With The Coming of the Dawn
Summary
The hunters become the hunted when a creature stalks a remote community, and one of the brothers has a choice to make. Will both brothers survive the hunt and the decision of the other?
Disclaimer
Apparently I am not allowed to own anything Supernatural – something to do with the fact that I am cruel to the guys and have a Batman obsession…I mean really! So, no not mine and definitely not paid. (Except in reviews so please keep 'em coming. Thanks!)
Author's Note.
I don't think John is too popular at present – but honestly he really had no choice – they would have died. Probably. Maybe. Ok, more than likely not but still…
Again, thanks to everyone who has reviewed. It really is the only payment we poor fic writers get! Hint, hint. LOL. Will try to reply to everyone who reviews I swear!
Chapter 21
Dean held onto his brother for as if dear life, supporting his shaking, and gasping form as they pulled the Other towards the abyss.
The Other had realised the futility of fighting the brothers with strength and had decided to try to appeal to their morality. It was more than a little awed by the strength of these two hunters. The bond they shared was the strongest it had ever seen and their mutual willingness to sacrifice for the other had strengthened it still further. What these two could become…
It changed its approach and began to plead with them and bargaining with everything it had. It looked at the older brother. "You don't want to do this Winchester- killing your brother, just to destroy a demon, isn't that more like something your father would do?"
Dean flinched at the Other's words but steeled himself with the knowledge that Sam was already dying, he was just making sure that it counted for something, that he did not die in vain.
"It's not inevitable – if you release me I will remove the poison, I will leave this town. The injuries inflicted here need not be permanent, well not physically permanent. You can still save your brother Dean."
"Don't listen to it Dean. You said yourself – Demon's lie. It is only telling us what we want to hear." Sam gasped out. Everything was spinning; beginning to blur- he didn't have a lot of time.
All three were now teetering on the very edge of the abyss. Below them was the void, starless and empty, devoid of warmth and life, an empty, rolling nothingness.
"You ready Sammy?" Dean asked softly.
"I suppose right now is not a good time to say no?"
Dean snorted softly, "Can't think of a better time to, bro."
"You should go back, De."
"Maybe. Not going to though." Sam didn't really think he would.
"I know." A pause then, "Yeah, I'm ready."
Dean clasped Sam's hand in his own and felt his brothers fingers tighten around his and Sam relaxed almost imperceptibly.
"I love you Sammy, you know that right?" He knew he had to say it before it was too late.
"Yeah, love you too De."
And dragging the now screeching demon with them - they stepped into the void.
Or at least they tried to. A solid barrier of flame erupted out from the ledge, creating a fiery shield that covered the void, obscuring it from view. No heat rose from the flames, it was if the void was absorbing all the warmth from the fire, trying to devour the very obstacle they wanted to overcome.
"What the hell?"
They looked around.
"If that's not the perfect cue I don't know what is." A pillar of flame coalesced into a humanoid form and amber eyes rose to meet green and brown. It looked at the Other who still stood next to Sam, still firmly held in the younger brother's grip.
"What did I tell you about interfering leech? Did I not tell you that the Winchesters were off-limits, did I not warn you of the consequences of disobeying?" It waved a hand and the two brothers were casually thrown to one side, back on to the safety of the ridge. The Other quickly took the opportunity to escape and its presence started to fade, shadow replacing form, when flames shot up around it.
"And just where do you think you are going Leech? There is still work for you to do here."
"What do you want?" The Other snapped.
"Withdraw your venom."
"And why would I do that?" The Other sneered at the Demon.
"Either you withdraw it, or I will destroy you."
"Go to hell!"
"Well I haven't been home in a while..." Bands of fire were forming at the Other's feet.
"Why don't you remove it yourself?" The Other mocked.
The Demon sighed. "Because as you well know the venom is locked to you, no other can remove it. Either remove it now or I will make you scream an eternity."
The bands of fire rose up around the Other, spiralling and pulsating; they began to constrict, to bite into the Other's form. It screamed. "Stop! I'll do it." The bands retracted but did not disappear entirely. Instead they flowed around the Other like ribbons, slowly dancing; a swirling pearlescent fire, silently biding it's time.
The Other walked over to where Sam and Dean lay; they had been unable to move since their violent separation from the demon. It placed a hand against each forehead in turn and they both flinched as their psychic connection to the Other was permanently removed. With its removal the paralysis subsided and Dean pulled himself protectively to Sam's side. Sam was still in obvious agony from the burns inflicted by the demon-fire.
