It took way too long to get this chapter up. I am ashamed. I have no excuse. *cough*laziness*cough*

Anyway, I hope it was worth the wait!

Ch. 20

The guy lives on the outskirts of the compound. Outside the fences. Back in the woods. Alone. About three miles away. Mark walks them there, Crow tagging along. He doesn't look thrilled to be here. As they walk, Dean starts to wonder who Mark's taking them to.

It's been two days since Sam and Dean had talked to Mark. Word has gotten around camp. The men are uneasy. Scouts were sent out, only to find out that it's worse than they thought. The brainwashed people are getting better at following orders. And there are a ton of them at the compound the scout team (a bunch of ex-marines) have finally located. Dick Roman's main headquarters.

There's a debate going around. Whether or not it's okay to kill the humans that are being controlled. Seeing as how they're innocent and so many other humans have been lost, most of the people in the camp don't want to kill any humans. It's what's the biggest trouble in deciding the best way to attack the compound. Especially since the best way is taking the humans out.

Mark and Crow have decide to take their superior ranks in account for the first time, deciding to do what they have to in order to get their men on board. The guy Mark is taking them to is who they're going to send in first to take care of the humans. During this time of planning, Sam keeps grinning that creepy grin whenever Mark keeps confirming this is the man they need.

It's Mark who stops them when they're almost there, turning to the brothers with a sigh. "Now I figured I'd address this here since I knew there was no way one of you was staying at the camp."

Sam gives a sharp shake of his head.

Dean lightly touches the back of his hand to Sam's arm in reassurance.

Mark nods. "I thought so. That's why I brought you both this far. Now… this guy is legitimately insane. In fact, he'd be in prison if our society wasn't floundering at the moment. The only reason he's still out here and we haven't killed him is because he's helped us with leviathan sighting alerts. A deal we have."

Dean makes a 'continue' motion with his hand, showing his impatience. "So what's the problem with him?"

Mark chuckles. "He's a serial killer."

The brother's blink. Dean's the one who answers. "I'm sorry. A what?"

Mark shrugs. "He's a serial killer. One of the crazy ones. Has a reason for his targets and all that. But he has a bigger variety than most. He just likes to kill so it's hard to have him around other people. That's why we've left him out here."

Dean stares. "You're letting a serial killer live?"

Mark huffs. "He hasn't killed anyone since we made the deal to leave him alone."

"So why is he still dangerous?" Sam asks lowly.

"He isn't really. Not to everyone," Mark answers cautiously. "Just you."

Sam blinks.

Dean takes an angry step forward. "Why him?"

Mark holds up his hands. "Will you hold up and let me explain?"

Sam touches Dean's arm, gently tugging at it to get him to step back and not give Mark any trouble.

Mark sighs. Fidgets. Looks anywhere but at the brothers. Eventually he gets out, "He's his type."

Once again, the two blink in shock. Not really knowing what to do with that bit of information. And again, Dean recovers first. "He's his what?" he growls, fists clenching at his side. Only Sam's hand on his arm keeps him from moving towards Mark.

Mark sighs. "Tall, brunette, male. We found the guy's file when we found his ID and were debating on whether to kill him or not. Went to the surrounding police departments and searched. Wasn't hard to find. We don't know why that's his preferred target. Whether it's family problems or some other reason. We don't really know how the minds of these people work. But out here on his own, he's harmless. A little crazy, but harmless. Take Sam in there? Not so harmless anymore."

Sam steps forward before Dean can reply. "Now when you say his type… you just mean killing right?"

"Right. He's in it for the kill. Not… anything else."

Dean grits his teeth. "Well that's good," he grits out sarcastically, "I'd hate for him to try anything else, let alone killing if he doesn't want to be killed himself." He turns to Sam. "Your plan keeps getting crazier. But it might work. So you stay here. I'll go in."

Sam grabs Dean's arm, halting his retreat. "No."

Dean spins on him, practically baring his teeth. "This one is not up for debate Sam."

