Stumbling into the thick base of a tree trunk and resting for a moment, panting heavily, Lena closed her eyes and pressed her hand into her side.
"Come on!" Sam urged, returning to her and shaking his head in earnest. "We've got to hurry!"
"Go!" Lena waved weakly towards the deepening forest and groaned as she leaned her head sideways and pressed her forehead against the uneven bark.
"I can't leave you out here." Sam insisted, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the tree. "Come on!"
"I can't!" Lena whined, taking a step away from her resting place and her knees buckling beneath her.
Sam groaned and looked about them anxiously. "Please, Lena." He hooked his arm under hers and lifted her to her feet. "You want me to carry you?" He saw the horrified look she shot up at him and could not help but smile at having guessed her reaction. "Don't think I won't." He continued softly.
"Like hell." Lena grated and began forward, wincing as she pressed at the pain in her side. "Shit!"
Sam waited beside her in worried impatience, glancing in the direction they ought to be hastily going.
"I'll be fine." Lena urged quietly, her heavy breaths clouding before her flushed face. She looked up at Sam and suddenly smiled in amusement. "Try to pick me up and I swear I'll scream." Lena then shook her head in earnest. "Please. Go see what's going on. I'll be fine."
Sam was torn. His face was tight with indecision and he watched Lena's smile waiver. Suddenly groaning with frustration, he let go of her arm and whispered an apology before heading quickly away from her.
Dean was exhausted. Leaning against the wall of the motel room, he wiped the back of one hand across his damp forehead and sighed loudly. Peering out of the window beside him, he looked out at the empty, snow-filled car park and a frown settled over his eyes.
Letting the curtain swing back across the glass, he turned back into the room and his eyes rested on the form lying across the bed next to him. He shuddered as he took in the blanket-wrapped shape and his mind was filled with the memory of finally subduing the struggling demon.
Dean's throat tightened as he recalled covering Morgan's mouth to quieten her screams and how he had been left with little choice. Nausea swirled inside him and one hand went to his stomach, his knees trembling beneath him.
It had been the only way. The only way to help her. But sensing the small child slipping into unconsciousness had been perhaps one of the worst feelings he had ever experienced. And despite knowing that it had to be done, securing her tiny form had taken every ounce of strength he had.
Hearing noise from somewhere beyond the window, Dean parted the curtains and peered outside. His heart leapt as he saw Sam skidding and slipping as he ran across the drift-framed car park. And then he could imagine his little brother's reaction to what he had done. His throat clenching, he opened the motel room door and met the icy cold with a small smile.
"Dean! Thank god!" Sam sighed in relief, hurrying over to his brother and sliding in his haste on the icy car park.
"Sam." Dean nodded a brief greeting and stepped clear of the entrance, seeing his brother peer inside and cringing as Sam gasped in shock.
"Shit …" Sam hurried inside and crouched down beside the narrow bed, pulling the blanket back from Morgan's still face. "Did you see it?"
Dean shook his head, "She's possessed, Sammy. It was in her all along."
"What?" Sam glanced back, horrified, realizing quickly what had happened.
"God, Sam ..." Dean whispered, shaking his head in earnest, his voice thinning. "I had to."
Sam nodded slowly, now noticing the scratches on Dean's face. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Dean nodded.
"Wait … " Sam was back on his feet and his frown shadowing his frightened eyes. "But - " He stepped back towards the door, peering down at the ground.
"It's still there." Dean nodded and then shrugged towards the open connection to the two motel rooms. "We forgot the partition door."
"Oh god …"
"I think I know now why those other children got sick." Dean continued. "It must be the possession. It infects them somehow."
Sam nodded slowly, "So you haven't exorcised - ?"
Dean's face tightened with emotion and it was enough of an answer.
"That's probably wise." Sam offered quietly. "At least until we know just what we're dealing with."
"She's okay. I think."
Sam quickly took in the room, looking urgently around them. With a sigh, he hurried over to his bag and fumbled through it's varied contents.
"Where's Lena?"
