Supernatural Fan Fiction ❯ Hell Can Be Home Too ❯ Chapter 12

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Dean leant against Sam as Sam ran his fingers through Dean’s hair, Dean practically purring at the action. They were in the middle of nowhere but it didn’t matter since they wanted to be alone. They hadn’t seen or heard from any angels since Anna had gotten her grace back and while they did sort of miss Castiel they were happy for the time to themselves. It was like the old days, just the two of them, the open road and hunting. Things had gotten even better between them since Dean had opened up a bit about what he’d gone through in hell before Sam had saved him and while Dean was still scared of Alastair he knew that with Sam beside him he could face the bastard and they would beat him.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Dea n tapped a button on the jukebox, and then thumped the jukebox. He glared at it before heading back to the table to rejoin Sam who was on the phone, laptop in front of him.

“No, no, no, you're right, it's definitely weird. ...Okay, Bobby, thanks.” Sam said and then hung up, smiling up at Dean who grinned back as he sat down, bad mood gone.

“What's up?”
“Bobby found something in Wyoming.”
“A job?” Dean asked, grinning in excitement and Sam shrugged as he typed.
“Maybe.” Sam answered even as Dean began to eat. “Small town, no one's died in the past week and a half.”

“That so unusual?” Dean asked once he’d swallowed.  

“Well, it's how they're not dying. One guy with terminal cancer strolls right out of hospice. Another guy gets capped by a mugger and walks away without a scratch.” Sam explained, frowning at what he was finding.
“Capped in the ass?” Dean asked but Sam shook his head as he read the article.
“Police say Mr. Jenkins was shot in the heart at point-blank range by a nine-millimeter.” Sam read out loud and Dean’s eyes went wide.
“And he's not a doughnut?” he asked in disbelief.
“Locals are saying it's a miracle.”
“Okay, so demon?” Dean asked because despite working with angels neither of them believed in that sort of miracle. A town where no one dies? No way were the angels involved.
“It's got to be something nasty. I mean, people making deals or something.” Dean mumbled and Sam nodded.
“What else would it be?” Dean asked and Sam looked up.
“I don't know. All right.” Sam packed his laptop away and then squeezed Dean’s hand out of sight under the table.  “Get that to go.” He whispered before standing and Dean frowned down at his burger.  He felt a shiver of Sam’s power wrap around him, teasing him and he gulped. He forgot all about his lunch as he took off after Sam who was leaning against the Impala, eyes hidden by his hair but the smallest of amused smirks playing on his lips.

“Bitch.” Dean murmured as he came to stand in front of Sam who finally raised his head, revealing hazel eyes shining with amusement and lust. Sam smiled at him, giving him a brief kiss before getting into the car. Dean smiled and shook his head, happy to see Sam in such a teasing and happy mood.

`````````````````````````````````````
Dean smiled up at Sam as Sam hovered over him on the bed. Sam was always so gentle and careful of him when they were together that it just tugged at his heart and he couldn’t help smiling. Despite the fact that Dean was almost a match for Sam now his brother never wanted to risk hurting or scaring him, not that he could ever be scared of Sam. He moaned as Sam ran his hands over his bare skin, loving the feel of Sam’s hands on him. There was no rush tonight and he knew Sam was going to take his time but that was okay with Dean. It was nights like this that he could forget they’d ever been in hell or were no longer human. Nights when there was just gentle passion and whispered words of love. He loved it when Sam’s kisses were feather soft against his lips, teasing and promising more all at once. Powers were forgotten on nights like this, hands gently pushing clothing off instead of it vanishing, slowly revealing the longed for skin beneath. Sam’s touch made him feel so alive, more so than it had in hell and he figured it was having his body back that did it, not that he’d tell Sammy that, no way was he inviting that guilt trip in.

