Witch Finder Chapter 12
Daniel pulled into his driveway and was out of the car before he'd barely switched off the engine. Stumbling excitedly into the living room, he wrenched open the bureau door and grabbed the book. His precious book.
The demon had told Daniel it had been meant for him, and him alone.
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Jay's thoughts struck as the laughter finally ceased. She started pacing, almost mimicking Karen's actions of earlier in the evening.
"Here's a theory. I reckon the book went missing before the exhibit went live because no one remembers seeing it when the castle opened…."
"…But you said that Karen had it the day before it went up to the university, so it had to have gone missing in that time period." Sam rubbed the back of his head, blinking a little as a wave of nausea swept through him. His head was pounding again and he swayed, reaching to the railings for support.
Jay and Dean had been watching him as he spoke and were at his side in an instant.
Dean grabbed his arm, steadying him. "Sam? You ok there?"
Sam blinked rapidly trying to clear his head. "Yeah. Just tired I guess. Probably just still jet lagged." He gave a weak laugh.
Jay didn't look any more convinced than his older brother.
"I'm ok." Sam tried to reassure them both.
"Yeah," was Dean's sarcastic response. "The forty shades of green you're face is turning sure looks like it belongs on someone who's ok."
Dean eyes narrowed angrily as he remembered something.
"When that SUV nearly took you out? You hit your head." Clearly not a question! Dean reached up before Sam could stop him and with a surprisingly gentle touch considering the bad mood his older brother had slipped into once again, put his hand to the back of Sam's head.
Dean scowled when he immediately felt the large bump through Sam's hair, but swore loudly when he recognised the unmistakable feel of dried blood. His hand followed the not inconsiderable trail down to the base of Sam's neck.
"Sam! Why the fuck didn't you say anything!" He'd known Sam had busted his head on the pavement when Dean knocked him out of the way, but he hadn't known how bad it was.
Most of his anger was directed at himself.
"Dean…" Jay tried to calm him down which was always a mistake.
Dean grabbed Sam's jacket collar and pushed his face right into his. "You should've been in a hospital not traipsing round the county getting chased by swans!"
Dean swallowed his guilt when he saw the flash of fear in Sam's eyes, but for Sam it was soon replaced by anger.
Sam shoved Dean away from him. "It wasn't me getting chased as I recall!" he snapped back, before his tone became sarcastic. "In any case, the hunt's always more important right?"
Dean's eyebrows shot up in angry surprise on hearing that
"Sam.…" He lunged for Sam, wanting to… he didn't know what. Hug him? Show him that he did care? Remind him that he'd once traded his soul to bring him back from the dead purely and only because he loved him so damned much?
Or was he just being a grumpy bastard? Or should he beat the living shit outta him for being so stupid? …he wasn't sure anymore which came first.
Dean felt anger, but love for his brother…I'd give my life for you Sammy!"
Jay stepped in at that point before Dean could reach his brother. "Dean, that's enough…"
"Back off Jay!" Dean snarled trying to push her aside, but Jay, having grown up in a Garrison town, wasn't so easily intimidated by the older Winchester. She grasped his shoulder.
"Sam? Get in the car." Her voice was gentle. When Sam looked like he was going to protest she turned compassion-filled green eyes on him. He nodded and turned away, shoulders slumped in defeat.
When he was out of earshot she turned back to Dean, who glared at her.
"What the fuck dya think you're doing ordering us around huh? Back off!" He repeated with a growl.
"No. I won't." She spoke slowly, her tone was deadly. "Your brother's injured and all you can think of is to fight each other?" She shook her head slightly without taking her eyes off Dean's own green gaze. "Not in a million years mate. Someone's gotta be the sensible one 'ere."
Dean dropped his gaze first. Something he hadn't done in a long time, especially with a woman. He nodded. This whole hunt was more than he could…
"…handle?" Jay lowered her voice and spoke kindly. "Don't think I don't know what this is about. You're scared for him, I can see that." She gave a small sigh. "In truth, so am I. I'm scared for all of us."
Dean's head shot up again and stared at her seeing an unexpected strength tinged with sadness in her eyes.
He gave a sad smile. "Scared? I can beat that; I'm terrified."
Jay smiled but stared back at him. "I know about the deal with the cross road demon, and I also know I would've done the same in your shoes."
Seeing his startled expression she added angrily
"Without a fucking shot!"
"There aint a lot I don't know about you two. Bobby pretty much filled me in on a few facts so I'd know how to deal with you both. Apparently the Winchesters can be a bit of a…challenge."
Dean snorted a little at that, not knowing whether he should be angry or relieved with Bobby. "He doesn't know what he's talkin' about."
Jay smirked, heart-to-heart over with. "Yeah. Right."
As they slowly made their way back to the Toyota Dean noticed that Sam was in the rear seat turned away so that he couldn't see his face.
