Author's Note: So, this chapter was supposed to be posted three days ago but there were so many blocks in the way. First I had this huge paper for Western Civ. Then I was hospitalized early yesterday night. But, I'm back and here it is. Happy Reading and make sure to tell me what you think! ~Beccatdemon13
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Lazarus Rising
"There are two types of secrets: the kind that you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare let out."
Dean's Point of View
Blood was everywhere, coating me like a second skin. It was to my understanding that hell was different for everyone. For me it was nothing but pain and inflicting pain. I was able to get off the rack if I put souls on. The old me never would've considered hurting other people to save myself, but this version of me was different. A lot could happen in a small amount of time. This me understood how torturing could be a necessity, how it was nice to be the one inflicting pain instead of being tormented.
Time passed differently here, in ways it flew by faster than I ever thought was possible. In other ways it passed by so slowly that every second seemed like an eternity had passed. My only sanctuary were my dreams. I dreamt that my family were okay that they were surviving, thriving without me there.
Suddenly there was a sharp pulling motion and I was laying down, it was pitch black, which was my first clue that wherever I was it wasn't hell. Hell was dark, sure but it was light enough to see exactly what was going on. To see the hurt I was inflicting and the hurt that was being inflicted on me.
My body thrummed anxiously as I looked around unable to see anything, except to know somewhere deep down inside that I was trapped in a small, enclosed space, a wooden coffin? I flicked a lighter that was in my hand and looked around. Yup, definitely a coffin, I noted with increasing dread. The smell of dirt was overwhelming as I coughed and gasped weakly. What the hell was going on?
"Help!" I cried my voice was so hoarse it hurt to scream but I continued to do so, "Help!"
I pounded on the wood above my face, closing my eyes when dirt dropped on top of me. I continued to pound gasping as the wood splintered and the dirt rushed in. It took nearly forever to get out of the shallow grave, as my hands finally scraped against the surface I shoved the rest of my battered body through gasping for breathe. I turned over panting and trembling grateful that I was alive, this wasn't hell, and most importantly, I was out of that god-forsaken grave.
After a few moments I stood on shaky legs looking around in the glaring sunlight. There was a crude headstone that marked my grave and in a perfect circle were a lot of dead trees, lying on the ground as if they had all been felled at once. I shuddered as I began to walk, making my way, hopefully towards some other form of life. The heat made the walk so much harder, with every step my thirst grew as heat seemed to rise visibly from the concrete. I saw, in the distance an abandoned gas station and continued to move until I was right in front of the station, pounding on the door.
"Hello?" I shouted.
When there was no answer I took my jacket untying it around my waist and rolling it over my right hand as I broke the glass on the door. I reached through the new hole opening the door. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and chugged it down, gasping. As I finished my water bottle I looked at a stray newspaper.
"Thursday, September 18th," I read. "September?"
It had been only four months. I shook my head as I wandered off in search of a bathroom. I washed my face in the dingy sink, looking up and stared at my reflection. I frowned as I stepped away and pulled my shirt up to expose my chest. It was perfectly fine. Almost too fine, there were no scars from hunts gone awry. There wasn't even the deep scar from when a bullet wound had to be cauterized when I was eighteen years old. I shuddered as I felt the hell hounds claws and teeth ripping into my skin cutting down to bone. I then pulled my tee shirt up so I could see my left shoulder, where I distinctly remember my collarbone breaking. In it's lace was a large, raw, handprint that was branded on my skin.
I stepped away from the mirror and grabbed a plastic bag filling it with a couple candy bars, water, and a Busty Asian Beauties magazine just so that I'd have the bare essentials. I went up to the counter and hit the button to make the cash draw pop out. I began to gather the cash, flinching when the TV suddenly turns on leaving only static in its wake. I shut it off; only to have the radio to my right turn on and it was white noise. I frowned as I moved back to the shelves as I grabbed a carton of salt, opening it and beginning to pour it along the windowsill. A high-pitched single tone began and I clutched my left ear as I continued to pour salt on the window. The high-pitched noise continued to gain volume as I sank to the ground, groaning in pain. Suddenly every window shattered and I curled up trying to protect myself against the sharp shards of falling glass. When the noise stopped I stood up and looked around cautiously, this place was wrecked. I eyed a phone booth across the way and grabbed my bag, the money and left before anything else could explode.
I shut the phone booth's door as I dialed Sam's number. I heard the alert tone saying the number had been disconnected. I frowned as I got the exact same messages from both Hailey and Aiden's phones. Ignoring the sudden pit in my stomach I dialed another familiar number huffing out a breath when it actually went through.
"Yeah?" Bobby growled.
"Bobby," I rasped.
"Yeah?" Bobby repeated.
Well, he certainly sounded friendly.
"It's me," I replied.
"Who's 'me'?" Bobby growled.
"Dean," I said.
A click of the receiver greeted me after that. I rolled my eyes and dialed again.
"Who is this?" Bobby demanded.
"Bobby, please, listen to me," I pleaded.
"This isn't funny," Bobby hissed. "Call again, and I'll kill you."
He hung up again and I glowered at the phone. That was some welcome home phone call. My eyes roamed the terrain before spotting an old, beat to hell white car parked outside. I grinned as I walked over throwing open the door and hotwiring the car. I didn't exactly know where I was but I could find Bobby's house blindfolded.
The drive felt like it took forever when in reality it only took a couple of hours as I floored it down the interstate. I parked further in the lot than I normally would and walked up, pounding on the door. Bobby threw it open shooting me a look I could only describe as bewildered.
"Surprise?" I grinned.
"I…" Bobby stuttered. "I…don't?"
"Yeah, me neither," I replied, honestly, "But here I am."