"What about his injuries?" At that moment, Dean didn't care for the reasons behind their release, only that he wanted his brother whole and healthy again.
"What do you think I am? Some sort of do-good charity worker? All I care about is that when the time is right you are where I want you to be. What condition you arrive there is of no concern or importance to me." It turned to the Other.
"Now what to do with you?" The Demon stalked closer the Other, circling, taunting. The bands again began to constrict and the Other tried to back away, but knew he had no-where to run. The bands were all around him.
"Please" It whispered. "I did what you asked - I'll do anything you want". The Demon smiled –
"What I want is for you to die Leech." And the bands drew in mercilessly, tearing into the Other, devouring him.
As the last of the Other's screams died away, the Demon turned back to the brothers. "Go back to your father Dean; there are things I need to discuss with Sammy here."
"You have got to be out of your freakin mind if you think I'll leave him alone with you" Dean spat. The Demon gathered its will to force Dean's return but stopped suddenly.
He gazed intently at the two brothers. "You are still connected!" It said surprised. "That's not possible." It reached out its will again, this time to sever the bond that the brothers still subconsciously shared – for that was not part of its plan.
"Sam – tell your brother to leave, or he too will suffer the consequences of disobedience."
Dean looked at Sam, haunted; sure he would ask him to leave.
"Dean's not going anywhere." Sam spoke quietly, defiantly. "He is wanted here, you are not!"
This time it was Sam's turn to glare at the Demon. "This is my mind; you have no power over us here other than what I give you. Now get the hell out!"
The Demon was knocked back by a powerful, wild, adrenaline fuelled burst of raw psychic energy, somehow enhanced. It picked itself up with a snarl ready to attack. It stopped, looking closely at Sam and then glanced thoughtfully at Dean.
"You'll regret that Sammy!"
"It's Sam! And I regret many things, but that? No, that I don't think will be one of them!"
"I'll give you a friendly warning Sam. Those powers you're using? Where do you think they come from? Don't you know yet what you are?" He walked up to Sam and leant forward, whispering in his ear in a voice still loud enough to be heard by his brother.
"Your father betrayed you Sam. He knows you're a danger to your brother."
He turned to Dean and spoke. "Your Dad traded Sam for you. Are you proud Dean, that your baby brother has been sacrificed by his own father …to save you? He blames your brother Dean; he blames him for everything…"
"You're lying!"
The Demon shrugged, "Go and ask him, oh he'll lie no doubt but you will be able to see it in his eyes. We have a contract your father and I. Sooner or later, your precious Sammy will be mine and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Dean hit him. The Demon stumbled back a step amazed. It had adopted a solid form to talk to the brothers but they should not be able to touch it, not unless it wanted them too. For Sam to have enough control to over-ride some of its protections startled the Demon. Dean hit it again, but this time the Demon was ready.
It spun away causing Dean to over-reach, and with unnatural speed grasped Dean by the throat and pulled him close so that their faces were mere millimetres apart.
"You're going to burn Winchester!" It growled, flames flickered around its other hand and it brought it close to Dean's face. Dean automatically tried to pull away from the Demon's grasp as the intense heat approached him.
A flicker of silver passed between them and Dean felt the Demon stiffen. "Let go of my brother you bastard!"
Dean looked down. Impossibly Sam's blade was pressed against the Demon's throat, piercing the skin. "I said let him go, now!" With great effort of will Sam had managed to pull himself to his feet and was now stood with one arm pulling the Demon's head back and the other holding a psychic version of his knife.
The Demon released Dean with a smile he did not feel. This was getting tiresome. The control Sam now had within his mind was impressive but was also a welcome affirmation that the Demon had chosen well.
"That was foolish Sam." The flames around his hands flickered and spread. Sam had released his hold on the Demon once his brother was free and staggered towards him. His legs buckled and he would have hit the ground had Dean not managed to get to him.
"Sam? You ok?"
"I'm just tired Dean - I'm fine."
The Demon laughed at that comment. "You are anything but fine Sam. He's well past his limit Dean- his reserves are gone and if continues to use his abilities, it will kill him." It moved towards the two brothers.
"Back off." Dean warned - he was kneeling beside his exhausted brother, supporting his weight, wincing at the heat coming from his brother. At least with the Other's demise, the burns seemed to be fading.
"Or you'll do what Dean? I told you I was going to punish you for your disobedience, now I will punish you for Sam's defiance too." The flames swelled and began to roar. Sam looked up with determined pain filled eyes.
