A/N: Mary L so sorry to hear about your illness and so glad you are home now. I hope you continue to heal and get better. I will put you in my prayers and happy to see your reviews again. I have a number of new stories that you might not have read and hope you find them. Deputy Winchester, MIA, Don't Let Me Sleep, Collector, and A Nightmare World are a few of them. Happy reading. NC
Chapter 9
There was a soft knock hours later and Dean went on high alert pulling his gun and going to the door. He checked before opening it to be sure it was Jody. After unlocking the door, he pulled it open to allow Jody to enter carrying a couple of bags of food and a pack. She had brought his to go bag from work, so he'd have clean clothes, extra ammo, and his toiletries. Dean had Jody pick up some basic toiletries for Sam too.
"Any problems?" Dean asked her glancing in the hall before locking the door back.
"No, and Bobby hasn't got any news from the local cops or FBI. They're checking airlines, trains, and buses to see if anyone throws a red flag. But if they drove here, it's going to be harder."
"You were careful coming back, right?"
"Don't insult me. I know how to spot a tail," Jody scoffed punching him in the arm at the insult. "How's he doing?"
"He got up one time and barely made it to the bathroom and laid back down. Hasn't said a word or even acknowledged I was here. I think the thought of having to move, change his name again, and starting over has overwhelmed him."
"It's a shame this is happening to him. He's a nice guy that's being dealt a sorry hand," Jody commented.
"Guess I should get him up and see if he will eat something," Dean sighed.
"I got him some soup and crackers. Thought it would be easy on his stomach."
"Hey Sam," Dean called to him as he shook his leg to roust him. "Jody's back and she brought some food. Wanna try to eat something?"
"Wha…" Sam slurred as he jerked with Dean's touch. He raised his head and stared bleary eyed at him like he didn't comprehend what he was saying.
"You should eat something," Dean repeated nodding to the table where Jody was sitting food out on the table.
"I don't…." Sam started but was cut off by Dean.
"You need to eat Sam. Jody got you some soup. Why don't you try just a little since she went to all that trouble?"
"Come on Sam. I have ginger ale too," Jody offered holding up a bottle.
Sam focused on Jody and her warm smile. He sniffed and caught a whiff of the food making his stomach growl and reluctantly pushed himself to a sitting position. He didn't move for a minute as he let his head clear and then got up to walk slowly to the table, taking a seat.
"Her you go Sam, some chicken and rice soup and I got you some crackers too," she offered pushing the cup of soup toward him along with the crackers and a spoon. Jody put the ginger ale within his reach before dividing the rest of the food between her and Dean.
"Oh yeah," Dean hummed as he opened the container to see what he had. Jody had gotten him a hamburger steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, toast, and of course a slice of pie. "Jody, you're too good to me."
"Someone has to watch out for you partner."
"And you do a great job at it."
"Only because I like you and don't want to break in another partner."
Sam listened to the banter between them as he tried a bite of soup. He added a couple of crackers and took another bite. His taste still wasn't the greatest, but he knew Dean was right, he needed to keep his strength up. He opened the ginger ale and sipped it, letting the coldness settle in his stomach. The tartness and icy cold of the liquid soothed his parched throat.
"Did Bobby find out anything?" Dean questioned Jody.
"No, he sent some men to check around the library and the park but didn't see anyone. They're still checking, and he'll let us know if they find anything. Bobby is having the security and video cameras in the area checked but that will take time. You know how red tape is with these things."
"Good. I'll stay with Sam here for a few days to do a threat assessment before we decide if he is safe here or not."
"Let's just hope the DA and FBI are on the same page. Bobby had to inform them of what happened. They were not happy."
"I bet they want to take control and do it themselves," Dean grunted with a snort. "They're always wanting to stick their noses in where they don't belong."
"So true. If they'd just let us do our jobs it would make things a lot easier," Jody agreed.
"Am I going to have to move?" Sam asked in a small voice, uncertainty filling his eyes as he looked from Dean to Jody.
"Right now, we don't know yet Sam. Nothing's been decided," Dean told him, being honest about it. He couldn't lie to him about this knowing it would be wrong since this would affect his future.
He looked down at his food and swallowed back the bile that threatened to come up. He didn't want to think about that right now. Just the thought of having to uproot again was unbearable. Dean must have seen how upset he was because he laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently.
"We'll figure this out Sam. You're not alone in this. We're not going to desert you."
Sam kept his head down because he didn't want them to see the tears welling in his eyes or that he was scared. He choked down a cracker, washing it on down with the ginger ale.
"I had Jody get you a couple of things, toothbrush, paste, comb, and I have an extra shirt you can borrow," Dean told him hoping to get his mind off things. "The bag's in the bathroom."
"Thanks," Sam whispered as he blinked back his tears and sniffed. He wiped at his face and pushed what was left of the soup away. He couldn't stomach it anymore and decided to brush his teeth and lay back down.
They watched Sam get up and head for the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Neither commented on his reaction or condition knowing there wasn't much they could do for him now, but just keep him safe. Hopefully this was a false alarm and Sam could stay in Austin.
spn
"Okay, I'm going to go unless you want me to stay with him," Jody told Dean an hour later.
"No, I'm good. Call me if you hear anything," Dean replied looking over at the mound in the far bed.
"I'll be back in the morning and will bring you some breakfast."
"Be care out there Jody."
"Don't I always. Take care of the kid." Jody let herself out and Dean locked the door behind her. He went to use the bathroom and came out to settle on his bed. He had his gun lying by his side in case he needed it. Dean lay there listening to any out of place noises, but it was quiet. He let himself doze but didn't really sleep. He had perfected this while in the Marines. You slept when and where you could, especially if you were out in the field on assignment.
