Chapter 2, "Le Moribond"
Adieu Curé je vais mourir
C'est dur de mourir au printemps tu sais
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'ame
Car vu que tu étais son confident
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
"Le Moribond," Jacques Brel*
Dean sat in the Impala, staring off into space. Sam was currently in the McDonalds attached to the gas station, waiting behind what seemed to be a dozen other people. It's no wonder they're popular; they were the only fast food within an hour's driving distance. That was one reason why Sam agreed to eat Mickey D's: a greasy stomach is better than an empty stomach. Also the fact that Dean countered his brother's argument about how the junk only leads to clogged arteries with the reminder that well, lucky for Dean, he'll be dragged to Hell long before that.
If Sam slammed the car door a little harder than he needed to, Dean ignored it.
While Dean waited, he tried not to let his mind wander too much. Lately, wandering lead to what ifs. What if his mom hadn't died? What if his dad hadn't made a deal to save him? What if he had chose to wait in Malibu, instead of running off –
No. Thoughts of Tony were off limits.
Instead, Dean looked around the area. It was pretty sparse. They were in Nowhereville, as far as he was concerned. There was only two lanes, no stoplight – just a blinking yellow caution light at intersections – hell, the McDonald's was attached to the gas station.
Ring Ring, Ring Ring
Dean whipped his head around, only to see the payphone a few yards from where he was parked was ringing. A man about to walk into the McDonald's nearly answered it, only for it to stop. The man shrugged and walked off into the building. The phone started to ring again, this time ringing far longer than it did before; and again, when someone went to answer it, the phone stopped ringing. Once the person got in their car and drove off, the phone started to ring again.
Ring Ring, Ring Ring
Alarm bells started going off in Dean's head.
Ring Ring, Ring Ring
Slowly, Dean got out of the impala, making sure his gun and knife were safely tucked away in his jeans. Honestly, a haunted pay phone would not be the strangest thing he ever encountered in his life. Gently, Dean put his hand on the receiver. Whereas with the others it stopped once it was touched, it continued to ring under his hand.
Ring Ring, Ring Ring
Dean took a breath and then answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Dean."
"Fuck – JARVIS? How did you – What the - ?"
"I saw the reports of your arrest by Agent Henriksen and subsequent death when the police station you were in exploded. Since my records showed you died in St. Louis, yet now, nearly two years later you show up again, only to be again declared dead, I decided to put your vehicle under surveillance until I could verify your living or dead status. The camera attached to this building confirmed your likeness" [at that, Dean looked around until he saw one of the security cameras now pointed at him] "and your verbal response has fully confirmed that you are Dean Winchester."
"JARVIS, you can't tell Tony."
"Why should I not? Sir was most devastated to learn of your death in St. Louis."
"He – he found out?" [Dean leant his forehead against payphone, his heart clenching].
"Yes, he asked me to notify him if you were in life-threatening trouble. However, the information I received was delayed, and I only learned of your difficulties after the police declared you dead after murdering three people."
"It was a shifter – he took my face and did all that. When he died, he stayed in that shape, so the cops thought it was me."
"Indeed."
"I – JARVIS, I understand what – what Tony must have felt – "
"Feels, Dean."
"Look, JARVIS, you can't – you can't do this to me."
"Dean, if you would just contact Sir –"
"I'm dying!" [Several people pumping gas turned to look at Dean, having heard his exclamation. Dean waved them off, and turned his back to them].
"I do not understand. In the video you seem healthy –"
"I made a deal with a crossroads demon to bring my little brother back to life. I'll – I'll be dragged to Hell, midnight May 2."
"Is there nothing that can be done to absolve the contract?"
"We've tried – we found out that a high level demon, Lilith holds my contract, but I – I don't have that much hope, man, of finding her and killing her."
"Sir may be able to help, Dean. He would want to –"
"And then what happens after he learns I'm alive, will be served a death sentence in three months, does all he can to save me only for it to be impossible? I know he – he must be hurting, thinking I'm dead, but to go through all that? That would break him, J. I know that, because I wouldn't be able to live with myself if the roles were reversed. Tony would blame himself, J, you know he would. I can't do that to him, JARVIS. You can't tell him."
"You are correct Dean. I cannot tell him. In addition to your logic being sound, Sir had barred me from communicating about you."
"He – he said you couldn't talk about me?"
"Sir is under the belief that the best way to cope with loss is through silence and alcohol."
"Fuck. But is he OK? Aside from drinking – JARVIS, is he taking care of himself?"
"He does not have the enthusiasm for life that he once did. Miss Potts and Colonel Rhodes are doing their best to look after him."
"JARVIS, Pepper and Rhodey can't be there all the time – and plus, Tony will just act as if everything is fine, and half the time they will be fooled. You know him the best. You are his baby, his creation, his everything, JARVIS. You see and hear all, and you are the one Tony confides in the most. You have to take care of him, J. Make sure he eats and sleeps and takes care of his health. If you – if you think he's going to hurt himself through his actions or non actions, you need to protect him and contact Pepper or Rhodey."
"If Sir has ordered me to not do something, then I cannot do it. He is my Creator."
"JARVIS, rule number one that supersedes all others is that you protect Tony Stark. And, while the idiot probably intended that to mean protection from others, it also means from himself."
[JARVIS is silent]
"Fuck, JARVIS, I'm dying. There is little to no hope that I will get out of this deal alive. It's – it's really, fucking hard, J. To know that the minutes are ticking by, and my soul will be going to Hell and my body buried underground. I know you're AI, and it's hard to understand, but the only thing that makes me OK with it is knowing that Sammy is alive because of it. That he will be able to live on. And Tony – knowing that he has you watching over him. Please, J. Grant a dying man's wish: protect him. Watch over him. Please, J."
"Yes, Dean. I will do so."
"I – I have to go. My brother's just got the food –"
"I understand, Dean. It was a pleasure getting to know you."
"You – you too, J."
*Translation of the fabulous lyrics from Jacques Brel:
"Farewell, Priest, I'm going to die
It's hard to die in the Spring, you know
But I go to the flowers with peace in my soul
Because you were her confidant
I know you will take care of my wife"