Note: I wanted this to be one massive last chapter to make up for the other short ones, but we're gonna need another one at least. Hope you enjoy. If you are still reading this, you are an awesome person. Seriously, I every comment is absolute love because while this story has been far from my best or most popular, I've grown strangely fond of it, and a big part of that is thanks to those who, like me, found this pairing interesting! Thank you!
Chapter 9.
The screaming didn't start until the next night, and even then Dean was surprised. He had thought they'd have more time, but Sam had drunk so much, so often, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
Bobby brought him water and talked to him until he became incoherent.
Dean couldn't bring himself to go downstairs for a long time.
At first the screams were angry. 'Let me out! This isn't fucking funny, Dean!' Then they were pleading. 'I'm okay now! Let me out, I feel fine! Please!' Then they changed, and slowly Dean realized Sam wasn't even aware of who or what he was screaming at.
Sometimes it was Eric, other times he called for help from anyone who would listen.
By midnight the screams were just painful wails and desperate 'no's that seemed to rattle the walls of the decaying house. The two hunters had long since started drinking. They made each other go down to check every once in a while; just taking quick peaks through the window in case Sam managed to twist out of the restraints and do something stupid.
It was Dean's second turn at around two o'clock. Even though the sunlight never came down to the basement, it still felt darker at night. The light was on in the panic room, though, so he didn't need a flashlight.
Sam had been quiet since Dean had come down the stairs. Inside, he lay whimpering, eyes squeezed shut and arms straining against the bounds so hard Dean wasn't sure they would hold through the whole ordeal. He decided to open the door and have a closer look.
'Sam?' he asked cautiously as he pushed his way inside. Sam let out a painful sound. Dean was at a loss of what to do.
Suddenly, Sam lurched to the side and threw up his last meal, managing to cover a wide area to the side of the bed. He coughed and made horrible gurgling sounds. Fearing he was going to choke, Dean ignored the sick and went to his brother's side. He pulled off the ratty old shirt he was wearing over his t-shirt and wiped at Sam's face.
He was pale and sweating profusely, but he was ice-cold to the touch. That more than anything scared the hell out of Dean.
'Please,' Sam gasped. 'No more.'
'It's me, Sammy,' Dean said, laying Sam's head gently into a more comfortable position. 'It's Dean.'
'No more, please,' Sam repeated tonelessly. His eyes slid closed and he drifted off into some sort of sleep. The smell hit Dean, and he knew he'd have to clean up. He thought about Eric doing the same, and couldn't quite picture it.
XXX
'What happened?' Bobby asked when Dean came up. He didn't answer, going straight for the kitchen to dispose of the soiled shirt and other rags he'd used to clean up the room. 'He get sick?' he heard Bobby ask.
'Yeah,' he called out, making sure the stench was sealed away in a garbage bag before taking it outside. The night was overclouded and dark. He stuffed the bag in the container Bobby kept for all the junk that could never be salvaged.
Closing his eyes, he took a moment to breathe in the fresh air, trying to clear his head.
A muffled scream ruined the moment.
'Damn it, Sammy,' he whispered.
'It's progressing fast.'
Dean spun around even though he knew immediately who it was. He just didn't like being sneaked up on. He glared at the pale vampire, noting Sam was nearing that color if things progressed any further.
'What do you want?' Dean wasn't in the mood for chatting with vampires. He stalked towards the porch.
'I came to see him of course, with your permission.' Dean stopped short, closing his eyes and willing himself to be patient. Eric was probably just saying that to manipulate him. Another scream reached them from the basement, through a thick wall of iron, the floor and the walls of the house. Dean turned to Eric, eyes hard.
'You can see him, if you help him.' Eric seemed to pause like he needed to decipher Dean's meaning.
'Dean-'
'It's not up for discussion.' Eric sighed, rolling his eyes heavenward as if a vampire would be the praying type. Dean waited. He felt both incredibly patient and ready to snap at any moment. It all depended on what the vampire answered.
'I gave Sam my word,' Eric said, almost apologetically. He sounded old. Dean could still hear the hesitation, however. He wasn't even consciously aware of having made the decision, but he knew he had to make Eric do what needed to be done. If a little more blood could make the situation more bearable, then so be it. Dean didn't ask himself who actually benefited from it.
'He's coming apart,' Dean pressed. 'Just give him something to take the edge off.'
'I gave my-'
'You're a vampire, your word means nothing to me,' Dean growled. 'Now, are you gonna help him, or am I gonna have to get Bobby to rescind your invitation?'
There was a momentary standoff as the two stared at each other.
'Fine,' Eric sighed. 'I will do it, but for him, not for you.'
'That's the deal,' Dean grumbled and went inside. He didn't bother telling Bobby what was up, and went down to the basement, Eric following dutifully. Sam was twitching, but thankfully silent except for the occasional whimper. Eric went to his side and knelt, turning Sam's twitching head towards him gently.
'Sam,' Eric whispered. Dean felt uncomfortable watching the clear display of affection and grief, but he made himself keep watch.
'Do it,' he said. Eric glanced at him briefly in irritation.
'Sam, listen to me, I'm going to give you a little of my blood to help you.'
Sam twitched and tried to turn his head away. 'No more, no more,' he mumbled.
'Sam, I need you to understand,' Eric said carefully. 'I'm doing this to help you.'
'No more, blood, no more.'
