End of the Verse
Zombie AU
Summary: ZOMBIES! Dean, Cas, Sam and Charlie three years in and traveling the backroads. Not only do they have zombies to deal with but humans and all the rest.
Authors Note: Sorry now for the length of the Authors note at the end of this story (two parter) I want to thank everyone and such but I will save it to the end so if you don't want to read it you don't have to. Back to the important…..AU of Season six, because it only had to be AU :P and I think I like zombie season six more than evil! Castiel season six…..OMFG of course it had to be last! Freaking fracking zombies! My all time favorite thing, I do hope you enjoy this is going to be a two partner! Because August has 31 days! And I love zombies! Hope you enjoy and had as much fun as I did. Beta's welcome to apply, have stories need beta :-P
AED- Automated External Defibrillator -great tool that every business and public area should have. This allows a shock to be delivered to a body from someone that has no training. You only need to be able to follow the pictorial instructions of application then the machine takes over. Modern shock paddles for the average jo!
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NOW
Civilisation was gone, the human race remained but those that could and did enforce the laws had been long since wiped from the planet. Now small pockets of refugee camps and a couple small towns spread out over the miles of open land. Like little speckles of paint on fresh paper the zombies were distanced over the map and only a few large groups remained.
At this time the humans were more of a threat than anything else, raiders on the roads, the worst of the worst in towns or really anywhere. You didn't make it this far because you were made of sugar and spice, male or female.
There was a second group that was stronger, the remaining hunters, they pushed the zombies back further, knowing they could start fresh again if they just fixed the world. They had most of the work done and they had given a lot of time, energy, and people to the cause. It was a bright summer day, like in the before that found Dean Winchester helping to raise a barn in a newly founded city-if it could be called that.- He also found himself telling his story from the beginning, well the start of the ragers as they would be called this time around. He couldn't have a future like he had been shown before, he was thankful for every small change.
THEN
Dean had been at Lisa's home for a whole six weeks before the world changed, it was 2012 and Croatoan was released into the public. It would have been controllable if it happened to one country, but it was the entire world, it was a planned release and Dean found himself packing his new family into the Impala. Taking a few weapons out of the trunk of the car he moved towards the drivers seat when he found an Angel in his way.
"Hey Cass," he greeted and moved around him, "getting out of dodge, wanna tag along?"
"I believe I will, the dead are rising alongside the cursed, Heaven has been in lock down since the dead fall back to Earth." The Angel informed his mortal friend and Dean nodded and tried to think what the impacts would be to them.
"Cass, can we talk on the way." Dean rubbed his forehead, he could feel his headache rising. "The backseat, protect Ben against everything." He told the Angel as he went for the front seat where Lisa was, it wasn't that he cared who took the front, if it wasn't Sammy he didn't really care but now he had to think these things over, he needed to think about who needed the most protection. He sighed as the car started after everyone had claimed their seats.
"So, anywhere or anything on anyone's mind?" he asked looking to Castiel who shrugged in such a human matter it hurt Dean's soul and he hoped that Castiel would stay Angelic this time, if not just sober and happy would be a good replacement.
"Do I need to do my homework?" Ben pipped up from the backseat and Dean looked in the rearview mirror as Castiel turned to take the young man in.
"Of course you do, think I want a son that doesn't know how to read or write?" Lisa demanded and a soft chuckle filled the car, it was nice to have a regular conversation in the heat of the moment. Dean had kept them out of the public view as they were leaving but they had reached the local town and it was a disaster zone.
"Windows up, Lisa and Ben down." Dean snapped as a shotgun exploded a a block or so away. " Keep your mouths shut," he told them his body switching into solider mode without a thought. Both of the civilians looked at Dean almost shocked then remembered who they were talking to and did as he told them. If he could save the Earth and everyone on it they trusted him to take care of them. Castiel kept an eye on the right side as Dean did the same on the left. It was a comfort to have another hunter or at least fighter with him. They were mid town when they saw their first infected. Blood running out of cuts and not really attacking but flinging blood out at the approaching humans. Screams and people dropping as they were infected, this one seemed to be new improved from the one he and Sammy had encountered years before.
"The demons had been experimenting with the virus," Cass confirmed from the backseat and Dean winced as he put his foot door a little more getting out of the infected danger zone, he was only a block on when Lisa cried for him to stop the car.
"Dean! Please its Meghan and her daughter Rebecca." Dean slowed but didn't stop as he looked to Castiel the Angel looked out and nodded.
"They are both safe and clear of any infection. " The Angel informed him and Dean tried to keep back his personal opinions, it became required when a blushing Ben peeked up and looked out.
