A/N: I was in hurry when I originally posted this, so I just spit-shined it. This chapter is freaking huge! Twenty pages on word, crazy. I combined Holy Terror and Road Trip for this chapter, so you'll see that come into play. I lost a bit of steam during this chapter but I prevailed! Director's commentary at the bottom of the page for trivia!
Dean had never really experienced a panic attack before, so he wasn't sure if he was experiencing it right now but all he knew was that he wasn't getting enough air into his lungs, his head starting to hurt from the thrumming of his pulse that echoed in his ears. Kevin. Jack. Both of them were gone. But the real kicker was that they were literally gone. One minute they were standing in front of possessed Sam, waiting for the smiting blow when they just disappeared.
The unknown angel seemed just as confused. His head swiveled back and forth, Sam's hair swaying from the jerky movement. Dean must be in shock because suddenly Abby was behind Sam, inching her way slowly to him. He wanted to shout, get her away from Fake Zeke but he didn't want to call attention to her.
Interestingly Dean hadn't seen her move at all, strange considering she'd either have to climb over or under the tables to get to Sam. He couldn't see her expression but he was sure that it radiated determination, maybe some anger at the implied threat to Jack, her eyes a icy gold no doubt. What really amazed Dean was her right arm. What the hell? It seemed like the veins in her forearm were glowing, all that light draining downward until it collected in her palm causing it to glow. It actually looked a lot like when Sam had undergone the trials but this light was whiter, purer.
Fake Zeke must have sensed the energy from Abby or maybe heard her at his back because he spun around and threw an arm in her direction, no doubt planning to use angelic telekinesis to send her flying across the room.
"Abby!"
It seemed Dean's concern was unnecessary. Expecting Abby to go sailing the length of the library, he was surprised when all she did was slide back about a foot, the glowing in her hand only getting brighter, possibly in response to the attack. Fake Zeke's expression showed surprise and shock at the fruitless move, and his face became more focused as Sam's hazel eyes started glowing.
The words Oh Crap were repeating themselves in Dean's head as the bunker started shaking and he could swear there was thunder going on outside. Abby inched back a few inches, much less distance than the first attack, and this time she deliberately stalked forward. He was speechless, not knowing what to do as Abby began glowing herself. For a split second Dean could see, really see, the angel's power or grace trying to attack Abby but it was met with a brighter, thicker wall of light that only intensified the more Fake Zeke tried to attack her.
Finally within range Abby's left arm shot out, grabbing at Sam's outstretched wrist. As soon as she made contact the light bulbs in the library shattered and Dean could feel the ground tremble violently under his feet for a moment.
"You…you're an abomination." The angel morphed Sam's face into one of disgust as he locked his eyes onto Abby's form. She didn't give a reaction, and Dean almost missed the next occurrence.
With speed that surpassed a striking snake, Abby slammed her opened palm in the middle of Sam's chest, claps of thunder reverberating in the library. Furniture and books were thrown back from the power surge as all the bright energy left Abby's hand, web-like patterns spreading from under Sam's shirt before the glowing vines shot upward to his head. The resulting flash of light had the eldest Winchester covering his eyes, feeling the sting burn at his pupils.
Blinking slowly, Dean opened his eyes to see Abby clutching at the front of an unconscious Sam's shirt, lowering him gently to the floor. Seeing his brother passed out spurred Dean into motion, marching forward to crouch beside the younger male.
"I popped the angel into Beddy-Bye Land, but they're both fine. Halo Boy should stay under until I or an angel wake him up."
He was nodding at her words, his hands checking his brother for injuries. Sam's body seemed fine and Dean let out a huge sigh he had been keeping in since he first walked out the storage room after the angel took off. A clattered behind him drew his attention and he turned back to see Abby walking away from him, her steps wobbly and unstable.
"Abby?"
She didn't seem to hear him, just kept shuffling away until she paused, swaying slightly side to side.
"Abby? Abby!"
Being several feet away from her and having his arms full of little brother kept Dean from reaching for the brunette as she collapsed to the floor. Setting Sam down Dean reached Abby in seconds, the same time Andrew dragged himself to the young woman's side, whines either for his injures or for Abby's wellbeing.
"Abby?!" Dean's emotions were being stretched thin. Fear for his brother, panic when Kevin and Jack disappeared, relief when hearing that Sam was fine, and now terror as he held Abby's body in his arms. Her golden brown eyes were rolled back, blood leaking from her nostrils while her body seized violently in his arms. Whatever Abby did back there, it had done a lot of damage to her. He hadn't pushed her to explain what her plan to help was but now he regretted it. If this what she had in mind he wouldn't have let her go through with it. Abby may have seriously injured herself just to make sure Dean got his brother back.
"Dean?"
He almost didn't hear the voice but he did catch it and he just about gasped in relief when seeing Kevin in the doorway that lead to the bedroom quarters, Jack still in his arms. They were alive. Jack's crying caused Dean's heart to squeeze tightly, watching as the little boy leaned forward, arms reaching out for Abby.
"Kevin…go outside and yell for Ezal!"
"Dean, that doesn't make sense."
"Just go!"
Shifting Abby in his arms so she wouldn't hurt herself, the only thing Dean could do was listen to Kevin's frenzied footfalls as the young prophet ran up the staircase to reach the outside world.
"It's okay Abby, you'll be fine." The repeated reassurance was for his sake just as much as hers.
~~~SPN~~~
"So let me get this straight. Sam was dying because of the damage done during the trials so the only way to save him was tricking him into letting an angel ride piggy back?" Dean nodded to Kevin, refusing to look away from Ezal who was hovering above Abby's body. Andrew, in newly healed canine form, sat at attention next to the bed, brown eyes narrowed on her face.
"Then when you were out on that hunt in Nebraska, you got kidnapped by demons, which is where you met Abby at some abandoned house the demons were using. Apparently Abby has some kind of telekinesis because she can move stuff with her mind but also took control of herself after a demon possessed her?"
Another nod.
"But Abby is also a vessel for a high-powered angel named Ruth who just happens to be commander for a whole faction of angels that have been watching out for Cas?"
Nod.
"At some point Cas told you that the angel using Abby wasn't actually Ruth so you trapped her but then had to let her go because Cas got kidnapped by psycho angels and you needed her to go rescue him. When they got back, Cas ended up saying he was wrong and Ruth really was Ruth. But then he said that Ezekiel, who was suppose to be the angel helping Sam, wasn't the real Ezekiel. So you made a plan to knock the angel out and tell Sam to get rid of him. But that back fired and the angel tried to possibly kill me and or Jack but somehow we teleported into my room while Abby managed to shut down the angel controlling Sam. But now she's sick because she used some kind of power that she couldn't control?"
