Ch. 48- Going Down The Broken Road
In the early light of day, Pamela walked outside into Bobby's junkyard. She found him laying there knocked out.
"Bobby." she whispered franticly as she knelt down and shook him. Suddenly he snapped awake.
"Where's Sam?" he called. He looked around to find the car missing.
"I'm gonna guess that you weren't laying out here just for kicks." said Pamela. "How could Sam have gotten out?" she asked helping him up.
"I don't know, but we'd better wake Dean and find out." he replied. They hurried into the house. Dean was sitting up on the couch yawning.
"Sam's gone!" called Pamela not waiting for the either Dean or Bobby as she headed for the basement. Dean jumped up, almost falling over as the blanket was still entwined around him. He stopped for a moment only to free himself, then quickly caught up with Bobby and Pamela. They reached to panic room to find it shut and locked. Dean and Bobby quickly opened it.
"How the hell did he get out?" snapped Dean as they stepped in. Bobby looked to the floor.
"Maybe he had help." he suggested as he stared at the broken iron. "Room full of busted devil's traps."
"Demons?" asked Dean looking at what Bobby was looking at. They looked to each other. "Ruby!" Dean snapped.
"That'd be my guess." said Bobby.
"That good in theory, but are you forgetting that I'm a psychic." Pamela stated. "If a demon came in I would have sensed it."
"Maybe not if she's got some secret mojo." Dean replied. "How could she even have touched the door if she didn't?" He knelt down and looked at the devil's trap in front of the door.
"What difference do it make?" snapped Bobby. "How he got gone ain't as important as where he got gone to." Dean stood up in reply.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing," he began saying to Bobby and Pamela, "I hope he's with Ruby."
"Why?" they asked.
"Cause killing her's the next item on my to-do list." he replied. He turned and began to got back to the stairs.
"I thought you were on call for angel duty." called Pamela teasingly. Dean looked back as he walked out.
"I am on call in my car, on the way to murder the bitch." he responded.
"One thing." said Bobby starting to follow Dean, who now stopped dead in his tracks.
"What?" he snapped as Bobby and Pamela neared.
"Sam don't want to be found," started Bobby, "which means he's gonna be damn near impossible to find."
"Yeah, we'll see." Dean shrugged, then he began to go up the stairs.
"Maybe I should try to call for Eve." Pamela suggested softly to Bobby. "She could probably find him."
"First you have to find her." Bobby replied. "I'm sure she's got her hands full with killing angels though." Pamela sighed as she followed Bobby up. Before they reached the top though she grabbed his arm.
"Do you think the angels might be doing all this?" she asked. Bobby turned to her and smiled.
"Yes, I do." he replied. Then he pushed her back down the stairs.
Sam was uncontrollably fidgeting as he sat on a sofa in a fancy hotel room, somewhere. He stood up to pace, but as he did a knock sounded at the door. He cracked it open to see Ruby standing there. She wasted no time coming in as he opened the door wider.
"Honeymoon suite, really?" she asked kind of amused. "I'm flattered." Sam check the hallway before closing the door.
"Did you bust me out of that room?" Sam asked when he turned to her. She was walking deeper into the room, taking her bag off her shoulder.
"How could I, Sam?" she asked as she was taking off her jacket. "The whole things engineered to bite me in the ass." She tossed her jacket to the sofa.
"Then how did I get out of there?" Sam asked trying to figure it out. She turned to him putting her bag back on her shoulder.
"I don't know." she replied. "I don't want to know." she said sensing the angel smell all over him. "You're out. That's all that matters." She smiled to him. "I'm glad to see you."
"Yeah?" he asked kind of upset by that. "Where the hell have you been?" he snapped.
"I got here as quick as I could." she snapped back turning away.
"I mean the past three weeks!" said Sam frustrated. "I've been calling you!" As she reached the top of the few steps to get to the bed she turned back irritated.
"I've been pretty deep in it trying to dig out Lilith!" she snapped. "Sometimes I can't just sit around and check my voicemail." There was a moment of silence between them. She dropped her bag next to the bed. "I'm sorry you're hurting." she said softly. "Really." she added. "I had no idea that Dean would do that to you." she said trying to spin Sam angry back to him.
