Lucifer's Pony
Chapter 2
The sound of a barking dog woke Dean. Grumbling tiredly under his breath, he glanced at the time – 2:39 AM – then shut his eyes and rolled onto his back –
Then shot up.
Barking dog?
Sam!
Shoving the blankets off his legs, Dean stumbled out of bed barely managing to grab a handgun before hurrying down stairs and out the back door. A pale yellow security light bathed the immediate area around the house and yard but the field was too far back and was still shrouded in a blanket of blackness. But even without seeing his brother, Dean knew the horse was agitated.
Snarling, growling and more barking had him running towards the fence. The moon was bright allowing him to finally see the large shape of his brother as Sam snorted loudly and trotted back and forth in the middle of the field.
Dean couldn't see the dogs yet but when Sam suddenly turned quickly and bolted towards the other end, he knew they were inside the field.
"Hey!" he yelled, cursing the lack of light. "HEY!" he could make out at least two dogs, large and wolf like as they tormented the horse. Sam kicked out as one make a lunge from behind and then deftly side-stepped the other when it rushed him head on.
Unable to get a clear shot, Dean fired into the air hoping to scare off the intruders. One of the dogs, a smaller one, turned towards him.
Sam badly startled by the noise half reared and the other dog leapt for his back, his powerful jaws sinking into soft muscle.
"Sam!" Dean bellowed. He hurried towards the struggling horse, suddenly cut off as a third dog, the largest of the small pack, rushed towards him barking and growling savagely.
A shotgun blast sent the dog yelping then scurrying towards the fence, the smallest dog pausing only a moment longer before following.
"Git!" Dean heard Bobby yell from somewhere behind him as he took off towards Sam again. "Git home you damn mongrels!"
The dog that attacked the horse held on as Sam bucked and shook, trying desperately to dislodge the animal but before Dean could do anything, Sam bolted for the fence then slammed the dog against it, using the horse's weight to crush at the animal. Letting go, the dog scrambled to get down so Sam released him then jerked out of the way as the dog finally took off.
"Shit," Dean tried to get close to his brother but Sam, his sides heaving, his body worked up in a lather of sweat, sided away, skittish and nervous. But Dean knew the horse was hurt and needed to see how badly. "Bobby," he called over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving his trembling brother's, "can you get the first aid kit for me?"
"Get him to come up to the house," Bobby suggested even as Dean heard him moving back towards the door. "At least we got some light there."
Dean nodded that he'd heard then tried again. "Sam? Sammy?" His voice was low and soothing as he approached the large animal, intent on helping his brother and furious at the dogs for the attack. Transforming Sam like this was supposed to keep his brother safe from Lucifer not set him up to be attacked by lesser animals. "C'mon, bro, it's just me, your awesome big brother…" Sam neighed softly but backed up a bit. Dean stopped, his brow furrowed in worry. "Hey, hey," he scolded softly, "none of that." The horse was still breathing hard and Dean could see the muscular shoulders twitch nervously. He got the feeling Sam was one startle away from bolting again. God, this great idea of his was turning out to really suck ass.
"Dean?" Castiel's sudden appearance right beside Dean just about gave him a heart attack. Sam tossed his head back and neighed loudly but thankfully didn't take off… yet.
"Cas? What are you doing here?"
"Bobby called. He thought I could help."
Dean looked at the angel incredulously, wondering what made Bobby think to call him. "What? You a vet, too?"
"A vet?" Castiel looked at him seriously for a moment, "No," then turned his attention to the large equine pawing nervously at the ground in front of them. Something flickered in Castiel's eyes. "But I can talk to him."
Sam's ears pricked up at that.
The angel moved towards the horse, his face strangely sympathetic. "Yes, Sam, I can."
Dean held his breath, half expecting his brother to run when Castiel laid a hand on a quivering shoulder. Sam just whinnied softly and the angel looked at Dean.
"What?" Dean demanded inching forward, ridiculously glad when Sam didn't shy away. "What'd he say?"
"He said…" the angel gave the horse an odd look. "He is fine."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Don't be an ass, Sam, you're not fine. Now quit screwing around and let me take a look." Sam moved to back up again but this time Dean was close enough to grab at the long mane, his gentle tug enough to stop the large animal. "Geez, bro," Dean whistled when he saw the bite mark on his brother's neck and the blood sluggishly crawling through the black hair. "Ouch."
"How bad?" Castiel asked the question but Dean knew it was coming from his anxious looking brother.
