Retribution
By Quick-Demon
Disclaimer: I wish I owned those boys but I don't (sigh). I've only borrowed them but I can't guarantee that they'll be returned untouched… (blushes)
Summery: Revenge is never sweet for those on the receiving end. Hurt!Limp!Sam Hurt!Limp!Dean
A/N: This is set in anytime in season one (After the benders incident) only because Jess's death is still fresh.
This is un-beta-ed so all mistakes are mine.
"Dude you've got to relax once in a while, you know enjoy the view, live a little"
Dean followed Sam out of the bar, a little disappointed that they left early, though he did get a number be he knew he could do much more than that given the chance. Sam didn't look at his brother but Dean could tell what he was thinking with the dark look in his eyes and his lack of speech.
He was thinking about Jess.
He was behaving like this since they left Stanford on that fateful night. He would be himself sometimes but he would also get lost in his freaky head of his and carry a pained far away look that Dean would try to ignore, or get rid of it by lightening the mood. Sometimes it would work and other times it didn't.
Dean gave a sigh knowing this was something he couldn't fix. It was something Sam would have to figure out on his own. If he could take the grief away and if he could bring Jess back then he would, just so his brother wouldn't have to feel the pain and be Sammy again.
Like how they use to be.
"You could have stayed" Sam pointed out breaking through his thoughts
After Sam went missing on him by nut-job yahoos he felt like he should be there watching Sam's back. He knew that Sam could hold his own but it was and always will be his job to protect him and he took it quite seriously.
Dean just shrugged, "That's not the point"
Sam didn't respond as they round a corner and started to cross an empty parking lot. The bar was long behind them and so was the glow of shop lights. The full moon's light reflected off the black tarmac in the absence of street lamps. The only artificial light was coming from the cheap motel a few hundred feet away.
"You got to loosen up. You're way too tense" Dean continued
A cool breeze swept across the night air rustling the leaves of the car park's few trees. It was completely silent save for a few crickets chirping in the distance and their own footsteps. Dean's eyes were wary feeling like they were too visible out in the open and empty parking lot. Sam shifted his gaze as well feeling like something was a little off but they continued always on guard.
As they past a thick tree that somehow survived that concrete environment around it they heard an unmistakable gun click. The hunters froze, on guard they turned to the sound in a ready stance. They turned to find a gun pointed at them. From behind the tree appeared a young man around their age with blond hair, wearing a striped polo shirt and dark blue denim jeans.
Dean cursed to himself wondering how someone like this guy can sneak up on them like that. He didn't hear any footsteps of movement of any kind… like he was waiting for them.
Sam reared back seeing the gun barrel pointed at his face. His gaze went from surprise to recognition.
"Michael?"
"Hello Sam" the man's voice was cold
"Friend of yours?" Dean quipped
"Uh"
"He's no friend of mine" Michael snarled not keeping the disgust off his face
"Look I don't know what my brother has done to piss you off-" Dean stepped forward putting himself between Sam and the gun
"That's right you don't" the man retorted
Three other men appeared and surrounded the brothers. This was going bad to worse very quickly. Without hesitation the men attacked them. With years of practice and training the brothers fought back with speed and skill. The three men seemed to be well trained, blocking and attacking with as much skill. Even if this wasn't the usual bar fight but Dean was determined to beat these goons and get his brother safely out of here. That was severely set back when his opponent doubled and decreased his chance.
He looked over to Sam who was fighting one of the men. Why do I get two and Sam only gets one?
A million thoughts were running through Sam's mind but he didn't have time to dwell when a punch was aimed at his face. He blocked and aimed a punch swiftly at the gut but his attacked was blocked and the man counter attacked.
Suddenly a loud gunshot was heard.
Pain tore through Sam's thigh and he couldn't help but let out a strangled scream as his leg gave up and caused him to fall to his knees. Dean turned fear washed over him as he saw his brother fall to the ground.
