Sorry guys. Evidently I skipped a chapter. I replaced 24 with the real 24 that was meant to be there already lol. Sorry about that.
Chapter 25
Season 6, Episode 7
Appointment in Samara
Dean sat in the Impala. He'd gone for a drive when he couldn't sleep so he had time to think. Everything seemed to be swarming him at once. For weeks, he and Sam worked for Crowley collecting the Alphas of each monster species they could find all for the promise of a soul. In the end, after more than one betrayal, they found out Crowley couldn't help. Dean wanted to be pissed, but it was hard. He was angrier with himself. He should've known not to trust a demon.
His eyes fell to the lake ahead. For some reason, in his aimless drive, Dean found himself parked near the edge of a lake. It was quiet, peaceful and otherwise relaxing. He liked it, but the sounds of swaying water and nighttime bugs did little to calm him down. At some point during the deep thinking, Dean came up with a plan he didn't like. In fact, he hated it, more than he thought physically possible, but he didn't feel he had a choice.
Now, all he had to do was ask for help.
Taking a deep breath, Dean held it for a moment then let it out in one long huff. The words tasted bad before he even said them out loud.
"Hey," he said to no one. "Maggie uh…" Dean's grip on the steering wheel tensed and tightened forcing the aged material to creak. He felt ridiculous praying to 'Jenny', but he had to remember what she was. That was the point of the prayer, what she was. "I uh… I need your help." He looked around and noticed he was still alone. "Please?"
"Theeere it is."
The sudden voice caused him to jump. Dean slammed his head into the roof of the car on accident and immediately regretted it. Maggie laughed lightly which caused him to glare at her.
"Seriously?" he snapped as he rubbed the top of his head. "You gotta 'jump out' like that?"
"I was only waiting for you to say please, Dean." She defended. He might've believed her more if she wasn't still smiling. "So, what can I do for you?"
"Give me a second." He grumbled. Dean checked his hand to make sure he wasn't bleeding. "I'm getting a migraine."
"Then don't think so hard."
He shot her another stare which caused her smile to grow and a giggle to leave her lips.
"An angel with jokes, now I've seen everything." He replied. She only winked. Rolling his eyes, Dean prepared himself to ask what he planned to ask. "Look," he diverted his eyes. "I've got a favor to ask you."
"Judging by the lack of eye contact," she said. The smile was gone. "This isn't going to be something I'm going to like, is it?"
"Probably not." He admitted. "Uh, you think you could give your dad a ring?" He waited a minute and when she didn't respond, he turned to look at her. Maggie's face was blank and her eyes stern. "What?"
"What did you just say?" she asked in a low, even voice. She wanted to be sure she'd heard him right.
"I need to talk to your old man." He repeated.
"Are you insane?"
"All I need is a yes or no."
Her brows pulled together. Maggie was staring at him in shock, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What the hell do you need to speak to him about? What could be so important?"
"It's about Sam." He said quickly. Dean had returned to averting his eyes.
"What? What's happened?"
"It's about his soul." He replied dejectedly. Reluctantly, Dean looked at her again with sadness in his eyes. "Maggie, he's not right. That's not Sam. He needs his soul."
She shifted in her seat to give him her full attention, even going so far as to pull her leg up so she could rest her back against the passenger side door.
"Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do? What you'd be asking him to do?"
"The way I see it, he owes us."
"How in the hell did you jump to that conclusion?"
"I figure no one's sent him more souls than me and Sammy." He said. Even he had trouble mustering the bragging tone. "And if we hadn't started the Apocalypse, he'd still be locked away, right?"
Her mouth fell slack and she had trouble closing it again. Dean didn't like the utter shock marring her features and tried to keep them on point.
"Look, can you find him or not?"
"Of course I can find him, that's not the issue."
"Then what is?"
"His contempt for you and your brother."
"What?" it was Dean's turn to be surprised. "What'd we ever do to him?"
"You mean other than constantly coming back to life? Gee, I wonder?" she replied sarcastically. "Dean," Maggie leaned a bit closer. "I don't think you really grasp-"
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child, okay? I don't need this right now." He snapped. "Maggie, he's my last chance." His voice lost the edge and took on a desperate tone. "He's the only one that can help me bring back Sam."
