Chapter Seventeen : I'm a Hell of A Guy
Grace let her eyes scan the newspaper once again. It was a nation wide paper the kind of newspaper she considered to be a real paper. Not like her hometowns tiny very boring one-sided paper the Lullasburg Gazette.
She stared at the headline reading it once more Nevieus Pharmaceuticals Rushing Delivery of New Swine Flue Vaccine.
She felt her stomach knot up knowing that this was bad news, but she wasn't sure exactly what kind of bad news it was. If it involved Nevieus Pharmaceuticals though nothing good could possibly come from it.
Crowley reached down pointing his finger tapping it against the headline as he spoke. "I guarantee you that vaccine is chock full of the Croatoan Virus."
She turned her head looking at him with widened eyes feeling a little lost as she repeated the unfamiliar words. "Croatoan Virus ?"
Crowley let out a sigh knowing that Grace had never heard of such a thing as the Croatoan virus. Of course she hadn't most people hadn't, unless they were a very knowledgeable hunter, or demons, or the occasional angel.
He dreaded having to tell her all the ghastly details. "It's like your worst nightmares come to life. It's a form of demonic viral warfare. Once it enters a humans blood stream it basically turns them into mindless murderers. They are unable to exhibit anything but pure unfiltered rage and if they bite you or scratch you then forget it...you'll be infected."
Grace dropped the paper in her lap her mind racing a mile a minute. It couldn't be true. He had to be joking surely. It sounded ridiculous, a horror geeks fantasy, not real life.
She let out a shaky breath knowing that writing it off as fantasy wouldn't be possible. Given what her life had become. What she was now and all that she'd heard would have been written off as fantasy by any sane person but she knew better now. She had to take this seriously.
She grimaced as she spoke. "So it's like Zombieland come to life ?"
It was Crowley's turn to be a little confused as he responded a frown on his face questioning what she'd just said. "Zombieland ?"
"Yeah it's...it's a movie, a horror movie. About, it's about a group of people trying to survive in the world and make it to an amusement park after a zombie apocalypse has happened." Grace explained feeling a little awkward having to admit her love of horror films. Though she wasn't sure if she could ever enjoy another horror film again now that she knew what she knew about the world around her.
Grace sighed as she remembered that she and Holly had just gone to see Zombieland at their local movie theater just earlier this year and they'd had a blast.
This was all before Grace's life had been changed forever by Crowley coming to collect her because of the deal she'd made with him. All before she knew that she would never be allowed to see or speak to her family or anyone from her life ever again.
She felt dread wash over her as she realized what this meant. If the Croatoan virus was released than it would spread far beyond Chicago. It would spread throughout the country and over seas before it took over the world.
A frantic fear began to stir within her as she realized that it would hit Lullasburg and her mother and sister , her grandmother, any one she had ever known from her hometown.
It would effect her father as well where ever he was. And as much as she resented him and the new family and new life he had built for himself far away from Holly and her she knew that she couldn't let him be affected by this. She couldn't allow this to happen.
Though she would never be able to be involved with her mother's and her sister's lifes ever again she still felt the need to protect them somehow.
Crowley stared at her recognizing the look of dread on her face. He reached out taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze as he spoke. "We'll figure something out."
She did her best to give him a smile though it was a weak smile as she squeezed his hand back. She turned her eyes back to the newspaper as she tried to push down the anxiety bubbling in her gut.
He sighed seeing that she was obviously caught up in worrying. Honestly he felt that she worried far too much. She was going to surely go insane over the years with everything that she would have to deal with as Queen of Hell if she kept up her worrying and fretting over every little thing.
He took the paper from her deciding that he would have to teach her some form of stress management eventually. He spoke as he let go of her hand and tucked the paper underneath his arm. "Let's go outside and tell the boys our news."
Crowley rolled his eyes as Sam Winchester stared down at the paper. Both of the Winchester boys looked a little clueless as to why this article was such a big deal.
He glanced at Grace seeing that she still looked anxiety ridden. She was staring down at the ground focusing on an assortment of tools that the boys had gathered to work on the impala, trying to see if she could silently name all the tools she recognized.
She was just trying to distract herself from what was going on inside her head by doing anything. She felt like she wanted to go back to the crappy abandoned hotel and hide in the bed for the rest of her afterlife at the moment.
"Nevieus Pharmaceuticals, get it ?" Crowley asked.
Dean and Sam gave him a perplexed look before Crowley spoke again letting out an exasperated sigh. "You two are lucky you have your looks. Brady...your demon friend...VP of Distribution of Nevieus Pharmaceuticals."
He paused smirking as a look of understanding crossed both of the Winchesters faces. He spoke snark clear in his voice "Ah yes, is that the sound of the abacus clacking ? We all caught up now ?"
