Author's note: Can't believe we're at chapter 30 already! Okay, question. Should Emily reveal her secret this season? Or next season after Dean makes his deal? I'll let you guys decide. I can fit it in either way pretty easily I think. But I'll leave this one up to yall! Thanks for all the love! Please keep reading and reviewing!
PS: I wanted to make sure I got this out to you guys tonight. I didn't get to proofread the second half so I'm sorry if its sloppy. Love you guys! I'll read it tomorrow and see if It needs fixing! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Emily.
"Kiddo. I'm just saying. There ain't nothing wrong with a beer or two after a hard days work."
"Right. And if it was only a beer or two after a long day then I wouldn't say anything. I mean come on Dean. You're not a drunk or anything. I'm just saying. We make a lot of beer runs… Not that I mind the driving practice."
"Yeah yeah, just look at the road. Not me. Dean said as he took another sip of his beer. I swear. Most people are 90% water… Dean is 90% beer."
"Sir yes sir." I mocked, earning a light slap on the back of the head.
"Ow! Hey. That's my gig. Not yours." I said reaching over and slapping him back, he chuckled before telling me to keep my eyes on the road again.
We got back to the motel pretty quickly.
"I'll race you to the door I said as Dean shut his door. We looked at each other for a split second before taking off at full speed. I may have short legs but they've learned to move quickly to keep up with my two giants.
I was almost at the door and reached for the knob when something large and clumsy slammed me against it with all his body weight.
"Dammit! Dean!" I grumbled half laughing.
We fought for a second over the door handle before I pinched him under his bicep and he finally let it go, I turned the knob and went to dart in, him still on my ass. But something caught my attention.
"Sammy you okay?" I asked taking in his freaked out appearance. He was breathing heavily. When we left he was peacefully sleeping, somethings up.
"No…" He mumbled. I immediately made my way to the bedside.
"Sammy what's wrong… talk to me." I said sitting down in front of him. He looked at me, then up to Dean, I could see the fear in his eyes. He saw something.
"We gotta go." Was all he said before getting up and packing the car, Dean and I right behind him. Sam drove since Dean was still too buzzed to drive, although to be quite honest I think this whole thing has sobered him up, funny how that works. His big brother instincts always win out.
"Okay… so explain this to me again." I said from the backseat.
"There are only two towns in the US named Rivergrove." Sam explained.
"How come you're so sure it's the one in Oregon?"
"There was a picture. Crater Lake."
"Okay, what else?" Dean asked him.
"I saw a dark room, some people, and a guy tied to a chair."
"And I ventilated him?" Dean asked surprised.
"Yeah. You thought there was something inside him."
"What, a demon? Was he possessed?" I asked.
"I don't know." Sam sighed.
"Well, all your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow . . . so was there any black smoke? Did we try to exorcise it?" Dean asked.
"No. Nothing, you just plugged him, that's it."
"Well, I'm sure I had a good reason." Said sure of himself.
"I sure hope so." Sam mumbled, I looked up and caught his eyes in the mirror. He was seriously worried about Dean.
"What does that mean?" Dean asked slightly offended. There was a long silence.
"I mean, I'm not gonna waste an innocent man." Dean said defending himself. I kept to myself in the backseat and Sam raised his eyebrows.
"I wouldn't!" Dean shouted.
"I never said you would!" Sam shouted back.
"Fine!"
"Fine! Look, we don't know what it is. But whatever it is, that guy in the chair's a part of it. So let's find him, and see what's what." Sam said.
"Fine." Dean mumbled.
"Fine." Sam mumbled back.
"For the love of all things good… please knock it off. Both of you." I said firmly. Ending their little spat.
It was morning before we made it into town, taking turns sleeping, Sam mostly drove. Dean napped and then took over for the last of the drive. The closer we got to the town the harder it was to sleep…. This feeling. Deep in my stomach. It just felt like something was off.
We got to town and I let Dean and Sam go talk to someone while I walked around a bit, observing, its more believable when there are two older marshalls, having a teenage girl with you kinda makes it suspicious.
Everything in this town seems normal… its obviously an outdoorsy town. Lots of hunting, fishing, hiking, camping.
I went back towards Sam and Dean, waiting while they finished talking to the man cleaning rifles on a front porch. We walked down the sidewalk a little ways.
"So. See anything?" Dean asked me.
"No. Actually there's not one damn thing out of place… which means somethings got to be wrong here."
"Yeah. You're probably right." Sam agreed.
We were almost back to the impala when Sam froze.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"I don't know… Come take a look at this." Sam said as he examined the telephone pole in front of him, Dean and I walked to stand by him.
"Croatoan?" Dean read outloud. It was carved into the pole.
"Yeah." Sam said expeciting Dean to know what this meant… Dean just had a blank look on his face.
"Roanoke? Lost colony? Ring a bell? Dean, did you pay any attention in history class?" I asked him rolling my eyes.
"Yeah! Shots heard 'round the world, How bills becomes a laws…" He went on. I laughed, throwing my hand over my mouth. He looked at me slightly offended.
"That's not school, that's Schoolhouse Rock." Sam said deadpanned.
"Whatever." Dean groaned.
"Roanoke was one of the first English colonies in America, late 1500s?" Sam hinted at.
"Oh yeah, yeah, I do remember that. The only thing they left behind was a single word carved in a tree. Croatoan." Dean said finally catching on.
"Yeah. And I mean, there were theories — Indian raid, disease, but nobody knows what really happened. They were all just gone. I mean, wiped out overnight." I said quietly while I stared down the word in front of me, just looking at it sent chills down my spine and put a sick feeling in my gut.
"You don't think that's what's going on here, I mean…" Dean started.
"Whatever I saw in my head, it sure wasn't good. But what do you think could do that?" Sam asked.