"Sammy!" he cried
His momentary distraction cost him a punch in his face and a kick in the stomach. Dean groaned but his mind was still focused on Sam. Suddenly he felt someone on top of him, pushing him to the ground, grabbing his arm and pinning him. Dean could feel the pebbles cut into his cheek but determined as he was he raised his head to find Sam clutching his leg and alive.
Alive!
Dean would have cried for joy if the blond haired man didn't kick Sam across the face.
Sam groaned swearing he could hear his cheek bones crack from the force. He put his hands down to stop himself from face planting into the ground. Saliva and blood he spat on the concrete and maybe a tooth as well. He couldn't tell with his vision blurring and his ears ringing.
He felt another blow to his abdomen. He fought to keep himself off the ground and he couldn't help but groan in pain.
Dean didn't know why this was happening but he had to stop it before Sam was literally beaten to death in front of him. He struggled against his attacker but the hold remained strong and firm.
"Let him go you bastard! He's done nothing wrong!" Dean snarled trying to draw the attention to him anything to stop the onslaught that his brother didn't deserve.
"Shut up!" Michael snarled, "Like you would know…"
Michael circled Sam's crouched form. Sam groaned, everything was hurting, it hurt to breathe, it hurt to move and it hurt to even see. He gave up on his blurring vision and closed his eyes. Pain throbbed intensely from his leg and from his jaw.
"Michael" Sam muttered weakly almost like a plea
"Michael!" Dean used the name and gave a warning tone, "Don't do this!"
The blond man ignored him and kept his focus on Sam.
"You're…" Michael growled and kicked Sam in the stomach as hard as he could. Sam fell to the ground and curled trying to protect the damaged area
"A…" another kick hit Sam's knee. The force vibrated inflaming the gunshot wound that was embedded in his leg. Sam bit back a cry.
"Sam's done nothing to you!" Dean shouted fear clearly shone in his eyes, "What ever he's done we can talk about this!"
Dean's pleas were ignored.
"Sick…" the man stomped on Sam's already bruised abdomen making Sam grunt
"Son…" Michael circled and kicked him in the back
"Stop it! Michael!" Dean shouted panic was setting in. He struggled harder against his captors but there was no way he could throw off two men from a laying down position.
"Of a…" another kick landed on his back making Sam arch from the force. Another cry of pain as it exploded on his back
"Bitch!" Michael finished with another kick to Sam's stomach
"You're the sick son of a bitch! He hasn't done anything to you!" Dean shouted again with ferocious rage
"What? Didn't you tell your brother?" Michael asked mockingly to Sam
Sam groaned barely conscious, his vision swimming in tears and blurriness.
"You didn't tell him how you killed my sister!?" Michael accused
Dean blinked. Sam couldn't even kill humans possessed by demons let alone have a heart to kill someone.
"I think you got the wrong guy here! Sam wouldn't hurt a fly!" Dean said in defense of his brother since Sam was out of it for the moment
"Then you don't know your brother as well as you think?" Michael mocked Dean before turning his attention back towards Sam, "And I don't think for a second that my sister was killed by an 'electrical fault'" Michael once again ignored Dean and focused his attention on Sam
Dean's heart plummeted to his stomach, making him a little nauseous. It dawned on him who he was referring to. He was talking about Jessica, Sam's girlfriend. How she was killed in the same manner as their mother before her, by the demon…
Sam's heart thundered as he swallowed, "Michael-"
"There's evidence of human remains on the ceiling!" Michael snarled cutting Sam off, "The same spot where the fire had started!"
Sam involuntary closed his eyes and he saw Jess above him, her blood dripping on his face, her gasping and calling his name Sam. Then fire exploded which made him jolt to awareness to see Michael's furious and grief stricken face.
"How could you do that to my sister?" he's voice was pained as his eyes were glassed with tears, "She loved you! All she could talk about was you! You, you, you! And this is how you repay her?"
Sam's breath hitched as he chocked back his own grief and sorrow. The pain was still fresh… it was still raw. He understood Michael's need for revenge since he had those exact same feeling but Michael's were misplaced.
