onasteelhorse | an exercise in control (for hunter

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[rp partner]: hunter_returns

an exercise in control (for hunter_returns)

It didn't escape Dean just how fucked up this was. But so was the whole situation, so what the hell, right? If it got Sam back, if it got him to see how that Ruby bitch was fucking with his head and helping him get hooked on something that was going to lead nowhere good... well, Dean could take the fall out. He'd take whatever hate Sam could throw at him, but he wasn't letting his brother damn himself like this.

He wasn't going to let Sammy turn himself into a monster.

So, he found a spell. He hated dealing in magic and witches, but if it all went right... well, it meant he'd have enough pull over Sam to get him to stop until he finished detoxing this time and hopefully realized just what the demon blood was doing to him.

To them both, really.

He was fucking terrified Sam was going to do something stupid, wind up in a worse situation. He couldn't let him, even if it meant betraying him in one of the worst ways.

The spell was cast though and all Dean had to do now was sit back in the tiny motel room and wait for Sam to get back from wherever he slipped off to today. He tried to play it casual, flipping through channels and fought down his nerves and conscience alike.

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He thought maybe he could relax if he heard those words, but... no. He can't, because Sam isn't making the choice for him really. He didn't make the choice at all.

"What, Sam?"

He's tired. That's all.

"Nothing. I'm.. I'm gonna grab a shower and go to bed. I don't want to have this fight again."

Soon, this would all be over. Lilith would be dead and then they could finally move on, finally find some peace.

"Yeah, because this is my favorite fight too, Sam." He shook his head, but didn't try to stop him. He's just as tired, just as worn out. What he wants is to try for a few hours sleep.

"Go ahead, go shower."

He got up, heading for the bathroom with a distant frown on his face and it wasn't just the same old fight that was troubling him.

Something felt.. off. Like he couldn't get his shower until he'd been told to. But that was insane, right?

He'd check the wards after his shower. Just to be sure. They were too close to stop now.

If it all went like it should, Sam would... hopefully leave Ruby alone, stick with him at least. Hell, he'd hunt Lilith down, find a way to kill her... fine. Whatever. He just wanted it to be them though, like it's always been and without some bitch corrupting his baby brother.

With some of his worries eased though, he shifted back on the bed and pulled the covers up over him to grab some sleep.

Or try. He wasn't all that convinced he'd get much of it, but he'd try. Better than fighting at least.

What Sam wanted to do was crawl into bed with Dean after his shower. Find some moment of warmth with his arms wrapped around him. He could lie to himself with Ruby in his arms, but Sam wasn’t a fool. He knew that Ruby didn’t care about him, not like that. She was helping him, but she was still a demon.

Still toweling off his hair, Sam tossed his clothes in the laundry duffel, leaving his phone on the table.

buzz

Picking up his phone, he checked the number. Ruby had said she’d call if she had news on Lilith.

So why was he putting the phone down and walking away? She had news, he had to talk to her. Forcing himself to turn around, Sam picked up the phone again.

And turned it off.

What the hell?

His eyes drifted back towards Dean’s bed. No. No, he wouldn’t go there, wouldn’t do that. Not after everything they’d been through.

Right?

“What did you do?”

Dean thought about pretending to be asleep, ignore Sam's question for as long as he could... contrary to what Sam might claim after this, what he'd done had been an absolute last ditch effort to save him. It wasn't settling right... he didn't want his brother to obey his every damn command, take away his choices.

But what could he do when he was doing everything the absolute wrong way? The way that was going to turn him into a monster, into something that won't give Dean a choice in hunting or not?

"What are you talking about?"

Classic evasion, his mind supplied. But there was still a part of Sam that didn’t believe his brother would go that far, to steal away his ability to make a choice. But then again, a lot had changed between them and none of it was good. Sam moved to pick up the phone again, his thumb hovering over the power button and no matter how much he might want to press the button – he couldn’t.

“You heard me. What did you do Dean?”

Taking away his choices. Just like Dad. Deciding for him because everyone knew what was better for him. If anyone would know how badly that would sit with him it would be his own brother.

A vial of blood. It’s stashed in his jacket – emergency supply he’d told himself. Just incase. They were on a dangerous hunt and he needed all the advantages he could get.

And he can’t go get it. Because it’s part of Ruby and he’d told Dean..

The cell phone hit the wall, shattering on impact.

"Jesus, Sam." He sat up at the sudden impact, startled. He shouldn't be, probably. Sam's temper had been through the roof lately and that was saying something.

"Calm down, would you?" He didn't know how to evade this... mostly because lying to Sam never settled right with him. It didn't mean that he didn't know how to do it though, wouldn't do it...

"I've been at the motel all freaking night, Sam. You're the one who was out, remember? Running around with her, doing God only knows what, right?"

