I don't own Sam, Dean or Supernatural which will be back in one month and counting.
Chapter 37
The Tale
As soon as he could get away Dean drove to a near by park, sat on a bench and closed his eyes. He took a moment to relax before calling his friend. True having Bobby, Ellen and Pastor Jim on the hunt was comforting. Yes, he had faith in Dixon but the fact was he'd never hunted with any of the others and none of them had hunted a demon before. Within the first few hours of arriving in Phoenix more Barbaru proved they couldn't cope with a human giving orders. Thirteen were sent back to their Illutu's with ominous warnings of pending reassignments forth coming. Dean couldn't be sure those who remanded were loyal or were tempered by the thought of loosing their positions. Hunter teams on the other hand were more reliable. They obeyed orders as a matter of course and did their jobs not only out of loyalty but for pride sake. That fact would be a great comfort when Sam walked into the lions den.
Having human help was a comfort, but an axe over his head as well. For all his faith and trust in them there was no guarantee they were ready to accept supernatural beings as hunters. The strain of having to keep this volatile situation from blowing up in his face and hurting a lot of innocent people had given him a migraine sized headache. If it hit the fan there was only one way to be sure the Barbaru would be safe from being hunted and his friends would be safe from the Barbaru. He would have to ask Castiel to rearrange the memories of his nearest and dearest friends. Could the situation get any slimier? He sighed deeply, closed his eyes but before he began to prey he felt Castiel beside him.
"You are troubled." the Angel stated.
"This is getting messy." Dean groaned, "I hate when things get complicated like this. To much can go wrong. "
"Is there anything that can be done to correct the problem?" Castiel asked.
"Not at the moment. Cass I may need you to make Bobby, Ellen and Pastor Jim forget about meeting Dixon's people." Dean admitted, "I brought the Barbaru into this. I have to protect them and I have to make sure they don't panic, kill my friends and start a war.
"Dixon made the opening overture and I persuaded you to accept it. The responsibility for this is not yours." Castiel stated as fact.
"Ultimately it was my decision Cass and it wasn't completely unselfish either." Dean admitted, "Can you do it, the memory thing I mean?"
"Having hunters hunting the Barbaru would be most unfortunate." Castiel conceded, "I can alter their memories and present the act to Zachariah as an effort to maintain the status quo."
"You're starting to get the hang of this, dude." Dean smiled happy to have that solution at his disposal, "Now I have another favour to ask. How hard would it be to put it in Sam's mind that he's here fighting with me cause I'm trying to drag him away from school? That he's totally pissed and doesn't want to be anywhere near me?"
"It would not be difficult but rather unpleasant for both of you." Castiel answered, "Is it not an intricate part of your plan to gain your brother's trust and confidence."
"This is just a temporary thing. Only long enough for him to lure Meg into a trap." Dean explained what would have been obvious to anyone else, "Then you put him back the way you found him. Okay?" and when Castiel agreed Dean addressed the other problem, "The tricky part will be explaining you."
"Is that necessary?"
"Well we can't introduce you as an Angel. If they did buy it, it would create a world of questions we can't answer. Besides you're supposed to keep a low profile aren't you?"
"Yes, I am." Castiel agreed after some thought, "I believe there is a nest of vampires in the next state. I could bring them with me and kill them and in doing so convince them I am a hunter?"
"No, no Cass not a good idea." Dean hurried to stop him, he could see the whole scene playing out in his mind in a horrifying blur, "I told Bobby and Sam you and Luis de Montfort taught me to read the books you put me on to so that makes you an expert linguist. I also told Sam you're a theologian and occultist which brings me to this."
Dean held up the talisman for Castiel's examination. The Angel took it in hand gave it a quick examination and did a head tilt before giving it back to Dean. Dean waited. Castiel merely looked at him in silence seeming to be waiting himself.
"Well?" Dean finely asked.
"Do you wish something?" Castiel asked.
"Do you know what it is, what it does?" Dean groaned.
"It is known as the Heart Of St. Francis." Castiel answered unperturbed by Dean's frustration, "It brings peace to the tormented and judgment to the guilty."
"I was afraid of that." Dean signed disappointed, "Sam was hoping it would put a damper on my anger. It's hard on him having to tip toe around me and I'm not finding it a lot of fun either."
"It could be effective. For almost a thousand years it has brought peace to those who witnessed many forms of brutality and savagery and particularly the horrors of war." Castiel agreed with Sam, "The influence of one as virtuous and serene as Francis of Assisi could bring peace to you."
