Introduction II
5 Years Ago
"What've we got?" Dean asked looking at me from the drivers seat.
Looking down at all the papers on my lap I replied, "Hesperia, California or Pike Creek, Delaware?"
Dean gave me his 'bitchface'. "Really going to ask?"
"Hesperia, California has had three murders in the past 2 weeks. The doors were locked and the victimswere all mothers of younger children. I'm going with Changelings."
"Hate those things. What kind of fucked up monster does that to a mother?"
"So let's go." I said setting the research in the back seat before closing my eyes.
"Wake up, Sammy." Dean chided shaking my shoulder.
Groaning I opened my eyes to find Dean already out of the car and half way to a hotel room. It was night time, checking my clock told me it was 11:00. Getting out of the Impala I stretched before making my way into the room with Dean.
"Get some more shut eye, we'll do some research on other mothers in Hesperia tomorrow." Nodding I got dressed for bed and crawled onto the uncomfortable mattress. Dean turned on the police scanner just in case and we settled in for the night. Later ,the sound of ringing pierced through my head and woke me up.
Reaching for my phone I set it against my ear. "Yeah?" I asked groggily.
"Hey, Sam." Bobby greeted.
"Hi, Bobby. What do you need." I asked sitting up rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Dean was looking at me in confusion so I clicked Bobby onto speaker. "You're on speaker, Bobby."
"Ok, boys. A friend of mine just called me, she ain't a hunter but she knows her way around. Anyway she just called from Hesperia, California freaking out because she thinks her son's a changeling."
"Yeah, we'll check it out, where's she live? We're already there."
"2045 Clefter St. hurry boys, I'm worried about her."
"We're on the way Bobby." Dean reassured pulling on clothes. Hanging up I also got dressed. In a hurry my brother and I jumped into the Impala and he took off to the women's home. Pulling into the driveway of an expensive important neighborhood house we went right to the door. I called out for her and Dean began picking the door.
We entered the house guns at the ready and looked around at the broken plates and glasses. As we walked down the hall we saw pictures that had been smashed and a large blood stain on the floor. As we entered the second hall Dean and I split up. I entered a boys room full of pictures and what looked to be a set of Crusaders armor in the corner. With a raised eyebrow I exited the room moving on to the next.
It was obviously the master with a large green satin king size bed and a bathroom. Walking toward the bathroom I heard a voice, "Don't move you son of a bitch."
I turned slowly holding up my gun and looked at her. She was obviously the mother, with her blond hair that was knotted with blood and she bleeding from her neck. Slowly crouching down I set my gun on the floor.
"You must be Casey McLeod. I'm Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer sent us to check on you and your son. Where is your husband?"She let out a sigh of relief and lowered the revolver in her hand letting it fall to the ground with a thunk. The adrenalin rush she must have been on collapsed and she sagged down to the ground.
"Sam! The Changeling was already dead." Dean called out walking into the bedroom. My brother came to a halt when he saw Casey. Whether it was from the fact that he hadn't expected to see her or the fact the only thing she had on was a fallen open robe and underwear.
She was pretty but well I think being married with a son and covered in her own blood would put Dean off. "Your husband, Mrs. McLeod?" I asked as she pulled the robe over herself.
"He's out on business."
"Is there anyone you could stay with, some who could protect you while we find your son?"
"No! There's no way in Hell you two are going to go get my son without me." She stated with conviction standing up even though her body shook from exhaustion. "These bastards are not going to take my son away from me!"
I nodded to her knowing arguing would only stress her more. "Come back to the hotel with us, I'll fix you up. Dean grab her some clothes we'll be in the car." He gave me a thumbs up before going and digging around for a bag while Casey and I left going out to the car.
"I'm not going with you." She stated simply.
"Why not?" I asked looking at her in confusion.
"I appreciate you coming but I only called Bobby to ask him how to kill it. He took it upon himself to call you. This is family business Mr. Winchester and sorry, but you aren't family."
"You can't go alone."
"I don't plan to, Fergus will be coming with me."
"Fergus?"
"My Dad." She smiled.
"How about you and your Dad come with us." I compromised.
"No I don't think you and my Dad would get along. Anyway he isn't even my biological father."
"Family doesn't end with blood." I said softly.
"Damn straight." She took a step back pulling the robe tighter around herself. Giving me a smile she turned and ran down the street, seemingly oblivious to her fatigue. I knew I couldn't stop her. Just like us she understood what was family business and what's just business. Casey McLeod was right this wasn't out affair but that hasn't stopped Dean and I in the past.