"You and be both." Sam replied. He began to walk over slowly calming down.
"You didn't book this joint to impress me, did you?" Ruby asked.
"Dean's gonna come after me." said Sam bluntly. "And he knows my habits, my aliases, everything. He knows exactly which motel I'd pick."
"Hence the room." added Ruby kind of disappointed. Sam was only about a foot away now.
"Whatever it takes to shake him."
"I won't be easy. I mean, he knows you better than anyone."
"Not as well as he thinks." hissed Sam.
"You know, it's sad." she said sympathetically.
"What?" asked Sam. Ruby was looking for the right words to keep him calm and eating out of her hand, so to speak.
"That things have gotten this bad between you two." She gently ran her left hand against his face, pushing he hair back. She finished her seduction with her fingers rubbing his ear. He unexpectedly pushed her to the bed fiercely. He hovered over her lips for a moment, but slowly went down dragging his hands along her slides. He pushed her pants leg up and pulled a small knife out of her boot. She looked down to him erotically. He came back up quickly and pinned her left arm to the bed. He put the blade to her forearm and cut it slowly. When the blood flowed out, Sam put his mouth to the cut, licking and sucking desperately. She smiled as she got off on this twisted sort of pleasure.
Dean was tuning checking under the hood of the car as Bobby came up.
"Police found my car." he said bluntly. Dean looked to him. "Abandoned in an alley way in Jamestown, North Dakota." Dean stepped back and wiped his hands off with a rag.
"He's switching up." Dean stated. "Any other cars stolen in Jamestown?"
"Two. 1999 Honda Civic, blue. Nice and anonymous, like Sam likes."
"What was the other one?" Dean asked as his gut was telling him that wasn't the right car.
"White '05 Escalade with custom rims." said Bobby with a ridiculous little smile. "It's a neon sign."
"You're right." said Dean. "He'd never take that." Dean thought about it. "Which is exactly what he did."
"You think?"
"I know that kid." Dean sighed , then began to gather his tools up. "Alright, I'll head in that direction. You stay here, and ride the police databases." Bobby nodded as Dean closed the hood of the Impala. "We gotta find him quick."
"Your appetite's gotten much bigger." said Ruby as she gazed at Sam as they were laying in the bed together. He looked at her and sat up worried.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked panicked.
"Sam, relax. It's okay." said Ruby. "It just means you're getting stronger, that's all. It means you're strong enough to kill Lilith." Sam nodded and calmed down. "Just in time, too, because the final seals are breaking."
"How many are left?" Sam asked.
"Three? Two?" Ruby replied.
"What?" snapped Sam. "Where are the angels?"
"Screwing the pooch, wherever they are. The point is, it's looking more and more like we're getting down to the final seal. And I found out something big." Sam looked to her intrigued, but worried.
"What?" he asked.
"Seal 66. It can't be broken by just any demon. Apparently, only Lucifer's first can do it."
"Lucifer's first?" asked Sam lost.
"Demon Sunday school story. God prefers humans to angels. Lucifer gets jealous and then he gets creative, and twists and tempts a human soul into the very first demon as a 'screw you' to God. It's what got him locked up in the first place."
"That was Lilith?" asked Sam as he took it all in.
"She's way older than she looks."
"Wait." said Sam sitting up as the light bulb flashed in his head. "So… if Lilith is the only one who can break the final seal…if I get to her in time…"
"Then Lucifer never busts out of his cage." Ruby finished for him. "Exactly."
"Great." Sam said excitedly. "You figure out where she is?"
"The bitch can hide. But I finally have a lead on someone who might be able to help us. I closed in on a member of Lilith's entourage. You might call her a…personal chef."
"Chef?" asked Sam. "Seriously?" Ruby smiled, but Sam could tell she was serious. "What does she eat?"
"You don't want to know." Ruby said crinkling her nose. "But I guess you need to know."
"Cops found the Escalade in a ditch outside Elk River." said Bobby as he was on the phone with Dean.
"How far away am I?" asked Dean.
"A couple of hours. I pulled up a weather map… made some calls. There's a town not too far, Cold Spring. It's lighting up with demon signs."
"A good place to look." Dean replied.
