Chapter Twelve: Destiny at the Door

Bonnie waited until they were out of sight of the house. "So…what did you get out of the boy?"

"This…" Dean handed her the drawing, watching her brows shoot up her forehead. "Kid said he saw this thing standing beside Ryan's bed that night. Said it looked right at him but wanted nothing to do with him, all it wanted was Ryan."

"Why though? What is its motive? Why one kid over the other?" She questioned out loud, studying the drawing.

"Because he was bad." Hope interjected, pushing off the passenger side of the impala as the couple walked over. "I think we might be on to something. Out of all the people we talked to, there was a running theme. All the kids that were taken had a bit of a naughty streak. Trouble in school, starting fights, disobeying their parents…general pains in the ass."

Dean scoffed. "So, what are we talking about here, a reverse Santa Clause; Krampus? In May?" He added disbelievingly.

Sam shook his head. "Not exactly." He glanced around getting a weird feeling. "Come on, let's get back to the hotel and we'll fill you in."

…

Sam dropped the open book in front of his brother, and slid into the chair across from him at the small table. "The boogeyman?" He grumbled incredulously.

"Yes, but more accurately, El Cucuy. A Mexican urban legend. He's mostly described as a ghost-like monster but…" He put the picture Ryan drew next the illustration in the book. "There are some depictions of him like this; red glowing eyes, horribly disfigured…" Sam leaned forward, speaking more passionately. "In some cultures, parents would sing a lullaby about him as a warning."

Bonnie's head snapped to look at Dean. "A lullaby. Like the one Hannah heard coming from Ryan's room." She turned her attention back to Sam. "The mother said it sounds like no language she'd ever heard before."

Hope laid her palms on the table, leaning forward between Bonnie and Sam, flipping to another page. "She wouldn't have. This legend dates back as far as the 17th century. According to the lore, El Cucuy preys on disobedient kids; hiding under their bed, in their closets, or sitting rooftop until he can kidnap and eat them. He leaves no traces behind, and only goes after children that misbehave."

Dean nodded in understanding. "Which is why it didn't go for Samuel. What's the survival rate?" He questioned worriedly. He'd made a promise to the boy, and he'd hate to break it.

Sam sighed disappointedly. "Not good, but the legend says he tends to collect all the children in his lair, and then gorge. As long as we're not too late, we might have a chance of saving them all."

Bonnie was already standing. "How do we kill it?"

Sam was flipping through the pages, trying to find the passage. "It doesn't say. Not many have tried, but those that have, haven't lived to talk about it. It says that 'although his focus is on children, those that threaten his food source are viciously maimed and/or…eviscerated.'" He finished with a wince.

Hope scoffed a sarcastic laugh. "Great. So, I guess we have that to look forward to."

There was a moment of pause, where the reality of the situation hit them, and they developed a game plan. "I can't do a locator spell off that drawing. The connection isn't strong enough." Bonnie voiced regretfully.

The young witch thought about it and an idea came to her. "If you can get me in that house, in the boy's room, I can find it. There'll be a mystical charge, an imprint. I can use that for a locator spell on El Cucuy."

Bonnie gave a short nod. "Let's go." She turned to Dean, who stood with Sam, getting their weapons packed.

He was already reading her mind. "We'll pound the pavement, start checking all the usual spots. When you get the location, let me know." He came to stand in front of her, kissing her forehead. "Be careful, okay." It was an odd feeling for him, to feel this level of fear over facing a run of the mill monster. Not for himself, but for Bonnie. Every fight he faced was with Sam by his side; he could be there to save him if something went wrong. But parting from her, it filled him with anxiety that he'd never felt before.

"You too." He could see in her eyes his feelings reflecting back at him. Bonnie was just as worried.

…

It wasn't long after that Bonnie and Hope were back at the Pavlosky residence. Hannah led them up to Ryan's room, and at their request gave them a few moments of privacy. Hope wandered around the room, touching objects as she passed, trying to pick up any energy that was left behind. Bonnie's phone buzzed in her back pocket, and Hope glanced over. She noticed the older witch stare at the name for a long moment before silencing it and tucking it back into her pocket.

