Hi guys! So here we are chapter three, hope your all enjoying this so far and are going to stick with me to see where this goes. For those that are reading this without any knowledge of Supernatural or The Walking Dead, welcome! Hope I can get you to check these shows out, but the point of bringing this up was that I was asked if Kid was an OC. The answer is yes he is, I hope you like him and the relationship I'm building between him and Dean. Anyway please follow, fav, and review, (I really want to hear from you guys, let me know what you think). Enjoy the chapter. Cheers! D.S X
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or The Walking Dead. Only the OC's are mine.
Crossroads
Part Three
"Why do we need tapes?"
"It's for driving music, Kid."
"Can't a CD work."
"Car hasn't got a CD player."
"But ..."
"Ah ha!" Dean cried triumphantly, pulling out a battered looking tape. "Zeppelin, oh the guy that had this had some taste, I tell you." Kid pouted, crossing his arms over his chest, the early morning light casting his form into shadow.
"I don't get it."
"I don't expect you to," Dean extracted himself from the old car, hand outstretched to mess up the boys hair.
"Stop doing that!" Dean just laughed as they walked back to the Impala, sliding into the drivers seat and starting the engine back up with a growl. The hunter had pulled over from the road they had been driving down when he'd spotted the old car. He'd felt for sure that this one would have tapes and this time he had been proven right. Then it again it was the fifth time they'd stopped since setting out from Dawsonville before first light. Kid had been pissed that he hadn't done a watch, in fact he'd been pissed that Dean hadn't woken him at all, only coming round when they were already on the road. But Dean took the pouting with laughter, Kid needed more sleep than him, not that Dean usually slept well, but still, the boy was growing. Kid crossed his arms as he slumped in the passenger seat, Dean sent him a shit eating grin as the car started to move. He waved the tape at him, rattling it just to annoy the boy further.
"Put that in will you."
"You do it."
"Oi, I'm driving here, be a little more grateful," Kid grunted, but snatched the tape, jamming it into the old player. "Hey, careful with that."
"Yeah, yeah," Kid muttered, finally getting the tape in and messing with the volume. Suddenly Kashmir started playing.
"Oh, score," Dean said, batting Kid's hand aside to turn the volume up.
"What're you doing?" Kid hissed. "You'll bring 'em right to us."
"It's fine, we're driving," Dean waved away the concern as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, head already bobbing to the beat. "I'll shoot right on by."
"You're going to get us killed."
"'Oh, baby, I been blind. Oh, yeah, mama, there ain't no denyin'. Oh, ooh yes, I been blind. Mama, mama, ain't no denyin', no denyin'!'" Dean sang, which had Kid placing his hands over his ears. Dean laughed, foot pressing harder on the gas pedal, so they were speeding down the road. The music sent Dean's mind back to familiar memories, ones with his Dad, but mainly with Sammy, when his little brother had joined him. Music blasting as they travelled to their next hunt, no idea what they would find. Sammy would moan of how they only ever listened to rock music, but he knew secretly Sam enjoyed it. I might never get that again, the thought suddenly struck Dean. That he'd never see Sam again, that he'd have to be content with the memories if he didn't do as the Gatekeeper said. Oh he had no doubt that the Gatekeeper would keep their deal. The little lady seemed honest, for a demon, or creature, or whatever the hell she was. But it was doing as she asked that was the problem. How could Dean possibly sort this world out? Did he have to stop the virus? Find a cure? Was it even a virus? It could be magic or something like that. The hunter sighed, there was no use worrying about what he couldn't change. He'd just take it one step at a time.
They made good time towards Atlanta, the car really speeding things up. Dean turned onto the main high way and couldn't help but gape at the amount of cars heading out of the city. "Wow," he heard Kid muttered and Dean nodded in agreement.
"Must have really wanted out of there," Dean said as he stared at the abandoned cars left to rot in the road. There was nothing on the side they were driving down. Dean wasn't really surprised, who the hell went into a city during the apocalypse?
"You think they'll be anyone still in there?" Kid asked.
"In the city? Probably," Dean answered, eyes on the road, not wanting to risk missing anything, while a hand reached out to turn the music down to a quiet rumble. "Some will have hold up in there, plenty of supplies if they knew where to look. Idiots."
"Aren't we idiots then?" Kid said, which made Dean laugh.
"We aren't staying if I can help it. I'm just after some info, then we're blowing the joint."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Dean paused, mind thinking over the pros and cons of telling Kid. Finally he shrugged.
"I need to find out about the Walkers."
"Why, they're just dead."
"Ah, but why are they dead?" Dean asked, making Kid furrow his brow in confusion. "Why are they walking around when that should be impossible? Why does it happen to everyone, no matter how you kick the bucket? Can it be stopped or cured? That's what I want to know." Dean let the words sink in for the boy. Kid's eyes were narrowed as he thought them over.
"That's a lot you wanna know. You think you'll find anything in Atlanta though?"
"There's a CDC there," Dean said, watching the sky line as the high buildings of the city got closer. "It deals with diseases and shit. They might have some notes or something left from when they probably were still trying to control this thing." Dean explained and Kid nodded in agreement. As the main high way came to an end, Dean pulled to the side and stopped the Impala, though he kept the engine running. Turning he fixed his gaze on Kid, who appeared unsure under the hard stare of the hunter. "Now listen to me Kid, I don't know if anyone will be left in the city, or if it will be over run with Walkers. But if anything happens, you do as I say, when I say it."
"I know that Dean."