"Hey, listen." said Bobby.
"What?"
"Us finding Sam. It's gotta be about getting him back, not pushing him away."
"Right." said Dean softly.
"I know you're mad, Dean. I understand. You got a right to be, but… I'm just saying. Be good to him anyway. You gotta get through to him." Dean hung up.
As Sam buttoned up his shirt while he was coming out of the bathroom he spoke up.
"So our demon gourmet nurse." He scuffed at how ridiculous it sounded. "You sure?"
"She'll be there." Ruby replied as she was sitting on the sofa, playing with her knife. "Graveyard shift tomorrow night. In the mean time, if you're gonna be strong enough to kill Lilith you're gonna need more than I can give you now." Sam sighed heavily. "Sam, come on. It's okay."
"I know I need more." he said coming down the steps to her. "I get it. I know it's okay. I just… I wish he trusted me, you know?" he said taking her knife.
"Sorry."
"I just hope… you know, when all this is over…I hope we can fix things." said Sam sadly. Ruby stood there wishing he would shut up and stop being so wishy-washy.
After a while the suite door opened. Sam stepped out cautiously and took a right down the hotel hallway. Dean came around a different corner. He could hear the ding of the elevator. Sam was getting on the one Dean had just come off of, only by them taking different hall did they miss each other. Dean slowly came to the suite door. He looked around, then silently used a card that he'd snagged off a cleaning cart. He noticed Ruby up by the bed. She was putting things away in her bag. He crept to her. He was almost there when the floor board creaked. Ruby turned around quickly. Dean slashed the demon killing knife at her. It cut across the sleeve of her jacket. She grabbed his right arm in defense. He gripped her right wrist with his left hand and spun her, slamming her back against the wall.
"Ugh!" she groaned. They struggled for a long moment, but with a swift motion, Dean freed himself from her and raised the blade to stab her.
"No!" came the voice of Sam. He grabbed Dean's hand, twisting it as he spun Dean away. The end resolute left Dean getting up from the floor without the knife. Sam stood between him and Ruby clutching the knife, but apparently trying to calm the situation. "Just take it easy." he said softly. Dean looked at him in disappointment.
"Well, it must have been some party you two had going… considering how hard you tried to keep me from crashing it." said Dean. "Well, solid try, but… here I am."
"Dean, I'm glad you're here." said Sam trying to calm him. "Look, let's just talk about this." Ruby rolled her eyes and huffed.
"Soon as she's dead, we can talk all you want." snapped Dean softly. Ruby looked back and forth between them as an uncomfortable silence fell.
"Ruby," said Sam glancing back to her, "get out of here."
"No," snapped Dean stepping closer, "she's not going anywhere!" Sam took step closer to Dean causing him to holt in his advance. Ruby wasted no time in running for the door. "She's poison, Sam!"
"It's not what you think, Dean." said Sam calmly.
"Look what she did to you!" cried Dean as the mixed emotions swelled and threatened to boil over. "She up and vanishes for weeks at a time, leaves you cracking out for another hit-"
"She was looking for Lilith!" snapped Sam now getting mad, but not quite sure who he was mad at.
"That is French for manipulating your ass 10 ways from Sunday." Dean replied.
"You're wrong, Dean!"
"Sam, you're lying to yourself." said Dean sounding calmer. He came closer, but now in a caring, less threatening manner. "I just want you to be okay. You would do the same for me. I know you would." Sam shook his head as the pain sunk in slowly.
"Just listen." he said almost at a whisper. He looked down at the knife in his hand, then threw it on the bed. "Just listen for a second." he said calmly. "We got a lead on a demon close to Lilith. Come with us, Dean. We'll do this together."
"That sounds great." whispered Dean. "As long as it's you and me." Sam sighed and rolled his eyed. "The demon bitch is a deal breaker. Kiss her goodbye and we can go right now."
"I can't." said Sam. Dean nodded and turned away. "Dean, I need her to help me kill Lilith." Dean rubbed his face is disbelief. Sam chose Ruby over him… again. "I know you can't wrap your head around it, but maybe one day… you'll understand." Sam sighed as Dean shook his head. "I'm the only one who can do this, Dean." With that he whipped back around.
