Ch 24
"I'll stay here. I'm not done talking to him yet, I'll be nice I promise." River walked the brothers to the Impala, "Don't lose any of my socks."
Sam and Dean strode into the laundromat and staked out a row of washing machines, they started separating laundry into lites and darks and tossing the piles into the waiting drums. "Did you just smell her shirt?" Sam asked, Dean tossed the piece of clothing along with the underwear he still had in his back pocket into the washer.
"It smells like her shampoo. Shut up." They slammed the lids closed and Dean sat on top of one of the machines and pulled the pages Chuck had given him out of his pocket. After a moment he looked up at his younger brother, "I'm sitting at a laundromat reading about myself sitting at a laundromat reading about myself. My head hurts."
"There's gotta be something this guys not telling us," Sam said putting a few quarters in the washing machine.
"River'll get him to talk. No way, listen to this dude: 'Sam threw his gigantic darks into the machine. He was starting to have doubts about Chuck. 'River'll get him to talk,' Dean told his younger brother."
"Shut up," Sam said growing more aggravated.
" 'Shut up,' Sam said. Guess what you do next?" Dean said reading from Chuck's pages. Sam turned his back on Dean his face brooding and pensive and hey, you just thought I was a dick."
"Hmm, he's pretty good." Sam turned back around smiling. "What's River doing? She hasn't started to waterboard him right?"
Dean scanned through the pages, "The author and the red headed hunter sat silently across from each other at the cluttered dining room table. Steaming cups of coffee in front of each. Her blue eyes pierced directly into his soul and he swallowed audibly. 'You're a lot more intense then I envisioned.' The author said nervously." Dean laughed.
"Sounds about right." Sam said. "I don't know how someone so short can be so scary sometimes."
River gripped the coffee cup and took a sip of the bitter liquid. "Did you write anything about what happened after…after Lilith."
"I uh, I didn't write anything about Dean being in hell if thats what you mean," Chuck replied.
"How about anything about me? Do you know who healed me?" she asked, worrying her lower lip with her teeth.
"No, not really. I mean…it's hard to explain how I write. I get headaches, I drink, I pass out and sometimes things come to me in my dreams. I dreamt of you being surrounded by light, I thought you were dying. Going to heaven or something but then a few weeks later I dreamt of you and Dean in your apartment."
River nodded and let out a deep breath, "You don't happen to have any Xanax do you?"
"She's really worried about that isn't she?" Sam said once Dean finished reading aloud.
Dean nodded his head, "Yeah, I guess. She doesn't talk about it. I think she's worried she owes someone." The dryer buzzed and the brothers pulled their fresh laundry out, taking the clothes out and rolling them up. Deans phone rang in his pocket and he quickly answered it, "Hey princess, you ok?"
"Yeah, Chuck just had like a vision or something. I think you should come back ASAP. He's kind of freaking out," River said quickly into the phone. Dean could hear frantic clicking and clacking in the background and Chuck muttering to himself.
The brothers arrived back at Chucks small home a while later. River answered the door and led them into Chucks study. "Writing was so much easier before I knew it was all real," Chuck started, nervously gripping a stack of papers in his hand. "You especially are not going to like this." He said looking at Dean.
Dean sat on the arm of the chair River was occupying and stared at the author, "I didn't like Hell. I can handle this."
Chuck took a deep breath, "It's Lilith. She's coming for Sam."
River sat forward, "Coming to kill him?"
"When?" Dean added.
"Tonight." Chuck told them quietly.
"She's just gonna show up here?" River repeated her hands subconsciously going to rub the tightening sensation in her stomach.
Chuck sat down heavily on his couch and adjusted his reading glasses, "Uh…Lilith patted the bed seductively. Unable to deny his desire and the throbbing bulge in his jeans Sam succumbed and they sank into the fiery throes of demonic passion." River's eyes went round and she glanced between Sam who was laughing and Dean who's shocked face mirrored her own.
"You think this is funny?" Dean asked his brother.
"You don't?" Sam asked still laughing. "Fiery demonic passion? Come on!"
"Wait, wait…Lilith is a little girl…"
Chuck flattened his paper and scanned a few lines, "No, this time she's a comely dental hygienist from Bloomington, Indiana."
"Great. Awesome." River muttered. "What comes after his demonic booty call?"