I entered the house looking at Bobby suspiciously. Suddenly, Bobby lunged forward silver knife t the ready. I jumped back twisting his arm to get the knife way from me. Bobby broke the grip quickly and backhanded me quickly across the face.
"Bobby!" I protested. "It's me!"
"My ass!" Bobby roared.
I moved behind a chair shoving it between us as I held a hand out, "Whoa, whoa, wait! Your name is Robert Steven Singer. You became a hunter after your wife got possessed, and…you're the closest thing I have to a father. Bobby, please, it's me!"
Bobby lowered the knife and stepped forward slowly. Just when I thought he finally believed me the once friendly grip on my shoulder tightens as Bobby slashed down with the knife. I ducked out of the way grabbing the blade and tearing it away from him.
"I am not a shapeshifter!" I snapped.
"Then you're a Revenant!" Bobby fired back.
I shoved Bobby way and held the knife out in front of me.
"All right, if I were either, could I do this?" I said laying the blade on my arm. "With a silver knife.
I cut quickly and blood welled to the surface as my eyes met Bobby's.
"Dean?" Bobby whispered.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you," I muttered.
I walked forward looking at Bobby, pleading with him to believe me. When he did he pulled me into a tight hug that I returned with enthusiasm, relief all over my face.
"It's…it's good to see you, boy," Bobby grinned.
"Yeah, you too," I sighed.
"But, how did you bust out?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know," I answered. "I just, uh, I just woke up in pine box…"
Cold water came flying at me going into my mouth and dripping onto my shirt, "I'm not a demon either, you know."
"Sorry," Bobby winced, "Can't be too careful."
Bobby snagged me a towel as we walked further into the house. I wiped my face as we continued to walk.
"But, that doesn't make lick of sense," Bobby mused.
"Yeah," I frowned. "Yeah, you're preaching to the choir."
"Dean, you're chest was ribbons, your insides were slop and you've been buried four months," Bobby sighed. "Even if you could slip out of hell and back into your meat suit."
"I know, I should look a Thriller video reject," I huffed.
"What do you remember?" Bobby asked.
"Not much, I remember I was a Hellhound's chew toy, and then…lights out," I shrugged. "Then I come to six feet under, and that was it. So, uh, none of their numbers re working, Bobby. They're uh... they're not…"
"Oh, no they're alive, as far as I know," Bobby said.
"Good," I sighed then thought about what he said, "Wait, what do you mean, as far as you know?"
"I haven't talked to them in months," Bobby confessed.
"You're kidding," I growled. "You just let them go off by themselves."
"They were dead set on it."
"Bobby, you should've been looking out for them," I mumbled. "Did they at least go together?"
"No," Bobby answered.
"Terrific," I grumbled.
"Hey, I tried," Bobby retorted. "These last months haven't been exactly easy, you know. For them or me, we had to bury you."
"Why did you bury me, anyway?" I wondered.
"I wanted you salted and burned," Bobby said. "Usual drill. But, when I mentioned it they damn near bit my head off."
"Well, I'm glad they won that one," I replied.
"Sam said you'd need a body when he got you back home somehow," Bobby sighed. "That's about all he said."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He was quiet, real quiet," Bobby shrugged. "They all were and then they just took off. Wouldn't return any of my phone calls. I tried to find him but those boys and Hailey didn't wanna be found."
"Oh, damnit, Sammy," I growled.
"What?" Bobby asked.
"Oh, he got me home okay," I nodded. "But whatever he did, it is bad mojo."
"What makes you so sure?" Bobby questioned.
"You should've seen the grave site," I stated. "It was like nuke went off. And then there was this…this force, this presence, I don't know, but it, it blew past me at fill-up joint. And then there's this."
I shrugged off my jacket and rolled up my sleeve to show Bobby the brand. Bobby stood up looking completely aghast, "What in the hell?"
"It's like a demon just yanked me out," I shrugged. "Or rode me out."
"But why?" Bobby questioned.
"To hold up their end of the bargain," I muttered.
"You think Sam made a deal?" Bobby sighed.
"No, it could've been Hailey or Aiden too," I said. "It's what I would've done for them."
"Well, what are we going to do?" Bobby said.
"We find them, that's what," I answered.
I heard Bobby's indignant huff behind me as I grabbed his phone dialing the phone company's number. No matter how many phones we had gone through we always used one specific company so that we'd be able to find one another again.
"Yeah, hi, I have cell phone account with you guys, and uh, I lost my phone," I said the woman who was helping me. "I was wondering if you'd turn the GPS on for me? The name's Wedge Antilles. Social is 2-4-7-4. Thank you."
"How'd you know he'd use that name?" Bobby wondered.
"You kiddin?" I scoffed. "What don't I know about that kid? Huh."
"What?" Bobby asked.
"Sam's in Pontiac, Illinois," I stated.
"Right near where you were planted," Bobby said.
"Right where I popped up, hell of coincidence don't you think?" I wondered.
"Let's go," Bobby said.
He didn't have to tell me twice as I got up and followed Bobby to his old beat up mustang and drove in the direction of Illinois
Hailey's Point of View
"Would you do me a favor, skank, and stop parading around in your underwear?"
"If you got it flaunt it, sweetheart," Ruby retorted.
What do you have to flaunt?" I scoffed. " A rotting corpse? Hot. I bet that really gets the necrophiliacs going, doesn't it, Rubes?"
"Just because you're jealous this body actually has tits…" Ruby began.
"Finish that sentence and coma girl's gonna get a nose job free of charge," I hissed.
"Guys!" Sam shouted. "Enough. Hails, if you can't wait for the pizza in here without picking a fight go back to the room."