"But you didn't do that good of a job the last time I gave you an order, did you?" Kid said nothing, instead letting a small flush cover his cheeks and he turned away. "Oh no, eyes on me Kid," Dean snapped his fingers, forcing Kid's eyes back on him. He needed to make sure the boy understood what he was saying. If one thing went wrong it could spell the end for the both of them. "You do what I say, when I say it. I don't care if I'm surrounded by Walkers, or if the situation looks as though its about to go to Hell. You follow my orders, even if you think you're going to die, got it, Kid?" Dean knew he was being hard on the boy, his words sounding much like his old man's when he'd started going on hunts. But he didn't care, if they kept Kid alive then it was worth scaring the shit out of him now. Kid looked as though he wanted to argue, Dean saw the anger, then the fear make its way across the young face, not yet schooled enough to create a mask to hide it. Then the blank look came and he nodded his head.
"I get it, Dean."
"Good," Dean turned back to the steering wheel and slammed the car into gear again, driving off. "Make sure you keep your gun on you, but don't fire it unless you have to. The noise will draw them, stick to the knife if you can."
"What if its a person?" Dean knew he shouldn't have been surprised by the question. It was something he'd been worrying about himself. If Finn was how people were behaving in this messed up world, then they could be just as dangerous as any creature.
"Don't worry about that."
"But what if ..."
"Kid," Dean growled and that shut the boy up. They travelled into Atlanta in silence, Kid having turned off the music to better listen to what he could over the growl of the Impala's engine. The place was deserted, it was kind of eerie to Dean, because to him, the world had been full of life just four days ago. As they turned down another road Dean was forced to pull up. "Ah, shit," Dean cursed as he looked at the pile of cars, probably from some kind of crash, that was blocking his way forward. There was no way he was going to be able to get the car around it, metal had been thrown up against the shops on either side, smashing out widows and sending glass over the tarmac.
"What do we do?" Kid asked. Dean sighed, killing the engine.
"We walk," he pushed open the door. "Get all the stuff, just in case." The hunter moved to the trunk, wrenching it open to grab the big rucksack that had most of the cans they had gathered from the cabin. Dean shouldered it, slamming the trunk just as Kid came up next to him. His own rucksack on his back, gun at his belt and knife in his hand. "Keep close to me." They set off, easing around the wreckage and making their way further into Atlanta.
"Do you know where this place is?"
"The CDC? Yeah, kind of," Dean said. He was pretty sure he remember where the place was. Well he did in his own reality, he and his Dad had worked a case near there, back when Sammy had gone to Stanford. Some kind of spirit if he remembered right, nice and simple for the two of them, so Dean had spent most of his time in the bars around Atlanta to pass the time. Dean kept his eyes sharp as they continued to walk. He wasn't sure if any Walkers would be lurking, or a horde could be around a corner. He kind of hoped that most would have left the city when the people fled, but he didn't know enough about Walkers to assume that. A moan came to the right, Dean snapped round to see a lone Walker stumbling out towards them.
"I got it," Kid said, before Dean could say anything about it. The hunter was about to reprimand the boy, but the quick glance back he got for permission stopped him. Plus the steely look of determination in his eyes stilled any protests Dean could make. The hunter nodded and Kid acted quickly. Avoiding the lunge of the Walker he kicked the back of it's legs to bring it down, then stabbed his silver knife into the skull, so it dropped down, unmoving.
"Well done," Dean praised and was surprised at the blinding smile he received in return. "But make sure next time to aim for the base of the head, where the neck starts. It's easier for the knife to pass through and is a straight shot to the brain." Kid nodded, coming back to take his place beside Dean, though the hunter could tell the boy was still quiet happy. Was it because I praised him? Dean thought. It was an unsettling one to him, as it brought back memories of times with his old man. When he'd been young and eager and waiting for when he Dad would give him some form of acknowledgment. Shaking his head out of those thoughts, Dean concentrated on the task at hand. Slowly they made their way through the city, following Dean's shaky memory, though the streets, taking care of any stray Walkers that came into their path.
"Hey, Dean," Kid said, as the hunter was taking down two Walkers that had come crawling out of what once had been a bridal store. He turned to see the boy pointing at something. His eyes followed it to see a sign, a few different places were printed on it, but it was the top one that had Dean's attention. Centre for Disease Control.
"Nice work. Come on." Following the directions, Dean and Kid picked up the pace, almost jogging down streets as they looked for signs. Finally they appeared in a wide open area, but it was not the sight that Dean expected to see.
"What the ...?"
"Isn't there supposed to be building there?" Kid asked, as he stared up at the broken remains of what had probably been quiet a nice building. Dean scrutinised the wreck, there was hardly any of it left, almost if it had been blown sky high from the inside out. The ground surrounding it was littered with the dead, Dean took a quick scout and was satisfied that none would be getting up any time soon. "Hey Dean," the hunter turned to see Kid, eyes riveted to something close by. Dean came closer, passing the boy to look at the old concrete sign, it looked chipped and broken, but the words had been spared. Centre for Disease Control.
"Shit!" Dean cursed, running a hand through his hair to try and hold in his frustration. He paced around in a small circle, glaring at the remains of what was once the CDC.
"Was this the place?" Kid asked.
"Most likely," Dean said through gritted teeth. He couldn't believe the best lead he had in the area was gone. Who the hell would blow up a disease centre? Surely they'd be the most protected places.
"What do you think happened?"
