Chapter 5

Sam jerked awake as a dream faded of Dean being chased by a dark evil force he couldn't make out. He dropped his head back onto the pillow when he saw it was just starting to get light outside. He knew it was too early to get up but didn't think he could go back to sleep either. He lay there staring up at the ceiling as he went over what he had found last night after translating the spells. He had found the spells, one to create the opening and another to close it. Sam figured if it was a prison for something, that was why the opening was only one way, so that whatever was trapped there couldn't return. Being one way was going to make it harder to rescue Dean and hopefully the missing teenagers, especially if they ran into whatever monsters were on the other side of the opening. He would need a few minutes to do the spell and reverse the opening so they could get out of there.

Giving up on sleep, Sam got up and decided to get a shower and then some breakfast and hoped Bobby would get back to him and they could compare notes. He needed to visit a hardware store to buy some things before going back to the house, this afternoon, if things worked out, so he hoped Mackie would get there around lunch today. He thought it would be better to mount the rescue during the day than at night.

Sam threw back the covers and sat on the side of the bed for a few minutes to clear his head, and then went to his pack for clothes before shuffling to the bathroom to shower. He took his time and lingered under the hot spray before adjusting it to cool. He shivered slightly as he turned the water off and grabbed a soft towel to dry his body and hair. When he was done, Sam stepped from the tub and dressed and used his fingers to comb his hair. He looked in the mirror but decided he didn't need to shave today. After gathering his sleep clothes, he went into the main room and packed his bag.

He picked up the room key and decided to walk to the diner for breakfast. Sam pocketed his cell and let himself out of the room and looked around the parking lot before following the same path as the day before to the diner. The parking lot of the diner was almost full with the morning rush.

Sam went inside and found a seat at the counter and looked at the menu. He placed his order and doctored his cup of coffee before taking a small sip. It was good and from the business, he figured the breakfast food was as good as the dinner meal he had the night before.

It wasn't long before the waitress sat his order in front of him and topped off his coffee. She checked to be sure he didn't need anything else before moving on to other customers. Sam thanked her and unwrapped his silverware to start eating. He spread jam over half a piece of toast and cut into his eggs to sample them. They were to his liking, and he savored the salty, rich taste. He poured a little syrup over his short stack before cutting off a bite and wondered how the cook got them so light and fluffy.

He finished his meal and paid, leaving a nice tip for the waitress who had checked on him twice and gave him a to go cup of coffee. He headed back to the motel to get his car and do some shopping hopefully before Mackie showed up. He dropped into the driver's seat when his cells started ringing. Sam dug it out of his jacket pocket to answer it.

"Hello," Sam greeted the caller.

"Sam, it's Bobby, is this a suitable time?" Bobby replied in his no nonsense voice.

"Yeah, Bobby, I'm good," Sam told him. "I translated the pages, and I was right. It's a spell that opens some type of doorway and the next one is for closing it. Did you get the same thing?"

"Yeah son, and this stuff is ancient magic that's not used anymore. I don't know where these idjit kids got this book, but it needs to be locked away and the key lost for it. This is something you don't want to mess with. This spell was kid's play so I'm thinking some of the others could really be bad mojo."

"Damn, Bobby. I've got to try and get Dean and hopefully those teens back. I've been working on a plan and think it will work. I have to go through the opening and reverse the spell from that side so we can get back."

"That sounds dangerous Sam. What if you can't find Dean?"

"I have to try; there's no other choice or Dean may be lost forever."

"I hear you son. But Sam, how about waiting until Mackie joins you so you'll have some backup."

"I'm going to Bobby. I need him to be ready to do the spell to close the opening when we get through it. I'm thinking whatever creature is on the other side is not going to like us leaving and is going to try stopping us or will try to follow us into our world."

"You be careful son, there's no telling what is going to be waiting on the other side of that opening."

"I know Bobby. I know, but it's Dean we're talking about. If anyone can survive it's him."

"Anyone else, I'd have my doubts. But we're talking about your brother here. I can't stop you, so all I can do is tell you to be careful and call me when it's over with."

"I will Bobby. Thanks for all the help and I will call you, I promise."

"Goodbye son."

"Bye Bobby." Sam hung up and started the car to head back into town to do some shopping and get what he needed for his plan. He pulled from the parking lot and into the traffic to head for the business district to find a store that would serve his purpose. It didn't take him long to find a store and went inside as he went over his list in his head.

When Sam was done shopping, he loaded the car and headed back to the motel. He stopped and filled the car with gas, so he'd be ready to leave once he rescued Dean. He had no plans on hanging around as long as Dean was okay. He didn't want to start hunting again. He had a new life now, going to college and of course, Jessica. He wanted to start a life with her once they were through college. Sam had been saving money to buy a ring next year so he could ask her to marry him.

spn

After Sam got back to the motel, he went over the spells again to get familiar with them. He recorded the one to close the opening on his cell for Mackie to use when they came back through. He knew he wouldn't have time to do it, so he was going to set it all up and all Mackie would have to do is throw a match into the bowl of ingredients and turn on the recording.

