PART 2: Safety in Numbers
Several Weeks Earlier…
Entering the hotel
room he was tired, exhausted and just wanted to rest. As he walked by the bed he
briefly glanced at it longing to drop onto it before heading into the bathroom.
Once he relieved himself he approached the bed and collapsed. He was asleep
before his head even hit the pillow.
As he awoke early the
next morning he tried to figure out where he was. Tensing he shifted releasing
a soft wince as he sat up in the bed. For several moments he sat still, quiet
trying to recall why it was he still had his clothes and his shoes on. Then he
remembered he had returned from a typical salt and burn, exhausted from being
tossed about like a sack of potatoes by the ghost he was trying to eliminate.
He had managed to finish the job but not without receiving a few more bruises
and tense muscles as payment. Rubbing the back of his neck he realized he hadn’t
even bathed and stood up to accomplish the task. As he entered the bathroom he
halted noticing there was an odd box on the sink. Shaking his head he tried to
recall if it had been there when he checked into the hotel. Shrugging he
stepped into the shower and rinsed off before dressing and preparing to head
out again. As he walked past the sink again his eyes caught sight of the odd
box.
Curious he hesitated
before pushing the wash cloth draped over the edge of it off…and paled. Shaking
his head he started backing away from the sink colliding with the closet doors
as he did so. Unable to back any further away he stared intently at the box
wondering if it was something the hotel generally gave to guests or something
more sinister. He hesitated slowly inching his way towards it while mentally
calling himself every kind of fool for thinking it was anything more than a
hotel gift, but as he reached out his hand shook, his fingers twitched and he
barely touched the edge of it. Drawing in a calming breath he yanked the lid
off and jumped back at what was inside. Wincing as he hit the closet door he
ignored the pain as he slid slowly to the floor. The box banged softly on the
tile and the note inside fluttered to the ground laying mere inches in front of
his bare foot. He yanked his foot away from it as if it were burning before
drawing his arms protectively around his body and pushing as far back in the
corner of the room as he could. His eyes again raked over the bold red words
running across the white paper in flowing type set. Swallowing hard, biting
back the fear and panic threatening to consume him he read the words again: “I Miss You.”
To most people it
would look like a romantic notion put out by a significant other, a boyfriend,
a girlfriend, hell even a family member but to Dean Winchester it was a
terrifying reminder of what he was running from, of who he was running from. At some point that box had intentionally
been placed on that sink with that message inside. It was meant to be found,
meant to draw his attention and hold it. It was meant to be an idle threat, a
warning that he could be found no matter where he went, a promise that he would
be found no matter how far or how long he ran.
Swallowing hard he
carefully stood before taking a wide berth out around the fallen box and note.
Once in the bedroom he quickly gathered his stuff and tossed it all in his bag
before scanning the room to make sure he had everything. Once done he headed
for the door…and halted. If they had breached his room chances were fairly high
he was being watched. Shit! He had to get out of here. He had to get away!
Cautiously he exited
the hotel room before making his way to the front desk and checking out. He
turned to leave pausing as he asked, “Has anyone been by my room or left a
message for me by chance?”
“Mister Parker,
correct…?”
“Yes that’s correct.”
She turned to glance
through some papers before turning to him and presenting him with a simple
white envelope that had typed across the front his alias in the same red flowing
typeset as the note. He froze not wanting to accept the letter and hesitantly
reaching for it. Once in his hand it felt like dead weight his heart hammering
a thousand miles a minute in his chest. He managed a gruff thank you before
heading to the Impala hoping, praying he wasn’t still being watched or else his
escape would not go undetected.
Carefully scanning the
area and not seeing anyone he lowered into the Impala and took off. He had no
idea where he would head next aware that it was time to cash in on one of the
many alternate plans he had already put into place. It was time to escape to
one of his safe places and drop off the scale yet again.
Sighing in frustration
he turned onto the road stopping at the local bus station he entered and purchased
a ticket to
Glancing around he
assured himself he wasn’t being followed and returned again to the Impala this
time turning back in the direction he had originally come from driving passed
the city limits and taking the Interstate towards California. He then proceeded
to toss his cell phone out the window on that same highway while he went.
Within moments he knew it would be destroyed as a car or truck ran over it.
As he glanced in his
rear view mirror he scoped the passing traffic and feeling relieved hit the gas
as he prepared to disappear yet again.
* * * *
Sam was not happy with his visitor and was even more irritated that the sole reason he had come was because he was searching for Dean. He should be grateful that John Winchester had managed to stay out of his life since he headed off to college. It shouldn’t hurt to know his reason for finally hunting him down wasn’t to apologize but to seek help in locating his brother. Gritting his teeth he casually spoke, “You’re an asshole. You know that, dad?”
“What? What, son, I don’t…”
It was then that Jessica spoke for the first time as she answered the question, “You came all this way to ask for his help to track his brother?”
“Yes.”
“And what about Sam…?”
“Jessica…” came Sam’s only protest.
