21 - Angelflight

Baby's tires were eating up the miles, the powerful engine racing. In the passenger seat, Sam held on for dear life. "Dean, you can't help him if we wreck."

"I'm not losing him again, Sammy," Dean replied, his eyes on the road. "Not after I just found him. You saw the way he'd been living."

"Yeah," Sam growled. "The Adlers are going to get what's coming to them for the way they kept Jimmy locked up in that room. Jo texted and said they're under arrest for kidnapping and they're looking at getting a warrant for Dinario. But you still need to…"

Dean's phone rang. Without being asked, Sam grabbed it and turned it on speaker.

"Dean?" Benny's Louisiana drawl came through the tinny speaker. "That woman, Hannah, that was with Adler just told the police they had your boy on some kind of electronic tether. He's got an ankle bracelet that kept him in range of a transmitter they had in the trailer. Unfortunately, it looks like someone stole that transmitter, probably the same person that stole Jimmy. Be careful, brother. You can't just grab him and run."

"Son of a bitch!" Dean pounded the heel of his hand against the wheel, making Baby sway dangerously. "Thanks, Benny."

"How did anyone even know about the transmitter?" Sam wanted to know.

"The lady says that Adler got good and drunk a couple nights ago, going over stuff for the show with Dinario," Benny explained. "Dumbass was bragging away about his gig with Jimmy, whose name is, apparently, Emmanuel. Stupid bastard told Dinario everything, how they've been controlling Emmanuel included. That's how Dinario knew the words to call the angel Castiel out at the show. They've likely got your boyfriend locked down tight and drugged, just like the Adlers were doing."

"What kind of drugs?" Sam asked.

"Sedatives and muscle relaxers," Benny reported. "Strong as Emmanuel is, he's not going to be in any shape to do much fighting. Hell, I'm surprised he's able to walk. That bastard Adler also used a taser and a cattle prod to keep your boy from fighting."

To Sam's alarm, the car started moving even faster. Sam swallowed hard. "Thanks, Benny. Um, keep up the good work?"

"You just get those sons of bitches and make them sorry they were ever born." With that, Benny hung up.

"Ok," Sam began, hanging up and turning to his brother. "I know this is sounding really bad…"

"Is it?!"

"…But once again, we can't help Jimmy, or Emmanuel, since that's his real name, if we wrap ourselves around a tree," Sam warned. "Now if you would please just slow down just a little, we…"

Dean's face was pinched. "I see them."

Sam looked ahead, and his brow raised. He could see a long line of vehicles ahead of them. As the caravan passed under the streetlamp, he saw what was clearly an expensive-looking RV. Sam nodded. "Go faster, Dean!"

Dean did. Soon, he was trailing the last vehicle. "Sam, grab the map out of the glove compartment."

"A map? Seriously?" Sam complained as he obeyed. "Haven't you ever heard of a GPS?"

"Can a GPS tell you at a glance when there's a turn-off coming up?" Dean challenged. "Because that's what I need from that map!"

"Right." Sam pulled out his cell phone and shone the light on the map. "Ok, we've got a turn-off coming up in about ten miles. Do you have a plan?"

"Nope," Dean replied. "What I do have is a GED, and a give 'em hell attitude, and I'll figure it out."

"You are nine kinds of crazy," Sam complained.

"It's been said," Dean admitted. "Is there a long stretch of straight road anywhere between here and that turn-off?"

"Yeah, it's coming up in about three miles."

"Perfect." To Sam's surprise, Dean was pulling over, stopping on the side of the road. "Keep your eyes on them."

"Dean wha…? Ok, sure," Sam replied as his brother jumped out of the car as soon as it was in park, leaving the door hanging dangerously open as he raced around to the back. He heard Dean rummaging around in the trunk. Then the trunk slammed shut and Dean was running back to his seat.

"Here," Dean called, shoving a bundle at Sam.

Sam accepted it, not being given much choice. Something metallic clanged inside of the bundle, which was inside of a canvas sack. "Dean, what the hell?"

Dean was back on the road, once again doing his impersonation of an Indy-500 driver. "Open it up and get it ready!"

Confused, Sam did as he was told, blinking when he saw what was inside. "Seriously?!"

"Dead serious, Sam! Get your window rolled down and get ready when I tell you."

Sam groaned. He just knew nothing good would come out of what he was about to do, but he had no better ideas. He reluctantly rolled his window down and waited.

