Losing my religion

By Merisha

Synopsis: Some people are as evil as demons … Sam and Dean find out the hard way.

Note: Hi guys … I'm back … scary I know ;0) – this fic is written in multiple POV's starting with Dean – enjoy!

P.S: For those of you following my comic book version of "All I want for Christmas" – keep an eye open for new panels on my homepage ;0)

Warning: Mild Language

Dean's POV

Sweat is running in rivulets down my neck, tickling a path down my spine. Shit it's hot. It's been a sweltering day which turned into an unpleasantly humid evening. I wipe my hand across my dripping brow, good thing I left my jacket in the car. I look over at Sammy, he's just as hot, his drenched t-shirt is clinging to his torso like a second skin.

We're crouching behind the wall on the ground floor of this two story abandoned house. Sammy checks his weapon again, we need to find the missing kids quickly, time is running out. The bastard we've been hunting somehow got it into his thick skull that he's Lucifer's "chosen-one". If I had a dime for every nutter out there …I swallow the lump that's made a permanent home in my throat. Apparently the voices in this creeps head are telling him to purge the world of pure and innocent souls … and having a scared child die in your arms because of it, should never happen to anyone. I blink irritably as my eyes mist up. Rage blossoms in my chest again, making me shake slightly as the images resurface, only reinforcing my resolve to get this bastard … I grip my gun tighter.

Four dead children and two states later we caught up with him. There was evidence of sulphur at the crime scenes; almost convincing us that we were chasing a demon, but turns out it's just this mentally disturbed SOB who has a penchant for chemistry. It seems his goal is to bring Beelzebub into the land of the living. He can go ahead and try … but it's not gonna happen if I have anything to do with it. I seriously hate disturbed assholes like this, more than I hate the creatures we hunt… there is enough shit in the world without the likes of 'Lenny Mason' wanting to join in the forces of evil. He kidnaps siblings to use in his sick ceremonies ... I try again to block out the memories, steeling myself for the job ahead … need to keep my wits about me. I promised these kids mom that I'd bring them home alive. I intend to keep that promise.

"Sammy, do you see him?"

"Nope … I'm going to check the basement ..." he looks at me worriedly, "… you okay with this?"

I nod my head. The plan is for Sammy to find the missing kids while I neutralize any threat from our 'Damien' wannabe.

Gun at the ready I slowly start climbing the stairs, turning with professional ease to gauge any possible points of attack from above. Just as I near the top, the third last step creaks, the sound echoing through the empty house. I freeze. Freegin hell. Now Lenny knows exactly where I am.

"Shit."

I clear the last few steps in one long stride and swivel around, trying to catch a glimpse of my prey. A light at the end of the passage draws my attention so I slowly make my way forward, careful to check all the darkened rooms and corners, just in case. Gun pointed directly in front of me, ready to fire, I quickly angle around the corner, coming face to face with a grinning Lenny who is standing dead still in the middle of the candle lit room. My skin crawls. There's a head of a ram drawn roughly in a pentagram on the wooden floor, candles at every corner. He looks just like your average Joe, slightly overweight with a balding patch, he has a face you could trust … but I'm just itching to wipe that smirk off his face.

"I knew you'd come." He's voice is soft and pleasant, it makes me sick.

"Well that's good pal … wouldn't want to surprise you!"

My voice drips with venom. I ought to just kill this bastard now but Sam made me promise. Said we should hand this creature over to the authorities … unless I don't have choice. Shit … I hope he doesn't give me a choice. My little brother keeps reminding me that we're not vigilantes, we only kill supernatural monsters … but this guy is definitely a monster in my book. Sammy knows exactly how I feel about bastards who hurt kids … my finger twitches again.

I'm still hoping to use the "self defense" card, but Lenny just continues smiling at me, a demented look on his face. His eyes are glassy and I know it's going to be a tough job talking this lunatic into surrender. I keep my gun leveled on his face, if he makes a move, he's gonna have a permanent third eye.

"He told me you'd come … I'm not afraid."

"You know, its creeps like you who totally validate my inherent mistrust of strangers … but I tell you what … how about you call this demonic friend of yours … it will make it that much easier to waste him."

He chuckles hysterically as I glare at him.

"You? You couldn't kill him … he's too powerful … he's going to be the ruler of the earth … and I'll be at his right hand!"

I snort.

"Well I've got bad news for you bub … It's my sole job in life to kill every single evil supernatural SOB out there … so bring him on … I'm ready!"

