Chapter 15 –
Ruby Tuesday
"Ooh yeah!" Elliott moaned. A shiver of shear joy rippled down her spine. "Yes! That feels amazing." She continued to groan. Sam's eyes darkened at the sounds she made. His tongue peeked out to wet his lips. "Fuck!" The small saw Sam had just used now hung limply in his hand. She flexed her fingers again and itched the newly uncasted arm.
"Someone's making happy noises." Dean chuckled as he entered Bobby's garage, a few cold beers in hand. Sam shuffled discreetly adjusting himself in his now tight jeans.
"Ha, ha." Elliott mocked. "You try having that stupid thing on for seven weeks, and we'll see what kind of noises you make." The hunter only huffed a laugh and handed her, her beer.
Sam cleared his throat setting down the little saw and taking a beer from his brother. "Well if you're that happy about it why don't we go out to celebrate?"
"We could all use a night out," Dean added excitedly. Sam groaned internally, frustrated at his brother. He didn't mean the three of them should go out. The younger Winchester was hoping to get some more one on one time with Elliott.
"We could always go back to the bar that Dean and Max-" Elliott paused retracking her words. She had gotten much better when her brother came up in conversations but she couldn't deny it was still difficult. Not sure if the wishing well incident helped or made it worse for her. "-where Dean and Max hooked up with those twins." Elliott finished.
"That sounds perfect." Sam smiled softly at her, knowing anything to do with Max was hard for her to talk about.
"Alright nerds. We leave in an hour." Dean took a large swig from his bottle and gave them a wink before heading inside.
They quickly got ready all of them really wanting a night out. Elliott not having much in the way of nicer clothes opted for her normal attire, tee shirt tucked into her skinny jeans and topped off with her everyday leather jacket. Just like the first time they all went out, Dean had to comment on her tee shirt. This time Johnny Cash instead of Elvis.
What started out as a celebration quickly turned into a pool hustle. It was up to a five hundred dollar bet. Dean playing the concerned brother, Elliott the drunk girlfriend egging them on and Sam 'drunkenly' played. They were wiping the floor with the newbs. Suddenly Sam's back went ridged, shoulders broadening and muscles tense. His eyes jumped from the bar to Elliott.
"Elliott, you need to leave." Sam ordered stiffly no longer looking drunk.
"...Sam?" Elliott questioned slowly. Eyes flickering between him and his brother confused by the strange order.
"Keep the money." Sam told their balding opponent. "Dean get her out of here."
"Keep the money?!" Elliott nearly squawked.
She couldn't believe he would turn down five hundred dollars. Turning to his older brother for help but Sam's nervous gaze caught Dean's attention first. He followed Sam's gaze flicking toward a pretty brunette sitting at the bar. She had warm chocolate eyes that were a few shades lighter than her beautiful flowing locks. The woman had to be near their age, and she was dressed in similar clothing as Elliott just a tee shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket. Her eyes locked on to the three of them with a curious smirk.
"Ruby," Dean growled.
"Ruby? Who's Ruby?" Elliott questioned wary of the Winchesters reactions. Following their footsteps as they made their way to the woman at the bar, abandoning their easy five hundred dollars.
"Demon." Dean growled again. Elliott's own back straightened tense. It had been awhile since she handled demons, but she hadn't forgotten the last time. Much to Sam's displeasure she ignored his order and followed them.
"Dean, please. I don't like the idea of her around Elliott. At least until we figure out what Azazel and those demons want with her." Sam pleaded still a few feet from the pretty demon.
"Too late now Sammy. She's seen her." Dean sighed. As they approached, he made sure Elliott stayed behind him.
"Ruby what are you doing here? I told you to leave me alone now." Sam asked hissed under his breath.
"And now I see why..." The beautiful demon's voice was low and smooth like honey. The demon's head tilted to the side peering around the men to see the female hunter. Her warm chocolate eyes narrowed in on the blonde hunter sizing her up. "Always had a thing for blondes eh Sammy?"
Sam stepped in Ruby's line of sight blocking her view of Elliott. "You stay away from her."
Ruby chuckled lightly holding her hands up in mock surrender. "Hey just saying she's cute."
"Bitch you have a lot of nerve showing up anywhere near us." Dean jumped in not liking the way the demon was eyeing Sam and Elliott.
"Just have some info and then I'm gone." The demon snapped at Dean then turned to Sam. "Demon whispers, a girl named Anna Milton escaped a psych ward yesterday. I don't know why but demons are under orders to capture her alive. Figured you might want to get to her before the demons do." She shrugged like she honestly didn't care.
"We have to find her before they do." Elliott spoke up from behind the Winchester wall. "We can't let them hurt her. She's in trouble,"
"Blondie has the right idea." Ruby quipped with an amused smirk.
"Elliott, no. If demons are involved, you can't get near this." Sam absolutely refused. Unfortunately, the hunters missed the spark of recognition in the chocolate brown eyes when Sam had said the blonde's name. Too busy bickering.
"I'm not letting some poor girl go through what I did. Getting captured by demon? Sam, they will hurt her!" Elliott protested not backing down. She was a hunter after all, how could she just stand by and let that happen to an innocent.
"She's got a point." Ruby smirked receiving a swift glare from both men.
"Don't encourage her." Dean snapped back pointing a finger at the demon.
Sam ignored his brother and the demon to turn around to Elliott ready to argue with the small hunter. Before he could even get a word out, her finger was on his lips hushing him. "I'm not some damsel you can hide away when you think things are going to be too dangerous, Winchester. I've been hunting since I was twelve if you've forgotten?" Elliott defended herself. Not leaving room for argument.
It was a long ride but it gave Dean enough time to catch Elliott up on the pretty demon Ruby. Finding out that she saved the Winchesters a handful of times had her eyebrows hit her hairline. Then Dean explained how he had caught Ruby coaching Sam on using his powers to exorcise demons.