"Ah Jesus, who cares Kid. This was just a big waste of time," Dean couldn't help but complain. He was back to square one, with no leads on where to go next, or what to do. He needed to start getting some results. What if the Gatekeeper went back on their deal because he was so slow. He'd never see Sammy again and all because some shit head had blown up the CDC. He was so involved in his rage that he didn't hear the sound of a car pull up close to them. Or the quiet closing of two doors and a pair of feet stealthily approach. What he did hear though was Kid's shout, then the boy's body colliding into his and the bang of a gun firing. Dean was thrown off his feet, so he landed hard on his ass. It wasn't enough to knock the wind out of him, but it sure did surprise him. Reacting to the gun shot, Dean pulled out his 48, instantly finding the pair that had their own guns directed at him. He shifted, standing to his feet and placing his body in front of Kid's, who was struggling to get back up. "Now is that anyway to greet someone?"
"Who are you?" one called, which was followed swiftly with. "Identify yourself?" The words struck a familiar cord with Dean and he couldn't help but crack a smile.
"You cops?" he asked, and he watched as the two came closer. His eyes found the uniforms and bullet proof vests, guns up in front of their faces, as though they were still on the beat looking for bad guys. Dean really couldn't hold in his laugh any longer. It came out of him in a bark, startling the two officers as they approached. "Well hello officers."
"Put your gun down," one demanded, a man, with a Asian features, a head of dark hair and a sour expression.
"Now why would I do that?" Dean said with a sneer. "You did just shoot at us."
"We didn't know who you were," the other, a woman with dark hair pulled into a tight pony tail said. She looked more uncertain than her male counter part, her eyes kept shifting to over Dean's shoulder.
"That's not really an excuse."
"Well, the worlds changed," the man said and Dean shrugged.
"Yeah, I bet."
"Dean." The hunter startled at Kid's voice. He glanced back slightly, not wanting to take his eyes off the cops before him, but what he saw made his insides squirm. Blood was pouring from the boy's shoulder, the small hand he had placed over the open wound doing nothing to stop the gushing.
"Kid!" Dean called, spinning to catch the boy before he fell. His gun wavered and the cops inched closer. Snarling as he cradled Kid in one hand, Dean lifted his 48 and fired off a shot. "Don't you two bastards come any closer."
"Please, listen ..." the woman was speaking, but Dean didn't have time for her bullshit. His focus was quickly transferring to Kid and the blood coming out of the gun shot on his shoulder.
"Oh god damn it," Dean mumbled, tucking the small body close to him as he glared at the officers. "You shot him."
"We didn't mean to," the man said, but Dean snorted.
"Yeah right. I need to deal with him," the hunter slowly started backing up. He needed to get back to the Impala, even though he would like to deal with the wound here, he didn't trust the cops to keep their distance. "You just stay there."
"Listen, we can help him," the woman tried again.
"Like you helped him get shot?" Dean growled.
"That was an accident, really," Dean backed up, gun unwavering. The woman bit her lip, glancing at her companion, then lifted her hands so her gun hung from one finger. "Ok, fine, you don't trust us. But if that kid doesn't get seen to fast he's going to bleed out." Dean took another step away. He knew that, of course he knew that, he'd been in his fair share of bad situations to spot one. The kid wasn't even conscious any more, just hanging limp in his grip. "We have people, a hospital, doctors that can take care of him," the woman persisted. "Just come with us." Dean knew something was going on, he knew, but what could he do.
"She's right," the man said, following his partners lead and hanging up his gun. "That kid's going to die if he doesn't get help. You don't want to be the asshole that gets him killed, do you?" Dean tensed, they were backing him into a corner, he knew it, they knew it, the question was, why? The sound of snarls came from behind him. Dean jerked a look back to see some Walkers making their way closer. "Better hurry."
"Fine," Dean reluctantly lowered his gun, though he kept it in his hand as he gathered Kid up in his arms. "You get him treated and then we go." The two cops said nothing, just turned and started to walk back to their car, a damn cop car. Dean followed, getting in to the opened back door, Kid laid out on his lap. The engine roared to life and just as they drove off a hand smacked against the window, followed by the snarl of a Walker. Dean didn't pay much attention to it however. Kid was bleeding out, and quick, Dean's hand, which he had placed over the wound was doing nothing to help the situation. Cursing he shook off his coat, awkwardly untucking it around his rucksack so that stayed on his back, sliding it free he bundled it around the gun shot and applied pressure. "How far are we?"
"Close."
"Drive faster," Dean demanded, sending a heated glare to the front seat.
"Hey, do you want to end up in an accident?" the guy sneered but Dean didn't care. His 48 was still in his hand, he wasn't above threatening them if they didn't hurry up.
"We'll be there in ten minuets," the woman said, diffusing the situation as much as she could. "Just hold on." She started to fiddle with the radio, causing static and voices to filter through. "It's Bello, we have a situation ..." Dean ignored the rest of the words. He looked down at Kid, blood had smeared on his cheek and his skin had gone a sickly pale colour.
"God damnit Kid," Dean muttered, as he put more pressure on his coat, trying his best to stem some of the bleeding. "Don't you die on me now." The police car turned abruptly and jerkily pulled up. The two cops got out of the front and the door beside Dean opened. Hands reached in to grab Kid, but Dean growled, shouldering his way out and passed the female cop, Bello, giving her an angry glare. "I got him." She sent him a scowl, but Dean didn't care, he was already looking up at the dilapidated hospital they had brought him to. His eyes sorted out the sign that was barely visible on the old building. Grady Memorial Hospital.
