Dedicated to FranknNancyHardy – he knows why! :o)

Crusade – Forty-First Chapter
"Sam," Dean muttered to him as they watched Rory collapse. "Sam, this is it. If you really want to keep your promise, we have to leave now."

Sam didn't even have to think about what he was saying. "I'm not leaving."

Rory stirred. She heard sobbing coming from nearby and a hand touched her every few seconds. She froze for a moment as Kara's memories whipped through her head. She processed them slowly, finally realising something:

She wasn't dreaming.

Rory sat bolt upright, searching for him. A movement drew her attention to the cave entrance, where the man she looked for stood with a stranger.

She didn't care about the stranger at the moment, though.

"Sam!" she screamed ecstatically. She threw herself across the cave, landing in his arms and laughing hysterically.

"Dear freaking God, you are real!" she cried.

His laugh sounded in her ears and he said, "I thought you always believed that?"

Sam put her down, grinning uncontrollably.

"Well, you know, it's been a year, and I don't know..." she trailed off and grinned at him. "I just can't believe you're here."

"I'm sorry I broke my promise," he said, his grin fading into a small smile.

"Do you really think I care?" Rory asked, hugging him again.

She remembered Clark and turned quickly, only to see him standing just behind her.

She hugged him, but while she'd hugged Sam out of joy, she hugged Clark for comfort and to comfort him.

Rory let go of her brother and fought the urge to go back to hugging Sam. After all, her very over-protective brother, who just happened to have superstrength, was standing right there...

"Hi," the stranger grinned at her. "I'm Dean Winchester, Sam's brother. You must be Rory."

"Oh! So you're the famous Dean," Rory said with a sardonic smile.

"And you're the real Rory Kent," he replied. "Now I know why-"

Sam elbowed him in the side.

"You're Clark, of course," Sam held out his hand. Clark took it and shook it. "I've heard so much about you, I feel like I already know you."

"Really," Clark smiled, friendly. Abruptly, he asked, "So how old are you?"

Sam looked taken aback. "I'm 23."

Clark frowned and Rory stood on his foot.

Invulnerable, he reminded her.

Stop that, she admonished. It's not nice.

Screw nice.

"Well, Sammy," Dean said, interrupting them, "We'd better go find a place to stay."

"Oh, Mom, could they maybe stay with us?" Rory asked her, pleading with her eyes.

"I don't know, sweetheart," Martha hedged. "Where would they go?"

"There's a couch at the house, and we could set up a mattress or something somewhere. If you two don't mind..." Rory suggested.

"A hotel room will do us," Sam said with a thankful smile.

"Yeah, Rory, they'll be fine," Clark agreed.

"Clark, there's only one hotel in Smallville, and it's incredibly overpriced," Rory pointed out. "But, Dean, Sam, you guys could stay with us for free."

Martha looked at her pointedly.

"Or you could work for your board," Rory offered.

"Money isn't exactly our strong suit," Dean murmured to Sam.

"All right," Sam gave in. "Thank you all so much."

A phone began to ring suddenly. Martha pulled hers out of her pocket and answered it.

"Hello?"

Her face froze in shock.

"Mom?" Rory asked her.

"I'll be there right away," Martha said quickly, hanging up.

"Mom what is it?" Clark asked.

"It's your father," Martha said, a smile lighting up her face and dispelling their fears. "He's awake!"

Clark grinned and Rory said, "So what happens next? It starts raining chocolate?"

"Uh, Mrs. Kent, is it all right if we just go to your place and-" Sam began, but Martha cut him off.

"If you two are going to be staying with us, then you should come and meet Jonathan," Martha pointed out. "Come on."

She grabbed Rory by the arm and pulled her outside, murmuring to her, "You, young lady, are in so much trouble."

"Why?" Rory asked petulantly.

"For telling him your secret," Martha replied.

"I thought you liked him," Rory whispered.

