I will be posting a non-censored version of this on my Ao3 account, so you'll have to go there if you want the smutty version of this story. Reviews are loved. I don't own Supernatural or Torchwood or Doctor Who.
Owen yanked his machete out of the wood, trying to ignore the way the severed head of the rugaru stared at him when it tumbled to the ground. Four hours in and the whole killing thing still wasn't easy.
"And that was what, again?" Jack asked once they resumed walking.
"A rugaru. Up in the real world, the only way to kill them is by burning them up nice and crispy. Down here it doesn't matter so much," Dean said. "They all come back anyways."
"Why do they all have to look human though? Makes this killing business a bit more difficult," Owen said.
"If it helps, they are abominations," Cas said.
"You called me an abomination, so no, that doesn't help though thanks for trying I guess," Owen said.
"So what kind of beasty are you then?" Benny asked.
"I'm part Weevil," Owen said. "You know, those rat type guys. Apparently I'm their King."
"Charming."
"So what do we do for food?" Jack asked. "And what happens when night falls?"
"I can keep watch," Benny said. "Don't really sleep. As far as food goes...well, we just cut up whatever we find. I don't need to eat though so that's all on you."
"Isn't that some form of cannibalism?" Owen asked, not wanting to think too hard about it but unable to resist his somewhat morbid curiosity.
"They're still monsters," Dean said. "As long as you cook it well, we'll be fine."
"Fantastic," Owen said.
Another three hours and the muted grey sunlight began to fade away to darkness. They took down some weird monster that looked like Medusa's offspring and then set up camp in a clearing. Dean had been smart enough to bring along some flint to start the fire. Benny vanished when they started cooking to keep the parameter somewhat secure, and also because the sight of the meat preparation apparently grossed him out.
"We'll want to get moving as soon as it's light," Dean said. "And bank the fire as soon as we're done cooking. It'll attract attention if it goes for much longer."
"So what about warmth?" Owen asked, tugging his jacket tighter.
Dean shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to him with a smirk. "There you go you wimp."
"Wound my pride all you want, I've got none left," Owen said. He meant it as a joke, and clearly Dean took it that way, but when Owen looked at Jack, there was a worried look in his eyes.
As Dean finished cooking, a melodic sort of whistle pierced the air, the opening bars of Hall of the Mountain King. It cut off in the middle of the melody, and a beat later, Dean finished whistling it. Owen raised an eyebrow when Dean passed him a handful of meat.
"What was that?"
"A signal. Eat quick. We'll have company soon," Dean said.
Owen glanced down at the meat and then ate it without really trying to taste it. He just wanted to shut up the hunger pains in his gut.
"This place never gets dull does it?" Jack asked as he finished off his portion. "You know, I can handle whatever's coming this way if you guys want to run instead."
"Don't be stupid," Owen said.
"You may be immortal but we still have strength in numbers," Cas said. "There is no need for you to die."
There was a rustle in the brush and then Benny entered the clearing. "We've got Leviathan on our tail."
Dean dropped what he had left. "Okay, new plan. Everyone run."
-.-
"You know, you don't have to go this far just for a meal," Sam said.
Ianto set a plate of carefully prepared Italian beef in front of him. "The herbs will help. Trust me. Besides, it gives me an excuse to go all out and practice my cooking skills." He offered a smile. "No need to feel guilty."
Sam ducked his head. "Right. Thanks."
"I was wondering if I could ask more about those trials," Ianto said as he sat down across from the hunter. "Both to try and help you and to satisfy my own curiosity. I pride myself on knowing everything after all."
Sam laughed a bit at that, which Ianto counted as a small victory. "Sure. At this point I'm tired of bottling it all up anyways. That's all Dean and I have done our whole lives."
"Those who fight the monsters in the dark are the most broken down and closed off. It's something Jack said to me once," Ianto said. "Of course he forgot to mention that sometimes the monsters are the ones in our heads."
"Sometimes literally. I had Lucifer tormenting me for a few months about a year ago," Sam said, an odd expression on his face. "Hallucinations and all that."
Ianto shook his head. "You're a lot like Jack you know. Sometimes I can't tell if you're joking or telling the truth."
"I wish it was a joke," Sam said. "Honestly, my life feels like a really bad joke most days."
"You could always laugh at it, even if it isn't funny. Sometimes it helps," Ianto said.
"Thanks. Not too keen on looking like I'm crazy though," Sam said. "But whatever. What did you want to know?"
"Well the phrasing of these trials is rather vague," Ianto said. "Especially the second trial."
Sam shoved a few more forkfuls of food in his mouth before speaking. "It...we had to deliver a soul from Hell to Heaven. So I went to Hell and found an innocent soul to release into Heaven using this ritual Dean knew. It's the same ritual he's going to use to bring Owen and Jack through if the portal rejects them for not being completely human."
"But how would you determine what soul was innocent?" Ianto asked.
Sam tapped his fork against the plate, avoiding Ianto's gaze. "There was this guy, Bobby, we knew. He pretty much raised us and because of some of our enemies are total douchebags, he ended up there instead of where he deserved."
"Though he is in a better place now, I am still sorry for your loss," Ianto said.
"I appreciate it. Dean and I don't talk about it much."
"I am lucky that the one I hold most dear can't seem to die," Ianto said. "Though Jack doesn't quite see it as a blessing."
"So you two are a...thing," Sam said.
Ianto shrugged. "More of an open relationship. Before they left he actually said I should attempt to woo you."
Sam nearly choked, eyes widening when he looked up at Ianto. "Wow. Didn't expect that."
"My apologies," Ianto said with an entirely unapologetic smile on his face.
"So is that what you've been doing all of this for?" Sam asked. He seemed a bit hurt by the idea and Ianto was quick to backtrack.
"No. Taking care of you and doing what I can to help is both a professional interest as well as just something I like to do for people," Ianto sad. "I joined Torchwood to help others after all."
