Chapter 25: The Beginning of the End of the World
"I'm sorry…" Sam pleaded his brother above Elliott. Then there was a defining rumble as the ground opened up radiating a beam of blinding light. She felt large hands pulling her up to her feet and away from the light.
"Sammy, let's go." Dean ordered unblinkingly at the beam of light.
"Dean…" Sam breathed holding Elliott tight unable to move. Completely frozen in fear.
"Dee, he's coming…" She whispered. As the growing light brightened her headache became worse. It felt like someone was beating her head with a hammer as the light became blinding. Washing everything out around them in white.
"Yo-yo-Yosemite Sam." The familiar cartoon character sputtered to the cartoon devil on the little screen in front of the hunters, as the blinding light faded.
Elliott blinked quickly to adjust from the white light and diminishing headache. She was seated closely between Sam and Dean on an airplane. Her hand fisted the cuff of Sam's plaid shirt, wide eyes taking in everything around her.
"What the…" Elliott breathed utterly lost.
"Quick word from the flight deck." A voice announced on the speaker muting the inflight cartoon. "We are flying over Ilchester now-"
"Isn't that where we just were?" Dean whispered meeting both Sam and Elliott with wide eyes.
"Dean." Sam hissed from his window seat. When he didn't say anymore, they followed his gaze out the tiny window.
"Oh my god!" The Capitan shouted over the speakers. From outside Sam's window they could see a beam of light bursting up to the sky, right next to them. The airplane tilted suddenly and dipped downward sending everyone into a panic. Dean's hand latched onto Elliott's forearm in a bruising grip as breathing masks fell from a hidden compartment above them. Sam's hand was holding hers tightly and an alarm was blaring loudly.
Although Dean would swear that they almost died in a plane crash, the plane was able to right itself and make an emergence landing. Quickly realizing that they were now stuck in Ilchester without a ride, Dean found a little silver car in the lot. With as little speaking possible they decided first thing they needed was to get out of town asap.
The street lamps and stars were the only things lighting their way down the interstate. All three hunters sat quietly the only thing interrupting the silence was the radio that Dean kept flipping through. "Devastating earthquake takes the lives of-" "Death tole rising-" "Epidemic-" "Swine Flu-" Dean's jaw ticked turning off the radio preferring the awkward silence in their stolen Subaru.
"Dean… I-" Sam fidgeted in the passenger's seat unsure what to even say, but needing to say it.
"Don't say anything. It's okay." Dean gruffly interrupted his brother without taking his eyes from the dark road. From the backseat Elliott watched Dean's knuckles go white around the steering wheel. "We just gotta' keep our heads down and hash this out, alright?"
Elliott's brows furrowed not liking the tone he was giving his little brother. "Hey." She defended meeting Sam's eyes in the rearview mirror. Her stomach twisted. The need to jump into the front seat and take away that sad kicked puppy dog expression was hard to resist. Instead she settled on leaning forward, reaching to run her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck. Sam seemed to relax at her touch for a moment but then he stiffened and pulled out of her reach. Only giving her a tight smile before turning back to stare blankly at the dimly lit road in front of them.
Elliott cleared her throat, rapidly blinking to dispel her hurt at the rejection. "So, uh. You really think Castiel will help us?" She looked up to Dean bringing her hands to her lap. Turning her focus to their next task. Which she wasn't quite comfortable with. She still didn't trust angels.
"You weren't there Ell." Dean addressed in in a much softer tone than he had his brother. "He turned on his own to get me out of that, that fancy room. Got me to you and Sam."
"…but wasn't he helping keep you there originally?" She questioned skeptically.
"He may be related to those feather asshats but he came through when we needed him." Dean defended. "Ell, he betrayed his kin for us and he's an angel. Hopefully he'll know what to do next."
She nodded silently agreeing they could use an angel on their team now that the devil was released. The rest of the ride was quiet giving them all too much time to think.
Elliott replayed what had transpired in the last twenty four hours over and over again. From her complete and utter stupidity of trusting Ruby to getting drugged and kidnapped. Then waking to find out that Ramiel had pumped her full of who knows how much demon blood to prepare her for Lucifer. Like she was a goddamn house warming gift. She didn't understand or really want to understand what Lucifer would want with her. A shiver shook her core at the thought. Then of course her big strong gullible giant hadn't realized what killing his archnemeses would do. How could he? He may have killed Lilith and released the devil but the way she saw it, it wasn't his fault. Both angels and demons manipulated and pushed him into doing it. No there was no way she could ever fault him for this. They played them all like puppets. Although it was silent the tension in the little Subaru was thick. So instead of telling Sam all of this she just sat there in the intense silence. There was no way she could sleep after all of this. She may have dazed out here and there though, watching the bright street lamps pass by her window in the dark of the night.
