Disclaimer:Harry Potter and all recognizable items from it belong to J.K. Rowling & Warner Brothers. Supernatural and all recognizable items from the show belong to Eric Kripke and Warner Brothers. Anything else that you don't recognize and is original material is all mine. I can only wish I was as creative as to think of these brilliant additions to pop culture first.
Genre: Action/Romance/Drama/Suspense
Rating: MA (for a reason)
Warning: Will contain major SLASH themes. Canon-Compliant up until Book 6 of Harry Potter, and changes Supernatural to include Harry and that J.K. Rowling never published the Harry Potter series LOL. All lyrics at the beginning of chapters, as well as story titles, belong to their respective authors.
Summary: The war against Voldemort ends and Harry is victorious, but at what cost? Harry passes through the veil after Sirius ends up in a world without any Wizarding society. Harry starts his new life and attends university with Sam Winchester. Harry becomes an intricate part of the lives of the Winchester brothers before his secret is revealed.
Author's Note: Don't forget to check out the Author's Note at the end of the chapter. Also, this chapter has a major cliffhanger. I may not be able to update during the next week or so. Therefore it's up to you to decide if you can handle the wait. You have been warned.
You Leave the World Behind
Moriarty's Minion
Chapter 8:
"Schemes Like Old Times"
"When the night comes down,
out there on the streets,
so many sad, sad stories.
When the night comes down,
They're running out of hope,
in this land of glory.
When the night comes down,
it's a cold hearted town,
nothing but a battleground.
- Foreigner, When the Night Comes Down
THEN…
"Harry!" Bobby shouted up the stairs. "We've got company!"
Harry grabbed the shotgun from under his bed and bolted down the stairs. It had been two weeks since he'd left the hospital. His wounds were no longer sore thanks to the mixture of Muggle medicine and his magical healing abilities. The moment he had been feeling good enough to move around Bobby had started his physical training. Before that Bobby had him steadily reading through the massive library on the occult that had accumulated over the years.
"Who is it?" Harry asked, looking out of the living room window through a built in cut in the blinds.
"I don't believe it," Bobby muttered, unlocking the front door. "That son of a bitch."
"Wait, Bobby," Harry called after him, scrambling out the door. "Who is it?"
The mysterious black truck pulled up and stopped right outside of the front steps. A middle-aged man stepped out of the drivers seat.
The stranger stared up at Bobby. Bobby stared right back, his dog growling next to him. When the stranger's eyes met Harry's, the wizard couldn't help but use a bit of instinctual legilimency to discover his identity.
"John Winchester."
NOW…
"John Winchester," Harry greeted, covering his surprise.
"You must be Sam's college friend," John returned.
"John," Bobby said blandly.
The eldest Winchester nodded back at him. "Been a long time, Bobby."
"Last time was almost a year ago, I think," Bobby said, nodding his head in agreement. "Don't think we parted on good terms though. Certainly not good enough for you to just show up out of the blue."
To John's credit he didn't look away from the accusation. "I think you said something about shooting me the next time you saw me."
Bobby merely spit in response.
"So," John said with a slightly nervous laugh, "I guess I should ask if you still want to shoot me?"
Harry sent a questioning glance at Bobby. "You really threatened to shoot him?"
Bobby shrugged. "Nothing personal. I threaten to shoot most everybody eventually."
"You never threatened to shoot me," Harry pointed out.
"Day's not over yet, boy," Bobby answered.
John laughed from the foot of the stairs.
"So," he said, turning his full attention to Harry. "I hear you fought a demon."
Harry nodded.
"Want to explain how you're still alive and kicking?"
Harry's eyes widened at the aggressive tone in John Winchester's voice.
"Why don't we take this inside?" Bobby suggested. He held the door open for Harry and John, before leading them into the kitchen.
John continued to eye Harry in evaluation. Harry wondered what John thought he could learn about him just by observing him. That he had an ugly scar on his head? That he was an okay dresser? That he stumbled when he knew people were watching him?
"Relax, son," Bobby advised him silently. "John ain't gonna bite ya. At least not when he can shoot ya instead."
Harry gave him an incredulous look. "No offense, Mr. Winchester, but from all the stories I've heard you're a pretty intimidating man."
"Call me, John," he replied. "And no ass kissing, kid. Ain't going to help you make a better impression. At least not with me anyways."
"So you want to know about the demon that attacked us?" Harry asked.
