Goliath
By: Ridley James & Ti
A/N: Thank you for all the kind comments and speculations. We so enjoy hearing from you.
RCJ & TI
Ethan Matthews was working on being patient. It was a trait his brother, police captain and partner all said he desperately needed to cultivate. The Winchesters were giving him a chance to practice. Sam had contacted him informing him of Caleb's illness and that his help was required. Ethan couldn't believe the trouble that the Winchesters attracted, and he was denying that Reaves was sick. He had seen Caleb a month or so ago and everything was well- same pain in the ass Knight. So Ethan decided to ignore that his friend was in the hospital and pretend like it was any other case, minus the fact that it involved witches, evil witches which were owed a favor by The Guardian of The Brotherhood.
Ethan still didn't understand how the fuck that happened. There was no doubt there was one hell of an interesting story behind it all, one he was certain Caleb would love recanting in exaggerated detail over beers with Ethan.
He was waiting for Sam and Dean to meet him at the medical examiner's office in the extremely small town of Calico Rock. Ethan had been able to track down the body of a woman, matching the description that Sam had given him. The Jane Doe had been found in a neighboring area to the coven's territory dragged from a river by some unlucky fisherman. Decomposition had left her a mess. Dean didn't want any reports going to the coven until they were sure it was the queen witch. Dean and Sam were needed for a positive identification.
Ethan had already gotten something to snack on and was reading a magazine in his car with a cup of coffee as his companion. He had talked to Eli, venting his frustration at the tardiness of the Winchester brothers. As always his brother was levelheaded.
"They're dealing with a lot," Eli said.
"I know but Caleb's going to pull through," Ethan answered, but was greeted by his brother's silence. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Griffin is involved. I talked to him briefly. It's not looking so good. . ."
"Shit." Ethan thought about Gideon-not a day went by when Lane did not enter his thoughts. Losing his best friend, one of their team, even as a second string Triad was devastating, he wouldn't, couldn't wish it on Dean, Sam and Caleb. "Fuck."
"Pretty much," Eli agreed. "If you need me. . ."
Ethan swallowed, trying to remove the lump in his throat. If Caleb died, then he would fill in the Knight position. In the beginning, when Gideon had been alive, it was all he'd wanted-to make his father proud. Things had changed drastically since then. Ethan still honored The Brotherhood, and would do his duty as he promised Jim Murphy, but the position would not be what he once thought, especially now that he knew Caleb. They were friends. He'd worked with Dean and Sam as a hunter, not a guy standing in line to take one of their Triad's places if the worst should happen. "Thanks, Bro. We'll be in touch."
So when he saw the black Impala pull into the parking lot behind him he was filled with sympathy and understanding right up until Dean greeted him as he jogged over to the car.
"You ready to do this?" Dean got out of the Impala, avoiding Ethan and his good will.
"I've been ready." Ethan frowned, deciding to move to Sam. Even in the rocky start of their relationship, Sam had been the first to offer an olive branch. "You two get held up?"
Sam put out his hand in greeting, which Ethan accepted in a firm handshake. Sam explained as he came to the driver's side and leaned against the Impala. "Got a late start leaving Kentucky. Thanks for this Ethan. How are you?"
"Good." Sam nodded. "Reaves doing okay?"
Dean crossed his arms. "He's in a hospital with a team of bloodsucking doctors headed up by your sociopathic godfather. Does that sound fucking rosy to you?" He pushed away from the car.
"Okay, then." Ethan took a deep breath and tried to conjure some of that elusive patience.
Sam reached out and grabbed his brother's suit jacket. They were acting as FBI agents, while Ethan was being himself- an officer of the law. "Dean-"
Dean shrugged the grip off. "Let's just get this started and finished. I want to get back to Louisville as soon as possible." He gestured to Ethan and then the safety building. "You first, Crockett."
Ethan led the way inside the building with the hope that Dean would keep hostility in check for the time being. They had to check in with badge information recorded. Ethan had made an appointment with Brendan Walden who was there to greet them, walking them the rest of the way into the medical examiner's office.
