Chapter 55
A surprise foray into Bootback was not going to be possible, with demons in the area and in the plant. Sam and Amelia headed out just before One PM in the County water department vehicle and uniforms that Missouri had convinced her client to loan to the effort. Jody had left a few minutes earlier to meet up with the hunters in the area. Amelia sensed the worry in everybody's minds. She had already decided she'd only use all her newly-returned powers as a last resort. Sam's plan had a decent chance to work just as they hoped. If she could not expose herself, it would avoid creating a scene that would draw the unwanted attention of both human law-enforcement and their supernatural enemies. Not having to give a long explanation of her new abilities to Sam and their comrades would just be icing on the cake.
Being a Sunday afternoon, there was only a very small security crew on-site. It was just after 3PM when Amelia pulled up to the gate outside the plant. The hunters watching the plant had told them only the guard at the gate was a demon. Every demon on the planet knew Sam's face, so Amelia was to create distraction to allow him to come up behind and kill the demon before he could let any others know they were there.
The cover story was to be that Amelia was a safety inspector showing up for a surprise survey. From his nearby position, Sam could hear Amelia trying to explain her presence to the guard-demon. He lost sight of the gate for a second as he ducked around small shed right next to the gate, but then he could hear the rattling of the gate being opened. 'Huh, that was way too easy.' Sam thought to himself just as there was a sudden flash of light.
"Sam?" Amelia called softly. "Come help me put the body in the backseat."
He was already out from behind the shed and standing over what was left of the demon before Amelia had finished speaking. "What happened?"
"He had just hit the gate mechanism when he turned toward the shed. I could tell the body he was possessing was already dead, so I killed the demon before he could sound the alarm." Amelia replied as she opened the back door. They put the cold, lifeless body on the floor of the backseat; and then Amelia climbed back into the car and drove through the gate, as Sam closed the gate behind them.
"How close to where Castiel opened the seal do we have to be?" Sam asked as he climbed back into the passenger seat and Amelia pulled further into plant grounds. With all the clean-up and construction vehicles and equipment in the area, it looked very different than when Sam was here last. Of course, he had to admit to himself, he wasn't thinking very clearly then.
"I've been thinking about that. Do you think you could get us near that wall, but on the outside?" Amelia really didn't want Sam to have to go inside that horrible place again. That, and residual smell of Leviathans, Demons, all the creatures Crowley had tortured and even all the Angels that were killed here, was so bad out here, she didn't think she could stand how bad it must be inside.
"Huh, the outer wall of the lab?" Sam said, as he started studying the main building closer. "I remember there was only one set of windows, high up, near the ceiling. The wall was to the right of that. Crap, there are way too many windows."
As Sam spoke, he noticed another of the weekend security crew causally strolling near the reservoir. "Damn, I think he saw us." He said to Amelia and pointed in the guard's direction.
"So, we stick to your plan. Only we tell him we're inspecting the structural integrity of the wall outside where there was the most damage." Amelia said, sounding very professional but with a devious grin on her face.
"If that guy wasn't so damn close that he'd see, I'd kiss you." Sam replied, admiring how easily Amelia was catching onto 'making it up as we go'.
"I'm assuming that would not be your usual behavior in the middle of a hunt?" Amelia asked with a wicked grin on her face, before adding, "You know; I could arrange for him to trip over something and give us a few seconds?" She smiled at his befuddled expression, as she stopped the car.
"I'll take a rain check." Sam said as he opened his door, and then headed for the obviously bored security guard. "You there! Who's in charge here? And why was no one at the gate?" Sam shouted at the hapless man. One of the basic rules of bullshitting your way into anywhere was to take the offensive and throw the target off guard.
Amelia watched as Sam met the guard. She could overhear bits and pieces of what he was saying; and the man looked thoroughly anxious and worried he would lose his job. Within two minutes the last guard joined his co-worker after being summoned on the walkie-talkie. As Sam started walking the men toward the trailer that was the main construction office, Amelia got out of the car and started scanning the building for the spot they would use. The evil permeating this place was so pronounced, she knew she'd have to get closer to find the weakened seal.
A few minutes later, Sam came back out the trailer, alone, and carrying a blueprint. He didn't bother to 'tell' Amelia what had happened in the trailer, knowing she had already seen it in his thoughts. With the three guards, one demon dead and two human unconscious, out of the way; Sam spread the drawing of the plant out on the hood of the car. He called Jody to confirm that she and the other hunters had managed to secure any other demons, and anybody else, in the area, giving them free access to the building and plenty of time to breach the seal and contact Dean.
After Jody gave them the 'all clear', and they climbed back into the car and drove closer to the old building. Sam used the diagram to determine which room had been Crowley's lab with the wall that had been used to paint the sigil that had opened the door to Purgatory. He may have been pre-law at Stanford, but years of reading plans while casing locations for hunts, had made him very adept at reading blueprints. They got out of the vehicle when they got as close as they could by car. Amelia confirmed Sam had found the right spot after he had led them around to the wall.