They arrived at a normal looking house. The boys explained that it belonged to the prophet that they had met on a case when she had been recovering from healing Dean from Alastair's tortures. What they had failed to mention before now was that this prophet had visions of their lives. That took a moment to sink in, but that was all the time they had before Dean led the way into the house.
The place was a mess papers, books, house plants and furniture were knocked about and littered the little home. It looked like a tornado had run through, and then splattered blood on top of the mess.
Quietly she stepped over a blood speckled toaster following the men. A rustle in the living room just around the corner put them all on high alert. Sam now leading the way Dean on his heals and Elliott brought up the rear.
Wack!
A small squirrely looking man jumped out at them swinging a plunger. Landing a hit to the side of Sam's head.
"Oh geez! Ow!" Sam stepped back holding his head.
"Sam!" Both the plunger swinging man and Elliott called out at the same time.
"Yeah!" Sam grunted rubbing his temple.
"Hey Chuck." Dean rolled his eyes. Elliott pushed passed him to get to Sam. Her hand hesitated before landing on his back remembering the way he shrugged her off in the car. When he didn't do it again, she tried to get a look at his head.
"…you're okay?" The man Chuck said in awe.
"Well my head hurts." Sam sassed the smaller guy.
"No-no my vision. You went like full on Vader. Your body temp was a hundred and fifty your heart rate was two hundred. Your eyes were black."
"Your eyes were black?" Dean eyed his brother warily.
"I didn't know." Sam admitted solemnly. Not able to hold eye contact with anyone.
Elliott physically cringed at the memory. Unfortunately, Sam caught her reaction and gently shrugged her hand off his back.
Chuck narrowed his eyes catching the movement. Then looked up at Elliott like he just remembered she was there. "Elliott Anders…" He stared.
She really wished Sam would step in. The way the squirrely prophet was staring was really making her feel uncomfortable and on the spot.
"Uh, Chuck the prophet I assume?" Elliott tried to be polite but looked away from him and to the brothers for help.
"Wow. You poor girl. You have been through so much…" He whispered sad eyes wide and in awe.
Elliott stepped back and into Sam, needing his warmth. "Yeah this is weird." Her giant hesitated but wrapped a long arm around her shoulders to pull her close.
"Alright enough with the creeper stare, Chuck. Where is Cas?" Dean jumped in obviously uncomfortable in the moment as well.
"He's dead. Or gone." Chuck looked away. "The archangel smote the crap out of him. I'm sorry."
"You sure?" Dean pressed. "Maybe he just-"
"No, no. He like exploded. Like a water balloon of chucky soup." He gestured around at the blood splattered mess all around them.
"Shit." Elliott whispered, surprised she was feeling sad for the angel.
"Cas you stupid bastard." Dean grumbled.
Sam let go of her shoulder turning to start arguing with his brother. She sighed shifting on her feet, this was going to take some time. The two were building up to a fight she could feel it.
"Oh crap." Chuck went ridged. "I can feel them."
"Thought we'd find you here." A voice Elliott didn't recognize spoke from behind them. Slowly they all turned to face this new voice. A balding man in a suit stood stiffly with two equally statuesque lackeys on either side of him.
"Zachariah." Dean grumbled under his breath.
"Play times over Dean. Time to come with us."
"Just keep your distance asshat." Dean threatened. "You sons of bitches jumpstarted judgment day!"
Elliott rolled her shoulders back scowling at the angels in front of them. She was getting really tired of them.
"Maybe we let it happen, but we didn't start anything. Right Sammy?" Zachariah winked at Sam.
"Bullshit!" Elliott spat. Now furious. She only got a couple steps forward before Sam was holding her back.
"Ellie…" Sam hissed in her ear.
"No! You didn't do this Sam. They did!"
Zachariah's cold eyes met hers flaming ones. "Now listen here you little slut-"
Sam's hold on her tightened and she could hear a low rumbling growl coming from his chest.
"You and those demon bastards are the ones who did this! You fucking planned this, didn't you? Manipulated and used him like a puppet. Don't you dare blame Sam for this, you self righteous sack of shit!-"
"I'd be careful if I were you Elliott Anders." The blading angel spat. "If Dean here doesn't come with us and kill the devil, you are just one step closer to being Lucifer's bitch." Elliott's breath stuttered and her brows furrowed. Worriedly she turned questioningly to Sam and Dean.
"What?" Sam breathed taking a step in front of her to slightly block her from the angels view.
"His bitch." Zachariah said slowly as if talking to a child. "His broodmare, his baby mama, his bitch." He smiled gleefully as the little hunter in front of him. Her skin pale and it looked like she was going to be sick. Then turned to Sam's stunned and horrified glazed over face. "How's it feel Sammy? To be in love with the mother of the antichrist? You released Lucifer and now he is going to bend little Ellie over until he gets what he wants from her."
Dean grumbled out an insult when both Sam and Elliott were rendered speechless.
"You're lying…" Elliott trembled behind her giant. Her shaky hand fisting the back of his flannel. She felt like she was going to hurl.
"Nope." The angel popped the p. "Well that is unless you come with us Dean. You can defeat the devil before he knocks up the bitch. With our help of course."
"Shut up." Sam stuttered without any force.
"Dean we need to hit the devil now. Hard and fast before he finds his vessel and her."
A shaky breath left Elliott's lungs and she fell to her knees. The reality of everything Ramiel had planned now coming into the light. Too stunned and scared to really hear what they continued to shout at each other. The angel's words spun around in her head. Bitch. Broodmare. Baby mama. Mother of the antichrist. This is what Ramiel had planned for her. This was the destiny he had been preparing her for. Bitch. Broodmare. Baby mama. Mother of the antichrist. Lucifer is going to bend little Ellie over until he gets what he wants from her."
She groaned loudly but was drowned out by the sounds of shouting and name calling around her. Oh god, no. Please no. She prayed. Why me? The only thing that made her different that the next female hunter was her healing. She tried to think logically in her panicking mind. Healing people wouldn't help the devil she criticized. A sick thought entered her head. On demon blood she was able to heal herself. What if that had something to do with it? No, no, no, she wanted to just curl up in a ball and disappear. She wouldn't do it. She wouldn't be the mother of the antichrist. She would rather die than carry the devil's baby. So stuck in her head going over her options she nearly missed a shout and a bright blinding light.
"Ellie?!" Her giant's voice called out to her from a tunnel. "Ellie you need to breath! Can you hear me?!" She felt his large hands holding the sides of her face, trying to get her to focus on him. When his beautiful hazel galaxies came into view she came back to her body. She gasped loudly unable to pull in enough oxygen.
"Hey, hey, hey. Baby I need you to breathe for me, okay?"
The room was coming back to her but it was woozy and wobbling. She tried to follow Sam's instructions but still couldn't get enough air into her lungs. Her wide panicked eyes began pleading him to understand. Shaking her head in between gasps.
"No, no, stop. You're going to be okay. I'm right here. I'm not going to let you go. Baby breathe. In… and out… that's it. You almost got it Ellie. Come on again. Follow my breathing okay?" He patted her hand that she now realized he was holding to his chest. Then placed his back on her diaphragm. "In slowly and out. That's it. Good girl."
Now finally getting enough oxygen Elliott felt her stomach lurch at the panic and lack of oxygen. She quickly turned away from Sam and vomited violently on the floor. Tears falling as she retched.
"Shhhhh-" He hushed her scooting closer to hold her hair back as another wave of vomit expelled from her throat ending in a choked sob. His other hand began rubbing circles soothingly on her back. No longer feeling like she was going to barf she sat up to sit on her legs and just let her tears slowly stop.
"Should I call an ambulance?" Chuck squeaked above her reminding her where she was and who was there.
"No. She's a tough girl. Right Princess?" Dean gave her a sad smile that had her shutting her eyes tightly. Part of her utterly embarrassed the other too numb to care.
"I'm sorry. I-I-" Elliott whispered stumbling on her words and wiping her face roughly. Ridding her skin of spit and salty tears.
"Hey." Sam rumbled deep voice stopping her stutters. "I don't want to hear you apologize Ellie. If any other person found out that- that they-" Sam stumbled on his words unable to bring himself to actually say it. He swallowed the hard lump in his throat before continuing. "Babe you reacted like any rational person would."
