Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 11
"Brian, come on, man, just one more. Just - just give me a chance to win it back." Sam slurred slightly, obviously drunk.
"It's your cash."
"Excuse me. My brother's a little sauced to be making bets." Dean argued.
"He insisted." Brian shot back.
"Yeah, but you've already taken, what, two bills off him? I'm just saying." Dean argued back.
"Hey, shut up, Dean. I'm fine." Sam practically whined at his brother who glared at him.
"No, you're not fine. You're drunk!"
"Let's make it $500." Sam told Brian who smirked.
"$500?" Dean gasped.
"Sure." Brian grinned at him.
"500." Sam agreed.
"Your break." Brian told him, turning back to the table. Sam looked at Dean for a second, all traces of drunkenness gone and Dean stared at him in return but then Sam spotted someone over Dean's shoulder.
"Keep the money." Sam told Brian as he started to walk away.
"Keep the money? What –" Dean trailed off as he saw what had gotten Sam's attention, they weren't the only demons in the bar.
"Well, you got a lot of nerve showing up here. Thought you ordered them all to stay downstairs." Dean said as he stared at the demon inside its attractive female vessel.
"I just have some info, and then I'm gone." She pleaded, licking her lips nervously as she stared between the brothers.
"What is it?" Sam demanded.
"We've been hearing a few whispers." She admitted and Dean snorted.
"Ooh, great, demon whisperers - that's reliable." He grumbled and Sam hid a smirk.
"Girl named Anna Milton escaped from a locked ward yesterday. Those working for Her seem pretty keen on finding her. Apparently, some real heavy hitters turned out for the Easter-egg hunt." She told them.
"Why? Who is she?" Sam asked curiously.
"No idea, I swear. None of us know Master. But we're thinking that she's important, 'cause the order is to capture her alive. I just figured that whatever the deal is, you might want to find this girl before the others do."
"Look, maybe we should check it out." Sam murmured and Dean nodded.
"This hospital Anna escaped from - it got a name?" He asked.
"You've been sleeping for over ten hours Dean. You okay?" Sam asked and Dean sat up in the passenger seat and looked around, yawning.
"Yeah. Sorry 'bout that. Need to swap?" Dean asked as he dug out a packet of chips.
"I'm fine. Toss me one?" Sam asked and Dean put one in his mouth, getting a grin. They drove with only Dean's music for noise, Dean occasionally feeding Sam a chip as they travelled. Sure it would have been easy to just travel the demonic way but that would have left them without normal transport once they arrived, and people tended to notice that.
"Of course I wanna help her if I can." The psychologist told them as they followed her to Anna's room.
"Now, the orderly has no recollection of Anna's escape?" Sam asked as they looked around the room.
"Apparently, she knocked him unconscious. The blow caused some amnesia. He doesn't even remember coming into her room." She told them and Dean's eyebrow went up.
"That's a hell of a right hook to knock out a guy that's got 80 pounds on her." He commented.
"We think she may have planned this, waited behind the door."
"Right. Uh, you mentioned Anna's illness was recent." Sam pushed and she nodded.
"Two months ago, she was happy, well-adjusted, journalism major, lots of friends - Bright future."
"So, what happened - she just... Flipped?" Dean asked.
"Well, that's the tragedy of schizophrenia. Within weeks, Anna was overtaken by delusions."
"What kind of delusions?" Sam asked.
"She thought demons were everywhere." She told them, handing Sam a sketchbook.
"Interesting." Dean commented as he stared at the drawings.
"It's not uncommon for our patients to believe that monsters are real." The doctor told them.
"Well, that - that's just batty." Dean mumbled as Sam turned the pages. They both stared as Sam turned to one labeled the 'Raising of the Witnesses' and then the next page held 'Samhain, a Seal saved'.
"That's revelations." Dean commented and the psychologist gave him a funny look.
"Since when does the book of revelations have jack-o'-lanterns?" She asked.
"It's a, uh, it's a little-known translation." He hedged.
"Well, Anna's father was a church deacon. When she became ill, her paranoia took on religious overtones. She was convinced the devil was about to rise up and end the world. I hope you find her. It's dangerous for her to be out there alone right now." She told them before walking away.
"Looks like she's the real deal of something." Dean said as they left and Sam nodded.
"Psychic maybe?" Sam suggested and Dean shrugged.
"Whatever she is we better find her fast."