Brendan was a foot shorter than Ethan; his white boxy coat was bigger than his small frame. They all shook hands.
"Can we see the Jane Doe body?" Ethan asked as he noticed Dean sulking, checking his watch.
"We've never had a floater since I've been here." The medical examiner was happy to oblige. He slid open the door to the body. The smell greeted them first and Ethan was glad he'd opted not to eat a big dinner. Years on the force and a lifetime in The Brotherhood and his stomach still roiled at the scent of human decay. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition with the face bloated and disfigured from the water. "In fact, we've never had a suspicious death that I can remember."
Dean stepped forward, towering over the ME. "You got some gloves?"
The ME looked to Ethan, who nodded. "Special Agent Dick is the lead Fed on the case. Our Jane Doe might be a kidnapping victim in a recent case of his and his partners."
Walden looked hesitant, but handed Dean the latex. Dean snapped on one and reached for the woman's arm, which he turned so her wrist was visible.
Ethan recognized the brand-like insignia that was clearly the chosen mark of her coven.
"That's her," Dean confirmed with a glance to Sam. "Our kidnapping just became a murder investigation."
"Are you sure?" The medical examiner looked back and forth from the body to The Guardian.
"Positive." Dean gave a quick nod. "Same body type, hair color is right and that mark- I've seen it up close before."
"Was drowning the cause of death or was she dumped post mortem?" Sam asked as the frustration in Dean's voice was easily heard.
Brendan closed the refrigerator door, then led them away from the bodies to his small enclosed office. He waited until they had all filed in, handing the folder to Ethan. "Broken neck between C4 and C5. She was dead before she hit the water. I estimate she was killed almost a week ago. The cold temperature of the lake and the plastic she was wrapped in preserved her to some degree."
"Defensive wounds?" Sam asked, looking over Ethan's shoulder as he opened the file to read the notes.
"Bruising to her upper arms and a couple of contusions to her face that were peri-mortem."
"Lover's spat?" Ethan asked.
Dean jerked the folder out of Ethan's hand, flipping through hurriedly. "Possibly, or injuries inflicted during the abduction."
Ethan cleared his throat in irritation, and Dean reluctantly passed him one page of the autopsy report, which he then passed along to Sam. "Was there alcohol involved, drugs in her system?"
"Not enough for impairment, but toxicology reports show trace amounts of wine. Her stomach contents indicated she'd eaten shortly before time of death." Brenden leaned back in his chair, oblivious to the tension in the enclosed space. "Pizza and nuts."
"Date gone awry?" Ethan looked once again to Sam, avoiding Dean.
Sam cocked his head to the side slightly. "Cressida didn't exactly strike me as the bar nuts and pizza kind of girl. Think wine and crepes by candlelight."
"Maybe she was slumming," Dean snapped the folder shut, making sure he remained in the conversation. "She could have had a thing for bad boys from the wrong side of the tracks."
"We're going to need a copy of the report and pictures, please." Sam waved the few sheets that had come his way.
The medical examiner got up and collected the file from all three of them. "Give me a minute."
Ethan backed up to lean against the wall and separate himself from the brothers, especially Dean. He studied the large poster of Hawaii in the office. It seemed like a picture of a dream unfulfilled and he couldn't help but to wonder at what sacrifices he might be called to make in the future. "Are we going to have to put a leash on you, Corleone?"
"I'd like to see you try," Dean growled.
Sam stepped between the two. "Can we wait and have this discussion until we go outside? Keep it together."
Ethan didn't know if the comment was directed to both of them or just to Dean himself. He didn't have a chance to ask as the ME returned with the copies.
"I did three- enough for everyone." He handed out the packets. "Should I send the evidence to you, detective or the sheriff's office?"
"Seeing as how this is part of a kidnapping, the Feds have jurisdiction. Why don't you just send everything to me and we'll work it out. We'll also contact the family in regards to the arrangements," Ethan stated, putting out his hand in thanks, which the medical examiner accepted. "I'll be in touch."
They headed for the cars.
"What do you want to do now?"
