**Hey! So, this chapter is really short (the shortest one so far), but I hope you like it! The next chapter will probably be the longest one so far so it evens out. The season finale is next! To answer someone's question: Macy and Jeremy are Jez's kids. I hope you like the update! Review please! I love reading them! Thank you to everyone who's been supportive so far; you guys are the best! Review any flashbacks you'd like to see! I can't wait to write them!**
Salvation
"So, this is it. This is everything I know," I gazed around the room at the maps that John had pinned up on the walls with red lines running through them from place to place. Along with the maps, there were pictures and articles of weather discrepancies as well as killings and burnings. My eyes returned to John as he continued speaking. "Our whole lives we've been searching for this demon, right? Not a trace, just nothing, until about a year ago. For the first time, I picked up a trail,"
"That's when you took off," Dean filled in, standing with one arm around my waist and studying the papers I was holding.
"Yeah, that's right," John confirmed. "That's when the demon must have come out of hiding or hibernation,"
"Right, so what's the lead that you dug up?" I questioned curiously, flipping through the articles in my hand without really reading them.
"It starts in Arizona, then New Jersey, California. Houses burn down to the ground. It's going after families just like it went after ours," I glanced up to see John was fixing me with his dark eyes as he said that.
"Families with infants?" Sam checked, and John nodded, making me uneasy.
"Yeah, the night of the kid's six-month birthday," I sucked in a sharp breath causing Sam to look at me and then back to John.
"I was six months old that night?" Sam inquired, glancing at me again. "And Mel was too? The night that her mom…"
"Was murdered?" I finished for him, trying to keep the venom out of my voice. "Yes. Exactly six months old,"
"So, basically this demon is going after these kids for some reason, same way it came for us?" John didn't reply but his sigh was all the answer that Sam needed.
"Sam, calm down," I tried to reason with him in a calm voice, sensing his anger and frustration about to bubble over.
"How can I calm down, Mel? Our moms' deaths, Jessica - it's all because of us!" He told me, a storm brewing in his eyes, and I felt Dean's arm stiffen around my waist.
"We don't know that, Sam," Dean spoke in a neutral tone, but I knew he was trying not to let his brother see how rattled he really was.
"Oh, really? I'd say we're pretty damn sure, guys!" Sam took a step towards Dean and I, and my mind worked to figure out a way to diffuse the situation before Sam's hotheadedness caused another fight.
"For the last time, what happened to them is not either of your faults," He annunciated the words clearly, leaning towards his brother to get the point across.
"Yeah, it's not my fault, but it's my problem!" Sam exclaimed, and I finally lost it.
"No, it's not, Sammy! It's our problem! And we willdeal with it… as a family," I finished, fixing Sam with a steel look that dared him to argue with me.
"She's right," My eyes flicked to where John had stood from his seat. Sam's eyes danced between John and I for a brief moment before he took a step back, showing the argument was over for now.
"So, why is it doing it? What does it want?" Sam brought up two very good, unanswered questions.
"I wish I had more answers. I do. I've always been one step behind it. Look, I've never gotten there in time to save…" John let the sentence hang, looking away, and I know he was remembering Mary.
"So, how do we find it then?" I changed the subject, hoping to lighten the mood slightly.
"There are signs," John explained to us. "Look, it took me a while to see the pattern, but in the days before these fires, signs crop up in an area - cattle deaths, temperature fluctuations, electrical storms. And then I went back and checked, and…" Mary…. mom.
"These things happened in Lawrence," Dean finished for John, for he seemed unable to.
"The week before your mother died," John agreed, looking at Dean, and then his gaze moved to me. "And yours," His eyes finally landed on Sammy. "And Palo Alto… before Jessica. And these signs - they're starting again,"
"Where?" Sam asked, determination lining his voice.
"Salvation, Iowa," John answered somberly.
"Then what are we waiting for?" I questioned, grabbing my bag off the bed, where I'd been packing, and zipping it shut. It only took a couple minutes to load the cars with our stuff before we were good to go. I walked around the Impala to the passenger's seat as John threw his duffel into the back of his massive truck.
"You're riding with me," John glanced at me as he spoke, jerking his head towards the passenger's seat of his vehicle. I looked back to see both boys looking surprised, but I ignored them and turned to John.
"Yes, sir," I answered dutifully, going around the truck to the passenger's side and sliding in. John pulled out and hit the road, closely followed by Dean.
"It's been getting worse," I knew why John had wanted me in his car without him having to say anything. "Or… better," I struggled with which one to use. "More powerful," I settled on, making him glance at me sharply.
"How powerful?" He questioned, and I turned my gaze out the raindrop covered window, taking in the green blur of trees and bushes before looking back at the man who'd been my father for as long as I could remember.
"I can hear Dean and Sam in the Impala," I told him, not even having to close my eyes or concentrate to pick up their voices. "They're talking about why you asked me to drive with you,"
"Go further," John urged, and I had a sudden flashback to when I was twenty-three. When I'd first developed the abilities, he used to check on them, see how far they had developed. He had me try to hear as much as I could, and see how far away I was. I closed my eyes and let my hearing stretch past the Impala to the surrounding houses.
"The couple in 223 Ford Street is having an argument. He was supposed to pick up the dry cleaning, but she had to do it on her way home from work,"
"223 Ford Street?" John repeated, and my hearing snapped back as I turned to face him hesitantly. "How did you know where they lived?" "I could sense it," I confessed, not sure how he'd respond. "Sometimes, I get these… feelings, and then they turn out to be true… or come true," I wrung my hands as I awaited his reply.
"They're getting stronger," His voice held an ominous tone that made me wish I could rid myself of my 'abilities' and just be a normal human being.
"Yeah," I agreed softly, and John was silent. "Did you find anything? When you were hunting the demon, did you find anything?" John turned his eyes on me, seeming to battle with something for a moment.
"No, nothing came up," I could hear the lie in his voice, and I frowned. Before I could call him out on his lie, his phone rang, and he glanced at the Caller ID briefly before snapping it open and pressing it to his ear.
"Hello?"
John, it's Caleb. My eyebrows furrowed at Caleb's solemn tone.
"What happened? Did you find something?" John asked warily, his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel and his eyes remaining fixed on the road.
It's Jim. He's dead. My breath hitched, and my heart sunk. Jim. Pastor Jim. Was… dead? No. He couldn't be. Sam, Dean, and I used to get dropped off their all the time when we were kids. A dull ache went through my heart, and I didn't listen to the rest of the phone conversation. I hadn't seen Jim in about five or six years now, but it still hurt that he was dead. I was brought out of my thoughts by the sharp click of the phone shutting. John pulled over to the side of the road, his breathing shaky, and his eyes furious. John wasted no time in pushing open the door, getting out of the car, and I followed suit.
"Damn it," He swore angrily as Dean slammed the door to the Impala, looking confusedly at John before his eyes flicked to me.
"What is it?" Dean questioned as I came around to stand behind the truck, my throat feeling like it was closing.
"Son of a bitch," John brought his palm down on the car, making a loud clanking noise.
"What is it?" Dean repeated his question more urgently, and I looked down at my boots, unable to meet anyone's eyes right now.
"I just got a call from Caleb," John told them before looking away. I raised my eyes to meet their questioning ones.
"Is he okay?" Dean asked uneasily.
"He's okay, but Pastor Jim is dead," I told him, and a heavy silence followed my words.
"How?" Sam asked, and my eyes moved to John for I hadn't heard the rest of the phone conversation.
"Throat was slashed. He bled out. Caleb said they found traces of sulfur at Jim's place," My eyes snapped to John as he said that, my brain going a million miles a minute to come up with all the possibilities of what it could've been.
"A demon," Dean realized. "The demon?"
"I don't know," John admitted. "Could be he just got carless. He slipped up. Maybe the demon knows we're getting close," John listed only a fraction of the possibilities.
"What are we going to do?" I asked, gazing steadily at him.
"Now we act like every second counts. There's two hospitals and a health center in this county. We split up. We cover more ground. I want records. I want a list of every infant that's gonna be six months old in the next week,"
"Dad, that could be dozens of kids," Sam pointed out dubiously. "How the hell are we supposed to know which one's the right one?"
"We'll check them all. That's how. You got any better ideas?" He challenged Sam, and Sam glanced at Dean and then me. I gave him an almost imperceptible shake of my head.
"No, sir," He answered without a fuss. John turned back to Dean and gave him a curt nod, making Dean head back to the driver's door while John leaned on the truck, his eyes downcast.
"Dad?" Dean called his name softly, and John turned around.
"Yeah," He answered, shaking his head slowly. "It's Jim. You know, I can't…" His throat closed, leaving him powerless to continue. Suddenly, his grieving expression twisted into one of fury. "This ends now. I'm ending it. I don't care what it takes," My stomach tightened at that last sentence, and I met Dean's eyes unsurely. "You ride with them," John ordered, and I didn't look at him as I nodded, going to the Impala's back door and getting in. We rode in silence to the hospital, and Dean and I got out, leaving Sam to go to the health center alone. We walked up to the front desk of the hospital, and the young woman smiled at us.
"Hi, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked, directing the question to Dean, and I felt the familiar twist of my stomach. I fought down the feeling and, instead, pulled out my badge, flashing it for her.
"We need a list of all the children that will be turning six months this week," I informed her brusquely, and she glanced at my badge, her wide eyes giving me more than a little satisfaction.
"Of course. Right away," She glanced at Dean briefly before disappearing into the back. Dean turned to me with a smirk on his face, and I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile.
"Don't say it," I warned him halfheartedly causing him to chuckle.
"I'm not saying anything," He held up his hands in mock surrender. The woman came back out with the list and handed it to us without making eye contact. I snatched it from her hand, and Dean and I walked out the front door without so much as a thank you. We stopped at the first motel we saw, and checked ourselves in for one night. Dean texted Sam and John what motel we were at while I set my bag down with a dull thud beside one of the queen size beds before I sat on it heavily.
