A/n: I am so sorry this took so long! The depression of losing my Grandpa's sister (my favorite greataunt) has made it really hard to think up updates. I lost all inspiration for writing plus I just could not figure out how I wanted to do this chapter. This chapter feels a little anti-climactic and I've very sorry.


The sound of thunder had never really been an issue to Sam. Sure, it was unsettling, but it almost never made his heart pound and his body shake. Not like the dullahan's thundering hooves were currently doing to him. He felt like a nervous wreck as he knelt on the sidelines of the path.

He felt uneasy and scared, which was nerve wracking in itself. It was a horrid sensation that he did not like feeling. He just wanted this stupid venture to be over. They were likely to get themselves all maimed or killed.

Sam took a shaky breath as he looked across the path to where Cas sat hidden in the shadows. The angel looked over and caught his eyes, pure blue eyes glinting in the moonlight. There was some familiar and comforting warm in the stunning gaze of his friend. It helped to settle Sam's frazzled nerves.

A whistle sounded through the air, just barely piercing above the sound of hooves. It was the signal from Dean. He and the monster were almost to them. It was just his and Cas' job to trap the monster in the clearing once it chased Dean into it.

Sam looked down at the gold "rope" in his hands. It was one of three that Dean had designed. Sam had to admit that he was very impressed with his brother's idea. All the linked jewelry would be very weak under normal circumstances but it might actually work correctly in terms of a dullahan.

Sam looked down the path in anticipation as he got into a crouch. He gritted his teeth against the hard vibrations shaking the earth below him. His stomach felt like it was churning uncomfortably as he waited. His eyes widened as he finally saw what he really didn't want to.

Dean was making his way down the old dirt path, just barely. Sam uneasily watched his brother rush down the hard-packed path. His stomach churned at the sight of the monster charging after the older man. The thing was too close to Dean for comfort. Sam was panicking slightly, his nerves too wrecked from the week for this job.

Sam fought the urge to bolt from his place to rush to his brother. Staying still was agony but he pushed down his urges as he looked across the path over at Cas again. The glinting blue eyes of the angel gave him strength. He took a deep breath, settling as he waited for Dean.

Dean was having his own control issues that he was dealing with. His instincts were telling him to bolt off the trail to lose the horseman. But, he knew better, knew he had to keep running.

He huffed breathlessly as he spotted the last ribbon marker on one of the trees. Knowing Sammy and Cas were ready and waiting gave him new strength. He used it to push his body to the limit to stay ahead of the galloping steed.

He gritted his teeth and charged into the clearing. His knee almost gave out on him as he made a sliding dive to the side of the clearing into the warded trees. He just hoped that Sam and Cas blocked off the entrance.

The demonic-looking steed whinnied as its hooves skidded on the long grass covering the clearing's floor. The spectral flames of its fetlocks flared out as the massive beast reared up in anger. The rider expertly held to the reigns and stayed in his saddle as he turned about face to his opponents. The horse snorted ash, frothing acidic saliva dripping from its mouth.

Sam and Cas secured one of the gold chains to the forest floor. The commotion from the horse got their attention. Both stood, shotgun and angel blade at the ready. They met up with Dean on the clearing floor. The elder Winchester nodded to the younger and tossed him another length of gold "rope", which Sam caught easily.

"Listen up, Sleepy Hallow." Dean called out, taking a threatening step out towards the monster, "I want directions to the Unseelie court and you're gonna tell me or your passing ain't gonna fun." The boys had received numerous types of responses to their threats and demands over the years but this one was the most disturbing.

The rider straightened up in his saddle, it's body shuddering as laughter rung out through the clearing. The sound was dark and eerie, it shook them to their cores. It left the knees of the humans feeling weak but Cas just huffed in hostility. He stepped out in front of the brothers, grip tightening about his angel blade as he did so.

A Winchester stood to either side, fixing their 'ropes' into lassos. The boys' knees shook instinctively from the creature's laugh but stood their grounds to back up Cas. One way or another, they were getting answers tonight.

~*~z~*~

Gabriel lay curled up on the motel bed, cold and so very lonely. As he lay there, the darkness started to creep in on him just like when he first got back to earth. He curled up tighter, covering his head, as tears pooled in his eyes. There was no morning sunlight this time to tell him where he was and that he was safe.

The dark was cold and frightening again. He whimpered pitifully in fear as he shuddered with disgust, he could feel the hands of his trainers trail over him, in him, in the dark. He knew they weren't real but that didn't stop him from feeling them.

The only way he could distracted himself was with the music playing in his ears. He had Sam's iPod, the sounds keeping him sane. Though, the more he listened, the more he wished his mate was there. He felt like sobbing in disgust when the need to feel Sam's dominating weight above him and to feel the kid claim him hard entered Gabriel's head. He felt like a slutty whore but knew that if he was being claimed by Sam then the trainers would stop touching him.

Gabriel shifted slightly in his position lying on his side, his eyes fluttering open in fear when he heard people outside his motel room. He whimpered and quivered, blinking his useless eyes rapidly. He became frustrated but distracted by a small, irritating speck of white in the sea of black that was his vision.

He grunted unhappily, mewling. He swiped at his face slightly to knock it away but it didn't leave. So, instead, he closed his eyes and covered his head with the blanket. He huffed and mewled in tired satisfaction when the speck was finally gone and he was left to wallow in his loneliness. He was completely unaware of what the speck of light had meant. All he could focus on was the music as he waited for his mate.

~*~z~*~

Gold burned against black steel as the earth shook with the rumble of combat. Rider and steed alike roared in fury as the golden chain looped around the horse's neck while the other caught the rider's wrist. Dean and Sam tried to pull the monsters in opposite directions but it didn't budge.

The horse let forth a dreadful sound as it reared up, throwing its head back. The quick movement yanked Dean off his sure footing. He stumbled forward as the mount made its move.

With Dean thrown off balance by its front, the evil horse kicked out its front hooves. The hunter let out a surprised yelp that quickly turned to a slightly choked cry of pain as the steed made contact. Dean's vision whited out for a second as the impact made a sickening crack fill the air as the hunter was shoved back hard. The all too familiar pain of a broken rib making it difficult to breathe as he hit the hard earth.

"Dean!" Sam cried out in concern and fear to his brother, starting to lose focus on the chain he was holding.

"I'm fine, Sam, get the horseman!" Dean snapped back, voice strangled with agony, as he pressed a hand to his injured ribs. He gritted his teeth while motioning for them to focus on the monster. They had been fighting it for what felt like hours but it was oddly good in close combat.

His brother's command shifted Sam's worried focus back to the grip he had on the rider's wrist. Cas took over Dean's place, gripping the chain around the mount's neck. The angel's other hand was wrapped around the end of the bone whip that the rider had lashed out at him with.

Dean breathed painfully as he climbed to his feet. He gasped weakly, arm pressed securely about his ribs as he steadied his footing. Fighting his pain, he trudged towards the group he had been knocked away from.

"Alright listen, Pal. I want answers." Dean growled out. He bent down and snatched up Cas' blade from the grass as he passed it. He walked about the ghastly steed until he came into eye contact with the rider's head where it rested, hanging from the steed's hip by its hair. Dean glared into its cold, dead eyes as he mentally prepared himself to slip into a persona he hated.

"So, I am getting answers…" Dean stopped walking, standing stead strong and hard on his position in the grass. He glared as he brandished the long blade towards the rider's rotting head, "…and I'm getting then tonight, one way or another."

~*~Chapter End~*~