"Without scaring her to death." Sam muttered and Dean nodded.
"Dean." Sam pointed towards a hidden figure in the church attic.
"Anna?" He called softly.
"We're not gonna hurt you. We're here to help. My name is Sam. This is my brother, Dean." He called out and slowly she moved into sight.
"Sam? Not Sam Winchester? The boy King?" She asked and he flinched slightly at the fear in her voice.
"Uh, yeah. But I'm not going to hurt you."
"And you're Dean. The Dean?" She turned to Dean who shrugged.
"Well, yeah. The Dean, I guess." He answered.
"It's really you. Oh, my god. The angels talk about you. You were in hell, but Castiel pulled you out, and some of them think you can help save us. And some of them don't like you at all because you... They talk about you all the time lately. I feel like I know you." Anna told them but she kept her distance.
"So, you talk to angels?" Dean asked curiously and she shook her head.
"Oh, no. No, no way. Um, they probably don't even know I exist. I just kind of... Overhear them." She told them and Sam took a step closer, making her back away so he held up his hands.
"You over hear them?" he asked.
"Yeah, they talk, and sometimes I just... Hear them in my head." Anna admitted.
"Like... Right now?" Dean asked but she shook her head.
"Not right this second, but a lot. And I can't shut them out, there are so many of them." Anna told them, putting a hand to her head.
"So, they lock you up with a case of the crazies when really you were just... Tuning in to angel radio?" He demanded, angry on her behalf, and Anna gave him a small smile.
"Yes. Thank you."
"Anna, when did the voices start? Do you remember?" Sam asked her and she nodded.
"I can tell you exactly - September 18th." She told them and they exchanged a look.
"The day we got out of hell." Dean murmured and Sam nodded.
"First words I heard, clear as a bell - "Dean Winchester is a demon."
"Great. Nice to know what they really think of me. What do you think?" He asked Sam who shrugged.
"It's above my pay grade, man. King or not, I don't know anything about Angels other than what we've learnt from Cas or Uriel. We can communicate silently so it makes sense they can." Sam answered.
"Well, at least now we know why Ruby's demons want you so bad. They get a hold of you; they can hear everything the other side's cooking. You're 1-900-angel." Dean said.
"Hey, um, do you know - are my parents okay? I - I didn't go home. I was afraid." She asked but they didn't answer because both were staring in horror at the statue of what looked like Mary with blood running from both eyes. Sam moved and grabbed Anna before she could move away from him again and then shoved her in the closet.
"Okay. Stay in there. Don't move." He ordered softly and she stared at him with wide, scared eyes but she nodded and Sam smiled at her, squeezing her shoulder gently in an offer of support.
"Good." He closed the door and joined his brother in facing the stairs; their demonic features clear for anyone to see. As soon as the man appeared Sam lashed out with his powers and the demon chuckled.
"That tickles. You don't have the experience to take me on, Sam." It taunted, throwing Sam down the stairs. Dena lunged at him but Alastair threw him up against one of the support beams and began beating him.
"Hello again, Dean." He ignored Sam who had come back upstairs and was yanking Anna from the closet.
"Come on, Dean. Don't you recognize me? Oh, I forgot - I'm wearing a pediatrician. But we were so close... In hell before that worthless brother of yours showed up."
"Alastair." Dean hissed, violet eyes flashing with hate and anger. He saw Sam shove Anna down the stairs while whispering something to her so at least they'd saved the girl...for now. Sam then came up behind Alastair and threw him for a change, freeing Dean.
"You're gonna have to try a whole lot harder than that, son." The older demon taunted as he stood up. The brothers exchanged looks and then turned and jumped out the window.
Anna screamed as they landed crouched at her feet but Dean grabbed her arm and threw her over his shoulder as they ran for the car.
"Hey, Dean, you think it'd be safe to make a quick call, Just to tell my parents I'm okay? They must be completely freaked." Anna asked as she looked around the abandoned cabin they'd found to hide in.
"Uh." Dean didn't know what to say. How was he meant to tell her what had happened to her parents? He looked to Sam who looked as lost as he felt. Sometimes he really wished Sam was still better at this than him. Sure Sam had improved a lot since that kid but he still struggled a lot sympathizing with people other than their little group.
"What?" She asked, fear beginning to show on her face.
"Anna, um... Your parents..." Dean tried again.
