SUPERNATURAL

THE PARCAEX RITUAL

Note: Sorry for the time-length between the last chapter and this 'ne. My excuse is homework and school… Year 10 puts a lot of pressure on you.

Anyway – Review and Enjoy =D

Chapter Seven

'Hey, college boy?'

Sam scowled. 'What, Dean?'

'How fast do we have to drive to go two thousand miles in twenty one hours?'

'How would I know?'

'Bobby?' Dean leaned forward. 'Got a pen and paper?'

'Uh, yeah,' he answered, reaching into the glove box. 'Hang on.'

Dean took the rough sheet and an old pen from Bobby and handed them to Sam. 'Do the math, geek.'

Sam snatched the paper from Dean and took the pen, scribbling down equations and complex formulas – well, complex from Dean's point of view, anyway.

'Dude, you're a freak!'

'Dean,' Sam laughed, 'I thought we established that years ago.'

He kept scratching the pen across the paper as Bobby sat on eighty miles per hour, fifteen miles above the speed limit on Interstate 90 – and yet still not fast enough, it seemed.

'Sammy,' Dean insisted. 'How fast?'

Putting the pen down and scanning through his work, Sam nodded in contention. 'Well, estimating the traffic conditions we'll encounter along the way – I'd say about ninety to ninety-five miles per hour, perhaps a little more.'

'Ni…Ninety?' Dean spluttered, 'On these roads? That's suicide!'

'Ninety-five,' Sam corrected. 'Well, this was your brilliant idea in the first place, you know.'

'I was just trying to do the right thing, Sammy.'

'Since when have you ever done something just because it was the right thing?' Sam snarled, 'If you're so desperate to save her, then quit complaining about how we do it, yeah?'

Dean stared at him. 'Believe me, Sam. She's different. She's changed.'

'Oh yeah?' Sam spat, 'And if it were Bela with the decision; you think she would have done the same?'

Dean scowled at him, 'That's beside the point.'

'No Dean! It's no-'

'Sam! Dean!' Bobby turned to stare at them, 'What the hell's gotten into you two?'

'Nothing,' Sam answered, sitting back in his seat grumpily.

Bobby kept staring, and Sam shook his head. 'It's nothing,' he insisted.

'Right,' he said sarcastically. 'Whatever it is, Sam, get over it. We've gotten ourselves into this dilemma, and we're going to get ourselves back out. This is as much about Bela's life as our own consciences, Sam. I'm certainly not going to just let her die, – no matter what she's done in the past – and I'm sure you wouldn't either. We've got to trust Dean on this one.'

Sam sighed, resigning. 'Fine. But as I said before, you'll have to speed us up; there's a long way to go yet.'

It had been two hours since they'd passed through Nebraska into Missouri, and while Bobby lay asleep in the back it was Dean who had taken control of the wheel.

Sam sat in the front passenger seat, deep in thought and subconsciously staring at his brother as if scanning him for any abnormality he may have attained during his time in Hell.

I'm sure it's nothing, Sam tried to convince himself, there's nothing different about Dean…

But did he really believe that?

Dean noticed Sam staring at him. 'I swear to god, Sam, if you keep looking at me like that I'll…'

'You'll what?' he smirked, 'Send me to hell?'

'Shut up.'

Sam laughed, and they sat there on ninety-three miles per hour in quiet, speeding along the Interstate for less than five minutes before Dean groaned.

'Dude, put some music on,' he told Sam, 'this silence is creeping me out.'

Sam sighed, leaned forwards and switched the radio on.

No signal.

'Ah crap,' Dean muttered, scowling at the radio and opening the glove box. 'Let's see what tapes they've got then.'

'Dean,' Sam warned, 'You know they're probably not going to have-'

'CDs!!' Dean roared, pulling his hands away as if what he saw before him was dirty. 'What is this, the 21st Century?'

'-any tapes…' Sam finished slowly, laughing. 'You can't go on living with those tapes forever, you know. They're getting old.'

'To hell I can't,' he scowled, flicking through the CD pile, one by one tossing them out the window. 'Wow – it's scary to see what these Demon's listen to. Justin Timberlake? The Village People? Christina Aguilera? They're more twisted then I had first thought.'

