Chapter 7.
A painful tugging at his arms brought Dean back to consciousness and through blurry vision he can see Sam and Jack standing not too far off, screaming at him. It doesn't take clear eyesight to be able to understand that somehow the ghost has created a force field around them.
"Ow." He hisses, as he looks over his shoulder spotting the woman ghost behind him hoisting him higher, just barely above the wood doused with gasoline. "Lemme go..." he struggles but freezes as gold flashing light glows over them and around...Jack. Her grip loosens and the rope falls some, allowing him to shakily land on his feet, arms still bound above him.
The witch ghost wails and screeches as the cracks appear in the invisible wall like its breaking and shattering something inside her too...it probably was. He wrenches his hands trying to free them as Jack's power simply crushes hers. Watching her come towards him and with trembling hands trying to light matches, he knows this is their only chance to end her.
He thought for sure there was something about this gazebo that was keeping her tethered to this world...but what? She had surely burned all those other poor souls here...the refining fire should have eradicated her being. But still she was here...Dean thought for sure she had to be burned one last time in this place...she herself...not another person, not simply burn the gazebo. But burn her here in the place one last time, the place where she had died all those years ago, where her anger and bitterness was born.
His hand shoots from his binds like lightening, finds the lighter there in his pocket where it always is...their eyes connect as he flicks it open and it ignites, her eyes filled with realization that she'd been bested and amazement. She turns to look out towards the house one last time before Dean let's the lighter drop and hell consumes them.
. . .
Sam can't even breathe...how did the fire even start? He hadn't seen Lana with a flame...did that mean? Did Dean see his chance to end her and take it? His very soul aches with that though...his beautiful priceless brother sacrificing himself once again.
Lana Wagner's last screeches of pain and torture echo into the cold still morning and then all is quiet...as Sam had thought...she was gone forever now...as was his brother.
The fire still burned hot and Sam paces impatiently and distracted to the point of insanity in front it...This was impossible, Dean couldn't go like this, not some dumb ghost who had somehow bested them...not on Christmas...jesus, not on Christmas!
"Aghhhhhh!" He screams at the sky, hands fisted so tightly blood was welling up in his palms. How the hell did to end up like this?
"Sam?"
The call stills everything. Everything around him, everything in him, every thought...his very heart beat. That voice he would know any where, any time...no matter how many times over his was supposed to be dead, Sam would always know Dean's voice.
"Dean?" He answers, voice almost screeching. His feet rush around the still glowing hot gazebo and into the brush behind it. There he can see a form struggling to rise in the gathering light.
A relieved laugh breaks from his mouth at the sight of Dean, half soaked from falling into the edge of the lake, trying to get back on land and at the same time untangle thorns from his clothes.
"Don't just stand there." He growls, "This freaking hurts."
Sam rushes towards him with gratefulness catching on a lump in his throat. He grabs his brother's arm and pulls him from the water, once he stands there shivering and dripping Sam gently unwinds the thorns from his pants and jacket.
Dean stands still for him as he looks him over making sure he was indeed alive, and okay...the tip of Dean's ear is burned, pretty bad. But that was it, Sam feels another amazed, crazy laugh bubble up from within him.
He fingers the bloody gash in Dean's hairline tenderly, making sure it wasn't too bad, he fishes a bandana from his pocket and presses it too the still gushing head wound, Dean grimaces but takes over, holding it there, sopping up the blood.
"How?" Sam asks simply.
Dean shakes his head, swallowing around the roughness in his throat from being so close to the hot fire and the freezing water in the dead of winter. "Figured she'd have to be in the gazebo thing while it burn for it to work, since she's been burning people in there for a while. Dropped my lighter and dived head first out of there...it's actually really lucky the water was there...don't know how much more my poor head could've taken."
He laughs looking to Sam, both their eyes alive and glowing with the high of the hunt, it's accomplished and they're both still here...eyes glow with the relief and hidden tears of thankfulness. Sam simply grips him in his embrace, wrapping his arms securely around his brother and burying his face in the nook of his neck and shoulder.
"Don't do that again." He muffles from his hiding place.
Dean returns the hug, hands rubbing soothingly on his back, "Okay Samantha. It's Christmas, how bad could it have been?"
Sam doesn't want to think about that answer.
. . .
There is no describing the relief Sam feels when he sees Dean come out of the shower, this time dripping with warm water and drying his now bloodless hair. His brother comes over to sit beside him on the couch, slipping on one of Sam's t-shirts because he didn't pack enough. The room is warm and quiet and now safe around them.
Dean sighs happily, and doesn't complain as Sam produces as butterfly bandage and gently cleans and bandages the wound on his head. Just as he finishes Jack comes back to the room from Dean's 'important' mission he'd sent him on. In his hands he's got a pitcher and three glasses stacked precariously.
"I was successful!" He beams coming towards them and placing the eggnog on the coffee table in front of them.
Dean claps him loudly on the back, smiling broadly. "Yes!" Fisting his hand and giving it a pump, "Personally this is my favorite part of Christmas."
Sam gives him a fond smile and gets up only to return with the bottle of rum from from the tray if liquor decanters. Dean grins at him mischievously, "Sammy, I'm surprised at you...but proud."
Sam rolls his eyes. "I need a drink after everything you put me through."
Dean rolls his eyes too, shoving Sam playfully as he comes to sit beside him in the couch. Dean takes the rum from him and pours a healthy shot into each of their glasses.
"You're too stingy and uptight to pour the liquor." He tells Sam, eyes twinkling.
"Whatever." Sam mumbles, no feeling like arguing with his sibling, simply glad he's there. He pours eggnog up to the brim of all three of their glasses and they each take one. Holding them and clinking them together companionably, Jack kneeling on the floor leaning over the coffee table.
"Merry Christmas Sammy." Dean says, a fond smile on his lips, "Merry Christmas Jack."
"Merry Christmas." They echo and then the room is silent as they all drink eagerly.
"This is amazing." Jack says breathlessly, finally having to breathe, sporting a creamy mustache.
"What did I tell you." Dean says, licking his lips and sitting back in the couch, burrowing his cold toes up under Sam's thigh. He gives him a dirty look but doesn't say anything.
"By the way Jack." Dean says, "Good job out there, thank you. You saved my life, you know?" He gives Jack a genuine smile with serious eyes, letting Sam know he's aware how close a call he really had.
"I like Christmas." Jack says, matter of factly, "This is definitely a good Christmas."
Dean and Sam exchange knowing, abhorred looks...this was the lamest Christmas they'd ever had and that was saying something, but with the happy smile on Jack's face and the peace and satisfaction in their own hearts they figure they didn't entirely screw it up.
...the end.
There it is guys! All finished! Can't believe it, really I can't. ITS THE LAST CHAPTER SOOO...REVIEW!?
(((I kno this might have felt a little rushed in the ending. But honestly I'm just glad to have it done after this rough patch I've had :(:( hopefully there will be more stories but thank you so much to all my readers and reviewers who stuck with me...I love you guys and you are 100% why I keep writing and posting on here! Thank you, thank you, thank you!)))
Who's excited for Wayward Sisters and whose not? Why yes or why not? Just curious...Lemme know in the comments.
