A/N: I've had this chapter ready to post since Sunday morning, but the site wouldn't let me. Hopefully, there won't be anymore problems around here for awhile.
The next four weeks at the cabin were uneventful. Which was exactly what Sam and Dean needed. The downtime was what Sam's body needed to heal and he was feeling one hundred percent better. It was also what their hearts and minds needed as well to heal. Sam knew that while it would take Dean a long while, if ever, to forget what Sam said while under the siren's influence, their relationship was most definitely back on track.
In order to keep themselves occupied, since the television barely picked up any channels and there was no wi-fi, the brothers spent their days fixing up the cabin. They took a couple of days and cleaned the cabin top to bottom. Another day was spent spackling all the holes in the walls. In one of the bedrooms, it looked like someone had played darts without using a dartboard. Growing up, Sam and Dean had stayed in some pretty rundown places. Often times, John would make a deal with the landlord to fix up the place in return for a reduction in the rent. So the brothers had become pretty handy with tools.
Sitting in Starbucks drinking a latte, Sam was taking advantage of the free wi-fi. His brother, having lost a chess match to Sam the night before, was at the laundromat. Both Winchesters had agreed that is was probably time to get back on the road. While the downtime at the cabin was nice, they both knew they they couldn't hide out from Ruby forever.
"Hmm," said Sam as he read over and article on CNN's website. This could be something. A man in Grosse Pointe shot up a convenience store and says he has no recollection of doing it. How does someone not remember pulling out a sawed-off shotgun, opening fire on the Coca Cola display and reloading and continuing the destruction? A little researching revealed a whole series of events that all took place in the same neighborhood. None of them good and all of the perpetrators say they have no memory of the events that transpired. Could be a demon? If the people were only possessed for short period of time, say a couple of days, there's a good chance that they wouldn't know they had been possessed.
After finishing up at Starbucks, Sam headed over to the laundromat to meet up with Dean and fill him in on the research.
"So a whole neighborhood goes crazy," said Dean.
"Just about. There were eight separate incidents that the police know about. Four people are dead and at least fifteen have been injured. The perpetrators all say the same thing that they have no memory of what happened."
"So either the natives are getting restless or we have a demon at work."
"You wanna head down there and check it out?" asked Sam.
"Definitely. We can pack up tonight and leave first thing in the morning."
oooooOOOOooooo
Grosse Pointe is a rather affluent suburban area in metro Detroit. Sam was currently at Bon Secours hospital in Grosse Pointe. He was in the psych ward interviewing the most recent person arrested in the crime spree, a man named Ralph Andrews. Sam took one look at the short, bald man and knew he was the kind of person people would say could never hurt a fly.
"So Ralph, can you tell me what happened?" asked Sam.
"I don't know. The last thing I remember is shoveling off my walkway. Next thing I know, I'm standing inside a convenience store with a gun in my hand. The cops say I shot up the place. I don't even own a gun. I belong to my neighborhood watch because I'm sick of all the crime I see on the news. I'd never do any of that and yet there I am on the security footage shooting up the place. I shot the clerk in the leg twice. Why don't I remember any of it?" asked Ralph.
Sam could hear the anguish in Ralph's voice. While there was nothing that Sam could do to prevent the man from being locked up for the rest of his life, he could make sure that the demon responsible was sent back to hell.
oooooOOOOooooo
Back at the motel, Sam and Dean were going over what they had learned that day. Dean had visited two men in prison, both awaiting trial for crimes they couldn't remember committing.
"So basically," said Dean "they all have the same story. They were doing mundane everyday things and then everything goes blank. Next thing they know, they're being arrested for crimes they have no know memory of committing. Sounds like demon possession to me."
"But why?"
"I don't know. Maybe the demon's out for kicks."
"So how are we going to figure out who's next in line for possession?"
"I guess we'll have to canvas the neighborhood," said Dean with a sigh.
"Yeah, but that's gonna take a while."
"It's all we got right now, Sam. Unless you know a spell to draw out this demon."
"I checked Dad's journal and couldn't find anything. I think he didn't want us to ever summon a demon so he made sure not to keep a spell in his journal. I'll call Bobby. He should know something."
There's a connection, thought Dean. He was sure there was a connection between all of the incidents, besides the demon, but he couldn't figure it out.
"Dean?"
Wait a minute. "Sam, you said that Ralph was in the neighborhood watch, right?"
Sam nodded.
"Well the two guys I interviewed at the prison mentioned being in the neighborhood watch. Plus, I think that one of the articles you showed me mentioned the neighborhood watch."