Sam shook his head and smiled. 'Dean, I doubt that's the Demon's music, you know.'

'It's in their car, isn't it…?'

'Yes, and in one I bet my soul that they didn't buy like a regular person.'

'Sammy, don't say that!' Dean warned in all sincerity. 'You don't know what you're getting yourself into. Let's see,' he muttered, 'Ah, how about some Michael Jackson huh, Sam?'

'Whatever.'

Shoving the disc into the slot, the CD Player grumbled for a second before reluctantly beginning to play the first track. 'Aww, come on!' he yelled, 'this is weak!'

'Turn it off then,' Sam suggested.

'Yeah, you wish,' Dean smirked, turning the volume dial up to full. 'That's more like it!' he yelled over the music.

Bobby woke with a start in the back, grumpy and scowling. 'Dean, turn that down. It's not funny.'

Dean turned to him. 'When we rescue you from the damned, I'll let you turn your music up as loud as you want.'

He turned it down, but Bobby didn't go back to sleep again. Not that it lasted long, anyway – the sound suddenly began to spasm, flickering on and off before dying out completely. Dean tapped the stereo, frustrated. 'Well there goes Jackson; I don't think he liked us very much. What a piece of crap CD for a piece of crap car.' he turned around again. 'Bobby, of all the engines you could have hotwired, why this one?'

'Dean…' Bobby said slowly, leaning forwards. 'I don't think that's just a radio malfunction.'

'Oh… crap.' Dean groaned. 'Not now, we're short on time as it is!'

And his fears were confirmed as the car's engine spluttered and died, rolling to a stop in the middle of the road. Bobby sighed, 'They've followed us.'

Dean, refusing to sit back in helplessness and resign to this bout of misfortune, wasted no time in ducking down to see the tangle of wires hanging loosely below the ignition where Bobby had manually started the car. He attempted to start it again, but the Demon's power was way out of his hands.

Looking through the back windscreen, Sam and Bobby saw them; two black four-wheel-drives sitting on either side of the road, unmoving, their engines roaring like a hungry beast ready to pounce. Sam, worried, leaned forward and tapped Dean; 'Move over, let me try.'

Dean looked up at him. 'Dude, you think you can hotwire a car better than me?'

'Dean, trust me!' Sam urged impatiently.

Dean frowned, pulling himself up and into the front passenger seat whilst Sam crawled awkwardly over his brother and reached down, grasping the wires firmly in his hands.

The absence of revving engines and loud squeaks of rubber spinning on the tarred surface sent a chill down Sam's spine, and he knew – with a sinister dread settling within his stomach – that the two monstrous vehicles behind them no longer stood still.

'Sammy,' Dean started edgily, taking short glances out the back window, 'Not meaning to rush you or anything… But could you speed it up – just a bit?'

Sam nodded in frustration as he pinched the two wires in his fingers. Carelessly brushing the two tips against one another, Sam finally produced a spark, instantaneously kicking the engine into life.

Mouths agape, Dean and Bobby turned again, eyes wide, staring out the back windscreen, as Sam pulled himself into the drivers seat triumphantly. 'Uh – Sammy-' Dean began nervously.

'I know,' Sam cut across him, slamming his foot down on the accelerator and speeding off down the road, the two four-wheel-drives sitting on his tail menacingly.

'They're going to kill us,' Sam growled with clenched teeth as he felt the Daewoo's rear-end being nudged by the enemy's bonnet. The road before him was long and dangerously windy – he certainly didn't feel comfortable travelling at over one hundred miles per hour into the curves on the run from a pack of fearless Demons bent on revenge.

But the little Daewoo was much more flexible than the four-wheel drives into the turns, and Sam found himself putting a few car-lengths in between he and his attackers.

He sighed, and looked into the rear-vision mirror at Dean and Bobby, who wouldn't take their eyes off of him. 'What?' Sam insisted.

Dean stared. 'Isn't it obvious?'

'You…' Bobby began, 'You overcame the Demon's control! You started the car… like you were immune to their powers or something!'

