A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful readers who have chosen to favorite / follow this story and thank you so, so much for the reviews!

I do not own Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sherlock Holmes, or any other TV show, movie, book, and/or song referenced in this tale.

Chapter Warnings: Okay, so this chapter is a rough one, and I struggled with it but it seems to be the way the story was wanting to go. Several ideas ran through my mind, but the characters and overall arch of the tale seemed to just go in this direction. There is a human murder in this chapter, drug use, and Sam makes several questionable decisions. I struggled with Sam in this setting, however, there are aspects to his character in the show that led me to believe he could be convinced to make the decisions he does in this chapter. If any of these issues are a deal breaker on reading this chapter, I totally understand and I provided a summary at the end. Also, the name used in this chapter for a new character (kind of) is not from the character mentioned in the series itself, but the Marvel character, because Jack only knows of the Marvel character (this will make sense when read, I promise). Thank you so much for reading! If there are any suggestions or comments y'all have, I would love to hear them. I've already written the next few chapters, but they are angsty, and if y'all would like any fluff included in those chapters please let me know and I will include it to make the reading easier and more entertaining. Thank you again!

Chapter 14

Pride

"I must admit, doing a scientific experiment in the dungeon makes me feel a bit like Dr. Frankenstein." Victoria was trying to lighten the mood as Sam secured the wrist straps on the chair.

"I thought the creature was Frankenstein."

"Common misconception, Dean." Cas said as he flew in with Rowena and the supplies. "The original book by Mary Shelley also suggests that the Doctor was the monster, not the creature. Nor is he green."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Cas."

"You're welcome Dean."

Victoria and Sam shared knowing smiles.

Rowena looked at the men. "All right boys, you can go."

"I'm gonna stay."

"Samuel, this will not be pretty. I am separating Victoria's life blood. It will be painful. You should not be here."

"Sam, please." Victoria nodded reassuringly.

"I don't want you to be alone."

"I'll stay Sam."

Rowena looked at Castiel. "Yes, Angel, you can stay."

Sam pursed his lips and nodded. "Okay." He bent down and kissed Victoria's head.

Dean followed suit. They left. Each went to their rooms, just as Mary had done before. It was time to read their letters.

Castiel pulled a chair across from Victoria as Rowena set up the equipment. He took one of her hands in both of his.

"What will it be?"

Victoria smiled broadly at him, knowing she loved him as much as she had ever loved Ezekiel, just in an entirely different way. Not as a Guardian or protector, but as a friend. She felt pesky tears in her eyes and tried to blink them away. Damn, her emotions were just all hanging out now, weren't they?

Cas lowered his head and looked up at her with beautiful blue eyes, he whispered, in a husky voice even lower than normal, "I feel the same way too, Victoria." He smiled, causing one of the tears to roll down her cheeks.

"How about the memories that made you happy?"

Cas smiled. "You would like to share those with me?"

"At this moment, Castiel, I would like nothing more."

They both closed their eyes as Castiel recalled his favorite moments and shared them with her. It wasn't until they were both smiling and far off that Rowena began the siphoning.

Mary nervously began to open her letter. Tears dropped onto the envelope as she opened the golden wax seal. She unfolded the letter to see her husband's handwriting. Her hand clutched her chest.

My Dearest Mary,

Is isn't the same without you here. I should've known something was up because it just seemed different, it was still great, but you were somehow not you. I know that's not too articulate, but I just always know you. I'm glad you're back with the boys though, they need you. More than they ever needed me. I don't think I was always so great to them Mary. And I regret that. But I don't want you to regret anything. Be happy there, for me, for them. I'll be waiting on you. Tell Dean to take good care of Baby. And don't let him know what happened in the backseat. I'm waiting on you.

Love,

John.

P.S. Ezekiel says he's gonna wipe my memories of Victoria and these letters. So don't worry Baby, I won't be hurting. I love you so much honey, and don't even think about hurrying to see me.

Mary folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. She clutched it to her chest. She was laughing and crying at the same time. She missed Heaven, but these boys, her and John's boys, were here and they were real, and they needed her.

Dean plopped down on his bed and put the letter beside him and picked it up and then put it back down what must have been a dozen times. He finally got up the courage to break the wax seal and read the letter from his dad. The man he idolized, feared, and in spite of everything, loved.

