DEDICATED: to shadowglove ( .net/u/827845/ ).
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters, the Impala included.
NOTE: You'll hate the cliffhanger this chapter ends with. I promise I'll get another chapter as soon as possible.
Chloe's Mystery Spots
Going through the Wall, Chloe felt a strange kind of pressure against her skin. Then she felt a very precise (and a little too familiar for her taste) pressure against her face.
That was when she landed on Dean's fist.
„Oh, shit!" she heard doubled cursing as she slid to the ground, covering her cheek and eye. Gently, she was lifted by two pairs of muscular hands and leaned against something.
„I'm SO sorry, Chloe," Dean's voice sounded desperate, „I'm so sorry!"
„I'm alright," she moaned, uncovering her face and checking the hand for blood, finding none. Huh, so it just hurts like a bitch. „I'm fine," she stood up, her head pounding like churchbells.
„Show me," Sam lifted her chin, barely touching her. „Aah, it's gonna be a black eye."
„Yay for me. What were you doing anyway?" Chloe put her hand back on the aching place and turned to a fidgeting Dean.
„Uh, banging on the Wall to get back...?"
„Just as I came through? Damn," she examined the Wall herself. „It looks like it works only from the other side. Even when it opened for me, it didn't let you out." She flinched when she turned her head too quickly. Dean flinched with her.
„Chloe, you've gotta believe me, I'm so sorry-"
„It's okay, Dean," she looked around. I'd sell my soul for an ice machine right now. „It just burns like a motherfucker," she murmured.
The brothers gave her a look.
„What?"
„We're so rubbing off on you."
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
„I've got one bar," Sam saw Chloe raise her cell phone and did the same. Checking for more signal, they took a few steps into the corridor.
„I feel like a goddamn worm on a hook," Dean commented on the lack of their guns.
After the second right turn, Chloe sighed: „No, it's just getting weaker." Suddenly, her phone rang and she almost dropped it in surprise. The display read one of Sam's least favourite names.
„Clark? ... Hold on, crappy signal-" Chloe turned to walk back, the brothers at her heals. „Say that again? ... What? No, I've heard you now – but what do you mean? Kidnapped by who?" Chloe's stomping grew frantic. „I, I wish I could but I'm lost here, literally. We're in this place called Mystery Spot. Huh? Oregon. Listen, you need to call Oliver, he'll have a satellite search done for you." Sam recognized Chloe's ‚stress voice': commanding, loud and articulated with occasional waver or high pitch. „What? No, I'll be fine, we'll get out of here as soon as we can. The next thing you do is- Clark? CLARK? Hello?" Chloe stopped and gave her cell an accusing look. „No signal!" she shouted, „But a minute ago there was..."
All three of them raised their heads and found the Wall of Weird gone. They were standing in the middle of a long corridor. Even the bends they'd just exited were gone.
Chloe's eyes widened. „Lois was kidnapped," she informed them.
Without thinking, Sam gave her a hug. HER COUSIN, his lips formed a voiceless prompt for Dean who obviously forgot Lois's name.
Dean had always been awkward when it came down to comforting somebody, but this time, he didn't move until he looked Chloe seriously in the eyes and said: „She's gonna be alright. And we're gonna get out of here."
Chloe gave him a strained smile: „I know. Thanks."
And Sam realized his mouth was hanging open.
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
Having Sam lead the way and keeping Chloe a step ahead of him, Dean took the back position as they walked an endless corridor. When Chloe pointed out that he instinctively took the role of the group protector, he quipped that maybe he just wanted to check out her ass.
Which he actually did a lot. And whenever his sight fell on that fine shape wrapped in tight jean shorts, he couldn't resist flashing back to her dancing audition. The way she touched her neck and slid the fingers down to her cleavage, grazing her breasts and aiming lower. The way her curves moved as if she was a cobra dancing for a flute player. Or how she kicked her leg way above her head or did a pirouette in a non-stripper fashion.
But then, Dean's eye caught the fresh coloring of her cheek and it felt like a cold shower. Way to go, Dean: Just screw up with every single decent girl you meet.
„What the hell is this?" Sam was heard. They arrived at some broken chairs and a wardrobe. Chloe searched through the wardrobe and came up with lots of feazed yarn.
