Nothing Else Matters
Chapter Seven: Nothing Else Matters
.o0o.
A hand clamped around her mouth as another snaked around her waist and she was pulled back into a solid warm body.
"It's me"
All the tension melted from her with that whisper and she nodded.
She was released and, turning, she breathed out a relieved "Sam."
His finger rose to brush his lips and Kim followed his silent directive to head back the way she came.
As soon as they were back behind the garage and he knew they wouldn't be discovered he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"What happened?" was whispered as she pulled away.
He ran his hands over his hair, pushing it back.
"It was Dean's idea" he sighed. "This is a pretty big operation for a small town hustle, but we couldn't be sure how many were in that office building so he decided to get himself captured and let me know somehow, but things went sideways on us."
Kim nodded swallowing her fear at his shaken visage. "I counted eight so far, but I couldn't see inside."
She grimaced at the look on his face and continued on, almost rambling. "Two came out for the dogs, two more at the office door on guard, one at the dog pens and one up top. I could only make out two separate voices inside though."
"Damn" he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "They are looking for me." He shook his head, focusing his gaze on her. "Right" he huffed "I need your help."
Kim smiled "I've got just the thing."
.o0o.
Dean knew the plan had gone south the moment he'd let those two goons take him to their boss.
They had known who he was, he expected that, but the problem was they had known before they'd taken him. The head bitch was waiting for him to show, said she knew he'd turn up sooner or later.
He cursed pulling at the ropes that bound him to the metal framed chair, watching the group of black eyed sons-a-bitches who were calmly discussing the best way to pop out his pretty green eyes without damaging them too much.
Blood dripped down into one of them, stinging it. He hardly felt it though, his attention was otherwise engaged.
Suddenly a low rumble cut through the night, drawing the demons conversation to an abrupt halt.
Dean's eyes narrowed, he knew that sound.
"What the hell is that?"
Carlos Macgregor had been a hardware salesman in the town of Stonewater for fourteen years but he hadn't been Carlos really for about twelve now.
Now he was a demonic dog breeder with an unhealthy obsession for bloodthirsty pooches.
The demon was shouting at a few of the lesser underlings when the ground started to shake.
Dean let his hidden blade drop down into his palm and he began sawing at the thick cords around his wrists.
Screams from outside caused chaos in the building as the guardsmen raced for the door, yelling into static filled walkie-talkies.
A moment later the whole side of the building imploded with a metallic screech and sparks.
The grill of a big rig truck came to rest inches from the bitch calling the shots, painted with a massive devils trap on the gleaming chrome.
Dean nearly dropped his knife as the driver's side door swung open; baring its own devils trap as well as a demon stuck to the side.
He laughed incredulously at the sight.
Then out popped a pissed shorty and his breath caught. Where the hell was Sam?
"Toni" Kim snarled as she threw a punch, catching the woman's jaw.
Her head snapped to the side and when the brassy red head turned back her eyes were black as ink.
The pseudo waitress wiped the blood from her lip and licked it. "I gotta say, this is surprising" She said anger radiating from every pore. "I knew something was off when I saw you rubbing elbows with that tall drink of failure last night, but I didn't figure you to be so stupid." The demon grabbed the girl by the throat.
Dean sawed that much faster, cursing the girl and the demon all the while.
"What the fuck do you think you can do here Kimmy?" The bitch sneered.
Kim grasped at the fingers uselessly but a smile spread on her face. "I can distract you dumb mother fuckers long enough for the guys that can kick your ass to make their move. And don't call me Kimmy you black eyed bitch."
Toni snarled as Kim flung out her hand, the holy water cutting across the demons face in a sizzling trail. The demon dropped her and that's when Dean's bonds snapped free.
He lunged, catching the demonic woman off guard. His arms wrapped around her neck, forcing her head back as he shoved a handful of salt down her throat.
"Enjoy the trip back down bitch."
They came from around the wreckage, demons rushing in, grabbing at Kim as she struggled to get back up into the cab of the truck, circling Dean with malevolent glee.
Their mirth was short lived.
The next moment the sprinkler system engaged and the room filled with screams.
