A.N. Just a quick "Thank you" to Guest for taking the time to leave a review. Put the thanks here as "Guest" never has a reply thingy, but still wanted you to know I appreciate your comment; as I do all the regular "crew" comments. I intend to name and shame you all when the final chapter is posted (this rate that'll be 2015 :o)

Chick xxx

CHAPTER 25

Seeking Dean

Sam looked extremely uneasy.

"Erm...I don't...well, you know...Look...I don't have to kiss you...Right?"

Crowley smirked up at Sam.

"Ohhh...The delicious temptation...But, no Moose. I wouldn't want to risk catching anything. I think on this occasion it's acceptable for us to seal this with a simple handshake."

With the deal agreed, Crowley gazed around the cellar.

"So. I suppose the first thing is that you want to book out of your current accommodation? Anywhere in particular you would like me to drop you?"

Sam was cautious.

"That depends. I think Dean might still be in the house somewhere, but I'm not certain. I haven't been able to call him."

Crowley nodded.

"Right. Let's find out shall we?"

Bowing his head, Crowley closed his eyes and stood, silent and motionless apart from the constant flickering movement of his eyes beneath his eyelids. Sam watched as a frown formed on the face of the King of Hell. Sam began to chew on his bottom lip, trying to stay patient. At last, Crowley's eyes opened. He appeared bemused, and Sam couldn't wait any longer.

"What? What's wrong Crowley? Where's Dean? Did you find him?"

...

"Yes...and no."

"What's that supposed to mean? Is he ok? Is he...alive?"

"Well...It's a strange thing really. Dear old Dean is definitely here, except that...He's sort of not."

Sam flexed his hands in frustration, fighting the urge to reach out and grab the smaller man by the throat.

"Talk to me Crowley, stop playing games!"

Crowley pretended to be hurt by Sam's accusation.

"Now, that's a tad unfair! I assure you, Sammy, this is no game...Fine, how do I phrase this for the terminally thick? Try to think of it this way...Dean is in the house, but it's as though he's out of phase. You understand? Like he's stuck on some other plain. Try this one for size. It's like he's entered a different dimension, and the entry point is in the house."

"My name's Sam. And I get it...You're saying he's gone through some kinda portal?"

"Give the giant a gold star!"

"Thanks...Can you take me to him?"

Crowley looked irritated as he answered, as though the existence of the portal was a personal affront.

"Short version? No. 'Fraid not. See, you'd need the Queen Bitch to let you in there. Here's a plan though! How about you get yourself caught by old frilly knickers, then start begging Please don't put me in the other dimension...Anything but the other dimension...It worked for Brier Rabbit."

Sam looked startled, eyes wide he stared at Crowley.

"Hang on...You...You've read Brier Rabbit? Oh, boy!"

Sam couldn't help his grin.

"There are sooo many people I'm gonna tell that one to!"

Crowley grimaced and glared up at the Hunter.

"Plausible denial Moose. Plausible denial...And moving right along. I can get us to the portal entrance. After that, all we have to do is figure out how to actually get in. Shall we?"

...

Once again Hecate, followed obediently by Becky, climbed the stairs up to the attic level. Becky's earlier niggle of unease had, for some reason, returned. Becky was baffled as to why she was experiencing such a sensation. She was fairly certain it wasn't the Mistress that she was feeling this way about. Whenever she was with, or thought about, Hecate, all she felt was total devotion and dedication. She belonged to Hecate and she had no thoughts of wanting it to be any other way. She was proud that the Goddess had chosen her to be her familiar and, she had every intention of being the best she could be. Any punishment she may earn along the way would be no one's fault but her own and, therefore, she would be deserving of her Mistress' wrath. So why did this unease plague her?

"Is sssomething wrong with you girl? Sspeak up."

Hecate's unexpected enquiry made Becky jump, and she stumbled over her reply.

"Sorry?..I mean...No Mistress. I...I'm fine...Really! Thank you...For asking I mean...Mistress."

Coming to a halt outside the door which led to the sacred cavern, Hecate's scrutiny of Becky's face was intense.

"Are you cssertain girl? I ssaw you frowning. I wissh to know why, when you are about to witnesss the glory of human ssssacrifice. Ansswer me!"

Somehow Becky had no doubts that to express her growing unease would not be the answer Hecate wanted to hear.

