Snow of Time

Chapter 1


It had been a year since Dean had died, again. It was a reoccurring theme Sam was sick of and he was not going to be happy until his brother died of natural causes, no supernatural influence needed. However, things rarely worked that way, especially with a Winchester and Sam was getting frustrated.

Not only was his brother dead because of some dick bag of angels, but all supernaturally powered things that may be able to help him save his brother vanished. The closest thing to a demon that he had seen since Lucifer was shoved back in the cage, was a ghost that thought it was going to Hell for a crime it did not commit while alive. It took Sam the better part of a week to convince the spirit it was not going to Hell and to pass on. You might ask yourself, why did Sam not salt and burn the bones? Well, the answer's easy, he did, not that it did any good. The spirit had bound itself to something in the house it was haunting and try as he might, Sam could not find the blasted thing the spirit had hung onto.

He was sure Dean could have figured it out. Despite claims of him being the dimmer of the two Winchester brothers, Sam knew Dean had more instinct to make up for his lack of cold, hard, facts. People, or rather supernatural creatures, just did not get that about his brother and often underestimated him. Not that Sam was complaining about them underestimating his brother, but he could have really used his brother's help on that last case.

With a deep breath to stave off any ill feelings, Sam drove the Impala up the drive of Bobby's in hopes that the older hunter had found something. He had learned his lesson last time about the Impala and Bobby, this time he kept close watch on both and did not dare stick his I-pod in the tape-deck. Not that he was going to listen to Dean's cassettes either, so instead he had opted for the radio. At least all Dean had to do if he returned was changed the station, not that it was going to stop the complaining.

The screen door popped open with a creek after Sam slid from the car, Bobby had obviously recognized the rumble of the Impala, because he was only armed with a flask Sam knew did not contain holy water. Working up a smile, Sam hugged the older hunter, even though he had kept in contact, his visits were few and far between and it was nice seeing the old cooth face to face.

"It's good seeing ya boy, you're look good considering." Bobby's gravely voice grunted out in his ear as a wide hands landed a couple of good pats on his back.

"You too Bobby, considering." Sam nearly jumped when something wet and cold trickled down his back, be he could not help the chuckle at the older man's antics. Apparently Bobby had swapped out flasks since he had last seen him and it was payback for not stopping by sooner.

"Can't ever be too careful." Bobby shrugged with a smirk of his own, obviously enjoying his own shenanigans. Sam grinned in return before Bobby lead him into the house.

Nothing had changed, much, stacks of books shifted around mostly, the fine layer of dust had not been disturbed though and Sam suspected Bobby left it that way on purpose. Better to spot something missing or something that did not belong. Not a bad plan, but he preferred things clean and set in certain ways as apposed to the homey chaos of Bobby's place.

"Have you found anything on getting Dean back?" Sam asked, accepting a beer and popping the top off with Dean's ring. He had not noticed when he got so comfortable wearing it, that popping the top off a beer came so natural to him. It had been too long, Dean had been gone too long.

"Nah, nothing short of opening hell again and considering the lack of demon and angel movement, I'd say Dean hasn't broken yet. Actually, we don't know if it would work again or if it would have to be another righteous man." Bobby took a long draw from his own bottle before setting a compact mirror on the table.

"Bobby, I didn't know you wore womens makeup, you know I like you just the way you are, you don't have to pretty yourself up for me." Sam teased, earning him an eye-roll and a beer cap being flicked at him.

"Idjit, it's a communicator, Kurama had a friend of his, Yusuke send it to me. I can contact this friend of his, but he's on the move and the compact is too traceable for him to keep on him. I was planing on giving the kid a wave when you showed up." Bobby opened the compact and dialed a number, by pushing the blush, eyeshadow and then the lip-gloss.

It was one of the most ridiculous things he had ever seen and he had to resist chuckling.


'Anata wa kinkyu jitai ni kanshite de yobidashite iru baai moshimoshi, Urameshi o hanasu ni wa, hangu appu shite, atarashi seishin no tantei ni go renraku kudasai. Kore wa kojin-tekina korudearu baai, anata no yobidashi ga watashi no sen'yo kaisen ni tenso sa rete iru ma horudo shite kudasai.'

Sam heard an automated voice and remembered he was not wearing the ear cuff Gabriel gifted them. Taking it from his pocket, he placed it in his ear so he could understand what was being said.

