My Bloody Valentine
Sam walked into the motel room, still trying to wrap his head around what he'd just learned questioning the witness for their case. Apparently a girl, Alice, had been eaten to death by her date for the night…and eaten him as well. The girl's roommate had walked in and found them that night. He swallowed hard, it was actually one of the more disgusting cases yet.
He looked up to see Dean sitting at the table with his feet up, going over some papers, while Michelle sat across from him on the laptop, doing research. He walked over to the table, putting the bag with a soda down and pulling out the food he'd gotten them for lunch.
"How'd it go?" Michelle looked up at him.
"Um, no EMF, no sulfur, so ghost possession, demonic possession, are both probably out," Sam sighed.
"That's where I was putting my money," Dean grumbled.
"Well?" Sam shrugged.
"Well then, what then?" Dean asked, rubbing his eyes.
"The coroner Dean?" Michelle rolled her eyes as Sam was clearly waiting for Dean's report.
"Oh the uh coroner's…" Dean shook his head, "You didn't see these bodies…I mean these two started eating and…and they just kept going. I mean their stomachs were full, like…like Thanksgiving dinner full. Talk about codependent," he took a swig of beer as Michelle grimaced at the imagery.
"Well…" Sam sat down next to Michelle, "We got our feelers out. Not much more we're gonna get tonight. Alright, I'm just gonna go through some files with Michelle…you can go and get going."
"Sorry?" Dean frowned.
"Go ahead," Sam looked up from a few web pages Michelle had opened, "Unleash the kraken. See you tomorrow morning."
"Where am I going?"
"Dean!" Michelle laughed, "It's Valentine's Day, even I know it's your favorite holiday, remember?"
"What do you always call it?" Sam agreed, "Uh, Unattached Drifter Christmas?"
"Oh, yeah," Dean shrugged, getting up, "Well, be that as it may, I don't know, guess I'm just not feeling it this year."
Michelle frowned, eyeing him, "So you're not into bars full of lonely women?"
He just shrugged again, "I guess not," he took another swig of his beer, seeing them staring at him…Michelle more concerned than Sam, who seemed slightly annoyed, "What?"
"It's when a dog doesn't eat, that you know something's really wrong," Michelle commented.
"Remarkably patronizing concern," Dean rolled his eyes, "Well done. Nothing's wrong. Are we gonna work or what?" he sat back down and went over some files.
Michelle shrugged to herself and went to the web pages, only to notice that Sam was glaring at Dean. She nudged him and he looked at her, startled. She shook her head with a sort of 'what?' look and he just sighed and shook his head.
~8~
They were walking down the hall of the local morgue, trying to find the main room, when a bald man with a briefcase and a suit walked past them. Sam frowned as he stared at the man, half-turning to watch him walk past before turning back, shaken.
"You ok?" Michelle asked, frowning.
"Yeah," he nodded, smiling at her as he took her hand, "I'm fine."
Dean rolled his eyes at them before leading them to the coroner's office, entering to see a slightly plump old man pulling a sheet over a body.
"Agent Marley!" the coroner greeted, "You just can't stay away."
"Heard you tagged another double suicide," Dean got right down to business.
"Yeah. I just finished closing them up."
"Dr. Corman," Dean turned to Sam and Michelle, "These are my partners, Special Agents Cliff and Tosh."
"Agent Cliff," Dr. Corman shook Sam's hand, "Agent Tosh," and then Michelle's, "I pulled the organs and sent off the tox. samples," he tugged off his white lab coat and hung it up on a coat rack.
"Great," Sam nodded, "Do you mind if we take a look at the bodies?"
"Not at all," Corman waved them off, "But like I said earlier…" he opened the fridge to reveal organs stationed in Tupperware containers, "Good and plenty's are already done away."
"Super…" Sam eyed the organs before the doctor shut the doors.
"Just leave the keys with Marty up front," he tossed the keys to Dean, "And please folks," he turned and grabbed a regular coat and faced them, "Refrigerate after opening," he laughed, putting on his hat and leaving them to their devices.
~8~
Sam was sitting, examining a few organs, as was Michelle, while Dean just sat there, not too into it. He opened a container to see a heart and smirked.
"Hey," Dean hissed, sliding the box over to Sam, "Be my valentine?"
Sam looked unimpressed.
"Hey," Michelle mock glared at Dean, "He's mine. Get your own."
Dean laughed as Sam just rolled his eyes. Dean began to pull the heart back towards him when something caught Sam's eye.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second," Sam called, pulling the heart back, he quickly opened a second heart box and put them side-by-side. Michelle frowned and got up, moving to stand next to Sam so she could see what he was looking at, "These hearts both have identical marks…" he quickly brought out a magnifying glass and stationed it over the hearts, "Check this out…looks like some sort of letter…oh no…"
"What?" Dean frowned.
"I think it's Enochian."
Michelle quickly nudged Sam over and looked at the hearts herself.
"You mean like angel scratches?" Dean asked, "So you think it's like the taggings on our ribs?"
"Dean, I don't know," Sam said.