"Damon again?" she asked knowingly.

Bonnie sighed, and turned her focus back to surveying the room. "Yeah."

"Why don't you just talk to him?"

"Because he'll want to talk about things that I can't talk about." Bonnie answered evasively.

"Like the fact that he's completely in love with you?" Hope asked nonchalantly.

"For starters." She sighed again, glancing at Hope. "It's May 10th. It's our day…it's a thing. We usually spend the day dancing around the kitchen, making pancakes, listening to 90's R&B and wearing plaid but…" She smiled to herself, remembering previous years, but it slipped from her face quickly. "Things are different now…"

"Because of Dean?"

"Not just because of Dean, although he is a big part of it." She got lost in thought, almost too afraid to admit it. "Because I don't trust myself around Damon. Because it took everything in me to walk away and I'm afraid that…that if I let him back in, I might not have the strength to do it again." She added with a twist of her lips. "I love Dean; nothing will change that. And even though I know in my soul that this is how it's supposed to be, I can't deny that Damon still holds a certain place in my heart." She had to fight back the emotions that got caught in her throat, avoiding Hope's sympathetic stare.

"I was rooting for you two, you know; you and Damon I mean. You made him tolerable to be around." She laughed, and it turned into a genuine smile when Bonnie laughed too. "I see a lot of my dad in him; his temper, his passion…how hard he loves. It made me hate him at first; now I think I subconsciously I want him to find his happiness. But these last few months…seeing you and Dean together, you two just fit. Like you're two sides of the same coin…like destiny, you know." Hope has a wistfulness in her eyes. "It's what every girl dreams of. To not have to hide who you are, or hold back…someone that protects you." Her eyes welled. She never had that with Landon. She always had to be the strong one, saving him from every evil around the corner. "I want that someday." Hope turned her attention back to Ryan's nightstand.

Bonnie eyed her with a curious, and narrow gaze. "And Sam…?"

Hope snapped to look at her startled. "What about him?"

Bonnie chuckled. "Don't think I haven't noticed how close you two have gotten."

"It's not like that." She hurriedly explained. "We're friends. That it."

"Sure…" She smiled knowingly. "Where have I heard that before?" she added sarcastically, continuing her search of the room.

They were silent as they continued the search of the room, and when Hope picked up on the monster's energy, she channeled it and began tracking it. It wasn't until they were in the car heading to the outskirts of town did Hope finally finish the conversation.

"Even if I did like Sam…he doesn't see me that way." She kept her eyes on the road in front of them, desperately trying to keep her face neutral. "To him I'm just some twenty-year-old, smart-ass kid he has to put up with."

Bonnie glanced at her, studying her face as Hope drove; her fingers gripping the wheel. "You aren't a kid, Hope. You've blossomed into a beautiful young woman, one I'm very proud of. You're strong, and brave and smart. Any man would be stupid not to see it. Sam, would be stupid not to see it." She reassured with a watery smile.

Hope risked a grateful smile in her direction, taking them off the road. "Thanks Bonnie. That means a lot." If Caroline was as close to her as a mother, Bonnie would be as close to her as an aunt, or a big sister. Her opinions held value and there weren't many people she wanted to impress, but Bonnie was one of them. "You're strong too, you know. Stronger than I think you give yourself credit for."

…

Sam and Dean followed the directions given to them by the girls and found themselves deep in the caverns of the New Mexico desert.

"So what's this thing going on between you and Hope?" Dean asked conversationally, darting his flashlight around the corners of the cave.

Sam balked, the question catching him off guard. "What? What do you mean? What thing?"

"You know…" Dean waved his flashlight around. "This cute little bantering thing you two do. She keeps you on your toes, Sammy…been a long time since I've seen a chick give you a run for your money."