"The coven is going to want more," Dean growled, running both hands through his hair. "You're the fucking police detective-what would you do?"
Ethan flashed Sam a look, but kept Eli's words from earlier in his mind. He took a deep calming breath and let it out with a sigh. "We need a picture of Cressida, a current one. We'll take that to all the local drinking establishments that have food and see if anyone remembers serving her. This is a small town, there's not that much ground to cover and if she looked out of place like you're painting her, someone's going to remember."
"It's a start." Dean made to push past him, but Ethan reached out and snagged the sleeve of his suit coat.
"Hold up, man. I'm all for working this case, but I'm not the whipping boy."
Dean jerked free. "What the hell does that mean?"
"It means you're The Guardian and I'm a hunter so I have to follow your orders, but I'm also your friend, Caleb's friend, so you don't have to be an asshole." Patience be damned, Ethan was not one to be trampled on.
"You want a pat on the back? A thank you for doing your fucking job, Matthews?"
"Dean." Sam stepped alongside his brother. "Stop it."
Ethan stood his ground as Dean moved into his personal space, voice lowering as he stabbed a finger at the detective's chest. "If you think this is some kind of test run for us, you are in for a big disappointment. You're here as a run of the mill hunter, and if you're going to pull a prima donna routine on me I can fucking call up any other number of hunters in the area; but keep in mind if you cost me anymore time, I can promise you that you will be pulling shit recon jobs for the foreseeable future, Knight's understudy or not."
Ethan didn't have a chance to respond before Dean turned and stomped towards the parking lot and the Impala.
"Ethan…" Sam started.
"What the holy fuck?" Ethan exploded, his reserve of patience completely gone. "Are you sure that's Dean? Have you said Christo around him lately? Or tossed some holy water in his face? Maybe we should stab him with a trusty silver blade just to be on the safe side."
"I'm sorry. He's punishing you for being here." Sam shook his head. "He hasn't slept in days; he won't eat. Basically he's going on coffee and adrenaline. He's majorly stressed and …"
"And he's fucking delusional if he thinks for one second that I want Reaves's job."
"He doesn't think that," Sam hesitated; his voice catching slightly as he stared off in the direction his brother went. It took a moment before he seemed to compose himself enough to face Ethan once more. "Dean's just completely terrified that it might not matter what either of you want."
"Shit, man." Ethan rubbed a hand down his face. "It is it that bad?"
Sam forced a half smile. "How long have you known us?"
Ethan grimaced, his chest tightening with past grief and a heaviness that was all new. "So, I'll start on the east side of town, work my way towards you two. You'll email me the picture as soon as you get it?"
Sam nodded, his smile more genuine. "When we find the place I promise you a beer and a bar pie."
"Fuck that." Ethan snorted. "Reaves is going to owe me a filet and The Guardian is coughing up some of Jim's stash for being such a prickly bitch." Ethan hoped that Dean and Caleb could live up to his conditions.
RcJ&Ti*SnsnsnsnsN*Ti& RcJ
Sam watched his brother work the room at the latest bar on their long line of stops. Surprisingly for such a small town there were plenty of places that served wine and pizza. He couldn't help but to think back to Tennison and a very different quest. Caleb's voice had him refocusing on the phone in his hand. "Hey, man. I told Joshua not to wake you."
"I told him there would be dire consequences if you guys called and he didn't. He's afraid of me."
Sam heard Joshua mutter something in the background about The Guardian's Mandate. He smiled as if it all seemed normal. But it wasn't normal. "How are you holding up?"
"I just asked you the same question- twice. You want to tell me what's going on? Something happen with Ethan?"
Caleb was avoiding conversations about his health. There would be time to talk about his progress and the side effects of the treatments. Sam didn't want to linger on those thoughts. Maybe Dean wasn't the only one a little shaken by working a case with the police detective by their side. "He's not you."
"I've got looks, money and a sparkling personality. Of course he's not me."
"He's also missing your ability to soothe the savage beast."
"Dean's giving him a hard time?" Caleb sighed. "I'll talk to him."
