Title: Catch Me When I Fall (4/?)
Fandom: Supernatural/BTVS/ATS (it's not a crossover per se but I will borrow the mythology from M.E. and mention some characters)
Rating: M – changed to be on the safe side!
Setting: Pre-Season 3 episode 12
Characters: Dean, Ruby & Sam
Pairings: Dean & Ruby
Word Count: 2,970
A/N: In my world Katie Cassidy's Ruby is the real Ruby and Genevieve Cortese's Ruby is a demon impersonating real Ruby, it's the only thing that makes sense!
Oh and I checked Katie Cassidy's eye-color on Wikipedia, its green. I think they look blue-green or basically do that thing that SMG's eyes do where depending on the color of clothing and lighting in a scene they look different. Or maybe it depends on what you've been smoking, I dunno.
"Dean, where did you get this symbol? Bobby and I've got nothing concrete yet but from what I gather it's pretty powerful magic." Sam commented as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
He was sitting at their motel room's solitary desk, trawling the internet for some information on the picture of the branded symbol Dean had given him three days ago after they left Illinois. His brother had just come from one of the long showers he had started taking and was lying in bed in nothing but silk boxers and a t-shirt. Sam did not even want to think what the sudden, twice-daily long showers and the silk boxers and silk pyjamas were about. Knowing Dean it was probably something sexual.
Dean looked up from his book on Medieval Irish History and shrugged, "Doesn't matter where I got it, just find out what it means exactly."
Sam gave him a measuring look, "You're keeping something from me."
Dean slammed the book shut and turned onto his side to face Sam, "I got it off a guy that Bela did business with once. He says he snapped that picture of her right shoulder while they were doing it doggy-style. Happy now?"
Sam winced at the mental image but nodded resolutely, "Yeah at least now I know why you're so intent on finding out what it means. Do you think it might explain why it's been such a pain in the ass to track her down?"
Dean shrugged, "I hope so. Also I just wanna know what it means and the harder it is to find out-"
"The more curious you're getting." Sam finished for him with a grin.
"Ding-ding-ding give the Stanford dropout a prize!" Dean exclaimed before turning back to his book.
Sam turned back to his laptop with a rueful shake of his head then remembered how little time they had left together and snuck a look back at Dean. His brother was deeply engrossed in the book on Medieval Ireland. Sam wondered if it was a new kink or if Dean was reading the book in contribution to their search for Bela.
Dean had been changing a lot since Ruby had basically told him he was going to turn into a demon in Hell. Sam could have strangled her for telling him that. It just made everything that much harder and Sam's guilt that much more intense and suffocating. He immediately felt guilty for being so selfish as to think about his guilt over Dean's sacrifice when Dean himself actually had to go to Hell. Not for the first time Sam hoped that one of these days something would just kill them both then he wouldn't have to live without Dean and be left behind with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
A firm knock sounded on their motel room door and Sam looked at the door then Dean warily. His brother pulled out his sawed-off shotgun from under his pillow and nodded for Sam to open it. Sam picked up his own pistol from under the desk, and tucking it into his waistband, opened the door. Ruby.
"Hey Sam, miss me?"
The blonde strode into the room and gave Dean a peremptory nod before turning back to Sam. Dean sat up in his bed and tried not think about the picture of Ruby's brand that was lying on Sam's desk, if he thought about it his eyes would drift over there and she would see it.
"Ruby, what are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd save you the trouble of looking for a case, I found a nest of demons in an abandoned building West of here. Good news is there's three of us and twenty- twenty-one of them."
"How is that good news when we're out numbered seven to one?" Dean asked from the bed.
Ruby threw him a disgusted look over her shoulder, "So Sam, are you coming or what?"
Sam looked at Dean then back at Ruby, he threw a regretful glance at Dean and facing Ruby he nodded.
"Yeah I am…Dean come on," Sam said in his imploring voice; silently begging his older brother not to make a big deal out it.
