Demon Seals

Chapter Three: Search

The past few days have been so hectic! I'm so glad to be able to finally sit down and share the next chapter of this story with you. We know from season 4 that Dean's first order of business after going to Bobby's was tracking down Sam. And successfully, at that. Will it go the same this time?

It had taken being cut with a silver knife, drinking holy water, and a test of his memory before Bobby believed that it was really Dean standing before him. Jo and Ellen were currently out hunting a Djinn and probably wouldn't be back until the end of the week. Dean insisted upon not telling them he was alive because he didn't want them to abandon a Hunt just for him.

"You know I could find someone else to take over," Bobby said, but Dean held firm.

"Got any food?" he asked instead. Bobby rolled his eyes but went to the kitchen to throw together something to eat. "Hey, I've been dead for almost a year, I'm fucking starvin', Bobby!"

"Okay, okay, I hear ya," Bobby said with good-natured grousing in his voice. Dean grinned and settled down at the kitchen table.

"Have you been able to track Sam down at all?" he asked Bobby as he took a plate of sandwiches the older man offered him, biting into one with relish.

"I can't," Bobby said, sitting down and snagging a sandwich for himself, "he used his Jedi powers and told me, Ellen an' Jo not to look for him. Ever."

Dean's heart clenched at Bobby's words.

"D'you really think he's with Ruby?" Bobby asked hesitantly.

"You're gonna tell me that angels lie?" Dean said with raised eyebrows.

"No one's seen one for millennia," Bobby shot back. "What's to say they aren't as manipulative as demons?"

Dean shrugged and chugged down some water. "I think it's more than possible that's he's with her," he said after a few moments. "Sam really isn't the type to trust anymore without fucking huge reasons, but we both know that Ruby did save our lives a few times before —" He broke off. Ruby saved our lives a few times before I died and went to Hell. "Plus, I asked her to stick by him and try to keep him from doing exactly what he did to you three."

"Sam don't wanna be found," Bobby finally said after some time had passed and the sandwiches were almost gone. "He said he was gonna find a way to bring you back after we… after we buried the coffin, and then he made us leave." Dean grimaced and Bobby sighed. "From the look in his eyes before he left, I think he didn't have much hope of actually finding a way to bring you back. He just didn't seem to know what else to do."

Dean nodded his understanding. "You been drinking much?" he asked quietly.

Bobby shrugged. "Everyone already calls me the town drunk, but I'm not the type to get drunk every night until I pass out, especially with Ellen around." He smiled sadly at Dean. "She's been the strong one, holding me up when I just wanted to fall, keeping Jo in line when she just wanted to rage about Sam sending us away like he did, just… making us take life one day at a time until it got a little easier."

Dean shoved away from the kitchen table and started pacing, running his scraped-up hands through his hair as he mulled over everything Bobby had told him. "I'm gonna find him," he said with steely determination.

"I believe you," Bobby said, "but I can't help."

Dean considered for a moment. "Maybe that angel has the juice to negate Sam's commands," he said thoughtfully.

"How're you gonna get in touch with an angel?" Bobby asked.

Dean took a deep breath. "I'm gonna make like Sam," he answered, "and try praying for once in my life. But right now," he added, "I'm gonna find my brother."

By the time Bobby had finished cleaning the kitchen, Dean had figured out which phone company Sam was using, got the GPS signal turned on, and used the correct website to track down Sam's location. He was currently in Logan, Utah, about a twelve-hour drive. "Hopefully he stays there," he said to Bobby as he stood up.

"How'd you know to do all that?" Bobby asked with a frown, holding out a clean t-shirt and jacket for Dean to change into.

People always seemed to wonder how Dean was able to find Sam anywhere. "Are you kidding me?" he asked with raised eyebrows as he snagged the clothing and quickly changed. "What don't I know about that kid?"

