This chapter is a bit on the short side, but there's nothing like a cliffie for the weekend...
Chapter Five
"Sammy, it wasn't your fault." Dean offered. There wasn't much more he could do. Sam had gone out first thing in the morning to get more details on Gina's death. "Listen! She never asked us to protect her. You didn't cause this."
"I didn't stop it." Sam whispered. His heart ached for the newest addition to the list of people he hadn't been able to save. Would it ever end?
"You couldn't have known." The tension and anger were beginning to rise in Dean's tone.
Sam simply remained silent. Earlier he'd accused his brother of keeping secrets, at least silently. Now, he was. He had to admit it was a game they often played.
"I'm going over to Gina's house and look around." Sam abruptly stated some time later. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and was startled to see it was already late afternoon.
Dean must have been napping because he fumbled as Sam spoke. "What?"
"I said I'm going to check out Gina's house." Sam repeated, somewhat annoyed.
"Why?" Dean pulled himself up and rolled his shoulders.
"I don't know." Sam lied. "Maybe there's something I'm missing…"
Dean cut him off. "We're missing."
"What?"
Dean tried to roll his eyes under the bandages but was unsuccessful. "I said we're missing it. WE are still in this together. Remember? You're not going after this thing with out me."
"Why not?" Suddenly a wave of resentfulness passed through Sam. "I'm as good a hunter as you, whether you want to admit it or not. You hunted on your own. Why can't I?"
Dean wasn't about to argue this with Sam. Yeah, he knew Sam could hunt alone, but it would never set right with him. His brother belonged at his side… Well, preferably a few steps behind him. He knew this wasn't about a sudden independence streak. This was about Sam's guilt, first his eyes and now Gina's death. Sam wanted revenge. "We already fought this thing once and it whipped us. You're not going after it alone. It's going to take both of us."
Sam scowled loud enough for his brother to hear it. "I never said I was going to go after it. I just want to check out her house. Maybe there's some clue there?"
"What if it comes back?"
Sam groaned. "Dean! Why would it come back?"
"Then WHY GO?" Dean sighed and calmed his voice. "One more day Sam. Tomorrow we hit the doctor and kill this son of bitch." He scowled. "Look. I don't like it any better than you do. It's just one more day."
Both men lapsed into silence, neither wanting to admit the bigger fears in their hearts. Sam puttered with his backpack, loading and unloading it. He continually looked at the bandages on Dean's face. Dean, for his part, continually picked at them.
Dean finally broke the tension. "Well, if you're not going at this second, let's go get some dinner."
"It's still early." Sam muttered, knowing he wouldn't eat.
"So, a late lunch." Dean rose and felt for his jacket. "Let's go. I'm hungry. Where'd that pie come from last night?"
Dean invented excuse after excuse to keep Sam in the hotel room when they came back. Sam reviewed his notes and his plan, in his mind. Dean fell asleep with the TV on, which provided Sam with the opportunity that he needed. Over the course of a few minutes, he gradually increased the volume. Not so loud as to disturb the neighbors, if there were any, but loud enough to muffle extraneous noises.
Sam glanced over to Dean and studied his brother's breathing. He counted the steady rise and fall of his chest, making sure he was indeed asleep and not faking. The TV covered the sound of shutting his bag. It also covered the click of the door as Sam closed it behind him.
As Sam stared down the Impala, he debated his options. He could call a cab, but it would attract too much attention and hamper his return. Of course he had the keys to the Impala, but Sam knew his brother. He'd hear his baby's engine in the deepest sleep. Unfortunately, it was a chance he had to take.
The engine roared to life and Sam drove out of the lot. Inside, Dean woke to the sound of his beloved car's engine. "What the…" He sat up and called for Sam, knowing deep down it was useless. He searched the nightstand for his cell but couldn't find it. "Damn you, Sam!"
He groped his way along the beds and table and felt for his phone. He knew Sam wouldn't be stupid enough to take it. Dean would have to kill him then. Having no success, he made his way back to the bed and fumbled for the hotel phone. He pushed the necessary buttons and waited for his phone to ring. "You're paying for this damn call, Sammy."
