Author's Note: Last chapter! AND GUYS THE MEMORY IS RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST CHAPTER! I ALSO HAVE NO CLUE IF DEAN TOLD SAM ABOUT HIS MEETING WITH CAIN, SO AU IT IS! I absolutely loved writing this, and you made it worth it! I will be posting some more fics for season 9, and one for season 7, so if those seem interesting -the brothers get hurt, I swear- follow me and you'll get a notice. I'm willing to give a PM notice, but I may forget. And um...wow, I guess just thanks guys for supporting me. This is my first SPN multi-chapter fic, but there'll be more. And I did write some oneshots if you wanna give those a looksie! Thanks so much, and don't forget Sarahhh93's Mark of Cain.
After three days of healing, Sam was itching to go to Cain. I don't care if I die, I just want that Mark off of Dean. I have to achieve that, if nothing else. Sam looked around where he leaned against the Impala's door, and it may have been his imagination, but he saw the ghost of Abel flicker into being and flicker out of the visible spectrum. The rest of their conversation flooded back to him.
"I'll die? Will Dean get the Mark off at least?" Those questions flooded out of Sam's mouth, after being told he would die if they failed to convince Cain.
"Sam, I just know you'll die." Abel began flickering. "Sam, I must go, but remind Cain of his promise-"
"Sam, you ready for this? Feel strong enough? I don't mind waiting another day if it means you're stronger." Sam looked at Dean. Dean, who would be devastated if I died. Dean, who I haven't told about my talk with Abel. Dean...who I have to save from the Mark and the Blade, no matter what.
"Dean, I'm fine, let's go." Sam looked at the Blade wrapped in cloth in his hand, and felt heat roll off it, as if in warning. Both brothers ducked inside, and the Impala sped off.
...
"Cain lives in a farmhouse? Really? Wow." Sam took in everything. He had a draft of what he wanted to say to Cain, but...things could get screwed up, and I could be unable to speak...stop.
"Don't insult the bees." Dean informed him as they approached the door. Dean knocked on the wooden door. "Hey! Cain! It's Dean Winchester, the guy you gave the Mark to!" The door immediately opened, and a middle aged man opened it. Cain.
"Dean," Cain greeted. He turned his eyes to Sam. "You brought your brother. Well, I'm a little confused as to why you'd bring him to my execution. Care to explain?" Cain stepped aside, and both brothers entered. Sam swore he saw surprise in those eyes, as well as readiness. Surprised I'm not dead? Maybe hoping that Dean'll ask to why he tried to kill me? Huh, buddy, you're in for a nice surprise.
"We have a few questions about the Mark and the Blade." Dean stated, giving Sam the "your turn" look. Cain pivoted his head expectantly to Sam.
"So, Sam, what do you want to know?" There was a bit of hostility in Cain's eyes, but Sam felt not a bit intimidated. I know what you did and why. I refuse to be intimidated by you. I'll know if you're lying.
"Can the Mark be transferred from a dead body?" How did you get it back after all those big brothers died? I am very sure some must've committed suicide after your curse made them kill their brothers. Cain feigned surprise, or maybe it was genuine. Sam didn't trust Cain at all.
"Odd question. I have never tried. Maybe Dean can figure it out. Now, it's time he repaid me with what we agreed to-"
"No. You're lying. I know you cursed this" -Sam raised the Blade- "and whoever holds it with fratricide. You took it off those big brothers, after they died. After they killed their younger brothers. I am not giving this Blade to Dean until you tell me the truth." Sam saw Cain's deer-caught-in-headlights look. Sam glared at him, the facial expression reciprocated by Cain.
"How could you know? You'd have to have been alive to actually see that, and I never did that." Sam knew Cain was hiding from his guilt, and just wanted to die. Sam wanted that too, but he had to take the Mark back first. Abel, please, be here and give me strength. Protect my brother if I can't.
"I wasn't alive, but Abel was. He saw it all and told me-" Sam was slammed against a wall by Cain's telekinesis. "Sam, I never knew you were such a liar." Cain summoned the Blade to his hand again by telekinesis, and sent it to Dean in the same manner. "Kill me, Dean," Dean, confused as what to do, turned to Sam for orders. Ever the soldier.
"Dean don't! Cain, your brother said that if you die, and the Mark is on you, the power of the Mark fades-" Cain sent him flying through the walls of the farmhouse. But he also released Sam from his telekinesis.
"Dean! I will keep throwing your brother around until he dies unless you stab me now! Feel the bloodlust? I'm a demon, and I'm going to kill the only family you have left. Wanna let a demon destroy your family? We took your mother, your father, now your brother-" Cain taunted, and Sam saw Dean's eyes become flecked with red, the Mark glowing. No! Dean charged, and Sam yelled, "Dean! Stop! Please! For me!"