"Dunno," Dean admitted, then patted his brother gently before glancing towards the house. "Need some light… C'mon, Bobby's waiting for us with the first aid kit. It might need stitches." Sam tremored lightly under his hand. The muscle in Dean's jaw ticked – he hated seeing his brother in pain. "Bro…" he didn't know how else to ask. "Please?"
Sam snorted softly and started a slow walk out of the gate.
"He's going." Castiel offered needlessly.
"Thanks," Dean mumbled not really sure which one of them he was thanking.
------
The bite in Sam's neck was deep but Dean was hesitant to stitch it.
Sam was just exhausted and still edgy, wanting it to be over with. He nudged at Dean's arm as his brother fingered the surgical thread.
It's okay Dean… just… do it.
"He wants you to do it," Castiel passed along the message.
It was weird for Sam to hear his thoughts translated, but he was also obscenely appreciative that the angel was here to do it too. This was probably the hardest thing about all this, not being able to talk to Dean. Sure, they could do a lot through body language, expressions and just pure old familiarity, but there were times a voice was needed and it was for those times that Sam was aggrieved.
Dean looked up and Sam knew his brother wished Bobby could do the stitching but the wheelchair bound hunter didn't have the proper reach for the job. And – to be honest – Sam wasn't sure he could control his horse-self enough under Bobby's hands. It was hard enough around Dean at times, as the whole aftermath in the meadow had shown. Sam hadn't meant to be so difficult, but he couldn't help it. Horses were just so damn flighty. And Dean… well when Dean was angry the vibes he gave off were downright dangerous.
Sam gave his brother another nudge then closed his eyes and waited, unsure what to expect. Finally, Dean started to stitch.
Bobby filled Castiel in on what had happened while Dean worked and Sam tried to concentrate on their words instead of the sting and burn as the needle worked hard to pierce his thick hide. His brother was already using the largest needle Bobby had but it was still a challenge and Sam tried to keep from shifting, not wanting to make this more difficult than it already was.
"A real vet should be doing this," Dean muttered as he tied off a suture and started on the next one.
Sam didn't agree but said nothing.
"Okay," Dean breathed out heavily, "that's the last one." Sam expected his brother to move away now but Dean didn't. Instead the older man leaned against Sam's side and rubbed gently at the spot on the horse's neck just beneath the bite. "You did good, bro."
Thanks, Dean.
"He thanks you."
Dean looked at Cas, nodded but didn't say anything.
"I really hate to break all this excitement up," Bobby cut in when the moment grew awkward, "but I'm going back to bed." He looked at Sam. "I doubt those strays'll be back tonight but just in case you might want to stay near the house. In the light."
Sam tensed and snorted nervously as he thought about the dogs. He looked back at the dark field.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Dean patted his shoulder. "I'll stay out here with you."
The horse looked at his brother. He loved Dean for offering but there was no way he could let the man stay out here with him. The spring night hadn't gotten any warmer since they'd originally turned in.
Tell him no, Sam turned to Castiel. He tried to look as brave as a horse could. I'll be okay. Like Bobby said, I'll stay close to the house.
Castiel didn't say anything right away just glanced from Sam to Dean and back to Sam again.
Cas? Sam nudged the angel.
"Go back to bed, Dean," Castiel finally spoke. "I'll stay with Sam."
Both Sam and Dean looked at the angel in surprise. Cas just shrugged and dead-panned. "I have nowhere else to be tonight."
Dean looked like he was going to argue but then scrubbed a hand down his face and nodded in resignation. "Okay. Fine. Okay." He fixed a hard look on Castiel. "If anything happens-"
"Nothing will happen." The angel interrupted. "Go to bed." He looked at Bobby. "The both of you."
Dean gave Sam one more look then reluctantly followed Bobby back inside.
Sam waited until his brother was gone then let his head drop. He was exhausted and the bite hurt like a sonnovabitch. Not knowing exactly how a horse would react to human painkillers, they hadn't been able to give him any.
"Sleep, Sam," Castiel's voice was soft in his ear. "I'll keep watch."
The horse sighed and turned towards the angel. You don't think this was a good idea, do you? It wasn't a question but more a feeling Sam had picked up from Castiel when Bobby had told him about Dean's grand plan.
Castiel met his gaze unerringly. "I do not think this can succeed as your brother hopes."
What do you mean? Sam felt a spike of panic. Can Lucifer still use me as a vessel like this?
"No," Castiel admitted. "Not as a horse. But there could be…" he paused and seemed to choose his words carefully, "unpleasant consequences."
More than this?