Elliott wasn't sure what to think of that. On one hand Ruby was a demon. No matter how helpful she had been in the past that was suspicious as Hell. On the other hand, Elliott herself had weird freaky powers and had no room or even desire to judge the giant. She herself had used her own powers to help others, but it was the angel's warnings that had her second guessing her and Sam using them again. She sat quietly for the rest of the ride letting her thoughts wander for the rest of the ride, as the brother's bickering fell into a humming background noise. When they did finally arrive at the psych ward Elliott still couldn't decide how she felt about the helpful demon.
Thanks to a sketchbook Anna's doctor gave them they could conclude that the girl was somehow linked to the sixty six seals. Her drawings depicted the seals that had already been broken. Some of them the seals the hunters weren't even aware were broken in the first place. After finding Anna's parents slaughtered in their own home the trio rushed to her local church, trying to get to the poor girl before the demons could.
"Kinda creepy," Elliott remarked as they pulled up to the church. It was a very tall building and if it weren't for the intricate stained glass windows would be a very flat and boring grey building.
"Eh, I've seen worse." Dean joked with a shrug, sending her a wink before getting out of the Impala.
"Ellie, are you sure you want to go in?" Sam pushed still uneasy about her anywhere near a case involving demons. "After your last encounter I wouldn't blame you at all if-"
"Sam. Stop. You're not convincing me to stay out of this." Elliott shook her head following him into the building. "So, get over it already, Jolly Green." Sam sighed heavily but continued into the building.
"Alright, just stay together then?" Sam advised clearly frustrated.
Sam led the way up a narrow set of stairs and into a short hallway. Elliott followed, gun at the ready and at her heals Dean was armed as well. She no doubt knew that they did this on purpose to keep her in the safer position between the two big hunters. As much as it annoyed her a little tiny itty bitty part of her was just a little bit scared of being near a demon again. So being between the two big protective hunters had helped quell her anxiety. Even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, she didn't fully blame herself after the time she spent captured by demons. Sam used the barrel of his hand gun to push the open door at the end of the hallway into a small room a few floors up.
"Anna?" Sam called out softly gesturing to a shadow and putting his gun back in the back of his pants.
"We're not here to hurt you, Anna." Elliott piped in as they got closer.
"My name is Sam, this is Elliott and that's my brother Dean. We're here to help you, Anna." He continued as the trio crept forward.
"Like, like the Winchester's Sam and Dean?" A nervous voice hesitated. The hunters were all taken back by her recognition.
"Uh, yeah..." Sam answered the hiding Anna almost unsure. A small red head more then a few inches taller than Elliott stepped out in front of the trio. The poor girls voice was shaking slightly when she spoke again.
"Your Dean. The Dean? Oh, wow it's really you." The red head's bright eyes were wide with awe as she stepped closer. "The angel's talk about you. All of you. How the angel Castiel pulled Dean out of Hell and that some even thing he can save us." Anna babbled wide eyes focusing on Dean.
Then she turned to Elliott and Sam. Her green eyes losing the twinkling awe. "That must mean you're Elliott. They uh, don't really seem to like you two at all." Anna's blunt words had Elliott wince and Sam frown. He cleared his throat roughly and Elliott felt his hand rest at her lower back.
"So you talk to angels?" Dean cautioned curiously.
"Oh, no. No, I just kind of over hear them... in my head. Sometimes." Anna clarified rambling as she did.
"So, they throw you in the loony bin for hearing voices when you were just listening into angels?" Elliott summarized once able to find her voice. Even though she knew it after meeting Castiel and Uriel it wasn't easy hearing that angels didn't like her.
"Angel radio." Sam nodded. "Anna when did the voices start?"
"September eighteenth." Anna answered quickly, not having to think on it. Sam and Dean's heads twisted to one another stunned before turning back to the red head. "First words I heard 'Dean Winchester is saved." Elliott's features softened as she turned back to Dean, figuring that was the date he was pulled from Hell.
"Least we know why the demons want her so bad." Dean quipped not commenting on the date. There was hardly a moment to respond when the door opened and Ruby rushed in.
"Good. You found her. Let's get out of here." The demon demanded impatiently. Anna immediately started shouting and sputtering in horror about the Ruby's face. Still backing away after Sam's reassurances.
"We got to go, now. There's a demon, a big one on his way." Ruby warned. "He followed you from the girl's house-"
Dean opened his mouth to argue with the dark haired demon but Sam beat him to it. "Dean! Ellie!" The hunters turned to see what Sam was pointing at. A white marble statue of the Virgin Mary was sitting to their side, but dark red blood was dripping from the eyes as if it were crying. Elliott went into hunter mode pulling out her glock.
"It's too late, he's here." Ruby breathed a second before the door burst open.
A man she didn't recognize stepped into the small room with determination. The demon scanned the room quickly before landing on Elliott. His eyes flashing cloudy white in gleeful surprise.
"Barbie?" He cooed the corner of his lips twitching and curled up into a wicked grin. "Now there's a surprise. I have been looking for you, everywhere." Elliott's blood ran cold when he called her Barbie. Only one being had ever called her that. Her stomach flipped making her nauseous. It was him. The demon that tortured her for days, Alastair.
"Alastair." Both Dean and Elliott breathed. The older Winchester quickly masking his own shock. She could feel Sam and Dean's quick fearful glances and confusion at the demon recognizing her. The demon gave the group a white eyed wink.
"Oh, I couldn't forget about you Dean. You had such promise." Alastair shrugged stepping forward before flicking out his hand sending Dean flying into a wall, dropping his demon killing knife.
"Sam do it! Exorcise him!" Ruby shouted wildly. The other demon turned to her, tutting in disapproval before she was flung back to the furthest wall, near a panicking Anna. Sam wasted no time quickly holding his hand out concentrating on the white eyed demon in front of him.