Sam looked away, concentrating on his driving for a moment. Dean surveyed him suspiciously. 'Odd,' he started, 'It's almost as if those freakish abilities of yours had returned.'

Sam noticed that this sounded more accusing than brainstorming, and an unsettling feeling, uh, settled within his stomach.

He sighed. 'I don't know how to explain it, Dean. This isn't the first time it's happened lately, either. You wanted to know how I escaped Lilith after you were killed? Well, this is why. She tried to finish it – but she couldn't. Her powers had no effect over me. Then, lately, I've had… visions…'

Dean's eyes widened. 'Visions? Like-'

'No,' Sam shook his head, 'Not like before. I saw glimpses… glimpses of Lilith's plan. And…' he gulped, 'I could hear you, Dean… in hell, I could hear you.'

Dean didn't say a word, and began staring down at his feet. Bobby just stared at the two of them in silence.

Sam felt terrible. We've only just gotten Dean back, he thought, and already more mysteries. First Lucifer – and now this? What is happening to me? Has Azazel returned?

But he couldn't dwell on this for any longer, for as their car shot out from the last bend and onto open road, the Demons, who had been following them closely, picked up speed at a phenomenal rate as the space opened out. The speeds at which they travelled on the straight roads were utter suicide, far exceeding the trundling Daewoo and within a few moments they had caught up, brushing up against the rear bumper and sending chills rushing down Dean's spine.

'Damn it!' he growled, 'They're going to push us off the road!'

'Well, that's the plan, isn't it?' Bobby replied, as Sam unexpectedly swung the steering wheel to the left, veering sharply off the highway and throwing them through a downhill bend, crossing lanes as he exited the turn. The roads here were much less straight.

Sam eased a small smile. Now who's got the advantage, huh?

He'd pulled them onto more dangerous and windy roads, where the Daewoo could move more freely than the large black vehicles behind them.

Dean looked impressed, 'Good work, Sammy! I've never given you enough credit for those driving skills you've got there. This would still have been a hell of a lot easier if we'd had the Impala with us. Where is it, anyway?'

Bobby looked at Sam, frowning. 'Probably back in Kansas,' he replied, 'Still parked outside your old house, I think.'

Dean frowned. 'You didn't think of stopping there as we passed the state line!?'

'Dean!' Sam exclaimed, horrified. 'We're short on time as it is! Do you want to risk Bela's life on taking such a longer route? You can live without your Impala for a day or two, Dean.'

'That's what you think,' he muttered.

'This was your idea in the first place, Dean.'

Dean scowled, 'Yeah, as you keep reminding me.'

'You know,' Bobby started, 'I'd hate to break up this little bonding session you two are getting started, and I know this is going to kill you Dean… but you might want to take a look behind us.'

As Dean turned around ever so slowly, Sam caught a glimpse of pure horror and hatred emerge upon his brother's face.

'Oh.'

'My.'

'Lollipop.'

Frozen in shock, Dean continued to stare out the back windscreen at the vehicle sitting on their tail in the distance – black as the eclipsed sun, and glinting from the pale rays of shine that rebounded from off it's glassy surface.

'That's my car!'

And indeed it was.

Frozen in shock, Dean continued to stare out the back windscreen at the vehicle sitting on their tail in the distance – black as an eclipsed sun, and glinting from the pale rays of shine that rebounded from off it's glassy surface.

'That's my car!'

And indeed it was.

From the look upon Dean's face, Sam could just imagine the warfare commencing beneath his skin; the twisting and churning of his organs in utter horror of what he was seeing.

But, as always, that wasn't even the worst of it.

Bobby stared.

'Holy…mother of god.'

Their exhausted pile of metal turned the next bend, accelerating at speeds that would have once been deemed impossible for such a car. Yet here they were.

And there they were.

Directly in front of them, on either side of the road in which they sped along, came two more black four-wheeled drives in the opposite direction – straight towards the three of them.

Forgetting his Impala, Dean fixed his eyes on the commotion before him. They were trapped; trapped between two teams of insane, revenge-driven demons bent on destroying them at any cost, who hurdled towards them at phenomenal speeds.
But as always, in the most crucial circumstances, the time will eventually arise at the last possible moment when the good guys would find a way out of his deadly and should-be-fatal scenario.

