Authors Note: I'm sorry it's taken so long to update this story. Several other story demons attacked and I had to wrestle them into submission. Thanks for hanging in there.
Chapter 6 Diplomacy and Determination.
Willis only had one problem with Dean's plan and it kinda was a big one.
"No offense to y'all but if you start digging around in that old cemetery you boys are gonna attract a lot of the wrong attention." He tried to sound diplomatic but still make his point across.
"Its ok Willis, we've had lots of practice. We do it at night when no one is around and "poof!" on to the next gig." Sam tried to reassure the man they could do it. Willis hesitated and tried to say it differently without insulting them.
"I think the two of you would attract attention even if you were there during the day seeing on how that is a place for us black folks." Sam finally realized what he was saying.
"Sorry Willis, I just never thought about it that way." he smiled and looked over at his brother.
"Truthfully it hadn't occurred to me either Sam. Willis, we have to get in there. Maybe no one will notice." Dean tried but didn't see another way to do it.
"Son, two white boys digging in a black cemetery is gonna raise some eyebrows and maybe even get the law involved. I think you're gonna have to let someone else handle it." Willis was adamant.
"I don't know Willis. It's bad enough that you're involved. If you get others to help us, I can't say for sure that we will be able to protect them if this blows up in our face." Dean shook his head still unsure he wanted someone else's help.
"Oh I'm not gonna involve others Dean. This is something I'm gonna do myself." Willis told them crossing his arms defiantly. Dean and Sam turned and stared at him.
"No way Willis, no way." Dean stammered.
"Willis we cant let you do it, you're a…" Sam started to but didn't want to call him an 'old man'.
"Don't let my age fool you boys. I spent many long hours digging graves when I was a young man, this is no different."
"That's just it Willis, you were younger." Dean stood and shook his head.
"Boys I don't see how you have any choice here. I'm doin it and that's that." Willis glared at both of them.
"Not alone Willis. One of us will stay behind to help you." Sam said looking over at his brother and Dean quickly agreed.
"We're not taking no for an answer Willis. Look at it this way. With two backs shoveling it will take less time to get to the grave open and we'll be less likely to be caught." Dean spoke hoping to sway him. Willis paused and thought for a moment. As much as he knew he needed to do this he also knew he would be hard pressed to do it alone. He reluctantly agreed.
"We'd better get going then before it gets light out." Willis got up and immediately started for the door.
"Alright Willis, you and I will head over to the cemetery while Dean goes back to the school and keeps Rollins from starting anything." Sam spoke as he watched Willis head out to the car. He stood up and started to follow him.
"Hey why are you goin to the cemetery dude, I think this is my gig?" Dean grabbed Sam's arm stopping him.
"Dean you can't hardly move your shoulder. If we're looking for speed here I'm afraid you're not gonna be able to handle it." he gently patted Dean on his good shoulder. Dean cursed when he realized Sam was right.
"Okay be careful then. I'll drop you guys off at the cemetery. Call me as soon as you finish." Dean looked his brother in the eye. "Don't let anything happen to Willis. Let him help but you do most of the digging."
"Jesus Dean," Sam answered "like I'm really gonna let him get hurt."
"Just be careful. We don't know what Rollins is capable of." Dean asserted.
"I know Dean, I know." Sam assured his brother when they were interrupted by the Impala's car horn.
"Let's go." Dean smiled at Willis's impatience. They turned and joined Willis in the car.
The road leading to the cemetery was dark and empty as Dean pulled over to drop Sam and Willis off. Sam quickly pulled his duffle bag and some shovels from the trunk of the Impala as Dean watched from inside the car. When he was done, Sam walked back up to the driver's side window.
"I'll call you as soon as we get done. What are you gonna do?" Sam leaned down as he spoke.
"I'm gonna sit tight in the gym, that seems to be the place he is seen most often. I'm really hoping once his bones are burned he won't show up again." Dean replied looking up at his brother. "But if he does show up I'm gonna be prepared this time."
"Dean, the rock salt didn't work the last time. You're gonna have to resort to something else." Sam reminded his brother.
"I know dude, I've got it covered. The blue fireballs got me thinking. This guy's is not one of our run of the mill ghosts; he's hooked up with some demons along the way. I'm thinking I may have to resort to exorcising his bigoted ass. While you guys are digging, I'm gonna look through Dads journal and see if there is something that will work on him. If not, I'll just think of something else." Dean flashed his brother one of his cocky smiles. Sam knew that immediately meant trouble.
"Dean, don't you think you should have better plan than that, I don't like it. Stay here with us. We can get done faster and then we can all head over to the gym. I don't know if I like the idea of you being there alone against him, especially if he's part demon now." Sam tried to reason with Dean but he could tell right away he wouldn't be able to sway his stubborn brother.