Sam sent a bitch face at River which she ignored. "I don't know it hasn't come to me yet." Chuck answered.
"Fine. Lets just…we'll read what you got so far and go from there." Dean said taking the stack of papers from Chuck.
"You can't be serious. This is ridiculous." Sam muttered.
"We need to get on the road and get as far away from here as possible before tonight," River said pulling her jacket on and looking at Dean. He nodded in agreement and the three hunters left the authors home, Sam still muttering angrily.
"Listen to this crap, 'Dean scratched absently at the pink flowered bandaids on his forehead. The mini-van accident hadn't really been that bad but he was still seeing stars. River helped him into the passenger seat and as she drove away the plastic tarp taped to the back window fluttered like a crows wing." Sam said looking at his brother.
"So?" River asked from the backseat.
"So, I've seen Dean gushing blood and he'd use duct tape and dirty bar rag before pink flowery bandaids," Sam said, "A plastic tarp taped to the car and letting you drive while he's still conscious. No way."
Dean shrugged, "So maybe he's got the details wrong but he has been right about everything else so far. No ways he's gonna strike out now."
"So we're just gonna run?" Sam said exasperated. Dean edged the car faster on the blacktop they were now only a few miles from the town limit.
"What else are we supposed to do, Sam? I want that bitch dead, I want to rip her spleen out with my bare hands…but we have nothing to fight her with. We are in no shape to win this fight," River said looking across the seat at the big hunter. The Impala crested a hill and Dean tapped the breaks, a line of police cars blocked the road. River grabbed the pages from Sam's hands and began reading quickly.
"What seems to be the problem?" Dean asked the Sheriffs deputy that had ambled up to his open window.
"Bridge is out," River told him from the backseat.
The Sheriffs deputy nodded, "Yes ma'am."
"Is there a detour? A backroad to get to the highway? We just need to get outta town," Dean said.
"No," River answered.
" 'fraid not. Highways on the other side of this river. You need to cross the bridge to get across," the deputy smiled amiably at them. "Guess you three will have to spend the night in town."
"What do we do now?" Sam asked.
"Looks like we go get lunch," River replied setting the stack of pages down on her lap. She briefly met Dean's green eyes in the rearview mirror before he backed the car away from the line of flashing police lights.
They stopped at a diner back in town, River and Dean reading through Chucks pages.
"So maybe we're working harder instead of smarter," River said after a few moments of reading. The brothers looked up at her waiting for her to continue, "This is a roadmap of what puts us on Lilith's path. We need to get off the path."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked.
Dean nodded catching on,"It's a blueprint of what not to do. Chuck writes we go left then we should go right. It's opposite day." Sam tilted his head and agreed. "This says we get in a fight, so no fighting. Sorry no sex later," Dean said turning to River. She shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of coffee.
Sam looked over the paper in Dean's hand, "No bacon cheeseburger for you."
"Yeah, no problem. I'll uh I'll just order something opposite." He said smiling. The waitress came up to their booth a moment later ready to take their orders. "What's good here?" Dean asked.
"Well if you like burgers, our bacon cheeseburger is the best in the county."
River and Sam smiled at Dean's internal struggle. "I'll take the short stack special," River told her.
"I'll take the Cobb salad," Sam said handing over his menu. The waitress turned to Dean, "And you hun?"
"I will take …the Veggie Tofu Burger," he grimaced. The waitress smiled and took their orders to the kitchen.
"That's what I wanted to get. Stupid book," River muttered.
"This is ridiculous." Sam told them again.
Dean raised his eyebrows and looked at his younger brother, "Lilith is ridiculous?"
"Me hooking up with her is," Sam replied.
River let out a quick humorless laugh, "Is Ruby really that different from Lilith? They're both soulless, backstabbing whor-"
"Enough, no fighting remember?" Dean cut her off. Sam and River stared quietly at each other for a moment.
"This is an opportunity that you two are ignoring," Sam said. "For the first time we know exactly when and where Lilith is going to be."
"And?" Dean said.
"And we shouldn't be running or hiding. We should be planning our move, we can get the jump on her."
"How? And with what?" River said, "She ripped me apart from the inside out last time, Sam. What if she does it to one of you this time, huh? Or more hellhounds. We are not strong enough to fight her right now." She sat back as the waitress returned with plates of food and started setting them down.
