A/N: I hope you are enjoying the hunt and like the outcome. Thank you for reading and reviews would be great. Any guesses on the next letter? NC
D
Part Two
Faces flashed through Sam's mind of women that he didn't know, yet, somehow, he did. Sam gasped for air as he sat up suddenly in bed and worked hard on drawing in a strangled breath. He realized the women were one night stands he had had when he was soulless. It seemed his sexual urges were completely opposite during that time. His face reddened and he wiped a sheen of sweat from his face knowing he wasn't a nice person back then. He let the pain in his head ease before swinging his legs off the bed and sitting on the edge. Sam looked to the other bed and saw Dean move around and turn over but not wake.
Once he thought he could stand without stumbling, Sam got up and quietly went to the bathroom knowing he wouldn't be getting any more sleep. It was still dark outside, but dawn wasn't that far off. Sam stepped back into the room and moved to the table to open his laptop so he could review the articles pulled up from his search. He settled in the chair and sipped on some water as he began to read.
Dean rolled over as he started waking up just after dawn. He glanced at the bed across from him and saw it empty and went on full alert scanning the room; only relaxing when he saw Sam at the table on his laptop. He laid back down for another minute letting his fear dissolve before allowing himself to get up. He didn't want Sam seeing that he almost lost it when he thought he was gone because of another crack in the wall.
"Hey," Sam said. "I think I know what we're hunting."
"Really, how long you been up?" Dean asked.
"A while," Sam shrugged. "So, I went through what the search program gave me and after eliminating the unlikely ones I have one left."
"Don't leave me hanging, what is it?" Dean asked when Sam didn't continue.
"A draugr," Sam said. He was happy to have narrowed it down and now they could prepare themselves for the battle.
Dean looked at him with a blank expression, waiting for Sam to say more.
"You'll have to give me more than that," Dean prompted.
"The name means, one who walks after death. It's from Norse mythology. I don't think I've ever heard of one here, but with Eve walking around there's been a lot of unknown monsters popping up lately. One article said a person who is mean, nasty, and greedy in life could turn into one in death. I'm thinking maybe this Wynn guy came back as one and killed those people thinking they cheated or wronged him in some way. It kills with brute force before eating its victims and drinking their blood, sound familiar? A draugr usually is found in a graveyard but can leave it in a plume of smoke before taking on humanoid shape. It has the stench of decay. It can also drive a person mad, thus the people that went nuts around here. So, lore says it can shapeshift, see the future, change weather, and enter the dreams of the living. It's usually only active at night."
"That's all good but how do we kill it?" Dean asked getting impatient with the facts about the monster.
"Iron can injure but won't kill it, along with silver weapons and fire. From what I read the only way is a hero can kill it with a silver sword. But to be sure it stays dead, the head needs to be cut off, body burned, and the ashes tossed into a large body of water."
"Great, how do we find a hero?" Dean asked throwing up his hands in frustration.
"Dude, did you forget?" Sam asked in surprise. "You are the Righteous Man; you've saved how many lives and the world. I don't know anyone else I would call a hero."
Dean turned and looked back at his brother with a frown as he thought about it. He didn't consider himself a hero of any kind and was surprised his brother did.
"All we have to find for you is a silver sword," Sam went on as he typed on the keyboard and watched the screen.
"Well, I'm hungry. After I change let's go grab some breakfast and then we'll hunt down a silver sword."
"Yeah, okay," Sam mumbled as his eyes moved back and forth quickly reading the screen.
Dean dug out clothes and headed for the bathroom to change. He did his usual routine and changed before stepping out into the other room. "Sammy, food, eat, like now."
"Alright, I'm coming," he huffed knowing Dean's tone and got his clothes to put on. He changed and was out of the bathroom as Dean opened the door to head out. He grabbed his jacket and hurried after him, mumbling to himself about him being too impatient.
They headed for the diner that was in town since the lunch they had there was good. The diner was over half full and Sam nudged Dean when he saw Detective Savich sitting at a table having breakfast. He hadn't seen them yet which was fine with them. They were seated and glanced at the menu placing their orders. Both looked up when Savich stopped at their table.
"Agents, I see you found one of our more popular places to eat," he said.
"Detective," Dean said. "Yeah, lunch was good, we thought we'd try breakfast."
"You won't be disappointed. Have you had any break throughs on the cases?"
