Disclaimer: Sad to say, but I do not own any part of Supernatural or Lost
Okay, this is a very long chapter y'all and I appologise for that but I felt that since a good part of it is taken directly from the 20th episode of Lost, Season Three which at least some of you have seen so it would be okay to make the chapter longer. To avoid confusion I've taken to calling John Locke by his last name except when he's being addressed by one of the other charcters because Ben always called him John while everyone at the 815 camp called him Locke most of the time. Anyway, I tried to keep to the script as much as possible but there were a few places where I played just a bit with what was being done on screen. If I did my job right though you won't even notice it! Have fun and happy reading!
Chapter Fourteen Locke strode into the Others' camp. The gruesome baggage he carried on his back weighing him down, but it wasn't the weight of the body that bothered him. If anyone had ever deserved to die it was his father. The man was without a conscious and had caused pain and suffering not just to his son, but to so many others as well. What bothered Locke the most was that he had used Sawyer to kill him.
When Richard had brought him Sawyer's file he was shocked to discover the connection between them. Richard was right, his father had to die so that he could gain Ben's confidence. However, when it had come down to it he couldn't do it, even knowing that his father would be reborn on earth he couldn't bring himself to deliver the fatal blow. The Valkyrie knew what had to be done though so he'd given Locke the file and shown him another way to get the job done.
Locke had tricked Sawyer into following him, telling the con man he'd captured Ben and needed Sawyer to kill him because he couldn't do it. He knew that if he locked Sawyer in the same room with his father. His father, who couldn't keep his mouth shut sometimes, would in some way reveal to Sawyer who he really was. The island would make sure of it.
Locke knew from reading Sawyer's file how much rage the younger man had bottled up inside when it came to the person responsible for the death of his parents. He also knew that he'd killed before. He'd been tricked into believing the man he was shooting was the con man that had caused his father to murder his mother and then turn the gun on himself. Locke realized that when confronted with the truth Sawyer would kill his father for him. He knew it because the island always seemed to be able to provide what was necessary.
He had used Sawyer though and for that he owed the man. Even though it allowed Sawyer to get the revenge that he sought, Locke had still used him. He would find a way to repay his debt, he always did. He didn't like being in someone else's debt so when he dumped the body of his father on the ground at Ben's feet looked at the shorter man and said coldly, "You said that if I killed my father you'd tell me everything I wanted to know about the island. So why don't you start at the beginning."
Locke could feel the malice coming from Ben in waves. The look he gave Locke might have turned away a lesser man but Locke was determined. He needed to find the exact location of Jacob's prison and the only one who knew that was Ben.
The other people in the camp stared at Locke in awe. They believed he was someone special but so far Locke had not been able to determine why they believed it or how he was supposed to be special. Sure, he knew more about the island then most of them did and he was able to see the Valkyries true form, but he still didn't think he was special. It wasn't him it was the island itself.
Ben looked around at his people knowing what they were thinking. Knowing they saw Locke as some sort of savior. Locke had succeeded in killing his father, an important part of that prophecy. He wanted to strangle the man. He wanted to rip the man's limbs from his body, but he couldn't. Not with everyone watching. He needed them to trust him for a little while longer. He needed them to complete his plan and destroy the island they were just as vital to his plan as the people of flight 815.
"Let's go inside," Ben told Locke and led the way into his tent. That sat in the tent talking for some time. Ben had just told Locke about Jacob when a shout sounded from outside the tent. "Where is he?" Ben glared at John then turned and walked out side.
Following Ben, John saw Mikhail, the man he'd sent through the communities sonic fence and thought he'd killed.
"I thought you were dead," Ben said told Mikhail.
"I'm fortunate that the pylons were not set to a lethal level." Mikhail saw John stepping out of Ben's tent. "What is he doing here?"
"It's alright," Ben said thinking to himself, he'll be dead soon.
"He's the one that tried to kill me," Mikhail said.
"He's with us now," Ben told him. "Where have you been Mikhail?"
"I've encountered some of his people in the jungle. They had an injured woman with them. Apparently she had just parachuted onto the island."
"What?" Ben asked.
