CJ flopped onto her back with a huff, freshly showered and dressed in a pair of jeans, and a green flannel. She had no idea if the boys were going to bring her with them to get Sam, but she was willing to bet that they wouldn't.
A knock sounded on her closed door, and, after brushing the damp bangs from her face, she got to her feet to tug it open. Dean stood at the threshold, looking uncomfortable and slightly annoyed as he glanced toward the stairs, then back at her. "Get your stuff, we're heading to Illinois."
Or, maybe she should stop making bets about the future..
"For..?" she asked casually.
"My brother. Hurry up, I wanna leave an hour ago."
"At least you smell better," her quip was answered with a scoff, but the twitch of his lip didn't go unnoticed. Turning back inside the room, she grabbed the handle of her bag, not yet packed, and turned to follow him out after shutting the door quietly. It took her a half a minute to lace up the grey boots on the porch steps, and she dumped her bag in her side-car before she reached for her helmet.
"You comin' with us, girlie?"
Bobby's voice cut through her focus, and she turned to look at the duo packing into the rusty grey Chevelle. "I'm good-!" she called back loudly, motioning for her helmet and waving him off, "I don't like tight spaces-!"
"Suit yourself-!" the elder male chuffed, frowning a little as he helped himself into his car. Dean gave her a long, lingering look before following suit, and she fixed on her helmet and scarf before turning her new baby up.
The drive was long, with only one stop for a bathroom break. CJ managed to clean stock on their original and peanut butter M&Ms at the stop, much to the clerks confusion.
Once they'd gotten to the gritty love motel, her nose scrunched up in clear distaste. It was going to smell so bad, she already knew..
After Dean had managed to convince the clerk that his woman was seeing another man, he was given the room his brother had checked out and hurried toward the stairs. Bobby sighed sharply before following, CJ only a few steps behind. The second floor was just as gritty as the first, and as they rolled to a stop at door number 207, Dean immediately raised his fist to knock. The lone female leaned against the wall beside the doorway, out of sight of anyone inside.
The door opened almost immediately, and a nimble woman with pale skin and long dark hair opened the door in next to nothing, looking entirely blase, if not slightly annoyed by the two, gruff men standing in front of her. "So, where is it?"
The men exchanged a look, and Dean turned his, almost puppy-like confusion back towards her. "Where is what?"
"The pizza," her attitude was full blown, now, and CJ stepped directly into her line of sight with a dark glare while Ruby had kept her glare on Dean, "That apparently takes two guys to deliver-"
"You best watch that mouth of yours before I soak it in holy oil," the hiss was low, and calm, but it had shut the demon long enough to look at her, startled. CJ glared at her briefly, before turning her eyes up to Dean, "You sure this is the right room? Last I checked, your brother was neither female, nor a cunt."
"Excuse me," Ruby started, playing the part of the offended woman, but the ice that radiated from the human woman's voice was enough to chill bones, "You are excused. Though that heartfelt apology for your deplorable attitude should be aimed toward my handsome friends here, not myself."
"Hey. Is ev-"
A voice from inside brought everyone's eyes to the room behind the raven haired female, and Dean looked like ten bags of sand had fallen from his shoulders. Sam was taller, taller than CJ even anticipated, her head probably only coming to his lower pectorals. She could fit two of her into one of him. Yikes . His hair was longer than season one, obviously, the almost artfully messy curls pushed off of his forehead and left falling around his ears, nearly reaching the back of his neck.
The brothers locked eyes and there was a single instance of silence. Sam glanced at Bobby, likely asking if what was happening was really going on. It was quiet for two more counts, and the most relaxed, relieved smile pulled at Dean's lips.
"Heya, Sammy.."
Sam looked out of breath, his eyes wide and his pupils blown, and as Dean went forward, arms out to reach for a hug, Sam pulled a knife. Bobby was inside before CJ managed to, Sam having knocked Dean into a wall while the older hunter grasped at his arm.
"Who are you-?!" Sam's question was loud, and damn near shrill. CJ ignored them, her eyes trained on the raven-haired woman 'cowering' by the door.
"What, like you didn't do this-?" Dean scoffed, loudly, looking both annoyed and frustrated, as well as heartbroken and angry.
Ruby met her eyes, feeling the attention, and they stayed locked for several seconds.
"Do what-?!" Sam demanded sharply.
CJ gave her a slow, narrow glare, and casually lifted her hand to her shoulder, slowly lowering it down, to the raven haired woman's view, to show the tattoo imprinted into the skin there. The seal of Lucifer stood prominently in front of a pair of orange, and flaming red tinged wings.