Dean,

Hey kid. Just so you know, I can see Baby from up here in Heaven. You're doing good with her. Words don't come easy to your old man, you know that. But, I got a visit from an Angel today and she told me this was my one chance to tell you what you needed to hear. She said you and Sammy have done real good with taking care of everything going on in the world. She called you both heroes. I'll tell you son, I'm up here now and you're all of three and a half. Sammy is brand new. But when I saw your Angel today, I remembered everything. I remembered how you and Sammy ain't little no more, and how I made you hunt and enter the family business. I'm sorry Dean. You deserve the life you would've had if things were real up here. Ezekiel is gonna make me forget this ever happened. But, Dean, I'm glad your Angel girl came here. Because she's right, you are a hero. And I am so proud of you, Son.

Dad

Dean tried to swallow the tears that were in his throat. He put the letter back in the envelope and put it in his nightstand. He put his headphones on and closed his eyes.

Sam was worried about Victoria in the dungeon. He was worried about Dean reading the letter from his Dad. He was worried about Mary reading the letter from her husband. He was worried about Rowena doing the spell. He was even worried about Cas having to hear Victoria's screams of pain. The one thing he wasn't worried about? Himself. He sat at his table and opened John's letter.

Sammy,

I realized today that I have never been easy on you. I have never given you the credit you deserve for anything. I was always either too protective, or too strict. I made Dean take responsibility for you when I should've been there myself. I ain't gonna pretend I was a good dad, and I'm sorry you got stuck with me. Knowing it would've been different if I would've just raised my boys doesn't help. Your Angel told me that you and Dean are heroes, and I know you didn't get that from me. I was always so hopped up on vengeance that nothing else seemed to matter. But you and Dean? You two do what you do to help people. You're a good hunter Sam. And a good person. I know I didn't react the right way about things, and I know I didn't get it. But you should be proud of the man you have become. You should be proud of Stanford, of being so damn smart, and of saving the world. I know I am.

Dad

Sam smiled slightly as he put the letter on his table. He heard a slight knock at the door.

"Yeah, come in."

Jack peeked his head in, "Uncle Sam?"

"Hey, Jack."

"Dean and Mary's lights are both off. I was just wondering if maybe we could go somewhere for a while? I can hear Aunt Victoria."

Sam forgot Jack had super hearing. "Yeah, of course." Sam paused for a moment. "Actually, would you mind running an errand with me?"

Jack smiled broadly.

"Great job flying Jack. So, do you remember the plan?"

"I stay out here and knock on the door three times if anyone comes up, then fly to the back porch and you'll meet me there?"

"Perfect. I'll just be a minute, I have to pick up a present for Tor. So what is also not in the plan?"

"Tell Aunt Victoria we came here."

"Good."

Sam felt guilty. High level guilty. He had his gloves on and stealthily picked the lock. The man he was looking for was laying on a couch, arm outstretched, trash scattered around him. Sam dragged the man across the room against the wall and held him to the wall by his throat.

"What the hell man, damn."

Sam gave a super scary half smile that petrified the man to his very core.

"I ain't got no money."

"I don't want money."

Sam showed the man a picture of Victoria on his phone.

"Crap man, look, just look, what you want with her, we can talk."

Sam swiped and showed the man the next picture. It was one Mary took of Sam and Victoria laughing as they were cooking.

"Oh crap."

"Yeah."

"Look man, I was just doing my job okay? That creepy stuff, that was all Que. And she already bit his throat out man, okay, just…."

Sam didn't have time to deal with this man anymore. Sam pulled a syringe out of his pocket.

"Hell no, man, come on, I'll give you the dirt on the guy who hired us."

"Already killed him."

"What about the doctor?"

"Doctor?"

Sam heard three knocks.

Sam stuck the needle into the man's arm. He left it there as he placed the man back on the couch. He used the man's belt to make a tourniquet on the arm he stuck the syringe in. He used the guys' other hand to put his thumb prints on the syringe to make it seem like he injected himself. Sam checked to make sure he left nothing behind and then he headed to the back porch.

Jack was petting a dog that looked like a panther.