Sam looks calmly down at him. "Dean. We've been hunted by way worse things. And we're still alive."

Dean raises an eyebrow.

Sam huffs, rolling his eyes. "You get the point. He isn't going to kill me. I think my proposition will be more appealing. And if he tries to kill me, he won't get past either of us."

"Sam…"

"Dean."

Dean shakes his head. "I don't like it."

Sam sighs. "Tough."

Dean glares at him.

Sam smirks. "So are you gonna send me in by myself or are you coming?" He turns and walks away. Apparently it was up for debate. And Sam won.

Dean stares wide-eyed at his brother's retreating back before following, muttering, "Like I'm going to let you go in there alone. Bitch," under his breath.

"Jerk," Sam chuckles over his shoulder.

Dean lets a grin spread across his face. It sticks around until the cabin comes into view. Dean's the one to reach out this time. Grabs the sleeve of Sam's jacket and pulls him back as Mark takes the lead. He doesn't let go until Mark is knocking on the door.

"Mark?" a voice responds fairly quickly.

"Max."

The door opens, a man with strikingly blue eyes looking out at them. His eyes are immediately drawn to Sam, something changing in them.

Dean steps in front of his brother, pulling to his full height in an attempt to hide his bigger brother behind him. He locks eyes with Max, face stony.

Mark tries to get his attention. "Max. This is Sam and Dean Winchester."

"Nice to meet you," Max croons.

His voice makes Dean almost shiver. He forces himself not to. Keeps himself firmly planted in front of Sam who also tries to not look nervous.

"Max. You are not to touch Sam."

Max grunts, glaring at Mark before turning and going inside. "Come in." It sounds like he's actually pouting. But there's an underlying edge to it. He definitely isn't totally deterred. He motions to the old ratty couch in his living room area, opting to sit in a single chair.

Only Sam and Dean come in, Dean convincing Mark they'd be fine on their own. Mark still doesn't look happy when the door closes. The brothers sit on the couch, Dean in the spot closer to Max, keeping himself between his brother and danger as usual.

Max's eyes are on Sam.

Dean recognizes the look. He doesn't like it. He feels the slight tremor in Sam's leg where it's pressed against his. He doesn't like that either. It means Sam is actually nervous.

Surprisingly, it's Sam who talks first. "I have a proposition." He's using his sharp voice. Almost to the point of the devil's echo as Dean calls it. It shows how much Sam feels like he needs to protect himself right now. It keeps Dean aware of Sam's discomfort. Ready.

Max's eyes narrow. For a split second, he seems dangerous. Eventually though, curiosity wins out. "What kind of proposition?"

Sam smirks darkly. He's pulling everything he has into making himself look as blood thirsty as Max is. "You'll like it. But you need to focus. It has nothing to do with us, everything to do with a bunch of people that need to be taken out."

Max tilts his head, a twitch of his lips hinting at a grin. "Oh?"

Sam grins wider. "See, we have a problem. The leviathans have a new weapon. People. And they're everywhere in the main compound. The thing is, we also have a little problem with the men in our camp not wanting to kill humans that could possibly be restored."

Dean scowls at how Sam is going out and doing things on his own again. Though he guesses he needs to get used to it. It's not like Sam's ever going to ditch him. And since when is he so much like an insecure girl?

Max has leaned forward now. There's a glint in his eyes. "Details."

It's time for Dean to jump in, giving the details he learned from the scouts when he met with them. He chuckles darkly, white teeth flashing as he pulls on his inner sociopath. "We'll let you go in on your own. It's easy to see who's human and who's leviathan. Our scouts could tell easily enough. The leviathans carry themselves with arrogance. The humans? Stand around looking lost until they're told to do something or almost unflinchingly keep guard."

Max scrunches his nose, contemplating. "That doesn't sound like much fun."

Dean almost shivers at the pure thought in that statement, feeling Sam still trembling invisibly next to him.

But it's Sam's cool demeanor he's always had that helps in this moment "Oh don't worry, they fight back if provoked. The real trial will be trying to do it discretely, keeping the bodies hidden, that kind of stuff."

