Chapter 27. Welcome back Dean
Caleb looked at John once they had made it to the building, "How do you want to work this?"
John raised himself up a little bit and pressed his face to the glass window and looked inside. He saw what looked like an office which was empty. He crouched down by Caleb again, "Jim said that the bodies were buried in the forest near the old woman's cabin right?" John asked, receiving an affirming nod from Caleb
"Okay well let's have a look around inside and then I guess we should head over to the cabin."
"Okay sounds good to me … window or door?"
John stood up again and checked that no-one was in the room. It was empty just like a few moments ago so he reached over and tried to lift the window. It slid open easily.
"Guess they weren't expecting people to break in," Caleb joked as he stood up next to John.
"Guess not. Let's start in here." John didn't wait for Caleb to agree before he pushed the window fully open and hauled himself inside.
Once inside the room John moved out of the way so Caleb could join him. He began to look around and took in all the dusty old books on the shelf. There were some papers on the desk and an old looking telephone. John reached out and picked up the handle and found that the phone lines were dead and replaced it back in its place.
John walked over to the book case and quickly looked over all the books and found nothing out of the ordinary and was about to turn around to Caleb when something caught his eye. He had almost missed the black leather book that was lying across the top of some books just under middle shelf. He picked it up and saw that the front and back cover were totally void of any print. John began flipping through the pages when he came to a part in the book where a few pages had obviously been ripped out.
"Did you find something?" Caleb whispered.
"Yeah," John replied and walked over to where Caleb was looking at something on the desk, "This book has had some pages ripped out of it," John explained as Caleb looked up at him.
"And that is important because?"
"Maybe it is important and maybe it isn't but have a look inside," John told him handing him the book.
Caleb took the book and opened it and saw that a lot of it was written in Latin and even though he wasn't as familiar with it, some Hebrew also.
Caleb looked up at John, "You think that the pages ripped out of here have something to do with the possession."
"It's possible … I think I know what it might be."
"Well do you know the right incantation to break the holed they have?" Caleb asked.
"No I'm not that familiar with it … It's rare and I haven't encountered anyone using it. We'd have to get our hands on the pages out of this book."
"Super," Caleb replied sarcastically, "then I guess your not going to like what I found on the desk."
"What?"
Caleb said nothing and picked up a piece of paper from the desk and shoved it into John's hands and watch as John read the words.
"This is a list … a list of those they had planned to possess maybe?"
"Look at the last name on the list John."
John looked back down at the list and even though Caleb had told him that one of his sons might have been possessed it still felt like a punch to the gut at seeing his youngest sons name at the bottom of the list.
"Sammy," John whispered.
Caleb looked at his friend sympathetically, "We'll get him back John."
John seemed to snap out of it and looked directly at Caleb, "You're damn right we will and then Dean and I are going to have a good long talk … Damn it!"
Caleb looked surprised, "Whoa … wait how is this Dean's fault?"
"The only reason Sammy was allowed to come on this stupid camp was because Dean was here to protect him Caleb and the kid still ends up possessed."
Caleb could feel himself getting angry. John Winchester could be completely blind sometimes when it came to those boys and Dean's responsibilities to Sam. Caleb had often thought that John put too much on the boy's shoulders and that's just what Dean was, a boy, despite what the kid himself seemed to believe.
"You know you can be a real short sighted bastard sometimes you know that?" Caleb told him angrily, not backing down one bit at the angry look he was receiving.
"Excuse me?"
"You know damn well that Dean would die before he let anything happen to Sammy! You said it yourself, they were not equipped to handle something like this and now you're going to stand here and lay the blame on Dean?"
"Caleb …"
"No John. How can you judge him for something when we don't even know what the hell has gone down here. Hell if someone should get the blame it's me and you for taking too damn long to realize we were investigating the wrong freaking camp! Those boys have done nothing wrong." Caleb took a breath after his little outburst. It was difficult trying to get his anger across while whispering but he couldn't risk them getting caught.
He knew they didn't have time to argue about this right now but he felt that someone had to stand up for John's eldest son. Caleb would never say it out loud but he looked up to John and the Winchester's were family to him but the hard headed man could be a serious jerk sometimes.
