"How the hell did he get out?" Dean muttered as he studied the locked panic room before opening it and swinging the door open. Bobby peeked in, holding up a cold pack to his face. Arielle had insisted he use it.
"Maybe he had help," he answered, his eyes crawling all over the walls. "Room full of busted devil's traps."
Dean stepped into the room. "Demons?" he questioned, before his eyes darkened. "Ruby."
"That'd be my guess," Bobby said with a shrug.
Arielle walked up behind them, barely catching the last fragments of their conversation. She had swept the area with Dean's permission, in hopes Sam had maybe experienced problems with the car he took. No luck. "How did she even touch the door?" she asked the men and the slight jump of their shoulders made her grin.
Bobby gave her a glare before turning to Dean. "You think she's got the mojo?"
"I don't think so," he said, doubting his own words. "I don't know, man."
"Does it matter?" Arielle interrupted them again, walking into the panic room with Dean and standing between both of them. "How he got out isn't important. Where he went to is."
Dean pushed past her and Bobby. "Well, I'll tell you one thing," he said as the other two followed him down the hall. "At this point I hope he's with Ruby."
Bobby's eyes widened. "Why?"
"'Cause killing her is the next big item on my to-do list," he said as he looked about the living room.
Arielle reached into her jeans and pulled out the Impala keys. "I thought you were on call for angel duty," Bobby stated as Dean turned to his sister when she jangled the keys. She gave a little grin as he snatched them up.
"I am on call," he replied to Bobby, sliding on his jacket. "In my car, on my way to murder the bitch." Arielle didn't wait and quickly slid on her own jacket, following Dean. When he noticed her actions, he shook his head. "No way."
The young woman gave him a look. "What, you expect me to stay here while the only two living family members I have may end up dead at each other's hands? Doubtful." She crossed her arms as she watched him rub at his eyes. "Either you let me go with you, or I end up tailing you anyways. And trust me, I may have not been raised in the life, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve, thanks to my pals at the university. My cop pals."
Bobby tried to hide a smirk as Dean exhaled sharply. "You really will make one helluva lawyer, kid," Dean grunted as he jerked his head for her to follow him.
"One thing," Bobby said suddenly.
"What?" Dean was beyond exasperated now.
"Sam don't wanna be found, which means he's gonna be damn near impossible to find."
At this, Dean actually chuckled. "Yeah, we'll see." With that, the brother and sister left the house.
Arielle watched as Dean spoke to Bobby before hanging up, one hand on the steering wheel and the other rubbing his jaw. She looked out the window, hesitating, before allowing herself to speak. "He's right, you know. We have to this in a way that doesn't make us push him away."
"Yeah, so I'm being told. But," Dean shook his head suddenly, tossing the phone onto the dashboard. "Never mind."
A beep sounded from her cellphone and she pulled it out to find a message waiting. I'm okay. Don't try looking for me. I'm sorry. Sam's number was tagged at the end of the message. The blonde bit her lip, eyes rereading the message before flipping the phone close. "Dean, I know… I probably sound like a broken record, but I know I'm not fully part of the family you, Sam, and Bobby have created." He gave her a look and opened his mouth to speak, but Arielle raised a firm hand. "Yes, I know, you've said it already. You do care and you do see me as a sister now. But, I know it will never be what you and Sam have, and I'm okay with that. I am. I want you to know, though, that you can talk to me. About anything. You don't have to keep it all in, you know? And it'll stay between you and me. Attorney-client confidentiality," she said, with a playful wink.
Dean chuckled at the last part, shaking his head again. "I never was good with that whole being an open book. I mean, taking care of Sammy and all. I ain't complaining, I love the guy to death. But… I always had to play my cards close, ya know? So, I'm sorry I can't just spill my guts to you. But, thanks anyways."
"I think that was opening enough for now," she said after a pause, smiling at her older brother. "It'll get easier." With that, the two rode quietly as music floated from the radio.
It wasn't long before Bobby called them with more information and the duo corrected their course. Moments later, they were outside a hotel, crouched around a corner. Dean squatted before her and Arielle watched their backs to prevent being snuck up on. When her brother stood, she followed quickly and after he picked the lock, the siblings walked into a honeymoon suite. A dark-haired woman stood in the middle of the room, smoothing down her shirt.
"Oh," she managed to say, before Dean tackled her to the ground. Arielle didn't waste time, pulling out a spray can and painting the symbol Bobby and Dean had taught her at the house. She was halfway done when Dean crashed into her.
"Fuck," she groaned, pushing her brother off to see her work smeared. "That won't hold will it?" Dean paid no heed as he rushed at the demon again. Arielle started quickly again in a new spot. Just as she was about to finish, the door behind them opened.
Pulling out her blessed gun, she pointed it at the intruder. "Sam?" Her brother didn't bother looking at her as he launched himself between Ruby and Dean. Arielle put the finishing touch on the devil's trap and stood aside, her heart now racing. She had hoped they'd be able to pull this off before anyone showed up, especially Sam.
"No," Sam said, pointing at Dean. "Just take it easy." He had Ruby behind her now and Dean's burning eyes were on her. Arielle quietly stepped up behind him, her eyes measuring up the demon.
"Well, it must've been some party you two had going, considering how hard you tried to keep me from crashing it. Well, solid try, but here I am," Dean said, throwing his arms out before letting them fall to his side.
Sam took a step, but didn't let Ruby out of his arm's reach. "Dean, I'm glad you're here. Look, let's just talk about this."
Arielle placed a hand on Dean's shoulder, but he shrugged it off, pointing at Ruby. "Soon as she's dead, we can talk all you want." The young woman shook her head, sighing and knowing how Sam would react.
"Ruby, get out of here," Sam said in a steady tone. Dean tensed up and Arielle placed both hands on his shoulders now. He didn't react to her touch.
