A/N: Again, wow... you guys seriously just make me the happiest person ever :) I've had SO MUCH wonderful feedback for this so far, and it really REALLY means a lot to me ^_^ Thank you all so much!
phantomq3: LOL that made me laugh! XD I don't have any dogs, but I feel like if my cat went up against Satan, she'd just be like *sniff sniff* *walk away, no big deal*. She'd just be like "ok, so? I'm the princess here anyway."
Chapter 6
"So… you and your hermano are close, no?"
Sam looked down at the tiny Chihuahua that was scampering along beside him, three or four steps to match each one of the bigger dog's. The sun was high overhead but starting to dip farther into the west as they made their way through the woods bordering the main road that would lead all the way to Eureka, if Zorro could be remotely trusted to know the way. He'd been chattering for a majority of their trek so far, but Sam was getting used to the random Spanish words thrown into the mix.
"Me and my brother? Yeah, I guess. I mean, we're all we've had for most of our lives," he replied, continuing to keep a wary eye out for Lucifer. Or demons. Or Circe. Or anyone else who it would be best to avoid while stuck in this form. "Do you know how much farther to Eureka?"
"Hey, man, we're getting close… don't you worry, eh? So… you think he's looking for you?"
"Dean? Yeah, he's… he's always had my back."
Zorro sniffed the air, then yapped, "Is that guilt? What's up, man?"
Sam gave the little dog a sidelong look, sighing. He really didn't feel like getting into this right now. It wasn't like he and Dean pretended the whole demon blood thing hadn't happened at all, but they also didn't have lengthy discussions about it. Zorro was looking up with such expectation, though, and Sam realized that the Chihuahua wasn't going to let it go until Sam gave some kind of answer. Gritting his teeth, Sam finally managed to explain,
"I, uh… I did some really stupid things. That guy back there that you helped me escape from? That's Lucifer. As in, the DEVIL."
"Uh huh?"
Sam shook himself out as they walked, trying to release the tension it brought just to think about all of this. "And, I'm kinda the one who let him out. There was… there was a demon, and I let her trick me, and I… I just did some stuff that I shouldn't have done. And Dean, he would have had every right to walk out on me after that… and I'm not going to pretend like it wasn't pretty bad for a while there… but he didn't ever give up on me, not really. I mean, we're brothers. That's what brothers do."
Zorro was silent. Sam didn't sense any judgment from the Chihuahua, but rather… sadness?
"Yeah… yeah, that's brothers," the little dog finally mumbled. "Sorry about the demon, man, they suck. And that Lucifer guy is bad news. But, y'know, glad you got a bro."
The hunter couldn't help but cock his head at Zorro, who was steadfastly looking the other way. A car drove by on the road beside them, most of the traffic fizzling out now that they were close to the border of the town between Washburn and Eureka. Nearby, a cricket chirped, and Sam couldn't help but break the silence again.
"So, um… you got any brothers?"
Zorro let out an awkward yip of laughter. "Man, dogs almost always got bros and sisters, doesn't mean much. I was like, numero six in my litter. That's a lot for us little dogs, but anyway, we got sold off pretty quick. Never saw mis heramonos after that."
Sam didn't reply, as he realized with surprise and compassion that the little dog wasn't just sad, he was practically oozing loneliness. "You miss them?"
"Miss them? Never knew 'em! And every human I've had since then was either a spoiled brat who didn't ever wanna play, or princesas who call me stupid things like Cupcake! Dogs aren't s'posed to be alone, man. Not that it matters to ME, I'm a mighty hunter and I'm better off on my own anyway, but still. Nah, don't miss 'em a bit."
The lie couldn't have been more transparent, and Sam was reminded strongly of Dean. He would have asked more, but the little dog stopped dead in his tracks, tiny body quivering with alertness. Sam stopped as well, turning to him with a frown, before the sensation of evil hit him once again.
"The demons…" he growled under his breath, hoping against hope it was just the demons, and not Lucifer. "Zorro, get down!" Dropping to crouch on the ground, Sam wiggled forward as quietly as he could through the crunchy fallen leaves to watch the road from between the trees that sheltered them. Zorro was right beside him, still standing so that they were just about the same height. Neither moved or spoke, just waiting.
For a moment, the hunter didn't see anything. He heard another car approaching, this one going much slower than normal traffic, and when it pulled into view Sam thought his heart had stopped. That was Circe's car… could she track him?
