The next day, they went down onto the beach, hoping to get some R&R for the first time in god knew how long...
Dawn had her eyes closed and she could feel the sunshine on her skin and the sand underneath her, tickling her back.
Whoever had said demons were creatures of the night had done a very poor researching job.
Suddenly the sun disappeared from behind her eyelids and she felt Sam's lips on hers. She smiled and locked her arms behind his neck as he leaned over her.
"You never bothered to open your eyes to check if it was really me kissing you?"
Dawn opened her eyes. "Sam! Oh, crap, I thought you were Dean! What if he sees us?"
"Cute."
Dawn smiled and let an admiring hand wander over his bare chest. A part of her wanted to put Sam into a snow suit so no other female being would be allowed marveling at his perfect physique. Considering the heat, though, Dawn had admitted she would have to refrain from the plan.
Which led to her practically turning into a clingy, overprotective wife while they were at the beach and Sam shaking his head over her with a smile.
Dawn wished they had Sammy with them… not only because she missed their son, but also because a baby was about the best buzz kill, even better than spandex underwear. In other words, Sammy would most certainly take care of no other woman hitting on her husband.
"Really, Sam, you think that after all this time, I don't know how you feel?" Dawn sat up, "Besides, there are only a few guys who have shoulders like yours and even less guys who can approach me undetected."
"So, I was wondering." Sam played with her hair.
"I sense nothing good coming out of your mouth."
He just smirked. "Can you even bathe in the ocean?"
"Why wouldn't I-" Dawn frowned. "Oh, right. Salt water. Haha."
"So, can you?"
"Sam, you nearly choked me to death with salty pancakes, you really think I could dive into a pool of 50% sodium water?"
"It's 4%, actually."
"What?"
"The average salt content of oceans is 4%, not 50%."
"Of all guys, I had to marry a book smart smartass." Dawn rolled her eyes dramatically and pulled Sam down to her.
"You don't seem to mind," He grinned, "Besides…" He kissed her, "I'm not," Kiss again, "Only book smart."
"No," Dawn kissed him, "But primarily."
"And you love it."
"No, I love you. If that means having to put up with a few smartass remarks and the occasional murder attempt, fine."
"Oh, come on, Dawn, how long are you going to hold the salty pancakes over me?"
"Until you start the next attempt, at least; what's it going to be? Holy water in my cocktail? Silver jewelery? Or maybe salty holy water coming out of the shower head?"
"So you can't bathe in the ocean."
"Wow, we're discussing me possibly turning up my toes, and you're still working on your research paper 'What demons can and can't do'. Well, hopefully it'll earn you the doctor's title."
"Do you ever shut up?" Sam grinned, kissed her and pulled Dawn on top of him.
"Sam, we're at a public beach."
"I know. And?"
"And you're momentarily soft-pedaling my inhibitions." Dawn mumbled as she buried her hands in Sam's hair and deepened their kiss.
"I strongly suggest we get back to our hotel room then… wouldn't want to do anything morally reprehensible in front of all the innocent children."
"I'm a demon, I'm allowed to," Dawn replied, unimpressed.
"I'm not. So unless you want to go into the ocean to…"
"Alright, alright, hotel room, but hurry up." Dawn groused and quickly got up. On second thought…
"You just gave impatience new dimension," Sam stated dryly when they stood in their room. Dawn had just teleported them.
"Yes, I did," Dawn replied happily and set to removing what little clothes they had on their bodies.
That was a definite advantage of beach holidays: The dress code saved time undressing.
Later that night, or past midnight specifically, Sam dragged Dawn down to the beach.
She sighed, staring at the water, staring at the moonlight and stars littering the sky like an explosion. It really was quite beautiful, day and night. And with Sam, it got sexy.
Sam smiled. 'What? Scared?' Dawn chuckled, then backed up a little as a wave came in, almost hitting her bare feet.
Dawn chuckled again, then said. 'No.' Sam sighed, taking his shirt off and letting it drop onto the moonlit sand. 'It won't affect you. I assure you Dawn. You really think I'd let you get hurt? Trust me.'
Dawn sighed, then took of the little black dress Sam had been looking forward to seeing her in and put it with his shirt. She stood at the waters edge in her bikini and groaned again.
Sam sighed, then grabbed Dawn making her scream out in shock as he put her over his shoulders and threw her into the water. She came up coughing, but then found out her fears were for nothing as the water was warn and soothing instead of burning pain.
She scowled at Sam now. 'That wasn't nice!' Sam chuckled, then walked closer and put his hands on her bare waist, leaning down to kiss her. 'Told you trust me.' he said softly, smiling again. Dawn smiled now, then said. 'I trusted you really.'
Sam raised an eyebrow, then said. 'Why did you freak out then?'
Dawn scoffed. 'You threw me in the ocean Sam.' Sam chuckled, then pushed the wet hair from her face and said. 'You're so cute when you're angry.' Dawn shook her head, still pissed off, but she soon melted into his arms as he kissed her again, then she grinned and pushed hard, making him fall over backwards into the water.