"No," he stated, his hands in fists. "She's not going anywhere." Ruby looked between the trio before slowly exiting the room, avoiding the devil's trap and closing the door behind her. "She's poison, Sam."
The sister thought about following the demon, questioning it herself, but she knew leaving her brothers alone could lead to disaster. "It's not what you think, Dean."
"Look what she did to you," Dean almost roared. "I mean, she up and vanishes weeks at a time, leaves you cracking out for another hit- "
"She was looking for Lilith," Sam defended, throwing his hands in the air.
"That's French for manipulating your ass ten ways from Sunday," Dean retorted, crossing his arms. Arielle knew he was holding back, a lot.
"You're wrong, Dean," Sam said, shaking his head now.
Dean took a step to his brother now, his eyes pleading. Arielle stayed behind, watching them. She hadn't lost the fact Sam was still holding onto the knife he had pried from Dean's hands when he was fighting Ruby. "Sam, you're lying to yourself. I just want you to be okay. You would do the same for me. You know you would."
"Just listen," Sam returned, raising his hand. He finally noticed the knife, flushing before tossing the knife onto the bed. "Just listen for a second. We got a lead on a demon close to Lilith. Come with us, Dean. Arielle, you too," he said, finally turning to his sister. "We'll do this together."
"That sounds great," Dean said, clapping his hands. "As long as it's you, me, and Arielle. Demon bitch is a deal-breaker. You kiss her goodbye, we can go right now." Arielle saw the truth in Sam's face before the response came.
"I can't," he said after a moment's pause. Dean gave a scoff, nodding as he turned away. Sam pleaded with his brother. "Dean, I need her to help me kill Lilith. I know you can't wrap your head around it, but maybe one day you'll understand. I'm the only one who can do this, Dean."
Dean pivoted at this. Arielle saw the shift in his features and tensed up. This would be going south fast. "No, you're not the one who's gonna do this."
"Right, that's right," Sam laughed, his eyes now darkening. "I forgot. The angels think it's you."
"You don't think I can?" Dean challenged.
"No, you can't," was Sam's immediate reply. "You're not strong enough."
Arielle stepped between them. "Hey, look. Come on, guys," she started, but both men pushed her to the side. She bit her lip as she watched them step up to each other.
"And who the hell are you?" Dean asked, snarling.
"I'm being practical here," Sam stated. "I'm doing what needs to be done."
"Yeah? You're not gonna do a single damn thing," Dean remarked, giving Sam's chest a hard poke.
"Stop bossing me around, Dean," Sam finally exploded, his features turning red. "Look. My whole life, you take the wheel, you call the shots, and I trust you because you're my brother. Now I'm asking you, for once, trust me!"
Dean shook his head. "No," he said, his voice unusually quiet now. "You don't know what you're doing, Sam."
"Yes, I do."
"The that's worse," Dean countered, his eyes falling away.
"Why?" Sam asked, perplexed. "Look, I'm telling you- "
"Because it's not something that you're doing, it's what you are!" Dean interrupted, his eyes going back to his brother. Arielle knew what was coming. "It means- " The young woman cringed as Dean managed to catch himself.
Sam knew too. He straightened his shoulders. "What? No. Say it?" he demanded of his brother, his eyes acquiring that glassy state.
Dean dropped his head before any could catch the tears in his own eyes. "It means you're a monster."
Arielle closed her eyes. The one thing Bobby had asked him not to do is exactly what had occurred in less than half an hour. When she opened her green eyes, she saw Sam's arm pulled back. Before she could open her mouth, his fist landed on Dean's jaw. The eldest Winchester fell down, hard.
Everything went silent. Dean slowly stood to his feet and watched Sam. Arielle prayed to all the gods that he would get a grip. When Dean's own fist landed on Sam, she knew it had all gone to hell. She knew better than to interfere as they rolled around the floor before standing and throwing hits at each other. Anything that could break, did. Arielle stayed glued to a corner, watching as new cuts and future bruises were created. It wasn't hard to see Sam was dominating the fight and soon he knocked Dean down. The older brother didn't move.
Even with that, Sam pinned him down to the ground. Arielle's eyes went wide as she saw him choking him, while Dean just lay there. She couldn't let him. "Sammy!" she screamed, sprinting to him and yanking his arm. It was like pulling at a tree trunk. "You're killing him!" That seemed to snap him out of it and he stood quickly, breathing heavily.
"You don't know me," he said to the now wheezing Dean. "You never did. And you never will." Arielle's wide eyes watched him walk towards the door.
"You walk out that door, don't you ever come back," Dean managed to say. Arielle helped him sit up, her eyes going between the two men. Sam stopped at the door upon hearing his words. He gave a single look back before opening the door and leaving. Arielle bit her lip as she helped Dean to unsteady legs.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently, draping his arm around her shoulders.
"Just dandy," he snapped, before giving her an apologetic look and patting her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm fine. Don't think I've ever been crushed by Sammy before."
Arielle gave him a pointed look. "As if you were actually fighting," she said, rolling her eyes as they exited the hotel and approached the Impala. Dean was about to fight it. "Shut up and save your energy. He gave you a hell of a beating." She lowered him into the passenger's seat and fished the keys from his pocket. Shutting the door, she stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath before going to the driver's side and getting in. "Dean?"
"Yeah?" he asked, ready to doze off to sleep.
"You don't mean it, do you?" she asked, hesitating before continuing. "About Sammy being a monster?" His silence was unpleasant and she felt her own eyes tear up. Sam had been the first to embrace her fully as his blood, and while she now cared about her brothers equally, it still felt worse knowing it was Sam. "Never mind. Don't answer." Turning on the car, she led them away from the hotel and back to Bobby's.