Chapter 20: Staring at the Walls
Arrived near a dock, Sam and Buffy follow Dean to a boat. The brothers gearing their weapons, Dean goes first through a metallic door «Kevin? That's us! »
The walls of the compartment are covered with notes and symbols. Dean is moving toward a locked door on which is written 'N 2RT STB'. He opens it, revealing Kevin vomiting « Found him. » He grimaces and walks away to allow Buffy to help Kevin that continues to puke.
Sickness finally gone, she guides him to a table and sets him on a chair to take care of his bleeding nose « You look like crap. Do you sleep and eat enough? »
Kevin, struggling against the care provided by Buffy, grabs the handkerchief «Thanks, Mom. I've been getting bad headaches. I think maybe I had a small stroke. But it was worth it… I've figured how to close the Gates of Hell. »
Dean jovial « Come here, you smelly son of a bitch. »Dean hugs and lifts him.
Sam clapping of relief «Okay... So, what does this mean? What are we looking at? »
Kevin distills his findings «It's a spell. » He gives a piece of paper to Dean «. It's just a few words of Enochian, but... »Dean, understanding nothing about the paper, hands it to Sam who studies it carefully « ...the spell has to be spoken after finishing each of the three trials. » Kevin continues «The tablet says whosoever chooses to undertake these tasks should fear not danger, nor death, nor a word I think means getting your spine ripped out through your mouth, for all eternity. Basically, God built a series of tests, and when you've done all three, you can slam the gates. I've only been able to crack one of the tests so far... and it's gross. You've got to kill a hound of hell and bathe in its blood. »
Dean swoons « Awesome! »
Buffy stunned « Awesome? »
Dean defends « Yeah. If this means icing all demons, I've got no problem gutting some devil dog and let Calgon work its magic. »
Kevin curious « Where are you gonna find one? »
Dean answers « Well, Hellhounds like to collect on crossroads deals. So all we've got to do is track down some loser who signed over his special sauce ten years ago. Easy. » He steps towards the exit, then back to Sam « You get on the net. See what you can dig up. I'm gonna go for a supply run. We need goofer dust. And the kid needs to eat something healthy. » He winks and leaves.
Sam accompanies his brother, leaving Kevin and Buffy alone. She turns to him «You should take a shower and lie down for a moment. » He nods and obeys immediately.
Sam returns with his laptop, settles down at a table and starts researching. While Buffy looks at the notes and symbols covering the walls. Some are familiar, as she has seen them in the notebook.
«Are you all right? » Sam asks as he's watching her.
She looks in his direction «Yes… just feeling useless. »
Sam smiles «You're not... »
They are interrupted by the return of Kevin, freshly showered, shaved and dressed «Okay, I feel a lot better. »
Sam worried about him « Buddy, you've got to slow down. Get some shut-eye. Take a day off. Open a window. »
Kevin protests « You said nuking hell. That's how I go home. I hate it here and I can't leave because every demon on the planet wants to peel my face off. I can't talk to anyone except you guys or Garth, when he swings by… or my mom who only cries. I need this to be over. »
Buffy tries to reason with him «We know. But trust me on this, saving the world: it's a marathon, not a sprint. You've got to take better care of yourself. »
They hear the creaking of the heavy metallic door, announcing the return of Dean «Did you know that there are like 6,000 kinds of tomatoes? » He puts his bags on a table « Did you find anything? »
Sam certifies «Uh… yes! Demon signs, ten years ago. All centered on Shostone, Idaho. »He turns the laptop to Dean «Meet the Cassitys, small-time farmers who struck oil on their land in February of 2003, which is weird because geological surveys… »
Dean interrupts « Yeah, you had me at 'weird.' All right. Let's go visit the Beverly Hill billies. » then talking to Buffy and Kevin «You two, work on step number two. And if you come across anything about Hellhounds, drop a dime, okay? 'Cause between the claws, the teeth, and the whole invisibility thing, those bitches can be real… bitches. » He returns to his bags and pulls out two bottles «I've got you a present. » He gives the bottles to Kevin «The blues are for headaches and greens are for pep. Don't O.D.? » He smacks Kevin's arm and heads for the exit.
