Chapter 7
Claire slowed her bike to a stop outside of Westerville. She stared at angrily at the red light. How could she not be angry? After coming all this way to find her father, why couldn't he be alive?
Another biker rode up beside her and revved the engine. She looked at him and rolled her eyes looking back at the douchebag. He revved the engine again.
Claire glared at him.
"C'mon princess," he said, "Race you to Wendell's. Loser buys drinks."
Claire did feel a drink would be good. Plus, she hated being called "princess." She revved her engine, answering the challenge. The light turned green and they zoomed along the empty highway.
For a moment, her challenger was ahead of her, but slowly, she gained speed on him. Turning the corner, she surpassed him. Now he was trying to get back at her, pass her if possible.
The bar was just a mile ahead. She turned her blinker on and slowed, turning into the bar's parking lot.
She turned the bike off and dismounted, removing her helmet. The challenger pulled in. Once he was off his bike and his helmet under his arm. Claire didn't think he was that attractive, but he wasn't uncomely. He grinned. "So…"
"I take whiskey, extra neat," Claire said, smirking at him. He opened the door for her and she sat down at the counter. A few feet away was a man drinking a beer, perhaps having had a bad day at the office.
There were a few couples enjoying an afternoon drink with each other and their friends.
"Ryan Donovan," the man said, holding his hand out to Claire.
"Claire Novak," she said, grasping his hand. The bartender approached.
"Two whiskeys, one extra neat."
The bartender nodded and turned his back on them, turning around with two glasses and a bottle, pouring the liquid inside the glasses before leaving them be.
"What brings you to Columbus?"
"I'm looking for someone," Claire said, "I was," she clarified.
"You found him? Or her?"
"Him, and not exactly," she said. "He's dead."
"Sorry about your boyfriend."
Claire slumped her shoulders. "I was looking for my dad."
"Oh," he said. "God, I'm sorry. Really shouldn't jump to conclusions like that."
"A lot of people do so anyway. My dad left home about ten years ago for work. I only saw him once since. It was just me and my mom for the longest time. She passed recently from cancer. So, I figured, maybe Dad's still alive. Maybe I can get him to come home at least once before he leaves again. I found his partners, but he passed recently." Claire took a sip. "And I just over shared."
"It's a bar, I think over sharing is part of the atmosphere."
"What sob story do you have?"
"Not really a sob story," he said, grinning. He took a drink from his glass. "Let's just say that for a long time, my life has been put on hold and it was torturous. Hated it. I just got back into the game." He grinned wider. "We all did."
Claire furrowed her brow. He blinked. His eyes turned tar black. The bartender locked the door. Many of the loungers stood and stared at her. Many of them had black eyes just like Ryan's. Claire stood.
"Hello, Claire."
The man from the other end of the counter said, standing. He smirked at her and blinked. Bright red eyes stared back at her.
"Name's Crowley," he said, "King of Hell."
#
Sam turned his phone on again. Several angry messages from Dean, which he ignored, and one from an unknown number. Sam hoped it was Claire.
He called her back, returning to the Impala.
The phone answered. "Claire, where are you? I'll come pick you up."
"Hello, Moose," Crowley said.
Sam slowed to a stop. "Where's Claire?"
"Safely tucked away in my pocket," Crowley answered. "Bring me Castiel and we'll discuss a trade."
"I'm not making any trades."
"Castiel knows where to go. I'll be nice: three hours. Bring Castiel. And if you're late…well, I'll let your imagination run wild."
"Crowley, let me talk to Claire."
"You're not in the bargaining position, right now, Sammy. Three hours. Tick. Tock."
The phone line ended and Sam listened to the dial tone.
#
"No," Dean snapped.
"I don't want to go through this either, but Cas can take care of himself. Claire doesn't have any experience fighting demons. If she tries, they'll tear her apart."
Cas looked at Dean. "He has a point."
"You just escaped!"