"Sorry for thinking you had some ulterior motive. Usually people do," Sam said with a small shrug.
"There's no sense in us having ulterior motives when our lives are in each other's hands," Ianto said. "But if you are interested. In something else I mean...I am also interested."
Sam's smile was awkward and bashful, gaze flicking up and down a few times. "Uh, thanks. Are you always this direct or is it just something all British people have in common?"
"I'm Welsh," Ianto said. "And Jack's American."
"So your constant flirting is just you, alright then," Sam said.
"You'll have to forgive me of course, for coming on too strong and perhaps making you uncomfortable. It isn't often we get people who understand our work, people we can talk to about the oddities. I suppose I got a little ahead of myself," Ianto said.
"No. I don't mind. I just...I don't do long term anything. I've tried a few times and all of them have ended horribly," Sam said, pushing food around on his plate.
"I am sorry to hear that. I am not so optimistic as to think that you and I could ever hope for anything but something painfully temporary," Ianto said.
"Well I can't really deliver what you want," Sam said. "I'm so worn out all the time, I'm not exactly up for well...that."
"That is perfectly fine," Ianto said. "I merely made a suggestion. Now the food would actually help you if you put it in your mouth."
Sam obeyed, a smile still teasing his lips as he did so. "Thanks for the advice. So...could you tell me more about Torchwood? I actually...god this is going to sound so odd, I like...learning things. I mean even growing up, I hated my dad for dragging us around on hunts but I didn't mind learning the lore and how to fight and all that so when we come across something new I like to know everything about it."
Ianto smiled. "I find that trait quite endearing. I am much the same way. As I said, I get a bit offended when people know more about Cardiff and the Rift than I do."
Some of the tension seemed to leave Sam's shoulders, and he took a few more bites of food. "So how big was your team originally?"
"Well, originally I was based in Torchwood London, which was a lot bigger than the one here. Lots of agents and office workers," Ianto said. "There was a battle there, between the Cybermen and the Daleks, and we lost almost everyone. I escaped, and a few others did as well but I lost contact with them."
"Wait back up. Cybermen?"
Ianto talked to Sam throughout the dinner, telling him what he knew of the Cybermen and the Daleks, of a Slitheen mayor in Cardiff, about the Star Whale that had washed up in Cardiff Bay, all of it. He didn't dwell on the grisly details of Lisa's death, of her nearly killing them all.
"I still think though..." Ianto paused, tapping his fingers on the table. "That even with everything that happened when we lost Tosh and Owen, the worst thing I've ever experienced in Torchwood, or perhaps the worst encounter, were purely human."
Sam seemed to perk up at that, grabbing another few spoonfuls of mashed potatoes. "Yeah, I think me and Dean would have to agree. What happened?"
"It was a family of cannibals out in the hills," Ianto said. "Absolutely psychotic."
"Oh yeah, we came across a family like that too," Sam said. "I was hoping maybe that was a onetime deal but figures if one group would do it, so would another."
"Really makes you question if humanity is worth saving sometimes," Ianto said.
"I wouldn't say that," Sam said. "Despite everything I've seen, I was still willing to sacrifice everything if it meant I could save just a few more people, or lock the demons in Hell for good. Even if most of them are scum, if there are even a few worth saving, I have to try."
Ianto paused a moment. "Excuse me, and feel free to punch me in the face after this, but I'm going to kiss you now because for some reason what you just said was amazing and blew me away."
Sam's eyes widened but then Ianto was tugging him over the short distance of the table and slamming their lips together. For a moment, neither moved, but then Sam's lips opened to his and Ianto took a quick taste before pushing Sam back.
"Not going to punch you in the face for that," Sam said after Ianto sat back down.
"Good. That would put a real damper on our continued friendship," Ianto said. "Would you like dessert?"
"Yeah. Unless that was a trick question," Sam said.
"I never have trick questions about dessert. I would consider such a thing practically criminal," Ianto said with a small duck of his head. He grabbed their dishes and placed them in the sink to wash later and then opened his freezer. "I have a theory about your condition by the way."
"Uh...go on?"
Ianto quickly spooned out ice cream for them both and placed a bowl in front of Sam before taking his own seat. "These trials were meant to be completed. Your body is primed to sacrifice itself to close the gate. There's nowhere for that negative energy to go, so it sits within you, maintaining your body just enough despite the toll it takes so eventually you can cross the threshold and close the door."
Sam's eyebrows raised. "That's impressive. When did you come up with that?"
"I've been piecing it together as we read today," Ianto said. "It seems like the most logical explanation if one rules out all possible scientific explanations."
"That actually makes quite a bit of sense."
"Gwen and Martha are far too logical to think outside the box science gives them. I've always been a believer in things that are more say, mystical."
Sam took another bite of ice cream. "So what do we do then?"
"The best I can come up with is find a way to release that energy," Ianto said. "Unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure how you could do that."
"You'll come up with something. You're resourceful," Sam said.
"I'm glad you think so," Ianto said. "How's your energy level?"
"I don't feel like passing out which is...odd for this late," Sam said.
"Good. My food will cure you yet," Ianto said. "We can watch the telly then. I mind as well introduce you to the fine British television programs."
"I look forward to it."
"I do have...one more question, a bit unrelated, if that's alright," Ianto said.
"Sure," Sam said with a shrug.
"If angels and demons all exist, what else from the Bible is true?" Ianto asked.
Sam shrugged beside him. "Not sure. The actual Biblical Apocalypse almost happened, but I'm not sure if that was something affecting people worldwide. I was a bit pre-occupied to do much research outside the States."
"Did it happen around 2008, maybe 2009?" Ianto asked.
"Yeah," Sam said, eyes narrowing. "How'd you-"
"Spike in natural disasters, and a few odd ghost stories from around that time. I'd have to check the records, but there was probably a spike in Rift activity as well," Ianto said with his ever pleasant smile.
