so, a really long time in coming, but so begins the rescue of the boys...thanks for reading and for all the really awesome reviews!! lol...i guess i should mention that if you don't want to wait for future chapters of this story, you can also read it on supernaturalville as I am up to chapter 35 on that site...yeah, long story as it really goes into details of both boys recovery...again thanks for reading!! bambers;)
Chapter Twenty-Four
John sat in the cab of his truck studying the map of the larger of the two compounds. Ash sat beside him, busily typing away on his laptop, and hadn't spoken a word to John in the longest time. Every once in a while, the younger man would let out a low audible groan, look up and glance around at their surroundings then immerse himself in his computer once more. Finally a slow grin spread across his features as he pointed at the screen.
"Got it, John," His grin deepened as he glanced in John's direction. "Just say the word an' I'll cut the power."
"How about cell phones?"
"Not a problem, traced Dominic's cell phone back to his provider, an' can take out the cell tower whenever you give the word."
"What about regular phones?"
Ash gave a quick nod as he stifled a yawn. "Yep, got it all covered in spades, so quit worryin'." Stretching, Ash leaned back in his seat, rubbed his tired red-rimmed eyes, then went back to his research. "Seems as if Dominic had a daughter named Shannon who went missing not to long ago." He turned the computer screen toward John, and then continued, "Authorities have been searching for her and presume that she's dead. Apparently she was gonna turn over evidence against her father about all his cult activities before she went missing."
The moment John looked at the picture of the young girl, he drew in a sharp breath as he realized he had seen her before. "I've seen her before . . . she was with Dean. Said he was protecting her, an' I just assumed it was from something supernatural . . . I never thought, I mean . . . after she was gone he never brought her up again."
"Guess that explains this," Ash clicked on another screen and a picture of Dean and Shannon getting into the Impala came into focus. "Seems as if Dean's wanted in questioning for her disappearance."
John cursed under his breath as he stared at the picture of his son. The image on the screen was grainy at best and only a side profile of Dean, but the Impala was unmistakable. "So he went after my boys out of revenge for what happened to his daughter."
"Looks like it."
"Well, he's gonna wish to hell he never had." Letting out a deep sigh, John grabbed his long-range walkie-talkie off the dashboard, and jabbed the button on the side to talk to Bobby. "Bobby, where are you?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes on the place where he knew the compound was located although he couldn't see it through the overgrowth of trees.
Within a few minutes, Bobby responded. "Back side of the compound. Got a couple of guys up in the trees, scouting out the inside of the place. Not much activity goin' on from what they've reported. Guard just changed like twenty minutes ago."
"Alright, I'll head that way." John turned back to Ash, "You stay here and see what else you can dig up about Dominic." He got out of his vehicle and followed the trail he'd become so familiar with over the past few days. Raising the walkie-talkie to his mouth again, he clicked the button, "Any sign of Dominic?"
"Yeah," Bobby's voice came back over the walkie-talkie, "saw him head into a building that looked kinda like a church not more than a half hour ago."
"Any one with him?"
"Yeah, one of his men and there was a woman with them." Bobby was silent for a few moments, and then his voice came over the walkie-talkie again, "Just checked in with Gordon an' he said that a lot more people just headed into the church."
John glanced at his watch and a deep scowl settled across his features. "What the hell are they doin'? They've kept to the same routine all week, like freakin' clockwork. Damn it, Something's going on inside there." Picking up his pace, John hit the button on the walkie-talkie again, this time to talk to Gordon. "Gordon, what the hell's happening in there? What are the guards doing?"
Within a few moments, Gordon responded, "Guards are still standing post, but everyone else seems to be headin' for the church."
"Think they know we're coming?" In the distance, John could hear the sound of bells chiming, and set off at a dead-run toward the back of the compound. "Gordon, what the hell was that?"
"It was the bell in the steeple, but I don't think they suspect anything. They haven't heightened the guard, an' everything seems to be fairly calm inside the compound."
"Bobby," John called to his long time friend, and within a few seconds Bobby's voice came over the walkie-talkie.
"Yeah, John?"
"It's gonna be dark soon, everyone in place in case we have to go in early?"
"Got everyone covering the perimeter. Crossbows at the ready, just waitin' for your word. Pastor Jim took a few men to the front side of the wall, an' is waiting there. Jus' got to get that front gate open."
"Where's Deacon?" John narrowed his eyes and saw the compound coming into view.
"Here, John," Deacon cut in over the walkie-talkie, "Jus' made a final sweep of the area. Gonna be heading over to the section of wall that is crumbling in a moment."
