Disclaimer: Winchesters, no-ot mine.
A/N #1: Okay. I know this update is a few days past my normal Tuesday post... Well, you know how sometimes you write and everything just flows and turns out great? Like sometimes it just feels like the story wrote itself? This was not one of those times. bleh! I have wrestled and fought with this chapter to get it written. I am still not entirely pleased with it (I do love a few parts of it though. Is that narcissistic? hehe). There may be glaring punctuation and or typos too. I have been working at bending this chapter to my will, but I am worn out. :) So... I am posting it, asking that you would please be gentle in your reviews. Hope you enjoy it. ;0)
A/N #2: The town mentioned is a real place and very near my home. The restaurant and the hotel are also real places. The people mentioned in the town are not. I have definitely taken liberty with this and it is all fictitious. Google it if you are interested in the ghost stories. There are quite a few related to this place. Ghost Hunters really did a show about it and caught some cool things on film. Anyway... Happy reading.
How To Save A Life - Chapter 10
It had only taken two days for Bobby to find them a job or maybe a distraction would be a more apt description of what the older hunter had found. Sam didn't blame him though, there was only so much Frustrated Dean anyone could handle before completely losing it. Frustrated Dean was so much worse than Bored Dean. He and Bobby had put up with Dean's stomping angrily around the house, through the house and up and down the stairs; by turns muttering dire consequences into his cell phone and threatening every part of the angel with harm. Castiel had yet to answer on his end or call Dean back. Sam wasn't surprised, after some of the messages he had heard his brother leaving. It was a wonder the cell phone hadn't melted with all the venomous words Dean had been spewing into it.
There had been no more noise from the "Heavenly Hotline" either, as Dean had started calling his sporadic ability to hear the angels, no more powers popping up and his body choosing to heal at a rather slow pace. When he had awoken sore that first day, Dean had regretted some of the hardy stair-stomping he had been indulging in. So, in the midst of Hurricane Dean, Bobby had in desperation, found something for them to "check out"; hence the reason they were on the road to Arkansas.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas; to be exact. The Little Switzerland of the U.S.. A town supposedly teaming with "ghosts". The problem with this, at least from the Winchester brother's perspective, was that these supposed "ghosts" hadn't caused any harm to anyone, weren't reported to be angry or causing mayhem and on top of that the town and its people were very proud of said "ghosts" and had no desire for them to be gone. Sam sighed and glanced toward his brother who had finally succumbed to exhaustion a few towns back, falling into a fitful sleep. Sam could hear him mumbling incoherently at intervals. At least his eyes were closed, Sam hoped he looked a little less pale when he opened them again. His brother for all his energetic, angry angel-bashing rants of the past few days, was still not back up to speed.
Later...
Sam turned off the engine and gave his sleeping brother a gentle shake. "Hey, sleeping beauty, time to wake up."
Dean jerked upright, banging his head against the passenger window, before groaning and palming his still slightly tender side. Turning, he glared at his offending brother. "Whadja' do that for?" He accused, rubbing his now bruised head with his other hand.
Sam smirked. "I was just trying to wake you up, I didn't know you were going to go all jack- in-the box on me and hurt yourself. You okay?"
With a sigh, Dean scrubbed a hand down his face. "Yeah, yeah. You just startled me, I guess." Looking around he asked. "Where are we?"
"We are at the Crescent Hotel. The most haunted piece of property in the town of Eureka Springs, at least according to their website. It was a hotel, women's conservatory, womens' college and a cancer hospital run by a quack before going back to it's original use, a hotel again. Ghost Hunter's, you know that T.V. show, even came out and investigated..."
Dean interrupted with a scowl. "Dude, enough. I'm not stupid. I know this little escapade was just to get me out of Bobby's hair, or what little hair he still has." Sam grinned as he continued, with a smile of his own. "I know we aren't likely to find anything here, but it feels good to get out and at least try to do something. Ya know?"
"Okay Bro. Well, Bobby got us a good deal on the Internet and we are staying here." Sam replied as he and his brother both studied the imposing structure. It sat atop a steep hill, overlooking the quaint little town. Most of the building was made of pale limestone with balconies running along the side of three of its floors. "A step up from our usual dives. Huh?" A wry smile lit his face. " So... Let's check in and poke around a little. Lots of tourists come here and writers too, so that's all the cover we really need. Sound good?"