"What about them?" She demanded but Dean could see the understanding beginning to dawn in her eyes.
"Look, I'm sorry." He whispered, laying a hand on her shoulder and she shook her head.
"No, they're not..."
"Anna, I'm sorry." He offered again, gently hugging her and Anna clung to him for a moment.
"Why is this happening to me?" She asked as she moved away and Dean sighed.
"I don't know."
"They're coming." Anna suddenly said, looking fearfully at the door and Dean looked at Sam.
"Back room." Sam ordered and Dean took her back there, locking the door once she was inside. He stood beside his brother and both readied their powers as the door blasted open, relaxing a little when he two angels walked inside.
"Please tell me you're here to help. We've been having demon issues all day." Dean said and Uriel sneered at him but Castiel nodded at them in greeting.
"Well, I can see that." Uriel said and Castiel gave him a warning look.
"We're here for Anna." Castiel told them and the brothers exchanged another look.
"Here for her like... Here for her?" Dean pushed and Uriel growled.
"Stop talking. Give her to us." He demanded.
"Are you gonna help her?" Sam asked, looking at Castiel, catching the smallest bit of sadness in the blue eyes.
"No she has to die." The angel answered softly.
"You want Anna? Why?" Sam demanded, eyes fully yellow again.
"Out of the way." Uriel demanded without answering and Dean got in his way.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, I know she's wiretapping your angel chats or whatever, but it's no reason to gank her." He argued, violet eyes locked on the angel in front of him.
"Don't worry. I'll kill her gentle." Uriel told him and Dean snarled at him.
"You're some heartless sons of bitches, you know that?" he snapped and Castiel looked at him.
"As a matter of fact, we are. And?" The angel said and Dean stared at him in shock. To think he had begun to like the angel.
"And? Anna's an innocent girl." Sam pointed out and Uriel laughed while Castiel shook his head.
"She is far from innocent." The blue eyes angel informed them sadly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam demanded.
"It means she's worse than you abominations. Now give us the girl." Uriel demanded.
"Sorry. Get yourself another one. Try JDate." Dean snapped.
"Who's gonna stop us? You two?" Uriel sneered and Dean grinned at him.
"Cass, stop...please." Sam pleaded quietly and Castiel stared at him before attempting to get passed him but Sam blocked him.
"I don't want to fight you." Sam whispered, seeing surprise in Castiel's eyes.
"I've been waiting for this." Uriel taunted as Dean picked himself up off the floor, spitting out some blood. Suddenly a bright light engulfed the two angels and they vanished.
"What the..." Dean asked, looking around even as Sam moved over to check him.
"I'm fine Sammy. Come on." He complained and Sam nodded so they headed for the room where they'd stashed Anna. They froze as they saw Anna with her arms and hands covered in her own blood, odd sigils drawn on a mirror in her blood.
"Anna Anna!" Dean demanded, moving closer and she turned to look at them.
"Are they - Are they gone?" She asked shakily, obviously suffering from shock and blood loss.
"Did you kill them?" Sam demanded and she shook her head.
"No. I sent them away... Far away."
"You want to tell me how?" Dean asked gently as he tore his shirt to wrap it around her wounds.
"That just popped in my head. I don't know how I did it. I just did it." She answered, indicating the sigils as Dean worked to clean her up a bit.
"Then they'll be back, we need to move." Sam said and they nodded at him.
"Iron walls drenched in salt. Ninety nine percent of demons can't even touch the joint." Dean told Anna as he hovered in the doorway to Bobby's panic room. Just because he was in the one percent who could go inside and get out again didn't mean he liked being inside it.
"So, Anna, what's playing on angel radio? Anything useful?" he asked as she sat down on a chair.
"It's quiet. Dead silence." She told him and Dean groaned.
"Good. That's not troubling at all."
"We're in trouble, huh? You guys are scared?" She asked and Dean flashed her a grin.
"Nah. Big bad demons remember? Besides we sort of know Castiel and there's chance we can talk him out of this."
"Hey, Dean!" Sam called form upstairs and Dean nodded at Anna before leaving her alone.
"Just stay here, okay?" He called as he headed upstairs.
"So where's Bobby?" Sam asked, taking a quick kiss as Dean joined him.
"The Dominican. He said we break anything, we buy it." Dean told him, wrapping his arms around Sam's waist.
"He's working a job?"