She stared at him. She wanted to keep being mean, to tell him no and he had to find another way, but she could see through his exterior. Maggie could see how truly desperate and alone Dean felt. He was grasping at straws and the straws were getting shorter.
With a heavy sigh, Maggie fell back against the door.
"Fine." She mumbled. Dean immediately relaxed and slumped in his seat. "But, all I can do is tell him you want to talk. I don't know if he'll actually contact you."
"Thank you, Maggie. Seriously."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She sighed. "But if this doesn't work, don't expect me to beg him or pull that whole 'daughter' card. Cause seriously, he's not the kind of guy that works on."
"Deal." He said with a crooked smile. "Hey," Dean spoke quickly so she couldn't disappear. "I been meaning to ask you," she waited for him to continue. "Now that you're… you," he pointed at her in such a way it made Maggie smirk. He clearly didn't know how to encompass her. "Can you remember everything?"
Maggie nodded. "Since the day I was born. Why?"
"What do you remember? Being an angel? What?"
He didn't know why he asked, but part of him was curious. Dean wondered what had come back after the damn broke. He wondered what was so important it had to be locked away.
Maggie took a deep breath and turned in her seat. She leaned her elbow against the windowsill and rested her head lazily in her palm. She stared out at the lake as she recalled everything that happened to her throughout the years.
"A thousand centuries of nothing. I was always alone…" She finally answered in a heavy, sad voice. She slowly shifted her head so she could see Dean staring at her. "It's actually more depressing than you'd think. Why?"
He shrugged lightly.
"Just curious." He replied.
Maggie gave him a soft smile and nodded. Before she left, she told him Death would likely contact him if the deal was accepted and said her farewell. Dean thanked her again and watched as she disappeared in the time it took him to blink.
When she was gone, Dean soon realized that the more stressful part was waiting to see if Death would agree. He thought mustering up the courage to ask was the worst of it. He'd been wrong.
With nothing else to do in the meantime, Dean started up the Impala and headed back to the motel he shared with Sam.
~!~
True to her word, Death visited Dean. It was unnerving and uncomfortable. Dean was sure even the temperature dropped. Apparently Death was bitterly cold, literally.
He was apprehensive about the deal they made, as anyone would be, but what choice did he have? None. If he wanted his brother to 'be a real boy' again, Dean had to reap souls for a day. But even with as hard as he thought it would be in his head, it was nothing compared to reality. He felt cold inside, dead, when he had to take the souls of the innocent. He may not have known the people, but he didn't feel right doing what he was doing.
Dean met Death once more after giving up. He walked upstairs in Bobby's house to find the being sitting at the kitchen table as though it were nothing. Dean suddenly seethed with anger. Not only did Dean feel dirty for having to clean up the mess he'd created, but killing a child in the process and having to –just barely- keep his brother from murdering Bobby. He wanted nothing more than to start screaming.
"Brought you one." Death chimed innocently enough. He showed Dean a second hot dog with all the fixings wrapped in foil on the table nearby. "From a little stand in Los Angeles known for their bacon dogs."
Dean stared at the food for a moment, unable to move or think. His mind only fizzled more when he noticed Maggie standing obediently behind her father, her hands crossed in front of her delicately as she stared back at the Hunter.
"Sit." Death commanded simply.
Dean felt his insides jump before slowly pulling out the spare chair and taking his seat with the awe inspiring being. There it was again, the strangely calm, but all-powerful voice.
"Wow, what's with you and cheap food?" Dean asked absently.
"I could ask you the same thing." Death replied simply. "Thought I'd have a treat before I put the ring back on."
Dean's brow furrowed slightly as he took the small trinket into his hand and stared at it.
"Heavier than it looks isn't it? Sometimes you just want the thing off." he sighed. Death shifted to pour himself a drink, but noticed Dean hadn't moved since sitting. "Not hungry?"
"Look," Dean answered in a thick voice, one brimming with emotions he hated to ever feel. He reached forward and set the ring down next to the Horseman. "I think you knew I'd flunk. So there. Oh and by the way uh, I sucked at being you. I screwed up the whole Natural Order thing but I'm sure you knew about that too."
Death sat back, absorbing everything Dean said before hearing the obvious snap in his words.
"So, if you had to go back, would you simply kill the little girl? No stamping your feet, no fuss?"
