Chapter Six.
Although billed as the 'ice exhibit' there was actually very little ice or snow about when they hit the enclosures, just big pools of water surrounded by walls of rock-substitute, and pictures of what the arctic really looked like on the information boards positioned behind the railings. It was hardly a home from home.
With Dean leading the way in front of Sam and Bobby – a strange order of assault they had fallen into over the months without the need for discussion – the trio picked their way around the exhibition, skirting the penguins and seals without much cause for concern. They had bigger fish to fry.
The whole place was quiet. Too quiet. Nothing chattered, nothing stared out at them, nothing moved. It was as if the area was completely deserted. Only they knew it wasn't. Crossing the concrete as quickly and softly as they could, Dean came to a stop beside the high walls of the polar bear enclosure, pulling out the salt and beginning to trail as much of it as he could around the perimeter. Bobby dropped to his knees, attempting to push the meagre supplies into a viable line while Sam cast the steady beam of his flashlight onto the proceedings and held his breath.
A faint noise from behind them made him pause, slowly turning on his heel and pointing the beam of light into the darkness behind him.
"Sam?" Dean questioned, scrabbling at the salt with his foot and trying not to feel the bag growing ever lighter in his hands, "A little light here?"
Instantly shaken from his suspicions and seeing nothing behind them, Sam turned back, coming to an abrupt realisation as the torch flashed over the grains lining the floor. Dean obviously thought it too,
"It's not going to be enough Bobby,"
"I know damn it!" came the snappy reply, followed by a long sigh of impatience, "Just, let me think."
"One of us will have to go back to the truck," Sam supplied in the silence, "You've got more right?"
"Yeah, but – ,"
"Well okay then, I'll just go and grab another bag."
Dean frowned, his expression slipping into a disbelieving scowl,
"What? Sam, are you nuts? Diana's still out there turning things loose! No way, you hear me? I say we track her Noah's-ark-ass down and waste her. Simple as that."
Bobby paused, staring between the glaring brothers and aware that his was the casting vote. Sam's theory made sense, after all, the crux of the plan had been salting everything dangerous so it couldn't come to Diana's aid mid-fight, but Dean was right there too, it was just too damn dangerous. They'd salted all the big things, but what if she'd let loose some deadly spider or something. No, they were definitely stronger as a unit. Which meant Dean's plan was the only option they had left, short of high-tailing it out of there and that was no option at all. He sighed heavily,
"Look, I think – ,"
"Bobby?"
At Sam's sudden interruption, the older hunter frowned in annoyance, turning to send the younger man a vicious glare and only faltering as he noticed the look of shock hung under the shaggy dark hair, matched in incredulity by Dean, who quickly rose his gun to a point over Bobby's shoulder. Not a good sign, not a good sign at all.
A heavy padding sound drew his attention and reluctantly he turned his back to the boys in order to follow their stricken gaze. He also jumped on sight. A polar bear was standing behind him, raised onto it's hind legs and looming over so large it was like standing under a skyscraper, tilting Bobby's hat back as he craned his neck to peer upwards. Forget salting, they were too late.
"Aw hell,"
No other words would do and suddenly Dean was asking him for instructions.
"Bobby?" He wanted to know whether or not to shot, tone hardening at the lack of response, "Bobby."
In the end however, it was not the hunter that answered at all, instead a deep, silky and decidedly feminine voice as a slim blonde dressed in a keeper's uniform stepped out from behind the bear's bulk.
"I wouldn't if I were you," she purred, running a tongue across her teeth as she grinned, "You'll just make him angry."
"Diana."
It came out as a gruff accusation and abruptly the woman smiled, turning temptress' eyes towards the bearded hunter before her,
"Nice to see you too Bobby, although, you've filled out a little since our last encounter. I on the other hand…" she paused to sweep fingers down her possessed body, tracing the hourglass silhouette with the heels of her hands, "…Look fantastic."
Bobby didn't even flinch, his expression stony.
"How was hell?"
Diana shrugged, her casual nonchalance a stark contrast to the tension running through the grouped hunters. She examined her fingernails absently,
"A drag," she sighed, "Although you can hardly expect anything else. It is eternal damnation after all. Or not so eternal as it turns out. Thanks for helping to open the devil's trap by the way boys. Couldn't have done it without you."
Dean grit his teeth as a pulse of anger washed over him, gun still trained on the polar bear's heart. Why were demons so damned sarcastic?
"Get used to it bitch. We're sending you back."
Diana laughed, taking the wind out of Dean's bravado with her very un-frightened sounding chuckle,
"Oh darling," she soothed, sighing almost wistfully, "I really don't think so."
They registered the movement behind them just a fraction of a second too late, spinning as another bear loomed up out of the gloom and swiped big a paw-pad across Bobby's chest, sending him tumbling to the ground where he hit his head with a groan and lay unnaturally still.
"Bobby!"
As Sam started towards his fallen friend, he barely had time to move before the bear brought back its gigantic paw and back-handed the gun from Dean's hand in a swift motion, standing before them suddenly still and positively glowering. It was waiting for orders. Behind them, Diana giggled again, clapping her hands in delight,
"Well now," she breathed, "Isn't this fun?" as she spoke she tucked the bear beside her under the chin, reaching up to scratch at the white fur. It didn't move, it didn't even blink, "We'll just wait for Bobby to wake up and then we can really get the party started. You see," she continued, closing the distance between them, eyes on Dean, fingers running lazily across the collar of his jacket, "Your little friend killed quite a few of my furred charges last time. It's only fair I return the favour. Starting with you."