"Okay, what's up?" I lifted my eyes to look at Dean's concerned forest green eyes as he sat on the bed next to me. "Come on, Mels. I've known you long enough to know when something's wrong,"
"I don't know," I muttered, sweeping a hand through my hair as my eyes darted around the room before landing on Dean again. "I'm scared," I confessed. "I'm scared of… of killing this thing. I'm scared for our friends," Once the words started, I couldn't stop them. They tumbled out of my mouth faster and faster. "I'm scared of Jez getting found. I'm scared of Sam dying. Or John. Or… you," I finally voiced my worst fear as I desperately searched Dean's eyes for some shred of comfort, some hint that everything would be okay. "Dean, what if you die?" I couldn't meet his eyes any longer, so, instead, I looked down at my hands.
"Hey," Dean spoke softly, his fingers intertwining with mine. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere," My eyes flicked up to lock on his. "We're going to kill this thing, and then we'll travel, just like you said, remember?" I let out a small half laugh.
"Yeah, okay," I nodded, my small smile making him smile as well. "You should get some sleep," I realized how drawn and exhausted his face looked as I spoke the words. He hadn't slept in at least three days as far as I could recall.
"I'm fine," He insisted, and I shook my head at his tough guy act.
"You're not," I told him, briefly pressing my lips against his before rising. "You're tired, and you won't be any help if you're falling asleep during the most important hunt of our lives," I pointed out, and Dean sighed in reluctant agreement, laying on the bed while I walked into the bathroom with my stuff, shutting the door behind me and turning on the water for a much needed shower.
-3rd person-
Dean Winchester scrambled to his feet with Mel's help, looking at her messy chestnut hair that was falling out of the sloppy bun she'd done. Her hazel eyes were tense with apprehension and urgency. He opened his mouth to curse out the son of a bitch, but the words died in his throat as the creature bellowed a roar of rage. Instinctively, he pushed Mel behind him as the creature stalked towards them with quick, furious steps. Dean's eyes snapped to the gun laying in the water a few feet away, and he didn't hesitate. He sloshed over to it, picked it up, and cocked it without a moment's thought.
"Dean, no!" He barely heard her scream as he fired, and then everything became a blur of motion. He heard the gun go off and felt a weight slam into his side, sending him sprawling to the hard concrete. He landed on his back, looking on in horror as the shock hit the creature, and the water turned blue with electricity. Mel's body went rigid, and her back arched as the electrical current hit her. She let out an agonized scream that was abruptly cut of, and a moment later the electricity died, leaving her limp.
"MEL!" The word tore itself out of Dean's throat and he lunged for her, catching her body before it hit the ground. "Mel!" Her eyelids were half closed with her hazel eyes were rolling under them.
"Dean! Mel!" Dean heard Sam's shouts as if through a long tunnel while he dragged Mel out of the water and set her on the dry ground. "Oh my god," Sam was kneeling next to her now, and Dean checked her pulse. There was none.
"Call 9-1-1," Dean ordered him, the world rushing back into focus. "Now!" Sam snatched his cell from his pocket and dialed quickly, pressing it to his ear.
"Yes, there's a woman who got shocked…" Dean cradled her head between his hands, ignoring Sam's breathless, shaky voice as he talked into the phone.
"Hey, come on, Mel. Stay with us," He checked her pulse again, and found one, but it was almost too faint to be sure. "Keep fighting, okay? Please, don't give up," He begged her as Sam rejoined them.
"They're on their way," He grabbed one of Mel's hands tightly in both of his.
"She's gone," A new, female voice came from behind Dean as he pulled Mel into his arms. "You can't save her. It won't matter how hard you try," Something kept Dean from turning to find the source of the voice. "She's already gone,"
"Shut up," He snapped, and Sam didn't seem to notice he'd said anything at all.
"You can't save her,"
Dean shot up in the bed, his hands grabbing the wrists of whoever had been shaking him awake. You can't save her. He realized he was shaking and panting, and someone was saying something. His eyes were darting around the room wildly, seeking the source of that voice. It was only when his eyes met Mel's wide, hazel ones that he stopped searching and focused on her.
"Dean," He blinked, realizing that she was saying his name over and over again. "Are you alright? Dean, you're hurting me," He released her wrists immediately, and she moved her hands cautiously to rest on either side of his face. "You're okay now. It was just a dre-" Her sentence was cut off when he rose from the bed quickly and smashed his lips on hers. That voice from his nightmare was silenced, and all he could think about was her lips on his and his arms around her waist. As long as she was alive, it didn't matter what happened to him. When he pulled away reluctantly, they were both breathing hard, and he rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed, enjoying the feel of her skin against his.
-1st person-
"Stay alive," I looked up at Dean as he spoke softly. "Just promise me you'll stay alive," I was suddenly reminded of the words that the shifter had spoken all those months ago. You'll leave me too, one day. That's what really scares me. It's not all of those monsters and the nightmares in all of this. It's that one day I'll wake up, and you won't be there anymore.
