Thanks to Princess of the Fae for following my story.
Princess of the Fae: same here
NicoleR85: thanks!
The next time Lena heard from Sam or Dean, it was a few days after she'd gotten back to college. Nathan couldn't come with her as he was pulled away on another job by his buddies. Though he did promise to stop by as soon as he could. "Hey Sam", she greeted as she answered the phone "how is it going?"
"Not good Lena", Sam replied. It sounded like he'd been crying.
"What happened?" Lena asked.
"It's Dean. He got badly hurt on a hunt. And the doctors say there's nothing that they can do", Sam answered quietly "I need you Lena...please".
Lena's heart clenched at the pain in his voice "I'll leave right away. Where are you?" she asked. Sam told her where he was and what motel he was staying at. "I'll be there as soon as I can", Lena promised "hang in there". She hung up and then quickly packed a bag of clothes. Lena picked up her grimoire and slipped a small charm into the slit she made in the endpaper. She closed the book and her eyes flashed blue as she said "celare". The grimoire glowed faintly. "Red covered diary", Lena said and before her eyes the grimoire briefly changed into a red leather bound diary before changing back into her spell book.
Even though it looked like the charm didn't work, Lena knew that it did. To everyone else her grimoire looked like a red leather bound diary. Lena then put her grimoire into her bag. She grabbed her purse, putting her mobile and keys into it. The young woman pulled on her jacket, picked up her bags before she left her room.
Roughly 6 hours later Lena was pulling up at the motel. She got her bags out of the boot and walked up to the room Sam was staying at. She knocked on the door and a moment later Sam opened the door. "Lena", Sam breathed, relieved to see her.
Lena set her bags down, stepped forward and hugged him. "I'm sorry Sam. I'm so, so sorry", she said quietly. Sam didn't say anything, he just clung onto the young woman, seeking the comfort that her embrace provided.
Eventually he spoke up "I can't lose him Lena...I just can't".
"You won't Sam. We'll find a way to save him, I promise", Lena said looking up at him.
3 days later...
Sam entered the motel room with two cups of coffee. "Hey Lena, I've brought the..." he trailed off when he saw the brunette fast asleep on the bed, papers scattered around. He wasn't surprised though, neither of them had got much sleep these past 3 days. As he set the coffee's down on the table, Lena's phone rang.
"Lena", Sam said gently shaking her shoulder "Hey Lena".
"Hm?" she said sleepily opening her eyes.
"Your phone's ringing", Sam told her.
"It's probably Jonah", Lena mumbled sitting up, rubbing her face. She picked up her phone and answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey Lena", Jonah greeted "I've got some good news. I found a guy in Nebraska, a faith healer. He can heal Dean". He then proceeded to tell her about this faith healer and where to find him.
"Oh, Jonah I love you", Lena said happily and Jonah laughed.
"Well... a deal's a deal Lena. So when can I expect you for dinner? I hope it's soon because the kids have been pestering me to invite you over", he said.
"It will be soon, I promise", Lena assured him.
"Ok. Let me know how it goes with the faith healer", Jonah said.
"I will", Lena promised and hung up.
"What did he say?" Sam asked. He could guess it was good news by how happy Lena was.
"Jonah has found someone who can heal Dean", Lena replied "a faith healer".
Sam smiled, extremely relieved. "That's good. That's really good", he said "thank you Lena. If it wasn't for you..."
"It's no problem Sam. That's what friends are for", Lena said getting up "well I'd better freshen up, especially since we've got a little bit of a drive ahead of us". She took her bag into the bathroom and closed the door.
It was about 10 minutes after she'd gone in the bathroom that there was a knock at the motel room door. Sam went over to it and pulled it open. He was very surprised to see his brother leaning against the door jam, looking terrible. "What the hell are you doing here?" Sam asked.
"I checked myself out", Dean replied.
"What, are you crazy?" Sam demanded.
"Well, I'm not gonna die in a hospital where the nurses aren't even hot like Lena", Dean said entering the room, leaning on almost everything as he did so.
Sam shook his head as he shut the door "You know, this whole I-laugh-in-the-face-of-death thing? It's crap. I can see right through it", he stated.
"Yeah, whatever, dude", Dean said waving him off "Have you even slept?" he asked eyeing his brother "You look worse than me".
"We've been scouring the Internet for the last three days", Sam said helping Dean into a chair "Calling every contact in Dad's journal. Lena's even reached out to some of her friends".
"For what?" Dean asked.
"For a way to help you", Sam replied "a friend of Lena's found a guy in Nebraska who can help you. A specialist".
"You're not gonna let me die in peace, are you?" Dean asked.
"Well I for one didn't help Sam save you from being sacrificed to a pagan god for you to die now", Lena said stepping out of the bathroom "So we're going".
"I'm with Lena on this one", Sam agreed.
Lena pulled up next to the impala as Sam was helping his brother out of the car. "I got it", Dean said angrily pushing Sam away. He then noticed the sign outside the large white tent. "Man, you are a lying bastard. Thought you said we were going to see a doctor", Dean accused.