"Pretty much."
Kevin walked up next to Dean, looking in on Ezal as the medic placed glowing hands on Abby's forehead and chest. The entire winged brigade had shown up when Kevin had called frantically for the healer, surprising the prophet when they arrived with blades at the ready. Coming upon Dean in the middle of the library, Ezal had took one look at Abby and Dean had been scared when seeing his expression.
"The amount of power she used was far beyond what her body was capable of withstanding. Being so weak at the moment is allowing the residual amounts of energy, that would normally be harmless, to attack her."
Dean had picked Abby up bridal-style and rushed to the first room with a bed, not realizing it was his own bedroom, a line of angelic beings following him. Now there was a tight schedule of rotating angels that were pouring healing energy into Abby, enough to get her back to normal. At that point Ruth would be able to jump in and stabilize her better. Apparently Abby and whatever power or energy she possesses is the only thing able to keep the powerful angel from destroying her. If Ruth was to take over in Abby's weakened state, she'd be killed by the angel's powerful grace.
"She's recovering rather quickly, she should be fine in an hour or so. Let us go check on your brother and the others."
Ezal's voice brought him out of his thoughts, allowing the angel to walk by and down the hallway to Sam's room, Kevin trailing right behind him. Turning to follow, Dean paused and looked back in his room.
Abby's skin was slowly returning to her natural tan hue, the blood cleaned from her face. There had been a split lip and a bruise on her cheek from her fall but both had been taken care of during the first healing session. Her shaking had ceased after the third round and it was during this recent healing, number seven if Dean was counting correctly, Abby had managed to fall into a deep sleep.
The bed side vigil had been taken over by Andrew so across the room sat Jesse, stone faced but a certain softness around his eyes as he would occasionally glance at the petite woman. In his arms was a slumbering Jack, having tired himself out with his crying for Abby. Twirling above their heads was Ruth, in her natural form. The glowing silver band of light couldn't be still for more then a few moments before spinning around the room, hovering above Abby after making a few circuits. Dean could tell by Ruth's restless and jerky movements that she was worried about Abby, and after seeing the aftermath himself, he couldn't help be worried as well.
"We'll watch her Dean. You should see how your brother is doing."
The eldest Winchester brother twitched at Jesse's voice, always slightly startled as the brown-eyed angel almost never spoke. The conversation at the church had been one of the few times he'd heard Jesse speak so much.
Dean nodded at him, looking up to give a nod at Ruth, though he wasn't sure if she could see him. He followed the soft sound of chatter down the hall, turning into his brother's doorway to see Ezal with glowing hands on his brother's head, Cas right beside him. That was really the only way Dean had been able to see Abby, by trusting Cas to watch out for Sammy.
"What's going on?"
Kevin got closer to Dean, sidestepping the towering Theo who stood at the door like a body guard. Dean was fairly sure he was there in case Fake Zeke managed to wake up. "Ezal's checking to see how Sam and the angel are doing. After this healing Sam's body will be good as new. He's alright but whatever Abby did completely KO'd the angel."
"There is one thing that couldn't be healed."
Ezal's words brought Dean to Sam's bedside as Ezal pulled down Sam's collar, just enough to see some of the burn mark on his chest. A burn that resembled the one on his shoulder, Cas' handprint.
"It's from Abby, when she released that pent-up energy."
"Will it go away?"
Ezal looked at Cas, then up at Dean, who was thinking the same thing. "Hard to say. It could remain, like Castiel's mark but I did feel a slight recede during the last healing, so chances are that it will fade, however slowly."
"So what do we do now?"
The question was rhetorical but Ezal answered anyway. "Considering that the angel has Sam in some sort of mental lockdown, we'll need to wake him, get him to release his hold on Sam and leave."
"How we gonna do that? Interrogation?"
Cas spoke up then, looking at Kevin to answer his question. "No, try to reason foremost but if we do something or say the wrong thing, this can end badly, it all depends on the angel that is inside Sam."
"Do we know who he is at least?"
"I'm afraid none of us know." Ezal glanced back at Sam's body. "Whoever it is has hidden the part of his grace that would reveal his identity. For them to do this, they must be an older angel, powerful enough to hide from Jesse, Arelie, and myself."
Dean jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "What about Ruth? Can she take a peek?"
"Chances are, yes. Ruth is powerful enough to find his identity but right now, she's limited. When Abby is healthy enough to contain Ruth, she'd be able to look back on Abby's memories for a clue or see if she's familiar with the small amount of grace that is emanating from Sam."
"If we do plan on waking the angel, we should move Sam's body somewhere else. If worst-case scenario happens, he could destroy this place." Theo was looking at Dean when he said this, almost asking for permission.
Staring down at the unconscious form of his brother, Dean wasn't super happy about moving Sam but, as much as he didn't like him, Theo was right. There was no telling how the angel would react and he didn't want to risk the others.
"We'll move him somewhere else."
His words spurred everyone into action as Theo and Ezal nodded at Dean before disappearing to prepare, leaving the humans behind.
"I don't get it though, how come the sigil didn't work?"
Kevin's question had been bouncing around Dean's mind, wondering the same thing. He'd took longer than usual to draw the sigil, just so it was as accurate as possible, but maybe he had done something wrong. Ruth didn't say it had to be drawn with anything particular or he didn't need to say anything when he drew it but he was sure he'd missed something. Maybe there wasn't enough blood to activate the sigil completely.
"I don't know, maybe I missed something."
Cas' head was titled in his usual way, looking at Sam's arms before reaching over and lifting the right hand. Kevin and Dean both caught sight of the white chalk residue.
"He messed with the symbol."
Cas nodded at Kevin's deduction, looking up at them. "Alter a sigil, however slightly, and you alter the spell. He knew what you were planning."
Dean's frustration flared. "The bastard was somewhere in the bunker and must have overheard me or saw what I was doing."
"Dean."
All three friends turned to see Ezal standing in the doorway, Theo a little behind him. "We're ready to move him to the new location."
"What about Abby and Jack?"
"Ruth and myself will be staying to monitor both of them, the angels with vessels will travel with Sam, with two vessel-less angels as extra, the rest of the garrison with stay to watch over the bunker."
"Alright."
Ezal nodded at Dean, looking over his shoulder to Theo before heading down the hallway in the direction of his bedroom, no doubt to tell Jesse what was going on.
