Chapter 5:
Dean sat stiffly in the passenger seat of his Father's truck, eyes on the forest as it went by. He could feel his father's eyes drift over to him occasionally. John Winchester was trying to find a way to get his oldest to talk to him. He wasn't used to fighting with Dean, usually his oldest did whatever he said without question but if there was one way to get Dean angry... it was when his brother was hurt.. Or possibly... no he couldn't go there yet.
"Ace... listen to me. I didn't want Sam to get hurt."
Dean looked over at his father.
"But he did. Something is wrong and we weren't there to protect him."
John licked his lips and scratched at his day-old beard.
"You know what I felt when I sent you on your first lead hunt?"
"No."
"I was terrified, and when you came back all bloody and beaten, I couldn't breathe. For a moment I thought about driving off with you and Sam. Never coming back."
Dean frowned as something close to pain made its way across his father's face.
"Why? You had taken me on dozens of hunts before that. It's not like you have never seen me hurt before."
"I know, but it's different than when you send a young hunter out on their own. As The Knight it's my job to train new hunters and eventually they make their way up the ranks. But it's different when it is your son..."
Dean thought about Sam, and a thousand terrible scenarios flashed before his eyes. Each made him nauseous.
"Yeah... I think I know what you mean."
John flinched slightly. He never meant to make Dean feel that kind of pain. The pain of a father losing his son. But in passing Sam off to Dean at such an early age, he had shifted their dynamic permanently.
"I know you are scared Dean; I am too. But I can promise you that running from the Brotherhood is not the answer. Trust me, you need them."
Dean looked down at his hand, and he noticed the missing power of his ring. He clenched his fingers tightly and looked back out the window. He loved The Brotherhood, but there was one thing that was more important than his extended family.
"I need to get Sam back. That's my priority."
Dean's phone rang and he answered it.
"Yeah?"
"I just got off the phone with Isaac and Will, they informed me they were called away to another hunt and that someone from the Brotherhood offered to meet Sam." Jim said.
"I don't understand. Do you know who?"
"Harland Sawyer."
"Josh's Dad? Why would he volunteer to work as a subordinate to Sam?"
"I honestly don't know, Son. At least we know Sam isn't alone."
"Well, if Harland is as awesome as Josh... Sam might be better off alone. Let us know if you find out anything else."
"Of course. Stay safe Dean."
Dean flipped the phone closed.
"Jim says Harland is with Sam."
John nodded and kept his opinions on the older Sawyer to himself. He didn't trust the man but he did wear a ring and had sworn an allegiance to the Brotherhood.
As they pulled up to the house, all seemed quiet. John turned the truck off and made his way towards the tail gate. Caleb walked up behind the Winchester's.
"Alright boys, priority is to get Sam. Hopefully he is there, and we can grab him. If you do, I want you to haul ass out of that house. If Sam wasn't able to complete the job Bobby and I will come back and finish. Any questions?"
"No, Sir" The younger hunters said in unison.
"Alright grab your shotguns and let's go get our boy."
John led the pack as they entered the house, clearing the perimeter of the first 2 rooms first. Caleb kept his walls down trying to feel for the poltergeist and for their missing youngest. Dean nearly ran into the back of John as the older man came to a sudden stop.
"Dad?" Dean asked.
John turned to Dean and Caleb and looked and them both with a face of stone.
"I am giving you both a direct order. Understand?"
"Yes sir."
"I want you both to go into that room and stay there while I clear the rest of the house. Okay? Do not leave this room. Is that clear?"
John looked over at Caleb and gave him a hard look. Caleb understood what he was being asked. Sam was in that room, and Caleb needed to keep Dean calm and contained.
"Got it John."
John nodded and stepped to the side, allowing Dean to see his brother for the first time.
"Sammy?" Dean whispered and quickly jogged over to his brother. Sam had a stream of blood running from his nose and a purple knot forming on his forehead. He slid down beside his prone form and slowly placed his fingers to the boy's neck. After a few moments Dean let out a watery sigh.
"He's alive. We gotta get him out of here Damien."
"Sorry Deuce, we have to stay here until your Dad gets back. He is checking to make sure the coast is clear, for now we just stay here and keep Sam safe."
Caleb leaned down and placed his hand on Sam's wrist, wincing as their psychic connection came back online. He instantly felt better as the darkness of Sam's absence receded but was troubled by the brick wall he felt inside the boy's head.
"Something wrong Damien?" Dean asked wearily.
"Not... wrong per say. Sam's in there just unconscious. But he has some serious blocks up in his mind. It's like he is protecting himself from an attack."
"Why the hell would he have to do that? This was a simple poltergeist case!"
"I don't know, I'm just telling you what I can see inside his head. He is also about to come to any second."
Sure enough, Sam began to shift against Dean's side and slowly opened his eyes staring up at his brother with confusion.
"D-d-dean?"
"Hey little brother, glad to have you back from your nap."
Sam attempted to sit up and instantly felt a wave of dizziness.
"Easy Sam, you took a hell of a hit to the head."
Sam swallowed back the nausea and felt as someone pushed a duffel bag behind his back for him to lean against.
"W-w-wha-t-t h-ap-hap..."
Dean frowned and looked up at Caleb in confusion. Neither of the men liked that Sam was struggling to get his words out.
"You were hunting a poltergeist. Did you finish it?"
