CHAPTER 3
Sam and Ruby were almost completely silent throughout the journey, contemplating their immediate future, and how they had come to be there…
Dean's condition, thankfully, hadn't deteriorated, not that he was crash hot to begin with! The bleeding, although not stopped completely, had abated significantly. Even so, Dean's agitated face, as he slipped in and out of consciousness, brought Sam to the brink of an emotional breakdown, right there in the backseat of the Impala.
During brief periods of consciousness Dean would gaze at Sam with an unconditional faith, and an undeniable joy at seeing his brother. He hadn't said much, too exhausted and drained to utter more than apologies for the circumstances they were in. Even so Dean managed to maintain solid walls of guarded pain. But it was enough to hack away at Sam's crumbling parapets of emotional stability. However the stoic Winchester couldn't hide his pain when he succumbed to the nightmares of unconsciousness, where not only he suffered the physical pain of the attack, but the vivid memory of it as well. Sam's guilt was mounting with every grimace and groan that passed his brother's lips: Knowing that everything that had happened was as a direct result of his own failure. Because he'd let his guard down, and he'd turned his back on a potential foe. He'd let Jake get the jump on him and now Dean was paying the ultimate price for his error...
They had finally come to the end of the line. It was do or die time. Sam knew if their desperate bid to save Dean from the Crossroad Demon failed, his brother would die - tonight. And that would be end of story… end of game… end of life as he knew it. He couldn't quite grasp how he'd managed to hide from the fact up until now, hadn't as yet ever contemplated that it was a possibility. He'd hidden behind tentative tendrils of hope and denial. But now, as Dean lay helplessly in his arms, in a veil of blood and savaged flesh, Sam realized it was up to him. Dean couldn't save himself; he had to do it for him.
Thoughts were steadily crashing in on him to break Dean's deal; to die as he should have… except he didn't really know just how to go about it. Would he have to wait for the Crossroad Demon himself to arrive, to offer himself up in Dean's place? If they couldn't stop the Demon, it was all he could think to do. Heaven help him if Dean found out.
Heaven help Dean…
Ruby studied the brothers as she drove. Who'd have though the Winchester name was actually feared in the Underworld? Before having met either she'd even imagined them to be some kind of super human, family force. Invincible even! Only goes to show you can't believe everything you read!
They looked pretty pathetic right now; one dying and the other turning into a sappy marshmallow!
She had observed the Winchester brothers for months now, twelve to be exact. And she had to admit sometimes she wondered if she hadn't put her money on the wrong horse. Sam was supposed to have been the next big thing, the Grand Po-bah, the new leader who would reign over the Legions of Hell. As far as a demonic messiah was concerned he hardly fit the bill!
That's not to say Sam hadn't impressed her on occasions. As Dean's demise seemed immanent the younger had even become brutally intent on filling his brother's shoes, which had him hacking away at his vulnerabilities. But although he was gradually shaving away and discarding so much of his sickly, compassion and humanity, it still stuck to him, in places he couldn't reach, like the decaying shreds of flesh on a skeleton.
Sam could fight, yeah, and he had impressive strength and skill, not to mention a whole Pandora's Box of abilities he hadn't yet unleashed. But unlike his brother, Sam lacked a true warrior's killer edge. There was something so ingrained in him that despite his apparent toughening exterior and his stripped compassion, there was always his humanity; a hesitation, a calculating split second, and a sympathetic charity that would always be his undoing. Already had been, actually… And it was Dean who was his greatest weakness, if not, ironically his greatest strength.
Dean on the other hand, although cocky and arrogant, painfully cynical and indulgent, with an ego the size of Everest, had it. He was a warrior through and through. Although it often verged on recklessness akin to a death wish! He had a hunter's instinct. Even though it could take him to the very brink of disaster, he always seemed to know just when to shoot, or run, or stop, without having to think about it. Sure he'd copped his fair share of beatings, his instinct wasn't always enough, but it had kept him alive thus far. And it had almost kept Sam alive too… almost. But even Dean was afflicted with the same deep, ingrained weakness; his humanity. But he was now paying the price for his monumental mistake as his brother's keeper, and for that he may well soon die… they all might!
On one count the brothers Winchester were equally fallible; they were each other's weaknesses.
That year ago, at Cold Oak, Dean had let his emotions get the better of him, had let Sam's disappearance unbalance him. He hadn't quite been on top of his game and he had let Sam die. Or so he thought anyway, over protective big brother that he was. Gossip around the demonic water cooler had suggested it was actually Sam's own doing… that it was his humanity that had let him down, because he had let Jake live, and thereby inadvertently sealed his own death warrant.
But in true protector mode Dean had found a way to remedy that. He went and sold his soul, and his life, and damned himself to Hell. And Sam was saved. Woo-Hoo!
The Winchesters had unwittingly started a turn of events of monumental proportions.
Events that began with Sam's resurrection. Ruby chuckled a little to herself, Dean had no idea just what price he'd paid to have his brother returned to him. Sam's resurrection had had a powerful impact on the Underworld; there were both celebrations and commiserations. Not to mention the celebrations of those that could finally seek their vengeance on the hunter who had condemned them to Hell and would now soon to join them.
There were many demons who rejoiced that Dean had brought Sam back. He'd done the Underworld a favor by resurrecting their demonic messiah. He'd brought Sam back for a destiny big brother may not be altogether pleased about. And he'd brought him back even stronger than he'd been before, because the Crossroad Demon had brought Sam back… a little off. Unbeknownst to his big brother guardian, Sam had been stripped of huge slabs of compassion and humanity; almost all his inhibitions had been obliterated. He'd been tweaked towards a more demonic destiny.