She looked away from the three pairs of eyes and down to her lap Her teeth gritted together at the sight of her lap. She cringed at the white bridal like dress she was still wearing. It now had all sorts of stains and rips. Knowing it was purposely bridal like made it so much worse.
"This sucks ass." Chuck sighed interrupting the moment once again.
Elliott closed her eyes tightly not wanting to look at the dress and what she now knew it symbolized. "Can we please leave now?" She whispered.
They made a short stop on their way to find a motel. Sam had her sit between him and Dean so he could make sure she was okay. Before they got to the motel, he made his brother stop at a garden center hissing at him that it was important.
"Trust me." Sam spoke to his brother and gave him a silent nod directed towards Elliott. Dean threw his arm around her hunched shoulders at his brother's nonverbal conversation. "I'll be right back, babe." Sam promised kissing her temple before jumping out of the car.
There was a silent moment before Dean broke the tension. "Hey I forgot." He dug through his front pocket and pulled out a lighter. "You dropped this."
Elliott's eyes immediately started to water. "My Elvis lighter." She sniffed. "Thank you, Dee." She took it from him with a small smile. Then quickly wiped a tear before it could fall too far.
"How you holding up there Anders?" Dean's thumb stoked her bare shoulder above the short white laced sleeve. She shrugged not even trying to find the words. "Hey." He grumbled pulling her attention to him. "You know we won't let that happen to you right?"
"Dee?" Her voice came out a weaker than she intended, pitching slightly. "I don't want to be the devil's bitch."
"I won't let that happen." He vowed seriously.
"Can you? Can anyone stop the devil from doing anything?"
Before he could respond Sam was back and opening the passenger door. He slid in next to her a plastic grocery bag in hand.
"Now I can make hex bags. No way the angels will find us with these. No demon either." Sam held up the small plastic bag containing an herb that was starting to stink up the small car. Elliott cleared her throat and gave her giant a brave smile.
Dean wet his lips deciding to talk to Elliott later and addressed his brother. "How'd you learn how to do this?" A beat of awkward silence made Elliott look up from the lighter she was twiddling in her lap.
"I… I learned it from Ruby." Sam's puppy dog eyes met hers and Dean's for a quick second then guilt overwhelmed him and weighed his head down. Despite her own craziness in her head her heart panged at the look in his eyes. This time giving him a better smile and deciding she needed to be brave. It was wrong to go on wallowing in self pity when Sam needed her as well. She couldn't go on letting him blame himself. Reaching over to him and squeezing his thigh she comforted him wordlessly.
Sam's brows knit together looking down at her comforting gesture. She was much too good for him. He cursed mentally. That or she was freaking insane. Who in their right mind would be so caring to him after he betrayed them and released the devil. The creature the angels and demons expected her to birth the antichrist from. Why was she being so kind to him? She should be pissed off or running away screaming as far as her legs could take her.
"Speaking of…" Dean warily questioned. "How are you doing? You jonesing for another hit of bitch blood or what?"
Elliott grimaced at his choice of words. Although his tone wasn't accusing the words were. Sam caught it before she tried to act like it didn't happen. He wrapped his arm around her to give her warmth.
"It's weird. Uh tell you the truth, I'm fine. No shakes, no fever." He looked down at her with soft eyes. "What about you Ellie?"
"What? Ellie?" Dean questioned pulling his eyes from the road for the first time since Sam got back in the car. She shrank under his gaze.
"Ramiel, he uh, -he and Lilith shot me up before I woke up in that church…" She admitted keeping her eyes on the Elvis lighter she fiddled with. "-but I'm fine now. Don't feel anything like with drawl.
"Shit." Dean sighed under his breath.
"Dean." Sam squeezed her shoulder remembering her raw rope burned wrist healing before his eyes, back at the church. "I think she was healing herself." The car swerved and a horn blared making Elliott's hold on Sam's thigh tighten. Dean quickly corrected himself and flashed a glance to them.
"I didn't mean to." She promised. "It just sorta happened. I swear."
"You healed yourself." Dean repeated slowly.
"They said- uh, that the demon blood was preparation for -uh…" She whispered the last part now knowing what they had planned to give her to the devil. "… Lucifer."
Sam nearly growled his hold around her shoulder tightening and pulling her closer to him. "You're safe now. I won't let him get you." She didn't respond, just sat there in the silence. Letting him feel like he could protect her and keep her safe from the devil was easier than pointing out what she had just said to Dean before Sam got back in the car. Because really, how does one stop the devil from doing what he wants?
