The Other Winchester – The Rise of Darkness (Part 3)

The first thing that Sam became aware of on awakening was that his head was pounding as if he had been hit in the head with a baseball bat; the second was that he was lying on his bed with his sister at his side her lashes dark against the very pale skin of her face; and third he had no idea what happened to put him there.

"Sammy, you okay?"

Sitting up; Sam saw that Dean was sitting in the chair beside his bed looking at him, his expression tense as Sam replied "Head hurts, what happened?"

"You know how we were waiting for the other shoe to drop and the shit to hit the fan, well it's happened. THE NEXT FREAKING BIG BAD, EVIL SON OF A BITCH is coming after us all and you my brother received a psychic heads up" Dean said as he leaned over to check on Haley who was still showing no signs of awakening. "Oh and it brought Haley along for the ride"

"Is she okay?" Sam said his face a mask of pain and concern as he looked down at his sister realising that his sister was unconscious and not simply asleep.

"I think so, I mean you woke up so I'm thinking that she'll be okay to, but God dammit Sammy, you've both been out for fourteen hours and didn't move a muscle the whole time. I've been going out of my freaking mind" Dean said anxiously; worry clearly etched on his face.

"So, what are we up against; No wait! Tylenol first then explanation; I feel like I've been hit by a freight train and I don't mean the ass kicking that Haley gave me during training" he said with a small laugh, remembering his sparring session with his sister.

"Okay, I'll get it, and then we'll talk"

Sam watched Dean until he had left the room; turning to Haley, he leaned down and brushed a hand across her forehead and whispered "Come on Haley, time to wake up" Getting no response he tried again "come on Hales time to wake up" again there was no response. With a sigh he turned and lay back down beside her and waited for Dean to return with the pain pills.

"Here you go Sammy. Still no sign of Haley wakening up" Dean said worriedly, his green eyes flashing towards his sister as he handed Sam the pain pills and a glass of water. Taking the pills from Dean; Sam took them and hoped that they worked quickly, his brain was fuzzy and he needed to be clear headed to face whatever was on its way. Looking again at his sister and with a shake of his head he said "No not yet" and then more urgently "Tell me what's coming"

Dean quickly explained what Castiel had told him about Mammon, the demon angel and how he was coming for the three of them. "So how do we stop it, does Cas know?" Sam asked his eyes filled with worry. He recalled his conversation with Dean at the motel on their last job; as usual his brother's sixth sense when it came to routing out trouble was spot on. He had known that something as coming, just not what or when, but he knew that they weren't home free.

"At this point, we don't know jack. Cas said that only God and the angels can stop it, but that he couldn't do it alone. Looks like we're on our own with this one, Cas'll be there to help us but we need to find a way to stop it. Bobby's got calls out to everyone he knows, but it's not looking good"

Sam could see that the last fourteen hours had taken their toll on Dean; he knew that Dean took his responsibility as a big brother seriously and it was unlikely that he had moved from their bedside in all that time. "Dean, you look like you're about to keel over, why don't you go lie down for a bit. I'll keep an eye on Haley"

"Nah, I want to be here when she wakes up; I won't sleep until I know that she's gonna be okay" Dean said tiredly. He didn't know why his sister hadn't woken up when Sam had. Whatever had attacked them psychically had left Sam, and shouldn't still be affecting Haley; Dean felt powerless, so he simply at down in seat that he had barely moved from in the last fourteen hours and settled in to keep watch over his sister.

Sam lay back and pulled Haley into his arms; he hoped that she knew that he was there and that it would help her find her way back.


Haley found herself in the most stunning meadow filled with sunflowers and long grass. The sun was shining and she could smell the scent of summer and hear the sounds of birds and nature all around her. Looking down at herself, Haley saw that she was wearing a long white flowing dress and was barefoot. Putting a hand to her head Haley could feel that her long hair was piled high on her head, adorned with a crown of flowers with a few tendrils falling down her back; "Very Pride & Prejudice" she thought. Shaking her head; puzzled Haley couldn't remember how she got to this place; where were Sam and Dean?

"Haley"

She turned at the sound of her name; she saw that the rich voice calling out to her belonged to the most handsome man that she had ever seen. He was tall, very tall with flowing hair as dark as midnight and eyes the most brilliant of blues glowing brightly as they looked at her.

"I'm afraid that you have me at a disadvantage, I do not know who you are?" Haley stated lightly dazzled by man before her.

"Forgive me for the crude method of introduction; I could not come in person so had to enter through your mind, your subconscious" He said not answering her question; but continuing to stare at her intently.

