I pitilessly brutalize the punching bag in the hotel gym.
The wrath I feel is overwhelming.
I swing the top of my foot into the bag with force, and the chain gives way.
"Damn it."
"God Mac you broke it." Sam says from the next bag over.
"Sorry I'm just really frustrated. We have no target, and no clues. I don't like being played with, and I am really worried about Dean. It's been a week."
"I know. Me too." He turns back to his bag and continues, showing insane amounts of his ever-present control, while I wonder around the gym looking for a new victim. I stop for a moment to watch him. His tan muscles ripple, as he moves with grace and speed.
The anger in my stomach is replaced with another feeling. I stride over to him, and block his last punch.
He turns to me with a smile on his face. "Yes?"
I wrap my arms around his neck, and stand on my tiptoes. I kiss him passionately. He picks me up by my waste and kisses me back.
"Sam Winchester?" a voice says from the front of the gym.
He sets me down, and we walk toward the intruder.
"Yes?"
"I have a package for you." Another fake UPS worker, a woman this time, holds out a tiny brown box.
I walk forward and take it from her hand.
"Get lost." I snap.
I hand the package to Sam, and he opens it.
Inside the box is a folded up photo.
It shows Sam and Dean with two men I'd never seen before, standing in front of an old cabin. They all have their arms around each other's shoulders, and they are smiling.
"Who are they?" I ask.
"Chase Botkins and Bill Riley." Sam says. "Mordecai recruited them around the same time he tried to get Dean and me."
"Then we need to go to them. They will know where Mordecai's base is located. Do you know how to reach them?" I ask excitedly.
"They left his group about 4 years ago, last I heard. But I don't think they'll want to help us. We had a pretty big falling out when they first joined up with that psycho."
"Oh, they will give me the info." I promise.
...
I crouch on the ledge of a high wall like a gargoyle.
Two men walk below me, unaware.
"I don't know Bill, if it was a Rugaru wouldn't it have killed more people by now?" says Chase.
I drop down and land in front of them, my sawed off shotgun shoved in their faces.
Bill reaches for his handgun.
"Don't," I command. "Put your hands up over your head, and drop to your knees."
They both comply.
"It most definitely was a Rugaru, gentleman. I've already taken care of it."
"Don't you know it's rude to butt in on another groups hunt?" snaps Bill, irritated that I have the drop on them.
"My bad. It's just you both were taking so long, and I didn't want any more innocents to die because of your incompetence. Anyway, I didn't come here to take your hunt. I came hear hunting for you."
"Why?" Bill says.
"Because there is something I want, and I believe you can help me find it." I pull the hammer back on my shotgun.
"W-what would that be?" Stutters Chase, the blonde one.
"Mordecai."
I fasten them together, facing away from each other.
"Now listen, I am really very tired gentlemen. I've been searching for Dean Winchester for months," I lie " and the whole 'torture to extract information' thing just isn't fun anymore. So let me cut to the chase. Mordecai has them, and I want to know where he is."
"The Winchesters? Holy hell you're the half blood!" Bill exclaims.
I exhale. "Yes. That's me. Now, are you going to tell me what I need to know?"
"I'm not telling you anything. Mordecai would ki-"
I pull the trigger, and Bills body falls limp.
"How 'bout you blondie?" I ask.
"Bill!" He yelps. "Look, I'll give you the address, just please leave me alone. It's 105 Lighthouse Drive, in Detroit."
I kick Bill hard. "Wake up."
"Am I dead?!" He asks stupidly.
"No, it was just a bean bag round. It knocked the breath out of you is all. I'm not an actual monster." I say. "I'll send the cops to untie you after I get out of here."
"Wait." Bill says. "Mordecai has Dean Winchester?"
"Yes." I say flatly.
"Why?" He asks.
"Bait. For me."
"We had heard Mordecai had it out for you, but I can't believe he took it this far." Chase says.
"Please," Bill replies. "He has had it out for the Winchester boys ever since they turned down his offer. The Hybrid was the perfect excuse for him to make them pay."
"He hates us too now," Chase adds sullenly. "Ever since we left."
"Oh. That makes sense." I realize. "He must have thought I would torture and kill you for the info on Dean. That's why he sent me to you. Unfortunately for him I'm not an asshole."
"Let us help you." Bill says. "I'm sick and tired of running from him."
Sam drops down from the wall behind me.
"You really want to go up against Mordecai?" He asks.
"SAM!" They both cry out with joy.
"Yes." Chase confirms. "You boys were right about him. He is no good."
"Excellent" Sam smiles, and cuts the rope I have them bound with.
I can't help but feel a little bad about shooting Bill, but only a little.
...
Back at the hotel, we pack up our duffels, and prepare to drive to Detroit.
There is a knock on the door, and I stroll over to answer it.