Castiel had done as much as he dared to quiet Dean's nightmares. He pushed the torment of his stay in hell into the back of Dean's mind allowing him to sleep through the night with a minimum of disturbance but it did not reconcile the young man to the experience. By day as by night the memories where there haunting him. The only way Castiel could completely undo all the damage to Dean's tormented soul would be to expunge those memories that instilled the fears and self-hate. He suspected that to accomplish that he would have to turn Dean into an amnesiac.
"Cass do you know what happened to the Nazi who went into a coma?" Dean asked.
"He received judgement. He was condemned to endure the suffering he had inflicted on thousands of Jews."
"Now see I wouldn't like that."
"You would not be so judged as you have not damned thousands of Jews to a slow death in concentration camps." Castiel stated what he thought an obvious fact.
"No but I spent ten years as a psycho torturer of souls which is a little more hands on than your Nazi." Dean said more matter of factly than he felt, "Thirty years on the receiving end of that was enough, thank you."
"The primary function of the talisman is to ease the suffering of those driven beyond the point of human endurance." Castile explained surprised that Dean did not understand, "That would certainly describe your experience."
"It's what comes after that worries me." Dean sighed them put the object away, "Cass, we're setting up for tomorrow night. Can you be waiting for my call then?"
"I will." Castiel agreed.
"In the mean time my dad's on his way. You can grab his papers when he gets here . Maybe things are finely coming together." Dean finished with a smile.
After watching the Impala pull away Castiel returned to the bench he shared with Dean and waited for Gabriel to materialise. His visits in the ether were frequent and at times disruptive but not unwelcome. Knowing what his wayward big brother was up to was a comfort even if his antics were somewhat disturbing. It was also reassuring to know that he was not alone in his guardianship of Dean in spite of the fact that Gabriel would not admit, even to himself, that he would give aid to the human. For all Micheal's piety and Rafael's zeal it was Gabriel who seemed to appreciate the beauty and wonder that was humanity and in Castiel's eyes this made Gabriel a little closer to their father. Castiel always liked Gabriel and was crushed when he ran away, but now he felt he understood. By watching Dean and Sam, Cass could see how families who love one another can still grow apart even if he didn't understand why.
"Coming together? Is he serious?" the Archangel guffawed.
"His improbable machinations do tend to achieve his ends." Castiel defended Dean.
"Improbable is the word for it." Gabriel growled, "My life is in the hands of a second rate Machiavelli. The only thing more screwed up than this is heaven. Tell me Michael's worried. That would be reassuring."
"I have not communicated with Michael in many centuries." Castiel answered then turned a very intense stare on his big brother, "There is nothing to fear."
"My life is in the hands of that hairless ape." Gabriel snarled, "He remembers me dieing trying to help them. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is?"
"Yes, I died twice aiding in their cause." Castiel answered.
"And you're not worried? You got brass balls little brother." Gabriel marvelled then did a double take, "Twice?"
"Yes, father resurrected me. Both times." Cass's said his chin elevating a little, "That is very reassuring."
Castiel and Gabriel stared at each other then turned their attention to the people enjoying the park. It was a pleasant pastime Castiel indulged in during quieter times when he felt confident in leaving Dean unattended. He found it heartening to watch these wondrous creatures enjoying the beauty his father had created for them. It gave him faith not only in the righteousness of their cause but it's validity. The world deserved to be saved.
"He resurrected you ….. twice." Gabriel muttered.
"Dean is the Lectus unus, Gabriel." Castiel stated in a soft voice, "It is Father's will and I was rewarded for aiding him."
"I tried to help?" The Archangel said in a child like voice, "Why wasn't I rewarded?"
"Perhaps you were but Dean was unaware."
"Yah, if helping him got me killed why would I go anywhere near him after that?" Gabriel reasoned a smile trying to break free on his face.
"Because he is father's chosen instrument and he wants us to help Dean out of faith and selfless devotion." Castiel answered the rhetorical question.
"You're not my favourite brother." Gabriel snarled then disappeared.
By the time Dean returned to the Hotel Bobby, Ellen, Sam, and Dixon had come back from examining the store fronts. Dean didn't need to see them himself. They were well aware of what was needed, especially Ellen, so he accepted their recommendation with little ado. No sooner was the decision made when Jacob hurried to Garrick and gave him the address. He not only wanted the exorcism recorded but all the work that went into making it possible.