"Becca?"
"Alright, calm yourselves I'll pick up your girlfriends but we can't make a habit of this." He slowed and pulled off the road ahead of them, Lisa leaned over and kissed his cheek before opening the door and leaning out. "Meghan! Hurry!" the car rumbling as the two dart forward Ben opening the door and then making room for them. It was tight but thankfully two of them made one adult so they all fit.
"We are going to need a second car," Dean stated after they finally made it out of the town and had been on the back roads for about two hours. Lisa and Meghan had spoken about what had happened and Dean knew it was only going to get worse.
"Why? I like this car!" Ben complained and Dean couldn't help but smile, some things would never change and he was so thankful for that he couldn't even speak for a moment.
"Too many people and supplies we are already had half a tank of gas." He told them not wiling to hide anything, not when the time he had seen from 2014 was now back in the realm of possibilities. He promised himself he would never be what he had seen, he would save Castiel from the life of druggy and Lisa and Ben would be featured. A new world.
"Where are we going to get one?" Lisa asked, they had taken the back roads to avoid people, infected and everything else.
"We will hit the next town, but before we do we all need to talk and get our roles sorted." The next twenty miles were talking about each persons job when they reached the town. How the buddy system worked and why you needed to follow all the rules. They went over it a few times, Dean making sure each had a good understanding of what they were doing.
Two hours later they were making their way into a small farming town, it was late afternoon but the entire town seemed to be empty, it was offsetting to say the least. Cass and Dean set out from the Impala, they had armed all four to the teeth, split some of the weapons and supplies into a large van and filled it also. Dean making sure it would be fit for travel and it was the best choice in the current junk yard of vehicles. The mothers given instructions and keys, if they didn't come back in two hours they started the cars and headed north to Bobby's. Anything but the two of them approached they were to shoot and then take off to Bobby's.
It wasn't perfect but it would have to do for now, they didn't know what was in this town and they needed a few more supplies and might as well take it from an empty town. They made it into the downtown area in ten minutes, the hospital had lights but it looked like a riot had taken place. Or an explosion of blood, it covered the walls and floors and when you walked you feel squished with whatever parts coated the ground. Dean tried not to think about it, they found a few intact medical kits, an AED, a few things from the surgery wound and bandages, lots of bandages. It was the end of the world for fucks sake.
Dean couldn't be sure what drew his attention but something made him turn down a random hallway, noise from behind door 4857 made him push it open, he just ducked out of the way of a metal IV rack. "Hey! Careful!" He exclaimed jumping back and letting the door shut between them.
"Are you human?"
"Of course I am, fuck you almost cracked my head open."
"Sorry!" Dean pushed the door open again and a red-head was looking at him.
"Don't worry about it, I get it. Need some help?" He asked looking around the room an older woman was on the bed behind the red-head and in the far side was another mother and son. Dean wondered if there was a pattern here that he should see and stop picking up families'.
"The others left finally, I think we will-"
"They will be back, I am going somewhere safe, you can all come with." He said knowing that the town would either be picked clean in a week or the infected would come back. Either way these three, because the other woman had a tube in her throat; were not going to make it if they stayed.
The second duo debated it quietly in their corner as Castiel knocked and entered into the room. The redhead and older awake woman looked over to him before turning their attentions back to the person from before. "I get attacked and he gets shrug." Dean complained and the redhead actually chuckled slightly and then frowned looking back to the woman on the bed.
"She's all I have left," she informed him looking back and Dean felt himself weaken slightly in hardness, he could understand that he looked over to Castiel and thought of the small family he had put together by suggestion of Sammy.
"She doesn't have to be. Do you think she would want you to die here or live and make your life worth something?" He asked and he knew he had everyone's attention and he held back the blushes that threaten to overtake his face. "I know a little something about what's happening and Cass here, he's –well he's special and not in a creepy way. We can protect you and we will." There was a moment of silence while the redhead watched Dean and then finally seemed to see whatever she needed and offered her hand.
"Charlie."
"Dean, and that's Castiel." He said pointing over his shoulder and smiling as he turned to the others in the room.
"Kevin and Linda Tran." The mother stated offering her hand, Dean took it and shook it also. Smiling and knowing that this wasn't going to end well if he kept picking up everyone from now until Bobby's. Then again he couldn't end up like his self from before, he refused to be cold hearted and willing to kill a man that was sharing a beer with him. Castiel moved forward and placed a hand on his arm, directly where his handprint had been before and Dean smiled softly and nodded.