Buffy rushes behind him, and grabs him by the arm « You sure about that? »
Dean slips his arm out of her grip and takes her hands «We are on the one-yard-line. It's time to play through the pain. » Dean releases her hands and slabs «Sam! You're coming? »
Sam kisses Buffy on the forehead «I'll keep you in touch. »
Buffy is surprised that they're not taling her. They know that she can feel and see the Hellhounds.
«So? » Asks Kevin, who witnessed the entire scene without a word.
Buffy pulls herself together «You've heard the boss: we find how to make them visible and decrypt the other tests. »
Kevin a little bitter «By 'we' you mean 'me'!? »
Buffy, realizing that only Kevin can perform the translation of the tablet «Exactly! » Kevin raises an eyebrow in surprise as Buffy adds «I'll take a ride out; let's meet in... later!? » She detaches some notes of the wall and leaves.
Barely outside, she dials Giles' number « Hi. I need your help. Kevin has discovered that there are three trials that must be achieved to close the gates of Hell. Unfortunately, he has only deciphered only one trial so far and he hasn't translated the Enochian spell that goes with it. »
Giles «Is there a way for you to send me the symbols? »
Buffy immediately reacts and takes a photo of the duplicate note given to Sam and Dean.
Giles confirms « Received. I'll call you in a few minutes. » And ends the conversation.
She takes a few steps, thinking about Dean. She wants to find her way back to him. Why does he need to be the sacrifice?
Before her mind could wander, her mobile rings. Seeing the name on the screen, she answers « That was fast. »
Giles replies «It means 'We are working to understand, obey and transform ourselves.' This is an allegiance. »
Buffy underlining « To whom… and what do you mean by 'we' ? »
Giles explains « It seems that the Slayer, once the allegiance pronounced, finds herself tied to the Challenger. The notebook emphasizes that the Slayer is its witness. That's all I've found but I will try to find more. »
Buffy somewhat destabilized «Thank you. » Then returns to the boat, not piping a word about it to Kevin.
It's been two days that they haven't heard from the brothers. And not willing to disturb Kevin, Buffy occasionally walks outside, contacting Willow and Giles to see if they had news, in vein.
Returning from one of her walks, she hears «Dean, good news...» Kevin rolls his eyes at a comment made by his speaker «I found something on the tablet, about Hellhounds. Does it mean anything to you? 'The dire creatures may be seen only by the damned or through an object scorched with holy fire'? » Kevin seems focused « ... or glasses? » He smiles «Okay, thanks. » Then throws his mobile on the table and grabs the bottle of green pills for peps. Seeing that she is in, he offers her one.
Buffy refuses «No, thank you. I'll rest ... and you should do the same. » She doesn't sleep immediately: her mind switching from thoughts about Dean and questions about the consequences of the allegiance. Suddenly, she hears Sam's voice resonates in her head «Kah-Nah-Om-Dahr» A whistling sound in her head, makes her lose balance. Her body not willing to support her, she squirms on the ground. A bright electric light appears on her right hand and forearm. She hears voices whispering and repeating «Understanding. » Then as brutal as it occurred, the symptoms and voices disappear. She is slowly recovering from her shock when her cell phone rings.
«Hallo !? This is Sam. » The caller says «It's done... I did it! » Buffy feels nauseated « Buffy? Did you hear me? »
Buffy a little weak «Yes, Sam. Sorry. How do you feel? »
Sam replies «A little shaken, but I'm fine. We won't return to the bunker now: Dean received a text message from agent James Frampton who's requesting our help. »
Buffy relieved to be granted more time «Okay»
Sam hesitantly adds «Buffy, we need to talk. Something happened and I'd like to tell you about it. »
Buffy soothed «Okay, Sam. I look forward to it. See you soon. » Then ends the conversation.
