A/N: Much thanks to everyone who has recc'd and reviewed this story, and much love to the lurkers out there, too! I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing. Just another quiet day at the Bender place in the hours before the hunt of John Winchester. Sam wakes up, and Bobby definitely has a problem. Chapter title taken from "Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening", a poem by Robert Frost.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural. This is for entertainment only, and not for profit.


Chapter 22 – and miles to go before I sleep

Lee never would be found this far out in the woods. Jerry picked a spot right next to this tree that had one of the hoodoo signs carved into it. He remembered Pa and Gabriel explaining how the symbols worked back when he and Lee were little. The sign looked like an inverted cross with an X on top, with these little circles around it.

"Stay quiet spirit sign," Pa had said. "Want you boys to remember how it looks. You can carve it or paint it. Either way doesn't matter, as long as you get it right."

Gabriel nodded. "That'll keep these sumbitches quiet, now and forever. And if that doesn't work, we got something stronger that will."

Jerry wondered how the other folks they'd killed over the years reacted to seeing a Bender along them again. He didn't imagine they bothered Gabriel much after he died, but then, Lee sure in the hell wasn't Gabriel.

Two hours later Jerry decided the hole was plenty deep enough. His muscles ached as he hauled himself out. He had a headache, but that was better than the alternative. He tried not to stare at what was left of Lee, but he couldn't help himself. The side of his brother's head was pretty much caved in, and Jerry had forgotten how handy Gabriel was with a knife.

It was true that Jerry was the dumb one, the follower. He knew it. Pa vouched for him, and that saved his life. He'd miss Lee, all right, but he'd told the fool not to mess with Gabriel in the first place. He'd told him, practically begged him to leave Gabe be once they got home that morning. Gabriel acted all confused and crazy, and Lee took the bait like the damn fool that he was.

So much for being the smart one.

Jerry grabbed Lee by the ankles and pulled him over to the hole. Lee went in curled up on his side. Jerry picked up the shovel and threw the first shovelful of dirt in. It hit Lee's head and shoulders, covered up the damage that was done to him. From this angle it looked like he was sleeping.

Another shovelful of dirt, then another.

Better you than me, bro, Jerry thought as he covered Lee up for all eternity. Sorry.


Sam swum upwards in dark, murky water. Damn training exercise. This was just like John Winchester; throw the kids in the lake, stand on shore and watch them deal with it.

Dean was probably already on the surface, lazily floating on his back with a satisfied smirk on his face.

The water was warm, and Sam could hear Dad saying his name over and over again. He didn't understand why Dad was whispering; usually he yelled, loud and clear.

Sam didn't understand that, either. He blinked and opened his eyes.

His body immediately checked in with the good news, and the bad.

He was still breathing, and apparently he still had all his fingers and toes. The side of his face and his chest and stomach felt like an elephant had tap danced all over him. Sam blinked at the hazy memory of broken glass, the smell of gasoline, and the shadows that loomed over him as he crawled out of the wreck of the Chevelle.

That was the good news. The bad was he was in a damn cage.

He couldn't see further than that until his eyesight cleared up, and once it did, he immediately focused on the sight of John Winchester in another cage, on the other side of the room.

Sam decided that was bad.

Not only was Dad caged up, he looked worried.

That sure in the hell was not good.

Sam huffed as he pushed upright. His muscles were stiff and sore, and they bitched at him about the change in position. The top of his head bumped up against something hard, and he flinched.

Cage. Bars. Right. For a moment he'd forgotten about that.

"Hey, Sammy," Dad whispered. He relaxed, just a little.

"Hey." The word came out hoarsely. His throat was so dry it hurt. "You okay?"

Dad nodded. "Yeah."

"Where's…where's Dean? And Bobby?"

John's shoulders sagged. "I don't know where Bobby is. Dean's not driving now." He nodded at the spray of dark red blood on the dirt floor nearby. "Gabriel is. He killed one of them. That leaves four."

Sam blinked again. Maybe it was because of the head injury, but he was having a hard time understanding exactly what John was saying. Or maybe he did understand, and he didn't want to believe it. "You mean three. Three left."

