Chapter Eleven: Her Sins

Sam's head shot up. He was done with Erin's games. He was going to find Kelly on his own. Sam could feel her at the back of his mind. A dark throbbing knot of pain and confusion that made his heart ache for her. She felt so lost and at the same time so cold. The question was: Where's that feeling coming from? What direction? A part of Sam knew that if he followed the emotions, he would find her. It was like having his own invisible string leading back to his Hound. For a moment, Sam wondered if it was red. Then he shook his head.

"I understand." He said to Erin.

Looking away from his brother, he let his eyes swim up the street. She was somewhere in that direction and not too far away. Then, without a glance at either he strode off down the street. Ignoring the people crowding the sidewalk, Sam continued on. He didn't bother looking back.

Erin watched him go with mild dissatisfaction. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd been cheated. Her eyes narrowed slightly as Dean moved to follow his brother. Her fingers catching on his sleeve, she tugged him to a halt. "No."

"I don't care about you stupid fey or your stupid questions or your stupid games!" Dean snarled. "My friend is in trouble and I'm going to make sure she's okay."

He tried to pull free of Erin's grasp, but found that she held him tight. Her hand moving to his bicep for a better grip, her fingers clenched around his arm like iron, and her dark almond eyes were on his face. "Stay."

Erin's lashes fluttered over her eyes and for a moment she looked intoxicating. For a moment Dean wanted to stay, to know what it was like to press his lips against hers, to feel that beautiful body pressed up against him, gyrating, hot and steamy. He stopped. "That ain't gonna work, missy." He said. "I know what you are." Dean glared down at her. "And I don't feel sorry for you."

"Yet, you fall into Kelly's traps all the time." Erin said. For a moment her full lips looked like they were pouting.

Dean doubted she even understood the expression, but he couldn't stop himself from getting chills. It was easy to forget sometimes that Erin wasn't a little kid. Her inexperience at dealing with humans coupled with her own youthful nature next to Kelly was an easy guise to hide the fey who lay underneath. He was going to have to be on his guard around her. That much was clear. He swallowed and looked away, considering her statement. The answer, of course, was obvious. That's because it's Kelly and I'm in love with her. He would fall into any trap Kelly set and do it gladly, if she was in fact setting traps. But the traps thing was probably just a part of Erin's games. She wants to split us apart. She didn't want them to trust Kelly. He could understand why, but he wasn't about to become anyone's pawn.

"That's because it's Kelly." Dean said. "And I trust her."

Erin laughed. "Well," she said. "I guess that's your mistake."

No, Dean thought irritably. The mistake would be trusting you. Or trusting his brother to keep his hands off Dean's girl. My ex-girl. That still made her his girl. In their long history together, Sam had never gone after a girl Dean had claimed. Doing that now would upset the balance. And neither Sam nor Kelly wanted that. "Guess so." He said. "Humans are kind of sentimental like that."

***

Sam Winchester strode down Main Street, calmly dodging the passersby. His mind focused completely on what lay at the end of the street and beyond. Kelly's lurching emotions had sent a cool chill cascading down his spine. If his blood could flow, Sam would have broken out in goose bumps. As it was, his body heat was tepid, barely above room temperature. And key to getting me mistaken for a vampire by other hunters. And Sam didn't really want to test whether or not his already dead body could survive a machete through his chest cavity. He didn't know if the magicks keeping him alive could withstand it. And I've already died enough for one lifetime. He wasn't eager to do it again.

The sun was high overhead. It's rays blazing down on the city streets below. Without a cloud in the sky, the sun could do whatever it wanted. Heating the pavement to a low boil, tempting the asphalt to melt the rubber wheels of the cars. It could see everything. But the focus fell on the tall young man and the blonde woman following him.

She'd waited for him to separate from the others in his group, from the Hound. The blonde knew it would recognize her and she wasn't about to spoil her chances before getting the chance to play. No, she had scouted him last night. Lurking in the shadows and watching their interactions, trying to discern how best to approach him. She was a pragmatic creature and had no desire to end up as some foul beast's dinner. What she knew could assist Sam Winchester, but it would only matter if she could survive long enough to deliver the message. And with that Hound always at his side, the chances of living through the first encounter were minimal. Still, she needed to learn everything she could about Sam and his brother. Everything.

The blonde waited for him to walk past and then followed. Cutting across the street, she remained out of sight. Not that it would have mattered. Sam was about as likely to notice her as he was any other man or woman on the street, even less because he never bothered to look back. He was intent on his destination. Still, she kept herself a few feet behind him, at a safe distance, ready to disappear the minute he felt like turning around.