The second they arrived at the motel for the night Elliott rushed into the bathroom to get out of the stupid wedding dress. She felt disgusting with it on and couldn't stand to be in it for another second. Nearly ripping the thing off the moment, the door was shut behind her and chucked it into the moldy tile floor in the corner.
Not wanting to be alone with her thoughts Elliott showered quickly. The spray of the hot water helped to drowned out the hushed arguing on the other side of the bathroom door. She had so much going through her own head, but knew the guys needed her to be strong. So even though all she wanted to do was let go and have another meltdown she didn't. She needed to be the strong hunter her dad taught her how to be. Thinking of her dad and Max, Elliott felt embarrassed at her actions back at Chuck's house. Glad that they at least didn't get to see her react in such a way. She didn't even want to think about how they would react to her propheciesed demonic destiny.
Her shoulders slumped once she was toweling off. Apparently, she had been in too much of a hurry to get the stupid white dress off that she had grabbed the wrong duffel bag. Sam's duffel. Without any other options she ringed her long coppery blonde hair out and dug through his duffle to find something of his to wear until she could get her own clothes. She slipped on his green and black flannel glad she didn't have to walk out of the bathroom in the very small motel towel.
Glancing in the mirror she felt a warm smile grace her lips at the sight. Sam was of course bigger than your average guy and she was on the shorter end for your average girl. Although she was known to protest that her height was very well near average. The green and black flannel fit much like a giant dress, that almost covered her knees. She worried her lower lip between her teeth looking back up at her reflection to notice her cheeks actually turning red with her mind wandering towards Sam. Abruptly she turned away shaking off the warm safe feeling the simple green and black flannel gave her. She shouldn't be feeling this way right now, not after what they had discovered. The destined to be, mother of the antichrist. Now was not the time for warm and safe, now was the time to fight until they couldn't. Attempt to stop the apocalypse.
Sam looked up from his dad's journal as Elliott walked back in the room. Clean, refreshed, and in his flannel. Only his flannel he noticed. He wet his lips heated eyes looking her up and down catching on her smooth and bare legs. The scratchy material brushing just along the top of her knees. A strange sense of possessiveness and pride thrummed through him seeing her in nothing but his shirt. Not for the first time wondering how he got a woman like her. He adjusted in his chair, suddenly glad he was sitting at the motel room table. Pants now a little tighter. Then reminding himself that she did deserved much better than him. How could she love the man who set the devil free and started the end of the world?
"Sorry Jolly Green, grabbed your duffel bag by mistake. Didn't want to parade around in a towel." Elliott shrugged one shoulder, the too big material slipping down her shoulder a bit. He shifted in his seat again watching her blush and tiptoe past him to her own duffel bag on one of the beds.
"Looks better on you." His rough voice replied so quietly she wasn't sure she heard correctly. Then blinking rapidly, he turned away trying and failing to keep his focus on his father's journal in front of him.
Lucky for Sam, Dean missed his comment as he was sitting back against the headboard of the other bed flipping through the tv channels. Dean then flicked a glance up and snorted at his brother's ogling.
"Ain't nothing we haven't seen before, Princess Leia." Dean teased making Elliott's lightly freckled cheeks turn an even deeper red.
"Shut up," Elliott grumbled and began digging through her duffel bag but her eyes trailed back to Sam's dark eyes.
Dean chuckled at his own joke clicking the remote again. Before he could continue to tease her his eyes caught the pink and rippled burn scar on her calf and his smile faltered. He hadn't seen it in almost a year. It had still been healing then and he had helped her change the bandages. It was of course healed by now but its thick harsh pink color on her pale skin, drew attention to her otherwise smooth leg. It made him mad that they hadn't been able to get to her before she had been hurt so badly. Clearing his throat, he quickly looked away.
"Wow, really seems like the world really is ending hu?" Elliott held her clothes in her arms watching the channel Dean had landed on last. He didn't respond just continued his channel surfing. "Um, guys? Do we… Should we talk about all this?" Dean stiffened eyes still on the television his brow furrowed, while Sam gave her sad puppy dog eyes that crinkled in concern at the corners.
"Baby…" Sam's insides liquified at the trepidation she was trying to mask.
