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, cursing under his breath, both frustrated and proud at the efforts his sons would go to in order to protect and defend each other from viable threats. John had obviously taught them too well to never leave a man behind.
"Okay. So now those sons of bitches have their hands on all of my boys?"
"Not quite yet. But they will soon."
"So … what are our options then? Wait … didn't you order them to stand down? Couldn't you just march in there and put the fear of God in them and rescue my boys?" John half-pleaded, half-demanded as he silently urged Bobby to speed up so that he could physically be there in order to help his boys. Being so far away and stuck on the road sucked at times like these.
"I did order them to back down," Nirkish confirmed. "I guess I could go in there and … Oh. Unless my eyes deceive me, I think that may be Roger Stewart in there."
"Roger Stewart?" John repeated, confused now. "The Hunter, Roger Stewart? He's behind all of this?"
"No, of course not." Nirkish snapped in a rare display of frustration. "But … I heard that he was being dishonourably discharged from The Organisation due to illegal experimentation and illicit dealings.
Maybe … he could be trying to redeem himself by reacquiring Sam Winchester for The Organisation. And if that's the case, then this whole operation at the hospital isn't sanctioned."
"That's good news … right?" John inquired hopefully, not understanding most of what Nirkish had just said. He didn't care. As long as it provided a way for him to have his boys' safe and out of danger … that's all he was concerned about."
"Yes." Nirkish breathed, sounding pleased with himself. "I do believe I can use this to my advantage without The Organisation becoming aware of my actions as well as saving your kin and friends."
"Good." John nodded, the knot of worry lessening a bit at Nirkish's confidence. "You do that. Bobby and I will be there in ten minutes. Right Bobby?" John gave the older Hunter a pointed look, his dark eyes displaying his urgency and need.
Bobby nodded, consenting to John's plan as he pushed his foot down harder upon the accelerator, urging his battle-weary truck to go faster, knowing by the look in John's eyes that they were running out of time, and that the boys were in some kind of deep trouble … again.
JW DW CH SW JW DW CH SW JW DW CH SW JW
Dean's grip instinctively tightened upon his brother, knowing that there would be no way that they would be able to fight their way out with this many assailants. They'd be dead before they even took two steps.
How was it, that old man Stewart was able to amass such a large army of armed men in such a short amount of time? Had Peter Stewart and his buddy sold them out? It seemed oddly suspicious to Dean that old man Stewart seemed to know exactly which exit the four Hunters were going to use.
Dean exchanged knowing glances with both Caelan and Caleb and knew that they had reached the same conclusion as he had. They should never have trusted Peter Stewart!
"What do you want?" Caelan asked Senior Stewart, his brown eyes going a shade darker with supressed rage. "You can't keep us detained forever. And if the hunting community found out that you'd killed other Hunters … you'd have a riot on your hands. Not even all of the power and wealth you possess would be able to protect you."
Roger Stewart spread his arms wide in a non-threatening gesture. "Relax gentlemen, no one is killing anyone."
Dean scoffed loudly at that. "Riiight. That's why you had my brother kidnapped from the hospital after he'd been drugged and tortured by your son earlier today."
Roger gave Dean a slightly irritated glare before his fake warm smile appeared once more. "My son didn't orchestrate or know anything about … your brother's … earlier abduction and torture. He was a pawn, used to take the fall for that despicable behaviour toward another Hunter.
I don't know what you've heard young Winchester, but the Stewart family does not condone or take part in drugging and torturing people, even to … people who deserve it and especially not other Hunters." Roger paused and eyed the three oldest Hunters carefully. "Honestly, I have no beef with any of you. And my offer still stands young Hagen; I will give all of you a free pass, all I ask in return is that you – "
"Yeah, no thanks!" Caelan spat out, his teeth clenched together in fury. "I wasn't buying that when your son offered me that deal, what the hell makes you think I would accept that offer now from the likes of you?"
Roger raised his eyebrows as if he thought the answer was obvious as he gestured at all of the armed men around them. "I thought these guys might have persuaded you to think like any other rational human would. But I see that my courtesy has been wasted on you … barbarians!"
Caelan, more furious than he could ever remember feeling in a long time, the sight of seeing this miserable old man after ten years; bringing up memories he would rather have stayed buried and safely locked away; he was about to return Senior Stewart's mock concern and sincerity with a volley of angry words when he felt a hand pull at his sleeve, much like he would when he was a young child, which caused Caelan to instantly return his attention to the youngest Winchester.
"What deal Caelan? What's he talking about?"
Caelan shared a knowing look with Caleb before he met Sam's eyes once more, Dean's curious expression not going unnoticed either. Caelan let out a loud reluctant sigh. "Just before coming to the hospital, Peter informed us – me and Caleb – that we could all walk away, no harm, no foul."
Dean frowned, perplexed. "Are you crazy Cal? That sounds like a damn good deal to me."
"There were conditions Dean." Caelan said irritably. "We would be given a "free pass" as long as we turned a blind eye and didn't interfere with his plans."
"Okay." Dean prodded his seething best friend. "What conditions? What plans?"