John nodded, leaning back into his chair. "Tell me everything."
It took Harry the better part of an hour to retell the story to John. He stumbled through his lies a few times, but having already told the edited version to the man's sons had been good practice. As far as he could tell, John had bought the story. It might even have gained him a little respect from the man.
"Again."
Harry quirked his eyebrows. "I'm sorry?"
"Tell me again," John ordered.
Harry shot an anxious glance at Bobby, who nodded back at him.
"Okay," Harry said, taking a deep breath before launching into the tale once again.
John leaned back in his seat and studied the young man across from him. He'd noticed the way that Bobby had protected the kid, so he couldn't be all bad. Bobby was a pretty hard hunter to fool, and an even harder man to get attached to others. Add that to the fact that his youngest had befriended him… John had a nagging desire to figure out what made this Potter kid so special.
John could tell that his son's roommate was lying, keeping something from him. Granted, it was only because John himself was such a good liar that he could read through the kids bullshit. John wasn't sure if the kid was just shaken up over the whole demon thing or if he was actively keeping something hidden, but until John found out he wasn't giving Harry the benefit of a doubt.
This kid had so far worked his way into Sam's room, Bobby's house, and had now met John face to face. If he was connected to the demon, he was a serious threat. John only knew of one way to deal with a threat.
It wasn't until halfway through the kid's retelling of the story that John felt the kid relax. It was right when he was talking about his boys being gone that John felt the warmth in his voice. This kid really did care about his sons… or at least was damn convincing of that fact.
John went completely still as Missouri's voice filled his memory. Did you know that one of your sons is sleeping with a man? Suddenly the warmth in Potter's voice when describing his sons' absence took on a whole new meaning.
When Harry was done telling the story, John looked to Bobby. "Mind giving us a moment, Bobby?"
Bobby looked John up and down before turning to nod at Harry. He pushed his chair back from the table and walked out of the room muttering something about being bossed around in his own home.
"So," John said once Bobby was out of earshot. "Which of my sons are you sleeping with?"
Harry's heart leapt into his throat, his voice coming out high pitched and nervous. "Excuse me?"
"My sons," John said slower, as if speaking to a small child. "Which one of them are you sleeping with?"
"What makes you think I've been doing such a thing?"
"You are gay, are you not?"
Harry was quickly losing his patience with John Winchester. He hadn't been lying when he said how much Dean and Sam's stories had intimidated him. There was little doubt in his mind that Dean had gotten his "jerk gene" from his father.
"So what if I am?" he shot back at John.
"My sons are attractive are they not?" John responded, ignoring Harry's aggression. "And you are Sam's college roommate. My guess is that Sam took to the idea that college is for experimentation."
"Sam?" Harry incredulously. "Sam can barely flirt with girls let alone be ballsy enough to hit on his roommate."
John smirked. "Your sense of humor is right up Dean's alley, then."
Harry used every last ounce of his Occlumency skills to not give anything away. If only Occlumency could control his biological reaction when it came to Dean: intense blushing.
John leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Well, well, well. So Dean finally went through all the women in the country and is now on to men."
Harry stood up from the table and leaned menacingly towards John. "I'd watch what you say about your son, John."
The old hunter put his hands up to stave off Harry's anger. "No offense was meant. I just want to know someone who knows my son so… intimately. Surely you can understand that?"
"That's not what's so hard to understand about all of this," Harry said, turning the tables on the man. "What I can't wrap my head around is a father so dedicated to his sons that he tracks down one of their romantic counterparts but can't pick up the phone to ask them how they're doing. How can a father not even call his own son when his fiancée is murdered? What kind of father are you?"
So much for trying to make a good first impression, Harry thought to himself.
"How dare you presume to lecture me about my own sons!" John thundered, rising to stand at Harry's height.
"How dare you pretend that you give a damn about them," Harry shouted back. "Especially when we both know the only reason you're here is to drill me for information on that demon!"
John threw an arm out at Harry. Harry didn't think twice about his reaction. He grabbed John's outstretched arm and dragged the man face down on the tabletop. He put his elbow at the back of the man's head and pulled the arm up hard. John grunted in pain.
As soon as Harry released him, John spun away from the table and reached for his gun.
"I wouldn't do that, John," Bobby said loudly, walking in the room with his shotgun aimed at John's center frame.
Harry looked at the two men holding their weapons.
"Gonna shoot me, Bobby?" John asked wryly.