"We're following up on a few leads," Sam told him trying to not act nervous.
Savich eyed them closely for a moment before bidding them goodbye and to enjoy their meal. Sam let out the breath he was holding and tried to relax and sipped on his coffee as they waited for their food to be brought out.
"Not sure he bought that or not," Dean said. "Think he'll be a problem?"
"I hope not. I think he'll be a hard one to take down. He seems…More aware and smarter than a lot of locals we've dealt with."
"Here you go gentlemen," the waitress announced sitting a tray on a stand so she could divide their food between them and refresh their coffees. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, I think we're good," Dean told her as he picked up his utensils to begin eating. He hummed to himself as he bit into a slice of bacon.
"Dude, it's only bacon."
"Bite your tongue!"
"Would you like to be alone with your food?"
"Bite me."
"No thanks, my omlette will do me just fine."
"Just offering."
They finished their meal and got coffees to go before heading back to the motel. Sam wanted to finish up his search for a sword so hopefully they could stop the draugr before it took any more victims. He was not taking any chances with a silver coated sword and wanted a pure silver one which was a little harder to find. He was finding knives but thought they wouldn't be enough to stop it. It took him another hour before he finally hit pay dirt.
"I think I've found a sword," Sam said.
"Where?"
"In Amarillo, a little over an hour away. There's a guy there that has a collection of Middle Age items and swords are listed."
"Think he'll let us borrow one for a day?"
"That's the closest I can find, might as well go see," Sam said writing down the address and directions before getting up to grab his jacket.
spn
The Impala rolled through a neighborhood with huge houses, gated driveways, walls around the property until they found the address they needed. Dean found a place to park his Baby that was hidden and hopefully would be safe. Sam called the number he found online for the owner but didn't get an answer. They found a place to go over the wall and dropped silently down on the other side.
Dean moved around the trees and bushes looking for any yard workers or staff that might be there. He stopped and held his hand up to Sam to stop too as he surveyed the house for any signs of the owner being there. Sam pulled out binoculars and checked the place out, pausing at each window looking of life inside. They waited thirty minutes and didn't see any movement in or around the house. They pulled out bandanas and covered their faces in case of outside cameras. Dean led them around to the back of the huge house and looked for the electrical and alarm boxes. Sam was lookout as he worked his magic to bypass the alarm so they could get inside.
Sam handed Dean thin gloves to put on so they wouldn't leave any prints behind. He slipped his on before checking for a place to break in. He found a window for the laundry room and removed the screen using a knife for the lock. He boosted his long body into the room and fell to the floor, rolling out of the way as Dean was just as graceful and flopped down beside him. They waited and listened, trying to detect any movement inside. Once Dean deemed it was clear, he led the way into the kitchen looking for extra security cameras.
"His collection is kept in a room on the first floor," Sam whispered.
"Got it," Dean replied going to the door and looking both ways before moving left down a hall. He checked the rooms along the way until he hit pay dirt and found the collection. There were suits of armor, shields, ancient weapons of all kinds and swords.
Sam hurried to the swords on display on one wall and looked them over before choosing one and looking at it closely. He handed it to Dean who hefted it and swung it through the air testing for balance. He nodded his approval it would do. Sam looked at the other swords wondering if he should borrow another to be on the safe side. Deciding it was better to play it safe, he grabbed another making sure it was silver and nodded he was ready to go.
They back tracked being sure to replace what they knocked to the floor and squeezed out the window. Sam pulled it down and replaced the screen while Dean removed the alligator clips on the alarm. With the swords in hand, they made their way to the wall and Dean gave Sam a boost before handing him the swords and took a few steps back so he could run at the wall and launch himself up to catch the top and pull himself on top of the wall. Sam grabbed his belt and helped him to the top. They dropped to the other side and hurried to the Impala, storing the swords in the trunk.
"We might as well have an early dinner and try to get a nap before staking out the cemetery and try to catch this thing before it can kill again," Dean said.
"Alright, are we going to hang around here if we do take it out tonight?"
"Nope, we're getting the hell out of Dodge. We'll head back to Bobby's and check for hunts along the way. You know what Dad taught us, once a hunt is done, don't hang around."
