Chapter Seven
Dean awoke the next morning alone in Anna's bed. He was a little disappointed at first, but the smell of coffee and something sweet wafting up the stairs made him smile. He couldn't have gotten more that a few hours sleep by the look of the early morning light, but they were a good few hours. He laced his fingers behind his head and allowed himself a moment to relive the night before. He and Anna taking the time to get to know the taste and feel of the other's body. Of the way they had both exhaled held breath as they joined, hers coming out as a sigh on the night in the shape of his name – 'Dean'. Anna, bare-breasted above him, her head thrown back and her fingers digging into her own scalp as their bodies rose and fell in unison. The hurried breaths as they were caught up in the cresting waves that took them higher and higher until they came crashing back to earth, spent and gasping. Dean smiled, as far as last nights on earth go, he couldn't have asked for better.
He ducked out into the hall and into his room for some fresh clothes before going downstairs. Standing in the entrance to the kitchen, he watched Anna move from the sink to the oven. She was wearing pink and white striped cotton pajama pants, a white tee-shirt, and her hair was tied up in an unruly knot behind her head, strands of hair sticking up in every direction, refusing to be tamed. Completing this vision of early morning splendor was Anna reaching into the oven and pulling out a tray of fresh blueberry muffins. Sam was at the kitchen table with what looked like the remains of a first batch of muffins, and a dish of rapidly disappearing butter. Sam looked up as his brother entered the room, cramming the rest of an innocent muffin into his mouth with lustful abandon. They must be good because Sam always gave him smack for eating that way.
Dean crossed the kitchen to the counter where Anna was, fully intending to kiss her good morning. As he leaned in, she pulled back slightly and shook her head. Not one to miss a beat, Dean reached past her to the coffee pot and looked at her. Indicating in Sam's direction, she shook her head again and whispered softly, 'He doesn't know where you slept last night, it would probably be best to keep it that way.'
'What are you two whispering about over there?' Sam called around a mouthful of food.
'Oh, I was just telling your brother that it's only good manners to brush your teeth before coming to breakfast.' Anna replied airily as she headed to the table to dump the latest batch of muffins on the tray in front of him. Dean made a show of breathing onto his hand and sniffing his palm. Sam gave a snort of laughter while spreading a lavish amount of butter on half of a muffin Anna had just put in front of him. Dean strode over to his kid brother and grabbed the baked good out of his hand and popped it into his own mouth despite Sam's loud protestations. Damn, they were good, but sweets just weren't his thing in the morning. Answering his prayers, Anna pulled a cardboard carton out of the fridge and asked, 'Eggs?' Dean smiled.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The day was a busy one for them, that was for sure. They had to cut plants and herbs, which thankfully Anna had growing around the house because it beat hiking around in the woods and bushes. Some dried herbs had to be ground to a fine powder, a job Anna gave to him while she sent Sam to the living room to study her scrap-book of demon paraphernalia. While Sam eagerly got to work learning from Anna's accumulated knowledge, Dean was able to work in the kitchen with her, without Sam knowing what they were up to. Dean was able to sneak in a few kisses here and there and every once in a while they would throw an insult at each other for Sam to hear, so that he wouldn't become suspicious of their lacking animosity.
Anna even went out of her way to make great meals for lunch and supper. Dean suspected it was because they were his last meals and she wanted them to be special. It wasn't as if you had to spend a lot of around him to know that he liked food. Sam was actually shoving food in his mouth in ways that made even Dean grimace.
Nightfall came all too soon. They would be leaving soon for the church and Dean wanted a few minutes alone with Anna. He found her in the kitchen, like he suspected he would. She had her back to him and was singing softly along to Guns and Roses "Don't Cry". Dean had never been much of a G&R fan, and Anna's voice wasn't one that would ever make it far in the music industry, but the heartfelt way she seemed to be singing every word just for him, without even knowing he was listening, struck a heart-wrenching resonance deep within him.
'There's a heaven above you baby, and don't you cry tonight,' she sang as Dean wrapped his arms around her from behind. She jumped at the touch, startled, and turned to bury her face in Dean's chest, but not before he saw the tear tracks down her cheeks.
Dean held her close and tried to whisper soothing things in her ear. When she seemed to calm down, he pulled away slightly and said, 'Anna, there's something I want to ask you.'
'What is it Dean?'
'Could you keep an eye on Sammy for me? He's got a lot of trouble headed his way and I know Bobby will do whatever he can for him, but I'll feel better knowing that there's another set of eyes watching out for him.'
'You know I will,' she whispered.
'It's just that, there's going to be a lot of demons gunning after him, and you and Bobby know more about demons than any one else I've ever met, he's going to need you.'
'Dean, you know I'll do whatever I can for Sam, but after tonight, I don't think he'll ever speak to me again.'
