Title: Stricken
Author: TigerTiger02
Chapter Title: Build God, Then We'll Talk
Summery: In which there is much depression, and talking but very little action
Disclaimer: I own nothing… but Joce and Alex, ask me before borrowing them…
Spoilers: Chosen and Dead in the Water to current episodes.
Dedication: to Tarryn, I have nothing else to day… other then blame System of a Down for the crappy title.
Joce tapped her fingers impatiently while waiting for Dean to come out of the motel check-in. Ugh, Oklahoma; she hates how… desolate it appears. She shivers as she stares out into the night. Gently she touches the stone that hangs from a piece of rawhide on her neck. The stone was created by Ginny, allowing her to function and appear healthy, even though she isn't. Right now all she wants to do is take a long shower. A pair of arms slips around her waist and she blinks, her senses tell her that it's not Dean. She won't stand for grope-age from someone else. She gives a high-pitched giggle.
"Dean! Sammy doesn't know about us yet! Stop!" She says while slapping the tightening hands around her waist. The arms tighten instead and Joce grabs his wrists, twisting easily and breaking them with a sickening snap.
"Ow! Son of a bitch!" the vampire hisses. Her hand slips down to the stake at her waist and she grips it. Turning swiftly she plunges the stake into the stunned vampires heart.
"Seriously, stop." She growls out as he disintegrates. As the ash floats down Dean appears whistling, a key spinning around his forefinger. He pauses.
"You look pissed."
"A vampire, pretending to be you." she murmurs and steps over the pile of ash. Dean smirks.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted."
"Be flattered." Joce tells him gently and presses her lips against his. He gives a low groan and draws her closer while at the same time pressing her backwards. Joce stumbles into the Impala, and is practically bent over the trunk. Sam rolls his eyes and sighs dramatically at the site of them entangled.
Ever since Joce had finally caved they had been practically unable to keep their hands off of each other. Although Joce was much more responsible, she tended to keep her head, whereas Dean was immediately distracted by the thought of pleasure. Sam was pretty sure they hadn't gone all the way, as Dean tended to come back with a slightly frustrated look, and he gone back to flirting with any pretty girl that crosses his path when Joce wasn't around. It pained Sam to see Joce so oblivious but she was too valuable of an asset to their team.
"Hey guys?" Joce breaks away from Dean with a sheepish look.
"Y-yes Sammy?" she says shakily.
"You think you could take this to your room?" he asks. Dean is pretty much ignoring him and is drawing doodles with his finger on Joce's shoulder. Joce shoves Dean away from herself and takes the keys from Dean.
"Which is which?" Dean frowns for a moment, his lust clouded mind making it difficult to think.
"Erm… seven?" he says finally and Joce tosses Sam the key.
Her skin is on fire, Joce decides this when both of their shirts ride up and their bare stomachs are touching. She swears to god she is burning because Dean's mouth is leaving a trail of heat that scorches. His hands are even worse, they are fumbling with the clasp to her bra now and she cannot ignore the panic. It's not that she's afraid because she's a virgin (which she's not), but it's more that she's afraid that it will ruin their relationship. She believes that having sex is some reserved for couples that are in love, and aren't having relationship problems. Although make-up sex is great.
"Dean…" she murmurs, "Dean." He blinks and his eyes grow clearer.
"Hmmm?"
"Hands off the bra." He pouts but complies.
"Am I ever going to get any out of you?"
"Dean!" Joce sighs and gets off the bed. "I have to go get Alex, I need to take her out… hunting…" the word is like acid on her tongue but she knows that is what they are truly doing now.
After they had gotten rid of the Hook Man they had gone back to Slayer Central in Springfield. Alex had already been packed. Joce had felt relief when she realized Giles was okay with Alex being released. He had explained that Alex needed to be assimilated into the 'real' world again. That Alex, though she was much more lucid then before, was still on a fragile precipice of insanity, and it would probably do her good to be doing something normal. Joce had her doubts but she had promised Alex that she would come back for her. It would only seem right. Sam had understood, Dean hadn't been as agreeable, but he had acquiesced after a long argument.