Bill and Chase stand at the door, geared up and ready to go.
"Let's go get Dean." Chase says.
For a seasoned hunter, he seems really bright eyed and innocent.
"Let's do this." I say, resolutely.
...
The drive to Detroit is a long one. Bill and Chase follow closely in their old beat up Jeep.
I lean back and try to catch a few before we reach Detroit, with no luck. All I can think about is how alone Dean probably feels right now, and that makes me really mad.
I know Sam misses Dean too, because he cranks up AC/DC.
"How are you doing with all this?" I ask him.
"I'm worried about Dean. Mordecai has no pity on those who 'harbor monsters'. I know he isn't treating Dean as a guest." he replies, eyebrows furrowed.
"He will pay for this." I promise.
"I'm worried about you too. You are focusing all the pain you feel into a pretty frightening rage. You still have your power. " He says. "Please be careful."
"As far as I'm concerned, Mordecai is as big a monster as any other. He took an innocent life, our child's life, and I'm going to make him pay."
Sam doesn't argue.
...
We arrive at the Bright-Water Motel just after midnight. We all walk into the room to discuss a plan.
It doesn't take long for me to recognize the brilliance of Mordecai's "come get me" strategy. His bunker is nearly impenetrable. According to Bill, it is a giant concrete building full of mazes and secret rooms. Dean could be anywhere inside.
I prefer the direct approach.
Just walk in and trade myself for Dean, but Sam does not agree.
"We don't even know if he has Dean there." I argue. "Deans best bet is if I go in willingly. I have my powers, and as hesitant as I am to use them, I will if it comes to getting back to you. Mordecai really doesn't know who he is dealing with. Dean's life could be in danger, and I don't think we should waste another minute."
Sam finally concedes with my promise to use my powers if necessary.
...
The next morning we arrive in front of Mordecai's bunker. I don't sneak around. Instead I walk strait for the door, shoulders back.
The clouds hang low, as though they want a good seat for the confrontation.
Sam, Chase, and Bill follow behind me, toting an impressive arsenal.
The gate opens and we walk through.
We approach the door of the bunker. A large angry looking hunter stands in the doorway.
"I'm here for Dean Winchester." I state.
The man steps back, and we pass. Five more hunters come from a room and join the first just inside the hallway to follow us inward.
I am jittery, and I feel like blasting them to smithereens, but I hold back. We haven't seen Dean yet.
Suddenly the hall opens up into an open courtyard. In the middle stands a man. He is tall and thick, and has a missing eye.
"Spot the villain." I say under my breath.
Suddenly I notice another man tied in a chair next to him. He has a burlap sack over his head. He is hanging from his bonds lifelessly.
"Dean!" Sam cries, and tries to run toward him.
Within a split second ten hunters of various size and gender move in, blocking us from Dean.
"Mordecai!" I say. My voice sounds different, darker. "I am not making any deal with you, unless you let Sam go to Dean. I want to make sure you haven't already killed him."
Mordecai flicks his hand, and the hunters split their ranks.
Sam runs through them without hesitation. He kneels before Dean's limp form, and pulls the cover off his head.
Suddenly Dean comes I life. "Son of a bitch, you wait until my family gets ahold of you!"
"Easy Dean, it's me, it's Sam." He puts his hands on Dean's shoulders and looks him in his eyes. "You ok man?"
"Just a little sore. I'm fine though, I knew you'd come." He tries to smile.
I, however, am not smiling. He looks like hell. His face is covered in bruises and cuts. There is a huge gash from his ear to his collar bone.
"What do you want Mordecai?"I demand.
"Mac?!" Dean suddenly shouts. "SHE CAN'T BE HERE! RUN MAC! IT'S NOT SAFE!"
"What do you want?" I repeat myself, over the noise of Dean's frantic warning.
"Your head on a stake. I must admit you have been the hardest monster I've ever had to trap." Mordecai hisses.
"You haven't trapped me yet." I point out. "But let them go, and I will come willingly."
"Let them leave." Mordecai commands.
"I want to see them drive away." I say.
I can tell Mordecai does not like this. He hadn't intended to let them go free. I concentrate my power, and the bunker begins to quake.
"Let us walk the gentlemen out then." He says, trying to sound calm.
With that, we all make our way to the gate. The Impala sits just outside the entrance, ready and waiting. Chase, Bill, and Sam have to drag Dean to the Impala.
"WE CAN'T LEAVE MAC! IT'S A TRAP!" he cries.
Sam looks worried, as he slams the car door. Bill and Chase are in the back, holding Dean down, with trouble.
I turn around and face Mordecai. "Now then, you mentioned something about my head on a stake?"
He looks surprised that I didn't bolt as soon as he was gone. "Follow me."
We walk back to the courtyard, and through double metal doors in the back.