Shaking her head she continued, “Could you at least ask him how he’s doing? Could you at least act like you care more about him as your son than as a damned reference or resource?”
“Jessica, stop…”
“No. No. She’s right, son. I’ve been so distracted by your brother’s disappearance that I… I’m sorry, but I really do need your help.”
Now feeling angry, slighted in some way Sam snapped, “He’ll show up. Give him time. He always crawls back to daddy.”
Shaking his head John began to speak, “Not anymore, and definitely not this time…”
That halted Sam’s tirade before he got any further. He managed, “Dean hasn’t been with you, hunting with you?”
“Not in a long time Sam. He’s out on his own.”
“That stupid son of a bitch…”
“His choice… He stayed awhile after you left and then one day he was gone.”
“So you decided to track me down to help you find him again.”
“No Sam, it’s not like that.”
“Right… When was the last time you talked to him?”
“Three months ago.”
“Three months ago and you’re just now searching for him?”
“I figured he needed space, that he’d call me when he was ready.”
“In other words your over-protectiveness drove him away?”
“No, Sam. I… I haven’t heard from him in a long time, so I decided to call him.”
“What happened?”
“Phone’s no longer in service.”
“He shut off his phone?”
“Or someone broke it, either way he’s out there and we have to find him.”
“Let me try another number.”
Sam became even more worried when that call came up with similar results. His dad asked, “What number was that?”
“Emergency number, his back up phone if I ever needed… It’s the same message, dad. Dean would carry that thing everywhere. I’m sure of it. It was his last link to me. I don’t… We need to find him.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to say, Sam.”
“Yeah well… When was the last time you heard anything from him, about him?”
“The last phone call was three months ago. The last time his name circulated was six months ago.”
“He went to ground then.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t want to be found.”
“There was probably a good reason for that, dad.”
Sam noticed the tightness of his dad’s face, the way he acted as if he knew something he hadn’t said, like he wasn’t telling him the whole truth. He opened his mouth to inquire further when his dad said, “Your brother’s a damned good hunter, Sam. He knows how to cover his tracks, but he never shut me out as much as he is now.”
“Probably a reason for that dad…”
Again the look like he knew something he wasn’t saying crossed his dad’s features. Shaking it off he continued, “Do you think he’s in trouble or just hiding?”
“Wish I could say it was intentional but truth is he wouldn’t wait three months to hear from me and not pick up when I finally did call.”
“And he wouldn’t disconnect the phone number he gave me.”
“Yeah…”
“So where do we start?”
“The last time he was seen he was in a little town in
“You tracked his phone?”
“Tried to but when I got there he was gone.”
“So activate the GPS…”
“I did but the signal was gone. Figured he was in a place without towers and since our last talk didn’t go…well I figured he didn’t want to be found.”
“So we have no leads?”
“We could talk to a few of my old contacts, but that’s about all.”
“In other words we have no leads?”
“No. No I’m working on some though.”
“And what are they?”
“Uh well…”
Rolling his eyes and sighing heavily Sam quickly uttered, “Perfect,” before falling silent again.
* * * *
Pulling into the
Texaco Station, Dean carefully got out of his car scanning the immediate area
and highway while stretching before filling the car with gas. He then entered
the store walking to the back to get a drink and snack before approaching the
counter. As he waited in line he drew out his money halting his hand as it
brushed against the edges of an envelope. Shit!
Swallowing hard he
slowly drew the envelope completely out of his pocket and held it in his hand. As
he stared at the pristine white paper, marred only by the deep red type set in
the center of it, his hand began to shake.
Tensing he jumped when
another hand patted his arm and jerked his head up only to gaze into the
concerned eyes of a young woman who softly questioned, “Are you going to pay
for that?”
Confusion crossed his
face as he asked, “Pay for…,” before halting the question as his eyes fell to
the drink and snack in his other hand. Feeling stupid he quickly answered,
“Yes, yes I’m sorry I…”
“Seemed a little
distracted there…”
Offering a shy smile
Dean sat the drink and snack on the counter as he replied, “Yeah a little. I’m
sorry how much is that?”
“
“Oh I had gas too, um
pump 3.”
Nodding she added in
the gas then said, “Thirty twenty-five.”
“Is that all?”
“Consider it a
discount…”
Nodding he smiled
again before handing her the money placing the envelope on the counter. As he
gathered his stuff up he began to turn halting when she stopped him with a tug
on his arm and held the envelope out to him saying he forgot it. He stared at
it for several moments before quickly snatching it out of her hand and mouthing
a quiet ‘thank you’ in reply.
Walking quickly to the
Impala he scanned the immediate area again before putting his drink and snack
in the car. Then he turned and leaned against it drawing the envelope up into
view. He stared at for several moments before cautiously opening it tensing as
he drew the letter out, absently hearing a soft clink on the ground near his feet
as he did. Drawing in a tense breath he opened the letter…and quickly tossed it
in the trash heaving as bile threatened to rise in his throat. Closing his eyes
he cursed himself for being stupid enough to open the letter concentrating on
recovering a normal semblance of breath before returning to the car.
