What is to Come
By: Ridley C. James & Tidia
A/N: I think this was one of the hardest chapters for us to write. We went over it about a hundred times; it never got less painful. Let us know what you think. We appreciate all the reviews, and when people mark us on alert too!
"Grief is the price we pay for love."-Elizabeth II
SAM
They drove by Doubleday Field on the way through Cooperstown Village. The quaint Main Street reminded Sam of New Haven. There was a huge Presbyterian church on one corner with stained glass windows. He thought of Pastor Jim as JT pointed to the field, barely visible in the silvery light of dusk.
"Doubleday doesn't have any lighting. All the games are played during the day, including The Hall of Fame Classic every year on Father's Day Weekend." His nephew was sitting in the back of the SUV with him, Max driving, Joshua riding shotgun. JT was looking out the window, but Sam wondered if they were seeing the same things as the scenery shot past.
"Sounds like something Dean would like." Sam thought about the last time he watched Dean play ball, before his deal came due when they were in the town that disappeared every twenty years. It made him miss his brother; he imagined JT was sharing his sentiment, if not the same memories.
"He loves it," JT looked at him. "Old major leaguers come to play. They sign autographs, there's always a parade. Dad used to bring us when we were kids, but we haven't been in a while."
"Don't forget the fireworks," Max added from the front. "We loved the fireworks."
"It was a rare treat," Joshua explained. "After you and Caleb set the back forty on fire one Fourth of July, Dean stopped having fireworks on the farm."
"That's too bad." Sam recalled the firework display his brother had put on for him when he was ten. He had loved it, too, until their father found out what they had done.
"Where would you like to begin now that we are here?" Joshua asked, shifting in his seat to make eye contact with Sam.
In his mind Sam planned what he wanted to achieve at the mansion. If JT was right and the spells worked the way they did for a reason. Sam was meant to be in the future at this moment. Malachi Harris left something behind, and they would find it there. It was waiting for Sam to find it. "I guess we start where the mansion was, work our way out from there."
"The Barnwell Museum is on the south side of Ostego Lake, on the same private estate as the mansion. It's much more commercialized these days, some small shops and such. Convention gatherings, seminars, even some of the local proms are held there. Weddings are still common in the adjacent gardens." Joshua flashed him a picture of the museum, which was on his phone. He passed it to Sam. JT reached over to show him how to view the images.
"Will we have trouble getting in?" Sam asked, returning the phone to Joshua.
"It's Monday night," JT answered, then glanced to his watch. "I doubt if the museum or the meeting rooms are a hub of activity considering it's almost nine."
"I did some recon online before we left," Max said from the driver's seat. "The security system is modern, no manpower. I can take it out when we get within a five hundred yard radius."
"Take it out?" Sam looked to JT, wondering how that would be achieved with minimal noise. Caleb had been into weaponry and explosions too; in this case finesse was needed.
"Ryker has some friends in covert ops," his nephew explained, picking up a small black backpack in the backseat near JT's feet. "He brings toys home."
"Okay." Sam didn't need to know. The future looked similar to his time on the surface. It was only when one tried to make a phone call, turn on the television or use the shower the differences made themselves known. Sam had not only nearly scalded himself in the bathroom, but had stumbled across some very disturbing three dimensional video when trying to access James's cell phone.
"What are we supposed to be looking for when we do get in?" Max asked, his eyes going to the rearview mirror to hold the conversation with those in the backseat. "I don't see anything of Malachi's being in an art museum."
"The ashes were cleared and the grounds consecrated before the building was erected," Joshua said as the navigational system alerted them of the upcoming turn. "Tri-Corp was responsible for the re-building. You can imagine it was a very thorough job."
"That rules out the building itself being a source." JT turned to Sam, cleared his throat before continuing, "Max has a point about The Wilmington Ranch being a more likely spot."
JT had been placed in an awkward situation, he was not The Guardian yet, and he was used to working in a dynamic with Max. Sam was trying to be sensitive, but also assert himself. "You said our Triad had the same thought-that's why your dad, Caleb and I went to The Wilmington Ranch in the first place, where Malachi cast the spell."
JT nodded his confirmation. "Malachi sent Dad the coordinates."