John stared at Sam.

"You're...you're not counting Dean in this…"

"Sam," John said slowly, "We might have to kill Dean to stop Gabriel."

"What? No." Sam shook his head, which was not a good idea. His head hurt like hell when he moved.

"Your brother wouldn't want to live like this."

"Dad, no. I can't believe you're even considering this ---"

"Sam," John said tiredly. "We've talked about this before, son. We have. You know we have, and you never wanted to listen. Sometimes taking care of each other means doing one last thing. The kindest thing we can do for Dean now is to put him out of his misery first chance we get."

"What about the exorcism? Bobby's friends? Dad, I don't get you. We did all this, and for what?"

"We may not be able to get Dean out of here."

Sam leaned back against the cage bars. "So that's it? You're gonna give up on him. Just like that?"

"Not the right time for this discussion, Sam."

Sam coughed out a hoarse bark of laughter. "Discussion? Is that what this is? We're talking about killing Dean, Dad. When, if" Sam added pointedly, "you get out of that cage, the first thing you're gonna do is kill your eldest son. You've already made up your mind about it."

"I don't expect you to understand."

"You're right. I can't understand this. I won't. You're not killing Dean. You're not killing Dean because I know what's keeping Gabriel here. I know where it is, and when I get out of here I'm going to burn the damn thing."

Dad leaned forward, and that slight raise of his eyebrow was enough. He didn't have to say anything out loud.

Talk to me, then, damn it.

Sam talked, and John listened.


Abraham had that look in his eyes. Gabe pretended not to notice. Abraham didn't get like that very often. He cleared his throat, and what came out sounded rough and careless. "Glad to have you back, hoss."

Gabriel smirked. "Damn glad to be back." He stepped just close enough to bump shoulders with Abraham, and then he stepped away. There had been enough hugging. This would do.

Abraham smiled, nodded, and continued on up the stairs. He was headed to that room he kept private downstairs. He did that sometimes too. A man needs private stuff, stuff he kept to himself. That was all right.

Gabriel stopped at the foot of the stairs to the house and looked around at the place. The stack of rusted cars over there looked about the same. Hadn't changed at all in the last six months. Pa and the others probably picked up folks to hunt on foot, on the highway.

He thought about what Missy wanted. A baby. A damn baby. Well, okay. After this was over he'd go into town, scout around, pick up something cute and pretty. No sense in getting an ugly bitch, considering he'd be the one to fuck her until she got a bun in the oven.

And while he was out there, might as well pick up something for Abraham too. He had to be tired of giving himself handjobs, or whatever the hell he was doing to himself. With any luck, they'd have more than one kid on the place, and then Gabriel could finish his business with Jerry.

He did say he wouldn't kill him. Never promised he wouldn't, years down the line. Wait until the kids were old enough to help out around the place, and then Gabe could take Jerry into the woods for a hunting accident of his own.

Damn, it was good to be back. Gabriel raised his face to the sun and closed his eyes. He had a slight headache, but he'd had worse. His hands still shook every now and then, and it felt like his skin was stretched too tight over his bones. He was coming down from all that crap he'd taken at Sweetbriar, and all of this was okay.

He couldn't feel Dean. That was even damn better.

Gabe opened his eyes, cocked his head to one side towards the house. Didn't hear any screaming, so either that meant the old boy was dead or unconscious. He was a tough old bastard.

The thought of Beck made him pretty damn horny now. Being manhandled like that, taken like that, well, it hadn't been that bad. Beck had talented fingers, and the things he could do with his mouth and his body were pretty good too. Gabriel had to admit that. Besides that wasn't his first time at the rodeo, being with a man. Gabriel and brother Jeremiah had some lively times out in the barn and the woods, back when they were both alive.

That was in the past, and Gabe was quite content to leave it right there. He was home, and he had Missy again.

Gabriel whistled to himself as he walked up the stairs. He and Missy were gonna make up for lost time.