Sam turned toward the door when someone knocked twice and went to answer it. He picked up a handgun and held it behind the door as he cracked the door to see who it was. A scruffy, older man stood waiting to be let in.

"Sam, Mackie, Bobby sent me," Mackie greeted him.

"Yeah, I remember you from hunting with my Dad," Sam told him, opening the door wider so he could enter.

"Man, you must have eaten your veggies growing up," Mackie noted looking Sam up and down. "Last time I remember seeing you…Gosh you were in your teens and barely reached your brother's shoulders."

"That was a long time ago," Sam agreed. "Thanks for coming to help."

"Sure thing; anything for a Winchester. What have you got going on?"

"Some high school teenagers were messing around with an old book of spells and conjured an opening to who knows where. They went through it and Dean was investigating their disappearance and he was pulled in too. I've got to go in, find them, reverse the spell, and when we get out, you need to close it, so nothing follows us."

"Doesn't sound too complicated, but shouldn't I come with you?"

"No, I need someone on this side in case we don't come back. You need to contact Bobby, he'll know what to do."

"Whatever you need Sam."

"I've got everything we'll need in my car. I just need to pack these few things."

"I'm going to use the bathroom before we go, and I'll be ready."

"Go ahead. I'll be ready by the time you're done." Sam closed his laptop and gathered his notes to go into his computer bag. He did a quick check of the room to be sure he didn't miss anything and waited for Mackie to come out.

"Alright, I'm ready," Mackie announced after stepping from the bathroom.

"You can follow me to the house, and we'll get set up. I've got some waters and food for you since I don't know how long it'll take me to find Dean."

"Lead the way, let's go get your brother back," Mackie nodded letting Sam go out of the room first and followed him.

They got in their separate cars and Sam led the way out of town to the house. Once they got to the road the house was on, there was no traffic, and no one saw them take the overgrown driveway that led to it. Sam pulled up to the front of the place so they could unload everything easier. They took it up to the bedroom and then went down to move the cars to the side of the house where they wouldn't be seen so easily. Sam went to the Impala and raided the trunk for weapons and the remaining items he would need for his plan. Once he had everything, Sam headed back inside and up to the master bedroom.

"Okay, I think I've got everything now," Sam told Mackie. He saw Mackie had found an overstuffed chair from somewhere and moved it into the bedroom to have something to sit in while he waited on him.

"What should I do?" Mackie asked.

"Umm…Take this rope and loop it around the beam outside the door," Sam instructed holding out the rope to him. "I need both ends back in here."

"Sure, no problem." Mackie took the rope and stretched it out, doubling it to find the middle. He stepped outside the room and did as Sam wanted, bringing the two loose ends back into the room. He watched Sam set up a bowl with the ingredients for the spell to close the opening near the closet door to be used when they returned.

"Here's my cell with the recording keyed up ready to play," said Sam handing the cell to Mackie. "It's fully charged so should last for a while since it won't be used."

"Got it. And all I have to do is toss a match in the bowl and turn the cell on."

"Yep, just be sure and do it as soon as we are clear so nothing else comes through with us." Sam took a pack and put the items he was taking with him. He had a first aid kit, several bottles of water, a half dozen power bars, road flares, flare gun, glow sticks, a quart of grill lighter fluid, extra ammo, and Dean's handgun. He picked it up to weigh it and added another bottle of water and then decided it was good. He attached a machete to his belt and put two cans of spray paint in each side pocket of his jacket to use to mark his way. He tucked his handgun into the waist of his jeans and stored several knifes in different pockets. "I think I'm ready," Sam decided as he checked everything one more time.

Sam picked up a crossbow and notched it with a steel tipped arrow he had tied one end of the rope to. He stepped to the closet and looked at the darkest, dark for a moment before aiming high at the top left and shooting the arrow into the void. He took a second arrow and repeated the process, firing it at the top right. Both arrows disappeared into the darkness and the rope was pulled taut. He attacked a bell to each rope to alert Mackie they were coming back through in case he dozed off.

"I hope that the arrows hit something solid, and we can use them as a guide to come back."

"You be careful Sam. You don't know what you're going to be going into."

"I know, and I will," Sam assured him. "Well, here goes nothing." Sam shouldered his pack and took a deep breath as he stepped closer to the opening until he could suddenly feel a tug before the blackness engulfed him.

Mackie stood in the middle of the room and gazed warily into the closet that was now empty. He didn't like Sam going in alone, but knew he was needed on the outside to do his part. He made himself comfortable in the chair and slipped Sam's cell into his shirt pocket where it was easy to access. He looked at his watch to check the time and wondered how long it would take Sam to find his brother. He didn't think Sam would stop until he knew one way or the other what happened to him.


A/N: Now, both brothers are on the other side, and they need to find each other. Will it be in time? Thank you for coming on this journey with me. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC