"Sam!?" Akca stole looks between the hunter and the necklace on the ground.
Sam ran over to her "Akca where's the necklace?"
"I-I don't know what you mean." She played confused, there was no way he could know about her in the necklace.
"Cut the crap Akca I know you walked off with the necklace when you found the painting missing." Sam glared at her.
"I-I," she couldn't hide her guilt, her redden cheeks were giving her away "What does it matter! It's a fake anyways."
Sam sighed "I know, but it's also a cursed object."
"A what?" She turned from him, careful not to draw attention to the necklace on the ground. "You're crazy Sam!" Akca was just about to turn away, when Sam grabbed her arm. "Ow!"
"Akca! Listen to me, a lot of people are going to die if you don't give me that necklace! I don't have time to explain."
Akca twisted out of Sam's grip, she had no idea what he was talking about. It was just a cheap piece of custom jewelry, but when Akca saw the serious expression on Sam's face she knew that he wouldn't let her go until he had it.
"What are you going to do with it?" She asked.
"Burn it." He said without hesitation.
"Are you serious?" Shocked, but the look in his eyes was dead serious. She huffed and thought to herself, she really loved that necklace and the truth was she couldn't put it down the moment she touched it. The last thing she wanted to happen to it was see it destroyed. "How can you be sure burning it will save people? Who is even in danger? It's just a necklace." She pleaded.
Sam rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Look I can explain it to you on the way, but I'm in a hurry we need to leave now."
Akca sighed in defeat, looks like she wasn't going to win this one. She gave Sam a hard glare before bending down to pick up the necklace from underneath the car. She clutched it in her hands, letting the feel of the worn leather strap linger on her finger tips a bit longer. "Alright, here." She sighed.
"Wo," Sam jumped back "I-I can't touch it."
"Are you serious?" The look she was giving him was priceless.
"It's cursed, the creature only haunts men."
Akca was just about to roll her eyes when she remembered Sam bringing up that picture in Huffulin'soffice. Every man who touched the necklace wound up in a coma. Akca was suddenly staring at the necklace in discus, could a simple piece of jewelry really cause this much despair? She couldn't argue against Sam's argument, what he said about the sick men were true. Whatever this thing was it wasn't a simple necklace from the discount store.
"Okay, I'm in." Akca tossed the necklace in her purse and the two rounded the building to get back to the Impala.
Sam prayed that Cas had everything under control. He didn't have time to call but he knew he had to hurry, Huffulin and Dean lives depended on it. Sam drove out to the same clearing they burned the painting and quickly navigated to the spot where they could burn the necklace without disruption. Sam caught Akca up to speed in the car. She was shocked, she had no idea such items could exist. Things like that were only true in movies and storybooks, but if what Sam had told her was true this could save her closest friend and boss' life. She would not let him die, not if there something she could do to help. She followed behind Sam through the thick brush trying to keep up.
"Dearst Akca!"
A soft voice called out to her. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked around, when she didn't see anyone she turned to quickly catch up with Sam.
"Dearest Akca, please help me!"
The voice called out again and Akca stopped. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Snow. Akca I'm in grave danger. That man, that man you're following means to kill me, though I have done nothing wrong!" the voice pleaded.
She huffed "What about Karen? You put him in a coma." She made no attempt to hide her anger.
"No I didn't, it was the man, he did it. He needed Karen out of the way to get to you Akca. I was only trying to protect you! Trust me, I would never hurt you, I protect all the women I encounter."
"What about the other guys they were nice." Akca shouted in anger. This time loud enough to draw the attention of Sam who was only a few feet away.
"Liars, wife beaters, I saw into their souls and I saw the same evil when I looked into that man's bother Dean. He means you hurt you they both do, let me be your good luck charm."
Akca could hear Sam calling her name, but she was conflicted. Either Sam was lying and she really was in danger or Sam was telling the truth and her boss and closest friend was in danger. She dug into her purse and grabbed the necklace. She could still hear Snow's voice calling out to her, it was so loud.
"Akca please!"
"Stop just stop! Let me think!" Akca brought her hands to her ears.
