Chapter 25
It was four hours later before Sam felt safe enough to slow down and take a breath. He pulled into a gas station to fill the Mustang and knew he needed another car. This cherry red tomato was too conspicuous for him to be driving for long. He planned on swapping it out in the next town he came to, besides it was a little tight fit for his long frame. Sam got out and stretched his arms to the sky and twisted at the waist, stretching his tired muscles. After a minute of calming down, Sam pumped his gas and went in to grab a drink and something to snack on.
He couldn't believe that he had one of the rings and was that much closer to stopping Lucifer. He settled back into the car and tried to get comfortable in the cramped space before opening his drink and pulling back out onto the road. He kept a close eye on the road behind him to be sure he wasn't being followed by anyone. It was an hour to the next town and he wanted to ditch this car as soon as possible. By the time he got there it would be late and he hoped to find a used car lot that would serve his purpose. Sam figured leaving the Mustang would be a good enough trade for a less conspicuous car.
spn
Dean stumbled slightly as Cas and him appeared in an alley in the Colorado town where Rufus saw Sam. Once he was stable, he headed out to find Rufus and Ellen and question them. Cas fell in beside him and kept pace knowing Dean was anxious since this was the first real lead they had gotten on Sam.
"Rufus." Dean called to the man with his back to him talking to some people.
"Dean, Bobby said you'd be coming, didn't think you could get here this fast." Rufus replied turning to see Dean bearing down on him.
"Tell me about Sam." Dean stated getting down to business.
"Like I told Bobby, he was in the alley and before I could get to him he jumped into a red Mustang and drove away."
"Dean Winchester! It's been awhile." Ellen said loudly as she walked up to them with her daughter Jo.
"Ellen, Jo, good to see you." Dean said letting his eyes linger on Jo for a moment.
"Hey Dean." Jo said arching an eyebrow and smirking at him as she sidled up to him.
"Jo Beth behave." Ellen said sternly pulling her back from Dean.
"Did you see Sammy too?"
"Yes and I gotta say he looked fine but he acted crazy. When he saw us it was like he was afraid of us and took off. What's going on Dean? What's wrong with your brother?"
"He's trying to stop the devil on his own." Dean growled swiping a hand down his face. "I'm trying to catch up with him and stop him from getting himself killed."
"Dean!" Cas called to him from an alleyway nearby.
"What Cas?" Dean asked heading his way and stopping to look around at what Cas was looking at.
"I can't find anything here Dean, but I know War was here, his power still lingers in the air." Cas told Dean as they stood where the red Mustang had been parked. "I think this red Mustang was what War was driving."
"War, as in one of the four Horsemen?" Dean questioned in surprise. "You're kidding?"
"No, I don't kid Dean." Cas stated.
"I know Cas." Dean sighed rolling his eyes at Cas not understanding him.
"His blood was spilled right here and something was taken from him. It is what gave him power." Cas said looking right and left.
"You mean Sammy took on a Horseman and won?" Dean asked in amazement. "Way to go little brother."
"It would seem so and I think he intends on seeking out the other three also, but I'm not sure why."
"How would he have known one was here and what did he do?" Dean asked walking further down the alley to look around. Something lying on the ground caught his attention and he bent down to check it out. "Cas...Do you think the demon knife could injure a horseman?"
"I don't know why?" Cas asked stepping to him and looking down at the ground.
"You think this might be his finger?" Dean asked pulling a bandana out and picking up a severed finger.
Cas touched the finger and frowned for a moment before answering. "This is War's. He was the one that turned the townspeople against each other. Dean this is a ring finger, do you think Sam now has his ring?"
"I'd bet my Baby he does." Dean said dropping the finger back to the ground. "C'mon there's no use hanging around here, Sam's long gone."
"What now?" Cas asked.
"There's nothing more we can do here. Rufus and Ellen can clean this up, take me back to Bobby's and we'll try to track down the other Horsemen. If we find them, I think we'll find Sam." Dean said feeling more defeated than ever. He didn't know what was happening to his little brother and he was worried and concerned about him. He hoped Bobby could give him some info on the Four Horsemen and maybe Ash could figure out how to track them because he decided where they were...He would also find his brother.
"As you wish." Cas said taking his arm to transport them back to Bobby's.
He readied himself as Cas placed a hand on his arm and they disappeared. They appeared in an empty living room and Dean sucked in a hard breath as he let the effects of angel travel wear off. He hated doing this, but it was the fastest way to get somewhere when time was of the essence.
spn
Sam drove away from the town in an older model, silver, Chevy Tahoe feeling more camouflaged and more comfortable. He had broken into the used car lot and found the keys deciding it was suitable. He transferred his things and left the Mustang at the front with the keys in it thinking they could take care of it.
Sam planned on driving a few more hours before finding a motel for the night so he could try and get some rest and regroup. He was happy that the hex bags seemed to be working since there had been no signs of Castiel. He was sure Dean had him scouring the area for any signs of him and if he had found any he would have showed up by now. Sam knew there was no way he could convince Dean to let him do this alone and wasn't going to waste his time trying. He turned on the radio and found a station to his liking and adjusted the volume before settling back for the drive ahead of him. Even thought he was studying the road and everything around him, Sam's brain was also working on how to find the next Horseman. He didn't know which one it would be since there were three remaining. He had a feeling that his best bet was finding Famine or Pestilence since he didn't think Death would have been summoned yet. From all he had read he would be the hardest one to call forth and Lucifer would have to bind him to make him do his bidding.
