I don't own any of the rights to Supernatural. The show, the characters, nothing. This is their world, I just play with it. Though, the OC Corinne is mine.
More love and brownies to Glittergrrrl05! My wonderful Beta. Seriously, she rocks. :D
Chapter 2: Devils Gate
The sun was shining brightly through the window of the motel room. After what had transpired in the fields of Cold Oak, Cori and Bobby had helped Dean try to compose himself enough to move from the ground. Working together they had carried Sam's large body through the miles of dense trees back to the cars. It was slow work; the angry spirits didn't make it easy for them. She had already used most of the iron throwing knives she had brought with her, and Bobby was almost out of ammo. Dean was wobbly on his feet, hadn't said a word, and was barely helping them fight the spirits off and make it out of the woods alive. Expression blank, his tears had dried up, feet only moved at Cori's insistence that they kept doing so. Once they had reached the parked cars, she had wordlessly taken Bobby's keys from him and got into the driver's side of the Chevelle. With Dean cradling Sam to his chest in the backseat, Bobby drove the Impala to the closest motel, Cori not far behind him.
The pale form of Sam Winchester lay still on the old motel bed and moth eaten mattress he had been laid on. His jacket and flannel had been removed, and Dean had switched his shirt out for a clean one. One that wasn't covered in blood. It had been two days since they had arrived at the motel. Sam's eyes were closed; he looked peaceful, almost like he was sleeping. Dean was standing in the doorway of the bedroom, arms folded tightly across his chest. Just staring at Sam. Not really caring about much else. Eyes stuck on his brother's face. Cori was nowhere to be seen when Bobby walked through the door. 'Probably at the Bar, goldfish that she is...' Bobby thought. He had a bucket of fried chicken under his arm, the puffy vest he always wore slightly impeding his hold on it. "Dean?" He called into the room. "Brought you this back."
But the other man's shoulders just hunched down a little further as he muttered loud enough for Bobby to hear, "No thanks. I'm fine." He hadn't even looked around to answer. Bobby had come through the front door and immediately gone to the kitchenette at the back, putting the bucket of chicken on the table there. Walking back through the open concept motel room, he stopped behind Dean. His eyes narrowed as he frowned at Dean's back.
"You should eat somethin'," he tried to insist. Who knew when Dean had eaten last, or showered? The reply was just as short and terse as the others. Dean was still wearing the same clothes he had shown up to Bobby's place in.
"I said I'm fine." He grumbled. He pulled a flask out of a pocket and took a swig from it, leaving the cap unscrewed like he was planning on drinking more. His eyes still focused on Sam's face. Bobby sighed and walked further into the room.
"Dean… I hate to bring this up, I really do." He fixed the hat on his head. "But, don't you think maybe it's time… we bury Sam?" Bobby asked uncomfortably, knowing it had to be said, but not liking it just the same.
"No." Dean's voice was hard.
"We could," Bobby sighed rubbing his beard, "maybe…" He trailed off.
Dean turned around slowly to face the other man. His voice was calm, his body language was relaxed. "What? Torch his corpse? No. Not yet." He took another drink from the flask.
Bobby took another step forwards. "I want you to come with me."
Dean huffed out a dry laugh. "I'm not going anywhere."
Bobby started, his voice pleading. "Dean, please. It's been two days. Come back with me an' Cori."
"Would you cut me some slack?" He asked curtly, looking away back at Sam and then back to Bobby. He took a few steps away from the body of his brother and towards the other Hunter.
"I just don't think you should be alone, that's all. I gotta admit, we could use your help," Bobby attempted. Dean just snorted. "Something big is going down Dean - end-of-the-world big."
Dean snarled abruptly and yelled, "Well, then let it end!" His eyes were flashing fiercely and his nostrils flared.
Bobby shook his head in disbelief, expression akin to having been punched in the stomach. "You don't mean that," he breathed out.
Dean quickly got in Bobby's personal space, their faces close. His eyes quickly looking over every inch of the older man's face. "You don't think so? Huh? You don't think I've given enough? You don't think I've paid enough?" His voice was calm but angry. "I'm done with it. All of it. And if you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and get the hell outta here," he all but spat.
Shaking his head, Bobby just stood there, not quite being able to take in what Dean had just said. He knew the boy was distraught but shit was going downhill fast. Dean needed to start thinking straight. Suddenly Dean lashed out angrily and roughly shoved Bobby away from him. "Go! And take that piece of ass with you!" At the shocked look on Bobby's face Dean seemed to realize what he had just done. He looked at his feet contritely. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, just go."
Bobby closed his eyes and with a sigh started to turn around to leave. Defeated. "You know where I'll be." Turning his back Bobby walked out of the room, down the short hall and out the door. Dean heard the click before he swallowed hard. Turning and looked back at Sam's body laying on the mattress, tears slowly falling from his eyes. Dean grabbed a chair and pulled it tiredly to the side of the bed, still filled with grief.
"You know," He started slowly, eyes roaming Sam's face. "when we were little - you were five maybe? - you just started asking questions. 'How come we didn't have a mom? Why do we always have to move around? Where'd Dad go when he'd take off for days at a time.' " He gave a shuddering sigh. "I remember begging you, 'Quit asking Sammy. Man, you don't wanna know.' Fuck, I just wanted you to be a kid… Just for a bit longer." He looked at his brother's face, his eyes shining with tears. "I always tried to protect you, keep you safe… Dad didn't even have to tell me. It was my responsibility, y'know. It's like I had one job…" He paused his breathing hitched. "I had one job..." He broke down and let more tears fall, face in his hands. He sat and sobbed.
Lifting his head he looked back at his brother, "And I screwed it up… I blew it." Admitting to the still form before him, his greatest failure. "And for that, I am so fucking sorry…" He started wiping the tears from his face, in an attempt to calm himself. Taking a deep breath he continued, "I guess that's just what I do… Let down the people I love. I let Dad down... And now, I guess I'm just supposed to let you down, too." He growled at the floorboards of the motel bedroom. "How can I? How am I supposed to live with that?" He choked on his words, but took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears from returning. Helpfully, anger was quickly replacing his sadness. "What am I supposed to do Sammy? God..." He inhaled sharply through his nose and yelled out into the empty room. "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!"
Unbeknownst to Dean, Corinne hadn't left with Bobby. She had told the old grizzled Hunter to go without her. That she was gonna stick around at the bar here, get her drink on, and catch a cab back to the Junkyard later. She was sitting at a table by herself in the noisy bar, drinking her third beer. Getting tired with looking at the drunks around her, and definitely not finding anyone that piqued her interest, she looked out the window to her right.
It was perfect timing too, as she watched the door to the motel room across the small parking lot fly open. Dean was rushing out, looking like a man on a mission, and the Impala drove off with a squeal of its tires. She took a swig from the bottle in her hands, having taken note that Sam's body wasn't with him when he left. Neither were any of the bags she knew he had brought inside with him. Sighing to herself, looking away after she could no longer see tail lights. Having a pretty damn good idea of where he was off to so quickly. 'Winchester, you get more interesting each second.' She finished the last of her beer and got up from the table, weaving her way through the throng of older and very drunk men, she stepped out of the bar. A slight chill in the air, she wrapped her leather jacket, around her. Contemplating going over and checking up on Sam's body. Shrugging the idea off as not really her business she hailed a nearby taxi and got in the back. Settling in for the drive back to Bobby's.