Caelan shot a look at Sam before turning his attention to Dean once more. "As long as we didn't interfere with his plans to abduct your brother so that he could continue to recondition Sam, we would be free to go and not be hunted down by the organisation's tracking team."
"What!" Dean gasped, appalled by the very notion of willingly abandoning his brother into the hands of the monsters who would no doubt use torture as a means of persuading him. "That's fucking sick!"
"That's why I told Stewart to shove his offer where the sun doesn't shine!" Caelan nodded in agreement.
"You should take the deal." Sam said softly, his tone matter-of-fact, neutral, devoid of any emotion.
"What!"
"Are you crazy?"
"Sammy, have you completely lost your fricking mind?!"
Sam held out a hand to silence his friend's and brother's protests. The last thing in the world that he wanted was to go back, being forced to endure endless hours of drugging, beatings and torture, his worst fears coming to life as they placed him in that dreaded box once more. But … if it was to save their lives and grant all of them immunity, then Sam was willing to do that. He was the one who had brought all of this down on their heads in the first place, it was only right that he should exchange his life in order to save theirs.
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Sam looked at Dean, Caelan and Caleb, seeing identical looks of stubborn determination upon their faces, Dean and Caelan also staring at Sam with fierce loyal protectiveness. There would be no way in hell that Sam could convince any of them to leave him without probable cause.
Sam sure as hell had a lot of "probably cause" which he could use to convince them to leave him, but … did he really want to tell them the things that would hurt them? (Especially Dean and Caelan). Was he sure he even wanted them to learn about or know about him that would make him more of a freak than he already was? Things that … well, after they knew the truth, maybe they would be glad that the organisation would take him off of their hands; maybe they would consider Sam a monster, someone they no longer loved and protected but something they needed to hunt and destroy.
Sam lowered his gaze, bitting upon his bottom lip, fighting these damn girly tears that threatened to slip free, taking a moment to compose himself, the mere thought of Dean or Caelan hating him enough to come after him to hunt him and put him down, made his chest tighten in sorrow and misery.
Sam knew that if he told them the truth about who … what he really was and what he had done … allowed to be done because of him that he was risking everything … but he also couldn't allow them to fight for him, die for him without them knowing the truth.
But … maybe he didn't need to make such a drastic decision just yet; maybe he could give them a little push into accepting the deal Mr. Stewart had offered them by using a more subtle means of the truth … John Winchester's truth to be more accurate.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Sam raised his eyes to meet the concerned looks of his brothers and friend, a small trembling smile gracing his lips, preparing himself to make these three extraordinary Hunters see the reasonable side of things and why it made a whole lot more sense to just leave Sam here while the three of them got to walk out of here without the added burden of having to look over their shoulders for organisation members to take them out because of him.
"Look guys," Sam began, his voice surprisingly steady despite how anxious and nervous he was feeling. "Don't think I don't appreciate everything you have gone through today in order to find me and keep me safe, because I do. I appreciate it a lot. And I can't ever find the words to thank you or to make up for what you have all gone through and endured because of me."
Sam's gaze moved to his brother's arm, which was encircled around his mid-section, meeting his eyes in a pointed look. The only reason Dean had gotten shot today was because he had been trying to protect Sam from the non-humans who had taken him from the hospital.
Dean met Sam's forthright look and almost groaned out loud when he realized that Sam was blaming himself for Dean having gotten shot. Stupid, moronic little brothers! Didn't Sam know that Dean would do everything in his power to keep the kid safe? Not only because it was his job but because he was Dean's little brother, and that was never going to change!
Sam noticed Dean's eyes narrow slightly, his lips stretched into a thin line of annoyance, silently communicating to Sam that he was going to kick Sam's ass if he continued to blame himself for Dean having been shot.
Sam felt his lips twitch into a half-smile, the silent communication he could share with his brother filling him with unconditional love, support and peace. Even though Sam had avoided all contact with his family for two years, that hadn't stopped his big brother from coming to save him. Despite everything that had happened – past and present – it was comforting for Sam to know that he at least could always count on Dean to be there for him, no matter what.
Except … if Sam had to reveal certain things to Dean in order to save his brother's life, would Dean still be willing to drop everything and run to Sam's defence? Or would this be enough to make Dean abandon Sam forever?
Sam's smile disappeared, a contemplating, worried expression crossing his features. It was now or never. Plan A with John Winchester logic would begin. And Sam prayed that it would be enough to sway his brothers' minds because he honestly didn't want to see if his fears were unfounded or not if he had to reveal the horrifying truths he had learned about himself today. He didn't want to know if his brothers would look at him as some thing to be hunted and killed.
Sam pushed that thought to the back of his mind, concentrating on the present as three pairs of eyes were looking at him in worry and concern.
"Why do you think we should take the deal Sam?" Caleb asked softly, deliberately ignoring the hostile glares he received from both Caelan and Dean, knowing that there was something the younger man had to get off his chest, not matter how much Caelan and Dean didn't want to hear it. The youngest Winchester had a right to his opinion just like everyone else.
Sam offered Caleb a grateful smile before his expression turned serious once more. "I've been thinking about what Dad would do if he was here." Sam refused to meet anyone's eyes as he tried to process the best way to explain himself to his friend and brothers without exposing too much truth that could hurt them, trying to keep his tone calm and even … logical. "And I think Dad would say that one life would be better odds to loose than three lives."