Dean glared at him then let out a defeated sigh, there was no pretending he was not going to capitulate and the chance of ganking all those demons was reason enough to go, no matter how much he hated the source of information. Throwing off his blankets, he pulled on his jeans. Ruby snorted in disbelief at the sight of his silk boxers.
"You got a problem Hell Barbie?"
Hands on her hips Ruby tilted her head to the side, "Aww Dean, you're breaking my heart."
"Shut up bitch."
Ruby's eyes flashed angrily, "I told you to stop calling me that."
Dean finished buckling his belt and shrugged on his leather jacket. Picking up his phone, car keys and shotgun he stepped into her personal space.
"Get one thing straight Hell Skank, I am not here to make your life easy or spare whatever pathetic excuse you demons have for feelings. I don't take orders from you and I don't really care what you say to me because 99% of the time it's all lies."
Ruby's hands curled into fists, "How about you lay off the name-calling Hellboy or-"
"Or what?"
"Or I stop playing nice, tell Darling Sammy about how you've got a hard on for sticking it to demons and not just any demon but to me." Ruby whispered hotly.
Dean's cheeks flushed a dark red and he sniggered, "I am not attracted to you so go ahead and tell Sam whatever you want."
"Guys! Let's go," Sam called impatiently from the doorway.
Dean shouldered Ruby out of the way, "Sure thing, let's go. Your little HellBitch witch can get on her broomstick and fly; she is not getting in the Impala."
"Dean-"
"She's not getting in the Impala Sam and that's final!" Dean practically roared, he strode out of the motel anger radiating off him in waves.
Sam looked at Ruby helplessly and Ruby shrugged, "The nest is on South Street, the building's called, Seraphim House, ironically. I'll meet you there."
She walked out of the motel room and Sam shut the door behind her then locked it. Dean drove the Impala to their front door, missing Ruby's boot-clad feet by a fraction.
"You're missing a couple of inches," she hissed in anger and walked away from the car.
"Not my fault your coochie's been a demon truck stop for centuries!" Dean called out as Sam got in the car.
Ruby flipped him the bird without turning around and kept walking.
Dean chuckled harshly and tore out of the parking lot, Sam watching him worriedly as he drove.
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"Woo! That was awesome!" Dean howled as he parked the Impala in the motel parking lot.
Sam grinned in agreement, that had been the most amount of fun he had had in months. When they arrived at the nest site, Ruby had pulled up in a cherry red Ford Mustang she had stolen. Pointedly ignoring each other, Ruby and Dean had led the way into the building. Ruby had kicked down the door into one of the basement apartments and literally jumped into the fray. Dean had nudged Sam forward then brought up the rear as they fought vicious misshapen creatures that resembled no humans they had ever seen. All twenty-one demons dead and ankle deep in blood and guts, Ruby had suggested they burn the place down to hide any trace that the Winchester brothers had been there. Building ablaze they had walked away from the site, Ruby, blonde hair stringy with blood and sweat, had told them to lay low and get the Hell out of Dodge before speeding off.
Dean slammed the door to the Impala shut as he practically jogged up to their room. Sam followed at a more sedate pace. Revelling in the light-hearted camaraderie between him and his brother at the moment; Sam memorised the feeling in his catalogue of Moments to Remember when Dean Goes to Hell. The usual melancholy that overcame him when he remembered that, pushed at the edges of his consciousness but Sam pushed it away.
"Shotgun Shower!" Dean called as he shoved the door open.
Sam opened his mouth but then shut it again, smiling indulgently he followed his brother into their motel room and shut the door behind him.
"Just don't finish all the hot water in one of your new ridiculously long showers!"
"Yeah yeah whatever Sammy," Dean said over his shoulder as he slammed the bathroom door shut.
Sam shook his head and started to take his clothes off, Dean may have beaten him to the shower but it did not mean he had to wallow in blood and entrail-soaked clothes either. Stripping down to his boxers Sam put all his ruined clothes in a garbage bag and tied it securely. There was no saving any of those clothes! Turning back to his laptop, he opened the lid and switched it on again. His adrenaline rush was giving him a good feeling, he wanted to research the symbol some more.