"God damn it, Sam," I fumed. "It's one thing to actually trust her but do you really have to side with your demon fuck buddy every single time we argue?"
"Hailey," Sam growled. "I'm not going to ask you again. Go."
"Whatever, Sammy," I rolled my eyes. "Tell the guy to deliver the pizza to my room. I need a break from all this demonic camaraderie."
"Hailey," Sam hissed.
"I'm going, I'm going," I muttered. "Way to get your panties in wad."
I slammed Sam's door behind me as I stalked through the room I shared with Aiden. He looked up from his laptop and raised an eyebrow at me.
"What?" I mumbled.
"Oh, nothing," Aiden snickered. "I just haven't seen you radiate this much teen angst in ages. I think the last time was when Dean refused to let you get that lacy bra you wanted. Said it didn't need to be fancy because no one would be seeing it."
"Shut up, Aiden," I growled.
"Seriously, Hay, she riles you up on purpose and you let her get to you," Aiden sighed.
"She doesn't belong here, Aiden," I hissed." You know that."
"Yeah, but Sam is convinced that we need her help and he's the one in charge," Aiden shrugged.
"So, you're just going to fall into line?" I demanded. "Just like that?"
"Yeah, Hay, just like that," Aiden retorted. "It's not like it's some new rule of something it has always been Dad, then Dean, then Sam."
I had a non-committal noise as I mentioned showering as I stormed into the bathroom locking the door behind me. I threw my towel and my change of clothes on the counter top as I waited for the water to come to temperature. I stripped out of my sweats groaning as my mind continued to seethe without my approval. It was just a frustrating situation, we had never had problems with finding demons in the past, hell some came gunning right for us, I didn't see why all of a sudden we needed another demons help.
I stepped in the hot water breathing out a sigh of relief, no matter how bad things got at least a shower always seemed to make things better. That and imagining myself running Ruby through with that special knife of hers.
"Hay, I'm going to check if the pizza is here!" Aiden shouted from the other side of the door, "Make sure you don't use up all the hot water, alright?"
"Yeah!" I responded.
Sam's Point of View
It drove me absolutely nuts that Ruby and Hailey continued to fight like cats and dogs, exchanging digs designed to antagonize the other into starting a fight, which really was the exact last thing I needed. I took a shower in the time it took to get the pizza. Ruby was staking out the room. Say what you will about women but in all my experience with women none of them ever had a problem eating. Hell, Hailey, could eat Dean under the table on some occasions and that was saying something.
"So, where is it?" I heard Ruby demand as the door swung open after someone knocked on it.
"Where's what?" Someone asked.
"The pizza," Ruby retorted angrily. "That takes two guys to deliver?"
"I think we have the wrong room," The person said again.
I frowned recognizing that voice from somewhere. I stepped out of the bathroom and into the living room/ bed area and my jaw fell to the floor, standing in front of me was the very person I had resigned myself to never seeing again.
"Hiya, Sammy," 'Dean' whispered
His voice was low, quiet even, like trying not to startle me. I looked to the other person in the hallway. Bobby stood eyeing me in a way that I couldn't analyze. As 'Dean' stepped into the room pushing by Ruby, who was doing an awesome job at playing clueless, I lunged. Ruby screamed in shock as 'Dean' blocked my attack and Bobby pulled me off gripping me tightly around the shoulders.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"Like you didn't do this?" 'Dean' bit back.
"Do what?" I screamed.
"Enough," Bobby ordered shaking me sharply, "It's him, Sam. I've been through this already it's really him."
"What…?" I whispered as the fight rushed out of my body as I gaped at my older brother standing in front of me.
Distracting us was another voice joining the fray as someone pushed the door open.
"Hey is the pizza here yet…" Aiden asked before trailing off and looking at the scene he walked in on. "Dean?"
"Hi, little brother," Dean greeted.
Dean paused staring at our little brother critically, almost making sure he was in one piece before turning back to me. "I know. I look fantastic, huh?"
Bobby's grip loosened as I walked forward, pulling Dean into a hug. He hugged me back, clutching at me as desperately as I clutched at him, tears filling my eyes. Dean was back, I didn't know how he managed to pull it off but I didn't care all that mattered was that he was back. I pulled him to arms length and just looked at him.
"So, are you two like…together?" Ruby asked.
"What?" I scoffed. "No. No. He's my brother.
"Uh, I got it…I guess," Ruby tilted her head. "I should probably go."
"Aiden," I whispered.
I glanced from Ruby to Aiden who was shaking slightly staring at Dean. His eyes were welling up with tears. He looked at me before looking back at Dean.
"It's okay, junior," Dean soothed. "It's me. Come here."
Aiden didn't need to be told twice as he rushed at Dean nearly bowling him over with his eagerness. Dean held him tightly as Aiden shook with sobs, muttering something to Dean that I couldn't exactly hear.
"Aiden, it wasn't your fault," Dean soothed. "God, kid, you eat anything since I've been gone?"
Aiden said something else and Dean scoffed pulling away to look in Aiden's eyes, "We're getting you a cheeseburger."
"We're waiting for pizza," Aiden corrected.
Dean smiled mussing Aiden's hair as he walked over to the table. Bobby shut the door after Ruby and we walked over to the table. Aiden and I sat down as both Bobby and Dean stood across from us with their arms crossed looking at us suspiciously.
"So, tell me, what'd it cost?" Dean asked.
"The girl?" I smiled. "I don't pay, Dean."
"That's not funny. Sam," Dean growled. "To bring me back. What'd it cost? Was it just your soul, or was it something worse?"
"You think I made deal?" I whispered.
"That's exactly what we think," Bobby stated.
"Well, I didn't," I shrugged.
"One of you did," Dean said moving his stern gaze to Aiden.