There was no need to explain the necessity of being invisible to the Barbaru, of leaving no trace. It was their way of life as well as their method of hunting. In and out of a town without anyone knowing they were there. In point of fact they found Dean's methods frighteningly high profile. But when Dean asked for volunteers to help Bobby, Ellen and pastor Jim steal supplies Jacob was startled.
"We will not be purchasing the necessary items?" he asked, "We can do so through holding companies that we hide behind."
"Is he serious?" Bobby asked.
"That's not a good idea." Ellen said with an awkward cough.
"Evidence of our presents?" Dixon asked.
Dean nodded then turned to the still rather large gathering, "Anything can go wrong. That's a theme for us independents. We could end up with everything we get destroyed, the building itself in pieces even the bodies of innocent by standards in the wrong place at the wrong time if we're really unlucky. We register under false names, and what we need we buy with cash, fake credit cards or we steal. If we had the time we could set up a fake company name to buy this stuff under but the credit card would have to be fake so it can't be traced to anyone here."
"We could?" Ellen asked.
"You'd be amazed what their resource people can do." Dean answered with a grin and a wink.
"They are quite resourceful if you pardon the pun." Dixon added with a smile and slight bow.
"Seems to me stealing's easier." Bobby grumbled.
"Most of the time if you ask me and today it's the way we need to work." Dean agreed and turned to Dixon to begin handing out assignments, "We'll need a couple of volunteers to help steal the larger equipment. Bobby can you take that on? Sam do you want to handle the paint and supplies and take some handy man type volunteers to begin the fix up a few artists to dress it up the devil's trap and assorted sigils and runes. You'll have to keep in touch with Ellen so you'll know what she needs. Here's the keys, raid the trunk for the tools oh hell we need to steal a truck or van."
"Take my truck, I'm going to have to get something bigger, five ton should do it." Bobby said tossing Sam the keys .
"Thanks." Sam accepted appreciatively.
"Good Sam use the most obscure card we have and trash it right away. Ellen would you check Bobby's list and get whatever he doesn't have? You'll have a better idea of what that is. Wheel's Ellen what will you need."
"A very none descript van. Can I grab a set of plates from you?" She asked.
"No problem we have a good selection in the trunk. Dixon do we have what she needs?" Dean turned to his partner, "A none descript van?"
"It'll be done. Simon right away please." He turned to one of the Balu though he had only a vague notion of what it was for.
"I don't have to tell you to check out your targets. Let me know if you need some hacking done to support whatever invoices you'll need me to make. Sam will be busy so we'll get Dixon's people on it. We all squared away here? Questions?"
As Dean addressed them Sam, Bobby and Ellen responded with a quick nod of agreement while Dixon rounded up the required volunteers. Bobby asked for a couple of burly types that could pass for truckers and haulers while Sam needed basic muscle that isn't afraid of sweat and dirt, and Ellen needed a couple of people who can fake a conversation about the service industry and lift heavy boxes.
"Hey what are we going to use for food?" Ellen asked.
"We'll get a bunch of take out from a diner?" Dean laughed
Sam Bobby Ellen and Dixon joined in and quite a few of the Barbaru appreciated the humour as well. As the room quieted there was a momentary awkward pause as no one seemed to want to be the first to move. Well that's enough of that Bobby thought.
"Truckers with me." Bobby growled and headed for the door and two men and a woman followed him. Bobby opened the door just as Pastor Jim was about to knock, "You're just in time. Pull off the collar you're now a trucker what are you driving?"
"I rented a van just in case." Jim stammered confused by all the commotion around him.
"Tagged?" Bobby asked if the rental companies name was on it.
"What do you take me for?" Jim asked indignantly.
"Fine, stupid question." Bobby admitted, then turned to his volunteers and asked, "Who's the truck driver?" and a six foot tall red head raised a hand, "Okay, you'll take one of these big guys and the other come's with me and Jim."
"If Emiline gets out of line he won't hesitate to take a strip out of her." Dean whispered his concerns to Dixon.
"If she puts a foot out of place she looses her position on the flag team and she knows it." Dixon whispered back, "If he tells her to bark like a dog, she will."
"I wouldn't mind seeing that." Dean grinned.
