Changes – chpt 6.
By: sifi.
OOooOO
"Finished?" Cernunnos asked dropping his hand onto the slumped shoulder of the apparently exhausted man.
"I haven't even started!" he growled then looked up at Spencer, "the kid?" he asked tiredly.
"Miss Finnegan wants me here." He explained sitting on the far end of the bench, "So… can I ask? How? I mean, back at the trailer what I saw…"
The demi-god's host shrugged, "Meh, I was just screwin' around, obviously it didn't scare you away."
"Were you trying to?" Spencer asked curiously.
Again the host shrugged, "S'not my business. If you'd run you'd just be proving yourself unworthy of the Kings' attention… just like the rest of your weak…pathetic race."
Spencer smiled and leaned back, his profiler's muscles flexing as he wondered if talking with a demi-god responsible for pestilence and famine was going to be any different than talking with a serial killer, "If you hold our species in such contempt why would you reduce yourself to serving two mere mortals?"
"You bring me an ignorant child to pass the time old hunter?" he smirked glancing at Cernunnos who lay on the grass, a nymph-ish looking female astride and riding him shamelessly while his hands eagerly explored her.
"Oh jeez." Spencer turned his head away, shocked by the display.
At the young man's reaction Imdugud laughed low but heartily, the tension around him broken by the honest reaction.
"He's fertility and rebirth, what did you expect child?" the Assyrian asked wryly.
"Well I didn't expect…that… out… in the open…" Spencer stammered quietly and in spite of the initial awkwardness of the situation found he might not have minded watching, except that would be even more awkward NOW.
"The pro-creative energy will disturb the succubus, she'll know we are near and will cower like the filth she is."
Spencer paid close attention to the smile that turned up the corners of the hosts' mouth and nodded to himself, "I'm in a very unique position here…" he prefaced, "Historically there are accounts of the animosity between you and Li…"
Imdugud shook his head, "Speak not her name." he instructed.
"Harmonics?" Spencer asked.
"Perhaps not so ignorant after all," the ancient one smiled as off to the side the nymph squeaked, gripped Cernunnos tightly and slumped satisfied over him.
He rolled her off of him, stroked her hair and kissed her forehead then pulled up a blanket of grass over her, leaving her to sleep in her element while he sat up and rejoined the other two men. "Mmm," he grinned, "Nymphs."
"That would explain why promiscuous young women are still occasionally referred to as nymphs." Spencer mused aloud.
"Indeed," Cernunnos nodded smiling, "Wonderful stress reliever… you should try it," he nodded at the young man then shouldered Imdugud's host, "You could probably stand a good release too."
"Human's don't really satisfy me old man."
The young FBI agent felt his eyebrows raise in curiosity as he contemplated exactly what kind of creature could be a 'romantic' match for the twelve foot tall, onyx winged, rabid canine-faced being he'd seen in the trailer.
Not surprisingly, he couldn't really think of one.
OOooOO
Dean's legs reached out, his feet sliding between the front passenger door and the seat while he arched forward, stretching the kinks out from his fingertips to his toes. He'd awoken to the strange feeling that Sam needed him, or was calling to him and he wondered why the younger man wasn't in the car. Where'd you go Sam? He frowned, scratching his head as he sat up and exited the car to take care of business, a shadow of a memory of yesterday, Laura's car going over an embankment and the knowledge that Sam had been the one inside.
"Sammy!" his fingers fumbled through his pockets, pulling John's old cell. He growled when voice mail kicked in, "Sam? It's me… tell me you're okay man… I don't know what happened… I'm sorry… just please, call me when you get this, let me know you're okay… I gotta keep going, I gotta get this done Sam… just," he swallowed hard and wiped away beads of sweat wishing it was that easy to sweep away the sick feeling in his stomach, if anything happened to him so help me God… "be okay. Please." He sighed, "Call me okay? Please?" then hung up and winced, his head pounding for coffee.
"It's too late, you're never going to get rid of me, I'm in too deep." A cocky voice that sounded way too familiar told him.