Crap. He thought. Sam couldn't leave the dog.

"Bring him with us, that's the present."

Jack was all smiles as he flew back to the bunker.

Victoria's pain was offset by the memories Castiel showed her. She got to see the world being formed, the fish crawl onto dry land. The fish Castiel was very careful not to step on, following the instruction of his older brothers.

She got to see Castiel's favorite Heaven. Of course, this would be Castiel's favorite Heaven, it was calm, peaceful, and beautiful.

She also got to see him as he rescued Dean from Hell, and how the seraph had rebuilt Dean and left his hand print on Dean's shoulder. She felt the Angel's immediate affection for the Righteous Man. The man the Angel was sent to rescue, and the man who became his best friend.

She saw when a disheveled Cas met Dean for the first time in a barn. Even though the angel was shot and stabbed, he was relieved to see the healthy, safe Dean through the eyes of his vessel.

She watched, and felt, as he flew for the simple pleasure of it. She felt the glory of his wings as they took flight. His wings were strong, beautiful, effortless. She experienced the wind in her face as he flew over the world, the oceans seemed tiny, and infinite at the same time.

She saw as he healed human after human, giving them a renewed life. The healing gave him joy, warmth, a feeling of usefulness.

He included the moment he met her. The shock he felt at meeting a Chosen One, and the responsibility of helping her. He shared the elation and freedom he felt when she healed his wings and grace.

When Sam had first hugged him. This was especially meaningful to him because he cherished his relationship with Sam and worried he and Sam would never be friends.

When he and Dean went to a brothel. He shared the moment Dean's laugh made him feel a tinge of humanity.

When Gabriel and he rode in his car. He thought of it as his "Sam and Dean" moment.

And then, it was all over.

"I think we're done dearies."

Castiel began to unfasten the bindings on the chair.

Rowena held up the glass with the goo. It was moving.

"That's disturbing."

"It doesn't make for too pretty of a picture. But this glass is spelled, should be unbreakable."

Cas narrowed his eyes, "Should?"

"Nothing is infallible, Castiel."

Victoria stood up. "What do we do with it?"

"I suggest you put it where all the other dangerous things in this bunker go." The witch handed her the glass.

Victoria swallowed her pride at working with supernaturals, "Thank you, Rowena."

"You're welcome dear. I know I don't have to mention this, but you'll be on my side too, if I ever need you?"

Victoria nodded solemnly, sincerely.

"Now, if you'll just fly me home?" Cas nodded. And with a whoosh, they were gone.

Victoria held the evil to her chest as if it were made of well, glass. Just as she had gotten upstairs, she was almost ran over by a panther.

Victoria was not one to be dramatic. She had fought countless monsters, walked into situations having no idea what she was doing with no fear. But the panther. Made her scream. Loud.

Dean came rushing out of his room, gun drawn. Mary did the same.

"Tor, what the hell?"

"Panther."

Dean looked at her in disbelief. A werewolf, sure. Vampire, no prob. But this? Really?

"A panther, Dean. A panther. There's a panther. It ran right by me, and I almost dropped the evil. Just get the panther, please. Don't kill the panther, just send him outside."

Dean bit his bottom lip. "A panther?"

Sam and Jack came running into the room. Sam was breathless.

"Hey, uh, any chance you saw a dog, come by here?"

A loud crash was heard in the kitchen.

With his paws on the counter, the black pit bull with golden eyes, who did look very much like a panther, was eating the rest of Dean's apple pie.

Dean turned to Sam as he put his gun in his waistband. "Seriously man?!"

"It's Aunt Victoria's present!" Jack interjected, excitedly.

Sam smiled with a hint of embarrassment as he scratched his chin. "Surprise?"

Victoria was still clutching her evil. What even was her life? Had Sam lost his mind? She tilted her head to examine him more closely. Was all this too much for him?

"Sammy, we need to talk. Family meeting, your room, now."

The dog was laying at the foot of Sam's bed. Jack was rubbing his belly and Sam and Victoria were leaned against the headboard. Sam had his arm around her shoulders and she was still clutching the evil.

Dean and Mary sat on the couch while Cas sat at the table, eyeing the glass jar.