"Y-y-y-ess. B-b-b-ut." Sam growled in frustration. "I c-can't-t-t-.
Dean could tell Sam was starting to panic. That he had noticed that his speech wasn't coming out right.
"Sammy, calm down. It's okay. You were unconscious you just need a minute."
Caleb came to sit in front of the Winchester's.
"I have an idea. Deuce, can you take my hand?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm trying to help your brother. Just listen to me, okay?"
Dean hesitated a moment before placing his hand into Calebs upturned one, and then Caleb took Sam's hand as well.
"When we are done with this, we are never discussing this girly hand holding session. Do you remember how you used to talk at me in your head Deuce?"
"Yeah..."
"Okay well this is basically the same thing, but because you aren't psychic, I am going to act as the conduit so the 3 of us can have a conversation, and Sam can rest his voice for a bit. So, Sam, you killed the poltergeist, what happened next. Just think it and Dean and I will hear it, okay?
Sam nodded.
"Harland and I took down the poltergeist, it was easy. I thought we would be in and out in an hour. But then there was this force that was like nothing I had ever felt. Harland was dragged into another room, and my head felt like it was being ripped apart. After that nothing but darkness."
"You get all that Deuce?"
"Yeah, I got it. We are gonna figure this out, okay Sammy?"
"Why can't I talk properly? I mean I'm thinking clearly, I just have a headache."
"I'm sure it's just the concussion. We'll get you fixed up. Any other injuries to report?"
"Yeah, One."
Sam lifted up his left hand that wasn't being held by Caleb and placed it palm side up.
"What the Hell?" Dean asked.
In the center of Sam's palm was a burn shaped like a cross.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not really, but that can't be a good thing, right?"
"There is burn cream in the car. We'll take care of on the way back to the farm."
The young men separated as they heard footsteps coming into the room. John Winchester entered the room followed by Harland Sawyer.
"Sam good to see you awake." Harland said. "Thanks for saving an old man's ass."
Sam frowned a little but nodded his head slowly. His memory was completely shot so at this point he would just go along with Harland's story.
"Sam are you okay?" John asked.
Sam nodded again. John growled in aggravation.
"Sam, report now!"
Sam swallowed deeply and turned to Caleb.
"Caleb, make Harland leave. I'm a hunter for Christ sakes. The Knights son. I don't want him to hear me stutter my way through an explanation!"
Caleb nodded.
"You good to drive Sawyer?"
"Yeah, just a little banged up."
"Well then, you can head out. Thanks for the help."
Harland frowned and looked up at John.
"You okay with that John? If I take off?"
Honestly, John was not okay with that at all. Something seemed off about Harland's story. But as hardheaded as John was, he could tell there was something else going on here. Dean and Caleb were obviously trying to protect Sam, and Sam himself seemed a little glassy eyed and was in obvious pain.
"You can leave Harland; I'll call if I have any further questions."
Harland nodded and gave one last look at Sam.
"Looking forward to working with you more Kid, you've got a Hell of a future ahead of you."
John waited until he heard the car start before turning back to the younger hunters.
"Sam, this time it's an order. Report now."
"Dad... can't we wait until we are out of this house? Sam's not doing so hot." Dean begged.
"The poltergeist is gone; we are perfectly safe in this house. I want a report of what happened from the lead hunter. Now."
"John-" Caleb started.
"Enough! This is nothing I wouldn't ask of either of you! I did the same thing when you both-"
"D-d-da-ddd. Sh-s-t-t-o-ppp." Sam said.
John looked over at Sam in confusion.
"P-p-ple-e-ase I c-ccc-c-an-t-t."
John reached down and hauled Sam to his feet, having to grip him by the shoulders to keep him from falling back down to the ground.
"Sammy? Are you with me?" John asked.
Sam nodded awkwardly and squeezed his eyes shut shutting out the light.
"W-w-w-ith y-y-y-ou... c-can-can-t."
"Okay that's enough. I get it. Dean? I want you to take the Impala and your brother and head back to the farm. Caleb and I will be right behind you."
"Yes, Sir." Dean said.
He quickly grabbed Sam's bag and threw Sam's arm over his shoulder before making his way to the door. He loaded Sam into the passenger seat, before starting up his car and making his way towards the farm.
John stood with Caleb for a few moments.
"I'm gonna call Mac on my way back to the farm. Get him to come down and take a look at Sam." Caleb said.
John ran his hand over his face.
"He hit his head. Is that why you wanted Harland to leave?"
"The kid is still able to communicate just fine through the psychic hotline, so if the stutter is being caused by the concussion, he is not having issues forming complex thoughts. Just for some reason he can't get them out. But when we got here, I was able to connect with him. I felt a giant wall in his head."
"So? What does that mean?"
"Sam described a secondary force that entered the house after they destroyed the poltergeist. Said his head hurt before everything went dark. I think that he may have been trying to protect himself from something, and sometimes when people do that, even just on instinct, it can cause damage. He may fried some circuits."
"So, what you're saying is this could be the concussion, or it could supernaturally caused. We could have broken Sam permanently by sending him on this hunt."
Caleb sighed and reached out for Sam and Dean again in his mind. It brought him comfort knowing that they were both safe again, even if they were both holding back their own panic.
"What I am saying is no matter what it is, Mac is going to be here and so am I. So, either way you have a world class neurosurgeon and as between the two of us, all the psychic juice you could need. Sam is going to be fine."