Then Dean had executed Azazel, one of the few who could keep the legions of demons in line. And when the Hell's gate was opened it was like splitting open a wasp's nest. Demons of all ranks were let loose. An all-sort of demonic chaos was set free upon an unsuspecting world. From the gutter-slime, blood thirsty variety to the likes of massacring demons of mass destruction, like Lilith, and hundreds of ambitious souls in between. In the struggle to escape the torturous prison of Hell a multitude had clawed their way out with the masses into the light of day.
The race was on, for a new leader, and there were many powerful contenders in the ring. But ultimately only one could succeed, and there would be a blood bath before that one could rise. And whoever it would be, would have to pull the frenzied masses together into one all mighty power. Sam's resurrection had split a number of faction's vying for power… those that still supported Sam as a potential demonic leader and those that didn't. As a hunter Sam was a real threat, despite Azazel's failed attempts at getting him to go dark side. However, she speculated, the demons would probably fear him even more if he did. As the demonic prodigy, as the once up and coming right hand man of Azazel, he was supposed to have it all…
There was certainly something very special about Sam. Something that had made Azazel single him out above all others. And it was for that reason Ruby had become intrigued. Winchester buzz was all about even before the Devil's gate was opened. Sam Winchester was to be the prodigal protégée of the all mighty Azazel. Azazel was the ultimate power, the Lord of war, who had set his sights on Sam as his right hand man. Although, as yet, Ruby hadn't quite put her finger on just what it was that made Sam so special. It was something to do with their mother, Mary, even though it was their father, John, who had dragged them into the world of the supernatural, made them the warriors they had become. And although the secret was known to a few, high on the demonic echelon, she had no idea what Sam's secret was.
Mary Winchester was the key. But why Dean had been overlooked Ruby couldn't understand; he was certainly the better hunter and clearly the superior leader. But then he had never shown the same extraordinary abilities that Sam had, and she was curious to know if Azazel was directly responsible for those, or if that was what had attracted him to Sam in the first place. One would presume Azazel had chosen him when just a babe for a reason… and Ruby was hankering to find out why!
Dean's deal with the Crossroad Demon had presented Ruby with the perfect leverage to gain Sam's interest, and if she could actually pull this off and save his arrogant shit of a brother, maybe even his trust. Not that she'd actually thought of an escape plan until now…
But then, at first Dean was simply a means to an end.
Emotional blackmail was so, so easy on a huge poignant sap like Sam. Actually, in the Winchester case it would have worked on either sappy brother. Sometimes their brotherly bond made her want to puke! But it had worked to her advantage. Emotional blackmail was a wonderful thing. She sucked Sam in with promises of redemption for Dean, and in turn she got to needle her way into their lives. She even helped them eliminate a number of demonic opponents along the way! Including some of her own! Exterminating Tammi had freed her soul, not that the brothers would have known. She was now officially a free agent. But certainly a small fish in a very big ocean in the immense sea of demons. And in the process Sam had become her unwitting protector, which was another good reason for aligning herself with him. Dean she was still trying to convince, you'd think already saving his ass would deserve some credit, but evidentially not.
However she'd at least managed to infiltrate their inner sanctum. And sometimes that's all that was needed; a suggestion here or a concern there. She'd sown the seeds that would eventually grow into blooms of her desires. She had encouraged Dean to impart his warrior skills to Sam, hoping that his unwavering instincts and skill could actually be taught. And Dean, always his brother's keeper, had been intent on doing so. When Dean realized that Sam was some kind of trophy kill in the eyes of demons, her plans blossomed, ten fold.
She knew, in the world of demons life was survival of the fittest. Demons were a greedy, deceitful, envious and lustful pack of megalomaniacs, most of whom had the domination of all mankind, and demons alike, on their minds. All the others, the smaller inconsequential scum usually consisted of the murderous, depraved cockroaches, which, like a pestilent swarm, would need to be exterminated along with the rest of them! It was kill or be kill, and aligning oneself with the most powerful, most likely to survive, was a matter of survival. And she'd pegged her sights on Sam. She saw him for what he was, a demon in the rough. A leader, who could, one day, be invincible, if it weren't for his reoccurring, fallible humanity. However, for now, she could use that to her own advantage, to manipulate him and coax him into becoming exactly what he was born to be; A King of the Underworld. And she was intent on becoming his Queen…
Although, at first, she had considered the Crossroad Demon's pact a blessing in disguise, an iron clad means to remove Dean altogether, lately she'd had to reconsider. One thing was clear; the Winchester brothers came as a package deal. They were each other's strengths. Like two sides of a coin they complimented each other, what one lacked the other had. They were always stronger together, and it was their union that had created the Winchester strength, even without John. But separated they fell apart. Only together were they a force to be reckoned with.
Ruby realized if she was going to back Sam, she had to first save Dean.
St. Dominic's Church
Dominion Springs. ARKANSAS.
They drove almost three hours before Ruby pulled off the main highway and zigzagged through the forested hills for another half hour, until she reached the abandoned mining town.
Dominion Springs once had a population of 1787, according to the sign post as they entered the town, until the mine closed and pretty much vetoed all other businesses some three quarters of a century ago. The town consisted basically of a court house, a school house, a number of small stores, a hotel and saloon and St. Dominic's. The Impala tore through the still and deathly quiet of the ghost town, as they sped through the deserted streets. Ruby knew the layout of the town, knew where to turn to get them directly to the church gates.
A tall iron fence surrounded the perimeter of the church and the cemetery behind it. The surrounding woods had steadily reclaimed the entire town, and the church was now nestled amongst a number of overgrown bushes and weeds. Several trees had sprung up, like tall dark intruders within the church gates. Had the iron gates been in better condition they too would offer certain protection from the evils that were on their way. However only one gate remained fixed and functional and a number of sections of the fence had collapsed.