Sam finally raised his eyes to find all three older Hunter's with identical looks of shock. Sam resisted the urge to chuckle – more because of nerves than actual humour – forcing himself to continue with the same logical argument that John Winchester would use.
"I was the one who got you all into this mess. It's only right that I be the one to get you out of it. Accept the deal guys, walk away from here safe and … alive and if Dad … " Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the fleeting smile trembling upon his lips before it was gone. "Dad will understand why this was the only option Dean. My life in exchange for yours … maybe he would even be … proud of me –"
"Don't be so fucking stupid Sammy!" Dean spat out, interrupting his younger brother's pity trip, not liking the self-loathing he could hear in Sam's voice as he took a step toward Sam, his green eyes blazing with anger, having an urge to clip his brother around the back of the head for saying and thinking such stupid things.
"I am not abandoning you. That is never going to happen even if Dad agreed to this idiotic plan of yours. So, you can stop with all of this bullshit and help us figure out a way on how all of us get out of here in one piece." Dean gave Sam a stern, pointed look until Sam broke eye contact and lowered his eyes.
Satisfied that Dean had gotten his point across, he squeezed Sam's shoulder affectionately, his tone softening. "Okay Sam? We all get out of here together or not at all little brother."
"Dean's right," Caelan agreed as Sam's head shot up to look at him in surprise. "I didn't accept the damn deal before and I sure as hell am not going to accept it now just because of your misguided and misplaced guilt!"
'Yeah, we'll see about that.' A dark part of Sam's mind whispered viciously. 'We'll see if they will still be willing to stand by your side once they learn the truth about you.'
Sam closed his eyes against that voice, not wanting it to be true, but also knowing that it was a very real possibility if they ever learned the truth. Still, Sam was willing to risk it all, to tell them everything in order to protect them, to keep them save and alive, much like they had done for him throughout his life.
"Come on boys … I haven't got all day!" Roger Stewart interrupted Sam's internal debate, a bored, irritated tone to his voice, even as his lips stretched in a fake, patient smile. "What is your answer to my generous offer?"
"No deal!" Dean and Caelan answered at the same time.
"They'll take it!" Sam interjected; his powerful, confident voice overriding his brothers' immediate decline of the offer, Sam's eyes snapped open, a sense of calm and clarity overcoming him now instead of his constant indecision and doubt. No matter what happened, Sam refused to stand by and watch his friends, his family being manipulated, hunted and killed because of him.
"Well, well, well," Roger's face grew into a delighted, twisted smile. "I see you boys have a difference of opinions here." He paused briefly, considering the three Hunters in front of him as well as the Demon Spawn, who seemed determined that his comrades and brother accept Roger's deal and get the hell out of here.
This was a development Roger had not foreseen. He had thought he would have to fight them on this every step of the way. But now it seemed as if the Demon Spawn was in support of Roger's plan, wanting to spare is friends' lives in exchange for his own. Roger suddenly didn't want this game to end. He was curious to see what would happen next; how the Demon Spawn managed to convince them, sway them to take his more than reasonable offer.
"I'll tell you what, because I'm such a generous man and I'm interested to see how this plays out … I will give you boys ten minutes in order to debate this amongst yourselves and come to your final decision."
Sam breathed a sigh of relief at Mr. Stewart's words. Thank goodness, he still had time to convince them to leave his ass behind while they –
"Sammy, what the fuck?!" Dean hissed, no longer able to resist the urge to clip his brother around the back of his head.
"Ow!" Sam moaned, rubbing his head, glaring at Dean angrily. "That hurt, you jerk!"
"Well, if you weren't such a self-sacrificing moron, I wouldn't have to clip you, would I bitch?" Dean retorted, matching Sam's glare with his own, gripping Sam's shirt into his fist, shaking it violently, almost as if he could shake some damn sense into his kid brother's head.
"Hey, come on guys," Caelan easily stepped in between the two squabbling brothers, much like he had when they had argued and fought as children, seeing the fear on both brothers faces which was masked under irrational anger, deciding to take it out on each other.
Caelan placed a hand on each of the brother's shoulders, hoping that the contact would help to ground them, to calm and soothe the situation down before it got out of hand and out of control. "Let's just take a step back and have a breather, okay?"
The last thing they needed was for Dean and Sam to get into a physical alteration in enemy territory … especially since neither brother looked in any fit state to be fighting at all!
"I was the one how got your father killed Caelan!" Sam blurted out, instantly regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth, but knowing by the looks of confusion and horror upon the three older Hunters expressions that there would be no way Sam would be able to back-track or escape from explaining this one.
TBC
Atten: Hey guys, so this has gone on far longer than I anticipated, but I have set the pace of this story as it is and I don't want to rush the ending. Don't blame you if you are getting bored or tired of it and I'm not going to promise when exactly it will end because I always seem to exceed that anyway! And the boys just keep getting so chatty … And I have never been good at endings! Lol.
For those of you who are still with me on this crazy ride, thanks for your patience and continued interest in this story.