"I'll never leave you," Dean's eyes snapped to mine as he pulled his forehead away from mine a bit. "I promise if you stay alive, I'll stay here with you," A slow smile spread across his face.
"I guess I'll just have to stay alive then," I smiled widely at his words, brushing my lips against his lightly.
"I guess you will," We were interrupted when the door opened and in stormed John, sitting on the bed nearest Dean and I as we separated slightly. Sam walked in a moment later, a look of pain that I knew all too well on his face. He had seen something.
"I had a vision. This thing's going to happen tonight," He told Dean and I, and I felt Dean stiffen next to me. I felt John's eyes boring into the side of my head as I kept my gaze fixed on Sam.
"A vision?" John echoed, but there was something other than shock in his words.
"Yeah," Sam confirmed, nodding. "I saw the demon burning a woman on the ceiling," Sam conveyed, his voice hoarse.
"Right, and you think it's gonna happen to this woman you met because?" John asked as he tried to process the information.
"Because these things happen exactly the way I see them," His eyes flicked past John to rest on me and then back. "It's just like Mel's hearing," John turned to me again, but I couldn't look at him. I knew how much trouble I was in, and how pissed he must be that I didn't tell him in the car.
"It started out as nightmares, and then he started having them while he was awake," Dean filled John in on what had been happening.
"Yeah, it's like - I don't know. It's like the closer I get to anything involving the demon, the stronger the visions get," I walked over to Sam, unable to see him in that much pain all alone. I opened the fridge and pulled out a water bottle, handing it to him, and he glanced at me thankfully as I sat next to him.
"All right, when were you gonna tell me about this?" John questioned, and the three of us just stared at him in surprise.
"We didn't know what it meant," Dean answered for the three of us.
"Something like this starts happening to your brother, you pick up the phone and you call me," John was only talking to Dean now, and I saw Dean's face shut down.
"Dean…" I began, but he was already glaring at John and I realized there was no point in trying to stop the impending argument. Dean needed to get all of it off his chest.
"Call you?" He repeated incredulously, walking towards his father. "Are you kidding me? Dad, I called you from Lawrence, all right? Sam and I called you when Mel was dying. I mean, getting you on the phone - I got a better chance of winning the lottery,"
"You're right," John conceded, and my eyes widened slightly in surprise. This thing with Dean standing up to John was new. I mean, when we were kids, Sam and I did it once or twice, but Dean never did. "Although I'm not real crazy about this new tone of yours, you're right,"
"Look, it doesn't matter right now. What matters is that there's a woman and her child in danger," I pointed out, trying to get back on track. "We have to stop the demon before it destroys another family like it did ours,"
"It won't," John spoke assuredly. "It will never destroy another family… ever again," Just then, Sam's phone rung, and he glanced at the unknown caller before answering.
"Hello?" I frowned as the line was silent for a moment, and then...
Sam? My heart froze mid beat as I heard that voice, and my eyes snapped to Sam's disbelieving face.
"Who is this?" He questioned tightly.
Think real hard. It'll come to you. Sam turned his wide eyes towards me, knowing I was the only other person who was hearing the voice.
"Meg," I whispered, and he nodded.
"Last time we saw you, you fell out of a window," He spoke into the phone, his eyes never leaving mine.
Oh, yeah, thanks to you. She had the audacity to sound offended as she spoke those words coyly. That really hurt my feelings, by the way.
"Just your feelings?" Sam echoed in shock. "That was a seven story drop,"
Let me speak to your dad. She demanded lightly.
"My dad," He repeated. I shook my head, and he nodded in response. "I don't know where my dad is,"
It's time for the grownups to talk, Sam. Let me speak to him now. Her demand grew less light, and her tone held an edge of danger. Sam hesitated, and John held out his hand for the phone, leaving nothing more to be said. John pressed the phone against his ear.
"This is John," He spoke slowly.
Howdy, John. Meg talked cheerfully, mocking him. I'm Meg. I'm a friend of Mel and your boys. I'm also the one who watched Jim Murphy choke on his own blood. My body tensed, and I glowered at the phone in John's hands.
"What's he saying?" I didn't move my glare from the phone as I answered Dean's question.
"She killed Jim," Dean and Sam stiffened as I returned my attention to the phone.
Well, that was yesterday. Today I'm in Lincoln, visiting another old friend of yours. He wants to say hi. There was a rustle and then a man's voice that I knew well. John, whatever they do don't give- the voice cut off.
"Caleb?" John's voice held horror, and I was on my feet, not able to sit any longer. "Caleb!" No answer. "You listen to me. He's got nothing to do with anything. Let him go,"
We know you have the colt, John. Meg ignored his pleas.
"I don't know what you're talking about," He denied, glancing at the ground.
Oh, okay. So listen to this. There was the unmistakable shing of a knife slicing through skin, and then a series of gagging noises. I took two steps backwards, blinking back the tears as I heard the terror and anger in the choked sounds. I covered my ears with my hands in an attempt to blot out the horrid noise, but my hearing just enhanced. I couldn't get away from it. Something wouldn't let me stop hearing it.