As she drove through the gates, Ruby involuntarily shivered. She squeezed her eyes shut, as an instant wave of nausea swept over her, and steadfastly remained. She wondered just why she was doing this…
Bobby's pickup stood waiting outside the church, whilst Bobby hovered impatiently by the large double-doors. As soon as Ruby pulled up outside, Bobby leapt towards the Impala in long strides.
The weathered hunter almost ripped the Chevy's door off its hinges in his anxious haste.
"Aww… Shit… Dean?" He stammered at first sight of the elder Winchester's bloodied state.
"Bobby…" Dean forced a smile as he groggily gazed up at his pseudo-father. It was a sight he hadn't anticipated ever experiencing again and it was overwhelmingly reassuring.
Then Sam's huge hands were urging him to get out of the car. And although they were a welcomed contact, albeit a painful experience, Dean hadn't the energy to haul his weary body towards Bobby's waiting hands. Sam swiftly exited the car to come around by Bobby's side, where they eased Dean out of the car. Dean gratefully fell into Sam's strong arms as the younger Winchester wrapped his arm tight around his waist. Dean succumbed to the involuntary embrace as his body crumpled in their grasp. His energy was depleted and his pain far too great, he hadn't the strength to stand. He surrendered to oblivion's call. Sam and Bobby laced their hands beneath Dean's legs and lugged his semi-conscious weight into their arms. They had to carry him the short distance into the church.
Dominion Springs' house of worship was still in reasonably good repair, although a decent section of the roof, above the altar, had collapsed with age and white ants. Thick dust and leafy debris coated everything inside the church and, as they entered, filth was sent clouding about their feet. Bobby's foot prints were visible throughout, trekking his every move. The high-set, stained glass windows were all intact, bar one by the double entry doors. Inside most of the pews had been removed, all except those that had been fixed to the walls at the very rear of the church. Also removed were the pulpit and all other furniture. The cathedral-style, high wall at the rear of the church bore a shadowed outline of where a huge crucifix had once held pride of place. Similar ghostly silhouettes lined the walls where numerous pictures had once hung. All that remained of anything holy were the stained glass windows, depicting the life of Jesus Christ, two solitary angelic statues, one of which lay in pieces across the floor, the other had been decapitated, and a huge marble baptismal font off to one corner, most likely too heavy, or cumbersome to move. Bobby had filled it to the brim with water that he had subsequently blessed. All the windows and doors had a thick line of goofer dust and, for good measure, salt, laid across them. In the center of the church Bobby had laid out a large circle of the same. He'd also painted a devil's trap in front of the doors, and numerous symbols, some of which Sam didn't even recognize, in various places across the floor, along the walls and even on the door. In some places, along the window ledges, and in the corners he'd carefully placed small leather pouches; mojo bags most likely. In demonic terms, it was like Fort Knox!
As Bobby and Sam hoisted Dean's lethargic body into the church Ruby remained by the door, Colt in hand as she scanned the surrounding woods for any signs of more Hell Hounds or worse... They carried him into the center of the circle where the hunters laid Dean down. Blood loss and exhaustion had rendered him temporarily unconscious. Bobby was extremely concerned. Giving Dean a cursory examination by torchlight was unreliable at best. But even in the poor light Bobby could tell that Dean was pale and pasty, his skin damp and cold to the touch. A light sheen of sweat covered his brow and his breathing was rapid, coming in short successive gasps. He suspected Dean was going into shock, which in itself could quite quickly lead to death, Hell Hounds and demons aside.
"We'd best see to those wounds…" Bobby muttered, pulling his first aid kit closer. "But we gotta keep him warm." Bobby moved off to retrieve a blanket from his pickup, which, given Dean's state, hardly seemed adequate.
Sam remained by Dean's side, cradling his brother in his arms as fear and desperation swelled within him. He fought away the thought that Dean was doomed either way. That if the Hell Hounds didn't get him again, his injuries most likely would…
Bobby paused by Ruby's side as he exited the church. "You're not coming in?" He queried, pondering if she even could, given that it was sacred ground.
"Churches? Not really my thing…" She offered. "And besides, I can't, exactly…" She nodded to the goofer dust and salt lines with an expression of distain.
Bobby smirked briefly to himself. As deadly and brutally strong that a demon could be a simple line of cemetery dirt and a household condiment could stop them dead in their tracks!
"Anything out here I should know about?" He queried, scrutinizing the apparently quiet landscape, knowing she could see what he couldn't.
"Well there's an old man been keeping an eye on us, and a fat woman who can't seem to stop crying…" She explained. "A little boy and his dog…"
"Ok, other than the ghosts?" Bobby clarified.
"There's a whole grave yard out back you know…" She quipped with a hint of sarcasm. "But, no, nothing… yet. But it won't be long, I'm pretty sure I spotted other Hell Hounds following us…"
"And…" Bobby asked gravely, "what else did you see? Back at Lloyd's."
"I didn't actually see anything." She replied.
"I thought you said there was something else there?" Bobby queried, wondering if she was playing games with him, as demons usually do.
"I didn't see it." She snipped back. "I felt it… I just got a really bad feeling all of a sudden." She replied. Her eyes fixed on the tree line. "Like something was watching us from a distance."
"And that makes it a Big Bad because?" Bobby queried skeptically.
"Because when I get a really bad feeling, it usually is Big and Bad." She replied tersely. If he only had the slightest idea of the demons roaming the earth that wanted a piece of Winchester ass!
"Great." He was about to move off when he paused. "Umm. Any, spooks we should be concerned about?"
"No." She smirked, lightheartedly. "There's a nasty one hangs around the saloon though, but he won't come onto consecrated ground."
Bobby nodded with relief. They had enough to deal with as it was. "Listen… Thanks. I'm still not sure any of this is gonna work… But thanks for trying…" Bobby's voice trailed off with mounting emotion. "… To help Dean."