Without warning Elliott's lips let loose. Her self motivation about being strong for them in the bathroom only moments ago not holding up as her mouth had a mind of its own. Hurriedly spilling out her worries all in one big rushed breath. "I mean the devil is free and the apocalypse is on. Lucifer is planning on making a little Satan Jr. apparently using me to do it! And I just- I just I have never even wanted a kid of my own let alone the freaking antichrist! But how do we stop the devil from doing something? Can we? Is it even possible to defeat him? What-"
"I already told you I won't let that happen." Dean snapped turning his attention from the television. He knew she was right and hated it. Having her say it out loud was just making it that much worse. "Just stop freaking out. We all need some time to figure this out, and panicking is sure as Hell not going to help."
"Dean." Sam gruffed warningly with a tense scowl.
"No Sam. You don't get to speak up right now, you're the reason we are even in this mess!"
Sam turned away blinking rapidly and frowning. Elliott jaw went slack at his brother's accusation. Dropping her clothes on the bed, too stunned to speak. Her feet padded softly on the stale carpet to the small table Sam was seated at. She didn't care if he pulled away again, she wrapped her arms around him from behind squeezing tightly.
Elliott leaned down to whisper in his ear as he sat solemnly at the table. "He's wrong, giant. You didn't start this." She heard him swallow hard, otherwise not reacting to her attempt at comfort. "He is just stressed and doesn't know what he is saying-" A knock at the door interrupted her and had them all freeze.
Going on high alert Sam stood quickly turning to his brother. Elliott watched the silent exchange as they both pulled out their guns. Her own hand went to her back waistline for her glock forgetting she was weaponless still just wearing Sam's flannel. Sam made his way to the door and gave his brother a gestured nod to her. Dean immediately stepped between her and the door protectively. Normally she would have glared and argued with the protective caveman gesture, because she was perfectly capable to defend herself. At the current moment though she was not only weaponless but nearly naked. Not to mention she was still freaking out about the whole Lucifer wanting her thing.
Sam switched the safety off and cocked his gun before opening the door halfway. Just enough so he could aim the deadly weapon behind the door, at the unexpected visitor.
A shrill gasp from a woman almost as short as Elliott greeted them from the other side of the door.
"You okay lady?" Sam questioned the woman warily.
"Sam is it really you?" She ogled up at him in awe reaching out and laying a hand on him. Palming his chest. "…and you're so firm."
"Uh… do I know you?" Sam asked awkwardly, turning to see Elliott and Dean equally baffled.
"No, but I know you." She beamed up at him taking her hand back. "You're Sam Winchester, and you're…" She hesitated almost disappointed when she laid eyes on Dean a few steps back from Sam. "…not what I pictured."
The small woman waltzed right into the room excitedly. Giving Elliott a chance to peer around Dean's bulky frame to get a glimpse at her. The woman was only a couple inches taller than her, dressed modestly, with stick straight long hair the color of wet sand.
"I'm Becky. I read all about you guys, and I've even written a few… who are you supposed to be?" The woman- Becky paused at the sight of Elliott standing behind Dean in the too big flannel, that obviously didn't belong to her.
"Uh, I-" Elliott blinked not sure if she should give her real name without knowing if the hyper woman was a threat or a friendly.
"Mr. Edlund never mentioned you… You weren't in the books." She narrowed her beady eyes at Elliott attempting to size her up or place her from somewhere.
Elliott's brows knit together. "Books?" She questioned at the same time Dean asked "Chuck?"
Sam shut the door his hazel eyes ping ponging to each of them listening closely.
"He's got a message, but he is being watched." Becky's hard stare turned away from her and brightened landing on Dean now excited again. "The angels. Nice change up to the mythology by the way. The demon stuff was getting kinda old." She shrugged.
"Right. Uh, um…" Sam threw a side glance at Elliott cautiously. "Just what's the message?"
"He had a vision. 'The Michal Sword is on Earth. The angels lost it.'"
"Michal Sword?" Both Dean and Elliott asked at the same time causing Becky to bring her attention back to her. Becky's eyes narrowed again at her.
"Becky, does he know where it is?" Sam asked turning the woman's harsh stare away from his nearly naked girlfriend.
"In a castle, on a hill, made of forty two dogs." She recited enthusiastically. Elliott couldn't help an amused snort at the woman's gibberish. She covered her mouth and pretended to cough to cover it some. "Look lady, I don't know who you are, or why you are even here. So laugh all you want, but the Carver Edlund gave me this message. I wouldn't mess that up."
"Are you sure you got that right? Sam questioned warily.
"I know it doesn't make sense but that's what he said." Becky turned to Sam inching closer to him. Then reached out to place her hand on his chest again. "I memorized every word. For you."