_Casey's POV_
After taking off from Sam Winchester I called up a prayed to Balthazar. I waited patiently for him to appear behind me and tap my shoulder like he has a habit of doing but he didn't. I tried again and he still didn't show, there must have been something big going on. Continuing down the road I jogged up the the mansion Fergus owned.
Knocking on the door his butler answered and as soon as he saw me he let me right in and straight up to Fergus' study. "Sir, Mrs. Mcleod is here to see you."
"Come on in, Casey." As soon as he saw my state he jumped up from his chair. "What the Hell happened to you?!"
"I need your help." I said. Sitting in the chair I speculated the last time I had said those words to him.
~~Flashback~~
I stumbled into my room the blood leaking off my skin and onto the floor. Drip, drip, drip. My voice quaking with sobs as I moved towards the bed but I never made it and ended up collapsing in shock and curled up in the center of the floor. Blood dribbled from my mouth as I cried out. "This is all my fault... I shouldn't have talked. No talking, no talking." I chanted. That's when I met him, Fergus McLeod, the demon who saved me.
"No talking, huh, my dear. You must be Casey. I'm Crowley or Fergus whichever you prefer."
"What... what do you want!" I whispered crawling away from the stranger.
"I want to help you. Now I don't normally do this but for you I'll make an exception."
"What...? I don't understand. Please mister it isn't a good time."
"When is it ever a good time, sunshine? If you want my help all you have to do is ask."
"I need your help."
"I'll help you if you give me a gift in ten years."
"What gift?"
"Your soul." My eyes had shot wide as I watched Fergus' eyes turn black. "So? One wish and it's yours, anything."
"I want my..." I stopped and bit my lip before deciding the only thing that would help. "I want my father to die."
Crowley smiled softly at me before crouching down next to me. Smiling he kissed me on the cheek. "It'll be done." He promised before vanishing and seconds later I heard Dad scream.
~~End of Flashback~~
"Of course, sunshine, with what?" He asked.
"Changelings have my son. One of them fed off of me." I started showing him the cuts on my neck.
"Free of charge." He smiled maliciously. "Anderson!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Fresh clothes and bandages for Mrs. McLeod. Afterwards show her our weapon stock."
"Right this way, ma'am." I followed him to my room and once we arrived Anderson gestured to the closet. "I'll be right outside." I nodded and took the time to change and bandage my neck but everything else would have to wait. I tried to call Bal again but he must have been too busy to hear me. I didn't bother trying to get ahold of Gabriel he was neck deep in something and wouldn't respond.
Stepping back out of the room I moved to the weapons room going as fast as I could while looking calm. Scanning my choices I decided on a modest flame thrower. "Kill it with fire." I muttered to myself.
""How about this beauty?" I heard a voice from behind me say. Spinning around I came face to face and a little too close to Fergus' friend.
"Space, Alastair. I have a bubble of my space!" I influenced pushing him back. He tilted his head to the side as if examining a bug squirming on filth or a monkey dancing in a cage I can never tell. Holding up the weapon by the top of the handle he handed it to me.
"Careful not to touch. The sharp bit's as hot as Hell." I held my hand above the surface and it seemed like just any ordinary blade. Curious I placed it against a wood table but it had no response. Grinning I spun around slapping it against Alistair's arm. His skin turned red for a moment and then back to normal. "Sorry, sweetie, doesn't work on demons. We like the heat." I shivered at the demons words there was always something creepy about the torturer.
"Alistair stop harassing my girl." Alistair just cackled before walking away. Fergus just rolled his eyes and walked towards me. "Ready to go, sunshine?" He asked before picking up a flamethrower for himself. He held out the crook of his arm like a gentleman. Laughing softly I placed my arm through his and we vanished to an abandoned house.
I nodded to my mentor and walked up to the door wasting no time and kicking it in. Fergus laughed behind me before following with an arrogant skip in his step. We entered the house to find abandoned furniture covered in white sheets and dust in the air. Scrunching up his nose in distaste my father figure wiped down his suit. Shaking my head I crept forward ready for any threat.
Something creaked to my left and I whirled around to come nose to none other that Dean Winchester. Looking behind me I noticed Fergus was no longer with me. Leave it to these boys to cause him to run, I don't blame him if I was a demon I wouldn't be sticking around either. "What the Hell are you fucking doing here!" I whispered angrily.