"It's Enochian," Michelle confirmed, glancing at them, "And we're definitely going to need Castiel for this one."
"Ah, hell," Dean sighed, taking off his glove and picking up his cell, hitting speed dial, "Cas it's Dean. Yeah, room 31C, basement level, St. James Medical Center…" he turned around to see Castiel standing right in front of him, on the phone as well.
"I'm there now," Castiel said, staring at Dean, but still on the phone.
"Yeah, I get that."
"I'm gonna hang up now."
"Right," Dean slowly lowered his phone as did Castiel.
"When you're done making goo-goo eyes at your date, mind letting Cas help out Dean?" Michelle called.
Dean spun around to glare at her, not appreciating the joke, unlike his brother, who was trying to hide his smile.
"What is it?" Castiel asked, stepping over to Michelle and Sam.
"Catch," Michelle tossed him a heart, which he held in his bare hands looking at, "Enochian."
Castiel nodded, "I imagine you'd find similar marks on the other couples' hearts as well."
"So what are they?" Sam asked, looking between Cas and Michelle, "I mean, what do they mean?"
"It's a mark of union," Michelle began, trying to phrase it in a way that Dean wouldn't turn into a crude joke.
"This man and woman were intended to mate," Castiel agreed.
"Ok, but who put them there?" Dean asked.
"Well, your people call them cupid," Castiel remarked, putting the heart down.
"A what?" Sam blinked.
"What human myth has mistaken for cupid is actually a lower order of angel," Michelle explained, "Technically it's a cherub, third class."
"Cherub?" Dean frowned.
"Yeah," Castiel turned around, thinking, "They're all over the world, dozens of them."
"You mean the little flying fat kid in diapers?"
Castiel turned back around to eye Dean, "They're not incontinent."
Sam shook his head, "Ok, anyway, so what you're saying…is…is…"
"What I'm saying is Cupid has gone rogue," Castiel said seriously, "And we have to stop him before he kills again."
"Naturally…" Sam sighed, shaking his head, growing frustrated.
"Course we do," Dean smirked at his brother, seeming to know why he was getting so annoyed.
Michelle just eyed the brothers curiously, not entirely sure what was going on.
~8~
The four of them were sitting in a restaurant with a bar, decorated tastefully for Valentine's Day. A waitress stopped by, placing some food before Dean and Michelle on one side, sitting across from Castiel and Sam, Sam getting food too.
"So what?" Dean asked as the waitress left, "You just happen to know he likes the cosmos at this place?"
"This place is a nexus of human reproduction," Castiel explained, looking around a moment, "It's exactly the kind of…" he trailed off, watching as Dean put ketchup on his hamburger, "Garden Cupid would come to, to pollinate."
Dean lifted the burger to his mouth, about to bite into it, when he paused and put it back down, pushing it away slightly.
"Wait a minute," Sam frowned at his brother, "You're not hungry?"
"So," he shrugged, Sam gave him a look, "What? I'm not hungry."
"You're not going to finish that?" Castiel asked, reaching across the table and taking the food from him. The trio stared as Castiel moved to bite the burger, shocked he was eating.
"He's here," Michelle said suddenly.
Castiel put the burger down and looked up, seeing the signs Michelle had, a gentle breeze filtering through the streamers, blowing a napkin from a woman's table beside her to a man.
"What?" Dean looked at her, "How do you know?"
"I've got angel radar," Michelle rolled her eyes, "I can just tell when they're here."
"So that's how Cas never sneaks up on you," Dean shook his head, amused and a little relieved. He could understand, if she could see angels, maybe she could sense them just a bit as well. Good, he'd thought he was getting rusty for a moment.
"Where?" Sam asked, looking around, "I don't see anything."
"There," Castiel stared pointedly as the man returned the woman's napkin, both catching the other's eye.
"You mean the same-side-of-the-booth couple over there?" Dean leaned over his chair to look at the couple now making out.
"Meet me in the back," Castiel said.
They turned around to see he was gone. They just shared a look and got out of the table, heading to the back of the bar, only to find him near a loading room, his hand raised.
"Cas!" Sam called as they walked into the room, "Where is he?"
"I have him tethered," Castiel replied and they could see a pinkish light glowing on the other side of the window in the otherwise dark room. Castiel closed his eyes and began to chant, "So da cah mah mah rahn nah. Manifest yourself."
They looked around expectantly, but there was nothing. Castiel dropped his hand.
"So where is he?" Dean asked.
Suddenly arms wrapped around Dean from behind, lifting him off the ground, "Here I am!" a short, slightly plump, man laughed, hugging Dean back and forth.
"Help!" Dean grunted.
"Oh, help it," Cupid babbled, "Yes it is, yes it is!" he laughed until he caught sight of Castiel on the other side of Dean, "Hello you!" he quickly let go of Dean and went to hug Castiel from the front, pulling him in, forcing Cas to let out a grunt as he was lifted off the ground, squeezed by the very naked cupid.
"This is Cupid?!" Dean exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Yes," Castiel managed to wheeze out.