"I didn't do it," Aiden said.
"Don't lie to me," Dean growled staring at the both of us intently.
"We're not lying!" Aiden snapped.
"So, what now?" Dean demanded advancing towards me. "I'm off the hook and you're on, is that it? You're some demon's bitch-boy? I didn't want to be saved like this."
"Look, Dean, I wish I had done it, all right?" I retorted rising to my feet and glaring angrily at him.
"There's no other way that this could've gone down," Dean corrected snatching me up by my shirtfront. "Now tell the truth!"
"I tried everything, that's the truth," I hissed. "I tried opening the Devil's Gate. Hell, I tried to bargain, Dean, but no demon would deal, all right? You were rotting in Hell for months. For months, and I couldn't stop it. So, I'm sorry it wasn't me, all right?" Dean, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Sammy," Dean sighed. "You don't have to apologize, I believe you."
"I didn't do it either, Dean, I swear it," Aiden murmured.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm gladdened that Sam and Aiden's souls remain intact, but it does raise a sticky question," Bobby stated.
"If you two didn't pull me out, then who did?" Dean replied.
Hailey's Point of View
After I showered I changed into one of Aiden's old Stanford tees and a pair of short shorts as I walked down the hallway, my stomach was growling. I threw open the door and shut it behind me turning slowly on one white-socked foot. What I saw in front of me of me was not what I expected. Aiden, Sam and Bobby were gathered around the table. The other person with them was Dean he had his back to me and was still talking.
"If you two didn't pull me out, then who did?" Dean asked.
The sound of the door had everyone's head snapped to look at me.
"Hailey," Dean whispered.
I took a step back completely shocked. Dean wasn't supposed to be here. Nothing we could do could get him out so how was he just here? It couldn't be him but could a shapeshifter really fool three of the best hunters I knew?
"No," I whispered. "You can't be."
I looked at Sam and Aiden knowing how desperate Aiden, Sam, and I were to have Dean be here with us, alive and well. But, it's been four months even if he had found a way to get out of hell, he shouldn't look like this. Like nothing had happened those four months ago. I gulped making up my mind and lunging towards Dean.
"What are you?" I screamed.
Aiden and Sam reacted instantly each grabbing an arm so that I was dangling between them.
"Hailey, it's him," Sam stated firmly. "It's really him."
"Dee?" I whimpered.
"Baby girl," Dean smiled.
Sam and Aiden placed me gently on my feet as I lunged once more at Dean, this time into his open arms. He swooped me up and held me tightly. I wrapped my arms around his neck as my legs wrapped around his waist, a hold that I had perfected since I was four years old. Tears filled my eyes as I fought them back. Everything was all right again. We stayed like that for a few more minutes before I slipped back to my feet. I found myself being shoved back into the chair as three authority figures and one brother all stared at me.
"What?" I asked.
"What did you do, Hailey?" Dean demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied. "Why are you all looking at me like I did something wrong."
"Did you?" Sam asked.
"Hailey, did you make a deal?" Dean questioned.
"No," I responded.
"Don't lie to me," Dean snapped.
"I'm not lying," I retorted.
"It had to be you," Dean groused. "it wasn't Sam or Aiden. That leaves you, little girl."
"No, it doesn't!" I grumbled. "It means me, which it isn't or anything Supernatural."
"That's comforting," Dean sighed.
"Dean, it's obvious that neither Hailey, Sam, or Aiden, were the one who got you pulled," Bobby said. "Now, if we want some answers we have to stop pointing fingers and get moving. Sam, what were you guys doing here?"
"I was checking these demons out of Tennessee, and out of nowhere they took a hard left, booked up here, I grabbed Aiden and Hails and we went to check it out," Sam stated.
"When?" Dean asked.
"Yesterday morning," Sam replied.
"When I busted out," Dean muttered.
"You think the demons are here because of you?" Bobby queried.
"But why?" Sam wondered.
"Well, I don't know, some badass demon drags me out and now this? It's gotta be connected somehow." Dean stated.
"How are you feeling, anyway?" Bobby responded.
"I'm a little hungry," Dean shrugged.
"No, I mean, do you feel like yourself?" Bobby retorted. "Anything strange, or different?"
"Or demonic?" Dean interrupted. "Bobby, how many times do I have to prove I'm me?"
"Yeah, well, listen," Bobby sighed. "No demon's letting you loose outta the goodness of their hearts. They've gotta have something nasty planned."
"Well, I feel fine," Dean stated firmly.
"Okay, look, we don't know what they're planning," Sam said, "we've gotta a pile of questions and no shovel. We need help."
"I know a psychic," Bobby announced. "Something this big, maybe she's heard the other side talking."
"It's worth a shot," Dean shrugged.
"I'll be right back," Bobby said moving towards the door.
"Hailey, Aiden, go pack up," Sam ordered.
Aiden and I nodded rising to our feet and walking out the door to our room. I swept up the salt as Aiden grabbed all the charms before we packed up our weapons and clothing. We were packed up in less than five minutes heading back to Sam's room.
"You probably want this back," I heard Sam said as he took of Dean's amulet and placed it in Dean's hands.
"Thanks," Dean whispered.
"Yeah, don't mention it," Sam smiled. "Hey, Dean, what was it like?"
"What?" Dean recoiled sliding on the amulet, "Hell? I don't know. I must've blacked it out. I don't remember a damn thing."
"Well, thank god," Sam stated.
"You guys ready to go?" Dean asked noticing Aiden and I hovering by the door.
"Yeah," We whispered.
Sam grabbed his duffel bag following after us as Dean led the way out of the out of the motel. Bobby met us at the front leading us down the set of steps leading to the parking lot.