"How hard is it gonna be to get that front gate open once we're inside?" John stopped short as a wave of fear overwhelmed him at the huge risk everyone was taking to help him save his boys. His stomach churned violently at the thought that many of his friends might die tonight, and it would be all his fault, but he vehemently pushed aside those dire thoughts. No one's gonna die . . . not here, not tonight. I'll make damn sure of it. "We gotta get that gate open."
"It'll be open," came Gordon's overly-confident voice, "I'll see to it myself."
John hesitated for a moment as he glanced toward the front of the compound, and narrowing his eyes he searched for any sign of his men, but saw no one. "Jim," he called over the walkie-talkie, "is the front of the compound secure?"
Within a matter of seconds, Pastor Jim's reassuring voice came back over the walkie-talkie, "No one's leaving here, John. Got men up in the trees, crossbows aimed directly at the gate. You just get those gates open, an' everything will go as planned."
"They'll be open." John shielded his eyes, and looked toward the western sky. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon. Before long it would be dark enough to put their plans in motion, and from what he could tell all his men were ready to attack the compound, but still he worried that he was missing something that would cost someone their life. He hesitated for a moment with his thumb on the button of the walkie-talkie as he thought of Ellen, and then pressed the button down. "Ellen, you there?"
"Yeah, John," came Ellen's voice over the walkie-talkie.
"Want you to go back to my truck an' wait there with Ash. Jo needs you, an' I'm not about to be the cause of anymore pain in your family."
"Thanks for the concern, John, but it's not gonna happen. Didn't come all the way here to wait in your truck."
"Don't argue with me on this, Ellen, want you back at the truck now," he tried again although he knew it was pointless. She'd made up her mind and once decided there was no way he was going to sway her thoughts on the matter.
"Can handle myself, John. Not goin' anywhere."
"Figured you'd say that, but had to try." John rounded the bend in the wall, narrowed his eyes and spotted the area hidden in the brush where he knew Bobby would be. He headed over to what they had determined would be the command center, and found Bobby, Deacon and Ellen waiting for him.
"So," he nudged his head toward the encampment, "any idea what's going on inside there?"
"Not sure." Deacon gave a quick shake of his head then returned to studying the map of the compound. "Looks like most of Dominic's followers are congregating in the church at the moment," he added without looking up, "but from what Billy told you and from what I see on the map, there's no weapons inside there."
"Alright, it'll be dark in about another half hour then Ash can cut the power an' we can move in." John squinted, focusing his attention on the trees off to the right, and although he could see nothing, he knew Gordon along with several other hunters were high aloft in the branches of the maples and oaks. "Have Gordon keep an eye out for any more strange activity going on inside there, an' tell him to report anything suspicious immediately."
"Gotcha, John," Bobby replied, and quickly relayed the request to Gordon.
"Let's go over everything one more time," John said as he looked over Deacon's shoulder at the maps his friend held in his hands. "No room for errors. Everything has to run like clockwork."
"It will," Deacon assured, and with taut nerves they all settled in for the short wait.
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
Inside the church, Dean stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for the Father to call him forward. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed that nearly everyone of his brothers and sisters were sitting in the pews, quietly awaiting the wedding. Several of the women gave him reassuring smiles, and he grinned in return before refocusing his attention on the Father and Raine.
Dean's steady gaze drifted over the Father and settled firmly on Raine. In a simple white dress trimmed in delicate lace, and a wreath of white roses and baby's breath in her hair, she radiated innocence and beauty, and Dean found himself held captivated by the warmth and love her saw in her eyes.
"Dominic, " the Father gestured for Dean to come and stand beside Raine, and without reservation Dean complied.
Dean took hold of Raine's hand and felt her tremble, and when he glanced in her eyes again, noticed they were shimmering with unshed tears. A hard knot formed in his throat as his stomach began to churn in protest. He leaned into her, his hand tightening around hers as he whispered in her ear, "Swear to God, I'll do my damnedest to make you happy, Raine. Please don't cry." He gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Jus' wanna make you happy, so please don't cry."
"All brides are supposed to cry, Dominic." Raine lightly brushed her lips against Dean's in a soft kiss before she looked him in the eyes and smiled. "I'm crying because I'm happy."
The Father wrapped a silver piece of cording around both Dean and Raine's hands, binding them together. "In life there are many uncertainties, but the sanctity of marriage and the love of our family is not one of them. Dominic and Raine are to be husband and wife because it is my will that they should do so." He tied the cording in a knot, then glanced up at Dean and a smile of pure acceptance graced his hawkish features. "Dominic is my child. My blood . . . my own."
The candles at the back of the altar flickered as a chilled breeze swept through the room. The temperature in the room plummeted as a gust of cold air extinguished all the candles in the church. From behind Dean, he heard a soft mournful cry as a murmuring rose up through the crowd gathered in the church, and although all his years of hunting told him something was definitely wrong, he chose to ignore it.