"Her helo crashed in the water," he told Ben. "She says her ship is approximately 170 clicks to the west of us. She has a radio telephone."
Finally, Ben thought. His plan was now coming down to the final stage. This island would soon be dead ensuring his kinds victory in the final battle. "We'll be visiting their camp day after tomorrow," Ben told him. "We'll take care of it then.
"We need to leave now!" Mikhail demanded.
"Ben's not going anywhere with you," Locke told Mikhail.
"Excuse me?" Mikhail asked.
"He and I are going to see Jacob," Locke replied loud enough for the entire camp to hear. He needed to make sure Ben followed through on what he'd said in the tent and Locke knew that Ben would go out of his way to do what his people thought he should.
The entire camp stood and stared and Ben's eyes grew large as he glared at John.
"Please tell me this isn't true, Benjamin," Mikhail said.
Ben glanced at the people around them. "Sorry, I have to deal with this now, John," he told Locke trying to get out of the deal. "Our excursion will have to wait."
"Since when do you explain yourself to him," Mikhail asked Ben. "An outsider…" He didn't get the chance to finish the question as Locke attacked, hitting him with a head butt directly to the face sending him to the ground. He followed it up with several kicks.
"Tom," Ben said trying to get help for the downed man. When Tom did not respond he looked at the dark haired Valkyrie. "Richard?" Richard too refused to take sides in the affair.
Locke finished with the bloody, unconscious man and turned to Ben, "So when do we leave?" he asked.
- - - - -
It was dark when they arrived at the cabin that served as Jacob's prison. He had been imprisoned for several years now and his temper was far from controllable. Ben was safe though, the god couldn't do anything to harm him. The rules were clear and he would not break them, even in his current state. It was Locke that was in danger inside the cabin. "We're here," he told Locke watching as the man pulled out his flashlight pointing it in the direction of the cabin. "You'll want to turn off your flashlight, John," he said.
"Why?" Locke asked.
"Jacob feels the same way about technology as you do," Ben told him as he removed his pack.
John turned off the flashlight and followed Ben onto the porch. Ben lit a lantern and looked at John.
"Once I open this door there's not turning back," he said. "You sure this is what you want?" Locke smiled and stepped closer his intention clear. "So be it," Ben said a little amazed at the courage (or stupidity) of the man before him. He knew John could feel the power in the air. He was pretty sure that John knew it was evil but the foolish human would not give up his quest. He turned to the door. "Jacob," he said. "I'm here with John Locke. We're coming in now."
Locke entered the cabin and looked around. It was empty, dust coating the table and chairs. Several bottles of red liquid lined the window. Dried plants hung from the rafters and symbols were drawn on the walls in the darkest corners of the cabin. Richard was right. The rituals holding Jacob to the cabin were strong, far stronger then he was going to be able to counter on his own. He had little knowledge in the area of breaking rituals and defeating demons but Richard had told him there was someone on the island that might know how to free him. Locke's job had been to find the cabin and ensure that Jacob was still there.
John watched as Ben conversed with someone who he couldn't see. "Jacob," he said to the empty chair in front of him. "This is John." Ben looked at Ben like he was crazy. Though he suspected the god was really there it wouldn't do for Ben to realize he knew that. "Aren't you going to say hello John?" Ben asked.
"What?" Locke asked.
Ben looked back at the empty chair. "I told you he wouldn't," he told it.
"Who are you talking about?" Locke asked.
"You can't see him?" Ben been replied with a question of his own. "He's sitting right here in this chair."
"What is this?" Locke demanded.
"You wanted the secrets of the island," Ben replied. "Well here they are. This is the man who can answer every single…" Ben stopped suddenly and looked at the chair. "He made me bring him here. Did you think that was my idea?"
"You're crazy," Locke told Ben.
"Excuse me?" Ben said.
"You don't know anything about the island do you?" Locke said. "You made it all up."
Ben turned to the chair. "Jacob, please I can't hear him if you're going to talk over …"
"Shut up!" Locke shouted thinking that if he got Ben angry enough perhaps he'd reveal Jacob so that he could see him too. "You're putting on a show for me or do you believe there's someone there?"