'Moshi Moshi, Urameshi speaking, if you are calling in regards to an emergency, please hang up and contact the new spirit detective. If this is a personal call, please hold while your call is transfered to my private line.' It repeated and half way through the third rendition it switched over to ringing.

"Yo, Yusuke speaking, this better be good." The abrasive tone of Yusuke demanded, he was hunched over a stack of papers and had on a pair of glasses Sam was not sure he needed.

Do demons need glasses?

"It's Singer, I was checking in to see if you've heard from a mutual friend of ours?" Bobby demanded back, just as gruff and abrasive.

"Oh, Mr. Singer, sorry, I've been a bit busy. He contacted me this morning, he states and I quote, 'returning to the chicken coop', whatever that means. Also, I've had a trusted friend looking, pardon, listening in on your situation. Rumor has it, that the two mortals in the cage have escaped, there is whispers they are working their way up as we speak. I'm assembling a team to send down to aid them, if they manage to keep a low profile they should be fine, but I warn you, the lower down you go in the Makai, the stronger the demons get. If it weren't for my title as King on this level, the barrier would have exiled me to probably the second to last level, leaving only the cage and the pit at the bottom." Yusuke informed them and Sam's heart leaped in his chest.

Dean had escaped the cage, possibly with Adam to boot.

"I get the reference, I'll give you a ring in a couple of days." Bobby responded and Sam leaned over Bobby's shoulder so Yusuke could see him.

"Are you going to be going down? I mean you just said you were really strong." Sam asked and Yusuke lowered his head in apology.

"I'm sorry, I can't leave my thrown open, though I trust my friends, I wouldn't leave them open for an attack like that." Yusuke apologized, resting his elbows on his desk and giving a long sigh. Sam could tell he really wanted to help out, which meant a lot considering he didn't even know Yusuke.

"It's alright, I think I understand, but any help you can lend my brother and I would be appreciated."

"Your brother and you? You're not seriously considering going down there are you? No offense, but humans tend to draw demons in like broiled fish in the morning." Yusuke lamented and Sam did not quite understand the reference, but he assumed it was similar to the smell of bacon in the morning.

Dean loved bacon, not just in the morning, he would wear bacon if he could... well, maybe not that much, now that he thought about it, he remembered mention of a bacon scented cologne.

"I really am, I couldn't save him before, this time I'm going to part of the reason he is brought back. I'm going to try and contact a friend of ours to come with me, he's been in hell before and might have an idea where Dean might be." Sam confirmed and Yusuke whistled low and shook his head.

"Got balls for a human, I can admire that, but understand that even my best team might not be able to protect you, you'll be more of a hindrance than help. However, I can understand feeling useless, I'll tell the others." Yusuke advised and Sam was relieved Yusuke did not refuse to allow him to help. He could see why Kurama could be friends with this guy, this demon.

"Thank you, Yusuke, for everything, even though you hardly know us." Yusuke looked almost bashful at the compliment and snorted.

"Yeah, yeah, can't refuse someone in need, however, I have a pile of work to do, talk to you later." Yusuke turned off his communicator and the compact screen returned to a mirror.

Bobby stowed the mirror away with a frown, obviously not pleased with Sam's persistence about going with the search party.

"Do you think Cas will actually come? You've been calling him for a year, I doubt he'll come now." Bobby voiced Sam's fear out loud, but there was the small chance Cas would come now that they have a solid lead.

"I have to try, I feel he's stayed away out of guilt about not being able to help more. However, what does 'returning to the chicken coop' mean?" Sam asked, it was nice to know Kurama was still alive, he had felt awkward about asking before now, especially with how he treated him when they first met.

"This is the 'chicken coop', Yusuke sent me a letter a while ago, passed on from Kurama. It had codes and stuff on it so I could keep track with how he was doing. This is the chicken coop, Yusuke's is Phoenix Cove and if he has to lay low for a while he sends a message saying that he is going discount shopping."

"Reminds me of Dean and I's codes for when we run into trouble." Sam reminisced polishing off his beer. "I'm going to hit the hay, it was a long drive and I just finished a case. I'll try and contact Cas when I get up." Sam informed the older hunter before washing out his bottle, tossing it in the bottle box and wondering off to the spare room for much needed sleep.


AN: First chapter to the sequel of "Fox in the Chicken Coop", I hope you all enjoyed the continuation so far!