Hi, guys, how's been your week? :) This chapter's a bit longer than usual but at the end of this chapter I'm puting my own spin of the things and in future I'll follow pretty losely some of the plot lines. Anyway, I hope you'll like it :)
Elizabeth is sitting on the steps outside the café; her silhouette is a dark shadow in the night. Her hands are shaking and covered in blood; as I approach her, I see there are some drops on her face, too. There's a small cut on her neck, otherwise she's fine. She's in shock, I can tell by the look on her face. She points to the inside of the café. Anxiousness is building inside me and I bite my lips not sure what we're going to find there. Dean hands her a towel pulling it from his pocket and she presses it to her neck. I take a deep breath and enter, Dean following me closely behind. There is blood on the floor, tables and chairs are turned upside down. It's clear there was a fight here. I clench my jaw as I see Martin's body and let out a breath I don't realize I held. I'm grateful it's not Benny. Martin's glassy eyes, wide open are staring to the ceiling, his moth slightly agape and his body lying in huge pool of blood. But what really catches my attention is his mauled neck. I look at Dean and he takes a deep breath and exhales in distress. I can't say I'm glad Martin's dead but sure as hell I'm not grieving. I should be sad that a man died tonight but I'm not. It's insensible and wrong but I don't care. He had it coming. Dean warned him just couple of hours ago that if he goes after Benny, he's as good as dead. I look to his body one last time before I walk out, following Dean.
We travel in silence. I wonder where Sam is, why he wasn't with Martin and why Dean doesn't seem to be worried about him. I'm just about to ask him when a phone starts ringing. I lean forward and open the glove compartment from where I hear the ringing. It's Sam so I hand the phone to Dean. I listen carefully to their conversation, curiosity and worry mixed. I can barely hear Sam's voice full of accusation and suppressed anger over the rumble of the Impala, but I know what the brothers are talking about. About thirty seconds later Dean shuts the phone with a curse.
"So you made him believe his girl's in trouble?" I cautiously ask
"Yeah" Dean stares at the road
"Wow… that's a dick move" I say and he inhales sharply "Hey, I don't say you didn't need to do it. I just say it's crappy."
"Yeah, tell me about it…" he mutters as he steps on the gas
I sigh and lean my head against the window. I feel crappy, depressed, nervous. Guilty. Guilty for destroying Benny's chance of normal life, guilty for making Sam rush to Amelia, thinking the woman he loves might be dead… and yes, a bit guilty because of Martin's death. I try to ignore all the emotions and muffle the panic that I feel every time I have to sleep. I close my eyes and ignoring everything around me, even Dean's dark mood and speed driving, I doze off.
I wake up with a scream, my body shaking nervously, my chest rising rapidly and panic flowing down my veins. The memories of Purgatory are still fresh in my mind. I take a deep breath and quickly exhale trying to calm down. My heart rate gradually slows down. I look around. It's still dark and I'm alone in the car that is parked in front of a motel. I climb out of the car and I hear shouts from the nearest room; I recognize Sam and Dean's voices. Lately I'm used to their arguments and disagreements but this is a real quarrel. Sam is furious. But so is Dean even though he sounds more tired and desperate. From what I hear I realize Sam's giving Dean an ultimatum to cut his ties with Benny or they won't be able to work together anymore. I close my eyes, realizing this means I have to choose between Sam and Benny, too. My lower lip trembles as I try to hold back my tears. How am I supposed to choose between the only friends I got? It's not fair and I curse under my breath. I look up to the sky, to the stars… I wait for Dean's response but I hear a door being opened and see him storming out of the motel room.
"Glad I made the drive." He says to Sam as he leaves the door open
I lock my eyes with Sam's. He's still angry, I can see the rage burning inside him. He looks at me stubbornly and expectantly. I clench my jaw and shake my head in disapproval. Then I get in the car and never look at him again.
I'm almost jumping out of excitement when Castiel appears in Rufus's cabin and asks for Dean's and mine help. Since his quarrel with his brother Dean is too quiet. He just shuts me out. I can see the pain in his eyes and how he tries to ignore it and pretend it's not there. But I know him well enough to know he's hurt and he doesn't know what to do. So instead facing the hard choice he has to make he pretends nothing's wrong.
However, I am not ready to give up nor Benny or Sam. I know I have to call the younger Winchester and talk to him but I can't force myself to do it. I'm afraid he'll give me the same ultimatum he gave his brother. Actually, I'm sure he'll do it and I'm too much of a coward to face this. So I follow Dean's example and try to ignore the problem. Almost as if I don't think about it, it'll disappear. But I know that even Sam's patience has its limits and soon I'll have to deal with this.
