After they arrived back at Bobby's, the Winchesters and Bobby had a fact exchange meeting, the outcome of which decided that tonight would be the night that they would find/kill the creature. Apparently, Kromley hadn't been overly forthcoming with information but had let slip a few key details and that, together with the information gathered from the other dog owners, was enough for Bobby to find something in his books. Well, to start looking for something anyway. Sam was in the library with him, Gabriel curled up on his lap, looking pathetically domestic. Dean had clapped his hands together and decided to go call the Sheriff. Crowley wandered around the stacks of books, artifacts, trinkets and bits of scrap paper that made up the Singer research base. After a full circuit, Crowley returned to find Gabriel still sleeping and thought about how he'd never seen the Angel so quiet. Bobby and Sam occasionally mumbled something to one another but it was mostly silent, save for the sound of turning pages.
Crowley heard Dean moving around in the kitchen and, with a last glance at Gabriel, walked in to see the hunter hanging up the phone and moving towards the fridge. Crowley skittered over to a chair and leapt up, giving Dean a short bark to announce his arrival.
"Hey, Zepp!" Dean smiled over his shoulder and returned from the fridge with a beer. He twisted the top off with a happy sigh and took a long swig before looking down at Crowley.
"There's still something about that Kromley guy that doesn't sit right with me." Dean leaned on the table. "I'm not sure I believe his 'I'm saving dogs' story when it seems that there are a ton of reports of dogs going missing from the pound."
"Clearly, the guy's feeding the damn thing." Crowley rolled his eyes.
"But why lie? What's the dude got to hide?" Dean waggled his bottle.
"Don't be such a moron. He summoned the thing", Crowley said "His soul stinks of dark magic."
Dean looked down at him and a strange expression flitted across his face.
"He's the one who summoned this dog-eating demon", Dean murmured and narrowed his eyes.
"Well I object to the term 'demon' being thrown in to describe it but sure, cookie for you", Crowley snorted.
"Well, we know the where, got a theory as to the what and have a fair guess as to who's behind it all." Dean nodded to himself "Not that I'm happy about it, but we have bait, too. Sorry, Zepp." Dean sighed and moved out of the kitchen.
"Fantastic." Crowley hopped down from the table and trotted off to wake up Gabriel. "I am not anyone's bait."
Personally, he would've gone straight back to Kromley and threatened to rip his spine out unless he spilled the truth. Get all the information he would need to kill/banish the creature and send some minion off to get rid of it. Obviously, the Winchesters were going for the 'Charge head first into battle without enough information and get killed' strategy, which for them was pretty much par for the course.
"You hear what's going on?", Gabriel whispered to Crowley when he got back to the library and found the Angel tucked in the crook of Sam's arm. Crowley jumped onto the chair then onto the desk.
"Urgh, a Barguest." Crowley followed Bobby's pointing finger and looked down at the open books scattered across the desk.
"I hear ya, fella", Dean huffed and gave Crowley a quick pat.
"Nasty little buggers, wanna guess what their plan is?" Gabriel smiled and Crowley glared at him, he wasn't in the mood.
"Rushing headlong into danger?"
"You got it" Gabriel laughed "Oh, it never gets old watching the Winchesters in action"
"Yes, it does, Angel" Crowley answered. "Have they got to the part where we're the bait?"
"Really?" Gabriel sounded shocked. "But we're just innocent little Chihuahuas!"
It didn't take long for Sheriff Mills to arrive and join everyone congregated around the older hunter's desk. They all looked down at the various books lying on the surface with grim faces.
"It's a kind of Bogie", Bobby said while tapping one of the books. "It has horns, fangs, claws, and fiery eyes. It can take many forms, but usually it's a shaggy black dog"
"We're sure this is it?" Dean picked Crowley up while he perused a couple of books, gathering information.
"Near as can be without seeing the damn thing. Most sightings of this thing have been in northern England." Bobby scratched his chin "Not sure how it's gotten over here."
"How do we kill it?", Sam asked. Bobby picked up the first book on the pile.
"Oh oh!", Gabriel wriggled, "I know this!"