"Um…" Sam cleared his throat and around the room for help, getting nothing but stunned looks from his brother and girl in return. "Becky… could -uh- can you quit touching me?"
"No." Becky answered quickly. Eye's shutting as she palmed his chest again. It was so cringy and creepy Elliott felt the need to step in although she'd rather be laughing at it like Dean currently was.
"Becky," She cleared her throat awkwardly and stepped forward to insert herself between them. "I'm sure you mean well and all but take a freaking hint."
Becky huffed and backed away offended. Grateful for the help Sam wrapped his arm around Elliott's shoulders and pulled her in close. The hyper woman's brows flew up to her hairline and it looked like her eyeballs would pop out of her skull when Sam's lips brushed the top of Elliott's head in a soft kiss.
"You- he-" Becky stumbled out.
"So uh, thanks for getting us Chuck's message there, Jackie-" Dean went to open the motel door and usher her out.
"It's Becky…" She frowned.
"Uh- right, Becky. Thanks and all but we really got a lot of work to do now, so…" Luckily the girl took the hint and left, but not without an awkward goodbye to Sam and Dean.
"That was weird."
Their search was going nowhere. Chuck's strange message made no sense no matter how much web searching and reading they did. The roar of the Impala could be heard through the thin motel walls. Dean sighed his whole body visibly relaxing at the perfect sound. He sat up from the bed to get to the door but Elliott was faster. She jumped up from her chair across the table from Sam, all but running to the door. Before there was even a knock, she flung open the door excitedly.
"Bobby!" She smiled brightly and hugged him in the doorway. After the shity time she had the last couple of days his presence made her feel more like her normal self. "It's really good to see you, old man."
She stifled a laugh when she felt Bobby stiffen at her surprise hug before he patted her back and grumbled a greeting. He in turn gave a one armed manly hug to Sam and Dean. Elliott shut the door as Bobby got right down to business.
"Michel sword huh?" Bobby questioned.
"You think we're talking about the actual sword?" Dean asked unsure.
"From the actual archangel?" Elliott added not liking the sound of an all powerful archangel.
"You better friggin' hope so." Bobby chortled pulling out a book. Quickly turning to a page bookmarked by a liquor store receipt. "That's Michel. Toughest son a bitch they got."
"He's the one who put Lucifer in Hell." Elliott mumbled at the soft and elegant illustration in front of them. Sam swallowed a hard lump in his throat watching Elliott sink into a chair at the small table. He took a step closer to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze ignoring the part of his brain that told him to leave her alone that he didn't deserve her.
"That's right, girl. He did it with that sword. So, if we can find the sword…"
"We can kick the devil's ass all over again." Sam gruffed hope dangerously bubbling under his skin.
"Divvy up and start reading. Need to make sense of Chuck's nonsense." Bobby unloaded a pile of books onto the table.
Sam reached to grab one and get started but hesitated and pursed his lips guilt crashing over him again. Noticing his destress Elliott intwined her fingers with his.
"You alright kid?" Bobby questioned seeing his hesitation.
"No, actually." Sam sighed. "Bobby, this is all my fault. I'm sorry."
"Sam…" Dean and Elliott called out together.
"Lilith didn't break the final seal. Lilith was the final seal."
"Sam stop it." Dean ordered.
"I killed her and set Lucifer free."
"You what?" Bobby hissed.
"You didn't know Sam." Elliott defended gripping his hand tighter.
"I didn't listen to any of you. I brought this on." Sam ignored her, confessing his biggest sin to his father figure.
"You're damn right you didn't listen." Bobby stood from the table to face the younger Winchester head on. "You were reckless and selfish and arrogant."
"Bobby?" Elliott blinked taken back by the older hunter's harshness.
"I'm sorry." Sam ducked his head again before forcing himself to meet Bobby's disappointed glare.
"Oh yeah? Sorry you started armageddon? This kind of thing don't get forgiven boy. If by some miracle we pull this off, I want you to lose my number. Understand me?"
"Bobby!" Elliott shouted and turned to Dean for help but getting nothing except a blank stare. The kicked puppy dog expression Sam sported was too much for her when he nodded his head agreeing with Bobby.
"No, Ellie it's okay." Sam blinked and turned his broken eyes to her. "He's right."
"No, he isn't! Sam you can't-"
"Ellie please. Just stop." He pleaded her with a tired voice. "There is an old church nearby… I'll go, um, read some of the lore books there."