And this time would be no different, for they were the good guys. Bobby, an expendable second-rate character, was currently in the vehicle with them, and so it temporarily safe in their company also.

'Sam!' Bobby called from the back seat, spotting a way out spontaneously and effortlessly, 'Turn right!'

Without hesitation, Sam yanked on the steering wheel and threw them to the right, spinning the tires gracefully along the tar. Okay, perhaps not gracefully, but as graceful as possible when you're being hunted by a pack of murderous villains.

The demons followed on their heels, but suspiciously slowed down and allowed Sam to drive on ahead.

Silently cheering, the three of them watched as Sam rounded another bed. Their silent cheers were then suddenly silenced, and their stomach's dropped violently as they trundled through a pair of ancient open gates, which guarded the property they had stumbled upon.

The car spluttered for a moment and rolled to a stop outside a large barn-house, and it was now obvious to the three of them that the Demon's had led them into a trap.

Dean groaned. 'Well, you've got to hand it to them, don't you? They've sure thought this through.'

'You're commending them?' Sam stared, horrified.

'Shut-up, you two,' Bobby whispered, gesturing towards the barn door, from where a large number of bodies emerged from them, presumably more Demons.

The four black territories pulled in beside their waste-bucket, the Impala slipping in silently behind. With the familiar creak of its doors, two Demons burst from its interior.

One had shaggy black hair, pulled together at the back in a ponytail. He was of a strong build, and didn't look like one to mess with at all. The second, though, was a female. From her look, she seemed that – as a human – she would have been quite innocent. But of course, these were demons, and not humans, and so looks were quite often very deceiving.

Not bothering to attempt resisting, Dean just sat there quietly as one of the larger males ripped the car door from off it's hinges, threw it to the side and took Dean by the scruff of his neck into his care.

A second man pulled Bobby through the rear end of the car, and the younger blonde woman who had emerged from the Impala took Sam. If the circumstance weren't so dire, Sam would have been ashamed that he was the one who'd been chosen to be the female's company.

No doubt he'd hear all about it once they'd gotten themselves out of this mess.

They were lead abruptly through the barn doors, outnumbered and quite lifeless with their movements. They were viciously shoved into a corner, guarded by more demons, who all turned to face the centre of the space.

From the rear of the barn, another Demon emerged. He was smaller than many of the other Demons, but respect all turned to him, and it seemed that he was the leader of this pack. He had a satisfied smile upon his face – though menacing nevertheless.

He turned to the three of them, who stared at this leader with blank faces. Dean's eyes shifted around the barn for a moment, surveying possible exits and other escape routes.

The leader chuckled at Sam and Dean. 'Did you really think that you would be allowed to simply walk away quietly? Lucifer will not be very happy.'

'Aww, poor him,' Dean replied, rolling his eyes. 'I'll send him a tissue, okay? Air-mail quick enough, or could I send one of your bus-boys here to do it for me?'

The leader ignored him.

'There is a new leader within the world,' he continued, 'Soon enough you pathetic race of humans will bow down to his mercy; beg him to keep you alive. The world shall return to its rightful place. Hell on earth is no longer a mere philosophical phrase – it's here, and it's happening. You will all feel the true wrath of Lucifer very soon.'

'Of course we will,' Dean groaned, eyeing his Demon warily as he was searched for weapons, 'I really don't think- hey! Watch it will you? I'd very much prefer it if you didn't search me there.'

'You think you're funny, smart-ass?'

The leader approached Dean from the front, glaring at him through two pairs of dark pits that extended through endless realms of black space. A bottomless hole; empty and lifeless.

'Well, if you don't think so, I'm afraid to tell you that your sense of humor sucks.'

This comment was enough to get a bone-crunching knee to the ribs. Doubling over in pain, Dean spat on the Demon's shoes.

'You're not worth my time, Dean Winchester.'

The Demon walked away from Dean, surveying Sam and Bobby as well, who hadn't said a word or moved a muscle.

They were the smart ones.