It was around 4 a.m. when she arrived and the house was quiet, but she knew Bobby had heard her enter. Keys jingling loudly in the silent front hallway. Assuming he was sleeping, she just went up to her room, telling herself she'd shower once she got a few hours sleep. After all these years Bobby had still considered it her room, instead of a spare in his house. Though this last week was the most it had been used in years. Stripping off her clothing - down to panties and the tank top - she crawled beneath the covers that were waiting for her. Snuggling herself down in the blankets, she couldn't help but thinking about just what Dean was going to say to cover up his actions. She assumed he wasn't going to tell Sam. No one ever wanted to hear you had sold your soul for them. But Bobby would know, 'Bobby's gonna be pissed when he finds out what Dean did…'
She woke up to the sound of Bobby shuffling past her closed door and down the stairs. Her eyes opening, they lazily focused on the digital clock on a small table across the room. 7:15 a.m. was staring back at her in bright red. "Ughhhh…" She groaned. Pushing herself off the bed, sitting up slowly, she yawned. Running a hair through the mess that was her hair, when her fingers got stuck she started grumbling. Sliding off the bed she padded barefoot to the open door that led to a tiny three-piece ensuite bathroom off her bedroom. Jerking her hand, still trying to get it through the knot in her unruly hair.
By the time she had showered, dressed, and made it down, she went into the kitchen to find Bobby sitting at the table drinking a coffee, a plate of toast in front of him. Bright sunshine coming in through the windows. Erasing the spring rain of last night. He has raised his eyes from the newspaper he was reading, "Mornin' kid." She grumbled a reply in his general direction. He chuckled to himself in response, if there was one thing Bobby knew about her, it was how irritable she was before she'd had a coffee. Shuffling towards the coffee maker, she swiped a mug from the dish rack and went about making herself the drink. Getting the milk from the fridge, she closed the door with her foot. Next grabbing a spoon from the drawer, which she closed grumpily with her hip.
When she was finished with her little cranky display, and had finally taken a sip of the steaming liquid, she sighed happily - an almost moan - into the mug. The change in her mood was physically apparent.
"Want me to leave you two alone?" Bobby smirked from under his trucker cap.
She rubbed the side of the blue mug suggestively. "Maybe. I'm feeling a bit frisky." Returning his smirk, both of them trying to ignore the topic of yesterday, using humor to cover up the questions.
"Well then, I think I'll go out to the garage, finish up." Chair sliding against the linoleum flooring, Bobby stood from the table, fixing the cap on his greying hair. "I shouldn't be more than a few hours. Then you can get outta my hair." He grabbed a slice of toast, she nodded while taking another sip of her coffee.
Smiling at him from her spot, leaned against the counter. "Sounds good, I'll be in here, probably reading. Maybe I'll make lunch later." He mumbled something under his breath about the books, and walked out of the back door, it shut noisily behind him.
The second the door had closed, the smile dropped from her face. After everything that happened the other night, she wasn't too sure she could, or even should just go back out on the road. But if Bobby wanted her gone, she would go. The world was changing rapidly around her, though not in the same pace as it had before, it was still just as life altering. For example: more of the people she was close to were dead.
Swirling the contents of her mug around a little, she pushed off the counter and went to the study/library. Surrounded by books, she felt at home, at peace. She belonged with books, they had always been a source of comfort for her. She needed that right now, soothed by the plethora of words on paper, the smell was even calming to her. Needed to be distracted while she had been forced to think about things she'd rather leave buried. She knew where Dean had gone last night. Understanding why, she truly did, not that she approved. It wasn't her place. Besides, it would be insulting to both of them if she judged him on it.
And the feeling she had from those two boys. It was heady, her skin had prickled. In the very marrow of her bones she just knew they were important. When she had met Dean it was like a switch flipped on inside her head, driving her towards him. Fueled further as they had found Sam. The very name Winchester had always held a sort of fascination for her. When she was little, she would read her father's journals in secret. First just to read about her Dad's hunts. Then about this man he had crossed, and partnered with a few times. John. Reading everything there was written about the man, and then, the family. No idea why she was so drawn to them and their story.
After her introduction to Dean, though, part of her had swelled in recognition. It confused the hell out of her, made her review every single thing she had been told by her Dad and Bobby. Bobby had said something big was going down, shortly before she met the eldest son. 'I guess I only half believed him…' Then last night happened. Dean taking off in the dead of night. She had a damn good intuition, and was pretty sure she knew what he did. The Roadhouse burning down. Ash was dead. They hadn't found Ellen's body. That happened two days ago. Sam being kidnapped by demons, and then dying in his brother's arms in the most haunted town in America. That happened too.
Her mind was busy twisting in on itself as she sat behind the cluttered desk, drinking more of her coffee. A fraction of her brain wondering where that bottle of whiskey went. In the end of her inner monologue, coming to the conclusion to stick around. Those Winchester boys would be back. Call it another one of her feelings. She had decided to help them, if she could, if they wanted it. Bobby wouldn't be happy about her decision. Then again, he never had been. Cori had always done things her way, acting mostly on this strange sort of instinct she had. It was generally never wrong. It was one of her biggest secrets. She had never even spoken to her father about it, fearing the wrath of his hatred against all things supernatural. A tiny sad smile crept upon her lips, her thoughts having turned to her family. Setting down the coffee, she dragged one of her book bags over. Having removed all her things from the car while Bobby repaired it. If the world was going to hell in a handbasket, surely something in her forefathers' journals would help. It was those hand written volumes, that she had kept close, treasured. Exactly twenty-six books, that hadn't stayed behind at Bobby's.
Cori spent the next few hours pouring over page after page, studying everything she could find on why there was absolutely nothing going on. Books she had put away earlier in the week lay open on the desk for reference. Eventually having begun taking her notes in a leatherbound book of her own. In the end, closing her beat up laptop and shoving it and all of her books back in their bags, she sat back in the chair. Feeling oddly physically drained, but extremely mentally alert. Staring down and the maps she had pulled out. Not quite believing what she was looking at. Bobby had walked back into the house reminiscent of the other day. He cleaned his hands with a rag, threw it into the trash bin and walked towards her sitting at his desk.
"Bobby…" She breathed out, looking up at him when he entered the room. Her eyes were wide. Not frightened, but shocked. "Look at this... It's like it happened overnight." The older man had glanced quickly at what she was indicating. His eyebrows disappeared beneath his hat. His jaw dropping slightly, at what she was showing him. The demonic omens that had been looking for, they were everywhere.
"Christ, that's not good." He muttered still looking down at the maps. He moved around the desk, coming to stand beside her as he took a closer look at some of the notes she had jotted down. She recognized the look on the man's face. The need the know, the thirst for knowledge. The questions were plain on his features, and so Cori vacated the desk chair. Without acknowledgment of her action, he had just slowly slid into it. Eyes scanning quickly, his lips mouthing every second or third word he read.
