NOTE:
Sorry about the delay. I made this slightly longer then my usual 5 pages. This is 8 pages!
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The Rat Pack pt 6
by StarWindDancer
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Dean stood over Lauren, scanning the graveyard. He couldn't see anything but something was watching them.
And he was pretty sure he didn't imagine the laughter.
The shot gun was pressed into his shoulder as he sighted along the barrel trying to find signs of the enemy. It was a strong possibility it was the Shadow Man, come to gloat over his victory. But Lauren wasn't dead yet.
Dean reached down, gently felling for a pulse once again to reassure himself. Earlier he'd checked, unable to find one but used a mirror (there were many myths, legends, and folklore associated with the powers of mirrors so he usually kept a small one on hand. It really had nothing to do with his prettiness.) to find little fogs of breath. Right then, as he reached down to check her pulse again, his eyes still scanning the area, he could feel Lauren's very weak pulse… and something else.
Dean lifted his fingers, feeling something sticky clinging to his hand.
Blood.
Dean dropped to a knee, gun still at the ready and tilted Lauren's neck to the side. It was bleeding from a row of small puncture marks, bruises connecting the line of marks. If Dean didn't know better, he could have sworn it was a bite mark. Checking her over, he found similar marks and some that looked like long scratches.
Dean moved over to Sam, checking him over likewise, finding the young man fine, and looking like he'd fallen asleep sitting up. But his pulse was rapid and his breathing erratic. Eyes moved frantically under lids that were slightly cracked open. But Dean knew Sam wasn't seeing anything from this world.
Dean crouched next to Sam, whispering light in his ear. "Sam, I need you to find Lauren now. She's dying, Sam. Lauren is dying. There's something here, I think the Shadow Man is watching us. It can't get inside the circle but you and Lauren aren't really in the circle anymore. You have to bring her back to the circle, Sam. He can't touch her here. Bring her back to the circle; bring her back to me, to us." Dean kept whispering instructions in a slow, monotonous tone. Repeating the same thing over and over, hoping to reach his brother.
A noise in the cemetery caused Dean to jump up, bringing the shogun barrel to bear. He scanned the area, unable to pinpoint what exactly it was but the breeze blew, rustling the trees and bringing a decided smell of sulfur.
Dean cursed.
"You have to go thru me first, Asshole! Me first and I'll kick your damned ass!"
He scanned the area, finger so taught on the trigger he feared that he'd mis-fire. But as long as he got the bastard, none of it mattered.
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Sam found Lauren in trouble. Lauren was tangled in what looked like dead vines or branches at first but then Sam saw a piece move. It crawled forwards, grabbing onto Lauren with long, spindly hands, pulling her towards it. An ovoid head with no lower jaw bit into her, long fangs sliding into her skin. Lauren cried weakly, crying in pain and exhaustion. The thing that attached itself to the girl sucked noisily. It's long, clawed fingers kneading the flesh as it gripped.
Sam gagged, sickened at the sight. He watched one of the creatures detach itself, its stomach distended like a tick. Another monster pushed and pulled it self forwards, jostling with others to tangle around Lauren.
Sam reached forwards, trying to pull some of the detached monsters away but they gurgled at him, a sickening sound that nauseated him. It was hard to hold onto the leathery flesh because it was slick with blood.
The creatures were much stronger then Sam and he was unable to pry any away. Lauren cried out in pain, so out of it she didn't even focus on Sam.
Sam checked his pockets, hoping to find a weapon but as he reached down, he couldn't feel his jeans or his pockets. Sam stared down in amazement, finding himself a flesh tone form, kind of like a Ken doll or an ice skater in a flesh toned leotard. All diffuse and soft edges.
Blushing, Sam realized his sister was 'dressed' in the same, naked and vaguely formed way. Sam was confused (as well as embarrassed) at his predicament until he realized he was IN the Afterworld.
He was in the other realm.
He'd entered thru the door ways, taking Cherion's boat and crawled thru the tree. As he'd entered further into the nameless realms, the reality he knew would dissipate- turning into the formless void.
Realizing this, Sam concentrated then lifted his hands. In them he held a Winchester riffle, the one his brother preferred on hunts. Sam grinned manically as he chambered a round. The click- clack as he pumped the action very satisfying.
Almost as satisfying as the retort of the shot as he blew one of the creature's head off.
The collective screamed and gurgled and Sam pumped the action again. He aimed for a snagle of creatures before firing. The leathery, red bodies scattered, limbs and guts splattering.
One creature scurried over Lauren, clinging to her hair and screaming at him. Repulsed, Sam swung the weight in his hands at the thing. A formless shape battered weakly into the creature.
Sam cursed himself. He had to keep the idea of the gun firmly in his mind, all the details of the gun. If he got distracted and let the image waver, it would return to its former, mass-less shape.