"God, I hope so. Otherwise, he's at hedonism in a banana hammock and a trucker cap." Dean shuddered and Sam pulled a face.
"Now that's seared in my brain." He grumbled, making Dean laugh at him.
"What did you find on Anna?"
"Uh, not much. Her parents were Rich and Amy Milton - a church deacon and a housewife." Sam said as he looked over what he'd found...well stolen from a county clerk.
"Riveting."
"Yeah. But there is something here in the report. Turns out this latest psych episode wasn't her first."
"No?" Dean asked curiously.
"When she was 2 1/2, she'd get hysterical any time her dad got close. She was convinced that he wasn't her real daddy." Sam explained and Dean smirked.
"Who was? The plumber, hmm? A little snaking the pipes?"
"Dude, you're confusing reality with porn again. Look, Anna didn't say. She just kept repeating that this real father of hers was mad. Very mad - like wanted-to-kill-her mad."
"Kind of heavy for a 2-year-old." Dean frowned and Sam nodded.
"Well, she saw a kid's shrink, got better, and grew up normal." He finished and Dean sighed.
"Until now. So, what's she hiding?" He asked and Sam shrugged.
"Why don't you just ask me to my face?" Anna asked and they both turned to see her standing in the doorway.
"No, you're right, Anna. Is there anything you want to tell us?" Sam asked.
"About what?" She asked in return.
"The angels said you were guilty of something. Why would they say that?"
"You tell me. Tell me why my life has been leveled... Why my parents are dead. I don't know. I swear. I would give anything to know." Anna told them and Sam nodded.
"Okay. Then let's find out."
"How?" She asked and Sam grinned.
"The trouble you boys get into." Sam smiled at the sound of a familiar and turned to see Missouri walking down the stairs, Dean behind her.
"Well come on, get over her and give me a hug Sam." She called and he obeyed.
"Good thing I knew what you boys did or Dean here would have gotten a good shock when he tried to pop into my place." She told them and Dean shrugged.
"And you must be Anna, you poor dear. Don't worry about a thing hun, we'll figure out what's going on for you." Missouri told her and Anna smiled at the psychic.
"Thank you."
"No problem, you just lie down and get comfortable. Now psychic or not I can't just read your mind for the answers since you don't consciously know them yourself. So we're gonna have to try hypnotism. Alright?"
"If you think it'll help." Anna answered as she lay down.
"There's a good girl. Nice and relaxed. Now, I'm going to count down from five to zero. When we're at zero, you'll be in a deep state of hypnosis. As I count down, just go deeper and deeper, okay? 5... 4... 3... 2... 1. Deep sleep. Deep sleep. Every muscle calm and relaxed. Can you hear me?"
"I can hear you." Anna answered.
"Now, Anna, tell me... How can you hear the angels? How did you work that spell?" Missouri asked gently.
"I don't know. I just did."
"Your father... What's his name?"
"Rich Milton."
"All right. But I want you to look further back... When you were very young... Just a couple of years old."
"I don't want to." Anna whimpered and Missouri nodded.
"It'll be okay. Anna, just one look - that's all we need."
"No."
"What's your dad's name? Your real dad. Why is he angry at you?" Missouri kept pushing and Anna began to more restlessly.
"No. no! No. No!" Anna pleaded desperately.
"Calm down." Missouri soothed.
"He's gonna kill me!" Anna screamed.
"Anna, you're safe. Calm down."
"He's gonna kill me!"
"Anna?" Missouri tried but Anna was lost in her memories or something so Dean braved the panic room. Reaching out to Anna to try and calm her down.
"Dean, don't." Missouri warned, too late as Anna threw Dean across the room.
"Wake in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Anna... Anna? You all right?" Missouri asked, leaning over the younger woman who smiled up at her before sitting up.
"Thank you, Missouri. That helps a lot. I remember now." Anna told her and Missouri just stared at her in shock.
"Remember what?" Sam asked from where he'd helped Dean up.
"Who I am." She told him.
"I'll buy it. Who are you?" Dean asked.
"I'm an angel." She told them and all three of them stared at her in shock.
"Let's take this upstairs, I think we all need a drink." Dean said and headed upstairs.
"Don't be afraid, I'm not like the others." Anna told them as she stood in front of them.
So...Castiel, Uriel - they're the ones that came for me?" She asked.
"You know them?" Sam asked and she nodded.
"We were kind of in the same foxhole."