Cupid put him down and turned to see Sam standing there, "And look at you!" he headed straight for the man.
"No," Sam shook his head.
"Yes," Cupid nodded. Sam turned to try and run, when Cupid appeared before him, hugging him from the front, "Yes, yes, yes!"
"Is this a fight?" Dean demanded as Castiel stepped up next to him, watching as Cupid continued to hug Sam, who had his arms up not wanting to touch the naked man, "Are we in a fight?"
"This is their handshake," Castiel explained.
"I don't like it," Dean muttered.
"No one likes it," Castiel agreed.
"Oh, I don't know," Michelle smiled as Cupid finally let go of Sam and rounded on her, scooping her up and spinning her around as he hugged her, "I'm always a fan of hugs," she laughed, actually hugging the cupid back.
The boys could only stare. She'd been laughing the whole time…clearly enjoying their discomfort far too much.
"I always liked you," Cupid grinned, letting her go and turning to face Dean and Castiel, Michelle and Sam standing behind him, "What can I do for you?"
"Why are you doing this?" Castiel asked him.
"Doing what?" Cupid smiled.
"Your targets, the ones you've marked, they're slaughtering each other."
Cupid's entire expression morphed into one of complete shock and horror, "What? They are?"
"Listen, birthday suit…we know," Dean nearly growled at the man, "Ok? We know you've been flitting around, popping people with your poisoned arrow, making them murder each other!"
Cupid's face scrunched as though he were about to cry.
"What we don't know is why," Castiel agreed.
"You think that I…" he looked up at Castiel, hurt, "Well, uh, I don't know what to say…" he suddenly started crying, walking around them to stand behind Dean and Castiel, sobbing.
The boys just watched, confused on what to do.
"Should…should somebody maybe…go talk to him?" Sam stuttered.
"Men," Michelle grumbled, rolling her eyes as she stepped past them and over to Cupid's side, "Hey," she soothed, putting an arm around his shoulder, "Hey, it's ok, they didn't mean it," Cupid sniffled, "Don't you listen to the grumpy old men…" she glared at them over her shoulder before turning back to Cupid, "I know what'll cheer you up…" she pulled out a lollypop out of her pocket, holding it out to him, "How 'bout this? Huh?" Cupid glanced between her and the candy before grinning and taking it, popping it into his mouth, now calm. She turned to the guys, "Cupids have the emotional range of a two-year-old, you can't just yell at them!" she gave Castiel a pointed look, he was technically the Cupids' brother angel.
Castiel sighed and walked forward, "We didn't mean to um…hurt your feelings."
Suddenly Cupid turned around and hugged Castiel, the lollypop stick sticking out of his mouth, "Love is more than work to me, you know? I love love. I love it. And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right."
"Yes, yes, of course," Castiel nodded, patting Cupid on the back, "I…I have no idea what you're saying," he pulled back.
"I was just on my appointed rounds," Cupid said, pulling back as well, but keeping a grip on Castiel's arms, "Whatever my targets do after that, that's nothing to do with me. I was following my orders," he gasped, "Please, brother, read my mind. Read my mind, you'll see."
Castiel and Cupid stared at one another for a moment before Castiel turned around, noticing Michelle had stepped back over by the brothers, "He's telling the truth," he told them.
Cupid let out a breath of relief, "Jiminy Christmas thank you!"
"Wait a minute, you said that you were just following orders," Dean stepped forward.
"Mhmm," he nodded.
"Whose orders?"
"We…who?" Cupid laughed, "Heaven's! Silly, Heaven."
"Why does Heaven care if Harry meets Sally?"
"Oh, mostly they don't. You know, certain bloodlines, certain destinies, oh! Like yours!" he gestured to Sam and Dean.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, the union of John and Mary Winchester, VERY big deal upstairs. Top priority arrangement."
"Are you saying you fixed up our parents?" Dean demanded, growing tense.
"Well, not ME but…yeah," he laughed, "Let me tell you, if only they were as easy as you two," he nodded at Michelle and Sam.
"What?" Sam repeated, looking between himself and Michelle and then at Cupid, "You fixed US up?!"
"Oh no!" Cupid shook his head quickly, "We wouldn't touch you two with a ten foot pole…in fact…" he looked thoughtful a moment, "We were instructed to leave the two of you alone. And boy we were not happy with that."
"Why?" Michelle asked, she had no idea what the man was talking about.
"Cupids are supposed to help soul mates find each other. It's something for a pair of them to find each other on their own…actually…" he frowned in thought again, "One in almost seven billion. We were shocked you two made it without us."
"Wait, wait, wait," Sam held up a hand, "You're saying…Michelle and I…we're…"
"Soul mates, yeah," Cupid nodded, "You two are the real deal. You've branded yourselves into each other's hearts without our help. That's amazing. Seriously, that's a miracle in itself which is just great 'cause we always wanted Michelle to find her soul mate," he leaned forward as though to tell them a secret, "She's very important to us. Since she's…"
"She's Michael's shield," Castiel cut in, "Of course she is important to Heaven."
Dean blinked and looked over at Castiel, just a bit suspicious.