"There are just so few opportunities to do it," Bobby quipped. "Might as well take this one. Of course, I wouldn't have to if you'd be reasonable."
John nodded and put his weapon away. "I'll say this for you, Potter, you can take care of yourself."
"Yet another reason Dean likes me," Harry said snarkily. John cracked a rare smile. It only looked menacing to Harry.
"I'll just be on my way then."
Bobby moved aside to let John pass him. The men waited in silence until they heard the front door open and then close.
Harry let out the breath he was holding. "Think he was really going to shoot me?"
Bobby shrugged. "Probably not. John's reasonable side usually takes over eventually. His damn temper just doesn't know when to give it up already."
"I can't wait to tell Dean that I beat up his Dad," Harry muttered in mock eagerness.
"I think he'll be more concerned over the fact that his Dad knows about the two of you," Bobby pointed out.
Harry paled. "You knew?"
"Well, even if I hadn't been listening in on your conversation with John, I would have known." Bobby set his shotgun on the table. "You and Dean aren't exactly subtle little lovebirds."
"Great, more good news to tell Dean." Harry sat back down at the table in defeat. "Does Sam know?"
"Nah," Bobby answered reassuringly. "That kids got enough on his plate to figure you and Dean out. Poor boy."
"You don't mind that Dean and I are…" Harry trailed off, letting the silence speak for itself.
"What, fucking like monkeys under my roof?" Bobby finished for him. "What do I care? Just as long as you clean your own sheets and you don't wake me up, you can do what you want."
"Thanks, Bobby."
"No problem, kid. Just, if you don't mind me saying so, I think you and Dean better fill Sam in on all this. Better he hears it from you than walks in on it."
Harry nodded. "I'll talk to Dean when he gets back."
"You better."
As it turned out, the brothers never made it back to Bobby's that week. Dean phoned from the road to fill him in. One of Sam's friends from school had been accused of murder. Harry vaguely remembered the student, Zach, as being Sam's other buddy at the weight room.
After some not so gentle prodding from Bobby, Harry had decided to drive out and meet the boys at Stanford. He hadn't anticipated them being in the middle of a hunt.
When he got to Santa Clara County, he found the boys at their motel room. Sam was in the shower and Dean was pacing around the small room. Dean smelled awful and his whole body was covered in grime. A pile of similarly dirty apparel was by the bathroom door.
"Having fun, Dean?"
Dean glared at him from across the room. He sent a cautionary glance at the bathroom door before marching over to steal a kiss. Harry held up both hands and backed away from Dean.
"Whoa there, stinky," Harry warned. "You're not coming near me until you've hit the shower."
"Come on," Dean whined, "I haven't seen or touched you in a week. Sam's on emotional overload over being back at Stanford. Plus, I had to track a fucking shape shifter down the sewer."
"A shape shifter?" Harry asked, eyes wide. "Bobby says those are really rare, like a genetic defect but in monsters."
Dean nodded, a prideful tone in his voice. "Impressive. Bobby's really letting you read all those books of his, I guess."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "and it's just so much fun. I get to stay at home and read while you two get some action in the actual field."
"Days like today that doesn't seem like such a bad deal," Dean said, pointedly peeling off his top.
"How is Sam holding up?"
Dean rolled his eyes. "I told you about that town doing human sacrifices with that scarecrow, right?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, but you conveniently left out the part where you were a dick to Sam and that's why he took off."
Dean shrugged it off. "That's not the point. After he took off, Sam met some chick named Meg at the train station. He's been talking about her non-stop. It's driving me crazy."
The sound of the water from the shower died down.
"Guess it's my turn."
Harry sat on the bed with Dean's duffel on it. Harry mouthed a silent 'I missed you' to Dean as Sam opened the bathroom door.
Harry gave a wolfish whistle at Sam's appearance. His friend had certainly not lost his excellent muscle tone since being away from Stanford.
"Oh, hey, Harry." Sam blushed but didn't shy away from changing in front of them.
Dean glared at Harry, who responded with an innocent smile. "I think the shower's free, Dean."
"Yeah, I got that," Dean muttered testily as he stepped into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind him.
"What's up his butt?" Sam asked as he slid on a fresh pair of jeans.
"Just upset he didn't catch the shape shifter and basically went down into a sewer for nothing," Harry responded, falling backward onto the bed. "This bed sucks."
"It's a motel room, Harry, not a 5 star hotel."
