Chapter 1/4
Pairing(s): Sam/Dean established relationship
Rating: R
Warnings: Explicit wincest, (my first!) bottom/Dean, swearing, chicken ganking!
Summary: Just another small town with a zombie problem...until it turns into much more than that! Voodoo magic is in the air and it's calling to the darkness within Sam as well as reanimating the dead.
Set sometime in season 2.
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Sam folded the map and leaned forward to put it back in the glove box. "We should reach the bridge a couple of miles ahead and then it's only about four more miles 'til Heronfield."
The young hunter glanced at his brother behind the wheel. "You're quiet, you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah Sammy just thinking."
Sam slid over in the seat until he was pressed close to Dean's side as his hand slipped over his brother's thigh. "Well that's not always a good thing." He teased affectionately. "What is it?"
"I just can't work out how two perfectly healthy people end up face down in the river miles away from their town and the cause of death for both is a freaking brain aneurism."
"Well we've walked into jobs before without knowing what we're up against. I wonder if there's been any update on the missing Sheriff."
Dean watched as his brother retrieved his phone and began holding it up in various directions, finally giving up with a frustrated sigh. "Nothing."
"I guess we're on our own then, looks like the bridge up ahead."
"I'll try and... um...get some reception when we... God..." Sam closed his eyes as a wave of pain pounded through his head. "... get in town."
"Sam? What is it, what's wrong?"
Dean felt his brother start shaking beside him as Sam's breathing became laboured and punctuated with groans. As Sam fell forward clutching at his head, Dean instinctively draped an arm across the younger man's back trying to steady him.
"Hang on okay, just let me get across this bridge then I'll stop."
Dean drove as fast as he dared across the wooden planks of the old bridge, wincing as the corrugated surface seemed to make Sam that much worse.
By the time Dean stopped, pulling over onto the shoulder of dirt road, Sam was whimpering and barely coherent.
Gently pulling Sam back in the seat, he was alarmed to see blood trickling from his brother's nose. Sam's eyes were partially open and blinking slowly and Dean frowned at how dilated his pupils were.
"Sam what wrong? Talk to me, c'mon Sam you're scaring me a little here."
Dean watched as his brother's hand rubbed across his face and he gently grasped the strong wrist before he smeared blood all over his skin.
"Your nose is bleeding. Sam I need to hear you're okay man." Dean's other hand smoothed down the side of Sam's face.
"Yeah. It just... I don't know Dean. One minute I was fine and the next it was like someone was sawing through my brain."
"Is it gone now?"
Sam closed his eyes briefly.
"Truth Sam."
"S'like a buzzing behind my eyes now, nothing like before but I feel… I don't know."
"You feel what?"
"Nothing. M'okay."
"I don't like this. We're gonna go back to the motel along the highway, stay there the night."
"Dean no, that was like an hour back the way we came. I'm okay."
"Sam I don't want to land in this town up against God knows what and you're not feeling right."
"Lemme just stretch my legs and get some air."
"Fine." Dean looked at his brother's pale and still drawn face and nodded. "But only because I could do with a leak and a drink."
He leaned across the seat and grabbed some crumpled yet clean serviettes from the glove box before pressing them under Sam's nose. Dean pressed his other hand to the back of Sam's head and almost absently threaded his fingers through the dark mop of soft hair.
Sam leaned into Dean's touch trying to ignore the constant buzzing in his head. "S'okay Dean." He moved his hand to grasp his brother's fingers and lowered the now bloodied serviettes away from his face as he leaned in and touched his lips to Dean's mouth before pulling away. "Just give me a minute and I'll be fine."
Sam got out of the car and leaned back against the warm metal, stretching his back, before turning and resting his elbows on the roof of the car as Dean got out. Once the older boy had stopped fussing and moved off to relieve himself, Sam started to walk towards the bridge they had just crossed as he took deep breaths and tried to clear his head.
He squinted as he saw what looked like dead birds along the water's edge all along the bank and even scattered over the bridge and he frowned as his vision blurred mid stride. Still twenty feet away from the wooden structure, the young hunter felt a spike of pain behind his eyes. He staggered forward despite the pounding in his head, needing to confirm what he was looking at.
Less than ten feet away and Sam cried out as a wall of agony seemed to smash into him and his legs crumbled.