„Guys, I have a theory." Untying knots in yarn, she spoke: „At first I though that our surroundings change in time intervals, but I was proven wrong. I had to stop thinking about this place as a machine and look at it as some form of supernatural occurence or maybe even an organism. Maybe it simply changes whenever it's out of our sight."
„Yeah, that sounds twisted enough," Dean agreed.
„Which means we can't get out of each other's sight." Chloe raised her hands full of thread. „I know it sounds lame, but I'd rather have us tied together with this. With enough interspace. But, you know, so that if shit hits the fan, we won't loose each other so easily."
Dean raised an eyebrow. „It does sound lame, but... OK. "
An hour or so in, they ran out of small talk and started stalking the corridor impatiently. Whenever they arrived at a junction, Chloe grew nervous and Dean guessed it was because of how badly she wanted to take the right turns, get out and save her cousin.
„I'm bored out of my mind, this maze is endless!" Dean finally broke the silence.
„It must be changing around us as we're walking." Sam shared his thoughts.
„So how about we try running?" Dean asked, expecting the idea to be ripped to pieces by the intelligent part of the team. However, both Sam and Chloe nodded and started jogging.
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
Dean lost his awareness of time. His watch ticked in what definitely wasn't seconds and showed 8 p.m., which was bullshit. They passed ugly shredded rugs, paled paintings, damaged furniture and luckilly, one tap with running water. They started hearing sounds that seemed sometimes inanimate, sometimes not. The walls slowly changed from old paperwall to bricks and then to stone.
„Must be... getting... closer to the – the core of this thing," Chloe wheezed as she stopped by a large sofa that looked like it was killed by a lawnmower.
„Is that a good thing?" Dean doubted.
„Not sure, but-" Chloe gulped and held her aching ribs. Dean realized they had been running too long for her stamina. Why didn't she say anything, dammit?
„But we weren't gonna get out of that end of the maze anyway," Sam completed the sentence and walked over to check on her.
„Guys, I'm sorry, I don't think I can run anymore," Chloe avoided Sam by bending over, hands on her knees and face hidden by hair. „I haven't been running like this for ages, damn, I haven't even seen the gym in the last year or two." Her speech was still affected by her breathing and Dean felt an urge to scold her. „I've gotta get back in shape once we get out of here... But now I need a... I need a minute..."
„Lay down on the sofa," Sam ordered her.
„We all need some sleep, Chloe," Dean decided. „Sam and I will take turns on the watch. I hate those noises, they sound like Blair Witch and even I fucking hated Blair Witch."
„Wait, but... Guys, Lois..." Chloe protested.
„No discussion, Chloe. Do you want us to carry you around bride-style while you're unconscious?"
„It's gonna be only three four hours," Sam told her softly.
Chloe tried to stand up again, but her legs gave out and she couldn't do anything but say OK and collapse in the sofa.
„Fine then. Sam, will that thread be long enough for you when you're on watch? 'Cause I just called shotgun next to Chloe," Dean wiggled his eyebrows with an arrogant smile. As Sam just scoffed, Dean took off his leather jacket and covered Chloe's bare legs with it.
„Scoot over, baby, here I come," he arranged himself next to her. „And sorry for stinking," he joked some more until she finally chuckled.
„Been there when we were doing all that running, must stink, too..." She didn't open her eyes for him, but she rested her hand on the front of his T-shirt.
Dean's eyes found Sam and begged him to give them some privacy for a minute. „You know, I'm sorry," he said in a very low voice.
„For what," Chloe turned on her side, facing him and showing every color of her black eye.
„For this," his fingers hovered above the injury, touching a strand of blond hair instead. „For bringing you to this place. For your cousin. When I promised to get us out, I had a different time frame in mind."
„Dean, not everything in the world is your responsibility." Chloe whispered.
„I know, but-" Dean's hand accidentally grazed her cheek and she twitched. „Dammit, I just have to screw up everything."
„No," Chloe cupped the back of his neck and caught his gaze.
Dean couldn't help it; his eyes slid to her mouth in a painfully obvious manner. Of course I always screw up. Like now: I have a miniature goddess in my arms and what do I do? Beat her up. AND mope like an emo. What's wrong with me? I never mope!
