Chapter 7: Fears from the Past Faced Anew
Ruby caught up with Bhairavi in time to see the huge black truck spin gravel and kick up dust as it hit the blacktop on the way to safety. She looked at the truck as its brake lights briefly lit up and it rounded the corner at breakneck speeds.
"Get him safe." She murmured as she turned to face her quarry. Her eyes turned their inky black as she drew on power deep within and she smirked, always enjoying the heady rush that came with tapping into the hidden source. "Time for a little fun." She turned to Bhairavi's form which was materializing from black demon smoke. Ruby's blond hair waved behind her in the cold breeze the presence of the other demon stirred.
"Bhairavi, I'd like to say it's good to see you again, but that would just be a lie."
The dark haired woman turned to the voice behind her. She'd lost her chance to do away with the boy king that stood in the way of her rightful position as leader of the demon army. Sam still lived. She was furious.
"Aindri, following the general like a good little soldier, are we?" Her blue eyes turned inky black and the cold wind intensified, buffeting Ruby with the force behind it.
"I told you once what I'd do if I ever saw you again."
Bhairavi's voice dripped sarcasm as she laughed. "You don't have any power over me alone. Just one of the Avinashini Yamala . The indestructible twins. I destroyed what was once the only force that could stop me.
"I can take you. I banished you alone before. I can do it again."
"Oh, my greatest fear has come true! Little Ruby, about to put me in my place. Give it up, Aindri. You cannot defeat me. I will take Sam's life, and his place. You can follow me like the soldier you are." Bhairavi laughed evilly. Ruby simmered with rage.
"You used me to kill my brother. You didn't defeat us. You didn't have the guts to go up against us without turning me first."
"Oh yes. I had forgotten such a trivial thing. Losing your brother, your twin; that was your greatest fear. Losing a part of yourself. I know you care for the boy king. You're hoping to secure your place by his side. I'm going to take him from you, too. I will break you."
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Dean stirred on the bed and opened his eyes to find he was almost too tired to keep them open. Bobby was sitting beside him on the bed. Dean pulled away when Bobby offered him a glass of water.
"You sonofa… You drugged me!"
"I'm not sorry. I won't be sorry. You need to rest. Damnit Dean, just give yourself some time. Everything will work out."
"Right," Dean snorted, "'Cause everything is just so freakin' peachy! I killed my baby brother and you're telling me to take care of myself! Get the hell away from me old man! I don't need you to tell me what the hell to do with what little life I have left. Without Sammy I have no life!"
Dean lurched on unsteady legs from the bed. Brushing past Bobby, who had also stood, he headed for the kitchen. Bobby followed closely behind. Dean grabbed the first bottle he came to and downed the Jack in one long swallow. Bobby watched him and moved closer. Dean moved towards the door a few steps, with Bobby following closely, before he winced and wavered. Dean dropped the bottle, sending it to the wooden floor with a crash. It shattered and Dean's eyes glazed over. "Yousonofafreakinbitch." He slurred before his eyes rolled back and he slumped into Bobby's arms once again. Bobby Kept him from landing on the glass and Drops of Whiskey that lay all over the floor.
"I'm getting' too old for this crap." Bobby muttered as he lifted Dean into a fireman's carry and deposited him onto the bed again.
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Joshua pulled into Singer Salvage Yard kicking up gravel as he screeched to a halt. He glanced at Sam before opening his door. Bruises, stubble and fever spots stood out on the boy's otherwise colorless face. He got out of the truck and shut the door. The bang startled Sam awake.
"Easy, bud. We're at Bobby's." Joshua said as he helped Sam out of the truck.
"Dean?"
"Yeah. He's here someplace. I'll take ya to him." Bobby came out onto the porch at the sound of a vehicle. Joshua supported Sam as he helped him walk to the porch. Bobby came down the stairs and threw his arms around the youngest Winchester, pulling him from Joshua's grip and into a tight hug.
"Damn, kid. It's good to see you!" Sam sagged into Bobby's arms, unable to do more than concentrate on his breathing and lean into the embrace.
Ruby walked soundlessly around the corner of the house. "I hate to break up the family reunion and all, but get him the hell outta here! Bhairavi…"
"You called me?" Bhairavi materialized in front of Ruby and laughed maliciously, flinging an arm out and sending the other demon flying. Ruby hit the side of a junk pickup several yards away and slid to the ground with a grimace on her face. Bhairavi advanced on the three hunters standing near the porch and waved her arm again. Bobby was flung away from Sam, landing a few feet away with a grunt of pain. Sam slid to his knees on the dusty ground, too weak to stand on his own.