The demon only cleared his throat and smirked at the tall hunter. "That tickles. You don't have the juice to take me on, Sam." Alastair sneered then flung him through a rail and down the stairs. Elliott growled letting her anger over run her fear. Anger was better than fear. Anger was what she needed right now so she embraced the rage and held on to it. Wasting no time, she dove for the knife on the floor. Snatching it quickly and rolling onto her feet, she rushed the bastard.
"Fuck you!" She yelled upper lip snarling as she plunged the demon killing blade into his chest. Satisfaction was short lived when all he did was grunt. Alastair's large hand knotted into her hair in a tight grip and yanked her head back. Her scalp stinging in his hold. With his other fist he hit her across the face. The blow hit her cheek hard making her see white, and was unable to suck in air for a long moment. She coughed and gasped a deep breath in.
"You'll have to do a lot better than that Barbie." That just made her blood boil over all the more. She growled and threw her elbow into his ribs hoping to dislodge his grip in her hair, but it had no effect. Alastair just licked his lips and shook his head at her gleefully disappointed.
"Hmm, still no manners. I think it is time to get you back into training."
Elliott paled at his words. The heart in her chest began to beat wildly. She swallowed the dry lump in her throat doing her best not to out right panic. Her blurry hazel green eyes connected with the master of torture. Then smiled when she saw the older Winchester approaching him from behind. Dean's boot slammed into the demon's back, Alastair grunts releasing his grip of her hair.
Stumbling to keep her balance on the wood flooring Elliott jumped at the large hands pulling her up. Her brain taking a moment to realize it's Sam. Attention focused on Dean and Alastair's brawling she barely hears Sam as he shouts over her head to someone behind her.
It took her too long to react when Sam pushed her back into Ruby's hold. "Get her out of here!" he growled.
"Sam, -" Elliott breathed and shook her head at her giant. Completely missing something Ruby shouted at Sam before the demon was pulling the blonde to the back of the room. The room was in utter chaos. Sounds of fighting louder than before met the short hunter's ears, grunts and groans, walls and object breaking.
Elliott blinked before she finally took a step forward going to join the fight and help when she was stopped. Ruby's inhumanly strong hand had gripped her upper arm tightly not letting the small hunter go.
"No way. That bastard is most likely after you too hon',"
Then it was like a rug had been lifted out from under her. Elliott almost fell to her knees. She stumbled in the demons hold but righted herself quickly. Now with both Ruby and Anna in a quiet new location. Elliott whipped around taking in her suddenly new surroundings. An old cabin dusty, small and empty with little furniture in the moldy old building.
"What the Hell?! No. Bring me back!" Elliott demanded, shaking Ruby by the shoulders and ignoring the frantic red head standing a couple feet away.
"Nah-uh, Sam wanted you safe. You're safe." Ruby denied pushing the small hunter's hands away.
"But- Sam, Dean- They need help! I can help." The blonde protested loudly.
"Elliott. They are going to be okay. You wouldn't have been able to help anyway."
"Of course, I can help, I am a hunter dammit. I'm not some newb." Elliott growled.
"Oh, Honey. We both know that particular demon is not just after Anna." Ruby snarked. Elliott tensed back straightening. "Sam sent you with me because he cares about you. Don't be a fucking moron you don't want Sam to be too distracted protecting you to defend himself right? Good."
Elliott ducked her head with defeat. She knew she could handle herself but she would never want Sam to get hurt because of herself. Now that she knew what they were facing or rather who Elliott could be prepared. Next time she wouldn't fail.
Ruby rolled her eyes out of view from either of the girls at Elliott's moping. "If it's any conciliation Hon' you'd have to be insane to not be afraid of that demon. Especially if the rumors are true."
The blonde's brows crinkled at the demon's words. "I never said I was afraid. Did you just try to comfort me?"
"Yeah, well don't expect me to get all gooey again. I am a demon." Ruby smirked getting a small smile from Elliott. "Help me with the anxiety girl over here?" She gestured to the red head.
After a couple of tries the demon and hunter were able to calm Anna down. Then when there was a peaceful moment Elliott's hand flew to her pocket pulling out her phone. Needing to know if Sam and Dean were okay. Just knowing how ruthless Alastair could be had her stomach turning at the thought he had gotten them. Screen blank she tried to turn it on then let out a frustrated growl when the screen remained black. Dead, of course her phone would die in a time she actually needed it.
"Don't worry I got a plan. Just need you to keep an eye on angel radio here," Rudy gestured to Anna now sitting quietly watching the pretty demon curiously. "... and my body. I need to smoke outta her to check on them."
"Your body? You want me to keep the girl you are possessing trapped here so you can possess her again?!" Elliott accused skeptically and raised her eyebrow in a daring glare. "I am a hunter it is my job to save lives not let people suffer more."
The demon threw her head back and groaned then crossed her arms to give the small hunter a pointed look. "Ugh you two really are made for each other." She grumbled under her breath with another eye roll before addressing the blonde. "You all do have a stick up your ass about possession. It's only me in here. The meat suit is conscious free." Waving her hand to gesture to herself.
"Wait, what?" Elliott puzzled her eyes narrowed sizing up the demon.
"Meaning, just like you, your man wasn't too happy about me helping out while possessing some poor sap. So, I improvised. Dead comma patient meat suit it was. Good thing she was hot," Ruby mumbled the last part.
"Oh," She blinked lost for words. She wasn't expecting that. Maybe Ruby really wasn't all that bad after all, the hunter wondered. Ruby wasn't even possessing a person Elliott felt herself warm up and possibly even trust the demon a little more. Wow she never thought that was possible.
"I assume you can handle watching my body and sleeping beauty over there?" She taunted nodding her head to the side for Elliott to turned and see Anna now asleep on a moth eaten old couch. The hunter couldn't help the pointed bitch face she sent the taunting demon. Offended at the demon's snark. Like she couldn't handle watching a lifeless body and a sleeping girl, but gave her a nod anyway.