„I jumped through that Wall on my own will," Chloe smiled, „I wanted to."
„Yeah," Dean was kinda lost in the topic there, hypnotized by the green fire of her eyes and peachy tone of her lips. „You cold?" He asked distractedly and wrapped his huge arms around her sleeveless upper body.
Chloe's smile deepened and there it was, her 100% Chloe SuperSmile®. Dean's eyes widened as he realized he never really saw her aim one at him. He made her smile and he made her laugh; but never this full-fledged, glisten-eyed version.
She didn't say a word – just buried her face against his T-shirt and let her hand settle around his waist. Dean's body slowly lost all the tension and he released a huge breath, not aware of how close his mouth had been to the back of her neck. Chloe shivered and tried to hide a gasp. Dean watched the goose-bumps on her skin and relished in his new-found discovery.
So it's her favorite spot, too...
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
Chloe's dream changed due to sudden chill on her upper body. Then she was enveloped in big warm arms again, but the scent was different. It took her one deep breath to figure it out: „Sam...?"
„Yeah, it's me," she heard a deep chuckle. „You okay? Did Dean try anything?"
„No," she complained sleepily, „He was... terribly serious about ‚failing' me. He didn't try a thing..." He did look at me with those hungry eyes, though... Maybe I'm not the only woman in the world who could turn off Dean Winchester, after all...
„Chloe, I think-" Sam cleaned his throat. „Well, you see, both Dean and I are kinda... serious about you." Sam's voice was very quiet. „And once we both realized that, I guess we're, you know, scared that– I mean, we don't wanna mess it up."
„Hmm, really...?" Chloe snuggled closer.
Sam's hand slid down her arm and her fingers automatically splayed for his to intertwine. She involuntarily made an ‚mmm' sound once his calloused fingertips touched the sensitive skin between her fingers. Distantly, she heard another affectionate chuckle.
After a while, Sam drew in a determined breath and dared to say: „You know, it would be much easier for us if you finally chose between us two."
But Chloe had fortunately fallen asleep by then.
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
They wouldn't have noticed it if Sam didn't suddenly stop and run back. Panicked when he disappeared around a corner, Dean and Chloe followed the thread they were connected with only to find Sam next to a strange opening in a wall. The trepidation of the stones on its edge looked almost organic.
„I got this weird feeling," Sam was just as surprised as the other two, „so I ran towards it. I think - I think it's gonna close soon. I have a feeling we weren't supposed to find it..."
Not much could be seen on the other side of the mysterious hole. Dean and Chloe exchanged a look.
„Alright," Dean said uneasily.
They entered a huge... something. Stone bricks blended into rock never touched by human hand, as if the place couldn't decide whether it was a cave or an ancient stone hall.
„What is this, the last level of Dungeons and Dragons?" Chloe looked around in awe.
„It's the Core," Sam took a deep breath and shook a little. „Do you feel weird? As if... tingly? Must be something in the air..."
Chloe walked over to him and tugged at his T-shirt. She checked his forehead for temperature and then noticed something.
„Look at me," she cupped his cheeks in her hands. „Damn..." She shone a flashlight in his face to make sure. „Sam, your eyes are darker. Like, three tones darker."
„What do you mean?" Sam and Dean asked at the same time, both startled.
„It's dark green," Chloe offered the flashlight to Dean to look for himself, „I'd say myrtle green but you men would be kinda lost there, huh."
„What the fuck, Sammy?" Dean sounded quite rattled.
„You think it's the..." Sam gulped, „demon blood?"
„Yes," Chloe surprised the brothers with her calm and assured answer. „But it might be just like the visions, right? Nothing evil, just an indicator of..." Chloe looked at Sam for help.
„I think it's the place. It's filled with... power, demonic power, and I feel it," Sam guessed shyly.
„So you're telling me not to freak out when my little brother's eyes are one step closer to black?" Dean grabbed at his hair, eyes wide. Every of his following exhales was accompanied by a little ‚fuck,' until he nodded and stepped further into the hall.
The only light it was lit with was coming from openings like the one they came through and these changed every couple of minutes. There were also multiple holes in the ceiling and in the floor.
