A/N - Sorry about the delay in posting this... I decided not to overwhelm, overburden, or overtax anyone with five postings in the span of 10 days which is what it would have turned out to be had I gone with the previous plan. As it stands though I'll do my level best to keep it to Sat night/Sunday a.m. and Wednesday posts. As always my deepest and most humble thanks to each of you who takes the time to not just read but to review as well. Knowing you're out there makes the experience all the more joyful. Thank you for that.

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Dawn – chpt 16

by: sifi.

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Dean nodded, "It does make sense though, sort of," he scratched his head, "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"What aren't you telling me?" he asked keeping his eyes straight ahead, down the driveway.

Sam smiled, huffed a chuckle and shook his head but knew better than to deny anything, About what Dean? Which thing?

"I mean I know there's something you're holding back about you and yellow eyes, but I have my own... insights about that, and I'm pretty sure that when the time is right you'll let me know you're ready to hear why he really did it. But there's something else, it's like an itch in the back of my brain and I can't quite find it..." he tried to explain.

For a single moment Sam's heart stopped in his chest as his brothers' words slammed into his head, Does he really know or does he just suspect? he wondered briefly, remembering all the times he'd been maneuvered into spilling something Dean knew he was holding too deeply, he took a deep breath and felt his heart start again as the inside of his head was swept with cotton.

With a faint smile he played the game, wiser now than he had been then, "Do you believe in destiny Dean?"

The elder hunter had an instantaneous flash of a shaft of electrical conduit piping twisting through the air before threading itself through the windshield of a car and the chest of its driver, a man he wouldn't allow Sam to kill.

He waggled his head in a yes/no gesture, "I'll admit that certain courses of action will have definite and predictable consequences. I mean certain kinds of 'happy endings' CAN be bought," he spocked his eyebrow at his brother, "And please tell me we're not back to talking about you taking the reins in hell and turning into some demonic General alright? I thought we were past that..."

"Why would you think we're past it?" he chuckled, "Just cause it hasn't happened within the last year? Just cause we were lucky enough for me not to have to try and buy your contract back with a pledge of servitude to the Emperor of Hell himself?" he turned to stand nose to nose with his big brother, "Cause if you recall correctly we were both standing at that jagged edge there Dean, and so help me I was ready. If that bitch had showed up... I didn't care what it was gonna take, I was ready Dean. I couldn't let you go down, not for me, not after everything..." he clamped his mouth shut and turned his misty eyes away grateful it hadn't gone that far. Grateful that neither of them had been put into that situation, and he felt guilty as hell for whatever damage killing the crossroad host like that had done to Laura's soul, but he wouldn't change how things had gone down for a split second.

Silence sat with surprising ease between the two men as Dean gave his brother time to collect himself. When he was relatively certain Sam was back on an even keel, he leaned back against the Impala, "It might surprise you Sam, but I do realize we don't have all the pieces to the big picture yet and I can live with that, as long as we can get through this and either kill or turn that bastard back... we are NOT going to lose this universe because WE dropped the ball do you understand me?" he asked.

Beside him Sam nodded, "I agree."

Dean swung his head down then looked out toward the road as Sam nudged him, "Got any ideas?"

"I'm thinking," the elder man nodded, "You never answered my question though," he muttered.

"I'm tired Dean... you have a question just ask..."

"Why do you keep stonewalling me every time I ask or get near the subject of what happened in the Dryad's glade?"

Sam nodded smirking tightly, Damnit... "Y'know what? Ask your girl, it's not my place to say," he breathed.

"Come ON Sam... you saw what happened to that whole area! You know just as well as I do the only reason we didn't wind up as dead as every plant and animal in a hundred yard radius is because of what she did!" he argued forcefully.

"I know, and those kinds of magiks don't come cheap... there's a reason no one's been able to pull down a real cone of power in over a thousand years Dean..."

Dean shook his head, he'd known but hadn't wanted to face the possibilities, "I can't take this..."