Ruby didn't even respond just let her head tilt back as black smoke streamed out of comma girl's mouth flying out the cracked window. Elliott stepped forward quickly and caught the body Ruby had been possessing. She half expected the demon to be lying about the 'human free meat suit', but when the body never moved, let alone breathed Elliott relaxed a bit and lowered it to the ground.
After an excruciatingly long wait all of which Anna either shyly ignored her or slept, the black smoke returned. Ruby gasped loudly the instant every dark vapor was back inside the comma girl. She shifted her shoulders almost like she was adjusting back into the body.
"Ruby? What happened? Are they okay? Did they get away?" Elliott rushed out not leaving room for the demon to answer between questions.
The dark haired demon raised a brow at the hunter, obviously not understanding the worry she was over filling with. "Calm down honey. Their alive and on their way." When the girl's shoulders sagged and she physically relaxed Ruby tilted her head slightly eyeing the blonde carefully. Finding Elliott's attachment to the Winchesters very interesting.
"Thank you Ruby." Elliott met her eyes to show her sincerity.
Ruby chuckled thoroughly amused. "Can you two get any cheesier,"
She frowned shooting the demon a questioning look then turned to Anna for answers. The red head only shrugged just as confused by the demon as she was and turned back to Ruby still frowning.
"What?" Elliott asked defensively.
"Both of you. Sam and Elliott. So worried about each other like some cheesy romance novel." Ruby snorted finding the couple's antics a little too much for a demon.
Elliott sputtered defensively before huffing not knowing how to respond to something like that. She had never been that annoying relationship-y girl. This was not who she was, not how she normally acted in relationships. Maybe it was because he was more than just a relationship to her, she thought. Never had she felt a pull towards anyone like she did him before. Like a magnetic pull, she couldn't help but be drawn to her giant. Weirdly it actually made her feel anxious without him there.
"I think it's sweet." Anna pipped in smiling up at her from the old couch. "It makes me think of my parents. They have been together since high school." Elliott's stomach dropped at the mention of Anna's parents. "That reminds me, I haven't been home and don't want them to worry. Do either of you have a phone I can borrow? I just should let them know I'm okay..." Anna let her rambling fall at the sight of the hunter's wide sympathetic eyes.
"Anna..." Elliott started cautiously.
"What? My parents, they can't be-"
"I'm so, so sorry Anna." Elliott breathed softly. It only took a second for the girl to understand that her parents were dead. Then the water works began. Elliott's heart broke for the poor girl. She knew what it was like to lose your only family, and she wouldn't wish that on anyone. It took an hour of comforting the sobbing mess before Anna had passed out again. Elliott sat by her side the entire time and held the crying girl. When Anna was finally peacefully asleep, she moved so she could lay the girl out on the couch more comfortably.
It was almost half an hour later that Elliott was pacing nervously, boots leaving tracks in the cabin's dusty floors. Ruby was getting tired of it real quick and was just about to snap at the hunter when the Winchester's finally arrived.
Elliott whirled around to see Ruby holding the door for them. No words were said as Sam's long legs took the distance between them in just a few strides. His hand tangled in her long hair at the nape of her neck and he leaned down pulling her closer. Their lips met moving frantically reassuring themselves of one another's safety. She pushed herself up onto her tiptoes to deepen the already passionate kiss further. Fingers diffing into his flannel to hold him close even as they broke for air. Panting Sam pulled back another inch his eyes running over Elliott methodically searching for any sight on injury. His thumb glided over her swollen and she was sure already bruising cheek. Yet another gift from Alastair she thought bitterly. Her teeth worried at her lower lip when her own assessment of Sam was not as minimal. His own face carried a similar bruise as well as many small cuts. Not to mention the way he was carrying himself, stiff and sore from other unseen injuries.
"Shit what happened?" Elliott panted her hands went to gently cup the sides of his face holding him still to get a better view.
"It's okay. I'm alright." Sam softly assured her and tucked a coppery blonde lock behind her ear. Then wrapped his large hands around her wrists to pull her hands away. "Just some cuts and bruises. Nothing I can't handle." He smiled. She could register that Dean, Anna, and Ruby were all talking amongst themselves but was too focused on Sam and that magnetic pull she felt deep in her gut. Now that she was near him the anxiety from earlier was nearly nonexistent.
"I can help, let me-"
"No. Elliott," He scolded. "We talked about this. You aren't going to use your power anymore." She bit her tongue not wanting to start a fight when she had just a few moments ago been so worried about him. As much as she wanted to help her giant some small bruises and cuts weren't worth a fight or worse, losing his trust.
"...but Sam, you used- tried to use your power back there with Alastair." She mumbled despite herself. Sam sighed with a pinched brow but when his lips parted about to defend himself Anna's loud gasp caught their attention.
"Their coming." Anna gasped again. The lights started flickering in the old barn and everybody tensed up. Their eyes ping ponged all around the small room trying to find the threat.
"Backroom." Dean ordered escorting the frantic red head into an even smaller room in the back of the cabin. Sam's warm hand was on Elliott's lower back trying to gently usher her along into the room with Anna.
Elliott shrugged his hand off her back. "Not this time." Refusing to break under the giant's kicked puppy eyes and pulled out her glock from her waistband. She glared at Sam daring him to do something about it. Then took the safety off and pulled back the slide. He wet his bottom lip and shook his head once before readying himself like Dean and Elliott already had. Ruby stood on his other side, no weapon but body tense and ready.
The door bursted inward breaking the lock and sending splinters of wood flying. A gust of wind rushed into the small cabin blowing Elliott's blonde hair back. All three hunters aimed at the empty space for couple moments. Then two familiar figures walked in, although it wasn't who they were expecting. The angels. Castiel and Uriel stood in the shattered doorway eyes scanning each of them. Elliott stiffened eyeing them both cautiously. The two of them made her feel uneasy.
"Please tell me you're here to help. We've been having demon issues all day." Dean complained gruffly.
