Chapter Fifty- One

Lana didn't hear from Dean for two days. This wasn't something totally unexpected. She had watched her mother wait by the phones for days, weeks even, for both her father and for John to call. It wasn't until Lana was leaving work at three in the morning when her phone rang. She looked at the ID, seeing Dean's phone number on the screen.

"Dean, hey."

"Did you know?" He sounded drunk and scared.

It was about Sam. He knew. "Yes."

"God damn it, Lana," he cursed and she heard him through what she assumed was his beer bottle from the sound of glass colliding against wood.

"Is he alive?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"Bobby's. We're putting him through detox."

"I'll be on the next flight to South Dakota."

"Alright."

Lana walked into the front door of her home and went to Hayley's room. "Hails," she said as she turned on the light.

Hayley was already sitting up in bed with her a crystal in her hand. "Sam… he's in trouble."

"How did you know?"

"I don't know… this shadow quartz started glowing and when I picked it up, I felt it. I felt Sam."

Lana would have to look into this a different time. "Pack some stuff."

Hayley jumped out of bed. "Are we going to Bobby's?"

"I am… you're going to go stay with Bunică and Bunic."

"No."

"Yes. This isn't up for discussion."

Lana walked out to her bedroom and Hayley followed her. "You can't just leave me behind."

"That's not what I'm doing."

"They're my brothers. I have a right to be there."

Lana took a breath. "I know you do. But Sam… he… he has done something bad."

"Like what?"

"Has he ever told you about his psychic powers? How they work? How he gets stronger?"

Hayley shook her head. "Just that yellow eyes fed him blood when he was six months old."

"Yeah, well, that's not the only thing Sam has been consuming." She paused. "He has been feeding on Ruby's blood. Demon blood is what makes him stronger."

"So… what… did he overdose or…"

"Dean and Bobby are detoxing him."

"I can help with that."

Lana opened a large canvas bag and starting shoving clothes inside of it. She stopped to look at her little

sister. She saw Hayley for the young woman that she was becoming- determined, capable, and independent. She was everything that Lana had hoped she would be. She wasn't this little girl anymore who needed to be protected. "Okay. Get your stuff. We're leaving in five."

Hayley turned to go back to her room to pack while Hayley finished. "And no liquids! We're flying there," Lana yelled down the hallway.

Lana had already called a cab on the way home so the driver was waiting outside once the sisters had finished packing. On the way to the airport, Lana found a flight for 4:45 that would take around four hours. Once they had boarded, she called Dean to let him know that she would be there soon.

"What can I expect?" He asked on the other line as he sat outside on Bobby's porch.

"I don't know, Dean…"

"What was is like for you?"

"That was totally different," she argued softly.

"Please."

Lana tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she bit her lower lip. She looked at Hayley who was staring at her. "Hallucinations. A lot of them. Mainly of people close to him telling him how he screwed up, how he's nothing." She paused. "Tremors, major ones."

"Thank you. I got to go. Be careful." With that, Dean clicked off the phone.

Lana put her phone down and closed her eyes. She put her hand on top of Hayley's knee. "I'm glad you came."

...

When they landed, the sisters made their way to the car rental company. She had already reserved and paid for a rental while they were waiting to board.

"Thank you, Mrs. Holloway," the man said as he handed her the keys.

"Thank you," she said back as she motioned for Hayley to get into the passenger side.

Lana waited until they were on the highway before she called Dean. Dean didn't get answer, so she sped up, hoping that everything was okay at Bobby's. When the sisters arrived at Bobby's, it was a little before eleven in the morning.

"Can you sense anything?" Lana asked Hayley as she got out of the Honda civic.

"No," she replied.

"Sorry about that," Bobby said as he stepped out from behind a few totaled trucks. "I got some pretty strong mojo protecting the place."

"Bobby," Hayley greeted as she hugged him.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"How's Sam?" Hayley asked.

"He's inside. We have him in the basement."

"Basement?" Hayley asked trying to hide her distaste.

"It wasn't exactly voluntary."

Hayley looked at Lana. "Go ahead," Lana told her sister. She watched Hayley go through the front door. Lana looked at Bobby. "How's Dean?"

"He'll be happy to see you. Try the guest room. I've been trying to get him to sleep for the past five hours."