"Well, I mean, like I said, all of your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow, so…"
"We should get help. Bobby, uh, Ellen maybe?"
"No." I said speaking up, they both turned to look at me.
"We need to leave. I'm serious. Somethings wrong here. Seriously wrong… we need to leave." I said firmly.
"Emily we're fine. Besides, we can't just leave all these people here to… whatever the hell is gonna happen." Sam said trying to reassure me.
"No.. Sammy please… I'm begging you… leave this one alone. We don't have to be the ones to handle this. We can call someone else out here on our way out of town." I pleaded.
"Come on kiddo, it'll be fine. We handle this stuff for a living." Dean said trying to get me to focus on why we came here in the first place.
"Please. Just the one time… I'm telling you both. Somethings seriously off. We HAVE to leave. Dean… you know I've never been wrong." I said looking him in the eye. I never have been. Every time I get a strong feeling like this it's always been right.
"Em lets just call Bobby, see what he knows, and then ask him what he thinks we should do. We'll decide then okay?" Sam offered. I huffed and wrapped my arms around my chest. Sam wrapped his arm around me pulling me into him. I stayed stiff.
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Dean said pulling out his cell phone. But he looked down and frowned.
"I don't have a signal." He said, Sam and I pulled out our phones… same.
"I don't either." Sam said.
Dean turned and we followed him as he walked to the payphone on the corner. He picked it up but paused as the "out of service" tone sounded out. Shit… this is not good.
"Line's dead… I'll tell you one thing. If I was gonna massacre a town, that'd be my first step." He said turning to look at Sam and I.
"We're leaving…" I said flatly, turning towards the car but someone grabbed me and pulled me back.
"Emily we can't just leave. We have to figure this out. All these people could die if we don't." Dean said gesturing to the scene of townsfolk around us.
"Dean. Please… We need to leave. This is wrong… All of this. We have got to go." I said to him desperately.
"Em, we're gonna be okay." Sam said as he pulled me into a hug.
I shook my head and mumbled against him.
"We're gonna regret this."
Dean drove us to the home of the boy we think Sam saw, the house was precious. Country living for sure. It sat on a nice lot, surrounded by woods.
When Sam knocked on the door a DAMN fine boy answered the door.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"We're looking for Duane Tanner; he lives here, right?" Dean said flashing his badge.
"Yeah, he's my brother."
"Can we talk to him?"
"Oh, he's not here right now."
"Do you know where he is?" Sam asked him.
"Yeah, he went on a fishing trip up by Roslyn Lake." The kid answered right away.
"Your parents home?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, they're inside."
"Jake? Who is it?" Asked an older man walking up behind the kid, I assume he's the dad.
"Hi, U.S. Marshals, sir, we're looking for your son Duane." Dean said flashing the badge again.
"Wh-why? He's not in trouble, is he?"
"No, no, no. We just need to ask him a couple of routine questions, that's all." I assured him.
"When's he due back from his trip?" Sam asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Well, maybe your wife knows." I suggested softly.
"No, I don't know, she's not here right now." He said. There. Caught it. Lie number one. Either from him or the kid.
"Your son said she was." Dean said flatly.
"Did I?" The kid asked innocently.
"She's getting groceries. So, when Duane gets back, there's a number where he can get a hold of you?" The father answered immediately.
"Oh no, we'll just check in with you later." I said with a smile. We turned to walk away and waited till the door was closed to talk.
"That was kind of creepy, right? A little too Stepford?" Dean asked.
"Big time. Plus I think the dad's lying… the mom is in there I bet." I said quietly, Sam tapped Dean's shoulder and nodded to the side of the house, I pulled my gun and followed their lead. We crouched down to get past the window and made our way to the back door. Once there we could see the wife, she was tied and bound in a chair, then the husband and son entered the room. They stood around her and the son reached for a knife with a cold grin on his face.
"Dean." I whispered.
"Go! Now!" He said. Sam busted down the door and we charged inside, the father charged at Dean and Sam jumped in front of me when the son charged me. I ran to the wife to untie her, before I knew what was happening something sliced my arm, I turned to see the kid with the knife behind me, I pulled my gun and turned but he jumped out the window and took off. I went back to untying the wife as Dean stepped over to help.
"You good Em?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. The dad?"
"Dead." Dean said flatly looking up to Sam. Sam helped the wife to her feet and led her out to the car.
"Dean. What the hell is going on here." I whispered as we walked back behind them.
"I don't know Em… but its not gonna end pretty." He said back lowly.
"Dean. We need to drop her off, and leave. Please." I said firmly grabbing his arm so he'd stop walking and turn to face me. He stared at me for a long minute.
"Dean. I'm serious. I'm begging you to let us leave town and let someone else in on it. We can help from the outside. We can't be here. Please. We just can't." I begged him again. Everything in me felt wrong. I felt like all the good left in a ten mile radius was quickly moving. Something bad is coming… or worse. Its already here.
"Okay." He finally said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes. Okay, we'll drop off the wife at the doctors and we'll head out of town okay?"
"Thank you De." I said as we caught back up to Sam. Dean went back to carry the husband and put him in the trunk. I rode in the back with Sam and the wife sat up front with Dean. It was a silent short ride.
"Hello? Hello? We need a doctor here!" Sam said as he walked into the clinic. A young woman in scrubs appeared and rushed towards us.
"Mrs. Tanner, what happened?" She asked taking in the wife's bloody appearance.
"She's been attacked." I answered for her.
"Doctor Lee?" The nurse called out.
"Bring her in." The doctor waved as she came around the corner and took a look at us all, including the dead guy over Dean's shoulder.
"Is that —" She asked as Dean walked by.
"Mr. Tanner?" Dean finished for her.
"Was he attacked too?"
"Uh… no, actually, he did the attacking and then he got himself shot." I answered.