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Dean gave a sigh of relief as he walked back to the car, anticipating a cold soda and mulling over whether he would drive on or back track for the night. He frowned when he couldn't see Sam at the car but as he moved closer and looked beyond, he started running towards the still body lying face down on the road.
"Sam?"
Dean had halved the distance to his brother when he felt it. A slight twinge at first that quickly escalated with each step until it was pounding inside his skull as he reached his sibling.
"Sam?"
Dean winced as the ground seemed to sway a little and he grabbed a hold of his brother's shoulder and turned him over before dragging him backwards by his jacket.
The closer they got to the car the more his head cleared and by the time he stopped, panting from the effort beside the Impala, Sam was starting to stir.
Dean collapsed in the dirt, back resting against the sleek black metal as his hands sought to comfort his still dazed brother.
"What the hell have we gotten into here Sammy?"
After a few minutes he half dragged the younger man into the car and opened the trunk to grab the weapons bag. He didn't have a clue what they were up against but he wasn't taking any chances… he was going to be ready for anything.
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Dean drove slowly one hand on the wheel, the other gripping his gun as his eyes scanned the buildings for any movement. They hadn't seen a single soul or vehicle since they had crossed the bridge and it was even more unsettling now they had reached the small rural town.
Dean noticed the almost agitated movement of his brother and wondered if Sam felt just as uneasy.
"Anything?"
"No." Sam frowned suddenly and gestured out the driver's side window. "Wait, look at that sign."
Dean slowed down enough to read the freshly scratched letters HELP US across the worn speed limit sign.
"Well I guess it's a little more original than the usual Help Wanted signs you see."
Dean drove past the main buildings and then came across what looked like a town hall set apart from the rest. It was the movement of the doors that caught their attention, swinging in the breeze and banging loudly enough to be heard clearly in the confines of the car.
Pulling up outside the hall, Dean killed the engine and glanced at Sam. "Guess this is as good a place as any to check out."
Sam nodded and opened his door, pausing when Dean placed a hand on his shoulder before he got out.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine. You were affected as well Dean and you seem okay."
Dean raised his hands in a placating gesture at Sam's annoyed tone. "Listen man I'm just worried. And yeah I got a headache when I got too close to the river but I didn't pass out."
"Sorry. I guess I'm a little spooked or something. I mean we're kinda trapped here Dean unless there's another way out."
Dean sighed knowing they couldn't cross the river without suffering debilitating pain which seemed to affect Sam far worse. They had tried several times to forge through the invisible barrier but had given up exhausted and worse for wear.
"I know Sam but we'll work it out okay." Dean climbed out of the car and pocketed the keys hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. "Well at least we know how those townies died… same way as the birds."
Sam gestured with his rifle towards the shaded foyer of the building that was visible when the doors swung open. "Looks like they weren't the only fatalities either."
Dean could make out part of a shoe and leg and as they crept closer, Sam at his back, and then he saw the large pool of blood surrounding the body.
As Dean covered the interior, Sam hooked each door to the outside wall and the ensuing silence was almost worse.
"Head's been split open and… arggh…" Dean dry retched in his mouth. "…going on the smell, s'gotta be a few days old."
They advanced through the foyer and into a large open hall that seemed to have been abandoned in panic mid meal. Plates of food lay in disarray, half eaten and spilt, with chairs and several tables overturned.
"Sam." Dean nodded his head towards the far wall where several more bodies lay broken and bloodied.
"Same as the other one," Sam called out as he bent down at one of the corpses for closer inspection. "And Dean… I think something's been eating them."
"Seriously? Oh just perfect." Dean walked over to his brother and pulled a face as the younger man half rolled a body over with his foot. "So… that narrows down the options a little. Ghouls, zombies, revenants…"
"Dean."
"… black dogs, werewolves, chupacabra's…"
"Dean."
"… hell hounds, rakshasa…"
"Dean! Most of the brains are missing."
"Oh… so zombies it is then. Awesome."
"I don't know man. There's still the whole invisible barrier that's keeping us from getting out."
"Yeah and hopefully it's keeping the evil things in as well so maybe it's gonna work in our favour. We need to check exactly who or what around here can summon a zombie or something like it…. and why."