"What do you mean?" Sam asked confused.

Dean turned, looking his brother in the eyes, "You know I love that woman Sam."

Sam nodded.

"But I can't keep this up, wondering when I'm gonna find out she's dead, or did some crazy stupid thing like this..." he motioned to the side yard, "All this is hard enough without having to worry about some crazy, kamikaze, self destructive streak running through her and when it's gonna finally just... win. When it's gonna come down and there isn't gonna be anything left..." he stopped, checked his breathing and turned away, his gaze down the driveway again, "This is why I always tried to tell you Sam, don't get attached to people, you'll always be better off if you just don't let folks in y'know?"

"Dean don't do this," Sam asked softly.

"I don't see much other choice..." he shook his head, frankly surprised by his little brothers' plea.

"What if I could tell you it's almost over?" Sam hedged.

"What? Her LIFE!" Dean spat.

After a few seconds of silence between them he felt a ball of heat drop into his lower belly as he turned to his little brother, "Sam?" he jockeyed his head around trying to catch the younger man's eyes, "Sam please..."

"Don't... don't ask me..."

"Is she dying Sam?" he asked, then thought hard for a minute, "She is... channeling that kind of power did something, didn't it?"

"It's not what you think."

"Well then damnit Sam tell the truth!" Dean barked.

"Did you ever wonder how she can always find us? Never needs to ask where we are, but still, no matter what name we're using no matter where we are, she can find us if she wants to?" Sam asked.

Dean thought back to one of the first time's she'd been called away from him, when Sam was supposed to have been on his way to New York to see Sarah, but instead had gone trying to chase down a demon that was trying to sink its claws into Dean.

"What's it feel like?" he asked.

She smiled, closed her eyes and turned her beaming face upward, "It's like following the sun with your face… without the sunburn,"

"I just kinda took it for granted that she just knew," Dean shrugged.

"She made me promise to let everything unfold as it's supposed to. I thought I could keep it," he shook his head, "She didn't just channel the energy at the glade, if she had the cone wouldn't have been any more powerful than anything else your average suburbanite wicca does. For that kind of power a sacrifice has to be made, and it has to be willing."

Dean's skin pebbled in goose flesh as the implications hit home and he started to understand, "What did she do Sam? All that blood, all that living energy, she just poured it out didn't she? And she's gonna do the same thing here today," he ventured his guess.

Sam nodded, "It'll kill her, it has to, it's part of the plan," he sighed.

"What?" Dean questioned, barely able to hear his brother's voice for the rush of blood in his ears and the pounding of his heart.

He grasped Dean's shoulder before he could turn and stalk back into the house, "But with luck it's not going to be the end. Summoning the energies, casting hers into the mix, it kinda supercharged her. Doing this, releasing it all today with the rest of the ritual that's going to bring the veil over this place to hide us from the marauder... think of it like restarting the computer," his eyes pleaded with his big brothers', "but if she doesn't have a reason, meaning you to come back to, she might not come back at all."

"What're you talking about?" Dean asked shaking his head.

"Haven't you noticed? Ever since then... up until that barbie doll bitch snagged you out from under me... she hasn't been around a whole lot, and when she has, she's been kinda antsy... a little closed off..." he pointed out.

After a moment's thought Dean looked up his expression asking for further explanation, he'd noticed it but it hadn't registered.

"She's been scared half to death Dean..."

"Of me? What?" he asked.

"No," Sam shook his head, "Not OF you, FOR you... she's barely been able to control her abilities, a few months ago she gave an unconscious suggestion at the same time as an influence and the guy had a stroke, and it doesn't look like he's ever going to recover. She even tried to influence him to heal, but it didn't work..."

"Wha...well... how do you know this? I mean... I'm the one she should turn to Sam," his expression and windowpane eyes couldn't begin to hide his hurt.

Sam shook his head, "I only got it out of her a few days ago, the morning after I got you back. She said she was going to explain it all to you after she finished the ritual."