Sam shook his head, his own smile tugging at his lips. "You really do make it your goal to know everything."
"It's a gift, but please, go on."
"It came down to Lucifer and Michael in the end, but angels need vessels, and the vessels have to give their consent before they can be used. I was the vessel for Lucifer," Sam said, his smile nervous and tight, as if he didn't know what other expression to make.
"That seems a bit on the unpleasant side," Ianto said.
"What made it even better was Dean was the vessel for Michael."
"Divine history replaying in mortal form," Ianto said. "Poetic I suppose. Since the world hasn't ended, I suppose you and Dean found a way to stop it."
"I said yes to Lucifer. Our brother, Adam, became the vessel for Michael, and I opened up the cage in Hell Lucifer came from and dragged all four of us in," Sam said. "Can't have an apocalypse if the main players are locked up after all. Spent a few months down in Hell, which actually translates to a few years for me. Then my memory gets a bit hazy. Some of it I blocked out, and some of it I just can't remember."
"Your accomplishments are far greater than mine. Part of me wants to thank you but I would hate to make you uncomfortable," Ianto said.
"You'd be the first person to do so. No one really knows what we did, at least no one left alive," Sam said. "It's selfish, but it would be nice."
"We risk our lives enough. We're entitled to a bit of selfishness," Ianto said. "That's what Jack says anyways."
"Well we actually have the time to do that now," Sam said, a noticeable amount of relief in his voice. "We have to take a break and help Cas readjust and wait for me to recover."
"So all the angels fell then?" Ianto asked. "Like Cas did? I would've thought we'd notice."
Sam shrugged. "The world is huge. They could've landed anywhere."
"What about Lucifer and Michael?" Ianto asked.
"We'd probably need the angel tablet to know for sure. I don't think either of them could stand to be human," Sam said. "Though Lucifer would probably survive longer."
"Oh?"
Sam grinned, a bit bitter. "Michael is worse than Lucifer. He believes humans are just as bad as Lucifer thinks, maybe even more, he just has less of a spine than Lucifer so he never rebelled."
"That's amazing," Ianto said, unable to keep the awe off his face as he stared at Sam.
Sam's brow furrowed. "What is?"
"You. You're one of the only people who can explain the nature of Lucifer and Michael, divine beings and have the experience to back it up," Ianto said. "Perhaps its a bit insensitive to say but...that's just what I think."
"I could go without having the experience," Sam said, lips twisted in a wry smile. "But thanks for the silver lining."
"I'm sorry, I should've thought more before saying anything," Ianto said.
"It's fine. Really. I don't really talk about it. I never told anyone, never have anyone to tell," Sam said. "Meeting you guys was probably a good thing. For all of us. Never really had any friends that have such a high chance of staying alive."
Ianto nodded. "That I can understand. We cut our ties with most everyone we knew when we joined Torchwood."
"Did Jack have something wise to say about that?" Sam asked.
"Oh of course," Ianto said. "Said the protectors of society are the ones who are often the most alone. It's true...but it doesn't have to be. We can find comfort in the few we manage to surround ourselves with."
Their eyes met across the table for an intense minute, and then Sam was leaning across to kiss Ianto once, soft, gentle, and barely there. When he pulled back, his gaze was unreadable, but there was a smile on his face.
"Perhaps...we should retire to the living room," Ianto said.
"Yeah. A little relaxing time would be nice."
-.-
"Okay this running thing can't go on forever. Let's just fight them!" Owen called out to Dean.
"I must agree. Dean, it is foolish to think we can outrun them," Cas said.
Dean came to a halt and the others did the same. "Fine. But if we have to run again, we do. Decapitate them and get the head as far from the body as possible, clear?"
"Oh I'm sure your team's all ready to take us."
Owen whirled around to see six figures bleed out of the darkness and into the moonlight. At the head was a woman in a business suit, long red hair and a shark-like smile on her face.
"Dean. Cas. It's been much too long."
"Hey Dick Roman. I see you've lost your dick," Dean said.
"Still so witty," the woman said. "I heard you were back. I couldn't resist the urge to take you down myself this time."
"How sweet."
Dean lunged forward and all hell broke loose. The oh so human faces burst into rows of teeth, forked tongues, and black tentacles as they attacked. Owen got in a lucky hit, beheading the first one and then kicking its head off into the brush. The next one tackled him to the ground easily, and he wriggled beneath it, trying to get a good grip on it as he wedged his elbow up into its neck. It was just enough to keep the thing from ripping his face off, but he was powerless otherwise.
The thing wailed as a machete sliced its head off, splattering Owen with black sludge and who knew what else, and he had just enough time to give Dean a nod of thanks before the hunter was fighting off another. Owen kicked the head out of the way and then turned to help Jack, but before he could move a pair of claws yanked him back and one of the beasts bit into his shoulder, hard.
He shouted, the sound coming out somewhere between a roar and a howl and then Owen whirled, sinking his hand into the Leviathan's neck and severing it with a brutal yank of his arm. Panting, he stared down at his hand, which looked entirely normal except for the long, Weevil like claws extending from where his nails used to be.
There was a brief moment of panic, but then he realized everything was quiet and he turned to face the others. As he turned, he felt the claws retract, and when he got a good look around, he noticed the Leviathan were gone and his team was staring at him.
"So...did we win?" he asked.
"Dick got away so we'll have to be on our guard. You..." Dean trailed off, shaking his head.
"That sound was like twenty of them Weevils howling," Benny said. "Sure you aren't full Weevil?"
"Yeah, positive. Less positive now but still in the positive area," Owen said, glancing down at his hands a few more times to make sure they were back to normal.
When he looked over at Jack, the man was staring at him with a hardened expression, like he didn't recognize Owen, like Owen wasn't who he thought he was. It made something ache down to Owen's core but he shoved the hurt away to deal with later. Now wasn't exactly the time for an existential crisis.