"This way!" the male cop called, already at the entrance inside. Dean quickly followed him. Dashing through the main entrance and up some stairs. When they emerged onto what was probably once a ward, Dean was surprised that they were met with a small group. Some cops and a weedy looking man in a white doctors coat.
"What happened," the doctor, at least Dean assumed he was a doctor asked, stepping closer to get a better look at Kid.
"Your two friends shot him," Dean growled before the cops could say anything. The other officers glanced at each other, some shifting nervously. The doctor came up close to Dean, peering down at Kid, fingers moving Dean's coat to look at the wound.
"Looks like a through and through. But I need to get a better look at it before I can be sure."
"Then lead the way Doc," Dean said. The doctor looked unsure, shooting a glance back at the officers, but Dean was already shouldering his way passed and down the hall. "Come on." The doctor finally followed, Dean was glancing into some of the rooms he passed. There were a few others in them, some in the beds, obviously being treated, while others appeared to be cleaning in some sort of scrubs. Finally Dean came upon an empty room. Kicking the door open Dean crossed to the bed and gently laid Kid down on the off white sheets. With his hands now free Dean stashed his gun, feeling more comfortable to let go of it. The Doc quickly came in, shutting the door. As the Doc approached Kid, Dean shifted a little further back, but not so much that he wouldn't be able to jump in if he had to. He watched as the Doc peeled back the coat Dean had hastily wrapped around the hole in Kid's shoulder.
"You got this on tight," the Doc murmured.
"I needed to stop some of the bleeding," Dean said and the Doc nodded.
"It was a good idea. He would have bled out if you hadn't have at least slowed it down." The Doc turned Kid slightly so that he could see the back. "Straight through, with no fragments from what I can tell." Dean let out a sigh of relief. "He'll need stitching and maybe some blood. You know his type?"
"No," Dean admitted but the Doc was already moving over to the door, yelling out for the materials he would need. It wasn't long that a scrub wearing elderly man came shuffling in, pushing a metal trolley. The Doc soon claimed it and was bending over Kid once more, a needle now in his hand that he had taken from the tray. The old man moved to the other side, hands reaching out to hold Kid's shoulders. The Doc began his work and Dean was sure that the guy must have been a real doctor before everything went to hell. He worked calmly and with a care Dean had only ever seen in doctors in his own reality. Soon the front of Kid's wound was stitched and the two were trying to turn him onto his back, but the old man was finding it difficult, with the sweat on his wrinkled and pale face was any indication. Dean shook his head and stepped up behind the old guy. "Hey, step back will you, you'll throw your back out if you try and shift the kid." The old man looked surprised and frightened, the second of which surprised Dean. He glanced at the Doc, who looked just as unsure. Not willing to let things stay in stasis Dean placed a hand on the old man's shoulder and eased him to the side. Placing his own hands on Kid and shifting him on to his front so the Doc could get to his back. The Doc hesitated, then jerked his head at the old man, who scurried out of the door, shutting it hastily behind him. Then he snapped back to attention, needle ready as he started to stitch the back of the hole closed. Dean felt Kid shift beneath his hands, obviously feeling the pain even in his unconscious state. Finally the Doc placed the last stich, reached for a pair of small scissors and snipped the remains of the thread.
"I'll clean the blood off and wrap it. You should try and keep it clean, I wouldn't want him to get an infection, I'll give him some antibiotics anyway."
"Thanks Doc," Dean said, as the Doc reached for bandages, placing it over the back of the wound.
"Can you get him on his side?" the Doc asked, Dean nodded and moved Kid slowly. The Doc wrapped the shoulder, pulling the bandage tight around the stitched wound. Once he was done Dean settled Kid on his back, stepping away he wiped his bloodied hands on his jeans, which did nothing to clean them. "You can use the sink."
"You have running water?" Dean asked, the Doc watched as the hunter crossed to the old sink, turning the tap and washing his hands in the cold water that came out.
"He your son?" the Doc asked and Dean shook his head.
"No way, I found him on the road. He'd fallen in with a bad crowd," Dean stopped the water and shook out his hands. When he turned to face the Doc again he was surprised to see the man eyeing him warily, eyes moving from the belts across his chest and back, to his make shift weapons and his gun, knife and hammer. "Something up?"
"No," the Doc denied, though he cast a glance at the closed door. Swallowing, Dean was surprised when he leaned closer. "You should get out of here. Leave the kid and go." Dean frowned, his fingers twitched closer to his gun.
"What are you ...?" a knock and the door opening cut off Dean's words. The Doc instantly took a step back, turning to fix his attention on Kid, but his shoulders were stiff. Dean eyed the group of officers, the two that had brought him here were there, along with another bald headed man and a woman, who was stood to the front of the little group. The woman cast an assessing look around the room, taking in Doc with Kid, then Dean. The hunter watched them warily, his hand already close to his belt, ready to pull his gun if he had to.
"What's the verdict Doctor Edwards?" the woman asked. The Doc tensed, straightening from his position over Kid, to turn a blank look on the officers.
"He'll live, the bullet went straight through leaving no fragments. I'm most worried about how much blood he might have lost. I'll have to do a blood test to see his type, hopefully someone will be a match if he needs more blood." The woman frowned.
"Do you really think that will be nesseccary?"
"Hey, if Kid needs blood, you'll get him blood," Dean pointed out, face a fierce look of rage. "It's your fault he's even like this in the first place. You should train your guys to be better shots." He pointed his last words at Bello's and her partner. The woman looked a little uneasy and the guy wouldn't meet Dean's green gaze. The bald man scoffed, giving Dean a glare of his own.
"You're not in a position to threaten us," he said.