So Alex had tarried along with them, sometimes sane enough that she functioned without help. Other times she would throw tantrums and fits. And still other times she would speak in riddles and odd phrases. There had been horrible fit in the morning and as a result Joce had had to drug Alex. It had pained her to do so. Alex had slept most of the way, slumped next to Sam who looked increasingly uncomfortable. She hadn't even woken up when they stopped. Joce felt the raw edges of guilt gnaw at her conscious, she had completely forgotten the quiet brunette was with them. She's sure Sam has taken care of Alex, woken her up carefully, escorted her to his and Dean's room, and gotten her some food. It was unusual how vigilant Sam was with Alex, how easily he took care of her. But Joce can see a haunted look in his eyes every time he looks at Alex, and she's reminded of way he is here: Jess. She's lucky that Alex is the opposite of Jess in everyway, at least according to Dean.
Joce smoothes her hair, pulls her shirt down, and buttons her pants. She tucks weapons around her body and pulls on a voluminous coat; one Spike had given her. It's supple Italian leather, and when she asked where he had gotten it, and why he was giving it to her, he had grinned and merely said, "A lovely Italian broad gave it to me a couple of years back, you should have seen the one she gave 'Gelus." Then he gave a snorted laugh and shoved the coat into her hands. Joce makes sure she has extra rounds for the 9 mm and clicks the safety on. She drops a kiss on Dean's sweat-beaded forehead. He gives whining groan.
"This isn't fair." She shrugs.
"Sorry, Babe." She says nonchalantly and prances to room seven.
Sam sighs as he approaches the sleeping Alex. He wonders if Joce has drugged the younger Slayer, and winces when he realizes that she probably has.
"Alex?" he gently touches her shoulder and the girl jerks awake. Her green eyes are clouded with sleep and she mumbles something. However she thankfully sits up, rubbing her eyes.
"What time is it?" she slurs out. Sam shrugs and helps her out of the car. She sleepily leans against him, small boned like a bird. Sam smothers a smile at the thought; she is very bird-like. A hawk, a sparrow, it doesn't matter. And sometimes she's a cat. He places a steadying hand on her waist; she's like a newborn fawn when she wakes up from being drugged, all awkward long legs, and stumbles. He grabs her bag from the trunk and ushers her into his room. She sits on the bed, a small sleepy smile on her face.
"Nutmeg is bad for you," she declares. Sam cannot suppress the chuckle that comes with her odd words.
"Really?" He asks indulgingly. Alex nods slowly and solemnly.
"Yes. Very bad, she kills." Alex cocks her head and breathes in deeply from her nose. Her green eyes dart about before meeting Sam's similarly colored pair. "You look like her, just a little bit, in the delicate face. A lot like your mama, but you have papa's personality, just a little bit." She nods to someone Sam cannot see. "Yes, yes, Nutmeg agrees." Sam drops the bag and turns swiftly.
"W-what?" he chokes out.
"You look like her, very feminine." Alex gestures to her own face.
"I- what?" Alex's eyes lose the glassy look and she frowns silently.
"They've stopped whispering their secrets. What's for dinner?" Sam shakes his head, the episode was over before it even began but he can't help but wonder what she had meant. Had his mother been talking to her? No. Impossible, he had never heard his mother referred to as Nutmeg, and never mind the fact that Alex had just said Nutmeg was bad. He rummaged through his pockets and found a twenty, across the street a sign blinked at a diner.
"Come on, we'll have some burgers or something, my treat." Alex hopped off the bed with renewed energy.
"It's always your treat." Sam shook his head and they made their way across the street.
Alex watched Sam through narrowed eyes as he went for the last spoonful of ice cream.