Within seconds the cell phone rang. Dean set the receiver down and followed the ring. Once he had his cell, he automatically pressed the number to dial Sam's phone. He didn't need eyes for that. His entire body tensed as he waited for Sam to answer.
Sam had hoped he would have more time. He knew the Impala had given him away. She was nothing if not loyal to her master. He forced his voice to sound lighthearted. "Dean? What's up? You need something?"
"I NEED YOUR ASS BACK IN THIS ROOM!" Dean shouted.
Sam swallowed and shrugged. "I'll be back soon. I couldn't sleep…"
Dean cut him off. "So you decided to go after this thing on your own?"
Sam took a deep breath. "I'm just going to check out Gina's house. Maybe there's something there."
"And what about that extra bag in the trunk? You're leaving it there, right?" Dean insisted.
"Dean, I don't know what you're talking about… Look, I'm sorry you woke up…"
"Yeah, I bet you are. You didn't really think you could get away, did you?"
Sam grew hard at Dean's challenge. "Looks like I did, didn't I?" He paused. "Look, go back to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll head to the doctor and then blow this town. Maybe hit the slopes? We've earned it." Sam knew no amount of puppy-dog expression would work now. He was relying on his own wit, maybe Dean would respect that.
"Sure thing, Sam… after we destroy this thing, right? You forgot that." Dean waited for Sam's reply. "Right, Sam?"
"Right, Dean. We're not leaving town until this thing is dead."
Dean had never felt so helpless in his life. "Come back, Sam."
"Go back to bed, Dean. I'll be back soon." Sam tried to sound confident.
"I'll pull these damn bandages off right now and hunt you down." Dean said coldly.
"And risk permanent blindness? Just so I can check out Gina's computer and see if there's another copy of the picture we can use to summon the thing?"
"We don't need it Sam."
"We don't know that for sure. I just want to cover all the bases." Sam was beginning to believe his own story.
Dean began to pull at his bandages, but his efforts weakened. The fear of remaining blind scared him more. "Sammy, come back now."
Sam could hear the fear in Dean's voice. "Just a few minutes. I promise, Dean. Just a few minutes." He ended the call and prayed his brother wouldn't do something rash.
Sam pulled up in front of Gina's small home on the outskirts of town. He grabbed his supplies, including the bag from the trunk and after glancing around the neighborhood to be sure no one was watching, he pried his way into the house.
He briefly explored the house to be sure no one else was home. Once he knew it was clear, he made his way to the kitchen. Searching her cupboards, he located a small bowl and placed the contents of the grocery bag in it, then put it in the microwave and turned on the power.
He pulled out his notes, scanning them one last time. "Just when you think you've heard it all," Sam murmured. "A demon you can summon and hopefully kill with melted butter."
He thought about Dean's reaction to the news.
"Butter? This thing wants butter instead of evil-doers?" He shook his head. "Sam, it's not nice to tease blind men."
"I wish I was teasing. Melted butter is the traditional offering to Agni." Sam confirmed.
"So, we're supposed to melt a butt-load of butter and spread it all around?" Dean was looking for something that made the absurd story make sense.
Sam nodded. "From what I can tell, he only burns the victims. If we can smear the butter around and get it to go after the butter, it should start something else on fire. That's what kills it."
"So, burning a human doesn't kill it, but if it burns a twig it will?" Dean hated even saying the words.
"It's a theory." Sam said flatly. "If it destroys something other than evil, it loses its power."
Dean's head sank to the table top.
When the microwave chimed, Sam pulled the steaming bowl out. He grabbed a second container, poured some of the slimy substance into it and set it on the dining room table. As he waited for something to happen, he looked around and found a picture of Gina. He moved back to the kitchen and burned it in the sink.
His heart raced in his chest and his eyes darted back and forth looking for the smallest sign. "Come on, Agni. Come and get me." His eyes fell on a fire extinguisher in the corner, but before he could move for it, smoke filled the room. In the next instant, Agni formed before him.