He came up with a bought of coughing, then a feral grin spread across his face. 'Oh so you wanna play dirty eh?' Dawn giggled, then backed off into deeper water. Sam chuckled, then caught her making her laugh.
'You naughty boy.' She said as he kissed her neck, hands clamped on her waist. He grinned. 'And? I don't hear you complaining.' Dawn raised an eyebrow. 'You must be deaf then. You were more nicer when you were soulless.' Sam chuckled. 'I thought I was a beasty sex god then?'
Dawn stopped dead, which made him laugh and say. 'Oh, Dean told me everything you little minx.' Dawn scowled- that bastard. Sam chuckled again, then said. 'You know I love you yeah? even if we are close to being kicked out the hotel because you're so loud.' Dawn nodded with a smirk, then traced patterns on his chest from the moonlight reflecting of the water. 'It's nature baby, so get over it and yeah I know... But you're so hot, so not my fault. They're just jealous that we have a sex life and they don't.' Sam just shook his head in amusement, then lowered himself to Dawns height, which was about a foot shorter, then picked her up so she could wrap her bare legs around his waist and kiss her.
Dawn nuzzled his neck, then said. 'Shouldn't we be getting back to the hotel?'
Sam didn't speak for a start, but just traced a hand down her back, making little shivers run through her, then met her eyes. 'Nahh, we've seen the sunset, now shall we watch the sunrise? That romantic enough for you Mrs?'
Dawn smiled, then raised a hand and ran it through his hair, stopping at the nape of his neck. 'Sure thing Mr.'
Sam let Dawn get back onto her feet, then took her hand as he led her onto the beach, the high dunes with long yellow and brown grass growing out of it.
He lay down, then pulled Dawn into his arms so she could rest her head on his chest. But before she did so, she turned her head and kissed him passionately for a minuet or two, then stared up at the sky with him.
'I think I see the Impala.' She chuckled not long after, pointing up at a constellation. Sam chuckled Constellation of Impala? You should tell Dean that, he'd love you forever.' Dawn laughed. 'Can't people marry cars? Because I'm sure Dean thinks that car has feelings.'
Sam shook his head, kissing her palm. 'I've tried... and failed.' Dawn chuckled, then snuggled further into his chest closing her eyes.
Nothing could destroy this moment... not even Lucifer himself.
Dawn woke with the feeling of having a construction site inside her head.
She found she couldn't move.
'Thought I told Sam I wasn't into bondage…' Dawn thought, then slowly opened her eyes; and was suddenly wide awake. This definitely wasn't Florida. It might not even be earth. But it definitely wasn't the beach no more- and where was Sam-?
"Finally awake, I see. Well, I gotta tell you, I almost feared my lackey went a little too harsh on you."
Crowley. That son of a hell's bitch.
"You fucking son of a bitch, let me go! Where's Sam!"
"Dawn, why so uncivil?"
"Maybe because you're a deceiving bastard?" Dawn tugged at her restraints, without success.
"I took such good care of your little baby boy for a year, after you, his own mother, deserted him, and this is the thanks I get?"
Dawn felt tears burn in her eyes, but never would she allow them to spill over.
Crowley walked around her, continuing in his conversational tone: "So, daughter of Lilith, there's something I want to know."
"Whether potency pills will work on demons?"
"No need for them, Dawn honey." Crowley didn't blink, "I would prove it to you, but time's running short. And married women tend to be rather boring."
"Great, then since I'm not entertaining, you might as well let me go."
"Not so fast, Mrs Winchester."
Dawn stopped struggling and looked at Crowley in shock. She had never heard that tone from him, and slowly started to get scared.
Well, on the upside, it meant some part of her soul was still working, right? She hoped so...
"Where's purgatory?"
Dawn would have shaken her head in confusion had she been given the liberty to. "What?"
"Where. Is. Purgatory?"
"Check your backyard."
"I'm not fooling around, Dawn."
"I got that the moment I was tied up, thanks."
"There'll be a lot worse coming towards you if you don't talk."
"I can't tell you what I don't know!"
Seething hot pain shot through Dawn's body, and half-blinded, she saw Crowley pull the knife out of her waist again. "I'm serious, Dawn. Tell me where purgatory is, or you'll wish you'd never have been born."
"Totally overused line, that doesn't work on me. Besides, how many days do you think I woke up and already wished that? I'm not scared of you, Crowley."
"That's because you haven't heard the full extent of what I'm willing to do to get purgatory's location out of you."
"What, you're going to slice up the other side, too?" Dawn gritted her teeth. "Go ahead, if it makes you feel like a man."
Crowley did so, and Dawn nearly bit her tongue off keeping the groans of pain in.
"Now," Crowley continued casually, "We ready to talk yet?"
"What makes you think I know where purgatory is?"
"Hm, let's see: Your Lilith's daughter and Sam Winchester's dearest. And a bloody demon at that. Reason enough?"