Dean eyed his tofu burger warily before taking a bite. He groaned in satisfaction, "Oh my god, babe you're right tofu is awesome."
"Told you," River said pouring syrup on her pancakes.
The waitress ran back up to their table as Dean took another huge bite, "Oh my gosh I am so sorry! I gave you the wrong plate. Thats a bacon cheeseburger."
"Shit," River muttered as the waitress took the plate away.
"So the book says Lilith finds Sam at 'The Red Motel'," River read from the backseat.
"Ok well, we'll steer clear of that one then," Dean pulled the Impala into the Toreador motel parking lot.
"Seriously dude, this place charges by the hour," Sam grumbled as they piled into the room.
"Deal with it," River replied scanning the room for anything overtly suspicious. She grabbed some hex bags out of her duffle and threw one to Dean. They placed them around the room and then laid salt lines in front of the windows and doors.
"So I'm just supposed to stay here all night?" Sam asked.
Dean nodded, "Yep. Hex bags and salt lines should Lilith proof the room. You stay here and no research! Use the magic fingers. Watch 'Casa Erotica'. Do whatever you want but you're staying here."
River grabbed Sam's laptop and stuffed it into her own bag and nodded at Dean. "Yeah, well where the hell are two going? The book says you have a quickie in the front seat remember?"
"Jesus Christ Sam, We are professionals. We can contain our wild sexual appetites for one evening," River snarked back. "The book also says Dean and me drive around all day. He's gonna park the Impala and we are going back to that coffeeshop in town that has WiFi. Unless you want me to stay here and braid your hair and play truth or dare." Sam glowered down at her and Dean laughed.
"Behave, No homework. Watch some porn." Dean said over his shoulder as he and River left Sam in the motel room. "Maybe we could screw around in the backseat?" Dean said sliding in behind the steering wheel and starting the car.
"No," River replied. "Stick to the plan, Winchester."
"Park the car and I'll go order our coffee," River leaned across the seat and gave Dean a quick kiss, biting gently at his lower lip. He swatted her ass as she climbed out of the Impala and she turned around, "Behave, Winchester." Dean grunted and pulled the car away from the curb, cruising down the block to find a parking spot. He took care making sure the windows were rolled up and all the doors locked before turning away from his beloved Baby. He made it half way across the street before the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The hunter spun on his heels and saw a couple punk kids trying to jimmy the drivers door open on his Baby.
"Hey, you little shits get the fuck away from my car before I gank-" The mini van came out of nowhere, slamming into Dean and pushing him up on to the hood before he landed on the hard asphalt. He groaned out "Son of a bitch" and then saw blackness.
"You wanted to see me?" Chuck stood outside the motel room looking up at Sam's towering frame.
"Yeah, yeah. Come in," Sam stood aside and let the author into his room. "I just wanted to talk to you. I need to know what you've seen about me…when I'm not with Dean and River."
Chuck smiled nervously, "You mean the demon blood?"
Sam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "You didn't tell them?"
"I didn't even put in the books, Sam. I was afraid it would make you less sympathetic. I mean come on, sucking blood. You have to know thats wrong."
"I know but…I can't stop. Not now. I can feel it in me and if it helps us stop Lilith and stop the freaking apocalypse. Well…"
"I thought the Angels said that's Deans job," Chuck asked.
"Yeah, well Dean's not Dean. Not lately, not since he got out of Hell. There's something missing. He needs help."
"You feel like its all up to you? Thats quite a weight to carry." Chuck sat down wearily across from Sam. "You have Dean and River and they have you."
"Dean and River need to figure their own shit out. They love each other, they can't stand each other…" Sam shook his head again, "Is it up to me? Does it rest on my shoulders?"
Chuck looked at him sadly, "I don't know. I haven't seen that far yet but…it seems to be the way the story is headed."
"Son of a bitch. How hard is to park the fucking car and come back…" River grumbled angrily, dialing Dean's phone again. He still hadn't returned to the coffee shop and their drinks were rapidly cooling. She saw a small group of people rush by outside and then more on the opposite side of the street. "Shit." She forgot about the coffee and ran out of the shop following the people running to join a rapidly growing crowd in the middle of the street where a minivan sat idling. "Move! Now. Let me through god damn it!" River elbowed her way through the throng of onlookers, blood rushing in her ears and heart rate racketing up.
