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DARKEST BEFORE DAWN

Chapter 10

Rayner paced back and forth across the living room of his house, a scotch in one hand, cigar in the other. He wanted to get Kerri back to him, and he wanted the Winchesters out of the picture. He knew Azazel wanted Sam, but Rayner was not prepared to help speed along the apocalypse. He still couldn't believe what the demon was planning. Sam Winchester wasn't just any kid, he was the freaking second coming. The world was gonna end, and he was gonna be the one to flip the switch. Rayner needed a game plan, needed a way to stop the Yellow Eyed Demon. He didn't think killing Sam would be enough, he wasn't about to underestimate Azazel's power.

The witch knew at that moment that he needed to get Kerri Harrison back. She had answers he could only dream of, and he could use her. He could become more powerful than the demon, could outsmart the yellow eyed bastard, beat him at his own game. He just needed to get the redheaded twenty-nine year old back. And that's where Bruce Chetling came in. Rayner knew if anyone could find the Winchesters it would be him. Bruce built his career on deep cover, hell he was the master of it. He knew all the avenues, knew all the places to hide, and he a had strange ability to chase others out of hiding.

The only problem now, was getting away from Azazel. Rayner knew it wouldn't be easy. The demon had a very deep interest in both Sam and Kerri, and he knew the creature would stop at nothing to get his prize. It would be a precarious balancing act, but Rayner was certain he could beat the demon.

"Why so nervous?"

Victor swung around at the voice, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the Demon standing behind him, his sickly yellow eyes hungry. Rayner schooled his features almost instantly. He had taken precautions to keep the demon out of his house, but they had obviously not been enough.

"Who says I'm nervous."

"Your heart rate is 140, you're sweating, and your adrenaline is pumping. You're obviously not having a relaxing drink. You weren't thinking about double crossing me, were you , Victor?"

"Of course not."

"So you're willing to help me get Sam Winchester?"

"Yes, our deal still stands."

"Ah, forgive me for being so blunt, but I think you're lying to me. I know you've contacted another hunter about the brothers. And I don't believe that was part of our plan."

"I just thought it would make it easier to find the boys."

"It won't. If they know someone's looking for them they'll stay under cover."

"But the hunter I called is an expert in deep cover."

"I see. And when were you planning on telling me about this?"

"I'm telling you now."

"After I asked." The demon sighed, pacing slowly around the room. "But I can't help but see another road. You were going to find the brothers, and then you were going to use Kerri against me."

"No, never."

"Never, really. Well then, lets make sure of that."

An ear piercing, earth shattering, scream broke through the heavy silence of the house. Victor didn't have a second to react when Azazel gripped the sides of his head. The last thing Victor Rayner saw was a plum of black smoke leaving the demon's mouth— and heading straight for him.

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Azazel watched as the body he had been using dropped lifelessly to the ground. He stretched, working out the kinks in his new body. The instant he took over Rayner, he felt a surge of power. He hadn't been aware of the witch's blood link to Kerri Harrison, but the moment he possessed the man, it was clearly obvious. The connection was like electricity, but it was also jumbled. He knew she was still alive, still out there somewhere, and that she was still observing and storing information, but that was all he could sense.

The Demon searched his new host's mind, learning all he could about Rayner's betrayal. Azazel didn't like the fact that another hunter was involved, but maybe this man would help him get to Sam Winchester sooner rather than later. He smiled, walking slowly toward the half empty bottle of scotch. He normally took completely human hosts, but having one with a few tricks up his sleeve would definitely be a nice change of scenery.

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Dean was lost in a dream world he couldn't escape. He felt like he was drowning, arms grabbing at him, pulling him under the icy water of the lake by Kerri's house. He could hear his brother screaming, but he couldn't pull in enough air to call back. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. He had been pushed into the water as a child, but he had had the bracelet in his pocket, and that small bit of silver had destroyed the Watcher.

He tried to fight off the hands holding him down, tried to find the air to call out for Sammy. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. He needed to get to Kerri and Sam, needed to keep them away from the Watcher.

"Dean." Sam called out again, and Dean struggled to get to him. "Snap out of it."

"Sammy?" Dean mumbled, pushing open his eyes and taking a deep breath. He sat up instantly. He was no longer underwater, no longer struggling against the long dead children which had kept Kerri's property empty for so many years. He was sitting in the cluttered living room at Bobby's house, the concerned mechanic eyeing him over Sam's shoulder.

"You ok?" Sam asked, his hands still on Dean's shoulders.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I came up here and you were having a nightmare."

"I'm ok, Sam. Why'd you come up here, is Kerri ok?"

"Yeah, she's doing good."

