Chapter Six

Phil stood over Dean, he was barely breathing as his finger caressed the trigger, this was the part he'd fantasized about, this was the part he'd always wanted, beating up the other men, that had been great, been amazing even, but it wasn't enough, it wasn't far enough.

But this, this would be the ultimate show of power, for the people, the gods as witness and for himself. The ultimate strength to take the life of another man.

He didn't smile, didn't flinch, simply leaned forward, gun pressed into Dean's temple.

Dean held the thought of Sam in his mind, he refused to close his eyes, refused to make this easier on the man. But the look in his face, the darkness within the depths told him that eyes opened or closed, Phil was going to enjoy extinguishing his life. Dean's heart beat so fast in his chest, his pulse raced through his body, his skin tingled, burned and he was sure if he had looked down he would see his arms aflame. His breathing began to quicken yet his mind held one thought, Sammy.

He didn't want to die, didn't want to leave this world without knowing Sam was ok. That was the last task handed to him by his father the last promise to fulfil, and here he was, failing again.

He just wanted his family together and now they'd be apart forever.

Screw this. Dean closed his eyes tight and held the image of a five year old Sammy, curled in his lap arms tight around his waist as a thunder storm loomed over head, Dad off on a hunt, big brother the only person Sam needed to make it ok. His head was buried in Dean's stomach, the beat of his brother's heart drowning out the roar from the storm above. Dean clutched him tight, as his roots into this world, they were one, roots and soil, flower and water, sun and moon, they needed each other and were incomplete when apart.

As the gun shot rang through the night Dean wondered when the pain would hit, if it ever would, or would he simply fall asleep, forever to dream of Sammy, protected in his arms while the thunder raged above.

"What the hell was that?"

Phil's voice broke through Dean's reverie. For a second he figured that would be the last voice he'd ever hear, yet the pain still hadn't come, and the wind still moved around his body. Plus he was cold, still tied up.

Breathing.

Dean cracked open one eye tentatively, then the other. Phil was standing looking off into the desert sky. The sun had begun to break through the horizon, a thin line of light slowly moving across the desert in shadow, clutching at everything within its path, making a lazy way toward the man tied up on the ground, bathing the man with the gun as he looked for the source of the gun shot.

The land was still dark enough that Phil had a hard time making out the silhouettes standing a few hundred yards from the road. The flashlight was spinning slowly, marking an eerie tornado path through the brush.

Mike was on his knees, babbling.

"Mike?"

"Phil?! PHIL! Don't let her take me, don't let her take me away."

"Who?"

"The lady in white, she's here, I always thought it wasn't real but it is." Mike looked up at Phil with absolute terror in his eyes, enough to give Phil's heart pause and make his blood speed through his body looking for a safe place to hide.

"Mike, those are just stories, the angels of the desert are just stories."

"No they're not."

Mike sat rigid, his hand dropped the gun as his arm raised, fingers pointing forward. Phil slowly followed the length of his friend's arm, across the sand and brush and dust, to where a woman, bathed in light and dressed in white, stood facing him with hatred in her eyes.

"What? No, it can't be, NO!"

Mary walked forward slowly, pointed toward the east and lowered her head menacingly.

"Leave my boys alone."

Phil swallowed what little spit was left in his mouth. Mike jumped up, nodding, and ran as fast as he could in the direction Mary pointed, further into the desert, away from the road, away from the safety of the tarmac, into the dust where all kinds of animals and spirits lay in wait for those who were not worthy to try to pass through.

Phil stood, as if his feet were encased in concrete, it couldn't be real, it couldn't be.

Mary took another step forward, the wind around her building and whipping her hair and dress around her as a Knight wields a sword.

"NOW."

Phil turned, all thoughts of power, of taking lives, of victory forgotten as he ran following the trail of dust left behind by Mike.

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Thanks again to everyone for your amazing reviews and for taking the time to read this little fic XXX

Not done quite yet though! LOL!

Am about to watch the new eppy, i may be unconcious or a few days from the reviews i've heard already!