"Caleb? Caleb!" John called into the phone, and I swallowed hard.
"She's killing him," I whispered numbly, turning Dean's chest and feeling his arms wrap around me tightly.
That's the sound of your friend dying. Now, let's try this again. We know you have the gun, John. Word travels fast. So, as far as we're concerned, you just declared war. And this is what war looks like. It has casualties.
"I'm gonna kill you. You know that?" John threatened, and Meg just laughed.
Oh, John, please. Mind your blood pressure. So, this is the thing - we're gonna keep doing what we're doing, and your friends, anyone who's ever helped you, gave you shelter, anyone you ever loved, they'll all die unless you give us that gun. My head snapped up, and I turned to face John. Jez. Dustin. Maxwell. Bobby. I'm waiting, Johnny. Better answer before the buzzer.
"Okay," He agreed softly, and I let out a breath.
Sorry? I didn't quite get that. She patronized him.
"I said okay. I'll bring you the colt," Sam and Dean stared at him disbelievingly.
There's a warehouse in Lincoln on the corner of Wabash and Lake. You're gonna meet me there. She told him in a deadly voice.
"It's gonna take me about a day's drive to get out there," He shook his head, and her breathy laugh sent chills up my spine.
Meet me there at midnight tonight.
"That's impossible," John immediately argued. "I can't get there in time, and I can't just carry the gun on a plane,"
Oh, then I guess your friends die, don't they? John looked down, and I swallowed hard. If you do decide to make it, come alone. The line went dead, and John slowly pulled the device away from his ear and hung up, tossing the phone back to Sam.
"So, you think Meg's a demon?" Sam put two and two together.
"Either that or she's possessed by one," He shook his head as he walked towards us. "It doesn't really matter,"
"What now?" I questioned him, and John looked at us steadily.
"I'm going to Lincoln," He stated.
"What?" Dean asked incredulously, stepping forward.
"He doesn't have a choice," I backed John's decision.
"She's right. If I don't go, a lot of people die. Our friends die," John tried to make them understand.
"Dad, the demon is coming tonight for Monica and her family. That gun is all we got. You can't just hand it over," Sam argued, sounding annoyed.
"Who said anything about handing it over?" His words made the three of us stop short. "Look, besides us and a couple of vampires, no one's really seen the gun. No one knows what it looks like,"
"You can't just pick up a look-alike at a pawn shop and hope they don't notice," I furrowed my brow, growing concerned for John. There was no way that plan was going to work.
"Look, as long as it's close, she shouldn't be able to tell the difference," John insisted, and I shook my head.
"Yeah, but for how long? What happens when she figures it out?" Dean demanded.
"I just - I just need to buy a few hours, that's all," John told us, and I got the sickening feeling that he wasn't planning on coming back.
"You mean for Mel, Dean, and me," Sam realized, and John confirmed his thinking with a nod. "You want us to stay here, and kill this demon by ourselves,"
"No, Sam," John grew angry. "I want to stop loosing people we love. I want you to go to school. I want Dean and Mel to have a home and kids," He turned away from us as his voice grew gruff with emotion. "I want Mary alive," He let out a broken sob, and I laced my fingers through Dean's tightly. John turned away from the window and back to us. "I just… I just want this to be over," I closed my eyes; the only thing comforting me was Dean's hand in mine. John cleared his throat and returned to his sergeant general mode. "Dean, Mel, you two go to the nearest pawn shop and pick up a gun that looks like the colt. Sam and I will wait for you by the train tracks. We'll be on the side of the road we took to get here. We'll meet in an hour. Don't be late,"
"Yes, sir," Dean replied hoarsely, and we both left the room. We drove in silence, and Dean parked in front of the pawn shop. I slammed the door behind me as I got out and strode toward the small shop. The weight of the upcoming hunt hung in the air between us, neither of us really wanting to talk about it, but we couldn't bring ourselves to joke around like everything was okay either. My eyes found the profile of Dean's face as he studied one of the guns under the glass casing. He was terrified. We all were. There were so many things that could go wrong. As I looked at him, I couldn't help remembering another Dean. One that was younger, more innocent. One that I'd been pissed at.
I stormed into the motel room furiously, the last hour replaying over and over in my head like a broken record. The wraith had been a simple enough hunt, and John had wanted to put me in charge of stabbing the thing with a silver knife, sending it back to whatever hole it had crawled out of. Unfortunately, it hadn't exactly happened like that. Dean had taken it upon himself to convince John that I wasn't ready to kill anything yet. This was supposed to have been my first time kill the monsters that we hunted only Dean had ruined it. I snatched my duffel off the floor and set it on the bed, yanking the drawers open and tossing my clothes into the duffel with more force than necessary.
How dare he! After everything we'd been through! This should have been the moment I became a hunter, and he had to go and mess it all up! Some friend he was! The door opened. I didn't even bother looking up; I knew it was Dean that was walking in quietly and setting his bag on the bed across from mine, packing it up. I finished and zipped it closed savagely, rage rolling off of me and making the tension almost palpable. I clutched the bag in both hands and headed towards the door, still refusing to cast my eyes Dean's way.
