Chapter 30: He's Had Worse

Andy went with the boys to check on Kevin. The call had ended abruptly, and Andy knew if Kevin was hurt, they would need her.

Kevin looked like absolute shit. This was Andy's first time on the boat. She looked around in horror.

"Dean Winchester you have not been keeping a prophet of the lord in this shithole!?" Andy said incredulously. Dean had the good sense to look a little ashamed.

"It's the best we had at the time," he said with a shrug.

"Yeah, and now we have a much better and probably safer space to keep him," Andy said, but Kevin shook his head.

"No, it's safe here, if I leave he might be able to find me. I'll stay until it's done," Kevin said firmly. Andy stared at him, but the look on Kevin's face said enough about the real fear he was feeling so she relented. If he was that concerned about a couple of hours drive…she could let him have his way.

"So what's the deal?" Dean asked.

"It's a spell, simple, just a few words of Enochian. You speak it after you complete each of the three trials. Looks like God set up these tests, when you do all three, you can slam the gates," Kevin finished with a deep sigh and a worn smile.

"You did it kid!" Dean said and wrapped Kevin in a bear hug, which he obviously regrated a moment later based on his face, "you know kid, you might want to have a shower." Dean said.

"What's the first trial?" Andy asked glancing at Kevin's notes tacked up all over the walls.

"You have to kill a hound of hell and…bathe in its blood," Kevin said.

"Awesome!" Dean said. Both Sam and Andy looked at him confused.

"Awesome?"

"Yea, gut a devil dog to ice all demons? I'm in!" Dean gave them a look that this was an easy thing. Like they had done so well when they had come up against hell hounds in the past. Andy stared at him, his face was bright with a triumphant smile.

"How are you going to find one?" Kevin asked.

"Crossroad deal," Andy said quickly. Dean nodded.

"All right, you crazy kids start looking into crossroads action, I'll do a supply run and get this kid some real food," Dean smiled and headed out the door. Andy watched him go, a growing suspicion in her mind. While this was a major break, Dean was way too excited to go rushing off to kill a hellhound.

Kevin took a shower, Sam started looking for 10-year-old demon signs and Andy…paced. She was so full of nervous energy, and she had no idea why. When she caught Sam watching her she jumped. Before Sam had a chance to say anything, and Andy had a chance to succumb to his concerned eyes she blurted out:

"I'm…going to get some air," and went outside. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming apart at the seams. Why was Dean so jazzed about the trials? Sure, it was great to have a direction to go in to close the gates of hell. It was great! But he seemed excited to jump into something dangerous. Excited to risk everything. She felt like she had just got him back, and now he was ready to run off and possibly get himself killed in the process. Andy's breath was starting to come in short bursts. What the hell is going on with me? She thought, shaking out her wrists trying to calm herself down. She was just starting to get her heartbeat back under control when she suddenly heard a rustle, and a few heavy steps on the dock. She would know Dean's footsteps anywhere, and that was not Dean. But the rhythm…still felt familiar. She turned toward the sound just as a figure came around the edge of another boat.

"Dyson?" Andy cried out in shocked delight. There he was, long golden hair braided down his back, green eyes smiling at her. She ran to him and nearly bowled him over with a hug. "You're back!"

"Sorry it took so long," he said grinning. He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead and then pushed her to arms length and looked at her. "You look good honey, are the boys around?" Andy nodded and took his hand, leading him to the boat.

"Sam," she called out walking through the door, "look who showed up!" Sam looked up quickly and stood.

"Holy crap," he said shock then a broad smile crossing his face. He strode over to them and wrapped Dyson in a tight hug.

"How's it Sasquatch," Dyson said giving Sam a crushing hug back. Just then, Dean came in, bags in hand. He stopped short when he saw another body in the boat. Dyson turned around and smiled. Dean also smiled and hurriedly put his bags down and held out a hand. Dyson took it and pulled Dean in for a brief back pat of a hug.

"I think that might have been the most 'bro' hug I have ever seen you do," Andy said with a raised eyebrow at Dyson. He rolled his eyes at her.