"So…" Sam said again, still stunned by the whole soul mates revelation. He'd always felt like that in his heart, but to have actual confirmation that what he feeling was real, and completely free of angelic influence on top of that… "You set my parents up but not US?"
"Oh it wasn't easy either," Cupid nodded, answering his question, "They couldn't stand each other at first but when we were done with them, perfect couple."
"Perfect?" Dean glared.
"Yeah."
"They're dead!"
Cupid blinked, not smiling, "I'm sorry but…the orders were very clear, you and Sam needed to be born. You're parents were just uh, meant to be," he smiled, "A match made in Heaven," he started to sway and sing, "Heaven!"
Dean looked at him a moment before throwing a hard punch at the man. Cupid didn't even flinch, completely unfazed by the hit. Dean, however, spun around, grabbing his hand in pain.
"Son of a bitch," he hissed to himself, turning around to see Cupid had disappeared, "Where is he? Where'd he go?"
"I believe you upset him," Castiel replied.
"Upset HIM?"
"Dean, enough," Sam remarked.
"What?" Dean spun to face him.
"You just punched a cupid," Michelle reminded him.
"I punched a dick!"
"Um, are we gonna talk about what's been up with you lately or not?" Sam frowned, finally snapping himself out of his thoughts.
Dean glared at him a moment, "Or not," he grumbled before shoving past them and out of the room.
~8~
Michelle sat at the laptop in the motel room, when her cell rang. She quickly reached out and answered, "Hey."
"Hey!" Sam greeted, "So uh, this guy was not marked by Cupid. But his death was definitely suspicious."
She nodded, "Yeah, Dean called me before, he went though the police blotter and, counting our Mr. Finch, that's 8 suicides since Wednesday and 19 ODs," she sighed, checking the reports online, this was shaping up to be a dangerous hunt for others, they'd only been actively investigating today, Valentine's Day, and already the body count was rising, "It's way out of the seasonal batting average."
"Yeah, if there's a pattern here it ain't just love," Sam agreed, "It's a hell of a lot bigger than we thought."
"I'll call Dean, give him the heads up to head back. See you in 10?"
"Yeah ok," Sam agreed, his voice suddenly strained.
She frowned as he hung up but went to call Dean.
~8~
They were standing before the table in the motel room, a briefcase Sam had nabbed off a demon leaving the morgue placed on top of it. Michelle was kneeling before it, cracking the locks on either side of the clasps.
"What the hell's a demon got to do with this anyway?" Dean asked.
"Believe me, I got no idea," Sam sighed.
"You ok?" Dean asked, eyeing Sam, who was tense.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be alright."
"Ok," Michelle stood up, stepping back, "Let's crack her open."
"I mean, what's the worst that could happen right?" Dean smirked as he and Sam took Michelle's spot, kneeling down on each side of the lock while she stood behind them, her gun ready just in case. They pushed the clasps and the case flipped open, releasing a blinding white light. They jumped back, shielding their eyes till it dimmed, "What the hell was that?"
"That's a human soul," Michelle said, "Right Cas?"
She looked over her shoulder to see Castiel standing there, holding a white bag from some fast food joint in his hand. They turned around to stare at him.
Castiel nodded, biting into the burger in his hand, "It's starting to make sense."
"Now what about that makes sense?" Sam frowned.
"And when did you start eating?" Dean shook his head at the angel.
"Exactly!" Castiel pointed at Dean, his eyes wide, "My hunger is a clue actually."
"For what?" Dean and Sam asked at once.
"This town isn't suffering from some love-gone-wrong event. It's suffering from hunger. Starvation to be exact, specifically…"
"Famine," Michelle finished.
"Famine?" Sam looked between them, Castiel nodded, "As in…the Horseman?"
"Great," Dean rolled his eyes, "Well, that's frickin' great."
"I thought famine meant starvation? I mean, as in, you know, food."
"Yes, absolutely," Castiel agreed, "But not just food."
"Everyone is starving for something," Michelle nodded, following along, "Sex, attention, drugs, love."
Dean glanced over at Sam who had tensed more, "Well that explains the puppy lovers that Cupid shot up," he mentioned.
"Right," Castiel agreed, "Cherub made them crave love and then Famine showed up and made them rabid for it."
"Ok, but what about you?" Dean looked at Castiel, "I mean, since when do angels secretly hunger for 'White Castle?'"
"It's my vessel, Jimmy," Castiel admitted, looking down, "His, uh, appetite for red meat has uh, been touched by Famine's effect."
Michelle frowned and walked forward, "Maybe I could help…" she turned to face him, "I was able to purify the vision of those affected by War, stop him from making people see demons…maybe I can stop Famine from making you hungry? Do you think?" she asked Castiel, who looked thoughtful
"It's worth a try," Dean called over, "And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work."
Michelle nodded, focusing on Castiel. She raised her hand and placed it over his mouth, frowning in concentration, before stepping back, "And?"
Castiel looked down at the burger in his hands and grimaced, tossing it to the side and into the garbage, "It worked," Castiel turned to her, nodding his thanks.
