I'm sorry for the delay in updates! Spring break is here, but work is hectic. :(
A big shout-out to snn7b, who has taken the time to review on practically all the chapters! Much love!
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you willingly signed up to be the angels' bitch?" Bobby asked. Arielle sat beside Dean on the couch and the look her brother gave Bobby was anything but friendly. "I'm sorry," Bobby continued, the tone of empathy obviously fake. "You prefer 'sucker'? After everything you said about them, now you trust them?" Arielle shifted uncomfortably, unaware of exactly what "everything" was.
She had walked in mid-way through their conversation, pausing at the door when she first entered the house. Arielle knew Dean was trying to keep her from knowing something, and now she understood.
Her brother sighed and shook his head. "Come on, give me a little credit, Bobby," he replied, leaning his head back against the sofa. "I've never trusted them less. I mean, they come on like shady politicians from planet Vulcan."
"We're definitely related," she joked, trying to ease the tension and reaching out for a fist bump. He gave her a grin and knocked his own fist against hers. She stood and made a quick trip to the kitchen, her ears trained on their voices as she opened the fridge.
Bobby ignored her comment, shaking his head. "Then why in the hell did you- "
"Because what other option do I have?" Dean interrupted, rubbing his palms over his eyes. "It's either trust the angels or let Sammy trust a demon." Bobby grunted, lifting his hat to scratch at his head.
"I see your point."
Arielle came back, handing out beers to the two men. They gave a thankful nod as she popped open her bottle. She placed her drink to her lips but froze, lowering the bottle slowly. "You hear that?" she asked quietly.
Dean took a moment to reply. "Yeah." He stood, placing the beer on a nearby table. "That's a little too much nothing." The trio rushed to the panic room and threw open the window.
Sam lay on the floor, his body thrumming. Arielle immediately recognized it as a seizure. She made to open the door and found Dean's hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist, stopping her. "What if he's faking?"
"You really think he'd do that?" Arielle asked, shocked.
"I think he'd do anything," he responded.
The young woman was about to argue when Sam was suddenly lifted and slammed against one of the walls. "That ain't faking," Bobby stated and Arielle quickly unlocked the door. The two men pushed her aside and rushed to the younger brother, pinning him down to the cot. "We're going to have to tie him down for his own safety," Bobby said through clenched teeth as Sam convulsed on the cot. "Dean? You with me?"
Arielle watched her older brother, eyes blank as he looked at Sam. She stepped up and slapped him with just enough force to snap him out of it. "Dean! He's going to have another fit!" she warned, now helping them hold down his legs.
"Yeah, yeah," he finally responded, moving his jaw a bit. "Let's just get it over with."
The screams echoed throughout the house. The air was tense as the three stood around in the living room, mechanically sipping at their drinks. "I'm gonna ask one more time, "Bobby finally broke. Arielle's grip on the bottle tightened. "Are we absolutely sure we're doing the right thing?"
"Bobby, you saw what was happening to him down there," Dean argued, downing the last of the drink. "The demon blood is killing him."
"No, it isn't," Bobby said, shaking his head. "We are."
Dean and Arielle looked at him, eyes wide. "What?" Dean asked, though his tone was dangerously low.
"I'm sorry. I can't bite my tongue any longer," Bobby stated, setting his bottle down and locking eyes with Dean. "We're killing him. Keeping him locked up down there. This cold-turkey thing isn't working. If—if he doesn't get what he needs, soon, Sam's not gonna last much longer." Arielle's eyes volleyed between both men, and her body tensed in anticipation of Dean's actions.
"No," Dean finally responded. "I'm not giving him demon blood. I won't do it."
"And if he dies?" Arielle asked quietly.
He turned to her, eyes burning into her. "Then at least he dies human!" While all her body desired to cringe back from him, she stood her ground, not moving an inch. Dean finally turned away, downing his whole beer and slamming it onto a table. "I would die for him in a second, but I won't let him do this to himself. I can't. I guess I found my line. I won't let my brother turn into a monster." He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before abruptly standing. "I need a breather." With that, he left Bobby and Arielle in the living room.
"Balls," Bobby muttered, picking his drink back up and taking a swig.
"Amen," Arielle returned, collapsing onto the couch, an arm over her face. "You really don't think Sammy will make it outta this one?" she asked, moving her arm enough to catch Bobby's eyes.
The grave look on his face was more than she wanted. "I don't think any one of us will."