Disclaimer: Supernatural and its characters are not my intellectual property.
Author's Note: This is a short chapter, but I haven't had much time to write since I'm also writing a novel for Camp NaNoWriMo. Sorry. After this month, I'll be updating with longer, more frequent chapters.
The Bunker (Lebanon, Kansas)
Sam waited outside the dungeon while Castiel bound Esther within. He kept an eye on Dean. His brother was pacing back and forth in the hallway like a dog running up and down a fence over and over. Sam didn't want him near Esther. He remembered last time they had interrogated someone at the bunker. Dean had almost killed Metatron then. He didn't want to take that chance with Cain's daughter.
Dean shook his head. "What the hell's keeping Cas?" Dean was looking really anxious.
Sam shrugged. "Don't worry about it, Dean. He's fine." He cast a glance at the door. If something had happened, they would have heard.
In a few moments, the door opened and Castiel emerged, shutting it behind him. "She is bound," he confirmed.
"So now we have to find a way to get her to talk," Sam said.
"I can do that easily enough," said Castiel. "My blade should be effective against her."
Dean scoffed. "Look, guys, I know you mean well, but she's not going to give it up that easy."
Sam looked at him. He was right. Esther knew that after they were done, they would kill her. What they needed was leverage, and they didn't have any. "Maybe if we find Grendel, we can use him to make her talk," he suggested.
Dean looked unsure. "Look," Sam continued, "it's our best shot right now, right? I don't see a choice."
Castiel nodded. "That could work. The problem, of course, would be finding and subduing him. Even assuming we can defeat him in physical combat, he will be nearly impossible to find if he doesn't want to be found."
Sam looked over at Dean. He wanted to see what he thought. He wanted to know that his brother wanted to be cured, that he wasn't slipping too far into the darkness.
Dean shrugged. "Whatever. How do we find Grendel, then?"
"We send a message," Castiel said. "If he doesn't come to us, we tell him we'll kill Esther."
Sam liked the idea. "It sounds like it could work."
"Or it could be a disaster," Dean added. "I don't want to have to use the Blade if I can help it."
Sam nodded. "It won't come to that," he told him. But he wasn't sure himself. With Castiel weakened, Dean was the strongest player they had, especially with the Blade's power. If they couldn't capture Grendel, they would be forced to do just that. It won't happen, he reassured himself.
"I'll get the message to him," said Castiel.
"Thanks, Cas." Sam watched the angel disappear with a flap of his wings.
Dean sighed. "Now, we sit back, relax, have a cold one, and wait for it to blow up in our faces."
Sam didn't say anything. He didn't want to start an argument. Dean's position on the matter was clear. But Sam couldn't help but feel like his brother needed a slap upside the head.