"We need to keep moving," Dean said. "And...try not to turn into a creepy monster when we're not looking."
"Yeah, I'll do my best."
Owen hesitated as the others began walking once more, and after another look down at his hands, followed after them. They travelled another two miles before Dean deemed them in a safe enough spot to sleep.
"We'll scale the trees," Dean said. "Best if we sleep higher up. It won't make a huge difference but you never know."
"I'll keep watch again," Benny said. "Try and get a good night's rest. If we've got the head Leviathan on our trail I don't think we can afford being too sleepy."
"That last fight wasn't so bad," Jack said as he began to climb a tree.
"I almost got my arm ripped off," Owen said, climbing up another a good ten feet away.
"Well it healed fine, didn't it?" Jack asked.
Owen glanced down at his arm. "Yeah. Guess more of those genes are getting activated."
No one elaborated on what it could mean. In the end, Dean and Owen ended up stretched out on thick tree branches across from one another, with Jack and Cas on the opposite side of the clearing in their own makeshift nest.
"Hope you don't move much in your sleep," Dean said quietly.
"Even if I fall apparently I'll be fine," Owen said. His tone was a bitter. "Sorry. Maybe I should be grateful, but honestly, all I ever wanted was to die. I thought I finally got that after everything but...now I'm some immortal freak."
"Dying's not that great," Dean said, picking a twig off the branch and breaking it into smaller pieces. "I know. I died a few times. Hell isn't that pretty. It's not all quiet and peace. Even Heaven isn't that nice."
"Then let's hope I don't end up in either," Owen said. "Or here. I just want some peace."
Dean, surprisingly, didn't protest, and when Owen looked across at him, the hunter just nodded. "I get it. Really. I do. It's okay. I hope we can actually fix you."
"I wish I wasn't messed up in the first-" Owen's voice cut out as a sharp pain shot through his head, so harsh and sudden that it was only from wrapping an arm tight around the trunk of the tree he didn't end up face planting on the ground. Just as soon as it happened though, it was gone.
"What? What happened?" Dean asked as Owen turned back, rubbing his forehead.
"I don't know. I...it was so quick," Owen said. There was an odd sort of tickling at the back of his mind but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. "Sorry. It's probably nothing."
"Yeah, doubt it," Dean said.
"Well I'm going to pretend it was nothing," Owen said. "So what are you going to do once we finish all this?"
"Try and help Sam," Dean said, head thumping back against the trunk.
"Okay, let's say we fix Sam. Then what?" Owen asked.
"I don't know. It's hard to ever imagine any of this actually ending. Probably try and find a way to close the gates to Hell without killing Sam or me," Dean said.
"Why though? Why keep fighting? Can't you leave that up to someone else? Like the Doctor?"
"I could say the same for your job," Dean said.
"There are other hunters though. There aren't any other alien fighters," Owen said.
"That's just an excuse. We all have our reasons for our need to save the world."
"Because maybe it cancels out all the bad things we've done and the people we've gotten killed," Owen said.
"Yeah." There was an odd look in Dean's eyes, his lips tugging up into the barest hint of a smile. "I don't...talk to Sam about this sort of thing as much as I should. We've gotten a bit better but I just...I'm supposed to be the big brother. I have to protect him, and I've done a shitty job of it. I'm thinking maybe when this is over...before we go back to hunting I'll actually talk to him."
"Yeah, you should do that. I mean, you get a second chance, you have to take it. I should've but I could never quite..."
"Tosh, right?" Dean asked, glancing down at his lap and then looking back up at him.
Owen nodded. "I was horrible to her for awhile, even when we were both on the same page. I wish I could've done things differently. If you can, you better man up and do it."
"The trouble is..." Dean chucked the remaining bits of twig down to the ground before breaking off another one. "I always thought that being emotional and talking about all that crap wasn't the manly thing to do. So I never did, and I always criticized Sam for wanting to and I...shouldn't have."
"Then when we get out of here, you talk to him. I'll make you," Owen said. He pulled off Dean's jacket and tossed it back over to him before settling against the tree trunk.
"Never really had anyone hold me to things like that before. They all died before they got the chance," Dean said.
"Yeah well I'm basically immortal so I'll hold you to it," Owen said.
-.-
Ianto stared down at Sam, something odd twisting in his heart. They had managed to watch television for about an hour before the hunter had passed out on his shoulder, the worry lines and stress smoothing away to something else, something calm and unworried. He hesitated a moment before running a hand through the man's hair, smiling a bit when Sam shifted closer.
He continued the soothing motion for a bit longer as he continued to watch the television, not wanting to wake up Sam and disturb the bit of peace he had found. It struck him then, as he sat and thought, that the world was supremely unfair. Here was a man who, if he understood it right, had already saved the world multiple times by giving up everything, who had been willing to give it all up again even as he began to get it back. And yet he couldn't ever catch a break.
Not to mention Owen, or Ianto himself, or Jack. No matter how hard they worked, things continued to go to shit and they suffered more loss and more pain and it was only through somewhat unhealthy coping mechanisms that Ianto hadn't completely lost it. But Sam, Sam was still ready to keep going just to save a few more lives.
Sam stirred and then popped up, wiping the sleep from his eyes and giving Ianto a sheepish look. "Sorry about that. Hope I didn't drool on you."
"No worries," Ianto said. "I was hoping you'd sleep a bit longer but it's probably better if you sleep in an actual bed."
"Yeah, probably. How do you think the others are doing?" Sam asked as he got to his feet.
Ianto turned the telly off and then got to his feet as well. "Well Jack is there. I'm sure they'll be fine. Jack has a habit of managing to make things work out for the better even when things are at their bleakest. And your brother survived Purgatory before. They'll be fine."
"If you say it enough maybe you'll believe it," Sam said.