The leader pointed towards Dean, but spoke to all three of the Demons in control of Sam, Dean and Bobby. 'Search everywhere,' he demanded, 'We can't take any chances with these guys.'

As the leading Demon strode back into the center of the room, very powerful in his stance, Dean looked over and noticed Bobby's eyes wide and staring.

They were staring right into his. Staring, without blinking – as if he were trying to tell Dean something.

Be ready.

It all happened so fast that Dean almost didn't see what just took place. One second he was staring at Bobby and his searcher, and the next he was thrown into a state of complete oblivion by the sudden drawing of a blurred silver weapon by Bobby.

Unexpecting of an attack, Bobby managed to throw the Demon off his back and turn around with a swift movement to bring his weapon slashing across the Demon's neck.

Dean used the moment of slight hesitation due to shock of his own Demon, and swung his elbow underneath his arm, catching the Demon off guard and then doubling it up with a mighty kick to the chest.

Bobby didn't take long. Sam seemed to be having the most trouble. His own Demon sensed that something was going down and got the better of Sam before he could get anything over her.

And yet the only thing going through his mind was "Why am I getting beaten up by a girl? Oh I am not looking forward to Dean later."

But the situation was brought under control in a matter of moments.

Bobby, after a quick lunge at Dean's demon, brought his silver weapon plunging down into the woman's back, letting her fall to the ground with Ruby's Demon-Killing knife protruding from her spine.

But neither Sam nor Dean took any time to dwell upon this. They bunched up together, with Bobby at the front, staring at the large group of Demons before them, who all eyed the knife warily.

Bobby nudged the two of them towards the door, holding the knife out before him in a threatening position. No demon dared to approach them. They all just stood there with clenched teeth and aggravated looks upon their faces – with good reason. Nobody, especially a demon, likes to feel so helpless.

Seizing their chance, Dean, Sam and Bobby suddenly sprinted through the barn doors, out into the burning sunlight and towards their stolen Daewoo.

Dean, stopping in his tracks, felt as if he could hit himself. 'What the hell am I doing?' he asked aloud, muttering about his stupidity as he changed course and headed for the Impala.

Catching on, Bobby and Sam followed as Dean wrenched open the black doors and jumped in front of the wheel, sighing with an air of relief. His car was safe.

'Come on,' Dean muttered, searching anxiously for something, 'where are you?'

He pulled down the sunscreen from above him and punched the air in quick success. He kissed the body of his set of keys and inserted them into the ignition, listening with great happiness as the car roared to life beneath his fingers.

'It's been a long time, baby,' he whispered, 'I swear I'll never leave you again.'

'Dean,' Bobby whispered, keeping their eyes fixed upon the barn doors, where the Demon's stood in anger, unwilling to put themselves at such great risk by advancing upon their car, 'Dean, open the door and move over.'

'Huh?'

'Dean,' he insisted, 'You know perfectly well what these Demon's are capable of. You've got to let Sam drive.'

Dean cursed, reluctantly pulling himself across and into the passenger seat as Sam rounded the car and pulled himself in front of the steering wheel.

Dean folded his arms in disappointment and stared at Sam in envy as the car began to move. 'Screw up my car,' he warned, a longing to drive his vehicle keen within his mind, 'And I'll kill you.'

They backed up and began to accelerate away from the property, all the while keeping a close eye upon the group of Demons watching them. Dean turned to Bobby, 'Do you think they'll follow us?'

Bobby sighed, 'I think it's something we should expect, but for now, at the very least, let's just get as far away from this place as possible.'

It was Sam's turn to speak. He looked into the rear-vision mirror at Bobby, but spoke to the front windscreen. 'What I want to know, Bobby… Is how the heck you managed to get that knife!?'

Dean frowned, and then turned to Bobby again. 'Yeah… I could have sworn that I'd seen it in Lilith's hand in front of the Devils Gates earlier… It might have been my mind playing tricks on me.'

Bobby shook his head, 'No, Dean, you saw right. I have no idea what the knife that Lilith held was, but this one – Ruby's – has been in my possession ever since the day you died, Dean.

Sam blinked. 'What? So you're saying there's a second knife?'

