Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural. If I did, I would be entertaining myself in much more exciting ways...
Thanks, as always, for the reviews!
This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, so sorry for that. But I think you people may enjoy it anyway :D.
"Run when you can."
Dean stared open mouthed at Sam's rigid back. Suddenly, a terrible fear gripped him, even stronger than before. He knew that stiff, tense posture, that determind glare. Sam was about to do something that would almost definately get him hurt. Dean wet his lips, shooting a glance at Bobby, who had not yet realized that Sam was free. Dean couldn't tell him without alerting the other demons. He turned his head back to Sam, biting his lip hard.
Jesus, be careful Sam...
"Ready?" Syliene asked, reaching out to put a hand on Sam's shoulder.
He nodded, turning once more towards the gate. Dean watched his shoulders heave as he took a deep breath. Then he lifted one hand.
"Okay," Syliene murmured. "We're almost there now. I can -"
She broke off with a shocked gasp as Sam whirled around and slammed his fist into her face. She stumbled backwards, and Sam stepped towards her. Dean's heart leapt, but then plumetted as the three demons not occupied with Ruby sprang into action. His warning shout left his lips too late - one of the demons twisted Sam's arms up behind his back, a second planted a sickeningly heavy blow on his cheek and the third pulled Syliene up to her feet. She was panting hard, blood trickling from her nose, but the anger still shone brightly in her face.
"Roy!" She called. "Off!"
Roy, the demon that was still hitting Sam paused, and then reluctantly stepped back. Syliene shook the other demon off and strode forwards.
"You filthy little... did you really think you could take on me?"
Sam spat blood onto the ground. Dean's heart wrenched as his brother attempted to speak but all that came out was a rasping cough. Syliene grabbed his collar and jerked him forwards.
"I fucking gave you power! I gave you your destiny!"
Sam lifted his head. "My destiny will never be to become the anti-christ," he growled. "We always have choices. I choose humanity."
An overwhelming sense of pride rushed through Dean, and he couldn't help but grin. His Sammy was really and truly back. He had needed so much to hear those words on Sam's lips that he felt as though they had already won. If he hadn't been stuck to a headstone, he would be throwing chick-flick-caution to the winds and throwing his arms around Sam right now. Syliene smirked, and Dean's elation slowly died a little.
"Then you choose death," she snapped. "I no longer need you: I can break through the last few barriers alone."
She sounded a little uncertain, but the glow of rage and determination in her black eyes made no mistake of how this would end. She could do it, Dean was sure. Sam had done all the hard work: all Syliene needed was one little push and then... then it would all be over. Syliene turned away and strode towards the tomb.
"Kill him," she tossed back over her shoulder. "Enjoy yourselves."
"No!" Dean yelled, struggling wildly against the hold keeping him useless. "No! Sammy!"
Sam was struggling too, trying desperately to pull free. He managed to free one hand and jerked it back, sending the demon holding him flying. He surged up to his feet, slamming both hands forwards to send Roy and the remaining demon stumbling away. Dean's relief died quickly as Sam let out an agonized moan and pressed both hands to his head. Apparently without Syliene's influence, he could no longer take the psychic strain. He was beginning to tremble, blood leaking quickly out of the wounds across his chest and in his side. Dean panicked, wrenching desperately forwards but unable to move. He couldn't lose his brother now, not when Sam had just come back to him. A movement on the other side of the graveyard caught his eye, and he let out a scream.
"Sam! Sam, look out!"
Sam lifted his head to look at Dean and then turned. He lifted a hand, attempting to throw up a sheild between himself and Roy but the demon easily swatted him away and pushed forwards. His hand cut through the air, connecting hard with Sam's chest and sending him flying backwards and into a tree. Sam slammed into it hard and dropped to the ground, managing to catch himself on his hands and his knees. More blood was dribbling from his nose and the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were tiny glimmering slits as he lifted his head. Dean's stomach curled in on itself. This was a worse torture than hell could ever give him - he was going to watch his brother beaten to death before his eyes.
The ground beneath him suddenly shook and he turned his head to see Syliene with her arms outstretched, her face tilted towards the sky. Fire was roaring up in the crack in the earth once more, and the gates were wide open. Lightning forked through the sky and thunder grumbled and crashed. Lightning struck the ground, sending up bursts of dust, and Dean flinched. It was happening. Everything was about to end.
"No!"
For a moment he thought the yell had come from his own mouth, but then Sam streaked past him. Dean flicked his head to the left to see the demons that had been attacking his brother stumbling, caught off guard by Sam's sudden surge of psychic energy. Sam reached Syliene and snatched her hand down, breaking her connection with the tomb. She spun to face him, her eyes blazing with anger, but before she could speak Sam slammed a hand forwards and she flew backwards into the furnace. Her ear-shattering scream of agony and shock struck everyone in the clearing, so much so that Dean thought his head was going to explode. But he kept his eyes on Sam.
His brother was wrestling with the gates, trying desperately to build up enough power to force them shut again. But even as he did so, he was sliding towards the gaping, firey oblivion. Dean realized what was happening with a jolt of terror. Sam was going to be pulled into hell in his attempts to shut the gates. Dean turned his head but the demons were showing no signs of helping or even of trying to attack; the sudden death of Syliene was enough to give them pause. One glimpse into that burning end gave them their new plan. Four of them turned and ran, throwing Ruby to the ground. Roy hesitated, his eyes flickering from Sam to the gates. His eyes met Dean's, and darkened. He took a step backwards. Dean wrenched his gaze away.
"Sam!" he yelled in anguish as Sam was dragged closer. His brother let out a yelp of pain as the flames reached out to lick at his right arm. He was faltering, his legs shaking wildly. He wasn't going to be able to escape.
Everything happened very quickly after that.
Dean caught a glimpse of something black sprinting towards the gates, but he couldn't tell who it was. Almost at the same time, a blinding white light burst out from the gates and the hold over him vanished, sending him pitching forwards onto the ground. He looked up but the light prevented him from seeing anything at all. Then, with a rumbling crash, the light vanished and the gates slammed shut.
Dean lay frozen, unable to quite believe what had just happened. But the evidence was there before his eyes - the gates were shut, the crack in the earth was no longer burning with fire but dark and empty. They had done it. He struggled to his feet, dazed and confused. Ruby was standing just beside the crack, gently lowering a limp figure to the ground. Dean's stomach jerked and he sprinted forwards, jumping over smaller headstones and weaving his way around the larger ones. One name dominated his mind.
"Sam!"
Gasp! I know, I just left you a really evil cliffie! Please review, because you know I'm not sure if I can be bothered to finish this story...
Haha, I'm so mean.
SUPRNTRAL LVR.