Harry tactfully kept his comment to himself that Dean's bed would be much more comfortable with Dean actually in it.
"Sorry to just burst in on your quality brother time," Harry apologized as Sam finished dressing and began drying his hair. "I was feeling a little cooped up at Bobby's without you two."
Sam stopped his efforts with his hair and gave Harry an evaluating look. It made Harry feel extremely self-conscious. "What, Sam?"
Sam shot a look at the closed bathroom door. "Harry I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay."
"It's about you and Dean."
Harry gulped, suddenly wishing that he hadn't rushed Dean into the shower and left himself alone with Sam. Did he know about them? Where had they slipped up? They'd been so careful!
"What about Dean… and I?"
"First off, don't take this personally, Harry," Sam began, taking a seat on his bed. "But you're kind of a flirt."
Harry snorted. "Maybe a little."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Girls seem to go kind of ga-ga over my brother, and I noticed you kind of had a thing for him, too."
"Oh."
"Yes, exactly," Sam agreed, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. "I just didn't want you to put too much energy into Dean. He's 100% into girls… at least for the last decade or so, if you catch my drift."
Harry nodded. "Don't worry, Sam, I have no doubt as to Dean's attraction level to me."
Sam looked relieved at that. "Good, I was afraid he'd break your heart or something. Wouldn't want my best friend and my brother going at it, would I?"
Define 'going at it', Sam, Harry thought to himself. Then he added aloud, "No worries, Sam."
The sound of the water being shut off emerged from the bathroom.
"Let's just keep this between us," Sam suggested.
Fat chance, Harry thought, but nodded anyway. Dean is going to think this is hilarious.
Dean emerged from the shower, considerably cleaner, and looked at the grin on Harry's face.
"What's got him all excited?" he asked Sam, gathering his change of clothes.
"Nothing."
Harry grimaced slightly at Sam's poor attempt to lie. Whenever Sam told a little lie he always answered to quickly. Judging by the look on Dean's face, Harry could tell he'd caught the lie as well.
Dean put his back to Sam and gave Harry a look that clearly said they would be discussing the incident later. Harry smiled reassuringly before glancing down at his lover's body. Harry smirked at Dean, who licked his lips in return. Sam remained unaware of the exchange from behind Dean's back.
"So," Harry said, changing topics, "you guys want some help with the shape shifter?"
"No," Dean said at the same time Sam said, "Sure."
"Or not," Sam added, sending an apologetic glance Harry's way.
"Fine, fine," Harry said, making himself comfortable on Dean's bed. "I get it. No one wants the rookie around until Bobby gives the okay."
Dean nodded. "Damn right."
"I'm sure we'll be fine, Harry," Sam responded more diplomatically. "We think he's picking up couples at this bar downtown, then morphing into one of them. It seduces the other one and then kills them."
Harry grimaced. "That sucks."
Dean finished getting dressed and pulled out his gun.
"That's why you're staying here. The less people there are hunting this thing, the less chance it nabs one of their forms."
Harry nodded in agreement. "I'll be right here, waiting."
Four hours later and Dean was getting bored.
For the last couple of hours Sam and Dean had been scoping out the local dance club and bar that the shape shifter had been picking up victims at. Sam had been a spoilsport and wouldn't let Dean drink on the job, even after it had hit happy hour.
Dean took another sweep of the club, looking for anyone acting like a lion among a pack of gazelles. Sam theorized that a shifter would be someone very attractive in order to lure worthy prey. Dean shuddered at the description. Sam had also printed out pictures of the previous victims just in case the shifter had fallen back into an earlier skin suit.
"Dean?" Sam asked, grabbing his attention.
Dean swung his head in his brother's direction, but otherwise didn't comment.
Sam sighed. "You're still not talking to me?"
Dean huffed a bit but kept his mouth shut. He'd let his brother answer his own damn questions.
"Would you stop being a mime if I buy you a drink?" Sam inquired, passing his brother a full shot glass.
Dean eyed the proffered drink with interest. "What is it?"
"Jim Bean," Sam said, humor lighting his eyes now that Dean was responding.
Dean downed the shot in one gulp and tossed the empty glass to his brother. "I might forgive you if I get a refill."
Sam chuckled. "How about we buy a bottle on the way back to motel room? I'm sure Harry's getting bored out of his mind waiting on us."
Dean didn't need to be asked twice. He scooped up his coat and glided his way through the dancing bodies. Within minutes he was inhaling cool night air.