"Shot?" She asked surprised.
"Yeah." Dean answered.
"And who are you?"
"U.S. Marshal. This is Emily our intern. I'd show you my badge, but uh…" Dean threw his eyes towards Mr. Tanner's body.
"Oh. Sorry. Bring him back here." The doctor said quickly as she opened the door for Dean.
We set down the body in the back room and walked back around to find Sam and the doc with Mrs. Tanner.
"Wait, you said Jake helped him? Your son Jake?" The doctor asked her shocked.
"They beat me. Tied me up." She admitted shakily.
"I don't believe it." The nurse said shortly.
"Pam." The doc warned. "Beverly . . . do you have any idea why they would act this way? Any history of chemical dependency?"
"No, of course not. I don't know why. One minute they were my husband and my son. And the next, they had the devil in them." She cried.
We all turned and looked to each other when she spoke the last few words.
"We gotta talk." Dean said nodding Sam and I back towards the lobby.
"Those guys were whacked out of their gourds." He said once we were alone.
"What do you think? Multiple demons, mass possession?" Sam asked.
"If it is a possession there could be more. I mean, God knows how many, it could be like a friggin' Shriner convention."
"Great."
"Which is why we should be going now." I pointed out, they both avoided looking straight at me.
"Dean. Come on. You said we could leave once we got the wife help." I said.
"Of course, that's one way to wipe out a town, you take it from the inside. Dean said ignoring me.
"Dean!" I said firmly.
"I don't know, man. We didn't see any of the demon smoke with Mr. Tanner, or any of the other usual signs." Sam said.
"Hello! I'm right here assholes!"
"Well, whatever. Something turned him into a monster. And you know if you woulda taken out the other one there'd be one less to worry about." Dean said turning to me.
"Are you kidding me right now?! I was a little preoccupied. Now that you're willing to look me in the eye. You said we could go! We need to leave NOW!" I urged.
Suddenly heels on the tile flooring caused us all to look up.
"How's the patient?" Sam asked.
"Terrible! What the hell happened out there?" The doc asked.
"We don't know." Dean admitted.
"Yeah? Well, you just killed my next door neighbor." She said crossing her arms angrily.
"We didn't have a choice." Dean said firmly.
"Maybe so, but we need the county Sheriff. I need the coroner…"
"Phones are down." I pointed out.
"I know, I tried. Tell me you have a police radio in the car?"
"Yeah we do. But it crapped out just like everything else." Sam told her.
"I don't understand what is happening." Me either lady, me either.
"How far is it to the next town?" Dean asked her. FINALLY!
"It's about forty miles down to Sidewinder." She said.
"All right, I'm gonna go down there, see if I can find some help. My partner will stick around, keep you guys safe." He said pointing to Sam. Wait, what?! The doc nodded and walked away.
"Dean. No! You said we could leave!" I whispered to him through clenched teeth.
"Emily I'm sorry. We can't leave these people here defenseless. You and me will ride over to the next town, I'll let you stay there and call Bobby. But someone has to stay here. They need us."
"And what you agree with all this?" I asked suddenly turning towards Sam. He looked like a dear in the headlights for a moment before taking a deep breath.
"Em come on. You know we don't run from a fight. We gotta figure out what the hell is going on here." Sam said putting one hand on each of my shoulders.
I shook my head back and forth before pulling away from him and walking out to the car, Dean followed behind me wordlessly.
Dean and I drove down the road in silence for a few minutes before he finally broke it.
"So how long are you gonna hold this one over us." He finally asked.
"I can't fucking believe you." I said turning to face him. "I told you from the moment we got here something was wrong! I've told you several times that we needed to leave! Dean you and I both know that something horrible is about to happen and you just want us stuck right in the middle of it all!"
"No, what I want is to handle the case and save lives, just like any other job!" He yelled back.
"This isn't like any other job! We can't handle this one Dean! Not alone!"
"Yeah well we're gonna have to until someone else can get out here!" He yelled back.
I huffed and turned back towards the front of the car.
"This whole case was a bad idea, you should have listened to me when I said something hours ag-"
"Emily get down." Dean said lowly cutting me off from my ramble.
"What?" I asked confused looking at him.
"I said get down! Now!" He yelled shoving me into the floorboard and reaching back for his jacket and throwing it over me.
"Dean what the hell is this?!" I asked as he next threw down more clothes on top of me.
"Just shut up." He growled as the car slowed down and finally came to a stop. Then there was a loud noise beside my open window.
"Oh-ho-ho. Hey. Scared me there." Dean answered to what I assume is the person standing on the other side of the car door.
"Sorry. Road's closed." Said the man.
"Yeah, I can see that. What's up?"
"Quarantine."
"Quarantine? What is it?"
"Don't know. Something going around out there."
"Uh-huh. Who told you that?"
"County Sheriff."
"Is he here?"
"No. He called. Say, why don't you get out of the car and we'll talk a little?" The guy offered.
"Well, you are a handsome devil, but I don't swing that way, sorry." Dean laughed, I could sense the nervousness behind it. I slowly reached for my gun, trying not to cause to much motion under the clothes.
"I'd sure appreciate it if you got out of the car, just for a quick minute." The man said a little more firmly.
"Yeah, I'll bet you would. But I uh, got to get to the show." Dean said, I immediately picked up on it. Its one of our code phrases, this one means get ready to shoot. I quietly clicked off the safety and waited for my que.
I heard the gear shifter slam backwards.
"Now!" Dean hollered and I sat up and took aim out the open window, taking down the man outside of it, we were suddenly under fire and as I leaned up to see where it was coming from Dean swung the car around sideways.
"Not yet, stay down." He said as he sped down the road.
"Okay. We're clear…" He said a few minutes later.
"How many?" I asked reloading my mag.