"So Famine just rolls into town and everybody goes crazy?" Dean asked, getting back to point.
"'And then will come Famine, riding on a black steed," Michelle recited, "He will ride into the land of plenty, and great will be the Horseman's hunger. For he is hunger. His hunger will seep out and poison the air.'"
"Famine is hungry," Castiel turned to the brothers seriously, "He must devour the souls of his victims."
"So that's what was in the briefcase," Dean guessed, "The Twinkie dude's soul?"
Castiel nodded, "Lucifer has sent his demons to care for Famine. Feed him. Make certain he'll be ready."
"Ready for what?" Sam asked.
"To march across the land," Castiel answered grimly.
~8~
Sam was in the bathroom as Castiel continued to inform Dean about Famine. Michelle had gone out to get Dean something to eat, the man claiming that Castiel's burgers smelled good and now he wanted some. She'd hesitated before leaving but thought back to how Dean hadn't really eaten anything that day and relented.
"Famine?" Dean still couldn't believe the man could do so much.
"Yes," Castiel nodded.
"So what, this whole town is just gonna eat, drink, and screw itself to death?" Sam called.
"We should stop it."
"Hey, that's a great idea," Dean began sarcastically, before deadpanning, "How?"
"How'd you stop the last Horseman you met?"
Dean thought a moment and walked over to his jacket, hanging on a rack, and pulling out a ring from the pocket, "Michelle said War got his mojo from his ring," he held it up for Castiel to see, "She held him back and, after we cut it off, he just tucked tail and ran. And everybody that was affected, it was like they woke up out of a dream. Think Famine's got a class ring too?"
"I know he does."
"Ok, well, let's track him down and get to chopping. Sam, let's roll!"
"Dean…" Sam began, stepping out of the bathroom, struggling to stand, leaning heavily against the doorway, "I um…I can't…I can't go."
"What do you mean?" Dean eyed him. He'd seen the signs of something being off with his brother, but he'd been hoping it wasn't what he thought it was…
"I think it got to me Dean. I think I'm hungry for it."
"Hungry for what?"
"You know," he gave his brother a pointed look.
"Demon blood?" Dean asked as Sam looked down, "You've got to be kidding me. I thought Michelle cleared you out."
"She did," Castiel answered for Sam, "It's why it's taken so long for Famine to get to him."
"Come again?" Dean shook his head.
"The others died within hours of when they were infected. It's been working on Sam much longer. Michelle removed the demon blood so effectively, Famine is digging deep to try and get him to desire the blood."
Dean shook his head, looking at Castiel, "You gotta get him out of here. You gotta beam him to like, Montana, anywhere but here."
"It won't work. He's already infected. The hunger's just gonna travel with him."
"Well then what do we do?"
"We can wait for Michelle. She can purify him as she did me."
Dean frowned, and Sam realized something. Dean had suspected he'd been craving demon blood, it was why he'd sent Michelle out in the first place. If something happened and he did manage to get his hands on demon blood, the way he felt now, he wouldn't stop…and if Michelle tried to clear him out again…she might die…again.
Dean was trying to protect her.
"You go cut that bastard's finger off," Sam said suddenly as they turned to face him.
He didn't want Michelle's life in danger any more than Dean did.
Dean eyed him a moment, seeming to sense that as well, before shrugging at Castiel, "You heard him."
"But Dean," Sam called, Dean turned to him, "Before you go, you better…you better lock me down. But good."
Dean nodded and motioned for Sam to get into the bathroom once again as he got something out of his bag. He stepped into the bathroom with a pair of handcuffs. Sam nodded, sitting down beside the sink, where Dean handcuffed him around the pipe at the bottom of it.
"Alright, well, just hang in there," Dean said, standing up, "We'll be back as soon as we can."
"Be careful," Sam told him, shaking from the effects of wanting the blood, "And hurry."
Dean nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He nodded at Castiel, who singlehandedly shoved the dresser before the door, blocking it.
~8~
That night, Dean and Castiel had gone to the coroner's office, only to find out that the coroner himself was the next victim. He'd been sober for years but gone home and drunk himself to death. According to Castiel, his soul hadn't been harvested yet, which meant, any moment, a demon of Famine's would be by to collect. They'd gone out and waited in the Impala, keeping an eye out for a demon with a briefcase. Dean almost wished they had Michelle there, though, according to her, these demons, the scavengers, were very low level demons. Black eyes and that was all, if she hadn't been looking at the demon's eyes she wouldn't have know it was a demon, which explained why she hadn't seen the demon on the way to the coroner's for the double suicide. She'd been talking to Dean that time and he'd been on her right.
"What I don't understand is," Castiel said, drawing Dean's attention away from the building a moment, "What is your hunger Dean?" he'd been curious about that, even he had been infected by the Horseman. He'd assumed Michelle was immune to Famine since, according to Dean, she had been immune to War, but Dean was not Michelle.
"Huh?" Dean frowned.
"Well, slowly but surely, everyone in this town is falling prey to Famine, so far you seem unaffected."
