Hello! Yes, it's really me! And I almost didn't make it this weekend too! Sorry about not responding to your nice reviews, but I've been BUSY! Ugh, as much as I'd like to sit and write all day... Anyway, if you remember from eons ago, the mechanic shoved 'em in his Hunter Room...
"Dean!" Sam hissed from somewhere to the hunter's left.
"Shhh!" Dean sent back, crawling towards the door with his hands out cautiously. He pressed his eat against the door.
"I just think you need to come home earlier. It's all I'm asking, Dear."
"Honey, you know I can't! I've got things to do here, a couple cars to return, I'll be home as soon as possible."
"But-"
"Go home," The mechanic-hunter said softly. "I'll be there soon."
They kissed and Dean heard the jingle of keys. "Love you, Tony." Her voice was muffled through the door.
Dean crawled back over until he could hear Sam's breathing. "Hey," He whispered. Sam's sharp intake of breath told Dean he hadn't heard him return.
"Sounds like he's talking to the wife or something."
"Why are we in here?" Sam stated, not commenting on Dean's report. For a twenty something year old, he acted like he was five, Dean thought. But then again, he had good reason to be scared this much. It seemed like years ago his little brother had fallen and been stabbed, when in reality it was a matter of a couple weeks.
"Do you think his wife doesn't know he hunts?" Dean whispered, leaning against a table. His eyes has begun to adjust to the lack of light, and he could just make out the faint outline of Sam's face.
Before Sam had a chance to answer, the doors opened, revealing Tony, silhouetted by the orange lot of the falling sun. The two jumped quickly to their feet, Sam's face showing confusion and worry, but Dean's anger masked with the protectiveness of an older brother. "What's the meaning of this?" He spat. "Or do you always introduce new companions to your collection of weapons before locking them in?"
"I-I wasn't-"
"What if we couldn't see- which we couldn't? And what was so secretive you had to literally shove my brother into the damn closet, huh?" Dean walked closer, glaring at the stuttering man.
"You think you can just tell us you know our father and go have your own private conversation?"
"Dean-" Sam tried to butt in, to tell his brother he was scaring the man, but Dean ignored him.
"Your own wife doesn't even know, huh? Or are you not doing this anymore? Because a hunter with any sense would've noticed by now that "Winchester" is a pretty high name on the demon Wanted list."
"Dean-"
Tony opened his mouth to speak, but he was at a loss for words, backing up slowly into his hanging jackets as Dean continued furiously.
"And by the way, my brother and I are cursed. Yeah, cursed. So the next time you think about almost pushing us into one another, remember the consequences for us if we make physical contact."
"Dean-"
"-Disease, internal bleeding, suffocation, death." Sam felt it wasn't the time to mention how Dean was the one who'd been saying that wouldn't be a big deal unless they were in contact for a long period of time. When Dean was in a mood, there was no messing with him.
"Dean!" Sam stood next to his brother, the closest they had been in a while. "It was an accident, okay? He didn't mean it like that, he just didn't want his wife to know." Tony was nodding furiously behind him. "Lay off."
"W-where's John?" Tony asked when everyone was calmer. "We used to work together. Hunting."
"He's dead." Dean answered monotonously.
"Oh. Sorry to hear that."
Dean nodded. At this point, the wound that was his father's death was far from raw- it was numb and cold, like a distant nightmare. "Me, too."
"But, uh," Tony flipped on a switch and the room filled with the artificial light of some overhead fluorescent lamps. "I might have something for your curse."
Sam's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yup. I had a similar problem last year. If the witch refuses to let it go, there's only one more option."
"Yeah?"
"Well, two." He corrected, brushing past the brothers, who turned to watch him as he began rummaging through his hanging racks of knives.
"One, you could kill her. It usually wouldn't nix the spells she's cast, unless you use this knife." He pulled a jagged dagger out of a scabbard with Latin etched into it's side.
"It's Bobby's old friend." Sam reasoned. "I don't think he'd be happy if we stabbed her. No matter what she did, she's still human."
"Well," Tony continued, "Plan B then. I used to have a spell for this, might still have it around..." He ducked under a metal table and rummaged through the boxes, calling out when he pulled out a stack and began shuffling through it. He paused at one, handed it to Dean.
"This is what you need."
"That's it?" Dean asked, looking over the Latin page before him.
"Just a little summoning ritual and this bad boy and you're good to go. One of a kind, that is. Pleased if you'd return it afterwards."
Dean smiled. "Sure, thanks man!"
"Yeah, thanks. A lot." Sam added.
"Anything for John." Tony said. "Be careful."