Dean flung the demon he held into his vacated chair, pinning her down as she smoked, screeching horribly.
Then the Latin of the exorcism was echoing into the warehouse through the bull horn on the top of the semi. Dean looked up and spied Kim sitting in the cab with the CB up to her mouth as she read from a piece of paper in her hands. The demons couldn't get to her with the devil's traps painted onto the sides of the truck.
Dean had to admit it was a damn good idea.
Black smoke began pouring from the possessed in droves as Sam rushed in, eyes wide. "Did it work?"
He held the demon blade, glinting red and silver in the light as the demonic smoke sank into the earth, the smell of brimstone thick in the air.
Dean smirked "Yeah Sammy, I think it worked perfectly." He let go of the now unconscious Toni and she slid to the ground, boneless.
Dean wiped the water from his face and met his brother's gaze with a grin. "That was awesome!"
Kim hopped down from the cab and met the guys in the middle of the room.
"So whose idea was that?" Dean asked, arching a brow.
Kim looked at Sam and they grinned.
Sam had been left to sneak up on the spot light operator as Kim, reading from her scribbled notes she'd taken from their Dad's journal, painted the devil's traps on her brother's rig. Then she started the monster with her set of keys and floored it. As Sam took out the demon up top she slammed through the guards outside.
Then Sam sanctified the water in the tanks over the warehouse and engaged the sprinkler system.
"That was a hell of a chance to take." Dean said eyes dark, hands on hips.
"Bout as crazy as giving your-self to demons just to find out how many were in here" Kim shot back.
Sam coughed to hide his amusement as Dean rolled his eyes.
"Don't give me that crap, you're a civilian, you could have gotten killed… or worse."
"Well maybe next time we should just leave you to get slapped around by short, fat and hairy over there."
They stood toe-to-toe glaring at each other. She got it, she did, but there hadn't been another choice here and he knew it, but then he decided to act like a cave man about it.
Sam cleared his throat. "Guy's… maybe we can do this later?"
Kim turned away after a parting glare and gazed upon the ruined finish of the rig.
"Kevin's gonna be so pissed."
Her muttered statement drew the hunter's attention.
"Don't get your panties in a twist, it's not that bad. A little buffing and some paint…"
Kim turned her nose up at him. "Bet you wouldn't say that if it was the Impala."
At Dean's horrified expression, Sam couldn't help but laugh.
.o0o.
They scoured the office for any trace of information on the missing travelers but nothing turned up.
Kim grew increasingly frustrated, Dean was combing through files with steely eyes and tense shoulders but it was Sam that finally found something.
"Hey, look at this" he called from across the room.
They were beside him in a flash as he spread out an old wrinkled blueprint on the desk.
It was details for the garage across the way.
"According to this, there's some kind of underground shelter built beneath it." Sam said running his finger over the specs.
Kim pointed "A hidden stair well?"
She met the brother's eyes. "Alright, we need to get these people out." Dean said straightening as he slung the discarded duffle on his shoulder.
Sam rolled up the plans and they headed for the garage.
"So what, you think this is some kind of… demonic insurance policy?"
Dean cut him a look. "That's my bet, they take the vagrants that won't be missed and use them to repopulate their ranks."
Kim's breath caught. "You don't think…"
"No" Dean said pointedly.
"The demons were sent back to hell, it will take them a while to climb back up."
She peered at him for a moment as he walked his eyes steady on the nearing building.
Taking his word as undeniable truth she nodded and followed Sam in through the busted doors.
Dean whistled low "Might want to think about demolition derbies as a career path."
Kim just grinned as Sam unrolled the prints.
"I think it's along this wall" he said pointing. Kim walked over, running her hands along the base boards as the guys did the same on the far side.
"Here" Sam and Dean pried the metal shelving away to reveal a hidden panel. Kim took a flashlight from Dean and followed Sam down into the dark.
Fetid air rushed up to meet them and Kim had to turn and burry her face in her hands to keep from being sick. Dean handed her a rag that smelled like gun oil and she nodded her thanks. It was better than the smell of human waste and death coming from the bottom of that stairwell.
