Anything But Normal

Part 26

Liz sat nervously on the couch in Dean's arms. Tears streamed down her face, salt water staining Dean's t-shirt. He rubbed her back, trying to soothe her. It was ridiculous, and Liz knew that yet she still didn't care. Dean should've been crying. He should've been flipping out. After all, it was one year ago today that Sam came back from the dead.

"I'll be okay." Dean said.

"It's hell, Dean. I think there's a reason that' all the demons want out." Liz sniffed.

"It doesn't matter. Look, I've come to terms with my deal. I'll be fine."

They'd been having this conversation for an hour. Liz was frustrated. "I'm glad you'll be okay, Dean, but what about me? I know it's selfish, but I want more time with you. I just found you again. I don't want to lose you again!"

Dean pressed his lips to Liz's forehead. Two weeks of wedded bliss wasn't enough. Two decades wouldn't have been enough. Nothing would ever be enough to make Liz okay with losing her husband.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie. I really am so sorry."

He hated putting Sam and Liz though this. Speaking of which, where was his brother? Dean wondered where the hell Sammy could be when he was going to die in just a couple hours.

Dean's thoughts were answered when Sam stumbled through the door. He was covered in blood. "Line the doors with salt!" he slammed the door behind him.

Dean and Liz lined the door and windows with salt without question, acting out of what had become a reflex for them. Someone shouts salt, you get the salt without questioning it.

Sam lie on the couch, bleeding out. Dean and Liz went over to him after all entries were salted. "What happened?" Dean asked.

"Too much protection. Didn't wanna let it go." Sam panted. He was out of breath and in too much pain.

"What?"

"It's real?" Liz asked, shocked.

"What's real?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, it's real. You still have everything in here?" Sam asked.

"Is what still here?" Dean demanded.

"Yeah."

"Someone tell me what the hell is going on!" Dean shouted.

"You're out of your deal, or at least you will be in a few minutes." Sam showed Dean a ring. There was a sparkling ruby on a gold band surrounded by latin engravings.

"That isn't..." Dean trailed off, eyes wide.

"The Ring of Solomon." Sam grinned through his blood streaked face.

Liz came over with a bowl full of herbs. "You sure you don't wanna get stitched up first? Takes a lot of energy to control a demon."

"It can wait. I need blood for this anyway."

Sam sat up on the couch and squeezed his hand over the bowl Liz had put on the coffee table. His blood dripped into the bowl. He dropped the ring and used his bloody hand to stir the mixture. Sam stopped and took the ring out.

"You don't have to do this, Sammy." Dean said.

"Yes, I do." Sam told him as he slid the ring onto his right hand.

Then...nothing. No lights or wind or anything significant.

"Did it work?" Liz asked.

"I...don't know." Sam answered.

Liz felt a shiver run down her spine. "I think we're about to find out."

Dean heard a bark. "I hate your psychic vibes."

The door to the motel room was broken down. The circle of hoodoo dust surrounding the couch prevented them from getting to the three hunters. Liz and Sam could only see the dog's paw prints on the ugly shag carpet with every step they took.

"Stay away from him." Sam said firmly.

The dogs didn't leave. They were trying to blow the dust away. Liz let out an audible gasp when the line broke.

"I said STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" Sam yelled.

A red transparent shield protruded form the ring, sending the dogs back. "Tell her that Dean's soul will not ever belong to her."

"They're gone." Dean said in disbelief.

"It's over." Sam said.

Dean stood up and hugged his brother. "I love you, Sammy. You're an idiot, but I love you."

"You're my brother. I told you that I'd do anything for you."

Dean let him go. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Sam said, "Now go say something to your wife."

There wasn't much that could be expressed through words. There wasn't much that need to be expressed through words. They knew each other well enough to know what the other was feeling. So instead Liz just kissed him. "Don't do anything that stupid again." Liz rested her forehead against his.

"Well apparently the consequences won't be too bad with Sammy's new ring."

"Dean."

"What? I'm just saying, it could come in handy." Dean reasoned.

There was a knock on the door frame (since the actual door was wide open and held up by only one hinge). "Is everything alright folks?" asked a man wearing a maintenance uniform.

"Yes, everything's great." Sam smiled.

"Really? Because I don't think it is." The man's eyes went black.

"I wouldn't try anything if I were you." Sam held up his hand with the ring.

"Think you're a tough guy now? We can take you." the demon warned.

"Go away...or better yet, go to hell." Sam said.

The man's face twitched as black smoke shot out of his face.

"See? It comes in handy." Dean said.

"This is going to change everything, isn't it?" Sam asked rhetorically.

"Is that good?" Liz asked.

"Of course it is." Dean said, "It makes hunting much easier."

"They're going to wanted the ring, dean." Sam informed him.

"C'mon, let's get you patched up. Worry about the world ending tomorrow." Liz suggested.

A/N: So I thought I'd be able to write on summer vacation, but then I started to get more hours at work and had a ton of summer homework. Unfortunately if I get busy, my fanfiction is the first thing to suffer. I'm really sorry. I know I'm terrible. But if you are still reading this (and thank you very much to those who have stuck with me through my lack of updates), please tell me what you think!