"Knowing what I know now, yeah." Dean answered in a muted anger. Despite knowing he shouldn't, Dean couldn't fight the glare he shot in Death's direction.
"I'm surprised to hear that." Death answered before taking a leisure sip of his drink. "I'm surprised and glad…"
"Yeah well don't get too excited." He snapped. "I would have saved the nurse alright."
"I think it's a little more than that." Death declared simply. "Today, you got a hard look behind the curtain. Wrecking the Natural Order isn't as much fun when it's you that has to mop up the mess is it?" he asked. Dean, while more than willing to glare for the majority of the time they spoke, had trouble meeting Death's blank stare head on. "This is hard for you Dean, isn't it? You've become used to throwing away your life because you assume it's going to bounce back into your lap. But the human soul is not a rubber ball. It's vulnerable, impermanent and stronger than you'll ever know."
The tone of the man's voice forced Dean to meet his cold eyes for the first time since sitting.
"And more valuable than you can ever imagine." he finished cryptically.
Dean looked disgusted.
"So," Death chimed. He sat back to get comfortable and lifted his drink. "I think you've learned something today."
The longer he felt he was being taunted by the Horseman, the thinner Dean's patience became. And before he could stop himself, the ever famous 'Winchester temper' came out.
"You wanna know what I think?" Dean asked as Death finished his sip. "I think you knew I wouldn't last the day."
"I've no idea what you're talking about." Death replied unconvincingly.
"I lost, fine, but at least have the balls to admit it was rigged from the jump."
"Dean," Maggie hissed through her teeth. He did little more than glance to her, but the warning came too late and the damage was done.
When Dean turned his attention back to Death, he saw how truly cold the stare could be. Dean flinched under the power of the gaze.
"Most people choose to speak to me with a little more respect." he replied in a dangerously low voice. "You should be kissing my feet after what you've done. Do you know how hard it is for me not to take your soul after everything you've done?"
Dean couldn't hide the abject fear that saturated his features.
"I didn't mean…" he stammered.
"We're done here." Death interrupted. Dean shut his mouth immediately as Death rose from his seat and prepared to leave. He wanted to say something, anything to stop him, but nothing came out fast enough. It wasn't until Maggie showed another sign of life that Dean felt he might still have a chance. "It's been lovely but,"
Death paused when he noticed Maggie not only in his path, but staring at him with sad, remorseful eyes.
"Father, please." she whispered. Her voice was so soft, Dean almost didn't hear her. Still, he felt his shoulders shudder at her openly calling Death father.
Death remained silent as he stared at Maggie for a staggeringly long time. Eventually, he let out a soft sigh.
"Well then," he said as though he were thoroughly disappointed. "It seems I'm on my way to Hell to retrieve your brother's soul."
Dean suddenly felt his insides leap as hope was breathed back into his request.
"You'd do that for me?" he asked. For some reason, Dean couldn't keep from looking the gift horse in the mouth.
"I wouldn't do it for you." Death clarified as he turned. "You and your brother keep coming back. You're an affront to the entire universe and you cause disruption on a global scale."
"I apologize for that." Dean muttered, shrinking away from Death as the Horseman approached him. When the stare became intense once more, Dean had to force his gaze elsewhere. He felt like Death could rip out his soul through his eyes.
"But you have use." Death sighed. "Right now you're digging at something. Intrepid detective." he replied with an unnerving smile that disappeared the moment in formed. "I want you to keep digging Dean."
"So you're just going to be cryptic or…"
"It's about the souls. You'll understand when you need to."
Death turned once more and retrieved his ring from the table. With another disappointed sigh, he slid it back onto his finger.
"Wait." Dean said suddenly. Death paused and waited to hear what Dean had to say. "With Sam, is this wall thing really going to work?"
"Call it seventy-five percent." he answered.
When Death turned to leave, Dean wisely didn't say anything to stop him. Still, the Horseman didn't immediately disappear. He stopped to –what Dean logically thought-was speak to Maggie. But they never did. They just looked at each other as though they were carrying on a conversation Dean couldn't hear.
He watched until Death did something that confused the Hunter more than he ever thought possible. He gently touched Maggie's cheek, cradling it kindly and almost sweetly despite the emotion never meeting his eyes. The 'loving' gesture made Dean feel gross, worse than gross. He felt dirty. He felt more comfortable watching Castiel make out with Meg than he did seeing the Horseman act like a parent.
Shaking the feeling from his shoulders, Dean almost missed Maggie leaving the room. As though someone had shocked him, Dean shot up and ran after her. He raced downstairs to Bobby.
"Bobby!" Dean called loudly. The aged Hunter jumped when he saw Dean rushing for him. "Open the door."
"What happened?"
"Now." he ordered without a break in his step.
Bobby moved to the door and immediately began to unlock the latches.
"Get away from me!" Sam yelled, struggling against his restraints as Death walked closer, unfazed and with a satchel in hand.
Death ignored him as he set his cane down and took a seat next to the struggling Winchester. Bobby couldn't believe his eyes. He'd never seen the Horseman, but heard his description from Dean.
Maggie suddenly wiggled passed the two stuck in the doorway and into the room. Like a nurse aiding a doctor, she took her required stance beside Sam. She sat gently on the bed and tried to smile as reassuringly as she could. Sam wasn't fooled, but it didn't matter in the end.
Death opened his satchel. Light instantly filled the room. It poured from the leather case and in that moment everyone knew it was Sam's soul.
"Don't!" Sam yelled.
"Now Sam," Death replied in a calm voice. "I'm going to put up a barrier in your mind."
"No, don't do this." he begged. His frightened stare bounced from Dean, to Maggie, to Bobby and back again as though someone would save him.
"Now, you might feel a little… itch. Don't scratch the wall." he warned. "Because trust me, you're not going to like what happens."
"Please," Sam pleaded. "Don't do this."
But the talking was done. Death reached into the bag and pulled out a brilliant orb of energy. Sam struggled against his braces, but they held tight no matter how he fought.
"No. No, you don't know what'll happen to me." Sam continued to beg. "Dean, please."
Sam continued to chant 'no' while the others stared on in horror as Death placed his palms over the orb and laid it on the young man's chest. He begged loudly before suddenly screaming in pain as Death shoved the object into Sam's body. Maggie moved to her knees and lightly cradled his head in her hands. Pain touched her face as she whispered sweetly to him. Sam's struggling calmed, but only a little as Death inserted his hand into Sam's body so he could properly position the soul. Dean watched, unable to look away and praying it worked as Maggie tried to keep as much of the pain away as she could.
Just as slowly as he had pushed it in, Death removed his hand. Sam fell limply against the old mattress immediately. Maggie gently kissed his forehead and stood. She and Death exchanged another silent glance before the Horseman addressed the onlookers.
"Now," he said. "You will do well to remember, he can't scratch the wall."
Dean and Bobby stood silent for a moment, unsure of what else to do as Maggie moved closer. She diverted their gazes and in that instant Death disappeared. He was finished with them, so they focused on her. They could see her worry clearly.
"He can't remember anything." she told the two seriously. "The second he begins to remember, even if it's what he ate last month, it could be bad."
"How bad?" Bobby asked apprehensively. His eyes still danced back to Sam every once and a while.
"Hell bad." she answered before turning to Dean. "Remember how long four months felt?"
Dean nodded timidly, unable to look her in the eye as the memories of Hell bombarded him.
"Felt like forty years." he muttered quietly.
"Sam's soul was in the cage for almost two years with Lucifer and Michael, the two of them blaming him personally for stopping the war." she said sadly. "That might as well be nearly two hundred and fifty years. He is battered, bruised and his soul has gone through enough trauma to make an entire state insane, let alone just him. He can't remember anything." she stressed.
"Okay." Bobby managed to say. Dean only nodded.
"I have to go." she finally said as she took steps back.
"What? Why are you leaving now?" Dean snapped. He was jolted back into the moment again when he realized they were leaving, "How long is Sam going to be in a coma?"
"I'm not sure. He's recouping. As for me," she hesitated to continue. "Let's just say, I have my own price to pay for keeping Death from leaving earlier."
Dean narrowed his eyes slightly. She kept Death from leaving for him and Sam. She only interfered to make sure Death delivered the soul, but it was still interfering. After having to reap souls for the day, Dean feared the answer to what he was about to ask.
"What is he making you do?" he asked.
She furrowed her brows slightly.
"You truly don't want to know." she replied. "I'll check in on you soon. Take care of him."
And with that, she was gone.