He looks at me in panic, his beady eyes start darting around the room like he's not sure what to do next and a smirk plants itself on my face.

"No … no … that's not right … that's not what he told me …"

So much for not being afraid. He looks at the floor nervously.

"What should I do? … help me … I don't understand!" He's talking to himself … first sign of insanity. I chuckle humorlessly.

"I don't know what your problem is pal, but I'll bet it's really hard to pronounce."

He shakes his head, wringing his hands fretfully. This guy is so far gone … I don't think he could conjure up a dust bunny, never mind a demon.

"Looks like your friends kinda busy … maybe he'll come out to play another day … but in the meantime, how about you and I go find those nice guys in white coats with the padded cell? We'll get you some professional help … you could still lead a useful life as a number plate maker … nobody needs to get hurt!"

"NO! … he said that he'd come … he said he'd appear in flames …"

He looks around worriedly … then suddenly freezes, a strange expression on his face. He tilts his head to the side like he's listening to something ... probably those voices inside his head again.

I keep my eyes trained on him … he's really starting to make me edgy …I'm just hoping that Sammy's found those kids alive … taken them to safety. I need to get this nut job out of here, maybe I should just tackle him, doesn't look like he's got a weapon.

Lenny starts smiling again … his eyes drifting to the pentagram under his feet. I follow his gaze and my heart nearly stops. The pentagram … the lines … they're not drawn with charcoal, it looks powdery … shit … its gunpowder. It snakes away from the pentagram to where I'm standing and then down the passage. I automatically take a step back. Shit, why didn't I see that before? I quickly look up at Lenny; he's carefully pulling a small tube of clear liquid out of his pocket. Oh friggin hell! I know what it is before he even starts dropping it … nitro glycerin. My finger is pulling the trigger just as his foot knocks over the nearest candle. He's dead before he hits the floor but the gunpowder ignites and the place goes up in a huge ball of flame just as I dive down the passage, the earth shattering explosion throwing me back to land hard against the wall.

"Ow."

Okay, that hurt! I rub my head as I stagger to my wobbly feet, my ears are ringing ... there are flames everywhere … the bastard probably rigged this place to burn down to the ground. I slip my gun into my belt under my t-shirt. Need to get out of here fast before Sammy comes rushing in to find me.

I hear small explosions throughout the house as I dart past the flames licking at the walls, the heat searing my bare skin. I rush to the steps, black smoke is billowing up in waves and I can't see the floor. I run down them blindly, holding onto the wooden railing where I can, coughing as the suffocating smog fills my lungs. I can't even see my hand in front of my eyes through the blackness so I use my skilled sense of direction and hurtle towards where I know the door should be … bursting out onto the veranda and down the steps onto the lawn, coughing up a lung in the process.

Shit that was close. I gulp up the fresh air as I lean over my knees. I look up, searching for Sammy … but he's not here. My heart pounds in panic.

"SAMMY! SAMMY!"

I rush to the car, throwing the door open and slipping my gun under the seat … CRAP … no Sammy … no kids … my heart sinks as I turn to look at the flame engulfed house. Memories of the fire that stole our lives so long ago come back to haunt me … I hate fire.

"No … oh god … no!"

"Hey kid … you okay?"

I quickly turn to look at an old guy dressed in his nightgown and slippers, neighbors are pouring out of their houses to watch the show. He looks at me worriedly.

"Yeah … I'm fine, but there are people still trapped inside … in the basement … call 911!"

Sammy damnit. Why the hell isn't he out yet … it can only mean … he must be trapped, or worse … I'm running before I even realize it. The old guy is calling out for me to stop but I ignore him as I burst back through the door … need to get to my brother. Have to save him from the flames again, even if I die trying. Can barely see … can barely breathe. I pull my t-shirt up to cover my nose and mouth … it doesn't help … so much for my gun-ho tactics … but I'm not leaving until I find Sammy. I crouch and run, flames licking at the ceiling, my hand reaching out as I bump into the walls. I don't know where I'm going but I follow the direction I saw Sammy take. Every door I reach, I kick open and then duck for cover … I know about back-drafts but my fear for Sammy's safety outweighs my own. I'm coughing uncontrollably, black spots are dancing at the edges of my vision but I fight on, testing each doorway for steps that will lead me to the basement.