Sam ignored Crowley's insults as he spoke. "So Pestilence was spreading Swine Flu ?"
Dean chimed in letting out a huff, "Yeah but not just for giggles that was step one. Step two is the vaccine. And you think..."
Crowley spoke interrupting Dean. "I know, I'll stake my reputation that vaccine is pure grade A farm fresh Croatoan Virus."
Sam took in a deep breath as he realized the situation they were going to have to deal with. "Country Wide distribution. That's quite a plan."
"You don't get to be horsemen for nothing. So you boys better stock up on well everything...This time next Thursday we'll all be living in Zombieland." Crowley pointed out.
Grace did smile a tiny bit despite her overwhelming anxiety, amused that Crowley had used her Zombieland comment.
Crowley spoke again quickly glancing at Grace glad that his Zombieland comment had amused her at least a little. "So what's the plan ? You do have a plan right ?"
Dean sighed annoyed that he was going to have to take the two demons with him to get Death's ring. "I say you and her go to Chicago with me to get Death's ring. Sam you, Bobby, and Cas go see if you can find a way to stop the vaccine from being shipped out."
Sam huffed not liking that he was going to be separated from his brother and he defiantly didn't like that he was leaving his brother with Crowley and Grace as his only help. He really didn't count on the two demons to be much of a reliable source of help to his older brother.
"Yeah easier said than done." Sam pointed out. He really hated this plan.
Everyone stood out in front of their respected vehicles in Bobby Singer's yard late at night. Grace glanced down at her plastic watch seeing that it was eleven pm.
Dean nodded at his younger brother as he spoke. "Well good luck trying to stop the whole zombie apocalypse."
"Yeah good luck killing death." Sam replied.
He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Remember when we use to just hunt wendigos...how simple things were."
"Not really." Dean stated.
Grace couldn't help but to blurt out the first thing that popped in her head. "Did you guys ever stop to think that you have really fucked up jobs ?"
Dean sighed knowing that this wasn't the first time he'd heard this comment when it came to what he did for a living."Yeah, you have no idea."
Sam reached in his pocket pulling out a knife and holding it out to Dean. "Well you're going to need this."
"Keep it. Dean's covered." Crowley replied handing Dean a scythe.
Grace frowned at the scythe never seeing it until now. She silently wondered if Crowley had just manifested it out of thin air, or if he'd had it this entire time.
She didn't have time to ask him since Crowley spoke again. "Death's own. It kills golly...demons, and angels, and reapers, and rumor has it death himself."
Castiel frowned speaking to Crowley for the first time since Crowley and Grace had arrived earlier in the day. "Where did you get that ?"
"Hello King of the Crossroads." Crowley pointed out as though it was obvious.
Crowley sighed looking at Bobby. "Bobby you just going to sit there ?"
"No I'm going to river-dance." Bobby said sarcasm and insult dripping from his words.
Grace frowned at Crowley not amused by him insulting the clearly paralyzed man, hunter or not. Crowley ignored her disapproving look as he spoke. "Well if you want to impress the ladies."
Sam and Dean gave Crowley irritated looks before Crowley decided to elaborate on his comments to Bobby. "Bobby Bobby Bobby, really wasted that crossroads deal. Infact you get more if you phrase it properly."
Crowley paused seeing that Bobby was beginning to understand what he was getting at. "Lucky for you I took the liberty of adding at teeny little sub A clause on your behalf"
Crowley spoke again as Sam and Dean both gave him questioning looks. "What can I say I'm an altruist...So just going to sit there ?"
Bobby stared down at his paralyzed legs hesitantly doing his best to move his right foot. He widened his eyes as the foot lifted. He moved both feet out of the wheelchairs footrests before cautiously standing up.
Bobby spoke shocked at what he's just done. "Son of a bitch."
Crowley smirked as he spoke. "I know, completely worth your soul."
Everyone except Crowley but including Grace let out amazed gasps as Bobby stood, their eyes all wide.
Crowley shrugged his shoulders as their eyes finally turned to him. "I'm a hell of a guy."
Bobby stared down at his legs still shell-shocked. He spoke surprised that he was even about to say this. "Thanks."
Crowley turned his head to the side sighing. "This is getting maudlin. Can we go."
Grace awoke in the backseat of the impala it was daytime now. Though she really wasn't tired at all she had laid down to sleep, unable to deal with the awkward silence in the car.
She sat up running her hands through her hair trying to sort out the tangles and knots. She stared ahead seeing that since she'd laid down Crowley had moved to the passengers seat.
He acknowledged her though he didn't look back at her. "We're in Chicago."