"A dozen or so, they've blocked the only road out of town. Sorry kiddo. I don't think any of us are going anywhere till this thing is over.
I sighed and replaced the gun back into my waistband.
"De…" I said softly.
"Yeah?"
"I'm scared." I admitted looking up to him. I usually don't get scared of much. Especially with our job. Monsters. They're killable. Ghosts, I can burn the bones. Demons, we can send em back to hell… But. Something about all this. Scares the hell out of me.
"I know kiddo… I know. Come here." He said opening his arm for me to sit against his side. I slid over and tucked myself back into my safe spot. He went to rub his hand down my shoulder but I felt a sharp pain.
"Ow, shit." I mumbled. He immediately moved his hand, we both saw the blood.
"Em are you hit?" He asked quickly.
"No. That kid back at the Tanner's cut me before he took off, I had totally forgotten about it, Its not deep or anything. I'll be fine." I said pulling up my sleeve to look at the cut placed right above my elbow.
"Let me see." Dean said, I rolled my eyes as I reached it out to show him.
"Really De. Its just a scratch, you just caught it with your hand, otherwise I probably would never have remembered."
"Yeah, just put some disinfectant on it okay?" He said reaching over to the glove box. I did as he said and put a large band aid over it to keep dirt out of it. I sat back against him as we got back into town, we were at the clinic again in minutes. This time as we drove through town I realized that there wasn't anybody out on the street… it was empty.
Until someone jumped out in front of us, rifle raised. Dean slammed on the breaks.
"Hands where I can see 'em!" The man yelled. I instantly recognized him as the man Dean and Sam spoke with earlier today.
"Okay!" Dean yelled as we both raised our hands.
"Get out of the car! Out of the car!"
"All right, easy there, big guy." Dean said before nodding to let me know to get out as well. Dean stood straight up, and quickly pulled his gun. I stood there, hands up, carefully watching them.
"All right, put it down!" Dean yelled to him.
"Lower it now!" The man yelled back.
"Put it down!" I yelled.
"Are you one of 'em?" He asked looking between Dean and I.
"No! Are you?" Dean asked.
"No!"
"You could be lying!" Dean said.
"So could you!" The man retorted.
"All right! All right. We could do this all day, all right? Let's just uh, let's take it easy before we kill each other." Dean said slowly lowering his gun. I slowly lowered my hands the man across from us slowly lowered his rifle.
"What's going on with everybody?" He asked us.
"We don't know." I said honestly.
"My neighbor… Mr. Rogers, he-"
"You've got a neighbor named Mr. Rogers?" I asked amused.
"Not anymore. He came at me with a hatchet. I put him down. He's not the only one, I mean, it's happening to everyone."
"We're heading over to the Doc's place, there's still some people left."
"No, no way. I'm getting the hell out."
"There is no way out. Trust me we tried… they've got the road blocked. Just come with us." I explained.
"I don't believe you." He said.
"Fine, stay here, be my guest." I said raising my hands and going to get back in the car.
The man grumbled and then pulled a handgun and kept it aimed at Dean while he sat in the backseat. Never lowering the gun.
"Well, this ought to be a relaxing drive." Dean mumbled. What a smartass.
Thankfully it was a short drive back to the clinic. Dean was first to the door.
"Sammy? Open up!" He yelled as he banged, Sam quickly got to the door and let us in.
"Did you guys, uh, get to a phone?" He asked taking in the man with us.
"Road block." I answered going to stand with him.
"I'm gonna have a word. Doc's inside." Dean said to Mark, the man who came with us.
"What's going on out there?" Sam asked when the man was out of view.
"Man, I don't know, I feel like Chuck Heston in the Omega Man, I mean, Sarge is the only sane person we could find. What are we dealing with, do you know?"
"Yeah. Doc thinks it's a virus."
"Okay, great. What do you think?"
"I think she's right."
"Really?" I asked him eyebrows raised.
"Yeah. And I think the infected are trying to infect others with blood-to-blood contact. Oh, but it gets better. The uh, the virus? Leaves traces of sulfur in the blood."
"A demonic virus?" I asked shocked.
"Yeah, more like demonic germ warfare. At least it explains why I've been having visions."
"It's like a Biblical plague." Dean said.
"Yeah. You don't know how right you are, Dean. I've been poring through Dad's journal, found something about the Roanoke colony."
"And?" I asked.
"Dad always had a theory about Croatoan. He thought it was a demon's name. Sometimes known as Deva or sometimes Resheph. A demon of plague and pestilence."
"Well, that, that's terrific. Why here, why now?"
"I have no idea. But who knows how far this thing can spread? We gotta get out of here, we gotta warn people."
"Gee ya think! I told you assholes that from the very beginning! Now its too late, now there is not getting out. We're stuck here Sam!" I yelled in frustration. NOW they get it. NOW they wanna leave. Shoulda listened to me in the first place…
Sam rolled his eyes and went to reply but the shouting cut him off.
"They've got one! In here!" The Sarge yelled.
"What do you mean?" Dean asked as we all came around the corner.
"The wife. She's infected." Sam admitted.
"We've gotta take care of this. We can't just leave her in there. My neighbors, they were strong. The longer we wait, the stronger she'll get." Sarge said. Dean barely hesistated before pulling his gun and walking into the lab.
"You're gonna kill Beverly Tanner?" The nurse asked horrified, following behind us.
"Doctor, could there be any treatment? Some kind of cure for this?" Sam asked her. She just stood there silently looking around.
"Can you cure it?" Dean asked loudly.
"For God's sake, I don't even know what "it" is!" She said desperately.
"I told you, it's just a matter of time before she breaks through." Sarge reiterated.
"Just leave her in there, you can't shoot her like an animal!" The nurse yelled.