***

So, you came all this way to warn me? Kelly thought as she stared at the Baba Yaga. Taking in the sagging flesh of her breasts and the grey nature of her skin, Kelly suppressed the urge to soothe her dry throat, her mind spinning wheels. Which one was it? She wondered, knowing that she would have to answer the woman. Which brother was stupid enough to bargain with the Baba Yaga? There were two rules when it came to dealing with the Baba Yaga. The first one was never offending the Russian demagogue. The second was never bargaining, no matter what information she dangled beneath your nose. It's never worth the price.

"Is that all, Grandmother?" She asked. Her eyes hardening slightly as she stared at the old woman, but she kept her forehead and the corners of her eyes smooth and her voice friendly. She would not offend the Baba Yaga. Not after she's so generously forgiven me. Kelly doubted that was true. She's probably just planning something to bite me in the ass. If this involved either Dean or Sam then she obviously was.

"That was all I came to discuss, duckling." The Baba Yaga said, her walking stick rapping against the gravel. "To give a warning." She lifted a bony finger. "And to provide you with a kernel of truth."

"Free of charge?"

"When I call upon the boy, youngling, will you interfere?" Baba Yaga asked. She readjusted her shawl around her shoulders. "When I claim him and take him out of time, will you follow him into Russia?"

"I can promise nothing." Kelly replied. "Both of brothers are friends of mine, Grandmother."

"Ah," Baba Yaga coughed. "And something more. I see you are developing a sense of sentimentality." Her lips drooped together as she considered Kelly, her beady eyes running over the younger woman's form and face. "How human of you." She chuckled. "Perhaps the Crone's punishment could teach you nothing after all, you are making the same mistakes." She reached out with her clawing fingers and Kelly suppressed a flinch as the pads of the old woman's fingers caressed her cheek. The withered skin brushing the scar on her cheek and the old woman leaned in close. Her breath tickling against Kelly's ear, her sharp teeth gnashing together as she opened her mouth a little wider, her voice low. "Perhaps it would be easier if you could remember."

"I have no wish to remember, Grandmother." Kelly said in a husky voice. She fought the urge to pull away. "That was another life. I am a different person now."

"All the more reason to give them back to you, child." Baba Yaga murmured. Her voice was wicked as her claws curled around the strands of Kelly's hair, the pointed end of her nail tapping against the edge of Kelly's ear. "All the more reason."

Kelly swallowed. To make me suffer. I understand Baba Yaga. She resisted the urge to close her eyes. She would not expose her weaknesses to this creature. I understand.

"To remember what you have lost."

Only to have you steal it all away from me. Kelly thought. I know the rules of this game, witch. I know how to play. Her eyes widened as she looked down the trail. Sam, his tall and broad body, his brow glistening with perspiration had just come into view. He was at the bottom of the small hill and seeing him, his soulful brown eyes staring up at her, made her heart pound. It squeezed painfully with guilt. Dean. His name was always on the tip of her tongue but memory of his face wasn't enough to stop her from being thankful. She was glad Sam had come. That would end her discussion with the Baba Yaga.

"I will see you again, duckling." The old woman murmured into her ear. "Soon."

But Kelly knew that she was already far away, her voice held by the wind, the sentiments making Kelly's heart chilled. The Baba Yaga was good at inspiring despair. Soon is too soon. She thought, knowing she would have to find out which brother had bargained. And soon. But Kelly didn't have time to think any further as a strong pair of arms wrapped around her body and lifted her up off the ground. Burying her head into his shoulder, she flung her arms around Sam Winchester's neck. Hot tears, ones that she'd been holding in for months sputtered down her cheeks. A soft wail escaped her lips as she pressed her cheek against Sam's neck. It was all too much.

"Sam…" She murmured into his collarbone.

"I'm here." Sam whispered. He kept his arms tight around Kelly's body, stroking her hair gently with his hand. Sam felt like he was rocking a baby as he slowly moved back and forth. "I'm not going to leave you. I'm here." I love you. I'll always protect you. "It's okay, it's all going to be okay."

"It's not." She replied. "But thanks for saying so."

"Hey," he chuckled. "What are partners for?"

