Never Say We Die
Sam and Dean stood stock-still as the Goddess appraised them with laughing black eyes. Years of hunting had schooled them to keep silent and calm when stalking their prey. With another small laugh, she turned to Will and his father. "Well? Why 'ave ye called me?" Calypso asked, but her smirk made Sam wonder if she already knew. The Dutchman's captain was completely unfazed. "Sam and Dean are in need of your help." Will said simply, without preamble. "Oh? Wif what?" Calypso asked, turing back to the two brothers with a sly smile.
Sam immediately launched into a halting explanation, but stopped when the Sea Goddess held up her hand. "Enough. I already know dis, I be only teasin' ye. Now, de real question be: what are ye willin' to do in order ta be free?" She asked. At this, Will and Bootstrap Bill shared worried looks, not liking the way the conversation was turning out.
The brothers looked at one another, locked in silent communication. Then the older brother stepped forward, hazel-green eyes determined. "Anything." Dean said softly. Calypso turned her dark, fathomless gaze on Sam. He nodded. "I'll do anything to get Dean and I out of this deal." He echoed his older brother.
The Goddess of the Sea nodded, as if affirming something to herself. "I can free ye, but it will be at a high cost. If I do tis thing, ye both will be free. Ye two will live to good, ol' ages...marry, maybe have children...ye will defeat the evil that now stalks over da land...but at da end, ye will die within a week o' each other. Den for ten years, ye be servin' on de Dutchman. On'y ten years, an' den ye be free to move on an' be wif ye family again. Dere is no other way for me to do dis thing: in order for me to go up against a demon dat powerful, dere has to be a trade. It be beyond my powers to just break dis deal an' have ye go yer merry way, no scars It just don't work dat way." To her credit, Calypso did look as if she felt slightly bad about the choice she offered them.
Silence. The two brothers exchanged glances and Sam nodded. "We accept your terms." Dean said gravely, but without a tremor in his voice. In all honestly, the older Winchester had been prepared for the plan to fail. Ten years serving onboard The Dutchman was nothing compared to the eternity in Hell he had faced after making a deal with the crossroads demon. This was one bargain the brothers Winchester would not break.
The Goddess gave a mischievous grin. "An' seal it...wif a kiss..."Calypso's features changed as she walked towards Dean. They kissed, and her image was that of a petite brunette with sea-grey eyes. He could taste the salt air on her lips and sensed her untamable spirit. She pulled back, and quickly drew a complex sigil on his forehead. He was so dazed he didn't ask what it was for and blinked a few times to clear his head while she moved on to Sam.
For Sam, she turned into a tall woman with dark blonde hair, almost a light brown, and laughing green eyes. A knife of pain quickly stabbed at his heart, because the Goddess looked so damn similar to Jessica. Then she kisses him, and the pain dulls because Jessica, or Calypso or hell, maybe even the sea itself is reassuring him that she's fine, and it's okay to move on because she'll always look out for him.
The kiss ends, and Calypso returns to the form she wore as Tia Dalma as she blesses his forehead with the same complex sigil. At the brothers questioning looks, she gives a reassuring smile. "Fear not, de sigil be mine own sign. No demon shall mess wif ye an' ye can't get possessed. Ye be blessed by de sea itself, an' dere ain't no power in dis world or de next dat can go up against de sea itself an' win. In short, yer under my protection now." The Goddess explained to the Turner-Winchester clan.
Will and Bootstrap Bill nodded. They, like the rest of the crew and The Flying Dutchman itself were under a similar protection. The brothers looked at the Goddess with grateful looks. "Thank you." They whispered, knowing that no words could express their emotions or gratitude. Calypso smiled. "Welcome. But remember, I will take ye myself to de Dutchman after ye die. Now go, an' get ready to fight de war dat is brewin' on de mainland. Fight in my name." With that, Calypso was gone, leaving the sea as calm as glass once more.
There was silence once more, as the four men were lost in their own thoughts. It was Dean who broke the silence. "Well, this is awkward. Please don't tell me that the ten years after we die are going to be like this."He quipped, flashing his irrepressible grin. Will laughed. "No, no, it's just that I hope that you two didn't feel that you were forced into this. Had I but known what Calypso's bargain would have been, I would have advised you to find another way." The dark-haired Captain said.
"Actually, all things considered, it wasn't a bad trade off." Sam replied with a shrug. "Yea, I mean c'mon-how many people get to hang out with their immortal great-great-great-great grandparents on haunted pirate ship? Really, it could be worse." Dean interjected, cutting off his little brother. Bootstrap laughed at the remark. "He does have a point, son." The elder Turner pointed out. Will finally smiled and sighed. "I suppose you're right, it could be worse. Either way, we will be glad to have you back." He said gently, looking at his descendants.
This time, the sense of kinship was palpable. Sam and Dean could feel the sea in their soul. Pirate blood. Their bloodline links the four men together through time, and the Winchesters feel closer to their mother then they have in years. Even as they stand on the shore an hour later, wearing their newfound pirate medallions around their neck and watching The Dutchman sail away into the night, Sam and Dean don't feel alone.
Now, they are not only Winchesters, but Turners and that made all the difference in the world. The two brothers have no more fear of death nor of the future. Bound they are to serve aboard their family's ship, but it is more of a reward then a punishment, because Sam and Dean will be reunited with the family they had lost. Therefore, Dean and Sam turn and begin the long walk back to their hotel with lighter hearts as they begin to mentally gear up for the war against the escaped demons.