I don't own Supernatural.

Showdown with War!

Chapter 30

River Pass was eerily quiet. No noise, no people. They had parked on the outskirts of town and trekked in, carrying what weapons they could.

The town was a mess; blood spattered spots here and there, cars were all over the street. Debris littered front lawns.

Dean pulled out a gun, holding it at the ready just in case. Sam and Bobby followed his lead and they continued their search of the town.

"Where is everyone?" Sam asked quietly after an hour of walking the town and still finding nothing.

Bobby nodded suddenly to a large house down the next block. "Look. Smoke."

Indeed there were billows of it, rising up into the air and painting the sky black. They picked up their pace and turned the corner. Then they almost ran back.

It was chaos. Total chaos. People were running in every direction, fighting, stabbing and bludgeoning each other to death with various weapons. It was a war zone.

Blood seeped over the pavement, making it look like a flowing red river. As they watched, a young boy around eleven jumped on an eldery woman and plunged a fork into her neck. She fell to the ground and the kid jumped on top of her, screaming like a deranged hyena.

Dean dodged out of the way as a chair was flung towards him. He motioned for his fellow hunters to follow him into a nearby house out of the line of fire.

"What do we do?" Sam cried. "Shoot them?"

"They're al human," Bobby said in awe, watching out the window as the people slaughtered each other.

"We need to find War." Dean said. It was the only way to stop this whole thing.

"By the time we do, everyone will be dead, if he hasn't moved on already," Bobby pointed out harshly.

"Except that I haven't left. I like to watch." a voice said.

All three whirled around to see a suave-looking, middle aged man standing behind them, leaning against the wall. They raised their guns immediately and War laughed.

"Really? Really?" He twitched a finger, his ring finger, Dean noticed, and their guns burned scorching hot. Dropping the weapons to the floor, the hunters watched as they dissolved into puddles of melted metal.

"Since you were so curious about me..how about I give you a taste, hmm?" War twirled the ring on his finger and Sam suddenly leapt at Bobby. Pushing the older hunter to the floor, he slammed Bobby's head against the floor.

"I think I'll put my money on the big one," War wagered amusedly.

Dean jumped forward to pull them apart, but found himself stuck to the spot. It was like he was frozen.

"Tsk tsk you want me to send you out there?" War gestured to indicate the warring going on outside.

As if on cue, there was a huge explosion from outside that rocked the house and War laughed delightedly.

"What did you do to everyone?" Dean snarled.

"I just prodded them a bit. All the anger and hatred they have for others is being released. Why, I just saw a woman kill a grocery clerk because he gave her back the wrong change." War nodded to Sam and Bobby. "They must have had issues with each other in the past."

" Mayve a few little things, but doesn't everyone?" Dean glared at the Horsemen before glancing worriedly over to his brother and Bobby. Bobby was tough, but he was getting old and Sam was a friggin' monster. Bobby was starting to look like he got run over by an eighteen wheeler. Sam swung him into a table and smashed a lamp over his back as Dean watched.

"Stop! What did these people do to you?"

"But Dean, I am not doing anything to them, just adding a little kindling to their fires. You humans are marvelous creatures..so full of rage and the need to cause pain. It's incredible."

Dean fought to move, but found himself still bound to the spot. He watched helplessly as Sam beat Bobby into unconsciousness.

"What do you know, my wager was correct." War smiled, twirling his ring again so that Dean was finally released. "What about this? Brother on brother fight. Just like the angels, Micheal and Lucifer."

But he did nothing to 'add kindling' to Dean's fire. He decided to see what the fight would be like if one of the brother's retained their sense. It would be more interesting.

Sam came at Dean like a bull, slamming into his stomach and knocking the breath out of him. Sam's eyes were glazed over, and his mouth was forced into a terrible grimace.

Dean caught his breath, leaping to his feet. He punched Sam hard in the jaw, knocking him down. The weight of the demon knife inside his pocket pressed against his thigh. If he could only get over to War...Sam suddenly grabbed him by the hair, slamming his face into the wall several times.

Something was trickling down his face...a few drops dripped into his mouth and it tasted of iron. Blood. Feeling light-headed, he kicked Sam back, picking up the same lamp that Sam had used on Bobby and using all his strengh to slam Sam in the back.

War stepped out of the way as Sam charged into Dean again, sending him into the glass coffee table. The glass shattered under him, shards of it piercing his skin. He gasped at the sudden pricks, and tried to stand on his wobbling legs.