Glancing back, Sam watched Dean waiting by the door and frowned in concern. "She told me to go ahead. We should have enough time to - " Stopping suddenly, he smiled and lifted the marker pen from his bag.
Dean wandered across the room, intrigued. He then watched in understanding, his face lightening a little, as Sam climbed onto the bed beside Morgan's bundled form and balanced carefully on the edge of the mattress as he stretched his arms upwards.
One palm pressed into the plastered ceiling for extra balance, Sam frowned in concentration and began to draw on the ceiling.
"That's my geek boy." Dean observed under his breath.
The symbol complete, Sam leapt down and straightened his jacket, sighing in relief. Paused in thought for a second, absorbing the turn of events, he then heard the crunch of rapid footfalls in the snow and his heart sank. Looking out beyond Dean and seeing her hurrying towards them, he clenched his fists in dread. He then watched his brother realize Lena was approaching and saw the sorrow that filled Dean's face.
"What happened?" Lena demanded breathlessly, her face flushed with exhaustion, "Where's my daughter?"
Dean stepped into the doorway to block her view of the room and raised his hands in a gesture of calm. "Listen, she's okay but - "
"But what?" Lena shouted, running up to him and trying to move past him and enter the motel room. "Where is she? Where's Morgan?"
Dean was aware of Sam stepping up close beside him and glanced at him hesitation, shaking his head as he turned back. "She'll be okay, Lena. I promise."
"What?" Lena shoved Dean hard and forced her way between them both.
Dean stumbled back away from the door and closed his eyes as he heard the scream that caught in Lena's throat.
"Morgan! Baby?"
Sam could feel tears stinging his eyes as he turned back into the room and saw Lena. She was perched awkwardly on the edge of the bed beside the still form, desperately pulling at the ropes that bound her daughter but the knots were firm and refused to budge.
"Morgan!" Lena sobbed, falling across the bundle and stroking her daughter's face with trembling fingers. "My god … what have you done to her?"
"Please, Lena …" Sam stepped towards her, "You have to understand - "
"Understand?" Lena echoed in a choked whisper, keeping her back to Sam and her focus on her daughter. "Sure … I understand …"
"No, Lena, please. We can help Morgan, I swear. She'll be okay." Sam reached her side and found himself now unable to look at the small child tied still amid blanket and ropes.
"Oh, baby … "
"Listen, Lena … " Sam leaned down and carefully put his hand on her arm.
"Back off!" Lena was on her feet and spun at him faster than he had a chance to react to.
Sam gasped and froze instantly, holding his breath as he found himself staring down the barrel of a standard issue police revolver.
"I don't know who the fuck you are but you stay away from my daughter!" Lena ordered, anger reddening her cheeks and bringing fresh tears to her eyes.
Sam raised his hands slowly and took a step back. He heard noise behind him and saw Lena quickly glance towards the door.
"Sam?"
"Stay back, Dean." Sam ordered calmly, "It's okay."
Lena watched Sam warily, keeping her aim steady, and reached into her pocket to pull out the radio handset.
"Wait!" Sam's heart was in his throat and he shook his head in earnest. "Please. Listen to me. The thing that killed those kids is here, okay? And it will harm Morgan unless you let us help her."
Lena frowned in confusion and held the radio down at her side. "What do you mean?"
"Just … please … let me explain." Sam continued quietly. He chanced taking a step forward and lowered his hands.
"Sam!"
Sam shook his head quickly and waved off his brother's concern. "Please, Lena." He continued, "You know I'm telling the truth. You saw it."
Lena gave a slight sob and shook her head. "I'm not listening to any more of this crap!" She waved her gun with a determined sigh. "Untie her." Lena glanced at Dean and her frown grew. "Untie my daughter or I'll plug him, I swear."
Dean groaned in dismay and crossed the room, shooting his brother a quick 'I'm not taking that chance again' . He was aware of Sam shaking his head in disagreement but the gun trained on Sam held much more sway as far as he was concerned. He grabbed his knife from the bedside table and perched on the edge of the bed beside Morgan's bound form.
"Hurry!" Lena barked angrily.