'I know, just keep calling him…fill up his voice mail. He's as stubborn as Dad ever was but he'll crack eventually, even if it takes months.' Dean paused, 'I wrote him a letter, explaining everything to him, and asking him not to hold it against you.'
'I hope you put it somewhere that he wouldn't find it right away.'
'Sure did,' Dean smirked, 'in the bottom of his duffle bag, beneath the dirty underwear.'
'Eeww,' she grimaced before breaking into a smile.
'Hey, where is Sammy anyway?'
'Out back making a couple gallons of Holy Water. Why?' She asked. Dean wiggled his eyebrows at her and indicated upstairs with a nod of his head, causing her to giggle for a moment before sniffing and swiping at a stray tear. 'I swear, at a time like this and that's still all that's on your mind.'
'That's not the only thing on my mind, I'm also thinking about that pie you had at supper. Any chance you, me and the pie could sneak off for a threesome?' She swatted him playfully in the chest before settling back in to his embrace.
They stood like that for a few moments, just enjoying the last few minutes they would ever spend together, when Anna suddenly whipped her head around, looking quite startled. 'What is it?' Dean asked. Anna's face was scrunched up like she was thinking hard about something. 'Anna, what is it?' Dean repeated.
'Beware the Red Lady…' she whispered so softly that Dean had trouble hearing her.
'Red Lady? What are you talking about?' Dean was concerned.
'Just now… a spirit whispered in my ear. It was in this God-awful Gutter-Latin and I didn't make it all out, he said it so fast and then was gone.' She was speaking quickly, 'He said beware the Red Lady, and, I think, something about a wolf pelt.' Anna looked questionably at Dean, 'Does that mean anything to you?'
Dean's mind was drawing a blank, he didn't have a clue about a red lady. Maybe it was about Susan, she was a red-head, but why would a spirit warn them about her? And what did she have to do with wolves? Was she really a werewolf and they didn't recognize it in her? 'It's nothing to worry about for now, let's just go and get this over with.' Dean said, hugging her close and kissing her forehead.
The sound of a chair scraping across the floor made them jump apart. Sam had come rushing into the room and had kicked the chair accidentally when he saw Anna and his brother in an intimate embrace. 'Dude… sorry I…um,' he looked terribly confused as he gestured out to the back yard.
'Good news Sammy,' Dean smiled foolishly and pulled Anna back into an awkward one armed squeeze. 'We've worked it out, no more fighting in front of the kids.'
'That's…great guys…' Sam fumbled, obviously shocked at what he had walked in on. 'Um, Dean… Ruby's outside.' Sam pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
'Ruby?' Dean repeated. 'Is she here to help us?' Dean wasn't so sure that Ruby's presence would be beneficial to the plan tonight. Although, Dean was pretty sure that Ruby wouldn't hesitate to shoot him, she'd probably insist on the pleasure.
'Who's Ruby?' Anna asked, but was ignored as Sam interrupted her.
'She's out back, but she's stuck in one of Anna's traps and she looks pissed.'
'Stuck in one of my traps?' She said heatedly, rounding on Dean. 'Ruby's a demon?'
'Well – yeah,' Dean answered.
'Just how many demons are you two tangled up with?' She yelled angrily, putting a couple feet between her and Dean.
'At last count?' Dean said dryly, rolling his eyes.
'Ruby's okay Anna, she helps us.' Sam cut in, defending Ruby.
Anna turned on Sam. 'Demons don't help humans, Sam!'
'Ruby does,' he argued back.
'Yeah Anna,' Dean added, 'Ruby's helped us out of some real jams. She helped us fix the colt, she's turned up when we were in trouble. She's fighting on our side.'
'Did it ever occur to you two chuckle heads that she might have her own agenda in this war? That's she's helping you because it would benefit her in some way?'
'Ruby wants us to win,' Sam ground out.
'She's a cat playing with a mouse,' Anna insisted. Turning to face Dean she said, 'Ruby's the Red Lady, and I'll bet the last part I couldn't make out was she's a wolf in sheep's clothing.'
Sam looked at his brother, 'What's she talking about – Red Lady?'
'Some spirit warned her "Beware the Red Lady," like, two minutes before you came in here,' Dean explained, glancing at Anna who was now peering out the kitchen window and staring at Ruby. Dean could see Ruby standing in the glow of the garage's security flood-light, arms crossed and glaring back at them. Sam was right, she looked pissed.
'Anna,' Dean started but was cut off by her holding up her hand.
'Don't.' She emphasized. 'I need a moment to think,' and she continued to study Ruby through the glass. Dean glanced at his brother but all Sam did was shrug. 'Alright,' she said, pushing away from the glass, 'let's go meet Ruby.'
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Dean and Sam followed Anna's striding form out the back door and across the yard, her heeled boots clicking on the concrete pavers. She stopped a couple feet short of Ruby and Dean could see the two women visibly bristling at each other.