"I can see that." Uriel stated coldly as he eyed Ruby, his gaze flicking to Sam and Elliott before landing on Dean. "I get you are attached to the two abominations but why do you permit that particular stain to be near you?"
Elliott and Sam's expressions fell slightly almost cringing at the angel's term for them. Although Dean looked confused as he glanced over to his brother and Elliott masking it quickly. Ruby's eyes flickered black in a display of nervousness.
"We're here for Anna." Castiel's deep rough tone echoed in the small cabin.
"Here for her like her for her? Dean questioned almost skeptically. "Are you going to help her?"
"No, she has to die."
"What?" Elliott blurted accidentally completely baffled. "You want to kill Anna?" Uriel's head tilted her way with an impatient glare.
"Why?" Sam shook his head stunned in disbelief. Uriel had, had enough ignoring them he locked eyes on the door behind the hunters and began to make his way.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, there is no reason to kill her." Dean reasoned quickly blocking the way.
"Don't worry, I'll kill her gently." Uriel smirked standing in his tracks.
"Give us the girl." Castiel ordered, done with their trivial bickering.
"No. Not happening feathers." Dean mocked defiantly.
Uriel suddenly disappeared and reappeared next to Ruby. Holding her by the throat and growling something at her. Dean moved fast to defend the demon as Castiel did the same disappearing and reappearing act only in front of Sam and Elliott that were blocking the door to Anna. His trench coat swayed behind him as he walked forward. Sam sputtered trying to reason with the angel but when that proved ineffective, he started swinging a small dagger. Elliott on the other hand took more drastic measures and pulled the trigger, shooting Castiel right in the chest.
Castiel only sighed and flicked his wrist sending Sam back straight into her, toppling her over. Elliott grunted under her giant's weight as he was sprawled on top of her. Sam quickly got up when he realized he was squishing her and they both turned to the angel for round two. This time Elliott was in the lead. She threw a punch putting all of her weight into it only to be stopped too easily by the trench coated angel. He held her wrist and gave her a bored expression tilting his head to the left. Quickly she reacted kneeing the angel in the groin. To her awe he didn't even flinch, but Elliott sure felt it. She groaned at the pain radiating from her knee, holding it and hopping back a few steps panting heavily.
"That didn't work," She grunted clenching her teeth and holding her knee.
Sam took the moment to dash forward taking a quick shot. Before Sam could even land a blow Castiel had reached up a hand placing two fingers gently on his forehead. Her eyes went wide and stomach turned when she saw her giant fall into a heap on the dusty hard wood floor.
"Sam," Elliott gasped taking the two quick strides before dropping onto her knees in front of him even with the one of her knees throbbing. She couldn't find any injuries and was relieved to see his even breathing. A too bright light filled the room forcing her to close and shield her eyes. When she opened her eyes again and the light was gone the room was angel-less.
"What the-" Elliott breathed.
She locked eyes on the older Winchester first feeling his gaze run over both her and Sam checking them to make sure they were alright. Then they both turned to the door behind them hiding Anna. Though she could hear the commotion as Dean and Anna conversed in the small room, she was too concerned with an unconscious Sam.
"Hey, hey, Sam," She shook his shoulders gently at first trying to stir him awake but when he continued his evened soft breathing, she shook harder. Then checked his pulse finding nothing out of the ordinary, like he was just in a deep sleep.
Her breath was heavy and features pinched tight with worry as she pulled the giant's head into her lap. His even breathing and soft snores signaled, he was not hurt. When she finally forced herself to listen in on the older Winchester, she realized that Anna had somehow made the blast of light and temporarily vanished the angels.
"Is he okay?" Ruby interrupted her thoughts.
"Uhm, I think so. He seems to just be unconscious. But Castiel just touched his forehead... I think the angel made him sleep?"
"Yeah, he does that." Dean quipped walking out to the main room with an arm wrapped around a stunned Anna. "Took Bobby almost a half an hour to wake up when Cas sandmaned him." He then put pressure on a bloody cloth around Anna's forearm. The redhead looked utterly shaken.
"That little mystery spell, blood sigil thing is great and all but it won't last forever. We need to get out of here, like now." Ruby snapped with little patience.
After a very short discussion, and a quick call to Bobby they had a plan. Even though Bobby was out of town on a hunt with a friend he was able to call a psychic that he and the boys already trusted to meet at his place. There this psychic would be able to get a look at Anna in hopes of finding out why the angels wanted the red head.
Apparently, the boys had not driven the Impala in hopes of throwing the demons off their tail. That meant their trek to Bobby's would be in the inconspicuous maroon ninety-six Ford Explorer that Sam and Dean had jacked to get to the cabin. Dean had to help Elliott get the very heavy and very passed out Sam into the backseat. With little other seating options Elliott sat back letting Sam lay out as much as he could head again lay listlessly in her lap. Dean although bitching about wanting his Baby speed the whole way to Bobby's while Anna sat meekly in the passenger's seat.
Elliott had been gently stroking his hair. Running her fingertips gently along his scalp and through his shaggy mane. Her eyes full of concern as she watched the sleeping giant but reprimanded herself of how creepy that was and forced herself to look out the window to the fields blurring as they sped. Just like Dean predicted it was almost exactly a half hour later when Sam stirred.
A low throaty content moan escaped the sleeping man in her lap, breaking through the silence in the SUV. Elliott's hand froze midway through his hair cheeks going red. She could hear Dean snicker up in the driver's seat. Still mostly asleep he turned to his side nose pressed into her stomach inhaling deeply before burrowing even closer. Her breath hitched quietly the butterflies in her stomach fluttering again.
"Sam?" She spoke softly not wanting to startle him, but Dean's snickering was turning into a muffled laughter so she felt it was more necessary to wake him. Running her finger tips through his long hair and along his scalp again she continued. "Giant? You waking up now?"