Sam looked on in dismay as his brother sliced through the ropes and unwound the blankets that wrapped Morgan. He watched as Dean untwisted the blankets and revealed Morgan's unmoving but unharmed form.
"She's okay, Lena." Dean offered quietly, moving away from the bed and watching the gun that was shakily aimed at his brother. "I promise. I haven't hurt her."
Confused and trembling with the new tears that threatened, Lena glanced at her daughter and could see her resting as if asleep. She then saw Morgan move and heard a gentle contented murmur.
"The spirit you saw." Sam began carefully, "It's a demon. And it's inside Morgan."
Lena's body shook with a sob of terror and she spun back to Sam, her eyes full of fear. "What?"
"We know how to get rid of it, Lena. We want to help."
Lena studied him for a moment, taking in his earnest expression and putting together the pieces from the conversations they had shared. She closed her eyes and lowered her gun, fresh tears falling.
Sam's shoulders sank and he sighed out the breath he had been holding. Crossing the small distance between them, he wrapped his arms around Lena's trembling shoulders and held her close.
"What's happening?" Lena cried quietly, pressing her face into his chest.
Sam rested his cheek against the top of her head and gave a her a gentle squeeze. It was hard to stand close to her with the bulk of her abdomen between them and he leaned back after a moment. "It'll be okay. I promise." He turned and watched his brother hovering uneasily beside the bed.
Dean was obviously keeping his gaze away from the bundle on the bed and his face was troubled as he met Sam's concerned eyes.
"You called Bobby?" Sam asked quietly.
Dean nodded, "He's on his way. He's also guessing we can't exorcise it because that's what'll make her sick."
"Mmm." Sam frowned in thought.
Lena stepped back from Sam and sat back on the bed beside her daughter, reaching out to stroke Morgan's hair gently. She avoided looking at Dean as she turned back to Sam. "So … what now?"
Sam pulled a chair out from beside the table and straddled it backwards, crossing his arms over the back and resting his chin on his arms. "Hmm …"
Dean sat down on the foot end of the empty bed and shook his head sadly. "You know … I don't think it just takes on the form of a child … I think it is a child." He shrugged slightly and gave a small sigh. "It said it was waiting for someone or got left behind or something."
"Shit …" Sam considered this for a moment and sat upright, dragging a hand across his face. "So we're supposed to believe it was just looking for company?"
"I guess."
"It still has to be sent back. Regardless."
Dean studied his brother's worried face for a moment and then managed a small smile. "Yeah. I know."
"Sent back where?" Lena asked quietly.
Sam looked over at her and watched her wiping her tear-stained face with her hands. He shrugged and glanced at the still unmoving form of her daughter. "Back to hell."
Lena stared up at him in horror for a second and then nodded slowly. "So. What? We need to go to a priest, or something?"
"Or something." Dean answered quietly, noting the way she still did not turn to him. "Our friend is on his way. This is different to the other times we've done this. He'll know what to do."
"Other times?" Lena echoed in confusion. She then gasped and looked between the two of them in wonder, as if suddenly seeing them for the first time. "My god, who are you?"
"People that can help." Sam urged quietly, "Please. You have to believe me."
Dean watched her confusion turn to dread and slowly got to his feet, sure that she was about to take aim at his brother once more. He could all but hear the reassuring calm coming off his brother in waves and desperately hoped that Sam's dewy-eyed technique would win through but something about her stance told otherwise.
"You lied." Lena breathed.
"Yeah." Sam shrugged, "I'm sorry."
"But …" Lena's frightened eyes moved back and forth between them. "Why?"
"Same reason you didn't tell us you're a police officer." Sam answered evenly.
"Shit …" Lena was on her feet once more and turned away from them, edging around the bed. She clutched her head in her hands and gave a loud groan.
Dean closed his eyes and could feel his own pulse thudding in his ears. This was not good. Not good at all. Swallowing back the bile in his throat, he stepped closer to his brother and watched Lena warily, sure she was more of a danger to them than Sam seemed to acknowledge.
