Don't Lose Your Grip

IV. Risin' up to the Challenge

Dean hadn't been able to take more than a dozen steps before he growled, "Screw this," and pulled out his knife to hack at the long stalks of corn that were surrounding him. He figured that whoever owned this land could just suck it up and take it as a hint that this corn fetish was not healthy.

Dean continued to listen for any other indication of Sam or big cats as he macheted his way in a random direction. There was no sound, and Dean had started to think that he was going to get lost in this stupid cornfield and with his luck starve to death because he had no clue how to get the actual corn out of their weirdass stalks-

Dean froze.

A voice, a really familiar voice, sounded some ways to Dean's right and he made out the words with a little start.

"Aw crap not you again!"

Beelining for the cluster of crops that he heard Sammy's voice behind, Dean slashed down the corn stalks like they had personally affronted him and moved forward with momentum. So when he abruptly reached a small clearing instead of more corn he stumbled a little.

And when he took in the sight before him he had to do a double-take.

In front of him stood Sam, and Dean didn't fight off the feeling of immense relief that his brother was okay. Absently, he noticed that the younger man had no shoes on, but his attention was quickly directed towards the massive freaking white tiger looming over his brother, mouth open and tongue hanging out as though the animal wanted to chew up the kid. And off to the side, subject to an extreme Sam Winchester bitchface, was a guy who looked like he'd a little too much to smoke and not enough baths.

A tiger, a sasquatch, and a druggie meet up in a cornfield.

Shit, it sounded like a beginning to a bad joke.

A super corny joke.

Dean let out a sound that was a confused sort of laugh, and all three heads turned towards him.

"What...the hell?" Dean finally managed, and Sam stared at his brother for a moment before silently thanking the high heavens that he didn't have to go through this strange as hell nightmare alone any more.

No one said anything for a moment, the strange man looking like he was just enjoying the brothers' confusion for a few minutes before he finally started his monologue.

"Both of them here now, well ain't this just a party!"

"What do you want?" Sam growled, and Dean was a little surprised at how his brother sounded so long-suffering, like he'd already dealt with this guy enough to last him a life-time.

"Just a little fun is all he wants," the stranger answered, and his voice sounded high-pitched, and a little mischievous, as he crowed his plans. Dean didn't notice any difference, but Sam was suspiciously aware of how the man – warlock, if he was right – suddenly sounded a lot different than the dark-side-Yoda he'd thought he was dealing with. More like a child at play, and wasn't that just great, he got a psycho instead. "You two amuse Zippy."

Definitely a psycho.

"Zippy?" Dean butted in incredulously.

The man nodded confidently. "Zippy Scrotiscus, at your service." He gestured towards the tiger, which during their conversation had sat down and was trying to sniff at Sam, much to the latter's discomfort, though he tried not to panic. "And our friend is Diego."

"Scrotiscus," Dean repeated, a little dazedly. Is this for real?

"So what shall we all do now?" the man – Zippy? - mused.

"Well," Sam said, pretending to think about it for a second. "My brother and I are leaving so screw you."

Zippy wasn't fazed. "Don't you want your shoes back?"

Sam huffed, his bangs fluttering with the force of his frustration, and Dean muttered, "Yeah, about that...?"

"But you two haven't gotten to know Zippy!" the man continued. He turned to Dean. "And this one hasn't said hello to Diego."

The man whistled sharply and the tiger's ears perked up and the animal stood, suddenly seeming many times larger and more threatening despite the fact that its tail was practically wagging as it awaited its master's order.

Zippy gestured towards Dean. "Play," he said simply, and Dean's eyes widened.

The tiger bounded forward like a way oversized dog and Dean had to refrain from sticking his knife into the thing, instead standing rigid as the animal sniffed around him and growled low.

"Quit flirting with me," Dean managed to joke, even though he thought he might have lost the ability to move at the moment. Don't like animals nope fucking slobber and furballs-

The tiger – Diego – butted its head against Dean's chest. There was a thick leather collar around its neck, and Dean reached for it hesitantly, awkwardly petting the fur there.