Eric brought his left wrist to his mouth and bit down. He held it out over Sam's mouth. The blood dripped down, hitting Sam right on the mouth. The reaction was immediate. Sam gasped and strained upwards towards the source of the blood. Dean grimaced, but kept watching. A few drops fell into Sam's mouth, but just as suddenly as Sam had reached towards the source, he twisted away.
'NO!' he screamed. Eric grabbed his chin, holding the head in position easily with his strength.
'Just a few drops more,' he said, pressing his wrist to Sam's mouth. Sam seemed to give in and suck for a few seconds, then Eric pulled his wrist away.
Sam's eyes rolled back into his head, and then he went limp, his breathing evening out as if he had simply fallen asleep. The only thing that ruined that thought was the smear of blood across his mouth. Dean would never get that picture out of his head.
Eric rose slowly.
'I don't know how long or how well it will effect him,' he said. He sounded defeated.
'He's asleep, that's something,' Dean pointed out. He left the room.
Upstairs Bobby was waiting for him, but one look from Dean told him more than he needed to know.
'You did something stupid, didn't ya?' he shook his head.
'I did what I had to do,' Dean told him, and himself. He went and poured himself a drink.
XXX
Bobby and Dean didn't move or speak until Eric came upstairs. They watched as the vampire paced back and forth a few times.
'Well?' Dean prompted. 'How's he doing?'
'Better, I think,' Eric murmured. Dean tried not to snap back. He was too tired to fight with the jerk anyway. 'I have to go.'
'Where?' Dean's anger came back with a rush, energizing him. He stood up and Eric turned to face him. 'Where the hell do you have to be?'
'Lilith expects me,' Eric replied. 'Or rather, Ruby in my form. I don't intend to disappoint her.'
'You think you can defeat Lilith?'
'She will be vulnerable,' Eric explained, his eyes alight with anticipation. Dean found it disturbing. 'She will send all her minions away because they don't know the true nature of her game. She'll want Sam to have a clear path to her. I will go to her and tell her Sam is on his way, then, when she is least expecting it, kill her.'
'Didn't you get the memo?' Bobby asked surly. 'Killing Lilith is what starts the apocalypse.'
'Sam killing Lilith starts the apocalypse,' Eric corrected. 'Not some random vampire. It's the only way to ensure the apocalypse does not happen.' Dean exchanged a glance with Bobby, who shrugged in that way of his that said "it might just be crazy enough to work."
'It's a stupid plan,' Dean told Eric.
'I'll need the knife.'
'You're insane,' Dean pointed out. 'I'm not letting you walk out of here with our best weapon.'
'You can't come with me. If your presence is known, the whole plan is ruined.'
'No.'
'If I kill her Sam is free of his destiny,' Eric insisted.
'Sam needs you alive,' Dean snapped. He swallowed at the admission. 'Or, undead, whatever.'
'This is our best chance. I am going, with or without your knife, though I admit my chances without it are slim.' Eric started for the door, and Dean cursed the idiot vampire aloud, rather colorfully.
'Wait...' Eric stopped. 'Fine.' Dean had a feeling he was going to regret this decision.
It took a bit of searching to get the knife. None of them could remember who took care of it during Sam's transportation. They found it at the bottom of the Impala's trunk. Somehow, the three of them ended up outside, standing around saying goodbye as if they were really sad to see the vamp go. Dean tried not to let guilt creep into him. So what if the vamp wanted to go out and die with a stupid plan?
Thankfully, there were no sounds from the basement. Eric looked cold in just a t-shirt and jeans in the night, but that was nothing new.
Once the knife was in Eric's hand, Dean gave him one last warning.
'If you don't bring this back, I'm gonna be really mad.' Eric nodded, a smile tugging at his lips at the empty threat. He dug into his pocket, bringing out a vile filled with blood.
'Here, take it. Give him a few drops if he deteriorates.' Dean took it, trying not to grimace at the thought of feeding Sam. He nodded to Eric, his only attempt at saying "good luck." Eric turned to Bobby, holding out his hand.
'Thank you for your invitation.' Dean didn't know if that was a vampire thing to say, but Bobby nodded and took the hand.
'Give her hell,' the old hunter said. Eric didn't drag out the goodbye. He was gone in the blink of an eye. Dean glanced sideways at Bobby.
'You really think this was a good idea?'
'If a vamp wants to try and save the world, who are we to tell him no? Besides, if he can't kill her with all his strength and speed, you ain't gonna get no closer with that knife.' With that Bobby went inside, leaving Dean to stare out into the darkness, wondering if he would feel more annoyed if Eric died or succeeded.
XXX
Eric was walking down a long hallway, his shoulders hunched and eyes alert. He kept scanning behind him, but the hallway stretched out in both directions, dark and beckoning.
A whispered voice reached his ears. He spun around, but no one was there.
The light was blurry, almost as if there was a mist indoors.
A door led to a large room. Sam was there, right there, lying on a bed, seemingly sleeping.
Eric was above him, reaching out.
'Sam,' he whispered reverently. Just as he touched Sam's cheek, the hunter burst off the bed, fangs going straight for Eric's jugular. The blood poured, and poured, and poured, more going down Sam's shirt than into his mouth, but that didn't matter.
His eyes went black.
'NO!'
'Easy, Sammy, I got you, just let me-'
'No more! No more blood, please, no more.'
'I know you don't want it, Sammy, but it's helping you, I promise.'
Then there was warmth on his tongue, and peace. Beautiful, silent, peace.