The argument was now over, but Ruby was still staring at her, the flannel moved again to cover the design before she turned back to the fight casually, as if the exchange were never made. Ruby stared for only a few more seconds before she'd snapped back into persona.
They were hugging now. Cute. She almost cracked a sweet smile. But the weight of what she had done, what she will do, and what Sam had done probably less than an hour ago were weighing heavily against her chest.
How the fuck was she going to do this. For now, by the fear in Ruby's eyes, she would at least have a bit of rope to leash her with. Not to mention, so long as she doesn't parade around naked in front of the boys, they shouldn't ask.
Not at all a problem, considering they were sex walking and she prefered to stay alive long enough to meet Chuck and punch him in the face.
"So are you two, like, together?" Ruby's question broke CJ's revery and the most god-honest, relieved laughter broke out of her body. She'd laughed harder than she'd had in over three years.
" Ahahahahahahahahaha-! Oh wow, hahaha-! That will never get old-!"
"CJ, shut up-!" Dean barked the order almost automatically, but the way she had nearly crumpled to her knees in a sort of obvious relief had him reeling, what the Hell was up with this chick. Sam seemed startled more by the woman laughing than he was at the question, staring at CJ as if she were a sudden intruder on a precious moment, or a stranger who'd plopped at their breakfast table.
"So.. is that a yes..?" The raven tried after the giggling had died down. Sam was immediately able to shake his head, his breathing still a bit laborious from the sudden scuffle, but otherwise fine, "No-! No, he's.. He's my brother.."
"O-Oh.. got it.. I.. I guess.." Ruby played the act near flawlessly, both awkward and uncomfortable as she glanced between the two with skeptical eyes. "I should.. Probably go.." Sam almost wanted to call her out on it, but, knowing his brother and Bobby were both there, he knew not to give anything away.
"Yeah, yeah.." Sam nodded quickly, urging her out faster with his eyes as she did the awkward caught in a one-night stand routine. "That's probably a good idea, sorry.."
CJ watched Dean eye the woman up and down as she moved, a smug smile twitching across his lips as he glanced from his brother to the supposed babe.
Dressed and clutching her purse to her chest, Ruby was ushered toward the door by Sam. Locking eyes with the brunette, the raven managed a confused, narrow-eyed glance, though the brief, flickering expression of feral warning from the female brunette made her face go blank. 'Talk later,' CJ had mouthed the words just before Sam had turned, lifting her head to meet his openly curious and cautious eyes as he looked her up and down, probably immediately assuming hunter, if the way his guard flared up was any indication.
"So, call me," Ruby played the part of charmed, happy girl as Sam leaned in the doorway. They played up the act like second nature and CJ wanted both popcorn and a rotten sack of tomatoes. "Yeah, sure thing Kaitlyn.."
"Krissy.." the pang of hurt in the demon's voice almost had the futuresque-female snorting, a small, smug smile pulling at the corner of her mouth before she wiped it away into a dubious expression of intrigue.
"Right," Sam nodded, innocently. Ruby glanced around with a blank, awkward expression, turning to leave down the hall.
"I almost feel sorry for the poor bitch.. Key word being almost .." the quiet murmur was meant for Bobby's ears alone, and the older male sniffed a little in agreement when he met her glance.
"So tell me, what'd it cost?" Dean's question cut through the tense silence, Sam sitting almost stiffly on the faux tiger print chair as he gazed up at his brother in wonder, said male leaning casually against the motel counter.
"What the girl?" Sam smiled sheepishly as he leaned down to lace up his shoes, a laugh on his lips as he tried to play it off as embarrassment, "I don't pay, Dean."
"Not funny, Sam," was the only stern response he received.
"And I highly, highly doubt that.." CJ muttered, though it was in Enochian this time, getting a sharp, curious look from the older man beside her and offering him a slight grin. "Old language. Tell you later."
"To bring me back," Dean clarified sharply, arms still folded tightly across his chest, "What'd it cost?" the bags of sand had returned to his shoulders, though the strain was now in the coil of his muscles as he forced himself to remain stiff and stern. CJ almost wanted to give him a back rub. It looked painful.
"Is it just your soul or was it something worse?" Dean was so done and tired at this point.
"You think I made a deal?" Sam sounded genuinely confused, this time.
"That's exactly what we think," Bobby's confirmation only seemed to confuse him even more.
"Well, I didn't," Sam sounded almost indignant this time.