"Course." Dean replied. He folded the paper and handed it to Sam, grabbing the Impala's keys of the workbench as he walked by.
Sam ducked in the passenger side and shut the door behind him, Dean on the right. He froze halfway down and stood back up. "Tony!" He called after the man, who was locking the hidden room back up.
"I forgot to pay you."
Tony shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. "No need!"
...
It was a team effort. Ellen began with the table and the sigils necessary, while Sam checked and looked over the Latin. Bobby was collecting weapons and tools, just in case, he said skeptically. Jo helped Dean with the ingredients outside.
"You find any copper?" Jo asked, clawing through the dirt and grinning as she found her prize- a dime sized snail, which she dropped in a bucket with a clunk.
"At the hardware store."
"Good." She nodded. "What's it for, anyway?"
"Turns the fire green." Dean answered, adding another snail to the pale.
Jo chuckled and smiled at Dean. "You know you're much smarter than you let people believe."
Dean shrugged. "I don't-"
"Hey. We're ready in here." Sam interrupted. Dean wiped his hands on his pants and stood up. Jo and Dean reached for the bucket at the same time. Sam raised his eyebrows as their hands brushed and they pulled away quickly. "Shut up." Dean said, walking past Sam. Jo blushed as she hurried after the hunter.
...
Dean watched nervously as his brother began the summoning ritual, striking a match without looking up from the paper before him and lighting the contents of a brass bowl on fire. He looked certifiably sinister with the flames jumping, the strange mutterings, and the desperate look in his eyes.
He finished and everyone waited silently for the witch to show.
"Nothings happening." Sam said sullenly.
"Just give it a second." Dean reassured him. "I'm sure- Sam!" He suddenly pointed a finger right behind Sam, who ducked just in time for the woman's knife-wielding hand to swipe an inch above his head. He hesitated, not wanting to punch a lady, and backed away towards Dean.
"Way to go, Two Shoes." Dean muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
"What'd you want me to do?" Sam whispered back.
"Enough!" The witch shrieked. She had long, shiny dark brown hair and an ageless face, not to mention not a single wart in sight. She smiled with perfect teeth, but angry green eyes. "Does she look like..." Sam began, leaning towards Dean.
"Sofia Vergara?" Dean answered, watching her saunter towards Bobby. "I see the resemblance."
"What's going on here? Bobby?" She turned to the man. "Older than I remember you, Bobby boy." He shrugged.
"Tell me 'bout yourself, Marie. What's a pretty little witch like you doing out here?" Dean realized what he was doing- stalling.
"Sam, you've got to start the ritual. Now, while she's distracted." Sam nodded gravely and began sneaking quietly towards the table again.
"You've got guts to call me, Bobby boy." She whispered. "What made you call a witch powerful enough to flash in, huh?"
Sam began uttering the second spell as quietly as possible. He took another match and lit on the embers of the previous flames. He touched it to the special wood Bobby had supplied for them and jumped back when it caught like a torch, accompanied by a large whoosh sound.
Marie whipped her head around, a look of absolute fury burning into Sam. "You!" She screamed as Sam picked up the pace with the incantation. She stepped towards him, leaving Bobby pinned to the wall. "No!" She closed her eyes and squeezed her fist tight, grinning.
"Sesectum het-" Sam cut off suddenly, his mouth wide. He tried to speak again, but his voice wouldn't work. "Try saying your little spell now, boy." She smirked.
Jo ran up behind her, arm pulled back for a punch. Not even looking, Marie put up a hand and waved it, sending the girl flying into Ellen and knocking both of them to the ground. Sam stepped towards her angrily, this time with a knife clutched tightly. With a scream of anger, she sent him soaring across the room. The hunter landed with his hands behind him, and Dean winced when his wrist twisted the wrong way. His mouth opened wide in what would be a cry of pain, but instead was absolutely silent.
"That's enough!" Dean shouted, swinging a fist at her and managing to connect. She was stunned for a moment, but pushed Dean back with surprising strength. He stumbled back, his head hitting the corner of the bedside table.
He fell to the ground with a groan, dizzily looking from Ellen and Jo regaining their balance slowly, to the cackling witch, and finally to his brother cradling his wrist in his hand. He was seeing stars, blinking his eyes to try to see clearly, just in time to watch Marie aim a kick at Ellen as she stood back up for another go.
It's started, Dean thought. And for Sam and my own sake we have to win. His vision spotted for a moment and he prayed he didn't have a slight concussion. They were going to have to fight to end this. Dean was really starting to wish they'd decided to kill this bitch.
Yikes! Gotta go, in a rush :( but thanks for reading. The climax! How exciting! :)