It was well into dawn when Dean, Sam and Dixon finely decided that good enough was in fact good enough. It only needed to pass a cursory glance not close scrutiny and really not even that. If curiosity would not do the trick Dean knew what would. Ego, their greatest and most useful flaw. Ego and hate. Dean had come to understand the nature of their hate just a little. He always understood, or thought he understood his father's hate of demon's and the supernatural. He knew now that it wasn't as simple, as something killed my wife. But hell taught Dean how one can take their pain and rage out on innocent bystanders. It was how the bullied became bullies. Oh he knew it was a trap, a way to excuse one actions and the actions of others. A trap he could never allow himself to fall into. Not again. But there was no denying the satisfaction of doing onto others as he'd been done onto.
Dean shook his head to clear his thoughts as he took one last look around their store front miracle. Everyone had worked through the night and well into morning. The result was really quite remarkable and Ellen's little touches brought it all together. Checked table cloths covered miss matched tables and rust paint made chairs match, well close enough and Dollarrarama provided the finishing touches all achieved with cash and nothing that couldn't be disposed of by a fire in a large trash bin in the back.
"Well I'll be damned, we pulled it off." Bobby give it his stamp of approval.
The teams tailing Meg reported she made contact with someone in the warehouse district and another team was put on them. Dean was disappointed by the description, male, five ten, one hundred and seventy pounds mid to late thirties, but then there weren't any electrical storms so he wasn't really hoping. But then if Meg was making contact it was worth trying to find out who it was. In the mean time they would grab a few hours sleep before Dean brought in Castiel to do the memory work on Sam.
Dean took off his boots and stretched out beside his sleeping brother. Each of the suites two bedrooms had a king size bed, it was share or sleep on the floor so he tucked his bowie knife under the pillow and slept fully clothed. The curtain didn't keep out a great deal of light but that hadn't been a problem since he could remember.
After what felt like only minutes Dean started awake to find Castiel standing over him holding a thick folder full of papers. He got up as quietly as he could knowing that not waking up Sam was next to impossible, or should have been. He jerked his head toward Sam then tried tiptoeing to the bathroom but the Angel did not move. Dean stared at Sam who did not move.
"Am I awake." Dean asked.
"No." Castiel answered, "Do you wish me to bring these to you now or when I am presented as a linguist and theologian?"
"Dad's yellow eyed demon file?" Dean asked momentarily elated.
"Yes."
His smile evaporated, "He's here."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"He was sitting in an ally watching this hotel when I took the files."
"Okay, let me wake up, check and see if he's still there and meet me in the lobby." Dean said making half a plan while trying not to panic.
Dean was no sooner on his feet when Sam asked where he was going. Just to stretch my legs, he said and told him to go back to sleep.
"Tense?" Sam asked.
"A little." Dean admitted, "I need to get away from all this for a few minutes. I'll be back in a little bit." he finished deliberately vague.
He lay down in the late morning but when he looked out the window the sun was beginning to set. He'd had several hours sleep but he wasn't feeling very refreshed. He wouldn't until this was over. Dean made no further excuses to anyone and hurried to the lobby. The physic buzz warned him that Garrick's security people were there keeping watch, on him, on them all. Only moments later Castiel burst into the room, he'd quickly learned not to appear out of thin air in public. He swiftly made his way to Dean. Garrick's men rose to intercept the Angel until Dean moved to great him then they quickly but imperceptibly changed direction. Dean had to admit they were good. Without ceremony Cass handed over the file.
"This is going to make all the difference." Dean grinned but again the smile didn't stay, "Is he still there."
"No, do you wish me to find him." Castiel asked.
"No. Follow me but don't say anything." Dean answered after a moments thought and walked over to one of the men who had moved to intercept Castiel, "Which one of Garrick's men are you?"
The Barbaru security man smiled and took Dean's hand like they were saying hello, "I wasn't sure that was you." he said aloud then whispered, "Tucker, Sir."
"You haven't met my buddy Cass have you?" he muttered to Cass to shake Tucker's hand, "Why don't you come with us and I'll get you a beer." Dean said smiling as he lead the security man toward the door then added quietly, "We may have a problem, there was a guy watching from across the street."
As they started up the outside stairs they dropped the pretence, "Early to mid fourties, dark brown hair, brown eyes, lots of scruff, dirty army jacket and baseball cap?"
"That's him doing his homeless routine." Dean sighed feeling a little sick.
Garrick was waiting for them on the top floor and Dixon was pulling on a sweater when they entered the suite.
"Jacob will be here shortly, what has happened?" Dixon asked.
How could he get out of bed, get dressed and look well kept in under five minutes? Well his hair wasn't tied back but that was the only thing out of place and it wasn't really. It looked good tumbling about his shoulders. Dean shook these thoughts from his mind. It was bad enough when such notions flitted through his head at the best of times, during a crisis it was damned disturbing.