"Yeah, I remember," Sam mumbled looking out the side window as memories flashed in his head. It still made him sad to think about their Dad who had died years ago before he got to really talk to him and apologize for the fight they had.
spn
Traffic moved along at a steady pace putting them back in Perryton late afternoon. Dean drove to the diner again for their meal. He wanted to try a slice of their homemade pie for dessert hoping it was as good as the rest of the food they had eaten there. He pulled into the parking lot that was almost empty and found a place to park.
"I can't wait to try their pie. Maybe I'll have it first," Dean mumbled more to himself that Sam.
"Why don't you just have a whole pie?" Sam asked knowing his brother's love of pie and wanted to tease him.
"Don't tempt me. We have a hunt tonight, so I need to watch what I eat. You too."
"Why me?"
"Because sometimes what you get makes you fart, and I don't wanna be smelling it tonight."
"Jerk!" Sam hissed, shocked he said that out loud and looked around to be sure no one heard Dean.
"Well, its true bitch," Dean replied as he waited for the hostess to seat them.
They ate their meal and Dean couldn't praise the pie enough and even brought a slice back with him to the motel. Sam didn't know where he put what he ate and had room for another slice of pie. He had a doggie bag for his leftovers to snack on later.
Dean plopped down on his bed and turned on the television while Sam decided to take a shower before laying down. He got out clothes for the hunt that night and packed everything else to be ready to leave. He took his time in the shower and when he came back out Dean was asleep. He turned off the television and lights before slipping into his bed to try and nap. Sam set his cell to wake him to be sure they didn't oversleep. Dean's internal clock worked well but he didn't want to take any chances. He listened to the sounds around him and let his brother's soft snoring lull him to sleep.
spn
"Wake up Sammy, time to get ready," Dean called to him slapping his leg in passing.
Sam jerked awake and grabbed his cell to turn off the alarm that started sounding. He lay there a moment letting his body wake up before getting up and sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked over at Dean to see he had taken a shower since his hair was damp. He was uneasy that he had slept that hard and not heard him.
"I made coffee," Dean told him as he shoved clothes into his duffle and looked around to be sure he didn't miss anything.
"I just need to change clothes," Sam replied picking up the ones he had laid out earlier. He headed into the bathroom to get ready knowing all he had to do was pack his sleep clothes and grab his bathroom bag and he'd be ready to go.
There was a coffee waiting on him when he came out and Sam drank part of it before following his brother to the car. They turned in their room and headed across town to the outskirts where a large cemetery was located. Darkness had fallen across the land and Dean parked away from several outside lights that were near the gate to the place. They got out and went around to the trunk to gear up. Both had silver bullets in their guns and Dean had a pack with lighter fluid, salt, collapsible shovel, and garbage bag to use after the draugr was dead. They would have to drive a few miles to find a large body of water to throw the ashes in.
A twig broke behind them and instinct took over, both brothers swung around with guns drawn pointing in the direction of the sound ready to do battle.
"Stand down, agents," a familiar voice said. Detective Savich stepped closer with his hands in the air until they lowered their guns.
"What are you doing here?" Dean asked, not happy about his presence.
"I could ask you the same thing," he countered. "Are those swords? And what do you plan on doing with them?"
Dean and Sam had picked up the swords just before he spoke and looked at each other trying to decide what to do.
"It would be better if you just turned around and left and forget you ever saw us here," Dean told him.
"You really don't want to know," Sam added, thinking they were wasting their time. Savich wasn't going to let this drop and Sam knew it.
"How 'bout I decide after you tell me why you're at a cemetery in the middle of the night with swords and whatever else you've got in your bag."
"Things aren't always as the appear Detective. My brother and me have a job to do to stop anyone else from being killed. I really don't think you want to know."
"I'm getting the feeling you two aren't FBI agents, are you?"
"No, we're hunters," Dean said. "What killed those people isn't human and we plan on stopping it."
"Then it's some type of animal and you think it's in the cemetery?" Savich questioned.
"No, it's not an animal, it's a monster, a draugr, to be precise," Sam told him.
Savich frowned at Sam's words and looked at the brothers for a moment unsure what to say.
"Look Detective, we need to find this monster before it leaves the cemetery if we're going to stop it. Now you can step aside and let us do our job or arrest us and if someone else dies tonight their blood will be on your hands," Dean stated. He only waited a moment before nodding to Sam they should go.
"Wait, I'm coming with you," Savich replied. "Maybe I can help."
Dean stopped as he started to close the trunk of the Impala and looked back at him. He could see the look of determination in his eyes and knew there was no talking him out of it.