"Mmm," He hummed at the feeling along his scalp. He hadn't felt this content in such a long time, but the sound of Deans laughter was out of place. He groaned in protest before his eyelids fluttered open looking up to her from her lap. "Mmnhg? Ellie?" Sam's voice was rough from sleep as he grumbled into awareness. He couldn't help the soft sleepy smile that lit his face displaying his dimple. It fell a moment later as he slowly realized that he had been moaning snuggling into her stomach. Then It came back to him.
Sam sat up quickly, head whipping around taking in his surroundings. Elliott's lap felt cold and empty now, without him there, but she pushed the feeling to the back of her mind. Before Sam could freak out, she quickly explained what had happened after he had passed out via angel, with Dean chiming in here and there. When they had enlightened the giant on their current plan, he seemed to finally relax a little bit. Especially after Dean quit snickering at the way his brother had woken up.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long at Bobby's for the psychic to arrive. Elliott was in the basement just showing Anna Bobby's ridiculously awesome monster proof panic room when Dean arrived with the psychic. Just like Ruby the psychic Pamela Barns was beautiful. Dark wavy hair olive toned skin and a wicked grin stretched along her face, eyes covered by her sunglasses. She was dress very similarly to both Ruby and Elliott, tee shirt, and jeans, topped off with a leather jacket.
Elliott thought it odd at first, why would someone wear sunglasses in a dark basement? After a closer inspection she noted that the psychic's hand was on Dean's back as he led her down the stairs. She was blind Elliott realized.
"Pamela, hey." Sam greeted softly leaving the open door to the panic room to meet her. Elliott stayed where she was near a nervous but determined Anna.
"Sam." Pamela spoke even softer. "Sam?"
"It's me. It's Sam." He assured as he approached and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Sam is that you?"
"I'm right here." Sam continued his soft assurances and smiled at her.
"Know how I can tell?" Pamela's voice dropped in tone as she smirked. Then quickly gave his ass a slap. Sam grunted jumping slightly at the action. "That perky little ass of yours. Could bounce a nickel off that thing." Dean's smile widened snickering at his brother's embarrassment.
Elliott on the other hand just watched unsure if she should laugh or feel threatened by the interaction. Before she could even form a thought Pamela turned to them.
"Course I know it's you. Same way I know that's a demon, that poor girl is Anna," She gave the read had a sympathetic smile before turning to Elliott. "-and this is the girl that's caught your heart." She smiled at Elliott making both her and Sam blush.
"Heads up Sam, your girl has been eyeing my rack." Pamela laughed.
The small hunter's brows shot to her hair line, and eyes blew wide open and her face turned crimson. "I- uh- I- nh- uh-" She sputtered, the feeling of every head in the basement snap in her direction didn't help. Chancing a brief glance to around her she looked away from everyone's surprised confusion. "I am so sorry! I wasn't trying to- I- Uh- I," Then looked up at Sam for help but regretted it immediately seeing his jaw slack, and brows furrowed confused yet slightly turned on.
"Don't sweat it sweetheart." Pamela laughed, but Elliott looked down at her boots mortified. She tried to apologize again but was stopped by the psychic. Pamela made her way to the two girls patting the blonde's back. "It's nice to meet you both, Dean told me about your little problem Anna. I am here to help."
Anna was unable to answer right away, still processing the exchange between the psychic and the smaller hunter, but responded eventually. The two walked off chatting their way into the panic room, leaving Elliott with the stunned men and demon.
"That was fucking hot." Ruby huffed either amused or impressed Elliott couldn't tell.
"What? I didn't mean to-" Elliott started turning red again shifting uncomfortably at their stares. "Can we just-" She sighed getting frustrated at their gawking and left them joining the girls in the panic room.
The small panic room was in chaos. Who knew Anna would go bonkers under the psychic's hypnosis? After only a few moments under the redhead was screaming and writhing on the cot, but Pamela pushed on. Her screams got louder and somehow through her emotions she was able to slam the very heavy iron door shut with an echoing bang. The psychic wasn't giving in and kept shouting questions at the screaming girl. Lights began to shatter forcing them to duck and cover their heads from the falling shatters of glass.
Dean reacted quickly leaping over a desk shouting for Anna. Despite Pamela's warnings the hunter tried to wake the redhead out of her sleep. Anna threw him back with such unnatural strength he went flying demolishing an old wooden chair. Sam and Elliott rushed to Dean's side and help him to his feet.
"Wake in one, two, three, four, five." Pamela rushed out and the girl instantly calmed, the ruckus around them following suit. Her screaming and writhing halted completely. Anna sat up evenly her body posture stiff as she thanked the psychic.
"I remember now." Anna spoke softly and Pamela backed up a step cautiously. "I'm an angel."
Pamela was probably the least happy to discover the red head was a former angel. After Anna explained that she had physically ripped out her grace and literally fallen to become human, Pamela asked Dean to bring her home. That left Sam and Elliot to stay at Bobby's and search the web for possible shooting stars or miracles that could have been Anna's grace falling. Sam who had gotten a short half an hour nap in via Castiel earlier was still up and surfing the web while Elliott crashed after only a couple hours.
She inhaled sharply and sat up quickly. "I'm awake." She blinked quickly sitting up from her book that was subbing as a pillow.
"You know you are allowed to sleep." Sam chuckled at the red indented mark on her cheek from using the book as a pillow.
"Did you find anything?" She stretched ignoring Sam's comment.
"Yea, looks like her grace touched down here." He handed her his laptop pointing at the article he had discovered.
"You're freaking amazing." Elliott marveled at the man's ability to research. Sam smiled brightly, her compliment weirdly filling him with an unfamiliar sense of pride. Which was ridiculous because why would a small comment like that make him feel that way. He questioned himself internally, watching her skim the small article.
"So, when do we leave?" She turned to Sam in time to watch his adorable smile fade.
"Ellie, I need to know something first." Sam cleared his throat and wet his lips before speaking. "Do you wanna tell me how you knew that demon by name?"