There was a bit of a silence, until Dean heard the swan song again.
Honk honk honk it faded away. Somehow he understood something, though he wasn't sure what it was.
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"So what happened with the SUV earlier?" Jay enquired, making conversation.
Dean gave her a brief account of his little brother nearly becoming smeared over the grill of a Land Rover Discovery.
Jay halted, a weird feeling assaulting her. "What colour was it?"
"What?"
"What colour was the 4x4?" Jay repeated.
"Dark blue? Why?" Dean turned to face her again. "Jay? What is it?" He didn't like the expression on her face. She was staring off into the distance, unseeing.
"When did it happen?" her voice was low and emotionless.
Dean looked puzzled. "Just after we left the White Hart. Jay come on! You're scarin' me!"
Jay glanced back at Sam leaning heavily inside the passenger door before facing Dean.
"Because I don't think it was an accident."
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Ok we've been in this country a few days and already someone wants Sam dead? Dean thought in despair.
Dean could feel his fear and anger building in equal proportions; he tried to remain calm but it was damn near impossible. Someone had tried to kill Sam?
"Ok. Wanna explain that?" He asked in clipped tones
"The time. The car itself. Too much of a coincidence. Gotta be." Jay seemed to mutter to herself. She looked up at Dean. "The timing you mentioned, that's roughly when Daniel drives through Manningtee on his way home from work. He always goes that way round because he usually drops into see a mate of his at the Thorne Inn."
Then she put the icing and the cherry on top. "And he drives a dark blue Land Rover Discovery."
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Dean's heart was nearly pounding out of chest by now.
"Bastard!.. I'm gonna kill 'im!" He yelled furiously and turned away breathing heavily. His hands closed into fists so tight the knuckles lost all colour. Then he strode over to the car growling to Jay "Where does he live?"
"Dean wait. We need to get Sam checked over first…" Jay caught up with him and grabbed his arm. "Dean listen to me! I think Daniel has something to do with that book going missing, and I also think the book has something to do with summoning the demon, but we need to know for certain ok?" she added with emphasis when Dean didn't answer "OK?"
His jaw was clenched so hard his teeth hurt, but he nodded. "Fair enough. But I reserve the right to beat the living shit outta the sonofabitch."
Jay gave a small smile. She'd had her shot at Daniel Carter years ago; it was someone else's turn now.
"Agreed," then she added with a shrug "so long as I can watch. And make sure it's South London style".
At his glance she added "the bastard won't see 'ya comin'"
That earned her a snort from Dean. "Bring popcorn."
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Sam had been trying to fight down the feelings of nausea for the last few minutes but was losing the battle. Dean and Jay had been in deep discussion all the while, probably about me, Sam thought tiredly, but couldn't bring himself to care.
Suddenly saliva flooded his mouth and he just managed to get the car door open before vomit burned its way up his throat. As he heaved violently he heard Dean and Jay calling to him above the ringing in his ears, felt gentle hands holding him up, stopping him from hitting the vomit-soaked tarmac below. Eventually he stopped retching and slumped against someone.
"Sam? You still with me little bro?" Sam could hear his brother speaking to him, voice heavily laced with concern, but sounded so far away.
"D…" he barely had the strength to whisper before he was pulled into the darkness.
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"Come on Sammy open your eyes!" Desperation had crept into Dean's voice now and that seemed to penetrate the fog of Sam's mind. His eyelids were heavy but he finally wrenched them open, blinking wearily up at Dean.
Sprawled across the back seat, his head was lying in the crook of Dean's elbow, his brother's arms wrapped protectively around him. Someone was stroking his hair soothingly and he somehow knew it was Jay.
"Atta boy Sam, talk to me. You ok there?" Dean's eyes were glittering with concern as he looked down at him.
"Yeah. I th-think so. D…don't feel sick anymore," Sam answered and tried a grin, which hurt.
Dean gave a weak smile at Sam's attempt at humour. His little brother had succeeded in scaring the shit outta him once again, and he was starting to feel a bit sick himself.
He watched Sam wince and pain flashed through his eyes. "Sam?" He gave Sam a gentle shake as his eyes scrunched shut for a second.
"I'm ok. Lemme up." Sam started to squirm in Dean's arms but Dean held him down.
"Just relax Sam. Give yourself a few minutes, then we'll get you to a hospital."
Sam went rigid before struggling a little harder. "No. No hospital, I'll be fine in the morning."
Dean knew how much Sam hated hospitals but wasn't about to budge on this one. His brother's health came first.
Seeing the look of determination on Sam's face, Jay spoke up for the first time. "A mate of mine is a General Practitioner, doesn't live too far from here. Won't ask any questions. Why don't we get him to check you over, let him decide what you need?"
Sam slumped; realising that neither of them was going to let it go and that this was the only compromise.