Theo came into the room, Arelie right behind him. It was interesting to see Theo pick up Sam's large body, showing no signs of the slightest effort such an action would normally elicit. Everyone made their way to the library and up the staircase, meeting up with Jesse and the glowing Ruth outside the bunker. The twirling ribbon grew bright, swishing back and forth, all the while a low ringing sound was emitted. Dean knew from experience that the ringing sound was actually Ruth speaking.
"Ruth says she will meet up with us to help when Abby is better. And that we will get your brother back."
Dean glanced at Jesse during his translation before nodding at Ruth. "Just keep an eye on Abby. Cas and Kevin can help you with Jack."
On cue Dean heard a shuffle of feet behind him. "Dean?"
Looking over he saw a look of confusion from Cas and a slighted expression from Kevin. "You two are staying here."
"Dean, I want to help Sam."
"The bastard tried to kill me."
"Right now, I need you both safe," spoke Dean, his voice firm and cutting off anymore protest. "That means staying away from the front lines until the coast is clear. Not to mention that Jack is gonna need some looking after. You got me?"
The prophet and former angel both studied Dean for a few seconds. They knew him enough to catch on to what he was saying. While it was true he needed them to be safe, they also knew he wasn't completely trusting of Andrew. It took a few more seconds to come to terms with Dean's conditions but they nodded in unison.
"Dean, are you ready?"
He nodded at Jesse, looking back at his two friends before the sounds of wings signaled their departure.
~~~SPN~~~
There were few things Dean was highly uncomfortable with. Seeing his brother strapped down in a chair was one of them. Hands tucked in and tied at his sides, Sam remained unconscious, head held upright with the help of a leather chin strap, Enochian seals carved into the leather bindings around Sam's wrists and ankles. Jesse and Theo had made a valid argument about it being for both Dean and Sam's safety but that didn't mean he liked it. Not one bit. Getting the room warded and the chair reinforced had taken about an hour but now they were good to go.
He did have to admit that Abby was quite impressive, knocking an angel out for this long. Definitely a conversation they needed to have. The fact that Fake Zeke had called her an abomination also tickled at his brain. Dean remembered Cas being upset about the eleven year old Jesse all those years ago, for being a Cambion. His theory was looking more probable by the second. But for now, Sammy was priority.
"Dean, we're about to wake him. Are you ready?"
Jolting out of his thoughts, Dean nodded, coming to stand beside Jesse with Arelie and Theo posted behind Sam. "Let's get my brother back."
As soon as the brunette angel placed his fingers on Sam's forehead, glowing eyes snapped open before the light dimmed away, clearing up and focusing around what he could see of the room.
"Using the Abomination to counter my attack? Crafty I'll admit. Where is it?" he started, face morphing into disgust when taking about Abby but then he narrowed his eyes, catching sight of the stone-faced angel next to Dean. "Oh, Jesse? Surprised to see you here with a Winchester. You were always such a good solider. If you are here then Arelie must be near by as well."
"Who are you?" Dean wasn't in the mood for mincing words.
The awakened angel ignored him. "Who else is here? I can feel them at my back. Come greet your brother."
Arelie, who had bristled at the earlier barb, strode forward determinedly and flanked Jesse.
"Now the set is complete. I've heard many stories about the two of you on the battlefield. You're quite the mix. Who else?"
Theo paused for a second, uncertain before squaring his shoulders and revealing himself as he stopped at Dean's right side.
"Hmm…very interesting. Theo, the precious baby brother of Gabriel. I was not expecting to see you. But then again, you held the value of family quite high, it would stand to reason you'd find your way to the two humans who also have such a high regard for familial bonds."
"Who are you, brother? I don't recognize you."
Sam's emotionless eyes looked up at Arelie's sharp tone, hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "You wouldn't. When you were barely a fledgling learning to fly, my blade was stained red from a millennia of fighting."
"Enough foreplay, you need to get out. Now!"
Hazel colored eyes met Dean's own. "And if I don't Dean? What then?"
The condescending tone grated on his nerves, poking at the one thing that may need to be done but he'd never be able to follow through with. His silence was enough of an answer for the hijacking angel.
"It's an empty threat. You'd never be able to do it, plunge a blade in your brother's heart. But don't worry too much, your brother is unaware of the events taking place. Right now, Sam thinks he's on a case with you, something about ghouls and cheerleaders."
Dean stepped closer, fists clenched in anger. "Did you know what was going on? This whole time?"
Sam's smile was smug as the angel piloting looked up at Dean. "I've been in control for quite some time. Considering you never noticed, I feel like I played as your brother very convincingly, wouldn't you say? I heard you speaking with Kevin earlier and saw you leave that storage room. Interesting sigil I must say. Very old but very powerful. I wonder who gave you the idea." The angel looked over at his brothers and sisters at the last statement.
"I just don't understand why you would do this? We fought together. You said I could trust you but you pull something like this? I thought you were one of the good ones. But now I know you're just a manipulating asshole like so many other angels."
"I did what I had to do."
"Then so will I brother."
Dean had been so focused on Sam that he didn't hear the flutter of wings. Looking up, Dean could see the form of Abby in the shadows. From her opening line, he was sure Ruth was back in the saddle. Glancing at the others, Dean figured he was the only one surprised to see Ruth back. Before he could ask about Abby, Sam's voice spoke.
"I was wondering when you would announce your presence, dear sister."
Golden eyes were icy as Ruth walked forward and stepped directly in front of Sam's chair, her arms crossed but face blank. And then she smiled.
"Hello brother. It's been many a millennia since the last time we meet, it warms my heart to see you."
The angel was quiet, eyes locked on Ruth as he studied her. "You know me?"
"Yes."
They continued the staring contest, no one moving during such a serious moment. Dean was right though, Ruth knew who the angel was. Fake Zeke seemed like he was trying to figure out who Ruth was. Dean had to admit this was a dangerous situation. With as powerful as these two angels were, he hoped they didn't have a grudge against each other. The only thing worse than this would be an archangel smack down. And he just managed to stop the last one.
The unknown angel's face cleared in discovery, giving a small smile. "Ruth."
She dipped her head in greeting.
"I'm surprised to see you, but really with Theo here, I should have known. What surprises me more is to see you in a vessel. In the Abomination no less."
Ruth gave no reaction toward the barb at Abby. "You need to leave Sam Winchester."
Dean felt the shiver that went down his spine. This was it, getting to the crux of the matter.
"Ruth, I did what I had to do."
"You kidnapped Sam and attempted to kill Kevin Tran."
"Like I said."
Ruth's brows furrowed, her eyes barely hiding disappointment. "You are not the brother I remember."
"Maybe I never was."
From the looks on their faces Dean was sure that there was more going on. Ruth shook her head at Sam.