"Bet me." He sneered sliding behind the wheel and turning the engine over, "I'm the one in charge here buddy and don't you even THINK otherwise!"
"Mmmm," he could almost feel it smiling inside his head and he idea was making him more than just a little nervous, "I smell something that needs taking care of… and it's on the way."
"No, no way. No more side trips." He shook his head.
"It's a predator. It hunts females, it hurts them. Uses and degrades them then throws them away."
"Has it killed anyone?" he asked fighting the spark of interest.
"It will… maybe even today."
Chewing his lower lip Dean put the car into gear and pulled out onto the road letting his senses hone in on the discordant vibration of intentional cruelty. As he did the intruder's voice subsided, withdrawing to lay in wait while he made its new home that much more hospitable to its presence.
OOooOO
"Are you sure Mr. Crosby?" Christy, his nurse asked sliding the arm of his shirt all the way up and over his shoulder. Sam smiled easily as she started buttoning it as if it was second nature.
Bet she's got kids and a husband, he thought then with a flick of the eyes noticed the ring on her finger, damn I'm good. "I'm sure Christy," he nodded almost imperceptibly, perhaps subconsciously afraid to make too sudden a move, "I can get it thanks."
The cute dark blonde frowned and chewed her lower lip, holding his AMA release papers tightly with one arm while her fingers toyed with a simple gold cross at her neck, "Look…" she glanced up through her lashes at him, "I saw that report, I saw the CT itself, it wasn't an imager problem… I've seen those they look like… well they look different. I've seen dozens of fractures, including compression fractures… Mr. Crosby… you, up and walking around, and… moving… it's a miracle. I'm sorry I don't want to sound all religious on you or anything but… no matter what you believe you gotta believe that sometimes miracles happen and you're one of 'em…" she sighed looking down at the floor then glanced around to make sure no one else would hear as she looked up into Sam's gentle smile, "By all rights you should be paralyzed, not that I'd wish it or anything but…"
"I understand what you're saying," he rested his hand on her upper arm, "I do believe in miracles," He nodded and smiled sliding into his jacket then shook his head, "but I'm just a guy that's got somewhere to be."
Silent and still chewing her lips while looking at the floor she nodded and didn't raise her eyes until he was out in the hall with his duffel bag in hand and heading toward the elevators. Watching him receding she whispered a prayer and kissed that simple cross at her neck wondering exactly what kind of miracle she'd just witnessed.
OOooOO
Outside the hospital, in a small courtyard Sam sat on one of the marble benches his eyes searching the grounds until he found what he was looking for. Something told him the sidhe wouldn't be far away, maybe it's just cause I know Laura… I hope she's alright. She hasn't looked that wrecked since before we killed her. A memory sprang up suddenly, causing him several moments of discomfort as a single instant on the Road To Dead replayed itself in his mind. He could feel her mouth under his and her body against his, warm and yielding in all the right places. She'd tasted like honey and cream and the slope of her low back fit the curve of his hand just right. Her soft rounded places fit his hard angles like puzzle pieces and his entire being felt whole for a moment.
The image was gone almost as quickly as it had come but the sensation remained leaving him panting quietly for several breaths while Mustardseed stood looking at him as if he knew exactly what had gone through the young hunter's being. No, that can't happen again. He closed his mind to the idea and got up grabbing his bag in front of him while the small warrior led him through the veil.
"Welcome back my son," Cernunnos greeted Sam with a squeeze to the back of his neck, "You're healed I take it?"
"I hope so... bring me up to speed?" he questioned heading toward the bench where the others waited. The question dangling on the tip of his tongue seemed to drop off as the deity drew his attention. He was moving around Sam, 'whiffing' him like a vampire taking a scent sample only the smile that was on the Celt's face was an odd mix of smugness and delight flavored with a tiny twist of something a little unnerving. "What?" Sam asked.
"You're aroused."