"It's always been a bit drafty in here." The Father forced a smile as he glanced toward the far back corner of the room. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, a look of panic overwhelming his features for a brief moment before he smiled again and refocused his attention on Dean and Raine. "My son. From this day forward, you are of my blood. My firstborn, my child. I have given you my name so all will know that you are my child and well loved." He took both Dean and Raine's bound hands in his own and raised them in the air. "Dominic, my son, I give to you April Raine as a gift. She will be your wife from this moment forward, and bear you many fine sons as is her duty." The Father looked to Raine, his eyes narrowing on her. "April Raine, it is your job to make my son happy, to give him many children, and to make sure he wants for nothing. Do you understand this?"
Raine held the Father's gaze for a moment and then lowered her head. Tears slipped down her cheeks as her smile faltered. "I do, Father."
The Father turned his attention to Dean. "Dominic, my son, I give to you April Raine as your wife. She is yours from this day forward as is my command. She will make a fine wife for you. Do you accept her?"
As Dean listened to the demeaning way the Father spoke of Raine and her role in their marriage, it was on the tip of his tongue to say no. But Raine looked to him then and mouth the words, 'please, Dominic', and he gave a curt nod. "I do, Father."
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Dean turned to Raine, gently cupped her chin in his hand and lightly brushed his lips against hers. "I'll make you happy, Raine," he breathed against her lips. "I want nothing more than to make you happy."
The lights overhead flickered then dimmed as the shudders outside banged hard against the outer walls. Another low wailing cry filled the room, and the room was cast into complete darkness for a moment before the lights came back on.
The Father glanced at the light fixtures with a puzzled frown on his face. "Must be a storm coming." He raised his hands to quiet the murmuring of his children, and they immediately went silent. "Everyone is to return to their rooms while I see to it that extra guards are posted." As the Father gestured for Raine and Dean to lead the way, the lights went out and stayed that way. "Dominic you will share Raine's room."
"Yes, Father," Dean said, and led Raine down the stairs and through the long aisle toward the door.
Their hands still bound together, Raine turned slightly and opened the door with her free hand. Just outside the entrance, she stopped, looked Dean in the eyes and smiled. Biting at her lower lip, she gently trailed her fingers across his cheek. "Just want you to know that I think you'll make a wonderful husband. An' I couldn't be any happier than I am now."
She leaned and kissed him, her lips parting as her tongue gently explored his mouth. Dean wrapped his free arm around her and pulled her closer to him, reveling in the soft feel of her body against his. As the kiss deepened, Dean wrapped his arm more firmly around her waist, and felt her suddenly jerk forward as the sound of gunfire ripped through the night air.
"D-Dominic," she gasped as she slumped against him. Tear cascaded down her cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath. "I . . . i-it h-hurts . . . ."
"Raine!" Dean ran his hand along her back, pulled it away and cried out as he saw his fingers were covered in her blood. "God, no! No. No. No. No. No. . . . Raine . . . please no . . . ." Quickly yanking free of the bind tied around thier wrists, Dean crumpled to the ground with Raine in his arms.
Blood bubbled on Raine's lips and trickled a path down her chin as she glanced up at Dean. Her eyelids slowly fluttered closed then open as she tried to draw in a shaky breath. "S-sorry, D-Dominic . . . sh-shoulda had m-more time," a faint smile lit across her features as she gently caressed Dean's cheek, and he leaned his face into her hand. "C-coulda been h-happy . . . y-you an' me . . . ."
"You're gonna be okay, R-Raine . . . ." the words caught in Dean's throat as tears slipped down his cheeks. "Jus' got to get to you to a hospital an' you'll be f-fine."
"N-no . . . jus' h-hold me . . . pl-please jus' don't let go."
"I won't let go," Dean pulled her closer to him, and brushed his lips against her forehead, "I'll take care of you . . . k-keep you safe. Y-you jus' rest, an' I won't let go. . . ." Raine's body spasmed and then went completely still beneath Dean's protective embrace. "No . . . oh, God, please, no . . . Raine, please don't die on me . . . ." More tears fell unchecked as Dean narrowed his eyes on the wall surrounding the compound, fierce anger and hatred welling inside of him as he saw several men wielding guns making their way into the courtyard.
With a curt nod, Dean gathered Raine up in his arms, and carried her back inside the church, and laid her body down on the altar. He gently brushed her hair aside and kissed her lightly on the lips. "You rest here, Raine . . . you jus' rest," he hugged her to his chest, "gonna protect you . . . gonna kill whoever hurt you . . . gonna kill them all."