"Uh-uh! No way!" she said and stabbed her spoon, blocking his own. "Mine." There was a brief tussle between the two of them that ended with Alex sucking on the spoon with an exaggerated look of ecstasy on her face. "Mmmph…" she moaned and Sam rolled his eyes with a laugh.
"Come on, that's not fair." Alex shook her head.
"Told you, you should have gotten some pie."
"But I wanted a banana split." Sam said with a pout.
"Are you always like this?"
"I don't know, are you?"
"This isn't about me, is it? You're thinking of what Joce and Dean might be doing right now." Alex said with almost no expression. It took Sam a second to realize that she must have read him. He had heard that she might have some sort of extra-sense. "You're jealous but uncertain. You like the idea of Joce, a woman who can protect herself but still be a woman. You think if Jessica was a little more like Joce she wouldn't have died. She would have died. There is a reason to it." As if realizing what had happened Alex paused and went quiet. "We should get back. Joce will want to take me out."
"Yeah…" Sam dropped some bills on the table and they left the diner.
Joce fell to her knees as the vampire rushed towards her, she lifted her shoulder and managed to slam him on the ground behind her. Alex staked him and stood, brushing off her clothing.
"That was the fifth tonight, wasn't it?" Alex asked and brushed her bangs from her eyes.
"Yeah. There's a lot, which is surprising considering how…"
"Empty this place is?"
"Yeah I know. Maybe there's something here, that draws them here…" just as Joce said this a vampire came running out of the brush.
"Evil!" he shrieked loudly. Alex clotheslines him and crouched on his chest.
"Pardon?"
"That place is evil!" he hisses. "Cursed!"
"What place?"
"If I tell you will you let me go?"
"Maybe." He went silent and closed his mouth, showing that he wasn't about to speak.
"Oasis Plains!" he whimpered out as Alex slowly pressed the stake to his chest.
"Alright. Thanks." They watched for a moment as he ran. Joce brought up the crossbow with a hard look on her face and fired. The vampire froze, and then crumbled to ash.
"Oasis Plains? Dean mentioned that earlier, apparently someone died from… erm… some brain degenerative disease that would have taken months to work through his brain, but happened within an hour."
"Sounds like fun." Alex remarked dryly. "Is that where you were earlier? With Dean." Joce sniffed.
"If you must know, yes. Ready to call it a night?" Alex cocked her head, her green eyes glowing slightly.
"Yes." She said, the s catching and dragging slightly.
Joce rolls over onto her back, she can't sleep and she knows why. Not only is it the horrible nightmares she gets, it's all of the important conversations she's been putting off with Dean. They'd start off just fine but then one of them would start yelling, or back out, or just plain leave. Sometimes it was her, most of the time it was Dean. In the end when she had been the one to leave she would come back from patrol and sneak into his and Sammy's room, she would climb into his bed and curl up next to him. He would sigh, grumble something, but sling an arm around her waist, pulling her closer and burying his face in her hair or neck. And if he was the one to leave he would come back and bring her flowers, or some pretty bauble, or a weapon as a peace offering and they would end up sprawled on her bed. Sometimes he would just storm right back into her room, grab her roughly by her shoulders and haul her into a vicious, biting kiss, that was when he was he was particularly angry.
Joce sighs and finally gets out of her bed, its 2 AM so she has no clue if Dean or Sam will be awake, but something tells her they will be. She pulls on a pair of shorts and shirt and pads down the hall to their room. She opens the door quietly to see Sam on his laptop. He looks up and smiles, jerking his head toward the other side of the room that's bathed in darkness. "He's asleep but I don't think he'll care if you join him."
