AN: Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Bobby's car drives off, away from the Winchesters. Bobby was going to follow up on the Lovecraft case. The three Winchesters summon Balthazar. The lights in the scrap yard go out and Balthazar appears behind them with a drink in his hand. The Winchesters turn around and see him.
"I'm sorry boys, and girl, do I look like a man-servant to you? No? No? Then quit ringing for me, please," Balthazar says, clearly annoyed at being disrupted.
"This is important, Balthazar," Dean argues.
"I was drinking '75 Dom out of a soprano's navel when you called. That was important," Balthazar counters. Gracilynn makes a face.
"Crowley's alive," Sam says, nodding when Balthazar gives them a look. Balthazar quickly covers it up before speaking.
"Well you've been scooped. Cas already told me," Balthazar replies.
"Well did Cas tell you that he is Crowley's butt-buddy, you smug little dick?" Dean asks cockily.
"Excuse me?" Balthazar asks, taken off guard.
"Handshake deal. Go halfsies on all the souls of Purgatory. He fill you in on that?" Sam explains further.
"Well, yes, yes. Yes, of course he did. Yes," Balthazar says, clearly lying.
"Oh, yes, of course. I…I…we can read it all over your face," Sam counters.
"Look, Crowley and Cas took two people who are very important to me," Dean says, getting straight to the point.
"And I care about this because?" Balthazar asks.
"Because maybe there is a shred of decency underneath this…this snarky crap," Dean says. Balthazar takes a sip of his drink. "They're innocent people and I'm asking for your help."
"Hmmm. I see. Fair enough," Balthazar says right before disappearing.
"Son of a bitch!" Dean shouts in anger.
"Look, Dean. Let's just call Cas. Maybe he doesn't know anything about this," Sam says.
"We are not calling Cas," Dean says firmly.
"Yeah, but Dean," Sam argues.
"We're not calling Cas!" Dean yells angrily.
"So what then?" Sam asks.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Sam is outside the garage at Singer Salvage, on the phone with Bobby. Gracilynn is sitting on the hood of the Impala, staring at the ground.
"Lovecraft tried to jimmy a damn dimensional door. Idjit," Bobby says over the phone.
"So what happened?" Sam asks.
"Well, nothing much. Except, I dug, and every guest invited to the hoedown, dead or disappeared inside a year," Bobby answers.
"Wow, um, so where are you off to now?" Sam asks.
"Have a chat with one of the guests," Bobby replies.
"Wait, didn't you just say that everyone there died?" Sam asks, confused.
"Yeah, everybody Lovecraft invited died. Seems the maid had a nine year old boy. He was there," Bobby explains.
"So, he'd be what, 83 years old now? Where is he?" Sam asks.
"Same place he's been ever since the big night. Locked in a mental ward," Bobby answers. A fight can be heard behind Sam in the garage.
"I see, um... Well, keep me posted, huh?" Sam says.
"Okay, stay in touch. How's things going there? You got a lead on Lisa and Ben?" Bobby says in turn.
"Well, um, we're making a few inquiries," Sam answers, screams being heard from inside the garage. "Slow going."
"How's Dean?" Bobby asks.
"About how you'd expect," Sam answers.
"Gracilynn?" Bobby asks. Sam looks over at his niece on the hood of the car, trying to pretend she can't hear what's going on inside the garage. Dean refused to let her go inside, not wanting her to see what was going to go down.
"As good as she can be," Sam answers.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Gracilynn looks up at hearing the garage door open and slam shut. She sees her uncle begin walking towards her, visibly frustrated. He had gone back inside after hanging up with Bobby, but that was only ten minutes ago.
"Everything all right?" Gracilynn asks her uncle. Sam looks up, realizing he was standing next to his niece.
"What? Oh…yeah," Sam replies, masking his frustration.
"Dad find anything out yet?" Gracilynn asks.
"Uh…no, not yet. But he will," Sam assures her.
"Is dad gonna be okay?" Gracilynn asks Sam, silently pleading him to make things right. Sam weighs his options before answering her.
"He will be," Sam says. He looks over at her, taking in her appearance. "You all right?"
"Me? Yeah, I'm fine," Gracilynn says, flinching when another screams comes from the garage.
"Come on squirt, let's go inside," Sam says, holding out an arm.
"Fine," Gracilynn says, jumping down from her spot on the Impala and sidling up next to her uncle before muttering loud enough for Sam to hear her. "Miracle Grow."
Sam chuckles and pulls her in for a side hug as the two of them walk over to the back door of Bobby's house. They walk inside and head straight for the kitchen. Sam sighs and walks over to where the liquor is. He pulls out two glasses and pours himself and Gracilynn a drink, Gracilynn's being relatively smaller, and hands her one. Balthazar suddenly appears in the room.
"Drinking your feelings, Sam? Gracilynn? I thought that was your brother's and dad's bag," Balthazar asks.
"Stressful times," Sam answers.
"Well, we need to talk," Balthazar says.
"Why?" Sam and Gracilynn ask.
"Because…I know I'm gonna live to regret this…but I'm officially on your team. You bastards," Balthazar says none too heatedly.
"Let me get Dean," Sam says, setting his cup down and exiting the room. Gracilynn turns her attention fully on Balthazar. The two of them study each other.
"So, what changed your mind?" Gracilynn asks.
"I had a talk with Cas. I didn't like his answers," Balthazar says. Gracilynn's eyes narrow and she studies Balthazar a little more. Balthazar narrows his own eyes at her. "Staring isn't nice."
"Neither is being a douchebag, but I guess you angels missed that memo," Gracilynn counters fluidly.
"Touché," Balthazar replies. The back door opens and shuts and in walks Sam and Dean.
"So? Sam says you're gonna help us?" Dean asks.
"Yes," Balthazar answers.
"And we should believe you why?" Dean asks.
"Would you believe I had a shred of decency?" Balthazar asks.
"No," Sam replies.
"Oh. That hurts," Balthazar says. Sam raises his eyebrows. "Okay, you're right. It's survival. You see, I asked Cas some questions and I disliked his answers. He seems awfully sure of himself for a man who wants to swallow a million nuclear reactors. I mean, these things can get a bit Chernobyl, you know? So, voilà. Consider me your double agent. Oh, and I took the liberty of searching for your friends. Uh, took a while. Crowley's a clever one."
"You found them?" Dean and Gracilynn ask.
"Well, the upside is yes, uh, the downside is no, I can't get them for you," Balthazar answers.
"Why not?" Sam asks.
"Because Crowley's angel-proofed the whole bloody building. I guess he doesn't trust Cas. Seems that marriage is going swimmingly," Balthazar says.
"Seems to be the common theme," Gracilynn says in return.
"Okay, well get us as close as you can," Dean says, ignoring his daughter's jab.
"Sure. But then you're on your own," Balthazar agrees.
AN: I know, I know. It's a shorter chapter. The next one will be a little longer, I promise!