"I doubt Harris would have risked bringing them to the ranch if there was something there that could destroy him." Sam knew how demons thought. He had spent enough getting inside their heads, and vice versa to consider himself somewhat of an expert. "Did you search the place after you recovered our bodies?"
JT winced at the term bodies. He looked past Sam to the window and passing evening darkness. "We had other things on our mind."
"Like saving your lives," Max said tersely.
"Maxim," Joshua admonished his son.
"It's true." Max took his eyes off the road long enough to shoot his father a look. "Our priority was to get the Triad out and to help."
"I understand that." Sam didn't mean to imply the future Triad was lacking. "I'm trying to help them now."
"By taking over and giving us orders?" Max returned his gaze to the road, but Sam could make out the white-knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel. It seemed Max had also inherited Caleb's temper.
"I thought we were in agreement?" It was his job to be the voice of reason, logic to the Knight's impulsiveness and Guardian's heart.
"I didn't catch you asking us our opinion." Max held Sam's gaze in the rearview mirror.
"Max, Uncle Sam is following protocol." JT stretched forward toward his friend. "He's still the Scholar."
Max turned toward JT. "Yeah, well, Uncle Sam isn't exactly our uncle yet." He brought his attention back to the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other hand going through his hair, loosening the neat ponytail. "He's sounding a whole hell of a lot like the Sam who got my dad stabbed by a demon witch and The Scholar who let…"
"Maxim! That's enough."
There was an uncomfortable silence in the SUV. JT shifted in nervousness, probably seeking something to say, however Sam knew it was up to him to intervene. "Are you always such a hard ass with me?" Sam met Max's gaze in the rearview mirror. He and Caleb butted heads, but Sam had a feeling Max's stubbornness was coming from somewhere else. Max was loyal to his father, a testament to Joshua, but foreboding to Sam. He was not going to have an easy time of making it to the 'uncle' status with Joshua's son.
"Like I said, you're not the Sam I know-not by a long shot."
"I didn't ask for this detour." Sam didn't know Max either, but he understood Knights very well. Caleb was motivated by protecting those in his circle. He was fierce when letting people in. "I want to get back to my Triad as much as you want James here. You have to trust that what I'm doing is going to be the best for all of us." He always felt what he was doing was for the best.
"We trust you, Uncle Sam." JT leaned forward, resting his arm against the back of his friend's seat. "Right, Max?"
"I'm here aren't I?" Max lowered his voice. "Just remember we're not little kids. You were part of our training, and this is not the way we go into a situation, especially with you." He glanced at his father, Joshua gave a curt nod.
"Please keep your eyes on the road, Max," Joshua added.
"You're saying I'm anal."
"Max thinks hunting with you is boring." JT tried for a smile. "Your caution takes some of the fun out of it."
"Then he should be excited by this prospect." Sam pulled at James's dragon amulet. He had an idea. "Joshua, is there any spell you can do that will alert us to something Malachi left behind? Sort of like how we scryed for Noah Seaver's amulet?"
Joshua rubbed his chin, his silver band winking at Sam. "Perhaps, but it would have to be one small area at a time."
"Let's go with that, if that is okay with the rest of you?" Sam wanted to make sure he was not overstepping his boundaries. He was appreciating the dynamic he had with his Triad. "It does sound like a plan we can work with."
They agreed to Sam's plan. It seemed to be going well with the alarm disarmed with the little gadget. As they walked to the mansion, leaving the SUV hidden off the main road, Sam realized this was the first time he was seeing the manor. "Is this how it looked before it was destroyed?"
"Yes, the same square footage, but energy efficient according to Caleb," Joshua replied.
Max picked open the large lock and JT pushed the door open. The lights went on when they sensed a presence, illuminating a long hallway with dark blue walls. The hall was filled with paintings of a familiar style. Sam got up close to one of them as Joshua asked Max's assistance for the spell. "Are these all Amelia Reaves's paintings?"
JT stood by him, admiring the paintings for a moment. "Yes. Grandpa Mac said that they should be shared with everyone. Uncle Caleb still has a few, but the rest are in this hall."
Max walked down the long corridor, sprinkling some dust as he went. He carefully checked for wards or other signs Malachi had tampered with the building as his father instructed. They followed him to the end of the hall, which led to a larger room. Joshua was the last to join them, and as Sam looked up, he saw some of the dust had risen and was holding steadily in the air.