Dean is lying on his stomach, wearing only boxer briefs as far as she can tell. One hand hangs off the bed while the other is under his head under the pillow. The sheets bunch at his waist so she can see his golden tanned back. The skin isn't without flaws; she can see a few silvery scars, knife wounds, and scratches, maybe even burns. But they don't deter from lusciousness of the skin. She's half tempted to lick a line down his back and see what happens, but she can't do that to poor Sammy. So instead she places a few fingers on it, feeling the rolling of the muscles beneath that delicious skin as he breaths. Surprisingly it's silk soft and Joce presses lightly against it, enjoying the warmth. She forgets that it's Dean, who does not sleep heavily, and places her whole hand on his back. Suddenly her other wrist is grasped and she's pulled to the bed with a grunt.
She looks down and meets Dean's hazel eyes. There's a long moment when neither of them speak, and Sam has melted into the background, Joce notes that the bathroom door is shut and there's the faint sound of the shower running. Good Sammy, she knew she could count on him. Dean is still holding her wrist tightly, not tight enough to hurt but tight enough to keep her from escaping, should she wish to do so. Joce can feel the thundering of Dean's heart against her chest, her whole upper body is sprawled across his but her lower is next to his. She licks her lips and watches his eyes dart towards them, then he licks his own.
"So…" his says in a hoarse voice, "Are you going to do something or just sit there and stare at me?"
"Dean."
"Hmm?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
Joce awakes alone. Normally she would wake up with Dean wrapped around her, unwittingly keeping away her nightmares but this morning she's cold and alone. She sits up and glances about, finally seeing a note pinned to Sam's pillow. She plucks it up and smiles as she reads it.
Babe,
Sammy and I went to check out where Dustin worked.
Didn't want to wake you.
We'll be back, and I'll call and check-up around 12.
Dean
She glances at the clock and sees that it's only ten. Joce allows herself a long a luxurious stretch, enjoying the cracks that emit from her spine as she bends back far enough. She enjoys sleeping in the same bed as Dean, feeling his heat wrapping around her. Feeling the barest brush of skin against skin. Once in awhile the bed will grow too warm because Dean is like the sun, the heat he gives off is ridiculous in its proportions. So he ends up on the floor, grumbling and cold until she cools off enough to allow him back in. She loves the fact that they are able to sleep together and not have sex, and not be tempted. Well to be honest she is tempted but not stupid. Four months with someone isn't enough time to know him or her well enough to jump in the sack and have a go.
The shower water is cool against her fevered skin and she shivers slightly. However it calms her frayed nerves and she leans into the rain-like stream of water. She likes showers; they make her calm and peaceful. She thinks well in them, better then when she's around people. The water cools down from tepid to downright chilly to freezing. She finally steps out and wraps herself in a towel.
Dean spots the sign almost at the same moment his stomach rumbles.
"Maybe we should start here, you know, talk to the locals." He says even as his mind is really on the food.
"And the free food's got nothing to do with it?" Sam asks as he clearly reads his brothers mind.
"Of course not," Dean scoffs, "I'm a professional." There's a moment when neither of them speak as Dean parks.
"Man, I could never live in one of these places, cushy lifestyle and cookie cutter house. Psh. No way."
"There's nothing wrong with normal, Dean. What about Joce, hm? What if Joce wants this kind of life? What if wants to move to this type of place, and settle down? With you. Then is it so bad?"
"Sam," Dean begins in a warning sort of growl, "Joce wouldn't want to live in this type of place."
"Oh, and you would know?" Sam scoffs, "You and Joce can barely managed to mention the future in passing without arguing. So, Dean, how do you know what she wants? I'm curious, tell me."
"Sammy, I am warning you. Now is not the time. And what Joce and I talk about is none of your goddamned business. So get your damn nose out of it." Dean snaps as he knocks on the door. There's a long moment before a man opens the door. He smiles widely at them.
"I'm Larry Pike, the developer here. And you are?"
"Dean. This is Sam." Dean says in his most charming voice.
"Sam," he says while politely shaking Larry's hand.
"Sam, Dean, good to meet you. So you two are interested in Oasis Plains?"
"Yes, sir." Dean says with another amiable grin.
"Let me just say. We accept home owners of any race, religion, color or sexual orientation." Larry is looking between them, and there is an embarrassed look in his eyes.