Lana squeezed Bobby's hand and headed up the steps to the front door. Bobby had one guest room so Lana made her way to it. When she opened the door, she saw Dean asleep on one of the twin size beds. She closed the door behind her and walked towards him. Even asleep, Dean looked like he was being tormented. His brows were furrowed together and his fists were clenched.

Lana sat down next to him and rubbed the side of his face with the back of her hand. "Dean," she said softly.

Dean's eyes fluttered opened and his fists unclenched when he saw Lana. He pulled her down on top of him and breathed in her scent. "Thank you."

She wrapped her arms around him. "What can I do to help?"

"Stay like this, just for a minute," he asked.

"Of course."

Dean's request for a minute turned into half an hour. When he sat up, Lana did the same. She followed his movements with her eyes as he stood up and started pacing around the room.

"Demon blood," Dean finally said.

Lana remained quiet.

"For months, he was drinking Ruby's blood." He stopped and looked at Lana. "Did you know the entire time."

"No. I've known since the night of the slaughter house."

"A week," he said. "You've known for a week?"

"Sam said that he was going to tell you." She stood up. "Sam promised that you and Hails weren't in danger."

Dean nodded and started pacing again. "It doesn't matter. He has to get clean."

"He will," Lana said.

"Cold turkey, he can do that, can't he?" Dean took her hands into his. "You did."

She nodded slowly. "I did, but again, two totally different things."

"Lana!" Hayley yelled from the basement.

Lana and Dean both ran down the hall and down the steps to the basement where Hayley was standing in front of the locked door that held Sam.

"What?" Lana demanded.

"He's hurting" Hayley said.

"I'm sorry!" Sam said. "Please." He paused. "Let me out of here. I'm not some junkie to lock up."

Lana stepped back for a second to collect her thoughts.

"I'm not drinking demon blood for kicks. I can kill Lilith." He walked to the door and looked at Hayley. "Hails, please."

"Don't talk to her," Dean warned.

Sam stepped backwards, his vision blurry. "Alastir was here. He's going to come back! Please!"

Lana stepped in front of the opening. "Sam. They aren't real. I know it feels real and it feels like you're dying, but you won't. Okay? This is the worst of it."

Sam screamed and gasped for air. "Please! Please!"

Lana took Hayley by her shoulders. "Let's go upstairs."

"No," Hayley said firmly. "I can help."

"No," Dean said. "No. He doesn't need magic. He needs to have all that demon blood out of his system. So unless you're planning on bleeding him, the answer is no."

"I can sedate him."

Lana looked away when Dean looked at her. Dean looked back at Hayley. "With no magic?"

"Just herbs. No incantations."

Dean nodded. "Alright."

Hayley ran up the steps to get her bag so she could make the tea.

Dean punched the wall and then turned his back to it. "How did this happen? How did I let it happen?" He asked as he closed his eyes.

Lana put her fingers through the front loops in Dean's pants. "You were dead, baby. His heart was broken and he tried to get it to stop hurting so badly. You couldn't have stopped this."

Dean opened his eyes and saw Lana. "I feel like I failed him and Dad."

"The only way you can fail them is if you stopped trying to save Sam, and I don't see you doing that."

Suddenly, Sam started screaming again and when Dean looked inside, he saw Sam's body being thrown around. "Bobby!" Dean yelled as he opened the door and ran inside the room. Lana followed Dean and tried to grab Sam, who was now suspended off the floor.

Bobby ran into the room and helped Dean and Lana get him onto the cot that was in the middle of the room. "Dean, we need to do it."

Dean looked at his brother and then back at Bobby. "Fine. Tie him up."

Lana stepped aside and to get out of their way and to intercept Hayley.

"What are they doing?" Hayley asked.

"They had to," Lana said.

Once Sam was tied up, Hayley walked over to him and set the bag of herbs next to his head.

"He's out of it," Bobby said. "We'll check on him in an hour."

"I'm going to stay with him," Hayley said.

"I'll be upstairs."

"Stay outside the door," Dean suggested.

"Why? He's in a devil's trap."

"You can still talk to him through the door," Dean persisted.

"Better safe than sorry, sweetheart," Bobby added.

When Hayley agreed, Bobby, Dean, and Lana made their way upstairs. Bobby retired to his study while Dean and Lana made their way to the kitchen. Dean pulled out two beers from the refrigerator and offered one to Lana.