The construction hadn't started in this area and Amelia cringed at the disparity on the location. It was a beautiful grassy area next to a gently-flowing river, with an old limestone wall, naturally darkened by years of exposure to the elements. But, there was also this oppressive sensation of evil, death and destruction.
As they approached the wall, it suddenly occurred to Sam, in all their discussions they hadn't talked about what exactly Amelia was going to do. She turned and smiled at him; her expression so obvious, he could've sworn he heard her voice in his head say 'We've got this covered'. Amelia turned back to the wall quickly before he saw the surprise on her face. She hadn't meant to telepathically implant that thought in Sam's mind. Reading minds was a power she had never lost; but she had lost telepathy centuries ago. She added that to the list of things she'd have to think about, later.
X
Amelia took off the water department coveralls and her shoes, leaving only the simple dress she had been wearing when she met Sam at Bobby's old place. She stepped to where Sam was standing and pulled his face down to hers and kissed him until he couldn't help but respond. As she released him, she could hear the questions in his mind. "To give me strength; you're more powerful to me now than the amulet." She said with a smile; then Amelia turned and walked back until she stood near the wall but faced the river.
Sam watched as Amelia closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing and rapidly gaining in brightness. Suddenly her voice was inside his head again, telling him to stand behind her. He paused only a second, knowing there was no mistaking who or what he was hearing this time; before he moved to get behind the goddess. Just as he got behind Amelia, she raised her arms and started singing in that unknown language she had used in Omaha.
Just as in Omaha, the air over the river started moving and started forming into a vortex; pulling up a column of water this time. Amelia slowly brought her outstretched hands together, and the column of water got tighter and sped faster and faster. As the swirling water got smaller and faster, it climbed up into the sky until it had to be visible over the tree line. Sam hoped their allies had adequately secured the area because this would be hard to explain; not that he would have stopped Amelia for anything.
'Sam, be ready.' Her voice reached into his mind again. He looked down at the small woman just as she clasped her hands together and the column of water, now only a few inches around, jumped from the river into Mother Nature's fists. She turned slightly, let go of the column with one hand, and pointed to the base of the wall. The shaft of water followed to where she was pointing. When it reached the spot they had determined was just opposite of where the seal had been opened; Amelia starting reciting what sounded like the same chant as two weeks ago. As she grasped the column with both hands it started snapping and crackling with electricity, radiating brightly and sending off sparks.
Even from behind Amelia, Sam could feel the power radiating from the shaft of water and light; but she was holding it like it was as light and easy as a kite string. He looked to where the end of the column was grinding against the wall. There were no blades of grass or pieces of stone or mortar flying up from the spot; but there was a rapidly increasing void of matter. That was the only way Sam could think to describe it; it was like Amelia's tool was digging away at the reality of that spot. He guessed she was; since she was opening a hole into another plain of existence.
Suddenly a ray of intensely bright light shot out of the base of the 'hole'. Without turning away, Amelia shouted, "Sam, put your hands over mine." Sam took the half step forward and wrapped his large hands over Amelia's small ones.
Sam had felt incredible supernatural power in his hands before, in those dark days before he had released and then when possessed by Lucifer; that was nothing compared to what he could feel flowing through Amelia's hands. There was no heat, or pain; just pure, raw power. It was like she was tapping into the earth's magnetic core; which he guessed might actually be what she was doing.
'Focus here, Sam.' Came her voice in his head. Even telepathically he could hear the snark in the comment. 'Call for Dean. I sense we're close, find him.'
He shut his eyes and concentrated as hard as could on his brother. 'DEEEEAAAAN! Dean, can you hear me? Dean, I'm going to get you out. Deeeeeeeaaaaaan. DEAN WINCHESTER, if you don't answer me….., I'll put the Impala up on blocks and turn it into a flower bed!'
'Sam, fuck, you do that and I'll haunt you the rest of your friggin' life!' Dean's distinctive voice faintly reached Sam's mind.
'Oh my God, Dean? You know I'd never do that, but I had to get your attention somehow.' Sam replied; letting out the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
'How are you doing this? If you've made another deal….' Dean's voice came back clearer but tinged with anger.
"NO! We promised. I'll tell you after we get you back. I don't have much time.' Sam paused; then remembered the whole point of this effort. 'Is Cas with you?'
'CAS!' Dean shouted across the barrier at his brother. 'You're breaking into Purgatory to ask me about CAS! Wait, did you say we?'
'Dean, focus!' This was taking way too long, somebody had to have seen the column by now. 'I'm going to get you out; and Cas too. But you have to be touching him, to bring him out with you.'
'How are you going to get us out of here?' Dean paused; then asked. 'Touching? What does that mean?'
'DEAN! Just make sure Cas is with you in four days, in the early morning; two hours before sunrise on the 12th.' Sam screamed as he felt Amelia's hands start to shake.
'The twelfth! Here, let me check with my social secretary. Jesus Sam, you think I've got a calendar down here?' Dean griped at his brother.
'Just before sunrise, in four days, Dean. Make sure Cas is next to you.' Sam paused, frantically thinking what else he should say. 'I'm coming to get you, jer…' Was all he got out before the shaft of water blew apart, sending both he and Amelia sprawling across the grass.