A blonde woman was leaning over and unmoving flannel clad figure laying the street, "Don't move. You'll be ok." A little girl kneeled next to her and was applying something to the figures head.
"Dean!" River squatted next to him, checking his pulse and prying his eyelids open, "What the hell happened?"
Dean groaned and murmured, "Stars…"
"He…he came out of nowhere. He's gonna be ok," the woman said whipping her head to look at River, her gaudy silver star earrings shining in the sunlight. The little girl pressed another bandaid to Dean's forehead.
"Pink flowery bandaids…Dean get up. We need to get the hell out of here," She grabbed him under his shoulder and he wobbled when they stood up, his big frame slumping down on her, "Don't freak out."
"What?" Dean asked looked up at his car. The back window had been smashed out and little chunks of glass littered the street. "I'm gonna gank those little shits." River helped him limp to the car. "I'm driving."
"Nope. You're not. 'Cause the book says you're not and so far we are following the Yellow brick road to a T no matter what we do." She pushed him into the passenger seat and popped the trunk, fishing around until she found a roll of duct tape and plastic sheeting. Items probably no normal person would have in their trunk but were considered basic Hunter supplies when you never knew if you'd have a body to dispose of. She taped what she could reach and then got in behind the wheel, "Buckle up Buttercup. We're gonna check in on Dr. Seuss."
Dean glared at River the entire drive back to Chuck's house as she sang happily to a Journey song and ignored him. She kicked Chucks back door in, not having the patience to pick the lock and helped Dean sit in a lumpy arm chair. "Pink looks good on you," she said smiling as she peeled off the bandaids that littered the side of his face. They heard the front door unlock and turned towards Chucks shuffling footsteps. The author appeared a moment later, grasping a bottle of liquor wrapped in a telltale paper sack and a six pack of beer.
"Oh. Hello," Chuck said nervously fumbling with his bundles, "I wasn't uhh…"
"What? Expecting us? Sure you were." River said standing up, Dean close behind her.
"You knew we'd be here because you seem to know everything thats gonna happen. And your not telling us something," Dean surged forward and grabbed Chuck by his jacket and slammed him into the wall.
"How are you doing it!" River yelled over Dean's shoulder.
"I'm not doing anything! I swear!" Chuck screamed back. Dean growled and picked the man up, spinning him effortlessly and tossing him onto the couch.
"Dean! Don't hurt him!" a gravelly voice commanded. The hunters turned away from the frightened author and faced Castiel. "This man is to be protected."
"What the hell for, Cas?" River asked.
"He is a prophet of the lord," the angel continued.
"Bullshit. He's…this a prophet of the lord? The Lord has high standards huh Cas?" River rolled her eyes.
"It's an honor to meet you Chuck. I admire your…work." Cas continued picking up a discarded paperback and reverently turning the pages.
"How much have you read, Cas?" River asked.
"I am familiar with most of the volumes. However, I have not been able to figure out what a Grumpy Bear is and why they would be on your undergarments." Castiel replied a smile tugging at the corners of his serious mouth.
"That's great. Thats real great, even the freaking angels know about my underwear," she flung a discarded magazine at Chuck. He dodged out of the way of the flying periodical and muttered a hasty 'Sorry.' "And you, who said you could get a sense of humor?" She asked taking the paperback out of Castiel's hand and throwing it into another corner of the room.
"Wait, did you know about this Chuck?" Dean asked pushing past Castiel.
"I may have," Chuck cleared his throat nervously, "I may have seen some of this. But it was too…too preposterous. Writing myself into the story, ok. King's done it, why couldn't I? But being a prophet that's like Bill O'Riley level douchiness." Chuck opened his bottle of cheap whiskey and sloshed some into his waiting glass before choking down a large gulp.
"This is guy is deciding our fate?" Dean asked looking down at Chucks twitching, nervous form.
"He is not deciding your fate. He is a mouth piece for the Word," Castiel said calmly.
"The Word? Like the Word of God? The Chuck Shurley New New Testament?" Dean asked taking the bottle of whiskey out of Chuck's shaking hands and giving it to River.
"These books will come to be known as 'The Winchester Gospel'."
"Are you kidding me?" the three humans echoed.
Chuck pushed himself up from his chair and grabbed the bottle back from River, "Excuse me. I just…I need to get drunk." He hurried out of his sitting room and ran upstairs away from the hunters and the angel.