"Sam." Dean said, implying for him to lead them to her. Sam sighed but walked towards a utility room, he slowly opened the door, Dean and Sarge lifted their guns, inside Mrs. Tanner is huddled on the floor and jumps at their approach.
"Mark, what are you doing? Mark, it's, it's them! They locked me in here, they, they tried to kill me! They're infected, not me! Please, Mark! You've known me all your life! Please!" She begged for Sarge to listen.
"You sure she's one of 'em?" Dean asked turning to Sam. I looked up to him. He looked torn, I reached up and grabbed his hand, he looked down at me, then back to Dean and slowly shook his head. Dean turned and fired twice. I closed my eyes and immediately turned to face Sam, hiding my face in his chest. He wrapped an arm around me. Things were silent for a moment, Dean closed the door and I could hear his heavy footsteps as he walked out. I didn't want to leave Sam's arms. I felt like he needed the hug as much as I did. I know he hated to lose anyone on the job, he always felt responsible for them.
We stayed there until we heard a scream, we ran around the corner to see the a dropped blood vial and the nurse, Pam, freaking out.
"Oh god! Is there any on me? Am I okay?"
"You're clean, you're okay." The doc assured her.
"Why are we staying here? Please, let's just go!"
"No, we can't, because those things are everywhere." Dean admitted.
"Oh god…" She whispered sinking down the side of the wall. The doctor rushed to comfort her.
"She's right about one thing. We can't stay here. We've gotta get out of here, get to the Roadhouse? Somewhere. Let people know what's coming." Sam said quietly.
"Yeah, good point. Night of the Living Dead didn't exactly end pretty." Dean agreed.
"Well, I'm not sure we've got a choice. Lots of folks up here are good with rifles — even with all your hardware we're, we're easy targets. So unless you've got some explosives…" Sarge said. I instantly got an idea looking around us at all the medical supplies.
"We could make some." I said leaving Sam's side and going to take some bottles down off the shelf.
Dean laughed and walked over.
"Nice eye kiddo, lets get this stuff going." He said reaching for the rest of the bottles.
Suddenly there was someone at the door, banging repeatedly and screaming, we all took off to the front.
"Hey! Let me in, let me in! Please!" The voice cried.
"It's Duane Tanner!" Sarge said, he opened the door and let him in, he limped in carrying in his backpack.
"Thank god." He said catching his breath.
"Duane, you okay?" Sarge asked.
"That's the guy that I, uh…" Dean whispered to Sam.
"Yeah." Sam whispered back.
"Who else is in here?" Duane asked walking past us.
"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there, chief. Hey Doc! Give Duane a good once-over, would you?" Dean said grabbing his arm and stopping him from getting too far.
"Pam? Will you help me please." Doc asked as she led us back.
"Who are you?" Duane asked eyeing Dean.
"Never mind who I am. Doc."
"Yeah, okay." She sad reaching for Duane and leading him to sit on the stool in the middle of the room.
"Duane. Where you been?" Sarge asked him.
"On a fishing trip up by Roslyn. I came back this afternoon. I . . . I saw Roger McGill being dragged out of his house by people we know! They started cutting him with knives! I ran, I've been hiding in the woods ever since. Has anybody seen my mom and dad?"
"Awkward…." I mumbled looking down at my feet.
"You're bleeding." The doc says looking down at Duane's leg.
"Where'd you get that?" Dean asked him.
"I was running, I must have tripped."
"Tie him up, there's rope in there." Dean demanded.
"Wait.." Duane said confused standing up.
"Sit down!" Dean yelled pulling out his gun.
"I'm sorry, Duane, he's right. We've gotta be careful." Sarge said, Sam kept a close arm around me, holding us back from the chaos.
"Careful? About what?" Duane asked.
"Did they bleed on you?" Dean asked him. I don't know why it didn't register with me when Sam first told us about the virus, but all of a sudden I remembered the cut on my arm… the knife… it was the same knife he used to cut Mrs. Tanner… did it have his blood on it?
"No, what the hell? No!"
"Doc? Any way to know for sure, any test?" Sam asked. Please… let there be a way. I could feel my heart began to race.
"I've studied Beverly's bloodwork backwards and forwards." She answered.
"My mom!" Duane suddenly yelled.
"It took three hours for the virus to incubate. The sulfur didn't appear in the blood until then, so… no, there'd be no way of knowing. Not until after Duane turns." She admitted hesitantly. Oh god…
"Dean, I gotta talk to you. Now." Sam said, pushing me towards the door, motioning for Dean to follow… I guess I need to talk too. Shit.
"Sit in that chair." Sarge said to Duane as we walked out.
"This is my vision, Dean. It's happening." Sam said as soon as we were alone.
"Yeah, I figured."
"You can't kill him, all right? Not yet. We don't know if he's infected or not."
"Well, I think we're pretty damn sure. Guy shows up out of nowhere, he's got a cut on his leg, his whole family's infected?"
"Dean…" I said quietly.
"All right, then we should keep him tied up, and we should wait and see." Sam said over me.
"Dean." I said a little louder trying to get his attention.
"For what? For him to Hulk out and infect somebody else? No thanks, can't take that chance." Dean said moving to push past Sam, but Sam stops him.
"Hey look, man, I'm not happy about this, okay? But it's a tough job and you know that." Dean said.
"It's supposed to be tough, Dean. We're supposed to struggle with this, that's the whole point."
"Dean." I said a little louder again.
"What does that buy us?"
"A clear conscience, for one!"
"Well, it's too late for that." They continued to argue.
"Dean!" He glanced at me but then Sam opened his mouth again.
"What the hell's happened to you?" Sam asked him.
"What?"
"You might kill an innocent man, and you don't even care! You don't act like yourself anymore, Dean. Hell, you know what? You're acting like one of those things out there."