"We're in my head? Wow it's kind of pretty in here" Haley said as she continued to look around; feeling strangely peaceful when she knew that she should be concerned. Walking towards Haley the man brought his hand to her face and touched it lightly; he circled around her simply skimming his hands over her "Yes, but not so beautiful as the person to whom it belongs"

Haley didn't know why she wasn't breaking this man's face for touching her without permission; she didn't know who he was, but found herself compelled by him.

"Who are you?" she asked again.

"Well my dear; that is the question. I could either be everything to you or the cause of your destruction" He answered "My name is Mammon; I believe that you know my father" pausing and looking intently into Haley's eyes before he continued "Lucifer"

Haley immediately recoiled from his touch, startled; knowing now that this was what Alistair had meant when he said it was open season on the Winchesters. Lucifer was sending in his son to do what he had been unable to do, destroy the Winchesters. Immediately upon the revelation of Mammon's identity the dreamscape in which they were in changed; it became a version of Hell in Haley's head, the place where she went to at night in her dreams, dark, hot and filled with the most terrible screams a reminder of the short time that she had spent there.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Haley yelled at Mammon; anxiety clear in her voice as she struggled to stay on her feet; ferocious winds swirled around her body.

"Now Haley, calm down. You are safe" Mammon said "For the moment; I am not here to hurt you now. It is my father's wish that you all die, but I find myself curious about the human woman who would not only descend into Hell of her own free will, but would successfully retrieve her brother from the cage that has kept my father imprisoned for many millennia. I had to meet you"

"Well I hope that your curiosity is satisfied, now leave!"

"Now now Haley; do not be rude, not when I come with an offer for you" Mammon said his voice deceptively calm in the wild landscape of Haley's mind. "My father wants you all dead. You my dear, well you get to go to heaven when you die, but your brothers, now they are not so welcome there. They will return to Hell where they will be tortured with such ferocity; there are a lot of demons and souls down there that want a piece of Dean, and Sam, well let's say there is a special place reserved for him right next to my father's cage. My father misses his toy and wants it back" he continued his voice never wavering from the seductive tone, his eyes glowing lightly in the darkness.

"NO! They are never going back to that place, DO YOU HEAR ME, NEVER!" Haley was starting to panic, she felt as though her whole world was collapsing around about her. As her panic rose; the wildness in her mind wreaked havoc on the hellish landscape.

"You can stop that from ever happening Haley; you just have to make a deal with me" with a glint of something indescribable in his eyes he said "You come to me of your own free will, be my consort, your soul for theirs. Your brothers will be safe and will never be tortured in the pit. They will be free to live a normal life without fear of reprisal from Hell. Deny me and I will spend an eternity making them suffer"

"No, I will never make a deal with you. We will find a way to stop you, you son of a bitch and we will send you straight back to HELL!" Haley shouted over the sound of the wind.

At Haley's refusal he said "Haley, don't be foolish. You know that you will eventually give in. It's the Winchester's way; give everything to save the others. It is only a matter of time before I come for you all and then you will be begging me to make the deal. I GUARANTEE IT!" In that instant Mammon's face changed, a ripple of the evil underneath shone through at his displeasure at her rejection of his offer.

"NEVER, NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HEAD!" Falling to the ground her hands in her head she shouted "CASTIEL HELP ME!"

In that instant Castiel appeared in the wild landscape in Haley's head; turning he saw Mammon close in on Haley, the monster beneath the man now clear on his face. "Mammon, get away from her and leave this place now"

Looking at Castiel; Mammon smiled "Oh you're Castiel, the angel who disobeyed and caused all types of problems upstairs and downstairs" At the look of concern Castiel threw at Haley, his feelings for her wellbeing showing clearly on his face; Mammon shook his finger and said "Tut tut, Castiel that's forbidden you know. Humans and angels, nothing good can come of it"

Turning back to him Castiel said "I will not tell you again. Leave now or I will lay you to waste"

"Not today Castiel, but I am sure you will get your chance to try very soon. I am almost there" Mammon said as he disappeared from Haley's mind.


Sam and Dean were startled as Castiel suddenly appeared before Haley laying both hands on her head he closed his eyes saying only "There is someone in there with her" The brothers looked on in shock as Castiel said nothing further his consciousness already in Haley's mind. Bobby had quickly followed Castiel into the room and looked quizzically at Sam and Dean saying "What's going on?" The brothers simply shook their head, no clearer on what was happening than Bobby.