But right now little bit of distraction is exactly what Dean and I need. Cas needs help to find Samandriel who is kept somewhere near Hastings, Nebraska by Crowley. Both Dean and I are sure we'll be just fine without Sam and we assure Cas that's the case when he asks about the younger Winchester.
After a burned bush and man whose face looks like the sun ate it, we start driving around abandoned factories, hoping to have luck and find the one that is guarded by demons. The ninth one turns out to be the one we're looking for but there are too many demons around. And Cas feels an angel warding.
"Just great" I mutter while eyeing the factory
"Well" Dean sighs "you, me, Cas and a demon knife ain't gonna cut it."
"Okay. I'll get Sam." Cas says and he's ready to vanish
"No!" both Dean and I exclaim, then Dean adds "We don't need Sam"
"But you just said…"
"Look" Dean cuts him off "if Sam wanted in, he'd be here, okay? I got a better idea."
So we go to Kevin. I usually call him every couple of days to see how he's doing but after the fiasco with Benny I was in too much distress and I just… I feel guilty. It seems like we care about him only when we need his help. And it's hard to prove otherwise. The boy looks horrible – tired and worn out, as he hasn't slept in days. He has buried himself in notes and symbols trying to read the half of the demon tablet we have. He even has sent his mother away so she won't distract him. I frown at his dedication. It must really suck to be locked on Garth's boat and not be able to show your nose out of it because the King of Hell's looking for you. Kevin needs a rest and I promise myself I'll make sure he gets one when we save Samandriel. Kevin makes us a list of the things we need to make demon bombs.
While we wait Cas to get back with the needed ingredients me and Dean make sure we don't interrupt Kevin while he works. I know that right now is pretty much pointless to make him stop and try to distract him. But later I won't give him a choice. Then Dean's phone rings and when he answers it I realize he's talking to Benny.
"Benny!" I exclaim and reach for the phone but Dean pushes me playfully away "Ass!" I mutter "Tell him I miss him" I order and raise my brows waiting for Dean to do as I told him
He scowls at me but with a sigh informs Benny. I can hear the vampire's chuckle at his words and I smile. Then Benny says something and Dean's face fell.
"I know" he retorts "Your granddaughter told me"
So Benny explains about Martin and I grab the phone away from Dean before he can stop me.
"We don't blame you, Benny" I say and motion for Dean to come closer and put his ear next to mine so he can also hear what Benny says
"You did this old dog a real solid, and, uh... the way you stood up for me…"
"Well, shoe on the other foot, you would have done the same." Dean states confidently and that makes me smile
"Yeah. I hate to ask for much else, but I don't suppose there's any chance you're anywhere near the Catskills?"
"We're on the other side of the country, working a case" I say and furrow my brows "What's wrong?"
"Yeah, just hitting a little rough patch, I guess." Benny sounds sad and a bit hesitant "You know, doing this whole solo thing…"
"Baby steps, Benny" I gently say
"You heard her, man." Dean nods in agreement "One day at a time"
Soon we end the conversation with the promise we'll go see him as soon as the current case is over. I exchange a worried look with Dean; I'm concerned about Benny and he squeezes reassuringly my shoulder.
A bit later Cas comes back, the whole room filled with the fluttering of wings. And Sam is with him. It's not a pleasant reunion. The tension between the three of us is too obvious. Cas just looks at us
"We need everything. And I need the three of you, as you say, to stow your crap. Can you do that?"
Getting a lecture for your behavior from a socially awkward angel with rusty people skills really makes you stow your crap.
The plan is simple. Dean, Sam and I enter the building, destroy the angel warding and let Cas in. After that we go for Samandriel. But it turns out that even with ruined sigils Cas is not on full power. But something happens to Cas. He looks terrified and he sinks down into a crouch. I try to help him up on his feet but he refuses. Something's wrong, something's terribly wrong with Cas and I can't help him so I start to panic even though I know I have to stay calm for the boys. Meanwhile Sam and Dean do their best to open the door to the room where Crowley keeps Samandriel. The door finally gives in and they enter the room. Cas somehow manages to get on his feet and we follow them. Sam and Dean are fighting two demons and I frantically look around but Crowley's not there. Cas reaches Samandriel to free him from the metal thing on his head. New demon enters the room and I smile, happy I'll fight something. He flashes his eyes black as he approaches me. He attacks me but I punch him hard making him take a step back. He's strong and fast but I'm faster, adrenalin's pumping through my veins and all I see is the demon before me. And he's going to die. We dance around each other, hitting and kicking and punching. He makes a swift move trying to trick me but I don't fall for that and break his arm instead. With another quick move I break his leg but he manages to push me into a trolley with torture instruments. I grab something sharp and rushed back to the demon, stabbing him in the eye. Suddenly an orange glow goes through his body as he collapses and Dean appears behind him pulling the demon knife out of his back.