"I don't care what position you want me in," Dean growled. "You will treat Kid. Then we'll be on our way."
"Well, that might be a problem, Mr ..." the other woman, trailed off her question, Dean assumed she had to be the leader from her position. That had Dean's fingers gripping his gun, though he didn't pull it.
"Dean Winchester, and what do you mean problem Miss ...?" his blatant copy of her tone had the woman scowling, though she did incline her head in acknowledgement.
"Officer Amanda Shepherd," she said. "We're giving your kid drugs, wasting resources on keeping him alive. The least you can do is work off the debt." Dean snorted a laugh, though his eyes remained hard.
"You must be joking?"
"I'm afraid I'm not, Mr Winchester," Shepherd replied face just as cold and unreadable as any of the police officers Dean had dealt with in the past.
"You can't make us stay here," Dean said, though his eyes glanced around, assessing the others in the room.
"Maybe not you," Shepherd admitted. "But the kid ..."
"Kid isn't staying either," Dean stated.
"We can give him the treatment he needs, a safe place. Plus he's the one that has racked up the debt not you," Shepherd said, voice coxing, but Dean wasn't fooled.
"The way I see it, you owe Kid. It was your guys that shot him after all," Dean pointed out.
"Look, she said you have a debt to pay. We wasted crucial materials on your kid, we need to make that back somehow," the bald man said. Dean could feel the tension in the room raising, things could escalate out of control quickly.
"If you're going to fight, can you take it out of my patients room," the Doc muttered, but loud enough for them all to hear. Dean grunted, hand still around his gun, pulling it from his belt as he crossed his arms over his chest, though keeping it tucked out of sight.
"Sure Doc. You guys can show yourselves out," he spoke the last part to the officers, whose collective glares didn't even faze the hunter. Shepherd tried to hold his gaze, but reluctantly she looked away, motioning for her group to walk out.
"Fine, but if you try to leave, know we'll stop you, by force if nesseccary."
"Like you could hold me here."
"We'll stop treatment for the boy to," she added. "If you cause trouble I'll have Doctor Edwards rip those stitches out." Dean stiffened, but before he could say anything Shepherd had left.
"Told you, you should have gone," the Doc said with a sigh. Dean shook his head, crossing to sit on the end of Kid's bed. "They won't let you just walk out of here."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that," Dean mumbled as he stared at Kid. "How long will he be out?"
"Maybe a day," the Doc shrugged. "I don't know how much blood the boy lost, so that's the best I can give you looking at it optimistically."
"How long have you been here?" Dean asked, fixing the Doc in his sights as he washed his instruments and hands in the sink, piling them back onto the metal trolley.
"Since the beginning. The hospital was meant to be evacuated, but ... I ended up staying. A few local police officers came and well, it just grew from there. We took people in, helped them, made them better if they were hurt."
"Then made them stay here to work of the debt of your generosity?" Dean said, making the Doc flinch. "How many came here after being hurt by one of your group?"
"You don't understand," the Doc said, face turning pained as he almost pleaded with the hunter. "We need people to keep the hospital going. If not this place might as well just fall apart around us. We've already lost to many people since that last group came through."
"Last group?"
"We had some of their people," the Doc explained. "Amanda wasn't running things and ... it just got out of hand. We can't afford to loose any more and the accidents ..."
"What accidents?" but the Doc didn't get a chance to answer as another scrub clad individual walked in. A young lady, though she didn't once raise her head and her hand shook around the glass of water she held.
"Doctor Edwards, Officer Shepherd would like to speak to you."
"Of course," Doc nodded his head. Pushing the trolley as he walked out of the door. The woman glanced around nervously, holding out the glass to Dean.
"Here, they said to bring you something to drink." Dean hesitated a moment, then took the glass.
"Thanks," the woman said nothing, just turned and left. Dean wasn't surprised to hear the sound of the lock being put in place. He wasn't worried, he could pick it if he had to. He stood, placing the glass on the dresser beside Kid's bed. He let the rucksack, that was still on his back, slide off his arms, to land with a heavy thud on the floor. He glanced at the door, then set to work. He pulled free some ammo from the rucksack and the demon knife from his belt, stashing them behind the sink, out of sight. He didn't trust these guys not to try and get his weapons from him. They had already threatened him and Kid, Dean's inner alarms were already ringing. He also took Kid's weapons, the gun and silver and hid them along with the hammer in a crevice under the bed, plus some matches and salt. Once satisfied, Dean picked the glass of water up again. Eyeing it critically, he sniffed at it, it smelled no different from a normal glass of water, but that didn't mean there wasn't something in it. Dean debated on what to do. Should he just throw the thing away? Maybe take a risk, they wouldn't kill him, surely? Knock him out maybe. If he left it would they just come in here with guns, that would put Kid at risk. It might be better just to drink the damn thing. As Dean lifted the glass to his lips, he was surprised when the lights started to flicker, the temperature dropped instantly and the glass in Dean's hand shuddered than shattered into pieces. Dean jumped back, cursing as water fell to the floor, splashing on his clothes and face. But that wasn't what shocked the hunter though. Reaching he pulled his bludgeon from his back, the nails were made of iron, enough to deal with a spirit if he had to.