"I guess that meant you were ready to leave," Sam commented dryly as he followed his brother to the Impala.
"Damn right," Dean muttered.
"Where'd you put that cooler, Dean?" Sam asked as Dean unlocked the Impala.
Dean unlocked the trunk to get the cooler, but paused when he felt the trunk open easily. "What the hell…"
Dean released the trunk hood and felt his body go cold as he saw his little brother's body piled inside. Dean went for his gun but the shifter, already disguised as Sam, knocked him over the head and shoved him into the trunk on top of his brother.
"Hunters," the shifter muttered disgustedly in Sam's voice. "Always the same."
When Dean regained consciousness he immediately began scanning his surroundings. He felt the restraints that had him shackled to the large cement pillar behind him. It was obvious that the shifter had brought him underground someplace, most likely a sewer maintenance room.
He heard something moving across the room from him.
"Sammy?" Dean whispered out into the darkness.
"Dean?"
A bright light turned on overhead. The sudden illumination hurt Dean's eyes. A figure moved into the room.
Dean watched Sam's eyes widened in recognition. "Zach?"
"Not quite," the figure replied, a triumphant smirk planted on his face.
"You're the shifter," Dean pointed out.
"You'll have to forgive the meager accommodations, boys," the shifter informed them. "I'm not used to taking captives. I'm more of the love them, kill them, leave them type."
"So why keep us alive, then?" Sam questioned angrily.
"Don't be so ungrateful, Sam," the shifter replied, stroking Sam's check. "I was planning on having you skin your brother alive, but I was forced to change my plans to include your little friend."
"Little friend?" Dean asked.
"Harry," the shifter responded. "I believe you are familiar with him, Dean."
"Leave him out of this," Sam demanded.
"Sorry, can't," the shifter replied. "I owed an old friend a favor. I believe you know him. He's got yellow eyes and a disposition for women on ceilings."
"What does he want with Harry?" Dean demanded, panic flooding his veins.
"What else? Death, I'm sure." The shifter stepped over to Dean. "I'm going to need one of your bodies to get to him. I've heard he can be quite feisty. I'm looking forward to the challenge… not to mention he's pretty hot. I might like this job."
"And then what happens to us?"
The shifter laughed. "Take a wild guess."
Sam glared at the shifter.
"You've got a bit of spitfire in you, Sammy," the shifter complimented him. "Tell me, did you and Harry ever make things… interesting?"
"You're disgusting."
"Oh, come on, don't get all offended on me," the shifter said, waving his hands dismissively. "Is it really so out of line to suggest that you and your stud of a best friend had a little hook up?"
"Screw you," Sam grit out angrily.
"You mean to tell me that Harry's been your roommate for the last three years and you never thought about fucking him? That your dead girlfriend never brought up the idea of a threesome?"
Sam started cursing so much that the shifter placed a gag over his mouth again.
"You have more control than me, Sammy boy."
"What about you, Dean?" the shifter asked, moving his attention to the older brother. "Ever think about getting feisty with a younger man?"
"I'm more of a ladies man."
"So I've heard." The shifter smirked at him. "But there's something off about you, Dean. I think you've made an exception to your 'ladies only' policy."
Dean tried to ignore the look Sam was giving him.
"No matter, I'll know soon enough."
The shifter knelt down and placed his mouth on Deans. The shifter used its supernatural strength to force Dean's mouth open. Behind the shifter, Sam struggled with his bonds.
As soon as the shifter released his mouth, Dean spat at him. He smiled as he realized he'd nailed the creature right in the eye.
The creature retaliated by punching Dean in the face. His skull erupted with pain, and he tasted blood.
"And here I thought I was being such a generous host by taking your DNA in such a pleasant manner."
"I'd rather an anal swab," Dean shot back.
"You still might get one."
Dean was about to reply when the creature began to shake uncontrollably. The shape shifters skin began to bubble, as if the skin was being steamed from the inside. The shifter removed his dress shirt. Bones cracked and shifted, rib cages relocated. The shifters hair grew out to mimic Dean's own locks of hair. Teeth fell onto the cement floor en masse. The shifter moaned at the obvious pain.
When the shape shifter stood back up, Dean found himself staring at an exact duplicate of himself.
"How do I look?" the shifter asked Dean.
"Like you fill in your pant size for once in your pathetic life."
Dean blacked out from the retaliating blow the shifter sent his way.