The unabashed assessment caught the young hunter off guard, bringing a violent flush to his cheeks as he drew back and met the horned one's eyes, "Hot nurse... but she's taken." He gave a quick nod as Spencer and Imdugud both turned to look at them. "I think I had a vision of Dean pulled over in a rest stop on his way to here last night, but..." he stopped unsure if he should continue.
"What?" Cernunnos asked.
"Do you see his aura?"
"It's less an actual 'seeing' rather than a sensing... what did you see my boy?"
"His light," he shook his head, "I could see it at first... y'know through the rear window but it faded and stopped and," his brows furrowed deeply and his mouth bowed downward, "I think the wraith is digging in deeper... I have to help him." He drew the ancient one away from the others, "I don't care about the bitch, let Imdugud have her, I need to save my brother and I think that wraith is going to put up a serious struggle."
"They usually do... historically speaking," Cernunnos nodded then looked up into those concern darkened blue-greens, "what do you have in mind?"
"We might need to sedate him, can the sidhe whip up something?"
The God of fertility and rebirth smiled, tapped his arm then pointed to Spencer, "The emissary is a step ahead of you, she gave the young man something for that very purpose if it's necessary."
I should have figured... he shook his head and felt the corners of his mouth turn up. "Any word from Bobby yet?"
"He called minutes after sunrise my king," Imdugud called from the bench, "he should be here within the hour."
Sam smiled as Cernunnos chuckled and they joined the men on the bench, "What's up with the succubus? She staying put?"
"She's called in her guard, they've been possessing innocents all night long, there are at least a dozen that are watching the house she and her vessel's mate are in. They're waiting for us." Imdugud summarized.
"Any movement from local law enforcement?" Sam asked recalling just a couple years ago when Lilith's supporters had taken over almost an entire town, including a few local police and even going so far as to possess Henricksen. I'm sorry, I should have listened to Ruby, I should've made Dean listen to her... even though he WAS right. So damned close.
"I haven't heard anything my king."
"What if she does bring in the police?" Spencer asked.
"If she does, the odds are they'll be possessed." He looked between the demi-god and the deity, "We need to contain her supporters..." he stopped suddenly, dropped his bag and started rifling through it until he came up with a pad of paper and a pen. "I can't believe I didn't think of this before..."
"What?" Spencer asked as all the others looked on while he drew several copies of something, one to a page.
"Igigi..."
"Excuse me what?" he asked watching slow smiles spread over Imdugud's and Cernunnos' faces.
"Of course..."
"Brilliant my king."
"Why should we have all the fun right?" Sam smiled then turned to one of the sidhe warriors, "We need chalk, or dye, some means of writing, and we'll need a devil's trap large enough to encompass the house the succubus is in, make it between realms so she won't know it's there but be prepared to move the veil on order."
The diminutive warrior nodded curtly and dashed off into nothingness to do as directed.
"Imdugud," Sam started, reaching forward with a piece of paper half covered in the equivalent of the first written language, Cuneiform. The demi-god glanced at the paper and laughed, the rich sound accompanied a few seconds later by the Celtic deity's hearty chuckles.
Spencer shook his head, "What's it say?"
"Basically, 'all you can eat... come inside'." Imdugud settled down and wiped his hosts' eyes, "Who says Gods don't have a sense of humor."
"We'll need to draw them here." Cernunnos said.
"Leave that to me." Sam frowned handing a sheet to Spencer, and another to Celt.
"Eat? Eat who? You're going serve up a whole neighborhood worth of demon-possessed people to some... what are they? What'd you call 'em...Igigi?" The young FBI agent asked suddenly very disturbed.
"It's not like that." Sam shook his head.
"That's what he's making it sound like... what the hell kind of deity do you think you are anyway?" Spencer frowned angrily, everything he'd been exposed to over the last couple days finally starting to fill him up to overflowing.
"I'm NOT a GOD!" Sam yelled.
"You have been." Cernunnos said softly.
Imdugud's eyes flicked over Spencer then met Sam's again, "You cannot deny your soul."