"Alright, figured there might be a spirit in a hospital." Dean said out loud. "Why'd you have to go and break my water though? Something up with it, or do you just not like me?" The lights remained steady, no longer flickering. "Oh come on, you can't just do that then leave." A light, cool breeze wafted through the room, the hairs on the back of Dean's neck stood on end and the lights gave another flicker. Suddenly a hand landed on Dean's shoulder, the hunter spun, bludgeon swinging with him. It was a girl, a pretty blonde thing, if it wasn't for the bullet hole in her head. Dean didn't hesitate, he swung, the bludgeon passing through the girls head, dispelling her for now. The temperature went back up and the heavy feeling that had come over the room went to. Dean let out a breath, he hadn't been expecting a spirit, but really he should have expected some. Hospitals were ripe places for restless spirits to linger, and in a reality such as the one Dean now found himself in, there was probably even more. Sighing Dean stashed the bludgeon out of sight under the bed, then searched the room for a towel to clear up the water. Once done he took a seat on Kid's bed. The boy was still out of it, though he was breathing and that was all that mattered to Dean. Reaching out the hunter brushed a few of the bloodied blonde locks out of Kid's face, then tucked the blanket the Doc had put over him tighter around his frame. "You scared the shit out of me Kid," Dean muttered, not that the boy would answer him. Dean's mind went back to the spirit, he was sure it was the one that had destroyed his glass of water. But why had it done that? What did it want? Did it want anything? Dean shook his head, standing from the bed and sitting down on the floor where he could clearly see the door. He had other things to keep his attention for now. The spirit would have to wait.
It was the sound of moaning that brought Dean round. It wasn't a loud sound, but the hunter had spent so long learning to listen for any piece of noise that it was enough. Dean lifted his heavy eyelids, his mind slow to wake up, even as he cursed himself for falling to sleep. He was still slumped against the wall, facing the bed Kid was resting it. But that was not all he saw. "Oi!" Dean called out, scrambling to reach for the bludgeon under the bed as the spirit from the night before turned slowly to look at him. Once on his feet, bludgeon in hand however Dean paused as the girl raise a finger to her lips.
"Shh," was the barely audible sound she made, as Kid let out a quiet whimper. Dean hesitated, not wanting to do something that would set the spirit off so close to Kid. He edged closer his weapon ready to swing.
"What do you want?" Dean asked. The spirit stared at him, the bloody hole in her forehead making it a little difficult to read her expression. Suddenly she looked passed him and the sound of shouting came from behind the door to their room. "What the ...?" Dean muttered, turning to march to the door. He tried the knob, but it was locked, luckily there was a small glass window in the top. Peeking through Dean managed to catch a glimpse of a small group of scrub clad people, all fussing over someone on the floor, someone in a uniform.
"It just fell on him."
"How, those things are screwed it, it couldn't have fallen."
"Someone call Doctor Edwards!" Dean frowned, glancing over his shoulder to see the spirit still stood there, though she was back to looking at Kid, a fond expression on her face.
"Was that you?" Dean asked. The spirit didn't even acknowledge him, instead reaching out a hand to touch Kid. "Oi!" Dean called, stepping forward, but a knock shocked both him and the spirit. The girl jerked and quickly vanished from sight.
"Erm, excuse me," Dean spun, the woman was back, still looking uneasy. "Officer Shepherd would like to see you." Dean stared at her for a moment, his mind was to busy trying to process what was happening. That was a spirit, he was sure it was probably a vengeful one, most likely it had caused whatever accident that had just happened, the question was why. Dean glanced around the room, his rucksack was gone, that meant most of the ammo to that he hadn't stashed, but he'd been expecting that.
"Damn bastards," Dean mumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"Dean," the slurred voice instantly had Dean focused, ignoring the woman he crossed to the bed. Kid's eyes were flickering as he tried to push them open, a pained wince crossing his face. "Dean?"
"Hey, Kid," Dean said, sitting down on the bed and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Feeling any better?" Kid frowned, finally managing to get his eyes open, looking up at Dean in confusion.
"Ok, my shoulder hurts though."
"It will do, Kid, you got shot."
"Shot?" Kid said, surprised.
"Don't you remember?" Dean asked. Kid shook his head.
"We went to the CDC, then things get a little fuzzy." Dean sighed, he should have expected that, the shock of what happened would have made it difficult for Kid to remember.
"Erm ..."
"Whose that?" Kid asked and Dean's attention was brought back to the woman, who was still stood awkwardly in the doorway.
"You tell your officer Shepherd that if she wants to come have a chat with me, she can do it right here," Dean glared at the woman, who gave a squeak and quickly scurried from the room.
"What's going on Dean?" Kid asked. "Where are we? Who was that?"
"These dumb asses were the ones who shot you," Dean explained. "Then they fixed you up, we're in a hospital."
"Hospital?" Kid's brow knitted together. "Is that why that girl was here?"
"What girl?" Dean demanded, which had Kid jerking back slightly at the intensity of his tone.
"There was a girl, she must have been sick though as she looked pale. I couldn't really see her too well either." Dean frowned, why would the spirit come to see Kid. In fact why was it hanging around the two of them at all and not, well being vengeful. He was pretty sure that was what it was, the bullet hole in the head was not something she would have done to herself. "Dean?"
"She wasn't a girl, well she was a girl, but she's a spirit."
"Spirit?" Kid asked.
"Yeah, most likely a vengeful one, if the accident out there is anything to go by. Great," Dean muttered as he thought of what he should do.
"You mean she was a ghost?"
"Vengeful spirit, it's different from a ghost."
"Why?"
"There's different types of ghosts," Dean said distractedly. "Vengeful is a type that a ghost can be."
"But that's just ..."
"I see the Kid's awake," Dean held in his startled jump, glancing over his shoulder to see Shepherd and the bald headed officer. "That's good."