"We wouldn't let you come alone." Dean said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Sighing I turned around advancing ahead while trying to annoy the idiot breathing down the back of my neck.
"Would you stop that!" I growled a little too loudly. Freezing we all glanced around and I noticed the reflection of Sam in the corner of an uncovered mirror. Responding instantly I pushed Dean out of the way and stabbed it through the chest.
"Sam!" Dean screamed in shock before pointing his gun at me.
"The reflection, look at the reflection!" I said quickly pointing to the mirror. Dean looked and relaxed for a moment when he saw it was without a doubt not Sam. Then he went ape- shit. "
"Sammy! Sam I'm coming." He ran through the house all thoughts of stealth flying right out the window. Idiot! Taking off down into the basement I found cages containing several children. Stopping before I released them I looked around for the mother, but seeing no others I began to smash through the locks. As I busted out two of the children it became clear to me Leon wasn't in the other cages.
"Leon. Leon!" I whispered. The only sound was Dean screaming his head off. Closing my eyes I focused using a technique Gabriel had shown me. Sometimes seeing isn't the answer close your eyes and feel, hear, taste what you need. Gabe's voice echoed through my head. Click. Click. Click. The sound of heels approaching from behind. Step right. Swing. Thunk! Opening my eyes I saw the mother's head roll across the floor.
"LEON!" I screamed.
"Mom." Closing my eyes again I focused on his voice. To the left. Turning I ran pushing off things in a mad scramble the other children forgotten for the moment. Running forward I slammed into the locked door that contained Leon so hard it damaged my shoulder. It groaned but made no sign to move. Taking a step back to try again I felt someone tap my shoulder, so I spun around and saw Fergus.
Stepping aside I watched as he kicked the door once knocking it completely off the frame. He nodded to me before vanishing again. Rushing into the room I squinted in the shadowy interior being able to see the frames of Leon leaning over an unconscious Sam. "He's ok." Leon promised me. "DEAN! I found them!" I yelled.
As I went to move I felt hands encompass my frame. Glancing down at the shaking frame of my eight year old son I fell to my knees wrapping him in a hug. "Oh, baby. It's going to be ok. Mama's not going to let anything happen to you ever again." He sobbed into my shoulder as I embraced him. Dean walked in nodding to me before going to check on his little brother.
"Mom, mom there were others. Are they ok?" Leon asked through shaky breaths.
"Oh my little archangel." I whispered. "Always the hero." Taking his hand we returned to the other children. Dean helped me bust the locks of the four others in the room.
_ 2 hours later _
Leon had long since fallen asleep on the couch. I was busy scrubbing the blood stain out of the carpet. My body was shaking from exhaustion but I knew there would be no rest for me without my husband. Fighting back a mental break now that the Winchesters had left and Leon was asleep I kept scrubbing even after my hands turned wrinkled and raw.
This was my purpose I'd scrub. Scrub away the memories, scrub away the fear. Funny how this wasn't my first time scrubbing this much blood out of carpet. Last time there was more blood, funny how much blood my father had in him. This was changeling blood so it was closer to black than red. But even so it was almost nostalgic to the day I gave away my soul, sure Fergus had changed my deal. Now I'm still going to Hell but it'll be when I die naturally.
Scrape. Scrape. Splash. Scrape. Scrape. Splash. It was never ending melody. The sound of the door jarred my pattern and I looked up to see Gabriel walking through the door looking like he had a great day. And against my better judgment I laughed. I laughed to the point where I was trying to shut myself up. The metallic scent of blood was clogging my nose. Gabe took one look at my face and the stain on the floor before he dropped his candy bar and raced over.
"Casey? Case! Casey. Casey Jean McLeod!" I couldn't stop laughing there was something just so funny about how everyone else had it better than me. Smiling with tears running down my face I dragged myself into his arms. The laughing slowly faded and all I could hear were these disgusting sobs. Oh god was that me?
All I could feel was Gabe slowly rubbing my back. All I could smell and taste was blood. All I could see were blurry images. but the best of all was a melody it repeated itself over and over. "I've got you. Casey, baby, it's going to be okay. I love you. I've got you. Casey, baby, it's going to be okay. I love you."
Sighing in relief I buried my head in his neck breathing through the blood to the sweet scent of Gabriel. I had Gabe so everything was going to be okay.