"I thought you said it's going to kill her? That it's part of the plan! How could you agree to that!" he half yelled.

"With or without our support she's going to do it anyway, part of the ritual is about balance it's about this place being able to maintain a balance between worlds until the veil is lifted. She was hoping that by, in effect forcing her own 'shut down', she could 'reboot' and she wouldn't have to be afraid of hurting us, or anyone else unless it was intended," he explained.

Dean nodded understanding the idea but still stinging, "Why didn't she want me to know about this until it was done?"

Sam's twisted sad smile spoke volumes, "She said she didn't want you to feel obligated."

--

"What the bloody 'ell are you doing with that?" Tamara asked watching Bobby press the fluid from a row of roots on his cutting board, "You do know these are poison don't you?" she asked examining the leaves in the garbage can.

"Yep," he grunted, "Do me a favor see if the Angelica's done steeping yet," he nodded toward a covered mug.

"Nice rich color, looks like it's done," she leaned over and breathed in the fragrance, "Smells like it, what's this for Bobby?"

"We have to bind the wards between worlds," he muttered turning the edge of his blade to begin chopping the roots.

"Well it's a damn good thing we've got two hosts then isn't it?" she smirked.

"For this one, the sacrifice has to be willing. There can't be an instant of doubt or hesitation," his eyes flicked to the side and in that instant he knew she'd made the connection.

"It's 'er... isn't it? It's that girl..." she frowned motioning to the closed bedroom door, "Bobby she's not in 'er right mind... you of all people should know 'at..." she said to his back.

He turned to face her, his eyes trying to hide the wetness, "I know that girl better than you can imagine," his eyes flicked to the bay window where Sam and Dean were walking up the drive, "Aside from either of those two fellah's right there she's the ONLY person I know who won't hesitate..." he met her eyes, "No offense."

"None taken. The other hunters..." she started, "There's rumors about 'er..." she didn't notice but Tom, Shep and Mercy now stood in the kitchen doorway listening, "some folks say she's a demon, some say she's a devil in 'er own right... most folks just think she's mad..."

"Well if she was a demon or devil she couldn't have been brought across the barrier without being trapped. Besides, any of 'em ever work with her?" he asked stirring the pulverized roots and its juices into a quarter cup of boiling water then covering it with a saucer.

"Not tha' I'm aware," she admitted.

Behind them all, Dean slid into the bedroom as Sam joined the group in the doorway, "So, what's say we all sit down to the table and start putting this puzzle together huh?" towering over the others as he did he met Bobby's eyes, "How's it coming Bobby?" he asked as everyone made their way back toward the front room.

"Just need the oak leaves and the silver platter then we're ready to go whenever she is," he acknowledged making sure to scrub his hands thoroughly.

"Good..." Sam nodded sliding into the kitchen and leaning against the cupboard. Waiting.

The grizzled and frustrated man leaned forward opening the oven and taking a whiff, then closed the door and turned up the heat, "It should be done about the same time we are... that is if anyone's gonna have an appetite," he smiled dryly grasping Sam by the arm once he was sure the others were far enough away, "Sam I don't like this."

The young Winchester nodded, there's a LOT more that might be coming that you're not gonna like if we can't figure this out amongst ourselves, "I don't either, but first and foremost, it HAS to be done, we have to be safe this weekend. But even more important," he looked at the closed bedroom door, "after everything he's done all his life for me Bobby," he shook his head, his eyes pleading with the older mans', "I want him to have just ONE good thing..."

"Well what do you think YOU are boy?" he grasped the younger man by the neck, "You're everything to that man Sam..."

Sam nodded and smiled easily, reciprocating the older man's gesture with a purely Winchester smirk on his face.

Reluctantly Bobby nodded, "I know I know, it's not the same," he leaned in, "But what if she can't come back?"

Sam smiled, "He's brought her back before, he can do it again."

--

"How're you doing?" Dean asked sitting on the bed opposite her.