"Yeah," Dean stood from the bed, placing himself in front of Kid, almost blocking him from view. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flicker and the blonde girl spirit reappeared. Dean tensed, but the spirit didn't move, it appeared to be watching the officers. "You wanted to have a chat," Dean said and Shepherd nodded, stepping further into the room.
"You know what we said about the boy's treatment."
"And I told you that we aren't staying here," Dean shot back, though he kept one eye on the spirit.
"Even with all your supplies gone, Winchester?" Shepherd said with a smile.
"Yeah, that was sneaky of you," Dean said, eyes narrowed.
"Call it what you like, but it still stands that you need to pay for the help we gave you and the kid," the bald headed officer growled. The spirit shifted, which instantly caught Dean's attention.
"Really?" Dean snarled, fingers already tightening on his bludgeon, though he wasn't sure which threat he would have to deal with first, as the officer went for his gun.
"Licari!" Shepherd barked, stopping the man's movement, but he kept his fingers poised over the gun.
"Shepherd, we can't let him ..."
"I'm aware," Shepherd said, just as static came over her radio and the sound of pounding feet came down the corridor. Soon the hospital room was full of cops, all with their guns out and pointed at Dean. "But there's better ways to threaten someone."
"So you're going to force us to stay?" Dean asked, as two officers approached, one grabbing his wooden knife from his back, while another took his gun 48, neither went for the bludgeon in his hand, probably didn't want to risk being brained. He saw the spirit, it was near Kid, and Dean knew the boy had noticed as his eyes kept sliding to her.
"You need to work off the debt, Winchester," was the only words Shepherd offered in explanation. The officers stepped back as Shepherd tossed a bag at Dean's feet. The hunter eyed what was inside, scrub uniforms. "You're expected to wear them. We'll have orders for you soon."
"What makes you think I'll ..."
"Take the boy," Shepherd spoke over Dean and the officer's swarmed passes Dean, pushing him out of the way to get to Kid.
"Get off me!" Kid yelled, as the officers grabbed him.
"Oi, don't you touch him!" Dean reached out bludgeon swinging back to strike one of the officer's but the raised gun of Licari stopped him. "Just stop, your going to hurt him," Dean said, he glanced at the spirit, she wasn't moving, but the scowl was pretty visible, even with the bullet hole in her head.
"That would be your fault," Licari sneered which Dean answered with a glare of his own.
"Get off! Get off! Get off!" Kid screamed, as he thrashed and fought the hands that tried to lift him from the bed. "Dean! Dean!"
"What the hell is going on here?!" the shout of Doc came over Kid's cries. He stepped into the room, looking furiously at the officers that had stopped trying to force Kid from the bed. "Are you trying to undo my work, but him back on the bed!"
"Doctor Edwards, we need to ..."
"I don't care what you need to do to get the man to do as you say, Amanda," Doc snapped, as he pushed the officers away from Kid to take up his place by the bed. "The boy is still my patient and he has only just come round. That still puts him in my authority." Dean watched as the Doc's eyes slid over the room, widening slightly on the spirit, whose scowl transformed into a small smile. The hunter filed the information away for later as the Doc looked away from the spirit and fixed angry eyes on Shepherd. "Until I clear them, they can't work off anything."
"Fine," Shepherd spat. "But the door is to remain locked, and we keep his stuff. I expect you and the kid to wear those, when he's cleared by Doctor Edward's," she directed the last part to Dean who merely scoffed. She jerked her head at the officers, who filed out, Licari sending one last hateful glare his way as the door was shut.
"What a load of assholes."
"You should just do as she says," Doc muttered.
"I don't really agree with that, Doc." The hunter shrugged, tucking his bludgeon back into the belts and turned his attention to Kid, who flinched back when he reached out to touch him.
"It's alright, I won't hurt you." Kid looked at Doc disbelievingly, shooting a glance at Dean.
"He's fine Kid," the hunter said, and instantly Kid relaxed, allowing Doc to peel back some of the bandages from his shoulder to take a look at the stitches beneath.
"They've not been torn, which is good," the Doc said, as he replaced the bandage. "Though I wouldn't recommend fighting like that for at least another few days."
"I don't think your guys are going to give us much of a choice," Dean said as he leaned up against one wall. "We're not staying here."
"They won't let you go, Mr Winchester" Doc argued, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"That won't stop us, and call me Dean," Mr Winchester made him think of his old man.
"We have supplies here, Dean" Doc said, eyes entreating. "You could have a life here, survive." Dean scoffed.
"Like the blonde chick?" The Doc froze, eyes going wide as he stared at Dean.
"W...what?"
"The blonde girl, with the bullet hole in her head?"
"I ... I don't know ..."
"Don't deny it Doc, I know you saw her." The Doc flinched and he glanced around the room once more, as though looking for the spirit. "You knew her," Dean stated and the Doc sighed.
"Beth. Her name was Beth," the Doc mumbled, eyes cast down in shame.
"Who was Beth?" Kid asked.
"She," Doc licked his lip. "She was like you. Two of the officers ran her over with their car, brought her back here and we treated her."
"Then she had to work off the debt," Dean said, Doc nodded.
"She was a sweet girl, but things here then," he shook his head. "Dawn was leading things to ruin."
"Dawn?"