"Akca!" Sam finally caught up.
"Akca please listen to me!"
"N-no, I-" She opened her eyes to see Sam standing right in front of her.
"Akca listen to me, whatever she's saying she's lying!" Sam shouted.
"Lies! Akca I would never hurt you! I would never let that nasty man hurt you, trust me Akca, trust me."
There was something sinister about the way Snow was calling her name, like something was trying to come in. Like something was trying to invade her soul. Akca screamed and through the necklace on the ground.
"Get away from me!" Akca screamed.
"I knew you couldn't handle it you whore, I'll kill you and your pathetic boss. How dare you put that sorry excuse of a man before me! How dare-"
Sam tossed the match on the ground and the necklace ignited in blue flames. Akca and Sam shielded their eyes with their arms as the flames grew larger and died down. When the necklace was reduced to ash Sam walked over to Akca.
"It's okay Akca we got it." Sam held onto her as she cried.
After Sam dropped Akca off at the gallery he headed straight for the motel. He checked his phone and received a text message from Dr. Heffer. Karen was awake and well, this gave Sam hope that Dean would be awake and kicking when he got back.
Sam parked the car in the parking lot and ran to the room. He unlocked the door and was relieved to see Dean and Cas wide awake. Sam could feel his anxiety wash away as he moved in for a hug, grabbing Dean so tight that the hunter couldn't breathe. Dean was shocked, having just woken up from the freakiest dream he had ever had in his life. Sam turned to Castiel, practically running to the angel.
"Thanks Cas." Sam hugged Cas so tight, that Cas was completely taken off guard.
"Ah-" Was all the angel could get out. When Sam let go Cas nodded.
Sam smiled at the two of them, knowing all was well. "So how about Stir fry for dinner tonight? I saw a good place a while back."
Dean nodded, "Sounds good to me Sammy."
"Cas?" Sam turned to the angel
"I will join you."
Sam nodded.
Later that night Castiel couldn't get the events that took place today out of his mind. After Sam had explained that Dean was possessed by an incubus Cas thought that would ease his troubled mind but it did not. He wondered if Dean remembered what happened, he was acting strange at dinner. Castiel had to know for sure it was eating him up inside.
The sound of Castiel's wings fluttered in the dry air of the motel. Both Sam and Dean were sleep from their hardy dinners. Castiel furrowed his brow, he really wanted to talk to Dean. Just as he was about the flutter away, he heard Dean whisper his name.
"Cas is that you?" Dean looked up with sleep in his eyes.
Cas froze, he still had time to flea but he couldn't let his mind waste any more time on these feelings.
"Yes Dean." Castiel turned around.
Dean sat up in bed and looked at the angel. "Hey, what did I tell you about watching me while I sleep." His voice was soft and unthreatening.
"I'm sorry Dean." Castiel looked away nervously.
"Was there something you wanted to talk about?" Dean searched the angel's eyes in the dark. It was hard to see but he could tell something was wrong.
Cas stared the hunter right in the eyes, a feeling of discomfort washed over him. How much of it did Dean remember? Would Dean be angry that he didn't fight hard enough to resist? Would Dean still want to be his friend after what happened? All these thoughts were running through the angels head.
"Look man, I know this is weird, but ah, were you in my head?" Dean averted Castiel's eyes.
Cas froze, the hunter had beaten him to the punch. "Dean I can explain-"
"Save it Cas, I know you were doing what you had to do to save me, ah, even if you had to suffer through ah-"
"I did not suffer." Castiel splurged out, immediately regretted what he said.
It was dark but Cas could see the patch of red on the hunter's face.
"Alright no regrets" Dean laughed nervously "Fine with me." He quickly worked off the tension building in the room.
The hunter's smile was soothing to the angel's heart. Dean had remembered and he wasn't upset and if Castiel didn't know any better he would even go so far as to think the hunter might have enjoyed it.
"Right. Ah-" Castiel coughed to clear his throat.
Dean smiled again, "We gotta do that again sometime,"
Castiel could hear the nervousness in the hunter's voice. Castiel smiled and nodded "Definitely."
~End