"I don't fucking know!" Dawn cried out, then scowled. "What you need it for, anyways?"
"That is none of your business, sweetheart." Crowley's voice turned ice-cold. "I strongly suggest you spill, Dawn. Or I'll send an efficient team of bricklayers to your dear husband to hammer away a little on that wall inside his mind."
Dawn felt as if a bucket of arctic water had been poured over her. "No," She breathed. "Don't you…!"
"Don't I, what?" Crowley looked at her daringly. "I will break down that wall that is holding your hubby's fractured sanity together. I wonder if he's quite so loveable as a drooling mess. Now, wouldn't that put a damper on your young marriage?"
Dawn felt as if she were drowning in despair; she didn't know where purgatory was. Crowley would kill Sam doing that… and she couldn't do anything against it.
"Crowley, please…"
"So cuddly all of a sudden?"
"Look, I don't know where purgatory is, I don't! Don't you think I'd tell you if I knew?"
"Considering your lacking helpfulness and gratitude in the past… I think you really might not tell me."
"You son of a bitch!" Dawn cried helplessly.
"Last chance, Dawn. Talk, or little Sammy can visit his daddy in the asylum."
One tear managed to creep out of Dawn's eye. "I don't know. Just let me go."
"Sorry, can't. But I bet Sam's going to be relieved to hear you stuck to your principles of not helping demons."
With that, Crowley was gone.
Dawn collapsed; mentally, physically, everything. After everything, she'd finally gotten what she wanted, and now it was getting destroyed for good.
Had she never gotten the taste of happiness in the first place, this might have been easier to bear. Now? It would kill her...
Everything went dark as the pain swallowed her...
Dawns first thought was that she'd died and gone to Heaven- not very likely mind. But she heard someone calling her name, urgently now.
Was it Lucifer-? Beckoning her soul into Hell-?
She ignored the voice, drifting off again.
'Dawn!'
But now... she knew that voice...
Her eyes opened to face a figure as bound as she was- albeit, she was the one with salt soaked iron chairs around her, burning into her skin and making her space out as the agony shot through her again.
'Sa- Sam-?'
Her eyes opened further and she saw him chained as she was on the wall now, but unlike Dawn, he was devoid of painful chains. 'Sa- am?' She asked again, opening her eyes further. She saw his concerned expression, his eyes on her sides where Crowley had cut into it; they weren't healing well.
'Are you ok?' He asked, pulling against the chains, but to no avail. They were securely fastened to the wall. He sighed, then looked back at her. 'Dawn-? Talk to me!'
'I don't know...' she just muttered, feeling as if she'd been drugged. Maybe she had. 'I don-t know...' she said again, more strongly this time.
'Don't know what-?'
'Purgatory... I don't know where it is... he won't believe me.'
Sam understood- Crowley. He'd literally woken up here and found Dawn gone. After a while, they'd moved him here, and he saw her, sides all cut up. They were still bleeding in places, dripping onto the floor and pooling at her feet.
He was going to kill that bastard slowly...
'So... feel like talking yet sweetie?'
Sam looked to his left and saw the bastard himself walk in. Crowley walked up to Sam and said. 'Hello Sam.' Sam growled, and Crowley laughed. 'Nice doggy (!)' then looked at the golden ring on the chain around his neck- he hadn't wanted to risk losing it on a hunt. Crowley chuckled, then he turned back to Dawn and said again.
'So- Purgatory-?'
Dawn shook her head. 'I don't know... where it is.' Crowley chuckled, then said. 'Ding- wrong answer, and Sam yelled out in agony, making her head snap up, eyes wide and horrified.
'Stop it!' She yelled, snarling at the demon. He chuckled, then Sam stopped and Dawn realized- Crowley had said he would...
Chip at the barrier, make Sam insane...
Make him lose his soul again...
'I don't know!' Dawn said again, more pleadingly this time, tears rolling down her face. Crowley shook his head, and she heard Sam growl this time.
Dawn just shook her head. 'I don't know! Please...'
Crowley stared at Dawn- if she knew and wasn't telling, she was to be admired for her persistence. But...
He realized- there was one thing she'd never put in danger-her husband. Sam.
She was telling the truth.
Crowley glanced at Sam; he was unconcious in his bonds now. He sighed under his breath, then snapped his fingers, letting them both crash down. He sighed, then vanished, leaving them there.
Dawn groaned as she landed on her side- it hurt big time. Then she saw Sam.
Had they broken his walls down-?
She reached over and touched him.
They reappeared in her house, and she saw Dean on the sofa jump of in shock at the sight, eyes wide. 'Sam? Dawn?' he muttered, then rushed over.
'Sam! Dawn!'
Dawns eyes closed again...
Crowley! You-! Grr... I don't like you anymore now:P Oh? Turn of events- has Sams walls been broken down? Guess we'll find next chapter! Reviews much, much loved:D X Nic&Ana