"She's about four hours down the Interstate," Bobby explained. "Try to keep up."
Bobby hopped into his mustang turning it on as we walked towards the impala.
"I'll assume you'll want to drive?" Sam smirked.
Sam took his keys out of his right pocket and tossed them to Dean, who caught them without even looking.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Dean chuckled running a hand over the impala. "Hey, sweetheart, did you miss me?"
I opened up the backdoor and crawled in with Aiden crawling in on the other side. Sam sank into the passenger seat as Dean settled into the driver's side. He looked around and immediately noticed the ipod attached to the stereo system. A smile spread across my face as he glowered at the ipod before glaring at Sam.
"What the hell is that?" Dean demanded.
"That's an ipod jack," Sam replied.
"You were supposed to take care of her, not douche her up," Dean scolds, dirty look still firmly in place.
"Dean, I thought it was my car," Sam protested.
Aiden snickered and Dean turned to glare at the both of us, "You two let him do this?"
"You're the one who put Gigantor in charge," Aiden shrugged.
Dean sneered at us, sighing before turning the key in the ignition. Visions by Jason Mans begin to play and Dean huffed, rolling his eyes before sending Sam another nasty look.
"Really?" Dean growled.
Sam shrugs and Dean reached forward ripping the ipod out of its jack and tossing it in the back seat where it Aiden in the chest. He glared at Dean as I began to laugh.
"Really funny, Hay," Aiden snapped shoving me into the door.
"I thought so," I retorted smirking widely.
"Guys, enough," Sam grumbled.
"There still one thing that bothers me," Dean announced a little bit later as we trailed along after Bobby.
"Yeah?" Sam wondered.
"Yeah, the night that I bit it or got bit," Dean began chuckling at his joke. "How'd you guys make it out? I thought Lilith was gonna kill you."
"Well, she tried," Sam shrugged. "She couldn't."
"What do you mean she couldn't?" Dean asked.
"She fired this, like, burning light at me, and…didn't leave a scratch. Like I was immune or something."
"It was weird, Dean, you had just been murdered, Sam and I were pinned against the wall when Abby, Lucy, and Hailey fell off the wall. They were glowing or something and then they started talking. This incantation just popped out. Talking about how blood was the final price to pay. They picked the good side and Lilith got scared and fired that light. But we were all fine," Aiden explained
"She left pretty quick after that," Sam interrupted.
"Huh," Dean mused. "What about Ruby, where is she?"
"Dead," Sam said quickly shooting a quick glance right at me that said clearly don't-you-dare-say-a-word. "For now."
"So, you've been using your, uh, freaky ESP stuff?" Dean questioned after a moment's hesitation.
"No," Sam answered.
"You sure about that?" Dean replied. "Well, I mean, now that you've got immunity, whatever the hell that is…just wondering what other kind of weirdo crap you've got going on."
"Nothing, Dean," Sam sighed. "Look you didn't want me to go down that road, so I didn't go down that road. It was practically your dying wish."
"Yeah, well, let's keep it that way," Dean said.
The car fell into an uneasy silence as we continued down the interstate. I looked between Dean and Sam wondering how long it would take for Dean to realize that Sam had lied to him, twice. I leaned against the door falling asleep. A few hours later I felt the impala slowing to a stop and I got up and got out of the car stretching as I fell into step behind Dean and pinned by Sam and Aiden on either side. Bobby knocked on the door and woman opened it. She seemed to be in her thirties with a bright smiled adorning her features.
"Bobby!" The woman whooped grabbing him into a hug and picking him briefly off the ground, which got my brothers to exchange impressed glances.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," Bobby grinned.
The woman stepped back and looked Sam, Dean, and Aiden up and down appraisingly. I got a slight glance and a wide smile.
"So, these are the boys and Hailey?" The woman asked.
"Sam, Dean, Aiden, Hails, this is Pamela Barnes, best damn psychic in the state," Bobby introduced.
"Hey," Dean smirked.
"Hi," Sam smiled a little awkwardly.
"Hey," Aiden nodded.
"Mmm-mmm-mmm. Dean Winchester. Out of the fire and back in the frying pan, huh? Makes you a rare individual," Pamela stated.
"If you say so," Dean shrugged.
"Come on in," Pamela offered ushering us through the door before closing the door firmly behind me.
"So, you hear anything?" Bobby asked.
"Well, I Ouija'd my way through a dozen spirits," Pamela sighed. "No one seems to know who broke your boy out, or why."
"So what's next?" Bobby wondered.
"A séance, I think," Pamela grinned "See is we can see who did the deed."
"You're not going to summon the damn thing here?" Bobby demanded.
"No," Pamela scoffed. "I just wanna get a sneak peek at it. Like a crystal ball without the crystal."
"I'm game," Dean said.
We moved into the living room where there's a table and a bunch of chairs. Pamela spreads a black tablecloth in symbols over a small table. Pamela then moves to a small cabinet, squatting in front of it revealing a tattoo across her back. Jesse Forever.
"Who's Jesse?" Dean asked.
"Well, it wasn't forever," Pamela laughed.
"His loss," Dean said.
"Might be your gain," Pamela smirked standing as she held several pillar candles in her hand.
"Dude, I'm so in," Dean whispered to Sam.
"Yeah, she's gonna eat you alive," Sam scoffed.
"Hey, I just got outta jail," Dean laughed. "Bring it."
"You're invited to grumpy," Pamela stated as she paused by my brothers again on the way to the table.
"You are not invited," Dean disagreed.
"Guys, take a seat," Bobby ordered, pulling back Pamela's chair for her. She smiled before sinking into it as we all sat down. The table had six lighted candles in the center.
"Right, take each other's hands," Pamela ordered.