"Oh, shit, you're not drinking right?" He blurted as he took back the bottled domestic.

Lana ignored the question. "When is the last time that you've eaten?"

Dean took a swig of his beer and leaned against the counter. "I… before this happened."

"We passed a dinner on the way in. I'll grab you a bacon cheeseburger. "

"Don't go. Just stay."

"Okay…" she said softly. "I'll stay." She stepped in front of him so that she could put her hands in his. "Tell me what you need."

"For this not to be happening."

"Why not let Hayley help Sam?"

"The same reason why you didn't."

"It's not the same," Lana said for what she felt like for the hundredth time. "This is time sensitive. Aren't they're seals being broken?"

"I'll worry about that."

"I know you will. You're taking on too much. Let me help." She paused. "I can help Bobby look for Lilith while you deal with Sam."

Dean shook his head. "I don't want you anywhere near this."

"Why?"

"Because it's dangerous."

"Dean…"

"It's too dangerous, Lana." He paused. "I shouldn't have asked you to come."

"You didn't. I came on my own."

"Then I shouldn't have called."

"Yes, you should have. Dean, we are in this together. I can't have you thinking that we're not. Surely I've proved myself to you and-"

Dean pulled Lana into him. "You have, over and over again. I know you have my back."

Lana looked up at Dean. "Then let me help. Please."

Dean nodded. "Alright. Bobby is looking through some old books. Help us out with that?"

"Of course."

Hayley walked into the kitchen. "So we're in research mode?"

"Looks like," Lana replied.

"Sam could help," Hayley said.

Dean let out a deep breath. "Not today, kid." He looked at Lana. "I need to talk to Cas. You girls okay with Bobby for a bit?"

"Yes. Go," Lana said.

Dean kissed Lana on the lips and then squeezed Hayley's shoulder. "Thanks for coming," he said as he looked

at Lana then at Hayley. "I'll have my phone if anything happens."

"It won't," Hayley said confidently.

The better part of the day, Bobby, Lana, and Hayley read and made notes using the books Bobby had for the occasion. When Dean came back, he brought food and a displeased face.

"Spill it, boy," Bobby said.

"Bad news from Cas?" Hayley asked.

"I did something," Dean said.

"What?" Bobby demanded.

Dean explained how Cas said that God and the angels needed Dean to pledge himself to their holy work so ensure that the end of the world doesn't come.

"Tell me you didn't," Bobby said.

"Of course I did. I'm either the angels' bitch or Sam is a bitch to demon blood. I can't let that happen." He looked at Lana who remained silent. She turned from his gaze when they made eye contact.

"Of course not," Bobby said.

"Excuse me," Lana whispered as she walked out of the den. She stepped onto the back porch and took in a deep breath. She heard Dean's boots behind her. "I'm sorry," she said.

"For what?" He asked.

She turned around to face him. "I can't be supportive of your decision. And I understand that it is your decision. But I need you to understand that I can't be behind it."

"Why?"

"I don't trust them."

"Who? The angels?"

"Yes."

Dean rubbed the scruff of his five o'clock shadow. "I can't trust a demon."

"I'm not asking you to." She bit her bottom lip. "I just wish you were less inclined to trust the… beings… that strapped me into a chair and carved our son from my stomach. When I realized what they were doing, I screamed, begging them to stop. I pleaded with them. They left me there after they took him from. They left me tied to a chair to die."

"You didn't tell me that…"

"Why would I? It would only hurt you. I'm only telling you now so that you know what kind of creatures these angels are."

Lana turned back around and held onto the railing of the porch.

"If I can do this, Sam won't have to."

"Believe me, I understand that more than anyone. I would die for Hayley in a second. I would do anything for her so she wouldn't experience any ounce of pain, so I understand. But it doesn't make it any less fucked up."

She turned around to face Dean after she had gathered herself. She was finished crying over that.

Dean looked into her eyes, wanting to touch her but didn't know if she wanted to be. "If I could change-"

"I know, baby. I know." Her face had softened. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of what kept my mother up every night until she killed herself. I'm scared of losing the man I love to monsters… and now to angels."

"It's not going to happen."

Lana grabbed onto his shirt. "Please, just… be safe."

"Always."