Chapter 20

The wind was blowing bits of dust around as Jack pushed himself up from the barren ground to look around. He didn't see Dean or Sam anywhere nearby. He tried to sense them but couldn't find them. He got up and searched his surroundings knowing this was where he had seen Mary in his vision. He started walking in the direction he seemed to be pulled in, thinking he was being led to Mary. He was alert for any threat and tried to use whatever cover he could to stay out of sight, but there wasn't much available to him.

The surroundings were desolate, bare and uninviting for anyone. Hardly anything was alive in this world because of the battles between angels and demons that devastated the land and kill thousands of humans. The air was heavy and hot and the sun was blocked by dust and debris making the day seem hazy and bleak. Each day rolled into another without much changing. No one really knew how much time had passed now since the first battle had taken place and there weren't many around still alive to tell about it.

The wind whipped dust whirlwinds up as Jack fought to see. He covered his eyes when the blowing sand pelted his face. It didn't hurt but it was annoying. He was almost certain Dean and Sam were not there since he couldn't feel their life force, so it was up to him to find Mary and save her. He continued onward looking for any type of structure or building or anyplace that Lucifer or Michael might have Mary imprisoned. He wasn't sure if they were working together or who was in charge, but he knew what he had to do.

When Jack climbed a hill, he saw the remains of a forest in the distance and decided to head that way. He wasn't sure what he'd find, but maybe it would be help in his search. He remembered Dean and Sam saying there were humans here fighting against the angels still, but it was a losing battle for them. He didn't understand this war and why the angels would turn against humans, but he didn't like it. He continued on through the waste land, stopping several times to gets his bearings and to rest. Jack wanted to save his strength since it was still replenishing from him creating the rift. That had taken a lot out of him and he didn't want to waste his powers using them to transport himself to the forest. He had to be ready to defend himself if need be and he needed to be full power to stop this Michael and Lucifer.

spn

He felt them before seeing them as he drew closer to the forest and didn't offer any resistance when two men stepped around some boulders with guns pointed at him.

"Hello," Jack said, trying to be friendly and waving at them.

"Who the hell are you?" one growled defensively.

"My name is Jack. I'm looking for a friend, her name is Mary. She got trapped here," he tried to explain.

"You any kin to a couple of brothers named Winchesters?" the leader asked sizing the boy up and checking out his clothes. They looked to new and clean to be from here.

"They are my fathers," Jack said proudly. "We came through a rift together, but I think we've been separated and they didn't make it here."

Bobby eyed the kid trying to understand how both the brothers could be his father, but shoved it to the side for now. "I met them awhile back, name's Bobby, and you shouldn't be out here by yerself, it's too dangerous."

"I think I remember Sam and Dean talking about you. There was a Bobby in our world too."

"C'mon kid, I don't know what you think you can do alone, but we need to get out of here," he ordered as he motioned for Jack to follow them.

"Have you heard anything about Mary being here? She was pulled in by Lucifer and both are trapped here."

"So your world has a Lucifer too," he huffed. "Michael killed the one here and destroyed near half the country doing it. I don't think he'll last long when Michael finds him. The sonovabitch never did like a rival."

"Does he have a place he hold captives?"

"He doesn't keep captives, the angels kill any humans they find after they torture them for information," Bobby said bluntly before marching off to leave Jack running to catch up with him.

Jack remained quiet the rest of the way to the forest and mulled over what Bobby had said. It took them several hours to get back to their camp that was hidden deep in what remained for a dense forest. There were children there that played quietly in small groups, eyeing him with fear as he walked through the camp.

They barely had enough to keep them alive, but yet they made do and continued the fight. There were crude lean to structures they used for shelters and open fires for cooking what little food they had. He saw men with angel blades and guns patrolling the area and wondering how many humans were even left here.

Jack's emotions were running wild as he took in the despair and hopelessness and the suffering and pain these people went through. They were humans fighting against angels, powerful beings, and yet they were not giving up.

"We don't have much, but you're welcome to share it," Bobby told him holding out a cup of water and a small piece of jerky.

"Thank you," Jack said taking the cup and jerky. "Do you know where Michael was last seen?" He bit a small bite of the jerky and chewed before washing it down with the warm water. It wasn't as good as what Dean bought, but he wouldn't complain.

"We try to keep as far away from him as possible, but I think he was south of here at some abandoned church or something," he answered. "We have scouts scattered around trying to track the angels so we can stay out of their way."

"Then that is where I need to go." He finished the water and handed Bobby back the cup and stored the remaining bite of jerky in his pocket.

"Kid, you know that's not a good idea, they'll kill you before you get anywhere near Michael. Why don't you stay here with us?"

"I must find Mary, she is in trouble. Thank you for your kindness," Jack said before turning to head out of the camp. "If Sam and Dean do show up, tell them where I have gone," he called over his shoulder and gave a small wave.

"I can't make you stay, but I don't like sending you off to your death."

"I will be fine. I can take care of myself. I have gotten much stronger now," Jack said with confidence. He didn't want to tell him anything about what he was since they were not too keen on angels after all they had been through. "I will be careful. Goodbye."

Bobby watched the young boy leave their camp on a suicide mission he was sure. He couldn't understand this kid or how he thought he could go up against Michael alone. He didn't have the men or manpower to help him or he would. He had his own people to take care of and keep safe. Jack disappeared among the trees and Bobby turned back to answer a question from one of his scouts. He looked back one more time to where Jack had disappeared into the woods getting a strange feeling about the kid, but pushed it aside to deal with other matters.

spn

Jack had been walking for hours now and moved through the trees toward what looked like a silo and barn that had been long abandoned. The structures were beaten and weather worn by the wind and sun. There were boards missing in places leaving gapping holes and shingles had been torn off from the roofs.