Sam rubbed his forehead. This was the last thing that Caleb needed to involve himself in. "No, it's okay. You concentrate on you, don't worry about us. I just wanted to let you know we're still in one piece. I'll take care of Dean. Got it?"
"I'm out of the game and you're getting delusions of grandeur, Kid."
"Hey, I learned from the master."
"Yeah, yeah, it's all about me. I guess there's a first time for everything."
"You listening to me would definitely be a first." Sam snorted at the Han Solo routine. "I'll have Dean call you when we get more info. Take care."
He waved at his brother after he finished the call. Dean put a finger up, then called him over. Sam went to join his brother who was talking to the burly bartender.
"Bub, this is Sam, my partner. Can you tell him what you were telling me?"
The bartender wiped his hand on a towel, which he then tossed over his shoulder. "Dean showed me that picture and I remembered her." He pointed to the picture that Dean had on his phone of a very much alive Cressida, dark eyes twinkling, a mysterious smile lifting the corner of her mouth as she stared boldly at the camera. She looked little like the foreboding and reluctant host that had given them refuge a few weeks before. "Kind of hard to miss, you know, definitely not one of our regulars. She was waiting for someone. He took his time to get here. I kept checking on her. . ."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Hot girl alone at a bar - he's a regular humanitarian."
Sam glared at his brother, then prompted Bub who had fallen silent. "Sorry, can you continue?"
Bub glanced down the bar at the other few patrons, seeing that he was not needed he finished his story. "So this guy shows up, and she looks pissed to see him. Big guy, too. I was expecting a suit, some preppy type. This guy was nothing like that. He sits down, they talk for a while, but she didn't look happy about the conversation. She left in a snit, then I guess he left a while later."
"They didn't leave together?" Sam asked, knowing that this meant there was a possible suspect, and it may indeed have involved a lovers spat.
"No," Bub confirmed. "The guy had a beer, looked to be stewing, you know what I mean."
"When was this exactly?" Sam asked.
"Not sure of the night, but it's been about a week ago." That fit with when the coven lost touch with Sida and the coroners projected time of death.
"Do you remember anything else about the man?" Sam knew the bartender saw a long line of customers but was hoping his interest in Sida might have made her companion more memorable.
"Like I said he was big, long hair, slight beard-definitely the type to be in trouble."
Sam glanced at Dean, who shrugged. "Told you she had a thing for bad boys."
"I almost forgot," Bub broke in. "Dude had this wicked scar. I noticed it when he paid the tab."
"A scar?" Dean asked.
Bub made a slashing motion across his throat. "Like he was lucky to be walking around kind of scar, if you know what I mean."
"Thanks for the time," Dean said as he slipped a twenty along the dark wood of the bar top, sharing an unnerving glance with Sam. Bub took the money, folded it in half before placing it in his pants pocket with a mumbled thanks. Sam leaned his back against the bar and sighed.
"You don't think..."
"I don't know what the hell to think."
"I mean there has to be other guys with scars like Owen's." Sam couldn't begin to imagine why The Knight of the Trinity would be involved with Sida. Dean didn't seem to want to consider the convoluted possibility as he took out his phone and began typing.
"You texting Ethan?"
Dean nodded. "Matthews ran all the background checks on Walsh and his team. He may have a picture of Owen we can show Bub, get a confirmation."
"At least we know Sida was definitely here, so the trail might still be warm." Sam looked around the place, hoping the bad feeling that things were about to get much worse was just hunger pains. "Maybe we can talk to some of the regulars, too."
"He's on his way." Dean flashed Sam his phone screen, then pulled his half-finished beer in front of him and took a drink. "Were you talking to Caleb earlier?"
Sam nodded. He wasn't hiding anything from his brother. He wasn't expecting his brother to be upset at the phone call.
"Damn it, Sam." Dean snarled. "He needs to be getting some rest, not getting field reports." He picked up his beer and headed to the booth that Sam had originally been sitting at.
"I told him that." Sam defended himself as he followed after his brother. He had every right to connect with Caleb.
"But you had to call him. . ."