Bobby shrugged and sat back, sighing, 'I have no idea.'
Sam, curious, gestured for the knife, and Bobby handed it to him. Speeding down the highway at 85 miles per hour, Sam took a few glances at the knife, flipping it over in his hands and surveying every inch, as if searching for something. He squinted at a few expertly carved inscriptions upon the blade of the knife, and then handed it back. 'Bobby, do you think you could read the inscriptions on the blade?'

Dean watched as Bobby shrugged and turned it over, taking a long, hard look at the symbols. 'It's nothing modern, I can tell you that mu-'

'Since when is it ever,' Dean muttered.

Bobby looked at him for a moment, nodded slowly and turned his attention back. 'As I was saying – these inscriptions are clearly ancient. The first symbol here,' he pointed to a symbol engraved upon it, 'This is just a pentagram. It means "Protection against the devil," as you know fully well – but this next part is written in some form of Latin.'

'But can you read it?'

Bobby shrugged, 'Not here I can't. But I've got a few contacts who could help me.'

Dean nodded, then turned to Sam. 'Why did you ask?' he questioned, 'You have a theory?'

Bobby chuckled, 'Of course he does. Sammy's knowledge of folklore and ancient myths is beyond the knowledge of most people on the planet – even me, I must say.'

'I'm flattered,' Sam said flatly, 'And yes, I have a theory.'

Dean whispered to Bobby, 'He doesn't really like being complimented – embarrasses him.'

Sam, having the ability to hear more than Dean gave him credit for, scowled before continuing with his story.

'The Devils Crusaders,' he said, 'Ever heard of them?'

Bobby frowned. 'I have a feeling I know the story – but it's slipped my mind.'

Sam nodded.

'Well,' he went on, 'As the myth goes, Lucifer was once an angel, but after many terrible deeds he was cast out of Heaven and sent to live an eternity imprisoned down on Earth. But he broke free, and soon enough began to wreck havoc everywhere – killing many innocents in the process. He had practically taken the world for his own, and nobody, it seemed, would dare to confront him. He was simply too powerful.

'But it is written that a group of three men - Ollathair, Palladium and Amaethon – delved deeply into the magic of old – an ancient force, long forgotten. They forged by hand and magic, three weapons. These three weapons, one for each of them, had the apparent capability of taking down Satan himself. The three men, who named themselves the Crusaders, drove Lucifer away from Earth.'

'In other words, they killed him?' Dean asked.

'Somewhat,' Sam nodded. 'But Lucifer, having been kicked from Heaven, had nowhere to go but down. Since that moment, he resided within Hell, building himself an army that would one day be capable of re-taking the world. All that stands in his way now, the only hope that any of us have for defeating him again, are-'

'-the Crusaders weapons…' Bobby lifted the knife and eyed it with certain intrigue, the wonders of its power becoming apparent to be far more advanced than they had thought.

'So…' Dean frowned, 'This is one of the three weapons that the Crusaders used to take down Lucifer?'

'Yeah.'

'And you're sure?'

'Quite.'

'And what of the Latin written on the blade?' Bobby chimed in.

Sam nodded, 'It's part of a spell. A spell designed to bring Lucifer down.'

'So…what?' Dean asked, 'If we were able to hit Lucifer with this knife, it would kill him? Simple as that?'

Sam shook his head. 'I don't think so. I think the spell will only work if all three knives are re-united. We would have to gain possession of all three before taking him on.'

Bobby looked at Sam in horror. 'And how the hell are we going to manage that?'

Sam frowned, 'Well-'

'Lilith owns one,' he went on, 'the same son-of-a-bitch you've been trying so desperately to destroy for an age, and yet you can't seem to figure out how to do that either. And the third blade – well, we have no idea where that one is, so excuse me for seeing how this plan is completely ludicrous.'

'We usually find a way, don't we?' Dean brought up, the prospect of a hunt exciting him.

Sam nodded, shrugging to Bobby who sighed and gave in.

'Okay then,' Dean nodded enthusiastically, 'I'm itching for a hunt.'

