A.N. Once again, thank you for sticking with this (it's grown) and for taking the time to review (it still makes me blush to read them).
12.
In perfect unison both Bill and Dean responded with,
"Gone?"
Sam fixed Dean with a stare.
"What? Stop looking at me like that. I didn't do it."
Sam shook his head,
"No chuckle head. Think about it. She's obviously still in the theatre somewhere."
Dean began to smile despite how ill he looked,
"Oh yeah! Awesome!"
Bill looked at Dean in confusion,
"What's awesome about it?"
Dean spread his arms wide and gave a little strut,
"Cos you're currently looking at the world's first and finest Metal Melody Detector."
Bill caught up,
"Well I'll be damned! So…what's the plan?"
Sam and Dean glanced at each other before Sam answered,
"The plan, as far as you're concerned Bill, is that you stay somewhere out of harm's way while Dean and I do our job."
Bill raised one eyebrow,
"Oh, really? Well, sorry to burst that bubble, but I'm the caretaker on duty around here and I know damn well that my job description doesn't say run and hide if a problem crops up. You're not talking to some idiot wet arsed kid both of you. Out of the three of us I'm the only one with a right to be here. I'm in on this, so get used to it. Understand me, boys?"
Dean gave Bill a questioning look,
"I'm guessing pretty please wouldn't work right now?"
Bill crossed his arms, looking at the brothers as though daring them to try to move him,
"Good guess."
Sam sighed,
"Ok, you win. But, you do what we tell you to do and you back off if things get out of control. Agreed?"
Bill paused, then nodded his agreement. Dean wiped at a thin sheen of sweat forming on his forehead,
"Well. I'll stick my neck out and say Melody's not on this floor. If she were I wouldn't be feeling worse now than I did in the foyer so I suggest we head back down there and arm up."
On the way down to the foyer area Sam gave Bill a quick lesson on the uses of Holy Water, salt, iron and fire as well as the potential for possession and the power of hex bags. Bill listened carefully, taking it all in and not looking in the least bit phased by any of it. Dean liked the guy more and more, thinking Bill would have made a good Hunter in another life. As Dean had hoped, he began to feel somewhat better in himself as they moved down from the upper floor. His breathing became easier and his limbs felt like they had a little less lead wearing them down. His stomach settled into vague nausea and his thinking seemed to get a bit clearer. Sam glanced at him,
"How're you doing? Are we moving in the right direction?"
Dean nodded,
"Yeah. Still feeling like shit, but the pile's not so big as it was upstairs. Sam? We are going to find a way to break this link aren't we? I mean, Melody's ok I guess, but really, she's not my type. I wouldn't want to be stuck in a long term relationship with her."
Sam gave a slight smile,
"Dean. It would be even worse for Melody. She'd have to put up with you!
His expression became more serious,
"Honestly though Dean? I haven't got a clue how this thing between you and her works, but we'll figure it. I promise."
Dean nodded but couldn't hide from Sam saw how worried he really was. Sam smiled at him reassuringly again,
"I'm sure there'll be a way to break it. There has to be….for Melody's sake."
Dean reached up and gave Sam a slap to the back of his head, at the same time pushing his own fears about the link to one side for the time being in order to deal with the issue at hand.
"Ok smartass. What's in the bag?"
There were enough supplies of loose salt and holy water to make sure they all were equipped, however, understandably Sam had only packed two guns capable of shooting the cartridges full of rock salt. He looked at Bill and hesitated. Bill had already recognised the problem,
"Don't worry. You two are more likely to be in the line of fire so keep the guns, I've got it covered."
Bill wandered over to the ticket booths and picked up a floor standing pole of around 3 foot long. He removed the Please Queue This Way sign clipped to the top of it before swirling the pole around, testing it's weight and balance. He grinned at Sam and Dean,
"Iron."
Dean just looked back at Bill in admiration,
"Awesome!"
Sam reached back into the holdall then threw a small Hessian bag over to Bill,
"Hex bag. Keep it on you. If we end up facing off against a spirit it'll protect you. Stop any chance of possession."
Bill caught the bag and sniffed it, screwing his face up in distaste,
"Stinks like my granny, but I appreciate the thought. Anything else?"
Sam nodded,
"One more thing,"
He reached into the bag again and produced the leather bound book which Bill had noticed earlier. Sam handed it to Bill,
"Keep this on you and keep it safe."
Bill turned the book over in his hand, inspecting the strange symbols tooled into the leather,
"What is it exactly?"
"Put simply it's a book of banishing rituals and reversing spells. Hopefully we won't need it, but I'd hate to be without it."
Bill looked impressed. He undid the buttons of his shirt and popped the book inside before buttoning up again.
"Ok, so. What's next?"
Dean shrugged,
"Next is we start searching this floor. If we're getting warm, I'll feel better. If we're getting colder, I'll try not to barf on either of you."
Bill nodded and took a deep breath,
"Ok. Through the auditorium then back stage and on to the dressing rooms then. Just be aware that there's not a lot of light, we only keep dim night lighting on back there. It's just enough for me to do my rounds. After you, ladies."
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