"Ok. Fuck it. How do we stop it?" River asked watching Chucks retreat.
"Stop what? Lilith?" Castiel asked.
"Yeah Lilith and Sam and whatever demonic fuckery thats gonna go down tonight."
"You can't stop it. As the prophet has seen it so shall it come to pass," Castiel answered. River and Dean exchanged a look and sat down on Chucks ratty couch.
"If…bear with me here, if this has all been prophecy why did Lilith make me the offer? Chuck had already written the book, there was no way to change any of it. Why make the offer if I didn't really have a choice?"
"You had your part to play Lilith knew that," Castiel replied.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"River, what does it matter. It's done," Dean told her.
"No. Castiel I deserve to know. What was my part in the prophecy?"
Castiel sat down, "John Winchester went to hell willingly to save his son. His greatest act of love as a father." Dean shifted in his seat. "John was supposed to be the one to break the first seal but he wouldn't succumb. Sam died and Dean sold his soul to bring him back. Out of love? Yes. But not the pure love of a parent for their child, it was tinged with selfishness. Dean couldn't imagine being the only one left, alone his family dead and gone."
"Castiel stop, please." Dean told him.
"Shut the fuck up, Winchester." River told him.
"The prophecy states that the righteous man will be sent to hell in the name of purest love. Your love for your unborn sons was your part. You saved them from a horrendous, unimaginable fate and your reward was waiting for you in heaven. You can imagine our surprise when you never checked in." Castiel finished.
"River, princess. It's not your fault," Dean said trying to take Rivers shaking hands in his own. She choked back a sob, "I…I need to get some air." She stood up quickly and walked out the front door slamming it behind her.
"Shit," Dean murmured running his hands tiredly through his hair. "She'll be ok. She just needs a minute." He said more to himself than the silent angel. "Cas, if the demon blade killed Alastair wouldn't it work on Lilith?"
"The demon blade injured Alastair. But it didn't kill him, Dean," the angels blue eyes narrowed in concern. "Sam killed Alastair, he destroyed the demon." Dean sat back stiffly, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
The drive back to the motel was mostly silent. The moon was out and reflected on the dark road as Dean pressed the Impala past the speed limit. Rivers was startled out of her thoughts when "Hey Macarena!" rang loudly from the phone in her pocket. She sighed pulling the phone out of her pocket and declined the call. Dean looked at her quizzically. "It's Loki. I don't feel like talkin' to him right now." She set the phone down on the seat between her and Dean. It started ringing again, vibrating off the seat. She grabbed it and tried to silence the phone but it kept belting out "Hey Macarena" at full volume. "Shit. Stupid…" Deans phone also started buzzing and he pulled it out grimacing when the same annoying tune screeched out. Muffled rings and vibrating from the glovebox as their stash of spare phones all rang in tune.
"What the hell?" Dean yelled angrily as the car radio also blasted on "When I dance they call me Macarena/And the boys-". Dean spun the dial to turn the volume down, it did nothing, he started pounding on the buttons. "Get him the hell outta my car!" he roared.
"I can't! He's throwing a temper tantrum. I don't wanna talk to you. You over stepping, egotistical asshat!" she yelled at the radio. The car went instantly silent and the hunters looked at each other. "Fuck. I didn't mean that," River mumbled rubbing her eyes tiredly. Dean pulled into the parking lot a moment later.
"You need better friends." Dean told her.
"He's my best friend." River said quietly climbing out of the car. She looked over the hood of the car at the blinking motel sign, "Dean look." Dean turned and saw the motel sign. Most of 'The Toreador Motel' halogen lights had burned out and it now read 'The R-E-D Motel'. Dean slammed his car door and walked towards Sam's motel room.
"Come on. We're gettin' outta here," Dean ordered his younger brother. River started grabbing their bags and looking around the room.
"What? Where?" Sam asked.
"Anywhere. We'll swim if we have to," Dean replied.
"Where the hell are the hex bags Sam?" River asked.
Sam turned towards her, "I burned them."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because if Lilith is coming and its a big 'IF'-" Sam started.
Dean stood in front of his younger brother, hands on his hips, "Oh no. No no no. It's more than an if. Chuck isn't some psychic cheesehead he's a prophet."
"What?" Sam asked in disbelief.