She frowned wondering how they'd gotten here so quickly. She wondered if Crowley had somehow teleported the impala here, either that or Dean drove way above the speed limit. She had a feeling that it was Dean's driving and not Crowley's demonic abilities. She had a feeling that Dean would never allow Crowley to teleport his precious baby.
After what seemed like hours of driving and hours of awkward silence the impala finally came to a stop. Dean pulled in to an empty parking lot. They got out Crowley and Grace walking beside Dean.
Grace frowned stopping midstep her breath catching in her throat as she took notice of the scene in front of her. The area was filled with people all dressed in black all looking very somber. The way they were dressed reminded her of a bunch of funeral directors or funeral attendees. The people weren't paying any attention to Dean, Crowley, or Grace, and even more disturbing they weren't getting in the way. Dean and Crowley were able to walk right through them.
She looked to Dean and Crowley wondering why they weren't mentioning this strange and somewhat creepy turn of events.
She fought the urge to say anything about the strange people to Crowley and Dean. She felt her stomach knot up as she wondered if she was the only one who could see these people. Was all the stress finally getting to her? Was she going insane ?
Grace cringed as she moved ahead passing right through the people like it was nothing.
She frowned beginning to wonder if these people were the reapers Crowley had told her about the night before. She didn't have the chance to ask him about it as Crowley spoke almost sounding bored. "Hey let's stop for pizza."
"Are you kidding ?" Dean asked looking at the demon as though he had grown another head.
"I just thought it sounded good." Crowley replied shrugging.
They stopped suddenly as Crowley nodded up ahead at an old factory. "Up ahead, big ugly building, ground zero. The horseman's stable if you will. He's in there."
"How can you be sure ?" Dean asked staring at the unassuming building.
Grace let out a sigh of relief as Crowley spoke finally acknowledging the strange people dressed in black. "Have you met me, because I know. Besides the block is crawling with reapers."
Crowley nodded at the building again as he spoke. "I'll be right back."
Grace didn't have the opportunity to argue with Crowley about going off on his own before he disappeared.
Crowley wasn't gone for even a second before Dean and she heard his voice behind them. "Boy is my face red. Death's not in there."
"What I thought you said he'd be there. Do you want to cut the crap and give me the part about where he is ?" Dean asked sounding pissed off about how calm Crowley seemed to be.
Grace wasn't exactly thrilled as well but there had to be more to it right. Surely they weren't going to just let death get away right ?
"Sorry. I don't know." Crowley said still sounding completely calm.
She felt her stomach drop as both she and Dean spoke saying the exact same thing. "What do you mean ?"
"I mean I have no idea where he is. All the signs pointed here. I'm as shocked as you." Crowley explained as he began to walk away.
"Bobby sold his soul for this !" Dean exclaimed sounding furious.
"Relax all deals are sold back or store credit. We'll catch death in the next doomed city." Crowley said as he began to walk back towards the impala.
Grace felt like she wanted to vomit. So this was it then ? They were just going to walk away without that ring ? They were going to allow people to die ?
She spoke her voice shrill. "Millions of people are about to die Crowley."
Crowley sighed as he responded to her ignoring her tone of voice. "Which is why I suggest we get out of here. Now are you two coming or not ?"
Grace clinched her fists wanting to scream, she wanted to run up to him and slap him as hard as she could. She knew though that it wouldn't affect him.
She could remember how she had hit him back in that SUV the night she had found out she was dead. He had placed her back in her seat like she hadn't just gotten through hitting him and scratching at him like a madwoman.
She sat in the backseat of the impala close to the door wanting to be as far away from Crowley as possible as the car pulled out of the parking lot. She was sure that if she got too close to him she wouldn't be able to stop herself from telling him just how much she loathed him at the moment.
He was just going to walk away and allow Death to kill all of these people. She felt sick, so sick that she loved Crowley and he was doing this. Something so heartless and disgusting. A little voice in her head head told her that she should have known better than to let herself fall for him. She should have known that he was capable of this.
Crowley sighed as he saw the look of hatred in her eyes. Great, just great he had ruined everything that she had ever felt for him. She had finally realized just how horrible he was.
If she only knew why he was playing it so cool. He had a feeling that he knew where death was, but he'd had to stall them. Death was more than likely doing what he did best, killing everyone in the room with him.
He scooted over to her leaning to her ear as he spoke whispering. "I had to buy us some time love. Trust me I know where to find death. Why do you think I wanted pizza ?"
He paused letting out an anxious breath as he whispered again. "Please don't hate me for not letting you in on what I was trying to do."
She frowned as he pulled away from her ear. She was torn between wanting to be disgusted with him and wanting to believe him.
She had trusted him so far and he hadn't let her down yet. She let out a shaky sigh staring down at her lap as she decided to place her trust with him.
She just hoped that he wouldn't let her down.