The air in the room was stale. Abraham reached out in the darkness and snagged the chain for the light on the first try. He'd been coming down here nearly every day for the past six months, and now he thought it was only fair that he tell them why he wasn't going to be coming back anymore. As always he closed the door behind him. What he said needed to be said behind closed doors.

The room was filled with cardboard boxes covered in layers of thick white dust. He'd forgotten what was in half the boxes scattered around.

Jeremiah Bender sat upright in the chair. He was just as stiff as he'd been the first day that Pa tied him up there. The back of his head was cracked like a broken eggshell, and wisps of thin black hair stuck up out of his dark leathery scalp like blades of grass. When Jeremiah was alive he had a thick head of shaggy black hair. Most of it was gone now, just like his eyes and the other soft bits of him. Yellow bones protruded from that faded red and white checkered shirt of his, and Pa knew the faded overalls he had on were filled with more yellow bones and dust.

Over the years Jeremiah's lips had drawn back from his teeth. He still had a full set and that wide yellow grin irritated the hell out of Abraham, always did, like the bastard knew a joke or secret that Abraham wasn't in on.

The bitch tied up in the chair beside Jeremiah didn't look much better.

Her name was Jane. At least, it had been before. Abraham had taken to calling her "Bitch" even after she was dead. The pink and white housedress she had on was faded too. Her skin was the same dark brown leather, but she was slumped forward, with her head down, as if she was too ashamed to look Abraham in the eye.

That was only right, Abraham thought. The bitch should be ashamed of herself. He'd taken her in, given her a home when her own family had thrown her out, and the first thing she did was cheat on him with his brother.

Abraham cleared his throat. "I ain't coming down here any more. Gabriel's back from the crazy place. That proves he was supposed to be here all along. Back then you made me think Gabriel was the one, Jeremiah. I made a mistake, and the Lord forgave me. Ain't never gonna forgive you for turning on your own flesh and blood." Abraham looked around the room. "I always get a feeling when I come in here. It's a true one. I know you two can hear me. If you ever decide to come back like Gabriel did, I'll fix the both of you. Fix you good."

That was about all he needed to say. Abraham walked over to the door, opened it up, reached out and yanked the chain for the light for the last time.

Darkness settled down over the room like a thick blanket, and Jeremiah Bender kept right on grinning.


The knife blade skipped over Bobby's left cheek. It went dangerously close to the corner of his left eye. The girl giggled to herself. She wasn't going to blind him. Not this early in the game. Her hazel eyes shone with a wild, gleeful light, and Bobby wished for one second of freedom. He'd wrap his hands around her throat and wring that scrawny neck like she was a chicken.

They'd tied him so tight he couldn't feel his wrists and ankles anymore. Between the ringing in his ears and the headache from the explosion, he wasn't in the best shape. And he hadn't seen John, Sam or Dean since he'd woke up tied to this chair in what seemed to be the kitchen.

Never thought I'd end up like this, Bobby . He'd had a long ride, longer than most. If it was his time, then so be it. But the idea of taking some of these freaks with him on the trip was still mighty appealing. He just didn't know how he could manage that, tied up like this.

The crazy girl leaned in for another jab at his chest. Bobby steeled himself. Bitch had technique, but no real imagination.

She froze and Bobby stared at her. He heard footsteps in the hallway leading to the kitchen, and his heart sank. This wasn't someone trying to hide. Whoever this was walked like they belonged here.

Gabriel stood in the doorway. Bobby didn't even have to see those dark green eyes. In a way, Dean Winchester was here all right, but he wasn't driving. Gabe smirked as he looked at Bobby, then opened his arms wide.

The girl squealed. She dropped the bloody knife in her hand and crossed the distance between the two of them in less than a heartbeat. SHe jumped up, wrapped her arms around Gabriel's neck and shoulders and her legs around Gabriel's waist. The kiss between them was wild and deep and sloppy. Gabriel licked at the droplets of Bobby's blood on her chin.

She nipped and kissed and sucked at his lower lip. The top of that bloody yellow dress of hers was unbuttoned and pulled down around her waist seconds later as Gabriel kissed his way down her neck. Gabriel kissed his way to her nipples and right then and there Bobby decided he sure in the hell didn't need to see that.