Dean rolled his eyes and answered. "Sounds good. You know what else sounds good? Food. I'm hungry."
With a chuckle, Sam remarked. "It's about time your love affair with food got back on track." He and Bobby had been worrying about his brother's lack of appetite for awhile, so it was a relief to hear him admit to being hungry, without someone having to try to coax him into a few bites.
o
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When they entered the building, it felt as if they had stepped back in time. Decorated in turn of the century style, the walls were painted a deep red. Thick carpets and a large cheerily burning fireplace added to the old-world ambiance. The older gentleman that checked them in was a fount of information. He regaled them with more stories than they wanted to hear before they were able to escape to their room on the second floor. They hadn't been able to book the most haunted room in the old hotel, room 218, for which Dean was glad. He would just as soon get some sleep, rather than fight with some poltergeist in their room tonight.
Their room was spacious and included a jacuzzi. Dean decided he was definitely going to take advantage of that. They dropped off their bags, freshened up a little and went exploring.
The town was built on a multitude of steep hills. Most of the Victorian style homes seemed to be precariously balanced on or next to the cliffs, that surrounded them. It made Dean nervous, as though they might come crashing down, like a house of cards, at any minute. There was not a lot of people out and about, it was the dead of winter and the tourist town was reflecting this season. The brothers ended up in a place called, "Mud Street Cafe", built in the underground part of Eureka Springs. It was decorated a lot like the hotel, old-world style and sat below street level. Sam and Dean were two of only a handful of other customers.
Sam was relaxed, enjoying being with his brother. The pretty waitress was flirting with Dean as usual. Dean was flirting back as usual. He was smiling his patented bad boy smile that promised things Sam didn't want to know about. They were eating the best meal they had had in awhile and Sam was thinking, if he concentrated real hard, he could almost forget about the big mess that was their life. He wanted to forget how his brother's life had been turned upside down, how both of them were being hunted, how the world was in danger of ending; well the list could go on, but here in this peaceful place it felt like it could just be a normal guy's night out. Just two brothers getting together to relax, have fun. Sam smiled, he could almost imagine that scenario.
He started as Dean snapped his fingers in front of his face, grumbling in frustration. "Dude. Where did you go? I've been trying to get your attention for the last few minutes."
Smiling wider, Sam answered quietly. "Just enjoying the atmosphere and the food."
Dean gave his brother a quizzical look and then remarked. "The food is awesome. I'm coming back for dessert tomorrow. Kayla says their pie has won awards." Dean's face took on a look of rapture at the prospect of eating award worthy pie. Sam chuckled. Dean winked and then asked if he was ready to go, because the cafe was closing. When they got to the door, Kayla met them with a white paper bag and a rather steamy smile. Dean took the bag reverently, as though it were prescious treasure. Maybe award worthy pie was treasure in his brother's book. Sam chuckled at the infectious little boy grin that now lit up his brother's face.
"You be nice to me little brother and I might share this pie with you." He said tapping the bag gently. "Kayla said I needed a sample. She said, this pie definitely warranted a second visit. This is my sample."
Sam"s smirk matched his brother's. "Sure. I'm always nice." As they made their way back up to the street, he noticed it was eerily deserted and quiet. "It's only 8pm. Closes down early around here huh?" He commented.
"Yeah, Kayla says not much happens in February. Kind of turns into a ghost town."
"Kayla seems to have a lot of useful information."
Grinning Dean replied, waggling his brows. "Might have to see what else she knows before we leave."
Sam snorted and ignored the implied scenario as they walked back up one of the steep streets towards the hotel. They had opted to leave the Impala parked after Dean had seen how narrow and twisty the streets were. The big muscle car would have a tough time navigating here.
"So, what are we going to do? Just go back to..." Sam turned to his brother and stopped speaking. Dean was standing very still as though listening to something that Sam couldn't hear. Scanning the area around them for any visible threats, he stepped in front of his brother and bent a little to look him directly in the face. "Hey." He said quietly. "What is it? Do you hear something?"
Dean blinked, bringing Sam's face into focus. "Um, I." He paused and tried to see around his brother. "I think someone is watching us. Something just feels off."
Sam caught movement over his brother's head and straightened up, grabbing Dean's arm and pulling him behind him. Dean stumbled at the abrupt movement. "What are you doing?" He asked in annoyance.