"Where the hell have you been?" Dean asked.

"You said it," Dyson shrugged. Dean looked at him confused. Then it dawned on him.

"You made a deal with a death goddess to get Andy out of Purgatory, and you've been there this whole time?"

"Pretty much, that was the deal. Hel pulled Andy out, and I stayed with her. She finally let me go, but I had to promise I would go back to visit from time to time. I have a feeling she might come looking for me occasionally," Dyson made a bit of a face. Dean shrugged.

"There are worse things she could have done, so I'm calling this a win," he said.

"I am so confused," Kevin said from the corner where he had been standing.

"Oh shit, sorry Kevin," Andy said, "this is Dyson, technically my husband, but not really right now…long story." Kevin just nodded.

"Well, as much as this reunion is great, we have some work to do, Sam did you find anything?" Dean said, looking at his brother. Sam nodded and showed them all the family in Idaho who struck oil where there should not have been any oil. Dean nodded.

"You know I am all for diving in, but what is this all about? Why is a family getting lucky an issue for you?" Dyson asked bluntly.

"We're going to lock hell down, the…fiery one," Dean said with a grin. They gave Dyson a quick lowdown on Kevin's progress on the tablet, and what they had just learned.

"Ok…that seems like a good deal," Dyson said with a thoughtful expression. "What are all of these trials?"

"We just know the first one," Dean replied.

"Ok…what happens when you do all of them?"

"Not sure yet…"

"Hmm, I'm not sure I like all of these question marks," Dyson mumbled. "You guys think these Cassity's made a deal that's coming due? Why not just wait until we know what all the trials are and do them all at once?"

"Because if we can get moving now, Kevin can let us know the second the next one comes up and we'll be ready to go."

"Hold on, just think about it for a second. We don't know what these trials will do. Why not wait for as much information as possible before going off and doing stupid shit right away?" Dyson tried to sound as logical as possible.

"Because we're kind of on a timeline here Dyson, Kevin has been stuck here for months to protect him from Demons that want to peel his face off. The faster we can get going on slamming the gates, the faster he is that much safer," Dean said firmly. "This isn't up for discussion. We're going." Dyson just sighed and shrugged.

"Well if you're bent on going, I guess I'm coming too."

"Ok, let's go visit the Beverly Hillbillies," Dean said. He gave Kevin two pill bottles. "The blue is for headaches, and the green is for pep. Don't OD." Andy glared at Dean; disapproval thick on her face. She was not all that jazzed about hunting a hellhound, she had had enough of that the last time...but Andy wasn't ready to touch that memory with a 10-foot pole. Suddenly Andy had a thought.

"Wait, with Dyson here, we could get Kevin to the bunker without exposing him. It's already warded against a bunch of stuff. We could add a couple layers of protection and we could keep him safe there." Sam looked at Dean who shrugged. Andy ran back into the boat and asked Kevin what he thought. He was hesitant, but eventually agreed. Dyson took both Kevin and Andy to the bunker, pausing only a moment to marvel at the find, then went back to the boys to start the drive to Idaho. Andy got Kevin set up in a bedroom, with strict instructions to rest at least one night before diving back into the tablet. He reluctantly agreed and went to lie down. The next morning, he starts working. Andy tried not to hover, but also tried to make sure that Kevin ate properly, and had a bit of rest time.

On the Cassity Farm the boys managed to get in with the property manager and take the jobs that were being offered. Dean was not impressed with the literal crap job the had, but mucking out horse stalls was a small price to pay for getting something like closing the gates of hell. At first they thought they had missed their chance when Alice Cassity's husband died bloody on the back deck. Luckily, Sam was smart about it and convinced Dean to wait another day to see if there were other deals coming due.

Kevin called sometime that night, he let the boys know about a way for Sam and Dean to see the hellhounds, and that the trials could only be completed by one of 'Gods Most Precious Creations' in other words humans. That put a damper on Dyson's plan to try and complete the trials himself to spare either of the boys having to step into that much danger and risk. With those bits of information Sam asked what the plan was.

"I know you've been thinking about it, so what's the play?" Sam asked.