As they descended the light caught on a row of rebar and Sam followed it to illuminate cages lining the wall. Frightened whimpers came from one and Sam rushed over to it, peering in.
"Oh God" wrenched from him as he rattled the lock. "Dean!"
Dean pushed passed Kim and crouched down beside him, eyes wide in horror.
The missing travelers were locked inside cages small enough for the Dobermans outside, left to rot in their own filth and grime.
Dean made quick work of pushing down his revulsion, grabbing his lock picks from his pocket as Sam spoke comfortingly to the people trapped inside.
Kim kept her gun out, pointed to the ground as she held the rag to her face and tried not to cry.
Then she shakily held her breath and called out into the darkness. "Kevin?"
A shuffle sounded from far down the line "…Kim? God, Kim is that you?" He sounded hoarse, like he was holding back and she sobbed running down to fall to her knees in front of the metal bars. Her light was feeble but it was him. Her eyes drank in the bloodied face of her brother.
"Kevin… Jesus what have they done to you?"
His dirt encrusted fingers poked out between the slats to link with hers as tears rolled down her face.
"What are you doing here? Go before they come back."
He sounded rough, like he'd swallowed sandpaper and she dashed away the wetness on her face, shaking her head.
"They won't be coming back." She said surprising herself with how cold she sounded. A hand gripped her shoulder and she turned to meet Sam's eyes.
She nodded and moved out of the way, letting Sam at the lock.
Her eyes moved over to Dean and widened. She raised the gun before she realized and fired.
A man wearing a deputy's uniform staggered on the stairs, dropping his gun before plummeting down the metal rungs end over end.
"Oh my God" she gasped, realizing what she'd done. He was no demon; she'd just killed a man.
Dean rushed over, taking the gun from her trembling fingers.
"You didn't have a choice Kim he was going to kill me." His voice was low and it sank in but she couldn't stem the tremors that racked her body.
"That's not going to count with the law boy" a condescending voice called from above. The clack of a hammer being drawn back stilled them all and Sam rose with his hands in the air.
"Sheriff" Dean said steadily.
"Put that down nice and slow pretty boy." The bulky man said, motioning with his gun. "Got to keep the evidence neat and preserved for when the real Feds get here."
He came down the stairs, stepping over the deputy without a glance. Keeping his gun trained on the boy's the man smiled nastily. "Come on over here girly."
Dean tensed at her side but she held out a staying hand, she didn't want him getting shot just yet.
Kim walked slowly over to the man and held in her startled screech when he grabbed her arm roughly, spinning her around to face the others.
He chuckled lecherously in her ear.
"You sure are a pain in the ass girly, should've taken care of you a long time ago."
"Demons and local law enforcement, what an arrangement" Sam's sneering voice cut across the dark space between them, drawing the Sheriff's attention away from her.
Kim shivered at the coldness in his voice. It was a marked difference to his normal tone and she was glad it wasn't directed at her.
"Yeah, nothing like signing your soul over to eternal hellfire" Dean said spitefully.
The Sheriff's hand snaked around Kim's neck, pulling her back against him. She felt him sniff her hair and watched both the guy's tense up, Sam moving to stand beside his brother.
The Sheriff drew a bead on Dean and they froze once again.
"Comes with damn fine perks" Barns said stroking her clavicle.
Kim's revulsion had to be clear on her face, she hated people touching her.
"You're going to be roasting on a spit like the pig you are Barns." She hissed through her clenched teeth, ignoring the twin looks of tense surprise from the hunter's in front of them.
Barns responded by gripping her hair and giving it a painful tug.
"I'd shut my mouth if I was you missy, wouldn't want my finger to slip and off one of yer little boyfriends would you?"
The man chuckled, his tobacco scented breath wafting across her face, making her own hitch.
"Is that the way your mama raised you?"
Suddenly the gun was digging into her ribs and she gasped in pain.
"Damn it, Kim!" Her brother's voice echoed and Sam shifted to stand in front of the cage as Barns' gaze flicked over him.
"Found yer brother did ya?" His lips brushed her face and she clenched her eyes shut for a moment.
"Talk about my mama again and we'll see how long it takes a man to die from a gut shot."
His grip tightened around her throat once again but she refused to make a sound.