"Get a frickin' room, you two," he muttered, but they didn't seem to hear him. Gabriel backed up into the hallway with some difficulty and the moaning and wet mouth sounds faded as he walked down the hall. Bobby heard a door slam.

He was still screwed. She'd be back for him, sooner or later. From the look of things, later was far more likely.


"Full moon," Abraham said as he stepped onto the porch and looked up into the night sky. "Good hunting tonight."

Jerry nodded silently. He was keeping a low profile, probably would for the rest of his life, however long that would be. He had his ax in one hand, and the baseball bat Gabriel used to kill Lee in the other.

Gabriel kissed Missy long and deep. She looked younger than her twenty years now. Now that she'd gotten out of that yellow dress and into a clean blue one she looked fresh-faced, They'd been in the shower for hours, soaping each other down, learning the new body scars they gotten during the last six months away from each other. Gabriel had a few new ones from Sweetbriar. Missy had taken to cutting herself, just a little.

"All right, you two," Abraham drawled when the kiss went on a little too long. "We're burnin' moonlight."

When they separated. Gabriel frowned up some. "You sure you don't wanna come?"

Missy shook her head. "I still got some carving to do." She jerked her head in the direction of the kitchen.

"Okay." Gabriel swayed on his feet, not a lot, just enough to make both Missy and Abraham scowl. She carded his hair away from his face. "You still got that headache, don't you?"

Gabe nodded. He saw the way Abraham stared at him. He straightened up, shrugged it off. "What? Took some aspirin. I'm okay."

Abraham shouldered his rifle. "So. What's the play tonight, brother?"

Gabriel grinned. "I shoot the freak in the cage, let the daddy out for a little fun."

"Well," Abraham drawled. "What you waiting for? Let's get to it."


The first thing John did was stare at the eyes.

They didn't look right. Gabriel's eyes were multicolored now, swirling patterns of light and dark green. He looked dazed, almost bewildered. He pulled the door shut behind him and staggered further into the room.

"Dean?" Sam muttered.

Gabriel only blinked. He didn't answer, he only stared, first at John and then Sam.

He pulled a Bowie knife out of his jacket pocket and laid it on the floor along with the machete he'd brought in. His motions were jerky, like a puppet being moved by someone who was a little rusty.

Gabriel swayed from side to side when he stood up again. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a .38 revolver.

'Dean?" John called out. "Son, I know you're in there. Don't do this. Don't…"

Gabriel turned in Sam's direction, raised the gun and fired.


Abraham smiled when he heard the second shot right after the first one. He and Jerry were in the bushes, waiting. The father looked like he'd be a good one to hunt. That shaggy haired freak? Good riddance.

Gabriel came out of the barn. He headed for the shadows and within moments crouched down next to Abraham.

"That's how you get the job done," Abraham crowed.

All Gabriel could do was nod.


"Dad?" Sam was wide eyed. "What…what the hell was that?" He stared at the two bullet holes in the wall behind his cage. "Who was…"

John grinned wolfishly as he pushed open the cell door. "That was Dean. Your brother is screwing with the sonofabitch."

"Okay." Sam nearly groaned aloud as he crawled out and stood upright for the first time in hours. His back cracked loudly. "What's the plan?"

John picked up the revolver Dean laid on the floor beside the knife and the machete. "You take this."

"What? I can't –"

John rolled his eyes. "Damn it, Sam, I'm not gonna argue with you. You gotta go to the house. Get the bible, burn the sonofabitch. Take care of your brother, and find out what the hell they did with Bobby." John picked up the knife, slipped it in his back waistband. "I go out there, they'll hunt me. That'll give you a clear shot at the house."

Sam hesitated.

"This is the only play we got, Sam. It's gotta be this way." John shook his head.

Sam finally nodded. "Dad, you won't...I mean, you won't hurt Dean..."

"No. I promise." John winked at him as he hefted the machete. "We'll get Dean clear, Sam. We will. Gonna give those other bastards hell. Be careful, son."

John paused by the door and then slipped into the night.

Sam waited.


Next post Tuesday.