"I know there's someone there," Ben told Locke.
"You don't know anything," Locke replied contempt plain in his voice.
"I'm sorry you feel that way John," Ben told him as Locke walked around the small cabin. "And I'm sorry that you're too limited to see."
"You're pathetic," John told him and turned to leave going so far as to open the door.
"Help me," a voice said behind Locke, a voice that didn't sound like Ben at all.
Locke closed the door and turned around again. "What did you just say?" he asked Ben.
"I didn't say anything," Ben told him confused.
"Oh yes you did," Locke told him brandishing his flashlight. The moment he turned it on things inside the cabin began to move and bag, the door opened and closed, shutters slammed against the wall, the rocking chair began to rock. Locke ducked as glass bottles came flying his way across the room. The lantern fell to the ground and flames lit the cabin. The window's started to shatter.
Ben put his hands and the chair and shouted, "That's enough! You've had your fun!" He was shoved hard away from the chair his back striking the wall behind him.
John opened the door and ran out of the cabin. He was sure now that Jacob was inside. Now all he had to do was get the information to Richard so the Valkyrie could pass the word to the person who could free him.
The cabin grew quiet and Ben came out walking stiffly. He replaced the now unbroken lantern back on the hook outside the door. "What was that in there?" John asked him.
"That was Jacob," Ben replied and this time, John believed him. The sun was just rising as they took to the trail again and headed back to Ben's camp.
- - - - -
John added a few logs to the fire, dug through his son's bags and pulled out their bedding. He arranged their bedrolls in what had, over the years, become their customary sleeping positions when camping. Johns' was set up on one side of the fire, Sam and Dean on the other side with Sam closest to the fire. He put their bags on their bedrolls checked the camps protection symbols then lay down on his roll and closed his eyes.
Sleep was, as usual, almost immediate in coming, a trick he'd learned in the military. He woke, but didn't move when the boys returned and he sighed quietly in relief when they lay down on their bedrolls instead of packing them up. He allowed himself a small smile before he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep again.
The sun was just beginning to peek over the trees when Sam woke. He stoked the fire back to life, discovered that his father had a camp coffee pot a package of coffee. Thinking he was going to have to ask his father where he got his supplies, he filled the pot with water and set it on the fire to heat. There were several fruit trees in the area and he spent some time gathering a selection of their bounty for breakfast. John was pouring a cup of caffeine and Dean was just beginning to stir when he arrived back at camp.
John handed a cup to Sam and asked, "So does this mean the two of you are going to help me with Jacob or are we going after Mary first?"
It was Dean that replied startling both of them. "We'll help you get Jacob, but then we're going after Ben and we are going save Mom," he said sitting up and taking the cup of coffee out of Sam's hands before his brother could move it out of his reach. "We stick together this time, Dad," he said with conviction. "No splitting up. That didn't end well the last time and I won't let it happen again."
John looked at his oldest son and he was filled with pride. Pride not just for the decision his son had just made, but for the man he had become. The men they both had become. Despite being raised the way they had been both his son's had turned out to be men that anyone would be proud to call son. He didn't deserve them and he wondered, not for the first time, what he'd done to have received the gift of having two such wonderful children.
John knew they did not remember any of their past lives but he did and he was awed by these two men who he called sons. Both had lived hundreds of lives and in all their past lives neither of them had ever been on the wrong side much less done anything that could be deemed corrupt in any way. He on the other hand had made many such mistakes. He decided it was that portion of Mary's soul, not his that they received when they were born that made them what they were. His soul was tarnished, not horribly so, but still stained.
He swallowed, turning away so they wouldn't see him blink away the water that had suddenly gathered in his eyes. Then he looked from Dean to Sam and back again. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he finally replied.
Sam and Dean looked at each other briefly in surprise, two sets of eyebrows rising simultaneously. John smiled knowing they were having a difficult time understanding the changes in him but that was okay. They'd understand some day, a long time from now he hoped, when they came back to the island the right way. Of course first he had to get them off the island.
"Good," Dean said with a quick nod of his head at his father. Then he turned to his brother who had just poured himself a new cup of coffee, grinned and asked, "Hey Sammy, what's for breakfast?"