"Mm-hmm." Dean said annoyed and pushes past Sam again, Sam tries to stop him but he turns and hurls Sam backwards, then charges out the door and locks us in the room.
"Dean! Dammit!" I said banging on the door.
"Hey! Open the damn door, Dean! Don't do it, Dean! Don't!" Sam yelled rattling the door knob.
I sank down to the floor… 3 hours… its been 2 hours since the Tanner's place. What if I turn, stuck in here with Sam… I have to tell him, warn him.
"Sammy…" I mumbled from the floor.
"Em, come on, help me here." He said trying to find something to pick the lock with.
"Sam." I said a little firmer.
"What?" He turned around and asked, finally realizing I was in the floor, tears threatening to fall.
"Emily what's wrong?" He asked sinking to sit down next to me.
"Sammy… I- I need to show you something." I said quietly rolling up my sleeve. I pulled off the band-aid and revealed the cut from earlier.
"Emily when did this happen?" Sam asked slowly realizing what I was trying to tell him.
"Umm.. at the Tanners. Jake cut me when I was untying his mom…" I mumbled.
"Did he bleed on you?" He asked lifting my face to look at him.
"I don't know… Sammy I'm scared." I admitted.
"Oh Em…" He sighed, pulling me in close to him.
"Sammy you gotta tie me up… its been 2 hours I could turn anytime now." I said softly as my voice cracked.
"No no no… sweetie you're not gonna turn. It'll be okay. It's okay." He cooed.
"Sammy. He coulda bled on me. We don't know." I reminded him.
"Does Dean know?"
"He knows I got cut, but it was before we got back to you… I don't think it registered with him either, I didn't think about it till Duane came in with a cut. I was trying to tell you both before you started arguing."
"I'm sorry kiddo…"
"Me too Sammy… me too. I don't wanna hurt you, or anyone… please. Just tie me up, don't let me hurt you." I begged him, feeling the lump in my throat grow.
"Emily no, it's gonna be fine." He assured me, rubbing his hand across my back.
"Sam. I didn't hear gunshots." I said after a few minutes. He looked slightly relieved.
It wasn't long until we heard footsteps coming towards us, Dean came bursting through the door and slammed it shut behind him. He put the gun down on the table in the center of the room and ran his hand through his hair, facing away from us.
"Alright, we wait… if he turns though, Sam I've got no other choice." He said still not facing us.
"Okay… But um. Dean. We might have another problem on our hands." Sam said quietly. Dean finally turned around. I caught his eyes, he looked at me, then Sam, then down at the cut my rolled up sleeve showed.
"Oh no…" He said catching on without needing an explanation.
"Em… did he bleed on you?" Dean asked, fear wide in his eyes. It made me feel even more like I was doomed.
"I don't know…" I said softly. Dean crossed the room and reached down and took my hand, pulling me to stand in front of him.
"Listen to me right now. Its been almost 3 hours… you haven't turned and you haven't shown any signs you're going to… we just sit tight. We wait. Okay?" He said looking me right in the eye.
"De you gotta tie me up, get me away from everyone, I don't wanna hurt you or Sammy." I said feeling tears threatening to fall again.
"No baby we don't, its fine. You're gonna be fine okay." He said trying to put on a fake smile. I nodded my head unconvincingly. Dean rolled my sleeve back down so no one else would see.
"This stays between us. Okay?" He said looking between Sam and I, we all nodded before following him back out to meet with the others.
We've spent the last few hours working on getting explosives made.
"Its been over four hours. Duane's blood is still clean. I don't think he's infected. I'd like to untie him, if that's all right." The doc said turning to Dean, we all looked between each other, sharing a relieved smile. Dean nods to Sam.
"Sure. Yeah." Sam said, the doc left the room to get Duane.
"You know I'm gonna ask you why." Sam said turning to Dean.
"Yeah, I know."
"So why? Why didn't you do it?"
"We need more alcohol." Dean said to distract Sam. Sam and I shared a look and shook our heads, Sam left to go get some.
Suddenly there's a loud commotion, we all run to the sound, it's the closet, Sam is in it with Pam.
"Sam! Sammy!" I yelled banging on the door.
"Em get back!" Dean yelled before kicking the door open, Pam is on top of Sam and Dean puts 3 rounds into her chest. I immediately go down and help Sam to his feet, then I noticed the large cut on his chest.
"She bled on him. He's got the virus." Sarge said.
"No.. No no no she didn't. He's fine." I quickly said panicking. But I knew deep down it was true. I got lucky, my cut was clean. Theres no chance Sam got as lucky as I did.
I looked up to Dean, he looked even more panicked then he did earlier. There was only a chance I was bled on, we know for sure Sam was.
I walked Sam over to sit on the stool and pressed some gauze to his chest. He looks devastated. I can barely tear my eyes away from his face. I was bound and determined not to leave his side. I know what everyone in here is thinking. Everyone but me and Dean. To everyone else he is collateral damage. To me he's my heart. He's the good that comes out in me when the world seems to dark. Sam was always the kind one. Sam was always the one who's smile made me smile back. I'll kill the first person to take even one step towards him, that is if they could ever get past Dean. He's been pacing back and forth angrily. He's on the defense, he's trying to think of a fast plan. He's trying to find us a way out of this one.
"Doc, check his wound again, would you?" Dean said. The doctor however was frozen in fear. Dean was menacing to even look at.
"Doctor!" He yelled, she flinched and moved towards Sam and I. I carefully moved the gauze for her to look. I didn't dare let her touch him though. No one is touching him. No one's hurting him. Ever.
"What's she need to examine him for? You saw what happened." Sarge insisted.
"Did her blood actually enter your wound?" The doctor asked calmly.
"Come on, of course it did!" Sarge yelled.
"We don't know that for sure." I insisted, glaring down the Sarge.