After nearly two hours of driving, Sam decided to call it quits and started looking for a decent motel that he could afford on his last measly dollars. He was going to have to figure out a way to get more money or he would be sleeping in the SUV, but it wouldn't the first time he had done that. He wanted to fill up before getting a room so he could head out bright and early and find another place to lay low and start searching again. Sam found an exit that offered numerous gas stations and several motels and signaled to exit from the interstate. After scanning what prices he could see, Sam headed for a gas station and pulled up to the pumps. He pulled up to the pump and went inside to pay with cash.
"Good afternoon to you sonny." the older man greeted him from behind the register. "How can I help you?"
"I need to get...I guess ten dollars of gas on pump twelve..." Sam replied pulling out his money and checking it. "Man, I wish I could fill it up, but money's tight right now and I don't have enough for gas and a motel room."
"No problem, you go ahead and fill it up." the man said punching in some numbers on the machine that operated the pumps.
"Ummm...But I can't pay." Sam said perplexed with the man's actions.
"You need to fill up right?"
"Yes..."
"You asked and that's what I'm gonna let you do."
Sam was more confused and he remembered something he read and did an experiment. "Mind if I take a drink and granola bar?"
"No you go right ahead young man. Nice day out there isn't it?" he said not knowing what he was really saying.
"Thank you and I'll send you money when I get more." Sam said taking a drink and granola bar and heading out to fill up his car. He was pretty sure that he put that suggestion in the clerk's head and that's why he let him take the two items and fill his car. He didn't like taking advantage of this but right now...It was all he had. Sam was going to take down the address and send money when he had it to pay for the gas and purchases. He filled the SUV and got back on the road to pick out a motel for the night. He chose one farther from the interstate knowing it would have fewer guests and knew they were usually cheaper. He checked in using his new found power and took his things into the room deciding he needed to shower before going to bed. Taking on War wasn't very physical, but it drained him mentally. He dug clean briefs and a tee shirt out and stepped into the bathroom. Sam was going to add this place to his list so he could reimburse them later.
spn
Sam dropped onto the bed but was too wired to sleep yet. He pulled his duffle toward him and pulled the ring from an inside pocket and looked at it closely. He couldn't quiet make out the symbols on it and held it closer to the light. They looked familiar but he could place where he had seemed them before. With a sigh, Sam stored it back in the pocket for safe keeping. His hand brushed across his journal and he pulled it out looking at it for a moment before picking up a pen from the nightstand and opening it to a clean page. Sam began to write notes down about War and the ring and what had happened. His eyes blurred when he pictured Dean knowing Cas would have brought them there to check it out. He could almost feel his anguish to have been so close to catching him but didn't. It tore Sam up to cause his brother so much heartache, but considering the alternative...He hoped Dean would understand if he ever got to tell him. Sam was looking at this mission as one he would not survive. With a heavy heart, he closed the book and slid down in the bed knowing he needed rest.
spn
Cas wandered into the kitchen to find Dean sitting at the kitchen table with a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels sitting in front of him and music playing in the background from an old radio Bobby had put in the kitchen. The words to the song caught his attention and he stopped to listen to them.
'...You don't know Jack
Double shot, eighty proof, on the rocks
Until you've lost it all
And you can't go back
To your life, and your kids, and your ex-wife
With just a telephone call
If you think it's just a bottle
In an old brown paper sack
You don't know Jack ...'
Cas looked back at Dean as he poured another healthy shot into his glass and swirled it around before downing half of it in one long swallow. He didn't even acknowledge Cas being in the room as he drank his sorrows and pain away. Cas didn't know how much Dean had drunk already, but could tell he was drunk. Cas wanted to say something but knew he wasn't in any condition to listen right now. He continued to listen to the music wondering if Dean was hearing any of it.
'...If you never felt the fire
Running through your veins
If you've never seen the devil
Face to face
You don't know Jack
Double shot, eighty proof, on the rocks
Until you've lost it all
So brother just be glad, and tonight
Hold your kids, kiss your wife
And when you talk to God
Count up all your blessings
And thank the good Lord that
You don't know Jack
You don't know Jack'
"Haven't you had enough?" Cas asked reaching for the bottle to take it from Dean but he caught his hand in an iron hard grasp before he could remove the bottle.
"Not if there's still whiskey in the bottle?" Dean growled knowing this wasn't the answer but couldn't stop himself. Sam leaving like he did and now to find out he was going after the Horseman almost broke him, but he couldn't give up yet. He had to find his brother before he got himself killed. He took the last swallow in his glass and capped the bottle deciding he had had enough.
Cas grabbed him before he could fall when he stood and staggered sideways. He transported them upstairs only to have Dean stumble for the bathroom as his stomach rebelled with the sudden movement. Dean dropped down in front of the commode and retched hard tasting Jack one more time.
A/N: Dean's not handling Sam's disappearance very well. I do like reviews...NC