"That is the goal," Ianto said, his smile a bit more strained as he led the way down the hall.
They went about their nightly routines, and then came the awkward moment where they stood in front of Ianto's bed. Sam was shirtless, sweatpants slung low on his hips, while Ianto had done his best to keep everything covered in hopes to make it a little less awkward.
"The bed's big enough for us both," Sam said.
Ianto glanced over at him and tried not to get distracted by the hunter's well-muscled chest. "If you're comfortable with that."
"We already kissed. Sharing a bed isn't that bad in comparison," Sam said. "Not bad at all from where I'm standing. Just you know. What I said still stands. I'm not exactly up for anything. And my nightmares are pretty bad."
"So are mine," Ianto said.
"Then I guess we'll be just fine," Sam said. "Do you take the right or left?"
"Either. Make yourself comfortable."
In the end, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs in the middle of the bed.
-.-
"You know you actually have to close your eyes to sleep." Jack glanced over at Cas who was sitting on a broad tree branch a few feet away.
"I am aware. This place brings back unpleasant memories. This makes sleep near impossible to achieve," Cas said.
"We're safe for now. Benny is keeping watch," Jack said.
"Don't patronize me. This is Purgatory. We both are aware of how dangerous our position is," Cas said. "And you have met the Leviathan. They are not the worst creatures here."
"That doesn't mean we're completely unsafe. You should rest," Jack said.
"You aren't," Cas said, fixing him with a pointed stare.
"I'm worried about you," Jack said. "I can go days without rest and still preform well. There's a nasty crash after about a week, but you're more human now. You wouldn't handle it well."
Cas turned away, falling silent though his eyes remained stubbornly open to stave off sleep. Jack felt a bit like he was staring at the Doctor. The same sadness and longing for something far out of reach was etched into Castiel's features, the scars so deep it was impossible to truly cover them. Jack knew the hardship of trying to hide the pain in one's eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he knew Ianto and the others could still see hints of what he'd buried. There was fresh pain in Castiel's face, the sort of pain that was harder to mask as something else.
"The truth is," Cas said, still not looking at him. "The act of sleeping still frightens me. The dreams are unpleasant."
"I suppose that would make sleep a bit less desirable," Jack said. "But you're surrounded by people who can protect you now. You're safe."
Cas looked over at him. "I'm human now. I certainly don't feel safe. I don't think I ever will."
"I can...hold you if you'd like. Ianto does that for me. It helps me sleep the few times I do, especially now. I've got 2,000 years worth of nightmares to fight off. Helps me not think of dying when I close my eyes if Ianto's there," Jack said.
"I am not adverse to attempting this. If you do not mind."
Jack shifted over a bit. "There's enough room for two."
Cas climbed over, a bit awkward upon first sitting beside him, but Jack wrapped an arm around him and tugged him close. For a few minutes, Castiel remained stiff as a board, but eventually he went limp, head on Jack's chest. Jack could feel the fallen angel shaking, but it wasn't particularly cold.
"Scared?" Jack asked.
"I think so. It is much more paralyzing than before," Cas said, voice faint.
"Then I'll tell you a story," Jack said, hand sliding up to rub at Castiel's neck.
He talked for a while, telling Cas about his journeys with the Doctor, the quiet moments with Rose, the good times he had shared with John. The advantage of living forever, he supposed, was that no matter how sad and lonely such a life was, there were always happy memories to draw upon. Sometime between one breath and the next, sleep claimed Castiel. Jack stared down at him for a moment, then let his head fall back against the tree trunk.
His eyes turned to the sky and he struggled to find his own peace.
-.-
Owen woke when Dean kicked his leg. The hunter was perched on the branch beside him, and the light was still the dull grey of pre-dawn.
"Rise and shine princess," Dean said.
Owen started to climb down behind Dean. "Ha, ha Rapunzel Eyes."
When they reached the bottom, Benny, Jack, and Cas were waiting. Jack looked exhausted, and Owen guessed he'd never managed to fall asleep.
"We have a small problem," Benny said, glancing at each of them in turn. "About a mile in the direction we're headed, we've got a herd of those Weevils waiting for us. They're not moving."
"Oh that sounds wonderful," Owen said.
"Maybe you attracted their attention last night with your show of claws," Jack said. "Though I'm not sure why they haven't approached us."
Dean pulled his machete out of his sheath. "Let's find out."
"No killing if we can avoid it," Owen said. "Let me try and talk to them first."
"Weevil-tamer. Never thought I'd have a reason for such a term. I wonder if you could tame Reapers," Benny said as they began to walk.
"Doubtful. Kenny wasn't that interested in listening to me," Owen said.
"He was a bit more cooperative than he could be," Dean said.
"No, no, no more theories," Owen said. "I'd like to keep up the illusion I'm mostly normal."
It took them twenty minutes or so to come across the Weevils. There were somewhere around a couple hundred of them, all kneeling. Owen could feel them in his mind though, like a low telepathic hum.
"Jack. Remember when you said the Weevils were telepathic?" Owen asked. "Well I can confirm that. They're in my head!"
"Calm down," Dean hissed. "If you freak out, you might make them do the same."
"Owen, try talking to them. Stay calm, but see if you can give them a command," Jack said.
Jack moved closer to Owen and placed a hand on Owen's shoulder. The action steadied him and he took a deep breath.
"Stand up," Owen said.
The Weevils rose to their feet, silent and barely disturbing the air around them.
"Alright that's creepy," Benny said.
"Can one of you tell me what's going on?" Owen asked. "And please, none of that snarling nonsense, I can't understand you."
A sharp pain shot down from his head to his back, crippling and forcing him down to his knees. Owen was dimly aware of Jack and Dean shaking him, but all he could hear was a roaring hum that eclipsed all other thought. Then it went blessedly silent, his vision cloudy and unfocused.