"Well it would be easier if we knew where all the residents of the town were for starters… if there's any left."
"How many you reckon live here? One hundred?"
"Yeah something like that, one hundred and thirty eight."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "And you know this because?"
"I checked before we got here okay. It's not like I'd know a random number like that out of nowhere."
"Because that's never happened before." Dean laughed as he moved away, nudging Sam's shoulder playfully. "My geek boy."
Sam huffed and fell into step beside his brother, one side of his mouth tilted in a grin.
They had nearly reached the back door when a loud crash outside had them both flattened against either side of the doorway, weapons raised and barely breathing in perfect synchronicity.
After several seconds of nothing, Dean signalled and moved forward with his brother following. On a silent three count Sam pulled the door open and Dean burst through without hesitation.
Sam's heart was pounding in his chest as he gripped his rifle and followed his brother outside, quickly scanning the surrounding area for any sign of danger. Sam could feel sweat trickling down his face and neck even in the dim grey light of the overcast day.
A movement out of the corner of his eye and Sam fired a round and pumped the barrel to reload when Dean placed a hand on his forearm.
"Sam take it easy."
Almost shaking from the adrenaline rush, Sam looked up at his brother in surprise.
"Crows. Just crows."
Dean frowned questioningly at the wild eyed look on the younger boy's face before focusing his attention back on their surroundings.
"Yeah, yeah m'sorry."
Sam's rough voice and the out of character hair trigger wasn't sitting right with Dean and he was just crossing the line from slightly worried to concerned but now wasn't the time to work this out. He just hoped Sam kept his wits about him for the moment.
Dean led the way past the overflowing bin that had obviously been the drawcard for the scavenger bird. The footpath led around the far side of the hall and then back up to the main street where the Impala was parked.
As they reached the road, Dean pointed to the street sign where a large black crow now sat, almost defiantly.
"You missed." As Dean spoke he saw someone shift inside the darkened interior of the building across the road. "Sam we're being watched, one o'clock, window of the hardware store. I'm gonna go round back, gimme a minute then come through the front door okay?"
"Be careful. If we get split up I'll meet you back here in ten."
Dean nodded and then angled across the street so he reached the sidewalk nearly two buildings along from the one he wanted before quickly jogging back keeping close to the shopfronts and hoping he was out of sight. With a final glance at his brother who had started to slowly saunter across the road, Dean slipped between the buildings and out the back of the hardware store.
Quickly swinging around the corner at the rear of the store, Dean scanned the back alley but saw no one so he continued on toward the back door. The handle turned easily and he stepped inside the cool dark interior of the store.
He had only taken three cautious steps when a dark figure hurled towards him and he braced himself, too close to even get a shot off. Dean shoulder-charged the heavyset man instead and rolled until he had the man pinned beneath him.
"What's going on? Where is everyone?"
"Please lemme go, don't kill me please, I gotta family... and a dog."
"Take it easy, I'm not gonna kill you. Seriously, a dog?"
"You're not one of 'em? Who are you? "
"Not one of what?"
"Them things… them dead things that are killin' us. Please, oh God please help us."
Dean pushed up and off the man, moving back but still keeping his weapon trained until he was sure.
"Okay, get up slowly."
"Dean? You okay?"
Dean glanced back as his brother walked over. "Yeah Sam, no one else?"
"No sign."
The man got to his feet and looked at Dean, gesturing nervously at Sam. "Is he human too?"
"Pretty much." Dean smirked, ignoring his brother's eye roll.
"We need to get back to the others. It's not safe here but we needed supplies."
"Tell us what happened?"
The older man edged nervously past Sam, eyeing him suspiciously as though he had taken Dean's comment to heart. "A whole lotta no good is what happened." He walked back inside the store a little under the watchful gaze of the brothers and picked up a canvas rucksack.
"It started 'bout four days ago. People started disappearing and we lost the phones and power and then we heard no one could get out. Then we saw these things killing people and biting them like something outta one of them movies y'know? Tommy shot one of 'em point blank and it just kept on coming."
"Okay so where is everyone now?"
"Chanté took us to the church just outside of town to protect us."
"Protect you how?" Sam questioned.
"She knows magic."
"Okay then and how does this Chanté know the right magic to use against zombies?" Dean tried and failed miserably to keep the sarcasm out his voice.