"Is that a good sign or a bad sign?" JT asked, backing up into the ballroom.
Joshua was quiet with a puzzled look.
"Dad?" Max prompted.
"There is something here."
Sam wanted to say, 'I told you so,' but tried to remain mature. He knew he had been right. "Are you going to do the same spell in here?"
"Yes, but what are you hoping to find?" He waved to the particles hanging in the air. "This cannot be destroyed."
They crossed the threshold into the formal ballroom. Sam's feet sank in the plush crimson carpet. The dome shaped ceiling lit with a huge crystal chandelier lit up a fresco of angels above them. It was beautiful, and it brought clarity that Sam would not see it in its original form. "I want to get back to my brother and bring James back to you. There has to be something tangible that we can destroy to get rid of Malachi. This brings us closer to it."
Joshua placed the Vangelo on a podium near the door. Sam watched him search the room carefully before sprinkling more of the powder about the area as the boys gathered around Sam in the center. Max pulled his gun. "That sounds like the best idea you've had so far."
The same reaction occurred only this time the dust took on a luminescent glow, swirling around them before lifting high in the air towards the ceiling.
"That's new," Max said, stepping in front of JT.
"Joshua?"
"I'm not sure." Joshua turned to his son. "Max, bring my bag in from the hallway."
Max made it to the threshold, drawing up short as he was pushed back by an unseen force, stumbling slightly before righting himself. "What the hell…"
"Max?" JT moved towards his friend.
"I can't get through." Max put out a hand to stop JT. He looked to his father. "It's like a brick wall."
Sam and Joshua shared a look, both of them rushing towards the door. "No. No. No." Joshua passed his son and JT, easily stepping to the other side, out into the hallway. "Not again!"
"What did you do?" Sam growled as he to found himself unable to leave the room. There was a wall there, stopping him.
Joshua tried to return to them, unable to he placed his hand on the wall. It flared up in a green phosphorescent light.
"He did what you told him to do!" Max snapped; he hit the wall with the palm of his hand. "Shit. It's a fucking Triad trap."
"One The Advisor so generously helped me create. Again."
Sam did not recognize the man at first. He was tall, dark wavy hair with white interspersed, graying sides and a salt and pepper beard. He wore a black suit. This was Malachi Harris, the original, in the hallway with Joshua. Sam gathered closer to his nephew.
Joshua closed his eyes for a moment, opened them to connect to his son, then turned to face the demon. "The great witch couldn't perform one yourself? Your great grandmother would be so disappointed."
Malachi pulled the sleeves of his jacket. "I'm not as powerful from the spiritual plane, I'm afraid. It was why my spell with your Triad failed at The Wilmington Ranch, failed to work as I intended. I expected you to be there, to use what I taught you."
"You did intend on bringing your Triad back."
"Yes. I still do. I needed to be corporeal to make it happen, but you've remedied that now. As soon as you performed a spell from the Vangelo using Triad magic within my presence I was restored-my magic was restored." He lifted his hand and one of Amelia's paintings fell from the wall. There were markings behind it, one of which was The Triad symbol. "I made sure to hide my traces more carefully this time, afraid you might have learned your lesson from the last time we met here."
Joshua shook his head. "You have never given up the quest to reclaim your position as Advisor."
Malachi raised his hands, stretching catlike. "Do you blame me? You've felt their power, wielded it. I will be unstoppable when my Triad is restored in your Triad's stead. Dean forced my hand when he decided to step down, but it all has worked out better in the end. It gives me a chance to dispatch the future generation in one fell swoop."
"You will have to go through me first." Joshua positioned himself in front of the invisible wall.
"Why not wait until the exchange of power?" Sam asked, hoping to take Malachi's focus from Joshua. He gestured to JT and Max. "You usually prefer young and good-looking."
"True." Malachi paced in front of Joshua. "Josh and his boys aren't what they used to be, but in this case it's really what's on the inside that counts. I need my Triad to retain the connection to Dean Winchester's Triad. They are truly the most powerful Triad to have come through in centuries."
