The sequel to 'Means to an End'. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own it. If I did I would enjoy having the Trickster around
Chapter 1: Running Away
He was staring out the window watching as the waves crash against the shore below and he knew something was wrong. Everything was quiet. There was no sound. Nothing at all. He hadn't heard anything since he woke up. He remembered the explosion of sound as he and Crowley were thrown apart. It had been far too loud. With a growing sense of dread he realized that he was completely deaf now. That last explosion had been too much for his already fragile hearing. No more music, no more talking with Sam, no more joking with Gabe, no more sounds of pleasure from Cas. It was all lost to him.
A sudden touch made him jump and he felt something shift in him. He frowned and turned to look at whoever was touching him. Cas was there but he was staring at Dean, first with a look of horror and then it turned to hatred and his blade was in his hand and pointed at him. Sam, who was behind the angel, had grabbed his gun and it was also pointed at him. He backed up not knowing what was happening but feeling that something was very wrong.
"Guys...What are you doing? It's me!"
The both said something at the same time so it was impossible for him to pay attention enough to read either of their lips. He backed up and as he did he caught sight on himself on the mirror on the wall. There was traces of blood around his mouth and his ears and it trailed down his neck. Most likely blood from losing his hearing completely. His eyes however weren't their normal green color. It had changed and was now a solid black. He knew those eyes. Demon eyes.
He reached up and touched his face, not understanding why this was happening and not really believing what he seeing. Why was he showing signs of being possessed? He didn't feel possessed. He pulled down his shirt and noticed that his tattoo was still in place. As long as it was intact he couldn't be possessed. So why were his eyes black? Why was this happening?!
He turned to look back at his mate and brother, who still had their weapons raised at him. Trying to quell the panic he reached out to his bond with Cas and touched it only to see Castiel flinch and have their bond slammed closed so hard that it had him gasping and clutching at his chest in pain. Castiel took a step towards him and Dean couldn't stop himself from screaming. His angel was going to kill him!
Dean woke up gasping, feeling the cold sweat covering his body. It was a just a memory of what happened when he first woke up. He had screamed as Cas came closer, certain that his soul mate was going to smite him. He had screamed for Gabriel and the archangel had appeared. He sent Sam and Cas away and took the time to examine him before jumping to conclusions. Somehow he had become a half demon. When Gabriel broke the news Sam had nodded and seemed determined to find a way to fix this mess. Castiel had just looked at him and walked away without saying a word. That had hurt.
Looking around Dean felt his heart jump into his chest when he realized that he wasn't outside in the cliff side hut but inside. Looking around in the light of the full moon he realized that he was in the guest room laying on the bed with Sam on one side of him and Cas on the other. Taking a deep breath he was relieved to see that he hadn't woken either of them. They looked so peaceful that he knew that there was only one thing he could do. He had to leave. It was the only way to protect them from himself.
Leaning down he kissed Sam first then Cas whispering just how much he loved them before carefully getting of the bed. He wasn't surprised to see Gabriel was sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. He draped a spare blanket over the archangel and dropped a kiss on his head apologizing for what he was about to do. He carefully slipped out of the room and down the hall to Gabriel's room.
Trying to be careful with his movements he began searching the room for his keys. The archangel had taken them after explaining his condition to him. He didn't want Dean to try to do anything stupid. Carefully opening a drawer he cursed his predicament. He hated not being able to hear. He had no idea how loud he was being or if he was going to wake anyone. With a small growl to himself he closed the drawers of the dresser he had been looking in. A sudden movement in the mirror caught his attention and he whirled to find Razael standing in the doorway to Gabriel's room.
The archangel held up a familiar set of keys. "Looking for these Dean?"
"That depends." The hunter said, his green eyes locked on the keys to his car before flicking back to the angel. "Are you going to give them to me or am I going to have to fight you for them?"
Razael let out a chuckle. "Despite what you may think of me, Little Brother, I do care. Come on. Follow me."
Dean was confused but he followed the taller angel downstairs and into the basement. The hunter was a bit shocked when Razael opened the locker containing his gear. Gabriel had taken it all after telling Dean that he was a half demon, worried that the hunter might try to end his life. He pulled out the bag and tossed it at Dean's feet and the brunette opened and checked the contents, pleased that it was all there. He heaved the bag onto his shoulder and followed the angel back upstairs.
Razael turned to face him so the hunter could read his lips. "I'm not going to stop you from leaving Dean but I do want you to think about what you're doing. Gabriel is trying to help you."