"I don't know how… how could you- you pin her to the ceiling and burn her alive!?" Michael sobbed gritting his teeth in bitterness, grief and anger
Sam couldn't speak; his own emotions were overwhelming him. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her, pinned on the ceiling chocking her last breath Sam.
"It wasn't Sam!" Dean defended now knowing why this guy was after his little brother, "It was someone else who's done this to her!"
"There was no other evidence of anyone else that was there!" Michael shouted re-gripping his gun
"Michael" Sam called out weakly but was pained with grief, "I'm sorry about Jess but I didn't do it. Someone got there before me…"
"Shut up!" Michael snarled full grief and rage, "I won't listen to your lies! You know what it feels like to loose a sibling? Someone who is so close to you that you share almost every secret and every lie? That when they are gone you feel like the very soul has been ripped out of you?"
He pointed the gun at Sam. Sam managed struggle to a sitting position. He clutched at his leg, feeling the warm blood trickling through his fingers. His jaw throbbed, his sides ached, his back burned and his stomach felt bruised and nauseous. He looked up at Michael.
"If you want retribution then kill me" Sam rasped, "If it would make you feel better"
"Sam!" Dean growled in a warning tone
"But it wont take away the hurt or the pain" Sam continued, "Jess is still… gone"
"I know" Michael's voice went cold, "Jess is gone because of you. You killed her"
Sam flinched knowing how those words had stung and how they rang true. Not in the way Michael described but he knew he could have stopped it, he could have saved her… but he ignored his dreams and the demon proceeded to kill her. If only Michael knew the truth; the truth that he would never believe. Not in his grief stricken rage that he was in.
Suddenly Dean felt the weight lifted off from him. Two pairs of arms yanked him from the ground. Dean struggled but it was no use, their grip was firm and their arms were strong. Michael turned to Dean with his gun still pointed at Sam.
"You'll co-operate or I shoot him for the dog that he is" Michael snapped at Dean, his grip on the gun tensed
Dean stopped knowing full well that this guy wouldn't hesitate to kill his brother and that was unacceptable in Dean's eyes. His captors sat him at the base of the near by tree and bound him to it with thick rope. Dean tested his restraints, the rope dug into his skin. They were strong and without a knife he had no hope of setting himself free and helping Sam.
Dean twisted his arm a little trying to reach the knife that was hidden up his sleeve remaining inconspicuous as possible. Michael and his goons didn't seem to notice in fact Michael kicked Sam again hard in the chest. Sam gasped as his ribs exploded with pain.
Dean saw the three men that jumped them leave and instead of feeling relief, he suddenly was filled with dread.
Michael reached down and pulled a knife that was half hidden in Sam's boot. One of their many hiding places for their knives. It was just a small dagger, meant for a last resort or a surprise attack. Without a word he approached Dean. He couldn't see Michael's expression that was hidden in the silhouette against the pale moonlight but with his approach it was precise and full of intent. With quick movement Michael thrust his arm forward and Dean yelped.
"Son of a Bitch!" he cursed gritting his teeth
Michael moved away out of his line of vision. Dean panted trying to cope with the pain that was throbbing in his shoulder. He was pretty sure the knife went right through and was embedded into the tree behind him.
"Dean?" Sam called
Dean looked to see Sam had once again struggled to a sitting position. He looked like a mess with a bruise forming on his cheek, the blood staining his jeans and the way he positioned himself to cope with the damage inflicted on his body. Dean knew he was loosing a lot of blood with the gunshot wound and if he didn't get that fixed soon Sam didn't have a lot longer to live.
"I'm fine Sammy" Dean tried to reassure unable to keep the pain from his voice, "Just a scratch"
Then Michael appeared again holding a red plastic container. He opened the lid and chucked the contents on him. Dean couldn't help but cough at the strong fumes that engulfed his senses. He knew that smell anywhere.
It was gasoline.
