The Gift
By elderwitty
Chapter Seven
Crap. I shouldn't have finished the pie.
Although Sam seems to be having no trouble dealing with the crazy lady. Wait, what's he saying? Latin, but that's no spell I've ever heard. And he's reading it off something, looks like a ring. I have a quick clear flash of the feel of cool metal when she grabbed my arm. White skin on either side of a gold band as she clutches her wrist. And now the hand she's trying to pry his off her neck with is bare. Shit! Cursed object - all this time. And Sam's getting more than the full effect.
"Sam, stop it!" He doesn't but she does, with a double kick to the balls that folds him right in half and lets her spring off the bed. I reach out to pull her behind me 'til I can fix Sam, but she tries to castrate me, too. I block it with my thigh but miss my grab when she flies by.
"Sam!" He tilts his face my way, eyes clinched in pain. "Throw me the ring. Now!" He does and I shut the door on it - I don't want it, I just need it away from him. Follow her trail down the street - hair clip, tissue, license - what is she doing? Closing in quick as she staggers into the alley; man, she's out of shape.
Car keys.
Wait, she had CAR KEYS in her bra? "Hey, wait!' but she ducks behind a dumpster – only she's not ducking. She drops to her knees and falls into the building face first, not even trying to catch herself. I reach her as she's sliding down toward a pile of trash left over from the Clinton administration, by the smell. Pull her back against me and realize that the wheezing whistle I hear is her trying to breathe. Sampawneckslam. Fuck! He half crushed her and now she's suffocating. Let her weight carry us down until I'm on the ground, propped up against the dumpster.
I try a couple of positions looking for one that will keep her alive until an ambulance gets here. Call 911. Phone... still on the nightstand. Shitdamnfuck!
"Dean!"
Thank God. "In the alley!" He rounds the corner and almost growls when he sees her. "No, Sam! Stop!" Years of older brother orders pay off. He's breathing hard and angry, but still five feet away. Standing a little hunched, his thumb pressed into the crease at the top of his thigh, trying to redirect the discomfort. Not sure he'd make the call - he's got 'it' now and I need an ambulance before I can work on making him think his way out from under it. "Gimme your cell."
"What?"
"Sammy, just do it."
I have her settled now; sideways across my outstretched legs, my arm under hers and around her back, her forehead against my cheek holding her throat as straight and open as it can be. I can feel her back muscles strain to pull in each breath, but she doesn't sound two seconds from asphyxia anymore.
Make the call and look up to find Sam looming, scowling, plotting. Shit. "Sam." Glaring. "Sam!"
"What?!" I've seen goblins less eager to get to their dinner.
"Stop it. We gotta hurry. Go back to the room-"
"What? No! I'm gonna-"
"SAM!! Knock it off!" Try logic. "Why are you mad?"
"Are you kidding? She took it off, the one thing I…" he breaks off, confused.
"Yeah. Not the nut smashing? Huh. Cursed object, Sam. You're affected. Think about it – it's the curse making you angry. Logic'll break its hold." His expression shifts from anger to worry and discomfort as he works it through.
"Shit." And now guilt.
"Not your fault, Sam, and we don't have time for this. Get back to the room. Throw all your stuff in the trunk and get lost for a few hours."
"Why?"
"If the bruise comes up a giant handprint, they're gonna start looking. Grab her shoes, too. And my phone. And the ring – but don't touch it!" He throws me a disgusted look that I probably deserve. "No, wait. Put it in something and cover it in salt. Or holy water. Don't lose it. Call me in three hours. Go, Sam!"
He's only gone two steps when I realize something. "Sam! Grab her crap from the sidewalk and bring it here." He's back with it in a flash – at least he's shaken off the curse. "Thanks. Now get outta here." It's a struggle to keep her neck straight while I pack stuff back into her bra, but I get it done. When the ambulance pulls up just as I finish, she's still breathing. Now for the fun part – the hospital and the cops.
TBC