"You want me to get that for you?" It was the first time either of us had said a word to each other since he and John had left me with Sam in the car while they finished the hunt.
"I'm fine," I snapped, throwing the duffel over my shoulder, which made it a lot easier to carry.
"Mel-" Dean started in a tone that would've normally made butterflies erupt in my stomach but now only worked to infuriate me more.
"What, Dean?" I fixed him with a glare, and he seemed genuinely sorry. He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth a few times, and I scoffed, turning away from him and starting for the door again. He caught my arm and spun me to face him.
"Mel, I did what I had to do," He defended himself. It was the wrong thing to say. My rage boiled over, and I dropped my bag, no longer fighting it.
"Really, Dean? Really? I'm ready! I've been training for that moment my entire life! How could you do that to me!" His apologetic expression twisted into defensiveness and an anger of his own.
"You weren't ready! You would've gotten yourself killed if you'd gone out there!" His voice rose to a yell, but I didn't back down. Instead, I slammed my palms into his chest, making him stumble back.
"How dare you say that! I'm a better shot than you!" I reminded him, and he glowered at me, regaining his feet.
"So what?! What happens if you freeze? Or loose your weapon? What happens then, huh?" He snapped at me and my glare turned incredulous.
"I could say the same thing for you! I can't believe you'd betray me like that!" I pointed my finger at him accusingly, my mind a haze of fury.
"I didn't betray you! I saved your life!" He shouted.
"Saved my life?" I scoffed in disbelief. I raised my hands to shove him again, but he caught my wrists before I could. "Saved my life? Dean, you're my friend! Maybe my best friend! A friend is supposed to support me not sabotage me!"
"Well, maybe I don't want to be just your friend!" Every muscle in my body froze, my eyes going wide as I stared up into his. Did he… he didn't just say that. I mean, I had wanted that since I'd realized I liked him. Since they picked me up from the farmhouse. I… he couldn't have just said that. My thoughts were jumbled and disorganized, and I closed the distance between our lips. I didn't know what I was doing; I just knew I couldn't just stand there not saying anything anymore. When he didn't respond, I pulled away quickly, mortified at what I'd just done.
"Shit," I stepped away from him. I was dimly aware that my wrists were still in his hands, but I could only focus on his stunned face. "Shit. I'm sorry. I-I don't know what I was thinking. We can just forget that happened," I felt like crying. I'd just ruined our friendship. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I-you-it didn't mean anything," The words just came out of my mouth in an unchecked river as my face heated up. I had just kissed Dean Winchester. What the hell had I been thinking? "That was so stupid. It's just you said - and - I don't' know. I-" My words were cut off by his lips pressed against mine softly.
"Which one were you thinking?" Dean's question snapped me out of my reverie, and I returned my attention to the array of guns that were set up.
"That one," I pointed to one of the guns that held a startling, almost spooky, resemblance to the colt. Dean nodded and showed it to the man as my lips formed a small smile at the memory of our first kiss. I'd been so sure I ruined everything.
"Here," I took the paper bag from Dean's hands as he payed for it, and we headed back to the car. "This is it," I looked at Dean as he spoke solemnly. "It could all be over in a few hours,"
"Yeah," I agreed softly, a feeling of apprehension gnawing on my insides. "This is it," I echoed his words as he pulled up behind John and Sam. We got out and started towards the other half of our family.
"Did you get it?" John cut to the chase, and I handed him the paper bag.
"You know this is a trap, don't you?" Dean tried one last time to stop John from leaving, but I knew it wouldn't work. "That's why Meg wants you to come alone,"
"I can handle her," John assured his son. "I got a whole arsenal loaded - holy water, Mandaic amulets-"
"Dad," Dean interrupted him.
"What?" He asked, and Dean's face tightened as he looked away and then back.
"Promise me something," Dean started, pausing.
"What's that?" John prompted.
"If this thing goes south, just get the hell out. Don't get yourself killed, all right? You're no good to us dead," Dean's mouth quirked at the last bit, but his eyes remained steadily fixed on his dad.
"Same goes for you," John replied, glancing at each of us in turn, and I couldn't help noticing that he never promised. "All right, listen to me. They made the bullets special for this colt. There's only four of them left," He explained, taking the real colt out of his pocket. "Without them, this gun is useless. You make every shot count,"
"Yes, sir," Sam and I replied simultaneously.
"I've been waiting a long time for this fight. Now it's here, and I'm not gonna be in it. It's up to you three now. It's your fight. You finish this. You finish what I started. You understand?" He looked at Dean, who just gazed back, his mouth set in a firm line. Then John's eyes fell on me, and I gave him one determined nod before his gaze traveled to Sam, who nodded as well. John handed the gun to Dean, who took it almost reluctantly.
"We'll see you soon, Dad," Sam tried to sound optimistic, and John nodded at us, clapping Sam on the shoulder.
"Be careful," He smiled at me as I spoke concernedly.
"I'll see you later," John reassured us before getting in his car and driving off, leaving us alone.