"So, what, they're like your bosses or something?" Dean asked and she smiled.
"Try the other way around." She told him and Dean smirked.
"Look at you."
"But now they want to kill you?" Sam asked and Anna shrugged.
"Orders are orders. I'm sure I have a death sentence on my head."
"Why?"
"I disobeyed... Which, for us, is about the worst thing you can do. I fell." Anna explained.
"Meaning?" Dean asked.
"She fell to earth, became human." Missouri whispered and Anna nodded at her.
"Wait a minute. I don't understand. So, angels can just become human?" Sam asked and Anna shrugged.
"It kind of hurts. Try cutting your kidney out with a butter knife. That kind of hurt. I ripped out my grace."
"Come again?" Dean asked.
"My grace. It's...energy. Hacked it out and fell. My mother, Amy, couldn't get pregnant. Always called me her little miracle. She had no idea how right she was."
"So, you just forgot that you were God's little Power Ranger?" Dean asked in confusion and she nodded at him.
"The older I got, the longer I was human, yeah."
"I don't think you all appreciate how completely screwed we are." Sam finally said as he realised exactly how bad things were.
"Sam's right. Heaven wants me dead."
"And hell, at least Ruby's friends, just want you. A flesh-and-blood angel that you can question, torture, that bleeds. Sooner or later, heaven or hell, they're gonna find you." Sam finished for her, looking at her sympathetically.
"I know. And that's why I'm gonna get it back." Anna told him and his eyes went wide.
"What?" he demanded and she smiled.
"My grace."
"You can do that?" Dean asked and she nodded.
"If I can find it."
"So, what, you're just gonna take some divine bong hit, and, shazam, you're Roma Downey?" Dean asked.
"Something like that." She said with a smirk.
"All right. I like this plan. So, where's this grace of yours?" Dean told her. They could do with another angel that liked them and Anna had definitely warmed to them since they'd first found her.
"Lost track. I was falling about 10,000 miles per hour at the time."
"Wait. you mean falling, like, literally?" Sam asked.
"Yes."
"Like the way a human eye can see? Like a comet maybe or a meteor?" He pushed and she looked at him.
"Why do you ask?" She asked and he just grinned, heading into Bobby's library.
"Well we've lost Sam for now. I better be getting home, got some early customers. You gonna give me a lift back boy?" Missouri asked and Dean grinned.
"Yes ma'am. You'll be alright here with Sam?" He asked and Anna nodded so Dean vanished with Missouri.
Anna got herself some food before gravitating towards the library to watch Sam. Without her memories she'd been scared of the brothers at first but now that she remembered being an angel she was a little awed by them. In all her centuries she'd never seen or heard of demons like them. He looked up, catching her staring, and just smiled at her.
"You alright?" He asked and she nodded.
"Why did you do it?" She asked and Sam frowned in confusion.
"Give in, become a demon." She clarified and Sam sighed, leaning against the table.
"To save Dean, I couldn't just abandon him down there. It was because of me that he was there." Sam told her and she nodded.
"Let me guess, angels don't understand that or the fact that we love each other?" He asked and she nodded again.
"Yeah Castiel was rather shocked when we told him that, said demons can't love, just lust. We've enjoyed proving him wrong." Sam told her and then went back to his research.
"Here. in march '85, a meteorite vanished in the night sky over northwestern Ohio. It was sighted nine months before you were born, and you were born in that part of Ohio." Sam finally said.
"That's not a lot to go on." She told him and he held out the book.
"Look, I think it was you and here, same time - another meteor over Kentucky." He pointed out and Anna read it over before looking up at him.
"And you think that's my grace?"
"Might be."
"All right. That just narrows it down to an entire state." She muttered and he nudged her.
"Look, it's a start."
"Sam... I'm sorry." She finally said and he stared at her.
"For what?"
"For getting you into this mess. Maybe you should have just turned me over. I know Castiel would have made it fast, for old times' sake." She said and Sam glared at her, shocking her when his eyes flashed yellow.
"Yeah, well, we'll muddle through. Turning yourself over is not the answer." He snapped at her and she sighed.
"Not this time. You do not want to get between these two armies. It's Godzilla and Mothra. If one side doesn't get us, the other one will." She tried and he smiled slightly at the movie references.
"So, what do you want to do? Dump you and run? Forget it. Look, I know you're scared but we will protect you, even from angels."