"Garrick could someone bang on Bobby and Ellen's door and tell them the shit has hit the fan." Dean asked then turned to Dixon, "Dix, this is Castiel. I think we're going to have to pick up the pace. Can you find out were Meg is right now?"
Dixon only looked at Garrick who began asking questions into his microphone earpiece
"Dean, what's up?' Sam stumbled out of the bedroom.
"Guess who's in town?" Dean answered
"Oh shit!" Sam exclaimed.
"Who's in town?" Dixon asked growing concerned.
"Our father. He's been spotted staking us out. Not a good sign."
In very short order the room was abuzz with whispered chatter and speculation. The Barbaru had grown justifiably alarmed over the presence of the Winchester's father after learning that he was cursed and crased. Dean had never worked with so many, nor had any of the human hunters. The scattered conversations, the constant distractions and lack of focus made any kind of quick planning a near impossibility. Not knowing where John was only added to the problems. Suddenly Dean regretted not letting Castiel look for him. Though Cas could leave the room and return virtually unnoticed explaining how he suddenly knew where his father was would be, to say the least, awkward.
Dean leaned against a window sill looking out over the now dark city. Hours had passed and nothing was done, nothing even planned. Dixon, Jacob and the Balu all had ideas about how to proceed, about what to do next and some of the suggestions about what to do regarding the crazed hunter were far from acceptable. 'You don't put a man down like a dog' Pastor Jim growled at one suggestion. Bobby couldn't resist adding that a good ass kicking wouldn't hurt but Ellen insisted that waiting until he could appreciate it would be more satisfying. Everyone had an idea, everyone had a plan and everyone was very vocal about it. Hell would freeze over before Dean ever ran a hunt like this again. He pushed away from the window, turned to the crowd and put his encumbering anger to good use.
"Alright, enough." Dean made his voice carry over the din, "We're wasting precious time. Dixon is Meg headed for the bar yet?"
Dixon looked to Garrick who nodded and answered with a quick simple, "Yes."
"Please get your teams in place." Dean began giving instructions without asking anyone's permission to take charge, but had sense enough to put them all through Dixon, "We'll need to post extra guards around the bar and trap to make sure my dad doesn't approach Sam."
The Barbaru were ready to fall into line, that had been the agreement for their participation in the hunt. Bobby, Pastor Jim and Ellen however were a little startled by Dean's sudden man in charge approach.
"Do they have taser's." Dean suddenly had a thought and Dixon nodded, "Good, if he shows his face before she gets there knock him out and bring him to the back room of the trap. If he shows after she does sit on him until notified. Bobby, Pastor Jim get your team over there and set up. Ellen we'll need the food and coffee. Dixon, bodies in seats is that all decided?" Dixon added a yes to his nod, "Good." he paused and waited. No one moved, "We're on the clock people."
Dixon looked around the room, making eye contact with the Balu then gave them a head nod and they all came to life. Suddenly Garrick was giving orders into his ear piece Belu were muttering instructions to their aids and bodies were filing orderly out the door.
"Spooky." Bobby muttered as he watch the well mannered exit.
"Have you guys met Castiel yet?" Dean asked though he knew the Angel never left his side.
"The linguist that taught Dean to read Akkadian and Koine Greek?" Bobby gave Cass a hardy handshake, "How many languages do you speak?"
"All of them." Castiel answered startling Bobby.
"You guys will have to talk another time." Dean intervened quickly as Bobby mouthed 'All of them' to Ellen and Pastor Jim, "Everyone okay with this?"
"I have to admit this whole thing seems a little awkward." Pastor Jim admitted.
"The more complicated it is…." Bobby sighed.
"The more that can go wrong, I know." Dean nodded in agreement as did Ellen, "Anybody got a better plan, I'm all ears?"
"Dean I know I said I'd go along with this but right now the idea of someone tinkering with my brain is starting to freak me out."
"Do no be afraid Sam Winchester, I will restore it. If you wish I will leave no memory of the event." Castiel sought to reassure Sam creeping him even further.
"No I'd like to know what happened." Sam replied hesitantly.
"We'll do this in the car to sell the we had a fight thing." Dean pushed to move things along.
"Dean everyone's waiting downstairs." Dixon helped.
"Alright then, lets go bag this bitch."
This turned out to be a struggle to finish. Though I know exactly what happens next exhaustion is a problem so I will make no promises about when the next chapter will be posted. I only promise that I will indeed finish.