"Not really, no." Elliott mumbled lowering her gaze to Sam's chest not wanting to look him in the eye.
"Ellie." His large hand engulfed hers to stop her from fidgeting with the hairband around her wrist. "I wouldn't be asking this if I thought it wasn't important. You gotta talk to me babe."
"Why don't you ask your brother? I'm obviously not the only one the demon recognized." She deflected, but immediately felt guilty for throwing Dean under the bus.
"I'll get to Dean later, but right now I am asking you, Ellie." He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "Please?"
Elliott let out a long sigh in defeat. "When I was- you know, -captured..." Elliott shrugged meeting his eyes before swiftly looking down again. "He was the one that uh- tried to 'break' me."
His grip on her hands tightened, shoulders stiffened. "I thought you said," His rough voice started, clearing his throat to continue. "-but this demon had white eyes not yellow?" She brought her gaze back to him forcing herself to hold contact.
"There was two of them. I'm sure I told you. When I fought back against the yellow eyed demon he brought in his specialist- to um, -to teach me manors, to 'break me.' Alastair was that demon. It happened every other day. One day the demon with yellow eyes would shoot me up and the next day the one with the white eyes would... well let's just say Alastair was under orders not to kill me, but could do anything else."
Sam closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his pointer finger and thumb, trying to calm the rage that boiled under his skin at the thought of the torture she had endured. A deep primal urge to protect her rippled through his spine. This demon was still after her and it was just a coincidence that she happened to be there when he was going after Anna. Sam didn't even want to think about what would have happen if Ruby hadn't been at the church to help get Elliott out of there safely.
"He's not just after Anna then." Sam looked down to her hazel green eyes, jaw clenching slightly. "He wants you too."
"This doesn't change anything Jolly Green. Anna still needs her grace back. We need to protect her from both Heaven and Hell."
"Of course, this changes things Elliott. This changes everything. How could it not?" He snapped before he blinked a thought occurring to him and his tone became much softer. "Wait, do you hear voices like Anna too? Are you like Anna, a fallen angel?"
The small hunter snorted throwing her head back unable to stop herself from bursting into a fit of laughter. "Me?" She choked out between her barking. Then whipped her eyes to see Sam's confused frown.
"Why is that so funny? After today why wouldn't it be possible?"
"No, Sam. There is no way I am angel material. One, the angel's hate me but not like they do Anna. They see me as a maggot, an abomination but Anna they see as a potential threat. Two I don't hear voices or angel radio, and lastly? I have demon blood in me, Sam. I am about as anti angel as it gets." She huffed turning away from the pained twinkle of disbelief in her giant's eyes.
"Ellie," He breathed his warm hand fell from her hand to her thigh. Even in this serious conversation Elliott could feel her stomach flutter with butterflies at the feeling of his hand on her. The blonde was saved from further discussion when rumble of the Impala reached their ears. Dean was back from getting his Baby and dropping off Pamela.
Sam wanted to comfort her, needed to but his brother's noisy approach had forced him to stop before he could even start. He wanted to say that those angels didn't know what they were talking about. That he had never met anyone as kind, strong, and all around good as she was. Elliott Anders had been through so much and was still somehow able to smile so brightly her whole face could light up. Even on her worse days she treated others with such kindness it was unbelievable. Most hunters would have, become rough, and calloused after seeing and going through what she had. She gave him hope. If she could be so pure with demon blood in her, then he had to have a chance too. He wanted to tell her that she could never and would never turn evil. Screw the angels. They had no idea how beyond amazing Elliott Anders was. That's what he wanted to say. All of that, but he didn't get the chance as Dean entered the front door.
In that fleeting moment he saw his true feelings. He was in love with her. He felt so much more for this feisty little hunter in the short time that he knew her, than he did for Jess after dating for years. And he had honestly thought he loved Jess. He would never replace her but the feelings for Elliott were so much stronger than he realized he was even capable of.
"Dean." Elliott smiled up at the older hunter as he entered the house, breaking Sam away from his mind.
" 'ey nerds, how the search going?" Dean asked tucking his keys in his pocket. The smile he gave them did not reach his own eyes.
"Like always, Sam beat me to it." Elliott quipped and gave the tall hunter a proud smile. "We got a bit of a drive but we can head out soon."
"Atta boy, Sammy." Dean teased and roughed up Sam's long mane. Sam just sighed and combed his fingers through it to tame the mess slightly. Dean narrowed his eyes at Sam's lack of reaction. "What's up your ass?"
"Sorry, just processing some things." Sam closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. The fear was creeping back over him. Elliott was still in danger. These demons were still after her. He couldn't let those bastards get their grimy little claw on her, not again.
"Wanna share with the class?" Dean sassed when his brother didn't continue.
"It's nothing Dean," Elliott chimed in not wanting to talk about what she had just told Sam all over again.
"It's not nothing Elliott." Sam snapped angry at how little she seemed to care.
"Sam," She hissed jaw clenched.
"No Ellie. This is important and you know it." Sam admonished.
"Is someone going to tell me what the Hell's going on?" Dean interrupted exasperated looking between the bickering couple.
"We all heard what that demon Alastair said to both of you," Sam started and pointed at his brother to shut up before he had uttered a word. "-and I'll get to you later Dean. Right now, I'm concerned this Alastair is coming back for Ellie."
The older Winchester blinked slowly at his brother. "What do you mean coming back for her?" Elliott groaned and rested her head in her hands, elbows on her knees.
"Apparently it wasn't just a demon with yellow eyes that had held her captive her back in Nebraska. There was also a demon with white eyes." She could see the color draining from Dean's face, making his freckles stand out against the pale tone. "Azazel was the one shooting her up while this Alastair- he's the one who-"
Sam had a hard time saying the word torture. The image of Elliott covered in blood hanging by her wrists on the meat hook flashed behind his eyes. All the swollen black and blue bruises, the bleeding cuts and the horrible burns that littered her skin. How helpless he felt when they arrived to free her and later when he tended to each of her wounds.