"Seems to be they used to run it through with a sword or beat it with a club," Bobby huffed and thumped the book back on the table.
"Sword or club?" Dean snorted, "Awesome."
"These types of creatures are usually pretty allergic to fire", Sam shrugged, "Couldn't hurt right?"
"So we stab it with a sword, beat it with a club, then light it on fire." Dean nodded "Sounds like a plan."
"Fabulous", Crowley sighed. "This is going to go well."
::::::
"Ever seen that scene from True Lies?" Gabriel panted, running alongside Moose.
"No." Crowley was also trying to keep up with Dean as he strode into the park, shotgun tucked under his arm and a firm grip on Crowley's leash.
"This is just like that."
"How, Angel?", Crowley growled. "Where there Chihuahuas also about to be offered up on a silver platter to a raging, pissed off bogie?"
"Not so much." Gabriel yipped as he fell behind slightly and was yanked forward by Gigantor's stride. "But it did have terrorists."
"So glad you find this all so amusing."
They all came to a dead stop as they heard a roar break the stillness of the night. Crowley perked his ears forward and tried to calm his jumping nerves. It was hard when everyone around you was so on edge and all his fur was standing on end. Bobby nodded to the boys and started off into the tree line that surrounded the park. Dean and Sam handed both Gabriel and Crowley off to Sheriff Mills without a word.
"Now is the time to get out of here", Crowley murmured, pulling on his leash. Gabriel was making a disturbing wheezing sound and it built in volume until Crowley realised it wasn't Gabriel but something in the brush behind Gabriel that was making the noise.
"Run!" Crowley barked and yanked backwards just as the Barguest leapt forward and swiped a clawed paw at the Sheriff. She dropped their leashes with a surprised yell and reached for her gun. Gabriel barked in distress and Crowley took the opportunity to run like a bat outta hell. Only when he felt far enough away from the danger did he slow down to let Gabriel catch up with him.
"We're screwed, Angel." Crowley panted and turned around. He wasn't even sure where he was in relation to the car anymore.
"I can change us back. Have been able to the entire time"
"What?" Crowley barked angrily, annoyed and incredulous. "This whole, bloody, buggery time?"
"Yeah." Gabriel at least had the decency to look sheepish. "But I was only trying to-"
"To what?", Crowley yelled, "Drive me slowly insane? To get me eaten by whatever dog-eating creature happens by?"
"No!" Gabriel bounced nervously. "I was just trying to spend some time with you"
There was a moment of dead silence.
"Spend some time with me?"
"Yes."
"You are insane, Angel" Crowley bared his teeth. "Change me back or I will rip your throat out myself"
Gabriel had gone still and was staring over Crowley's shoulder.
"Run", Gabriel whispered "Run!"
Crowley felt a chill roll up his spine as he heard the creature shifting up behind him. He knew it was pointless trying to get away, there was only so fast you could go on Chihuahua legs, but the thought of being ripped apart inspired him into running as fast as those little legs allowed. Gabriel shouted something franticly but all Crowley could focus on was dodging around the trees and shrubs. Sudden pain exploded along his side as he felt the creature's jaws slam around his tiny body. He had a fleeting moment of shock and panic before he was flung into a tree. Crowley felt a strange sensation wash over his body and thought for a moment that he was dying. Not the most brilliant death, but it was a step up from being mauled by a random dog at the pound. It wasn't until he tried to push himself up that he realised, with a bizarre sensation, that he had hands and feet again. He heard the creature snarling in confusion mere feet away, the sound of running feet nearby, and Gabriel cursing. He pushed himself upright against the tree and winced as a jolt of pain went through his side.
"Crowley? Are you okay?"
Crowley could make out the Angel's normal human shaped silhouette behind the Barguest. The beast's red eyes locked on Crowley again, mouth pulled wide showing rows of jagged teeth as it hunkered down, ready to pounce. Gabriel appeared and gave the creature a swift kick in the head while yelling something incoherently. Crowley took a moment to pull himself to his feet and run a hand over his side. Not too much damage apart from another suit ruined apparently. He'd make the Angel pay for that.