"Michael! Please stop this!" Sam's voice took a panicked and pleading tone, "Think about Jess! She wouldn't want you to do this!"
Dean was in a panic, now desperate to grab the knife hidden up his arm. Demons he got but people are just crazy!
"Michael! Be reasonable!" Dean didn't care that his voice didn't carry his cocky bravado anymore. All that mattered was trying to reach that knife and it was extremely hard when he had a knife in his shoulder.
Michael didn't say a word as he closed the container and pulled a small cardboard box from his pocket.
"You know Sam. I know Jess would have hated me for this but she isn't here anymore" his voice cracked filled with pain, "She's gone…"
Dean closed his eyes to cope with his panic. He didn't have a fear of fire he just didn't like to be smack bang in the middle of an inferno. Who would?
His hand twisted, just grasping the hilt of his knife with his fingers. Gasoline burned his nostrils, his head ached because of the fumes, his lungs constricted in protest but he mentally pushed through. His only hope out of this was that knife…
Sam struggled to get on his feet determined to stop Michael. His stomach threatened to spill as vertigo hit him. He pushed through the pain that threatened the pull him back down to the ground and managed to stand. He looked up through his blurry vision to see the blond haired man pick a match from the box and turned to him.
"Now you will feel the pain I've been feeling. You're going to know what it's like for your own sibling taken away from you"
He stuck the match. The flame reared then settled on the thin stick of wood
"It's only appropriate that he too dies the same way that Jess did. Pinned and burned alive" Michael's voice was cold and deadly devoid of all emotion
"NO!" Sam cried as he limped uselessly towards Michael.
The man dropped the naked flame. Like in slow motion it fell to the ground. The instant it hit the flammable chemical it flared up and raced across the covered areas. Anywhere there was gasoline it quickly spread across to begin burning, no matter what it burned or who.
Dean gave a yelp as flames surrounded him and raced up his legs and his jacket. The never had much of a problem with fire before but this was taking it to the next level.
"DEAN!" Sam yelled full of panic and limped towards the flames
"Sammy!" Dean chocked out feeling something slipping into the palm of his hands
Michael turned to Sam's struggling form. Sam struggled through the pain; his focus was on Dean and getting his brother away from the hungry flames. It seemed fire was taking everyone he loved away from him but this time it wasn't the demon's doing… it was a person.
Michael hit Sam across the face, the same area he had kicked earlier. Sam's nerves were on fire and he fell to the ground in a world of immense pain. He felt a hand grab his hair and yank his head up. He felt a cold gun barrel press against he's damaged cheek. He opened his eyes to see his brother struggling, kicking his legs to uselessly expel the flames on his jeans. By now flames engulfed the tree, it crackled and smoke poured from it. It was quickly turning into an inferno and Dean was right in the middle of it.
"DEAN!" Sam cried in despair and all he could do was helplessly watch
In a daze Dean finally cut his ropes, whether from the knife or the fire, he didn't care. He pulled the knife from his shoulder. His cry was drowned out by crackling and he leapt away. His lungs burned from inhaling smoke, his vision was swimming as he felt he was still on fire… even if he was away from the flames. He could smell burn clothing, burnt hair, burnt flesh…
He knew he had been burnt by the sheer stinging burning pain that tingled on his skin. He didn't know how badly, he didn't care. He was thankful he was alive as he gulped large breaths of air. One thing was on his mind and he glanced over through bleary eyes to see Michael had his injured brother at gun point. Michael let go of Sam and approach him who was on his hands and knees gasping for air. Sam knew his intentions.
"Dean!" Sam cried a warning as he struggled to get up once more. He pushed through the pain that threatened to overwhelm him and his fear pushed him to stand up and head over to stop Michael.
Dean heard Sam's warning cry. His head shot up and saw Michael standing over him with the gun cocked at his head, cold eyes bore into him.
"Don't do this! Don't do something that you'll regret!" Dean wheezed struggling to get up himself but his very skin shrieked with pain of being put under pressure. The pain brought a bout of nausea that threatened to turn his insides out.