"We're brothers." Dean quickly clarifies with an embarrassed flush. He can just see Joce laughing and saying something along the lines of, "Oh Deanio, see I told you they wouldn't care. I'm actually his sister. Sam really is his boyfriend; gosh they are just so terrified of homophobes. It's like homophobe-phobia!"
"Our father is getting old in the years and we're just looking for a place for him." Sam adds on, "However my brother and his fiancée, she's at the hotel room sleeping, are looking for a place together." Sam smiles nastily at a glaring Dean as Larry let's them in. He tells them of the conception of Oasis Plains 18 months earlier.
"Why it's such a nice place to live that my own family was the first to settle here!" he tacks on. "Oh honey! Come here, boys this is my wife Joanie. Joanie this is Sam and Dean. Tell them how much you love the place honey. And lie if you have to 'cause I need to sell houses!"
Outside Dean eagerly digs into some of the BBQ food as a woman walks up to him and Sam.
"Hi there. I'm Lynda Bloom. I was the second to move here… let me just tell ya'll that we accept home owners of any race, religion, color, or sexual orientation!" Sam gives a strained smile and opens his mouth to deny but Dean cuts him off quickly.
"I'll go talk to Larry, okay honey?" he says with a grin because taping Sam on the ass. Sam blushes and turns to give Dean a death glare. However Dean mouths back: "Pay back's a bitch." Sam clenches his fists, knowing it is pay back for the comment he made about Joce.
Joce sometimes wonders why people dwell so much on love and put so much stock into it. Haven't they ever heard of Romeo and Juliet? Sampson and Delilah? Tristan and Isolde? All of them doomed lovers. She shakes off the thought and stubs out her cigarette on the railing before flipping open her cell phone.
"Hello?" a rough British accented voice asks sleepily.
"Spike? Why the hell are you picking up Faith's phone?"
"Didn't want to wake her, she's exhausted from last night."
"Oh my god, Spike please tell me you did not sleep with Faith last night."
"Ye gads no! Where in the bloody hell did you get that idea?"
"Uh Spike, think about what you said."
"Oh sod. Anyone ever tell you that you have a smutty mind?"
"All of the time."
"So… how are things going with Pretty Boy?"
"I'm sorry, who?"
"Dean. How are things with Dean?"
"Hm… nothing I want to tell a loudmouth like you."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"Sorry… actually I do want to talk about that."
"Oh?"
"It's just… well… I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"I don't know… it just doesn't feel real to me. You know? Like any moment I could wake up and he would be gone. But at the same time… it doesn't bother me. It's sort of like, if it's not real then it won't hurt as much later."
"I know how you feel ducks, Love's Bitch here. And what do you mean later? This Dean bloke planning on dying on you?"
"I don't know what I mean Spike… it's just that you never know…"
"Hmm… let me tell you something Joce, if you just let yourself go and stop thinking… this whole experience could be pleasurable, have a bit of fun. Tie him up and use ice or electricity on him. Torture him. Blindfold him. Whip him. Just have fun!"
"Spike, to be honest I'm not sure if you idea of fun is my idea of fun." Joce stated dryly as she lit up another cigarette. He let out a boisterous laugh, a laugh she loved and knew. It was comforting to hear him laugh like that.
"You'd be correct in that, dove. Look I have to go but I'll have Faith call you back."
"Bye Spike."
"Bye Dove." Joce put the phone back into her pocket, wrapped her arms around herself, and smoked another cigarette. Without warning she felt a sudden hollow feeling in her heart. Like her soul was ripped away. It brought her to her knees. Joce quickly flicked the cigarette away, managed to get to her bed, and fell asleep before she hit the pillow.
She awoke to her ringing cell. Joce grunted as she hit the floor and searched for it.
"Hello?" she murmured.
"Hey, pack up your stuff, we're swinging by to pick you up." Dean. It was Dean. Her heart skipped a beat and at the same time managed to stop.