"No, brother. I know who you are. And I know who you aren't."
The words didn't mean anything to Dean but they meant something to the angel riding shotgun. He could see a sliver of something in those hazel eyes as they stared at Ruth. They were so close. Ruth was starting to get to him.
And then they were back at the starting line.
"I can't Ruth. I am trying to bring us home, fix our family."
"By destroying someone else's family. By doing something as underhanded as this. What you are doing will only prove the rumors true."
Sam's body flinched at her words and now Dean was super curious as to what they were talking about.
"I'm sorry."
Looking at him, Dean could tell that he really was but he had no sympathy for the angel that was holding his brother hostage. It seemed Ruth felt the same.
"So am I."
Two well-placed fingers later and Sam was unconscious again. Everything was quiet, no one daring to say anything in such a tense environment.
"What the hell we suppose to do now?"
The moment was over as all the angels turned their attention to Ruth. She looked at each one, searching for something, before stopping at Dean.
"Time for Plan C."
Ruth didn't explain after that, just looked over at Theo and Jesse, who both nodded and left.
"We're gonna send somebody in."
Dean glanced at Arelie and Ruth. "More possession?
"I know it got you into this mess in the first place but this would be the one way to free Sam without bringing him harm. If we can get to him and have him eject my brother, he'll be fine."
Dean was pacing, not liking the idea of having another angel share Sam's body. The fact that he knew the angels this time did little to settle him.
"So how does this work? You do the same thing that Fake Zeke did and trick him?"
Ruth started shaking her head. "None of the garrison can go in. If the others try, there's a chance he can overpower them given his age and amount of power. I can't go in because Sam would combust from our combined graces. It'd be too much on his body."
"So whose gonna go in?"
The familiar sound of wings sounded behind him, causing Dean to turn around but his body locking up when seeing Theo and Jesse.
"That's why it's called Plan C." Dean knew that was the only thing Ruth needed to say for this whole thing to make sense.
"Hello Squirrel."
~~~SPN~~~
It'd been little more than an hour since the room had stopped shaking and the yelling ceasing. The past few days had been quiet so suddenly feeling the tremor under his feet had been different but also a bit concerning. He'd heard a roar that resembled a hellhound and then a woman's shout. That was a surprise. He wasn't aware they had guests. Of course they never told him anything.
He'd felt an angel powering up but also another power source answer back, this one different but familiar. On the surface the second source was weaker but the longer it went on, the more he could feel something far more powerful underneath the surface brewing. He could feel the charge building, poking at his skin, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. If something didn't happen soon the two warring energies would destroy whatever structure the Winchesters were holding him at. Just when he thought it would all end, there was a crack of thunder that resonated in him, causing a hiss of pain. The two energies had finished their battle for domination, the angelic power being overwhelmed by its opponent.
He'd felt the powerful shock wave that rumbled the building's foundation and then it was quiet. After a few minutes he could distantly hear a child crying and then Kevin's hysterical hollering for someone named Ezal. It was seconds later that he detected several beacons of power enter the Winchester's hideout. Feeling so much angelic grace near by made him nervous. It was instinctual after all.
It took a good half an hour but he felt the angels leave, that feeling of impending doom lifting. The two angels that were left behind still made him nervous. There was one that felt like Naomi, but ten times more powerful. It was this one that had his nerves jumping back and forth. So far they had left him alone, but the worry was frying his nerves. Every once in a while he heard the clicking of nails on hardwood floor that would slowly pass by his room, a slight growl rumbling during its visits. This had to be the animal that he'd heard earlier. Distantly he was sure he heard the child's voice but it were too far to be sure. Hmm, interesting.
After about an hour of stewing he felt his room shake again but this time that powerful angel's grace sharply dimmed. He could still feel it but it was more contained than before. He ventured a guess that it now had a vessel. He felt it leave, the second angel remaining as a babysitter for Kevin and the kid no doubt.
It was quiet for a few minutes, and he was starting to think that maybe the worst of it was over but alas, two angels returned. And they were heading straight for him.
With hands gripping his armrests, he heard the door open and the shelves move, revealing the silhouettes of a tall, thick man and a much shorter companion on his right. Just looking at them their body type resembled Sam and Kevin, but he knew better. He squinted at the blinding lights that came to life above him and he could finally see who had visited him.
By the door, his hand coming away from the light switch was a man with shorn hair that he'd never seen before but he knew a skin walker when he saw one. The more pressing people in his company where the two angels standing before him.
The larger one resembled Sam's body built but seemed just a tad thicker all around while the other one had more bulk than Kevin but just a bit less than Dean, both sets of dark eyes watching him. Well, this was a pickle.
He shifted in his chair, chains clinking slightly with his movement as he tried to give off an air of confidence. Easier said then done when one was within smiting distance.
"What can I do for you boys?"
~~~SPN~~~
"No."
"Dean…"
"I said no."
"Dean."
Ruth's sharp voice had him glaring at her but she was glaring right back, the slight rumbling of thunder starting outside the warehouse.
"I know you don't like it, but as I said before, this is the only way. Crowley doesn't need permission to possess Sam and won't hurt his body. He can go in, tell Sam what's going on and get him to expel my brother. And you don't have to worry about Crowley because he'll behave himself, won't you?"
The King of Hell nodded at Ruth. "Of course my Dove, I'll be a good boy." He thought about throwing her a wink but the glare she gave him changed his mind.
Dean was quiet, thinking of his very limits choices. He rubbed a hand down his tired face. "What about the angel?"
"I'll make a doorway past the angel's mental defenses but the rest would be up to Crowley."
"What if the angel finds him?" Dean couldn't believe he was seriously considering this.
"I'll work fast." Crowley looked at Dean, slight smirk at the edges of his lips. "I don't want to be inside your brother any longer than I have to. I'm not one for sloppy seconds." Crowley's hands lifted to show his comment meant no harm as Theo stepped closer.
"You know he needs the chains off." Dean gestured to the metal links.
Ruth nodded, a slight spark in her eyes that reminded Dean of Abby. "That's something we're willing to risk."
"In exchange for my help, I expect my freedom." Crowley's smirk was pointed at Ruth, who strangely smirked back. What was she planning?
"You have my word but I don't have the final say." At this all the angels plus one demon turned their attention to the lone human.
Looking at Sam's unconscious body and back at Ruth, Dean sighed heavily. Turning to the demonic search and rescue, he muttered, "Poughkeepsie."
Crowley raised an eyebrow.
"When you see Sam, tell him Poughkeepsie. It's our go word. It means drop everything and run."