Dean looked like he was going to hurl, his eyes gleamed with such pity she had to look away. "He, he's the one that did that to you?" He rasped out. Distressed eyes not leaving her even if she was avoiding looking up at him.
"Yes, okay." Elliott barked out more than agitated now. "But none of it even matters now! It's in the past. It's over. Dean would you stop looking at me like that!" She snapped and Dean quickly turned away and cleared his throat.
"Dammit Ellie, it's not in the past. Not when they are still after you." Sam barked right back at her.
Sam's words seemed to visibly snap Dean out of it. The older Winchester balled his fists at his sides broad shoulders tensing but most of all his green eyes went from soft and pained to livid and protective.
"I'm not who he is really after here. He wants Anna the ex-angel, remember? I'm sure I'm just like a bonus or something." Elliott reasoned with the bullheaded brothers. "You think I could just stand aside and let him hurt Anna, like he did me? That bastard won't be getting to either of us. I won't let him." Elliott vowed.
Sam and Dean shared a look, having a silent conversation the way they annoyingly do sometimes. Her heart clenched it reminded her of her own brother. She and Max used to do that, always annoying those around them. Their silent communication almost appeared telepathic to outsiders but really when you spend so much of your life in close proximity with one another you learn to read them very well.
Less than an hour later the hunters were finishing loading up the Impala. They had a plan, and needed to hurry before Castiel or Uriel showed up. They still had no way to ward off angels and Anna's blood sigil to banish them temporarily was great and all but they didn't know how much longer until they popped up again. Finding and restoring Anna's grace was the only way she would be safe. Good thing Sam was able to find the landing sight of said grace, and they could be there before sunrise. She was tossing her ratty old duffel into the trunk of Baby when Sam pulled her aside.
"Hey, you going to talk to me?" He whispered tugging at the end of her leather jacket. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him. Sam was slightly hunched over her his sad puppy eyes boring into her skull. She sighed and crossed her arms.
"Of course, I'm going to talk to you. I understand where you are coming from Giant, and why you felt the need to tell Dean about Alastair, I really do. ...but you gotta start trusting me."
"I trust you Ellie,"
"Not as a hunter you don't." She looked down at her boots, coppery blonde locks falling in her face as she did. She really didn't want to say this next part, not wanting him to leave but knowing that she needed to say it. "I'm a hunter, a fighter Sam. I'm not some damsel waiting for a strong man to protect me." She slowly exhaled before looking up at the giant with sad eyes. "So if that is what you're looking for Jolly Green, this?" She gestured to the two of them. "This isn't going to work then."
Sam snatched her hands to keep her from leaving. "Hey, hey, I never said that's what I wanted." A large hand slowly reached up and tucked strand of blonde back behind her ear. "I know you are a great hunter Ellie. I've seen it. This isn't about your hunting abilities. When the yellow eyed demon had plans for me, I had Dean to back me up, help me through it. Even then I still died! I- I just don't like the thought of you getting hurt, especially not like that."
She gave him a soft smile and before she could open her mouth to respond his soft lips were on hers. She pushed up onto her toes so he didn't have to hunch down so much, kissing him back. Then she pressed against him closing the few inches left between their bodies. Her hand went to the nape of his neck fingers entangled in his shaggy hair. His own hands held her close wrapped around her waist and back. The kiss didn't last long though as Sam broke it and cupped the side of her face, thumb smoothing over her bruised cheek.
"Just let me help you." He whispered softly.
Elliott's eyes narrowed in on him, her fingers gripped his flannel. Then used the hold on his clothes to pull him down to her. Lips met for an even shorter moment but just as passionate. This time she pulled away, her breath heavy.
"Stupid puppy dog eyes." She mumbled. Sam huffed lips curling into a crooked grin revealing a dimple. His gaze drifted over her head and she watched his features fall, eyes becoming sad again. She turned following his line of sight to Dean. He was leaning against the frame of Bobby's front door with his arms crossed bag at his feet.
Sam cleared his throat and dropped his hands to his sides, taking a small step back. "I, uh can finish up here." Then gave her small smile that didn't reach his eyes before turning to shuffle the duffel bags around in the trunk. She was about to call Sam out for being weird when Dean called out for her.
"Anders, do me a favor and get the other girls moving. It's time to head out." The older Winchester grumbled roughly. His expression unreadable as he carried the rest of their bags out.
"Sure, but I'm not sitting between an angel and a demon all the way there." Elliott playfully demanded with a small smirk.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Dean mumbled so low she almost missed it. Then jogged inside and took the steps two at a time down to the basement. Ruby stood at the entrance of the panic room pouting with a sour face and crossed arms.
"Good. You get to wake sleeping beauty over there." The demon waved her hand towards the cot at the far end of the panic room where Anna had fallen asleep earlier. The former angel now curled up with a blanket over her head. "She's a deep freaking sleeper, and seeing as I can't go in..."
The hunter snorted at the demon's obvious annoyance. "Yeah, as helpful as you may be, I guess going into a demon warded panic room to wake an ex-angel is not something you'd be able to do." Ruby just rolled her eyes and uncrossed her arms to cross them again. Amused at herself Elliott stepped into the small panic room. She never thought she would start to like a demon of all things.
"Anna? Anna it's time to wake up," She called out gently. Then pulled the blanket back revealing nothing but lumpy pillows. She tilted her head at the strategically formed pillows. Then the thick iron door slammed shut echoing loudly in the small metal room. Elliott jumped and spun around to the now closed door. The click of the lock had her blood run cold.
Authors Note:
I usually only post once a week but today is my Birthday! So I thought I'd post in celebration since my party was canceled due to the Corona Virus. Hope you are all staying safe out there! If you are still reading please let me know what you think by leaving a like or even a comment. That would be a cool Birthday gift to hear what any reader out their may think of the story. Thank you soo much for reading. 3