"Look …" Lena dropped her hands at her side, her grip on her gun relaxed a little, and turned back. The single bed between her and the two brothers still holding the unmoving form of her daughter and she glanced down at Morgan briefly, her face full of fear. "I don't understand what's happening here and …" She cleared her tight throat and fresh tears threatened. "Just let us go. Please?"
"But we can help." Sam urged.
Lena considered this for a moment and then shook her head slowly. "No … "
"M-momm-my?"
The three of them spun to look at Morgan, a collective gasp of both relief and dread moving through the room. The small child blinked her eyes open and slowly sat up, her head swaying groggily as she searched the room.
"Mommy?"
"Baby!" Lena sighed in relief, moving quickly towards her daughter. She smiled in delight as Morgan held up her arms and shuffled across to the edge of the bed. Something then stopped the child and she was pulled back as if tethered by an invisible harness. Lena hissed in anger and spun back towards the two brothers, fury lighting up her weary face.
Sam was on his feet in a heartbeat and kicked over the chair in his haste. Backing away, he stared at Lena in fright.
"Son of a - " Dean managed in a whisper, watching in disbelief as Lena's eyes then faded back from black to their original brown.
"Mommy!" Morgan wailed, straining against the unseen force that trapped her on the bed.
"Free her." Lena ordered quietly, raising her arm and once more taking aim at Sam. "Now!"
Sam was breathing hard and leaning against the wall for support. "I left you out there." He husked, "Oh god, I left you alone. I'm so sorry."
Glancing at the still struggling child and her anger growing, Lena advanced on the stunned men. "I said let her go!"
"You know we can't do that." Dean replied calmly, his face expressionless as he held her gaze.
Lena looked between the two of them, her frown deepening as she seemingly weighed up her options.
Dean chanced looking over his shoulder at his brother and his heart sank as he saw the sorrow and guilt that filled Sam's face. As he turned back, he was unprepared for the speed at which Lena launched herself at him.
Sam cried out a warning but it was too late. He could only watch as Lena flew at his brother and in a split second had grabbed Dean's left wrist, spun him round and twisted his arm up behind his back.
Hissing in protest and his face full of pain, Dean paused a moment too long. Distracted by the bulk of Lena's pregnancy and wary of a defensive move causing her harm, he was too easy to overcome. Finding himself caught with one arm pinned behind him, his left shoulder screaming with pain, he then gasped as Lena threw her free arm across his neck and yanked him backwards.
Being shorter than Dean meant she had to arch his back and Lena pulled him into her, almost to the point where his lax knees could not keep his balance and he had no choice but to lean into her. Groaning in pain and instinctively reaching up for her arm, Dean coughed from the pressure on his throat.
"No!" Sam moved towards them and quickly held up his hands. "Please!" He edged towards the bed, aware of Lena watching his every move. "I'll let her go. Okay?"
Stars dancing in his vision and his back aching from the awkward stance, Dean watched in dismay as Sam grabbed the chair from the floor and swung it upwards. One of the chair legs struck the ceiling, plaster and dust raining down.
The pentagram was broken and a trembling, tearful Morgan slid down from the bed. She staggered across to her mother and threw her arms around Lena's leg, crying loudly.
"There." Sam breathed, setting the chair down beside him. "Now let my brother go."
Lena laughed softly, "Yeah, right." She shook her head and tightened her hold. "I've got a tiger by the tail. There's no way I'm letting go."
"Please!"
"And what assurance can you give me that we can just leave?" Lena countered harshly.
"My word." Sam replied.
"Sorry." Another small laugh and suddenly Lena's eyes were dark and empty. "I need a little more than that."
Sam's heart was pounding in his ears and he looked on warily as Lena released her arm from across Dean's throat.
Dean sighed in relief and coughed dryly, still struggling with the awkward position she held him in. He then saw sudden fear in his brother's face and gasped as he felt a sharp jab in his lower back. With barely time for him to realize what was happening, the room was filled with the sudden loud clap of a gunshot and he was then released. Losing his balance and toppling backwards, Dean fell to the carpet with a thud, his head slamming into the floor and the world fading to black.
- tbc -