"You said the spells didn't work right because they were tainted. Dean's time in Hell, Sam and Caleb's ties to demons. . ." Joshua said, pulling a knife Sam recognized as the knife Missouri had given to him at the Triad ceremony.
Malachi seemed to be considering this for a moment. "The spells worked the way they were supposed to. Your Triad is an anomaly, yes, but also a gift. One I plan on claiming for myself."
Sam watched JT grab hold of Max's arm, preventing him from making a reckless move. "Get away from my father, you sonofabitch." Max pounded against the invisible wall with his free hand.
"Your father has been of great service to me, Maxim." Malachi smiled, enjoying schooling the younger man. "He helped me get my ring back, warned me when The Triad found my services no longer useful, and kept my little light shining after I was brutally murdered by his Triad. He considered us friends, you know."
Sam swallowed, his mouth going dry. He had formed a bond with Ruby, and had warned Joshua of what could happen with Malachi.
"I helped my Triad destroy you." Joshua moved closer to Max, blade pointing towards Malachi. "Just as I will help theirs do the same."
Malachi lowered his voice, "You've been my keeper, Josh, and I appreciate it, but I no longer need your services. I'm afraid I'm not as inclined to loyalty as you are."
It happened so quickly, Joshua was picked up off the ground, slammed one, two, three times against the unseen wall and then dropped to the ground in a heap with JT, Sam and Max yelling a cacophony of "Joshua!" and "Dad!"
Malachi had snapped Joshua's neck.
"Dad?" Max flung himself at the door, but the block held, bouncing him back like a force field. He fell to his knees, trying to get closer to his father's head. Unable to, he lifted his gun, emptying his clip into the grinning demon as the bullets passed through the green phosphorescent wall, but had no effect on Harris. Malachi's smile grew.
"Such emotional creatures you humans." Malachi toed Joshua's body, moved it away from the threshold. "And fragile."
Sam swallowed the bile that had risen to his throat. He couldn't take his eyes from Joshua's vacant blue gaze. It was just like Benjamin Mosley. There was no regard for the person Joshua was, for the incredible value he was to others. He was a husband, father, a friend; a person Sam had known practically his entire life. Things Malachi Harris or no other demon could ever understand. To Malachi, Joshua was an obstacle in his path, just as Mosley had been. Sam should have known that, he should have realized. He wiped his hands roughly under his eyes.
"Max, stop it!"
Sam's attention was drawn by the urgency in his nephew's voice. Max was continuing to try and plow through the door, JT had discarded his weapon, wrapping his arms around his friend, struggling to pull him away from the horrible scene. They returned to the middle of the room, Max fighting to make his way back.
Malachi came close to the wall, but did not crossover. "Knights are stubborn, emotional and hard to control." Malachi crossed his arms over his chest. "I've never cared for them, but Scholars, Scholars have always been my cup of tea. Refined, logical. They're smart, so brilliant that they sometimes outsmart themselves. Isn't that right, Jimmy?" Malachi didn't realize who he was. "I have a hunch it was your plan to come here?"
Sam was going to use it to their advantage to save JT and Max. "Joshua deserved better, you sonofabitch."
"Temper. Temper." Malachi waved a finger back in forth. "That was your uncle's downfall you know. Don't get me wrong, I like the fiery bad boy side, but I'd stick with your logic, leave all the drama to your buddy Max."
"You're not getting out of here alive." Max had stopped bucking against JT's hold, tears streaked his face. "I'm going to tear you apart, you bastard."
"What do you want?" Sam demanded. Harris was right. He needed to keep his head if he was going to get them through this. Sam still believed he was here for a reason,
"Just what belongs to me. The Vangelo. Joshua won't be needing it anymore."
"That's how you did it," Sam said, taking a step closer to Malachi. "You said you needed Joshua to cast a Triad spell with the Vangelo in your spirit's presence. It would restore you to form, like Dean restored your ring when he let you cast that spell with him. You're tied to this book."
Malachi looked at JT and Max. "Genius, isn't it! Joshua fell for it twice-restored me. He thought I was giving him a gift, but it was he that was doing me the favor all along, ensuring my immortality by guarding The Vangelo. It was a brilliant insurance policy. I am The Vangelo. The Vangelo is me."
Sam looked at the journal Joshua had left on the podium. Malachi had left it in Joshua's care decades before. Joshua believed it was the key to opening The Triad power completely, a way to tame it to their benefit. That's what Malachi had wanted him to think. "But you'll need an Advisor for your Triad. You just ruined your complete set by killing Joshua."
Malachi shrugged his shoulders. "An Advisor is not paramount to a Triad. They aren't connected like the three." He paced back and forth. "We don't create the power, only benefit from it. As you said, I like them young and hot." Malachi looked back to Joshua's broken body. "In his day Josh was something, but I'll take the future Advisor's form. Their Ryker is worthy to house my soul when the conversion is complete. He's quite yummy."
"You'll never get away with this," JT growled, still with a hold on Max, but more for comfort than restraint.
Malachi ignored the future Guardian. "Give me the book, Scholar."
"Or what?"
Malachi lifted his hand. The curtains in the ballroom caught ablaze. "Or I let you and your Triad burn to death."
"Come and get it yourself." Sam hoped for a state of the art anti-fire system considering what had happened to the building in the past, but if there was one, it had also been disarmed by Max's gadget. They were on their own. He motioned for Malachi to come in. Sam had Ruby's knife in the sheath at his side. If Malachi was corporeal again, he could be killed, which would break the Triad trap. Sam had been surprised when he found the magical blade with James's things. JT told Sam that James had taken it when they found the stricken Triad at The Wilmington Ranch. Sam should have considered Max might have shared the same idea.
"You think I can't? You really are an arrogant one." Malachi straightened his tie. "Fine. Have it your way." Malachi appeared behind Sam. "You're not going to like what happens next." He was between Sam and the boys.
Max broke from JT's loose grasp, silver flashed. Sam recognized the Dragon's Talon as The Knight charged. "Max! No!" JT called out.
Malachi met the future Knight, their bodies close. Sam thought Max had succeeded because vindicating his father was giving him strength- he had seen it happen before. But Max dropped to his knees. Harris pulled Joshua's son by his hair, unbound from its ponytail. The Dragon's Talon was buried in Max's stomach.
Sam barely managed to restrain his nephew. "Max! No!"
Max's hands fumbled for the hilt, blood bubbled from his lips, his eyes found JT. He spat at Harris. Malachi licked the blood with a wicked grin as he placed his hand on the hilt, shifting it up before pulling it out. In one effortless motion Malachi slid the blade neatly across Max's neck, ending the future Knight's struggles, nearly severing his head.
JT's cry of outrage and pain echoed in the great room. He was able to pull Sam a few steps closer until Sam shook him from his path.
"No worries, Guardian. It was a death befitting a Knight; a true warrior would choose to go out in battle." Malachi wiped the blade against his suit. "My Knight would have preferred such a quick end."
With a primitive yell JT pulled Samuel Colt's gun from beneath his coat and aimed it at Malachi's head. It seemed all the boys had taken a weapon from their counterparts. Harris lifted his hand, sending JT flying across the room to land in a heap on the floor, the gun clattering out of his hand.
Malachi came towards Sam, the Talon held out in front of him. "Now for you, Scholar."
Sam backed up, feeling the heat of the draperies as they fell to ground, licking the carpeted floor. Smoke was permeating the room, burning his throat and eyes. "If you kill me, you ruin any chance of getting your hands on The Triad."
"Oh, really. Why is that?"
"Because I'm not James." Sam opened his arms wide. "I'm Samuel Winchester, and if you kill me, then my Triad no longer exists as it is now." Sam caught movement out of the corner of his eye. JT was slowly getting to his feet. He needed to keep Malachi distracted.
Harris hesitated, his head tilting. Sam felt the intrusion, lowered his blocks. "Surprise."
"So, I see Joshua was a better student than I had thought. I'm impressed." Malachi's perplexed look shifted to his typical grin. "But you've miscalculated. That whole outsmarting yourself thing I mentioned earlier. Once I kill you and we are done here you will go back and Jimmy will return to nothing because his body will be dead. Your present Sam is ensnared in my spell, awaiting for my Samuel to enter. I'll be kind so that you will forget everything." Malachi lunged for Sam with the knife, just as JT plowed into him in with a tackle.