"Can we please..." Sam snarled between the two ancient beings then held the young agent's gaze, "I'm not." But to his consternation he thought he might see something resembling belief in the young man's eyes. Not you too... you're supposed to be the one who relies on empirical evidence ... he sighed, "Look, you're an exceptional man. I just happen to have some areas where I'm... somewhat... differently skilled than most."
"Hah!" Imdugud scoffed then rose to his full height and bowed deeply before Sam while holding the paper up high, "I'm off my king... the swarm will hold their position until I call for them."
"The swarm?" Spencer asked then watched as Imdugud's host turned his fist up and opened it to reveal the first of what could be any number of locust he chose to unleash.
"Did that... did you... how?" he asked clearly amazed.
Imdugud smiled, closed his hand and looked into the young mans' eyes, "It's a gift," then shifted his gaze to Sam, "One I gratefully employ for my king."
The youngest Winchester felt the blow as if it'd been delivered with a sledgehammer and with his lips pressed tightly together in a partial scowl nodded curtly both acknowledging and dismissing the demi-god.
OOooOO
"Are you Evan Thompson?"
"Yeah? Who're you?" the mid-thirties man in the tattered and grease stained mechanics shirt scowled, frustrated by the interruption.
Wonder if that's the standard mechanic look... he thought as his fist flew into the dark brown beard and he pressed forward while the man retreated under his barrage.
"Hey!" he barked and swung. Dean dodged the bad attempt.
"What's the matter? You can't fight it out with a guy so you gotta take it out on your girl?" he sneered angrily and popped the man again as his co-workers emerged into the bay, wondering what was going on but no one lifting a finger to intercede which spoke volumes to John's eldest.
"What the hell're you talkin' about!" Evan swung again, this time connecting with Dean's jaw.
"I know kids that pack a better punch you pathetic piece of shit..." and he swung again backing the man up to the tool bench against the far wall, his eyes narrowing on his co-workers who stood around them, moving through the garage with the fight, some of them even smiling.
"What's the matter with you guys? Get this guy off me!" he hollered as Dean pressed him back, his favorite bowie knife flat against his throat.
"I'm betting they figure you're finally getting what you deserve."
"Damn that bitch..." Evan muttered through clenched teeth.
"What happened Evan? She get mouthy with ya? Maybe didn't have dinner on the table when you wanted it? Maybe didn't wanna put out one night?"
"I don't know what you're talkin' about..." he denied smugly, "She fell down! She's always walkin' inta things or fallin' over stuff... always been a clumsy broad... who the hell are you? You a friend of that nosey bitch sister of hers? What'd she do tell that fat cow I tripped her or something? Hire you to put a squeeze on me?"
"Now why would anyone hire me for that unless they had a reason huh?" Dean snarled. The men behind him moved closer, unsure about what exactly was going on but most certainly interested in this stranger. At first they figured Evan got himself in trouble over some of his gambling, but this didn't sound like it. This sounded like something... worse, and yet still not anything that would really surprise any of them about him. Evan started working at the garage about six months ago, and already he'd alienated most of the staff. His work was good and solid but he was neither reliable or fit for contact with the customers given his bad temper.
"But if it's any consolation..." he didn't get to finish his statement. While he'd been pressing Evan back against the tool bench, pinning him in effect, Dean failed to take into account any tools below the bench's surface.
"Watch out!" came from one of the men too late as hot ripping pressure tore brutally into Dean's side, his surprise manifesting in a slip of that wickedly sharp bowie knife as its edge slid through several layers of skin halting Evan's further attempt at escape or overpowering him and leaving them at a stalemate.
"You can't stay on your feet for much longer," Evan snarled and chuckled.
"Long enough for you to tell me why she really wound up with those busted ribs and broken arm huh?" he gritted his teeth, there was no way he was going to let this son of a bitch see him in pain. I can hold it down... it's not so bad. An instant later, when Evan's hand twitched on the slender shaft of metal his knees came close to buckling and a groan couldn't help but escape him.