From her new spot standing to his left, she put her hand on his shoulder. Not interrupting the absorbed man. But speaking to him anyways. "I'll go get started on lunch." He must have heard her in his newfound tunnel vision, he muttered his thanks, and a request for a beer. 'Same old Bobby.' She smiled at him fondly, giving his shoulder a small squeeze before leaving the study. A sudden craving for grilled cheese inspiring her to make an entire platter. Humming to herself, she had moved gracefully around the kitchen despite her heavy boots, grabbing the things she needed to make the intended lunch.
Almost half an hour later, she was almost done. One more sandwich left to go, of the fifteen she had prepped beforehand. When she heard the knock from the front door, and Bobby get up to go answer it. She was willing to bet good money, that she knew who had come to call. Turning off the gas stove, she pushed the now empty frying pan to the back burner to cool off. Tossing the spatula in the sink. Hearing the voices carrying from the hallway that she had expected to hear Cori was almost proud of herself for being right. She put the platter of grilled cheese sandwiches on the kitchen table, and had turned around to grab them all a beer from the fridge as the three men entered the kitchen. She called over her shoulder, bent over in the fridge, moving things around to get at the beer. "Lunch is on the table, gents." Her back turned to them. Deciding to pretend she didn't know Sam had returned with Dean. Closing it with her hip, then setting one of the bottles down on the counter for herself.
The chairs of the kitchen table scratched loudly behind her, followed by a, "Hey, thanks. Uhh... whoever you are." It was a new voice, one she had never heard before. Well, once, but she wasn't sure she was going to count that. It obviously belonged to Sam. He sounded cheerful, and from that she extrapolated that he had no idea what Dean had done for him. Turning around fully her eyes widened (artfully playing surprised).
"Woah! Um, yeah. No problem." Even her voice went along with her facade. She looked Sam over, he was inhaling a sandwich. She then noticed how stiffly Bobby was standing, his mouth pressed into a firm line. 'You first, Mr. Grumpy.' She opened the beer with a 'pop', using the edge of the counter to do so. A skill that had taken her many broken bottles to perfect.
Bobby silently took the beer Cori handed him. Reaching down, he snagged one of the sandwiches off the platter, his movements jerky. It was obvious to her just how close he was to exploding. But Sam hadn't seemed to notice a thing. Bobby leaned against the wall instead of sitting down.
Her gaze moved onwards to Dean who was standing beside his seated brother, almost defiantly. As if challenging her to do or say something. "Afternoon, Dean." She gave him a kind smile and handed him a freshly opened beer.
His eyebrows had shot up, but he accepted the bottle. Dean was shocked. Completely expecting from her, the same attitude and look he was receiving from Bobby. "Uh, yeah. Hey, Cori." He quickly took a swig of the cold beer to cover up his reaction to her, non-reaction. 'Right well, okay. Who the hell is this chick?' He reminded himself to talk to Bobby about that. Sam apparently hadn't noticed the awkwardness floating around the room. He was chowing down on his third sandwich and had almost finished his beer. But he had looked up when Dean said her name.
"You know each other?" Sam looked surprised, eyes darting from his brother, who nodded, to the pretty brunette that had served them lunch. It was honestly the last thing he had ever expected after entering Bobby's house. But damn if it wasn't welcome. 'Cori? It rings a bell.' He had heard it before. So he quickly wracked his brain for anything he could remember about the name, but as soon as he started, his brain cut him off. 'Eh, it'll come to me.' Deciding that looking at the young woman dressed in tight jeans, scuffed up boots and a worn out AC/DC t-shirt, was much more worth his time. He had tried to discreetly look her over, but from the smirk that appeared on her face, he hadn't been as careful as he thought. She didn't call him out on it, just drank some of her own beer. He finished the last of his food, and wiped his hands on his jeans. "Hey, Cori right? I'm Sam Winchester." He stood from the table, extending a hand to her.
"Yep, that'd be me. Corinne Folan, but please, just call me Cori. And you are enormous." She sized him up, then took his hand with a smile and a small laugh. His hand greatly enveloping her tiny one. Giving Sam the same flirtatious treatment she had given Dean their first meeting. "Big hands. Big feet to match I expect. Want a beer?" She smirked at the slight blush that quickly formed on his cheeks. 'Oh! You're adorable!' She thought as her smile turned into a grin. Sam at twenty-three still had a baby face, not quite having grown up yet. Big green eyes and shaggy brown hair that fell over his eyebrows, stopping just above his eyes. He stood at 6'7", making her an entire foot shorter than he was. He towered over her as they shook hands in greeting.
"Sure, I'll take a beer." He gave the short woman his most charming smile. The he froze. It clicked suddenly in his brain. "Oh! Wow!" Sam announced, and began shaking her hand again with renewed vigor. "I know who you are!" He looked so excited. Cori was almost in giggles and extracted her hand from the giant puppy. Sam turned around and looked at Dean eye wide like he couldn't believe he was so nonchalant about the woman in the kitchen with them. Turning back to her he had seemed to reign himself in, but still had a large smile on his face.
She did laugh then. The sound helped to lighten the dark mood seeping from Bobby, who was still standing silent against the wall. Drinking his beer, eyes shooting daggers at Dean. "Not quite what you were expecting?" Cori asked.
Sam shook his head in the negative, the smile still wide on his face. "No. Honestly, with a name like Cori, I thought you were a guy." He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Dean was shaking his head, not understanding one bit what his brother was going on about. But content at least one of them knew who the brunette was. Doing his best to ignore the looks Bobby was giving him, Dean sat down in Sam's vacated seat. Helping himself to the few grilled cheeses that were left.
Sam tried to ask as casually as he could, "Is it true about that coven of Witches in Oregon? All on your own? And the double Shapeshifters in Alabama?" Sam cleared his throat and looked like a starstruck teenager. Dean had stopped chewing, his mouth hanging open. He looked over at Cori so fast she thought his eyes were gonna spin.
"Wait, that was you?" He asked around the mouthful of food, astonished. He snapped his mouth shut and finishing his bite. He coughed slightly as it went down weird in his hurry to swallow. Thumping his fist on his chest, taking a mouthful of beer to help with the cough. "Uh, well, wow." He gave her another once over, his face clearly displaying his surprise at the revelation. "Shit, now I feel stupid."
She gave them both a grin, "We were introduced days ago Dean." She chided, "Well boys, I'm down for reliving my greatest hits and all. We can do it over drinks later." She tipped her bottle back, finishing her nearly full beer in one breath. Putting her empty on the counter, she grabbed herself and Sam a fresh one out of the fridge. "First rounds on me. But before that, we've got something to show you two. " She gave them a wink, having reverted to her usual flirty nature. Popped the caps off the beers using the counter edge once more, walked towards the two men, pressed a beer into Sam's hand, then continued past them, and out of the room. She could feel their eyes on her retreating figure. 'Ego boost!' She was mentally dancing, her outward appearance, calm and composed. A confident little wiggle in her walk. Wanting to high five herself for having taken a shower and putting effort into her appearance today. Smiling to herself as she walked, thoroughly enjoying the recognition and amazed reactions they had given her. She wasn't used to being so openly recognized for her skills and hunting successes. That it helped dispel some of the awkwardness was a bonus.
Bobby was shaking his head at the boys, grumbling under his breath. "Idjits…" Got himself a new beer as well, and followed Cori out of the kitchen, leaving Dean and Sam alone. They looked at each other almost in unison. Their features both morphing into matching looks of awe. Dean was the one to speak, sounding exactly like Sam had earlier when he was talking to Cori. Completely impressed.
"Sammy, we're gonna go out for drinks with Cori Folan. The Cori." He almost reverently whispered. He stood from the table. "Holy shit, I didn't even realize… She just made us food…"
Sam, though agreeing with Dean, scoffed at his brother. "And you told me to play it cool if we ever met him-" He closed his mouth when Dean cut him off.
"Her. Definitely not a guy." The appreciative tone apparent in his voice and on his face. He made curvy gestures with his hands to support his assessment.
"Heh, oh yeah." Sam nodded his head, shaggy hair swaying with the movement. The brothers grinned at each other and followed Bobby and Cori out of the kitchen.
Bobby was sitting behind the desk, looking comfy in the faded leather chair. But his face was harsh as the boys entered the study. To Bobby's left, Cori was leaning casually against the mantle. An amused smirk plastered on her face as she watched them enter and try to school their features. But when her eyes wandered over to Dean, her eyes grew just a tiny bit sadder, though the smile never left her face. Dean didn't miss the look either.
Bobby took a swig of his beer and narrowed his eyes at the brothers. "If y'all are done making bedroom eyes at each other, we found something. Well, this one did most of the work." He nodded his head to the left indicating Cori. "But I'm not sure what the hell it means."
Both of the boys had perked up at the tone of his voice, standing straighter, at attention like soldiers. Seemingly understanding the look they were getting from Bobby. 'That's my babygirl, hands off.' Dean had got the picture loud and clear. This chick, Corinne -Cori- was family to the older man. Like a daughter, and Bobby's wrath would be brutal. Sam likewise understood the warning in Bobby's voice. He swallowed the lump in his throat and approached the desk, Dean following suit.
"What is it?" Sam asked, all business now. Having wiped away all other thoughts than the matter at hand. An easy thing to do when it came to their work.
"Demonic omens… like a fuckin' tidal wave. Cattle deaths, lightning storms. They skyrocketed from out of nowhere. Here." Bobby pointed at the map spread out on the desk. It was covering everything else. He was pointing to Wyoming. "All around here." He was circling his finger around the state. "Except for one place… Southern Wyoming."
Dean's brows were furrowed together, he had moved closer, coming to stand beside Cori who had moved from her place by the mantle. Both looking down at the map. Dean was mentally cheering as he checked her out again in his peripheral. "Wyoming?"
"Yeah. That one area's totally clean - like spotless. It's almost as if... " Bobby trailed off and looked over at Cori who was staring at the place on the map, still trying to suss out the problem.
Sam pressed on, "What?" he looked up from the map to Bobby and followed his gaze over to Cori, who was the one that replied.
"The demons are surrounding it." She stated, looked around the room at the other three Hunters present. She knew there was something about Southern Wyoming that she should be remembering. It was gnawing at her, and it was going to continue until she figured it out.
"But, you don't know why?" Dean questioned, as he looked up from the map over at her. Grateful for the excuse to look at her again. It was almost ridiculous. Their eyes met, and she could swear she was melting. She faltered in answering him.
Bobby found his opening and grabbed it. "No, and by this point our eyes are swimming. Sam, would you take a look at it? Maybe you could catch something Corinne and I missed." Cori had shot her gaze over to Bobby when he used her full name. Kicking herself in the ass for making goo-goo eyes at Dean in full view of her 'Uncle'.
Sam was nodding slowly - a tiny frown on his face - at the bite in Bobby's voice. "Yeah, sure." Not quite knowing where it was coming from, but he had an idea. Assuming it was about his and Dean's slight 'staring problem'.
Bobby had stood up, moving around the desk, he grabbed Dean by the front of his brown leather jacket and physically moved him away from the table and Cori. "Come on, Dean. I got some more books out in the truck. Help me lug 'em in." It was not a request.
"No problem Bobby…" Dean was suddenly apprehensive of being alone with the gruff man. Knowing the true reason behind the rough actions. Bobby quickly man-handled Dean out of the study and through the back door. Sam's eyes narrowed as he watched them go.
Cori crossed her arms on front of her watching them leave. Sighing she turned to Sam, a small pout on her lips. "Don't worry about it Sam, I'm sure Bobby's just being crotchety like always. Defending my honor and such." She supplied trying to hopefully distract him from thinking too hard about the harsh treatment Dean was getting. "Want another beer? I seem to need a new one." She chugged the three quarters that was left in her bottle. Finishing it with a smile. "Be right back, Monstro." Sam just nodded at her deciding not to comment on her drinking. He moved the map towards him, and started going through the things underneath for anything to help him. Though his mind was going back and forth at war with itself. 'What the hell Bobby…' Was Bobby just being overprotective of Cori -a woman the man saw as family, and an exceptional Hunter who was well known in their community- or was there something more?
Cori exited the study quickly, going straight to the kitchen. She was indeed getting her and Sam a new beer, but she was also eavesdropping. 'Bad, bad girl Corinne Margaret…' She internallyreprimanded herself, but still hovered near the kitchen window that faced the junkyard out back. She heard snippets of the conversation, confirming what she already knew. Dean had sold his soul last night, and now Sam was alive. What she wasn't expecting to hear, was just how long Dean had. 'A year?! What kinda fuckin' deal is that?' But she had always been a smart girl, rapidly coming to the conclusion that Dean's fine ass must be one of Hell's most wanted. A deal like his, was one in a million. Few got such harsh treatment. She was turning away to head back to Sam when she overheard more that she didn't know. John Winchester had recently died, having given up the Colt to a demon. The gun that could kill just about anything, and also sold his own soul to save Dean's life. The curious expression on her face faltered as the conversation was getting more and more emotional. 'Wow, Bobby, you really must care for these boys… I had no idea...' She made sure to get the beers before quickly leaving the kitchen before either of the men came back to the house or realized she was there.
Setting the fresh bottle in front of Sam's face, Cori took pleasure when he jumped a bit from his seat in the chair. Having been so focused on the book in his hands, and had zoned out not hearing her come back into the room. "Boo." Her mouth upturning. Sam had noticed just how cheery she was, and didn't buy it for a minute. He knew she was a Hunter like them, a wicked good one at that. He knew the stories. She had to have her own shit piled up. But here she was smiling and joking. Flirting with him and his brother, like she hadn't just learned demons were swarming an area the next state over.
"So, uh, Cori…" Sam began, trying to be tactful, pretty girl or not, he was halfway sure she could kick his ass. "How do you know Bobby?" Wanting to know more about her, figuring that was a safe thing to ask about. She appeared surprised at the question though and he tried to backtrack immediately. "You, uh, don't have to tell me. Sorry." He was almost blushing again. Cori could have squealed and pinched his cheeks, but wanted to retain her image.
"Nah, it's fine Sam. Don't you worry your pretty little head." Cori grinned down at him, taller now that he was seated and she was standing. She took a sip from the cold beer in her hand. "He was a friend of my Dad's. They met met I was like four or five?" She shifted her weight from one hip to the other. "I lived here with Bobby for about three years back in the 90's." She smiled at him again, this time he could see nostalgia in it.
He face lit up in recognition. "Oh! That's your room upstairs? I thought it looked too girly for Bobby." He snickered and drank from his own bottle. He leaned back, getting comfortable in the chair.
"Yeah, it's seen more use in recent days, than it has in a very long time. Bobby's fixing up my car, had to stick around for a bit." She moved just a little bit closer, the side of her leg nearly touching his arm. "Don't get me wrong though, he's very in tune with his feminine side." She smirked like he was sharing a secret with Sam. "Bobby and I used to have tea parties. Remind me to show you pictures sometime." Her grin was becoming infectious and Sam was having a hard time not joining her in her ever present good mood. She was leaning her hip against the desk, the t-shirt tightened just enough to draw his attention for a moment. Sam was beginning to have a hard time with other things as well.
"There's pictures? Hell yeah. Please tell me he's wearing something pink and a crown." He snorted into his beer at the imagery his mind was supplying him with. His body highly aware of how close the woman was to him.
Cori had nodded in affirmation. "Princess Bobby in his pretty crown." Both of them were laughing loudly, and hadn't hear the back door open or the three sets of footsteps come into the study.
"It was a tiara." Bobby rough voice came from the doorway. Sam and Cori looked up in unison, faces red from mirth. Dean and Bobby stood just inside the room, behind them a shorter person neither Cori or Sam had noticed yet. Both of the men had small smiles on their faces, though they had faltered when they both noticed how close Sam and Cori were to each other. But the smiles, Cori thought was odd. She had expected some injuries at least, from the direction the men were heading when she heard them.
She was lifting her beer to her lips when the person behind Bobby and Dean shoved passed them with a cheerful, "I thought you were a right beauty, Bob." and entered the room. The bottle slipped from Cori's fingers and clattered to the ground, beer pouring out onto the hardwood floors of Bobbys study/library. Her eyes wide, utterly disbelieving who she was seeing. An older woman, late 40's at least was standing there. About the same height as Bobby was with dark brown hair, a few strands glinting silver. Attired in the amounted to the Hunters uniform. Jeans, boots, flannel under a leather jacket.
"Ellen…" The words coming out in a small squeak. The sound so far, was very out of character for the young woman.
Ellen had been expecting to only find Sam in the room. Her eyes widened when they caught sight of the young woman leaning on the desk. "Corinne? Cori Folan. Holy hell…" The older woman turned and smacked Bobby in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me she was here?" She reprimanded the man.
Cori's face still had the same shocked expression, as she moved calmly around the side of the desk. In a sudden movement none of them were expecting, she grabbed a silver letter opener off the wood surface, and lunged at Ellen. Nostrils flared, eyes hard. But no war cry, Cori had moved silently. Instantly assuming the worst. She was almost sure Ellen was dead and this woman was not her. It couldn't be.
Dean had noticed her intentions as she moved around the desk. Faster than he thought himself possible, he came forwards and grabbed Cori, using her momentum to spin them around as he pried the letter opener from her. "Woah! Woah, Cori! Hey! We already did that. It's really her." The young woman in his arms instantly stilled and stopped fighting Dean for the sharp silver object in her hand. It took a few seconds longer before either of them moved away from each other. Ellen looked amused, Bobby looked grouchier. His younger brother however, had slunk down in the chair he was sitting it, with a grumpy look. Dean noticed the expression on Sam's face with an inward crow of victory. 'Jealous, Sammy?'
Moving his arms slowly from around the smaller body, Dean stepped away from Cori. Rubbing the back of his neck, nervously remembering Bobby and Ellen were still in the room. He was happy to see the slight blush on Coris' face. So far, she had been so collected, so confidant. It was a definite boost to his pride, getting a reaction from her, of all women. It made him feel cockier than usual.
The two older Hunters turned and made their way towards the kitchen, knowing the three young ones would follow. Bobby sat Ellen down at the table, walked past her and grabbed shot glasses from the cupboard. "Bobby, this has gotta be the cleanest I have ever seen this place," Ellen said with an easy smile, leaning back comfortably in the dining chair. Dean, Cori and Sam all filed into the room, remaining standing. Leaving Ellen the only one sitting down. Bobby pushed a shot glass of Holy Water across the table towards her. "Bobby," She chided her old friend, "is this really necessary?"
The man gave her a small shrug. "Just a bit of Holy Water, shouldn't hurt." Ellen rolled her eyes swiped the shot glass from the table and down it quickly. She slid the glass back across the table towards Bobby.
"Whiskey now, it you don't mind." Ellen gave him a cheeky grin. She was answered with a new shot glass filled with the amber liquid. The men satisfied, began pulling out chairs moving to sit down with the older woman. Cori's eternally happy mood, had seemed to increase tenfold. She was nearly bouncing her way towards Bobby's liquor cabinet.
"Ellen, what the hell happened?" Dean asked leaning forwards looking at the woman. "How'd you get out?"
She looked him dead in the eye. Always having been a tough woman, never taking any shit, and now, he could see how emotional she really was. "I wasn't supposed to. I was supposed to be in there with everybody else." She scoffed at the now empty shot glass in front of her. "But we ran out of pretzels, of all things. It was just dumb luck." Bobby poured her another shot when she exhaled sharply, she looked over at Cori who had come to sit at the table, the glass in her hand filled with a clear liquid and ice. Ellen downed the shot Bobby had just poured her, slamming the glass on the table, motioning for another one. "Anyway, that's when Ash called. I could hear the panic in his voice." She sighed. "He told me to look in the safe. Then the call cut out. By the time I got back, the flames were sky-high. And everybody was dead. I couldn't have been gone more than 15 minutes…" Her voice cracked as she tapered off.
Cori had scooted her chair closer, until she was side-by-side with Ellen. She put an arm around the older woman, feeling her shaky breathing. Cori didn't say a word as she just held Ellen, and Ellen was letting her. Another thing Dean noticed, and had mentally stored away for later inspection. Sam looked completely sympathetic. "Sorry, Ellen."
She was starting to tear up, she leaned her head to the side. Laying it down on Cori's shoulder, taking comfort from the younger woman. "A lot of good people died in there. And I got to live." She sat backup, Cori moved her arm, the girl moment passed. Ellen grabbed the shot waiting for her and knocked it back quickly. "Lucky me," she said without humor, her face dry.
Bobby removed the shot glass and set a beer in front of Ellen. "El, you mentioned a safe?"
She nodded. "Yep, a hidden safe we keep - kept - in the basement." She corrected herself sadly. "And before you ask, you old grouch, no. The demons didn't get it." Ellen pulled a folded up paper from the pocket in her jeans. Unfolding it, she spread it out on the kitchen table for the lot of them to see. It was a map. Several black X's in specific places.
Dean had leaned closer, swallowing a mouthful of beer. "Wyoming," he stated, like he should have known. "What does this mean?" His fingers tracing over an X on the map. Sam was looking at it too, trying to figure out the mystery, like Bobby was beside him. Cori however, had taken one look at the map and was staring at it shocked. What had been nagging her before, it had finally clicked. Whatever she was trying to remember earlier, came back in the way sudden realization does. In an instant, and without a word, she stood up quickly. The wooden dining chair knocked over onto the floor. Garnering the sudden attention of the group. Not paying them any mind, she scrambled, out of the kitchen. Nearly tripping and falling over the chair and then her own feet, in her rush out of the room. A look a pure astonishment and understanding on her face. They heard her shuffling and muttering, from another room. Heavy things beings moved around, the sound of a stack of books falling over.
"Uhhhh, right." Sam utterly slowly, saying what they had all been thinking. Dean reached over, took her glass off the table, bringing it to his nose. He inhaled and made a face at the strong, overbearing scent of gin. Their eyes collectively on the doorway, the strange exit Cori made had left them all stunned. The four Hunters looked around at each other.
"Do we follow her?" Dean had shifted in his seat to look over at Bobby. The man he felt would know the most about this chick. Bobby was saved from answering when Cori's voice yelled from the other room.
"I don't believe it!" She sounded excited. Getting up from the table, the group moved from the kitchen, following Cori's enthusiastic chattering into the study. "I can't believe I was so stupid… Didn't think..." She was muttering to herself. The four entered the room one after another. All curious about her sudden departure and exclamations.
"You got something Cori?" Sam asked, he had been the first to enter the study. She was standing behind the desk, holding a large leatherbound book open in her arms. It looked heavy, had to be easily twenty pounds. It sounded like it too when she thumped it down on the table, laying it open for them all to see. Bobby had been all over this library, sideways and backwards. Knew every book that was in here. He couldn't remember ever seeing that big honking thing before.
She was pointing down at the book she had laid out. "A lot more than just something. Look." She was definitely excited, as she pulled the map Ellen brought overtop the book. "Each of these X's," Cori pointed to different spots on the map, "is an abandoned frontier church, all of them mid-19th century. And all of them were built by Samuel Colt." She was purposefully ignoring the looks Bobby was giving her. Ellen and Sam were silent but eagerly waiting for her to continue.
Dean, who had been looking at all the marks Cori had pointed out, snapped his head in her direction at the mention of the name. "Samuel Colt - the demon-killing, gunmaking Samuel Colt?" She could hear the idolatry in his voice. She was nodding quickly, the look in her eyes making her appear younger.
"Yep, and there's more." She smiled at Dean. She loved knowledge, had a slight bad habit of hoarding it. This specific tome was special to her, it was one of the ones she had kept with her. She had brought it in with the others when Bobby was fixing her car. But sharing it with these people felt right. Besides, it would help with what was currently happening to the world.
"He built private railway lines." She pulled a black marker from somewhere underneath the the large book that was taking up most of the desk. "connecting church to church." She uncapped the marker. "Which just so happens, to lay out like this." She leaned down and with the marker, connected all the points on the map, her black lines tracing over where the rail lines were. Once she was done she stood straight, capping the marker with a know-it-all look on her face. A large black star was drawn on the map. She was trying to contain the thrill coming over her. Watching the four others in the room come to the conclusion she had.
Dean's eyes had widened. He looked impressed and eager at the same time. "Tell me that's not what I think it is." The rest of the group had come closer, now they all hovered around the desk. The pages were thick, and old. But far from brittle. At Bobby's closer inspection, he noticed the entire book was written on vellum. His eyebrows had raised further, hidden beneath his hat.
Sam looked like he had just be let in a huge secret. "It's a Devil's Trap. A 100-square mile Devil's Trap." He sounded as impressed as Dean looked.
"That's awesome! Iron line demons can't cross." Dean had stood up and looked at the rest of the group. He had hope on his face. Finally they had stumbled on something useful. He and Sam were grinning stupidly at each other. Cori smirked at the two of them as they fanboyed a little bit.
Ellen had leaned forwards, and was tracing the large star with her finger tips. "I've never heard of anything that massive." She looked up from the map and over at Bobby, looking to see his reaction.
But Bobby wasn't looking at her. His gaze was stony as he was looking across the table at Cori. She was still avoiding his eyes, concentrating on the Winchester brothers. "No one has," Bobby replied to Ellen gruffly, not taking his eyes off of the young woman he considered family.
Dean and Sam were having a back and forth of their own. "And after all these years, none of the lines are broken? I mean, it still works?" Dean asked, Sam was nodding the affirmative, but it was Cori who answered.
"Definitely," she replied, her lips upturned from having watched the boy's moment. She was still doing her utmost to evade Bobby's gaze. Ellen was looking at her curiously as well, but for a different reason. 'I hope…'
"How do you know?" Dean asked her, scratching his chin. It was rough with a five o'clock shadow. Sam had looked over at her too, a bit disappointed that she had essentially stolen his thunder, but in her pause he continued the line of thought.
"All those omens she and Bobby found." Sam looked at Dean, back to Cori and then over to Bobby and Ellen. "I mean the demons, they must be circling and they can't get in."
Bobby scoffed, "Yeah, well… they're trying." Ellen was standing close to him, and the perceptive people in the room had taken note of it. Cori had figured there was something going on between them, from the way he had searched for Ellen at the remains of the Roadhouse.
"Why? What's inside?" Ellen was looking to her left at Bobby, a small scowl on her face. Like she was thinking hard. She was, it was a tie between her curiosity about the large Devil's Trap, and wanting to know why Bobby was pretty much glaring at Cori.
Dean, who had moved away from the desk, walked closer and sat down in the chair, face blank. Though it was apparent his mind was turning itself over. He was staring at the map. "That's what I've been looking for. And, uh, there's nothing except an old cowboy cemetery. Right in the middle." The question plain in his tone as he tapped the center of the star. Obviously wondering the same as everyone else. Cori, who knew exactly what was there, didn't say a damn thing.
"Well, what's so important about a cemetery or…" Sam paused, mulling his words speaking. "What's Colt trying to protect?"
"Well, unless…" Dean said with a thoughtful look on his face. Sam had the same expression, Cori looked like she was paying more attention to the thick old tome she had brought out, though she was listening intently to the conversation. She had shown them the book, and by the looks Bobby was giving her, she was assuming even that simple act, had been revealing too much. So, she was keeping her mouth shut. Keeping true to her Dad's old orders. Like hell was she going to tell them she knew what was in that cemetery. If her father found out she had blabbed to a Winchester he'd probably shoot her himself.
Bobby was growing visibly impatient with Corinne refusing to look at him, turning to the boys asked, "Unless what?"
"What if Colt wasn't trying to keep the demons out?" Dean said slowly. "What if he was trying to keep something in?" The group of Hunters seemed to stand still. Bobby had returned to glowering at Corinne. 'I don't know where your daddy's at girl, but if he ever found out Dean knew your name…' Bobby even didn't want to think about that. Stephen was a very intimidating and large man, and Bobby liked Dean intact.
"Now that's a comforting thought." Ellen muttered, rubbing her bicep, trying to get a stiffness out. Bobby let out a short laugh, her sarcastic comment coinciding with his inner thoughts.
"Yeah, you think?" Dean scoffed at her, leaning back in the desk chair. The squeaking sound muffled by Sam speaking.
"Could they do it Bobby? Could they get inside?" Sam asked, eyes on Bobby. Ellen and Dean turned to look at him as well. Cori was still reading the book. Now mumbling under her breath, her eyes skimming over the tiny words crammed on the pages in front of her. Bobby moved his gaze away from Cori, ceasing his glare. Looking over to Sam, he shrugged a little, just as inquiring as they were.
Cori spoke up, answering the question Sam had posed to Bobby. "This thing's so powerful, you'd practically need a nuke to destroy it. No way a full-blood demon gets across." She looked up from the book over at Sam, who had a hard look on his face.
"No." He paused and looked over at Dean, and then to Bobby. He was moving his shoulders in a way that looked like he was getting ready for a fight. "But I know who could." Cori's eyebrows shot up.
The moon was high in the sky, and the air was still as the group of five Hunters took their positions in the graveyard. Having realized when they got there, they were a bit early. This Jake guy Sam had talked about hadn't shown up yet. But soon enough it was show time. Dean heard the tell-tale squeak of the old iron gate at the entrance being used. He pressed himself tighter against the large tombstone he was using for cover. Gun held at the ready. His eyes darted over to the place Cori was hiding. He couldn't see her, but knew she was there. Bobby and Ellen were crouched behind tombstones, Sam was somewhere nearby. Dean wasn't sure where he was. Waiting as silently as they could, they watched as Jake started making his way towards a crypt at the far back. It was the largest in the cemetery, and was more ornate than the smaller ones.
Jake was still wearing the same US army fatigues he had been wearing the night he had stabbed Sam. He was feet from his goal when Sam walked out of the shadows he had been standing in. "Howdy, Jake." From her spot hiding behind a large stone spire Cori had narrowed her eyes at the tone in Sam's voice. She couldn't see his face, but she did not like the way he was speaking. It had sent a shiver down her spine. Glancing at the others she noticed them moving forwards, raising the sawed off in her hands, she fell in line with them to come up behind Jake.
He had turned around slowly at the greeting, eyes wide recognizing the voice. He was trying to hide his growing apprehension as he watched the four others come out of hiding. Seeming to him, to just appear out of the many shadows the old cemetery provided. An older man, and woman. A pretty woman that looked maybe a few years older than he was, with a man who he assumed was Sam's brother Dean. "You were dead. I killed you." Jake was tense as he stated the victory looking back at Sam.
Sam had scoffed, the pistol in his hands aimed right for Jakes head. "Yeah, well next time, finish the job." He narrowed his eyes cockily.
But Jake was insistent, "I did!" He all but shouted at Sam. "I cut clean through your spinal cord, man!" Sam glanced quickly over at Dean, who lowered his gaze for a second look at the dead grass by his feet. Before Sams eyes flicked back up at Jake. "You can't be alive. You can't be." Bobby, Ellen and Cori had shared a quick look.
Bobby moved forwards - his gun held steady - and was closing in on the dark skinned man. "Okay, just take it real easy there, son." This was getting close to territory they didn't have time to deal with right now. Sam could not know what had really happened that night. At least not like this.
Jake looked over at the older man, his demeanor had changed at his insistence that Sam had died. His eyes glinted dangerously at Bobby. "And if I don't?"
Sam's eyes narrowed just a fraction, the grip on the pistol getting tighter. "Wait and see." It was plain to see just how much Sam wanted to put a bullet in his guy.
Jake gave Sam what looked like a smirk, but it just came out ugly. "What, you a tough guy all of the sudden?" He taunted Sam. "What are you gonna do-" He nodded his head, motioning to the gun in Sams grip. "kill me?" He scoffed.
"It's a thought," was Sam's curt reply. The other Hunters were keeping their eyes and ears open for any newcomers to the party.
Letting out a short laugh, giving Sam a cocky grin. "You had your chance. You couldn't." The way he said it made it sound insulting, the way Sam had tried to spare his life. Like he thought Sam was weak.
"I won't make that mistake twice." Same pulled the hammer back on his pistol, fully prepared to end this douchebag's life. He deserved it. Finger itching on the trigger when Jake started laughing. The sound sent a shiver through Cori.
Dean shifted in his spot, grounding his stance just a bit more. His index finger moved gently back and forth, caressing the strip of metal that would assist in ending a life. "What are you smiling at you little bitch?"
Jake turned his head slowly to look over at Ellen, arrogant expression on his face. Dark brown eyes flashing a milky silver for just a second. "Hey lady, do me a favor. Put that gun to your head."
Ellens eyes had grown wider at the request. "Ha, yeah right kid." Surely he didn't think she was actually going to do it, he was completely outnumbered. They had the upper hand. So she could scarcely believe her eyes when her arm began to move. She tried fighting the hand that held the gun, but she couldn't control her own body anymore. The only sign, being the trembling of her gunarm. Shakily her arm moved, until the barrel of her pistol was resting against her temple. At that point all of Ellen was shaking along with the arm holding the gun. Cori, Bobby and Dean hadn't moved from their spots, or lowered their aim, but they were definitely shocked at what they were seeing.
"You see, that Ava girl was right." Jake started, pleased with himself. "Once you give in to it, there's all sorts of new Jedi mind tricks you can learn." The inflections he used in certain words, making it clear he was just playing with them. There were much worse things he could do.
"Let her go," Sam almost pleaded, inwardly fearful for the older woman he had come to regard as a close friend. She was so far the closest mother figure, either he or Dean had.
Ellen was trembling. Jaw stuck shut, she hadn't taken her eyes off of Jake. "Shoot. Him." She said through clenched teeth. She was trying as hard as she could to move her arm. Jake was smiling, cool, calm and a bit amused.
"You'll be mopping up skull before you get a shot off." He paused and turned to the four other Hunters who still had their weapons pointed at him. "Everybody, guns down." They all glanced at each other, as if confirming their compliance. "Except you sweetheart." Jake smirked at Ellen.
Bobby was first, he put his pistol in the back of his pants, Dean followed, slowly crouching down and placing his on the grass. Cori grudgingly lowered the shotgun in her hands. The black look on her face conveying her urge to fill him with buck shot. But she put it down on the ground just the same. Sam was last. He held his pistol and hands up in defeat, putting the handgun in his pants as well.
"Okay good, thank you." Jake sounded a tiny bit surprised that they had complied so easily. The moment was over quickly. A snarl formed on his face in a split second, and he spun around quickly sprinting the few steps towards the crypt. He had pulled the Colt out of a pocket as he went. Cori had gasped loudly when she caught sight of it in his hands. This was about to get so much worse…
The crypt itself was a beautiful thing. Heavy stone, grey with age. Thick square pillars were on either side of the door. The weathered door looked like it was made of iron. It stood out, very different from the stone that made up the rest of the crypt. Intricately carved in the very center of the iron, was a star inside a circle. That star had a second circle carved on top of it the lines just below the tips of the star. A small round hole -the acting keyhole- looked just big enough for the barrel of a gun. Altogether making up quite an elegant looking pentagram. This iron looked brand new, and glinted in the moonlight, waiting for its key.
Jake quickly made it to the monstrous iron door, and shoved the Colt as fast as he could into the small hole in the very middle of the iron pentagram. He turned the key. His mind singular, it was done, he had reached his goal. He could go home to his family now. That's what Yellow Eyes had said. Oblivious or uncaring -probably the latter- about what was happening behind him. Cori looked like she might have a panic-attack.
Dean and Bobby had rushed forwards grabbing at Ellen, Bobby threw his arms around her body and pulled her back, while Dean went for her arm and the gun. Knocking her arm away just in time, as the gun went off. The shot echoing into the night.
Three other shots fired. Sam had rapidly drawn the pistol from his jeans, and shot Jake in the back. Sam walked forwards slowly, around the fallen body of the dark-skinned soldier. Jake had fallen backwards to the ground. He was laying on his back panting, coughing up blood as Sam circled to stand in front, but over him. A cruel look distorting his features, he raised the gun he was holding tightly, aiming it right between Jake's wide eyes.
Gasping and starting to choke on blood, Jake was shaking with shock on the ground. "Please… don't. Please," he pleaded with the tall man who stood above him. A vengeful and darkly pleased look was on Sam's face as he pulled the trigger four more times. Emptying the clip into Jake's chest. Blood splattered on Sam's face, it didn't even phase him. The large door behind him was creaking.
Bobby and Ellen walked past Sam towards the door. Ellen's gaze was locked ahead of her as if she was pretending she didn't witness Sams actions, and Bobby was staring at him, expression hard. Dean had come over with the other two and walked over to stand with Sam. He looked down at the body on the ground and then back to his younger brother an astonished look on his face. His eyes were wider than normal, the slight creases visible in his forehead when he raised both his eyebrows. A silent 'what the hell?' in Dean's eyes as he looked at his brother. Sam just wiped the blood off his face with his hand.
Cori had rushed forwards with Dean and Bobby, to stop Ellen from shooting herself in the head, but they had reached the woman before she had. She had changed her course, and was moving towards Jake, raising her sawed off as she turned. She had taken a single step in his direction just as Jake pushed the barrel of the Colt in the lock. The ca-chunk of the gun sliding into place, forever seared into her memory. "Oh shit... Oh no, no, fuck, bad-bad-bad…" She had frozen in place, eyes wide, shotgun held loosely at her side. She knew exactly what was coming now. What this door was.
Then, she watched Sam kill the other man brutally, and without remorse too. Shock plain on her face. The murder hadn't surprised her - well, it had a little - it was Sams body language and face that had given her pause. She had been expecting someone to kill Jake. Sam though, he almost seemed proud. She gave him only a few seconds thought, before her feet found their way again. Rushing towards and then past Sam, Dean and then flew past Bobby and Ellen in her progress to the door. Her feet were not carrying her fast enough! "No, no no no no…" She was growling to herself, a frantically worried look on her face. She came skidding to a stop at the door to the Crypt. The two engravings were spinning in opposite directions, making a heavy whirring sound. But just as Cori reached her hand out to grab the gun, to turn it back, lock the door... a single action that could have saved them all.
The spinning stopped.
"Oh no…" Bobby mumbled watching Cori fail to lock the door in time. She had taken the gun just the same, and handing it the Dean. Ellen had turned her head to look at him, her arms hugging around her middle. Still a bit shaken up from the body control stunt that kid pulled earlier.
"Bobby, what is it?" She asked, moving closer to his side. Bobby's eyes were fearful and Ellen was damn sure she did not like that look on him.
Cori pulled the Colt out of the Crypt lock sadly. Her movements defeated but fast. Green eyes glistening with unshed tears as she looked down at the gun in her hands. Eyes trailing over the inscription that had been carved into it so many years ago. 'Non timebo mala…' She thought to herself. She caressed the barrel reverently before handing the Colt over to Dean without another word about it. The entire interaction lasted seconds. The tears Dean had noticed, had dried and were gone. He had given her an odd look, watching the way she handled the Colt, before she handed it to him. Now he just nodded, fingers tightly holding the gun.
Standing before the group of Hunters, gears clunking behind her. Each thunk more foreboding than the last. With a seemingly newfound strength Cori spoke quickly, knowing time was of the essence, they had seconds before it opened. But her overwhelming need to be dramatic won out. She finally -after hours of refusal- locked eyes with Bobby. "It's Hell."
Bobby inhaled through his nose sharply, his eyes wide. "Take cover - now!" The man had yelled with vigor, grabbing Ellen by the jacket and hauling her with him as he found a large tombstone and launched them both behind it. Sam and Dean had done the same thing, and were huddled behind stones of their own. They were in the same row as Bobby and Ellen. Cori had barely made it to shelter before the thick iron doors creaked and moaned, grinding with years upon years of being closed. Giving the impression they were going to open slowly.
Suddenly they slammed open with an inhuman scream that seemed to echo through the cemetery. The resulting shock wave was visible as it crackled in the air. It was going to be felt for miles around. Powerfully blowing over decaying tombstones. The trees in the area groaned as they too were moved with the force. A large black mass erupted from the open gate, like it had been waiting pressed up against the doors. It looked singular and yet made up of many forms at the same time. For less than half a second they/it swirled around just inside the opening before rushing outwards like a flood, and up into the sky. The group of Hunters watched wistfully from behind their cover, at the demons escaping. They could hear the loud snaps and screeches as the thick iron tracks of the railway lines were broken with enormous force.
The wind had picked up speed, buffeting them and everything else around them. It was hard to hear herself think. Cori sank further into the tombstone she was using as a shield. Brown hair whipping every which way around her. Brown eyes downcast, defeated. She was once again refusing to meet Bobby's eyes. Though now, his looks had gone from angry to concerned. Her shoulders hunched just a little more, trying to make herself smaller, which drew Sam and Ellen's quick glances before they resumed looking around them for immediate threats. Dean had unconsciously moved just the tiniest bit closer to her when he noticed that instead of being pissed off or scared like the rest of them, she looked like she was going to break down in tears.
Cori could think of nothing else but what was being released upon the world. She had been here, she could have stopped it. Should have. If only she had moved just a little faster… Cori was holding her face in her hands, taking deep breaths trying to calm herself.
Her family would be so disappointed in her.