"We can't take a chance." Duane insisted.
"You know what we have to do." Sarge repeated again.
"Nobody is shooting my brother." I said firmly.
"He isn't gonna be your brother much longer." Duane said.
"Nobody is shooting anyone!" Dean yelled.
"You were gonna shoot me!" Duane yelled back.
"You don't shut your pie-hole, I still might!" Dean yelled back.
"Dean, they're right. I'm infected; just give me the gun and I'll do it myself." Sam said sadly.
"No. No way in hell. Forget it." I said immediately.
"Emily, I'm not gonna become one of those things." Sam said to me. His eyes bored into mine. There were tears buried, waiting to fall. It tore everything inside me apart to see him so hopeless.
"Sam, we've still got some time." I said almost choking on the words.
"Time for what? Look, I understand he's your brother, and I'm sorry, I am. But we gotta take care of this." Sarge said as he pulled out a gun. I instinctively stood directly in front of Sam. Glaring down the man who has now made himself a threat.
"I'm gonna say this one time — you make a move on him, you'll be dead before you hit the ground. You understand me? I mean, do I make myself clear?!" Dean spat the words as if they were laced with venom. He had his gun leaned against Sarge's temple.
"Then what are we supposed to do?!" He asked.
"Get the hell out of here, that's what. Take my car. You've got the explosives, there's an arsenal in there. You two go with him. You've got enough firepower to handle anything now."
"What about you two?" Sarge asked looking between Dean and I.
"I'm not leaving my brother." I said. Dean nodded and took a few steps backwards to stand next to Sam and I.
"Dean, no. No. You and Em have to go with them. This is your only chance!"
"You're not gonna get rid of me that easy. But Emily… you need to go with them. Call Bobby."
"No. No way in hell… I'm not leaving Dean."
"Emily please… I can't be the reason you die." Sam pleaded with me.
"Sam. You and Dean are all I have. You and Dean are my world. If I lose the two of you, then I have no life left to live. We're family. We stand together, we fight together, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna walk away now." I said, a tear falling down not only my face, but Sam's. I wrapped my arms around him tightly.
"Kid your young, I can get you to someone you know. I promise. Come with us." Sarge urged me. I turned to face him.
"These are the only two people in the world that matter. I'm staying. But thank you."
"Okay, it's your funeral." He said before looking up to Dean, I turned back to Sam. Not wanting to listen to him anymore.
"I'm sorry. Thanks for everything, Marshals." The doctor turned back and said before walking outside.
"Oh, actually we're not really Marshals." Dean admitted.
"Um. Oh." She said awkwardly before walking out. Smooth Dean. Real smooth.
We watched as they all walked out. I turned to look at Sam. Now that we are alone he let the tears fall freely. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned to kiss the top of his head, from where I stand and he sits, I'm actually slightly taller than him.
"Wish we had a deck of cards, or a foosball table or something." Dean joked.
"Dean, don't do this. Just take Em and get the hell out of here." He begged.
"No way." Dean said sitting down.
"Give me my gun, and leave." Sam said.
"For the last time, Sam. No." He stared at Sam for a minute, then glanced up to me, then back down to Sam. As if talking without actually speaking. I hate that shit.
"Emily, can I talk to you for a minute." Dean said standing.
"Yeah, I guess." I said confused, I squeezed Sam and walked towards where Dean was standing on the other end of the room by the window, peeking out through the blinds.
"What?" I said walking up to him.
"Emily. I love you, no matter what happens. Sam and I are both so proud of you… you are everything to us." He hesitated, then wrapped me in a hug. I wrapped my arms around him, still confused as to what he's doing. Dean's not one for sappy goodbyes, even if we are all fixing to die.
"…Which is why I can't let you do this…" He whispered before opening the door and shoving me outside into the Sarge's arms.
"What?! No! NO! Dean! NO!" I screamed as the Sarge pulled me away and Dean shut and locked the door.
"No! Dean! Dammit! Don't do this!" I screamed fighting against the arms around me as they dragged me towards the car. The sarge slams me against the car and zip ties my wrists together behind my back before pushing me into the backseat.
"No! Please.. please don't do this… Just leave me here! Please!" I begged them.
"I'm sorry kid. I promised your brother I'd get you out of here, supposed to call some guy named Bobby and leave you with the keys once he gets to us." Sarge explained.
"No please you don't understand.. we have to go back! Please! They're all I have left!" I cried. But as we drove down the road I was ignored. I struggled kicking against the door but the doctor pulled me closer to her away from where I could reach the door. I finally realized I wasn't getting out, not until we got to the next town. I sat. staring at the seat in front of me. Contemplating my plan. When we reach the next town I'll be untied… I'll play nice, get free, and haul ass back. I've got a gun, I can get the keys. It won't be three hours. Dean and Sam will still be alive. I can get back.
"I don't understand…" The doctor mumbled. I hadn't been paying attention to our surroundings, but when she spoke up I began to look around.
"Where are they?" Duane asked.
"I don't know… they're just… gone. All of them." Sarge answered.
"Maybe we should go back… let them know, that… whatever this is, it appears to be over?" The doc suggested.
I sat in silence, hoping that they would turn the car around. It was slowly sinking in that maybe this was over, if they're gone. If it's done. Sam will be okay. They'll be alive, and whether we go back now or I go back in a couple of hours. they're gonna be there.
"Can you untie me please." I said softly. The doc reached back and cut the zip ties. I placed my hand in my laps and sat quietly as we turned back towards the clinic.
Relief washed over me. Knowing that this was over. We would be okay.
The other thing that washed over me was rage. Now that I know we're all going to be able to walk away from this situation I'm pissed. How dare they. How dare they agree to leave me. How dare they leave me to face this world alone.
It wasn't long when we pulled back up in front of the clinic. I watched as they all climbed out, the doc knocked on the door.