"Coincidence?"
"Maybe, maybe not. The demon could have a sense of humor."
"What do you mean?"
"Well the neighborhood watch members want to protect the neighborhood, you know, keep it safe. Instead they're tearing it up and scaring everyone who lives there."
"Dean, we have to get into the next meeting."
"Yeah, but how? Won't they know everyone who lives in neighborhood."
"There's a condo complex there. They can't possibly know everyone who lives there. We'll say we just moved into one of the condos and that we had belonged to a neighborhood watch where we're from and after hearing of the recent rash of crimes we want to help out."
oooooOOOOooooo
The next night, Sam and Dean found themselves sitting in the basement of a house belonging to an accountant named George Newhart. Folding chairs had been set up for everyone to sit on and there was a refreshment table with pastries and sodas.
Dean's eyes had glazed over when he saw not one, but two kinds of pie on the refreshment table. He was prepared for a boring evening, but if they had pie it wouldn't be that bad. "Pie, Sammy, they have pie."
"After all of the s'mores you've eaten in the past month, I'd think you would want to hold off on the sweets for awhile."
"Sammy, there's always room for pie."
The brothers ended up spending the better part of an hour listening to people talk about what a nice guy Ralph had been and how they couldn't believe he could what he did. Then everyone was given their patrol assignments for the week. When the meeting broke for refreshments, Sam and Dean split up to work the room. Of course, Dean headed straight for the refreshment table, mumbling something about have to wait way too long for pie.
"So you must be new to the neighborhood," said George.
"Yeah, my brother and I just moved into one of the King's Crossing Condos," replied Sam.
"Well, I think it's great that you want to help out."
"Thanks," said Sam. "When we heard about recent events, we knew we wanted to do something to help."
After talking to several different people Sam headed towards Dean, who was going for his second piece of pie.
"I've turned up nothing. I mean it could be anyone in here," said Sam, sounding rather dejected.
"My money's on Riley Smith."
"Riley Smith, why him?"
"He's the watch captain for the week and the last four watch captains went nuts . I think maybe that's who the demon picks."
**********
Once the meeting was over, Sam and Dean followed Riley Smith home. They parked the Impala across the street from his house and waited.
"So if it is Riley, how are we going to get him on the devil's trap?" asked Sam.
In anticipation of tracking down the demon, Dean had bought a piece of plywood which he and Sam had painted a devil's trap on. Since Sam was not going to use his powers, they were going to exorcise the demon the old fashioned way.
"I'm guessing we can't say we're from the gas company since we were at the meeting."
They were still thinking of an excuse to get inside Riley's house when he merged on the front porch, holding a clipboard.
"Looks like the watch captain is about to make his rounds," said Dean. "Sammy, you go get inside Riley's house. Take the plywood with you and see if you can hide it under an area rug or something."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna follow Riley."
"Dean, be careful."
Dean nodded. After exiting the Impala, he took off after Riley who was already halfway down the block. Dean stayed on Riley's tail as he walked through the whole neighborhood, occasionally checking off a list on his clipboard. Some watch captain he is, thought Dean. I've been following him for more than fifteen minutes and he's yet to spot me. After circling the neighborhood, Riley headed back to his house with Dean still following him. Just as he was about to open his front door, a cloud of black smoke entered his mouth.
"Yahtzee," whispered Dean. He did feel sorry for poor Riley, but if things worked out well, the demon would be back to hell by dawn and Riley would be safe and sound.
Dean hurried across the street when the now possessed Riley headed inside his house. He made quick work of picking the lock, spurred on by the loud crash he heard inside.
Stepping into the living room, Dean found Sam tying Riley to a chair. Underneath the chair was the devil's trap cover by a small oriental rug. "You okay, Sam?"
"Yeah," replied Sam, sounding slightly out of breath. "Too bad, I can't say the same for the coffee table."
Looking over to where Sam gestured, Dean saw what used to be the coffee table lying in a broker heap on the floor in front of the sofa.
"You'll pay for this," scowled the demon.
"Really," said Dean. I don't think you're in any position to issue threats."
Sam snickered. Demon's always had to be cocky, didn't they?
"Do you know who I am?" growled the demon.
"Do I care?" said Dean.
"I am Madness and Mayhem. I bring chaos and destruction where ever I go," replied the demon.
"Yeah, well, M and M, I guess that's gonna be hell, cause that's the only place you'll be going." Dean smirked.
"When I get out of there you'll pay."
"If we had a nickel for every time we've heard that the Winchesters would be rolling in dough."