He nodded closing his eyes for a second.
When he opened them again Dean was still staring down at him. "I'm sorry Sammy." He whispered after Jay closed the passenger door on them and put a call through to her GP on her cell phone.
Sam frowned in confusion. "What for? You didn't do anything wrong."
Dean gave a humourless laugh. "You cracked your head open on the pavement and then I yelled at you."
"What!?" Sam yelped, and then winced at the pain it caused. "If it hadn't been for you Dean I wouldn't even be here. I'd be dead. It was my fault for not being more careful in the first place, you were right about that. I've fucked up too many times on this hunt already and I'm only glad that it's me so far that's suffered for it and not……he swallowed a cough…not you." He whispered the last two words.
Dean looked a bit stunned. Then he remembered that he'd virtually accused Sam of incompetence several times that day and his heart broke a little. "Sam…" He shook his head "The SUV in the high street? Wasn't your fault. Jay had a theory about it and I agree with her."
"That car was gunning for you."
"What?" Sam looked even more confused.
"It wasn't an accident and it had nothing to do with you not being careful." Dean watched the emotions flit across Sam's face. "We think it was Daniel."
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Sam sat on the patient bench at Dr Mark Westley's surgery and remained silent apart from answering the GP's questions. Dean watched him worriedly. His brother hadn't said much since Dean had told him Jay's theory on the 4x4 incident.
Dr Westley, who strongly resembled Hugh Grant in Dean's eyes, - even sounded like him! - was kind and gentle with his brother, checking the bump on his head, his pulse, blood pressure, and pupil response to light. Then he carefully cleaned the wound.
"Well Sam, everything seems fine and you don't need stitches. Head injuries can bleed a lot because of the good blood supply to the brain. It often looks worse than it is." The Doctor smiled.
"He doesn't need a hospital?" Dean spoke up feeling relieved.
Dr Westley shook his head. "He's not concussed, his pupils are equal and reactive and the bleeding has stopped. But he should get plenty of rest just in case." He turned to Sam. "If you feel any nausea or dizziness in the next twenty four hours or so then speak up, understand?" Then he caught Dean's eye. "If he does, get him straight to Accident & Emergency." He added, "Don't wait." Dean noted the slight change in his tone and nodded.
He intended to keep a very close eye on Sam from now on.
"And one more thing," Dr Westley glanced up briefly as Jay entered the room, "no more head injuries. You're skull's already been compromised tonight and next time you might not be so lucky."
There was no indication that Sam was even listening; he looked deep in his own thoughts. But Dean and Jay smiled tightly at each other.
Dr Westley turned to Jay, his bright blues eyes twinkling in his handsome face.
"Long time no see Jay?"
Jay smiled fondly. "That's true enough. Last time I was here I was puking over your shoes with the flu."
"Ah yes, a truly memorable experience." Mark chuckled. "So when are you going to marry me Jay? I need to know soon so I can book the church." He looked serious but Jay knew he was joking.
"Ah shut up you tart!" She responded and Mark laughed again.
It sounded to Dean like a familiar routine between them, rather like the "bitch – Jerk" act he sometimes had with Sam. That thought made him glance over at his brother to find him watching him warily, and just a little stubbornly.
Uh oh.
Dean could feel an argument coming on.
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He was one hundred percent correct, and it started the minute they got back to Jay's.
Sam headed straight into the study, sat down at the table and opened the Witch Finder file.
Dean headed into the study after him, reached over and shut the Witch Finder file.
His brother glared up at him. "What the hell did ya do that for?"
Dean glared back, only his glare was more powerful because he didn't have a headache. Yet!
"Dr Westley said you needed to rest, now get moving!" He pointed in the general direction of the bedrooms.
"Dean…"
"This is not a negotiable issue Sam."
"Since when!" Sam tried to hold back a grimace at his own loud voice but failed. Dean spotted it and leapt on it.
"Since you can barely stand from exhaustion, since you keep going white as a goddamn sheet every time you turn too sharply, since you wince every time someone raises their voice above a whisper…should I continue?" All this was said in a calm, low voice in deference to Sam's sore head, but there were clear undercurrents of anger and concern in deference to Dean's rapidly growing temper.
"People could die…" Sam tried to argue.
Dean finally reached his limit as the anxiety of the last few hours caught up with him. His temper snapped.
But quietly.
"And you're not gonna be one of 'em Sam!" he growled softly.
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Enough hurtSam/protectiveDean for you?
Well fasten your seatbelts 'cos I aint finished with the Samster yet!
Just to prove that, after eleven chapters, patience is a virtue.
Being on call for nearly 30 hours tends to bring out the evil in me, I'm afraid!
Well, more evil anyway.
Please review. It gives me an excuse to carry on even though I probably shouldn't.
Kind regards,
ST.xxx.