"Just to check in. I promised him." Sam slid in to the other side of the booth. "It wasn't to talk about you, though I could have given him an earful about your attitude thus far."
"What attitude?"
"You were an asshole to Ethan. If he wasn't wearing a ring and loyal to The Brotherhood, he would have walked out. I know I would have."
"I am an asshole, Sam. I thought you knew that."
"I do, but you're also a damn good Guardian, a good man and a great brother." Sam waited for his brother to meet his gaze. "Caleb expects that of you."
"Well, I expect a lot from Caleb, too. Like for him to stick around, get better . . ."
"Me too," Sam agreed, knowing his brother was reacting to fear the only way he could, the way their father had modeled for them. He was lashing out, pushing everyone away.
"Too damn bad people don't always live up to our expectations." Dean took another drink of his beer.
Sam frowned. "We both know Caleb is not going to disappoint you, Dean, not if there's anyway he can help it."
"I don't want to let him down either, damn it." Dean slammed the beer down on the table. "That's why I can't fucking believe this Sida crap just keeps getting worse."
"You won't let him down." Sam tried redirecting once more.
"Right." Dean looked down at the silver ring on his finger, twisting it a few times before lifting his gaze to Sam's once more. "Because I've got a great track record when it comes to coming through for him."
Sam knew Dean was referring to the times when he'd been forced to make the impossible decision of choosing between the people he cared about most. Sam always seemed to come out on top. Now Dean perceived he was being forced to once more choose, this time between his obligation as Guardian and his duty to a brother. "No one understands the decisions you've made better than Caleb, big brother."
Dean leaned back in the booth with a wide yawn he couldn't hold back. "That your way of saying Damien and I are made from the same mold?"
"Maybe." Sam snorted. "If John Winchester could shit clay."
Dean laughed, even though it didn't hold much humor. Sam was thankful that he caught a glimpse of the brother he'd come to appreciate over the last year. He wasn't willing to lose the relationship they'd started to build back and repair.
"That would most definitely be the pot calling the kettle black, little brother."
"Possibly," Sam conceded. He was too much his father's son at times. He was trying to do better in the areas that John failed, like being there for Dean. "Still, Caleb wouldn't want you moping in your beer about perceived past slights. He'd want you to think about better times, like ones we haven't had yet."
"Yeah, yeah, Damien is all about the future these days." Dean finished off the beer, motioned to a passing waitress for another round for them both.
Sam would make sure to order some food when she made it over so it would be ready when Ethan arrived. "I think he's got the next Triad planned and ready to take over when we can no longer make it into the field with our walkers."
"I blame Josh. Damien's been foaming at the mouth since finding out Carolyn was pregnant." Dean glanced out the window at darkened window by their booth when headlights reflected on the glass.
"I blame that time-travelling kid, James." Sam didn't know what the body snatcher had told Caleb but whatever transpired had definitely lit a match under The Knight.
"You need to let that grudge go." Dean gave him a half grin. "That kid might be important to you someday."
"Call me insane, but I'd prefer to think about kids that are actually in our timeline." Sam rolled his eyes. "Like Joshua's son."
"Son?" Dean raised a brow. "You know something I don't?"
Sam silently cursed his careless remark. Joshua had made him promise not to tell Dean or Caleb, especially Caleb, afraid the Knight's campaign for godfather would intensify at the prospects of an understudy. Dean obviously took his silence for what it was-an omission.
"A boy." Dean whistled. "That seals it. Josh is going to have to put new locks on their place to keep Number One Uncle out. The Knight will want to start training as soon as the kid's mobile, have him fitted for baby armor."
Sam's guilt was quickly overshadowed by Dean's lift in mood. "Like you won't want in on that action?"
"It might be fun to corrupt Joshua's kid." Dean returned his attention to his empty beer, peeling at the label. "It would serve Josh right for all the hell he gave us over the years if his son turned out just like me and Caleb."
"But why punish Carolyn?" Sam teased, hoping to prolong the relief from reality.
"She married Josh." Dean looked up, brow arched. "The woman enjoys a good challenge. She's practically a masochist."