"I know he is but it's taking too long. Look at Cas. He's losing weight and I don't know how I know but he's weaker." Dean said. "I'm not rushing blindly into this. I have a plan. I've been making it ever since he told what I've become. I've had three months to think this over."
The angel was silent for a long time before he sighed. "I can tell that you aren't going to be swayed. In that case all I can do is try my best to do what I can. If you don't want anyone to be able to follow you I suggest you not use the card mother gave you. Same thing for the cell phone you have. You can take my spare card and phone. It's an untraceable number and you can only make calls you can't receive them. Text messages you can do both with. If need anything at all just call my name." He said passing Dean both a card and cell phone. "I don't think I need to tell you just how dangerous this is for you do I? You are a deaf hunter."
Dean switched out the card in his wallet and his cell phone. "Yeah I know. I won't be hunting though. Not actively. I'm still a target though."
"Exactly. Send me a text message every night okay? I want to know you're safe."
The brunette nodded. "I will. Thank you Razael. This means a lot to me. Just..."
"I'll keep an eye on them. Promise."
The eldest Winchester nodded but he still hesitated. Seeing the paper and pens on the counter he decided that he would pen three quick messages. One to Sam saying that he was sorry for walking out on him but this was something he had to do alone. The second went to Gabriel, thanking him for all that he had done. The last went to Castiel and in it Dean apologized for everything. He told the angel how much he loved him and that he was sorry for running but he was only doing it to protect him. When he was done Dean thought about leaving his necklace but it made his heart hurt too much. Folding each letter he marked them for who there were intended and set them up against the vase that held some flowers.
With that done Dean nodded and hefted his bag a bit higher. He headed outside, grateful that the garage that housed his Baby was far enough away from his house that it hopefully wouldn't wake anyone. He slipped inside the garage and quickly opened the trunk and place the gear inside before sliding into his beloved car's driver seat. He started her up with a sad smile. She roared for him, and he was glad to be able to feel her even if he couldn't hear her. He pulled out of the garage and stopped to take one last look at the house.
"I'm sorry guys. I need to do this." Dean whispered before pulling away.
As he headed into the tunnel he remembered what Gabriel told him about it being able to take anywhere. Not knowing what else to do he thought about heading to Bobby's but wasn't sure how to explain what was going on. Hell he'd probably end up stuck in a trap. Still it was better then nothing. Suddenly almost without thinking about it he changed his mind and gunned it going into the tunnel. He came out the other side driving through his hometown. He pulled into the first motel he found and checked in.
Grabbing his duffle he headed to room seventeen and opened the door. Throwing his bag on the bed he decided that a shower and change of clothes were in order first before trying to get some more sleep. He grabbed a clean pair of boxers out of his bag and turned to the bathroom only to freeze. Crowley was standing between him and the bathroom, a grin on his face.
"I was wondering when you'd come looking for me Dean." The demon said with a smile. "I was starting to worry that I might not see you again, being kept hidden away in whatever safe house that six winged freak owns."
Dean let out a growl and his eyes turned black. "You bastard."
Crowley's smile grew at seeing the hunter's eyes change. "Now that's more like it. Black is a good color on you. Think we can get your soul to match it?"
"You did this to me didn't you?" Dean snapped, grabbing his gun.
"Yup. That would be me." The Scotsman said, his grin growing. "I have to say that I'm impressed. I didn't think it would actually work and yet here you are. Amazing. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen you with my own eyes."
"Start talking or else I'm going to start shooting." Dean said, pulling the hammer back on his gun.
The King of Hell feigned hurt. "Now why would you want to shoot me? I'm being nice."
Dean's expression turned to one of disbelief. "You're joking right? You turned me into a fucking demon you asshole!"
The demon held up a hand with on finger raised. "That's not entirely true. I didn't give you that much. You're only half demon. You have the Moose's wonderful archangel to thank for the other half."
The hunter hesitated, his gun lowering slightly at the new information. "And just what in the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Crowley frowned. "So you don't know then? I figured he would have told you. Then again he might have decided to overlook it with all the protections he's put in place on you. It is there though. I can feel it. It's like the sun's warmth on a cool day."
Dean raised the gun again. "Feel what? The bullet I'm about to lodge in your skull?"