Moments later Castiel opened his eyes and Haley awoke with a start; looking from Castiel to her brothers she burst into tears, her heart wrenching sobs echoed in the silence of the room. Sam tightened his hold on Haley and looked at Castiel "Cas, what the hell happened?"

"It was Mammon he was in Haley's mind. He must have used your bond to make a psychic connection with her. I do not know what was said before my arrival" Castiel replied his worried gaze never leaving Haley's face. He hated that she was put in danger time and time again, hated that he was not able to express the feelings that, without the words ever passing their lips, he knew they both shared. His heart broke a little as he listened to the person whom he cared about so much in such pain.

As his sister quietly continued to sob; Dean said "Hales, Hales can you tell us what happened" his brow marred with concern for his sister, fist clenched at his side. He wanted to hit something, have something to fight and make pay for the violation of his sisters mind. He didn't know what had happened, but given who was in there with her it couldn't have been good. Dean felt his chest tighten at the knowledge that he could not protect her from these types of attacks that she was helpless against an enemy who could come into her thoughts, her dreams.

Sam sat quietly, stroking his sister's hair his thoughts unknowingly echoing Deans.

As her sobs lessoned Haley tried to explain what had happed to her brothers, Bobby and Castiel "His name is Mammon, he is Lucifer's son. He said that he had come into my mind to meet me, that he was intrigued that a human woman was strong enough, brave enough to go into the pit. He said that he was coming for us, to kill us, that Lucifer wanted it" pausing to take a shaky breath, one hand holding tightly to Sam's chest. She trembled as she continued "But, he's prepared to disobey his father if I make a deal with him, come to him of my own free will" Looking at Dean her eyes moist and red she said "If I do, he'll let you and Sam live and never bother you again" She could feel Sam's arms tighten around her as he said "No freaking way is that happening Haley" she could feel the tension in his body as his strong voice vibrated through her.

Shocked Dean knelt beside his sister; taking his hand in hers he said "Hales, tell me you didn't say yes, that you didn't take that deal"

"No, I didn't it never even crossed my mind to say yes. I told him to go straight to back to hell and then shouted on Cas" turning to Castiel; Haley said "Thanks, nice timing Cas. It was getting a bit intense in there, who knew my mind could be such a violent place"

Castiel simply nodded and said "Haley, I would travel to Hell to bring you out if that was what you needed" in that instant it was as if there was no one else was in the room as the two stared at each other eyes conveying emotions that they could not acknowledge out loud. Glancing from his sister to Castiel and seeing the looks passing between them; Dean coughed and said "Want to come back to us you two, we're kinda feeling in the way here"

Flushing slightly Haley turned back to Dean, she could feel Sam's body vibrate as he struggled not to laugh at Dean's comment. "Sorry"

"You need to promise me something Haley, promise me that you will never make a deal like that. We will find a way to defeat Mammon, but we will do it together. These deals never end well and I wouldn't want you to do that to save me. If we die, we die. We already know that you are not going to hell and I won't have you going there to save me" Dean said his voice deep and low with unchecked anger at the thought of Haley sacrificing herself for her brothers; Taking a deep breath his eyes flashing he said seriously and slowly "If you even think about taking that deal, then I'm gonna be mightily pissed at you Haley and when I get you back you will spend an eternity locked in the panic room downstairs"

"and I'd help him. So no matter how bad things get don't even think about it. We'll need your promise Haley, so promise" Sam said reinforcing Dean's position. He knew that there were no circumstances under which either of them would want Haley to make that deal. He also knew that when push came to shove, Haley was a Winchester and they tended to do stupid things when it came to family.

"I promise I won't make any deal with Mammon. I won't sacrifice myself for either of you" Haley said quietly "We either beat this thing together or we go down together. I promise" Haley took a shuddering breath and said "I don't think that we have too much time so I guess it's all hands on deck for research" Wiping her hand across her face she realised that she had never gotten that shower after training "I think I'll take a quick shower first" with that she got up and made her way out of Sam's room and headed to her own.

The four male occupants that remained in the room looked from one to the other; each with mirroring expressions of worry. It was Bobby who put into words what they were all thinking as he said gruffly "If you idgits believe what she just said then you're stupider than you look. When push comes to shove, if we haven't found a way to defeat Mammon and send his ass back to hell, promise or no promise she'll take that deal"

"How do you know with such certainty that she will break her promise" Castiel asked already fearing the answer.

Sam and Dean simply looked at each other and turned to Castiel and replied "because, that's what we'd do"

Authors Note: Thanks for reading. If you liked it leave a review :-)