We're here to guide and protect you on your way to the Brace. The voice was deep and harsh, barely human.
Why?
You are our savior.
What?
When you take up the Brace, we will become mortal and know truce peace.
How though? I don't understand!
To become mortal, you must sap the energy of our immortality. That energy will power the Brace.
Owen swallowed thickly. So to become mortal I have to kill you. Is that what you're saying?
We are tired. We have waited a thousand millennia for one of our kind to defeat a Reaper. Only you are capable of using the Brace and bringing us our peace.
I can't do that! I won't kill you off just for my own gain!
You must.
The link severed abruptly, and Owen lurched forward to catch himself on his hands, vision spinning. He dug his fingers into the dead leaves and tilted his head up to stare at the Weevils.
"I won't do it. I can't!"
The Weevils stared back at him, their eyes full of pain and loneliness and longing. It made something down to his core crack and ache, but before Owen could totally lose it, Dean hauled him upright.
"Owen, get it together!" Dean ordered.
Owen sucked in a deep breath before collapsing forward and clinging to Dean as he tried to bring himself back. Owen was dimly aware of Jack saying he was slipping into a panic attack, but even with the knowledge of knowing what was happening, he couldn't calm himself down. His chest tightened and he tried to take a deep breath but all he could do was suck in short, shallow gasps.
When he opened his eyes, he was sitting with his head between his knees. Tentatively, Owen raised a hand up to feel that his cheeks were wet from tears. When he looked up, Dean was sitting across from him, which meant the person rubbing his back was Jack.
"Feeling alright?" Dean asked.
"Been better," Owen said, voice trembling.
"What'd they say?" Jack asked, moving around to sit next to Dean. "Assuming they said anything."
"They're here to protect us," Owen said. He looked passed Dean and Jack to fix the nearest Weevil with a pointed stare. "Because when I use the Brace, they die and for some twisted and fucked up reason that's what they want."
"We're going to need more than that," Dean said.
"The Brace. Apparently to power it up, it drains the energy of the Weevils and kills them," Owen said. "But it will suppress my powers and make me mortal."
"So what? Is there some Weevil prophecy that you're their god damned Lord and Savior here to deliver them unto death?" Dean asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Well they said they've been waiting for me for a thousand millennia," Owen said. "Apparently it's my destiny to commit genocide."
"Screw destiny. Sam and I thwarted that crap before. We'll find a way," Dean said.
"No."
Owen looked at Jack. "What do you mean no?"
"I mean if these creatures have literally been around for a thousand millennia and want to die, why not let them sacrifice themselves for you?"
"Are you even listening to what you're saying?" Owen asked, getting to his feet. "No seriously because the Jack I know would never say yeah sure to genocide."
Jack and Dean both got to their feet as well, but before they could say a word, Benny cut in.
"He's got a point," Benny said. "No one wants to live that long. That's why Purgatory is such a punishment. We will never die, not really. We can only fight and die and come back over and over again. If your main concern, for whatever reason, is being humane, giving them a true death is the most humane thing you can do."
"The world won't exactly suffer if they're gone anyways," Dean said.
"Look, I can't decide this right now. Let's just keep moving," Owen said.
"You will want to send them away. They will only attract more attention than actually be effective protectors," Castiel said.
"Uh yeah, what he said," Owen said, looking back up at the Weevils. "A few of you can stay."
The Weevils obeyed, bleeding back into the trees and mist until only five remained, awaiting further command.
"Okay, as dire as our situation is, that was still cool," Dean said.
"Let's just move and try to stay ahead of the Leviathans," Jack said.
-.-
Sam woke feeling warm and at peace, something he couldn't remember doing in what had to be years. For a while, he kept his eyes stubbornly closed, not wanting to lose the feeling, but he found when he did open his eyes, he wasn't filled with the pain at facing a new day. He took a deep breath, let it out, and then turned to look at Ianto. The other man was sprawled on his side of the bed, covers shoved down to his ankles and his t-shirt scrunched up to just under his rib cage.
Light streamed in from the window through the slits in the blinds, and the clock on the wall said it was almost noon. Ianto sucked in a deep breath, stretching out and catching Sam's forehead with his hand when he did so. Sam couldn't help but smile a bit when Ianto jerked back so hard he almost fell off the bed, and he reached a hand out to steady him.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Sam said.
"No, no, I was just taken by surprise. Did you sleep well?" Ianto asked. The man was blushing, which Sam thought was a bit endearing, not that he'd ever say it.
"Yeah. Better than I have in awhile. Thanks," Sam said.
"Breakfast then?" Ianto asked, getting out of bed.
"Sure, but don't feel like you have to go all out. Really, I don't want to make you do work than you normally do," Sam said.
"If it was a problem, I wouldn't do it," Ianto said. "How many times are we going to have this discussion?"
"This is the last time, promise."
Ianto smiled, and then Sam grabbed his arm, tugging him across the bed to press their lips together, a close-mouthed kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. Ianto seemed to relax almost immediately, and when he pulled away, Sam was able to see the smile still on his face before he left the room.
Ianto insisted on filling them both up with pancakes and fruit before driving them back to the Hub. Gwen and Martha were already there pouring over their notes from the day before, and when Ianto arrived with Sam in tow with their coffees, they both smiled gratefully.
"You're looking a bit better," Martha said when Sam sat down beside her.
"Ianto's cooking works wonders," Sam said.
"Unfortunately, it isn't a cure all so we should continue working," Ianto said. "I think I may be onto something, though I'm not sure what good it will do us."
Gwen sipped at her coffee and gave a shrug. "Anything would be good to work with."
"I think Sam is acting as a vessel for all the magic and power required to shut down the gates of Hell. Since he never completed the ritual, and to do so would kill him, the negative energy is sitting within him, ready to kill him but forcing his body to stay alive until the trial is complete," Ianto said.