"Get your hand off the iron Evan 'er so help me that boy won't hafta finish his job... I'll do it m'self!" An older balding man of indeterminate age stepped forward pushing his sleeves up on his heavily tattooed forearms.
Dean couldn't figure which was worse the man's hand on the tire iron sticking out of his side or the feel of it dangling in his body. He drew a deep breath and leaned to the right, squeezing the iron in his muscles, hoping to keep it in place for just a few seconds longer. Inside his head he could hear the wraith laughing at both of the humans it had manipulated to this point. Oh you are sooooo toast when I'm through here. He thought.
"Just give me one reason why you would hurt someone who's only been loyal to you? What could she have done to deserve it?" he asked through the grimace against the pain.
Under his increasing weight Evan's brown eyes met his deepening greens and he shook his head, "What do you mean what'd she do to deserve it? They ALL deserve it! They're just like dogs, a man's gotta train his bitch."
"So you'd beat a dog like you beat your wife?" Dean snarled through the clouding in his head, he winced and tightened again to the side as the bar slid another centimeter from its hole.
Evan laughed, "You kidding? Dog's aren't dumb, one good smack you protect your investment, bitches, not so much."
"I WAS AT YOUR HOUSE! I SAW WHAT YOU DID!" Dean stormed, pressing the edge of the blade just a little deeper. "Only the righteous man who started it can end it." He recalled from somewhere deep, a warning that stayed his hand, "...only the righteous man..." Me, I'm the one... I have a bigger job to do...
Evan's eyes sprang wide and gasping breaths tore at him under the weight of the blade and his assailant, "M...muh... maybe I got a little carried away... but she turned into the blow! The bat woulda just hit her ribs again..."
A hot furious smile spread over Dean's mouth as he pushed off the man, "That's all I needed to hear." Faster than anyone would have thought possible, he drew back the knife, shifted his grip and struck the man with the pommel leaving him to fall unconscious to the floor.
A cry tore out of him as he fell to his knees, one hand on the tire iron in his side and the other sheathing his blade then digging into his coat pocket as the other men finally moved to their position, the one with the tattooed forearms dropped an arm around the hunter, helping to keep him upright then barked to his co-workers. "One of you go call 911!"
"And the police..." Dean grunted, movement to the left, just outside the repair bay at the edge of the garage caught his attention. He smiled faintly as the diminutive warrior danced nervously behind the veil, apparently very unhappy about the young man's injury.
From his pocket he pulled their old hand held tape recorder, stopped it, and dropped the tape into the bald man's hand. "Cops can press charges even if she doesn't... especially with this."
"Y'threatened him t'get it... it won't hold up."
"No, but it'll help." Dean grabbed the man's arm, "Speaking of help... help me up... I got somewhere to be."
"Yeah man, a hospital... you're not fit for going anywhere else."
His eyes on the sidhe warrior, Dean gave a nod which brought him out from behind the veil.
"What the hell?"
"Help me to my car." Dean instructed, glad the man was too shocked by the sight of the tiny warrior to do much else besides what he asked.
Every step tore at him, every breath stabbed deeper.
"What the hell is that?" the man asked.
"A friend..." he smiled, "You need to go back into the garage... hey..." he grabbed the guy's forearm as sweat started to pour out of him and his face turned waxy. "You can't..." he panted.
"I get it," he assured, "done enough time t'make the shortlist... I get it about layin low."
Dean glanced back to the garage.
"They're good guys, I'm sure they all saw something different."
"Thanks man." Dean nodded, slumped behind the wheel, "You sure you can do this?" he asked faintly, remembering how each team had been able to move to their required ambush locations when they moved against Nergal's earthly supporters, the members of the cult of Ninurta.
The warrior stood tall and gave a smart American G.I. salute then frowned as Dean closed his eyes with a nod and a frighteningly faint, "Good."
From the interior of the garage Lee Kazlewski watched in amazement as that eighteen inch man did something that made the car and its driver disappear from sight.
OOooOO
Tbc.
Please R&R.
Thank You.
Sifi.