Dean faltered, and dropped the Blade, free arm covering the Mark, which was glowing like lava. Sam ran forward, and jumped through the hole in the farmhouse wall. He went to his brothers' side, and he felt the heat from the Mark. Oh, god... "Dean, I know it hurts, but please, please, please fight it!" Dean's pupils were softly glowing red, but the red began to recede. Yes, that's it, come on...Then Sam was hauled away and thrown into yet another wall, thankfully, it didn't break. Cain sent Dean flying into another wall, and then headed toward Sam.
"Dean, get up and stab me. Feel the Mark give you power, let it take control." Cain ordered, and Sam realized they couldn't defeat Cain if Sam focused on Dean. He had to focus on Cain.
"Is that how you killed Abel? How you allowed those other brothers to take it, knowing they'd kill what they loved most? You and I know that wasn't free will. Your situations were completely different, and they were cursed to do so." Cain picked Sam up by his shirt as Dean got to his feet and reclaimed the Blade.
Cain's eyes were filled with primitive rage, which gave way to hate. "You have no idea what I did. What I had to do. How dare you lie about my brother speaking to you-" Dean shoved Cain away from Sam, and helped Sam to his feet.
"C'mon, little brother, I'll-" Dean was flung away again, and Cain marched straight for Sam. He wrapped an arm around Sam's neck, and put a knife to it. "Dean, if you don't come kill me now, I will kill Sam. Want him to live, or want to wait until after I kill him?" Sam saw Dean's pupils glow as bright as the Mark and played his Ace.
"Abel's last words were 'Brother, why?' He said them to you as you stabbed him twice in your fields. Ironically, the fields you brought life to, was where you killed him. You know Abel never told anyone what he said before he died, and they're not in the Bible. You know I talked to him." With that, Abel flickered into view, his tunic now bloody. Cain's arm didn't leave Sam's throat, but Sam knew he was surprised. Dean faltered, his mind at war with itself.
"Cain," Abel spoke softly as the room temperature lowered. "it's been quite some time. I have missed you." Abel's eyes looked eerily similar to the way they had when he was murdered: full of sadness and pain. Sam heard Cain swallow nervously.
"Abel, you know what I did was to protect you-" Abel raised a hand, and interrupted his older brother.
"I know, Cain. You always protected me. But this...Cain, you've caused countless brothers to kill their younger brothers. How does that protect me? It pained me, Cain. I thought that no matter what, you would always protect people and help them, as you did me. Colette asked you not to fight, and look at this. You knew brothers were dying, even after that promise. Cain, I am begging you to take the Mark and the Blade back. I caused your suffering, and I take responsibility for this. I want your suffering to end, and to alleviate theirs. Take back the Mark, Cain, and let Sam go. This is what I want, or the Cain I knew would want." Abel smiled, albeit strained. Sam could feel the tears from Cain's face. Cain released Sam, and Sam took a few steps backwards, away from Cain.
Cain turned to Dean. "Dean, I need my Mark and my Blade back." He stated softly, and his eyes rested on Abel's face, who gave a brighter, more genuine smile, and a reassuring look. Dean handed him the Blade, and grasped Cain's hand. In the same manner it had departed Cains' body, it grimaced in pain as the Mark returned, but once it settled, his face became peaceful. He turned to Sam and Dean. "Thank you. Dean, you were willing to kill me, and you are a good man, and worth more than you think. Sam...you reunited me and Abel, brief it may be. Thank you." Cain focused on Abel. "Abel, now that I am going to die, I feel like there's so much more I cam do while I live. Is that how you felt when I killed you?"
Abel nodded. "But I understand. You are also my brother. I love just as much as you love me. At times we quarreled, and you have done things I am not proud of, never once did I hate you." Cain, relieved at his absolution, stabbed himself in the heart. Cain's eyes remained on Abel even as he exploded into red light. When the light had died down, Sam looked at Dean's face. It was shocked.
"I feel...myself." Dean stated. Sam smiled. Dean was free of the Mark. Yes! We did it! Sam looked at Abel, whose gaze was saddened and joyful. Deep and soul-filled, just as Sam's had been described many times.
"Thank you, Sam, and Dean. I owe you so much for relieving Cain of his pain. Our line, it may not be pure, is strong and I am proud of it." Abel disappeared, and Sam had a feeling he wouldn't reappear again. The only thing that brought him down was Cain and me and Dean. Cain is dead, and I don't think Abel can interfere much more. I hope he's happy in Heaven, or Limbo until he get back into Heaven. Sam felt a loss, as if losing a close friend. Just like when Henry died. He turned to Dean, thinking of Heaven and Metatron. We have to open up the gates, for all the souls and angels. Looking on Dean's face, he found he understood and shared Abel's love for Cain. I would throw myself from Heaven to save him, even if I knew I couldn't return to Heaven. I know Dean would, too.
"Dean, ready to find Cas and go kill Metatron?"
"I'm always ready for a little ass-whooping, especially since I'm myself. Don't forget it, little brother."
"All is not lost; the unconquerable will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield, -Paradise Lost, John Milton
Author's Note: I loved loved loved writing this! So, while you wait for my next story posting if you intend on checking it out, take a look at some of the other SPN stories I wrote! THANKS SO MUCH PEOPLE!