Reaching up, Dean quickly caught her hand, watching her eyes harden as they locked with his.
"Sorry," he smirked back, "Buffet's closed."
"We'll see."
Sam was still crouched beside Bobby, one hand pressed gently to his neck, feeling the pulse beating away under the skin as he glanced up at his brother and the demon. Dean shot him a glance, and instantly Sam knew that his brother's brain was working away at a plan. Which – knowing Dean – would be something outrageous, not that they had the time to argue about the merits of dangerous plans. They were pretty screwed after all. Instead he simply sat quietly beside Bobby and waited for instructions, if Dean so much as blinked in his direction he'd be ready for it.
The eldest Winchester was still smirking,
"Sweetheart," false affection, always a sure sign Dean was gearing up for a put-down, "These fluffy teddies of yours don't scare me one bit. I've killed rats with more bite."
Sam frowned, strongly doubting the case but aware that Dean was angling towards something, a suspicion confirmed when Dean's eyes slid in his direction, denoting Bobby's dropped shotgun. Sam slid his fingers around it slowly, not entirely sure what to do with it.
Diana was still staring across at the hunter, intrigued, amused and just a little irritated,
"Is that so?" she snapped, raising a hand to stroke absently at the bear to her side. Obviously they were her weak spot, and Dean had somehow worked that out.
"Yeah, besides, you want me…?" he tailed off, taking a step towards Sam, fingers tensing, "You're going to have to catch me first,"
Abruptly, Dean threw himself sideways, ducking low and rolling across the ground to miss the club-like paw as the bear behind him lashed out. Holding out one hand, Sam threw him the shotgun, watching his brother dash past with a hastily shouted sentence,
"Get Bobby's cross, meet me at the aquarium,"
And then he was off, running across the pathways Diana's angry voice calling out across the darkness as she ordered her bears into action like an eccentric Bond villain.
"After him! And you…" suddenly she was pointing at Sam, eyes ablaze with fury as he staggered to his feet, "…stay here. Or else."
She didn't exactly care to specify what or else was though, instead clicking her fingers in some sort of summons, the eyes flashing solid black again. Sam frowned. What was she doing this time? Although he didn't need to wait long for his answer because the next minute there was a hiss and he turned just in time to miss the biting strike of a cobra, raised high upon it's tail, beady black eyes boring mesmerising holes into his own.
"I'll be back for you later."
As Diana stalked off into the darkness after Dean, Sam swallowed, feigning right and watching as the snake second guessed him, spitting something towards him that landed by his foot. A warning.
Suddenly he yearned for the polar bears back.
The sound of a soft groan behind caught his attention and he half-turned his head wide-eyed and breathless,
"Bobby?"
Silence greeted him and as he went to step towards his fellow hunter the snake lunged again, connecting with the tip of his boot and sending him tumbling backwards with a yelp of surprise. He didn't have time for this, Dean was chasing through the park with a demon and two polar bears hot on his heels and a mad and abnormally fast cobra was cornering his only source of help.
Bending down Sam quickly scooped up Dean's discarded gun, holding it up tentatively. He didn't want to have to shoot one of the zoo's animals, after all, it was as good as shooting someone's pet. Knowing his luck a field trip of seven year olds would be the first ones to discover it in the morning, which would probably traumatise them for life.
But as the snake launched for him again, and with Dean still alone somewhere in the dark and expecting back up, it left Sam with very little choice except to set his face and pull the trigger.
The shot blast the snake's head clear off its body, sending a hail of reptile through the air like the victim of some gruesome internal explosion. Sam blinked, letting out a long breath and listening as the groan to his side got louder. He turned at once. Bobby was awake, lying uncomfortably on one side and staring towards the pile of cobra with a look of surprise and a hand to his throbbing head.
"Bobby," Quickly Sam was by his side, crouching low with a hand pressed gently to the older man's shoulder, "Are you okay?"
He peered up at Sam incredulous,
"Am I okay? Son, you just shot a snake!"
Sam frowned, not sure whether the other man was pissed or confused. Probably both, which was something they didn't have time for.
"Come on," bearing most of the shorter man's weight, Sam gripped tight to Bobby's arm, effectively hauling him to his feet with a grimace of effort, then hovering close as the older hunter gradually found his balance, "You still got your cross?" he asked breathlessly, earning a nod,
"Yeah," A quizzical look around, "Where's Dean?"
"The aquarium,"
"The aquarium? What in the hell is he doing there?" Letting go of Bobby's shirt and taking the solid wooden cross offered out to him, Sam shook his head, turning to stalk off and knowing that Bobby would sense the urgency and follow his lead, "And where's Diana? Where are the bears?"
"With him," Sam replied gruffly, tucking the gun into the band of his jeans and picking up speed,
"With him?" repeated Bobby, going for some sort of record in incredulousness, "They're with him?"
"Yeah."
Sam looked about as grim as Bobby had ever seen him and he didn't doubt why. Diana better not have done a single thing to hurt Dean Winchester, or she was going to have one pissed as hell little brother to contend with.
He sighed as he followed Sam's lead, brisk walk turning to a trot as he tried to match the pace. Yep, he was sure of it, those boys were going to be the death of him.
They were definitely going to be the death of each other.
Okay, now am officially snowed-in, getting pretty fed-up with the big freeze! Reviews will warm my cold little heart though! (ad nauseam!)