"Now this is a predicament. I think you two fellas got bad luck" he said pointing again with his gun.
"Fake FBI comes in to town, shoots the girl that killed my deputy, then set fire to a bunch of poor bums in cages" Kim staggered and he jerked her back again. "On top of that, y'all are supposed to be dead and cremated after causing all kinds of trouble about a year back. Who'd blame me for killin' the two of you?"
Dean let his eyes rest on his brother's and Sam shook his head.
He had this look on his face that didn't sit well with Kim at all. It scared her.
She turned suddenly, the grip on her neck loosened, the Sheriff looking surprised as hell that his captive was now facing him with a glare.
"What the hell you doing girl?"
"Did your mama teach you to lie Harrison? She teach you to make bargains with the Devil?"
She took a step closer, feeling empowered when the man backed away, even though his gun was pointed right at her chest.
"Did she teach you to turn your back on the Lord Harrison or did your Daddy beat all the religion out of her?"
His face paled, his hand shaking. "I told you not to talk like that about her."
.o0o.
Dean's whole frame was tense.
He had one chance at this, a chance that hinged solely on this crazy girl before them. A spike of admiration rushed him as he watched her face down imminent death and made it back away.
He'd be so pissed if Barns shot her.
.o0o.
Sam watched as Dean slowly brought up his gun, keeping it in the shadows so the gleam of metal wouldn't give him away.
His stomach clenched queasy with worry. He saw the change come over his brother, as Dean forced everything down, becoming the high caliber, stone cold hunter he'd honed himself into during his year long absence.
Kim had backed the Sheriff as far as he was going to go before snapping and in that second everything fell into place.
"Down!"
The shot echoed in his ears as he looked up to see Barns fall beside a prone Kim.
Sam felt his chest burn and he took a breath, not realizing he'd been holding it from the moment Dean made his move.
.o0o.
Kim registered the shouted growl in a split second, had been waiting for it actually, since she spotted Dean's gun in his hand and that look in his eyes.
She folded, letting her legs crumple beneath her as the shot reverberated.
Her ears were still ringing from the report as Barns' body tumbled back, a bloody circle burnt through his skull.
"Kim!"
Metal rattled and clanked, suddenly she was being man handled into a familiar embrace.
"I'm fine Bubba" she gasped as he nearly crushed her. Her brother was okay, he was alive.
He exhaled out harshly before he held her at arm's length, meeting her glassy gaze with his own.
"That was really close Sissy."
Kim laughed at the old endearment and hugged him back, twice as hard.
.o0o.
Dean and Sam got the rest of the caged victims out quickly, the newest of which was that old trucker they'd seen at the diner a few days ago. One of the many stolen SUV's was then hotwired and the man promised to see the others to the nearest hospital before calling in the State Troopers.
Sam had driven in the Impala to collect Kevin since his leg was busted. He was crouched down, splinting the broken bones when Dean wandered over with a scowl.
The sun had risen while they'd been taking care of things, burning away the mist that clung heavily to the grass.
It had taken a good chunk of time to administer field care to the others before sending them on their way with Earl. Black smoke billowed up from the burning garage behind them, a little cleanup work to mask the presence of the two supposedly dead men that now stood watching the flames with grim faces.
"Damn mess" Dean muttered, watching the dissipating dust cloud from the leaving vehicle.
"Yeah" Sam replied as he peered over at the siblings by the car.
Kim crouched in front of her brother, handing him a bottle of water, careful to not jar his splint leg that hung out of the open back door of the Impala. Kevin didn't look much like his sister but he could see the family resemblance now that they were in the light of day. His hair was darker, legs longer, but they shared the same mouth and nose. He was a pretty decent looking guy, a little roughed up and shadowed by weeks of growth and grime but his hazel eyes glinted in relieved humor at his sisters half-hearted scolding that told he would be just fine, given time.
Sam and Dean shared a long look that spoke volumes and headed over to the two.
Kevin looked up and held out a hand, Dean taking it in a firm grip. "Thanks for keeping her alive."
Dean nodded, the two men watching as Sam pulled an annoyed Kim around to the rear of the Impala.