There was a sudden smirk that came from the demon. Dean realized what was going to happen and began to squeeze the trigger. The gun went flying from his grasp as he hit the bed. A weight settled on his chest and his arms were pinned at his side. While he knew he was stronger then he was before Dean knew there was no way he could get Crowley off of him.
He glared up at the brown eyed demon sitting on him. "Do I look like a piece of furniture? Get off asshole."
"You want me to explain things don't you?" The Hell King asked sweetly. "Then you'll be a good boy and sit there and listen."
After a few more minutes of futile struggling he realized that he had no choice so the hunter nodded. "Fine. You get your wish. I'm listening."
Crowley smiled and reached down and patted Dean's cheek as if he were a child. "Good boy. Now as you know four months ago was the blue blood moon."
Dean stiffened. "No it was three months ago. It had to have been." Realization dawned on him that he hadn't bothered to find out how long he'd been out after that battle; he'd been too upset by his new condition. "I was out for a month."
"Looks that way don't it?" Crowley said softly. "You see I had been planning on using this vial of my blood and feeding it to your brother but that stupid angel ruined that plan real quick. But imagine my surprise when in you stroll glowing just like him. It was enough to make a demon like me weep for joy. So I saw my chance to make the prophecy come true and took it. An archangel bore me a child. And a son at that! I couldn't have asked for more."
Dean shook his head. "No he didn't. Gabriel's not pregnant. He's at home with Sam."
The Scotsman gave him a funny look. "Seems like Gabriel is keeping a lot from you then if you don't know this either. Guess he doesn't trust you enough."
The hunter had enough and he began to twist and buck, trying to dislodge the demon before he said anymore. "Get off me! I'm tried of your games. As soon as I get my gun back I'm going to give you a new hole to breath through."
With a snarl Crowley grabbed the brunette's chin and forced their eyes to meet. "Gabriel adopted you as his son. By angelic law that makes you his human born angel son. A small piece of his Grace resides in you as does a small drop of his blood. I'll give you three guesses what that means."
Dean froze, there was no way that could mean what the demon was implying. "You're lying."
"Nope. Gabriel did indeed give me a son as unintentional as it was." Crowley said getting off the hunter. "He brought me you."
"I'm not-I can't be!" Dean denied, because he knew that Gabriel would have told him something that important.
"Want me to prove it?" Crowley said pulling out his gun and firing before Dean could reply.
The hunter hissed in pain as the bullet skimmed his arm just below the elbow. Having been shot before he was expecting the burn. What came as a shock was the soul searing pain that shot through his chest like a bolt of lightening. He screamed and grabbed for the wound. Crowley was there and healing it before he could blink but the ache remained for a few minutes.
Catching his breath Dean shoved the demon away hard. "What the hell did you just do to me?"
"Angel bullets. Kills angels. Hurts doesn't it?" Crowley asked as he made sure the hunter's arm was properly healed. "That would be that small piece of angel in you reacting."
Dean rubbed his arm and willed the ache to go away as he remembered what he had been told about the prophecy and why Crowley wanted a child in the first place. "I'm not helping you. I already started the end of the world before and it's not something I feel like doing again."
"Not even if I can turn you back?" The Scotsman said looking down at him. "Because I can. It's my blood in you. I can turn you back into a human if you help me. Purge the blood."
The eldest Winchester couldn't help but think about Castiel, about the hate in the angel's eyes he had seen there, being directed at him. "I..."
Crowley reached out a put a hand on top of his head, treating the hunter like a child once more. "This is a lot to take in. Why don't you take a few days and think about it? I'll make sure you're taken care of in the mean time."
Dean nodded, not really caring; there was too much happening at once.
"If nothing else Dean, think of the perks that come with being my son."
He shook his head at that, confused as to what the demon was implying now.
Crowley gave him a big smirk. "You are the son of the King of Hell. That makes you the Prince of Hell. All of Hell will bow before you now. Enjoy your newfound fame and power."
The demon vanished leaving the hunter alone. Dean sat there for several minutes thinking over everything he had been told. He had been adopted by Gabriel. He was now Gabriel's son. He had a small piece of Grace in him. He had been turned into a half demon by Crowley. He was now the son of the King of Hell. He was the Prince of Hell. All of Hell would bow to him.
Dean put his head between his legs and just focused on breathing. He felt like he was going to pass out. His vision darkened slightly and his stomach churned painfully. This was too much to handle. This was worse then he could have ever dreamed of it being. Standing on shaky legs Dean rushed into the bathroom and made it to the toilet just in time to start violently throwing up.