Chapter 12 - Showdown

The flashlight beam swept across the hallway revealing another wall of black and white photos with occasional objects displayed in shadow cases. Faith took another tentative step down the narrow passage barely noticing the displays and focusing on the path ahead. She looked back over her shoulder briefly while keeping her back close to the wall. The small flashlight attached to the end of her 9mm lit a fairly wide field which gave her a small measure of comfort. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears and every drop of moisture had left her mouth. She coached herself to continue breathing and focus on the plan.

Stepping into the next room she found more displays, but no Dean. There were no other vehicles in the parking lot so there was a possibility that he wasn't even in the building, but it was her only lead. She was nearly through the museum and about to reach the back room with the secret door that lead out to the river. She had been lucky enough to find an unlocked bathroom window and sneak in. It was her mission to avoid entering through the back door since there was a very real possibility that the creature could use that same door at any moment.

The sound of a distant voice broke through the thundering in her ears causing her to freeze mid stride. Instinctively she turned the flashlight off and walked to the opposite side of the room. The hallway leading to the back room was extremely dark. The faint glow of red from the back room bounced into the hall from the doorway farther down on the left. Another mumble from the distant voice let her know that she had still not been detected. Gripping the handle of her blessed silver blade she moved silently down the hall. Her nerves were on edge, but she forced herself to remember her training with deep breaths and laser focus on the one task at hand. Reaching the end of the hall she chanced a look around the doorway and into the last room. The displays on the left were dark and the wall on the right looked like a soft blanket in the dim red light. Faith's gaze was immediately drawn to the short figure standing beneath the red exit light on the far side of the room. It took a moment for her to register that another figure was lying facedown at his feet and it took every ounce of restraint to not audibly gasp or charge across the room once she realized Dean was the unmoving body. The ranger cursed at Dean's back and landed a small kick to his leg. When he didn't jump to defend himself Faith nearly moved into the room, but instead she pressed her back against the wall beside the doorframe and took a deep steadying breath. She could hear him mumbling to an unconscious Dean.

"If you'd have just stayed away this wouldn't have to happen. I tried to warn ya."

Her mind was running wildly and her adrenaline had kicked in, but she had to focus, analyze, and make some decisions. The end goal was to take out the monster. Dean's back had risen and fell, so he was alive. There was no pool of blood and she didn't smell gunpowder so he was probably just injured. She pushed it aside and moved to the next logical step. If the ranger was waiting then she would wait as well. The beast would come and she would have to be ready.

Before she could process any farther the fur wall parted and the Wihwin stepped into view. His already ominous size and appearance was only enhanced by the horrendous red lighting. She peeked around the door jam again hoping to find her opening before it was too late. She let the beast move farther into the room coming to stand near Dean's head with it's back to her. It was now or never. Fear threatened to paralyze her after she took the first step into the open doorway, but neither the creature nor the ranger noticed her bold move. She might just win this fight after all. She held the 9mm in her right hand and the silver blade in her left as she moved deeper into the room keeping herself hidden from the ranger behind the wide flanks of the monster. She was a step away from raising her knife when Ranger Dave acknowledged her presence. "Who are you?" His formerly friendly and energetic demeanor had been replaced with one of complete terror. His shoulders were pulled together and his chin tucked close to his chest as if to make himself look even smaller. The room stilled and time seemed to grind to a halt. Faith's lungs refused to take in oxygen. Her mind processed his voice knowing that this was the moment. The beast rounded on her swinging jagged claws through the air, but she was just out of reach. At the precise moment the beast's arm reached full extension she lunged forward digging the blade deep into the gray flesh at his side. A deafening shriek tore through the silence causing the ranger to jump back several feet. She pulled the blade away and began to step back and brace for her next approach, but she wasn't quite fast enough. A moment later she was flying through the air towards the fur covered wall. Her head hit with a thud jarring her teeth and knocking the air from her lungs. Stars stung in the corners of her vision, but she refused to be stopped. Pushing up from the ground she braced against the wall and looked towards her mark.

"Just stop!" The ranger's trembling voice echoed across the tile floor as he stepped between her and the beast. He waved a gun in her direction as if to show force, but he was not convincing.

Anger surged through her veins and she pushed away from the wall raising the gun level with Dave Waters' chest. "Get out of my way."

He was caught off guard by her menacing tone and turned to point the shaking gun barrel at her face, "Please don't do this. Just let him go. It's him or my family. You understand, don't you?"

It was the horrible moment of decision Faith had not wanted to face, but he made the decision for her. She refused to be stopped. Dean was her mission and she would succeed. Without hesitation she pulled the trigger landing a bullet in his shoulder. Ranger Dave went down hard with the gun flying out of his hand landing a foot away from his writhing form. "You shot me!" His voice was high pitched with shock and pain.

"Don't move or I'll do it again." Faith pulled her attention back to the beast that was moving slowly towards the fur covered door with Dean's limp body dangling from beneath it's arm. She raised the blade in her left hand and motioned towards the beast. "Don't!" She shouted. Her anger was turning back to fear as she realized the creature had the high ground. "Just put him down."

The creature slowed to a halt as more black goo oozed down it's side and pooled at it's massive feet. The terrifying voice hissed, "I have roamed for centuries feasting on humanity and YOU" he raised a hand away from his damaged side to make his point, "will not stop me today!"

A gravelly voice replied from the still form hanging from the massive gray arm, "Yeah, she will." Dean kicked into the leg of the beast causing it's knee-like joint to slightly buckle and it's grip to loosen. In a rush of his last remaining strength Dean pulled away and collapsed onto the ground a few feet away. Faith rushed the creature as it fought to regain it's balance and plunged the blade deep into the abdomen. Another cry escaped through the razor sharp teeth as she pulled the knife away. The creature began to hunch slightly giving Faith the access she needed to bury the silver blade to the hilt once more into the slick gray flesh. This time she hit her mark and pierced straight through the heart. Sparks of light coursed through the beast's body ending with a flash of light dying out in the black eyes returning them to green. Faith pulled out the knife and as if in slow motion the Wihwin collapsed in a slippery heap at her feet. Before she could let her mind process, she dropped the blade and crossed the room to Dean who was rubbing a hand to the back of his head and attempting to push himself off the floor. She extended a hand to help him up, "Are you okay?" Her heart was pounding and she wanted to wrap her arms around him, but the scowl on his face screamed that her reaction would be extremely unwelcome.

"I'm fine." He took her hand and stood. "Let's get this mess cleaned up before anyone gets here."

"What about me?" Ranger Dave squeaked from across the room.

Faith heaved a sigh and shrugged her shoulders and Dean answered, "You're gonna say there was a break in, you and the bad guy exchanged gunfire, you got hit, and he ran away. You'll be a freaking hero." Dean didn't even attempt to hide his disgust. He turned away slowly and gestured towards the growing black puddle. "Now let's get this shit cleaned up."

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They worked together in silence cleaning up the body and burning it. Faith smashed Ranger Dave's radio and phone forcing him to drive himself to the hospital giving them time to finish the job. Dean refused to elaborate on how his day had gone and, more specifically, how he had ended up on the floor of the Fur Trade Museum. In fact, besides the occasional instructions and mumbling under his breath, he hadn't spoken directly to Faith at all. They rode back to the hospital in separate vehicles. The Impala and the squad car both had been parked behind the building. Dean had stated he was going to check on Sam. She tried to convince him to see a doctor himself, but he refused. Then she tried to ask him to at least get cleaned up before going in the hospital, and he refused. Giving up she had thrown her hands in the air and was now following the sleek black car across the Byway. As she watched Dean's shadow in the driver's seat the trauma of the last few days finally began to catch up with her. The few short days with Sam and Dean had felt like weeks making it hard to remember her original purpose in coming to Chadron, Nebraska. Her mind refused to sort through the events in order and instead sent them in bursts of chaotic scenes; Sam lying unconscious, getting stitches, blood pooling, pulling the trigger, Dean on horseback, the beast breathing over her face, the one passionate kiss, running with Sam, plunging the knife. Nothing fit. Nothing made sense. Nothing except the shadow of a man riding in the car in front of her. She wiped harshly against the tears she hadn't realized were flowing down her cheeks. The Impala was turning into the hospital parking lot and Faith couldn't even remember the ride across town. She wasn't sure how much longer she could ignore the emotional torrent that threatened to overwhelm her, but she sure as hell knew that Dean wasn't in the mood to deal with it at this moment. So, she pushed it away once more and opened her car door.

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She trailed after Dean as he stalked down the hall to Sam's room. The lines of anger were clearly written across his face as he found his brother still unconscious. He went to the nurses station and Faith didn't follow. She didn't want to have to listen to him demand answers when simply asking would get him the information he wanted. Sinking into the blue plastic chair she had vacated several hours before she leaned forward and placed her face in her hands. It was only a moment before Dean marched back into the room and she sat up with an audible sigh. "What did they say?"

"He's fine."

Looking away it took all her strength not to snap back at him. With another deep breath she pushed to her feet. "Okay. Well, I'm going to run back to the cabin and get a shower." She was done trying to convince him to do anything rational, but to her amazement he nodded and followed her out the door.


Disclaimer & Writers Notes: I do not own nor do I have rights to Supernatural or any of its characters. Faith, on the other hand, is all mine.

It's hard to believe, but only one chapter left! This story has flown by for me. I really hope you've enjoyed it! Thank you for staying with me.

xoxo, Jen