"That would explain how all your organs seem to be failing," Martha said. "We could try and treat you for the injuries your body is suffering, but since the real cause is magic in nature, I'm not sure what we could do. We'll have to search the notes for a way to divert the power."
"If he's like a vessel for magic, we just have to find something to put all the energy into," Gwen said. "Surely there's some sort of spell that would do the trick."
"If there is, it's going to be somewhere in all of these," Sam said, gesturing at the table full of paper before them. "So let's set aside anything that seems to go along with Ianto's line of thinking and go over it more in depth after lunch."
"It's as good a plan as any," Martha said.
They worked for five hours, breaking only to get pizza a little after 2:00. It was eye-opening to just how hard Kevin had worked, and made Sam regret pushing him as hard as they had. The work was mind-numbing, but eventually they found something.
"Okay so this might be nothing but this says there's a way to transfer the energy to another sacrifice," Gwen said around a mouthful of pizza. "It says it will kill the new sacrifice in the process though."
"I'm not forcing this on anyone else," Sam said. "I can't have anyone else die in my place."
"We might not have to," Martha said. "The Doctor said he'd be back today. Let's see what he thinks. He can regenerate, and Jack can't die, at least not permanently. They might be able to get around it and if not there has to be something else we can look into."
"No. We are not making Jack die for this," Ianto said. "I don't care if he'll probably come back. We can't take that risk. I'm sorry Sam. I meant no offense."
"No, I agree," Sam said, looking across the table to meet Ianto's gaze. "Dying isn't fun. I'd never force someone to go through that for me. The guilt is too much." He jerked back at first when Gwen grabbed his hand and held it between her own.
"We'll find a way that everyone comes out alive. We...don't have the best track record but we'll figure it out. What's the point in bringing all of us together if we can't fix one problem, right?" Her smile, despite how Sam knew better than to be optimistic, helped settle some of his anxiety.
"How do you do that?" he asked.
Gwen's smile faltered. "I'm sorry?"
"Be so optimistic in the face of all this," Sam said. "You hunt aliens. You've lost teammates. You can't possibly believe we can get out of this without someone dying."
"God you're negative aren't you?" Martha got to her feet, arms folding across her chest. "Let me tell you something. I walked the whole Earth for a year to stop the world from ending. People died. Some I knew, some I didn't, but seeing it happen opened a gaping wound in my chest. It was terrifying. In the end, yeah sure, I saved the world, but I never would have if I hadn't kept hope. I'm not saying the people we lose on the way to something greater are meaningless. But the moment you give up hope is the moment their sacrifices are for nothing."
Sam felt a lot like he was being lectured by Ellen, which drove Martha's point home all the harder. "You mean my negative outlook might be standing in the way of a solution?"
"That's exactly what she's saying, and she's entirely right."
The four of them looked up to see the Doctor and Donna entering the Hub. The Doctor was smiling a she strode up the steps, Donna close on his heels.
"Martha, you make me more and more proud every time I see you," the Doctor said. He wrapped an arm around Martha's waist. "The human brain has a lot of power, Sam Winchester, and a simple change in your outlook can open doors and reveal options you didn't see before. So with that in mind, think a bit harder."
Sam looked at Ianto, and when he got an encouraging look in return, he turned to Gwen. "Can I see the passage you read?"
Gwen passed it to him and he read it a few times. There was a ritual they would have to do to transfer the energy, and from what he could tell it wouldn't be easy to get their hands on the materials. But a second, deeper look to the language helped.
"Okay, when it talks about the trails, it says 'human'. A human has to take up the trails and it keeps that up throughout the explanation. But when you look at the ritual it says the power needs a sacrifice. It doesn't say human," Sam said. "It's magic, just energy. We can fool it into thinking the sacrifice is a living creature. But we'd probably have to...vandalize a dead body."
"Maybe letting you think outside the box isn't the best idea," the Doctor said, lips turning into a frown.
"Oh c'mon. It's a dead body," Donna said. "The soul has already left it if you believe in that sort of thing. What's the problem?"
"I won't protest. This is Sam's problem and if he has a solution, we'll try it," the Doctor said. "Even if it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. So what's the idea?"
-.-
Owen winced, rubbing at his forehead. "Headache's getting worse."
"That'd be because we're a mile away from the Brace," Benny said. "Must be it really is meant for you."
"You know that's not making me feel any better," Owen said.
Before anyone could reply, their Weevil companions yowled and whirled around to face the direction they had come from. When the rest of them turned, they saw six Leviathan, already transformed, save for the red headed leader.
"Oh come on Dick. You're outnumbered this time. You really want to try this now?" Dean called out.
"Dean, as much as you seem to think otherwise, I am not a bumbling idiot."
Owen and Jack turned around, exchanging worried looks upon realizing it wasn't just six, but a great deal more, and they were surrounded. They both drew their weapons and two Weevils came up to flank them, obeying Owen's unspoken need for protection. He just hoped the rest could hear his mental cry for help.
"Y'know I kinda wish we'd kept your army," Benny said.
"Hindsight is a bitch, okay? We get it," Owen ground out between clenched teeth.
"Or you could just hand over Dean and the angel and life gets a lot easier for everyone," Dick said. "It's not that hard of a decision."
"No, it's not," Jack said.
The Captain moved first, lunging forward and decapitating one Leviathan before throwing himself at another. The situation dissolved quickly after that, turning into an all out blood bath that ratcheted Owen's nerves and fear higher and higher. He would never admit he was afraid, but now with the Weevils tapped into his brain, he couldn't help the small voice in the back of his head pleading for someone to save him as a Leviathan tried to take a chunk out of his arm.
Owen whirled at Jack's cry to see one of the Leviathan had him pinned and was straining to wrap its freakish jaws around Jack's head. Before Owen even finished the thought, a Weevil tore across the ground to ram into the Leviathan and send it flying through the air. Owen turned his attention away then, just in time to duck under an attempted grab. He kicked the creature back into Benny's grip, and the vampire ripped the creature's head off in one sickeningly smooth motion before turning to another.