"Look." Sam commanded jerking his head towards the shadows moving towards them.
The brothers watched as the dark shapes solidified into three burly men. They all appeared to share Sam's lofty height, but surpassed him in build. They made Sam feel kind of small, and Dean seemed almost fragile in comparison to the bulky trio as they drew closer. They were dressed in what appeared to be biker apparel, black leather jackets and pants, dark t-shirts and heavy black boots. Sam was trying to figure out if these guys were thugs, muggers or just friends out for an evening stroll.
Dean stepped out from behind him to stand at his side and say quietly. "Demons. Probably after my pie. You armed Sammy?"
Sam stifled a surprised laugh at Dean's attempt at levity and reached reflexively for the demon slaying knife. He carried it all the time now since his brother had given it back to him. Just as quietly, he relayed. "Ruby's knife and my gun."
"I've got two silver knives and my gun, which won't do much except maybe slow 'em down a little." Dean smirked, waving his colt which was already in his hand and still grasping the bag with the coveted pie in the other.
Sidling closer to his brother he reminded him. "Partners Dean. Equal partners."
Dean looked up and his mouth twitched. "Okay, Sammy. Equal Partners. Do my best."
Sam snorted. "Ya Better."
One of the men/demons stepped out from the other two and addressed the waiting brothers.
"Good evening Dean and Sam. We have been sent to convince you, that it would behoove you both greatly to join our side of the coming altercation." His stilted speech contrasted comically with his less than proper attire.
Dean chuckled. "Is that so?"
Frowning, the demon answered. "Yes. We have permission to use any force we deem necessary." The frown morphed into a menacing smile, as he continued. "And we always deem force to be very necessary."
The Winchesters didn't bother remarking on that little pronouncement as they backed up slowly and the demons advanced just as slowly. Each group eyeing the other, searching for an opportunity to strike first and cause the most damage.
The broadest demon feinted left, quickly reaching for Sam's arm. Sam was faster, bringing the knife up and catching the big man's shoulder stabbing deeply, then pulling back. The man jerked and looked down at the seeping wound. All five combatants froze for a moment contemplating the injury. Nothing happened. The demon didn't die. The man didn't die. Sam looked at his knife, covered in crimson and then back to the blossoming stain it had inflicted, in disbelief.
Dean was also stunned, eyes wide, staring silently.
The spokesman for the demon group, gave a toothy grin. "Oh. Did we forget to mention that we are immune to such weapons? We are ancient." After that proclamation, all hell broke loose. Well at least it felt like it. The demons rushed at them and proceeded to thrash them with plenty of the force they deemed necessary. Dean fought doggedly, punching, using his pistol as a bludgeon instead of firing it. He tried to keep his brother in his line of sight, but his reflexes seemed to be a little slower than usual and he wasn't exactly dominating the skirmish. Cringing in anticipation of the oncoming pain as he went airborne for the second time, he was not disappointed when the onslaught came. Waves of nauseating agony washed over him as he landed at the end of a narrow alley between two tall buildings built against solid rock cliffs. There was no where to go and not sure if he could even get back up, he lay still for a moment, trying to get his bearings. Sam stumbled over next to him, face bleeding, clutching his bloody knife, looking like he had been tangling with a demon. Oh, wait they had been. Dean scowled and grabbed for Sam's arm trying to pull himself upward.
"Gotta plan?" Sam grunted, sounding a little desperate as he grasped his hand and pulled him up.
"Lost my pie. They are going down. And I always gotta plan little brother." Dean answered cockily, ruining the effect with a pained wheeze at the end.
Sam glanced down at him struggling to stay upright and grasped him in a firmer hold, helping to steady him. Re-sheathing his knife, which wasn't really helping against these super demons or whatever they were, he replied. "Okay, well, they deserve whatever they get if they made you lose your pie, huh? Lay it on me Dean. What are we gonna do?" Watching warily as the demons stalked closer. They really seemed to be enjoying this, almost toying with them. The one in front decided to give them a heads up on the upcoming events. "We are taking you to the Morning Star now." He declared boldly.
Dean never one to back down, snarled back. "Nope. Not going with you, got plans of our own boys."
"You will accompany us."