"Anything I need to know about, Boys?" Bobby asked, bringing Dean's attention back to him. Bobby had his jacket on and keys in his hand.

"Where're you going?"

"Need to help someone out another state over. I'll be gone a few days. House is stocked up for you, though."

"You're leaving?"

"I offered her help before you called. I was gonna stay, but Sam says he has everything covered. I can hang around if it's better."

"Nah, it's ok. Do you have any clues about Kerri?"

"Sorry, Kid, I came up empty. But you three have free reign of the library. I'll keep searching while I'm away, too."

"Don't tell anyone."

"You think I've gone senile or something?"

"Sorry. It's just— I've got a lot on my mind. Thanks, Bobby, for everything."

"Always. If you need me, just call, I'll head right back."

"Ok."

The brothers watched as Bobby left. Dean felt an instant pang of loss when he listened to the truck leave. After his father's death Bobby had assumed the role, becoming a father figure for Dean. In all honesty, the blonde had been hoping they'd drive in and Bobby would have the answer waiting for them, calling them idiots for missing it. But it was obvious now that this went beyond everything they knew.

"Kerri needs you downstairs." Sam stated quietly a few minutes later.

"I thought you said everything was alright."

"It is. She just wanted you there when we went ahead with the plan." Sam answered slowly, looking down at his hands.

"What plan?" Dean didn't remember coming up with any plans.

"I'm gonna help her search her mind."

"Sam, no."

"It's two against one, Dean. I was gonna do it while you were sleeping, but Kerri insisted you be involved."

"Why? You're not gonna listen to me anyway."

"Maybe not, but at least you won't be that far out of the loop."

"Sam, the last time I went along with something I didn't like I found Kerri on the floor."

"This will be different. I can keep her safe, I know I can."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's just— I feel like I can do this."

"Because of the demon blood?"

"I don't know. Believe me, Dean, I would give anything to be normal. But I'm not. The least I could do is use what happened to me to help someone I care about."

Dean watched his brother, staring at him long and hard. It was like he was seeing the young man for the first time. This wasn't his baby brother any more, wasn't Sammy, this was Sam— a hunter, a grown man. His brother was an adult, and as much as Dean hated it, it was time he let the younger man make his own choices. "Alright, Sammy. Lets do it."

Dean followed his brother down the stairs, his heart heavy. He didn't want to do this. The danger of it was eating a way at him, but there was more hiding beneath the surface— this would drive home the fact that neither his brother nor best friend were normal. If they didn't try this, if Sam didn't shield himself and Kerri while they took a trip through her brain, then he could pretend they were just Sam and Kerri, just the kids he grew up with. But the moment they went through with their plan they would step over the invisible line between worlds— and it was a line Dean wouldn't be able to cross.

He felt a little of his stress melt away when he came down the basement stairs. He could see Kerri sitting in the entry way of the panic room. She looked beyond bored, but also stronger and healthy than she had in a long time. Hell, they both looked better than they had in a long time. Dean didn't know if it was because of the panic room or something else, but he welcomed it all the same. He took a step behind Sam, though, when he saw her face. Kerri looked pissed.

"Are you hiding behind me?" Sam whispered, trying to step away from his brother.

"Yes." Dean whispered back, keeping step with his little brother.

"Knock it off."

"Heck no, she looked like she could kill."

"She does not."

"What are you two whispering about?" Kerri eyed the brothers suspiciously.

"Dean thinks you're gonna beat him up."

"Really? I won't. Come in here, I'll show you."

Dean just looked at Kerri, her mischievous little glare tipping him off. He knew Kerri would never hurt him, but he also knew he wasn't about to go into that room without sam as a shield. She was devious in her own way. And it just drove home what they were about to do even more. Here they were, messing around like that had all their lives, but in a few minute's time, they would be stepping into uncharted territory.

"You guys through screwing around?" Sam asked, breaking Dean from his inner peace.

Dean sighed, he would never be ready for this, but he knew they didn't have a choice. "Yeah, lets get it over with." He stepped over the threshold of the panic room behind Sam. He felt like he was walking to the electric chair, his steps slower and heavier than they normally were. They were on the brink of the unknown, and Dean wouldn't be able to follow his brother or Kerri over the edge.

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Sam could feel his pulse rising as he sat cross legged across from Kerri, their knees touching. They had closed the door to the panic room, hoping it would offer a little more protection for the pair. They were also sitting directly under the fan, and devil's trap, in the middle of the room. Sam didn't know if any of that would help, but he wasn't about to take any more risks than needed. They were stepping into uncharted territory, and he didn't know where the path they were taking would lead. Closing the door had succeeded in one thing, though, Evelyn was sealed out.