Sam waited until the waitress had put their beers down and taken their pizza order before replying. "Josh's kid isn't the only one Caleb is determined to watch grow up."
"Someone else expecting?" Dean picked up his fresh beer, not missing a beat. "Don't tell me little Sammy has a girl in the family way? How is the lovely Georgia by the way?"
"Shut up." Sam would never understand how Dean did it. He was a grown man, but Sam could feel the flush of heat creeping up his neck at the mention of the grad assistant from NYU, making him feel much more like a self-conscious fifteen-year-old. "I was talking about your kids, idiot. Caleb is counting on Juliet being the one to make you a dad."
Sam could physically sense the moment Dean's dark mood descended upon them once more, his brother's eyes darkening a shade from moss to deep jade, his shoulders tensing. "That's not going to happen."
"You never know…" Sam started, lightly hoping to recover ground. Dean shut him down with a cold glare.
"I do know. Juliet and I are finished."
"Okay." Sam gave his brother a moment, before pushing on. He hadn't made the connection until now that Dean's already foul temper had deteriorated after his trip to the farm the night before they left Louisville. "Did something happen when you went home the other night?"
"The Winchester Curse happened."
Sam wished he'd never said that their family was doomed. Dean, who had vehemently denied it at the time, had reverted to throwing it back at his brother when Fate seemed to screw them over. Sam blamed it on losing their father, Pastor Jim, and so many others along the way, like some self-fulfilling prophecy. "You saw Juliet at the farm?"
"She was waiting on me when I got there." Dean ran a hand over his mouth. "I forgot we were supposed to meet, that she was going to fix me dinner. With all that was going on with Damien, I hadn't thought to call her or check my phone messages."
Sam gave a small smile. "It's not exactly like you're up on relationship protocol."
Dean looked insulted. "I manage, Sam."
"I was just pointing out that Juliet seems smart enough to figure out you aren't really the text and talk, keep a strict schedule kind of guy. Dating Bruce Wayne has its pitfalls."
"She's aware of my shortcomings," Dean growled.
Sam accepted he was going to be saddled with prickly, overly sensitive Dean. It reminded him of the time after their father's death. He couldn't help but to wonder what would become of his brother if the worst did happen with Caleb.
"Then what upset her?"
"Who says she was upset?" Dean sighed, when Sam's silence cued that he was not going to let it drop. "If you must know, she found Caleb's scans and test results-the print outs you got from Griffin."
"Shit." Sam palmed his tired eyes, feeling a stake of guilt. The results were spread out on the table where Sam had researched the variables of Caleb's condition. They would have been impossible to miss. "Dean, I'm sorry."
"So was Juliet. She was so sorry." Dean shook his head, his voice softening momentarily. "If you could have seen the look on her face when I walked in…she thought they were mine. She thought I was sick and that's why I hadn't called her or been in contact. She was upset."
"That's understandable." Sam imagined as a doctor Juliet made quick work of the findings, drawing the same grim conclusions that both Griffin and Mackland had made.
Dean cleared his throat, the hard edge returning to his tone. "I told her I should be so fucking lucky."
"I take it she didn't understand your response." Sam wasn't sure many could grasp the self-sacrificing verging on self-destructive streak with which his brother was both cursed and blessed. On the surface Dean was all about self-confidence, swagger verging on cocky. Only after seeing past the brash, devil-may-care attitude did one catch glimpses of the insecurities, the doubts Sam now understood led to questions of Dean's self-worth. Dean would have much rather have been the one in the crosshairs, easily putting those he loved before his own happiness.
"She told me I didn't mean it, that I was in shock."
"She has a lot to learn about you." Sam tried to be empathetic to Juliet's plight. He wanted to see the woman as something more than competition for his brother's affection, but it was hard, much harder than he imagined. It might have been irrational, and more than a little bratty, but as much as he wanted Dean to be happy, he couldn't help the little selfish part of him that wanted that happiness to stem from their family, from hunting, from being Sam's big brother as it always had.
"It doesn't matter now."
"What did you do?" Sam fought the urge to let it drop, to rack up Juliet's dismissal as an unforeseen blessing on his part.