Sam struggled against the restraints, taking the shifters attention away from an unconscious Dean.
"Easy, Sammy," the shifter said, removing the gag. "Scream too loud and I'll shut you up again."
"Don't call me Sammy," Sam said outraged. "Only Dean can call me that."
"Uh, hello?" the shifter replied, showing off his new body. "I am Dean Winchester. I am your brother, Sammy."
"You're not him," Sam insisted.
"Not completely, not yet," the shifter admitted. "I'll be a better brother to you than he ever was, Sammy. You'll see that."
"Dean practically raised me. There is no better brother."
"So loyal to him," tutted the shifter sadly. "After all the lies he's told you. I wouldn't lie to you, Sammy, not ever. Real brothers tell each other everything."
"He does tell me everything."
"Oh, really?" the shifter asked, clearly doubtful. "Did he tell you that he's dating someone? I think you'd be very interested to know who it is."
"You don't know Dean very well if you think he's the monogamous type," said Sam dryly. "Dating isn't even in his vocabulary."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sammy," the real Dean grumbled. He scrunched up his forehead, grimacing in pain.
"Welcome back to the world of the living," the shifter greeted him. "I was just letting our brother in our dirty little secret."
Dean glared at him. "He's full of shit, Sammy. Don't listen to anything he says."
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I got that."
"If you ask me, our brother already knows." The shifter touched Sam's face gently. "He has to have noticed the change in us lately. How much harder we fight to stay alive. The way we've so quickly taken to our new friend. The information we seem to know, but have no plausible explanation for knowing."
Sam looked at Dean, his face betraying the truth in the shifters words. Dean pleaded with his eyes for Sam not to believe the shifter. He needed his brother to hear it from him and not some freak trying to hurt him.
"I guess I did choose the right body to visit Harry with," the shifter said, confirming Sam's suspicions. "I'm sure he'll open himself to me willingly… at least at first. I'm told I can be a little rough."
Dean snarled at him and struggled against his bindings. "I'm going to kill you."
"Through our mental link I can see that you really mean that, Dean," the shifter said, feigning hurt. "But I don't think suicide is a healthy option."
The fake Dean pulled Dean's leather jacket on, and showed the brothers the motel key. The shifter left the chamber, calling out casually behind him, "I'll give Harry your best… in more ways than one."
When Dean realized the shifter was gone he stopped struggling against his bindings. He made eye contact with his brother.
Sam looked away.
Harry awoke to the feeling of a teasing hand stroking his stomach. He felt a warm body pressed up against his back. A hungry mouth sucked on his neck.
"Good morning to you, too," Harry said lightly. He reached back and trailed his hand down to Dean's ass.
Dean wrapped an arm around Harry waist, pulling him closer. "I've been thinking about kissing you all day."
Harry smirked. "You've been hunting while thinking about kissing me? And that turns you on, Dean?"
Dean just smiled in response, causing Harry's stomach to do flips.
Moving rapidly, before Dean could change his mind, Harry scooted even closer to him. He slipped one arm around Dean's shoulders and used his free hand to guide Dean's face towards his. Just before their lips met Harry asked, "Kissing me like this?"
Dean nodded eagerly. When Harry gently pressed his mouth against Dean's, Harry could feel Dean's lower lip quiver. He broke the kiss. "It's okay," Harry murmured. "I've been thinking about this all day, too."
Dean must have wanted to dispute the assessment that he was nervous, because he boldly captured Harry's lips again, pulling Harry closer and deepening the kiss. Dean's kisses were sloppy in his eagerness, which Harry didn't mind because they felt so damn good. It was like the first time in the Impala all over again.
Harry coaxed Dean's tongue into his mouth and sucked on it. His arm slid down Dean's back in a gentle caress, while his free hand brushed against the back of his neck.
Needing air, Harry pushed Dean away. "Bloody hell, Dean. What's gotten into you?"
Dean trailed his tongue along Harry's jaw line, finding the hollow of his neck and sucking hard. Judging from the ensuing moan, Harry wouldn't mind postponing that line of questioning until another time. Harry placed a tentative hand on Dean's chest and began to move it slowly as Dean laved his throat. As his fingers drifted towards Dean's waist, Dean's wrist brushed the tip of Harry's erection.
Harry raised his head to find Dean's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"This body really does turn you on, doesn't it?" Dean asked him.
"Fishing for compliments, Dean?" Harry retorted.
Dean shrugged. "Something like that."