He’d had issues with his temper his whole life, why should now be any different?

Leave it to Dean to attack Ruby when all she was doing was making him stronger, making him better. “I’ve been out hunting demons, Dean! Finding out where Lilith is and what seal she’s going to go for next. Cas has got nothing and if he does, he’s not sharing. We’re finishing this job. You don’t like what I can do, don’t trust it but it’s a part of me, Dean. I can do something good with it. Find Lilith and put an end to this.”

Because he had to prove that his power could be for something good. That he wasn’t some monster that their Dad thought he’d be.

“I’m doing the job.”

Yeah, of course that was all she was doing. She wasn't a demon, she wasn't in it for herself some way. Dean'd believe that when Hell freaking froze over. "And I said I'd hunt down Lilith with you, Sam! But I don't trust her... I don't trust you guzzling her blood, alright? And I can't believe you think this is perfectly normal, dammit!"

Pushing himself up, he circled around the bed to stand face to face with Sam, eyes narrowing on him dangerously. "And you just friggin' got back tonight, Sam... you gonna run off with her again already? After you said you wouldn't."

"I'm not going anywhere! But I can't even pick up the phone." There was a time when he would have backed down, even though he was bigger. Dean was his big brother and he'd followed his lead all his life. But not lately. He's strong and he's tired of existing in his shadow.

"Nothing about our lives is normal. I'm doing the job, Dean! I'm doing what has to be done to stop her from setting Lucifer free."

"Well, now you really won't be able to answer it, huh? It's in friggin' pieces, Sam!" He growled, not letting his brother's height deter him. He never had before and he'd be damned if he'd back down now.

"And we'll find another way... or are you forgetting, this is my job, Sam? I'm the one who's supposed to do something, not you!"

For an instant he was stunned into silence. "Your job? Right. Go back to your books Sammy. We don't need you," his voice was thick with a lifetime of resentment. "Just do your research and stay out of the way of the adults, right?"

Sammy the burden. Sammy the nerd. Never Sam the hunter. First the burden to be babysat and then shoved at books to get him out of the way.

"You and Dad shoved me aside my entire life, but you know what? Not this time. I was the one who took out Alistair, remember? And I'm gonna be the one to take out Lilith."

"Not you."

"That what you got from that? Seriously?" He's in Sam's personal space now, glaring at him, because fuck that.

"Being the big guy is worth drinking down demon blood and turning yourself into something you're not, Sam? And don't even start with that-- I never shoved you aside. I've spent my entire life wanting you right there with me, fighting with me, Sam."

"Right. As long as Dad said so. As long as it was his way or the highway. Remember?" It was a cheap shot, but he was too angry to see a clear way out of the argument. "I'm a hunter Dean, I'm doing the job. That's what matters, isn't it?"

That was all that mattered to Dad before the end. What's the difference now? He's doing what he'd been trained to do.

"Even when I didn't want back in."

That got Dean to falter, hurt flashing across his face before he could mask it under another glare. He looked away for a moment, hands clenched tight into fists at his side.

It'd be too easy to take a shot, but Dean resisted that urge.

"Jesus, Sam..." There was so much he could say. So much he wanted to say, but... dammit, he was tired of fighting and seeing who could give the hardest blow next. He shook his head and looked away.

"Forget it. I'm not dealing with this shit, Sam. I've fucked up... I know that I have, alright? I let Dad kick you out and I dragged you back in when you had something good going for you. I get it." Not like he wasn't all too familiar with each of his fuck ups from his time in Hell. They didn't let you forget your failures, forget what you really were down there.

"You resent me or hate me, fine. But I'll be damned if I watch you destroy yourself, Sam."

Later, he'll be sick with guilt over that wounded look on his brother's face.

Right now however, right now Sam can't think beyond the blind anger threatening to choke him. When Dean turns away, he scowled, turning towards his duffel. "Screw this. I know what I'm doing Dean. You don't like it, don't watch, but I'm taking her down."

A frustrated sound slipped free. He can get to his duffel, but when he reached out for his jacket his hand simply.. stopped.

"You're the most frustrating son of a bitch... you know that, Sam?" He clenched his hands tighter, frowning as he watched Sam grab his things, no doubt wanting to leave. Run off.

"I'm sorry, Sam," he finally forced out after a moment. Even seeing red, he hated having to do this to his own damn brother. It was for the best in the end, right?

So he had done something to him.

Sam rounded on his brother, torn between betrayal and fury. The one thing he’d balked against his entire life was being controlled. He fought against their Dad’s dictates his entire life, fought every decision that had been made for him, without his input. And knowing that, knowing how much Sam hated that, Dean still went and did.. whatever he’d done.