"No!" she said forcefully, surprised at her own declaration.
"I… what? No?" Dean asked clearly confused.
"Alex has taken a few steps back… I don't think it would be right to move her. It might make her do something drastic." Oh god, why was she saying this? What the hell was wrong with her? The thoughts ran through her head rapidly. Why was she running away, again? She felt bile raise her throat and she forced it down. Why did the thought of her and Dean terrify her so much? Dimly she realized Dean was talking.
"… we figured we would test out their incredible steam shower… looks like we're here. Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"I'm sure." She said steadily, her voice sounded hollow to herself but who knew how Dean perceived it.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"I don't know… I had to sedate Alex pretty heavily." She couldn't believe the lies spewing from her mouth, what was wrong with her?
"Hmmm… well I'll call you in a little while, sleep well." She clicked the phone off with a heavy heart. Confusion left a leaden blanket in her mind. Joce felt her heart twist painfully. Why was this so hard? Why couldn't she just settle back and have some fun? Why did she have to complicate the hell out of everything?
She sits harshly on her bed, head in hands, and allows a few tears to slip down her face. In the bed, under the covers, and surrounded by Dean's scent, she wonders why she feels so odd. Why does it feel as if something is being forcibly ripped from her? Like her soul is being shredded to pieces and her heart is breaking? Why does it feel like a big part of her is suddenly missing? Her phone is ringing insistently but somehow she can summon to energy to pick it up, even if it's not even an arm's length away.
Faith hangs up the phone and shrugs.
"Hmm, guess she's out with Dean." She says to Giles.
"I really am glad you came to me about this, Faith."
"No prob G-man. I mean I know I kinda betrayed Joce's trust but she was pretty troubled by the whole oath thing. I'm sure she'll be happy about being detached from him." Faith paused and thought for a moment. She nervously chewed on her lower lip before voicing her concerns. "We were right to do this, right? I mean… it won't hurt her, right?"
"Of course not." Giles scoffed. "The only way harm could come to either of them is if they unknowingly fell in love with each other. If feelings like that are exchanged between them, even if unknown, it could cause major harm. But this Dean Winchester hardly seems the type to fall in love quickly. And I've always known Jocelyn to be a sensible girl." He said as he gathering up the various candles and herbs around them.
"Good. I'll try and call her later."
"Excellent. Thank you again for informing me of this Faith. Being in a relationship after what happened to her will not benefit her health, emotion, mental, or physical." Faith nodded and left the room.
Across many states Dean fell to his knees in the steam shower. It felt as if his heart was being wrenched out of his chest still beating. He gasped desperately for air as he places his hands on the tiles. One hand went to his chest and he clutched his skin tightly, wincing in pain.
"Oh… god…" he murmured in pain. Blood rushed in his head, making it pound and all he could hear was a dull roar. He rubbed at his chest in the spot above his head. "Oh man… knew I shouldn't I have had that last chicken leg…" he groaned out as he stood painfully. But for some reason he couldn't place the odd hollow feeling he had.
Meanwhile Joce continued to cry without knowing the reason. Her whole body shook as she lay in her bed. She began to whimper incomprehensible words as she shook. Slowly the whimpered words got louder.
"Dean… oh god… Dean… I need to you," she whispered out. Behind her closed eyelids she relived every moment of her capture. Every slowly trail the knife left, every drop of goddamned warm blood that ran down her body. Every slow rasping, lick of a tongue. She must of have screamed because suddenly Alex was there.
"Oh… oh… Joce… oh… he's gone from you… oh… gone." Alex murmured and tried desperately to comfort the suddenly fractured girl.
"What is wrong with me?" Joce whimpered.
"He's gone from you. You're all alone in there."
"I don't understand."
"We need to get you out of here. Get Spike."
"Alex… please help me." Joce whispered.
A/N: I'm still not sure if I want this whole soul-mate bullshit in here.