Then suddenly I hear it … gunshots … at the end of the passage. I run blindly, following the sound. A fiery beam is blocking the door and the ceiling is on the verge of caving in. With adrenalin fueled strength I push myself under the smoldering timber, yelling hoarsely as the flames lick through my t-shirt burning the material to my back. I manage to squeeze the door open slightly, forcing my tortured back through the gap just as the roof in the passage collapses. It's dark. I take a few tentative steps.

"Dean … is that you?"

"Sammy?"

"Watch out … the stairs …"

Sammy's warning comes one step to late as I fall through thin air to land hard on the rubble below.

"OUCH!"

"DEAN!! DEAN!!"

I start coughing and I hear Sammy feeling his way around. Seconds later his hands are running along my body checking for injuries. I try to catch my breath … knocked the wind right out of my sails. Its pitch black down here, except for a small amount of light shimmering in from a little window near the ceiling.

"DEAN! Speak to me, are you okay?"

"Yeah … think so … landing on my head … kinda broke my fall …" I cough painfully, I'm going to be one big bruise in the morning.

"Shit Dean … I'm sorry man … that asshole rigged the steps to collapse. I fell through when I came in, couldn't see anything … found the kids though, they were tied up but they seem unharmed … just the smoke is starting to get to them. I shot the window out … hopefully I didn't kill a fireman or something … cause' that would just be awkward."

… he stops to cough again ... I join him … it's unbearably friggin hot ...

"Did you find him?"

"Yeah … he's dead."

Sammy doesn't question me … he knows I had no choice.

" … help me up …"

He leans over to pull me to my shaky feet, a little hiss of pain passing his lips. His hand feels sticky, possibly blood.

"Sammy … you hurt?"

"Nothing serious."

Yeah right … but it's too damn dark in here to see the extent of the damage… I'll have to check him out thoroughly later. Cloudy black smoke is still billowing in as flames engulf the door above us. I can hear the crackling of burning timber everywhere. We need to get out of here now. This place is becoming a deadly inferno.

"Where are the kids?"

"They're just next to the window … I put an old carpet over them to block some of the smoke … and protect them from the glass."

I gasp painfully as the hot air scorches my throat … it's getting really hard to breathe down here. Sammy comes over with a large broken plank and starts breaking the remaining glass still jutting out of the frame. I reach down to pick up the carpet … I can hear the little ones whimpering. Can't see for shit but I manage to tap them soothingly on their small shoulders.

"You're gonna be okay … we'll get you out of here, alright?"

I can feel them nodding their heads as I throw the rug through the opening, creating a barrier against the razor sharp shards.

"Okay … let's go …"

We all start hacking in unison as the suffocating clouds billows out of our exit.

"Be … careful … "

Sammy manages to push the children through the window one at a time. I can hear them crying … I actually feel weak with relief … at least the kids are alright. Sammy bends down for me to get on his shoulders but I stop him. We're both coughing uncontrollably, my throat is on fire and my lungs are burning, but there's no way I'm going first.

"You go …"

"No Dean … you …"

We start wheezing again.

"Sam … listen to me … you're taller … you can … reach down … and pull … me up."

The roof starts creaking … there's no time to argue so he reluctantly climbs on my shoulders. I bite back a yell of pain as his knees press into my burnt back. I help push him up as he pulls himself through the small opening and disappears above me. The ceiling by the door finally caves in and a huge seething bank of fumes sucks the last of the oxygen out of the room. The blistering intensity of the fire brings tears to my eyes as I battle to inhale. I can hear Sam coughing above me.

"Dean ... grab … my … hands."

I reach up and instantly his hands clamp around my arms. I hold onto him as I try to push myself up … try to help … but every breath I take … is just a lung full … of sooty smog.

I'm choking … gagging … and my eyes are burning. I try to see through the heat … but everything's so dark … and I'm really not sure … if my eyes are open or closed anymore. Feel kinda dizzy as shadows start pulling at my consciousness.

"Just … hold on Dean!"

"Sammy …" my voice croaks as I gasp in another lung full of blackness … it hurts … feels like I'm swallowing red hot chunks of coal. My grip slackens as I hang limply … but Sammy's holding on to me for all his worth … he's the only thing keeping me from collapsing. I want to laugh … I'm just seconds away from fresh air … yet here I am dying from lack of oxygen.

I hear Sammy's frantic yells … he's straining to pull me up … can finally feel my body being hauled through the tight opening … vaguely hear a swoosh as the roof completely collapses … just as Sam pulls me free … Sammy … he's shouting my name … he sounds so far away …but … he's safe … I can finally give in ... to the shadows.

TBC