A grin played at the corners of Dean's mouth. Reaching down to grasp the hem of Harry's top, Dean pulled it briskly over Harry's head in one smooth motion and then threw it on the floor. The newly exposed skin was silky soft beneath Dean's fingertips, with just a hint of gooseflesh on his lower arms. Dean laid a trail of kisses from Harry's mouth down to his navel and then back up to his chest. He worried Harry's nipple with the tip of his tongue until the younger man let out a stifled moan.
When Harry returned the favor, Dean jerked in surprise at the sensitivity of his nipples. Usually Dean was more prepared for Harry's tongue.
"Shush, Dean," Harry warned. "Sammy's going to hear you."
"So?"
"So?" Harry echoed the question with a deep laugh. "Since when are you Mr. Voyeur in this relationship?"
Dean kissed his collarbone. "Since I told Sam about us."
Harry took a moment to realize what Dean had said. "You what?"
"I love that shocked look on your face," Dean said, kissing Harry's cheek. "It reminds me of the first time I climbed inside of you."
"Dean. Focus." Harry gripped his face tightly. "You told Sam about us?"
Dean made a thoughtful face. "Well, lets just say I pointed him in the right direction. He did the rest on his own."
"What did he say?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Don't worry," Dean reassured him. "He'll be fine. He loves us right?"
Harry nodded. "Of course."
"Good." Dean slid down Harry's body until his face rested against the bulge in Harry's crotch. "Now where were we?"
Harry's eyes widened. "You usually don't like to be the one doing that particular job."
"It's just a little odd to be sucking on something like that, considering yours is the only one I've ever wanted to do that with." Dean grinned.
"But now you're good with that?"
"Let's just say that there's nothing I want more from you right now than to taste your DNA."
Dean's mouth and tongue went to work and Harry gripped the bed sheets, muscles flexing in pleasure. Harry never saw the moonlight catch Dean's eyes and the strange color that illuminated them.
Sam watched as Dean began rotating his bindings around the stone columns behind him. He heard the scraping sounds of the ropes slowly being worn down.
"I think I've got a cut in this stone," Dean announced proudly, frantically rotating the rope.
Sam didn't say anything. His mind kept flashing back to the last few weeks since Harry and Dean had met. His thoughts focused on the innocent touches between his brother and his friend. He remembered how odd it was that Harry had made banana pancakes, Dean's favorite, for breakfast. Dean didn't get along with that many people off the bat. Poor Sam had thought he had been lucky to have a friend even Dean would take a liking to.
Then Sam's memory flashed on something he'd long forgotten: an Impala parked down the street from his RL house over a year ago. He'd wondered but…
"You've been seeing Harry for a long time haven't you?" Sam asked.
Dean stopped his escape efforts for a moment before vigorously returning to them. Dean did not appear to be about to answer.
"Dean?"
"What?" Dean snapped. "That thing is going after Harry. We can discuss this later. Don't you want to save your best friend, Sam? Or do you not care about him anymore?"
Sam swallowed. Sure, he was hurt that they'd kept their relationship from him, but he didn't want Harry to die. He also knew that Dean's question was not only talking about how Sam felt about Harry now that the truth was out.
He nodded at Dean to continue.
"I hope he's okay."
Dean did not let up on his ministrations until Harry had climaxed. Dean drank in all of him.
Dean kissed a return trail up Harry's stomach and chest to finally bury his face in the comfort of Harry's neck. "I love you, Harry."
Harry's entire body went rigid.
"You what?" he asked breathlessly.
Dean put his mouth at the entrance to Harry's ear and whispered softly, "You heard me. I'm in love with you… although I think that means you'd have to love me back."
Harry's breathing accelerated. "I do. I have for awhile now."
They kissed again. Harry tasted himself on Dean's tongue.
"I wish I could keep this up forever," Dean admitted.
"If I remember correctly, that's not really an issue for you," Harry replied, sending a loving grin at his partner.
"That's not what I meant."
Harry turned a confused gaze on Dean. "What did you mean?"
Dean held his gaze before his eyes flickered and changed to some kind of reflective sheath covering. The shifter, dressed in Dean's skin, reared back and punched Harry with all of his supernatural strength. Harry was shocked by the sudden blow and collapsed on the ground. He was too stunned to block the follow up blows that the shape shifter sent his way.
Soon all Harry knew was darkness, pain and betrayal.