"Get off me you filthy bastard!"
Owen turned towards Dean's voice to see Dick had him pinned to the ground, her red hair a tangled mass around her gaping mouth and fangs. The fear was eclipsed by something that ran much hotter, a dangerous rage and anger that Owen couldn't ever recall feeling, and then he was tearing across the clearing to tangle a clawed fist in the Leviathan's hair and rip her off of Dean.
His claws sank into the flesh of her scalp, then cracked through the skull and into the matter beneath. There was some part of him, some part buried beneath the anger and rage, that balked at the idea of just what he was doing, but Owen couldn't bring himself to focus on that. With an inhuman cry, he ripped the creature's head off, smashing it against a tree hard enough to crush it before letting the body fall to the ground.
It all became a blur after that, his claws tearing while his mind took a backseat. On some level, he was horrified by the damage and carnage he was creating, but the feral side of him wouldn't let him back in control, wouldn't let him ruin their chance of survival with something as petty as feelings.
"Owen! Stop! Owen, it's me, you need to stop this!"
With a rush, Owen came back into his body, claws retracting and jaw cracking back into place. Eyes wide with fear, he stared down at Dean. The hunter's jaw was set tight, eyes firm as he held Owen barely an inch away. Their eyes held for a moment, and then Dean was pushing him back and off. Owen skidded away from him, hands slipping in the dead leaves, wet from the black sludge of the Leviathans.
"What...what did I do?" Owen looked back at Dean, then to Jack and Cas. All three had a look of grim fear in their eyes, like they weren't quite sure what they were dealing with. "What happened?"
"You turned into a monster is what happened," Benny said. He stepped forward and extended a hand to pull Owen up. "Doesn't mean you actually are one though. And I mean, you took care of those Leviathan better than anyone else could've."
Owen hugged himself, trembling. "I...I need that Brace."
"Your condition is certainly accelerating," Cas said.
"But I can't kill an entire race!" Owen shouted, unable to stay calm through the storm of twisted emotions in his chest. "I can't! I'd be worse than a monster if I did that."
"Owen! They want to die. They sacrificed themselves here for you because you told them to, at least that's what I'm assuming happened," Jack said, finally moving past Benny to grab Owen's shoulders. "They don't want to live anymore. You'd save people's lives if you got rid of them for good. And you'd be human. No fear of turning into a monster, even if the monster was on the surface."
"I'd rather be a monster on the surface than a cold-blooded killer," Owen said. "At least...what I did here was in self-defense."
"You're not always going to know where that line is," Benny said, voice low. "You keep giving in to the monster side of yourself, if you keep letting it get bigger and stronger, there won't be enough human left to keep you in check."
"What's so human about committing genocide!" Owen jerked out of his grasp.
"Whatever you decide to do it shouldn't be here," Cas said.
Jack shot him a look. "While I normally appreciate your blunt honesty, now might not be the time."
"No, Cas is right," Dean said. "These Leviathan will be putting themselves back together in a few minutes. We should use that time to get to the Brace. Then we can grab it and get out of here and make our decision then. Benny, how far is the nearest portal?"
"From the Brace, if you head left another two miles you'll find it brother," Benny said.
"Good, then let's get moving," Dean said. He stepped forward and grabbed Owen's arm, forcing their eyes to meet. "Listen to me Owen. We won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. But we're better off having all the cards on our side, okay? So stow the mental breakdown for a little while longer and we'll deal with it when we get topside."
"You don't seem like the type to actually deal with this sort of thing," Owen said, voice bitter.
"Not usually no. But I'm learning, and you know that. I told you that. So we'll talk and sort out this mess when we have the time to do so, alright? And I won't leave your side until we decide what to do."
Owen gave a short nod. "Okay, sure. Just. Don't let go."
Dean glanced down at how Owen was clenching tight to his jacket sleeve and then gave his own nod. "Okay. Whatever makes you feel better."
They kept their pace faste, and Owen's headache continued to build until he was leaning heavily on Dean just to stay upright. Coming up on the Brace was pretty obvious. It was almost comical how cheesy it was. There, in the middle of the woods, was a stone pedestal, smooth and plain, with a white shimmering veil surrounding it. Around the veil was a ring of Weevils that bowed the moment their entourage entered the area.
"No one has been able to get passed the veil," Benny said. "So we've just left it alone. No one's particularly interested in it, we just know it exists and the Weevils like to gather here."
"So I guess I should try and walk through and grab it?" Owen asked.
"Yeah, but be quick. Those Leviathan won't be dead forever," Dean said. "It's going to be okay Owen."
Owen didn't believe him, but he supposed it was the thought that counted. He stepped away from Dean, legs unsteady and almost buckling from the pain in his head. The Weevils shifted out of the way as he came up to the barrier. He could feel energy pulsing off of it in waves, and realized that the waves were following the beat of his heart, following its exact fluctuations.
He took a deep breath and pressed a hand against it, eyes sliding close as the pain in his head washed away. He stepped all the way through and opened his eyes when his feet brushed the base of the pedestal. The Brace was like white silk and when he picked it up, it shimmered in and out of sight, weightless and near invisible. Something within him urged him to put it on, and he just knew if he did it would be a perfect fit, but instead he folded it and placed it in his pocket.
The veil shattered and the pain in his head came back in a rush. He collapsed forward, catching himself on the pedestal as the pain forced an agonized cry from his lips, but then Dean's arm was wrapping around his waist and hauling him back. The pounding ache in his head eclipsed nearly every thought, the only one standing out being that it would all end as long as he slid on the Brace. It was only pure stubbornness that prevented him from doing so.
Owen was dimly aware of a sharp pain in his hand, of Dean's voice in his ear, but then everything turned to black.