"Dawn Lerner," Doc explained. "She was the previous leader here. She turned a blind eye to what the officers would do to the ..." the trailed off, biting his lip, eyes sliding to Kid who was watching him. "Beth was part of another group, I never thought they would come for her, but they did. They took a few of the officers hostage. Shepherd, Licari. They wanted to trade them for Beth and another woman we had ... Things were going to plan, we'd swapped, but Dawn just couldn't let things go. She asked that they return Noah, a young man who'd escaped. Beth didn't like that and she stabbed Dawn in the shoulder, who shot her in the head." Kid winced and even Dean had to look away as Doc took off his glasses and wiped a hand over his eyes, trying to discreetly get rid of the tears. "The other group retaliated, they killed Dawn and things looked bad. But Amanda calmed things down and they left. Things have been strange here ever since."
"Yeah, I can see why," Dean muttered. "Got yourselves a vengeful spirit, that Beth girl had plenty to be angry about."
"You mean she's haunting us?" Doc asked, a panic look on his face.
"In a way," Dean said. "She's angry and taking out her anger on the ones she that wronged her."
"But I didn't ..."
"You didn't help her," Dean spat, shutting the Doc up instantly. "You said the officers did things. I don't want to know what they did," Dean snapped, as the Doc opened his mouth. "But she's angry and she's taking her revenge the only way she can now."
"Can we stop her, Dean?" Kid asked and Dean sighed, pushing himself up from the wall.
"You wouldn't happen to still have her body?" Doc shook his head.
"Her group took it."
"Great, that just makes everything easier."
"Why do we need her body?" Kid questioned.
"We need to salt and burn her bones," Dean explained. "That's the sure fire way of getting restless spirits to move on. Without a body, I can only hope she's haunting an object here. Please tell me you burned this Dawn's body?" he asked Doc who nodded. "Well thank god for that. Do you know if anything of Beth's was left here?"
"We packed up the stuff her group left behind. Amanda took it, along with all of Dawn's things. She stored them I think."
"Where?" Doc shrugged.
"Her office maybe," Doc frowned. "She took over Dawns when she ..."
"Right," Dean crossed to the bed, pulling out the salt, matches and hammer he had stashed.
"You hid those?" Kid said and Dean smirked.
"Always be prepared Kid."
"What are you going to do?" Doc asked.
"Tonight I'll try and get into that office, I'll salt and burn the stuff that was Dawn's and Beth's, hopefully that should solve the problem."
"You're going to help us?" Doc said startled.
"Where's this office?" Dean asked instead of answering the question.
"It's on the floor above here," Doc said. "Corner office down from the stairs."
"Right," Dean pocketed the matches and salt, then hung the hammer from his belt. "You just need to keep your mouth shut and I'll have this problem dealt with."
"But what about the ..."
"They don't need to know, and after I've dealt with your spirit problem, Kid and I are leaving. You got that?" Doc nodded.
"How do you know about all this?" he asked and Dean grinned.
"All part of the family business." Doc sent Dean a puzzled look, then glanced at Kid who frowned at him.
"Fine, I'll keep quiet."
"Good," Doc crossed to the door, opening it.
"I'll have to lock this."
"That's fine."
"But how will you ..."
"The less you know the better, Doc," Dean cut the man off, whose mouth twisted but he nodded and walked out, sliding the lock into place.
"Well, he's a fun guy."
"Why are we helping them, Dean?" Kid asked and Dean raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"What do you mean, Kid?"
"Why are you getting rid of Beth? She has a right to her revenge if they kept her here, got her killed. Why are you helping them?"
"A hunts a hunt, Kid. It doesn't matter how it happened, our job is to smoke whatever creature or ghost or demon that's killing people."
"But they deserve it," Kid insisted. "They brought this on themselves."
"Did you bring Darla on yourself?" Dean asked and Kid jerked back as though slapped.
"You know I didn't want to ..."
"But you were helping her. Should I have just left you with Finn and her, so that they could kill you when they'd had enough of you? Just because you let them use you to kill others?" Kid flinched and Dean did feel a little bad about bringing up what was obviously a sore topic with the boy. But this needed to be said.
"We don't get to choose whose saved, Kid. We hunt and we save lives, it doesn't matter to us what they've done. That's for the police to deal with."
"But they are the police," Kid pointed out.
"Yeah, I know," Dean sighed, crossing to sit on the bed and laying a hand on the boy's head. "But Kid, we aren't the ones to judge them. We're hunters, our job is to hunt what comes out of the dark and put it back in its place." Kid opened his mouth to protest, but Dean carried on. "It's hard, especially when people might not deserve our help. But we can't let the spirit carry on. It won't stop with just the people here. Beth will start taking out her anger on innocents and that will be our fault. Do you understand?" Dean made sure to make eye contact, trying to will Kid to understand what he was saying. Kid's face was still angry, but slowly the tension left and understanding finally blossomed over his features. He hung his head and allowed Dean to ruffle his hair.
"It's not fair."
"No it's not," Dean muttered. "But it's the way things are." Dean patted the blonde locks once more than stood up. "Get some rest."
"But I'm not ..."
"We've got a long night tonight, Kid, you need some sleep," Kid stiffened and his eyes lit up.
"You're taking me with you?"
"Well I do need a look out," Dean said with a smirk. "We'll burn the stuff, then blow this joint."
"What about supplies?" Kid asked.
"They'll have a store room somewhere. We'll search for it, but I don't want to waste time. We'll scavenge on the road if we have to." Kid nodded and settled down on the bed. Dean crossed to the door, keeping to one side so he could look out of it without being seen himself. He never expected to come across a hunt and really he did agree with Kid. The guys here had brought this on themselves and if he was any other man, he would have left them. But Dean was hunter, he saved lives be they dead or alive and Beth deserved to move on. He could at least give her that.
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