"Hey, when I want to drink, I drink. When I want sex, I go get it. Same goes for a sandwich or a fight."
"So…" Castiel frowned, trying to make sense of it, "You're saying you're just well-adjusted?"
"God no, I'm just well fed."
"Look there," Castiel nodded out the window. Dean turned to see an older man in a suit leave the building with a briefcase and get in a black car.
Dean started up the Impala, following after it.
~8~
Sam sat, breathing heavily, in the bathroom, struggling to get free from the cuffs, shaking terribly, when he heard the door slam.
"Michelle!?" Sam shouted, praying it wasn't her. But when he received no answer he guessed it had to be Dean and Castiel, "Guys what happened?! I don't think it worked. I think I'm still…" the door opened to reveal a woman and a man, both in suits, clearly demons, "Still hungry…"
"Look at this," the woman smirked, eyeing him, "Someone trussed you up for us. Boss says we can't kill you…" she glanced at the handcuffs, "I bet we can break off a few pieces…"
Sam stiffened when the woman suddenly fell to the ground, Michelle behind her, pulling Ruby's knife out of her back. The man turned and swung at her, but Michelle quickly blocked, kicking the man to the side, and stabbing him as well before she turned to Sam.
"Sam!" she shouted, rushing to his side. He tensed, shaking, trying to scramble back from her. She quickly threw the knife still in her hand to the side, seeing how his gaze followed it before he scrunched his eyes shut and shook his head violently, breathing erratically, "Sam!" she called again.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, shame in them. His eyes widened as she reached forward, about to put a hand to his mouth, "No!" he cried, jerking his head away from her.
"Sam, I can help!" she reached out to try and put a hand on his shoulder at least, but he began twisting, trying to keep her away.
"No, not again!" he begged, "Please."
"Sam, look at me," she ordered lightly. He turned to face her and she grabbed his face, "Trust me. I know my limits," she leaned forward and kissed him instead. Sam tried to remain unresponsive, as though by doing so he'd ward off her powers…but he could feel a warmth fill him once again. His heart stopped pounding, his breathing evened out, he could feel himself calming, the hunger leaving him. Just as he was about to kiss her back, she pulled away, earning a disappointed grunt from him, she smirked, "Told you so."
She looked over at the handcuffs before running into the room, grabbing Sam's lock picking kit, and heading back. She made quick work of the cuffs, getting up and wiping off the knife before turning back to Sam, "Let me guess, Dean and Cas went after Famine?"
He nodded, "I wasn't…I couldn't…"
"It's ok," she smiled, cutting him off, "But we gotta go, they're gonna need help."
"What do we do?"
"I have an idea…"
~8~
Dean pulled up outside a darkened restaurant to see men waiting outside as the man with the briefcase entered.
"Demons," Dean sighed, "You wanna go over the plan again?"
"I take the knife," Castiel answered, holding up Michelle's knife, "I go in, I cut off the ring hand of Famine, and I meet you back here in the parking lot."
"Well that sounds foolproof," Dean rolled his eyes, glancing out the window, before turning back to Castiel…only to find he was gone. He sat there, waiting a moment or two before getting out of the car, "This is taking too long."
He quickly entered the restaurant from the back to see a man half-in the fryer. He looked around to see Castiel staring at him through the window of a freezer with some sort of sigil on the door. Dean rolled his eyes, making his way to let the angel out, when he saw a demon reflected in a glass object next to him. He quickly turned and butted the demon in the face with his gun when another grabbed him and threw him through the door of a supply closet, knocking the wind out of him. The demons strode forward, grabbing him and hefting him up, half-dragging him into the main room. He groaned, wincing, as he tried to rub his head, already knowing there was a cut.
"The other Mr. Winchester," a voice wheezed.
Dean looked up to see an old, sickly-looking man in a wheelchair, "So this is your big trick? Huh? Making people coo-coo for coco puffs?"
"Doesn't take much," Famine shrugged, "Hardly a push. Oh, America. All you can eat, all the time. Consume. Consume. A swarm of locusts in stretch pants. And yet you're all still starving, because hunger doesn't just come from the body, it comes from the soul."
"So why don't you nuts seem to be coming for mine?" Dean smirked.
"Yes, I noticed that. And you wondered why that is? How you could even walk in my presence…"
"Well, I like to think it's because of my strength of character."
"I disagree…" Famine said, wheeling forward to Dean. He reached out and put his hand on the man's chest, Dean began to writhe in pain, "Yes…I see…" he laughed, "That's one deep, dark, nothing you got there Dean," he remarked, pulling away, leaving Dean to gasp, "Can't feel it can you? Not food or drink? Not even with sex?"
"Oh you're so full of crap," Dean glared at the man.
"You can swear and joke and lie to your brother, lie to Michelle, lie to yourself, but not to me. I can see inside you Dean. I can see how broken you are. How defeated. You can't win and you know it. You just keep fighting. Just keep going through the motions. You're not hungry Dean, because inside…you're already dead."
Dean looked down, almost defeated when…
"Let him go!"