She gazed solemnly at Bobby for a moment then offered him the Colt. "You wanted this back…" If only he knew… she hadn't done it for Dean.
Bobby was surprised by her gesture. "No. You'd best keep it; at least you can see the bastards." He ran his toe through the salt and goofer dust lines and waved her through.
She hesitated at first. All things considered, they were sitting ducks in a battle they'd soon be out numbered in. Hell Hounds aside, something so much bigger was coming that she knew they weren't prepared for. She glanced at the brothers; Dean was slumped lifelessly in Sam's arms, his wounds opened again and bleeding. Blood had soaked into Sam's shirt, blood was pooling beneath the elder's prone body; Dean was loosing a lot of blood. She pondered just how much more he could afford to loose. Right now, Dean pretty much looked like a lost cause anyways! And Sam… he was cradling his dying brother in his arms like some near-hysterical, sappy, nurse maid. It made her want to puke! She hated his sooky, pathetic, caring and gooey compassion. Sometimes it oozed off him like some kind of rose scented ectoplasm!
Something in the pit of her stomach urged her to walk away; to run away! She was undeniably on the loosing side… His adversaries had been right; he was never going to fulfill his destiny, he was still too steeped in mankind's humanity!
Then she caught a brief expression flash across Sam's face; a hardness almost, of brutal determination to beat the odds…
Maybe there was still hope. Hesitantly she put her faith back in the Winchesters; after all she'd severed pretty much any other ties! She carefully skirted around the devil's trap and made her way to Sam and Dean, where Bobby's precautions halted her once more at the next circle. Even she was safer inside, than out.
Bobby carefully joined the lines once more as he scanned the area for any signs that something wicked came their way. The moon had shifted to low on the horizon, dawn was just a few hours away, however, the night was at its darkest. He collected armfuls of any remaining items he could foresee they may need from his pick up, the blanket included.
When he returned inside he latched the door, shaking it to be sure it would hold against the Hell Hounds when they came. He found Ruby hunched on the floor by Sam and Dean, her arms wrapped about her knees, however still outside of the circle. She seemed noticeably affected by the hallowed grounds, or her injuries. She was almost as worse for wear as Dean, with scuffed knees and elbows; her clothes were dirt streaked and tattered. Demon or not she was visibly hurting. Even with the poor torchlight she was almost as pale as Dean and seemed to tremble. She unconsciously sucked on her lower lip with unease. Her gaze was fixed on Dean. Bobby was sure he detected some sense of sorrow or apprehension in her expression. She genuinely seemed concerned.
Sam tightened his grasp around Dean as the injured Winchester groaned and trembled with pain. Bobby knelt by the brothers and opened the first aid kit.
Bobby cut Dean's jeans leg open, revealing deep crimson gashes from calf to thigh. Much of the bleeding had ceased, except for a small number of profound lacerations across his thigh. Bobby's prodding examination elicited a gasp of pain from his patient.
"Sorry son… Take a deep breath… Just try an' take it easy…" Bobby consoled as he set about swiftly bandaging a thick gauze pad over the wounds, applying, he hoped, enough pressure to stem the flow of blood. As he bandaged Dean's leg Sam proceeded to cut away the tattered garb of his t-shirt and jacket, across his shoulder, to reveal further blood covered gore and carnage. Dean hissed with pain, as Sam's trembling hands examined the damage.
"Hurts Sammy." Dean groaned.
"I'm trying to be careful." Sam muttered. "But I gotta see..."
Had it not been for his helmet, the Hound would most certainly have ripped Dean's throat out. As it was, the hound's huge jaws had mauled deep puncture wounds and long gashes into Dean's shoulder and upper arm, extending to across his clavicle to his upper chest. Sam could see clear to the bone, to where his fractured collar bone protruded through the mangled flesh. The sight had him gag with horror and fear. The wounds were extensive, far worse than he'd tried to convince himself of.
"Aw, shit Bobby!" Sam gasped as he glanced at the concerned hunter. "It's bad…"
"It's Ok, Sam." Bobby tried to console, squeezing Dean's arm reassuringly. "Looks bad, I know, but I've seen Dean survive far worse. Haven't you son?" Bobby nodded encouragingly at Dean. "That time with the wendigo even…"
Sam had to believe him; for he couldn't face thinking Dean couldn't survive. Of course Dean had almost died that time, after he was attacked by a wendigo, despite being in a hospital. He wouldn't be privileged to that kind of luxury this time, not if they couldn't ultimately break the deal. Sam nodded as he carefully placed a gauze pad over the worst of the wounds.
"Yeah. I'm good…" Dean groaned, plastering a forced smile across his face.
"See… Dean's gonna make it through this." Bobby reassured both brothers. "All this."
Sam missed the growing despair and defeat evident in Dean's pain weary gaze, however Bobby caught it, seconds before the pain became all consuming and Dean's eyes wearily fluttered closed. It broke his heart to see the normally proud and defiant hunter succumb to the mounting odds against them, against him.
Ruby sat in silent contemplation of the trio. "Looks pretty bad to me." She refuted "I could always… you know… possess him." She pondered. "I could keep him alive, at least until all this is dealt with."
"Like hell!" Dean objected, having heard her, casting her a defiant, but beaten, glare. "I ain't gonna have a demon chick in me! Not after what had happened to Sam…"
"Wouldn't work anyway." Sam replied, wishing he could have avoided Meg's unwanted violation of his body. "We got tattooed with protection charms… neither of us can be possessed. Besides, what would happen to your host? Could she survive your injuries?" He queried. Ruby had been through a hell of a lot, and her host had taken several beatings, all of which Ruby could sustain, however they could very likely be fatal when inflicted on a mere human.
"She's not so damaged…" Ruby explained, picking at her shredded elbow. "A couple of grazes, a few old scars maybe… If she makes a run for it now, she could probably beat the hounds…" Ruby admitted. "And that charm you're so smug about, the hounds tore it up pretty bad. He can still be possessed!"