"Winchester," hissed the demon. He looked directly at Sam and spoke, "Sam Winchester."
Upon hearing his name spill forth from the demon's mouth, Sam fell silent.
"Well, well, if it isn't Ruby's bitch boy in the flesh."
"Friend of yours, M and M?" asked Dean.
The demon scoffed. "You think I'd be friends with that piece of trash."
"Oh right, Ruby's sent so many of your kind back to hell. I can see why you wouldn't like her," said Dean.
The demon just chuckled. "If you only knew."
Dean tired of listening to the demon turned to his brother. "Hit it, Sam."
Sam stood there not speaking Latin like he should be.
"Sammy, now would be a good time to start the exorcism."
Grabbing Dean by the arm, Sam dragged his brother out of the room.
"What the hell, Sam?"
"Dean, I think that he knows something about Ruby."
"So?"
"So, I say we hold off on the exorcism until we tells us what he knows."
"And how are we going to get him to tell us? Cause I don't think M and M is gonna be in a sharing kind of mood."
"Just follow my lead." Sam turned and walked back into the living room.
The demon was wearing a curious expression. Just moments ago, he thought he was going to be exorcised and yet he was still her. He struggled against the ropes to no avail.
"I'd quit struggling if I were you. Even if you can break the ropes, you're still stuck on a devil's trap," said Sam. "And unlike my girl, Ruby, I don't think you strong enough to break the wood."
"Yeah, if Ruby's your girl, where is she?"
"She's out sending more of your kind back to hell," said Sam.
"Really, that's what you think she's doing? Poor bitch boy, I guess Ruby doesn't let you in on her plans."
"What do you know?" asked Sam.
"I know that if you really knew Ruby you wouldn't work with her."
"And what do we need to know about Ruby?" asked Dean.
"Like I'm gonna tell the people who are planning on sending me back to hell?"
"You know what, Sammy?" asked Dean. "I don't think M and M knows anything. He's blowing smoke."
"You mean like when he says he's brings chaos and destruction, and what does he do? He shoots up a convenience store. That's not chaos, that an episode of Jackass."
"You dare mock Madness and Mayhem?" growled the demon.
"Please, if you were that important of a demon then Ruby would have told me about you. She never once mentioned you," said Sam.
"You think Ruby's so great don't you? If you really knew who she is, you wouldn't."
"Tell me," said Sam. "You tell what you know and I'll let you go."
"No, you won't, but you know what? I'm gonna tell you anyways just to wipe that smug look off your face," said the demon. "Those demon's you sent back to hell, they were allies of Ruby's."
"Then why would she help Sam send back to hell if they were allies?" said Dean.
"Ruby made alliances with those demons. They would possess humans in order for her bitch boy to exorcise them back to hell."
"Why would she do that?" asked Sam.
"It's part of her plan."
"You keep mentioning Ruby's plan and yet have not said what it is," commented Dean.
"Ruby had a mentor. His name was Azazel."
"Yellow eyes," whispered Dean.
"Azazel taught Ruby everything she knows. He was planning on building an army of demons and he wanted one of his special children to lead it. Ruby helped keep watch over all of his children. Azazel kept her on a short leash though and she didn't really get to do anything for a long time. Her first real mission was taking care of some college girl in California."
Sam felt his whole world suddenly shift on it's axis. "Jess."
"After that she got kinda cocky and started challenging Azazel's authority so he banished her to hell. When the Devil's Gate was opened, Ruby crawled out along with a whole bunch of demons. I hear she wants to wants to pick up where Azazel left off, but she needs to get rid of Lilith first. Ruby's powerful, but Lilith, she's more powerful."
So that's why she needs Sam, thought Dean. He glanced over at his brother who wasn't looking so good. His face was white and he was shaking ever so slightly. Walking over to Sam, Dean took the book out of his hand. "Well, M and M, it's been fun, but we're gonna have to say goodbye."
"I'll be back one day and you'll pay for this," growled the demon.
"Yeah, yeah," said Dean and then he began the exorcism. The demon of Madness and Mayhem screamed and howled right up until it was pulled out of Riley's body. Finally, it was over. Dean knew he should check up on the man slumped over in the chair, but instead he was following Sam who had run out of the room.
Dean found Sam in the bathroom where he was emptying the contents of his stomach. "Sammy."
When Sam had finished heaving, he looked up at Dean with tears glistening in his eyes and spoke one word. "Jess."
More to Come
Thank you for reading! Reviews are always greatly appreciated. Please let me know what you think.