When did his brother get so much better at fighting then him? Or was it because he was supercharged by War?

Sam had picked up a large piece of glass, squeezing it tightly so it cut into his hand and blood turned the shard red.

He slashed out at Dean, who grabbed onto his arm, twisting it so Sam yowled and released the shard. He twisted harder and heard a sharp crack.

"Sorry, Sammy." Dean said, kicking his brother back. Sam hunched over cradling his arm. Dean straightened up, his eyes glittering as he turned to War.

The smug bastard was standing there laughing. In a second Dean realized why. Sam had grabbed up another piece of glass, and jumped forward to plunge it so deep into Dean's back that only the tip stuck out.

"Shit!" Dean gasped and staggered to the floor. Sam grabbed him roughly by the collar, punching him mercilessly. The pain in his face was nothing to the one in his chest however; it felt like he was being cut in half. Hot blood spread rapidly from the wound and he felt himself drifting away. Darkness surrounded him and he tried valiantly to fight back, hitting Sam weakly, but it was no use.

His lids slowly closed, but not before a blinding, bluish-white light cut through them. Castiel had appeared in the room, his form burning with fury. Even War had taken a step back. The angel touched Sam's forehead, causing him to fall to the floor and off Dean, and then he snapped his fingers.

The demon knife was suddenly in Cas' hand and in the blink of an eye he was next to War. The Horseman fumbled with his ring to turn it, but Castiel grabbed his hand, slicing it clean off at the wrist.

Only a lingering howl was left as War disappeared before Castiel's eyes. Everything was suddenly quiet. There was no more noise from outside.

The angel kneeled on the floor, touching Bobby then Sam and healing them before going to Dean. There were many cuts and bruises on his face but the most concerning thing was the blood stemming from the wound in his chest. Cas gingerly worked his fingers through the slit in Dean's shirt, and grabbed the piece of glass with his fingertips, pulling it out. He then ran a finger over the gash, closing it up so it disappeared.

Bobby and Sam were waking up, groaning. They hauled themselves up, and looked around dazedly like they had no idea what just happened.

Cas finished up with Dean, touching a finger to his forehead to complete his healing.

"Dean?" Cas cradled his head in his lap and ran his fingers through the hunter's hair. Dean's eyes flickered and then opened. They were glazed over, but cleared up within a few seconds.

"What-?" he glanced up into his mate's face. "Cas! What are you doing here! I told you to stay home." he reprimanded sharply.

"You were dying, Dean." Cas stroked his face lightly and the hunter relaxed.

"Cas...what happened with War?" Sam interrupted, noticing the hand on the floor and the knife beside it.

"I cut off his hand."

"Apparently." Bobby rolled his eyes. "The only thing I remember is fighting with Sam, must have blacked out afterward."

"When I came, Sam was fighting with Dean. I stopped him and then took War's hand." Cas said. Dean stood up, a little dizzy, but retained his balance. Sticking out a hand for Cas to take, he helped the angel up.

"I guess you got your powers back then, huh?" Bobby said. "We probably owe you a thank you then. Without you who knows what would have happened."

"We'd be dead." Dean said quietly.

Silence filled the room and Sam shifted a little guiltily. "Guys, I'm sorry-"

"Don't worry about it, boy." Bobby muttered. Dean nodded in agreement, and said, "although maye the stabbing was a bit too far."

"A bit," Sam agreed.

Bobby gave Sam a nudge. "'Come on. We should see if there's any survivors out there."

Sam nodded and followed Bobby outside.

"So...you came even though I asked you not too." Dean said once the other two were gone, and Castiel frowned.

"Yes, you said that because I didn't have my powers. Once I felt my grace shift inside me, and I knew I could fight, I came."

Dean wrapped his arms around the angel, holding him close. Pressing his face into Cas' hair, he whispered in his ear, "I'm glad you did."

Castiel relaxed against him, snuggling into the crook of his neck. The panic that had threatened to overwhelm him when he saw Dean lying there was unbearable. It was like he had been beaten alongside Dean.

"You aren't mad?"

"No. I'm just glad that I'm alive so I could be with you." Dean tipped Cas' chin up, his eyes sparkling.

"My only reason for living." he joked, but Cas saw truth behind that statement. It was more of heart felt statement then Dean even realized.

"One more ring, Cas. Just one more." Dean kissed the angel escatically and had the urge to twirl him around. He contained himself though, just in case Sam and Bobby were watching. "One more."

I think War is my fav Horseman other then Death. He's just so sneaky.