Bhairavi laughed. "The boy king, on his knees before me? How fitting." Joshua pulled his Ruger from his waistband and fired repeatedly. Other than a slight flinch and a quick glance his way, he got no acknowledgement from her. He shot her again, this time between the eyes. She growled and flung out her arm. Joshua's feet left the ground and he landed hard near the tire of his truck, unmoving. His arm was pinned at an odd angle beneath his back.
"Josh!" Sam screamed. He fought to push himself upright. Dean emerged from the house, rifle in hand. He flew down the porch steps.
"You! You took my brother from me!" Dean shouted angrily, seeing only Bhairavi in his grief. "I'm not gonna let you hurt any other friends of mine!" He fired the high-powered semi-automatic repeatedly. Bhairavi staggered, but quickly regrouped, pinning him to the wall with a wave of her hand. He kept his grip on the rifle.
Sam forced himself upright. "Dean!" He cried out weakly. Bhairavi turned her attention to him and he slid backwards to slam into the door of Joshua's truck with enough force to dent it.
"Guuhh!" His back arched and he cried out. His senses reeled and blackness lurked at the edges of his consciousness as she held him upright without touching him. She turned back to Dean, a malicious glint in her black eyes.
"You see this? Hell holds your brother in its grasp now. You failed him. You let him down and now darkness uses his image to end this world as you know it. Your greatest fear has come true."
"No! Sammy!" Dean screamed in agony.
"I'll kill this evil for you Dean. You can put your brother and yourself to rest." She released Dean from her hold and he raised the rifle level with Sam's chest and fired. Ruby stepped in front of Sam and took the bullet.
Ruby knocked the rifle from Dean's hand with a flick of her wrist. "That hurts. And you owe me a new jacket." She flicked her forefinger off her thumb and Dean's head snapped back, connecting with the wall of the house behind him. He slumped, unconscious, to the ground.
Bhairavi turned to face Ruby and growled. She glared, black eyes meeting black eyes the held a desire for vengeance in their depths.
"I'll destroy you!" Bhairavi menaced.
"How can you? I've already faced my worst fear and survived. You can't beat me." Ruby retorted, smiling sweetly. Something flickered in the other demon's black eyes and she faltered as she faced Ruby. Bobby raised his head from where he lay on the ground near Dean. Ruby moved forward.
"I've just made your worst fear come true. You've found someone you can't touch!" Bhairavi screamed a hideous, terrified sound. Her skin slowly began to turn gray and her features locked into a twisted mask of fear. She turned to stone as her scream turned to a grating cry and faded. Sam slumped, breathless, and pushed his body away from the damaged truck. He staggered to the corner of the porch where Bobby kept a splitting maul and a sledge hammer. Sam picked up the twenty pound sledge lurched to the grotesque stone figure. He roared in fury and swung the sledge with all his remaining strength. The large hammer connected with Bhairavi's stone shoulder and the gargoyle- like figure shattered, stone flying everywhere. Sam dropped the sledge, heaving a ragged breath as his eyes rolled back in his head. He collapsed to the ground. Bobby forced himself upright as Joshua stirred on the ground by the truck. Ruby turned to Sam and rolled him over. Blood was seeping through the gauze at his temple. She brushed the hair from his eyes and wiped dust from his cheek.
"Looks like you're gonna have another scar, handsome." She murmured for his ears alone. Bobby had gone to Dean's side as he groaned. He helped Dean sit up. His eyes fell on Ruby, on her knees beside Sam. Then they shifted to Bobby's haggard features.
"Bobby, what the hell happened?"
"That pile of rubble there was a demon." Bobby said softly. "She got to you, made you think ten kinds o' crazy. You remember?" Dean's face clouded over.
"Oh god, Sammy!"
Ruby looked at Dean. "He needs attention, but he'll be okay. Bobby helped Dean stand and he pulled away, rushing to Sam's side. Bobby went to Joshua who was sitting up on the ground with a death grip on his right shoulder.
"You okay?"
Joshua was breathing heavily, in pain. "Shoulder's dislocated." Bobby helped Joshua stand and they made their way inside. Dean pulled unconscious Sam to his feet and stumbled under the weight. Ruby stepped up to Sam's other side and fit herself against him, helping Dean get him inside.