"We didn't agree on a dog, Sam. It almost made Victoria drop the sludge."

Dean Winchester was tired. He had a stressful day. He wanted to sleep, but now he had to deal with a panther his brother brought home. Went out and actively sought even. Sam wouldn't do that.

Dean narrowed his eyes. He needed them out.

"You know what man, it doesn't even matter. Okay, the kid loves him. We'll figure it out in the morning. After sleep. I uh, overreacted."

Mary looked at him askew. Dean slightly shook his head, barely enough to notice.

Dean went and got the glass from Tor. The goo seemed attracted to her, as if the container had a mind of its own. He couldn't physically take it. Tor wasn't holding onto it really; it just wouldn't budge.

"Cas?"

The angel took the container away easily. Dean scoffed as he looked at his little brother.

"Come on man, you know where to put this better than we do."

Sam followed the two out of the room.

In the basement, after Sam had safely stowed the evil, Dean let it out, "What's the deal man? Hum?"

Cas looked back and forth between the brothers.

"I did something stupid."

"Yeah, I figured that from the Jungle Book in your room."

Sam hesitated but figured the truth would be best, it usually was with this family. "A while ago I found out who the other guy was that kidnapped Tor."

"What the hell? From where?"

"Agent Brooks."

"She didn't arrest him?"

"I asked her not to." Sam looked to the ground. "Today, while everyone else was busy, I went there."

"How?" Cas asked, eyes narrowing.

"You know how, Cas. I wanted you, but I knew you'd try to stop me."

Cas's look of disappointment penetrated Sam's soul. He had to look away from the angel.

"You used Jack? Sam, what were you thinking?"

"He didn't see anything." Sam paused. "He waited outside."

"I know you're like his uncle but, man, come on. Cas should've been in on this."

"Sam is right Dean, I would've said no." Cas looked to Sam. "For involving Jack, I would've said no. I would have taken you. I understand. You are not the only one here who cares deeply for Victoria."

"We could've all been in on this man."

Sam scoffed. "Really Dean, you could have all been in on murder?"

"We're a team, Sammy."

"You would've tried to stop me."

Dean couldn't argue. "It is what it is right? So, now we deal with the damage. What is the damage Sam?"

"Nothing, I made it look like an overdose. And Jack thinks we were picking up the dog as a present for Tor."

Dean scrunched up his face and rubbed his forehead. "And what whopper of a lie are we going to have to remember about the dog? That you just, what, temporarily went out of your mind?"

"Why not Dean? Haven't I earned it?"

Dean hated this part. The part that teetered on knowing he was right and guilt. Yes, Sam deserved a mental breakdown. But, damnit, he was right about the dog.

They all turned when they noticed Victoria behind them. She went to Sam and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Our family meeting was a bust." She said with a slight smile.

Sam chuckled slightly.

"I will make you a replacement pie, Dean. A better one. One without store-bought crust. I think I understand about the dog, Sam. Who our collective son named Loki, by the way."

Dean tried to cover up his grin. Loki was his favorite Marvel character too.

"You do?" Because Sam didn't.

"Yes. I think, after everything that has gone on the past few weeks, you and Jack just wanted some type of normalcy. And of course, you are going to adopt a type of dog that needs a chance. I mean, not just any family would adopt a dog that looks like a literal panther. And Mary and I talked, one of us will always be here with him, and if not, I will make sure our cases equip us with a dog-friendly hotel."

Sam marveled at the wonderfulness of this woman. His woman.

"I for one, am exhausted. And I can feel the evil calling to me in this room. It's creepy. So, lets all go to bed maybe?"

She noticed Castiel's long face.

"Castiel, what is wrong?"

"It is nothing Victoria."

She looked at him quizzically.

He gave in. "I rented a copy of the original Frankenstein movie and I was hoping we could watch it."

They all smiled broadly at that. And that is exactly what they did.

But all throughout, Sam kept repeating one word in his head: "Doctor".

Chapter Summary: Victoria has the evil removed from her blood by Rowena. Sam kills the second man that kidnapped Tor and ends up taking the man's dog back to the bunker. Dean and Cas discover what Sam did. Victoria and Mary accept the dog, which they name Loki (not based on Loki from the series, the Marvel character).