"Later," Dean muttered as our eyes followed the black truck until it was well out of sight, and even then I could still hear the engine roaring.
"Maybe we can tell them there's a gas leak," Sam suggested from where he was sitting to my right. "Might get them out of the house for a few hours,"
"Yeah, and how many times has that actually worked for us?" Dean asked rhetorically. Not many.
"He's got a point, Sam. The best thing we can do is to just wait here until something happens," I tried to sound calm and collected even though I was rattled.
"Could always tell them the truth," Dean and I both looked across at Sam with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah," I scoffed sarcastically at the same time Dean went, "Nah,"
"I know, I know. I just - " He shook his head. "With what's coming for these people…"
"Sam, we only got one move, and you know it. Mel's right. All we got to do is wait for the demon to show, and then we get it before it gets them,"
"I wonder how Dad's doing," Sam pondered the question we all wanted to know the answer to.
"I'd feel a lot better if we were there backing him up," Dean confessed, and I nodded. We all would.
"Or he was here backing us up," I added, shifting to get more comfortable. I was a bit smushed in between Sam and Dean in the front seat of the Impala while we waited outside the woman's house.
"This is weird," Sam spoke up after a long moment of silence.
"I know," I agreed. "I feel like we're pedophiles," Sam and Dean let out a small chuckles, even though I knew that wasn't what Sam had been talking about.
"No, I mean, after all these years, we're finally here. It doesn't seem real," I looked at the house as Sam spoke, remembering when we were in a house like that, only no one was there to stop the horror from unfolding.
"We just got to keep our heads and do our jobs like always," Dean spoke levelheadedly, his eyes going to the house.
"Yeah, but this isn't like always," Sam pointed out.
"Yeah," I agreed softly. With the hand that wasn't laced through Dean's fingers, I took Sam's hand, feeling it tremble under mine as I gave it a small squeeze before releasing it. He must be more scared than he was letting on, for his hand tightened on mine for a brief moment as I began to pull away. I returned the hand to my lap and focused on hearing the house again.
"Guys, uh…" Dean and I turned back to Sam to see him looking a bit uncomfortable. "I want to thank you," His eyes flicked between Dean and I.
"For what?" Dean questioned.
"For everything. You two have always had my back, you know? Even when I couldn't count on anyone, I could count on both of you. And now… I don't know. I just wanted to let you guys know, just in case,"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you kidding me?" Dean asked incredulously.
"What?" Sam inquired, surprised by his reaction.
"Don't say just in case something happens to you. We don't want to hear that frickin' speech man," Dean snapped, gesturing to Mel and himself. "Nobody's dying tonight. Not us, not that family,… nobody,"
"Except that demon," I reminded him darkly, and he nodded.
"Right, that evil son-of-a-bitch isn't getting any older than tonight. Do you understand me?" Dean finished gruffly, and Sam nodded as I leaned my head against Dean's shoulder. He was right. He had to be. After another few minutes of silence, I finally snatched the phone, dialing and pressing it against my ear. "What are you doing?" Dean questioned.
"I'm calling him. I have a bad feeling," I explained shortly, and the feeling only worsened when I got John's voicemail. I hung up, and placed the phone back on the dashboard, shaking my head. "No answer,"
"Maybe Meg was late," Sam offered, but I knew he was wrong. "Maybe cell reception's bad,"
"Yeah, well…" Dean didn't bother finishing the sentence. Suddenly, the radio started playing static, and I frowned, messing with the dial for a moment before I stiffened.
"It's coming," I hadn't realized I'd spoken aloud until both boys looked at me. I heard footsteps from inside the house, second floor. "Go," We ran to the door, and Sam and Dean covered me as I expertly picked the lock, pushing the door open without so much as a creak. One moment I was creeping into the living room, making sure my footsteps made no noise, and the next second I was being yanked to the side by someone, who wrapped their arms around my waist and turned just as a bat hit the lamp that I'd been standing in front of a split second earlier.
"Get out of my house!" Dean released my waist just in time to grab the bat that was being swung at us for a second time. "Get out of my house!"
"Mr. Holt, please!" Sam exclaimed as Dean pinned him to the wall with the bat across his chest.
"Be quiet and listen to me," Dean told him, but it was no use.
"Mr. Holt it's your wife and child," My words gained his attention, and he froze, turning to me with wide eyes.
"Don't hurt them," His yells turned to defeated whimpers. "You can take anything in the house just don't hurt them,"
"We're trying to help them, okay? But you have to trust us," I pleaded with him.
"Charlie, is everything okay down there?" The woman called, and I begged the man with my eyes to listen to what we were saying.
"Monica, get the baby!" He screamed, and my eyes widened. Without thinking, I sprinted towards the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"Don't go in the nursery!" Sam shouted from behind me.
"Sam, get her!" I heard Dean's worried yell, but I was already pushing the door open to the nursery, almost running smack into Monica's back.
"What are you-" Her words were cut off as she was slammed against the wall.
"No!" I lunged at the demon, having no weapon, but just knowing that I couldn't let him ruin this family like he did mine. The think raised it's hands and I felt myself lifted into the air by an unseen force and slammed into the wall.