Sam concentrated hard, this time thinking of a baseball bat but it never took solid form, not solid enough to bat at the creatures. It did do damage, just not as much as he needed it to.
So Sam thought of the shovel in the Impala's trunk. He knew that shovel well, including the splintered patch a food down the handle. The slight curve of the blade on the left side. The smoke smell that clung to it.
He thought of all of that before whacking a creature.
Half of the thing's body splattered upwards, flying off. The rest hung limp for a moment before the other creatures tore it away from the teenager. Sam kept focus, changing the shovel to the shotguns, to the pistols, to his curved daggers as he dismembered and killed the creatures.
Eventually, the form of Lauren was free of the creatures, Sam pulled out the broken claws, wiping off the gore. He lifted Lauren's limp body into his arms, his mind casting around.
The land was changing, mutating from the pit of hell into a lovely grotto glen.
And walking out of the forest, off the dirt path was Edith and another woman.
"Mom?" Sam whispered.
"Honey," Mary said, stepping up and stoking Lauren's hair. The teenager was formed again, her long hair tangled and blue-green eyes blinking up at him dazedly.
"Can you stand?" Sam asked as he lowered her to a standing position. She clung to him, still dazed and blinking.
"Mommy?" Lauren said, smiling at Edith. The mother and daughter reached out for each other, hugging tightly.
Sam turned to his own mother, Mary Winchester, tears in his eyes.
"It's ok, honey," she said, wiping away his tears. Sam just stood, absorbing the love and care Mary had for him. He'd only known his mother thru fuzzy childhood memories Dean told him and the warped superwoman stories that his father, John, told him. It was so different to just see her, feel her soft hands and blonde/brown hair and blue eyes and her warmth. Sam pulled her into a tight hug, dwarfing the woman's frame. Sam hugged her so tight he didn't know if he could ever let go but finally he felt a touch on his arm.
He turned to find the tear stained face of his baby half-sister. They joined hands, holding each other up as they watched their mothers.
"I know you'll take good care of my little baby," Edith said. The newly dead woman gazed at Lauren with grief and longing and love. Mary reached out to hold the woman.
"And you'll take care of my son, won't you Lauren."
Sam felt Lauren nod against his arm, rubbing her face on his hoodie sleeve to wipe away the tears.
"We both love you," Mary said. "We love you both and Dean and John. Please take care of each other."
"Yes, watch over each other. You're stronger as a family then you realize. Goodbye, my love." Edith blew a kiss to them as her and Mary disappeared down an overgrown path into the woods.
The two siblings stared at the spot, wishing not to leave but knowing they had to.
"Sam, I don't know how to get out of here. I've never been gone so long or so far. I'm lost," she said forlornly.
Sam smirked. He could still feel the overwhelming, annoying presence of his brother. The connection tugged at him. Dean was nervous.
"It's ok, I have it covered. Do you know Metallica?"
"Who?"
Sam stared at his baby half- sister in shock. .
"Metallica? Classic Mullet Rock? Enter the Sandman? Master of Puppets?"
"No, I listen to all sorts of music. I can't always remember who sings what. How does knowing Metallica get us out?"
"Dean's singing right now. It's what he does when he's nervous. I'm using him as an anchor Can you sense our connection?"
Lauren closed her eyes, reaching out a hand to feel the air. "I think… I think I can."
"Ok, follow me. Oh and sing along." Sam started singing one of the less annoying rock songs he knew. Lauren's face brightened up and she started singing along. "She's my cherry pie Cool drink of water Such a sweet surprise. ---"
Sam held tightly onto Lauren's hand as he guided her onto a forest path, winding their way to a distant shore.
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The song Dean was singing suddenly dried up. His mind went completely blank for a second. He gripped his baby (half, whole? Dean really didn't care.) sister's shoulder tightly, the stress of being essentially alone and on his own for the past hour, with the evil pacing around the circle, wearing on him. Dean cast about, trying to think of another song, unwilling to go back to ABC and Twinkle Twinkle… unless absolutely necessary.
He made a few singing, moaning noises until he found himself singing "She's my cherry pie…" His voice rising in tempo and pitch until he felt like he was screaming it.
Lauren gave a big shudder, gasping with her whole body as her eyes popped open. Dean froze in mid-sentence. Lauren was looking around her, wild eyed. Her movements were jerky and she looked panicked. Without a thought of how chick flick it was, Dean pulled Lauren into his embrace, holding her tight to him.
She struggled weakly but didn't have enough in her to fight Dean. She quieted as he whispered reassurances in her ear. Sam slumped against his other side, his hand holding onto Lauren, not so much as hugging or comforting her.
"Do you have anything to eat or drink?" Sam asked.
Dean searched thru his jacket pockets until he came up with a bag of peanut M&Ms.
"I have some granola and a juice box," Lauren said. She cast around for the items, nearly falling over until Dean caught her.