Arelie stepped forward with a chair, placing it in front Sam. Crowley settled himself in, tilting his head to the side, baring his neck at Dean.
Gripping the key, Dean didn't like this but really did he have a choice? This was the only way to get his brother back from his haloed kidnapper. Save him from Dean's own mistake. At least the safest way. Giving in, Dean turned the key, releasing the lock from Crowley's neck, moving to his handcuffs next.
Dean paused, key mere millimeters from undoing the cuffs, eyes narrowed on the former crossroads demon. "If you try anything…"
"Relax Squirrel, I already got the death threat speech from Moose 2.0 over there," Crowley gestured at Theo, who hovered near by like a prison guard. "I'll keep my hands to myself. You should know by now, I hold up my end of bargains."
Sighing, Dean turned the key, the handcuffs releasing and tumbling to the floor in a clanking pile.
"Arelie."
At Ruth's command, Arelie stepped forward, tugging at Sam's shirt to reveal the anti-possession tattoo. Seconds later the tattoo was burned away and healed over.
Ruth stepped up behind Sam, placing her hands on the younger Winchester's temples. Dean watched Ruth tilt her head down, eyes shut as a pale glow illuminated her hands, the same radiance slowly funneling through her fingers and into Sam's skin in delicate web-like designs. Ruth picked her head up to look at Crowley and Dean could see the bright blue-silver shine that covered Abby's honey gold eyes.
"Now Crowley."
Dean could see that the demon wanted to say something, but considering who was surrounding him, Crowley kept the remark to himself. Dean had a sharp déjà vu from when Abby was possessed as the red demonic cloud that was Crowley shot out of his body and rammed itself pass Sam's lips, disappearing from sight.
~~~SPN~~~
It didn't make any sense. Ghouls eating dead people? Sure, that's what they did. But this particular ghoul was different. Sam just didn't know why.
"This makes no sense, Dean. Why is this ghoul only eating dead cheerleaders," Sam called to his brother, eyes intent on the book in front of him. He'd pulled half a dozen volumes about ghouls off the shelves and was now hunkered down at a table in the middle of the library. One of these books had to have something he could work with.
"You wanna beer?" Dean's voice called from the kitchen where Sam could hear things being moved around.
"No, I'm good." Sam flipped to a new page, his eyes skimming for anything that would shed light on this newest hunt.
"Nice place."
His body responded automatically, leaping out of his chair to put distance between Crowley and himself. How the hell had he gotten out? "Dean! Dean!"
"Poughkeepsie."
Turning his head sharply, Sam narrowed his eyes at Crowley, body tense but mind intrigued. "How do you know that word?"
"Because, Bullwinkle, Dean sent me. The real Dean. Long story short, you're possessed by an angel right now. He's got you on lockdown in some corner of your massive head, so Dean and his merry band of angels sent me in to break you out."
Hands clutching and unclenching, Sam paused. "There's no way Dean would team up with angels."
"Guess we'll do this the fun way, eh Moose?"
Stepping forward to stop Crowley, Sam was too late as the demon grabbed a hold of Dean's gun, newly assembled from the earlier field stripping, aiming and firing.
In his panic Sam clawed at his chest but couldn't feel any pain or wound. Bewildered, he looked up at Crowley, who had a satisfied smirk on his face.
Shaking the gun, Crowley continued. "See, not real. I know how possession works Sam, I'm a demon. Everything he's seen, you've seen. The key is to remember. That's what you need to do. Remember."
Eyebrows furrowing Sam placed his hands against his head, felt the sharp pain as images started tumbling forward. Himself in a hospital bed, dressed in a gown and attached to machines. Dean and himself talking in some type of courtyard. Hands slicing the necks of the demonic soldiers. His hand hovering over Cas' wounds as he was healed. He saw Charlie's limp body lying on a bed and Dean's devastated face only for his hand to reach out and bring Charlie back. A young woman, brunette who was maybe a few years younger than him crouched next to a small boy, both their faces all smiles as they looked at each other. The skin walker from those years ago standing protectively behind them.
The next few memories caused him to flinch as he saw himself throw the brunette woman over the tables in the library. The skin walker in his canine form being slammed against a book case, yelping as he crashed to the floor. Finally, watching his own hand stretched out toward Kevin and the little boy in a smiting move he'd seen Cas do so many times before.
Staggering back a few steps Sam took in a ragged breath from what he just saw. Looking up at Crowley, he could heard the quiver in his voice, "Did…did I kill them? Kevin? T-the little boy?"
"It wasn't you, it was him but no, they're fine. I heard Kevin and the kid's voice before the angels came and got me. But that angel's still in here so you need to take control. Blow it all up Sam, and kick that punk-ass holler roller out!"
The younger Winchester jolted when seeing the man materialize behind Crowley. Was this him, the angel who had taken over his body? It had to be.
Crowley noticed his pause. "What?" A subtle look of revelation overcame the shorter man's features. "Oh, bollocks." The demon side-stepped away from the angel at his back, coming to stand in front of Sam.
"Hello Sam," greeted the blonde man, nodding at him.
"Who are you?"
"That's the million dollar question, Moose."
The blonde man turned to glare at Crowley, his lip curling in disgust at the sight of the him. "I'm surprised, Demon, that you're still here. Demons are cowards that should be running in my presence."
Crowley glanced over at Sam before he lashed out, landing a hit to the angel's face. The victory was short lived as the blonde man returned with his own punch, throwing Crowley up and over the tables. Sam paused, in shock as he remembered the woman, Abby, being thrown in a similar fashion. That pause allowed the unnamed angel to reach the demon, ramming his foot into Crowley's ribs.
After the second kick, Sam sprung into action, grabbing a hold of the angel's arm intending to pull him away from the downed man, but was on the receiving end of the angel's strength as he himself flew across the surface of a table, landing hard on his back.
"You should give up Sam. You're not strong enough."
Seeing the blonde man stop his attack on Crowley and stalk toward him, Sam lashed out a leg that nailed the angel in the face, pushing him back a few feet.
"Take back control Sam! Cast him out!"
Hearing Crowley's encouragement, Sam looked up at pale blue eyes, taking in a sharp breath. "Get o–"
A shadow loomed above him as hands wrapped themselves around his neck, crushing his windpipe. The pressure was steady against his neck, fingers flexing and tightening
"Are you sure about that Sam? I could be the only thing that's keeping you together. If I leave, you might die."