The Barguest reared up on its hind legs and roared.
"BACK OFF!" Crowley growled and conjured up a wall of fire between Gabriel and the creature. It screamed its frustration, and hopefully pain, before dashing away. Crowley didn't think it would stay away for long.
"Are you hurt?" Gabriel was at his side in an instant, running his hands over Crowley before the demon slapped them away.
"I'm fine!", Crowley huffed and rolled his eyes when Gabriel frowned and held up a hand covered in blood. "Well, I've had worse," Crowley smirked, "from you as I recall."
Gabriel's expression wasn't amused like Crowley had been going for but turning from worried to guilty.
"Oh please", Crowley slapped Gabriel over the head, "would you stop being so melodramatic?"
"It's my fault." Gabriel sighed, looking at Crowley his eyes overly bright.
"Yes, it is." Crowley raised an eyebrow, "What's your point?"
All he wanted to do was stop Gabriel from getting maudlin. But Gabriel grinned at him like sunshine and Crowley wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"You made me feel better." Gabriel laughed and slung his arm around Crowley's shoulder. "I knew you were a big softie!"
"I did no such thing, Angel." Crowley growled and tried to shuck Gabriel's arm off.
"It's not that we aren't grateful, but what the hell?" Sam said and Crowley turned to see Bobby and Dean both pointing shotguns at him. Sam was blinking at them both while the Sheriff looked between both groups.
"You guys got history?", she asked. Dean snorted.
"Boys!", Gabriel boomed throwing his arms up and Crowley winced then glared at the Angel as he moved forward to put himself between Crowley and the shotguns. Crowley shook his head. Gabriel always had an overly protective instinct.
"Aren't you dead?" Dean raised an eyebrow.
Gabriel flapped his arms, "Yes. No." he pursed his lips, "Kinda. You know what? I always say, never let death keep you down."
"Right." Dean nodded sarcastically, "What about you Crowley?"
"Ah well, you see I never actually died." Crowley strolled out from behind Gabriel, amused as the shotguns followed his movement. Gabriel moved again but Crowley glared at him, promising certain death if he tried to protect him again with his knight-in-dented-armour routine.
Gabriel pouted at the demon, but made no further move to come between them again.
"I was there, I saw Cas toast you." Dean narrowed his eyes.
"Yes," Crowley matched Dean's stare, "you did."
"Mind telling me how you faked that without Cas knowing?"
"Who said he didn't know?"
Crowley chuckled as Dean's face went through a few interesting expressions.
"Speaking of Baby Bro, do you guys know where he's at?" Gabriel looked between the humans.
"We're a little busy hunting some sort of juiced up, super demon freak." Dean hissed.
Crowley watched amused when Sam's face began to express worry.
"Dean!", Sam said with a note of panic in his voice. "We still haven't found the dogs."
Dean quickly lost interest in Crowley and began to rapidly look around. "Zeppelin?" He began to whistle and call, "Here, fella, come here."
Crowley twitched involuntarily, even though he'd expected it. He glared at Gabriel when he grinned in amusement at the automatic response.
"Aww, have you guys got dogs?" Gabriel's voice was full of mirth. "Let me guess, Rottweilers?"
"Chihuahuas" Bobby grunted with a half smile, though he was also looking around for the dogs.
"Chihuahuas?" Gabriel cooed "Aww, you guys are so cute"
"Gabriel", Crowley growled in warning.
"So are they here to help?" Sheriff Mills asked Sam as she flicked her fingers at Gabriel and Crowley.
"Depends" Crowley answered "What do I get out of it?"
"How bout I don't shoot you full of salt?", Bobby growled.
"Charming as always, Robert," Crowley gave him a thin lipped smile "Just so happens that I don't particularly like Barguests, so you can keep the salt for your margaritas"
"You...", Dean pointed at Crowley "...are going to help us?"
"Close your mouth, Winchester, you'll catch flies," Crowley smirked "I'm going to help myself, you all just happen to be nearby when I do it"
"Naww he's really a big teddy bear", Gabriel grinned and dodged the slap Crowley swung at him. "We'll even help you find your dogs."