"Don't lie to me," Dean's voice was soft, but the faint trace of pleading lied reverently beneath his tone.
"I'm not lying," Sam assured them, firm and resolute. He was being honest, about that, at least.
"So what, now I'm off the hook and you're on it, is that it?" Dean insisted, his voice was still low, but he now took slow, measure steps toward his brother. "So now you're some demon's bitch boy, I never asked to be saved like this."
"You know Dean, I wish I had done it, alright-!" Sam was on his feet in a second, meeting his brother face to face with an offended, and fierce expression.
Dean was on him in a second, grasping at the lapels of his brother's shirt and getting in his face directly. "There's only one way that this could have gone down. Now tell the truth-!"
"I tried-!" Sam cut in, smacking his brothers hands away from himself and giving him a glare that nearly rivalled his, "I tried everything , that's the truth. I tried opening the devil's gate. Hell, I tried to bargain, Dean, but no demon would deal, alright-?!"
It was quite for a second, then Sam continued, his tone strained with the unshed tears and pain of those few months he'd managed to bottle up. "You were rotting in hell, Dean. For months- For months -! And I couldn't stop it.. So I'm sorry it wasn't me, alright..?" His tone lowered, eyes shifting as he blinked back tears, fists clenching as he grounded himself, his voice mello and somber. "Dean, I'm sorry.." The silence was thick, with emotion, unsaid words, and the words that had already been said.
After a few seconds, Dean had found the muscles in his jaw to work out the words he'd bitten back. "..It-.. It's okay, Sammy.." He swallowed thickly, giving his brother a shifty, but honest expression, "You don't have to apologize.. I do believe you."
"Now, don't get me wrong," Bobby's words drew the boy's attention as he spoke up for the first time since getting there, "I'm gladdened that Sam's soul remains intact, but.. That does raise a sticky question.." Eyes flickered between one another as it dawned on them, almost like a bolt of lightning. "If he didn't pull me out.." Dean muttered, turning his gaze between the two members of his family he had left, "..then what did?"
"...Well-!" The sharp clap got everyone's attention, drawing it immediately to the woman looking over a small selection of delivery-available establishment brochures as she perched on the kitchen counter, innocently swinging her legs to and fro as she spoke, "I vote we order pizza and beer and pretend tonight we didn't all try to knife each other and brush off hookers."
"Who is she?" Sam could only ask Dean once his attention had been brought back to the unfamiliar person. Something in his gut, almost suspiciously near his stomach, churned at the thought of being anywhere near her, but the strangest pull was there, as well.. Like a sort of instinctual magnet.
He didn't like it..
"That would be CJ, " Dean's lips curved around the name like an eloquent wine, though his eyes were sharp as he watched the woman with blatant disapproval, "She dug me out of the grave.." "Why was she there in the first place?" Sam muttered, turning his narrowed, suspicious eyes towards the woman who was humming softly, blatantly ignoring them both as she flipped through the options.. "Meat lovers or combination.. It's such a hard decision.. Why is pizza so hard to order after ten o'clock..?"
"That'd be cuz she felt the hellhounds tearing into Dean the night Lilith got him." Bobby's words got both of their attentions like a bomb, each giving them wide-eyed looks of shock, even Dean hadn't heard that little tidbit just yet. "Said that when she woke up, she felt a pull, followed it to the grave. Got a Hell of a time prying herself away just to get food, let alone get things she needed to live."
"She had a little campsite there when I woke up.. Just inches from the blast-site.. Just a tent and one bag.." Dean's observation was quiet as he turned back to watch the girl comparing only two fliers, now, "She torched the thing when I woke up and helped me get to Bobby's.. I.. didn't think at the time that she'd been actually waiting .."
"Yeah, well, she's got a lot of stuff goin' on that she needs to sort out, herself," Bobby gruffed, clearing his throat loudly before calling out to the woman, "The ladies are done gossipin' . Find anything good to eat?" "I'm caught between meat lovers and combination.." came the clear, dismayed cry as she flopped back onto the narrow counter, completely balanced as she threw an arm over her eyes, "Bobby.. Decide for me-! I'll buy, but I can never be in charge of picking menu items after ten o'clock-!"
"She's.. Something..?" Sam murmured. Dean flinched a little at the remark, but kept his otherwise annoyed look in place, "Oh yeah, a real somethin'.."
"Just get both, Sam's probably got beer," Bobby called, walking over to pluck the menu from her hand with a grimace, "This place gives me the jeebies.."