AN: Sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoy this chapter...
The closer they got to the area that Lillian directed them to, the more they realized that it would have only been a matter of time before they noticed the location anyway. A dark storm was whipping its way through and around a small town five hours away from the salvage yard, scattering anything and everything in its path while terrifying the remnants of the town's population. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Lilith was there, and she was more than a little excited.
Dean looked at Bobby before glancing back towards Sammy. He knew that things were going to get hairy and the chances of keeping his son completely safe were going to be almost non-existent, but there was no real option and that really made him itch to get his hands on the twisted demon diva. "Hey Sammy, I need you to stay close and do exactly as I say, ok?" he asked, hoping that this would actually go better than what he was imagining.
Sammy nodded quietly as his wide eyes looked through the windshield and saw the stationary storm that continued to build, his fear building as he couldn't turn away from the sight. "Daddy, Lilith is here?"
Knowing that there was no way he could lie to Sammy, Dean nodded slowly. "Yeah buddy, she's here. But there's no way I'm going to let her get you, ok?"
The sudden appearance of a blockade in the middle of the road made Dean curse and slam the brakes. Seeing that the road ahead was torn and littered with pieces of buildings and fallen trees, he sighed before opening the door. "Hopefully we can find Lillian before we run into Lilith."
"No kidding." Bobby mused as he made his way to the trunk and started to pull the items he knew they'd need. He heard the door open again and then Dean talking softly to Sammy. Although he couldn't tell what was actually being said, he knew that Dean was assuring the youngster that he would do everything he could to make sure he was safe. Sighing, he closed the trunk and sent a silent prayer that Dean wouldn't be made into a liar today.
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It was working, not that she had any doubts that it would, but the process was taking considerably less time and effort than she initially thought. Sure, she knew that she was basically sending a signal big enough for every hunter on the planet to see, but she didn't care. Her prize was close at hand and there was nothing that was going to keep her from it.
"Mistress, its opening!" a minion yelled, as he motioned for the others to come over and watch as Lilith proved yet again why she was in charge. It was an awesome sight to see the small body harness the energy of nature and use it to do something that everyone else had said was impossible – to break through the veil and pull out a soul that is in stasis. Only Reapers had such power, but today their leader would prove them all wrong.
Lilith smiled sweetly as she stared intently at the spot in front of her that was starting to shimmer. She had known that this new body was a good choice, but hadn't known just how good until she began to tap into the endless energy the little girl possessed. Sighing in enjoyment, she stretched her arms as she began to bounce slightly. "Oh this is simply wonderful!" she sang cheerfully as she turned to the others. "Can't you hear him? Hearing him scream makes me feel tingly inside!" she giggled as she turned around and once again watched as the large non-defined form of light slowly appeared.
The others looked at each other warily, knowing that although they didn't actually hear anything, there was something tantalizing in the agony they could taste in the air. Whatever she was doing was working, and it wouldn't be long until they all got the revenge they were after. It wouldn't be long before they had Sam Winchester in their grasp.
"Hey! Get away from him bitch!" Dean yelled as he came into view. He could see something forming, or would it be contorting, and something down deep told him it was his brother, and the only thing he could do at the moment was try to distract Lilith until Lillian did whatever she needed to do to stop this.
"Dean, I'm so happy you could make it! Sam said you wouldn't, so that makes him a very naughty boy for lying." Lilith said with her childish voice gleefully drawing out her sentence as she reached out and pulled on the bright form in front of her, causing it to scream out in anguish. "Naughty boys have to be punished."
"I believe he said 'Get away from him bitch!', and I suggest you do exactly that." A voice yelled out causing the others to turn and stare in shock for a moment. The once ruined lot was now filled by an opening that led into an area that could only be described as déjà vu – Lilith had already destroyed it, but now dilapidated buildings were there with… Dean Winchester walking through!
Dean stared at the figure that was walking closer to him and he had to wonder if maybe he had snuck a bottle or two of Jack without realizing it as his mind started to understand that it was him walking in from an opening that could only be described as surreal. Before he had a chance to say anything, Sammy broke from his hiding place and ran past.
"DADDY!!!" Sammy yelled as he raced towards the newcomer Dean. Dodging past everyone and everything that stood in his way, the small boy was almost there, when he heard his daddy yell.