Sam held back the whine of uncertainty, but he felt Zorro tremble slightly, either in response to the hunter's emotions or from his own fear. There was no need to tell the Chihuahua to be silent; he was pressed in tight to Sam without the slightest peep.
Preparing to run for it if need be, Sam watched as the car pulled over on the shoulder of the road. Circe stepped out, but there was no trace of victory on her face, and she didn't turn their direction. She was holding a stack of papers, and it wasn't until she started to staple a piece to the nearest telephone pole that Sam realized they must be 'Missing Dog' flyers – of him.
She didn't know where he was, then… that was good. Sam was puzzled, though. He'd spent all morning as a dog in her house, and while she certainly felt strange, she didn't have the same scent and sensation that he detected of a corrupted human soul mutilated into something entirely evil, like the demons. Which meant they had to be close-
"Hey! Hey, lady!"
Sam pressed himself even more firmly into the leafy floor of the woods, willing himself to remain invisible to the two demons who had joined the party. Great. Sideburns and Steel-Toe swaggered up to the goddess, cold sneers on their faces. Circe merely turned to face the pair with the same arrogant dignity as ever.
"You've been putting up those flyers all over town," Sideburns said, nodding to the telephone pole that she'd just stapled the paper to. "Funny thing is, we know that dog, and he ain't yours."
"You've seen him?" Circe straightened, brow furrowing. "Where is he? I demand you hand him over at once!"
Steel-Toe chuckled and took a step closer, he and Sideburns taking opposite sides of Circe in an obvious attempt to hem her in. "No, no… you've got that all backwards, sweetheart. We want him. And we're going to take him. And if you know anything about that dog, you're gonna tell us, right now."
From the cover of the trees, Sam was too afraid of making a sound to actually shake his head, but he did roll his eyes. This ought to be good. Clearly the demons had no idea who they were actually talking to, nor the danger they were in. Circe herself only smiled, but it was a haughty and cruel smile.
"Is that so? Well, in that case… I'll give you two demons one warning, and only one. Oh yes, don't look so surprised, I know exactly what you are. Stay out of my way. Sam Winchester belongs to me now, and the only thing saving you is the fact that I simply have no time to deal with you properly."
"No, you don't warn us, we warn you," Sideburns stubbornly maintained, though he sounded more petulant than intimidating. He leaned in closer, voice low but still audible to Sam as the demon snapped, "But Lucifer sends his regards."
On Circe's other side, Steel-Toe reared back and thrust his clawed hand all the way through her back, piercing the goddess. Sam gasped softly in horror as Circe twisted, ever so slowly, to look over her shoulder at the demon. He wanted her dead, of course, but he still preferred his chances against the goddess than the devil. If he transformed back to a human at her death, and they noticed, the hunter didn't stand a chance against them with no weapons and no way to fight.
Except… Circe wasn't dying. She was smiling.
"Oh, you sneaky little snake," she crooned. "Didn't seem to work though, did it? You can't kill me. Neither of you can."
"What the-" Steel-Toe blustered, staring in wide-eyed horror at the woman turning towards him, impaled on his hand that didn't have a drop of blood on it. Circe jerked herself free, the gaping wound that should have killed her instead closing up as though nothing had happened. Sideburns was backing away, suddenly not so confident.
"What is this? What are you?" the demon demanded, as Circe turned her vicious smile his way.
"You're in over your head, boys." She leaned closer, leer growing, and finished, "But do send Lucifer my regards in return."
A snap of her fingers, and the two demons had disappeared. In their place stood two towering Dobermans, black and lean.
"What the hell?!" the demon Sam had been thinking of as Sideburns yelped. "What did you do to me?!"
"What is this!? What's happened?" Steel-Toe cried out, trying to turn around to see himself, and ending up chasing his tail. "You bitch! You-"
"Scram!" Circe barked, pointing down the road. With matching howls of dismay, the Dobermans set off at a run while Zorro shook with barely concealed delight at Sam's side. The hunter found this rather less amusing, though at least it got rid of their immediate problem. The goddess seemed unfazed at the havoc she was wreaking, as she calmly stapled another flyer to the post, then returned to her car and drove away.
Neither Sam nor Zorro moved for a moment, waiting to make sure she and the demons were both gone. The hunter didn't smell or sense either in any way, and finally the little bundle of energy next to him couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Oh man! Oh, MAN!" Zorro cried in delight, excitable voice high as he ran in a short circle. "Did you see that? Did you? Hah! Who's that chica anyway? That was AWESOME, you feel me?"