- - - - -
Ben and Locke had been traveling for several hours when Ben turned to Locke and asked, "What did you hear in there John? What did Jacob say to you?"
"He didn't say anything," John replied not wanting Ben to know the truth. "You did."
"What are you talking about?" Ben asked.
"There is no Jacob, Ben. I'm not going to be taken in by your little show you put on last night," he replied. "You're a fraud and your people deserve to know the truth." He looked around at the unfamiliar forest. "And this is not the way we came."
"I'm taking us back another way," Ben told him. "I wanted to show you something first."
"I've seen enough," Locke told him and turned to walk away.
"I wasn't born on this island," Ben told Locke. "You're right, I lied."
"Then where did you come from?" Locke asked.
"That's what I want to show you," Ben told him and led him off down the trail.
A few minutes later John was staring into a hole in the ground. A hole filled with bodies, both human and Valkyries. John was shocked at the sheer number of Valkyries that were in the open grave and he now knew why Richard, Juliet and Ben were the only one's he'd seen since they'd arrived. He was so shocked at the sight that he almost didn't hear Ben's last statement. "I was the smart one. I didn't end up in the pit," Ben told him. "Which makes me considerably smarter then you."
- - - - -
They were climbing steadily higher on the island and as far as Sam could tell their dad wasn't following a path or trail of any kind. That meant he knew where they were going. All three of them stopped, crouching down into the shelter of the brush as a shot rang out in the distance. A clatter of birds took wing away from the sudden noise giving them a more exact position of the shooter. It was almost directly in path they were taking.
Sam and Dean looked to John. No words were spoken as their father motioned to them that they would investigate. It was another five minutes before John indicated they were moving out.
As they moved silently though the dense jungle Sam became more and more uneasy. It was as though he could feel the evil in the air. And it was moving steadily towards them. He stopped suddenly motioning for his brother and his father to take cover and hide. He didn't know what was coming there way, but it felt like pure evil. He'd felt this kind of malice before and even though the Yellow Eyed Demon was dead he knew this was something just as vile.
John and Dean were both uneasy. They too had sensed the thing that approached them so it came as no surprise when Sam stopped and motioned them both to take cover. Over the course of the years both had come to respect Sam's innate ability to know when something was wrong or, as in this case, evil. Only John, however, knew what it was that approached them.
All three of them watched from their respective hiding places as a very unassuming man came into view on the path. His short, slim stature, round glasses and walking cane didn't fool any of them as he passed within inches of their hiding spots. The withered wings held tightly to his back were all but useless. Dark blood stained the once white feathers giving them an almost ghoulish look. The Winchester men all held their breath when he paused briefly looking around quickly before continuing on his way.
John didn't give his boys time to even consider going after Ben. As soon as the demonically possessed Valkyrie had passed out of range he silently took to the trail making sure Sam and Dean followed. They continued on their way to where they'd heard the shot. All of them now knew who had pulled the trigger. What remained to be seen thoug was they could save his victim.
Their pace increased as they continued up the steep incline the forest around them was getting thicker. Vines coated the trees in bands as thick as a man's arms. The underbrush was tall making there travel more and more difficult. The tree's over head formed a thick canopy that nearly blocked out the afternoon sun and cast dark shadows on the ground below.
The brightness of the mid-morning sun was nearly blinding as they stepped out of the gloomy forest into a small clearing. Dean was the first to spot the pit opposite their position but all of them heard the unmistakable sounds of someone taking sharp painful breaths.
John nodded in approval as his sons drew their weapons and moved into position, one on each side of the pit. His own weapon drawn John stayed back and covered them. He was scanning the tree line when he heard Sam say, "John?" It took a half a second for John to realize his son wasn't talking to him but to someone in the pit. He watched both his boys put the safety back on their weapons and put the away. Dean jumped into the pit and Sam bent to reach in and help the person in the pit out.
"Dad," Sam called over his shoulder. "You're going to want to see this."
Walking to the edge John looked inside. "Dear God," he said.
A/N - Well... how was it? Am I still keeping you interested? Click the button and let me know!