***

The hours passed and the group set back about their work finding the mysterious attacker. The worked until evening and the various reports led them to a small bar at the end of town. The place was mostly deserted with the exception of a few regulars and as the moon climbed ever higher into the sky, Dean Winchester checked his watch and then the streets. Together with Bobby Singer and Erin Chang, he was waiting for his brother and his ex to return. Dean didn't like the idea of them spending so much time alone together. But he knew he could say nothing on the subject. Not without offending someone, which he really didn't care about, and not without breaking his own deal. If he could find a way around all the clauses that the Crossroads Demon had stuffed into the bargain for his soul, Dean would. But he couldn't think of anything and the risks were far too high to just take a chance. He wasn't going to play around when both Kelly and Sam's lives were on the line. He knew that this was just part of his punishment.

Dean listened as Bobby yawned into his hand. He glanced up into the rearview mirror and watched as Erin imitated Bobby's gesture, her mouth getting wide as a cat's and her tongue flicking between her teeth. He didn't know whether she was actually tired, bored, or just curious. What? Dean wondered. Has she never seen a yawn before? Either way it was strangely adorable, but Dean Winchester wasn't about to tell anyone he'd thought that.

The older man glanced away from the Bar entrance. "What time is it?"

"And where are Sam and Kelly?" Erin asked. She was leaning forwards, her head between the two men and peered curiously from one to the other. "Have you heard from either of them on your…" She stared at the cell in Dean's hand with distaste. "Phone?"

"You sound nervous." Dean said. With a smirk, he glanced back at her and watched as she frowned.

"I am not nervous." She replied. "I do not believe one can get nervous at…" She leaned a little further forward, reading the electronic clock in the stereo. "Seven past midnight." Erin glanced from Dean to Bobby again. "This time has some magical significance, but not enough to swing our hand."

"Says you." Dean snapped.

"I do not understand what you are worried about." Erin said. "We are not divining. Finding this man does not require specific methods other than sitting still and waiting."

"And it's the waiting that's driving me crazy!"

"Why?"

"Because you won't shut the hell up!" Dean hissed.

"Enough!" Bobby waved his hands. "I had to put up with yer yackin' all day. I ain't listenin' to another argument now." He glared from one to the other. "Yeh hear me?"

"She started it, Bobby." Dean complained. He didn't feel it was fair, Bobby seemed to come down on him a lot harder when he argued with Erin. Though I bet she's just picking at my ribs for the fun of it. Erin probably enjoyed seeing him put through the ringer. She had that sick kind of mind.

"Leave the newbie alone, Dean." Bobby replied. "Arguin' with her is gonna get us nothin' but distractions." He fixed Dean with a stern stare. "Now, you sure this is the right place?"

Dean sighed loudly. "No."

"So, we could be waiting for nothing?" Erin asked.

"That's the job, sweetheart." Dean snapped. "Anyway, Bobby, I spent the whole day canvassing this stupid town with this guy's stupid mug and supposedly he drinks at this stupid bar."

A fist banging on the window made them all jump. Dean's head jerked up to see the grinning face of Sam, his heartbeat quieted as he took a few deep breaths. He listened as Sam laughed and swung the door open, squeezing in behind them. This car seriously was not built with a backseat in mind. Dean thought as his entire chair jerked forwards.

"Sorry." Sam muttered as he settled down besides Erin, forcing her to shift sideways and make room for his much larger frame. "Wow, this is a tight squeeze."

"No kidding." Kelly said. She was kneeling on the asphalt next to the door, watching with ironic eyes as Sam tried to get comfortable next to Erin. A small smile was on her lips. "Is there room in there or should I just sit out here like the dog that got the boot."

"Technically, I think Sam's the one who should get the boot." Bobby said. "What's the matter with you, boy?" He asked. "Haven't ya ever heard of ladies first?"

Dean noticed a bit of puffiness around her eyelids and a touch of red rimming her eyes. He wondered if she'd been crying. He opened his mouth. "Don't kick Sammy out, Bobby." He said. "I don't think my head could take it." Pointedly, he didn't ask about the tears.

"Funny." Kelly chuckled. "Real funny."

"You wanna hear what we found or not?" Sam asked. He leaned through the seats. "Or am I gonna have to share the info from out in the rain?"

"Just tell 'em, Sam." Kelly growled. She tugged her jacket more tightly around her shoulders and hugged her body, her mouth in a grim line. She didn't like sitting out in the cold, it made her want to tuck her tail between her legs.

"So, John Doe's name is Walter Rosen, he's from Oak Park, just west of Chicago and he went missing about three months ago."

"When the Devil's Gate opened." Kelly added from where she crouched. Her eyes sliding back to the bar and narrowing. She smelled it, even in this wet air. Sulfur. She sneezed.

"Thank you, Sherlock." Dean snapped. He glanced back at his brother. "So you think he's possessed?"