Sam had been afraid to step over the threshold of the panic room— hell he wasn't even sure he could. He was still possessed by Evelyn, or linked to Evelyn, he still wasn't exactly sure which term was more accurate. Either way, there was no telling if that link would keep him from entering the protected space. Now he was there, and he could hear Evelyn's angry voice on the other side of the door. The brunette was getting stronger, a lot stronger, and Sam knew he would have hell to pay when he left the room. After all, this had really been her idea, and now she was sealed away from them all.

He let out a long breath, he couldn't think about Evelyn right now. The ghost would still be there after this was over, he needed to focus on Kerri. He looked again into the redhead's deep blue eyes. He felt his heart skip a beat as he stared into her fathomless gaze— all he could see was trust. She trusted him with all her heart, Sam knew that, and he felt himself being crushed under that responsibility. He didn't know how Dean did it, how his big brother took on so many people's fears, how he shouldered the burden of pure trust.

"We ready?" Sam asked, pushing all his fears to the back of his mind.

"As I'll ever be." Kerri answered, glancing between him and Dean.

Dean was sitting on the desk beside them, a gun by his side. Sam knew it would be of virtually no use, but it made the older man feel more in control, and Sam wasn't about to take that away from him. He felt bad going where his brother could not, but he knew they didn't have a choice. This was their lives, and they were going to have to learn to deal with it.

"Alright." Sam began, rubbing his hands. He really had no idea what to do next. "Close your eyes and try to relax."

"You're not gonna start chanting, are you?"

"Being serious would help."

"I was just trying to lighten the mood. Ok, I think I know what to do." Kerri began, pushing her long hair back over her shoulders.

"What? How?" Sam had been winging it based on what Evelyn had taught him. So how the heck did Kerri know what to do?

"When I was in that room with Rayner and Yellow Eyes. I couldn't yell or anything, so I just thought about you guys. I kind of hid away inside my brain, and I saw you there, Sam. So, I'm guessing I'll just do that same thing. Look inside for you guys."

"I guess that sounds good." Sam began. Kerri's idea seemed valid.

"You guys aren't really inspiring much confidence." Dean spoke for the first time, and Sam could hear the edge in his voice. They needed to get started before Dean tried to stop them.

Sam let out a long breath, looking at Kerri one more time before closing his eyes. He tuned out the world, the sound of the fan overhead the only thing breaking through the heavy silence. Sam focused on Kerri. He drew a picture of her in his mind, her long red hair, piercing blue eyes and infectious smile forming in his mind. He thought about her laugh, her voice, the way she walked, the way she looked when she slept.

"This is really weird."

"What part of be quiet do you not get." Sam spoke, opening his eyes. His heart nearly stopped.

"You should see your face." Kerri smiled, but Sam could tell by the waver in her voice she was equally as unnerved.

"Dean's gotta be freaking out." Sam looked around him. He and Kerri were together, but they were definitely no longer with Dean. They were in a dark grey room, almost like a cell, with three doors surrounding them. Sam was standing in front on one door while Kerri was next to another, the third door right in between them— all three were closed.

"You think we passed out or are just sitting there?"

"I have no idea." Sam answered, still studying the doors.

"What about the doors?"

"My guess is the one behind me is my brain, and the one behind you is yours."

"And the third?"

"Hopefully the panic room."

"Are you sure you're right?"

"No. I'm not sure about anything. Do you have a better idea?"

"No. So, whose brain are we gonna visit?"

"Yours, Kerri." Sam crossed his arms, eyeing his friend. He and Kerri didn't often spend time alone together, she was always closer to Dean. The brunette saw this as a chance to get to know her more, to see into the secret world Kerri Harrison called home.

"Well, mine's all screwed up. Maybe we should practice with yours."

"Evelyn's not there if that's what you're looking for." Sam began, trying to sound like Dean. He knew the redhead was looking for her sister, and Sam also knew she couldn't see her. He hadn't known Evelyn in her final years, but he knew the ghost he was currently speaking with wasn't the same girl Kerri was longing to see. The dead should stay dead, and Sam didn't want this 'half-Evelyn' to erase the memories Kerri had of her little sister.

Kerri just gave him a look, but a moment later she sighed. "Fine. So, should I go in first?"

"Hold my hand."

"Why?"

"Cause I don't want to get split up. I don't think we'll be able to get back out of here just by waking up. I think we need to go through that other door. The last thing we need is to get lost in here."

"Sam, I don't know what we're gonna find in there."

"I'll be right beside you. We'll be fine." Sam smiled at her, taking her hand before turning toward the door. He hoped he was right. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before nodding to Kerri. The redhead grabbed the handle, turning it and pushing open the door. Without another thought, Sam and Kerri stepped through the door, and into the unknown.