Sam blinked in confusion. "What are you getting at exactly?"

"I'm saying I think she's been good for you. She makes you laugh, plus, she's hot so, there's that." He added with a shrug.

"Dean!" he chastised. He shouldn't think of her that way. There was a decent gap in their ages, and the thought alone seemed wrong, but he wouldn't deny that Hope brought out a different, more playful side of him; one he thought he lost when Jessica died. But he was also hesitant to let himself get too close.

Dean shot him a look. "Oh, don't act like you didn't notice. She's a hell of a lot more mature than other girls her age. Don't think I don't see what you're doing. Making excuses to not let yourself be happy, but you and I both know that's all it is." He stated firmly with a slash of his hand through the air. "You're scared." He pointed at him as he ducked under a low ceiling.

Sam clenched his jaw, knowing his brother was right, but refusing to admit it. "Look at what happened with Jessica, and Madison…getting close to anyone doesn't usually end well for me, Dean." He argued back.

Dean stopped, turning to face his brother seriously. "She's not Madison, and she's definitely not Jessica. She knows what this life is all about. You don't have to hide who you are or what you do. And it's great, sharing this; knowing that at the end of the day, you get to just be you." He squeezed his brother's arm supportively. "I get the fear, Sam, trust me, I do. My worst nightmare is seeing Bonnie on that ceiling…watching her burn the way mom did. But she's strong, and so is Hope."

The younger Winchester chuckled. "Yeah, and she doesn't let me forget it." He gave in with a sigh. "She gets me Dean…sometimes I feel like she pulls the words right out of my head. And I want to tell her things, you know – open up but…yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe I am-" they heard a sound in the distance and shared a look before jumping into action and chasing down the echo.

…

Castiel walked through a door in heaven and found himself transported to an elaborate penthouse suite. It made him frown curiously as it wasn't the usual location that Zachariah had chosen for their private meeting spot. He let his eyes roam the room; there were floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking a lit-up city and the music playing was smooth jazz, complimenting the old Hollywood style décor. The high back chair behind the desk was turned away from him, facing the windows.

"Zachariah…" Castiel greeted, walking into the room. "What brought on this urgent meeting?"

"You tell me, Castiel." The voice responded, the chair slowly turning to reveal the angel sitting in it. He was tall and lean, chiselled jaw, blonde hair slicked back and ice blue eyes; his leg crossed at the ankle and fingers laced on his lap elegantly in his three-piece suit. "Rumor has it…" he began, fixing his cuff links. "You have something I want." He smiled, but it looked terrifying under his intense stare.

Castiel froze. "Michael…"

He stood gracefully, uncrossing his legs and standing all in one movement. "Not my first choice in vessel…" he glanced down at himself. "Not many Winchesters to chose from these days, but it will do for now. Until my true vessel is ready. How is that coming along by the way?"

"What do you mean?" Cas played ignorant.

Michael laughed. "Oh, Castiel…" He began condescendingly. "I've been keeping a close eye on you and your little friends. You think they care about you? That you can protect them from what's coming? That keeping Dean from me will somehow save Sam as well…" He got closer, uncomfortably so. "You can't stop what's to come. It's destiny. Mine, and theirs. Now…" He walked over to the wet bar and poured a glass of brandy. "We can do this the easy way…or we can do it the hard way." Michael glanced over his shoulder with a sly smirk. "The choice is entirely up to you."

Castiel worked up the courage to respond. "They are good people, Michael. They deserve better than this."

"Oh I agree." Michael rolled his brandy in the glass before sipping. "And when all is said and done their souls will be taken to heaven to rest peacefully among the angels. Both will be considered saints for their duty to God. What more could one ask for?" He seemed confused as if there was no higher honor.

"This is not their fight. This feud is between you and Lucifer. Here…on Earth, they have their own fight. Humans to protect, their own families…people that love them. You can't ask them to give up their lives for a war waged eons before their time." He kept his tone even and convicted, willing to stand up for the brothers he had grown so close to.