I held hands with Sam and Aiden as everyone else joined hands, "And I need to touch something our mystery monster touched," Pamela proclaimed.
"Whoa!" Dean jumped. "Well he didn't touch me there."
"My mistake," Pamela snickered.
Dean looked around uneasily before he took off his outer shirt and pulled up his left sleeve to reveal the brand. I hissed in a breath as Sam, Aiden, and I stared it shocked. Pamela raised her hand and placed it gently on the brand.
"Okay," Pamela whispered. "Close your eyes."
I shut my eyes as I hear Pamela begin to chant, "I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command…Castiel? No, sorry, Castiel. I don't scare easily. "
"Castiel?" Dean asked
"It's name," Pamela replied. "It's whispering to me warning me to turn back."
My eyes flew open as I heard the television flick on the channel was completely static s Pamela continued to chant. The white noise and static became louder as the table began to shake.
"Maybe we should stop," Bobby whispered.
"I almost got it," Pamela said. "I command you, show me your face! Show me your face, now!"
I let out a yelp when all the candles flared up several feet in the air as Pamela began to scream. Her eyes flew open but all I saw was whit-hot flame and then she collapsed in a boneless heap, Bobby managed to catch her before she hit the floor as it became painfully silent.
"Sam, call 9-1-1!" Bobby ordered.
Sam scrambled out of the room as Dean and Bobby crouched over Pamela. Her eyes had been burned out of her head and there was good deal of blood. Honestly, I'd seen some pretty fucked up things but this had to be in the top ten.
"I can't see!" Pamela sobs. "I can't see! Oh, god!"
"Helps on the way," Dean soothed. "You'll be alright."
"You guys head back to Pontiac," Bobby ordered a few minutes later as the ambulance showed up. "I'll stay with Pamela and keep you all up to date."
"Okay," Dean said. "Come on, guys."
"We can't just leave her like that," Aiden protested.
"We have a name," Bobby stated, "Castiel. Go interrogate those demons or something. I'll keep you updated. I promise."
Seeing no other choice I got into the impala with my brothers as Dean drove us back to Pontiac. It was only an hour drive back and instead of going straight to the motel we went to a diner. Dean, Aiden, and I walked in with Sam staying back to check in with Bobby. We all ordered and Dean gave the waitress Sam's order.
"Be up in a jiff," The waitress smiled.
As she leaves Sam walked in talking to his phone, "You bet."
"What'd he say?" Dean asked.
"Pam's stable and out of ICU," Sam announced.
"And blind, because of us," Dean muttered.
"And we still have no clue what we're dealing with," Sam responded.
"That's not true," Dean disagreed. "We have a name."
"Dean," Sam groaned.
"We've got a name, Castiel or whatever," Dean continued. "With the right mumbo jumbo we could summon him and bring him right to us."
"You're crazy," Sam rolled his eyes. "Absolutely not."
"We'll work him over," Dean said. "I mean, after what he did?"
"Pam took a peek at him and her eyes burned out of her skull, and you want to have a face to face?" Sam demanded.
"You gotta a better idea?" Dean replied.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do," Sam stated. "I followed some demons to town, right?"
"We followed some demons to town, Sam," Aiden corrected.
"Okay," Dean prodded.
"We go find them," Sam shrugged. "Someone's gotta know something about something."
"Here's your pie," The waitress interrupted setting down four plates of pie.
"Thanks," Aiden smiled.
The waitress then sat down at the empty table. Dean looked at her smirking, "You angling for a tip?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were looking for us," The waitress smirked as black flooded her eyes. I recoiled as my brothers stiffened. There were two more demons, one in the cook and a uniformed man who may have been a postman.
"Dean, to hell and back, aren't you a lucky duck," The waitress sneered.
"That's me," Dean glared.
"So you get to just stroll out of the pit, huh?" The waitress demanded. "Tell me, what makes you so special?"
"I like to think it's because of my perky nipples," Dean snarked before turning serious. "I don't know, it wasn't my doing. I don't know who pulled me out."
"Right," The waitress scoffed. "You don't."
"No, I don't," Dean stated.
"Lying's a sin, ya know," The waitress glowered.
"I'm not lying," Dean said. "But I'd like to find out, so if you wouldn't mind enlightening me, Flo…"
"Mind your tone with me, boy, I'll drag you back to hell myself," The waitress snarled.
We had all been glaring daggers at the demon throughout the conversation but at those words Aiden, Sam, and I poised to attack but Dean merely held up a hand and we stopped settling back into our seats.
"No, you won't," Dean contradicts.
"No?" The waitress laughed.
"No, because if you were you would've done it already," Dean corrected. "Fact is, you don't know who cut me loose and you're just as spooked as we are. You're looking for answers. Well, maybe it was some turbo-charged spirit. Or, uh, Godzilla, or some big bad boss demon. I'm guessing t your pay grade they don't tell you squat because whoever it was, they want me out and they're a lot stronger than you. So, go ahead. Send me back but don't come crawling to me when they show up on your doorstep with Vaseline and a fire hose.
"I'm going to reach down your throat and rip out your lungs," The waitress spat angrily.
Dean leaned forward, challenge in his eyes. Suddenly he moved, his fist a blur as he punches her in the face. She didn't lift a finger to stop him and didn't move when he smacked her again.
"That's what I thought," Dean smirked. "Let's go, guys."
We stood up as the demon sat there fuming. The others moved out of our way as Dean took a roll of bills out of pocket and peeled off ten dollars. He held it up and dropped it carelessly on the table.
"For the pie," Dean spat.
Dean moved to the front of us leading the way out of the diner and down the street. I struggled to keep up with my brother's long, agitated strides before settling into my own pace. They turned at once and glared at me as I moved forward so that Aiden and Sam were flanking me on other side and Dean in the front.