Dean caught up quickly and slowed down, keeping behind the last car. Soon, they were at the straight stretch. As soon as it was clear, Dean whipped into the opposing lane and floored it. Say what you would about his brother, Dean kept Baby in fantastic condition. The big engine roared. The Impala shot forward, racing past the caravan until he was coming up alongside the big RV, just past the front bumper of the car directly behind it. Sam got ready.

Dean swerved, causing the other car to brake and blare its horn. The car fell back a bit, the driver no doubt cursing Dean's wild driving. Now there was a bit more room between it and the RV. "Ok, Sammy, now!"

Sam carefully threw out the spike strip, making sure to toss it directly in the path of the car. The tires exploded as Dean shot forward again, dancing out of the way just as the other driver lost control and went sideways. There were a series of metallic crashes as cars in the caravan failed to stop in time, creating a pile-up of dented cars but fortunately nothing serious.

Sam leaned back with a shaky laugh. "Holy shit. I just committed a crime. I'm studying to be a lawyer, and I committed a crime!"

"It's small change compared to what these fuckers have been doing," Dean growled, falling into place behind the RV. "Worse case, we'll say I did it."

"Sure, then I'll just cop to unsafe speeds, reckless endangerment, driving the wrong way up the street, passing in a no-pass zone…"

"Shut up, Sammy!" He handed Sam something. "Here."

Sam looked at it. "Pepper spray?"

"Yeah, with that hair, you need it for school anyway, to keep drunk frat boys off of you."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Jerk."

"Bitch!"

The turn-off was rapidly approaching. Once again, Dean swung out into the other lane, quickly pulling up to the cab of the RV. But to Sam's horror, this time, an eighteen wheeler was coming down the lane towards them, headlights blazing and horn blaring. "Dean!" Sam screamed.

"Guess we'd better get back over, huh?" Dean swerved, moving directly in front of the RV.

The RV was forced to swerve as well, moving onto the off-ramp. Dean stayed with it, riding along the side of the road in a cloud of gravel and dirt, letting the RV get down the ramp before pulling in front of it once again, forcing it to stop. He waggled his eyebrows at his brother. "Showtime!"

Already, the RV's driver was getting out. He was a big man, red-faced and angry. Already he was cursing at Dean, pointing an accusing finger in Dean's face and raising his fist threateningly. Dean, Sam saw, had something in his hands, something that gleamed metal in the lights from the vehicles. Sam was readying his pepper spray when Dean swung hard, directly into the other man's face.

The man's eyes rolled back. He collapsed on the ground. Sam blinked at him, then looked back at Dean to see his brother grinning as he displayed the metal knuckles he was wearing. Sam groaned. "I see your life of crime is coming in handy."

"I see you somehow didn't piss yourself when I drove that bastard off the road," Dean replied cheerfully. "The way you screamed like a girl, I was sure I'd be mopping your urine out of my Baby with your hair, Sammy."

Sam gave serious consideration to using his pepper spray on his brother. No. He might need it for Dinario.

Dean was already climbing into the RV through the driver's seat, scrambling back. Sam followed and ran into his brother's back when Dean suddenly froze, hands spread, blocking Sam's view of the RV.

"I don't know who you are, or what you want," Dinario called, "but this is the end of it. Get out. Now."

"No," Dean growled. "I'm not leaving without Jimmy!"

"Jimmy?" Dinario sounded puzzled. "You mean Emmanuel?"

"Whatever, he's my boyfriend, now let him go!"

"Dean?"

Sam finally managed to get a look over Dean's shoulder and almost wished he hadn't. There was Dinario, dressed in silk pajamas, standing with a gun pointed at them. And there, groggy, confused, and shackled to the wall by heavy chains on his wrists, was Emmanuel. Drug-hazed blue eyes were blinking at him as he tried to get up from the bed where he'd been lying, only to frown as the chains caught him. "Dean, you came!"

"Of course I did," Dean soothed. His voice was gentler then Sam had heard it in some time. "I'll always come for you."

"Ugh, really?" Dinario groaned. "Homosexuality, in my RV? No, this simply won't do. I thought you were simply a nut, trying to get your miracle by running me off the road. But you're here to rescue your…" He made a face, as though he was fighting back the urge to vomit. "…Your boyfriend? Emmanuel, you're worse off than I thought!"

"No." Emmanuel shook his head, trying to clear it, and stood at the edge of the bed. His arms were getting pulled back by the chains, but even impeded, his wings were flaring in warning. "There is no sin in loving each other. And I love Dean. Let me go. It's over."