"Yeah. You do that." Bobby glared.
Sam gave one more wounded glimpse to Bobby and his older brother. Then squeezed Elliott's hand, letting go to walk out the motel door. Elliott stood there stunned just gapping like a fish at the two men still in the room.
"What the Hell was that? Don't you dare put this on his shoulders." Elliott glared when she found her voice. "He was manipulated and drugged. How can you both leave him like this when he needs you? I get that you are pissed he listened to a demon over you, but that demon was feeding his addiction and manipulating him. It wasn't personal so stop acting like it was." Not giving them a chance to speak Elliott stormed out to follow her giant. If his own brother and Bobby wouldn't be there for him, she hopped she could be enough for now.
"Wait for me!" She called out running to catch up with him. Not only did he have a head start his long legs made much larger strides than she was capable of. When she got close enough to place a hand on his arm to try and slow him down, he stopped abruptly and spun around on her.
"Why are you still here, Ellie?" Sam almost barked making Elliott want to flinch. Not knowing what to say she just gawked up at him with hurt green-blue eyes.
"Sam… ?" She blinked.
"You should be running the fuck away from me!" He shouted. "I just started the freaking apocalypse Elliott. Released the damn devil!"
She sighed in relief glad that her first assumption was wrong. She had been afraid Sam didn't want her anymore because of what the demons planned for her to be.
"Ellie, Lucifer is going to be coming after you because I freed him!" He growled. "How can you even be near me?"
Elliott never wavered her soft eyes from his. She reached up slowly and cupped his cheek thumb swiping away a single escaped tear. "Because I love you, Jolly Green." He closed his eyes his forehead crinkled. "And it is not your fault." Another tear leaked out from his closed eyes but she was just as quick to wipe it away.
"Baby, I-"
She hushed him softly silencing him with a gentle kiss. He responded slowly but was kissing her back with more effort quickly. All too soon she pulled away needing to explain to him and easy his guilt. "Sam, they used you. The demons took advantage of you and got you hooked like an addict and used that to manipulate you. You may have made some bad choices but I damn anyone who would blame all that on you." She paused dropping her gaze to look down at her boots with a shrug. "Besides… you may have released him but at least you aren't the one that is supposed to birth his antichrist…. Kinda sounds like you should be the one running from me."
Sam's posture changed immediately. Going from slumped over and guilty to tense and protective. "I won't let him near you." He growled. "I won't let that happen."
Smiling sadly up at him as he pulled her into a tight hug. Resting her head on his chest she couldn't help but fear he wasn't enough to stop the devil. That they weren't enough to stop the devil, but she wouldn't say it again out loud. Not when his hope of keeping her safe was all that he had to easy his guilt of releasing Lucifer.
Their studying at the church was fruitless. Elliott tried multiple times to convince Sam that Bobby didn't mean what he had said back there but the giant wouldn't listen. Secretly she wondered if Bobby really had meant what he said to Sam, how would he react when he found out what the demon's wanted her to do. After that thought she gave up on trying to convince him that Bobby didn't mean what he had said. They were walking back to the motel in no time, hoping that Dean and Bobby were having better luck than they did.
The sound of a scuffle on the other side of their motel door met the couple's ears. Sam moved to go first, opening the door to absolute chaos.
"No!" Sam called out rushing in the room to an unconscious Bobby on the floor. A demon quickly moved in him from the side smashing the motel phone into the side of his head and knocking Sam back into a wall. He grunted at the sudden impact, before he righted himself and began brawling with the female demon. Both were brothers tussling a demon each now, but Elliott could only see one thing.
"Bobby!" Elliott screamed and ran to his unconscious form sprawled out on the motel floor. What looked like a stab wound in his gut was bleeding steadily. The blood staining the ugly green patterned carpet. She checked his slowing pulse as the Winchesters brawled around her each with their own demon. "Shit." She cursed putting pressure on his bleeding stab wound. His pulse was so low she wasn't sure if she was actually feeling anything. "No, no, no…"
"Not so easy without those super special demon powers, huh Sammy?" The female demon taunted Sam behind her, reminding her of her own powers.
Elliott bit her lower lip knowing she was going to get everyone mad at her again, but didn't know what else to do. Really there wasn't another option if Bobby's ever slowing pulse had anything to say about it. Closing her eyes, she focused on Bobby's stab wound that was steadily bleeding out. Focused on healing the gash in his gut.