"Snookums!" Sam called, turning. "Zeppelin!"
"Speak for yourself, Angel" Crowley hissed at Gabriel before stalking off in the direction the Barguest had disappeared.
"Crowley!" Gabriel appeared in front of him and Crowley sidestepped to go around him "Ok I know we need to talk but will you just stop and listen for a bit?"
"I'm busy trying to find and kill a large dog-eating beast, Gabriel. You know the one that just almost ate me?" Crowley pushed past the Angel and kept going. The nerve Gabriel had, honestly. If he didn't enjoy the Angel's company so much he would've dusted him ages ago. There was the rub. He really did take pleasure in playing games with Gabriel; he'd enjoyed it much more when he'd thought he was just a Trickster and not one of Heaven's most terrifying warriors. An Archangel! That's something he's had a hard time forgiving Gabriel for. Turning him into a tiny rat and almost getting him killed, as well as ruining a suit, was going to be another.
It took Crowley a moment to realise that Gabriel was trudging alongside him in silence, face pulled down into a frown. Making Gabriel feel bad was like kicking one of his hounds. He always felt bad about it no matter how deserving the punishment was.
"Gabriel –" Crowley was interrupted by a shout.
"Stop! Who – who are you?"
Crowley raised an eyebrow at Kromley who was standing at the edge of the park pointing a flashlight at them. What an interesting development.
"What the hell are you doing here?", Dean piped up from behind them. Crowley hissed a breath out through his teeth, it was always such an effort with the Winchesters.
"Me? What are you-" Kromley squinted at them then gave a squeak of surprise "Is that the Sheriff?"
"What's going on here, Jack?" Sheriff Mills made her way to the front on the group and put her hands on her hips. "What are you doing with that dog?"
Crowley glanced down at the grey pit bull at Kromley's feet and frowned. It looked familiar.
"Nothing, uh just..." Kromley swallowed loudly. "Rescuing it?"
"Bullshit", Dean growled,"We know you summoned this thing, do you have any idea how many people it could kill? How much damage this thing is capable of?"
"I, I,..." Kromley worried the lead he was holding between his hands. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Look," Sam stepped forward and Crowley rolled his eyes at the sympathetic look plastered across the Moose's face "I know you must be going through something and think this isn't the best way to-"
"You don't know squat!" Kromley spat, showing real anger. "You're just Cesar Milan sycophants! You think I didn't see you at the auditions? Drooling all over that murdering bastard."
"What the?" Dean scrunched his face up in confusion. Bobby was staring at the pit bull with too much interest for Crowley's comfort.
"Is that Junior?" Bobby said surprised "Did you steal Cesar Milan's dog?"
Bobby sounded really pissed, if the cocking of his shotgun wasn't enough indication.
"No," Kromley answered too quickly and tightened his grip on the dog's lead "why would I do that?"
"How should we know?" Dean snapped "You're the crazy one."
"I'm not crazy!" Kromley snarled and rolled up one of his sleeves to reveal mangled sigils carved into his arm. Crowley could make out a few of them, some for protection and influence. This was how he was controlling the Barguest.
"So this is you not being crazy?" Dean raised an eyebrow and brought his shotgun to bear on Kromley "Sorry, dude, you are nowhere near my definition of sane."
"Yeah? Well, blame that dog whispering bastard for that!" Kromley rubbed one of the sigils until it started bleeding. "If it wasn't for him my son would still be alive!"
"Seriously?"
"You can't blame a TV show for that, Jack" Sheriff Mills said quietly. Kromley snuffled loudly and angrily wiped a tear from his face.
"This is getting boring", Crowley sighed, ignoring the various astounded looks he got "I don't care about you or this dog whisper person; I just want to kill this thing and go home to a tall glass of scotch."
"Good luck trying" Kromley sneered, wiping his nose with his arm. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he shouted, "Sic em boy!"
Crowley growled in frustration as Dean and Bobby unloaded their shotguns into a galloping Barguest rapidly making its way to across the park at them. The pit bull was jumping and barking while Dean was yelling for a sword and the Sheriff was wrestling with Kromley.