"It is over," Sam called. "The police know you've kidnapped him, Dinario. They've already arrested Ader and they're working on a warrant for you."

"That so?" Dinario narrowed his eyes. He shrugged. "In that case, guess I'll be leaving the country a little quicker than I thought. Lots of places in the world where people will pay plenty to see a genuine angel." To Sam's alarm, he was raising the pistol, taking aim at Dean, who didn't move. "First things first. Adler said you were a stubborn bastard, Emmanuel. Your Dean here the reason why? Easy enough to fix."

"No!" Sam grabbed his brother, dragging him down as the gun went off. But the bullet only dug into the side of the RV as Dinario gave a grunt of surprise. Sam looked up to see Dinario on the floor and Emmanuel, furious as he drew back his wing for another blow. The chains were impairing his aim and range of motion, but somehow, the winged man had managed to knock Dinario into the opposite wall.

"Oh, you freak!" Dinario yelled, swinging his pistol back, not towards Dean, but towards Emmanuel.

"No!" Dean roared, struggling to get free from his brother.

Too late. The sound of the pistol echoed in the RV. There was a cry of pain, the sound of a falling body, and the rattle of chains.

Emmanuel gurgled. Blood spurted from the hole in the center of his chest as he lay, fallen back against the bed, blinking down at the wound. He looked over at Dean and tried to say something, but only gurgled again. Then he slumped, eyes staring at nothing at all.

Dean made a sound Sam had never heard come from a human being. Tearing free from Sam, he lunged at Dinario just as the gun went off yet again. Dean fell back and Sam's heart dropped. "Dean!"

Dean didn't answer. Sam dragged his brother back, hands racing as he checked for wounds. He didn't find any. But Dean appeared frozen in place, staring wide-eyed past his shoulder. Sam looked back.

A woman with flowing red hair was standing in the trailer just in front of Dean and Sam. Her hand was outstretched as she stalked towards Dinario, who was staring at her in horror, pistol falling from his nerveless hand. "False prophet," she intoned. "Deceiver. Vile charlatan, your time has ended."

She'd reached Dinario, slapping the palm of her hand against the preacher's head. Dinario screamed. Then the man somehow began to glow, light streaming from his eyes and mouth, seeming to illuminate him from the inside-out. The man's scream seemed to echo as the light continued to blaze. Then his body was falling to the ground, burned-out holes where his eyes once were.

Dean and Sam froze, watching as the woman turned. Her eyes were blazing with blue light. As they watched, shadowy wings rose from her back. Sam was paralyzed in shock, but Dean fought his way to his knees. "Please," he pleaded, raising his clasped hands imploringly to her. "Please, help him, save him, bring him back!"

She tilted her head at him. "I am not here for that."

"Please!" A harsh sob shook Dean's body. "Please, I'm begging you, I'll do anything, just bring him back!"

Now she gave him a soft smile. "Dean Winchester, why do you always believe you must earn your miracles?"

She started towards them. Sam, panicked, dragged his broken brother back. "We had no part of this," Sam called. "We only came here to rescue our friend. We weren't part of Dinario and Adler's show. If you're really not going to save Emmanuel, then at least let us leave in peace."

The angel - she could only be an angel, considering she'd just taken a bullet and flat-out smote Dinario - smiled again. "Come with me," she ordered. "We have much to discuss."

She reached her hands towards them and Sam flinched, expecting to be burned alive. But instead there was an unpleasant sensation of rapid movement. Then he and Dean were lying in a field of flowers.

Sam carefully got up, pulling Dean to his feet. Dean went where he was directed, but seemed dazed. Tears were still streaking his cheeks as he looked blankly around. His eyes fell on the Impala, impossibly parked in the middle of a field next to them. Well, at least they wouldn't have to walk from here, wherever here was. But where was the angel?

Oh. She was here. Sam had no idea where she'd come from, but her hands were on Dean's cheeks, gently wiping his tears. "Do not weep for your love," she advised. "He died as he wished, protecting the man he loved."

"Is that… supposed to… help?" Dean managed. "You're an angel, a real angel. You could have saved him."

"Yes," she agreed. She seemed perfectly calm. "It was not my place to do anything but protect, but that creature was so vile I found I enjoyed destroying him."

That terrified Sam into silence, but Dean apparently still had his objections. "Then why didn't you help Emmanuel while you were at it? How could you just let him die?!"

"I told you," she said. "I wasn't there for that."

"Then what the hell were you there for?"

Now she actually laughed. "You, of course. I was there for you."