Michael laughed. "Castiel…" He dragged out his name mockingly and the smile dropped from his face. "I'm not asking."

…

El Cucuy was dead, Ryan and all the children were safely returned to their homes and the four of them were dirty, bloody and tired.

"Beer?" Hope asked as they stopped in front of the doors of their motel rooms.

"Actually, I'm beat." Bonnie admitted with a sigh. "Kinda just want to shower and hit the sack."

Dean noticed the look Sam shot his way and smirked to himself. "Yeah, me too." It drew a surprised look from the girls. "What?"

"You…turning down a beer?" Hope questioned with a teasing laugh as she brought her hand to his forehead. "You feeling okay Dean?"

He swatted her hand away with a scowl. "Hey! I'm settled down now." He swung an arm around Bonnie's shoulders and pulled her in. "I don't need to waste my nights at the bottom of a bottle anymore, right baby?" He placed a loving kiss to her temple.

"And now I'm going to puke." Hope joked. She spun and pointed to Sam. "Beer?"

"Yeah…yeah I'm in." he grinned. She let them into their room, and Sam nodded once to Dean before following her in.

Bonnie and Dean did the same, and once the door was closed behind them, she shed her sweater and boots. "What was that all about?" she chuckled.

He shrugged, toeing off his boots and shrugging out of his jacket as well. "What's what about?"

"Skipping the post-kill beer? Kind of unlike you." She raised a brow, with a knowing smirk. "You trying to play match maker or something?"

He laughed. "Hey, I'm just giving them a nudge in the right direction." He was barefoot and shirtless now, the buckle of his jeans undone as he walked over to her. "Maybe I want my brother to enjoy a bit of the same happiness I have with you." He tunneled a hand under her hair and kissed her forehead.

She looked up at him adoringly, stars practically shining in her eyes. She was in nothing but her tank and panties now. "I want that for her too." Looking at him, Bonnie knew that it didn't matter what she felt or had felt for Damon in the past, her love for Dean was her strength, and it could get her through anything. "What would I do without you?"

"I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you never have to find out." He answered candidly. He gave her a little smack on the ass, laughing at her squeal of surprise. "I'm going to hop in the shower; wanna join me?"

She smiled with a nod. "I'll be right in." When the door to the bathroom closed, and the water turned on, Bonnie grabbed her phone off the nightstand and dialed the number she knew by heart. It barely rang before it picked up.

"Hey…" he greeted softly but with an eagerness in his voice. "Cutting it pretty close; you only had six minutes left of May 10th." He tried to joke but it didn't hold its usual humor.

She smiled, toying with a loose thread on the quilt of the bed. "It's been a busy day."

"Well, tell me about it." He encouraged, settling back onto the pillows of his California king. "Who was the creature of the week?" he wanted to know everything about what she was up to these days. Getting the details through Caroline just wasn't the same.

Bonnie crossed her legs in front of her. "El Cucuy…the boogieman. Kind of a big deal." She joked.

"No kidding. Well, I hope you sent him running scared."

"We chopped his head off." She laughed. "Don't think he'll be gorging on children any time soon."

"That's my girl." He grinned, but the was an awkward moment of silence on her end and Damon's Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. "It's good to hear your voice, Bon. I really miss you."

She bowed her head, biting down on her lips. "Damon..." she warned lamely.

He squeezed his eyes closed hoping his didn't ruin it. "I know. I'm sorry."

"I just called because I needed to tell you that…I just think we need some space from each other." Bonnie explained uneasily.

"He tried to keep the hurt out of his voice. "And the other side of the country isn't space enough?"

"I don't just mean physically." She looked skyward to the ceiling, searching for the words. "I miss my friend. I miss May tenths and pancakes and my drinking buddy. I don't want to lose that." She whispered sadly, swiping at a tear.

His face pinched with a wince, hearing the pain in her voice. It hurt him just as much as it hurt her. "You won't." And he meant it. Even if it killed him.