"Forget my old coworkers. It's Alastair I'm scared of." She admitted and Sam frowned.
"Alastair?"
"You met him in the church. He's one of the oldest demons around, even angels fear him because if we're captured...we end up in his hands. Picasso with a razor." Anna explained and Sam winced in sympathy.
"Never met him...wonder why."
"He was probably avoiding you. In hell you'd beat him easily but up here, it's a more even match and he beats you in experience. But..."
"What?" Sam asked and Anna sighed.
"He knew Dean and Dean knew him." She said and Sam went white, shutting his eyes.
"I'll ask Dean about it later." He said and she nodded.
"Missouri get home okay?" Anna asked as Dean joined her on Bobby's porch.
"Yeah. She said she was sorry. This is just a little too rich for her blood. She did say we should all drop by for some homemade cookies after it's over though."
"I don't blame her. You guys should do the same."
"Well, we're not that smart. Can I ask you something? What do they want me for? Why did they want to save me?" Dean asked and she turned to look at him.
"I'm sorry. The angels aren't talking about it. And it was after I fell."
"That's another question. Why would you fall? Why would you want to be one of us, well human?" Dean asked and she just stared at him in surprise.
"You don't mean that." She stated and he shrugged.
"I don't? A bunch of miserable bastards...Eating, crapping, confused, afraid." He said and she smiled slightly.
"I don't know. There's loyalty... Forgiveness... Love."
"Pain." He added and she rolled her eyes.
"Sex."
"Guilt." He shot back.
"Chocolate cake." She sent back and he grinned.
"Yeah, you got me there." Dean said and they both laughed.
"I mean it. Every emotion, Dean, even the bad ones... It's why I fell. It's why... Why I'd give anything not to have to go back. Anything." She explained and he moved to stand next to her at the railing.
"Feelings are overrated, if you ask me."
"Beats being an angel." She told him and he stared at her in surprise.
"How's that possible? You guys are powerful and perfect. You don't doubt yourselves or God or anything. Hell I'm a demon and I think angels are neat."
"Perfect... Like a marble statue. Cold... No choice... Only obedience. Dean, do you know how many angels have actually seen god? Seen his face?" She asked and he began to understand. Cold...sounded kind of like most demons.
"All of you?" He asked.
"Four angels. Four. And I'm not one of them." That was a surprise. Sammy was the King and pretty much every demon had seen him.
"That's it? Well, then how do you even know that there is a God?"
"We have to take it on faith... Which we are killed if we don't have." She explained and he winced.
"Huh."
"I was stationed on earth 2,000 years. Just... watching... Silent... Invisible... Out on the road... Sick for home... Waiting on orders from an unknowable father I can't begin to understand. So don't tell me that –" She snapped and Dean laughed, making her glare slightly.
"What is so funny? What?" She demanded.
"Nothing. Sorry. It's just...I can relate." He told her, thinking of his Dad.
"Hey." Sam greeted as he walked out of the house, looking between them. Dean smiled at him and moved to wrap his arms around Sam's waist, hugging him. Sam smiled and leant down to give him a brief kiss.
"Did you find something?" Dean asked and Sam nodded.
"I think so." He told them, heading back into the library.
"Union, Kentucky found some accounts of a local miracle."
"Yeah?" Dean asked.
"Yeah. In '85, there was an empty field outside of town. Six months later, there was a full-grown oak. They say it looks a century old at least."
"Anna, what do you think?" Dean asked her and she nodded.
"The grace. Where it hit, it could have done something like that, easy."
"So grace ground zero - it's not destruction. it's..." Dean trailed off.
"Pure creation." She finished for him.
Sam turned in his seat to see Anna was asleep and then he looked at his brother.
"What's wrong Sammy?" Dean asked, glancing at him before looking back at the road.
"Nothing." Sam said, looking out his window.
"Sam come on, you've been very quiet since finding Anna's grace ended up a bust." Dean pushed and Sam shrugged. Dean took one hand off the wheel, reaching over to lay his hand on Sam's thigh. He squeezed gently and then fumbled around until he found Sam's hand, entwining their fingers.
"Please Sammy." Dean whispered and Sam sighed before turning back to stare at Dean, gripping Dean's hand.
"It's stupid Dean." He finally said and Dean squeezed his hand.
"Can't be that stupid if it's upsetting you like this." Dean pointed out and Sam looked down at their joined hands.