"What?" Sam daunted. He lifted the gauze to inspect the tattoo, and sure enough the lacerations at the hound's fangs had ripped the image apart. It couldn't possibly offer any kind of protection; probably never heal well enough to ever do so again. Sam made a mental note to himself, that if, no when, Dean survive the ordeal, they'd be heading back to a tattooist in the very near future.
Dean suddenly flinched; his eyes snapping wide open in fear. Sam placed his hand reassuringly across his chest, concerned that he had provoked Dean's balk. However, Dean gasped as his gaze bounced around the church, searching, trying desperately to find the source of his terror. He tried to push away from Sam, as his stare fixed upon the doors. Despite his injuries, his hand flew instinctively to his waist band, to the pistol that was no longer there.
"No… no!" He panted, trying to shift his weary body across the floor. "Sam you gotta run… They're back… they're here…" Sam and Bobby both tried to halt his movement, fearful he would aggravate his injuries further. Sam glared at Bobby with equal horror, as concern for his brother escalated.
"Its ok, we got it covered… you're safe here." Bobby consoled.
"My gun…" Dean urged frantically. "It gone… Dad's gun…"
"I got it here." Sam replied, pulling the pistol from where he'd put it, safely in his own waist band and placed it reassuringly across Dean's waist. Dean gripped it with relief, albeit left-handed, for his right arm was too badly mauled to co-operate with any request to move. He clutched the colt tightly, for the comfort item that it was.
"Best be quick." Ruby advised, her attention fixed on the church doors as she staggered wearily to her feet. She could hear the same guttural howls from beyond the closed doors that had startled Dean.
She checked that the Colt was loaded. Sam patted at his jacket pocket, confirmed that he still had plenty of ammunition in reserve and passed her a handful of bullets. She shoved the precious ammunition into her pocket then raced towards the doors.
"It's the Hounds. They're here." Ruby called to them from her vantage point on one of the remaining pews at the rear of the church, where she could peer through the stained glass window through a broken pane. She loaded more shells into the Colt, although her eyes remained fixed on the black hounds that charged towards them outside.
Had it not been that the church went eerily quiet, they would never have known there was an abundance of insect and animal life living closely in and around the deserted town. However, the sudden silence was deafening. They all knew the hounds were there, even if only Dean and Ruby could hear them, or see them.
"Sam, you gotta… run…" Dean panted breathlessly. "Please… go…."
"Can you hold them off?" Bobby queried her. There was no point defending a dead man, and if they couldn't stabilize Dean's condition that was all he effectively was.
"Yeah…" She fired several shots into the night and smiled smugly to herself as two hounds bit the dust. Another two raced towards the church, but as they bound through the church gates they slowed noticeably, and grew instantly nervous. As they leapt up the church steps they came to a skidding halt at the doors where they recoiled in fear and scampered away. They weren't about to be easily persuaded into venturing anywhere onto holy ground. Instead they retreated to the perimeter where they ran in tandem, back and forth, at the church gates. They were obviously anxious to complete their task, but weary of venturing onto consecrated soil.
Standing at the window, and gazing at their torment Ruby knew their pain. Hallowed ground made her nauseous at best, and even that sensation had quickly developed into something far worse. She could feel as her energy drained and her blood seemed to boil in her veins. Stabs of pain hacked at her head and her insides, like she had been stuffed with razor blades. It took some time before she noticed Bobby was calling her name.
"Ruby! RUBY, damn you!" Bobby shouted until she turned to face him. "Did you get them?" Bobby repeated once he had her attention.
"A couple, but there's more." She replied. "For the time being they're hesitant about coming onto consecrated ground." She informed him. "But I can take them out…"
"I sure, as hell, hope this doesn't constitute welching!" Bobby mused, glancing at Sam cradling Dean in his arms. "Running from the damned things is one thing, killing them, well that a whole different kettle of fish!"
"Well I'm not dead yet." Sam replied, optimistically, "…and I think quite a few of the Hell Hounds are." He glanced at Ruby for confirmation of the fact.
"Technically Dean hasn't actually killed any of them, so he couldn't be accused of trying to welch." Ruby added to their discussion. "Ain't nobody said I can't kill the filthy, flea-ridden mutts!"
"Suppose that's something." Bobby gruffed as he inspected the lacerations along Dean's forearm. He tenderly ran his fingers along the savaged limb, fearing more fractures, and concerned by the depth and ferocity of the wounds. Bobby wrapped another gauze wad around the wounds and bound the bandage securely around Dean's arm.
Ruby fired at the remaining hounds. One fell to the ground instantly, whilst the other reeled around and scampered away, limping from its wounds, to take cover in the woods. It wouldn't matter she mused to herself, the Colt's bullets would kill it eventually.
Bobby bandaged Dean's shoulder, whilst Sam held him almost in a sitting position. Aside from a number of superficial bruises and rather extensive grazing, from when the hounds had dragged him off the speeding Harley Davidson, Dean's wounds were tended to as best they could.
Dean sighed groggily. "Please Sammy, you gotta go…" he muttered, gingerly raising his hand and squeezing Sam's arm. He still couldn't face putting Sam at risk, or having him witness his final death.
"I'm not going anywhere Dean." Sam rebutted stubbornly. "We're gonna beat this son-of-a-bitch!"
"Can't" Dean muttered. "Can't put you at risk…" He moaned. His struggle eventually depleted him of what small energy levels he had left, and ultimately pain and physical duress succeeded in defeating him and unconsciousness, once again, claimed him. He slumped back into Sam's protective arms with a muffled groan.