Enough. He'd had enough.
Crowley walked forward, tossed Sheriff Mills to the side and grabbed Kromley's arm.
"This may sting." Crowley stared straight into Kromley's face, then pulled, ripping Kromley's arm off at the socket and, with one hand on his chest, pushed Kromley into the oncoming Barguest. It hardly broke stride to eat him.
Crowley threw Kromley's arm on the ground in front of the Barguest and it squealed in confusion, coming to a shuddering stop.
"Be still my beating heart!" Gabriel grinned at him. "You sure know how to show a girl a good time."
Crowley threw him a frustrated look before closing his eyes and summoning his favourite hell hound. Shriker was his biggest, most utterly terrifying, totally loyal, and obedient hound.
She snuffled, licking at Crowley's hand before throwing her head back and howling. Dean jumped a mile, letting out an extremely undignified squeal. Not surprising really, considering the history Dean had with hell hounds and the proximity of Shriker. Her howl stuck the deepest fear into any mortal. Crowley saw even Gabriel shiver.
"Hell hounds!" Dean shivered. "I hate Hell hounds!"
Crowley chuckled and patted Shriker's head. He watched the Barguest hunker down as it picked up the new threat. Shriker snarled and pawed at the ground waiting for Crowley's command.
"Alright, girl", Crowley purred, stroking Shriker's flank, "Rip it apart!"
Crowley watched his beautiful hound spring into action with a roar and had a brief moment of pity for the humans who couldn't see it. The Barguest whimpered as Shriker tore into it, locking her jaws around its throat. It didn't stand a chance.
"What was – is – that?", Sheriff Mills whispered to Bobby who she was leaning against.
"Hell Hound, scary sonsabitches" The older hunter then turned to Sam. "I think it might be time to adios amigos"
"I still can't find the dogs", Sam said while trying to keep a hold on the pit bull as it jumped around. "We can't leave them here."
Crowley sighed and turned to Gabriel raising an eyebrow. The Archangel smiled and clapped his hands together.
"Here, Shriker" Gabriel called, making kissing noises "There's a good girl."
Crowley blinked in surprise and watched, astounded, as his hound looked up from where she was chewing on what was left of the Barguest and let out a loud woof before bounding over to the Angel.
"Who's a pretty girl?" Gabriel scratched Shriker behind the ears and then looked up to Crowley. "What do ya say we help these nice boys find their dogs?"
"Hell, no" Dean shook his head. "That thing would use them for tooth picks"
"She has a name.", Gabriel frowned at Dean while still patting Shriker. "Do you want us to help or not?"
"I'm gonna get Jodie patched up", Bobby grunted and helped the injured Sheriff off in the direction of the cars. Crowley shook his head and wondered where his sanity went.
"Dean, maybe-" Sam started before being cut off.
"No" Dean shook his head "No way I'm accepting help from a Hell hound or him."
Dean jabbed a finger in Crowley's direction. Crowley felt a sudden jab of hurt.
"Suits me fine, Winchester." Crowley spat and, ignoring Gabriel, who called out his name, moved himself away from Sioux Falls. He delivered Shriker back to her kennel and fed her a few extra souls for her good work. It was idiotic to be upset at the Winchesters. It wasn't as though he liked them, but they continuously spat in his face every time he helped them out. Would a little gratitude hurt them? Sure, they were right in the fact that he would kill them in an instant if he thought he must; he was a demon, that's his nature. And killing the Winchesters never lasted anyway. Each of them had died at least ten times, more in Dean's case due to one Archangel. Crowley left the kennels and moved himself up out of Hell again. He felt the Angel's presence and tried half-heartedly to lose him.
"Crowley, wait" Gabriel grabbed Crowley's arm and landed them both in the Singer Auto yard. "Just listen to me."
"Here?" Crowley dramatically threw an arm out. "Of all places?"
"Why not?" Gabriel grinned, then sobered, "I admit it. I knew how to turn us back the whole time and I need you to know that I never would've let you get hurt."
Crowley raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously hurt", Gabriel said sheepishly. "I just wanted to hang out, you know?"