„The Core, huh?"
Chloe tried to count all possible openings. She thought of Lois and whined: „So many doors... Some of them must lead out..."
„Definitely," Sam appeared at her back. „Every corridor of the maze has a door here. I think. We should... you know, peek into every opening, find out if one of them is simply an exit door."
„Oh, I wish. That would be a piece of cake," Chloe sighed again. „I mean, a piece of pie."
After making sure that a door's closing would not cut their thread, the Winchesters started exploring the openings with Chloe in the hall as an anchor or, as she called it, Ariadne.
Standing in cut-off shorts and Dean's leather jacket and shuffling her feet, Chloe realized that waiting was the worst thing they could possibly tell her to do. She couldn't escape imagining what happened to Lois. She hated being idle. Hold on, cuz...
The Winchesters reported everything they'd seen before entering another door.
„Nothing."
...
„A pile of dead spiders and one big-ass fly. Not kidding."
...
„Found out what made that whooo~aah sound."
...
„Sonovabitch, that Oompa Loompa thing scratched me with a frickin spear!"
...
„Aaand nothing."
...
„This time, daddy brought you a gift," Dean referred to a twenty-something girl in skimpy clothing they returned with.
„I want a pony and you bring me a go-go dancer. Why am I not surprised," Chloe forced a smile and shook hands with the jumpy girl.
Sam introduced her to Chloe: „We found her in a corridor that must be close to the backstage. There was no exit at the moment, though. Her name's Lacey."
„Oh, I saw your audition!" Lacey exclaimed and covered her mouth shyly. „I could see the stage from time to time," she peeped.
Sam and Dean left the girl with Chloe and continued their quest, whereas Chloe found herself interviewed.
„I loved your dance, it was original but very hot. Where did you learn to dance?"
„Ah, at home. In front of a TV."
„Really? That's amazing! Where are you from? I'm from Utah, and NO, I'm not Mormon," Lacey giggled nervously.
„Kansas."
„I used to be a dancer here, you know. Then one day, I got lost backstage..."
„How long ago was that?"
„Uuh – a few days. Listen, the taller guy-"
„Sam," Chloe inserted.
„Yeah, Sam, he has these creepy dark eyes. Is he alright?"
„Yeah. I hope."
„Isn't he like one of those things in this place? Like... a monster?"
„No." Chloe's head snapped to Lacey and then truned away, searching for words and finding none. „You know, not everything supernatural is necessarily a monster."
„What do you mean?"
„They're creatures. Like sharks, tigers and humans. They're lifeforms. Some of them we hunt simply because they have us in their food chain. And some of them are evil, just like man can be."
„So that's what a ‚Hunter' means." Lacey raised her eyebrows.
„I'm affraid most hunters are a little more opinionated than this," Chloe admitted. „Hell, I'm not sure even Sam and Dean would agree with me." She frowned at the thought.
„Oh. Sorry for the interrogation, I'll shut up now." Lacey apologized.
„It's OK, Lacey. If it keeps you from losing your mind, keep going," Chloe gave her an assuring smile.
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
They did it. They actually found a way out. Not before they almost got eaten by a fake exit that chomped on anything in its vicinity and spat the remains back to the manager's office, but still. Roughly thirty hours after entering the Mystery Spot, they were breathing fresh air again.
Dialing Clark's number immediately, Chloe pulled the ‚Doctor Smart Pants' depository key from her pocket. As the phone rang, Chloe tried to distract herself with it, deciding what to do with it.
„Dammit, he's not picking up!" Chloe snapped the cell shut. We'll use the key to find the depository company and have them reveal all the remnants. The families need to KNOW what happened... Chloe grid her teeth. Lois...
The four of them got into the Impala and rode Lacey to a bus station.
„Could I... Could I speak with you for a minute, Chloe?"
In a hurry, Chloe ignored the brothers' suspicious looks and stepped out of the car with her. Lacey opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
„Lacey, please, I need to get to my computer as soon as po-"
Chloe was cut off by a soft kiss.
Well, she always wanted to know what it felt like to kiss a girl.
Not bad, by the way.
But she had other things on her mind than marveling at the ‚taste of her cherry chapstick.'