"Well, that's not your call, big brother." Sam replied to his unconscious sibling. "You may think it's your job to protect me, at all costs… well, it's my job to get your back and save your ass once in a while..." Sam tenderly wrapped the blanket around Dean and continued to sit with him cradled in his arms. His hands gently pressed against the gauze pad across Dean's shoulder. It was quickly staining crimson with blood, far too much blood. For Sam, at the moment, nothing else mattered, not even the threat of the Hounds at the church gates. For as long as the threat remained outside, Sam wasn't moving. Because if Dean wasn't going to make it, he was going to be there, holding him in a loving embrace until his time came.
Besides, Bobby was doing enough worrying for the both of them. He glanced with trepidation at Dean. Color seemed to have returned somewhat to his face, although that could have been a trick of the feeble lighting.
Ruby was shooting at something again, in quick succession.
Bobby strode to her side and mounted the pew beside her then peered through the distorting effects of the glass. He carefully leaned in close to the widow pane, careful not to disturb the carefully laid line of salt and goofer dust. But he couldn't see anything, not because of the colored glass, or the dark skies outside. There just wasn't, as far as he could tell, anything there. However as Ruby fired again he could see, quite distinctly, as a cloud of dust rose as if something had nose dived into it.
"How many?" Bobby queried.
"Now? About a five." She replied, obviously taking aim at another. "They're getting braver," she added, "coming right up to the doors."
"Well, that can't be good." Bobby muttered.
Almost as if to punctuate his dread, a hound managed to avert Ruby's shot and pounced upon the door. Both Bobby and Sam watched as the door rattled and shook on its hinges; grim proof of their ominous situation. Bobby scampered back to the doors and checked that the age-old latch would hold. He could feel their immense weight as they pounced against the bolt. The force was enough to nearly knock him to the ground.
Ruby's fire ceased, although the pounding continued. Bobby gazed at her with inquiry. Ruby was leaning heavily against the wall. She seemed to waver in her stance; she was sweating and visibly swayed as she grabbed at the window sill for support.
"Ruby?" He asked her with concern. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah…" She replied with false confidence. "All this holy stuff's just kinda getting to me. I'll be ok."
In all honesty she felt as if she were suffocating, like the fires of hell themselves were consuming her, inside and out. Even the air around her was pressing down upon her with unrelenting force. Every fiber of her being urged her to smash her way out of the church and run. Run to the safety of unholy ground. She was sure the same sensation was what was spurring the Hounds on, driving them insanely wild in their task, and stirring them into a vengeful frenzy of retaliation.
Her vision blurred and her aim faltered as she resumed her vigil at the window. The hounds continued to pounce against the door with repetitive stamina; however it was not the doors alone that barred their access. The salt and goofer dust played a far more important role in preventing their entry. They were willing to give their all to smash through, whimpering in pain as their repeated efforts were successfully blocked. She fired again, and another hound was sent sprawling from the shot.
And then the pouncing stopped. Bobby checked the door once more, insuring they remained firmly latched, and double checked his lines of defense.
The pounding ceased and silence followed.
"What's going on?" Bobby queried her.
"I don't know, they just pulled back." Ruby replied.
Bobby was startled when the doors rattled again, almost pushed off their hinges.
"Ruby, what is it?" Bobby demanded. It was a constant pushing, rather than indicative of the hounds pouncing against it. "What the hell?" Bobby frowned as he considered the possible explanations. "Ruby?"
"Not the Hounds." She replied, there was nothing outside as far as she could see. The hounds had gathered together, close to the church itself, and just out of her sight, and range. Then, as the doors rattled again, she realized, as the icy wind forced its way through the broken glass and swept at her, blowing her hair from her face. The hounds had limited control over the forces, or their master did, by remote. She reloaded in anticipation of another attack. "They're trying to blow the doors in!" She explained to the confused hunter.
"Bobby!" Sam called, his concerns growing. The current scenario seemed all too familiar. Of when the hounds came for Evan Hudson and he was the only thing standing between them… whilst Dean had brokered his first deal with the Crossroad demon. "Bobby its wind…" Sam tried to warn of the elemental control the Hounds seemed to have when, with an all mighty bang, the doors were flung open. Instantaneously there was an explosion of splintered timber as the crude wooden latch shattered and a gust of rustling leaves burst through the doorway as the doors were finally blown off their hinges. They were sent flying into the church, the noise of the discharge echoing throughout and then swamped by the deafening howl of the ensuing wind.
One of the doors slammed into Bobby, knocking him to the ground, and burying him beneath.
"Bobby!" Sam cried as he eased Dean from his lap and sprang to Bobby's aid.
"No Sam!" Ruby cautioned as she leapt from the pew and sprinted towards Bobby. "Get back, I'll get him. Stay in the circle!"
If the Hounds couldn't get to Dean, there was no reason they wouldn't go for Sam instead. One way, or another, the Crossroad Demon would want its soul, and either Winchester soul would probably do.
Sam paused, as he considered his options. However Ruby was already by Bobby's side, hoisting him to his feet and half dragging him back to the circle. Blood streamed down the side of his face and he was visibly dazed and confused. Unable to step over herself, she had to pass Bobby to Sam. However the salt and goofer dust lines were broken by Bobby's stumbling feet and Ruby was unable to fix it…
With another gust of wind the fragile lines of salt and goofer dust were blown from the door's threshold and Ruby gasped in angst as three huge hounds leapt through the entrance, skirting the devil's trap as if it were a snake pit. She glanced at the fractured lines of restraint that circled the hunters, with trepidation.
"Sam, the line!" Ruby yelled as she ran forward towards the hounds, firing at the first demonic canine bounding towards them. Sam struggled with Bobby's lumbering weight, easing him down by Dean's side in haste. He had no idea just where the hounds were, or how many, however he could see by Ruby's panicked expression that their circumstances were dire.
"Ruby…" He called to her, hesitant to repair the dust and salt lines. "Ruby, get in here!" He urged her.