"Stay there, I'll find them," Sam said as he started searching the ground, casting about for the items. It took him a while because he wasn't very coordinated after his recent experiences. "You need to keep touching her. We've got to get her grounded and centered. Here, eat these and drink this."
Lauren tried to hold on but her hands were so limp it was hard going. Dean had to hold the juice box and break up the granola bars for the teenager to eat. The oldest brother had to yell at Sam, reminding him that he had gone all hippy and tranced out as well, forcing his brother to take a few sips for himself.
It was obviously the right thing to do because he became more aware of his surroundings. Color also returned to his face. He was waking up and gaining warmth.
Lauren was just the opposite. She seemed as cold as before even though Dean rubbed her arms and hands. She would give occasional shivers, her teeth chattering. When she blinked her eyes and yawned, Dean shook her hard, trying to keep her awake.
"Its ok, Dean. She's just drained from the experience. We need to get her back home."
"Can't. Something's here, watching us. It can't get inside the circle."
Sam looked around in alarm, casting his gaze about. "I don't see anything or sense it."
Dean looked up; noticing the smell of sulfur was gone. "I think you're right. It stopped taunting us. Lori, do you think you can walk?"
Lauren shook her head no.
"Sam?"
"I think so, if I had some help."
Dean had a moment of panic then, because he wasn't sure how he could support Sam and carry Lauren at the same time. In the end, they got Lauren up on his back, piggy back style. Sam could support his own weight but was so uncoordinated he kept stumbling off to the side. Dean guided him more then helped him.
Sam collapsed into the back seat of the Impala, sprawling and held out his arms. "I'll watch over her while you drive."
Their half-sister was mostly asleep, like a worn out child as they wrestled her into the back seat. She curled up on Sam's warm chest, slightly wrapped in Sam's hoodie and still wearing Dean's jacket. Her ear was next to Sam's heart, the rhythmic thrum luring her to full sleep.
Dean drove carefully back to the motel room, checking on them both in the rear view mirror. He had called Shirley earlier and told her they'd found Lauren and were taking her back to the motel which had been closer. The old woman had been relived and thankful.
At the motel, Dean turned off the engine and watched his young siblings sleeping. Both looked so peaceful and comfortable. The unpleasant tension he'd been holding all night loosened and Dean knew if he had ovaries, they'd be going "Aww, how cute!" at the sight. Being a manly man, he kept silent and watched them, relived at them both being ok.
Dean slid out his camera phone, clicking off a picture of Sam holding Lauren to his chest, his arm wrapped around her and tangled in her blonde curls. The moment of peace wasn't meant to last as Sam blinked sleepy eyes, awakened at the cessation of movement.
"Are we back at the room?"
"Yeah. You better?"
Sam nodded but didn't move or shift to get up. Dean didn't move either. After long moments of silence, Sam spoke up. "The Shadow Man will keep trying to kill her, kill us. Mom said we're stronger together as a family."
"You saw mom?" Maybe he'd have to save a pomegranate for himself to use.
Sam nodded. "After I saved Lauren, we saw mom and Edith. They made us promise to watch over each other. And they said they loved us. She loves all of us."
Dean turned away and yanked the keys out of the engine before throwing himself out of the car. He hoped Sam would think that the chick flick moment were too much for him, and his little brother would be mostly right, just not entirely the way he thought.
Instead he was angry and jealous. Angry that Sam and Lauren could see their mothers and talk to them and get promises to keep each other safe. He was jealous that Sam was best suited to rescue their new sister. He was angry that Lauren had to be rescued in the first place. Tonight had been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for him. Surprised at finding out he had an unknown sister, fear when she disappeared, worry as he watched over their prone forms, and many others. He was a bit worn out himself and resented Sam because he knew what to do and could do it.
The older brother bodily picked up Lauren, holding her close as he glared at Sam who opened up the motel room. The young man collapsed on his bed, falling in then reaching up. Dean glared at him before dropping their baby sister onto his bed. He then pulled off her shoes and socks and the jacket. He emptied out her pockets then tucked her under the sheets.
Sam clumsily sat himself up and peeled off his clothes, leaving only his t-shirt and jeans. He blinked at Dean, debating before tumbling into the bathroom, relieving himself then filling up a large cup of water. He drunk it down himself, in long swallows, thirstier then he thought. The empty cup prompted him to refill it before putting it on the nightstand.
Sam stumbled back to Dean's bed, where his older brother was undressed like him, curled up against the shivering teenager. Dean had also turned up the motel's heater, letting it rattle loudly. Sam tossed his pillows in before crawling into the other side, sandwiching the youngest (and newest) sibling between the brothers.
Dean growled at Sam, being more bark then bite but still laid a hand on his arm, holding his little brother in the embrace.
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NOTE:
Thank you for all the reviews. They really make me want to keep going. I'm surprised at this story too. It's so coherent and sequential. And don't worry; there is more story to come. They've only overcome one obstacle. LOL