'First we've got to concentrate on saving Bela, remember,' Sam piped up, 'So don't get too carried away, Dean.'

'Bobby,' Dean asked, ''ve we still got those maps back there?'

'One sec,' he replied, searching down at his feet and at last emerging with a small silver box from underneath Sam's seat.'

Sam frowned, 'Why do you need those?'

'Sammy,' Dean replied, 'maps of every state in the country? They come in pretty handy sometimes. I just thought that if we're going to be racing the clock in a gamble on somebody's life, we'd better be prepared. Seeing as we have no idea where the Talbot family grave actually is, I thought I'd find out while we still have time to waste.'

In the hours that followed, the mood became very dull. Sam, falling asleep at the wheel after eleven hours of driving decided that the risk of Demons attacking their car was not nearly as great as his risk of falling asleep and driving the Impala into a ten-foot road-side advertisement for Hooters café that was missing the letter 's' and the first 'o', and who's main picture imprinted upon it's board had lost most of it's original colour in the sixty-eight months that it had been sitting there for.

Or, well, maybe they'd just hit a tree. Either way, he pulled over and handed over the Impala's controls to Dean. Dean dove into the drivers seat and caressed the steering wheel with his hands.

He was one happy man.

Although running on good time, Dean picked up the pace a little and put his car on its limit as they raced down the interstate, passing into the state of Ohio.

'Dean, I've been meaning to ask you,' Bobby started, now sitting in the front seat as Sam lay sleeping in the back, 'About hell.'

Dean grunted to show that he was listening.

'What was it like?'

Dean sighed. This was exactly the question he had expected, and he wasn't too keen on answering it. The entire time that he had been awake whilst Sam was driving, his very thought was fixed on the horrific visions he had encountered during his time in Hell.

And that one particular…

'Dean.'

Dean didn't answer him.

Is Sam really going to turn against me? Against us? Dean thought. Would he really join forces with Lucifer? And then there was that person… A man – a man Sam was being sent to kill. His name…

'Bobby, have you ever heard of a man named Mathew Walker?'

Bobby was startled at this sudden unexpected question. Clearly he was still waiting on an answer to his other question.

'No,' he replied curiously, 'Why do you ask?'

Dean shrugged, 'It's nothing really, just…'

'Just what?' he urged.

'Forget it, Bobby,' Dean shook his head, 'I'm just being paranoid.'

Bobby frowned. 'Dean, now I know that you don't just get paranoid. Tell me what's on your mind.'

Dean began to get annoyed. 'I said forget it, okay?'

They sat in silence once more, a tight air of tension gripping the space between them.

The lost words of his father echoed within Dean's mind, tormenting him.

"You watch out for your brother, Dean. Something's going down… something big. If you can't save him, Dean – you may have to kill him."

The words that had haunted him for two years suddenly embedded themselves within his thoughts again.

You may have to kill him.

Dean cursed his father's memory for plaguing his mind with this torture. But he now began to realise that there may have been more to this than he had first thought.

Perhaps his father had known that this would happen? He had hidden the manuscripts from them, after all… And yet in a place so obvious, it was almost like he wanted them to be found. Perhaps…

But no. If saving the world meant that he would have to kill his own brother, then Dean would simply let it fall to it's knees. It was something he knew that he just could not do.

I won't let it come to that, he thought determinedly.

Whatever it took, they had to stop Lucifer. They could not let him regain the control that he once had.

But first they would need to begin the search for the three Crusades weapons, and they knew that the Demon's would be high on their tails every step of the way.

Currently, i'm halfway through the next chapter - remember, i'm simply rewriting a story I wrote last year.

But, it's still taking a while to get through each chapter, and I don't want to dissapoint anyone or make them wait.

I'm willing to post the older versions of the chapters to this story, with which each chapter is much smaller (around 3000 - 3500 each). At least until I can find the time to continue this rewrite. WARNING: The chapters aren't very well written (in my opinion), as it was my first ever complete story =D Also, it was rushed to post once per day... But enough of excuses.

Review and tell me whether you think I should do this, otherwise the wait will be too long, as i'm heading into School Certificate, and I don't want to do that.

Thanks for reading, cheers =D