Bobby couldn't bring himself to go on the mission to find Sam, so Dean got down on his knees and said a prayer. "Uh, Castiel," he began, fidgeting awkwardly as Bobby tried to suppress a chuckle at the strangeness of the situation, "Bobby was uh, compelled by Sam to not go looking for him in any way, shape or form, and uh… well, I don't wanna go lookin' for my brother on my own, so if there's any way you could possibly help, like maybe cancel out Sam's orders or something, that would be really awesome. Um, amen?"

There was a long moment of silence. "Maybe I did it wrong," Dean offered sheepishly.

Then there was the sound of flapping wings.

"Dean." Both men startled and turned to see Castiel standing in the entryway to the front room. "I heard your prayer."

"Good," Dean said, hauling himself up to his feet. "Uh, can you help?"

"I can," the angel answered. "Bobby Singer," he said, turning to face the grizzled Hunter. "It is good to meet you."

"Uh, likewise," Bobby said cautiously, holding out a hand. Castiel started at it for a little too long before reaching out and clasping it with his own.

After a brief handshake, Castiel turned back to Dean. "Sam's powers have their basis in the demon's blood he was fed as a child," he said, "but the purpose of the blood was to unlock the natural potential that Sam already had."

"Whoa, wait a minute," Dean cut in. "You're saying that Sam was meant to be psychic, demon blood or no?"

"Not exactly," Castiel said. "Many humans have the potential, but without the correct trigger at the correct moment, most have their abilities remain dormant their entire lives. Sam had the potential, but that did not mean his abilities were going to show without question. Azazel's blood was a trigger, and a ritualistic one at that."

"Oh," Dean said. "So…"

"So, Sam's powers still have a strong basis in his humanity," Castiel said. "The grace of an angel is strong enough to override them because of his humanity."

Dean wasn't quite sure that he followed, but he didn't have a chance to question the angel further. Castiel turned to Bobby, placed two fingers to his forehead, and then vanished.

Dean blinked. "Man, the guy sure doesn't get how to do goodbye's," he observed before looking at Bobby. "So, how you feelin'?"

Bobby frowned thoughtfully for a minute. "It's like there was an itch at the back of my brain," he said, "one I couldn't ignore, had to obey. S'gone now."

"So you can come with me."

"Yep."

"Good," Dean said. "Let's hit the road."

It really sucked, not having the Impala to drive, but Bobby's old Camaro was up and running, so they hopped into it and set off, both men silently hoping they'd get there in time to find Sam. The drive was slightly awkward, and Dean knew full well why that was. Bobby clearly wanted to know if he remembered Hell, probably wanted him to talk about it, but Dean couldn't talk about it, wouldn't talk about it, so the older man never said a word. It still hung between them, though, even when Dean dozed in the passenger seat.

Twelve tedious hours later, they reached the city of Logan, and Dean immediately directed them to the right motel. Sure enough, the Impala was parked in the parking lot, black paint shining under the noon-day sun. But then the plan met a massive bump in the road.

Sam wasn't there. He and the girl with him had checked out that morning.

"Checked out?" Shit. Dean could feel the panic rising in his chest as he ran over to the Impala, completely ignoring Bobby's questions as he wrenched hard on the passenger-side door.

It opened.

Dean gaped at the front seat, taking in the sight of the car keys, Sam's cell phone and credit cars, all lying oh-so-innocently on the pale leather. He snatched up the keys and ran to the trunk, unlocking it and throwing it open.

The trunk's arsenal was severely depleted, the remaining items in such a state of disarray that Dean could only conclude that Sam and Ruby must have packed in a hurry before abandoning the car. But why would they do that?

"He's not here," he said aloud, suddenly realizing that Bobby was standing next to him. "He left." He finally managed to pull his eyes from the trunk and stared at his friend. "Why would he leave?"

"I don't know,," Bobby replied quietly. "But somehow, I doubt that the kid has any idea you're alive again."

"Yeah," Dean said softly, returning his gaze to the nearly-empty trunk. "I guess we've got a massive manhunt to get goin', then."

"Looks like," Bobby said. "Let's head back to my place, see what we can figure out."

Dean nodded silently. He closed the trunk of his beloved car and climbed into the front seat. He had to find Sam, had to save him. He had to.