Dean raised his gun. Sam noticed it, still in his brother's hand, the gun he had yet to fire or lose in the ensuing scuffle. One of the first lessons their dad had pounded into them, hang on to your weapon at any cost. Sam was always surprised at how well Dean had learned that lesson. He had seen him unconscious a few times, with his weapon still firmly in his grasp.
Glancing at the gun, the demon's smile was filled with malicious glee. "That will not hinder us. We have enjoyed this little battle, but now it is time to go. Your earlier answer of no, is not acceptable."
"Well, sorry, no is the only answer you're getting out of us." Dean remarked.
Without warning, Dean staggered into Sam and gasped, wrapping the hand with the dangling gun tightly around his aching ribs.
"What?" Sam whispered urgently and then saw the faint glow next to his brother. It was hard to tell exactly what he was seeing. It looked like a small women and her mouth was moving rapidly. She was blurry as though under water, dark red hair streaming out around her and appearing very distraught. Sam could feel his brother trembling violently as he stared fixedly at her. There was something very familiar about her. Just about the time Sam focused enough that he thought he recognized her. Chaos erupted. The Demons reacted lunging angrily at them and the evening seemed to fill with a rush of violent white noise. Colors faded to sparkly grey and the very air seemed to shimmer in and out of focus. Everything sort of sped up and slowed down at the same time. Sam felt like he couldn't breathe, all his senses were on overload, a incessent buzzing overwhelming him. Then nothing. A void of blackness, all of it disappeared, then poured back in like a tidal wave crushing them.
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Sam came to himself in a tangle of limbs on the floor of what looked like their hotel room. He panicked for a moment, before realizing that Dean was the one he was tangled with. It was almost painfully quiet after the cacophonous melee that had surrounded them, just moments before. He scanned the room, seeing their duffles where they had tossed them earlier. So, it was their room and it seemed to be empty. Apparently they had escaped being taken by the demons.
Sitting up carefully, he leaned over his prone brother, who was dead to the world. Turning him gently onto his back, he pried the gun that was still firmly in his brother's hand and laid it aside. He tapped his bruised and bloody face gently. "Hey Dean. Come on, you need to wake up and tell me what in the world just happened." He was rewarded with sluggish blinking and finally an unfocused green gaze.
"You with me?" He asked softly, staring intently.
"Wha' hppnd?" Dean asked with a cough, trying to clear his throat. He struggled against Sam, stubbornly determined to sit up.
"Whoa, let's take it slow. Okay?" He spoke soothingly and helped to ease his brother gradually into a semi upright position. Bracing him with his shoulder, when his eyes rolled and he listed to one side.
The world spun sickeningly as Sam inched him upright. Dean closed his eyes and panted, hoping to hold the nausea at bay. Swallowing forcefully, he opened his eyes and worked at figuring out what was going on and where they had ended up, because they were sitting on carpet now instead of standing in a cold alley.
Sam seemed to know what he needed and answered the unasked questions.
"I think we are in our hotel room. Not sure how we got here." He paused and then rambled in confusion, "Um. That glowy thing, er person... It kind of looked like... uh..."
Dean interrupted gruffly. "Yeah. It was Anna."
Sam swallowed audibly. "Oh. I, uh, thought she was dead or something..." His brother just shrugged. "Was she saying something? I couldn't hear her, but her lips were moving..." He trailed off in uncertainty.
Dean moved to get his legs under him, intent on standing, as he replied. "She was telling me to get us out of there. Get you and Sam out of here, now. She kept saying that over and over."
Sam did his best to get Dean up, as he sagged and tripped over his own feet. "Hmm.. Anna." He mumbled, grabbing his brother's belt loop and pulling him up a little straighter.
"Yep." Dean said, pushing weakly at Sam's helping hands, only succeeding in overbalancing himself again.
Ignoring his brother's flailing arms, Sam wrapped a long arm around him and half-carried him towards the bed, asking. "So, did she do something to, zap us or whatever angels do to move us?"
"Was she touching you Sam?" Dean questioned as he was deposited on the bed.
With a slow shake of his head, he spoke. "No, she wasn't touching either one of us that I could see."
"Was I touching you?" Dean asked earnestly.
With a frown Sam replied. "You had a hold of my arm and was leaning on me."
"Yeah." Dean mumbled.
"So, Dean did she do this?" Sam waved an arm around to indicate the room, before quickly grabbing at his teetering brother, who was veering towards the floor.
"Nope." Was the terse rejoinder.