He looked up to see Sam standing there, glaring at Famine.
"Oh Sam," Famine grinned, wheeling to face him. The demons advanced, "Stop!" they froze, glancing back at Famine for instruction, "No one lays a finger on this sweet little boy. Did you get the snack I sent you Sam?"
"Sorry," another voice cut in. Michelle walked in, Ruby's knife in her hand as she went to stand next to Sam, "I sort of got to them first. You should add a label next time."
"I don't know why you worry," Famine commented, glancing from Dean to Michelle to Sam, "You're not like everyone else Sam. You'll never die from drinking too much, you are the exception that proves the rule, just like Satan wanted you to be. So…since you were deprived of my snack…" he smirked, "Cut their throats!" he held up his hands in offering of the demons, "Have at them."
"Sammy no!" Dean shouted, concerned at the temptation.
But Sam just glanced at Michelle.
"Please, be my guest," Famine laughed.
"No," Sam said, taking Michelle's hand.
Famine sighed, seeing his resolve, something had clearly happened to the boy that made him impervious to his affects, "Well, fine, you don't want them…then I'll have them!" he opened his mouth and demon smoke began to pour out of the demons, flying around the room before being sucked into Famine. He smiled, enjoying the meal, when Sam stepped forward, his hand held out as though to exorcize him, "I'm a Horseman Sam. Your power doesn't work on me."
"You're right," Sam agreed, "Mine doesn't…"
"But mine do," Michelle stepped forward with him.
Dean watched, eyes wide, as Michelle closed her eyes, her hand, locked in Sam's, starting to glow, much like it had when she'd stopped War. Sam's own hand began to glow too as he closed his eyes and focused on Famine, who actually gasped and squirmed in his seat. Sam made a fist and Famine shouted in pain. Dean stepped back as the Horseman began to exude white light from within him and throw his head back, a white light shining from his mouth as the demons within him died. Dean couldn't help but be reminded of when Castiel or another angel exorcized a demon.
Suddenly Famine screamed and slumped forward, dead.
Michelle stumbled a moment, falling to her knees, Sam grabbing her to keep her from hitting the ground as he sunk down with her. Dean sprung into action, rushing to her other side to check on her with his brother.
"Where's Cas?" she slurred, her head lulling, as though she were trying to stay conscious.
Dean ran over to the freezer, pulling it open and letting Castiel out, leading him back to Michelle.
"What did you do?" Castiel asked, seeing the worn out state she was in.
Michelle blinked few times before slumping forward, unconscious.
~8~
Dean leaned against the doorway of the living room in Bobby's house as Bobby examined Famine's ring and Sam explained to Castiel exactly what Michelle had done, what they'd done to Famine. Apparently Michelle had killed the demons when she'd gotten back to the room, moments before they released Sam. She'd cured him of Famine's affect and told him she had a plan to help kill Famine. She had thought that, if they could trick Famine into eating the demons, they could say an exorcism to kill the demons, therefore killing Famine as well, or at least weakening him.
Sam had argued that in the time it took to even start the exorcism Famine could attack. He'd suggested possibly trying to exorcize the demons himself, without taking demon blood. He would hate to do it, even before he'd taken demon blood the exorcisms took a lot out of him and made him feel dirty, like he could feel Azazel's blood in him when he used it.
Michelle had gasped at that and then actually smacked herself in the forehead, wondering why she hadn't thought of it sooner. She continued to explain that maybe the reason the exorcism took so much out of him was because of the blood. What if Azazel's blood wasn't a source of the power but a trigger, like with her own? What if all the special children had some sort of dormant power on their own and the blood just brought it to the surface. She'd gone on a rant about how it was possible that, when Sam was a baby, he wasn't strong enough or practiced enough in his power to get rid of the demon essence himself and that, by the time he was, the blood was too much a part of him. What if, every time he used his powers, it taxed him because it was attacking the blood first and then the demons in the vicinity? When he'd been on demon blood it had basically burned through the blood faster as it was fresher, masking the old blood, and then gone at the demons, which was why he craved it after. She'd suggested maybe she could use her powers sort of like a filter for his own powers, so that it would only attack the demons and not the blood within him.
Castiel admitted it was a long shot, but it worked. Her powers had worked exactly like a filter, allowing Sam to use his powers without demon blood to spark it or through triggering Azazel's blood, which also proved her theory that Sam's powers were his own and not Azazel's, which took a huge weight off Dean's mind. He'd asked Sam why he'd agreed to let Michelle try it, and Sam had just shrugged and said she hasn't been wrong yet.
Dean shook his head as the thought on that. That night he'd nearly lost his brother and Michelle to Famine. If Michelle hadn't shown up when she did, Sam would be detoxing from demon blood now or Michelle would be clearing him out. If Michelle's plan hadn't worked, she would have ended up using too much of her powers and burning out…which she nearly did. Castiel had assured them she was just tired, but he'd been terrified that she'd used too much to help Sam again and nearly died, like she had in the 'future' Zachariah had sent them to. Seeing it once was more than enough for him, he didn't ever want to experience that again. He really thought of Michelle as his younger sister, he didn't want to see her dead any more than he'd want to see Sam die.