"Are you finished?" John asked surprisingly calm.
"For now," Caleb answered, looking John straight in the eyes, letting him know that he wasn't going to back down.
"Good because we don't have time for this right now."
"What do you want to do?"
"Well for one we really need to find those graves and the exorcising part of the ritual."
Caleb looked thoughtful, "You think they might be at the cabin?"
"We won't know until we look."
"Let's go then." Caleb moved over to the window and proceeded to climb out. He jumped to the ground and then waited for John to do the same.
Once John had hit the ground Caleb started around the side of the house, staying close to the building. They ducked as they saw a window coming up and Caleb felt a tug on his jacket and silently turned around. John pointed up at the window and then quickly took a quick peek inside it before crouching back down.
"There's a class in there … in fact it looks like everyone here is in that room."
"Did you see the boys?"
"No, there were too many kids in there and I didn't get a proper look."
Caleb looked over to the forest and then back towards John, "Look, we'll save time if we split up. I'll go try and find the graves while you see if you can find the boys."
John almost looked reluctant to send Caleb off by himself but he knew that the boy was a very skilled Hunter, he him self had made sure of that.
"Okay but be careful, don't go getting in any trouble."
"This is me you're talking to."
John rolled his eyes, "That's what I'm worried about."
"You sound like Mac," Caleb replied. His father always seemed to think that he attracted trouble.
"Just be careful smart ass," John responded, waving his hand in the direction of the forest, motioning Caleb to get moving.
"Yeah you too, I'll call you if I find the graves," Caleb said before turning around and heading in the direction of the forest, keeping low to the ground so he was less likely to be seen.
John watched Caleb go. He knew the younger hunter had been right about what he had said about Dean. Dean wasn't to blame and sometimes John got a shock when he realized just how much he had come to rely on his oldest son being there to handle things. After all the boy was only seventeen and already dealt with a lot more than most men did.
His boy had been taking car of both Sammy and himself for a long time now, never complaining. Although Caleb's words had been true there was still a part of John that knew that he had to keep Dean on his toes. He had to be prepared for anything, especially where his brother was concerned.
John had entrusted Sammy to Dean and he needed to know that he would be safe which was why he was always so hard on his son. The incident when Sam had nearly been killed by the Shtriga eight years ago had shaken John to the core because he had always been so confident that Dean could handle anything he asked of him. He hadn't counted on Dean leaving the Motel room to do normal little boy things but as Jim had informed him after the ordeal, Dean had only been nine years old and sometimes John forgot that.
John realized almost bitterly that he probably wouldn't need to have a go at Dean because the teen would probably be killing him self with guilt already. Ever since the Shtriga incident Dean had taken on the responsibilities John gave him with a determination that even scared John sometimes, becoming almost possessive of his brother. Caleb was right once again. Dean would probably die before he let anything happen to Sam, which made him start to worry about his eldest son's welfare as well. God, it was times like these that John wondered what Mary would be thinking. He knew deep down that hunting wasn't exactly the life she would have wanted for their boys but his need to keep them safe and prepared kept the thoughts of Mary's disappointment at bay.
John shook his head as if to clear it. Sitting there against the wall of the building thinking about all the wrong parenting he had done was not going to help anyone. He raised himself up once more trying to keep himself hidden while trying to see any sign of either of his boys.
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Sam sat at one of the desks bouncing his right leg up and down. He couldn't seem to sit still. They had told Miss Northam that they were in danger and needed to get off the property but she hadn't done anything so far, but bring them inside and get everyone to show her what they had found.
Daniel had scowled when Jay had shown her his birds nest but Sam had told him to let it go since right now they had more important things to worry about. Stacey looked just as impatient to do something as he did and he noticed that every time she looked at Jay she looked upset. He could understand how she felt because it was driving him crazy not knowing what had become of Dean.
They hadn't see Mr. Graham or Mr. Taylor at all and he had a feeling that that didn't mean anything good.
Everyone turned around at the sound of the back door opening and Sam's bad feeling got worse as he saw Mr. Graham and Mr. Taylor walk through it, followed by Mrs. Chipshaw who walked straight passed everyone and into the kitchen.