"I had this" I say pouting
"Of course you did" he shrugs "I just quickened it."
"Right" I say as I look around; Cas and Samandriel are gone "Let's get out of here"
It's dark outside and I breathe in the fresh night air. I feel so alive, it must be the adrenalin. We find Cas kneeled next to Samandriel's body. Cas looks somehow broken and confused
"Cas!" I run to him and cup his face "What happened?"
Dean and Sam rush to us. Suddenly Cas's expression goes completely blank and serious as he answers me
"He was compromised." He pushes away my hands and stands up "He came at me. I killed him in self-defense"
"Cas" Dean quietly calls him "you okay?"
In complete shock I see how from the corner of Cas's eye flows blood. He wipes it away as if nothing happened.
"My vessel must have been damaged in the melee. I have to go. Samandiriel's remains belong in Heaven."
Castiel crouches down by Samandiriel's body and puts an arm around his shoulders. He's ready to leave, I realize.
"Thank you..." Cas looks at us, his blue eyes piercing us "for everything you've done"
"Cas, wait" Dean calls but it's too late
Among the fluttering of his wings he and Samandriel disappear.
"Cas!"
Once we get back to Rufus's cabin we put on angel warding. The previous tension between us is gone, and working together made us forget our differences and for a while everything's like the old times. Obviously I'm not the only one who has noticed something's off with Cas since he's back from Purgatory.
"Why would the angels have him kill another angel?" Dean asks in irritation and confusion
"I don't know" I quietly answer and Sam shrugs
And then Dean surprises both me and Sam with his words
"You know what, man? We got this. You go. Don't you have a girl to go back to?"
Dean's being selfless again. It's his thing. No matter how much he wants his brother around he's ready to sacrifice his own happiness in order his little brother to have the life he wants. Sam is surprised and I can see the appreciation in his eyes. His eyes stop on me.
"Don't look at me, man" I pull him a face "I told you long ago what to do"
Sam looks a bit confused, he's over thinking something and I can see his hesitation. I leave the room, giving him and Dean some privacy. It's between them and I have no right to interfere. I sit on the steps of the porch and sigh. I have to prepare my bag, soon Dean and I have to leave and go to Benny, as we promised. After a while the door opens and Sam comes out. I stand up and he offers me a small, still hesitant smile.
"I'll go for a walk" he explains and makes a few steps, then turns to me "Are we good?" he asks with hope
"You're my friend, Winchester." I arch my brow to underline my words "No matter what. We are good"
He nods and continues his walk. I turn around to enter the cabin and see Sam's left the door ajar. I hear Dean's voice. He's talking on the phone. I'm not sure why but I stop myself from entering.
"Listen, Benny. Everything you've done for me, I will never forget, but, uh... This is it." It sounds hard for Dean to say this, but he does
My heart sinks. I hope he's just telling him we can't go to him right now… but this is until I hear his next words.
"End of the line" there's a small pause "You, uh... You stay good, all right?" another pause "Yeah, man. Adios."
I stand on the door, not ready to walk in. I can't believe what I just heard. I can't comprehend it. It's too much. After everything Benny did for Dean he just bails on him like this… Deadly anger is raging inside me, I feel tears in my eyes. I'm furious, hurt and feel betrayed. What if the next time Dean has to choose between me and something else? Will he just as easily give up on me as he did with Benny? I don't plan to stick around and find out. I storm inside and start packing my things. For a minute or two Dean's just staring at me, not really sure what I'm doing or why.
"Uh… Braeden?" he hesitantly asks as I put some clothes in my duffel and close it "What are you doing?"
"Packing" I snap at him "What does it look like?"
I turn around looking for my book but I can't find it. With a hiss of complete irritation, I go pass Dean who is absolutely stunned and confused by my actions; with my duffel in hand and my backpack on my back I grab my car keys.
"Where the hell are you going?" he asks in complete shock, his green eyes piercing me, pleading expression on his beautiful face
"To keep my promise to a good friend of mine" I hiss at him and storm out of the cabin
"Braeden!" he calls after me but I don't pay him any attention
I open my car door and throw my things inside, and then I slide in the seat. With a rumble the car awakens.
"Braeden, wait!" I hear Dean's shouts from behind me "Braeden!"
I step on the gas and don't even look at the mirror as I speed down the road.
What do you think about the story development? Please, I'd really appreciate more feedback so I know what you think of this.