The blade skidded out of Malachi's grip. Sam dove for it, using his nephew's distraction to its best advantage. The Vangelo was still there resting on the podium. He raced for it, sparing JT a glance, noting that JT was pounding Malachi, and reached for The Vangelo holding it in his grasp.
Sam turned to see Malachi force his hand around JT's throat, keeping him at bay. "All you Guardians are the same," Malachi's other hand rested on JT's chest, "all heart."
"NO!" Sam yelled out as Malachi's fingers pierced through JT's chest and his nephew arched back with a gasp, blood coated Malachi's fingers as he removed his hand.
"You demented sonofabitch! This is what you want!" Sam lifted The Vangelo. He'd figured it out all too late, but there was still time to finish Malachi.
"Give it to me." Malachi had the audacity to try to hide the bloodied hand. "Do it and I will fix everything for you, Sam. Everything."
The fire was burning through the ballroom. Joshua was crumpled behind him, Max was in a pool of his blood and his nephew was unmoving. There was James to think about, Dean and Caleb and himself. Sam knew what he had to do. He brought the Dragon's Talon up and stabbed the book viciously, repeatedly.
"Stop!" Malachi ordered, blinking in and out, coming closer each time until he was in solid form, aging rapidly in front of Sam. His body turned into ash just as The Vangelo crumbled in Sam's hand.
Sam wiped the last traces of the book on his jeans. He could feel the tears uncontrolled on his cheeks. His vision was cloudy, not just from emotion, but from smoke filled room as the flames spread, destroying everything in their path. There wasn't much time.
He ran to JT, his nephew's eyes were open, and he was taking wheezing breaths. Sam picked him up, the adrenaline and anger ensuring he could lift someone of larger size.
Outside in the pitch darkness, Sam's load became too heavy, and he fell to his knees, buffering JT as best he could. Still his nephew cried out in pain, hands grasping for his chest.
Sam pillowed JT's head in his lap, watching as the building seemed to glow as the windows bulged, popping and breaking from the heat. He stripped out of his jacket, placing it over the wound to stem the flow of blood. Sam clasped JT's hands into one of his own to still them.
"Max?" JT licked his lips, blood splattered as he spoke. "We have to get Max."
"He's gone. I'm sorry, he's with his dad," Sam choked out, feeling his nephew's warm blood soaking through his jacket.
"Uncle Sam…he's dead." JT cried out, his struggling waned.
Sam moved one hand to his nephew's forehead. "You're going to be okay, you just have to hold on." Sam could see he was losing JT; he pulled his nephew closer to him.
JT blinked slowly up at him. "Jimmy?"
Sam stopped applying pressure on the mortal wound, instead holding JT's hand in both his, bringing it to his cheek. "Yeah. I'm here, JT. I'm okay."
"Take care of them-Dad, Mom, Ben- okay?" JT's eyes were wide; he looked to be waiting for a confirmation.
"Okay, JT." Sam closed his eyes. JT's fingers were cold against his face. This was Dean's son dying in his arms.
"I love you, little brother." JT sighed, then shuddered. Sam felt him let go.
"I love you, too." He hugged his nephew's body close, burying his head on JT's shoulder. The fire was growing hotter behind him, even as JT's body grew cold in his arms. It roared mockingly, victoriously consuming the Barnwell Museum. Sam didn't care.
It was the sudden, sharp pain in his head that captured his attention, had him looking up searching the darkness for further threat. Sam eased JT to the ground, gasping when sparks exploded behind his eyes. He reached out to steady himself against the dew covered grass when the ground shifted beneath him. His first thought was that the building had exploded, the ringing in his ears making it a plausible theory. It was the roll of nausea in his stomach and the blurred vision that helped him realize what was happening.
"Oh God…the spell." Sam looked down at JT, the devastation of what he had done spreading over him like frost covering a field. James would come back to this, to his dead brother, the smoldering remains of the life he had entrusted with Sam.
". No. Not now…not yet." Sam clasped a hand over his nephew's bloodied chest, as if he could tether himself to this time. He had to fix it. Nothing was right. Sam could not leave things the way they were. He would not sentence his nephew, his family to this cruel fate of death and destruction. Family was sacred. It had taken a long time for Sam to realize the value of his family, and now he needed to fight for it.
SPN*Brotherhood*SPN