"It's...you and Anna." Sam whispered and Dean frowned.
"What about her?" He asked, honestly not getting it. And then it hit him and he pulled over to the side of the highway, taking off his seatbelt so he could turn and face Sam, pulling him into his arms. Sam stiffened but Dean didn't let go, instead he nuzzled at Sam's throat.
"I'm yours Sammy, for eternity. There's no one else I'd ever want." HE murmured and he felt Sam slowly relax against him.
"Told you it was stupid." Sam muttered and Dean kissed him.
"It's just, you've always gone for women before and you've gotten close to Anna and." Dean shut him up with another kiss.
"Anna's cool, for an angel. If we get her grace back it'd be nice to have another angel in our corner. But I don't like her like that. I love you Sam, always." Dean assured him and Sam finally made eye contact, looking more than a little sheepish.
"Sorry." He whispered and Dean just grinned at him. They separated and Dean started to drive again, neither noticing that Anna had been awake and watching them curiously.
"Think it'll work?" Dean asked as he finished his work on the room and Sam shrugged.
"She seems fairly loyal to me and even if she isn't telling Alastair where we are is pretty much a win-win for her." Sam answered, smiling at Dean who grinned back.
"Anna?"
"Still asleep in the other room. So...this is either the craziest plan we've ever come up with or the most amazing. Not sure yet."
"Ask me in about two hours." Sam said, pulling Dean in for a deep kiss.
"Love you." He whispered and Dean wrapped himself around the other demon.
"Love you too Sammy."
All three tensed as the doors were blasted open. They stayed silent as Castiel and Uriel strolled in as if nothing was wrong.
"Hello, Anna. It's good to see you." Castiel greeted her gently.
"How? How did you find us? Dean?" Sam demanded, playing his part well.
"I'm sorry." Dean whispered, praying he could keep up the act.
"Why?" Sam demanded and Anna smiled sadly, stepping between the two demons.
"Because they gave him a choice. They either kill me... or kill you. I know how their minds work." She told Sam gently. She turned and hugged Dean goodbye and then Sam.
"You did the best you could. I forgive you. Okay. No more tricks. No more running. I'm ready." She declared, moving away from them and towards her old co-workers.
"I'm sorry." Castiel sad and she smiled at him, shaking her head.
"No. you're not. Not really. You don't know the feeling." Anna told him gently and Castiel nodded, stepping closer to her.
"Still, we have a history. It's just –"
"Orders are orders. I know. Just make it quick." Anna cut him off, surprised that Castiel really did seem a bit reluctant.
"Don't you touch a hair on that poor girl's head." The voice made them all turn at stare at the demon.
"How dare you come in this room... You pussing sore?" Uriel snarled and Alastair smirked.
"Name-calling. That hurt my feelings... You sanctimonious, fanatical prick." The demon taunted back even as Dean grabbed Anna and moved her towards the back wall.
"Turn around and walk away now." Castiel demanded.
"Sure. Just give us the girl. We'll make sure she gets punished good and proper." Alastair offered. Sam shut his eyes, focusing his powers and Anna shivered as something settled over her. She looked at Sam who opened yellow eyes and smiled at her, flashing fang.
"You know who we are and what we will do. I won't say it again. Leave now... Or we lay you to waste." Castile warned again before flicking a look at Sam and Dean who nodded at him. Castiel was surprised to find himself relaxing slightly at the knowledge the two demons would side with him.
"Think I'll take my chances." Alastair told him and Castiel nodded. Castile faced off with Alastair, managing to get a hand on his forehead and then focused his powers, shocked when it didn't work.
"Sorry, kiddo. Why don't you go run to daddy?" he taunted and then was flung to the side as Dean came to Castiel's defence, crouching between them, power almost visibly flaring around his body.
Across the room Uriel easily exorcised the demon he was facing before moving on the next only to be beaten to it as Sam killed the demon. Uriel sneered and moved on to another while Sam rolled his eyes. Anna was safely stashed in the corner, protected from at least the demons by Sam's powers.
"Potestas inferna, me confirma. Potestas inferna, me confirma. Potestas inferma, me confirma!" Alastair began chanting as Dean shook his head from where he'd slammed into a wooden beam. Seeing Castiel dropping to his knees and in obvious pain he telekinetically reached out and slammed a crowbar into the back of Alastair's head, breaking his concentration.
