here is it, another update. i thought this was going to be the final chapter, but i just couldnt fit it all in. so... one more chapter after this one. I hope you all enjoy. And thank you all once again for the great reviews, they mean the world to me.
IN TRANSIT
Chapter 14
Dean peered around the door of the boxcar, watching as people began leaving the train; it was obvious to the hunter that they were going to be there a while. He looked back over at his brother, Sam laying flat on his back, arms covering his head. Dean couldn't help but feel guilty as he scanned his brother, knowing that the younger man's pain was his fault. He had gone into this hunt without all the information, and now his little brother was paying the price.
Dean shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the moment at hand. They were still in Raven's car, which meant that they were right in the middle of her little community, and Dean didn't know if that was good or bad. On one hand, they could see all of her little buddies, which would make it easier to find Pete. But, on the other hand, they were right in the middle of enemy territory, and the elder hunter didn't know how that would go over with the locals. He and his brother were in no shape to fight, and Dean just hoped that they could get this hunt over and done with before any of the riders came looking for them.
Just as Dean was turning back into the boxcar, something caught his eye. It was Pete, and he was heading up into the hills that surrounded the tracks. Dean let a small smile play across his face. Finally, something was going their way.
"Bingo. Hey, Sammy." Dean began, moving back over to his brother's side. Sam didn't move, just groaned in acknowledgment, but Dean took it as a good sign anyway. "Up and at um, dude, Pete's moving."
"You found him already?" Sam asked, finally pulling his arms away from his face.
"What can I say, I'm just that good." Dean smirked, helping his younger brother to stand. Dean could feel Sam's weakness radiating through him, his little brother's shoulders slumped, body leaning heavily against him. They were running out of time, and Dean knew it.
"You think you're up for this?" Dean asked when Sam finally found his footing, pushing away from his brother and rubbing his forehead.
"Yeah, I'm good. Let's just get this over with." Sam stated, though his eyes were still closed tight.
Dean knew he was lying, knew Sam had barely the strength to stand let alone hike up a hill and face down whatever this really was. But, he also knew that they didn't have the time to argue about it. He gave his brother another long look before scooping up their bags with his good arm, and following Sam out the door of the boxcar.
They both scanned the area around him, Dean spotting Pete a few seconds after they left the train. He cut through the growing crowd as fast as he could, trying to stay to the back of the group. But they were like bulls in a china shop. No matter what they did, Dean could feel eyes on him; the nasty sensation that he was being watched flooding through him. They were in enemy territory, and he knew it. At that moment, however, Dean didn't care. His brother was sick, dying, and he couldn't think about anything other then stopping it.
Dean pulled Sam by his sleeve, hurrying his brother as the younger man stumbled. He knew Sam needed to lay down, knew he needed to rest, but they just couldn't stop, and that broke the older Winchester's heart. He was supposed to be there for Sammy, supposed to keep him safe, but now he was doing just the opposite. Dean released his hold on his brother's jacket when they broke the tree line, Sam breathing harder then he should have for such a short walk.
"You alright, dude?"
"Yeah, just give me a minute."
"Look, Sammy. You stay here, I'm gonna go up to the cabin and see what Pete's up to."
"Dean, you can't."
"I'll be fine, Sam. Just hang out here, and shoot anything that gets too close."
"Dean--." Sam began, struggling to his feet. But Dean just spun around, shooting his brother a look that told him there was no room for argument.
"Sit down and wait for me."
"I'm not a dog."
"Don't think I won't tie you to that tree."
"Whatever, just be careful, Dean. And if it looks like you're in over your head, leave."
"Yeah, yeah." Dean added, waiving his brother off before heading off in the same direction as Pete.
The woods were heavy and silent, the underbrush so dense, that Dean stumbled on more then one occasion. He could tell that this wasn't going to be easy, and he knew that Sam wouldn't have been able to make the trek. Well, he would have, but it probably would have taken him a week. Dean slowed as he neared the old house, his keen eyes surveying the structure. It had definitely seen better days. He guessed that when Kathy had gotten married, she'd moved away from the place she had once called home.
The porch was crooked and breaking, the front door hanging off its hinges, swing back and forth in the ghostly breeze. Most, if not all of the windows were broken, and the roof was a patchwork of broken shingles and gaping holes. All in all, the place looked like it was about to crumble to the ground. The perfect place to practice dark magic. It was always the same; bad guys just seemed to have really lousy realtors.
Dean slipped his gun from his waistband. He was a good shot with either hand, that his father made sure of, but Dean still hated holding the weapon with his left; it just felt wrong to him. He shook off the feeling, slowly making his way towards the old house. He knew Pete was in there, he could feel it deep down in his bones. It was like a weird sixth sense, like super high tune hunting instincts. He could tell his prey was there, just by the way the air felt.