"Well her father's the one that made 'em so I figure she learnt it from him."
Dean shared a look with his brother. "Okay then."
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The boys followed the older man as he led them on a weaving path through the backstreets of town to meet up with the others before heading back to the church.
"So Charlie, how many came into town with you?"
As Sam spoke they rounded a corner and both brothers raised their weapons in unison as they came upon a party of five men, all carrying bags and provisions.
"Just these five ugly mugs."
"Hold it right there. Charlie you ain't one of those monsters now are ya?" All five men dropped what they were carrying and pointed a various assortment of weapons including three shotguns.
"As if I'd tell you if I was Clive."
"Well maybe you would you dumbass."
"Okay just settle down there boys." Dean lowered his gun and nodded at Sam to do the same. "We're all on the same side here okay. Charlie was just filling us in on your little monster problem."
"Dean!" Sam yelled and fired at the same time. "Run."
The older hunter saw them at the same time, about a dozen or more bodies in various stages of decay and disfigurement moving fast towards them down the dusty back street.
"C'mon we've got to get back to the truck. Guns don't work on these things." Clive picked up one of the bags and started running."
"Aim for the head okay." Dean yelled instructions. "Where's your truck?"
"'Bout two blocks down behind the general store."
"Okay move now, we'll cover you."
Dean and Sam ran behind the small group firing as they went with little room to manoeuvre in the small access road.
"Sam look out!"
Dean ran forward unable to get a shot off without risking the buckshot hitting his brother. Sam turned but before he could fire he was hit front on by the large figure and landed hard on the ground.
Swinging the butt of his rifle around, Dean caught the zombie square on the side of the head knocking him off balance and more importantly off of the younger man. He quickly fired, grimacing as the top half of the creature's head was blown away.
The older hunter flinched as another shot fired unexpectedly, blowing away the reminder of the zombies head. He turned to see Charlie rifle in hand and looking a little shocked.
"That one was for Tommy you bastard."
Dean nodded at the older man before holding an arm out to help Sam gain his feet.
"C'mon, let's get outta here."
It didn't them much longer to reach the ancient pickup truck and all five of the older men were breathing hard.
"Get going and we'll meet you at the church okay?" Dean hit the roof of the cab with his palm. "Go."
The brother's wasted no time turning and running full pelt along the main road back to where they had left the Impala. A black shadow swooped down out of nowhere and Dean flinched seconds before he felt something sharp graze along his face and off balance him enough to fall hard to his knees.
Lifting his head he saw a large black crow fly off, squawking loudly.
"Dean?"
"Yeah m'good." The pounding of feet in the distance had him scrambling up and they set off running again, only slowing when they saw more of the creatures around the Impala.
"Okay if we're fast enough we can take them out before the other's catch up. I think."
"You think Sammy?"
"Yeah."
"Well who am I to argue with such a well thought out plan." Dean began running harder.
"Not like you've got a better one. Jerk." Sam pumped his legs hard until he was side by side with the older Winchester.
"Bitch." Dean turned his head briefly before he began firing. "And don't scratch the paintwork."
The first few minutes were chaotic and Dean's hand ached from firing and reloading the shotgun repeatedly, his biggest concern now was running out of ammo. They were down to five zombies when he pulled the trigger and heard the sickening click of an empty chamber. He glanced longingly towards the trunk of the impala where the machete's were stashed but knew he wouldn't get the chance.
Throwing the rifle down next to the car he pulled out his handgun only to have it ripped from his hands as he was tackled to the ground. He heard Sam fire two more shots and then curse loudly before all his attention was taken by the open mouthed creature trying to take a bite out of his face.
He managed to push it away a little before its teeth sank into his arm and he groaned as he felt his flesh tear under the savage assault.
"Sonovabitch."
Ramming his fist into the creatures head seemed to get its attention and it mimicked his action and punched him solidly on the jaw and then cheek repeatedly before clamping solid hands around his neck.
Dean could feel his strength waning as he tried to pry the hands from around his throat, all the while gasping in what little oxygen he could as his airway was choked off.
"Dean?"