"I believe I said a specialist", Sam pointed out as Lena joined them, coat hood over her head to keep her face and hair dry from the rain.
"Dean, Jonah has assured me that this guy is the real deal", Lena said.
"You sure we can we trust this Jonah?" Dean asked her "we don't even know him".
"But I do. If he says that this guy seems genuine, then we should at least give it a chance", Lena said.
"I agree with her", Sam put in.
Of course you do Dean thought "Alright. Fine", he said rather reluctantly. Lena smiled and the trio started to trudge through the mud towards the tent.
"I have a right to protest", a man said angrily to the sheriff "This man is a fraud. And he's milking all these people out of their hard-earned money".
"Sir, this is a place of worship. Let's go. Move it", the sheriff said ushering the man away.
"I take it he's not part of the flock", Dean remarked.
"When people see something they can't explain, there's controversy", Sam told him.
"But, come on, Sam, Lena, a faith healer?" Dean asked.
"It doesn't hurt to have a little faith, Dean. I have faith", Lena said.
"You know what I've got faith in?" Dean asked stopping near the entrance of the tent "Reality. Knowing what's really going on".
"How can you be a skeptic? With the things we see every day?" Sam questioned.
"Exactly. We see them, we know there real", Dean said.
"But if you know evil's out there, how can you not believe good's out there, too?" Sam asked him.
"Because I've seen what evil does to good people", Dean countered.
Ahead, young woman stopped and turned around "Maybe God works in mysterious ways", she suggested.
"Maybe he does", Dean agreed with a smile. Sam rolled his eyes as his brother checked out the young woman. "I think you just turned me around on the subject".
The young woman smiled "Yeah, I'm sure", she said.
Dean held out his hand "I'm Dean. This is Sam and Lena", he said introducing them. Lena nodded in greeting.
"Layla", the young woman said shaking his hand "So, if you're not a believer, then why are you here?"
"Well, apparently my brother and Lena here believes enough for all of us", Dean replied.
An older woman, Layla's mother, approached them and put an arm around her daughter "Come on, Layla. It's about to start", she said. The two women smile at the trio before they headed into the tent.
"Well, I bet you she can work in some mysterious ways", Dean commented, watching Layla.
"Is he always like that?" Lena asked Sam quietly as Dean entered the tent.
"I'm afraid so", Sam replied equally quietly. They too entered the tent. Inside was rows and rows of seats, most of them occupied. At the front was a small stage with a lecturn on it.
"Yeah, peace, love, and trust all over", Dean remarked noticing a security camera. Sam and Lena followed his gaze to the camera.
Dean starts to take a seat but Sam puts an arm around him and moves him toward the front, Lena following them. As they walked, Sam tried to help his brother but Dean shrugged him off.
They stopped at the row second from the front. "Perfect", Sam said.
"Yeah, perfect", Dean muttered sarcastically.
"Lena why don't you sit down first?" Sam suggested.
"Uh sure", Lena said and did exactly what he said. Sam then sat down next to her. Again he tried to help his brother but Dean waved off his help, irritated. As a blind man, Roy Legrange, is being helped over to the lectern on the stage, Lena noticed a cross on the table that was on the stage. She frowned, there was something about it wasn't right.
Her attention was drawn to Roy when he started to speak. "Each morning, my wife, Sue Ann, reads me the news. Never seems good, does it?" the crowd with the exception of Dean, Sam and Lena murmured in agreement "Seems like there's always someone committing some immoral, unspeakable act. But, I say to you, God is watching".
"Yes he is", the crowd agreed.
"God rewards the good, and He punishes the corrupt", Roy continued. Some of the crowd cheered, others nodded in agreement. This guy has got them hanging onto their every word Dean thought wishing that he could be anywhere but here. However, both Sam and Lena wanted to give this faith healer a chance, so he'll give the guy a chance.
"It is the Lord who does the healing here friends. The Lord who guides me in choosing who to heal by helping me see into people's hearts"
The crowd continues murmuring.
"Yeah, and into their wallets", Dean said quietly to his brother.
"You think so, young man?" Roy asked and the crowd immediately falls silent.
"Sorry", Dean said apologetically.
"No, no. Don't be. Just watch what you say around a blind man, we've got real sharp ears", Roy told him "What's your name, son?"
Dean cleared his throat and replied "Dean".
"Dean", Roy repeated and nodded to himself "I want you to come up here with me". The crowd claps with the exception of Layla and her mother. Sue Ann moved to the centre of the stage and smiled at Dean.
Dean shook his head "No, its ok", he said.
"Dean, what are you doing?" Sam whispered.
"You've come here to be healed, haven't cha?" Roy asked.
"Well, yeah, but ahh..." the crowd clapped, making encouraging noises ... maybe you should just pick someone else".
Sam looks at Dean like he was insane. Even Lena was looking at him confused. Roy had chosen him out of every one here to be healed. Why was he refusing?
"Oh, no. I didn't pick you, Dean, the Lord did", Roy insisted.
"Get up there!" Sam urged.
"Go on Dean", Lena added.
Dean sighed, reluctantly stood up and made his way to the stage. "You ready?" Roy asked as Dean stood next to him.