"Dean, Dean, Dean... I am so disappointed. You had such promise. At least to little brother showed up. You were such a wreck when he took you off the rack. I should never have left you that day. Just think about it, I could put dear Sammy on the rack next to you." Alastair taunted and Dean snarled at him. He relaxed a little when he felt Sam's hand drop onto his shoulder.
While everyone was busy Anna attacked Uriel, grabbing her grace from him while he was busy killing another demon. She threw it to the ground, shattering the container and releasing her grace.
"No!" Uriel screamed in denial.
"Get down! Shut your eyes. Shut your eyes! Shut your eyes!" Anna screamed at Dean and Sam who dropped to the ground, Sam automatically covering Dean with his own body. A bright light flared from Anna's body and appeared to make Alastair vanish. When it cleared Anna too was gone.
"Well, what are you guys waiting for? Go get Anna. Unless, of course, you're scared." Dean taunted as Sam offered him a hand up.
"This isn't over." Uriel growled darkly but Castiel surprised them by giving them the tiniest of nods.
"Oh, it looks over to me, junkless." Dean snapped back at Uriel and then the angels were gone.
"You okay?" Sam turned to the single remaining demon and she shrugged.
"Not so much Master but I will recover." She answered with a small smile.
"What took you so long to get here?" Dean asked and she flinched slightly so he shot her a small smile and she relaxed.
"I am sorry I was late in delivering Alastair, Master. He decided that torture was the only way to be sure of my loyalty." She answered and Sam frowned, walking over to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. She relaxed as his power flooded through her, helping speed her recovery.
"Thank you Master." She whispered gratefully and Sam nodded.
"What's your name?" Sam asked and she looked between them.
"Alice Master."
"Thank you for all your help Alice. Do you wish to return or remain up here?"
"Up here please Master."
"Very well. No killing or causing trouble though." Sam ordered and she nodded, smiling at them both.
"Like Sammy said, thanks Alice." Dean added and she grinned before leaving.
"I got to hand it to you, Sammy. Bringing them all together all at once - angels and demons. It was a damn good plan." Dean congratulated his brother who smiled.
"Yeah, well, when you got Godzilla and Mothra on your ass, best to get out of their way and let them fight." Sam said and Dean laughed.
"Yeah, now you're just bragging."
"So, I guess she's some big-time angel now, huh? She must be happy... Wherever she is." Sam murmured and Dean smiled sadly.
"I doubt it." He answered.
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"I can believe we made it out of there." Dean said as he leant back against the Impala's hood, smiling when Sam passed him a beer.
"Again." Sam added, smiling softly as he moved so that they were lightly touching from shoulder to hip.
"I know you heard him." Dean finally said after they'd been silent for a while and Sam frowned.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"Alastair. What he said..." Dean hesitated and Sam nodded.
"I heard him."
"You're not curious?" Dean asked softly and Sam reached out to wrap an arm around Dena's shoulders, pulling him even closer and kissing his temple.
"Dean, I'm damn curious. But you're not talking about hell before I arrived, and I'm not pushing. I saw enough of what is done to people there. I just wish I'd run into Alastair so I could have made him pay for what he did to you." Sam told him, tugging Dean around so that he was resting between Sam's legs.
"No matter what happened, it doesn't matter. I won't let him hurt you again." Sam promised softly.
"They, uh... They sliced and carved and tore at me in ways that you... until there was nothing left. And then, suddenly... I would be whole again... Like magic... Just so they could start in all over. And Alastair... At the end of every day... every one... He would come over. And he would make me an offer. To take me off the rack... If I put souls on...if I started the torturing. And every day, I told him to stick it where the sun shines." Dean whispered brokenly and Sam tightened his grip, trying to offer comfort.
"If you hadn't...I was so close Sammy. Much longer and...and I don't think I could have kept saying no. That's part of what helped me believe you were real. Why take me down, do all you did when I'd been so close to breaking?" Dean told him and Sam held him close, fighting tears at hearing what Dean had gone through because of him.
"I'm so proud of you Dean. You held out till I got there. I just wish it could have been sooner. If I could undo what they did to you..." He whispered, choking back sobs and then Dean was hugging him back.
"None of it's your fault Sammy. I chose to make the deal to save you. And then you saved me." Dean told him, leaning up for a kiss which Sam eagerly gave him.
TBC...