"Holy crap that was close," Dean hissed.
"We're not just going to leave them in there, are we, Dean?" Sam demanded.
"Well, yeah, there could be more than just three of them and there's only a knife and gun between us."
"I've been killing a lot more demons than that lately," Sam fumed.
"Not anymore you're not," Dean barked. "The smarter brother's back in town."
"Dean, we've gotta take them out. They're dangerous!" Sam protested.
"They're scared," Dean scoffed. "Okay? Scared of whatever had the juice to yank me out. We're dealing with a bad mother here. One job at time, Sam."
"We could split up," Aiden suggested. "That way we could kill the demons and find out who pulled you out."
"No, Aiden," Dean stated, firmly. "I think we all have spent enough time apart for right now."
Sam, Aiden, and I flushed before looking away from Dean who pinned us all with a disappointed look. We continued walking back to the motel room in silence each of us were lost in our own thoughts. I knew that Dean wouldn't approve of us splitting up but we wouldn't be able to properly grieve his death without a little separation. Actually, I think it was better for the short time we were apart mostly because when we were grieving Dad at Bobby's it hurt more to watch my brothers grapple with their own mourning then my own.
As we got back to the motel we all went to Sam's room spreading out over the suite. There was still two beds, something that Dean didn't question as he walked over to the couch.
"Guys, scour the normal websites and let's see if we can't get some answers," Dean ordered.
I hopped onto my computer while Aiden began to read Dad's journal. Sam was also on his laptop but it didn't look like he was doing what Dean had asked. Within a few hours we were still exactly where we had started and god was it frustrating. Dean had fallen asleep, the large book he was reading open on his lap. Aiden was also asleep across from me. I looked up in time to see Sam get up and sneak out making sure that Dean didn't wake up. I shook my head and followed after him.
"Sam!" I shouted down the hallway.
"Hailey, go back to the room," Sam ordered.
"Sammy don't go to that diner," I whispered. "Dean told you not to."
"Hailey, mind your business," Sam snapped.
"How long do you think you can hide all this from him?" I asked. "He's not stupid, Sam. He'll figure it out and when he does he'll be pissed."
"I can take care of myself," Sam growled.
"Which is why you have a demon as backup?" I questioned angrily.
"She's not like other demons!" Sam spat.
"No, Sam, she's exactly like every other demon we've encountered only this one has her wrapped around her finger and it's pathetic."
Sam glared at me before turning on his heel and stalking away. I watched him walk away a bad feeling in my chest. I really hoped that my instincts about Ruby were wrong but I had hunted long enough to know not to discount a feeling like this, I only wished that Sam would stop being so naïve. Demons would never ever want to help us not unless they were somehow benefitting from it.
Suddenly a high-pitched noise shocked me out of my reverie as I dropped to my knees hands clasped tightly to my ears. I stumbled back to the room, where is where the noise was originating from. I found Dean and Aiden crouched on the floor watching as the mirror on the ceiling splintered. Between the high-pitched noises I could've sworn I heard someone say, "We have work for you." I shook myself out of whatever hallucination and focused on finding my brothers who were crouched in the middle of the motel room, watching paralyzed in pain as the glass above them splintered.
"Dean!" I shouted trying to be heard over the noise, "Aiden!"
"Hailey!" They both screamed back.
"What the hell is going on?" Bobby demanded. He showed up out of nowhere and grabbed my arm giving me a shove down the hallway, "Go!"
I ran down the hallway unsurprised when Aiden, Dean, and Bobby came racing out.
"Where's Sam?" Dean asked.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Damn brat, took my car," Dean muttered.
"Get in, ya idjit," Bobby demanded.
We all crowded into Bobby's mustang as he climbed into the driver's side driving away from the motel room. I had no idea where we could be going. This whole thing just felt off. Maybe it was the fact that Sam wasn't with us. Or even more the fact that I knew what and more to the point who Sam was doing.
"How you doing, kid?" Bobby asked Dean as he wiped blood from his face.
"Aside from the church bells ringing in my head, peachy," Dean muttered. "Aiden call Sam, ask him what the hell he's doing with my car."
"Okay," Aiden whispered.
After a short conversation where Sam apparently told Aiden he was getting a burger and then relayed the message to us, the car fell into silence.
"Why didn't you tell him what happened?" Bobby asked suddenly.
"Because he'd just try to stop us," Dean replied.
"Stop us from what?" Bobby asked suspiciously.
"Summoning this thing," Dean shrugged. "It's about time we faced it head-on."
"You can't be serious," Bobby gaped.
"As a heart attack," Dean replied. "It's high noon, baby."
"Dean this is a good idea," I said. "This thing burned out someone's eyes just because she got a glimpse of it."
"And we don't know what it is," Bobby grumbled. "It could be a demon. It could be anything."
"That's why we'll be ready for anything," Dean stated. "We've got the big time magic knife, the kill-everything gun, and you've got an arsenal in the trunk."
"This is a bad idea," Bobby huffed.
"I couldn't agree more," Dean shook his head. "But what other choice do we have?"
"We could choose life," Bobby answered.
"Bobby, whatever this is, whatever it wants it's after me," Dean began. "That much we know, right? I've got no place to hide. I can either get caught with my pants down again, or we can make our stand."
"We could use Sam on this," Bobby shrugged.
"Nah, he's better off where he is," Dean sighed. "Besides Hailey and Aiden have this under control, right guys?"
"Yeah," Aiden and I chorused giving each other unsure glances.