'Well – Annathea,' Ruby drew out, making her name sound like something foul, 'I've heard so much about you.'
'I'm sure the pleasure's all yours bitch,' Anna shot back. 'Why are you here?'
'I came to keep you from getting my boys killed by Hazra tonight.'
'It surprises me that a demon would be so keen on helping these two, considering that their line of work usually involves sending the likes of you back to the pit.'
'Do not group me with the other riff-raff that made it out of that gate.'
'No, because you're not like them are you Ruby? No, you're much smarter. Tell me, which one are you after? Sam? Dean? Maybe both?'
'You don't know what you're talking about.'
'Don't I?' Anna was pacing slowly around the trapped demon. Even in her heels, Anna was shorter than Ruby, but Dean knew Anna used her diminutive stature against her enemies. 'I know that you're not helping these two out of the goodness of your heart. What's your angle?'
'Let me out,' Ruby said, visibly seething. 'I can help them.'
'I could let you out, but you'll just find yourself trapped again. I've got these lovely demon landmines hidden all over the place.' Anna sauntered up to a foot away from Ruby. 'You're not going anywhere without my say so.' Anna turned to walk away but suddenly lashed out with her foot and struck the side of Ruby's head. The blonde seemed to bounce off an invisible wall and crumpled to the ground. Sam, looking shocked, glanced from Anna to Ruby to Dean and back to Ruby. Well, Sam didn't know about Anna's fighting capacities, not like the way Dean knew, and Dean supposed that it would come as quite a shock that the little cookie baking witch doctor could send a black belt running for his life.
Sam seemed to find his voice, 'Anna! What the hell?!'
But Anna wasn't listening. She strode over to Ruby's still body and roughly rolled her onto her stomach. Lifting the demon's jacket and shirt, Anna held her hand out behind her and ordered, 'Sammy, flashlight.' Sam didn't respond, he just stood there still trying to wrap his head around what was happening. 'Sam!' She snapped, this time looking behind her to the immobile giant. Dean nudged his brother and Sam reached into his jacket pocket and produced a flashlight which he handed to Anna. She ran the beam over Ruby's exposed back, looking at the flesh, and then rolled over and did the same thing to her front. Dean peered over her shoulder, trying to see what she was looking for.
Anna pulled back the lacy part of Ruby's bra between her breasts, only to expose an ugly and puckered bullet hole in the center of her chest. 'Well, well, well,' she whispered, 'looks like someone hasn't been taking care of their host body.' Standing up and dusting off her knees, she looked at Dean and said, 'Someone's shot her, the host is dead.'
'Bobby shot her,' Sam said flatly, looking at Ruby's still frame at Anna's feet. 'Right before she helped him fix the colt,' he lifted his gaze to glare at Anna at the last part.
'Well,' she quipped, looking at Dean, 'you should call and thank him later. She's going to be in that summoning circle tonight instead of you.'
Understanding dawned on Dean at what Anna had just said. Ruby would be in the circle instead of him. Hazra would possess Ruby's body and not his own. He was going to live past tonight after all.
'What are you talking about?' Sam asked angrily, looking back and forth between his brother and Anna. 'What aren't you two telling me about the ceremony tonight?'
Before either of them could answer, Ruby lashed out with her foot at the back of Anna's leg, sending her to the ground. She was still inside the buried demon trap with Ruby. 'Look out!' Dean yelled as Ruby produced her silver blade, the one that killed demons, and took a mighty swipe at Anna. Anna lunged out of the way and out of the trap, but not without Ruby's blade slicing the back of Anna's shirt.
'You okay?' Dean asked her frantically, hugging her to him. 'That was close.'
'I'm fine,' she replied, shrugging him off. She turned back to face Ruby, who was still brandishing her knife inside the trap and looking quite feral.
The blonde demon was breathing hard and glaring at Anna. 'It will never work,' she taunted. 'You can try your crazy plan but you can't save him. You'll get yourselves all killed summoning Hazra.'
Anna narrowed her gaze at Ruby, and then walked to the back door. Lifting one of the buckets of Holy Water Sam had made, she returned to the others. 'Brace yourself Bitch, this is going to hurt.' And with that she threw the entire contents of the bucket over Ruby. Ruby fell to her knees, screaming in pain as the water turned to steaming vapor. Anna kicked the knife out of her hand, and grabbing Ruby by the hair, rammed her knee into Ruby's nose. Dean could hear the sickening crunch of cartilage breaking, and the wet gargle of Ruby screaming as a gush of blood poured from her shattered nose. Anna brought the toe of her heeled boot up, catching Ruby under the chin and sending her head flying backwards. She crumpled to the ground, out cold this time.
'Tie her up and throw her in the trunk.' Anna ordered him. 'Sam, draw some of those protection symbols on the car so she can't get out.' Placing her hand on Dean's chest she whispered, 'Ruby's going to save your life.'