"I made a promise to Jimmy and I intend to keep it. Sam and I will go after Crowley. All you guys need to do is get rid of them again.
"Crowley probably won't let Claire go," Meg said. "Hell, he'll probably take Sam also if it means you won't try to lock them away, Dean."
"You don't want to go back either, so why aren't you on Crowley's side?"
"I want to be here, yeah. No contest," Meg said, "But if the options are living in Hell with Crowley torturing me, or with you guys here, or dying, I prefer option two. But I know that you're going to lock them away again. So…I'll settle for option three after helping you. We've come a long way from being enemies."
"We still are enemies, Meg," Dean reminded her.
"Why? Because I'm a demon? I thought we got past that."
"There's no going past that."
"Okay, fine. But I'll still help you. And as much as I hate saying this, that girl needs our help. Castiel will have to go back, even though he's our only leverage against Crowley."
"Thanks, Meg."
"Don't thank me just yet," Meg said, glaring at Sam. "That girl just walked into something she shouldn't have and I'm likely to beat caution into her for this stunt."
"Cut her some slack," Sam pleaded. "Crowley saw her. It was likely that he would capture her. It's our fault for not thinking it through. We forgot how to deal with demons and ended up underestimating Crowley."
"No," Dean said, "we didn't. You went after her. You knew how dangerous it could be. Claire underestimated them." He shook his head and grabbed a beer. "Such a novice," he muttered under his breath.
"Other than having no idea how to deal with demons," Sam said, "she's not a novice. She's been hunting for several years now. That doesn't make her a novice. We have years on her, Dean. Cut her some slack. Are we going after them or not?"
"Apparently we are," Dean said. "Majority vote. Cas goes back."
"Only long enough until you lock them away again," Castiel assured him. "It's not permanent. And it will only be me and Sam."
Dean didn't look at them. Sam and Castiel glanced at Meg, who nodded at them, mentally indicating she'd stay with Dean.
Castiel and Sam left the room.
"Alright, Dean," Meg said, taking the beer bottle out of Dean's hand. "We got some shopping to do."
"Woman, I will shoot you if you don't give me back my beer."
#
Castiel and Sam arrived at Crowley's manor.
"Are you ready?" Sam asked.
"As ready as I can be. Just get Claire out. And, Sam, if anything happens to me, I want you and Dean to protect her. I trust you both to do at least that."
"Nothing's going to happen to you. But if it's any consolation, then yeah, we'll take care of her."
Sam followed Castiel into the grounds. The doors opened and they were greeted by two burly guards. They were handcuffed and gagged, so that Castiel wouldn't smite anyone and Sam wouldn't exorcise them.
They were led to a parlor and left to stand, waiting for Crowley. Sam fidgeted. Couldn't they hurry this along?
Crowley entered and sat down. "Well, boys, welcome to my home. Castiel, welcome back. Now, let's discuss our options."
"Give Claire back," Sam shouted, but the gag muffled his demand.
Crowley ignored him. "The terms of the original agreement is that you bring me Cas, I give you Claire. Really, though, Moose, bit young for you, wouldn't you say?"
Sam glared at Crowley.
"But let's discuss our options, shall we?"
Two chairs slid across the floor and knocked Sam and Castiel into them.
"The first clause is Castiel's return. Done. But I also would much appreciate it if you kept that fool brother of yours from sending me and my…subjects, I suppose, back to Hell. I know you're already working on it. Third, where's Meg? I'm sure she's come to you already. I'd like her back to."
"Why do you want Meg?" Castiel asked. But like Sam, it came out muffled.
Crowley waved his hand and the gags came undone.
"Where's Claire?"
"Why do you want Meg?"
"Boys! One at a time. Sam, do you want to know where Claire is? She's locked away safely in one of the bedrooms. No reason for her to be any more uncomfortable than she already is. Castiel. Dear, dear Castiel. Meg's come a long way in seven years. She's my second in command."