Max smiles brightly, which somehow ends up being one of the creepiest faces he's made all day. "I know how to do that. That's easy."

Dean grits his teeth. "Are you in? Because this will be the only time we open up a buffet of people for you. I have a feeling you're missing it. This is the chance of a lifetime. A high that will take years to go down." He tries not to think about how he knows that.

Sam tilts his head at Max, face changing. Almost a mix of the puppy face and a dangerous 'come hither'. "Think about it. How many chances will you have at something like this?" His mouth is a chilling grin to match Dean's dark eyes.

Max seems almost entranced by Sam, the predatory gleam gone for just a second. Instead, he's searching for the fellow killer in the bigger man. When he can't read Sam, he gives up, thinking instead of what he could be doing a few days from now. "It sounds lovely," he murmurs. His icy blue eyes have glazed over.

Dean looks to Sam, giving him a disgusted look.

Sam barely takes even a second to look back. His eyes are on Max. "You in?"

He seems to think for a little longer. Then he suddenly looks back to Sam, eyes lit in expectation. "I'm in." The predatory look returns though. His eyes follow Sam regretfully as the tall man stands. No doubt wishing he had a chance to kill him.

Dean keeps himself close to his brother. "We'll keep you updated on what's going on."

Sam nods. "It won't be long. Mark will keep you posted."

The two turn to leave, Max watching them and walking an acceptable distance behind them to the door. His eyes are on Sam.

Dean knows a lot about creatures like this man. Even if Max isn't a creature, basics still apply. So he does what he's always done when it comes to making sure no one messes with his Sam. He stakes his claim. When Sam walks out the door, Dean turns back. Makes eye contact with Max. Makes himself clear. Because even though Max has agreed to this, there's no way it will guarantee Sam's safety after it's all over. Mark's orders won't hold him back.

His voice is a low growl, almost a whisper. It's creepier than if he were yelling. "You touch him, one single hair on his body, and I will kill you. Do you understand me? He's mine. You can't kill him. You can't take him from me. He isn't yours to take. You make a move on him and I will peel the skin from your bones. And I assure you, with the things and people I know, you will end up in Hell when I finally kill you. Do I make myself clear?"

Max doesn't move his icy blue eyes away from Dean's. In that second, the release can almost be seen. The detachment of the claim on Sam his mind had made for him. The target replaced by one truth. He isn't yours to take. He's Dean's. Dean will be the only person with authority to kill Sam. Max has no claim to him. His life has already been claimed. Owned. He cannot interfere. He's Dean's brother. But there's something more he can see between them. They're… connected somehow. Dean Winchester was made to be the one who controlled whether Sam lived or died.

Max sees it. He knows. He lets go. As much as he would love to take Sam apart like he's done to many others before, he fully believes what Dean promises. And for once, someone else has scared him. He won't touch Sam if he wants to live. He gives Dean a nod.

Dean can see the respect he's won from the man. He understands now why Mark hasn't killed him. Because Max might be crazy. He might like to kill people. Torture them. But he has limits. And he's smart. And right now, he knows that Dean stands between him and Sam. And he understands that he wouldn't live to reach the younger brother. Dean nods back, then leaves, finding Sam waiting for him a few feet away with his eyes locked on the doorway and body tense. He grins, giving Sam a wink to ease his worry as he walks up.

"What'd you do?"

Dean grins. "Established a 'blades off' rule. He won't bother you."

Sam eyes him skeptically before sighing. He lets a fond smile spread across his face. "You threatened him."

"You bet your ass I did. Now c'mon. We have some planning to do."

The four walk back to camp after getting on the same page with what went on with Max, immediately calling a meeting with the people who have been appointed leaders to help with the mission. This is going to be the strike they've been waiting for. They have their way in signed up to take care of the humans. Now all they need to do is start planning the attack strategy.

Max came from the thought of what happened to all of the criminals when the leviathans took over. They probably took them off to eat first considering they were in the jails and such but I'm sure some escaped.