"Hang out?", Crowley repeated and thought over the last few centuries of hanging out with Gabriel. There had been the times when Gabriel was going out with Kali. It was no secret Kali hated Crowley and the feeling was mutual. The couple of times Gabriel had snuck away and pestered him had always ended with Crowley exiting stage left while the nearest city went up in flames. "Why does that always end in me running for my life?"
"Okay so maybe I overdo it, sometimes" Gabriel shrugged "But I wanted to tell you that I, you know, have a thing for you."
"So what? This is your version of courting? Hide me and turn me into a rat?"
"Chihuahua", Gabriel corrected. "It's not like I have heaps of practice in this arena, my last date was with Kali and she was all about blowing up cities"
"Right..." Crowley drawled while still trying to right his world view. "What's the real reason, Gabriel?"
"I swear! That's the truth!" The Archangel threw his hands up in the air. "Is that so hard to believe?"
Crowley took a breath, shifted slightly, then paused.
"Yes" Crowley narrowed his eyes and pointed at Gabriel "What do you want, Angel?"
"Jeez" Gabriel whispered and Crowley watched some kind of emotion flitter across his face.
What did Gabriel want? He kept saying he wanted to spend time with him. Was it to gather information? Try to restore balance between Heaven and Hell?
"I'm not lying, Crowley", Gabriel whispered and moved closer. Crowley shifted backwards. Gabriel stopped, held his hands out with his palms up and raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" Crowley put his hands in his pockets and lifted his chin.
"Shall I liken thee to a summer's day? Count the many ways?" Gabriel enunciated and flitted his hands through the air. "It's love, Crowley"
"Angel" Crowley pointed at Gabriel then pointed to himself "Demon"
"Ground" Gabriel pointed down then up "Sky. Are we pointing out the obvious?"
"Fine. The obvious would be that this" Crowley gestured between the two of them "Will never work"
Gabriel shifted closer and, this time, Crowley let him "Yes, it will. If we want it to"
"Why?" Crowley cleared his throat and tried to swap his insecurity for self serving "What do I get out of it?"
"Archangel at your beck and call?" Gabriel grinned, moving closer still.
Crowley imagined going back to running Hell, spending months chasing incompetent and snivelling demons who all tried to stab him in the back. Then, he thought about the last couple of days with the Archangel. Crowley couldn't deny that he had thought of Gabriel often, even before he knew he was an Archangel, when he was just a Trickster playing pranks. Gabriel had a wicked dark side that Crowley greatly admired.
Gabriel was right in Crowley's personal space and there was something different in the Angel's eyes, a vulnerability Crowley had never seen before, and it sent shivers down his spine. He smelled like electricity and candy, chocolate and power. Gabriel's proximity was doing weird things to him.
"Just-" Gabriel whispered only to be interrupted by the sound of the Impala pulling into the yard. Even though he knew they couldn't see him unless he wanted them to, Crowley pulled back and cleared his throat. The Impala came to a stop and the hunters climbed out. Sam looked like he'd been weeping and Dean's face was pulled into an unhappy frown.
"I see they found the collars." Gabriel mock sighed "Poor little Snookums and Zeppelin"
Crowley threw Gabriel a glance before watching the Moose sniffle and shuffle his way inside. He was followed by Bobby who had Junior.
"They're gonna have a funeral and all." Gabriel tilted his head. "I feel kinda bad for them"
Dean sat on the Impala and fiddled with the torn collar in his hands. The sun was beginning to rise over the stacks of car wrecks. Crowley would never admit to it in his lifetime but he felt a slight pang of regret. Being a Chihuahua hadn't been all that bad. He looked over to Gabriel, who was looking over at the rising sun, then to Dean, and rolled his eyes over how maudlin he sounded. Just as Dean got up to go inside, there was the sound of an approaching car.
Sam and Bobby exited the house and watched as a little Jeep came to a stop in front of the house. Crowley raised an eyebrow at Gabriel who laughed.
"Hello there," Cesar Milan smiled as he got out of his car and asked, "How can I help your dogs?"