"Cas showed up at Chucks. It's true. Chuck Shurely is a prophet of the Lord and currently writing the Winchester Gospel," River told him.
"Ok," Sam said slowly.
"Ok, Then lets get our shit and get out of here," Dean said grabbing Rivers hand and walking towards the door.
"No." River and Dean turned back towards Sam.
"Lilith is coming her and she will slaughter you. Slaughter all of us," River said.
"Maybe she will. Maybe she won't. I say bring her on."
"Sam!" Dean yelled annoyed at his stubborn younger brother. "What? You think you can take her?"
"I don't know…what is this? You think I'll go dark side?" Sam asked.
"Yes," Dean and River answered. Dean turned to look at River and she shrugged her shoulders and nodded. "Yes. We do. The way you've been acting. The things you've been doing." Sam shifted on his feet. "River told me you threw her out of our room for that bitch Ruby. You left her behind. And Alastair? Cas said you ripped him apart like it was nothing. You lied about the knife."
"Dean, it's not like that." Sam said holding his hands out defensively.
"Oh no? You've been using your psychic powers despite being by warned by Cas. And you're getting stronger and we don't know why and we don't know how. Tell me whats it like then Sammy 'cause I'm at a total loss." The taller hunter took a deep breath and worked his jaw back and forth remaining silent. "Are you comin' or not?" Dean demanded.
"No." Sam answered defiantly. Dean threw his duffle bag down and stormed out of the room.
"River, I can do this."
She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold. "Maybe you can but maybe you shouldn't. After everything he's done for you…" She shook her head and left the room.
Dean was standing in the middle of the parking lot, hands out stretched, eyes closed, "Look, I need help. Please. Please help us. I'm standing here praying like an idiot because I am out of options." River walked quietly towards him not wanting to interrupt his private moment.
"Holy fu-Cas!" she stumbled backwards when Castiel appeared in front of her with a great flap of invisible wings. Dean opened his eyes and looked at the other two. River walked in a great birth around Cas, ducking under something only she could see, eyes tracing up and behind the angel."It's like trying to touch moonbeams." She timidly reached her fingers out and ran them through the air smiling, "Impressive wingspan Castiel."
"You should see my true form," he replied.
River laughed again, "I'd like to keep my eyes in my head if you don't mind."
"Cas, thank you for coming." Dean told the angel.
Cas nodded, "Prayer is a sign of faith, Dean. This is a good thing."
"Does that mean you'll help me?"
"I don't know what you expect me to do."
"Get Sam the hell out of here before Lilith shows up." Dean replied.
"This is prophecy. I can not interfere."
Dean took a step closer to the angel, "You have tested me. Thrown me all over the place. Almost got me killed, again. And I haven't asked for anything. But I am asking you know please help me."
"I can not. It is not with in my power," Cas shook his head.
"Why? Because of 'divine prophecy'?" River asked the angel.
"Yes. I'm sorry," Castiel answered.
"Fuck you. Fuck your mission, fuck your god." River curled her lip in disgust and turned away from the angel.
"So we just sit around and wait for Lilith to rip us apart, again? Well you know what when the time comes and you need my help, don't bother asking." Dean brushed past the trench coated angel and headed back towards their motel room.
"Dean! Dean, you must understand why I can not interfere." Castiel said harshly. The hunters stopped and looked back at the angel. "Prophets are very special. They are protected."
"I get that!" Dean spat at the angel.
"If anything, anything at all threatens a prophet. An archangel will appear." River took a sharp breath stopping herself before she subconsciously touched the small dangling charm around her neck. "They are fierce. They are absolute. They are most heavens most terrifying weapon."
"These archangels are tied to prophets?" Dean asked.
"Yes," Castiel nodded slowly.
"So if a prophet and a demon were in the same room…"
"Then heavens most fearsome wrath would rain down on that demon." Castiel's eyebrows raised and he shrugged his shoulders slightly, a movement that was so human on the normally stoic angel that River smiled. "Just so you understand why I can't help."
"Thanks Cas," River stepped forward and gave him a lite kiss on the cheek.
"Good luck," he told them before disappearing.
"Lets go get Dr. Seuss," Dean said. They hurried back to the Impala and sped across town to Chucks house. Dean kicked in the front door this time and they found Chuck half drunk on his couch, sadly clutching his bottle of cheap whiskey.
"Oh god, what are you doing here? I didn't write this," Chuck asked clutching his whiskey bottle tighter.