Sam looked back at his friends and saw mirrored nervous looks on their faces. There was still no sign of Dean and Sam looked towards the window. He could see the beginnings of the forest through it but still no Dean. Just as he went to look away he looked back quickly when he thought he saw someone. He looked around the classroom to see if anyone else saw it but no-one had been looking.
"Sam," Daniel whispered to him as he nudged his shoulder, bringing his attention back to the front of the class where Miss Northam was now speaking to Mr. Graham.
"Uh guys I think we should try and get out of here," Stacey whispered to them.
"How? We'll never get outside without someone noticing," Daniel replied nervously.
Sam turned around to look at the back door. It was still slightly open which meant that it wouldn't make much noise if they used that exit.
"Maybe you two could make it out of here, you're a lot smaller," Stacey told them seriously.
"What about you?" Sam wasn't sure he liked her excluding herself from their escape plans.
"I'll make a diversion for you. Look Sam it doesn't matter who gets out right now as long as someone does and is able to bring back help."
It made sense but it didn't mean that Sam liked the plan anymore than he did before, "This plan sucks," Daniel exclaimed softly.
"Yeah but it's the only one we have right now, get ready." Stacey looked at them both before standing up and walking over to Dane.
Sam and Daniel almost couldn't move when they saw what she was going to use as a diversion.
Stacey walked up to Dane and wrapped her hands around his t-shirt collar causing the boy to have to stand. Dane was almost as shocked as everyone else in the room when she leaned forward and he felt her lips on his in a crushing long passionate kiss.
The room erupted in cheers, claps and whistles as kids all around the room stood up at the sudden excitement. Everyone in the room had been so sure that the couple were over with and nothing excited a bunch of teenagers more than spontaneous acts like the very one that just witnessed which was what Stacey had counted on. Amongst all the excitement no-one had noticed the two thirteen year old boys slip out of the room and into the sun.
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Dean had never felt anything like this before in his life. He couldn't move his own body and could only watch as someone else navigated it. It was like he was just along for the ride and so far he wanted off.
When he had woken up and tried to move to no avail he had panicked. His eyes had opened and he had seen Rodney, Pierce and that creepy old lady looking down at him. They had asked him a question and he had almost gone to answer when he realized that he couldn't talk and that they hadn't been addressing him. Tommy. They had been talking to that ghost kid Tommy. It felt strange hearing himself speak although he hadn't been the one actually speaking.
Once Tommy had gotten them to his feet he could feel something trying to touch his mind. It felt invasive and wrong and Dean tried to push it away. The damn kid was trying to get into his head. Well maybe not into his head since he was already technically there but, into his mind.
He had vaguely remembered Pierce or Rodney telling him that once Tommy had possessed him they would be able to learn everything. Tommy would have access to his thoughts and memories. But Dean wasn't going down without a fight. He was good at putting up mental barriers. He had been doing it since he was a kid, most of the time he did it subconsciously and it really pissed Sam off to no end when he was trying to have a heart to heart.
They had asked the kid if Sam was a danger to them and Dean could once again feel something trying to break through his mental barriers. At this he put all his concentration into keeping them intact. If Dean had anything to say about it, this kid wasn't getting anything from him. There was no way he would simply just betray his brother without one hell of a fight.
As he fought Tommy's mental attack he could feel Tommy try harder and he started to feel pain blossoming in his head, like an onset of a migraine. The more he held Tommy's search back the more the pressure increased until he thought he could feel himself sweating with exertion. Then it hit him. His blockades weren't only causing him pain but Tommy as well.
Suddenly the invasion vanished and he felt himself fall to his knees and would have celebrated his triumph if he hadn't been left so damn tired. The thought made him wonder how long he could hold on should Tommy try again because the thought of having that pressure pushing on his mind again wasn't exactly a fun thought.
"Whoa did you see that?" Dean heard Daniel ask as he saw the two boys appear through the back door, reminding him of what he was apparently here for.
"That was just gross," Sam complained.
"Are you kidding me? I wish a girl would kiss me like that." /Kiss?/ Dean thought.
