Carpe Diem, Baby
Chapter 7
Morgan Creek Park, Edge of town
"Bring it on, Sparky."
Sam rolled his eyes at his brother's customary bravado, holding his breath as the Hellequin closed the distance. The entity moved as if floating, shifting from one spot to another with out seeming to physically take a step. As it emerged from the shadows, Sam could make out the Hellequin's malicious smile, its red eyes glowing malevolently from its ashen face.
As it slowly approached his brother, Sam shifted from one foot to the other, raising the journal to his face. He glanced at the incantation, his finger poised below the start, his breath steady in his chest as he prepared to begin the recitation at his brother's command.
Dean could feel his heart beating in his chest, the adrenaline rush causing his pulse to race as the demon shifted to a space directly in front of him. He backed away quickly, a bit surprised at the Hellequin's sudden shift in position, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to regain some distance between himself and the demon.
The Hellequin stopped, its amusement apparent as its eyes locked on Dean's retreating form. It raised an arm, again pointing an accusing finger at the hunter.
"Yeah, yeah," Dean mumbled. "You're a big bad demon. I'm shakin' in my boots here." Slowly, he reached into his pocket and extracted his silver lighter. Flipping open the top, he thumbed the wheel, his dancing eyes never leaving the glowing red orbs before him. "How about we make you feel at home, huh?"
He tossed the lighter onto the ground, grinning as the gasoline doused grass caught fire. The flame quickly spread in all directions, the unmistakable form of the Devil's Trap taking shape surrounding the Hellequin.
The demon dropped its arm and slowly turned, the expression on its face no longer one of amusement.
"Sammy! Read fast!" Dean backed away as the flames began to dance higher. "I don't think this is gonna burn for long!"
Sam cleared his throat and began to recite the Latin incantation in a strong voice.
"Shit!"
Sam hesitated, momentarily looking up, his eyes going wide as the ebony bow suddenly appeared in the demon's hands. The entity pulled back on the string, a menacing ruby arrow already notched into the bend of the weapon.
Sam's breath hitched as the Hellequin chose its target.
"Dean!"
"Keep reading!"
Sam took a deep breath and quickly resumed the incantation, his eyes darting back and forth from his father's blocky handwriting to his brother's standoff with the demon.
The Hellequin let go of the arrow, a hiss sliding through the night air as the weapon sped toward its target. Dean dove to his right, feeling the arrow slice through his jacket close to his side. He tucked his body as he landed, rolling back to his feet to face the demon. Pulling his pistol from his belt, he squeezed off a shot, knowing it wouldn't do much good against the entity, but comforted by the familiar kick of the big gun in his hands.
As the flames began to die, the Hellequin pulled another arrow from thin air, letting it sail toward the hunter again. Dean threw himself to the ground and rolled behind an old tree stump, his heart beating hard against his breastbone, his breath rushing out in a gasp as the stump abruptly stopped his roll along the soft ground. A loud 'thwack' indicated that the arrow had found its mark – though luckily not the target the demon had intended. Dean scrambled to his feet, his eyebrows rising at the sight of the arrow embedded in the front of the stump he had just emerged from behind.
As Sam's voice rose in the conclusion of the incantation, the Hellequin's stance faltered and the ebony bow disintegrated into a fine ash. As the last words of Latin were spoken aloud, the demon shuddered, convulsing in an inhuman way, its red eyes glowing bright. As the flames of the Devil's trap faltered, a horrible screeching sound began to build from the center of the clearing.
Sam quickly closed the journal and hurried to his brother. The Winchesters watched silently as the Hellequin's shadowy exterior cracked, and an eerie red light began to seep out from the crevices. Suddenly the entire entity exploded into a ball of fiery red ash, causing the dying embers of the Devil's Trap to shoot skyward before suddenly extinguishing itself in a dark cloud of smoke.
Sam lifted his head from its position on the grass. He had grabbed his brother as soon as the Hellequin started to crack, and thrown them both to the ground behind the old tree stump. He had no idea what would happen once the demon started to disintegrate, but knew that whatever did happen probably wouldn't be good.