"NOW LILLIAN!" the newcomer yelled as he grabbed his little boy up in his arms and looked at the circle that formed around him, his son, and his alternate. Smirking, he nodded. "So, you're me. No offense but there's only one Dean Winchester."
Dean smirked while trying hard to grasp his runaway feelings. "Yeah, back at ya." He said as he looked around and noticed that everything was still – no movement from anyone or anything. "Nice trick. So, what's going on?" he asked as he looked his doppelganger over. Sure it looked like him, if he had been rode hard and hung up wet. The scars ran deep and frequent on the other man's face and body giving him a much older appearance, but the self assured attitude was still there which portrayed a confidence that reminded him so much of his dad that it sent a fresh wave of pain through him. "So… how does this work?"
"Look, we don't have time for this, but you need to know. What you see behind me is just a taste of what she'll do if she wins. She's ruthless and she doesn't have a weak spot except she wants to be the one in charge, not even being second to Lucifer will make her happy. She doesn't eat or sleep unless she's tormenting someone in the process. Whatever happens, you can't let her gain a foothold here… we made that mistake, and we've been dwindling ever since." The newcomer Dean adjusted Sammy and closed his eyes as he hugged his boy closer. "Hey little dude, miss me?"
Shrugging, Sammy looked between his two daddies and buried his face deep into his daddy's shoulder while holding on tighter.
Looking up, Sammy's daddy sighed. "His mom, Jenny, and I met while Sam was missing during a hunt when he was on break at Stanford. It didn't take us long to figure out we had a good thing going and by the time we found Sam and got him away from the crazies she was more than willing to put up with Dad and stick with us. The demon that killed mom went after Sam's girlfriend so he came with us instead of putting her at risk. Anyway, Lilith comes into the picture about the same time we find out about Sammy here. Jenny had been hunting with us for about three years and was there when we finally killed Azazel, so she knew what we were dealing with from the start. What we didn't expect was the interest Lilith would take in our little boy. Sammy was due any day and I had just stepped out for some dinner when all hell broke loose." He paused and closed his eyes against the memory before he pushed on, knowing their time was getting shorter by the second. "She told me that Sam protected her with everything he had, but it wasn't enough, then I helped her deliver our son and she died. It's been him and me ever since trying to fight while staying a step or two ahead of Lilith."
Dean knew that answered a few questions, but he was still confused. "Ok, uh… thanks for letting me know but…"
"…why am I telling you this? Simple… we're losing big time here. The angels keep falling and the dead keep stacking up around us. Sammy's everything to me. When he went missing, I went out of my mind, but Lillian told me he was in good hands and that I'd have him back soon. I'm giving him to you because he needs a chance."
Nodding, Dean held out his arms. "Come on little dude. We still need to rescue your Uncle Sammy." Dean said as he waited for the little boy to finish saying good bye. "I take it you have a plan?"
Smirking, the newcomer shrugged as he gently gave a small backpack to Sammy. "I know you're going to be good, so I won't tell you that. What I want you to be though is happy and brave."
"Likes Uncle Sam?" Sammy asked with wide eyes. Seeing the nod from his daddy, he wiped his face. "I's loves you Daddy!" he said before running back toward the daddy he'd gotten to know the last several days.
Looking around, Dean saw the illuminated figure had disappeared. Panicked, he whipped back around to the newcomer and was surprised when he heard the other man yell as the circle began to dissipate.
"Go! I'll hold them off until you get him to the car. My Lillian and your Lillian have been cooking up a surprise. Go!"
Needing no further prodding, Dean turned and raced towards the Impala as he heard the sounds of gunfire and his voice cursing at the demons until that voice was silenced suddenly leaving no doubt to the fate of the other man. Bobby came into view and looked more confused than Dean felt, making the younger man wonder what else could have happened.
"I haven't seen Lillian yet, but I'm pretty sure she's the only one who could have pulled this one off." Bobby said as he motioned inside the car.
Concerned, Dean grasped Sammy tighter as he glanced carefully inside and almost fell over in shock. "Bobby?" he asked, not believing what he was seeing. "How the… never mind. You're driving, and make it quick. There's no way I'm letting them get their hands on either of my Sammy's."
As the black car speed down the roadway leaving the destroyed town in its wake, Dean sat in the backseat with his son clutched at his side, and his brother lying down with his head in his lap. He didn't know how the witch had managed to pull it off, but he knew that whatever she did was only going to give them a small leeway to get someplace safer – he could only hope that it was enough.