"Fine, but you'll need some of these," Dean said handing him a clip of silver bullets. "What you have in your gun will only make it angry."
Savich accepted the clip and looked at it for a moment before removing his gun and exchanging the clip with the new one. He followed the brothers into the cemetery wondering just what they were going to be up against and what a draugr was.
"The crypt is in the middle of this place," Sam told Dean as he shone a light around to get his bearings. He headed in what he thought was the right direction with the others following.
"It has to take human form before it can be killed," Sam told Savich when he stepped up beside him. "You can't hesitate, or it will kill you."
"Silver bullets will hurt it but won't kill it. If our research is right, I should be able to do that with the sword."
"Sounds like you've done something like this before."
"It's our jobs, sort of the family business you could say."
Sam saw mausoleums ahead of him and was about the check them out when a swirling cloud of smoke began to come from the one off to the right. He watched it and knew this was their monster.
"Dean, it's here," Sam called pulling his gun and holding the sword in his left hand. He watched as the smoke swirled and spun in and out on itself as a solid shape started taking form. By the time Dean and Savich got there, the draugr had turned into a seven-foot creature. Its skin was almost mummified like leather covering its skeleton frame. Rags hung from its desiccated body and long, sharp claws extended from the fingers of its hands that he held up slightly as if ready to do battle. Its eyes glowed a ghostly bluish white and was sunken into its skull. They locked onto Sam and an unearthly scream tore from its mouth.
"Holy shit!" Savich exclaimed when he laid eyes on the creature that was worse than any horror movie he had seen. He wasn't sure what to do as he gripped his gun tightly in his hand and pointed it at the monster.
"Stay back," Dean warned as he stepped toward the monster his sword clenched tightly in his hand ready to do battle.
The wind began to pick up around them and whistle among the treetops surrounding the cemetery. Flashes of lightening could be seen off in the distance and seemed to be bearing down on them.
The draugr was fast and charged Sam as he brought his gun up to fire. Several shots rang, one hit the monster in the arm and the other went wild. He didn't get a chance to fire before Sam was caught by a clawed hand and thrown backwards into the tome stones. He landed hard on the rock stone and bones were broken and blood ran. His sword was knocked from his grip, but he tried to pull himself back up to fight, only to fall back down as a bout of dizziness overtook him.
Dean let out a roar of rage when he saw Sam being tossed aside like a rag doll. His anger boiled inside of him as he unloaded his gun into the draugr, making each shot count. All he was able to do was make the monster stumble back a few steps and divert his attention on him instead of his brother. He shifted the sword and made his stand.
"C'mon you piece of shit. You're not getting by me," he growled at him as the draugr eyed him for a moment before stepping closer.
More shots were fired making the creature bellow in rage as one eye was destroyed and part of his arm was blown away. Savich ran toward Sam and saw the sword where it fell. Sam fell back to the ground unconscious as blood ran from a head wound down his face. The claws had ripped long gashes down his arm and across his stomach. Savich dropped his empty gun and picked up the sword and headed for the creature from the side hoping to get in a blow while Dean had him distracted.
Dean swung hard connecting with an arm and severing it at the elbow as he danced away before it could catch him with his other clawed hand. He was surprised to see Savich had Sam's sword and swung at the monster burying it into his side making it scream in pain. He was knocked down but got back up. Dean took the distraction to move in and drive the sword upward into the draugr's head and out the top. It gurgled and cried out before toppling over to the ground. Knowing what needed to be done, Dean removed the sword and in two chops cut the head off making sure it was dead. He stood back panting hard and realized Sam wasn't there.
"Sammy?" Dean yelled looking around.
"Over there," Savich called back. He was making his way back to Sam to check on him.
"Let me," Dean insisted kneeling down by Sam and carefully turning him over. He used his flashlight to see what damage had been done and knew it wasn't good. Sam was bleeding too much and knew he only had one hope.
"I'll call an ambulance," Savich offered pulling out his cell.
"Don't bother. We have our own doctor on call. Cas, we need you. Sammy's hurt bad. You gotta get here," Dean prayed opening his eye when he was done.
A flutter of wings behind them had Savich turning to see a stranger dressed in a suit and trench coat quickly making his way to them. He went on the defensive until Dean spoke.
"He's a friend Savich, stand down. Sam's been hurt Cas; can you fix him?"