It was good, though, and Dean knew it. It kept him on guard, kept him sharp, and those were two things he knew he would need to get through this stupid hunt. It was all tied to Kathy and Benjamin, of that Dean was certain, but Raven and Pete were in on it, too, and that, Dean just couldn't figure out. How had Pete gone and gotten himself involved? And what exactly did Raven know? There were just too many questions, and too few answers. Why was this thing going after Sam, and why the hell did it think he was Pete? And why did all the creepy riders keep staring at him? It was all too much, and Dean wanted answers.
He stealthily made his way into the house, the sagging floor creaking and moaning beneath his weight, small tendrils of dust rising up to meet him. He could see a path cut through the old floor; foot print tracking through the dust like it was snow. It was obvious to him that Pete hadn't been expecting visitors, but Dean remained on his guard none the less. Too many things had happened on their short 'easy' hunt, and Dean wasn't about to let anything else get in his way. He had to end this, and now.
He followed the footprints, walking slowly as they wrapped around the small kitchen, heading towards the open basement door. Ok, so maybe a little too easy. But Dean needed answers, and he needed them sooner rather then later. He had no idea if that thing could leave the train, and he was silently cursing himself for leaving Sam behind. Yeah, he knew it would be easier to get what he needed out of Pete without Sam around, but leaving his brother in the forest still hurt the older hunter.
He pushed the idea from his mind. Sam was alright, he was an adult, he could handle himself. Right now, Dean had bigger fish to fry. He paused at the top of the stairs, peering down into the darkness below. He wanted to use his flashlight, but he knew that would tip off Pete in a second. No, he had to do this one blind, there was no other option.
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Sam leaned against the large tree trunk, eyes closed, shotgun on his lap. He felt awful. No, awful was too good a word, he felt like something awful chewed up and spit back out. Every nerve in his body hurt. He could feel the tremors that had taken over his body growing stronger and stronger with each passing moment. He was hot and freezing at the same time, his head feeling like it was going to explode. At that moment, some one could have shot him and he probably would have been thankful. And while he hated the idea of Dean going it alone, he also knew that he wouldn't be any help to him. Hell, he could barely even stand up, let alone go up against whatever the hell they were up against.
All thought was pushed from Sam's mind a moment later, his body tensing, hand snaking around the gun. He'd heard something, he was sure of it. Someone was out in the forest, watching him, and now they were approaching. Sam listened to the footsteps, his eyes remaining closed, breathing even and relaxed. To the casual observer, he looked like he was out cold. He just hoped it was enough to trick whoever or whatever was on its way.
Sam stayed as still as he could for several long moments, listening as the footfalls grew closer, waiting for just the right moment. He wasn't in any condition to fight and his gun was loaded with rock salt; so really he had to get this right the first time. He strained his ears, listening to the crunch of the leaves, the sound of breaking twigs. His stalker was getting closer, just a few more feet, a few more seconds, and they'd be in arm's reach. And, an instant later, Sam struck.
He lashed out with the speed of a cobra, his arm darting forward, grabbing the person before him by the knee and pulling them to the ground. He opened his eyes a second later, moving forward, pinning his attacker to the ground.
"Please." A shaky voice broke through the commotion, causing Sam to still, though he still held the woman before him to the ground. "Please, I'm trying to help you."
"Oh yeah? Like leaving my brother under a pile of crates?"
"You have to keep him safe, you have to leave this place." Raven spoke, and Sam could hear the sheer desperation in her voice.
"Why?" He asked a few moments later, releasing his grip on the older woman, and slumping back against the tree. Even that short little burst had stolen most of his waning energy.
"He's in danger. You both are."
"You know what's going on? What's killing people?"
"Yes."
"And you haven't stopped it."
"I've tried. But it's more then I can handle. It's all gotten too far out of control. Please, just leave."
"Why me? Why Dean?"
"Please."
"I'm not going to leave and let innocent people die. Everyone, they were all younger brothers."
Sam knew he was right by the look in the old woman's haunted eyes. She knew exactly what was happening and why, and she just sat back and did nothing.
"It's a Cur, isn't it." Sam pressed, knowing Raven held all the answers.
"That's what it began life as."
"What?"
"Kathy summoned it, used it to torture Benjamin, to drive him mad."
"And?"
"And, it worked. That was until she learned the truth."
"What truth?"
"That it was Pete all along."
"Benjamin wanted to take her away, to keep her safe." Sam began, amazed that Raven didn't even bat an eye at the information he had.
"Yes, he did." She spoke softly, a sad smile on her face. "He thought he could save her from the world, to shield her from all the bad. But no human can do that."
"Pete talked him out of it, why?"
"Because Pete was in love with her. Well, he called it love, I called it lust. He wanted her, and he knew that if his brother took her away, he would never have the chance. Because, if Benjamin was one thing, it was fiercely protective. Once Kathy was under his charge, Pete knew there would be no way to have her."
"So he tricked his brother?"
"Yes."
"And you let him."
"You have to understand. I'd known Pete longer, and I knew what Benjamin wanted to do was impossible. I thought it was right."