The shifter reached into his coat, Dean's coat, and withdrew a large syringe. He popped the top off with his mouth, pushed out an air bubble, and located a vein in Harry's skin. The needle sunk deep into the vein and released its toxins.
"Azazel says hello," the shifter whispered into the dark room. The shifter reached for the nearest lamp and flicked it on and off in a quick pattern, providing a signal for his compatriots in the parking lot.
A moment later there was a knock against the door. The shifter didn't bother getting up from his crouched position.
"Come in, demon," he greeted.
The door swung open of its own accord. The shifter hadn't bothered to lock it when he'd first arrived.
Meg entered and immediately surveyed the damage done to the wizard.
"You've done well," Meg complimented him, before taking note of Harry's naked form and the ruffled bed sheets. "And I see you've been rewarded already."
The shifter grinned. "Your father was right, Meg. He was quite a challenge, a welcome one at that."
Meg shook her head in disgust. "You idiot, that's not what he meant. The human is a powerful witch. He's been giving powers directly from a demon... for keeps."
The shifter eyed his latest lover with renewed interest. "Oh, really?"
"Too bad you didn't get his DNA," Meg teased as she levitated Harry's body out the door. "You might have been pleased with the result."
"Yes," the shifter nodded sadly. "Too bad."
The shifter waited until Meg had floated the witch's body into the parking lot before beginning his change. He had wanted to enjoy his time as Dean for a time longer. With such an enticing body he could have had anyone he wanted.
But a witch granted the full use of their master's powers was too tempting a form to pass up… possibly one worth remaining in if the power level was high enough. It was rare, but if a demon's servant was so highly rewarded that they were given full powers than the abilities were infused into their bodies… their DNA.
The shift was over by the time that Meg had returned.
"So you did get some of his juices, then?" Meg inquired, seeing his change in form.
"Couldn't help myself," the shifter grinned evily, before a flame erupted in the palm of his hand. "And now no one can help you."
Meg's face froze. "My father will be most displeased if something happened to me."
The shifter shrugged. "With this amount of power, you're father would be well advised to deal with it and not pursue me. Maybe I just have to demonstrate how dangerous I can be?"
Meg dove to the side to avoid the fireball that erupted at the doorway. Meg sent a mental pulse at the shifter and was satisfied when she heard his body hit something hard.
She entered the room at an inhuman speed and fired at the shifter. The first bullet, silver, caught the Harry doppelganger in the shoulder. The second and third entered his heart.
She checked the shape shifters pulse and felt nothing. She smiled at her now deceased accomplice.
"You stupid fool," she commented mockingly. "I can't believe you thought you'd gotten one over on me after all these years. You were always going to have to take Harry's form. How else would I get the Winchesters to not chase after their little friend? After all, if they think he's dead, why would they look for him?"
Meg grabbed Harry's bag from the corner and hiked it over her shoulder. She channeled her father's power and set the room into a blaze before marching out of the door. She opened the trunk and tossed the duffel bag next to Harry's prone body. Just as she pulled out of the parking lot, an Impala rounded the other corner.
Meg smiled as she watched the Winchester brothers enter the motel parking lot in her rearview mirror, the flames distracting them.
They'd never know how close they came to saving their friend.
Author's Notes:
I believe I mentioned last time something about cliffhangers? Well… there you go :)
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'd like to remind you that I did say the episode order would be changed up a bit. Just so you won't be surprised by the plot for the next chapter.
I know I'll get a few questions on Meg's "plan" from this chapter, but basically here's the gist of things: Meg and Azazel realized they needed to keep Harry unconscious or else he'd be able to use his powers… thus, they needed someone who could get close to him: a shifter taking the form of someone he trusted.
Having the shifter take Harry's form, and then killing him, makes the brothers believe he's dead at the shifters hands. Meg believes that the brothers will be distracted by their hunt for the shifter that took Harry's form to look too closely at the situation.
And while they're distracted, Harry has the honor (and extreme displeasure) of being Azazel and Meg's guest, who are very interested in him and his abilities.
I hope this helped to clarify a few things.
The next chapter, playfully titled "Bait Is Such A Strong Word" will be posted sometime in the next two weeks when I've had a few days to recuperate from my finals. After that, updates will be MUCH more frequent through the months of December and January. Although I could be persuaded to ignore my finals and write some more... only if people really wanted me to, I guess ;)
Don't forget to let me know what you thought of the chapter by leaving a REVIEW!!!