It was a small army fit for quick infiltration, about twenty men led by the general. Lillian and Sam were already hunched hiding in position when, true to Lillian's guess, the soldiers approached the place where the river was shallower and flowed slower. Here the woods weren't as thick so staying out of sight was difficult but it was more important to have the extra space. They wouldn't be hiding for long anyway.
On the opposite bank the general paused, assessing the lazy, clear water passing by with keen eyes to find the best place to cross. He looked over his shoulder and gave the men a sharp nod before taking the lead and trudging right into the middle of the stream.
And fell to his knees with a strangled scream that cut through the air.
That was the cue Sam and Lillian were waiting for.
They broke out from the underbrush they had been crouched behind. Lillian felt her eyes widen at the sight of the man convoluting violently in the sizzling water while the soldiers on the bank stared on, not knowing what to do. If she hadn't believed he was a demon before, there would be no doubting it now – his eyes were pitch black and filled with such hatred and fury that made the hairs on back of her neck stand up.
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus," Sam spoke up in a loud, firm voice. He knew this by heart after nights spent memorizing the exorcism just in case he would actually be able to use it.
"What. Is. This." The possessed General screamed out through clenched teeth.
The ground trembled as Dean appeared from where he had hidden up stream. The soldiers stumbled back in fear at the terrifying sight of his full, standing height. "Holy water," Dean said, a lazy smile growing on his face. "See, being giant means having huge-ass belongings, like a rosary." He winked. "Turns this river into a nice holy bath.
Lillian's hands were clenched at her sides, trying not to look over at the bigger Winchester as he came to a stop standing next to them; her knees almost bucked from the heavy stomps. She trusted him, she really did, but he was still so bloody humongous. That was the point though, Dean was there to help with the intimidation factor and he was nailing it. She needed to concentrate on her part of the plan
"Omnis satanica potestsas," Sam continued with conviction, taking a step forward. "omnis incursion infernalis adversarii, omnis – "
"IDIOTS," the demon roared out, the general's crisp and controlled voice replaced by an inhuman growl as it fought against the chants and burning water to leave its vessel before the exorcism was complete. "DON'T JUST STAND THERE - SHOOT!"
Before the three could even react, some of the startled soldiers jolted into action with nervous trigger fingers, letting their assault rifles fire at will toward Sam and Lillian.
Dean dropped to his knees and shot forward in an instant, causing some of the soldiers to fall over at the small earthquake he caused as he thrust his hand in front of his brother and the princess to act as a living shield. He let out a hiss of pain as bullets sunk into the flesh on his palm, beads of blood welling, but he didn't drop his hand. Dean's lip curled in anger and he jerked his head to lock sharply on the men who had made the shot, but their weapons were already lowered as they backed quickly away with pale faces. "Omnis congregation et-" Dean quickly started, frantic now to finish.
But the slight pause from the distraction was just enough. With a roar the General's head jerked back, mouth wide, and a mass of black smoke shot out of the body. The empty vessel slumped into the river's cool water like a sack of stones as the demon smoke disappeared.
Silence fell on both sides of the river. One group filled with confusion and fear, the other filled with frustration and disappointment at missing their chance.
With a heavy sigh, Dean leaned forward, (ignoring the way the soldiers tripped over their own feet to get away at his movements), and scooped the now awake, dazed, and unpossessed general out of the river. Before the man could cry out, Dean already deposited him safely on the shore and was giving the soldiers a measured look. "You were just following orders – but forget 'em. There's nothing in this city but innocent people," he said firmly, seeing Lillian give a nod of confirmation out of the corner of his eye. "Leave now, and we'll forget this happened; try something like this again and you won't get off so easy." Dean straightened, and gave them a hard look. "Understand?"
The men gave quick, stuttered yes's and stumbled away from his gaze in a hurry.
"Dean!" The worry in Lillian's voice had Dean's attention in an instant.
"What is it?" he asked before he had fully turned back to them. Sam was on his knees now with Lillian crouched beside him. She looked up with wide eyes and met Dean's gaze; his chest felt tight suddenly with growing uncertainty and worry. "Sam? What's the matter - what happened?" He crouched down, trying to assess his little brother.
"He just fell over, and he's, he's bleeding," Lillian told the bigger Winchester as his huge, piercing green eyes intricately scanned over Sam's every detail. She felt a little surge of shock at that intense gaze. She looked away, bringing a hand up to wipe the hair off Sam's cool forehead as she examined the blood blooming across his stomach like a deadly rose despite the way the younger Winchester was pressing his hands against the wound to stop its growth.
"I'm. Fine." Sam breathed out through gritted teeth, wincing as even breathing jolted electric pain through him. His hands were both slick with blood now. When the soldiers had shot at them earlier, one of the bullets found its target before Dean could block the rest. But it was, it wasn't terrible, so he could…Sam shook his head to clear his fuzzy thoughts but it only made him dizzy. "Just a. gut shot," he huffed out, trying not to worry Lillian and his brother. He could feel both the large gaze and the warm, slender hand on him. He tried to stand, but the ground tilted beneath him. He braced himself for the fall, but instead he was scooped carefully up into his brother's hand.
Dean's breath caught as he carefully – so, so carefully despite the anxious and frantic thoughts scraping at the back of his mind – brought Sam up closer to see how bad it was. His little brother struggled to sit up, but Dean lightly laid a finger on his small shoulder, easing him back down. "Hey Sammy, just relax okay? Don't move too much, I gotta see what the damage is here…" Sam gave him a trusting, understanding nod, and laid back down against Dean's palm, closing his eyes against the pain. That trust hit Dean like a punch; he was supposed to be looking after his brother, but here Sam was, shot and bleeding out.
Carefully Dean brought his other hand over and tried to pick up the hem of Sam's shirt. His brows narrowed in concentration, but his thick fingers couldn't get a hold of it now that blood glued it to Sam's stomach. "Dammit," Dean hissed in frustration against the rising panic. He was too damn big and useless; he couldn't even get a look at the wound. "Lillian." The name came out as more of a plea.
Lillian was there in an instant the moment Dean lowered his hand back down for her. He was trying to stay calm, but she could see the fear in the crease between his eyebrows and the tightness of his lips. "Got it," she assured him, stepping up to the hand Sam lay prone on; she wasn't sure if he was conscious anymore. Gingerly she pulled up Sam's shirt to reveal the ghastly bullet wound.
"Thanks," Dean breathed out. With his free hand, he quickly brought the hem of his own shirt up to his mouth, and ripped off a strip. It was too big, but it would do. He handed it to Lillian. "Tie this around his waist, and apply pressure on it – I'm afraid to do it myself, I don't know, I don't wanna put too much pressure on him..." he said, thoughts going to the bruise on Sam's arm. His mind was soaring over what to do next as Lillian quickly did as he asked. Maybe he could get her to sew it shut for him – but first they'd have to get the bullet out. Whatever he did, he had to do it fast.
"We should take him to the hospital," Lillian suggested urgently from where she now kneeled on his palm, keeping steady pressure to Sam's wound. "I can call an ambulance!"
A hospital. He had forgotten that was even an option for Sam here. "We don't have time to wait for an ambulance to arrive," Dean thought out loud. He slowly raised his hand, cupping it up to his chest as he rose to a stand. "Can you point out the way?"
Lillian nodded firmly, sharing a determined look with him before she turned back to Sam. "Yes, I can."