I assume it was Dean who opened it, I didn't dare turn to look at him.
"You'd better come see this." The doc said.
Dean walked outside.
"Where are they?" Dean asked.
"Good question." Said sarge.
"I think we should all go back inside." The doctor said. I quietly opened the door and got out of the impala, I followed everyone inside, not meeting eyes with anyone. Instead I walked past them all to sit in the corner, alone.
"There's no one. Not anywhere. They've all just… vanished." Sarge explained to Dean.
We all sat around for the next few hours, waiting out the night, we agreed to all leave out in the morning if Sam is clear. Dean and Sam have both approached me to talk, but after a few minutes of the silent treatment, they both walked away.
"Well, it's been five hours and your blood's still clean. i don't understand it but I think you dodged a bullet." The Doc said turning to Sam.
"But I was exposed. How could I not be infected?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. But you're just not. I mean, you compare it with the Tanner samples … wait, what the hell?"
"What?"
"Their blood. There's no trace of the virus. No sulfur, nothing."
"How is that possible, we all saw it." Dean asked.
"I don't know…" The doctor said.
A few hours later we were all packed up and getting ready to split and head our different ways. I quickly made my way to the impala and stood there waiting for my brothers to be ready to leave.
"Hey man, don't look at me. I got no clue." Sam mumbled as they walked up closer to the car.
"I swear, I'm gonna lose sleep over this one. I mean, why here, why now? And where the hell did everybody go? It's like they just friggin' melted." Dean said.
"Why was I immune? Or even more interesting… what if Em and I both were immune? Maybe she was bled on."
"Yeah. You know what? That's a good question. You know, I'm already starting to feel like this is the one that got away?" Dean said as they approached the car, I turned to get in the backseat.
"Emily wait." Dean said, but I continued to get in, an arm reached for me but I quickly yanked away form it.
"Emily. Get out of the car. We need to discuss this, and we aren't leaving until we do."
I sat there.
"Em come on… we know you're pissed. Just. Say something… anything." Sam said.
Oh you want me to say something? You wanna talk about this? About how you both agreed to die and leave me here, alone. For some reason I found it amusing and chuckled to myself, now they wanna talk? Really?
I finally turned to look at them.
"You wanna talk?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yes. Please." Dean said. I nodded and got out of the car, closing the door behind me.
I walked towards Dean and when I knew I was close enough I balled my fist and swung, hitting his jaw, then again. And again, hitting him anywhere I could get to before Sam charged me and pinned my arms behind me.
"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!" I screamed, eyes glued to Dean. I watched as the blood dripped off his lip. Instead of guilt I felt satisfaction. I wanted to hurt him, hell if he wasn't family I would have killed him.
"Emily. We couldn't just let you die." He said calmly.
"Oh and I'm supposed to walk away and let you two die?! I'm just as much a part of this fucking family as the two of you! If I had to leave then you should have had to leave, if you get to stay then I get to stay! FAMILY STICKS TOGETHER DEAN!" I yelled.
"Emily I'm sor-"
"No. You're not. Neither of you are… What you think its okay for you two to just decide to vote me out? I don't get to be a part of this family anymore? I don't get to make decisions? I don't get to stay and fight… fuck you. Fuck you both."
I ripped from Sam's grip and sat in the backseat, slamming the door behind me.
We drove for hours. I haven't looked at the boys once since we left. I haven't spoken. I rode with my headphones in for a while, then I laid down and pretended to be asleep, hoping by some chance I'd actually get some.
I had dozed on and off, but something in the boy's converstation caught my attention.
"So. Last night. You want to tell me what the hell you were talking about?" Sam asked. I assume it was a discussion they had after kicking me out.
"What do you mean?" Dean asked him.
"What do I mean? I mean you said you were tired of the job. And that it wasn't just because of Dad."
"Forget it." Dean groaned.
"No, I can't. No way."
"Come on man, I thought we were both going to die, you can't hold that over me."
"No, no, no, no. You can't pull that crap with me, man. You're talking."
"And what if I don't…"
"You can do it now while she's asleep… or I can wait till she's over this thing and fill her in and let her bug the shit out of you about it."
"I don't know, man. I just think maybe we ought to… go to the Grand Canyon." Seriously? The Grand Canyon… what the hell did I miss?
"What?"
"Yeah, you know, all this driving back and forth across country, you know I've never been to the Grand Canyon? Or we could go to T.J. Or Hollywood, see if we can bang Lindsey Lohan." Ew. I mean I know he has a thing for red heads but seriously? Have some better taste.
"You're not making any sense." Sam said. I agree.
"I just think we should take a break from all this. Why do we gotta get stuck with all the responsibility, you know? Why can't we live life a little bit?"
It was weird hearing Dean say all of this… Its so different from everything he stands for. He's always been about the job. He sometimes would take me to see things, give us a day off when he knew I needed it… but Dean, he was always just waiting for the next case to come up.
"Why are you saying all this?" Sam asked him.
I couldn't see Dean shaking his head but I assume that's what happened.
"No, no, no, no, Dean. You're my brother, all right? So whatever weight you're carrying, let me help a little bit."
"I can't. I promised." Promised who?
"Who?"
"Dad."
I felt like my heartbeat was now pounding in my ears.
"What are you talking about?"
"… Is she asleep?"
"Yes. Dean what the hell?" Sam asked as I felt Dean pull the car over to the side of the road and step out. Sam followed. Luckily I had the back windows cracked.
"Right before Dad died, he told me something." Dean said. There was a long pause.
"He told me something about you and Em…" Dean admitted, sounding torn. What the hell… I felt like I couldn't breathe, as if I was worried the sound would take away from me hearing the next words out of his mouth. I felt like my life depended on them.
"What? Dean, what did he tell you?"