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"Nice symbol," Ruby commented.
Sam jumped in his seat; dropping the photograph, he turned to face the demon. She had managed to shower and change into light blue jeans, a white tank top and a black leather jacket. Her blonde hair was still wet and tied in a low side-ponytail. With only lip-gloss and whatever that strong rose and spices smelling perfume she always wore on, she looked like a normal California rich girl.
"Do you know what it is? Dean got this picture off some guy who took it off a woman we're trying to track."
Arms crossed across her chest, Ruby gave Sam a strange look, "I thought you were trying to track down Bela."
"Yeah, and this is apparently a symbol branded on her right shoulder." Sam explained earnestly, holding the photograph out to her.
She glanced down at the image without taking it. Dean let out a cheer in the bathroom and Ruby twisted round to stare at the door, an idea germinating in her mind. Walking over to his bed, she picked up the book he had been reading and then suddenly it all made sense. She sighed, begrudgingly admitting to herself that she was impressed. He definitely was craftier than she had given him credit for.
"It's a protective symbol. Made to contain great power in a weak vessel," she explained patiently as she sat on Dean's unmade bed, stretching her legs out she rested her back against the headboard.
Sam's eyes widened with interest, "Oh My God, that's great! Are you saying that Bela has powers or that she's… possessed?"
Ruby's nose wrinkled as she picked up the scent of Dean's soul and traces of his aura from the sheets. Flipping through his book with restrained anger she looked back up at Sam.
"It can be both but in Bela's case it's none of the above. The guy who gave your brother that picture lied, it's not her shoulder."
Dean naked except for the towel around his waist, burst out of the bathroom, his face falling when he spotted Ruby sitting on his bed.
"Sam, tell me I'm hallucinating and your demon girlfriend isn't actually sitting on my bed, or… well…here!?"
"Dean, Ruby's just been telling me what the symbol means."
Ruby's eyes travelled up Dean's damp torso and stopped at the furious hazel green eyes.
"I was just telling Sam here that your symbol means protection. It contains great power in a weak vessel, prevents possession and keeps people who don't want to be found hidden." Ruby enunciated each word carefully.
Dean watched her warily but tactfully remained silent.
"I was also telling Sam that your source lied, that's not Bela's shoulder."
"Then whose is it?" Sam asked impatiently.
"It's mine." Ruby replied matter-of-factly.
Sam's eyes darted to meet Dean's but his brother's attention was focused solely on Ruby.
Ruby broke the staring contest between her and Dean and turned to look at Sam, "Why don't you get cleaned up and I can tell you all about it?"
Sam wanted to argue but one look at Dean and he got to his feet. Also he felt disgusting but did not want to leave these two alone for long; they really rubbed each other the wrong way.
"Okay… I'll be right out," Sam said reassuringly.
Dean moved away from the bathroom door and walked over to Sam's bed, his eyes watching Ruby cautiously. When the shower water started running, Dean sat down on the bed and gave Ruby a chagrined smile.
"Why'd you lie to Sam?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Come on Ruby, you and I both know that I took that picture."
Ruby shrugged, "You're going to Hell Dean, the kid feels bad enough about that, telling him you were getting cosy with me and then you lied to him might send him over the edge don't you think?"
Dean's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Ruby tilted her head and gave him an assessing look.
"You should have just asked me."
"Would you have told me the truth?"
"Maybe, now we'll never know."
Dean raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips, "Of course you would have, because you're not like other demons, you're different." His tone was mocking.
"That too, but mostly because you're going to the Pit and the welcome wagon they're going to bust out for you is punishment enough, let alone the eternity part."
"Oh so you're feeling sorry for me, now. Thanks but I don't need nor want your pity."
"Maybe but you've got it anyway. You don't get it do you Dean? I don't need to manipulate you or lie to you 'cause you're a dead man walking. There are no lies or secrets where you're going and when this war is over, win or lose I'll be back there in the Pit with all the fire and brimstone burning as hot and brightly as it always has. If I lie to you, sooner or later we'll meet again and Demon You can have its revenge. I've seen the darkness in you, I've watched you in action…something tells me it wouldn't be pretty."