"Can't kill you yet," I couldn't tell if the voice was in my head or if the demon was speaking. "You're the one that's supposed to live," I blinked quickly to try to clear my vision as the woman began sliding up the wall. Just then, the door burst open, and Sam barged in, aiming the gun at the man in the shadows.
"Sam, shoot!" I snapped, and he fired. The thing disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
"Where the hell did it go?" He yelled in frustration while I sank back down to the carpeted floor, abandoning my attempt to get up. I rested my forehead on my arm, not sure whether to scream or cry. It was gone. We'd lost.
"My baby!" Monica was shouting. "Rosie!" Sam grabbed her to stop her from going after the infant. The mother's desperate shrieks snapped me out of it, and I struggled to my feet, lurching towards the crib. I clutched the wooden structure, slowly regaining my balance.
"Get her out of here! I got it!" I barely registered Dean's order as I picked up the infant and jerked away from the crib just as it burst into flames. "Come on," Dean pushed me out the door, shutting it behind us as the room was lost to fire. We were out of the house then and we stopped on the lawn in front of Mr. Holt.
"You get away from my family!" He threatened us with a raised fist, but Monica held out a hand to stop him.
"Charlie don't! They saved us," She took the baby from my arms and walked to her husband, who was still eying us warily as he took his wife in his arms. "Thank you," I looked back up at the window to see a dark figure looking out at us from the flames.
"It's still in there," Sam growled, and I clutched his jacket tightly in my fist as he tried to make for the door. I stumbled, and Dean hauled him back.
"Sam, no!" Sam struggled against his brother as Dean pulled him back.
"Dean, let me go! It's still in there!" He protested wildly, and I managed to get myself between Sam and the house.
"It's burning down, Sam! If you go in there you might as well just run yourself through with a knife!" I argued with him, even though I felt like I was about to collapse.
"I don't care!" He shouted at me.
"We do!" Dean yelled back, moving to grab Sam's collar and prevent him from going back to the house.
"We're going to kill him, Sam, but not like this," My voice quieted as I looked up to see the figure disappear.
"Come on, Dad. Answer your phone, damn it," Dean had been trying for a good twenty minutes to get ahold of John, and I was starting to fear the worst. I was lying on the bed with an ice pack pressed to my head watching Dean pace while Sam sat at the foot of my bed with a brooding expression on his face.
"Something's wrong. I think something's happened," I spoke just loud enough to be heard by both boys. "Sam," I nudged him with my foot; his silence was starting to unsettle me.
"If you had just let me go in there, I could have ended all this," He spoke hoarsely, and I sat up, my head feeling much better. I placed a light hand on his shoulder, trying to snap him out of it.
"Sam, the only thing you would've ended was your life," Dean told him, turning away and looking back down at the phone.
"You don't know that," He argued, and I sighed.
"No," I agreed. "But it wasn't a chance we were willing to take,"
"You should've let me do it," Sam insisted, and I sighed again, laying back down in the bed.
"So, what? You're just willing to sacrifice yourself, is that it?" Sam stood as Dean got closer.
"Yeah, you're damn right I am," Sam declared, and his conviction sent chills through me.
"That's not happening," I stated flatly.
"Not as long as we're here it's not," Dean agreed with me as Sam's eyes flicked from him to me.
"What the hell are you talking about? The three of us have been searching for this demon our whole lives. It's the only thing we've ever cared about," Sam's words stung me, and I stood, dropping my ice pack and folding my arms over my chest.
"Sam, we want to waste it. We do, okay? But it's not worth dying over," Dean argued with him.
"What?" Sam's tone was deadly as he glowered at Dean and I.
"He's right," I backed him up. "If hunting this thing means we die, then we should just stop looking now," I reasoned, coming to stand next to Dean.
"That thing killed your mom," Sam reminded me darkly, and I flinched, taking a step back. "That thing killed Jess. That thing killed Mom," He turned to face Dean, a furious expression on his face.
"You said yourself once that no matter what we do, they're gone, and they're never coming back," Sam lost it, grabbing Dean's collar and slamming him into the wooden wall.
"Don't you say that! Don't you - not after all this, don't you say that," He yelled at his brother.
"Sam!" I grabbed Sam's wrist and looked into his eyes pleadingly. Finally, he let out a breath and released Dean.
"Sam, look… the four of us - that's all we have," Dean spoke, his eyes fixing on his brother as he talked. "That's all I have," I was stunned to see unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm barely holding it together, man. Without you and Mel and Dad…" Sam turned suddenly, realizing something.
"Dad," He muttered, running a hand through his hair. I glanced at Dean to see he was looking at me, and I turned away, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill. "He should have called by now. Try him again," I nodded at him, and he dialed, pressing it to his ear. I wanted so badly to comfort him, but there was nothing I could say.
You three really screwed up this time. My eyes snapped up as I heard Meg's voice on the other line.
"Where is he?" Dean demanded, anger lining his words.
You're never gonna see your father again.