"You stay here, keep these clown on lockdown and figure out who whored their soul. Dyson keeps an eye on the perimeter and I'll go scout the grounds and see if I can't gank huckleberry hound before he makes another move."

"Dude, we're going with you. You need back up," Sam said, stopping Dean.

"No, I need you to be safe," Dean said.

"What? When are we ever safe?"

"This is different," Dean retorted.

"How?" Sam softly implored.

"These trials. We both know where this ends, one of us ends up dead."

"What, and you've decided it's going to be you?"

"Well, it can't be Dyson, Kevin made that pretty clear. I'm a grunt Sam, you said you see a way out. A light at the end of this ugly ass tunnel. I don't. I want you to get out, I want you to have a life. That is my perfect ending. So, I am going to do these trials, and if you follow me I will put a bullet in your leg." Dean walked away. Sam watched him go, stricken. Dyson put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll back him up," he said and followed after Dean. Sam huffed out a heavy sigh and thought for a second… "What is Andy going to say…"

Dyson caught up to Dean just as he was warning Ellie to stay in her room with the door locked.

"I know," Dyson heard Ellie say, "it's coming for me." While Dean got the story from Ellie, Dyson kept an eye out for the hellhound. He heard the howl.

"Dean," he called out hissed. He heard Dean coming into the barn. Dyson moved fast, but not quite fast enough. The hound lunged at Dean just before Dyson was able to grab hold of it, and managed to knock him down with a powerful swipe to the torso. Dean went stumbling backwards, dropping the demon knife and ending up on the ground in the process. Dyson acted on instinct. He let go of the hound and dove for the knife. He got his hand on it as the hound pounced at him. He managed to catch it by the neck and slam it onto the ground. Just then Sam appeared in the doorway. Taking in the scene for a moment he rushed forward, Dyson tossed him the knife and Sam plunged it into the hound. Hot black ichor gushed out spraying Sam in the chest and coating his hands. It was done, the hound was dead.

Ellie patched Dean up saying that he should go to a hospital.

"I've had worse," Dean said. Ellie looked at Dyson and Sam who both said:

"Yea, he's had worse."

"Can you give us a minute," Dean said to Ellie who nodded and left. Dean held his hand out to Sam, who was still covered in black.

"Dean, it's not going to work for you," Sam said. Dean insisted and tried anyway, saying the short Enochian spell. Nothing happened.

"Doesn't matter, we can track down another one, and I'll kill it," Dean said firmly.

"No," Sam said simply.

"Sam, I didn't pass the test," Dean said incredulously.

"But I did," Sam responded, "and I'm doing the rest of them."

"Like hell you are,"

"Dean," Dyson interjected, "Sam did it. We could start this right now, it's what you wanted. Or we can do it my way and wait until we know more," Dyson said with a pointed look. Dean scoffed and looked away. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.

"I know why you want this so much," Sam said quietly, "it's a suicide mission for you."

"Sam, come on," Dean said, rolling his eyes.

"I want to slam the gates too, but I want to survive it. You have friends up here, family, you have people who care about you." Sam looked at Dyson for help.

"Dean, think about it – as much as you think you need Sam safe, what about Andy?" Dyson asked.

"She has you," Dean said quickly, glancing at Dyson and looking quickly away. Sam stared at his brother. He couldn't understand what was going through his head. He knew Dean didn't mean what he had just said. So why had he said it?

"She would have me in a heartbeat, but it's not me she wants, and it's not me she's waiting for Dean. Think about what it will do to her to watch you take more risks, and get hurt again," Dyson continued. Then Sam suddenly understood. His brother had the most messed up wiring in his head. Because Dyson was back, and had saved Andy from Purgatory, Dean thought she would be done with him. That she didn't need him anymore. Sam's heart broke for Dean, and for Andy. He tried one more tactic to convince his brother.

"You're right, I do see light at the end of this tunnel. I can't believe you don't, but if you let me, I can take you to it."

"Sam be smart," Dean said, trying to get the conversation back.

"I am being smart Dean, and so are you. You are so much more than a grunt Dean, you're a genius. You are the best hunter I have ever seen. Better than me, better than Dad."

