Title: Why So Serious?

Author: nerwende90

Summary: Sometimes the danger isn't supernatural. The title and some stuff are inspired by The Dark Knight, so I guess it's spoilery for this movie.

Warning: violence and lots of angst. Because I'm such a bad person.

Disclaimer: I finally have a computer of my own, but try as I might, I still don't own the boys.

Author's note: Even though the titles, some lines and some facts are from this movie, you won't find any character from The Dark Knight in there. So please don't go think the enemies are the Joker and his goons. They're just regular guys. Now that it's all been clarified, on to the story!

Why So Serious?

1. Not real

Pain. Lots and lots of pain. That's all Dean can acknowledge right now.

He looks up from the ground where he had fallen only moments ago. Blood's pouring out of his mouth, and he's pretty sure he has at least two broken ribs. His nose has assumed an awkward angle, and his hands are so mutilated that he's surprised there's even any skin left at all.

His legs feel like they're on fire. He knows they're not even sprained, but he's pretty sure they won't be ready to carry his weight again anytime soon.

His tormentors are looking down at him, laughing as he tries to sit up, but just can't gather the strength to do it. One of them, the leader Dean assumes, kneels in front of him, still grinning, and lightly grabs his face. Dean tries to wiggle free, but he's so weak from the beating that the man has no real trouble keeping his head still.

"You'll tell your father" the man says, stroking Dean's face with the side of his knife blade "that this is our message for him. If he doesn't come to us, we'll keep playing with you." And Dean would have laughed if it didn't threaten to hurt his injured ribs even more. If that's what they called playing, he certainly didn't want to fight with them. Gathering what blood and saliva he could get in his mouth, he slightly tilted his head back before spitting as hard as he could in the man's face. He flashed him his most cocky grin, but that only earned him another punch in the face, then another, then another.

It had been going on for about twenty minutes, but to Dean it felt more like twenty years. He was out to get information on the hunt his dad, Sam and he had been working on. But he hadn't quite made it to his care when these guys attacked him. Of course he had tried fighting them, after all he was a Winchester. But what can one guy do against five to seven armed and angry lunatics?

After a short while, the blows stop coming, and Dean can't help but wonder what's next. He tries again to sit up, but to no avail. He shoots the man a murderous look, not even caring about the betraying tears that are still wet on his cheeks. He hasn't even tried to wipe them away. He doesn't care if they see him cry, he just wants it to be over and for one crazy split second, he thinks it is. But the man grabs his face again and slowly puts his knife in Dean's mouth.

Dean freezes, staying as still as possible. What's the plan now? Cut off his tongue? That thought's enough to send shivers down his spine. "Why so serious?" the man speaks again, and now Dean's sure he's just a nut job. 'Why so serious?' he thinks, 'What the hell does that mean?'

He hates it, but he starts shaking as he feels the blade slowly being turned in his mouth. His eyes widen in fear as he feels it dig in the corner of his mouth 'No, not that!'

The man just keeps grinning "You know" he says casually, as if talking about the weather "you really ought to smile more often. Let's put a smile to this face…"

Sam sits up abruptly, the memory of his nightmare leaving him sweating. He ran a shaky hand through his hair before turning to look at his brother's sleeping form.

It wasn't the first time he had a nightmare about Dean getting hurt, but this one had felt so vivid, and it had been so… detailed. Like he could see everything Dean had seen, feel everything he had felt… 'Not real' the youngest Winchester scolded himself 'Just a nightmare. Not even a vision. Just a good ol' nightmare.'

He looked at Dean again and, before he could stop himself, he got up and went to sit on the edge of Dean's bed. He just sat there for a moment, listening to the soft sound the sheets were making as Dean stirred in his sleep. At some point, Dean whimpered in his sleep and Sam had a flash of memory of Dean's beaten up face, the man's knife in his mouth and the quiet whimper he let out. Sam shook his head, trying to get the memory out of his mind. He couldn't help but wonder what the man was planning to do. He honestly didn't know, but Dean had seemed to understand and that had scared him to death.

"Still not sleeping?" his Dad had spoken softly, but Sam had jumped anyway and cursed under his breath.

"Nightmare." He answered softly.

"That bad, huh?"

Sam shook his head, a small amused smile on his lips. How his dad could figure it out just like that he did not know. But it was still kinda reassuring to know he could rely on him to understand everything from his tone of voice, even in a mere whisper.

"Well," John said, walking in quietly so he didn't wake Dean up "your brother certainly has no trouble sleeping."

Sam chuckled, but was cut short as Dean grumbled "His brother would sleep even better without you two yapping and giggling like schoolgirls."

John laughed at that "Sorry kiddo, didn't mean to wake you up."

Dean mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like "Yeah right", rolled over onto his stomach and just fell asleep as quickly as he'd woken up.

John smiled softly, putting a light hand on his son's back. "You should get some sleep too Sammy. We have an angry spirit to hunt."

Sam nodded before realizing the room was too dark for his dad to see, so he talked instead "Yeah I'll try." He felt dad's hand on his shoulder and hear him leave the room as quietly as possible.

After a while, Sam got up himself and slowly made his way back to his bed. He just lay there, waiting for the sleep to come as he forced himself not to think about his nightmare. His last thoughts before sleep finally claimed him were 'Not real. Just a nightmare. Not a vision.'

Not real.'

TBC…

Well that's about it for now, folks! If there are some mistakes in this chapter, do forgive me for it was 2:24 in the morning when I finished the chapter which I'd started about fifty minutes before.

And if there are mistakes in there, please let me know so I can correct 'em!

And even if there's no mistake, just let me know what you think, reviews are always appreciated!

nerwende