"I told her to get the hell out of my house and not to look back."
"Call me crazy, but a woman who cares about you getting upset when she thinks you have a terminal diagnosis seems a bit farfetched as a just cause for breaking up with her."
"Breaking up?" Dean looked disgusted. "What are we in high school? So, we've been hooking up for a few months. It's not like I've given her my class ring or changed my Facebook relationship status."
"I'm just saying you're upset, now is not the best time to be making rash decisions." Sam wouldn't let the voice that cheered this turn of events gain any ground. He loved Dean too much and knew as much as it pained him, Dean more than deserved a shot at normal.
"You mean while my best friend is dying?" Dean barked. "Because that's what she said- that Caleb was dying."
Sam frowned, not reconciling Dean's proclamation with the woman he had met. "Are you sure that's what she said?"
"Maybe not in so many words," Dean admitted. "But I could see it on every inch of her face, in her eyes…her fucking eyes that were full of pity."
Sam sighed. His brother, much like their father often mistook sympathy and attempts by concerned individuals to reach out as condescension and pity. "I'm sure she was hurting for you."
"I don't need her to hurt for me, Dr. Phil because Caleb's not dying. I told her as much, too. Told her I was going to fix it just like I fixed you."
Sam winced. "You told her about Cold Oak?"
"Damn right I did. Might as well lay all the cards on the table, right?" Dean took another swig of his beer. "She didn't look so understanding when I explained how your spinal cord was severed, how I sat with your corpse for days, and still fucking brought you back with a brief make-out session with that cross-roads demon."
"And what about what that deal cost you?" Sam held Dean's gaze, gauging what his brother was thinking. He would not allow Dean to make such a sacrifice again, even for Caleb. "Did you tell her about that?"
"I told her about the deal, and that I spent forty years in Hell. I told her the only reason I was walking around was because one of God's angel's pulled me from the pit, only to stab me in the back a few times over since then."
Sam slid a hand through his hair, shooting an apologetic smile to the waitress who had showed up for the end of Dean's tirade. "We're running dialogue for a movie script."
"Sounds…interesting." She put two bar pies and two plates down, but seemed anxious to leave them to it. "Need anything else?"
"Just another plate." Sam nodded to his beer, knowing Ethan should be there any moment. "And three more of these."
"Sure thing."
Sam watched her walk away with another glance over her shoulder. He caught a glimpse of her thoughts as she walked away and pinched the bridge of his nose. She thought they were crazy. He could only imagine what Juliet believed.
"I trust she didn't take it so well."
"I didn't stick around to find out." Dean picked up a slice of pizza, just to drop it on his plate with a scowl of irritation. Any other time Sam knew his brother would have already inhaled half the slice. "I grabbed what I needed and hauled ass back to Louisville."
When Sam only continued to stare at him, Dean feigned a tight smile. "Look, I know you are all about this open line of communication thing these days, but can we please just drop the touchy feely talk for now. It's killing what little appetite I have left."
Sam wasn't thrilled with leaving the conversation up in the air, but realized they would have miles of road to revisit the topic when they finally returned to Louisville. It was easier to grant Dean's request when he picked up on the psychic twinge that let him know Ethan had just arrived.
"Only if you apologize to Ethan."
Dean groaned, pantomiming a gagging reflex as he glanced towards the door. "God, it's like being on the road with Oprah and Gayle."
Sam picked up a piece of the pizza and grinned at his brother's astute pop culture reference. "I'm sure Ethan has some advice he could give on the relationship front. Eli told me he was actually engaged a couple of times."
"Fine." Dean grabbed three more slices of pie and piled them on his plate as Ethan slid into the booth beside Sam. "I'll do it."
"What are you doing?" Ethan wasted no time in claiming a piece of the pizza for himself. "And should I be prepared to draw down?"
"I'm sorry I was an ass to you earlier." Dean muttered, his appetite suddenly springing to life as he took an impossibly big bite of pizza, then another.
"And?" Sam quirked a brow at his brother, who rolled his eyes again, and pointed at his full mouth.