"Okay, let's gather some stuff and head out. I would to be on the back roads by dark." He informed them and no one disagreed. With three more hands they were able to stop and pick up a great number of supplies. Food, medical, water, loads of water, extras for the cars, ammo and ammo casings so they could melt down other things to make more bullets. A few more blades and a couple sharpeners. Random supplies that they thought they would need and headed back to the cars.
Dean and Castiel went first and let the four people in the cars know what was about to happen, when the other three appeared and they stored everything before rearranging into new cars. Dean, Cas, Charlie, Ben and Lisa were in the Impala while , Kevin, Meghan and Rebecca were in the second. A walkie talkie, Charlies idea linked the two vehicles together and allowed for communication as they traveled. And they did travel, while they had been in the town Lisa and Meghan had set forth with the goal of transferring as much gas as possible into the cars. They were slightly above the safe level but it was drained to safe quickly and made it possible to make it to Bobby's without having to interact with other humans, along the way they had made slight detours to check on Rufus who was missing in action. At least his house looked like he left not that he was murdered, they had taken the time to rest for the night in beds before pushing on.
The next stop had been chucks, toilet paper was ever where and Dean growled and grabbed a few bottles of liquor before they left, slamming the door closed to the empty house. It was almost the same at Bobby's, there had been a little bit of a fight but no blood and no Bobby. Rubbing his forehead Dean motioned for everyone to come in for the evening. On the way they had managed to collect not only another two vechiles but a family of three, a man a woman and their child. Dean didn't trust them but they needed help and he could offer, along with them there were two small children they found crying on the side of the road no adults in sight and Dean couldn't leave them there.
They had found a hunters daughter named Kristy, her father had been hunting when it all went down and Dean remembered him once she named him. Kristy had been with five of her high school friends. Dean was impressed that the young woman had kept them all alive and for the most part healthy. They didn't bring much but a beat up bus to the group but the bus ran on diesel which was easier to fuel than the cars and allowed for more space. They quickly had ditched all but the bus and the impala, it was working for them, Dean and Castiel were always in the car, the backseat changed out and Dean was actually kinda liking this.
While they had some decent fighters it wasn't easy going, when they loss their first person the night they arrive at Bobby's Dean feels like he is going to fall apart under the strain. They had cleared the entire house and told everyone to head in but be careful.
"He was a hunter, you all know what that means so only go where the doors are marked, you know the drill." He told them having found bright neon tape that was used to show cleared sections of the house. Lisa patted his back as she pulled Ben into the house the others following. All but Castiel, Charlie, Kristy and the Trans. Dean moved over to the front of the impala and took a seat, Castiel and Charlie flanking him on either side and he smirked. It was good to have friends, he just wished he wasn't so tired all the time so he could enjoy it.
"We need to figure something out, we can't be traveling with this many people." Dean said after rubbing his aching shoulder and looked around. "Suggestions are welcome." Dean told them looking around knowing they didn't have a lot of opinions hence why they were traveling with almost twenty people.
"We can't leave them in the "refugee camps" they would be dead in a week, they can't be left alone the raiders would gut them. If no humans manage to kill them then the zombies will find them in a months time. We need another opinion."
"Perhaps we should set up camp of our –"
"No." Dean stated shaking his head and shutting Castiel down before he could start and the Angel looked hurt. "I'm sorry Cass but I've seen the future that isn't a good idea. We need to stay mobile, its best for everyone." He told him pushing up from the car and pacing slightly, not willing to pause until Ms,Tran's hand finds his arm and he comes to a stop and looks at her.
"How about we get some sleep tonight and worry about it tomorrow."
"I guess-" Dean is about to agree when the scream fills the air. "Of fuck-" Dean swallows as his stomach tries to push the little food he has in it up. "LISA!" He screamed before taking off towards the scream, he can hear the others on his heels and Cas snaps out. "BEN! LISA!" he's screaming and not thinking about what could be around the corner, his jaw drops. At least forty of the infected where stumbling out of the cars. The entire back of the auto shop was littered with them; he didn't want to know why or how they got in. He was pulling his gun and noticed that Castiel had Ben in his arms and was stepping back from the infected. Pushing Ben behind him he reached a hand to the forehead and pushed. The infected falling dead and Castiel pulled Ben into one arm and blinked back out.
Dean looked around for the source of the scream and his heart stopped, he felt his stomach rebel again and almost let it overtake him. Forcing it down he took his gun out and started to unload the clip. Headshots for all as he took care of those that were closest to him, he finished a clip and let it drop slamming a second one home as he cleared the area around him and what was left of Lisa. He moaned as he finished off the last of the infected that approached. He dropped to his knees beside the drained and tore apart Lisa.
