Thanks for the reviews, as always. This one's a bit longer than the previous chapters, anyway, I hope you enjoy!
"Yeah, so, let's go show you. Where's the nearest crossroads? Preferably where you can bury a box in the middle of it. It's part of the hoodoo." Sam said.
"Yeah, I think I know of one," Nick nodded, "But if you're thinking you're gonna get away, you're mistaken. You're not leaving here without cuffs. Hank—" He nodded to him, and they both
stepped toward the brothers, grabbing the cuffs they carried at their belts.
"You're freaking kidding me," Dean exclaimed as Nick came toward him.
"Nope. It's a precaution. Because until we know you're not lying, you're our responsibility. And we can't have you going free if you're going to be killing Wessen left and right, now can we?" Nick explained.
"Relax, Dean," Sam said, cooperatively leaning forward from the couch to allow Hank access to his arms. "Maybe if we show them they'll believe us—" He paused, wincing as Hank pulled off the duck tape that was around his wrists. "I mean, we don't really want to get in any more trouble than we're in, do we?" Hank motioned for him to bring his arms in front of his body, which he complied with, allowing him to put the handcuffs on his wrists. "Who knows, maybe they can help us eventually with hunting. It sounds kind of like their jobs too."
"Fine." Dean fumed, "But really, will you be careful with my wrist, man? Your friend screwed it up pretty good."
"Not a problem," Nick replied to Dean's request. "I'll cuff your good hand to your belt."
Dean leaned forward, groaning wordlessly in pain as Nick removed the duck tape from his injured hand.
"OK, hard part's over," Nick assured him as he cuffed his good hand to his belt.
"I wouldn't count on that," Dean muttered, making a face.
"Oh really? So what are you going to do? You're hurt, you don't have any weapons, and there's a Fuchsbau and the two of us armed. Seriously, just cooperate, and it will all go smoothly." Nick urged him.
"I'm not planning anything just yet," Dean sniped, "But it never goes well for us."
"That's for sure," Sam scoffed, giving him a knowing look.
"Monsters always come up with some damn reason or other to try to kill us. The entire freaking universe is out to get us," Dean replied.
At his mention of the word 'monster,' Rosalee sighed, and shook her head. "Monsters? You'll never get it, will you?"
"Not likely," Sam replied, making an awkward attempt at being agreeable. "But like we've been saying, you're one of the first that hasn't tried to kill us, so this is still pretty new territory."
"Not for us," Rosalee replied sadly. "Most Grimm…well, they're like you. I'm just glad Nick isn't."
"Nope, not all of us," Nick replied, smiling. "We can cooperate. I just hope for everyone's sake, you guys are telling the truth. If you've been killing innocent Wessen, well, I don't know what we'll do with you." His voice grew darker as he finished,
"Damn cops," Dean muttered as Nick walked away.
"They're just doing their job. I mean, maybe they're onto something. Some of the monsters out there might be good allies, yknow?" Sam responded, his tone hopeful.
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't count on it," Dean muttered, his expression grim.
"Alright," Nick said, shaking his head. "So, Monroe, are you going to be OK? I guess we're gong to take them to the crossroads. But don't you need to get your side taken care of?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Monroe replied tiredly from where he'd been sitting, watching the goings on.
"We'll get you to the hospital," Rosalee assured him.
"OK, great. So, we'll call you I guess when we figure out what's up with them." Nick asserted, nodding.
"Let's get them up," Hank said, moving to undo Sam's legs from the coffee table. He peeled the duck tape from his ankles, yanking off his shoe in the process.
"I, uh, might need that if we're planning on going anywhere," Sam said awkwardly.
"Huh, not the first time that's happened," Dean scoffed.
"No, I know, the rabbit's foot. That was so crazy…"
"What?" Hank asked, making a face.
"Nothing," Sam replied quickly. Hank merely shrugged in response, nodding to him when he'd finished. "Get up slowly. And for the love of god, don't try anything. I will shoot you if I have to."
"Understood," Sam said, getting shoe back on and then rising to his feet slowly.
Nick went to work untaping Dean's feet now, while Hank watched the two carefully, hand resting nonchalantly on his holster. He didn't project danger or menace, but his posture clearly said he meant business.
Sam had no intention of testing him on that, either.
Dean groaned as he now stood likewise, stretching his shoulders. "So. Now you're gonna let us show you the wild world of the supernatural?" He quipped.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Nick replied as he made his way to the door. He nodded to Hank, who indicated for Sam and Dean to follow, single file, between the two.
The detective lead them to their car, which Dean produced the keys for from his pocket.
Under Nick and Hank's watchful gaze, he moved to the trunk, and was about to open it when Nick stopped him.
"I think I'll be the one getting whatever it is you need out."
"Fine," Dean groaned, handing over the keys.
Nick unlocked it, raising the lid cautiously.
"What the heck is this?" he asked, eyeing the strange symbols that lined the lid.
"Oh, those are just devil's traps," Dean replied with a tone of superiority.
"OK then. So, what exactly are we looking for?" Nick asked.
"Shoebox size box, should be in the far left…." Dean replied, rolling his eyes.
Nick scrambled around in the trunk for a moment, eyeing the various weapons. "You sure have a lot of firepower," he commented. "And…what is this?" He produced a steel flask with a cross on it.
"Holy water." Sam said.
"What? Why would two rampaging Grimm be carrying around holy water?" Hank pressed, shrugging inquisitively.
"We're not Grimm. We're hunters. And it's damn handy with lower level demons," Dean shot back. "But you're wasting time. Are you actually gonna try to find the box? Because I'd already be in and out and we'd be on our way to the nearest crossroads if you'd left it to us."
"Cool it," Hank admonished, giving Dean a sharp look.
"Hey, I just want you to hurry the hell up and let us to get on our way. What with my brother not wanting us to kick your asses and all." He muttered.
"Is this it?" Nick asked, holding up a box.
"Yeah, that's the one," Sam replied, nodding.
"Great," Nick replied, motioning for the two to follow him toward the police car.
The four looked up momentarily as Rosalee's car pulled out from the driveway, as she left to take Monroe to the hospital.
After waiting for the other two to pull away, Nick and Hank induced the brothers to get in the back of their car, where they were securely locked behind the grating that separated the cab from the back seat where offenders were transported.
Dean skulked as they pulled away from Monroe's house, griping under his breath low enough Sam could barely even hear.
"Really? I mean, why do you want to just sit here and play this out?"
"I think we ought to give them a chance, " Sam replied, his voice equally low. "Besides, you know, the phenomenon we were in the area searching? They might be a good resource. So, yknow, being diplomatic and not handing them their asses right off the bat might be kind of prudent."
"Fine. I still say it's stupid, Sammy," Dean huffed.
"Whatever," Sam returned, amusement rolling off his shoulders.
"Whatever," Dean mocked.
Sam chuckled at this.
"What's so funny?" Hank cut in.
"Oh, nothing," Sam replied quickly.
"So, where are you douches taking us?" Dean asked.
"We're going to a crossroads, like you said. Y'know, on the offchance you weren't making this up on the fly." Nick replied from the driver's seat.
"Yeah, which one, by the way," Hank asked.
"The one near the mill," Nick replied.
"Oh, yeah, that one," Hank mused. "Shouldn't be too far then..."
"And..how far's that, exactly?" Sam pressed.
"Twenty minutes." Hank replied.
"That's just freaking great," Dean remarked, rolling his eyes. "Another twenty that we're stuck in here with these morons..."
...