Michael didn't hear him or even acknowledge the words.
"You brought this upon yourself Sam. Remember everything has a consequence…"
Sam froze as a gunshot tore through the stillness of the night. His eyes watched as the gun fired with a little smoke waving out of it. Dean slumped to the ground.
"DEAN!"
A surge of adrenalin hit system. Sam couldn't remember how he got over to his older brother but he was by his side in a flash. Frantic he clutched and shook Dean but his brother remained unresponsive. Tears formed in his eyes.
No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!
"Dean? Dean!" Sam called frantically
He turned his brother over onto his back. Dean's face looked peaceful. Sam shook his head in disbelief as tears ran down his cheek. He didn't care; he wanted his brother back and alive NOW!
Sam turned and saw Michael standing there with a stony face but his eyes show pain and justification. Sam saw red. His hazel eyes went dark with rage with such intensity that it made Michael flinch.
Michael took a step back as he felt the intense glare from Sam. He didn't know how but his found his gun a few feet away on the ground. Unarmed he decided to cut and run. Everything turned sour, very quickly.
He went to turn but he couldn't move. He was frozen in place. He panicked trying desperately to move away but he couldn't. He saw Sam approach. No longer looking like an injured animal. He looked more like a pissed off grizzly and he was coming for him.
Michael didn't anticipate this. Sam's brother was supposed to die and Sam was supposed to suffer, cry and feel the pain that he felt. For some reason he underestimated Sam's anger. He never seen the man angry and until now he was glad he didn't.
Sam lifted his fist and punched the blond haired man in the face. Michael didn't even move in recoil from the attack. He found himself unable like he was literally frozen in place. He thought it was his fear but it felt like something else and it held him with a iron like grip.
Even if he couldn't move he felt the full force of the attack and cried in pain. Sam didn't hear him as he aimed a punch in his gut. Michael groaned and couldn't even bend to offer his middle protection from the onslaught.
Blind rage Sam punched him again and again across the face, tears streaming from his eyes, grief and pain chocking his breath until his wrist was red and raw.
"Sam…" a weak voice whispered
Sam turned to find his brother focusing on him in a fazed state. Sam felt a wave of relief that he felt suddenly weak, like a vice that was holding him in place was released. Sam forgot about Michael and limped over to his brother's side.
"Dean? Dean?" he called his voice a pained whisper
"Hey Sammy" Dean whispered in a hoarse voice
"I thought you were dead" Sam chocked
"Me too" Dean groaned as the burning sensation came back, "And I wish I was"
Michael was forgotten and the man crumpled soundlessly to the ground as if release from his prison, blood pooled from his mouth and he was unconscious.
Sam felt dizzy, sick and weak as he pulled out his cell phone and called for an ambulance. He knew they tried to avoid the hospital as much as possible but this couldn't be helped. He almost lost Dean tonight and he wasn't going to loose him again. With the injuries he both suffered, especially with Dean's burns there was no way he could avoid the hospital.
"I'm sorry Dean" Sam muttered his voice had a touch of desperation, "I'm sorry, it's my entire fault"
Dean mentally groaned, I'm too sore to deal with this!
Instead of the chick flick moment he was expecting Sam didn't say anymore. Dean was thankful but worried. It meant they'll talk later about it and he knew Sam was feeling guilty.
Sam slumped next to his brother as siren's wailed in the distance. He was tired, the adrenalin and fear had left his system but the worry remained for Dean. Dean groaned before his eyes lost the battle that he wanted to win and closed them once again.
The tree burned like a giant torch within the darkness of the parking lot and Michael lay unconscious in the pool of his own blood. The full moon shone gently on the calamity below and watched while the ambulance arrived.
To be continued...
A/N: Gah! Sorry about my ending to this chapter
Also this came to me in a dream (well the revenge bit) everything else was formed as I was trying to get more sleep.
Please review! (Sam's puppy dog eyes) Let me know what you really think! After all opinions matter!