He saw movement coming around the building and knew instantly it was two angels and they had a human captured between them. The prisoner had a hood over their head so he couldn't tell much about them, but that they looked small and helpless. He knew he needed to help this human, that would be what Dean and Sam would do. He couldn't let the angels kill another innocent person in this world.

The angels pushed the prisoner to their knees and waited as another joined them. He seemed more superior and the leader as he jerked the hood off the head of the prisoner showing a young red headed female.

"Do yourself a favor and tell me what I want to know. Where is the resistance? You know the weak humans don't stand a chance against us," the leader demanded.

"Go to hell!" the red head spat at him to be rewarded with a vicious slap to the face. She looked up at him with hatred and disgust as she spit blood on his shoe.

"Your filthy kind never had a chance against our superior race. We will soon have all of you eradiated from the face of the planet," the angel growled at her. "If you will cooperate we will make your death quick. Refuse us and we will make you suffer painfully and slowly," he sneered grinning at her evilly.

"You don't scare me asshole," she said, a look of defiance plastered on her face. She would never tell them what they wanted to know. They were careful to not know more than needed so the angels couldn't get vital information from them. Everyone in the resistance knew the dangers they faced and that they could be killed at any given moment.

"Very well, I can get what I want another way," he said stepping closer to her and raising his hand toward her head to extract the knowledge.

Before he could touch her a fiery ball of energy engulfed him, burning him to ash. The other two angels let the girl go and turned to face their adversary to see a young guy striding toward them. They raised their hands to kill him but were too slow when he threw waves of energy at them, destroying them before they could retaliate.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked the young woman as she looked around at the piles of ash that had been angels.

"What are you?" she asked, not knowing anything that could do that but another angel. She wasn't sure whether to be afraid or to thank this boy that saved her. She held still as he untied the bonds that held her arms behind her back.

"I am Jack. We should probably leave this place before more come," he suggested, holding out his hand to her. "I won't hurt you. I'm looking for someone, Mary Winchester. I think the angels have her. Her sons and I came through a rift from another world to save her but we got separated."

"Charlie," she said taking his hand to let him help her up. "You're not human to be able to do that to the angels."

"I am a nephilim. My Mom was human and my father is an archangel," he told her deciding not to say who his father was. "I have three fathers, Dean, Sam and Castiel. They take care of me and teach me."

"You say you're from another world? So, there are other worlds out there. Wow, cool. I hope they are better than this one. I don't think there is much left of it," she said. There was sadness in her voice that she couldn't hide.

Charlie quickly picked up the two angel blades lying near her, shoving one in her belt and clutching the other. Jack saw her actions and reached to pick up the last one to take with him. She followed Jack away from the silo and into the forest in case any other angels decided to check on this place or look for their missing comrades.

"How long have you been fighting?" he asked.

"I don't know anymore. The town I lived in was destroyed. I barely escaped with my life and hooked up with the resistance. I've been doing anything I can to help them, although it does seem like a losing battle," she said. "I did hear something when they captured me, the angels were talking about someone they had captured and knew Michael would want to question them personally."

"That's got to be her!" Jack exclaimed. "Do you know where they have her?"

"I think I can take you there, but it won't be easy."

"I'll protect you," he assured her. "Don't worry. You can show me the way and I'll point you toward a camp run by a guy named Bobby. He's a scary dude, but you'll be safe with him."

"I have heard of him and met others who knew him. We share Intel when we can. But I'm not going to leave you on your own out here, you're just a kid," Charlie told him. "I don't care how powerful you are, you still need backup."

"It will be dangerous and you could be hurt or killed," Jack explained. "Beside, you don't seem much older than me."

"And what I do now isn't dangerous and could get me killed? I think I've had more battle experience than you Jack," she questioned. "Now we're wasting time, shall we go?"

Jack stood there for a moment staring at Charlie's retreating back before hurrying after her at a jog. He caught up with her and walked beside her looking at her with interest. She was one tough person and happy she wanted to help him. He didn't feel as alone now and hoped her lead would help them find Mary. Maybe she would want to go back with them once this was over. Jack knew he had to help this world and the only way to do that was to kill Michael and if his true father had teamed up with him, he would destroy him too.

Sam and Dean didn't know that he had researched online about his father and learned what he did years ago when he was released from the Cage. He had talked to Sam about it and could tell there was more than he was willing to tell him. He could see the pain, fear, and uneasiness in his eyes when Jack questioned him. When Jack had touched Sam to tell him it was okay, he had feel something wasn't quit right with Sam. He didn't feel the shining, powerful energy inside of him as it was in Dean. Something was definitely not right with him, but decided not to question him about it.

They hiked through the woods until it got too dark to see and found a downed tree to hide under for the night. Charlie huddled against Jack for warmth when she stopped him from making a fire since she didn't want to give away their location. He put an arm around her shoulders as she hunched into him and listened to the night sounds around them. Jack liked and wanted to help people and he was glad he had saved Charlie and they were friends. He didn't need much sleep and could get by with little or none so he kept watch for most of the night, grabbing a couple hours before another day dawned.

A/N: At least Jack ended up in the right place and has made some friends. Thank you for taking this journey with me and sad to say it will be over soon. I do like reviews, it does help me. NC