"She did good…" Dean commented with narrowed eyes.
"She lit a fire under this town to try and find you, you're a lucky guy."
Kevin smiled "I'm proud to call her family."
They shared a companionable silence as they observed the show their younger siblings put on, all fuss and no bite. Sam had Kim sitting on the lip of the open trunk, scolding her as he dabbed ointment along the cut on her cheek.
"My truck's gonna be a bitch to pull out." Kevin muttered suddenly, causing Dean to grin.
"I still can't believe she did that man, you should've seen her when she busted in." He chuckled.
Kevin gave a snort, shaking his head. "She's always been a bit rash, but I really can't say anything. I'm more surprised our Mom isn't totally nuts by now."
Kim's head appeared around the gleaming black metal. Carefully placed butterfly bandages now graced her wound as she hopped down and wandered over to them while Sam packed up the first aid kit.
"You alright" She asked tiredly, eyes filled with concern. Dean only then noticed the man's grimace of pain.
Dude would probably be on crutches for a while.
Kevin just gave her a look and she turned to the man beside them.
"We've pretty much got rid of everything that would incriminate us, all you have to do is give your statements, hopefully abridged, to the State police."
Dean shook his head with a snicker of laughter.
"Man they sure are going to have a field day with this one."
Kevin made a noise of agreement "I bet."
Kim rolled her eyes at them both muttering "you are so weird" with fondness.
Sam sidled up beside them, Dean looking taken aback by her words.
"She's got you pegged man." He laughed as his big brother swung a hand back carelessly, popping him in the stomach.
"Shut up" Dean said sourly as the two younger people shared a grin. He moved to the driver's side door, flipping out his keys.
"Come on, the fire department should be here soon."
They managed to slide Kevin in along the vinyl to settle in the back seat with his leg extended and Kim road up front, sandwiched between the two Winchester's. Not as comfortable as it sounds, turns out.
Once Dean fired up the engine a low whistle cut through the rumble.
"Man, you can have my sister if you let me drive this baby sometime."
Kim glared over her shoulder at her brother. "Ass" was hissed between clenched teeth as the guys snickered in stereo around her.
"Nah dude, nobody touches Baby but me." Dean said running a hand over the dash reverently.
Kim pursed her lips, crossing her arms with a nod and Sam gawped at them like they were both nuts.
After they got out on the highway they passed two small fire engines from the local volunteer department. As the sirens faded behind them Sam looked back at the man gripping his jean clad leg with white knuckled determination, keeping still as possible.
"So Kevin man, how did they grab you anyway? Kim tells us you're pretty resourceful." He asked trying to distract the guy from the pain.
Kevin looked up, meeting his sisters green eyes in the rearview.
"It was the Sheriff and that Deputy guy." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"They pulled me over on a detoured two lane just outside of town and demanded to see my cargo. I told them what it was, showed them my papers and everything but they wouldn't hear it, now I know why." Kevin ran a hand over his face and shifted his trucker cap. "Anyway, I opened the trailer and that fat bastard zapped me with a TASER to the back. Then Deputy Dan hit me with the Billy club and when I woke up I was in the cage."
His voice grew strained near the end.
He couldn't see the black look on his sister's face but the guy's could and it caused them to share a knowing look.
"How'd you break the leg?" Her voice was low and steady, but her nails were digging into her palms hard.
"Ah, they tried to …persuade me that it was better to swallow the black smoke and I disagreed, strongly."
Dean's jaw pulsed as he clenched his teeth and only Sam heard the muttered "Damn it" from the girl beside him.
He reached over and took her hand, making her flatten it out so she didn't cause the nails to draw blood.
When she blinked up at him, he looked back to the man lying there, only a few feet away, and she let the tension leave her.
He's fine now, it's over Sam was telling her and she closed her eyes, squeezing his hand in thanks.
"You don't think that they have other operations like that out there do you?"
Her question caused a pregnant silence to fill the car.
Dean was the one to break it. "If there are, we'll be there to bust it up."
His voice held strong conviction and she breathed a sigh of relief.
These guys were nothing short of amazing in her book.
.o0o.