"Look, no disrespect, but...I'm not exactly a believer", Dean admitted.
"You will be, son. You will be", Roy assured him "Pray with me, friends", he said to the crowd. The crowd lifts their arms up and joins hands with each other. Lena took Sam's hand and they exchange excited looks.
They watched as Roy lifted his hands into the air before moving one of his hands to the side of Dean's head. "Alright now. Alright now", Roy murmured to himself.
Dean's eyes glazed over and he fell to his knees, Roy's hand still on his head. "Alright, now", Roy repeated. Dean wobbled, his eyes fall back in his head and he slips to the stage floor.
"Dean!" Sam shouted jumping up from his chair. He and Lena rush over to the stage while the crowd clapped excitedly. Lena touched his shoulder and Dean gasped, opening his eyes. His lingered on her for a moment before going to Roy who was standing above him looking happy. Slightly behind Roy was a very old man in a black suit. The man looked right at Dean before he turned away and vanished.
In order to make sure it worked, Sam and Lena took Dean to the hospital. "So, you really feel okay?" Sam asked.
"I feel fine, Sam", Dean insisted but Lena could tell by the tone his voice and the look on his face that he was unhappy.
The female doctor that had been attending to Dean walked in, reading the results on a clipboard. "Well, according to all your tests there's nothing wrong with your heart", she said "No sign there ever was. Not that a man your age should be having heart trouble, but, still it's strange it does happen".
"What do you mean, strange?" Lena asked.
"Well, just yesterday, a young guy like you, twenty-seven, athletic. Out of nowhere, heart attack", the female doctor replied.
"Thanks, Doc", Dean said.
"No problem", the female doctor said and left.
"That's odd", Dean commented.
"Maybe it's a coincidence. People's hearts give out all the time, man", Sam said.
"No, they don't", Dean retorted.
"Look, Dean, do we really have to look this one in the mouth?" Sam asked "Why can't we just be thankful that the guy saved your life and move on?"
"Because I can't shake this feeling, that's why", Dean replied.
"What feeling?" Lena asked.
"When I was healed, I just...I felt wrong. I felt cold", Dean said "And for a second...I saw someone. This, uh, this old man. And I'm telling you, it was a spirit".
"But if there was something there, Dean, I think I would've seen it, too. I mean, I've been seeing an awful lot of things lately", Sam reminded him.
"Well, excuse me, psychic wonder", Dean said sarcastically "But you're just gonna need a little faith on this one. Sam, I've been hunting long enough to trust a feeling like this". Lena looked between the two of them wondering what Sam meant by 'seeing things' and why Dean called him psychic.
Sam sighed "Yeah, alright. So, what do you wanna do?" he asked.
"I want you and Lena to go check out the heart attack guy" Dean replied "I'm gonna visit the reverend".
~swimming pool, locker room~
"I'm telling you, he seemed healthy", the pool employee insisted to Sam and Lena "Swam every day, didn't smoke. So, a heart attack just kind of seemed, well, bizarre".
"And you said he was running, right before he collapsed?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, yeah, he was freaking out. He said that something was, uh...was after him", the employee said.
"Did he say what is was?" Lena asked.
"Well, thin air is what", the employee replied "I mean, it wasn't anything".
"Alright, thanks", Sam said. The pair turned to leave when Sam noticed that the clock on the wall wasn't working. "Hey, buddy? Your, uh...your clock's busted", he said.
The employee looked at the clock "Oh, yeah, we, uh, can't get it workin'. Just froze at 4:17", he said. Lena's eyes widened at that. 4.17 was the same time that Dean was healed. And if Marshall Hall died at that time too...then it meant something very, very bad.
"Is that the same time Marshall died?" Lena asked.
"How'd you know?" the employee questioned surprised.
"It was just a lucky guess, that's all", Lena said "thank you for your time" and with that she quickly left. Sam hurried after her.
~outside~
"God I'm so stupid!" Lena exclaimed the moment they got outside.
"You're not stupid Lena", Sam said.
"That damn cross should've given it away", she grumbled continuing as if Sam hadn't spoken.
"What cross?" Sam asked as she started to pace on the spot, mumbling incoherently to herself. "Lena what's wrong?" he questioned but she didn't seem to hear him. Sam stepped in front of her, gently grabbing her upper arms "Lena, what's wrong?" he repeated in a softer tone.
"It's my fault. I insisted that we come here...and now an innocent guy is dead", Lena said quietly "I should've realised what was happening and stopped it".
"Lena, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known what was going to happen", Sam said. Lena opened her mouth to argue when Sam spoke again "don't blame yourself for this. You just wanted to help Dean. But right now we need to figure out how LeGrange is trading one life for another".
"I have an idea about that but I need to make sure first", Lena said.
~motel room~
When they got back to the room, Dean was already there. "Hey, you two", he greeted but Lena just ignored him, going straight over to her bag. "What's up with her?" Dean asked as the brunette pulled a red book out of her bag and flicked through it.
Sam was going to say something when Lena spoke up "I was right though really wish I wasn't". She looked over at the brothers "LeGrange is using a Reaper".