"Get off me!"
Sam scooted back, allowing his brother to roll the opposite direction and push himself to his knees. Dean looked at the shape of the Devil's trap burned into the grass of the clearing, the fine pieces of scattering ash the only remaining sign of the Hellequin.
"Huh," he huffed as he drew himself into a standing position. "That was cool."
Sam pushed himself up as well, moving to stand beside his brother. "Think it's really gone?"
Dean sniffed and shrugged his shoulders, his lips turning down into a frown as the sunburn that had plagued him since leaving Bobby's reaffirmed itself. "Ow."
Sam stepped back and ran a concerned eye over his brother. "You okay? You get burned?"
"I'm fine, Sam." He grinned, his eyes lighting up in their usual after-hunt-glow. "Nothing a nice lady detective and a little aloe vera can't cure."
Impala, Highway 30 West, Next Morning
Sam glanced over at his older brother, noting the pursed lips and the way his brows were pulled together over his eyes. Having lived in each other's pockets for over two years, they had both become quite attuned to the other's moods and Sam quickly deduced where his brother's thoughts were at the moment.
"You think Tommy's gonna be okay?"
Dean continued to stare out the front windshield, but nodded slightly at his brother's question.
"He'll be fine." Dean's voice was rough as he considered the young boy who's world had been so drastically shattered by the death of his brother. "Kids are resilient."
"Yeah." Sam watched the scenery fly by for a few moments before voicing what was on his mind. "I guess I never really realized what it was like for you. Back in Cold Oak… watching me…" His voice faltered, and he had to clear his throat before he could continue. "I don't really remember it – I mean actually dying – but I do remember you were there. And I can remember the look in your eyes."
"I still see it." Deans voice was barely a whisper. He didn't turn his eyes from the road, but his shoulders slumped a fraction as if the weight of the world had just settled a little heavier on them. "Every time I close my eyes, Sammy, I see you die. I screwed up and you died."
Sam winced at the pain in his brother's voice. "You didn't screw up, Dean. You saved me like always. I'm right here. We have right now. It's enough."
Dean laughed softly, his eyes sliding sideways to glance at his brother. "Kind of a seize the day thing, huh?"
"Something like that." Sam was encouraged to finally get a reaction from the older man.
Dean shook his head, his grin gone as quickly s it had appeared. "But I'm still gonna end up hurting you, Sammy. I made that deal 'cause it was the only thing I could think to do. It was the only way I could fix what I screwed up. And now…"
"I told you before, Dean. It won't come to that. I'll find a way." Sam placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and squeezed confidently.
"And if you don't?"
"I've still got the Colt. I'll just march into Hell myself and get you back."
"You try and I'll kick your ass."
Sam slapped his brother's arm and lowered his hand back to the seat of the Impala, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "Then I guess you'll have to kick my ass. But I'd rather you help me kick Hell's ass."
Dean glanced sideways at the younger man, his green eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. "The Winchester brothers against the denizens of Hell, huh? Hardly sounds fair when you put it that way."
Sam chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but that's their problem."
"I'll get it, mom!"
Tommy Sattler opened the door as the UPS man set a brown paper wrapped box at the foot of the door.
"Whoa! Hello there, young man. Got a package for a Thomas Sattler."
"That's me."
The UPS man held out the small electronic pad. "Well then sign right here."
Tommy scratched his name on the screen and picked up the package, stepping back into the house and closing the door behind him.
Rushing to his room, his curiosity got the better of him as he dropped the box onto the floor and ripped through the brown wrapping. Pulling off the lid, he gasped as he looked down into the box, his eyes wide at the sight of the broken cows horn lying scattered in pieces inside. A piece of paper sat folded on top of the horn and Tommy picked it up with trembling hands, his eyes scanning the words written on the hotel stationary.
It's done.
Zach can rest in peace.
Live for the both of you.
Dean
Tommy Sattler breathed a sigh of relief. The little boy sat back against the foot of his bed, buried his face against his arms and cried.
The End