"Did Pete ever try anything with her?"
"No, not that I know of. She was so angry afterwards, so different. Honestly, I think he was afraid. And then, the nightmares started, and Pete knew it was her, knew she'd done something to his brother. And so, one day a few years ago, he confronted her about it."
"He killed her."
"I don't know if he meant to or not, but yes, he did."
"But the killings didn't start till a few months later."
"Pete kept going back up to that house. I don't know why. He was always so on edge after Kathy, so wound up in his own personal hell. I don't know what he did, but he changed something that night.
Benjamin, he figured it out though, knew it had been his brother. The last I saw him, he was following Pete up to the house. And then, a few hours later Pete came back screaming, dragging his brother behind him, dead."
"Raven, do you think Pete killed his brother?"
"I don't know what to believe anymore. But, after that night, the creature appeared."
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Dean walked slowly and cautiously down the basement stairs, his eyes tracked every shadow, studying ever move the darkness made. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, gun trained ahead of him. There, at the far side of the room, bend down over an alter, was Pete. He didn't seem to care that Dean was in the room, he just continued on doing whatever it was he was doing, his voice nothing but a low, repetitive whisper.
"I'd quit it with the chanting if I were you."
"You're not me."
"Yeah. It was just a phrase, you know." Dean countered, moving slowly into the room, a bit unnerved by Pete's calm demeanor.
"Do you know the easiest way to capture your prey?"
"Uh, no. Enlighten me."
"You just lay down a trail it couldn't possibly miss." Pete answered, turning, his face an unreadable mask.
Dean moved forward, but found himself trapped, his body unable to move in either direction. He looked down at his feet, cursing as he read the inscriptions written around him, carved into the stone floor in a perfect circle. Th chanting, the sigils, it had all been a trap, and he'd walked right into it.
"You got me, what do you want?" Dean asked, his mind still trying to find some way out of his current mess.
"To set things right."
"Hey, dude, I've got no problems with you. Except, you know, some creepy bug dude thinks my brother's you and is trying to kill him."
"So you know."
"That it's actually been after you for the past couple years. Yeah, I put two and two together. What I want to know is why?"
"It was a mistake."
"Yeah, then fix it."
"I am."
"I'm not gonna let my brother die."
"And neither am I."
"News flash, buddy, he's worm food already."
Pete just laughed before turning back to the alter, moving a few things around the wooden platform as he began to once again chant. Dean could feel the hairs on the back in his neck stand on end as an icy wind began to blow through the space. He raised his gun and fired, trying to stop Pete from finishing his chant. But, much to his dismay, the gun refused to work, the metal hanging in his hand like a paper weight.
"Son of a bitch." Dean mumbled, stowing the firearm. He was now very much beyond screwed. He could feel the winds picking up around him, the old structure creaking and shifting beneath the force of it. If it didn't stop soon, the entire place was going to come down on top of them.
"Yo, Pete, this place isn't safe." Dean yelled above the growing torrent.
"It doesn't matter." Pete began, turning towards Dean, a dagger in his hand.
"So, you don't mind being squished. Because I gotta say, it would really ruin my day."
"Life and death are trivial. I just need him back."
"Need who back?"
"Benjamin."
"Dude, he died five years ago."
"In body yes, but his spirit's still here."
"Bug man? That's your brother?"
"Part of it is. It was a mistake. He shouldn't have followed me. I was fixing it, I had it taken care of, he shouldn't have followed me."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"She was too good for him, too beautiful to be hidden away. She wasn't some treasure that needed to be locked up, she was a person, she needed to see the world."
"Oh man, if you tell me this is all about a girl, I'm gonna smack you."
"She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. He shouldn't have been able to take her from the world."
"You told him to leave her?"
"I didn't want her locked away."
"Oh yeah, that's great. But you do know you turned her all psycho instead."
"I didn't know. I tried to stop her, but she didn't listen. She tried to fight back."
"You killed her?" Dean asked, anger lacing his every word. Kathy was killed because of a love triangle she didn't even know about.
"It was a mistake. She set that thing on me, what was I supposed to do?"
"Let it kill you, ya lying pack of shit."
"I was doing what was best for her."
"Obviously not. So, the thing still came after you, didn't it?"
"I found a way to control it. To stop it."
"By making it feed off of other people's brothers."
"It never killed."
"Nope, not till you blew Ben away with it."
"It was an accident!" Pete screamed, his eyes taking on a crazed glint.
"So how're you planning on fixing it." Dean pushed, hoping to make the old man stumble, to force a mistake.
"A trade."
"What?"
"I found a way, I just needed the right person. And you're so right, Dean."
Dean's eyes widened in horror, his body tensing. He could feel it breathing down the back on his neck, saliva from its razor sharp teeth dripping down over his shoulder. He turned slowly on the spot, green eyes coming to rest on the sadistic red glow of the Cur's empty eye sockets. And the elder Winchester knew in that instant, that time was up.