He dropped the canvas bag at his feet , turning his back on Dean. He had to calm down. He’d burned through too much of his power already dealing with the demon and without more blood.. things were going to get bad for him very soon.

“You’re as bad as he was,” he grated out.

Sleep. Maybe he could get some rest before the headaches and tremors set in. Because right now he sure as hell can’t deal with his brother. Can’t even look at him.

He knows. He knows it too damn well. But if it saves Sam, he'll take that look of betrayal and he'll just be damned all over again. Not like he really deserves any better, right?

He shook his head, a wry smile coming to his lips. "Yeah, okay, Sammy."

He tries to pretend this doesn't hurt, that he's not sick with himself. He doesn't try to pretend Sam probably won't hate him... at least for a while anyway. Nobody can hold a grudge like that kid. "I don't really give a crap right now if it stops you from becoming something you don't really want to be, Sam. I know you. You don't have to stay around me, but you're not touching demon blood again. Got it?"

His hand snapped shut and Sam ruthlessly stomped down a desire to round on Dean and just take one shot at him. Just one. He was cut off now – couldn’t talk to Ruby, couldn’t see her, and now Dean had forbidden him to touch the blood that was secreted away in his jacket. Sitting on the corner of the bed, as far away from Dean as he could get, Sam raked his hands through his hair. It was like he was twelve all over again. Edicts delivered and Sammy had to fall in line because he couldn’t be a good soldier like Dean. Couldn’t just obey without question. Follow orders, Sam. It’s for your own good.

“I hate you.”

Words he’d never said to his brother before, but they were delivered with quiet ferocity. This was a betrayal, stealing away his independence, his choice. If they were mistakes, they were his to make.

Screw this. If there was one thing Sam had excelled in as a kid, it was pushing the boundaries of orders.

He slammed the motel door behind him hard enough to rattle the window.

He’d sleep in the car. It might be miserable and cold without his jacket – but he wouldn’t have to look at Dean and right now, that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

Dean had tried to prepare himself for that, but actually hearing it from Sam's mouth... damn, it was like a punch to the gut. Sam got his shot in, alright... and it hurt worse than any actual punch could.

If one good thing came out of it, it was Sam storming out so he didn't get to see that broken look on Dean's face, the doubt that he should undo this because really, he's never been able to deal well with Sam possibly hating him. Deep down, he'd never really believed he had truly ever hated him anyway. Been pissed, yeah. Resented him, sure.

But this time? he actually believed it.

He waited until the door had slammed shut to sink down on to the bed an bury his face in his hands. Not crying. Hell, he didn't even have the energy for that if he wanted to, but he was so damn spent. He just felt... done. He was done with everything. He didn't know how he was even holding on anymore.

But he couldn't break apart now. He needed some drinks and maybe an hour or so of sleep, then tomorrow... he'd tell Sam he could leave if he wanted. He wouldn't be getting to demon blood, not with the spell in place. He wouldn't be dealing with Ruby either.

((Ohgod Sam is going to feel horrible. Poor Dean.))

It’s a cold, miserable night in the back of the Impala. Not enough room for Sam to even try and get comfortable, never mind the fact that he was too hurt and too angry to even consider sleep. He would have expected manipulation like that from Castiel, from anyone else but his brother and that’s what hurt him the most. Dean was the one person he trusted more than anyone else in the world and he’d betrayed him, using magic to control him in ways that their Dad never could.

Huddled in the back seat, he finally dropped off into a restless, nightmare-filled sleep just before dawn. When he woke, feverish and sick, Sam barely had time to fling the back door open before emptying his stomach onto the pavement. He couldn’t get to Ruby, couldn’t get to the blood that would make it all stop and frustrated tears slipped down his face as he hauled himself back to the room.

He can smell the whiskey in the dark little motel room before another wave of nausea had him scrambling for the bathroom, muscles cramping up in protest as he went.

((Aww, Sammy. Dean will feel like a dick for doing this to Sam. :P))

Dean didn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, it was all Hell memories... every time in Hell that they'd used Sam against him, tore him down with Sam's hatred. What had happened earlier had been so much worse than anything they'd shown him in Hell though.

He'd known, deep down, it hadn't been real down there. It had just been another way to hurt him.

He winced when Sam came into the room again. He felt sick, himself, though not in the way Sam was. He was disgusted with himself, disappointed that it had come to this. That's not what he freaking needed to feel right now... especially when Sam seemed to have it worse than him at the moment.

It took him a few minutes to crawl out of bed. He had no idea what time it was, but it was still dark out and they were both going to be exhausted come morning. He couldn't leave Sam in there, miserable though.

"If you want, I'll drop you off at Bobby's in the morning. You can wait this out there." Because he's come this far and he can't back down now, let Sam go back to the blood that'll ease the withdrawals.

an exercise in control (for hunter_returns)

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