"Much more," the angel stated gravely. "Sam, Lucifer will stop at nothing to gain his vessel… and while he cannot turn you back himself, there are others who can. And even if they do not choose to do so willingly, the devil can be a cunning manipulator." He shrugged. "Or he can just torture them into submission."
Sam thought of the old Wiccan woman and shivered. He didn't want anyone else hurt because of him.
"But more importantly," Castiel continued. "Dean needs his brother by his side and at his back, and while you make a handsome horse, you, Samuel Winchester, are meant to be a much more formidable adversary. And if there is any hope left for mankind, it is in two men, not one… and most certainly not a horse."
I dunno about that, Sam snorted, what Dean needs is someone to watch his back that he doesn't have to worry about. I'm not sure I'm strong enough to be that guy anymore. Look what happened with Famine…
"Very true," Castiel agreed. "Look what did happen. You saved his life. And mine. Now get some rest. I will not suffer the wrath of your brother in the morning if his horse gets bags under his eyes."
Sam blinked. Did you just make a joke?
"No," the angel shook his head. "I did not. Now rest."
And surprisingly enough to the horse, Sam did.
------
"He's a Friesian," Bobby greeted Dean a couple of hours later after the men had gotten some sleep.
"Huh?" Dean grabbed the pot of coffee off the stove and poured himself a cup. It was a bit too early to be playing word games.
"Sam, he's a Friesian horse."
"Oh," Dean made his way to the window looking over the yard. Sam was outside grazing – grazing? – on a patch of grass in front of the house while Castiel just stood there, being Castiel. "And you know that, how?"
"It's called research, bone-head," Bobby grunted. "Figured it'd be nice to know." He indicated the laptop, still open on a web-page in front of him. Dean looked at the picture (to see Sam, go to Wikipedia and search Friesian horse).
The black horse didn't have a white star on his forehead like Sam but other than that, Dean had to admit, Bobby hit it on the nose. That was Sam.
"So a Friesian, huh?" Dean drank down some of the coffee and snagged a piece of toast from the plate Bobby had piled some up on. "Definitely not a race horse, then?"
Bobby glared at him and Dean grinned. "They were war horses," the older man stated. "In high demand in the Middle Ages."
The grin slid from Dean's face, pride replacing the mirth. "Really?" That was pretty cool actually. And, all things considered, shouldn't have been surprising. "So Sam's a war horse…"
"In more than one way," Bobby's words set something hard in the pit of his stomach and Dean quickly chewed the toast and swallowed down the rest of the coffee.
"We going?" He asked gruffly hating the idea of leaving Sam at the yard but hoping to get out and back before the angel had to go. "Oats won't deliver themselves."
Bobby pushed away from the table. "Remind me to pick up a blanket."
"And a tarp in case it rains," Dean added. "I was thinking I could rig it up behind the house somewhere for him."
"Good idea," Bobby admitted as the two men made their way towards the door. "You want to let Sam know we're going while I grab my coat?"
Dean nodded then was gone, anxious to see his brother.
"Hey, Sam," he greeted the horse, "Cas."
Sam nickered and trotted towards him, munching in a very horse like way on a mouthful of grass.
"Grass, dude?" Dean pretended to be aghast. "Really?"
"He's a horse," Castiel felt the need to remind. "They eat grass."
"Uh, thanks, Einstein," Dean rolled his eyes at the angel, his fingers already stroking the star on his brother's head. "How's the bite?" he pushed some of the black mane hair out of the way and took a close look at his handiwork. It was hard to tell but it didn't look infected.
"He's says he's fine." Castiel watched him looking at the wound.
"He's lying," Dean stated, tugging the hair back in place playfully. "But I think he'll live." The hunter turned towards the angel. "Hey, Cas, you going to be around for a little while?"
The angel met his gaze. "I will be here until you get back." He promised then glanced at Sam who had snorted loudly. "No, I am not a babysitter, merely a precaution."
Dean smirked recognizing his brother's bitch-face, even when it was equine. "Thanks, dude," he said to angel then tapped Sam lightly on the nose. "Stay out of trouble, my little pony. We'll be back soon." Neatly side-stepping the suddenly swishing tail, Dean winked at the horse then hurried to catch up with Bobby. The sooner they got to town, the sooner they could get back.
The irony of all this wasn't lost on Dean. In trying to make Sam safer from Lucifer, they'd made him vulnerable to other things. The hunter just wasn't sure yet if the pros out weighted the cons and as they pulled away from the house, Dean started to give some serious consideration to having Bobby break the spell.
TBC
