Beginning of the End

Chapter Nine: What Lies in the Past

Elli awoke slowly, Dean's face the first thing she saw. She smiled gingerly, kissing him on the lips. His eyes slowly fluttered open and he returned the same smile. "Morning." He said tiredly.

"Morning." She replied. They kissed each other, tongues dancing together in greeting. Elli tangled her fingers in his hair. "I have to admit, I'm impressed." She said, the night before fresh in her mind. He chuckled, rubbing her right hip back and forth.

"I just know my way around the human body." He said, his hand squeezing her hip just right. She shuddered, taking in a sharp breath.

"I never—would have guessed." She spoke through gritted teeth as he kissed her just below her jaw between her ear and chin. He smiled, his lips never leaving her skin as he spoke.

"Eleanor, you are beautiful inside and out." He whispered, his hands caressing her anywhere he could touch. She tilted her head back and he moved his kisses further down her neck. She swallowed hard, her thoughts becoming cloudy just as they had hours before.

"Dean…" She said, her tone pausing him. "We shouldn't stay here all day. We should—keep moving." He sat up and looked down at her, softly caressing her cheek. As he did, he leaned his head down closer to hers.

"Think of this as our…vacation." He suggested, giving her a kiss. She looked up at him.

"I don't know…" Her voice was unsure, but her eyes told him, he was winning her over. He leaned down and kissed her longer this time, her eyes closing. "We should at least pack." Her voice was soft and less committed. He gave a third kiss and swiftly touched her cheek. "One day."

Dean smiled, his hunger for her just as strong as it was the night prior. Elli watched him climb over top of her, but he took her by surprise when he pulled her up into a sitting position. Clinging to her with his arms wrapped firmly around her, he kissed her long and hard, all the while having his way with her.

When they laid back down, Eleanor was already tired. She was shocked by the man's stamina, and even more surprised by her own. Dean fell asleep, his head resting on her chest. She ran her hand through his hair and hummed Nothing Else Matters from Metallica. Despite how tired she was, she couldn't go back to sleep. Her mind raced, from thoughts on Sam and Castiel to her parents. She looked around the room, her eyes falling on the picture of Jean and Greg. Staring at it more closely, she blinked and furrowed her brows.

Carefully climbing out of the bed without waking Dean, she went to the picture and picked it up. Turning it over, she took the back off of the frame and let out a slow breath. On the back of ther picture were words her mother had written.

"Search for the truth, which lies in the past. That's where you'll find it."

Elli flipped the picture back over and stared at it more closely. Jean and Greg stood in front of the waterfall happily. She searched the background and spotted a small sign. "The Hatfield Waterfall…" She felt her eye twitch and her fists tighten, the pressure cracking the glass.

"Eleanor?" Dean spoke groggily from the bed, having just realized she was no longer beside him. She remained where she was, her eyes never leaving the picture.

"It's time to leave, Dean."

. . .

"You found something." Dean said from behind the wheel of the Impala. Elli nodded, the photo in her hands.

"They went to Tugfork."

"Tugfork…wait, isn't that where the Mccoys lived during the family feud?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately, I think the Hunter family feud is somehow involved."

"So what do you know?" He asked. She looked at him.

"What?"

"What do you know about your history?"

"We were immature and killed each other for stupid reasons."

"Like?"

"Well, for one, intermarriage between Hatfields and McCoys."

"Is your mom a descendant of the Hatfields?"

Elli blinked a few times. "She is, actually. Which gives a reason for whatever is going on."

"This isn't about a family war." Dean swerved the car and Elli gasped as Castiel appeared in the back seat. Dean glared at him once the car was under control.

"Where the hell have you been?!" The angel looked at him blankly.

"You two seem to greet me in the same way."

"Cas…Sam's dead! WHERE WERE YOU?!"

"I'm sorry, Dean."

"You're sorry? Sorry for disappearing when we needed you most? Or for leaving us stranded while Elli almost died, too?"

"ENOUGH." Castiel boomed, silencing Dean's rage. "I'm sorry, I really am, but my existence does not evolve around the world of Dean Winchester. Sam knew he was going to die and I could not save him. He told me he had the fever. And if it weren't for Elli's weakness, you would have lost yourself. That is why things happened the way they did. That is why you are still alive and not losing your mind."

Castiel flew off, leaving Dean and Elli alone. The Winchester's hands shool as he gripped the wheel, his eyes glassy. Elli bit her lip.

"Castiel, please come back. We could use your—advice right now." Minutes passed and she sunk down in her seat. Damn…

"I only came back because you were polite." Came the angel's voice. Elli turned in her seat and gave him a small smile. Dean kept his mouth closed. "Using the famous fight was only their way to get your attention, Eleanor."

"Who?"

"The demons." The angel answered. She furrowed her brows.

"That would explain the croatoan virus, but not why they want me."

"Your parents are gene carriers of the walking dead virus."

Elli crossed her arms, confused. Dean glanced over at his winged friend. "I thought everybody carried it."

"Everyone turns into a walker after death, except the very first ones who introduced the strain." Castiel looked at Elli, followed by Dean, whose eyes widened when she looked away.

"Eleanor? What's he talking about?"

"It's complicated."

"Try me." He retorted. He grabbed her chin in his hand, making her look up at him. "What aren't you telling me?" She frowned.

"Everything you know about the Hatfields and McCoys is a lie. We fabricated history to hide what the real war was about."

"Which was?" He asked. She took a deep breath to prepare herself.

"Both families were always into hunting. The Hatfields were the hunters like you and your family. The McCoys were hunters of flesh. We were the first walkers." She exposed her inner left arm and ran her fingernail down her skin, causing black veins to rise and the normal color to turn sickly white. Dean watched with a face as hard as stone, his expression unreadable.

Elli put her arm down. "My family is like a spore. At first, outbreaks were small and the Hatfields destroyed those who turned. But when intermarriage began, they realized that any child with McCoy blood gave the virus to those previously unaffected. Which is why the world is swarming with walkers. Since I was born, since my mother was born, every person we came in contact with will become a walker after they die. But if we are bit, we remain as we are."

Dean focused on the road, but his eyes reflected indecision.

Castiel sat back in his seat. "The demons have been locating every McCoy bloodline to create a monster much more terrifying."

"Like what?" Dean asked, his voice pure gravel.

"They want to mix the walker virus with the croatoan virus." Elli put her head down.

"If the Hatfields hadn't gave in, they could have killed us all and none of this would've happened."

Dean said nothing. Elli looked at him and frowned. His face was cold. His eyes were glossy with anger and confusion. She knew he was torn by his instinct and his emotions. And it was her fault.

Castiel looked forward. "If we find Elli's parents, there is no guarantee they will be alive."

"Guess we'll find out." Dean gruffed, his foot pushing down on the gas pedal. Elli sat back in her seat and looked out her window. It was going to be a long ride.

End of Chapter Nine.

Coming next is Chapter 10: Tugfork