"I want us to get back there; back to being friends, but not right now…" she continued. "it's too soon. It's too hard. I need time." She admitted painfully.

"Of course. Whatever you need." The words got caught in his throat. She was right. This was hard. "Well…" he sighed trying to inject some life into his voice. "There's a Krystal with K somewhere waiting for me to give her the night of her life so…" He was happy when it made her giggle quietly to herself. "I'll let you go." He finished reluctantly. "If you need anything…you know where to find me."

"Goodnight, Damon."

"Goodnight Bon Bon." He responded softly with affection; a tone he reserved only for her.

…

After showering and changing Hope and Sam finally settled in. Hope bent down, reaching into the mini fridge for a couple of beers. She popped the cap off them both before handing one to Sam and taking a long sip of hers, plopping down on her bed.

"It's Lucifer." Sam blurted out, making her slide her eyes over to him. "My dreams. They're about Lucifer." She slowly put her beer down on the nightstand and gave him her full attention, scooting closer to the edge of the bed. He took that as his cue to continue. "He's taunting me. Trying to get me to break. He wants me to give into him…say yes."

Her eyes narrowed. "Say yes to what?"

"To letting him in." He confessed. "It's me…I'm his true vessel."

She blinked rapidly as she processed the new information, worry creaking her brows. "But that's all it is right, is a dream?"

He bowed his head, swallowing thickly. "I don't think so." He met her gaze again. "Every time…in every dream…he looks like me. He's not just in my dreams, Hope…it's real."

She was reaching for him now, grabbing his hand in reassurance. "You can fight it. You're stronger than he thinks you are; you can fight him."

"I don't know if I can…" he was vulnerable in front of her, his eyes unsure. Sam dropped his head, avoiding her gaze.

Her eyes locked in on his, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at her. "You can. Sam, look at me. I believe in you. He needs you for a reason. Because you're strong. That means you have the power here, not him." As she spoke, he could see how deeply convinced of her own words she was, and it gave him hope. It brought a smile to his face at the irony. Her hands dropped from his face as she got up and climbed over her bed to her bag, and he immediately missed the warmth she provided. "Actually, there's a spell I can do to keep him out of your head." She continued rifling through for what she was looking for. Sam stood watching her with an easy smile. "It doesn't taste very good and it takes a couple days to really kick in but-" When she turned, still kneeling on the bed, Sam was right there. "It'll do the trick…" she finished, swallowing nervously at his proximity. She held her breath when Sam brushed the loose waves away from her face that jostled with her movement.

"I think I can handle it." He quirked his lips in a boyish smile that made her blush. He leaned in slowly, gauging her reaction, moving in closer when her eyes darted down to his lips. The kiss was slow and hesitant and when it started to escalate, Sam had the sense to pull away and rest his forehead on hers. "I don't want to rush this…" his whispered. "Not with you."

She beamed back at him, too stunned to answer, instead she nodded her understanding. He helped her off the bed, and laid down in his own, opening his arms for her to crawl into. She curled around him, resting her head on his chest, his fingers tunneling through her long hair, and Sam – despite not taking the magic elixir…had his first dreamless sleep, in months.

…

AN: I hope you all enjoyed that one! I noticed that most of the storyline has been very TVD heavy and I wanted to get some SPN themed content in there with the monster hunting. I am SO looking forward to writing Michael into this story. I didn't mention it in the story, but his current vessel is Adam Milligan (Sam and Dean's half brother). I have some really great ideas coming so I hope I still have your attention. I'm looking forward to exploring the budding romance between Hope and Sam too. Like I said, I wanted to fudge the dates and ages a bit so Hope is not as young as she would technically be in Legacies, and Sam is roughly twenty-six, twenty-seven. Hope is used to boys…Sam is a man, and I think that's exactly what she needs. Anyhoo, would love to hear what you think and where you think this is going! Thanks for reading - Vanessa