"So, um how did we get here?" Alarm was creeping into his voice.
Dean rested his aching head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees and hunched over wheezing slightly. "I um, I think I did it." He whispered.
Stunned, Sam took a step and then collasped onto the bed next to his brother. Causing it to bounce and earning a muffled groan from Dean. "Watch it Sammy."
Sam ignored the complaint and then leaned over to peer at his brother's covered face, asking incredulously. "You? You poofed us? How, I mean... when? You?!" Dean uncovered his face to grab at his wildly sputtering sibling, working at calming him down. "Take a breath Sammy." He commanded sternly. Sam quieted and worked at regulating his sawing breaths.
Dean sighed. "I don't know how I did it. I'm not even positive I did it. It just felt like I did. With Anna repeating that over and over and those demons coming at us, and no way out. I just wanted us to be here in this room... and then here we were." He shook his head, releasing his now much calmer brother, then sat up a little straighter.
Sam sat back and spoke in a subdued voice. "Okay. Okay. This is freaking me out Dean. Seriously." He stood up and began gathering the few things they had brought up to the room, stuffing them back into their bags. "But I think we do need to get out of here and back to Bobby's. Those things can probably find us again pretty easy. Could you, you know just poof us back to Bobby's?" Sam queried with a scrunched up face.
Dean huffed out a breath in exasperation. "Dude. I. Don't. Know. How. I. Did. It."
Sam help up his hands in surrender. "Just saying. That would be a lot quicker."
Rolling his eyes, Dean said. "Not even positve I did whatever... anyway. I don't want to leave my baby here. She might get messed with. So we are going with the old fashioned way. Us in the Impala, on the road. Got it?"
His brother nodded.
"How bad are you hurt Sammy? Huh?"
Sam smiled, back to normal big brother mode he thought. "Just some bruises and my head hurts a little." He reached up fingering the now dried blood on his temple. "Already stopped bleeding and no symptoms of a concussion. So, nothing too serious, surprisinly enough. How about you?" He met his brother's still glazed eyes. "I think you do have a concusion."
Dean rubbed at his pounding head and answered in frustration. "Yeah. Think I do. Other than that, just a few new bruises."
"Sure. They break any ribs?"
With a frown, wishing his little brother wasn't so observant he replied reluctantly. "Naw. Just bruised, maybe cracked."
Sam nodded again, glad his brother was at least trying to be a little more honest about his injuries. Stepping closer, he offered a hand to his brother. Once he was standing, or rather wobbling in an vertical position, Sam wrapped a strong arm around his torso to steady him. He scooped up the recently discarded gun, letting his brother clumsily stuff it back in its place, the small of his back, beneath his jacket. When he felt Dean trying to pull away from him, he snapped impatienly. "Don't even think about it, Partner. You need help and we need to hurry."
"Not trying to get away. I'm gonna be sick." Dean croaked, a hand cover his mouth.
Sam quickly helped him to the bathroom. After he finished, had rinsed his mouth out and thought he was able to walk again, Sam commented dismally. "Well, definitely a concusion. Your ribs, bruised or cracked?"
Dean admitted quietly. "Cracked."
With a frown, Sam picked up their bags and then once again wrapped an arm around him. Dean gave in and let Sam help him as they made their way to the Impala. No one was even in the foyer when they passed through. Dean was relieved. He had been trying to work out a good story for why they were leaving, looking like they did and he hadn't come up with anything reasonable yet. They made it to the car without incident and were loaded and back on the road inside of five minutes. Dean found himself slumped against the passenger door again. He was getting really tired of riding shotgun. He was ready to be back in the driver's seat in every aspect of his life figuratively and literally. Suddenly Sam swerved, muttering in fear and frustration as he fought to right the heavy car.
Dean pushed himself away from the door, the quick swerve had shoved him into and looked to his brother in askance. "You all right? What's going on? Why are trying to kill my car?" He ranted in agitation, trying to ignore the sharp flare of pain radiating up his side.
Sam, eyes wide in trepidation, jerked his head to the side, answering hoarsely. "Look what's in the back seat."
Dean raised one eyebrow at his brother's expression and cautiously turned to look behind him. What he saw made him twist around more fully, forgetting the pain in his haste.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded in a choked whisper.
TBC~ Thank you for reading and taking time to send a review. Every review is cherished. ;0)