"Just fix it Sam!" She shouted. She would never make it to the circle in time. Their only hope was for her to eliminate the hounds as they leapt through the doors. She shot at the next hound, as another two forced their way into the church. It would appear consecrated ground was loosing its inhibiting effects upon the hell hounds. As she spun around, to face one of the charging creatures she was thrust to the ground by another.
Sam watched in horror as she was pinned helplessly to the ground, gashes appeared along her arm, from her invisible attacker. He anxiously reconnected the salt and Goofer dust lines as he watched numerous paw prints and smudged tracks appear in the dust upon the floor as they leapt towards her. Then her side was opened up and her shirt instantly stained crimson. Ruby cried out, in her weakened state the pain was enough to hurt even the demon within. Sam was at a loss as to how he could help her; not when he couldn't even see the hounds!
Desperately Ruby thrust the Colt up and blasted the beast that pinned her down, clean in the chest. Her aim swiftly moved and she fired again, somewhere off to her right. Sam observed as she apparently pushed a huge weight off her splayed torso and staggered wearily to her feet.
Ruby frowned with determination as the hounds leapt towards her. They attacked on mass, coming at her from all sides. She spun around as she expertly fired a compilation of shots at the huge black beasts, until the Colt's ammunition was expelled and the floor around her was littered with the carcasses of Hell's canines.
Although Sam was still oblivious to the Hell Hounds' presence, he could see the disruption to the thick dusty coating over the floor where they had pounced, clawed and finally fallen.
Ruby paused and panted breathlessly, trying desperately to regain her composure. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she shoved the Colt back into her waist band. She staggered slightly and grew deathly pale. She wouldn't hold out much longer as the duress of her injuries and the added encumbrances of holy ground hacked at her strength and energy. Then suddenly her knees buckled and she collapsed abruptly to the floor as the toxicity of the church and her wounds overcame her.
"Ruby?" Sam gasped, glaring helplessly at her, where she lay, halfway between them and the wide-open doors. "Ruby? You gotta get up… Ruby?" He was about to risk leaving the circle when Bobby grabbed his arm.
"No Sam… it's too dangerous." Bobby warned him, he was damned if he'd risk another Winchester to the Hound's savagery.
"Ruby!" Sam called to her as her eyes fluttered open and peered listlessly at him. He remained poised at the circle's edge ready to risk life and limb to save her.
She shook her head, ever so slightly, a slight smile of victory tugged at her mouth: She had Sam on side, finally. She forced herself up onto her hands. "Stay…" She whispered. "There's no more… for now. I gotta get outta here… just for a while." She explained, however she struggled to force herself to her feet.
"No, Ruby!" Sam begged. He found himself concerned for her welfare, surprisingly just as much, as for their own.
"Let her go." Bobby muttered. "It's the consecrated ground. I'm surprised she's lasted as long as she has."
Before Ruby could make it to her feet Bobby's torch faulted and began to flicker and, if it weren't for the moonlight streaming in through the gapping hole in the roof, they would have been thrust into complete darkness.
"Oh Shit!" Bobby complained as his torch extinguished altogether. It wasn't so much that they would be without light that concerned him; it was more so why the torch had begun to fail in the first place.
Then, as the winds intensified again, swirling dead leaves and dust into eddying mini-tornadoes, a woman and a man, both tall and athletic, stepped cautiously through the doorway, passing through the break in the salt and goofer lines. They meandered around the devil's trap and glared at the battle-weary hunters. However the woman's gaze fixed solely on Ruby, as she still struggled to get to her feet, and hatred flooded her expression.
"Ruby! I should have known!" The redheaded woman hissed at Ruby as she stepped over the lifeless carcass of a hell hound. "We'd heard you were playing for the other side!"
"Sam?" Bobby muttered quietly as his dazed stupor cleared. "Sam, get the shotguns!" He motioned towards his huge duffle by Sam's side. It was the age-savvy hunter's selected arsenal.
Sam dragged Bobby's duffle to his side and ripped a shotgun from its depths, tossing the gun to Bobby and delving in again for another. Bobby aimed at the pair, and Sam leapt to his feet in kind.
"So... it's time for the wenches!" Ruby snarked. "Hounds down, Big Bad still to come?" Ruby staggered to her feet, the fight, and the church, having taken a significant toll on her strength and energy. However, she placed herself between both hunters and the demons. Neither hunter could get a clean shot at the demons without risking hitting Ruby as well.
The redhead strode directly up to Ruby and hurled a fist into her abdomen without obstruction. Ruby, still weary and ailing, crumpled with the blow and the woman proceeded to plant her boot into her. Ruby was sent sprawling across the floor. "You obviously sided with the wrong side!" The redhead sniggered with triumph.
The brute of a man advanced, his muscular, exposed arms covered in heavy black tribal tattoos. He strode forward with imposing menace, towards Ruby, lethal thoughts clear on his face. Ruby remained prone on the floor, as she struggled to summon the will to battle on.
"Ruby!" Sam called to her as he fired upon the man, pelting him to the ground with rock salt, where he landed with a loud thump by the woman's side.
"Ruby!" Sam yelled again. "Ruby! Get up!" She was their only savior at the moment, however incapacitated she may have been. Without Ruby their hopes of surviving were minimal. And the demons were obviously pissed off. He was certain they would undoubtedly claim them all in retribution for the carnage of Hell Hounds, in their ultimate quest for Dean's soul.
"Battle's not over yet, Brenna!" Ruby snapped back, with confident triumph, as she huddled on the floor, concealing the Colt from their view as she desperately forced another bullet into the chamber. She staggered to her feet and stood tall, boldly prepared for a fight. "I got a little surprise for you…" She commented, as she swiftly fired at Brenna's dark haired companion as he struggled back to his feet. "I got a new toy! Say hello to my little friend…"
The shot hit Brenna's tattooed cohort, clean in the chest, and he staggered backwards with bewilderment. As Ruby shifted her aim towards Brenna, the demon swiftly cast her hand up in a swiping motion and hurled Ruby into the church wall by will alone.
