Sorry for not updating lately... school, haunted house, other ...stuff makes it hard to write
Chapter 35
"It feels wrong, leaving Charlie trapped like that," Sam confessed as the Impala flew down the interstate
"It's not really her, no anymore," Dean rationalized even though the feeling of regret had settled in his heart too.
"But she feels it," Sam whispered, "She's trapped in her own body screaming for help. If he really didn't come straight back from '79..." Sam only remembered a day of being Lucifer's vessel. He couldn't imagine Charlie having to live that for years not even able to fight.
"That's why we have to finish this," Cas reminded them. "Chamuel is dead and we're one step closer to closing Eden."
"So Eden's your plan?" The boys jumped as Ruth popped into the back seat laughing. "Eden. You've got to be kidding me. You should just say yes now and spare yourself the disappointment. It will never work."
"Get out of here Ruth, we don't need your help. By the way, not the greatest guardian angel. Where were you when Chamuel almost ripped us apart?"
"I wasn't concerned," Ruth replied nonchalantly. "And even if I was, even if Michael gave me a direct order I wouldn't have shown up. Going against an archangel, even a fallen one, it's suicide."
"Well, we just survived the fall and we're opening Eden whether you angels like it or not. So help us, or leave," Sam spit back.
"Feisty," Ruth laughed. "Despite your apparent hatred of any angel, no wonder you've let Castiel go graceless for so long, I'm going to help you."
"Why should we trust you not to stab us in the back? Actually, why shouldn't we just stab you this very second?" Dean's fury at the angels and their plans and their deceiving nature and everything about them was being spit out on Ruth.
"Because I don't want to see half the planet get roasted any more than you do!" Ruth remarked. "Look here. There is a reason Michael asked me to protect you and not one of the other guardians who might be a bit more qualified to deal with insolent hunters. He asked me because I spent years in prison for you!"
"You were one of the 36?" Cas asked both astounded and disbelieving. No way could Ruth, of all angels, have been part of that.
"Yes," Ruth replied truthfully, "I was one of the 36 angels who stopped a seal from being broken. A seal that the archangels wanted broken. We were given explicit orders to let Kevin Tran, who was destined to be a prophet, die and we saved him. I did my darndest to save him again this time but it's hard to save someone who'd rather die than live another moment."
"Cas, is she telling the truth?" Dean remarked as if she wasn't even there.
"I don't know. She's not lying about the fact that 36 angels did stop Kevin's from dying but I never knew who those 36 were. Though I doubt Michael would let Ruth out if she was one of them. They disobeyed orders and can't be trusted.
"Michael let me out because he knew you'd trust no angel besides me! I sided with you three the first time because I knew that once Lucifer was free it wouldn't end until he was dead. And killing Lucifer… it would be at the cost of many lives. There was a time when we swore to protect every human life, no matter the cost. I wish I knew where that got lost."
No one doubted Ruth's sincerity because they knew her tone of regret. "Fine. You can help. But one sign of trouble and I have plenty of angel blades around to stab you with." Dean finished with a disgruntled nod.
"So, if we're opening Eden we need to figure out where I discovered the difference between good and evil. Any clue where that could be?" Sam asked to receive a shrug from his friends.
"If I had to make a guess… I'd say it would be your bedroom, in Lawrence. Usually it would be the place you first sinned… but what Azazel did was plant evil inside you. The trials you did, they cleared that evil from you system even without you finishing them, but I still stand by the fact that it would be there." Ruth guessed.
No one liked the idea of going to Lawrence, especially back to that house. Yet, they knew that would be their only option due to the fact that if you're a Winchester the only option is always the one you like least.
The Winchesters found, to their surprise, that Ruth preferred to sit through the long ride and make it very awkward. Finally, Cas, who had made no attempt at hiding his dislike for the angel snapped, "Why don't you go ahead and scout out. Make sure there are no demons waiting to ambush us there."
Ruth rolled her eyes, "Nice try Castiel but you're not getting rid of me that easily."
"Is there something we should know? About you two? Or your past?" Sam asked awkwardly.
Ruth chuckled while Cas looked abashed. "No, nothing like that. I was Castiel's judge, when he allowed Vassagio to be turned into a demon it was I who suggested the punishment of removing him from his post."
"Oh… that makes sense," Sam muttered wishing it had never come up in the first place.
When they arrived in Lawrence Dean turned to his companions. "So it's all good and such that Sam spills his blood up in his room, but isn't that supposed to happen while he's being tempted by Lucifer? How are we supposed to get him here when he knows what we're up to? How do we know he hasn't just sent some demons to finish us off?"
"Now, I could be wrong, they do say there is a first time for everything, but I don't sense any demons," Ruth retorted arrogantly causing Cas to glare at her annoyed.
"Well great, there is no one here to murder us, but that doesn't solve the problem that Dean's right, we're never getting Lucifer here," Sam discouraged. What had they been thinking? How was Sam supposed to open Eden with Lucifer knowing just what they were up to? This entire thing was a waste.
Ruth sighed and everyone grew weary. Angels don't sigh. Granted, Ruth has spent too much time on Earth to be really angel-ly but for her to be sighing it couldn't be good.
"What?" Dean asked.
"We could always summon him," Ruth suggested with a shrug.
"You can't just summon the Devil," Dean scoffed until he looked into Castiel and Ruth's faces. "Can you?"
"You can't," Castiel replied sounding resigned. "But an archangel could."
"Well, unfortunately, we don't have any archangels at our disposal," Sam reminded.
"But we could," Dean whispered. "It's time, isn't it? I can't run anymore?" Ruth's only reply was a gentle nod.
"Dean. Don't. There has to be another way," Cas pleaded with the man who was closer than a brother. "We don't know what this will do to you! It might drive you insane."
"Wouldn't be the first time one of us went down that path," Dean joked his heart not into it. "But I made a promise to Charlie, and if there is one thing I do it's keep my promises."
"You'll be fine." Despite his words of encouragement Sam couldn't help but feel that he was saying goodbye to the brother who once carried him from that very house. If this went sideways, if Sam failed, Dean would die and with him the world.
"See you soon," Dean whispered as Ruth placed her hand on his shoulder teleporting them both away.