Sam flailed, hand touching the base of a lamp that had crashed to the floor along with him. Grasping the fixture, Sam put as much energy as he could at the face of his kidnapper. The blow was enough for the angel to let go of him and Sam took the opportunity to spin the man around, throwing the assailant to the floor, the shock from the lamp's blow starting to wear off. Not taking the chance Sam pressed down on the angel's throat as hands grabbed at his ankle in an effort to throw him off.
His voice sharp and angry, Sam snarled at the blonde man trapped under his foot, "I said. Get. The. Hell. Out!"
~~~SPN~~~
It had been five minutes but Dean felt like time had stretched on for hours. There was a demon, the King of Hell no less, and an angel in his brother right now. If he worded it right, it was the beginning of a bad joke.
"Relax Dean. This will work."
Dean tossed a look at Theo, the scarred man staring at him with a calm that pissed him off.
"Yeah, it better work." He didn't even acknowledge the other potential outcome. He couldn't.
There was a hiss from Ruth, causing everyone to form a tight huddle around the brunette as she held onto Sam's head, eyes pinched shut. "Crowley's been found out."
Dean's nerves were stretched tight. This was it, what it boiled down to. He didn't know if Crowley managed to find Sam but he was hoping that was the case.
There was a slight ringing that warned Dean before a white-blue swirling mass of angelic grace gushed out of Sam's mouth, the angel darting up and circling the room. The warding they had set up was keeping him trapped. Dean nearly let out a growl, hand itching to reach into his jacket for the angel blade. As much as he wanted to stab Fake Zeke, Dean was damn proud of Sam for giving that winged dick the boot.
"Arelie. Jesse."
At Ruth's command, the two angels started to dart around the room, crossing out certain Enochian sigils. After the last one was broken, the evicted angel made hast, disappearing through the ceiling.
"Sam?" Dean crept close but was pulled back by Theo as Crowley's crimson miasma followed the previous example, rushing from Sam's mouth back into his original meat suit.
Upon his release from Theo's grasp, Dean rushed forward, tapping at Sam's cheeks. "Sam? Sam, wake up."
"No, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
He was vaguely aware of Crowley's comment, all his focus pinned on one person. On either side of him were Arelie and Jesse, taking off the restraints while Ruth's hands unclasped the strap from under Sam's chin.
Two more taps later, Sam let out a groan, his head lolling back and forth, eyes opening into little slits. "W't?"
"Sam?"
"Dean, we should leave."
Ruth's urgent voice broke through his worrying, looking around himself. Dean was surprised and a little concerned when seeing all the angels armed with gleaming blades.
Big Brother instinct flaring, Dean pulled out his own silver dagger, coming to stand in front of Sam, Theo at his brother's back. "Who is it?"
"Abaddon."
Hearing that answer, Dean looked over at Ruth, finding her gaze already locked on him. He was sure that Ruth could kill Abaddon but considering that in order for that to happen Ruth would have to show herself, and by doing so expose Abby, who was coveted by the demonic red-head. Dean wasn't sure why Abaddon wanted Abby but he wasn't willing to chance it. Neither was Ruth.
"I'll distract her while you make your get-away, Dove."
Crowley was looking at Ruth, with too much of a calculating gaze in Dean's opinion but it seemed fine with Ruth as she nodded at him, her eyes narrowing for just a second before turning away. With Theo's help, Dean got Sam out of the chair, tucking himself under one of Sam's arms to help him stay upright.
Pausing to look back at Crowley, Dean gave a glare. "This don't make us even. The next time I see you-"
"You'll stab me in the throat. Yes, I know, love you too." Crowley took a moment to throw a wink at Ruth, the receiving end of the gesture lifting a eyebrow.
Ignoring that exchange, Dean held his breath for the familiar sensation of Angel Air, letting it go in relief when seeing the iron door of the bunker.
"Let's get you two inside."
Dean was in complete agreement with Ruth.
~~~SPN~~~
Dean leaned against the wall outside the kitchen, waiting as Ezal finished an exam on his little brother. Though his body was healed, the heavenly medic wanted to be sure the imposter hadn't done anything on his way out. Although they had let Crowley go, Dean felt the exchange for having the angel gone and his brother back was a fair deal.
Right now, most of the God Squad was stationed outside the bunker, keeping an eye out in case Abaddon managed to slip past Crowley and track them down. So far, it was quiet.
Looking at his watch Dean was surprised by how fast time had flown. It had already been dark when driving back from the warehouse where he had trapped Ruth and the others, that alone had taken more than an half a day, not getting back until a bit after two in the afternoon. Then another few hours had passed after Abby's group arrived before he could attempt to use the Enochian sigil on Fake Zeke. Another hour of healing Abby after she'd knocked out the angel followed by the hour it took to ward up the room they'd used to talk to the angel. Though it was fifteen past eight, still fairly early by his standards, Dean was ready to call it a day.
Kevin had already retreated to his room, Andrew asleep down the hall from Abby and Jack. Ruth had made sure everyone was settled in, taking a few minutes to talk to Sam before leaving to check the building they had left Crowley at. He wasn't sure when she'd be back. Ezal and Theo were the only angels in the bunker, the larger man making himself scarce while Ezal made his final rounds. The only ones still awake were Sam, Cas, and himself.
Hearing footfalls Dean lifted off the wall, catching Ezal exiting the kitchen. "So, how is he?"
Ezal looked back for a second before answering. "His body is good, my brother didn't harm him on his way out. The burn mark remains but it is gradually lessening. Not sure how long it will take but it is fading. Your brother will be fine."
Those were Ezal's parting word as he walked off, his steps silent. Dreading this moment, but knowing it needed to be done, Dean stepped through the doorway.
Cas sat at one end of the kitchen table, blue eyes looking up at Dean in greeting, turning a bit wary when those same eyes slide to Sam who sat silent at the other end of the table, a large glass of water in front of him.
"Ezal advised that Sam drink plenty of liquids and to get as much rest as possible. Nothing too strenuous for at least the next twenty-four hours. He said he'd check on him in the morning."
Dean nodded at Cas, eyes not leaving his brother. He was aware of Cas leaving his seat to stand on the other side of the kitchen, giving them as much privacy that the kitchen allowed, but Dean didn't take the offered chair.
"Alright, let me hear it."
Sam looked up, eyes tired but narrowing. "What Dean? You want me to tell you I'm mad. Yeah I'm mad, more like pissed as hell. You lied, again Dean."
"I didn't have a choice."
"I was ready Dean. Ready to stop all this fighting. I was ready to die!"
Dean could hear the emotion in his brother's voice and it was squeezing at his heart. "I know Sam. But I wouldn't let you, that's not who I am."
"If that's not all, you tricked me into getting possessed by some psychotic angel!"