Dean jerked awake when he heard whimpering coming from somewhere. He sat up and looked to the other bed to see Sam tossing and turning as he gasped and choked trying to get air. He got up and went to his side.
"Sam, hey man, wake up," Dean encouraged him, shaking his shoulder. "You're dreaming."
"Please no…" Sam cried out as his eyes sprang open and he scooted away from him.
"It's okay. You were dreaming."
"Sorry," he mumbled breathing hard as he wiped his face. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay, go on back to sleep."
Sam just nodded and laid back down pulling the covers tightly around him like he could use them to keep the outside world at bay. He watched Dean through slit eyelids as he grabbed a water from the mini fridge and downed half of it. He sat the rest back in the fridge, headed to the bathroom, and then laid back down on the bed listening to be sure Sam was okay.
A few hours later Dean's cell began to vibrate, and he picked it up, squinted at the display to see Jody was calling. He sensed something was wrong before answering it.
"What's going on Jody?" Dean asked keeping his voice low.
"Dean, get Sam up now!" she hissed. "They're here and you two need to get out of there. I'm coming up now."
Dean hung up and jumped from the bed.
"Sam, get up, get your shoes on, we're leaving," Dean told him in an urgent voice.
"What?" Sam questioned wiping sleep from his eyes.
"We've got to get out of here. Go grab your stuff from the bathroom and get your shoes on."
"Okay," Sam replied wide awake now. He rushed to the bathroom and came out a minute later with his things.
"Let me have them," Dean ordered taking the bag and stuffing it in his pack. He watched Sam slip on his boots when someone knocked. After checking, Dean let Jody into the room.
"We can go down the back way," Jody told them. "We need to get him somewhere safe and we don't trust anyone."
"How did they even know we were here?" Dean asked grabbing Sam's arm and pulling him toward the door.
"I don't know."
"Sam you stay behind me and do exactly what I tell you," he ordered him. He looked out the door into the hallway to be sure it was empty before leading them from the room. They took the stairs down to the underground garage and Dean pulled up short when he saw some guys walking around like they were looking for someone. "We've got company."
"You get him out of here Dean. I'll cover your back," Jody told him as she pulled her gun.
Dean handed Sam the pack and pulled his own gun as they ducked down behind some cars and made their way toward the SUV. They were halfway there before being spotted. Bullets started flying as they exchanged gunfire. Windows broke and chips of concrete sprayed around them. Dean took one guy out and Jody got another one, but there were others running toward them.
"I'll draw their attention, you get out of here," Jody told him.
"I'm not leaving you. You keep the kid safe," Dean insisted before slinking away to ambush the remaining bad guys as they fired at Jody and Sam. He was able to get the drop on them and took them out.
"Shit, damnit!" Jody cried out when a bullet caught her in the shoulder.
"Jody, how bad?" Dean asked seeing the blood stain spreading out on her shirt.
"I'll live, but this was my favorite jacket."
"Come on, I'll get you to the hospital," Dean told her. "Sam are you okay?" he asked as Sam looked at Jody and the blood seeping from between her fingers.
It only took him a moment to react and rush to her.
"Let me see," Sam said. He pulled her shirt back to check the wound. "Do you have something to use for a dressing?"
"Yeah, first aid kit is in the SUV, let's get out of here before backup comes." Dean helped Jody up and they hurried to the vehicle. Sam and Jody got in back while Dean tossed him the kit and got into the driver's seat. He quickly got the SUV cranked and headed for the exit. "How is she?"
"It was a through and through, but I don't see anything major hit," Sam replied as he dressed Jody's wound.
"I'm fine Dean. Don't fret so," Jody told him. "You drop me off and get out of here."
"Okay. I'm getting Sam out of Austin and going off the grid. We should have been safe at the motel. I don't understand how they found us unless..."
"I know you're thinking someone talked?"
"It's the only explanation. Inform Bobby and when I can, I will call him." Dean got on the main road and headed for the hospital to drop Jody off. He was already developing a plan in his head as he checked behind him to be sure no one was following. "I'm going to ditch my cell and get a burner."
"Good idea."
"Sam, take the battery out of my cell," Dean instructed him tossing his cell back to him. "And do the same with yours. If there is a leak, we don't want to be tracked."
Sam fumbled with it and did as he was told and dropped it over the seat to Dean. He dug his own cell out and did the same. He looked down at his bloody hands as it sunk in, Jody got shot because of him. What if it had been worse? He didn't want anyone to die because of him. Sam didn't think he could live with himself if that happened.
"It's okay Sam. This is the job. It's not the first time I've been shot," Jody told Sam like she read his mind and knew what he was thinking.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled taping the field dressing down.
"You've got nothing to be sorry about." She pulled her cell out and looked at the screen. "Bobby's calling, I'll fill him in." She answered it and relayed what had happened. "He's heading for the hospital."
Dean pulled into the emergency entrance and stopped so Jody could get out.
"Take care of yourself Jody. I'll be in touch soon."
"We'll keep the FBI and DA off your back. You be safe out there and keep your heads down."
"We will." Dean gave her a salute and pulled from the entrance. He headed across town to his place to swap vehicles and grab some clothes. He hoped they wouldn't have to be gone for too long. Dean looked in his rearview mirror at Sam as he started off into space, knowing he was shell shocked. He knew it wasn't the blood but the fact those guys were there to kill him, and Jody got caught in the crossfire and got shot. Dean wasn't going to let Sam be killed by anyone. He would do whatever needed to be done to protect him.
A/N: Things aren't looking good for Sam since they were found at the motel. Was someone bribed and talked? Dean is going to disappear with Sam to keep him safe. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC
