So it's been a while since I've posted anything and for that I am sorry. When I finally got some time to write I had to reread the previous chapters so I could remember where I was going. So without further ado here's the next chapter.
The quite of a back country road was disturbed by the sound of blaring rock music as Dean drives to no particular destination. The music was almost too loud but Dean didn't care; it helped to get rid of the silence and the feeling of being alone. It's not that being alone really bothered him it's just that he had gotten use to having Sam with him. Dean spots a small gas station and pulls in for gas and snacks. As he fills up his beloved car his phone goes off. "Dean", he grunts.
"It's Bobby. Where are you?"
"Pennsylvania", Dean said, "it looks like there may be some vampires up here. Why? What you got?"
"In Wicit West Virginia a bunch of developers got thrown from their machines just before they blew up", Bobby said.
"Ok", Dean said not sure how this pertained to him.
"Well they've been having problems with the old lady who lives in the woods near where they are trying to build like a mall or something. She's made a number of threats towards them. Well a few days ago they started to cut down trees and they say that they accidentally cut the ones on her land."
"You thinking maybe this old lady hexed them", Dean asked replacing the gas pump and reaching in to the Impala for his map.
"Looks like", Bobby said rustling some papers.
"Well I gotta deal with some vamps in Greeley so I'll check it out when I'm done", Dean said. "It should take me a couple of days."
"You might want to put the vampires off for a while", Bobby said. "There's something else."
"What", asks Dean.
"Well the next day when the developers went back to their dozers the area that they had just cut down had grown back", Bobby said, "I looked at the dates and there was a full moon."
"Ok", said Dean, "What does the full moon have to do with it."
"Well according to the stuff that Castiel left us before he disappeared the only thing that could have re-grow a forest is a dryad." Dean's eyebrows perked up at the information. "It says that either a large group of them or their leader could do it."
"So that means that there's either a pack of them or their head honcho", Dean said slumping over his car.
"Yeah pretty much", said Bobby. "Just be careful when you check it out", he said after a pause. "Either way it could be tricky."
"Always is", Dean said tiredly. "I'll call you when I know more."
"You do that", Bobby said then added hesitantly, "So you heard from Sam?"
"No", Dean said shortly. "Sammy's doing his thing and I'm doing mine. Call you in a few days." With that Dean hung up his phone and with a tired sigh went inside the gas station for snacks and coffee. It was gonna be a long drive.
Wicit West Virginia
Dean tries to not fidget in his suit as he talks to the boss of the developmental crew. "So before the incident", Dean said pretending to look at some paperwork, "all the machines were up to standards? No mechanical issues; things of that nature?"
"Like I told them other guys", the boss said, "We check the dozers every time before we fire 'em up and none of them had any problems and why you here anyways? The company already sent insurance guys."
"Ah well", Dean said, "Since this is an unusual case the company has hired my company for an independent investigation."
"This whole thing is unusual", the boss said rubbing his eyes.
"What do you mean", Dean asked glad to be getting to the point.
"Well before things got all crazy my drivers said that they heard laughing and then the doors on their machines opened by themselves and then they got pushed out by something that wasn't there. Then the next day the whole damned forest had grown back! We can't even get our equipment out because of the trees not that any of my guys are willing to go get 'em. I've lost half of my crew already and the rest are getting ready to split any day now."
"I see", Dean says slightly disappointed.
"It's that old woman who lives about a mile into the woods from here", the boss said angrily. "She's been a thorn in my side since this project started."
"So you think that she has something to do with all this", Dean asked.
"I'll bet my money on it", the boss said. "Her name is Alyssa Kinsley. But we all call her Satan." Dean forced a laugh and thanked the boss for his time. As he walked out of the trailer Dean rolled his eyes and looked towards the woods. He was not looking forward to hiking but it looked like he had no other choice.
Dean was glad that the workers had left earlier than normal giving him a few more hours of daylight to track either the old woman or dryad. He was just about to give up when he detected the smell of smoke in the air. Using his nose, Dean soon came upon a small cabin. Dean didn't think that anyone lived in the cabin because the roof looked like it was about to cave in at any given moment and all the windows were busted out. What bothered him was the fact that he couldn't see smoke coming from the chimney but the smell was everywhere. Twilight had just begun to settle as Dean made his way cautiously up the rickety stairs to peer into the busted windows. The cabin was empty and there was only a table and a few chairs inside. But the smell of wood smoke was strong inside the cabin and Dean clutched his sawed off shot gun tightly.
"Oh look a rat", a gravelly voice said from behind him causing Dean to spin around. An old woman was sneering at him from the bottom of the stairs. "You think you can just invade my home and destroy my property", she yelled. Dean opened his mouth to say something but before he could he felt a great pain throughout his body. It was like his blood was boiling in his veins and he let out a scream. The old woman chuckled a bit taking enjoyment out of Dean's suffering.
"Alyssa stop it", a voice rang out. The old woman sighed and released Dean from her spell causing him to collapse to the floor. Dean managed to look up and see no other than Laura walking up to him. Once she recognized Dean she crossed her arms and glared. "Oh it's you", she said coldly. "I should let her kill you, but first we should find out why you're here."
"You're not taking that thing into my home", Alyssa snapped pointing to Dean who was slowly getting up.
"He's not in any condition to do anything right now", Laura said with a sigh. She walked to the door of the cabin and placed her hand on it. "But if he tries to do anything", she said giving Dean a warning stare, "you can have him." Dean gave her a glare of his own but that soon fell away as Laura walked through the door disappearing completely.
Dean heard Alyssa chuckle, "Well go on boy."
"I can't walk through walls", Dean said defensively.
"First it's a door not a wall", Alyssa said tersely, "and two of course you can." And with that she gave Dean a shove causing him to fall through the door. When Dean regained his composure he couldn't believe his eyes. Instead of the condemned room he had expected Dean saw a well furbished living room with worn but decent furniture and a fire burning in the hearth. Alyssa was still chuckling when she came through the door and walked towards the back leaving Dean to stare at the room.
"What are you doing here Dean", Laura said coming from the back holding two beers. She gave one to Dean and opened the other taking a seat on the couch. She noticed Dean looking around the room and gave an exasperated sigh. "It's not a glamour", she said, "It's all real."
"Yeah right", Dean said sitting on a chair not opening his beer.
"It's not", Laura said. "If you had walked into the cabin by yourself you would have only seen a rundown building and nothing else."
"Then what's with all this", he asked gesturing to the cozy cabin.
"The front door is a portal", Laura said, "It opens only to those who have the key. This cabin exists but just in another dimension. Kinda like how an entire fairy city can be in a hollowed out tree.
"Right", Dean said vaguely.
"What are you doing here", Laura asked again.
"You wouldn't have anything to do with what happened to the developers a few days ago would you", Dean asked with hard eyes.
"Destroying the machines; no", Laura said pointedly. "Why are you here?"
"Bobby thought that a dryad was responsible for the woods growing back", Dean said opening the beer and taking a sip. "From the stuff Cas gave us, he thought that there would either be a pack of 'em or their leader or something."
"What did Castiel give you", Laura asked confused.
"A bunch of scrolls and a book", Dean said guardedly. "He said that was all the info in the world on dryads."
Laura just stared at Dean for a minute. She then got up from the couch angrily and shouted, "Alyssa!"
"I'm right here girl", Alyssa said causing Dean to jump because she appeared out of nowhere. "No need to shout." Alyssa ignored the glare that Laura was giving her and sat down on the couch.
"There are books and scrolls about dryads", Laura said pointedly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Some things are better discovered than told", Alyssa said slyly. "I take it this hunter has them." Laura gave an exasperated moan and threw her hands in the air. "Now don't go on like that", Alyssa said with a small laugh. "Go with him and get them." Both Dean and Laura stared at the old woman like she had grown a second head.
"No way in hell", Laura snarled. "Have you forgotten that he is the reason why I'm back here in the first place?" Dean looked back and forth from Laura and the old woman not sure if he should intervene. "He's working with angels", Laura shouted. "Have you forgotten what happened the last time I ran into an angel?"
"No", Alyssa said coolly. "But I think the angels have more to worry about with it being the end of the world and all."
"How do you know about that", Dean asked shocked.
"I can feel it in the earth", Alyssa said as it that explained everything. "All of those who are tied to the earth can feel it and if you ask me; heaven and hell should just get on with it and kill each other." Dean stared at Alyssa in disbelief. "That way those who belong to the Mother can take back what they stole." Alyssa then gave Dean a pointed look. "It's your fault anyway."
"How", Dean asked but Alyssa got up and walked back to the kitchen. When he looked to Laura for an explanation she just shrugged.
"I have no idea", Laura said. "So where's the text?"
"Why should I tell you", Dean said crossly. "What's to stop you from killing me once you know where they are?"
Laura looked at Dean with disappointment. "You still think I'm a monster", she asked quietly then walked away not wanting to hear the answer. Dean and Alyssa followed her movement then Alyssa turned on Dean with a fury.
"You have no idea what that child has been through and what she still has to", she said coldly. "She could be your most powerful ally and you spit on her just because she's not human."
"I don't work with monsters", Dean said. "I did once and look at what happened", he said flinging his arms wide.
"It's your own fault for trusting a demon", Alyssa said sarcastically. "But Laura is a dryad. Their whole purpose in life is to not only protect nature but to aid mankind." Though Dean's face remained impassive Alyssa could see that her words were sinking in. "She has no one but this cranky old witch to rely on. She will need more than that if she is to survive this war."
Dean started to ask what Alyssa meant by that but before he could ask she vanished. "Great", Dean snarled sipping the beer, "Another person who speaks in riddles." Dean sat and stewed for a couple of hours till the smell of cooking brought him to the kitchen. There he saw Laura mixing something in a large cauldron. "What's that", Dean asked leaning up against the doorway.
"Stew", she said tersely. "Alyssa is stuck in the old days so everything is done by hand and with antiques." She didn't look at Dean but went straight to kneaded dough so she could make biscuits.
Dean was aware of the tension in the small kitchen and watching Laura made him feel bad about calling her a monster. She hadn't tried to kill him or demand anything from him. She was just as cautious of him as he was of her. Though it went against his better judgment Dean decided to give her a chance. After all, he didn't like Castiel at first. "Bobby has them", he said and noted how she immediately tensed up. "He's been trying to translate them. He's got most of done but there's a scroll that's written in a language he's never seen before."
"Aren't you worried that I'm gonna kill you both", Laura said with a mix of anger and sadness.
"Maybe", Dean said.
Laura turned around and looked him dead in the eyes. For some reason that made Dean nervous, as if she could see into his soul. But Dean never being one to back down met her stare with one of his own. He couldn't help but notice how green her eyes were and how much emotion ran through them. He could see all the hurt she had gone through but there still was hope in them. He noticed the way her dark hair framed her face perfectly and his eyes were drawn to her lips and he wondered for a brief moment what they tasted like.
Laura would never tell Dean how much him calling her a monster hurt. It reminded her of Jacob's, the only boyfriend she ever had reaction when she told him her story. Jacob looked at her like she was a freak and then refused to talk to her afterwards. She did like Dean. He was handsome with gorgeous hazel eyes and a great body. But she would never allow another person close to her heart again. She just couldn't take the rejection. She finally turned away from Dean and went back to the biscuits. "Did you come here because of what happened", she asked.
"I was in Pennsylvania when Bobby called", Dean said. "I was checking into a possible vampire attack."
"Oh", Laura said. "Well I'm sure you could stay the night and then leave tomorrow."
They were both quiet for a few minutes and then Dean asked casually, "Why don't you ride with me?"
Laura looked up surprised. "You sure?"
"Yeah why not", Dean said opening the fridge for another beer. "It shouldn't take me too long and then well go to Bobby's. But you're not bringing that flea bitten cat of yours." Laura nodded her head and finished the biscuits.
The next day Dean and Laura are getting ready to leave when Alyssa stops Dean. "Hunter wait", she commands and as Dean turns around she cuts her finger and draws something on his forehead in the blood.
"What the hell", Dean shouts jumping a back.
"I have marked you", Alyssa says calmly. "If you do anything to hurt her I will know and you won't have to worry about the apocalypse anymore." Alyssa then goes back into her home taking Tim with her leaving Dean standing in the same spot with his mouth open.
"She's a little protective of me", Laura says holding out a napkin. "Sorry."
Dean says nothing as he wipes the mark off his face and gets into the driver seat. The silence continued all the way to Greenly making Laura regret going with Dean. When they get a room at some motel Dean finally speaks to her. "This should only take a few days at the most. Just stay here." When he leaves Laura settles herself on the bed and turns on the TV. She glances at the door from time to time worried but soon falls asleep. She gets woken up several hours later by Dean walking in. She is shocked at the blood that covers him but what scares her most is the vacant look in his eyes. Dean notices and gives her a small smile before heading to the bathroom to wash up. He hadn't meant to scare her but he was thinking about Sam which pissed him off. Sam was a liability both of them knew that, but he still missed his brother. Dean was brought back to present by the sound of Laura screaming. Dean turned around and burst out of the bathroom to see Laura placing a hold onto Castiel.
"Dean tell her to let me go", Castiel said slightly annoyed. But Dean didn't have to because once Laura recognized Castiel she released him.
"Sorry", she said. "I just felt an angel coming and reacted."
"You can do that", Dean said amazed.
"Sometimes", she said giving Castiel a wide berth.
"How did you find me", Dean asks. "I'd thought I was flying low on the angel radar."
"I called Bobby and he told me", Castiel said. "But he didn't tell me she was with you and where is Sam."
"He doesn't know yet and me and Sam are taking separate vacations. Have you found God yet", Dean asked. "And more importantly can I get my necklace back?"
"No I haven't found God", Castiel said. "That's why I'm here I need your help."
"To hunt God", Dean said, "No way."
"No", Castiel said, "Raphael."
"Why", Dean asked.
"Information", Castiel said.
"Where", Dean asked.
"Maine", replied Castiel.
"I'm not going", Laura said causing the two men to look at her. "Me and angels don't exactly get a long remember." Castiel and Dean looked from her to each other. "I'll just go to Bobby's on my own", she offered.
"That would be for the best", Castiel said coolly causing Dean and Laura to glare at him.
"Are you sure", Dean asked Laura.
"Yeah I don't want to mess with an archangel", Laura said crossing her arms. Dean nodded his head.
The next day Dean, Laura and Castiel pulled up to the bus station. Laura got out of the Impala and Dean opened the trunk for her. "Here's Bobby's number and directions to his place", Dean said handing her a slip of paper. "He knows you're coming so just give him a call when you get there." Laura took the paper without saying anything and started to walk towards the terminal.
Dean started to walk back to the driver's side when she called out to him. "Please be careful", she said. Dean once again noticed how much emotion showed in her eyes and it caused his stomach to flip. He gave her his signature smile as if to say "always am" and then got into his beloved car. Dean sat in the parking lot and watched Laura till she went inside then backed up and drove away.
"Dryads have a way of attracting humans", Castiel said after a few minutes.
"What", Dean asked confused.
"They have a way of making a mortal man want to lie with them", Castiel said staring at Dean.
"She's not like that", Dean said slightly surprised that he was defending her. Castiel said nothing and for the rest of the trip they did not speak about a certain green eyed beauty.
Well there you go I hoped you enjoyed it. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon and as always please review. Thanks