"I'll see what I can do," Castiel said. He knelt by Sam and laid a hand on his forehead as he let his grace flow into him. A blue light glowed in the darkness around Sam's face and Castiel mended the broken bones and closed the gashes on his friend.
Sam began to stir under his hand, and he pulled it away. "He should be alright now. Just a little weak from blood loss."
"Thanks Cas. Sammy you okay?" Dean asked as he helped him to stand on wobbly legs. He kept a firm hold on his arm when Sam swayed slightly.
"Yeah, thanks Cas," he mumbled feeling wetness on his face and wiped his hand across it trying to remove the blood.
"If I'm not needed further, I must get back to the war," Castiel stated in a serious, deep voice.
"We're good, go on," Dean told him.
Savich shook his head and rubbed his eyes when suddenly the one they called Castiel disappeared leaving them alone in the cemetery. He wasn't sure what to ask or even say at the moment as he looked back at the creature that was still there, dead.
"We need to burn the body," Dean told him as he propped Sam against a tall headstone and went looking for his pack.
"A little mind blowing isn't it?" Sam asked when he saw Savich staring dumbfounded around him not sure what to do. A monster had been killed and he had helped. He felt proud of himself for helping these hunters. He was beginning to wonder what else what out there they he didn't know about and how did he protect his town from them.
"Who was that?" he finally got out.
"That was Castiel, he's an angel. I know, hard to believe. We didn't believe him at first either, but he grows on you."
"Did he just heal you?"
"Yeah, he does that. Kind of handy to know. Like I said our own doctor on call, so to speak."
Savich watched Dean take a container of lighter fluid and salt dousing the body before setting it on fire. He stepped back and picked up the two swords before coming to stand by them.
"I'll get the ashes up so we can toss them in that lake outside of town."
"So, this is over. There'll be no more killings?" Savich asked.
"There shouldn't be. You were pretty handy with that sword, did you serve?"
"Yes, Marines, did three tours."
"So, you're a hero," Sam said understanding why Savick was able to inflict the amount of pain that he did.
"I guess you could say that," Savich shrugged not agreeing but didn't say anything. "But I do call myself a survivor."
"That's why you hurt it so bad. Only heroes can kill it," Dean commented.
"Did you serve?" he asked Dean.
"Naw, guess I'm something else."
"And you guys do this all the time? Hunt monsters and kill them?"
"Yep."
"How about I buy you guys a beer and you tell me a little more about these things?"
Dean looked at Sam to see his reaction before answering. "We really should be heading out after getting rid of the ashes."
"You could do us one favor though," Sam said. "Can you see these get returned to their owner?" He took the swords from where Dean laid them and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "Here's the name and address of the owner."
Dean looked on with longing as Sam handed over the sword, wishing he could keep them. But a machete was smaller and easier to manage, just a deadly.
"I can do that. Can I get your number if I were to ever need your kind of help again?" Savich asked holding out a pad and pen. He could tell they really didn't want to hang around and couldn't blame them.
"Of course," Sam nodded taking the items and scribbling down their numbers. "If we don't answer leave a message."
"Okay, looks like it's toast," Dean said getting out the shovel and bag. He checked to be sure all the fire was out before picking up the ashes with the shovel and depositing them in the bag. It always seemed strange to him that the ashes were never hot once a monster was burned, but it didn't matter.
"It was nice to meet both of you and thanks for what you did for our town," Savich told them. He shook Sam's hand and waited for Dean to finish to shake his. "You've given me a lot to think about." Savich took the swords and headed back to the gate to the cemetery and to his car parked nearby.
"You take care," Dean told him as he turned to leave. He packed up the empty containers and stored the shovel back in the pack. "Guess we need to finish this and leave."
"Yeah, he was an okay guy."
"He was. You look like crap Sammy. I don't know if I can let you ride in my Baby covered in blood."
"I'll change, the shirt's ruined anyway," he said looking down at it and suddenly stopping as flashes of another time he was coated in blood surfaced for a moment.
"You okay there Sammy?" Dean asked when he saw Sam freeze with a blank look on his face.
"I'm fine," Sam finally got out as he steadied himself and wiped is face. He wasn't going to tell Dean what happened because he knew he would worry. He would keep these flashbacks to himself and deal with them on his own.
They headed for the Impala and on to the next hunt.
The End