"I'm sorry, I should have protected you and Ben better. Fuck I'm sorry, I wanted you to be around Lisa. You made everything-"he stopped and blankly looked at the spot in front of him, most of her face was still intact, it was clear that something was different this time around as they had started to eat her. He felt sick again and turned his head but forced himself to look back. Half of her lower face was gone, the entire left side had bite marks in it, like they were testing the water. Her neck was a mess of tendons, muscles and blood., it had been torn open and had cut the screams off before they had been able to arrive. She was dead before he even knew what as happening.
"FUCK!" He screamed and he wanted to kill something else, he wanted to kill anything. He stood and didn't want to think about how his knees almost stuck to the ground. Pushing up and went into Bobby's ingoring everyone and their questions he grabbed a bag of salt, a bottle of whiskey and a lighter.
"Stay inside." He growled walking back outside and over to the body, Castiel was back but was gone. The three younger hunters remained and Dean walked past them. "Where's Ben?" he growled out as he covered the body in salt then half of the bottle of whiskey and sat back on his heels looking to Castiel.
"With for the moment, he blames himself. He was playing even if it wasn't cleared."
"Wouldn't have mattered, they would have gotten into the house. Actually probably better this way." Dean felt sick and he couldn't stop his body from heaving this time and his stomach was empty at least he had managed to turn his head so Lisa wasn't shamed by him. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to Castiel.
"Let me," his Angel said and took the lighter from him. "She is in heaven if it makes it easier on you."
"Not really."
"I am sorry."
"I know, not your fault." With that the lighter was activated and tossed onto the remains. Dean stayed and watched knowing that Ben was watching from above them in the window. It was a long time after the body was gone before he collected himself and went into the house. Everyone was asleep thankfully and he went upstairs to Bobby's room. Taking a long cold shower as the hot water was gone hours before he retreated to the room for a moment before heading down the hall to where Ben was staying with Meghan and Rebecca. Knocking he waited for a moment and Meghan answered.
"Ben, Dean's here." Before he knew it he had a wasit full of young boy and Dean dropped to his knees for the second time that day and pulled the boy into his arms, hugging him tightly and taking his first deep breath since the scream.
"I'm so fucking glad you are safe." He told him running a hand over his head. "You mom-I'm sorry about your mom I should have."
"It's my fault-Iwentoutbackanditwasn'tcleared-"
"Ben don't, if you hadn't gone out they would have come in. Things happen- I bet your mom saved you right?"
"Yeah, she pulled me out of the way and got bit-" Dean tightened the hug and held the boy as he started to cry.
"Lets go talk Ben," Dean said as he picked him up with both arms and carried him back to the man room letting the others sleep as they spent the evening talk.
It was about a week later that they were still not sure what they wanted to do but they were forced into movement when Crowley appeared on the front yard. Dean and Castiel approach alone, everyone else is downstairs, the kids put in the safe.
"Did you like the present I left for you?"
"Those auto shop rejects were yours?" Dean demanded and he felt his anger rising, Castiel reached out and took his shoulder knowing that they needed to not let the man bother them.
"Of course, need to keep you on your toes and the talents. I was impressed Dean killing all those Coat-"
"Shut your fucking mouth, what are you doing here."
"Got a deal for you."
"Don't want it," Dean told him and wished he had brought the shotgun with salt out for this chat.
"You haven't even heard it."
"Its from you , I don't want it."
"So cheeky when you think you have the upper hand. I'll see you in two days Dean, see if you want to talk then." A blink and the demon was gone and Dean took a deep breath before looking at the Angel.
"Time to move."
"I agree."
Looking back down they were screwed no matter what, Crowley was after them and could you really outrun a demon that could teleport the baddies to you? They pack up, work as teams to load up in town only having to deal with a few infected and they had been doing this for a few months and had a system that worked. What they didn't have a system for was an all-out attack. Hell it hadn't happened and Dean was sure that the new version had taken out the pack opinion which was good, he was so fucking wrong.
They attacked when they were on the road, Dean, Cass, Kristy, Ben and Charlie were in the Impala in front. They had the radio open and had music playing for the bus which didn't have a working deck. was driving and the others were kicking back and relaxing. Everyone felt decent having had some rest and back on the road, it was the perfect time for an attack no one was really focused.
It was a wave and wave of raggers,- they could no longer be called infected- that crashed into the bus and toppled it, blood pulsed from their skin and it seemed like the blood was being forced out from under the skin. Dean slammed on the brakes and the Impala spun a hundred and eighty degrees to face the now tipped over bus. They watched as took fire on the front window and screamed for Kevin to make a run for it, before she spun the gun around to face the oncoming rush of raggers and infected. She took down nine before one slashed her throat before latching on. Thankfully Kevin was so focused on making it to the Impala he didn't see the destruction and mayhem happening behind them.