Later, she rents a car and returns to the Bunker. Once arrived, she contacts Giles to bring the recent events to his knowledge, but once more, Giles couldn't enlight the situation. She got lost in the reading of all the books she could lay a hand on. And so are passing the days and the nights, until Sam and Dean came back.
The day after their return, she joins Sam in a room she had not yet seen, which looks like a control room «Hi»
Sam holding a glass of water turns to her «Hi» He takes a sip, but it doesn't seem to suit him and spits bloodied water in the glass. Buffy approaches and forces him to head to the sink, where Sam empties the contents of his glass.
Dean, barely awake wearing a gray robe on a t-shirt and boxers, enters the room «What's up with you? »
Sam quickly rinse his mouth «Nothing. Why? »
Dean asks «Heard from Kevin? » Both Sam and Buffy shake their head negatively causing Dean to complain «What's it been ... like three weeks? What's taking that little brainiac so long? It's only a page. » He sits in frustration « Read it. »
Buffy mocking Dean's reaction «I don't know, maybe translating, an ancient and coded language, that only prophets can read, and that without any help, is a bit more complicated than you think. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll return to the library. » She leaves the room, anxious for Sam.
It doesn't take long for Sam to run after her «Buffy, wait. Dean and I are going zombie hunting in Montana. But... »
Buffy puts a finger on Sam's lips «Have fun. We'll talk later. »
Sam smiles and rushes in the opposite direction.
She commits herself to a new round of research, during which the days just seem lost among the pages of the books she travels. This adopted routine is disturbed a few days later by the return of Dean sprinting through the corridors with Sam, a woman and a man carrying a young boy.
Dean leads them in one of the rooms containing a small sofa and a bed «Put him here. » The man places the boy on the bed, while Dean comments «This curse was put on you. Why the kid? »
The afflicted man says «I don't know. »
The woman, that accompanies them, attempts to understand «You keep saying 'curse'. What curse? »
Sam asks her «How long has this been happening? »
She answers «Since he turned seven, a few months ago. It started with the dying, and then he stopped talking. »
Sam processing «Wait, seven? This marks one of the first Greek rites of manhood. »
Dean demands «So what? You are saying that the curse is hardwired into his programming? »
The child's mother turns to the man bend over the young boy «Look at me. I'm sorry that I ran out on you all those years ago. I didn't understand what was going on. But we have a child, and whatever you have… He has it. I need to know how to stop it. »
Buffy follows them to the library, where they talk about what they know. The woman, whose name is Hayley, resumes «So Ollie's dad is a Greek God who has been cursed to die every day by Zeus. And you guys are ... Ghostbusters. Am I getting this right? »
Dean reading the sarcasm «You know, due to the fact that your son is, albeit temporarily, dead... I'm gonna let that one slide. »
Hayley tries to justify herself «You have to realize this sounds crazy. »
«I didn't believe it myself at first, but it's the only thing that makes sense. » Says the man that Hayley calls Shane but seems to be Prometheus.
Dean clarifies «Look, the faster you wrap your brain around this, the faster we can solve the problem. Usually, we handle this in summoning the bastard and we work him over until he undoes whatever it is he did. »
Hayley asks «What if he doesn't want to undo it? »
Buffy answers without hesitation «We take him out. And hopefully, the curse dies along with him. »
Hayley shocked «This can't be happening. » They hear the young boy, Oliver, coughing «I can handle this. » She gets up and goes at her son's bedside.
Dean speaking to Shane «Listen, you can run, hide, and die for all eternity. It's your choice! But Sam and I are going after Zeus with or without you. »
Shane straight face «I'm in! »
Buffy stands up and scans the library shelves, the three men imitating her, almost immediately. Dean pulls out a book, pours a glass of Scotch and moves to a table. Shane finds a book, on a smaller shelf and sits down to read it. Sam and Buffy stack some books then join the others.