"Look, as much as I hate him right now, he did save your life."
"So what Dean. I was ready, willing to die. And then I… I almost killed Kevin, almost killed Jack. Our friend and a little kid Dean!"
"No, what he did, almost managed to do, that was on me. I let it go on for too long and it almost cost us. But I can say that saving you was the right thing to do. I'd do it again."
"See, that's your problem Dean. You think you gotta be my savior, the hero. And even when you mess up, you think it's worth it. That you're doing more good than bad. What about today Dean? Because of your decision, Kevin was nearly killed. Abby almost lost her son. We don't even have Crowley! What's the plus side of me breathing Dean?" In the midst of their increasingly louder argument Sam had stood up, chair abandoned. Dean barely noticed the movement.
"You're kidding me right? The plus side is you, upright and alive. Even you pissed off and yelling at me. Having Ruth and her help, you and me fighting together again."
"You know what I think Dean. Honestly, in all this crap, you didn't save me for me, for this so-called fight. You saved me for you."
Dean beat back the urge to flinch at the accusing tone of his brother. "What are you talking about?"
"I was ready to let go. To die! I should have but you couldn't handle the thought. You didn't want to be alone. That's what this whole thing is about. You can't stand the thought of being alone Dean."
Dean rubbed a hand down his face. "You know what. Alright."
Sam gave a quiet, mocking chuckle. "I'll give you credit Dean, you're willing to do the sacrificing as long as you don't get hurt."
"Okay, Sam. You want to be honest? Fine. If it were reversed, if I was the one in that bed dying, you'd do the same for me."
Dean waited for the agreement but all he got back in return was silence. He heard Cas shuffled a bit but his focus was on Sam. So focused he didn't hear their audience.
"Everything okay in here?"
Turning, Dean spotted Abby in the doorway, hair loose in waves around her shoulders, dressed for sleep in a large black shirt and a pair of shorts.
Looking over at Sam who, once spotting the brunette, had turned away, some fight leaving him. Turning back to his friend, Dean gave small, reassuring smile.
"Yeah, we're good. Just talking."
Abby raised an eyebrow, looking at Cas who suddenly found his shoes interesting and at Sam who was occupied by drinking the rest of his water.
"Yeah, I can tell." Her dry tone was enough to let him know that she wasn't fooled. "Especially with a three-year old asking why everyone's yelling."
Oh, crap. Jack. Both Sam and Dean looked at each other for a second before looking over at Abby, their voices quiet in shame. "Sorry."
"Sure." Abby stepped into the kitchen, her eyes hard on Dean before sliding to Sam. Dean had been exposed to Abby's glowers long enough that the effects weren't as potent as they had been at first but this was Sam's first time. His younger brother looked away immediately, picking at the bottom seam of his shirt. Abby's death glare reminded Dean of Ellen. Looks like he wasn't the only one. It must be a mom thing.
"Castiel."
Hell, he was sure she'd been taking pointers from Ruth. Cas straighten up, coming to stand next to Dean.
"Yes Abby."
"Take Dean back to his room. It's late and he's had a very tiring day. He should sleep."
"Abby-"
Dean bit his tongue when Abby's honey-toned eyes narrowed at him. "Bed now, Dean."
The elder Winchester liked to think that he stood up for himself but that wasn't the case as he dipped his head like a properly scolded child, regardless of the fact that Abby was younger than him.
"Me and Sam have some things to discuss."
That got him to pause on his way out the door. Turning to Abby, he found her glaring back at him, her hip cocked and arms crossed. Torn, Dean looked back and forth between Abby and Sam, who strangely enough looked a bit flustered.
Finally allowing Cas to gently pull at his arm Dean slowly turned away and headed through the halls to his bedroom. As much as he tried not to, he couldn't help think about Sam's agreement that had never come. He had to set this right. Somehow.
~~~SPN~~~
Ruth had introduced herself as the angel that helped Dean escape the demon attack in Nebraska. Abby, her vessel, had helped Dean escape the house but she had taken over when they were gonna be attacked in the forest. She explained that she'd been in Detroit, keeping the other reapers from finding them while they had tracked Cas down.
After that, her garrison had been trailing Cas, protecting him from any wondering angels that got too close while he was in hiding. She'd told him about Cas' kidnapping and how they had found out about the rogue angel camping out in Sam's body. How they'd sent Crowley to get him out. Ezal had taken care of the internal injuries so he was good to go. He might be tired the first day but he'd be fine. In all her talking, Ruth was very calm, her voice even.
It was after Ruth left that Sam had met Abby. She was almost the complete opposite of Ruth. She was playful, almost like a blend of himself and Dean. She smiled a good eighty percent of the time, the other percentage was spent laughing. He'd never met someone with as much joy as her. Garth was a close second. Seeing her with Jack was just as incredible. Her eyes would soften just a bit but the joy went up when she was with the small blonde child. Seeing them together made him smile.
The woman in front of him now, marching her way through the library and up the staircase was someone he had never met. The glare she had given Dean and then him was scary. Very much a mother's look when finding her kids doing something disappointing and infuriating. He really was ashamed about keeping Jack up. He had been caught up in his argument with Dean that he didn't think of the others that could hear them.
What did Kevin think about them now? Would Andrew see them differently? Jack? Would he avoid Dean and him after their fight? Would he be scared of them? Cas had always been understanding so he was grateful for their friend. Abby apparently didn't have any difficulty with saying what she thought. The fact that Dean and him had disturbed her child could be where she drew the line. From experience, Sam knew you didn't mess with a mother and her child.
The iron door shut behind them, Sam followed the brunette out on to the dirt road in front of the bunker, watching as she paced back and forth. He could see the building anger, or disappointment, on her face and he was wondering if she brought him out here just so she could yell at him as much as she wanted. The quiet voice that came from her was worse somehow.
"How dare you."
He flinched at her tone. It was also getting his hackles up. "Excuse me?"
She whirled at him, mid pace, eyes bright with pent-up emotion. "I didn't stutter. I said how dare you. Saying something like that to your brother."
"First of all, what I say to my brother is none of your business. And secondly, I don't have to answer to you."
"That's where you're wrong pretty boy. You scared my kid, that makes it my business. I know you don't have to answer to me, I didn't bring you out here for that. What I am gonna do is tell you how much of a jackass you're being and then go to sleep. I mean, where the hell do you get off on telling him he'll sacrifice all he wants as long as he doesn't get hurt?"
Sam wanted to pull at his hair in frustration. "It's true, isn't it? He'll play the martyr as long as he doesn't have to deal with the pain afterward."