"Yes, but your father?" Martha pointed out. "Especially not after... you-know-who."

"What does a villain from a fictional series have to do with this?"

"I mean Lex, sweetie."

"Mom," she sighed. "I'm over that now, I promise."

"Whatever you say," Martha smiled.

They walked out into the light and Rory stopped. "Whoa!"

A gorgeous black car sat before them, right next to the truck.

"Is that a '67-" Rory began.

"Chevy Impala?" Dean finished as he, Sam and Clark left the cave. "Yes it is."

"That is one cool car," Rory grinned. "Yours?"

"Sammy," Dean clapped his brother on the shoulder. "I very much like this girl."

Rory laughed and Clark scowled.

"Way out of your league," Dean whispered in his ear.

"Mom, do you mind if I go in the Impala?" Rory asked.

"I'm coming too," Clark said quickly.

"I'll meet you there," Martha permitted.

She went to the truck and climbed in, driving off as fast as she could. Rory, Clark, Sam and Dean got in the Impala and Dean started her. The last song he'd been listening to automatically came on.

The familiar guitar intro to 'You Shook Me All Night Long' by AC/DC began and Rory exclaimed, "I love this song!"

Dean looked over at Sam and grinned. "Clark Kent, your sister is awesome."

Smallville Medical Centre
Clark, Rory, Sam and Dean walked through the corridors of the hospital. Dean and Sam stopped just outside the door to Jonathan's room and Clark went inside.

Rory stayed with them for a moment though, asking, "Aren't you guys gonna come in?"

"In a minute," Dean nodded. "But you guys should have your family reunion without us breathing down your necks."

Rory nodded in understanding and entered the room.

"So what now, Sammy?" Dean asked his brother angrily. "You wanna stick around and not do our job?"

"We have to stay at least until Jason arrives," Sam pointed out reflexively.

"You don't care about Jason," Dean hissed quietly. "You haven't talked to him since you were eleven years old, Sammy. The only reason you wanted to come here was –"

"Look Dean," Sam hissed back, "I didn't come here just for Rory."

"But she's part of it, isn't she?" Dean demanded.

"Maybe she is," Sam allowed. "But what Sara said – Dean, she said that there's 'eight of us'. Eight, Dean. And that four were in Smallville and four weren't – yet."

"So?" Dean asked. "What the hell should that have to do with us?"

"Think about it, Dean," Sam said in frustration. "I'm one of the four who weren't in Smallville then. Who are three people you can think of who have just arrived in Smallville or are just about to arrive in Smallville apart from me?"

Dean sighed. "You don't seriously think-"

"There's me," Sam interrupted. "There's you, there's Jason, and Lois has only just gotten here. Remember?"

"Spit it out, Sammy," Dean ordered.

"I don't think it's a coincidence we're here," Sam said defiantly. "I think we're a part of something bigger than we can imagine."

"Sam?"

Rory was standing at the door. "Come and meet my dad, guys?" she asked with a smile.

Sam and Dean followed her inside.

Jonathan looked at them, his typical frown on his face. "Which one of you is Sam?" he asked.

"Uh, that would be me, sir," Sam said uncomfortably. "This is my older brother, Dean."

"Older, huh?" Jonathan asked, smiling a little. Sam relaxed at that.

"Tell me Sam, how old are you?" Jonathan questioned innocently.

"Dad!" Rory chastised, scandalised.

Clark shook his head, grinning. Martha seemed to be holding back laughter.

Dean clapped Sam on the shoulder and grinned cockily.

Jonathan grinned also and said, "Welcome to Smallville."

A/N I was planning on doing the whole Lois-in-the-graveyard thing, but I decided not to. All that really happens is that Lois teases Rory, before they pretty much decide they're fast friends. :o) Go Lois.

I know there wasn't much of her here, but I was concentrating more on the Sam-Dean dynamic. Especially the Sam/Rory thing. :o) There'll be more of Lois soon, promise.