He took a swig of his beer and glanced at Castiel and Sam, who were quietly discussing the possibilities this could mean, before turning and walking outside.
He walked over to the Impala, trying to stomach another swig of beer, but couldn't. Last he checked Michelle was still passed out in a guest room and, even though Castiel had assured them she would wake up…it didn't quell any of his fears. He lowered the beer and just stared up at the sky, tears in his eyes, he'd never felt more useless than he had today. He'd been held back by Famine's demons while his brother and Michelle risked their lives…and what's worse, Famine was right, he was empty of everything, of hope…
"Please…" he called up to the sky, "I can't…I need some help. Please…"
"Of course you have help," a voice said behind him.
He spun around to see Michelle standing there, in her pajamas, a blanket wrapped around her, "You're awake," he breathed, walking over to her and hugging her tightly, "Don't ever do that again."
"Believe me, I won't," she laughed, pulling away, "I know what it takes to filter Sam's powers now, I won't overdo it again, it was more that I didn't know how much to give at first and..."
"No," he shook his head, "You're not doing anything like that again, ever, not you, not Sam."
"Dean…" she frowned, sensing more behind this than what he was letting on.
"I'm not losing either of you," he told her forcefully, "I'm not losing anyone else. Every time…"
"Every time what?"
He swallowed hard, "Every time I lose someone…it just makes me emptier."
"Is this about what Famine was saying to you?" she eyed him, he didn't answer. She sighed, "You want to know what I think?" he looked at her, she smiled softly, "I don't think you're empty, I think you're grateful."
"Grateful?" he asked, of everything she could say, that was not what he was expecting.
She nodded, "After everything you've been through Dean, you've had more given to you and taken away than anyone I know. I think you've learned to just be grateful for what you have and not want for anything more. You have everything you need with you," she smirked, "And when you think about it, you can get anything you want…whether it's a drink, sex, a sandwich, a fight…" he smiled recalling his words to Castiel, "And if you were truly empty, Famine wouldn't have affected you the way he did."
"I wasn't affected," he reminded her.
"Really?" she raised an eyebrow in a way that made him feel like he'd just missed something obvious, "Dean, you didn't go after women, you didn't eat, you barely drank…all the while Famine was there."
"Your point?"
Michelle rolled her eyes, "Famine is supposed to take people that are starved for things and make them want it more. How else could he get someone who isn't starved start to feel hungry than to make them not want something for a while."
He blinked, "You're saying that, because I didn't dig women or eat a burger, it meant, what? Famine had the opposite effect on me?"
"Exactly! You were affected but in an adverse way than Famine normally worked, but you were affected. Ergo, not empty."
He smiled, her logic actually sort of made sense…kind of.
"Thanks," he nodded at her, taking a full swig of his beer, his own 'hunger' renewed.
"Welcome," she nodded in return, "Now…I'm going to sleep."
He just laughed and waved her off to the house.
~8~
Michelle felt someone brushing her hair away from her face and cracked open an eye to see Sam sitting at her bedside with a small cardboard box of candy hearts in his hand. "Hey," she breathed, pushing herself to sit up, "What's up?"
"It's four in the morning," he told her, she frowned confused, "February 15th."
"Ok…" she said slowly.
He sighed, "I really wanted to spend Valentine's Day with you, not working on a case or hanging out with Dean, but just us. I mean, we sort of missed the last two, first with being so focused on getting Bela and then we…" he cleared his throat, not wanting to talk about the whole Ruby fiasco, "I just…wanted this to be a good one."
"It was," she assured him.
He scoffed, "We worked a case the whole time, I nearly relapsed, we faced a Horseman, and you collapsed. How was that a good one?"
She raised an eyebrow at him a moment before leaning in and giving him a light kiss, "I found out that my boyfriend is my soul mate. Sort of tops any and all Valentine's Days, doesn't it?"
He blinked, smiling, before laughing, she always knew just what to say to cheer him up. He nodded to himself, before digging into the candy heart box and holding one out to her, "B MINE?" he asked her.
She just laughed and pulled him into another kiss, "Always," she whispered before Sam laid down on the bed beside her, knowing she was still really worn out. He wrapped his arms around her, thinking back now…he could see how it was a really good day.
A/N: Awwww :) I love brother/sister moments between Dean and Michelle, he's got so much on his plate, sometimes he just needs someone to look at the bright side of things, give him a new outlook :) And how cute is the whole Sam/Michelle soul mates thing. Believe me, it'll be coming up again :)
And I just have to say...thank you. Yesterday...not such a great day for me, work sucked, I missed lunch, I got stuck in 3 hours of traffic coming home (usually a 45 minute trip), my parents got into a fight that I had to mediate for, and all that after I ended up staying up till 2 in the morning editing a paper...but when I finally got home and checked my email. I saw your reviews, and I had 4 more people add me to their favorites/alert list and it really made me smile, so thank you. I'm at 264 right now, fingers crossed for 300 for Christmas :)