"Sam has a point Dean, you are a genius," Dyson said. Dean was wearing down; Sam could see it.

"Please Dean, I believe in you, but I need you to believe in me too," Sam said, holding out his hand for the paper with the spell words, "I can do this. Let me do this." Dean looked at his brother, and at his friend. He sighed and handed over the paper. Sam read the words. A moment later he was on the ground, crying out with pain. The moment passed and he stood up.

"I'm ok, I can do this."

"Andy and I will be with you every step of the way; you know that right boys?" Dyson said, looking at them both pointedly. Dean sighed, and nodded as did Sam. "Ok then, what do we say we get out of here and get some rest back at a certain bunker I know of, hm?" Dyson said and ushered the boys out of the barn.

They made it back to the bunker, Dean complaining that there was no reason for Dyson to drive, he was fine, the scratches were just flesh wounds. Andy heard him all the way down the hall in the kitchen when they all came tromping in.

"What's this about a flesh wound?" Andy called as she came into the library. Dean looked up at her, and she saw a flash of an odd expression cross his face. It was gone in a moment, but it made her a little uneasy. She went over to Dean searching him for where he was hurt.

"It's his side," Sam said.

"Traitor," Dean grumbled. Andy pointed at a chair imperiously. Dean rolled his eyes, and lifted his shirt. Andy peeled back the bandage. The stitches were not bad, but Andy wanted to redo them. She glanced up at Dean.

"So, how did it go?" she asked. Dean's face immediately closed off, and that same expression crossed his face again. Andy's eyebrows drew together.

"Sam got it done," Dyson said. Andy was watching Dean. She knew he had had it in his mind that the trials were going to be on him. Secretly, Andy was glad. She looked over at Sam.

"Are you ok?" she asked. Sam nodded.

"I'm ok, it wasn't that bad," he said with such conviction that Andy was even more suspicious. In spite of that, she turned back to Dean.

"I'll be back with some stuff to fix you up," she said and went off to the apothecary. Andy patched Dean up with minimal effort.

"How's Kevin?" Dyson asked as Andy was finishing the last few stitches. Andy glanced at him.

"He's ok, spends most of the day in his room pouring over the tablet. He's eating a bit better now, but he still isn't sleeping great," Andy said. With one final 'snip' of the first aid scissors Andy stood with a satisfied nod. "You are good to go babe."

"Thanks sweetheart," Dean said and kissed her cheek. It wasn't more than five minutes after Andy finished her last stitch that Dean got a text. A cop that the boys helped a few years ago needed help in St. Louis. Dean sighed and showed Sam the text.

"I guess we're going to St. Louis," he said. "I'm going to grab a quick shower and a change of clothes, and we can head out." Dean nodded and leaned back in his chair and dragged a hand over his face.

"Hey Dyson," Andy said looking up at him, "I think I found a case in Wyoming, looks like it might be a ghoul. If the boys are headed to St. Louis, do you think you could check it out?" Dyson nodded.

"Yea, I think I could handle that," he said with a grin, "I'll head out in a bit. Have fun in St. Louis," he said over his shoulder to Dean as he wandered off into the bunker. Once he was gone Andy turned back to Dean.

"I'm sorry Dean," she said. Dean looked at her quizzically.

"For what?" he asked.

"For Sam. I know you were wanting to take the risk on this one. But if he's done it, and he's saying he's good to go…" Andy left the statement hanging. Dean let out an explosive sigh and put his head in his hands.

"I don't know what to do Andy…I was so…I was so ready to take this on and now it's on him…and I'm scared. Andy, I'm so scared," the last part came out as a whisper. Andy stood quickly and pulled Dean into her. He clung to her tight, a small tremble ran through him.

"Hey, why don't I come help you out with James' thing? I can keep an eye on things with Sam, and we'll figure out a plan forward once it's all dealt with. I think Kevin will be ok on his own for a few days," Andy said, carding her fingers through Dean's hair. Dean hesitated a moment and then nodded. "Ok, let me pack and I'll meet you in the car."