"It won't happen again." He mumbled through the wad of food. "Blah ,blah, blah."
"I think that's as good as it's going to get." Sam glanced at Ethan who was chewing with a grin on his face.
"Works for me." The police detective shrugged. "But the pie and beer would have been sufficient, Corleone. What's up with the high school girl drama and shit?"
Dean shook his head, washing down the food with a drink of his beer. He tipped the bottle at Sam. "Have you met my kid sister, Samantha?"
Ethan snorted. "We should hook her up with my sister, Eleanor."
"You two are so funny." Sam should have known better than try and play peacemaker with two Neanderthals. Still, the annoying teasing was preferable to his brother brooding and taking his frustrations out on Ethan. "Maybe when your comedy routine is finished we can get back to business at hand, like the missing witch and The Trinity's possible involvement."
"Now you want to talk business." Dean continued to eat. "I thought you were going to get Ethan to spill about his failed trips down the aisle."
"Whoa, whoa, back up." Ethan looked from Dean to Sam. "You said Sida was spotted here, nobody mentioned the crazy SEAL team, and who the hell told you I was ever engaged."
"Your kid sister blabbed about your runaway groom routine." Dean picked a pepperoni off his pizza and tossed it in his mouth.
"As for the Trinity," Sam interrupted, hoping to not highlight his betrayal of Eli's confidence. "Bub, the bartender mentioned a wicked scar on the suspect's neck."
"And you guys automatically thought Owen, the insane Knight?" Ethan snatched another piece of pizza, rapping the dripping strings of cheese around the end. "Caleb mentioned the Columbian neck tie courtesy of Walsh, but that's kind of out of the blue, don't you think? I mean what are the chances of them being tangled up with this coven business?"
Sam glanced from his brother to the police detective. "Once again, how long have you known us?"
"Damn." Ethan put the pizza down, wiping his hands on his jeans before picking up his phone. "Only one way to be sure."
Sam watched him pull up a file and hand the smartphone to Dean. "You can do the honors." Ethan slipped out of the booth, letting Dean get out with a huff.
They watched as Dean talked to the bartender who studied the screen and then nodded his head. Ethan groaned as he stood to let Dean back in. "This sucks."
"You're the police detective and that's all you've got?" Dean handed the phone back. "Hell, Bub the bartender did most of our work. I should make him a hunter."
"This fucking sucks." Ethan lifted his beer. "Better?"
"Some." Dean shrugged.
"She had to drive here right?" The police detective didn't wait for an answer. "I checked in with the local pd. A 2007 green Toyota Corolla is registered to her and hasn't been impounded."
"So it has to be around here or wherever she was staying." Sam made the conclusion as he folded his piece of pizza.
Dean took his fourth slice, making up for the last few days. "Sorry, this is like a bad TV cop show. Where are the donuts?"
Ethan grabbed another slice of the fast disappearing pie. "This is good police work. And its soy lattes now."
"We have to run around town looking for a green car?" Dean huffed.
"Pretty much- we should look around here first, then at the area motels and hotels. Of which there are only two." Ethan pointed to himself. "Again-good police work."
Sam swallowed the last of his dinner, but really didn't taste it. "I'll settle up the bill and meet you two outside."
He watched Ethan take the remaining food on his plate as well as the last piece on the pan when Dean waved it off. "Let's fight and make up more often, especially if Sam is going to cover the tab."
Dean glanced at his brother, giving a half grin before following the detective. "So exactly how many diamond rings have you got stashed away, E?"
"Why? You hearing wedding bells, Winchester?"
Sam watched them go, enjoying the banter. Ethan was easy going, competent but not overly serious. He could match wits with Dean, and treated Sam as an equal. It seemed natural for them to partner up, if natural included a dark witch's coven, an evil Triad and a sick Knight. Sam pulled his wallet from his pocket, feeling traitorous for the moment of introspection. There was no need for him to consider the worst case scenario. He tossed a couple of twenties on the table, knowing the sooner they found Sida's killer, the sooner they could concentrate on finding a way to help Caleb.
To be continued...