"Ignatius!" Brenna bawled in horror, as the blessed silver bullet worked its mystical toxic magic on the demon. "No, no, NO! You bitch, you'll pay for that!" She screamed at Ruby. Iridescent veins glowed across Ignatius's face and neck and he convulsed where he stood, until he stood no longer. He crashed to the floor as his eyes blacked over, momentarily, and then all signs of life ceased.
Ruby didn't have the strength to fight her, but that 'Bitch' remark had to be paid for. She'd had enough of the derogatory name. If she could just summon the strength to release herself from Brenna's psychic grasp!
Brenna sank to Ignatius's side, where her hand tenderly caressed his forehead. His eyes stared blankly at the skies above through the yawning hole in the roof. And her rage and anger escalated.
Bobby fired at her, hoping to keep her incapacitated until Ruby could get herself back on her feet. The demoness staggered backwards with the impact, screaming in pain. When Bobby and Sam both fired again she was prepared. Her hand flew up and defected the shot with a whistling howl of wind. She glared at the hunters with anger. The redhead screamed like a banshee, then thrust her hands forward. There was a sudden crashing sound as she blasted the stained glass windows from their frames, showering them all with a blizzard of rainbow colored, glass shards.
Sam lunged over Dean, protecting him against the razor shower. Shards of glass ripped through his shirt, cutting into his back with a searing intensity. Bobby grunted by his side, suffering the same fate. Brenna's scathing retribution was mostly aimed at Ruby. She slumped against the wall, tucking her head beneath her arms as the shards were projected towards her. Slivers of colored glass slashed at her, stabbing into her cowering frame, others embedded themselves into the wall around her. More blood stained her shirt, and jeans as the splinters slashed into her flesh. Eventually the hail of glass ceased, and as the final shards fell to the ground they tinkled like a wind chime until all was quiet.
Ruby wiped blood from her freshly grazed cheek and glared back at Brenna, with loathing and vengeance. Then Ruby smiled with ominous delight as she repeated Brenna's tactic, hurling the redhead into the opposite wall. "Anyone else calls me 'bitch'!" She muttered.
With her short triumph Ruby grappled to reload the Colt. However, her task was incomplete, interrupted as she was jerked from her feet and tossed to the opposite side of the church, and slammed into the baptismal font. The solid structure remained fast.
Sam freed his captive breath when the holy water remained within the basin. Not a drop spilled on their unlikely ally; however the rib-jarring jolt had incapacitated the demoness. She remained stunned and splayed on the ground.
Brenna strode swiftly towards her, pulling a dagger from her boot. Sam feared it was a dagger, just like Ruby's; a demon slaying dagger! Ruby's swift and gory, fatal demise seemed inevitable.
"Ruby!" Sam shouted again, as he leapt to her aid. He fired at the woman with rock salt, and caught her by surprise, too engrossed in executing Ruby to notice him, or care. As Brenna was pummeled backwards by the blast he tackled the redhead to the ground. With the demoness dazed, he scooped a large handful of the holy water from the baptismal font and splashed it over her. Brenna hissed and snarled at the caustic liquid burning her face and chest, cursing Sam. He rushed to Ruby's side, dragging her to her feet as he splashed more holy water over their foe.
Bobby was on his feet, casting a concerned gaze at Dean as he aimed his shotgun at the Crossroad Demon's minion. However Sam and Ruby were in too close a proximity for him to safely fire upon the redhead.
"Kill her!" Sam demanded of Ruby as she staggered to her feet.
Ruby glanced back in defeat. "It's empty!" She exclaimed as she held the Colt up.
Sam grabbed Ruby by the elbow and tried to force her back to their last remaining salvation; the salt and goofer dust circle in the middle of the church.
Recovering quickly, Brenna spun around and vaulted Sam across the altar floor and sent him crashing into the wall behind and then sent Ruby tumbling across the floor to his side. Ruby pulled herself up, and attempted to reload the Colt with as many bullets as she could.
Bobby managed a rushed shot at the demoness, however the blast was blown off track by a huge wind gust. The inhabitants of the church were all nearly blown to the ground as gale force winds swept through the church doors, eradicating what was left of the hunters' feeble salt lines at the threshold. The splintered shards of window and fractured slivers of roof thatching were swept up and blown to the rear of the church in a blustery gust of dust and glittering glass. Bobby's inner sanctum of goofer dust and salt was reduced to a bare minimum.
"Stop!" A deep gravelly voice boomed into the church. A hurricane of winds followed and nearly blew the thatched roof completely off the small church. And as intent as Ruby was on killing Brenna the sheer ferocity of the voice startled her into submission. Sam, Bobby and Ruby were all intimidated by the dark, imposing figure that stood in the doorway, with a posse of Hell Hounds by his side. Hounds that all, alarmingly, could see; Bobby feared they were all now at risk of the hounds, as only demons and those on their hit list could see them!
As the figure stepped forward several boards were ripped loudly from the floor by invisible means, annihilating the devil's trap drawn upon them. The tall, dark man entered the church, unencumbered by any of Bobby's precautions. Brenna retreated to join him by his side. He gave her a fleeting glance of disappointment as she crept behind him.
"Sammy!" Bobby urged with a hushed demand.
Sam responded by crawling back into the circle and checking its integrity. Sam glared at the imposing figure, as he struggled to repair their circle of salvation. Bobby aimed his shot gun at the demon. Ruby did the same with the Colt, having only managed to load a few bullets into the pistol.
Somehow they all knew: This was 'the' Crossroad Demon. The one who held possession over Dean's soul.
TBC