Soul Survivors
By
Valtira
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural, Sam or Dean Winchester, like everyone else I wish I did.
Chapter 17 Darkness waits
Mike was grumbling beneath his breath. Ole Joe had been more than a little bit of trouble this day. He had managed to shoot the windows out of his car before stumbling and setting the shotgun off and shooting himself in the foot. Mike had made another trip to the hospital insuring himself that ole Joe was going to be ok. The old man was a mess but had settled down when his daughter had arrived to read him the riot act.
It was a little after ten and already it had been a day in hell. Mike swore softly. Turning the corner out of the emergency room parking lot Mike stared at the limping figure in surprise.
Dean had been sleeping, dreaming about a petite sheriff's deputy in a tan uniform when his mind heard the frantic call. His eyes flew open and he sat upright in bed. He didn't feel the stabbing pain from bruised ribs. His mind was wrapped around his brother cry. Sam was in trouble and Dean had to find him. He didn't stop to analyze the sudden connection he had with his brother.
Dean ripped the IV needle from his hand not caring about the trickle of blood that flowed down his hand. Swinging his legs off the side of the bed, adrenalin drove him now, its powerful effect flowing through his veins. Rifling through the closet he sighed in relief when he found jeans and a denim shirt waiting. Socks and boots followed. Agonizing pain followed his every move, but he pushed it away. Sam needed him.
He didn't know how he was going to get there; he only knew he had to find Sam. Opening the door to his room he peered cautiously up and down the hallway. When the coast was clear he hobbled from the room and into the elevator and down to the first floor. The side entrance doors were open and beckoned. Dean didn't hesitate.
In his present state Dean looked a little worse for wear, disreputable might have been a better word. He didn't care. His mind was wrapped around finding a way to Sam. He could feel his brother, he knew the general direction but how to get there was another story. Remembering the Taxi stand in front of the hospital he headed that way.
Mike pressed down on the accelerator and headed across the parking lot. He pulled up beside the familiar figure and rolled down his window. "Dean where the hell are you going," he grumbled.
"Sam's in trouble," was all Dean answered, but he didn't stop his awkward limping stride.
Mike started in surprise and worry. "He and Christy went out to the Grayson place about an hour ago," Mike informed him. "The place is old, deserted."
"Damn, damn, damn," Dean swore loudly. "We need to get there Sheriff, we need to get there now." It wasn't a request, it was a demand.
Mike stopped the car only long enough for Dean to hobble around and slide into the passenger side. "How the hell do you know their in trouble?"
"Wait, don't tell me," Mike mumbled. "I don't think I want to know."
Dean smirked and told him anyway. "Yes you do! My brother and I have a kind of connection."
"A connection," Mike stated calmly. "As in…"
"Yeah – as in …"
Neither one of them finished the thought. For Dean was the first time, trying to understand the mind link, and Sam's new abilities. For Mike, it was the stuff stories and movies were made of. He wasn't a non-believer, he'd just never really thought about it before.
Mike glanced at the man beside him. He was a sorry sight; stark white bandages were not the only evidence of the attack. His face was pale, his breathing harsh. Mike also knew he'd never be able to stop him from going after his brother unless he cuffed him to the bed. Another look told him that wasn't an option. Dean would probably tear the hospital apart getting out.
Both men rode in silence. The patrol car sped through the town, its lights blazing, the sirens blaring only at intersections.
The ten mile trip took a little over seven minutes. Shutting down the lights, Mike idled the engine and coasted down the driveway. Both men were startled by the sight of the big house and pristine grounds.
Mike pulled the cruiser up beside the Impala and jumped out.
"Not so fast Sheriff," Dean whispered, "I don't know what we're dealing with here, guns blazing might be good in a whore house raid, but we're dealing with something else entirely here."
He had felt the darkness in the forest the minute they turned into the driveway. The forest was old, very old and it hid something dark and dangerous. Cocking his head sideways he listened to the forest, nothing, no chirping birds or noisy crickets anywhere. The forest was waiting. 'Waiting for what,' Dean mumbled in frustration.
"What the hells going on," Mike whispered angrily.
"I think we're dealing with Andrew here, a rather psychotic Andrew," Dean stated calmly. Dean took a deep breath before he mentioned anything about the forest.
"Mike, there's something else here beside Andrew."
Mike whirled to face him, "Something, that doesn't tell me much."
"I don't know much," Dean answered truthfully.
It was said too calmly for Mike's peace of mind, throwing his passenger a confused look he questioned the first remark. "How do you know its Andrew, why would he do something like this? He lost his sister in that accident."
"Exactly," Dean stated. "His sister, his twin sister, I didn't see it before, like his parents murder I didn't put all the pieces together. But when he lost his sister he lost part of himself, the sane part, the piece that anchored him to reality. I don't know why it happened, but he's focused his anger on the Homecoming Kings and Queens. Maybe he couldn't stand to see them replace her, I don't know. I don't know anything for sure."
"But how do you know its Andrew," Make asked quickly.
"The creature's eyes were Amelia's and his. He was at the school the day Melinda got hurt. I saw him standing outside the school. I didn't recognize him then, didn't put the pieced together until now." Dean was kicking himself for not seeing it sooner. "The face I saw in the mirror was somehow familiar. Sure it was Amelia's at first, but I saw the face in the mirror change when it couldn't control me. One side of the face was badly scarred before Andrew's new face came into play. He's had surgery."
"How the hell do you know all this," Mike asked in confusion.
"I just know sheriff, and this new Andrew is very, very dangerous."
"What's with the mirrors?"
"I don't know that either, but he's found a way in. Maybe Amelia's spirit is helping him. Maybe his demented mind opened the door, I don't know. But we have to find that door and stop him." Dean was the hunter now, his quarry lay ahead and his quick agile mind was already at work, but first he had to find Sam.
Mike had a dozen more questions, but he kept them to himself.
Limping over to the Impala Dean looked for the keys, hoping to find them but knowing Sam probably had them in his pocket. Some of the fire power in the trunk might have come in handy. Especially some rock salt shells for the shotgun. They might or might not have been dealing with Amelia's ghost, but he didn't want to kill Andrew either if he could help it.