Red blinking lights never showed in their rearview and as they turned into the motel parking lot they all breathed easier.
Dean parked next to her Plymouth, letting the engine idle.
Piling out of the Impala Kim gave it a fond touch of appreciation and turned to help Sam pull her brother from the back. She quickly took up the stance as his crutch while Dean unlocked her car.
"Thanks man" Kevin said as he shook first Dean's hand then Sam's.
He gingerly maneuvered into the passenger side bucket seat and swiveled his leg in.
"Look, I owe you guy's my life, and my sister's." Kevin's eyes were dead serious as he met Dean's.
"If you need anything, even ten years down the road and I'm still breathing, you come find me."
Dean could respect that. "You got it; you just watch out for that firecracker."
He shut the door with a final "Take care" and a firm couple of pats to the roof as Kevin lifted his fingers in a half salute.
The brother's turned to face Kim and her wavering smile. "Y'all are going to disappear right?"
Dean lifted the corner of his lips "We were never here." His eyes crinkled and she felt her breath hitch as she fought the tears choking her.
"Thank you, both, for what you did." Her voice was thick but they graciously ignored it.
Sam stepped forward to hug her tightly. "You be careful" he whispered, handing her a piece of paper with a number scrawled on it.
She looked up and he shrugged, "Just in case."
"I don't know if I should feel reassured or freaked out" she laughed, dashing away an errant tear.
Sam smiled, ducking his head before giving a slight wave, his other hand in his pocket as he ambled off to their motel room to pack.
The wind picked up, dark gray clouds heralding rain as thunder sounded off in the distance.
Kim fought her hair, batting it away from her face.
By the time she turned around Dean was standing there looking down at her pointedly.
"How did you survive all these years?" He teased.
"Oh shut up" Kim said blushing.
He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, trying for stern. "I don't expect to see you again."
"Yes Principal Winchester" she grumped, then stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.
"Thank you Dean." Her voice choked and she tried to convey what it meant to her that they had helped her to find her brother and return him to her.
She had the feeling he knew though, if his eyes said anything it was that he understood.
She got the impression, too, that they didn't really get a lot of appreciation for what they did very often.
"Like he said" she motioned with a toss of her head back to the 'Cuda
"If you ever need any help or a place to stay, look me up. I owe you but that's not the reason for the offer, you've made a lifelong friend in me, you and Sam."
She veered around him and opened the driver's side door just as another rumble of thunder crashed, closer this time than the last.
She waved at Sam who stood framed by the ugly, peeling doorway of the motel room, then climbed in to the dusky old Barracuda.
She gave Dean one last nod before flipping the ignition on, popping the car out of reverse lock out and cranking the engine. The dual exhaust coughed once as the motor purred to life then smoothed out to a rumbling growl.
Standing where he was he could feel the vibrations through the blacktop creeping up into his chest.
Yeah, she might not look like much but she was running on some serious ponies.
With a parting rev the car was swinging back out onto asphalt and taking off for the nearest hospital.
Dean slid into his Baby, letting his fingers trail over the steering wheel.
"I'd still never trade you for anything" he whispered before edging the car back over to the motel room so Sam could toss in their stuff.
"Got everything?" He asked as his long legged little brother slid into shotgun.
Sam smiled thinly and gave a nod, closing the door with a metallic creak just as the rain started to drizzle down.
Twenty minutes later the Impala was well on her way, roaring down the interstate headed west, leaving the storm behind.
Dean took a long steady breath, blasting Metallica as they traveled on, windows rolled down and the pavement rushing beneath them.
He peered over at his silent companion and made a decision. Sliding his hand along the back seat he patted Sam's shoulder. The smile returned was brighter than Dean had seen since before all this mess started and he knew it was the right choice.
Yeah they had their issues, but right now, driving down the road with his little brother by his side, all that could take a back seat.
He was right where he needed to be and nothing else mattered.
.o0o.
.The End.
A/N: Thank you for sticking with me!
In regards to the ending I can only say, is it really an end? Perhaps we may see the siblings back again in the future. I hope this little venture was well received and I would love to know your thoughts on it.
As it is, this is the farewell of my first ever Supernatural story. It was a blast! -Jade