Then suddenly Sam was afraid. It had only been a week ago that Dean had taken off on him, depressed and feeling alone. Sure Dean had seemed better in the few hours since they reunited, but what if he was just hiding his feelings like he always did. Dean looked up at him and seemed to read his thoughts.
"I'm not gonna do anything stupid, kiddo, I promise." His voice and his eyes told Sam he was sincere. Satisfied Sam stepped back from the car.
"I'll call you as soon as we're done. If Rollins even gives you a hint of trouble you call me. The school is only a few blocks from here. I can be there in a flash."
"A flash eh? What, teleportation one of your new gifts now?" Dean smiled giving his brother a hard time. "Damn I'm only gone a week and already you've developed new superpowers." Sam responded by punching Dean on his left shoulder.
"Owwwww dude that's my bad shoulder." Dean winced as he felt the pain of the burn again but he knew his brother hadn't hurt him intentionally.
"Aww Dean I'm sorry." Sam truly was. The last thing Sam wanted to do was cause Dean more pain. Dean gave him another reassuring smile.
"It's ok, really. Listen I'd better get goin. I'll talk to you in a little bit." Dean's mind starting to focus on his task ahead. "Be careful. No funny business. Any trouble and you call me and I mean any trouble."
"Only if you promise to do the same." Sam was adamant too.
"Deal." Dean said before starting the car back up. He took one last look at his brother before driving off. Sam watched as Dean went down the road and turned to go back to the school. The road was eerily silent and suddenly Sam remember Willis was with him. Turning around he saw Willis was now where to be seen.
Sam hopped the cemetery wall and started to search for the old man when suddenly the silence was interrupted by loud engine. Sam spun to his left and saw a backhoe heading straight towards him. Just as it got a few feet away it turned left and went down the cemetery road. Sam was surprised to see Willis in the driver's seat. He ran behind it until Willis stopped near an isolated grave in the back corner of the cemetery.
"Willis, what the hell?" he said breathlessly as he caught up to him. Willis put it in park and hopped down.
"I knew we didn't have a lot of time so I took the liberty of getting us a little help." He smiled as he patted the backhoe. "But this will only get us down so far. You and I will have to dig the final few inches."
"Not a problem. I think we can handle a few inches. Thanks a lot Willis this is really gonna be a big help." Sam was amazed at his sudden good fortune.
"Is this the grave?" Sam looked over to where Willis had parked. Sure enough the grave marker said 'Justice' on it.
"That'll be the one." Willis agreed. "It will be my pleasure to help you boys get rid of this bastard once and for all." Sam understood completely where his sense of vengeance came from. It would be his pleasure too.
"Stand back son and lets get it started." Willis said as he hopped back up in the cab of the backhoe. Sam looked around worried as the loud noise of the engine echoed through the cemetery. Willis moved the backhoe forward and immediately started to dig into the hard dirt that was Rollins's grave. It only took a few digs with the huge claws before Willis backed the machine up and switched it off. Sam walked up and looked down at how far the backhoe had dug.
"Wow!" he said amazed. "Do you think we can shrink this thing down and put it in the trunk of the Impala? Think of all the time Dean and I would save." Willis started to laugh at him.
"If you boys do this that often maybe you should look into getting one of your own."
"No way. Dean would never let me hitch it to the back his baby even if it did save us time." Sam laughed as well. He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Willis did the same. They both grabbed their shovels before climbing inside the grave to finish the job.
Willis dug with the determination of a man years younger. Sam was hard pressed to keep up with him but was equally determined not be shown up by the older man. Finally Sam hit the top of the casket with his shovel. He took his hatchet and started to break through the hard wood. Willis climbed up and looked down fascinated as the bones were revealed. Sam threw the wooden pieces up top so that the entire skeleton was in the open.
"Son of a bitch." Willis swore under his breath as he looked down at the body. He found his own body shaking a little. He quickly steadied himself. "Old fool, he can't hurt you now." He said under his breath. Sam climbed out and stood beside him.
"Now what?" Willis asked as he looked at Sam. Sam pulled a can of lighter fluid out from the duffle bag and a box of matches. He poured the lighter fluid all over the bones and stepped back. Looking back at Willis he offered the old man the boxes of matches.
"I believe the honor is yours sir." Sam said nodding as Willis took the box. Willis looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Thank you son." He said his voice full of emotion. He lit a match and watched it burn for a brief moment before throwing it down into the grave. Seconds later the flames grew high above to the ground level. Willis and Sam stepped back as they felt the warmth of the fire.
Abruptly the fire intensified and flared out of the grave. The flames turned blue and whipped around the two men throwing them to the ground. Willis laid unconscious on the ground as Sam leaned up in time to see the huge fireball race over towards the school.
"Dean!" was all he could cry out before he passed out as well.
TBC
Another author's note: First I make you wait forever for an update and then I end it on a cliffhanger. Am I evil or what? (Laughs an evil laugh) Don't forget to review. It will give me the incentive to get on with Dean's part and the end of the story.