Dean swallowed convulsively, trying desperately to tighten his grip on his self-control as Ruby's words burrowed into his skin and set up residence in his brain.
"Shut the fuck up bitch, you've had your fun."
Ruby looked at him sadly, "Sam may be the Winchester I'm investing in for the long haul but I can help you too Dean. All you have to do is ask."
"And I'm supposed to believe you're helping Sam and want to help me out of the goodness of your heart because you've got what? A blink-and-you'll-miss-it splinter of humanity left inside you?" Dean ground out cynically.
Ruby sat up and planted her feet on the floor, "Believe what you want but it's the truth."
Dean shot up from Sam's bed and wrapping his hand around her neck, tossed Ruby up against the wall.
"Okay Hell Barbie, you wanna talk truth, tell me something… four nights ago your ribs were cracked and today you were kicking demon ass and taking numbers as good as new. What's that about?"
Ruby gasped and choked struggling for air, "The body I jacked was more than human, it belonged to a girl with supernatural strength."
Dean pressed her into the wall, his body pinning hers and subduing her struggles as he searched her eyes, looking for some kind of tell that would give away the truth even if her words didn't.
"A girl with supernatural strength that couldn't fight you from possessing her, there are so many things wrong with that answer. Yank the other one."
Ruby started to feel light-headed and with that sensation surged a fury so intense she saw red. The lights flickered on and off as her eyes flashed from black to green over and over again. Dean's body went flying across the room and hit the motel room door with a satisfactory thud. Stunned he pulled himself up to his feet and got ready to fight her. Without warning she rushed him, grabbing his left arm, eyes still flashing from black to green, Ruby pulled him away from the door and head-butted him as hard as she could. Dean fell backwards onto his bed, motel room towel miraculously still securing his modesty. Ruby wrenched the door off its hinges and let it fall into the room, eyes changing back to blue-green she walked away, each light-bulb in her path bursting as she went.
Sam burst out of the bathroom, towel clutched around his waist, "Dean!"
He stared at the motel room door in shock and turned to his brother who was rubbing his forehead as he sat up on the bed.
"What happened?"
Dean smirked, "Ruby and I had a difference of opinion."
Sam gave his brother an exasperated look, "Dean, what'd you piss her off for?"
Dean chuckled mirthlessly as he got to his feet, "She's a demon Sam and no matter what she says she can't be trusted."
Sam threw his brother a disgusted look, "After all that she's done for us don't you think you should cut her a little slack?"
Dean frowned at his little brother, "No Sam I don't and neither should you. All that she's done for us, doesn't change the fact that she's a fucking demon and therefore evil. Now get dressed, we gotta get the Hell outta here, I'm not paying for this damage. And I really need a drink."
Sam relented, "Yeah me too."
"And a good lay," Dean mused out-loud as he unearthed his duffel bag.
Sam pursed his lips and Dean laughed, "You can say 'me too', Sammy Boy, it's perfectly natural."
"Unlike you Dean, I like my having sex to mean something."
"Other than it meaning you have a healthy libido and that you've gotten your rocks off what else does it have to mean you big girl?"
Sam shrugged, "You wouldn't understand."
Dean pulled on a pair of boxers and discarded the towel, "No Sam, I wouldn't, it's like menstruation, PMS and nesting, a total chick thing."
Sam stalked over to his duffel bag and shouldering it slammed the bathroom door so he could get changed.
"Too bad Mom and Dad never found out they got the daughter they'd always wanted, long brown hair and everything!" Dean taunted.
"Kiss my ass Dean!" Sam called out from the bathroom.
Dean shook his head in amusement; there was a better chance of Hell freezing over!
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Post-note: I suppose the reason why I've put this story under crossover is a little clearer now? It's not about BTVS/ATS it's just more about the fact that when I watch SPN sometimes I think to myself, they so need to call Buffy or Faith or the Watcher's Council! Hope it doesn't ring false, though!