"You're coming with us, Chucky." River smiled brightly down at him as Dean grabbed him by his jacket.
"What? No. Where?" he asked nervously pushing his glasses up his nose.
"Back to the motel with us." Dean answered smiling and gently straightening out the prophets clothes.
Chuck shook his head, "No. That's where Lilith is."
"We need you to help us get rid of her." River grasped him gently around the shoulders.
"No. Hell no. I know what she is capable of. I wrote her. I wrote about the things she did to you," Chuck stared down at River.
"Listen, you have an archangel tethered to you. A personal, heavenly Kevin Costner that will come runnin' if somebody or something threatens you. All you gotta do is show up and boom a heavenly elbow drop will rain down on her demon-skank ass."
Chuck pushed River away, "No, no , no I haven't seen that yet."
"Chuck, damn it you are our last hope right now. You know what Lilith did to me. I felt everything, she made sure I did. I can't go through that again." River pleaded with him.
"I am just a writer!"
"This isn't a story anymore, man. It never was. This is real and you are in the middle of it. We need you to get off your ass and fight!" Dean yelled.
Chucks eyes grew wider, staring back and forth between the hunters. "No fucking way. Get the fuck out of my house."
"Ok you know what. I'm done being nice," River said. "I have a gun in my pocket and I will blow your dick off if you don't help us."
"But-but Dean said I was protected by an archangel," Chuck answered.
River smiled and looked over her shoulder at the green eyed hunter behind her. "Interesting hypothesis. Lets see who's the quicker draw. Pissed off human or angelic heavy weight."
"If we live, I hope I don't see any of you ever again." Chuck grumbled from his position between the two hunters in the front seat.
River smiled watching as Dean edged the Impala closer to 90. "I thought we were making real strides towards friendship. I wouldn't really shoot your dick off, Chuck." Dean swung the Impala into the parking lot and River jumped out grabbing Chuck by the wrist and dragging him with her. They ran to the motel door and Dean kicked the door open. Sam was struggling with a tiny, lithe blonde for control of the demon blade.
Chuck ran into the room and yelled, "I am the prophet Chuck!" River and Dean slammed the door after him and quickly took in the scene. Sam breathing heavily from his fight, the white eyed demon Lilith seething with anger.
"Are you joking?" she screamed. The motel began shaking, bits of plaster raining down from the ceiling, the windows shaking in their frames and anything not secured down toppled over.
"No joke you white eyed cunt. Chuck here is a prophet of the lord and has a Archangel on his shoulder. An Archangel that seems to be preparing for a very dramatic entrance." River yelled over the cacophony of shaking and crashing. The windows lit up with a brilliant ethereal light and the shaking intensified making it difficult for them to remain upright.
"You got less than ten seconds before this room is full of heavenly wrath and your a piece of charcoal. You sure your up for that fight?" Dean yelled at the demon who was still clutching the knife. The demon turned her white eyes on each of them a hate filled sneer curling her lips before she tilted her head back and let out a scream. A thick cloud of black smoke surged out of the woman's open mouth and crashed through the nearest window leaving the vessel dead on the floor of the motel room. The shaking and light immediately withdrew, leaving the humans breathing heavily.
"Everybody ok?" River asked, eyeing Chuck especially. He nodded and dragged his fingers down his face muttering to himself. "You think we can get the fuck out of this town now?"
"She wanted to make a deal?" River asked sometime later. They safely deposited the prophet Chuck back at his home with a healthy supply of liquor and the boys fixed the shattered locks on his front and back doors and found much to their liking that the bridge out of town was back in operation.
"Yeah. Me and Dean dead. And she'd stop." Sam answered.
Dean looked at his younger brother, "Just call the whole thing off the seals, demons, Lucifer. She'd walk away?"
"That was the gist of it," Sam said tiredly.
"You didn't think about taking the deal? Not once?" Dean asked.
"No. She'd find some way out of it. And all it would cost us is our lives." Sam said, "Besides that's not the point."
"Then what is it, Sam?" River asked leaning forward over the seat.
"She's scared. I could see it. Lilith is running," he replied. "She's right about one thing. She's not gonna survive the apocalypse. I'll make sure of that." River sat back and Dean's worried eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, the plastic sheet flapped incessantly in the cold wind as they barreled out of town.