As he opened the door
he fumbled his keys cursing as they fell to the ground at his feet. Closing his
eyes tightly shut he willed himself to calm down before opening them again and
drawing his keys into his now limp fingers. As he drew them completely into his
hand his eyes settled on a shiny object to his right. He vaguely recalled
hearing a clink when he had opened the letter and wondered if that was what
fell out. Drawing the object into his hand he held it up paling and nearly
vomiting again as he realized just what
he held: a key, a small key that looked like one that was often used with a set
of shackles.
Quickly rising he
tossed the key to the ground staring at it for several long moments as the message
in the letter filled his mind: “I’m
coming for you.” The threat in that message was clear, as was
the handcuff key that had been included: if he was found he wouldn’t get
another chance to escape…ever again.
Swallowing hard he climbed
into the Impala and started it before driving away. This time instead of
turning and heading towards
* * * *
It had been some time since Sam had seen his father, but he could still read him well. There was something off about this entire situation, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. Dean was missing. He was sure of it now, as if the tension in his father wasn’t enough to confirm that. Still there was something else going on that he had to figure out. Swallowing hard he asked, “Did something happen to Dean before he went missing, dad?”
A heavy sigh was his answer before John began, “We were on a
hunt in
Well that was cryptic. Dean started getting phone calls from some girl. What was so surprising about that? Shaking his head he silenced his internal tirade and asked, “Phone calls?”
John nodded before continuing, “The calls… She, she’d call him several times a day asking him to help her out, to meet up with her, to join her for coffee…”
Okay again that didn’t sound so odd. Growing impatient he interrupted, “So they were dating?”
John glanced briefly at his son. He could see that Sam was getting frustrated with him. He wasn’t exactly sure how to explain the events of that hunt so he settled for a simple answer, “Not exactly.”
Of course, simple never worked with Sam as he had this nasty habit of questioning everything, so when he asked his next question John wasn’t the least bit surprised by it, “Dad, what aren’t you telling me?”
Sighing heavily he fished for words before settling on, “He started receiving phone calls as well as random messages, letters would arrive where we were staying.”
“Letters…?”
“Yes. They were all from her.”
“So she really must’ve liked him then,” Sam said with slight humor in his voice. As his father focused intently on him he no longer felt the discussion humorous. Tensing he nervously licked his lips and waited feeling dread enter his heart at his father’s next words, “They contained threats.”
Shit!
Attempting to regain his composure Sam managed a sharp, “Such as…?”
“Um you know the usual…”
The usual...? What the fuck?
“No dad, I don’t know. What do you mean by the usual?”
“They contained messages mainly phrases and comments. They all seemed so innocent at first. Letters would show up containing messages like ‘I’m watching you’ and ‘we’ll be together soon.’ Dean blew them off…figured if he ignored them long enough then they’d just stop… They never did, Sam. No matter where we went, what town we stayed in those messages would appear shortly thereafter. Dean didn’t seem too worried about them. They bothered him yes, but he ignored them. Several hunts after her town Dean… He vanished, disappeared without a trace. I searched for him for weeks hoping, praying that he had just decided to hunt on his own. Unfortunately those particular prayers were never answered. I did, however, find him…eventually.”
“And…?”
“And… I found him secured to a bed, Sammy, in an old warehouse. He was weak, malnourished… After that, after I helped him things were okay. For a time things even seemed to return to normal, but then the calls started again and this time...this time Dean left me. He left in the middle of the night. He’d call about once a week always very cryptic about where he was, and what he was doing. He…”
“He was trying to keep you safe.”
John nodded before continuing, “I’ve tried tracking him, but he’s good. I never get very close to finding him, and those times that I do he’s gone within hours. I worried about him, still do, but I always received calls from him about once a week. The last time we ran into one another we had one hell of an argument, and he stopped calling. I wasn’t worried though because I’d call his phone and would always get his personal recording…until now.”
Watching his dad seeing how nervous and worried he was he stated, “You think this girl has him again, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Could she overpower him though, dad?”
“Not physically no but he said that she was able to keep him with her by using drugs and restraints to subdue him. When I found him he wasn’t very coherent. I took him to the hospital. Some tests were conducted and trace amounts of some drugs were found in his system, among them were tranquilizers and sedatives.”
“Shit!”
“Yeah… Now do you understand why I’m so worried? Now do you see why we have to find him?”
“Yes and we will, dad. We will just give me a little time to wrap up some things here first.”
Nodding he drew out a card and extended it towards his youngest son saying, “I’m going to get a bite to eat. Here’s where I’m staying. I’m in room 228. I’ll see you in a few hours?”
Sam nodded and watched his dad leave, worry for Dean now overly prevalent in his mind.
Next:
Feedback to: bluebirdstears@yahoo.com
Copyright©2004-2011 Midnightstorms.net
All Rights Reserved.