What was going on? First Sam disappears in the middle of the night no doubt to go after those demons in the diner. Then, so random high pitched noises and now Dean thinks Sam shouldn't come with us on something even he admitted as being a bad idea. In our world bad ideas got people killed, which was why we should have all the help we could get. Bobby continued to drive, not stopping until we in front of a rectangular, abandoned warehouse.
"What do we do?" I asked.
"We draw every protective sigil known to man," Dean ordered. "The floor, walls, and ceiling. Aiden you help her. Bobby and I will get the weapons ready."
"This is a bad idea," I mumbled.
"Hailey, if you're not thinking answers, don't think at all," Dean reproached.
I shot him a dirty look as I walked into the warehouse armed with two cans of spray paint and all the knowledge that being raised in the hunting business brought me. Two hours later the entire warehouse was covered. There was one table that had nearly every weapon that Bobby had in his car.
"That's one hell of an art project," Dean smiled looking around.
"There's traps and talismans from every faith on the globe," Bobby stated. "How're you doing?"
"Stakes, iron, silver, salt, the magic weapons," Dean said his hand sweeping over the table. "I mean, we're pretty much set to catch and kill everything I've ever heard of."
"This is still a bad idea," Bobby said.
"Yeah, I got that the first ten times," Dean retorted. "Can you guys say anything else?"
After a moment Dean continued, "What do you say we ring the dinner bell?"
Bobby nodded as he went over to the end of the table and said the rite, dropping a match into a large bowl. It flared up and then smoked, we looked around, on edge as we waited for whatever was after Dean to make his appearance. After a half hour of waiting our stances had relaxed. Bobby and Dean were on the table swinging their legs and looking bored. Aiden and I were leaning against the opposite wall, still ready for anything.
"You sure you did the ritual right?" Dean asked. Bobby sent him an nasty look and he held his hand up placatingly. "Sorry, touchy, touchy."
As if on cue there was a loud rattling that shook the roof and the warehouse's very foundations. Dean threw Aiden and I a shotgun which we immediately cocked towards the front entrance as Dean and Bobby followed suit. The doors burst open and a man dressed in a business suit and a trench coat stalks inside. The light bulbs shatter overheard as he passes them. When Dean and Bobby began to shoot Aiden and I did as well. The salt rounds, an iron rounds didn't even slow him down. Dean takes the magic knife off the table as the Castiel gets closer. Aiden grabbed the Colt and I held up my hands making him keep his distance. He looked at me tilting his head, only dropping eye contact as Dean cuts him with the knife.
"Who are you?" Dean demanded.
"I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition," Castiel replied.
"Yeah, thanks for that," Dean grins before he rears back and plunging the knife into his chest.
Castiel looks down completely unconcerned with the fact that he had just been stabbed, for Christ sakes. He grabbed the hilt of the knife and yanked it out without even a wince and dropped it to the ground. Bobby reacts faster than Aiden or I but Castiel leaned into his attack, grabbing Bobby's shotgun and pulled him close. He placed two fingers on Bobby's forehead and Bobby crumbled to the ground.
"Bobby!" I shouted as I shoved Castiel backwards.
Aiden moved to fire the Colt but Castiel tilted his head causing the gun to fly out of his hands as Castiel moved quickly touching Aiden on the forehead. It had the same reaction and Dean and I looked at each other.
"Hailey Winchester," Castiel greeted suddenly right in front of. "We have much to discuss, just not now."
Castiel grabbed my wrist and jerked me forward as Dean growled in the background. He tapped my forehead and I really didn't know how to describe the feeling but all of a sudden I just needed to sleep and crumbled to the floor, realizing, and vaguely so, that my landing on the dirt packed ground was going to hurt in the morning.
Dean's Point of View
"We need to talk," Castiel informed me.
I rose from my crouch after making sure that Aiden, Bobby, and Hailey had a pulse.
"Your friend and your siblings are alive," Castiel stated.
"Who are you?" I growled.
"Castiel," Castiel replied.
"Yeah, I figured that," I scoffed. "I mean what are you?"
"I'm an Angel of the Lord," Castiel said.
"Get the fuck out of here," I laughed. "There's not such thing."
"That's your problem, Dean," Castiel sighed. "You have no faith."
I flinched as lightening flashed exposing great shadowy wings that stretched off into the distance. The lightening stopped just as quickly as it started and I stared wide-eyed at Castiel.
"Some angel you are," I snapped. "You burned out that poor woman's eyes!"
"I warned her not to spy on my true from," Castiel said. "It can be overwhelming to humans, so can my real voice. But, you already knew that."
"You mean the gas station and the motel?" I demanded. "That was you talking? Buddy, next time lower the volume."
"That was my mistake," Castiel flushed. "Certain people, special people, can perceive my true visage. I though you'd be one of them but I was wrong."
"And what visage are you in now?" I scoffed. "Holy tax accountant?"
"This?" Castiel answered. "This is a vessel."
"You're possessing someone?" I barked.
"He's a devout man, he actually prayed for this," Castiel corrected.
"Well, I'm not buying what you're selling, so who are you really?" I growled.
"I told you," Castiel frowned.
"Right and why would an angel rescue me from Hell?" I snickered.
"Good things do happen, Dean," Castiel reproached.
"Not in my experience," I hissed.
"What's the matter?" Castiel wondered. "You don't think you deserve to be saved?"
"Why'd you do it?" I asked. Not even giving a thought to his question. Of course I didn't deserve to be saved. After the things I did? I didn't deserve a goddamn thing.
"Because God commanded it," Castiel stated firmly. "Because we have work for you."
Work for me? What the hell did work for me mean. I was some angel's bitch now? Just because he pulled me from the pit? Before I could get any of these questions answered the man or angel or whatever just disappeared leaving me with three unconscious people and a ringing phone. I guess it's true what they say there is no rest for the wicked.