"Yeah, awesome," Sam snapped. "That's the one who turned ME. She's not on our side, Zorro."
"No kidding, man, but that was terrific!" Zorro ran another circle, before spotting the hunter's expression and coming to a halt. He looked up at the Golden Retriever, still pleased. "Okay, okay. Well… she's gone, anyway. Come on, Eureka's close. Let's go find your brother!"
"Cas, I meant I should get caught, not you!"
Castiel gave his friend a stubborn glare, shaking his furry head. He knew Dean was used to putting himself in danger, not other people, but the angel's plan made more sense.
"It's a tactical advantage," he argued. "If this fails, you have a better chance of finding Sam on your own than I do. Besides, I can fly well enough to at least get out of the animal jail; how would YOU get yourself out?"
Dean eyed him sourly, but apparently couldn't come up with an immediate response. Castiel waited for him to realize that he was right, and the hunter finally growled, "Well, I don't like it. You're always sticking your neck out for us, and… and I don't like this!"
The angel could only shake his head, a glow of fondness for the Winchesters warming in his chest. "I went to Hell for you, Dean. I think I can manage this pound. You'll be right behind, following us back to where they've hopefully taken Sam, and we'll figure a way out like at Circe's."
With a light whine, the hunter pawed at the ground before grunting in assent. Castiel nodded back, turning to face the road. They'd taken shelter in a wooded park not far from the motel to lay out their plan; the angel led the way out now, with Dean trailing several feet behind and letting the distance widen. He would stay under cover until the animal control officers came for Castiel.
Following Dean's instructions, the angel trotted all the way back to the motel, stopping just in front of the main office door. Inside, he could see the manager standing behind the desk, back turned to the dog. Castiel checked over his shoulder to make sure that Dean was there, but out of sight. A tail disappeared behind a dumpster of the adjacent building, and then the hunter stuck his face back out and woofed.
Castiel nodded back, then called, "Excuse me! I'm looking for my friend. I believe he might be at the pound and I need you to take me there."
The manager, of course, heard only the barking of a Siberian Husky. Castiel could tell when the man turned around that Dean had correctly guessed the most expedient way to bring the dog catchers to them. The ferocity with which the human jerked the phone off the cradle, and the anger radiating from him made Castiel suspect that he must have had something personal against dogs.
"I'll just… wait here, then," the angel called through the door, not sure what else to do. He wagged his tail, ears twitching awkwardly, before lying down right in front of the office so that the manager couldn't get outside. The anger in the man's tone multiplied. When he slammed the phone back down, Castiel knew he merely needed to wait.
It didn't take long. Soon enough, a large truck was pulling into the motel parking lot, 'Animal Control' emblazoned on the side. Remembering Dean's advice to act friendly and non-threatening so that they wouldn't try to knock him out with anything, Castiel decided to wag his tail a bit more while the two city men got out and approached.
"Hey there, buddy," one of them said, taking cautiously slow steps towards the Husky, restraining pole at the ready. "Good boy… nice and easy now. You're not supposed to be out here."
"Whoa. Darryl, look at his eyes," the other murmured, also keeping his voice light and gentle. "Geez, you hear about the ones that look intelligent, but this one…"
Castiel cocked his head, examining the man who was in turn studying him. He wasn't sure what was wrong with his eyes or how to make them seem more dog-like. When the other man squatted down a little farther back to look him over, the angel's gaze slid to him instead, and the one called Darryl blinked and leaned away.
"Damn, that's eerie. He's pretty intense, huh? You'd almost think he had a human brain working up there."
"Hardly. My mind is much more complex than a human's," Castiel couldn't help but retort, a light woof that made the first man smile.
"Hey, you're a friendly one, aren't you? Can I pet you?"
"I'd rather you didn't."
"Oh, there's a good boy…"
Castiel bit back a sigh as the two officers reached out and gently rubbed behind his ears. It did feel rather pleasing, actually, but it was also quite strange and he didn't entirely appreciate it. Knowing that a dog would enjoy the attention, the angel tried to relax his tense muscles, but the two men seemed to realize that they were making him uncomfortable.
"He seems kind of nervous," the first man pointed out. "Let's get him out of here. Hey, buddy, I'm going to slide this over your head, okay? Good boy… I'll take it off as soon as we get there, I promise."