Meanwhile, Zippy had turned his attention to Sam, eying the younger brother approvingly.

"So," he said conversationally. "Zippy asks how your day's been going?"

"Just friggin' awesome," Sam snapped.

"Pretty exciting though, eh?" the man who may or may not be an extremely cheeky warlock (but was definitely bipolar) snickered. "Tricks and jokes, Zippy likes."

Sam, who had been about to launch further into how much this was so not funny and how sorry Zippy was going to be, paused at the words, frowning.

Tricks...fun...huh.

He'd been sticking to his theory that the man was a warlock, but now he wasn't so sure. There was another option, after all, and Sam really hoped he was right because if so, they might actually be able to get out of this mess.

"You're an imp," Sam said, now sounding a little curious rather than all parts pissed off.

Zippy grinned a wide toothy smile. "That he is, Zippy the imp, devilishly tricky with his trusty sidekick Diego. Don't you like games, Sam Winchester?"

Not this one, Sam thought to himself, but aloud he said, "Only if I get to play."

Before Zippy could respond, Sam had pulled out his only weapon and aimed it at the man.

"Catch!" Sam said and the knife sliced through the air before imbedding itself into the imp's leg.

The creature howled, his face turning an ugly green as the silver cut its skin. He cursed at Sam and as he attempted to grasp the hilt through the tattered layers of clothing he swore some more.

"Dean!" Sam called, and Dean flicked his eyes towards his brother for a moment before resuming his intent watch on the tiger, which had contended itself with lying a few inches away from Dean. Close enough so that the hunter was not comfortable moving in any direction or managing to pay close attention to anything else. There was no way this thing was as innocent as it looked.

Sam rolled his eyes, quickly assessing the creature he had correctly – and it was damn well good that he was right – decided was an imp and made sure the thing was still preoccupied with cursing and getting the knife out of its leg to be paying attention to the brothers at the moment.

Moving so that he was next to Dean Sam said lowly, "Dude, get the collar and burn it."

Dean jerked a little to look at Sam, finally tearing his eyes away from the tiger – Diego. "What? Why?"

The imp had freed itself by now and was zeroing on Sam, cackling a little.

"Just do it," Sam ordered, and turned to stall the creature.

Dean stared at the tiger. The animal lifted its head and stared right back at Dean, its eyes wide and Dean swore the thing was mocking him.

He took a deep breath, putting the arm holding the knife down to his side and out of sight, crouching a little as he took slow steps towards the tiger.

"Good boy, right?" Dean said, seriously doubting what he was about to do but seeing no other option than to trust Sam's geeky brain.

Dean really wasn't sure how he did it.

In a moment of spontaneity, he grabbed one of the fallen corn stalks he'd hacked off and tossed it at the animal.

Diego pawed the crop curiously, suddenly oblivious to the plight of his master or of the hunter with a determined look in his eye slowly inching towards him. His only goal at that moment was to tear apart the corn stalk.

Dean moved his knife quickly to cut through the collar. Diego growled suddenly when it came off, wary and torn between continuing to maul the corn or figure out what this strange man wanted with his beauty piece.

The older hunter backed away quickly, turning towards where Sam was seconds away from being attacked by an extremely pissed off supernatural-man-druggie (Dean still wasn't sure exactly who this dude was).

Dean whistled sharply, much like the man had done early. "Hey! Fuglies!"

Both Sam and the man turned towards him, the former with a slightly disgruntled but more hopeful face and the other startled.

Dean held up his lighter to the piece of leather, smirking at the man – or supernatural whatever – and allowing it to catch flame.

Sam breathed out in relief and Dean said smugly, "Sayonara, sucker."

A/N: Yay Dean! *fist bumps him* Good luck with your plan and all, guys. *evil authors rubbing hands together*

Oh, and also *narrows eyes*

Well then.

No reviews...is good too...sure *pouts* What gives guys. And next chapter's the last and all so, like, *waves hands* give us the love? Or any feedback or spazzing about that last episode – and Dean and Castiel and zomg Sam – or anything *gestures towards that so totally convenient box* Go for it! 0:)

We have Nutella.
~dodo and iz.