"Feel like I got run over by a freight train..." she smiled looking into his eyes, "Dean I'm really sorry about all the psycho shit out there... that thing got in my head... twisted up every single insecurity I've got and played it like a violin."

"Hey, it's what the bad guys do y'know?" he smiled softly, some of Sam's own delirious behavior from the other day making more sense as well, "Are you sure you're up to doing this thing today?" he asked carefully.

"No, but there's no choice, the sidhe literally can't resume their guard positions until it's done, and I've kept them waiting too long already," she gulped down half a bottle of water, "God I'm a freakin' mess...Son of a bitch broke my damned hand... I think at least in two places...listen..." she looked up, "you gotta keep your eyes on Sam. It uses people, it can manipulate them, and it's been attacking him, trying to find a way in," she urged.

"Yeah, kinda got that..." he nodded.

"If it can sense the barrier about to stabilize... if it's strong enough it... I don't know what it might do or what it's capable of. And once this ritual gets under way I'm going to be completely incapacitated, I won't be able to lift a finger to help with anything," she continued.

Dean nodded, "...can you still feel it?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded, "Its strong Dean, it's been feeding non stop since it went into the ground and it's almost full," her breath trembled, "Listen, there's something you have to know about what's gonna happen today, but however it ends just understand I will never willingly abandon you. I will never leave you and Sam alone in this fight by choice," she breathed.

Dean cocked his head to the side, wondering just how much she was going to tell him before she went and killed herself, "What do you mean?" he asked.

She chuckled and hung her head, "I wanted to wait, to explain it all when it was done, when... but I don't know if there will be an after... the final part of the ritual is a three part process... and it's going to kill me..."

--

"I've never seen anything like this before and I've seen everything!" Fire Marshall Mike Torgeson kicked at a piece of debris that simply seemed to disappear with the passage of the air current his foot made. The ash was so thick it was almost riding over the edges of his knee high fireproof boots as they walked the site.

"There was no lightning reported around here, no flash fires, no reason for this... I mean it almost looks like talc y'know? Dirty talc but still... who reported it?" Ranger Chris Petrelli asked, also noting that the ashes were about to start falling into his boots too.

When they'd arrived and ventured from the road into the burn site both men had nearly wound up on their faces. After so many years of walking fire sites it was natural to expect some sponginess in the ground, but a solid 18 inch drop was unheard of. It was as if someone or some thing had dug a pit a foot and a half, maybe two feet deep and simply filled it with some near equivalent of volcanic ash. The stuff was so fine that neither man dared to take off their particle masks. Every move they made to check out the radius of the pit kicked up clouds the stuff that gave the air the quality of a heavy fog.

"The way I figure this looks to be about a mile in circumference, and the chopper that flew over this morning said it was almost a perfect circle," Chris offered, "almost like some kind of a bomb crater."

"Are you kidding me?" Mike eyed him disbelievingly.

"I'm just telling you what was reported in," the ranger shrugged.

"Yeah well, no natural fire is gonna burn hot enough to do this..." he nodded.

Beneath their feet the earth shifted and a column of ash lifted into the sky propelled by an impossibility that left them speechless and staring.

Their eyes followed the emerging figure as it rose to its full height of more than ten feet; twelve at the very tops of the obsidian head dress of what appeared to be spine tipped feathers perhaps carved out of either rock or iron.

Its central face, replete with inward curved, glistening serpentine fangs split into a wide grin, followed almost immediately by the other two faces, one on either side of its head.

From its back, a pair of black multilayered wings stretched out to the world, shaking the ash from between the layers of its heavy looking feathers.

Hands with segmented talons closed around their waists, the ranger gazed in mute horror as the hand holding his friend squeezed, forcing jets of blood and intestine out through his mouth as he twitched and gurgled in its grip.

"Oh God..." were the last words Chris Petrelli spoke as the central mouth grinned wider, each of the creature's three eyes lit with fire as that jaw dropped open and those curved needle teeth clamped easily through his neck, severing his head.

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tbc.

Please R&R.

Thanks sifi.