"If you please Mistress. I was thinking of how best to prove myself worthy of the role you have entrusted me with."

Hecate smiled.

"It is good that you are thinking of ssuch things, child. It ssserves you well."

As she had on the previous occasion, Hecate conjured up the key needed to unlock the way into the cavern.

"Let us ssee if our little man has awoken. I intend to allow you the honour of placssing him at the ssstake."

Hecate crossed into the cavern ahead of Becky. Only two steps behind her mistress, Hecate was already screaming her fury as Becky entered the area.

...

"Thissss cannot be! He is gone! Where is he? Find him! You musssst find him, quickly! You sssshall return him from the tunnels. You sssshall find him...Or you sssshallburn in his placssse!"

Becky ran. Coming to a halt by the wood pile, she began to frantically stare around at the tunnel entrances.

"Which one Mistress? Which one should I take?"

As Hecate stormed past Becky, she grabbed the woman tightly by the upper arm and dragged Becky, stumbling, after her. Heading for the nearest tunnel entrance, Hecate stretched out her free arm and swiftly traced a complex pattern in the air, directly in front of the entranceway. Dissatisfied, she jerked Becky along with her to the next tunnel, repeating the previous pattern. Again she pulled Becky away and moved on to a third tunnel. At the fifth tunnel that Hecate tried, when she once again drew her pattern in the air, the tunnel instantly developed an acid green glow around it's edges.

"In there...You will find him in there. Hold your hand out for me, now!"

Confused, Becky did as she was instructed. Hecate bent down and scooped a fist full of sand from the cavern floor. Pouring enough into Becky's hand to cover the woman's palm, she snapped two fingers over it. Becky flinched as a silent, star bright white flame sprang up from the sand to burned steadily on her outstretched palm. Becky stared at the single flame in fascination, realising that it gave off no heat. Hecate gave Becky a forceful shove toward the tunnel entrance.

"Go now...Quickly. I command you to find that wretched boy. And girl? Do not dare to fail me!"

...

Moving carefully but with purpose, Dean continued to feel his way along the tunnel, his guiding hand caressing it's rough, uneven walls. The floor was covered with numerous loose stones scattered singularly or gathered in large patches. Ranging from tiny pebbles up to large cobbles and sizeable boulders, they hindered his progress. He frequently banged his shins and ankles and he'd lost count of the number of times he'd stubbed his toes or had to catch himself as he, yet again, tripped over some obstacle or other. The total dark was disorientating and, in his mind, all manner of monsters and beasts stood watching him as he passed by. He paused, taking a moment to calm both himself and his overwrought imagination. Forcing himself to continue on, Dean had taken three steps when, on the forth, he put his front foot down expecting the floor to continue. Instead his foot carried on down, and his whole body tipped forward as the tunnel floor unexpectedly dropped away, becoming a steep downward slope. Unable to stop his momentum, Dean fell.

...

Tucking his head in, Dean hit the slope with one shoulder, and kept on rolling and bouncing untidily down the slope, finally reaching the bottom and coming to a halt in a dip in the ground. Breathless and dizzy from the somersaulting fall, Dean lay on his back where he had landed, groaning as he tried to orientate himself; a task made all the harder by having no point of reference to focus on in the total blackness surrounding him. The sensation of still spinning caused a surge of nausea, forcing Dean to roll onto his front. As he rolled, he discovered his dislocated shoulder. Gritting his teeth to stop himself crying out, a surge of bile burned it's way up his throat. Dean retched and spat before resting his head on his good arm, waiting for the white hot pain of his shoulder and the dizziness from his fall to pass. Eventually his head accepted the fact that he was no longer tipping head over heels and the pain in the shoulder settled to almost bearable. Dean began to breath normally again.. Wearily hauling himself up onto his hands and knees, Dean used his good hand to feel around his immediate area, trying to get some idea of what was around him and which way the tunnel led from there. At one side, he felt the ground start to head upwards. Ok...that way's back up the hill, so I guess that means I carry on in the other direction. He stretched out his hand and, again, began to feel along the ground, trying to gauge which direction the path went from his current position. What he discovered triggered a rush of panic...The ground on his opposite side was also an uphill rise. Oh...Come on! You gotta be shittin' me! Which freaking side did I just come tumble weeding down from?"

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A.N. Went back to work Monday, just been ordered off sick again by the Assistant Director. Getting fed up with all this health crap! :(

Chick xxx