„What are you-" Chloe detached herself from the girl, but Lacey caught her hands.
„I wasn't lost in the labyrinth," she surprised Chloe, „I went there on purpose."
„What?" Chloe's eyes skipped to a rapid movement in the Impala. As if the brothers were tumbling over each other on order to get a better view.
„I, I worked there tonight, and I saw you dance, and then I found out they threw you in there and I knew how to get in so I- ..." Lacey saw the confusion in Chloe's eyes. „Oh, come on, you've had other guys chasing after you, right? Please tell me I didn't creep you out."
„G-guys? No, I, L-Lacey-"
„Oh, about that." Lacey pulled out a piece of paper. „I'm not Lacey, not really. I'm not even a girl, actually. Don't tell the Winchesters, but..."
Chloe took the paper that read ‚for Chloe: Leonard McCarny ' and a phone number.
„I'm a shapeshifter," Lacey-the girl-the person whispered. „I know it's a lot, but... Please call me, I could help you with anything!"
While Chloe stood dumbfounded, the person stole another tiny kiss from her and ran away before the Winchesters killed her – emm, him.
«´¨'•.¸¸.•'¨`»
Back at the motel, Dean came out of a shower and found Sam returned from his mission.
„How is she?" He picked up a toothbrush, listening to Sam's report.
„Well, kinda angsty. She's got her laptop and every other possible gadget running, but Clark's still not picking up, so..."
„So she's feeling useless," Dean pronounced through a mouthful of toothpaste. „Damn, she hates that."
„Yeah. She banned us from her room until her cousin is found, actually."
„So that's why you were back so quick," Dean spat out, rinsed and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He kinda wanted to be there for Chloe. He looked away. I wouldn't know what to say anyway.
„So, banned from her room, huh?" He put on some jeans and T-shirt and laid down on a bed. Staring at the ceiling, he imagined what could be happening in the neighbouring room.
„Yeah, she was quite adamant about it. As if she really needed us to stay away," Sam complained.
Dean remembered the scolding Clark gave her about playing big brave Chloe all the time.
„I guess we can't do anything but respect her wish," Sam sighed.
Dean stared at the ceiling some more. „Bullshit," he shot out of the bed and rushed to Chloe's door.
She opened up with a cellphone to her ear. Frowning, she let him in.
„Clark! Finally!" She shouted out so loud Dean jumped. He watched as she eagerly absorbed the information Clark was giving her, nodding even though he couldn't see her and smiling shakily. „Thank god... John Corben? No idea, but I'll look him up. Thank you so much, Clark... I know, it's just, I'm sorry I couldn't help... Oh, of course, go and say hi for me. Bye." The breath that escaped her when she hanged up was enormous. As if a huge weight fell from her shoulders.
„Good news?" Dean sat next to her on the bed. He noticed her black eye was even darker than before.
Chloe nodded raising her hand to keep tears in, but it was too late, a sob was out and she was shaking.
Oh shit, what should I do?
She solved the problem for him when she threw her arms around his neck and hid her face in the hole of his neck, breaking down completely.
Oh crap, hugging. I can do this... just have to... forget about her body pressed against mine and hug back...
Dean did his best to hide his lack of hugging skills. First, she was hanging on him for dear life, so he squeezed her shoulders and the small of her back firmly. Somewhere in the process, she climbed in his lap and he gulped. Then, she just laid her head on his shoulder, working on a regular breathing and absent-mindedly massaging his other shoulder. Dean answered by hugging her gently, but anything more would be... too much for his anatomy to handle. Suddenly, he realized her breasts were squeezed against his chest.
Shit, I SO suck at hugging. I think I can pinpoint her nippl- OH GOD.
Dean's fierce inhale made Chloe pull away and search his face.
„Sorry, I..." got inappropriately horny. „Chloe, if there's anything I can do..." that wouldn't make me wanna blow my brains out... „to..." make you feel better – but not like THAT!
Chloe cut him off by cupping the back of his neck and pulling him down to rest her cheek against his.
No, I can't do hugging! Fuck fuck fuck-
And then she kissed his cheek in an inviting gesture. Dean's eyes widened.
Oh. Oh THIS I can do. Very much.