"See! That right there is a load of bullshit! Selling his soul so you can live, spending forty years in Hell, being pulled a part in so many twisted ways just so your ungrateful gigantic ass gets to walk around topside, that doesn't count? The nightmares that plagued Dean in the night? Just how high is your standard Sam?"
Hearing Abby say those things brought Sam up short. "How the hell do you know about that?"
Abby was back to pacing, waving her hand at Sam dismissively. "Ruth. She may not have had a vessel but she's been around a long time. Like all the other angels, she's known about you and Dean, your so-called destiny, since the beginning. She would check up on you throughout the years. As her vessel, I can see what she sees or in this case seen, if she lets me. And so far she hasn't held anything back. Oh, by the way, I really had no idea this whole self-centered ungrateful act you got going on has been your default setting since you were a kid."
Sam could feel his anger growing and he hoped he could keep himself in check. "You don't know anything."
"I don't want spaghettios Dean, I want Lucky Charms, blah blah woof woof. You just were never happy with what you had. All you could think about was yourself. Dean had to give up his own childhood so you could have something of an innocence. Yet that's not enough for you? You were sheltered and protected so you could have some semblance of a normal life but again it wasn't enough was it?"
"You don't know how we were raised, you don't know what we had to go through. I was a kid!"
"So was I!"
Sam skidded back a few feet, air stolen from his lungs at the force of Abby's telekinesis. He was told about it but experiencing it was different. She didn't seem aware of what she had done, just stared up at Sam, eyes glossy with unshed tears.
"If you would get your head out of the clouds, Sam, you'd see that you're not the only one with a troubled past. You'd be surprised how alike I am with you and Dean."
Abby's voice had grown quiet, cold, toward the end of her talk, eyes growing distant, inward. "It's been more than twenty years but I can still hear my mom's screams. I can hear the laughing, the sick joy they got when they ripped her a part with their bare hands. I remember the moment when she just suddenly stopped. It was so quiet for the longest time. And then footsteps. Up the stairs and coming right at me. It didn't matter how well I had hid, they found me, lifting me up by my arm so roughly I was sure it had broke. Their joy at my own screams when they showed me the kitchen. Blood. On the counters, the floor. There was a lady, who was drinking from a glass cup, filled with something red and thick. Those black-eyed bastards thought it was hilarious when they pushed my face in my mom's opened stomach. I was five years old Sam!"
As much as he wanted to fight, Sam couldn't help the tears that filled his eyes. He would never have guessed, with how much love for life Abby had, that this was her beginning.
With hands shaking Abby placed them against her ears, no doubt trying to block out what she was still hearing. "That's the last memory of my mother. Seeing her empty eyes staring at me, my face wet with her blood, their cackles rattling in my head."
Sam edged forward, wanting to comfort Abby. He couldn't help it, with as much as they yelled at each other, he still wanted to offer her something to ease her pain. But she seemed to feel him get close because she flinched away from him.
Looking up at him, Abby's eyes were dull, fresh wet tracks tracing her cheeks and her voice was devoid of emotion. "You're so ungrateful by Dean's sacrifice that you throw all he's done for you right at his face. You mock the life, the gift, he gave you. My little sister died a few months ago. She was like you, just wanting to live a normal life, but she was killed. I have to live on with the fact that her murderer is so close, but I can't even touch him. I would give anything to have her back and when I see you, I see a waste. Really Sam, if you were so ready to die, why are you still here?"
The jump between topics were giving Sam whiplash. He cleared his throat of emotion, wanting to prove his point, what he had told Dean. "It wasn't my choice. I was ready to die."
He hadn't even finished his sentence when Abby started shaking her head. "No, you weren't. You don't understand Sam. You were given a choice. That's why you're still here. You didn't have to stay but yet here you are."
Sam opened his mouth to disagree, but he was stopped by the shuffle of feet behind him.
"Mama."
Turning Sam spotted Jesse and Theo, the former glaring at Sam while the larger man was staring at Abby with a concerned look on his face, the same Sam usually saw on Dean. In Theo's arms was a coated Jack, tiny compared to the large arms that encased the boy. Pale blue eyes were wide and trained on Abby.
Sam's eyes looked away when Jack glanced at him, still ashamed for scaring the boy during his fight with Dean. He moved out of the way when Theo stepped toward Abby, the tiny brunette already having her arms held out to receive her child.
"Hi baby," murmured Abby, kissing Jack on the cheek. "Why aren't you in bed?"
"I couldn't sleep. Mom, why are you crying?"
Sam had been watching the exchange but again he looked away, knowing it was his fault for the boy's insomnia and Abby's tears.
"Is it Aunty J?"
Sam looked up at Jack's soft question, Abby lightly chuckling at her son. She wiped her cheeks free of tears, planting a smile her face.
"It's okay Momma. We can go visit her if you want."
The youngest Winchester smiled sadly at the boy's knowledge, seeing how Abby was about to cry again.
She turned to Theo. "Do you mind Theo?"
The larger man shook his head, coming to stand behind the pair. Abby paused enough to look over at Sam, all her previous anger at him gone. "Sam you should get some rest."
In the next instant the trio were gone, leaving Sam and Jesse on the dirt road. The young hunter looked over at Jesse, but was met with a death glare. Instead of smiting him, as Sam was sure Jesse was thinking about, the angel just turned away from him.
"Abigail is right. You should sleep Sam." Sounding like a dismissal Jesse disappeared, leaving the taller man alone.
Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, Sam was surprised by how tired he got just from his conversation with Abby. She certainly gave him something to think about. Heading back in Sam wondered if he would get any rest tonight.
~~~SPN~~~
It was three hours later that found the bunker quiet and still. The occupants were deep in REM sleep, unaware of the person lurking through the hallways, heading toward one of the bedrooms.
The door didn't make a sound as it eased open, enough for the person to slip through. Slowly they crept closer making sure to be silent because, as with all hunters, this male would surely wake up at the slightest disturbance.
Looking down, the Winchester child slept on, eyes roving under closed lids, in the midst of a dream. Seeing the opportunity, the visitor reached down and gently laid their hand on the imprint that had been seared into skin, matching the outline with their own digits. There was a flash of white and the visitor quickly left the man's side, exiting the bedroom. This was for the best. For both brothers.
Fun fact: I only started this story because I was upset that Kevin died. I needed to save him some how and the rest just came to me. I also combined the two conversations Dean and Sam had at the end of Road Trip and Sharp Teeth. Both were important, more the Sharp Teeth talk than Road Trip, so I just combined them. I've been waiting a long time for this chapter. Cliff hanger! Let me know what you think! Peace. Out. -Mez