"I'm talking about who she was kissing, not the actual kissing itself," Sam corrected as he grabbed Daniel's arm, "Come on we need to get out of here and go for help."
/Finally!/ Dean exclaimed in his head but then thought he better shut up incase ghost boy caught onto to any of his thoughts but he was just really glad that Sam obviously believed what was going on.
Dean watched as the two boys headed for the other side of the house and around onto the basketball court. He assumed that they were intending on heading for the front gate.
He felt himself follow them and started to get worried /Hey Casper stay away from him, he doesn't know anything/ Dean could only think what he wanted to say since he couldn't actually talk.
He felt a change and realized that Tommy had heard him
"Who's Casper?" the ghost replied.
/What? Never mind that just leave my brother alone/
"Then let me in," Tommy challenged.
/Listen kid, you don't want inside this mind, I've been told by a certain moronic psychic, that it's a scary place/
"Fine then it looks like I'll have to deal with your brother then."
/No I'm telling you …/
"What are you gonna do? Talk me to death, because that's about all you can do."
Dean didn't have time to think of a comeback because he felt his body tense and look at Sam and Daniel. The boys had noticed him.
Sam and Daniel stopped when they heard a noise from behind them and Sam prayed that it wasn't one of the teachers. Both boys stayed still not turning to see who had found them.
"Going somewhere Sammy?" Sam would know that voice anywhere.
He turned around so fast he nearly toppled over, almost bringing Daniel with him, "Dean!" he exclaimed softly. He didn't want to alert anyone inside to their presence.
"Oh my God, I am so glad to see you!" Sam rushed towards his brother but stopped just short of hugging him knowing that Dean wouldn't want to accept any physical show of affection.
"I'm glad to see you too little brother," Tommy responded using Dean's voice.
It was killing Dean that all he could do was watch. He couldn't give his brother a sign so all he could do was hope that Sam caught on that it wasn't really him. He knew the kid could be a bit oblivious at times but he was sure that Sam knew him pretty well and would know the difference.
"Dean, Stacey is stuck inside with the others and we were just about to go out and get some help," Daniel explained and Dean sighed because the kid was telling them exactly what Tommy had been trying to figure out.
"Help for what?" he heard himself ask.
"What do you mean help for what?" Sam asked incredulously.
"Um … the ghosts," Daniel supplied.
Dean could feel Tommy trying to feel around to get some idea of how he would act in a situation like this so he automatically strengthened his hold on the mental walls and he noticed that the more Tommy tried to break through the weaker his hold became. It was only a matter of time before he wouldn't be able to hold the onslaught of invasion back.
He could feel Tommy's frustration at once again being blocked.
"Oh the ghost's … that was … just a misunderstanding. I was mistaken." Dean heard himself say.
"What?" Sam asked, getting a confused look on his face.
"I'm saying that I was wrong Sammy, there's no need for you to go running off to get help." Sam tensed as he felt his brother's arm go around his shoulder and take a couple of steps back towards the back of the house.
/God Damn it Sammy use that over educated head of yours!/ Dean cursed in his mind.
"Dean since when are you wrong about something like this?"
"I was this time and besides who would believe you about ghosts anyways, who would be able to help you with that?"
Dean felt Sam shrug away from him and was relieved when Tommy looked back at Sam to see that his brother had distrustful look on his face and was backing away from him, placing Daniel behind him. He would have raised his eyebrows if he were able when he saw his little brother bring out the small hunting knife he had lost when he had been knocked out by Rodney.
"Sammy what are you doing?" he heard himself ask.
Dean watched as Sam shook his head and held the knife in a defensive stance like he had been taught and he felt like hugging the kid for finally getting it.
"You're not my brother."
TBC ...
Yes i know it's another cliff hanger again, i'm sorry ... i cant seem to help myself but i will be posting again very soon. I swear everytime i write the names Sam and Daniel it keeps reminding me of Stargate ( Dean is always telling Sam that he is a girl lol) Okay well i'm off to go and get my christmas shopping out of the way once and for all and then i'll be back home trying to get another chapter or two done so wish me luck lol see you soon :-)