"No, you're not the one who's gonna do this." snapped Dean.
"Right!" Sam snapped back. "That's right! I forgot. The angels think it's you."
"You don't think I can?" asked Dean hurt.
"No." replied Sam. "You can't. You're not strong enough."
"Who the hell are you?" snapped Dean really getting pissed now.
"I'm being practical here." said Sam reasoningly. "I'm doing what needs to be done."
"Yeah?" Dean responded. "You're not going to do a single damn thing!" Suddenly the word of Sidon flowed through Sam's head.
"Stop bossing me around, Dean!" yelled Sam. He took a moment to try to calm down. "Look… My whole life you took the wheel, you called the shots, and I trusted you because you are my brother. Now I'm asking you, for once…trust me." he begged. Dean wished he could give in and trust him, but everything, his gut and all his senses, screamed at him not to.
"No." he said after a long silence. "You don't know what you're doing, Sam."
'Yes, I do!" snapped Sam.
"Then that's worse!" yelled Dean.
"Why?" asked Sam. "Look, I'm telling you-"
"Because it's not something you're doing, it's what you are!" yelled Dean. "It means-" Dean couldn't bring himself to say it.
"What?" asked Sam trying to hide the fact that he was distraught. He read the look on Dean's face and remember the words of the Dean in the panic room. "No!" There was a moment of silence between them. "Say it!" snapped Sam finally breaking the silence.
"It means you're a monster." Dean said struggling to get the words out. As Sam nodded, Dean realized that their anger made him say something he shouldn't have said. Dean waited for Sam to answer. His answer was clear, as it came in a punch that sent Dean to the floor. Sam stood before Dean all huffed up and gasping to control his anger. Words were over between them, as Dean got to his feet and punched Sam in the face in return, but it didn't stop there. Dean just kept punching and hitting Sam. Soon Sam turned it around and began to beat Dean. After a solid punch, Dean slammed into a mirror face first. Sam stood back haft hoping that this would be it, but neither could stop themselves. Dean came back with a attempt to punch Sam, but he blocked and threw Dean through the suite's fancy wooden lattice work causing him to land on the glass coffee table in front of the sofa. Dean laid there groan, then coughed as blood trickled out of his nose. Dean wheezed and though it was over. Sam stepped down and Dean thought he was going to walk on out to join his demon bitch, but shockingly Sam knelt down and began to choke him. Dean struggled as his looked into his brother's hate filled face. As Dean was about to pass out Sam let go, regaining control over himself. He stepped back as Dean coughed.
"You don't know me." snapped Sam. "You never did. And you never will." Dean gasped, feeling as shattered as the coffee table, as Sam was about to walk out.
"You walk out that door…" Dean struggled to say, "don't you ever come back!" Sam stopped at the door and looked at his brother laying on the floor. He hardened himself and walked out. With the slam of the door, Dean tried to get up. As he rolled onto his side, he groaned in pain and began to cry. The tears flowed partly from the physical pain, but mostly from the emotional pain that even now felt so much worse.
Eve twinned in pain, as if felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart. She looked to Joshua.
"He needs me." she said about to cry.
"I'm sorry, but you can't leave." he replied. "You are still weakened from your battle with Zachariah and you are almost defenseless without your sword. Not to mention-"
"I've put the child's life at risk enough already, I know, but-" she snapped.
"That, but I've found out that Michael thinks you're dead, which means Zachariah thinks you're dead too." he responded. "This is a great advantage for us, so you must stay away from Dean."
"But he needs me!" she cried.
"He needs you to be safe." Joshua corrected. "He will need you a lot more when Lucifer is set free." Joshua patted her on the shoulder. "There are ways to be there without really being there, if you know what I mean." He disappeared leaving her alone in the garden. Eve closed her eyes and focused on Dean.
As Dean laid there, he suddenly began to feel a warmth and peace.
"Dean," came the voice of Eve, "come on." He looked before him to see a lighted figure of Eve. She stretched out her hand. "Get up."
"Eve, where are you?" he cried.
"I'm here with you, in spirit." she replied. He reached up to her hand and felt himself pulled up. When he was on his feet he looked around, but she was gone.
