I'm Your Passenger
Chapter 1: Ditching the Ride
Dean is at his baby's wheel, but Crowley is directing him where to go. They've been driving for days, and the worst part is that the hunter has no idea where the demon is taking him. Drivers should know all, but instead they often know nothing, Dean figures.
He feels like the demon's passenger.
It has been an uncomfortable ride for the most part. They only get out of the car when they're getting gas or stopping in a motel to sleep for no more than a few hours. And Dean's the one doing all the sleeping. Crowley disappears at the most random times to get Dean some food. And the hunter must admit, at least he knows what to get him, and at least he remembers to feed him, considering demons don't eat. They make small talk, but it's rarely anything more than that. And Dean doesn't bother to ask where they're going, partly because he has a feeling he'll turn his Pala straight around, due to the main reason, which is that the demon looks very uneasy about what's gonna happen when they get there. So, Dean keeps his mouth shut and he knows Crowley is grateful for it.
When Crowley disappears, he turns Metallica up louder. That's another thing he likes about him, he doesn't complain about his fave tunes. Actually, he seems to enjoy them.
Crowley comes back 10 minutes later…
"Here you go." He hands Dean a wrapped hamburger.
"Thanks." Dean begins to chomp into it. "Got anything to drink?"
"Ooh sorry, forgot about that."
Dean's finished with the hamburger by the time he returns. He isn't surprised that it doesn't taste as good to him as it should, he hasn't had an appetite since…well, since Sam became RoboSam.
"You didn't have to do that, you know."
"Don't want my driver to get dehydrated."
Crowley smiles and looks briefly out the window before looking back at the driver. Dean stares back.
"What?"
"We're nearly there. Pull over."
Dean doesn't question the demon. They're in the countryside now, somewhere in Michigan, their car the only one around. He pulls onto the grass and sees smoke in the distance. Crowley steps out and stares at it as well.
"Town's already been consumed."
"What? By demons?"
"Worse." Crowley sighs. "This is where we ditch our ride."
"What!" Dean shouts angrily.
Crowley gives him a serious glare and is annoyed because he knew Dean would react this way.
"If they see us coming from even this distance, we're already dead."
"No way."
Dean was not gonna give into a demon. He'd already done enough for him already.
"She'll be safer here, Dean. Now come on."
Crowley sets off but soon turns around when he realizes the hunter's not following.
"Tell me what we're walking into, Crowley."
"It'll be safer for you if you don't know."
"Bull."
"I'll tell you all you need to know when we get closer."
"Oh, really? Then maybe I should just turn around and drive back to safety."
Crowley sighs and walks closer to him.
"What is up with you, Crowley? Never knew demons could get this depressed."
"This town, Dean, it's bad news."
"Yeah, no kidding. Why'd you ask me to come with you anyway?"
"Because I need your help on this one."
"Crowley, I don't even know what I'm walking into here. I mean, you have to say something."
The demon knows Dean won't budge.
"This town has been consumed by Death, Dean."
"Death?"
"Yes, Death himself."
Dean gulps and watches the thick black smoke move a little closer to where they are.
"Not to mention more reapers than your scrawny ass could handle."
"What are we doing here? And what does Death want with a town that's probably not even on a freakin map?"
"Well, we were gonna save this pathetic little town. But now, it looks like it's a tad too late for that. And Death…I honestly haven't the faintest idea, darling."
Crowley pops the trunk open and hands Dean a gun before taking one for himself.
"So now, he looks Dean straight in the eyes with the most serious face Dean has ever seen before, now we take back the town."
"You're not serious?"
Crowley starts walking and Dean follows, kissing his baby goodbye before doing so.
"You can't kill Death. You can't even kill reapers. You're taking to a guy that has personal experience, might I add."
"I know that, Winchester."
Dean's feet freeze onto the sidewalk when he finally gets it.
"No…You're doing exactly what I begged you to do! You're giving me a chance to get Sam's soul back!"
"So what if I am?"
"And this is the only way?"
Crowley turns around to look at him and nods. He walks closer and slowly puts his hand on the young hunter's shoulder.
"But this…we could die, Crowley."
"And that's why I'm coming with you."
Dean just stares at the demon before him, his friend before him.
"You're not dying alone."
Dean smiles slowly and realizes that he's now officially Crowley's friend. And they both know it.
So they walk towards the town. But every voice inside their heads keeps on screaming to turn around. And drive back home. But they're in this together. And…
He's no longer his passenger.
To be continued...