This is dedicated to a reviewer who reminded me that I had some stories to finish. In fact I'm going to concentrate on finishing it before moving on to anything else. She knows who she is. Thanks! :)
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Chapter Four.
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Dean was crouched miserably in the corner of the transparent room. If he kept his head fixed towards the floor, he would at least be spared the sight of the mass torture going on around him.
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§ Dean, § his brother's voice came through their telepathic link. § You still with us, Dude? §
§ Sam, you asked me that about two minutes ago. You're worse than a broody hen! I know you're worried Sammy, but if Crowley was going to kill me, he would have done it by now. Cas told you a week and we're only two days in; at least going by what you tell me, for down here months could have passed for all I know. They don't have clocks hanging on the wall, just souls, § he sent back bitterly.
§ Listen, I'll get back to you later, Sam. It's visiting time at the Zoo. Crowley's just appeared; at least I think it's him 'cause he's got himself a new updated model of meat-suit. I hope he's at least brought me some popcorn and peanuts! § Dean snarked as the demon appeared before him.
§ Dean…. § Sam persisted.
§Get away, man, § Dean bitched fondly § before you start going all emo again. Concentrate on pulling me out of here, Sasquatch of a Sammy! §
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He blocked out his brother and lifted his head defiantly towards Crowley.
"Is that really you in there Crowley? I see that you've traded in you old meat-suit for a newer model," he smirked, remembering his surprise and satisfaction when he had blasted the original to kingdom come.
"You know, I was really fond of my old suit, Deano, but no big, I've got a team of demons putting it back together molecule by molecule so it'll soon be as good as new! That of your angel buddy too, if you're interested. He doesn't seem to like being a girl!
Just how did you pull off that little trick, by the way? I always thought you were the normal one in your brother show. I have to say that you Winchester boys are full of surprises. That woobie angel thinks that you are two defenceless little humans, but I don't make that mistake. You've caught me unawares too often. I won't ever underestimate you again!"
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"By the way," Dean declared off-hand. "I thought that when you disappeared, Hell got a new King, or Queen in this case?"
"You mean that conniving bitch, Meg. She thought she'd step into my shoes but her reign was the shortest on record. As soon as I showed my face, or my smoke I should say, they were all grovelling at my feet again. Demons are a little bit sexist you know," he whispered, bending forward towards Dean.
"No politically correct down here. The more sins the better! " he finished off, as if he was revealing some important secret.
Dean just grunted and stared at him as if he was a piece of crap.
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"I'm sorry to see that being in Hell hasn't toned down your arrogance, Winchester," Crowley observed irritated. "If it wasn't for your angel buddy, your entrails would be decorating my walls out there along with all the others."
Dean felt a shiver go down his spine at the words but he wasn't about to let Crowley see it.
"Ain't nothing you can do to me that hasn't been done before Crowley, so do your worst," he shrugged nonchalantly.
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The demon smiled sarcastically.
"I could torture your little Sammy right next to you and let you look on for all eternity. I bet that hasn't been done to you before, not with the real Moose anyway. Or I could pull down his wall and let his Cage memories turn him into a drivelling idiot who wouldn't recognise you any more.
Your brother is your weak spot, Deano; everybody knows it, and he's the only thing that will really make you suffer. So don't get too high and mighty with me or I'll make him pay for it.
Now then, down to business.
Two days have passed Earth-side since your brother was given the ultimatum by that friggin' angel and there hasn't been a peep from Moosie yet.
Maybe he's just decided to abandon you here, eh, Dean. Maybe you're not as important to him as he is to you?
Maybe underneath it all, he's glad to get rid of you?"
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Dean might once have paid heed to the words Crowley was spewing forth, for he had always doubted himself and felt unworthy of being loved by anyone including Sam, but since he and Sam had received this telepathic bond, there could be no doubting the sincerity of Sam's love and caring for him, just as Sam was aware of his own infinite love for his little brother, so Crowley's words slipped away like water off a duck's back but the demon continued unperturbed.
"Why don't you just give him over to us? Just think what a great hunter you could be if you didn't have to worry about Baby Moose all the time. Without him, no angel or demon would have any hold over you. You would be free to live the life you want, become the greatest hunter in history."
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Dean just huffed incredulously at him.
The relationship between him and Sam was their affair and no-one else's, and although Crowley's words had no power over him, the considerations he was making were so outlandish that they were laughable.
Without Sam he was nothing, and he knew that if he was ever asked to choose between Sam and his hunting life, then he would eternally choose Sam.
"God, you're so boring Crowley and your hospitality is nothing to write home about. You could have at least provided me with a chair!" Dean grimaced, changing the subject.
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Crowley understood when he was being side tracked and shrugged.
"Suit yourself, Winchester. However, count yourself lucky that I'm a nice guy and I put you in this box, for it keeps you in a time frame of your own.
It's isolated from the rest of Hell but that could always be changed and I could let you wander around in hell-time giving you a few weeks of fun before your brother makes himself heard with his answer. See you around, Deano." And with that he disappeared.
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Dean closed his eyes and rested the back of his head on the wall behind him. Although he had put on a brave face with Crowley, he knew that the stakes were still high. Well it was all up to Sam and Bobby now, for he was trussed up like a chicken down here, worse than some damsel in distress waiting to be rescued!
He opened the link to his brother. and as soon as he did, Sam's worried tones came through. It never ceased to amaze him how his brother's mind-voice seemed to take on the self-same tones of his physical one.
§ Dean, are you okay. What did Crowley say? §
§ He talked a lot of crap, as usual, Sammy. I'm fine! §
§ Why didn't you keep our link open when you were talking to him? §
§ Crap Sammy. I need to keep my wits about me when he's around. I don't need you asking if I'm okay every two seconds, § he snarked although it was tinged with humour.
§ I'm…. just worried about you, down there by yourself…. §
§ I get it , Sam but I'm okay. Hey, some gossip for you. Meg didn't last more than a couple of days as the Hell- Queen bitch, before Crowley got his throne back. §
§ Is she in Hell? § Sam asked.
§ Crowley didn't say but I've a feeling that she got away, otherwise he would have been boasting of the punishment he was meting out to her. §
§ Maybe, she's on Earth, then, § he mused.
§ You think she could come in useful, Sammy? §
§ Well she does have a bone to pick with Crowley, so yeah, she might be. She knows the lay-out of Hell, I'm reckoning, §
§ Sam, be careful. I don't want you to get hurt. You promised me that you wouldn't give Cas your soul whatever happens, and I'm holding you to that. You hear me Sammy! §
§ Yeah, loud and clear, Dean! I wonder if there's a volume button on this telepathic stuff 'cos you just about fried my mind there! §
§ If you do anything stupid, it won't just be your mind that I fry, Sam. Remember that. §
§ I will, Dean. § Sam replied, his brother's worry and caring for him coming through their link.
§ I'll get back to you later, Dean. §
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Sam sighed as he broke the link with Dean. He had a hazy plan but he still needed time to work on it, he hoped that the remaining five days would be enough:
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XXX TBC XXX