We are now in circular room. Several lines run through the room, drawing out the shape of a pentagram. There are many strange markings that run along the lines.
At each point of the pentagram stands a man, robed in black.
"Wow, Mordecai uses warlocks now? Hypocrite much?" I sneer.
"The greater good." Mordecai states.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with." I sigh, and turn to him.
Suddenly the warlocks begin to chant. I am lifted into the air, and toward an altar.
"This seems vaguely familiar." I yawn. "I'm bored. Let's play a new game."
I snap my fingers, and suddenly the walls of the bunker turn to dust.
"You can't lock a hybrids powers up twice." I point out.
I am now hovering cross-legged in the air over the altar.
"We do not mean to lock them up. We mean to destroy them once and for all." He says.
"Oh, sweet, then I'm in." I reply.
If Sam were here he would flip his shit.
I lie back down, and relinquish myself to the warlocks.
They begin to chant, and I feel like my whole body is on fire. The pain is intense, but I hold as still as possible.
After a few minutes the burning stops.
The warlocks also stop.
"It is done." Says one of the warlocks.
"Good. Destroy them." Mordecai points at the warlocks.
"YOU PROMISED!" screeches the warlock.
I watch without emotion, as ten of the hunters appear, each holding a protection charm, and slit the warlocks throats.
"Shocker." I say.
I stretch my fingers out, testing my humanity. I try to melt the altar. Nothing.
All sixteen of the hunters surround Mordecai and me. It puts me in mind of a fistfight I got into in high school. I half expect them to start chanting. "Fight, fight, fight,"
I smile, as Mordecai comes for me, knife drawn.
Then I pull my revolvers out of my concealed holsters, and point them at his chest.
"Here's you're problem, asshole." I say. "You were so focused on my demonic powers, you underestimated me. You didn't even check me for weapons. I am a hunter first and foremost, and a damn good one."
I hear a motor rev on my left. I look, and see the Impala, Sam at the wheel, as it comes full speed at the gate.
'Baby' breaks through with no problem, and comes to a screeching halt outside the recently demolished bunker walls. All four men jump out, and head for the sixteen hunters that surround us. As they begin to fight, I focus my attention back on Mordecai.
"You took something from me, Mordecai. I'm gonna make you pay."
I holster my guns, and let every ounce of hatred and despair that I have been holding back for months coarse through my veins.
He runs at me, but I dodge, and kick him in the back.
You would think that losing my powers would make me slower, less strong. But the opposite seems to be true.
I hadn't realized it until just now, but I have had to hold back all of my life, trying to prevent my powers from escaping.
Now, I had no hesitation.
Rain starts to fall heavily, making it difficult to see.
Mordecai swings at my throat with his knife. I back up just enough that it tickles.
"Missed bitch." I shout.
"Mac!" I hear Sam say. I kick Mordecai in the gut and look over at Sam, just in time to see my lucky poker flying out of his hand.
I catch it and twirl it professionally.
"Thanks!" I grin.
Mordecai slashes his knife at me again, and this time I knock it out of his hand tidily with my poker.
Dean catches the flying knife and yells "Thanks Mac!" He uses it to stab an assailant in the gut.
I exhale sharply as Mordecai jabs me with his enormous fist, flinging me backward. I come to a skidding stop, already crouched and ready to spring.
I hurdle toward him, and hook him on the left side of his head, and then I rebound, landing upright.
"CHASE!" I hear. I look to my left, and see Bill standing over a lifeless Chase, trying to protect him from further harm.
Dean and Sam are back to back, taking out anything that comes at them.
I look back as Mordecai swings at my head, but I am too fast. I dodge him, and throw my poker around the back of his neck. I grab the other side of the poker, and pull his head forward, kneeing him in the face with all my might.
He stumbles forward and lands on his hands and knees before me.
I pull my revolver out, and hold it to his head.
"This world is not black and white, Mordecai. There are good monsters, and bad people. And you are a bad person."
I blink the rain out of my eyes and pull the trigger.
…
Sam and Dean pick up Chase's body with care, and lay him on the top of a large pyre base of sticks.
Sam hands Bill a lit torch, and steps back.
"I didn't know Chase for very long," I start, "but in the short time that I did, I saw goodness in his heart. May his spirit rest in peace."
"Chase was a good man and a good friend. He always looked out for his friends. Enjoy heaven buddy." Dean adds, barely able to keep his voice from breaking.
Sam speaks next. "I am going to miss you Chase. You have always been one of the good ones."
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Bill finishes, tears streaming down his face. "You have been my best friend since you pulled my drunk ass out of the gutter, when I lost my wife to that demon. You've saved my life a million times since then. I'm sorry I couldn't return the favor."
He lights the pyre, and the sparks rise up to the clear night sky. Dean puts his hand on Bill's shoulder, and Sam holds me tight.