Charlie moved into the middle puling Ben into her lap and turning his head away from the carnage that was the bus. The creatures, no longer even remotely human were so busy with their meal they didn't see there was desert which wasn't really a problem for those in the Impala. Kevin slammed into the backseat and Dean spun the car around and took off not willing to let them look at it for another moment.
They took off leaving the bodies and bus behind, fourteen dead in less than five minutes. "FUCK!" Dean screamed and slammed the wheel of the impala before turning the music up and going silent.
They go south for the cold months, they tried to avoid finding other people but there wasn't any luck, they seemed to attractive people that need help and soon they have a caravan of almost forty people. They travel from city to city and Dean is waiting for Crowley to show up again or the other shoe to drop. Castiel and he work closely, Kevin and Charlie have taken to working together and Ben works well with all of them but best with Kristy so it works out for them all. They don't talk about the ones they have lost or how they lost them and just push on.
It's a new worked and one that they have to deal with, during the winter most of the human population is forced into the bottom half of the states and while it helps take care of the infected and raggers as they don't last long with the increased numbers of humans working together, that isn't a problem the problem was after the fact. Once there wasn't anything inhuman to kill mortals started to turn on one another. Fighting for supplies and petty bullshit, it was just like before but now people had less of a problem with killing you for what they wanted.
Dean didn't lose anyone to the infected that winter, the humans did too damn well good of a job for them to be a threat. They lost four to a jerry-rigged gas pump, a few days after that raiders attacked and killed ten to ensure they could get away with the goods they stole, Dean and Castiel went back that night and took it back making sure that all of the raiders were dead in payment for what they did. While Dean didn't want to be a cold blooded murder he didn't have a problem handing out justice. They had to head to a camp towards the middle of November as the kids were all getting sick and they needed medicine it was a mistake.
They were in two for three days and in those three days they lost sixteen people, while Dean and Castiel had taken the kids to the doctor the caravan had been attacked. They had four of the woman taken, four were killed outright while four others were tortured to death for fun and four more taken for the games that happened outside the city walls. When they came back Dean lost his shit and after finding the woman raped and cut up on the front of the town he went on a man hunt. Castiel had watched over the group as Dean fell back into old hunting ways and quickly found the group that was responsible. While he might not have been able to keep them safe he would take care of them after the fact. He took great pleasure in killing them after finding out the other four were already dead in a bullshit fight against a ragger. Death really had been too good for the men but it was done now and Dean found himself covered in blood.
Stumbling back to the hotel they had for the evening Castiel greeted him. "Dean?" he just nodded and Castiel helped him up to the bathroom that the second level shared, stripping him of the sticky blood covered clothes he helped him turn on the lights and start the water.
"Why do you follow me?" he demanded a moment later and Castiel looked up from where he was folding clothes and turned back to his mortal friend.
"Why do you ask Dean?" He looked at his friend and was almost concerned, the normal dirty blond hair was almost ginger in colour thanks to the blood and his freckles were lost in the splatter of blood cover his face and any exposed body part.
"I shouldn't be in charge."
"It has to be you."
"Shouldn't be." Dean turned towards the shower but doesn't step forward and Castiel strips himself of most of his clothes leaving his boxers on he moves behind Dean and moves him into the shower, the human lets him be moved.
"You are kind, giving and caring. You protect those around you and when needed you seek out payment for actions. You are the best choice to help those that need help in this time. God believes in you Dean Winchester, I believe you in, why can't you?" the hunter shrugs as they step under the water and Castiel starts to work the blood out of his hair, adding shampoo a few moments later he is watching as the blood starts to drain and Dean starts to relax.
"You are a good man Dean Winchester, I know that the actions you do weights heavy but you do not act out of hate rather love. Do not worry Dean Winchester, I would not be here if what you did was the devil's work. "
"Thanks Cass," Dean relaxed back onto Castiel letting the Angel take care of him, he needed a break. When they were leaving town the next day there were people arriving from the north and were talking about the camp they had been kicked out of. It was new and run by someone by the name of Campbell, Dean noted the location in Lansing, Michigan but doubted they would be going back to a camp anytime soon if they could avoid them. Too bad he was horribly wrong about that and they would be in the camp by mid 2013.
To Be Finished Tomorrow!
Authors Note the Second: Cookies and prompt fill for those that can name six people that will be in Lansing, Michigan! More guts, gore and swearing tomorrow, this isn't an overly happy end to the tropes! Lol! Thanks for reading!