"Oh." Kelly sighed. "He's definitely possessed." She lifted her chin and looked at the bar. A tingle rushed through her stomach. It was a bad feeling, like she'd just gotten a colonoscopy. Well, shit. If her nose was right, there were six of them inside. Six demons, more than the boys had ever handled before. Stronger too. She doubted her ability to go against them all, even with Bobby and the Winchesters at her back.

"What do you smell, girl?" Bobby asked. He leaned passed Dean to get a better look at her and watched as her nostrils sniffled the air.

Kelly glanced up at him. "Bad things."

"So, what he just walks up someone, touches them and they go stark raving psycho?" Sam asked.

"It would appear to be that way." Erin nodded. She glanced at Kelly. "There are not so many of them."

"There are enough." Kelly said. "Enough to get my hackles up." She looked back at Sam and then to Dean and Bobby. "Look if we charge in there, it'll be a Mexican Standoff with a Bolivian Army ending." She shrugged. "And much as I like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I don't feel like going out just yet."

"And those demons that got out of that gate, they're gonna be able to do all kinds of things." Bobby said.

"You mean the demons we let out." Sam said.

A moment of silence settled over the group. Finally, Erin chimed in with a cheerful voice. "I feel no guilt whatsoever."

"Thanks for the update." Kelly grumbled. Her head turned at the sound of a rumbling engine shutting off, Kelly tucked low to the ground. Her eyes focused forward, her ears listening to the footsteps of a man, tasting the lingering scent of sulfur that tainted the pheromones drifting off his skin. Great. That makes seven.

"Guys." Dean's voice ended all conversation in the car.

The humans' eyes focused through the windshield as they followed the man's collected swagger. Erin glanced from one face to the next. To her, he didn't look so strong or frightening. It would be easiest if we grabbed him now and eliminated one of their number. She glanced at Kelly and saw the Hound tensing on the ground, her entire posture showing a readiness to spring.

"Alright," Dean said. "Showtime."

"I can get him." Kelly said. Her voice a low growl, pools of gold filled her eyes as her black pupil dilated. She was watching the demon with a hungry stare. "If we capture him now, we can find out what's going on in the bar. Then we'll know."

"Know what?" Dean asked.

"Who they are." Kelly replied. Her eyes never leaving the demon's body, her muscles tensing even tighter, her legs quivering with the readiness to spring.

"Wait a minute." Bobby said.

"What?" Kelly and Dean asked in unison. They glanced at each other sheepishly, then away. Kelly's gaze returning to the man, while Dean's remained on Bobby.

"What did I just say?" Bobby asked. "We don't know what to expect from this guy. We should tail him until we know for sure."

"Or we could just capture him now." Kelly said. "Before he has a chance to get inside."

"So we're just gonna sit here with our junk in our hands?" Dean asked. "Is that it?"

"We're no good dead!" Bobby snapped. "And we're not gonna make a move until we know what the score is."

"Seven demons." Kelly said. Her voice was hard, her nails digging into the meat of her palm as she watched the demon draw further away, knowing that once he reached the swinging doors of the bar… I'll have missed my chance. She had already missed her chance. She glanced over her shoulder at Sam, giving him a hard stare. He should have given her the go ahead. I could have got him. "There's seven demons in there that I can smell, maybe there's more." She shook her head. "I don't know." The line of her mouth hardened. "But if we don't act right now, we'll lose our shot!"

"I'm sorry, kid." Bobby said. "That's just the way it is."

"Hey Bobby?" Sam asked. Catching sight of two familiar figures moving through the darkness, he leaned forward. "I don't think that's an option."

"Why not?" Bobby asked.

"Because Mr. Dumb and Mrs. Dumber are already moving to engage." Kelly said. Lifting her chin, she indicated Isaac and Tamara as they walked around the side of their car. "And since they don't know what I know." Her eyes narrowed. "They've just walked into the shitter."

"Letting them die would be the intelligent thing to do." Erin said. She watched impassively as the pair of Hunters crossed the parking lot. She was not impressed by their tactics. A quick and easy way to get themselves killed. Personally Erin didn't see anything wrong with that. "Why should we risk our lives to save theirs?"

"That's a damn good question." Kelly sighed. "A damn good question."

She ignored the men and their stares. She knew they wouldn't understand where she was coming from. Christ, it's not like I've grown a second head. A little pragmatism never hurt anyone. And there's no guarantee that they're even useful as hunters. Plus it would reduce their chances for success, especially if they'd run afoul of several demons. And we don't know any of their powers. Kelly took a deep breath and shook her head. She knew what Sam and Dean's answer would be. Still, it never hurts to be practical.