They are all deeply immersed in their readings, when Dean exclaims «Here we go! » he states proudly «Dragon Penis. »
Buffy disturbed «What? »
Dean explains «An Ancient Greek Hunter by the name of Drakopoolos. Near as I can tell, he was a badass, whose name is Greek for... »
Sam interrupts «OK, we've got that. »Dean gives him the book «Thanks. »
Dean seeing Hayley coming back to the library «How's the kid? »
She reassures «He's fine. » She studies the researchers « Please, keep going. »
Dean proud of being the strong man of the moment «So, back in the days, Drakopoolos tangled with Zeus. The Men of Letters translated his journal. It says here he summoned Zeus into a trap and found out how to kill him. » Wanting to prove that he knows his stuff «So we need wood from a tree struck by lightning. »
Sam confirms «Right. It says we need two things for the summoning: Frozen energy from the hand of Zeus and the bone of a worshiper. »
Dean guesses «Frozen energy: thinking fulgurite!? You get on the web, see if there's any Greeks, nearby that are still worshipping the Old Gods. »
Sam agrees «On it. » He hands the book to Buffy to pull out his laptop.
Shane worried «What about the wood? Is that easy to find? »
Dean says «With a little bit of luck. »
Buffy under lines a detail «Wait! This journal ends. »
Dean annoyed turns to her «What do you mean? »
Buffy insists «I mean, the writing isn't complete. How do we know Zeus didn't get to Drako? »
Dean protests against her attitude «We never know for sure. There is nothing new about this... »
Sam interferes «Listen to this: Greek pagans, two towns over. The best part is that they have an obit page with cemeteries. »
Dean speaking to Shane and Sam «You two are on grave duty. Hayley and I are going to handle the stone. »
Buffy feeling sidelined «And what am I supposed to do? »
Dean not looking at her «You, you take care of the boy and you dig into the books until we come back. You do that very well lately. » She doesn't insist and joins the young Oliver.
After a few hours, Hayley joins them «Oliver, we have to go, sweetheart. » And takes him in her arms. Then she turns to Buffy «Dean asks you to stay. » She adds «He cares about you. It shows. Give him time. Do not give up. »
Buffy remains alone in the room, for a moment. Then gets up and goes to the library. She tries to read but her concentration escapes her, causing her to read the same line multiple times in a row.
A book that seems to twinkle gets her attention, she gets up and reads its title 'Meridiem in Tenebris'
She reads upload some lines « The Slayer is the only witness of the Challenger : She must recognize the truth and understand the subject.» She runs through a few more lines, then reads again upload «Ita conscientia Interfectorem tacet spatium ad veritatem. » The words barely escaping her lips, Buffy falls asleep instantly.
«Buffy… Buffy! » Says Sam, stroking her face.
She opens her eyes on the young man and notices an iridescent glow of his right wrist. Buffy touches it with the tip of her fingers. Buffy is pulled out of her semi-consciousness by Sam's hand blocking hers «Are you okay? »
She stands up « Just a little tired. »
Sam helps her to get back on her feet.
But buffy pushes him away « I'm fine! I'm gonna go to bed! » She stumbles in the corridors that seem different, but she can't tell what is. She notices that the floor is covered with bloody steps, guiding her to Dean's bedroom where she hears him « Cass, you know I'm not one for praying, 'cause in my book… it's the same as begging. But this is about Sam, so I need you to hear me. We are going into this deal blind... and I don't know what's ahead for Sam. Now, he's covering pretty well, but this one was supposed to be on me. So, for all that we've been through, I'm asking you... » She enters the room, without him noticing her as he sits on his bed and continues « ... keep a lookout for my little brother, okay? » Then says softly « Where the hell are you, man? »
Buffy, wordlessly, comes standing in front of him, and then runs a hand through his short hair, to finally bend to kiss him. He does nothing to stop her and surrenders to the softness of this kiss. He pulls her against him and gently lies down with her, adjusting on the bed to face each other. Dean, eyes filled with tears, whispers «Stay with me, tonight. »
She nods and curls in his arms, allowing his breath and the beating of their hearts to rock her, until sleep takes over them.