He heard his brother's yell just before the pressure was released from his neck and for several seconds all he could do was gulp in lungfuls of sweet air. Finally rolling to his side, knowing they were still in danger he watched in shock as Sam punched the zombies face into a bloody pulp before shooting his handgun into its neck three, four times until the head fell off and then letting the body drop.
The older hunter got to his knees and then felt his brother's hands on him, effortlessly half carrying him over to the car, grabbing the keys from his pocket and pushing him in the backseat.
"Sammy you okay?" Dean winced as his throat felt like he had swallowed glass. "How the hell did you manage to off the other two zombies with no bullets?"
The older hunter pushed himself up into a sitting position, vision swimming with the movement and the sudden motion of the car as his brother hit the gas.
"Sam?" Dean leaned forward and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder noticing the flinch of muscle under his hand and the way his brother was breathing hard and ragged.
"Hey, talk to me." He added softly, concern now far outweighing the pounding in his own head.
Sam shook his head and tried to control his breathing. "Don't know. I… I just did."
The young hunter gripped the wheel hard as his body thrummed with adrenaline and his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. He felt scared, fucking terrified but he felt good and that's what scared him the most.
He had broken necks, twisted corded muscle and sinew until it snapped in his bare hands back there and he could've kept going for days it had been that easy… that satisfying. He had known what he was doing but it had felt like he was watching someone else even though his arms ached now from the physical exertion.
It wasn't until he glanced at his blood covered hands, knuckles raw and split, and his eyes took in his gore covered clothing that the edge of panic began to slide under his skin like a sharp knife.
"Dean…?"
"We're here Sam, pull right in behind the pickup."
Dean was out the rear door as soon as the car stopped moving, hands braced along the edge of the sleek black metal for support as he opened the driver's door and took in the state of his younger brother.
"Dean what's happening to me?"
"S'okay Sam, we'll work it out. S'gonna be okay."
Feeling his knees start to buckle a little, Dean grabbed a hold of the open door but then found himself steadied by strong hands as Sam slid out of the seat and gripped him securely. His brother didn't speak again, just held onto Dean's arm at the elbow and helped him up the stairs to the front of the church.
The doors opened as they were halfway up and Dean was relieved to see Charlie and well as several other people he hadn't seen before. They group parted as a small dark skinned woman walked forward, her head tilting up to look at the brothers and then at Charlie.
"These be da ones that fought wid you?"
"Them's the ones alright. Glad to see you boys mostly in one piece." Charlie looked wide eyed at their blood spattered clothing and waved his arm in a welcoming gesture. "Come on in."
Sam and Dean moved up the stairs, crossing the doorway until Dean felt himself stumbling forward as his brother let go.
"No!" The young girl shouted out before her head snapped back and her eyes rolled back in her head. "It cannot be here. It is vile and unholy and cannot enter dis place."
The girl staggered back a few steps and opened her eyes pointing at Sam who was clutching at his head and groaning.
"What the hell?" Dean shook off Charlie's steadying hands. "What did you do to my brother?"
The older hunter moved back outside and gripped his brother's shoulder, helping him straighten up. "Sam what is it?"
"I did nothing to it. The magic will not let it cross because it is unclean and you should stay away from it."
"What?" Charlie voice sounded out in surprise. "These boys saved our lives Chanté, he's not a zombie."
"It might not be one of them monsters but it is not what it seems ta be."
The girl looked down at the ground as she spoke about Sam.
"Now you just wait one fucking minute here bitch." Dean stepped forward in front of Sam. "That's my brother you're talking about so you'd better stop whatever it is you're doing to him and let us in here. You want to save these people, we're your best bet."
"De magic that protects us will stop anyting of the darkness from crossing. You tell me boy why is it dat you can cross and it cannot?"
"I don't know what kinda games you're playing but Sam and I are just trying to help you."
"If you still want ta help us I will speak wit you in da morning. I must renew da magic before sunup and it takes time. There is a small building alongside that it can go inside, it is your choice whether you stay there or come inside wid us."
As the dark skinned woman moved away, Charlie moved forward but Sam noticed he didn't step outside the church.
"I'm sorry but we're just trying to stay alive here."
"Yeah and the only reason you made it back here was because of us. Sam risked his life and now…"
"No she's right, I shouldn't be here." Sam looked away. "There's something wrong with me Dean. I can feel it."
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