"Leave him alone!" And with a strength born from desperation and an almost instinctive need to protect his brother, he forced his battered psyche to attack the Demon again. He seemed to wilt as the Demon was again blasted from his feet, forced away for the two hunters and even in this dreamlike landscape the blood began again to fall from his nose, eyes and ears in a crimson rain and a pained whimper escaped him. He could feel his brother taking his full weight now, but this time there was a difference. Sam could almost sense the link to his brother and as darkness crept up on him, he reached out towards the light that was Dean.
Dean felt an almost feather light touch against his mind and recognised the warm, pure gentleness that was his brother. "Help me Dean." Sam whispered.
"Whatever you need Sam."
The Demon had felt the power against him falter and smiled in triumph. To harm Dean here in Sam's mind would affect the young psychic dramatically, leaving a permanent emotional scar that he could use to his advantage later. He again raised his hands to attack the older hunter when he felt a change. What had faltered before was now rapidly gaining in power and concentration as Sam drew the strength he needed from his brother. The Demon was powerless to the onslaught and with utter astonishment and a trace of fear, felt himself being forced from the young hunter's mind.
It cried out in rage, as it was thrust out of Sam's mind- "Just remember Sam, you cannot run from what you are- you are mine boy!" The Demon vanished.
Sam turned stricken eyes on his brother. "Ignore him Sam. It's just trying to get to you."
"But -". Sam looked doubtful.
"Does this handsome face look like it's lying? Is this awesome expression of mine concerned?" Dean was determined to lighten the situation, despite the cold dread nestling in his stomach. "No. Because at the end of the day you're Sam Winchester, son of John, brother of Dean, badass hunter extraordinaire" He finished expansively. Sam couldn't help but laugh at Dean's infectious optimism and confidence.
"Freak"
"Damn right – who wants to be normal? Hell Sam, only sheep are normal."
"Dude, you are way too familiar with the habits of sheep for my liking." Sam teased, his strength beginning to return. The burns were almost gone now and Sam's eyes were brightening under his brother's healing banter.
Dean stood and helped his brother to his feet. "So, you coming home Sammy or not?" He held out his hand.
"Holding hands Dean? Isn't that kind of chick-flicky? I mean next thing you know you'll be baking cakes and doing needlepoint!"
"Hey, I'm not the one with the girly hair. Sides I don't know much about this whole out of body crap – wouldn't want to risk being stuck here in this freaky mind of yours. God knows what I might stumble over in here – might end up coming out all sulky and broody!"
"I do not sulk!"
"You so do!"
"Just shut up Dean." Sam said with a smile.
"Oh come and make me pout boy!" Dean mocked, grinning broadly.
"I am so going to kick your ass!"
"Sure Samantha, I'm quaking – seriously." Dean was laughing openly at Sam trying to appear fierce between snorts of determinedly repressed mirth.
Dean was flattened by a tackle from his laughing younger brother…"It's Sam, moron…", and as they hit the ground the mists around them rose and the two brother's vanished.
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A/N
You see, I can be nice to them occasionally!
Seriously, please let me know what you think, hopefully not too corny / cheesy, not sure if I got the humour or the angst right so please let me know…and yes, I did let Dean use the L word, but they were going to die…
I was sooooo tempted to end this here- I am such a softy, however have began the next chapter and have a couple to go I think and possibly a sequel thanks to Steffs. But it is up to you! If you want to end on this happy note let me know, but if you want it to continue, again please tell me and I will happily go on. And on. And on. Lol, just like the Duracell bunny! But I am hoping you may still have questions you want answered...
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"Holy Brotherly Banter Batman. We did it! "
"Your right Robin, we thwarted Evil Fangirl's plans!"
"But Holy Dastardly Deal Batman, how will they get out of this?"
"I don't know Robin, but we at least have the Impala. – And Robin?"
"Yes Batman?"
"What did I tell you about starting every sentence with Holy?"
"Sorry Batman."
Evil Fangirl stands and glares at Batman and Robin. Dammit, she cannot believe that she has been foiled by men in tights! She will have her revenge mwa ha haaaaa…she looks appraisingly at Robin and a plan slowly forms…
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Will the caped crusaders continue to outsmart Evil Fangirl?
Does Dean ever get his Impala back?
Will John live to regret his decision and what are the Demon's plans for Sam?
Just what did the Demon spot in Dean and Sam?
And just what happened to Jim's car?
It's down to you dear viewers…should this go on?
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