Castiel didn't twitch as the loop of the restraining pole was pulled on and secured, merely looked up at man with what he hoped was a peaceful expression. This was not at all a good feeling, but he'd gone through much worse for the Winchesters, and these two didn't seem nearly as unpleasant as he'd expected from Dean's descriptions of 'dog catchers'.
"Good… easy… Okay, Jake, I think he's alright. I'll grab the door. Geez, it's such a shame, what a beautiful dog."
'Such a shame' wasn't the most comforting of sentiments, but Castiel got a glimpse of Dean crouching behind the dumpster, as he let the man named Jake lead him to the back of the truck. The metal box he ended up in wasn't much bigger than Circe's kennel from that morning, though at least it was less cramped without another large dog sharing it with him. Castiel didn't utter a sound as the cage and then the truck door were closed, extinguishing the daylight but for the shafts filtering through enough holes to let him breathe.
The angel waited, listening as Jake walked around to the front of the truck, joining his partner in the cab. The cool metal thrummed slightly as the vehicle started up. He braced himself as it rumbled forward, finding his footing and then leaning close to the edge of the box to look out one of the little holes in search of Dean.
There he was. Castiel released a light puff of relief, watching as quick flashes of black and brown wove in and out of view, his friend in pursuit of the truck. With nothing else to do, the angel laid back down, panting in the nearly stifling warmth of the metal box. This was an even more confining way of traveling than the Winchesters' car, and Castiel decided he would appreciate the relative spaciousness of their vehicle from now on.
All in all, it was an uncomfortable ride that was tediously slow, but the truck finally began to decelerate and then stopped completely. Somebody called a greeting from outside, footsteps crunching on gravel as they approached the truck.
Castiel only had a few seconds' warning, an alarmed twinge in his grace as he sensed the purely evil presence. The back door was jerked open and he was met with the most hideous face he'd ever seen.
The demon—for of course it would be a demon—stuck its head into the truck, a mutilated form that never failed to fill Castiel with disgust and fury. It oozed depravity and a mindless need for violence, twisted features like the face of a living nightmare. The urge to smite this foul creature seemed intensified while Castiel was in this form, and his first instinct was to protect the two humans who had brought him in, the humans who couldn't even see the repulsive true face of the monster.
He could do nothing, though, watching in enraged dismay, as the demon leaned in close to the cage. Castiel's eyes darted to a plastic name badge it was wearing; of course it was possessing one of the pound workers.
"And you're sure you haven't gotten any calls about a Retriever?" the abomination called over his shoulder to Jake and Darryl, examining Castiel with shrewd eyes. "I've been notified that one was spotted in Washburn but might end up here."
That question alone meant this had been for naught, Castiel realized with dismay; Sam wasn't there. He began to growl, crouching down even lower as the door of the metal box he was in was jerked open, his vision filled completely with this paltry excuse for a human disguise. The demon's eyes narrowed, flipping black for half a second.
"There's something odd about you, though…" it muttered with an air of high suspicion. Castiel's growls intensified.
"Hey! HEY! Look out!"
Jake was shouting from the front of the truck, and the demon suddenly flew sideways out of Castiel's sight. A flash of brown and black had tackled him to the ground, and the wildly enraged barking was enough to tell the angel that Dean had also sensed what this thing was.
"Dean!" Castiel shouted in alarm, eyes widening. "Don't!"
It was too late. The dog part of Dean's mind, which Castiel had noticed becoming alarmingly strong, was following the pure, base instinct to attack this thing, multiplied by the evident threat it had posed to Castiel. The scene outside the truck was chaos, as Jake ran around the truck with a restraining pole to snag the enormous, wild German Shepherd. The demon was on his back, holding the furious Dean off of him while a set of bloody bite marks tattooed his lower arm. Castiel started to leap out to help, but the cage door was slammed shut again as Darryl ran past with a second restraining pole, both of them looping the nooses around Dean's neck and wrestling him away from the demon.
"Dean!" Castiel shouted again. He scrabbled madly at the metal door, snarling in frustration when it stubbornly refused to open. "Let him go, he was protecting me! You don't understand, this man has been possessed by a demon. You're all in danger!"
Another worker had emerged from the building they'd driven up to. Castiel saw her lift a gun, and he howled a warning to Dean, fear clenching his heart.
"DEAN!"
The hunter looked up, struggling between the two men who had him restrained, but he couldn't duck in time. The angel watched as the woman pulled the trigger… and then Dean went down.