`````````````````````````````````````````````
“Hey.& #8221; Sam called as he walked into their room, smiling at the sight of Dean leaning over the laptop.  Dean looked up and returned his smile.
“Anything?” He asked as Sam walked over to him and dropped a gentle kiss on the top of his head.  
“That cancer survivor? He was clinically dead, his wife pulled the plug, and now he's taking her out for their twentieth anniversary.” Sam told him and Dean’s eyes widened slightly.
“Any sign of a deal?”
“No, their souls are clean of any demonic influence. What about you? Found anyone dying around here?” Sam asked as he settled into the seat opposite Dean.
“Not since Cole Griffith. He dropped ten days ago. It was the last death I could find.” Dean nodded at the obituary.
“So, what are you thinking?” Sam asked as he scanned the article for himself.
 “Eh, maybe it is what the people say it is.” Dean muttered, shrugging since he had no clue what else it could be.
“Miracles? Dean, our experience, when do miracles just happen?”
“Well, there's no deals. There's, uh, no skeevy faith healers. I mean, these souls just ain't getting dragged into the light.” Dean ticked off everything they’d faced that could be responsible.
“Maybe 'cause there's no one around to carry them.” Sam suddenly said and Dean frowned.  
“What do you mean?” He asked as he handed Sam a mug of coffee, taking a deep drink from his own.  
“Well, grim reapers—that's what they do, right? Schlep souls? So, if death ain't in town—“
“Then nobody's dying. So what? The local reaper's on strike? Playing the back nine? I don't know, Sam.” Dean argued even as he snatched one of the donuts Sam had brought back with him, smiling as he ate it. Sure Sam had somehow supplied food in hell but this was different, way better.  
“Well, then, let's talk to somebody who might.”
“Well, last I checked, huggy bear ain't available.” Dean smirked and Sam rolled his eyes.
“No, dude, the kid.” Sam threw a donut at him and Dean caught it, happily biting into it.
“The kid? The kid's a doornail.” He said once he’d swallowed.
“Exactly. Look, if he was the last person to die around here, then maybe he's seen something. We should talk to him.”
“I love how matter-of-fact you are about that. Strange lives.” Dean said with a grin and Sam smiled at him.

`````````````````````````````````````````````
Sam was snarling under his breath, eyes flickering yellow, as he half carried Dean back into their room.

“Well....that went well.” Dean groaned as Sam carefully lowered him to the bed, getting an irritated glare from Sam.
“Hey we know Alastair is behind this so we did learn something.” Dean tried again, wanting to calm Sam down. Sam sighed and nodded, gently checking Dean over for injuries and Dean let him, knowing Sam needed it.
“I’m alright Sammy, just got winded from hitting that tombstone.” Dean soothed, reaching up to run his hands over Sam’s arms and Sam lowered his head to kiss Dean.

“When he threw you.....I promised I wouldn’t let him hurt you again.” Sam whispered and Dean could see the tears gathering.

“And he didn’t, you kept your promise Sammy. Not to mention you kicked his ass so bad he ran away like a little girl.” Dean soothed and Sam slowly began to relax. Dean used his grip on Sam’s arms to gently pull Sam down and soon Sam was curled around him on the bed and Dean relished in the feelings of being utterly protected, something he once would have denied needing to feel.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````
̶ 0;Bobby called. He did some digging.” Sam called softly as Dean slowly stretched out on the bed, eyes opening leisurely. He took a second to think over hwta Sam had said.
“And?”
“He thinks I'm right. Local reaper's gone. Not just gone—kidnapped.”

“By demons? Why? Not like they need a Reaper to kill people.”
“Listen to this. ‘And he bloodied death under the newborn sky—sweet to taste, but bitter when once devoured.’”
“Swanky. What the hell's that mean?” Dean asked as he sat up and began getting dressed.
“Well, it's from a very obscure, very arcane version of Revelations.” Sam told him, face completely serious and Dean sighed.
“Which means what I think it means?”
“Basically, you kill a reaper under the solstice moon—tomorrow night, by the way—you got yourself a broken seal.”
“How do you ice a reaper? You can't kill death.”
“I don't know. Maybe some demons can, I wouldn’t have any idea where to start even trying though. Where the hell are the angels is what I want to know. We could use their help for once.”
“It looks like we're gonna have to take care of this one ourselves.” Dean said but he agreed with Sam, they could really use Cas on this one.

“What are we gonna do, just swing in and save the friendly neighborhood reaper?” Sam grumbled and Dean grinned but shrugged.
“You got a better idea, I'm all ears.”
“Dean, reapers are invisible. The only people that can see them are the dead and the dying.”
“Well, if ghosts are the only ones that can see them...hang on.....to be grabbing them wouldn’t the demons need to be able to see them? Does that mean we can if we try?”  

“How? Not like we got a manual on this stuff.” Sam said as he tossed Dean his half of the breakfast.

“Call Alice, see if she knows? At least we’re fairly sure she’s on our side since you gave her permission to stay top side.”

“Maybe.” Sam closed his eyes, reaching out with his powers to call the demon to them. Ten minutes later there was a hesitant knock on their door and Dean went over to open it, letting Alice in.

“Master.” She greeted respectfully, actually bowing slightly to Sam before turning to Dean and inclining her head.
“Consort.” She greeted and Dean started to choke on his coffee.

“Consort?” He managed to ask after clearing his airway and she looked between them.

“That was what I was told is your title....I apologise if I have messed up.” She backpedalled and then nearly jumped when Sam’s hand dropped onto her shoulder.

“Relax. It makes sense considering.” Sam told her and she nodded, glad she wasn’t about to be sent back....or worse.
“Do you know what’s going on here?”

“No Master.” She answered.

“Alastair is planning to break a Seal by killing a Reaper. We need to stop him but we can’t see Reapers. However since they have to see them to capture them we’re assuming it can be done.”

“Of course Master, all you need to do is leave the shell. In true form we can see so much more.” She answered and they exchanged looks. Leave their bodies? Was that even possible for Sam?

“Thank you.” Dean said and she nodded, leaving them alone.
“So.....leave our bodies?”

“Easier for you than me. You can technically leave whenever you want; you just have to will it to happen like any demon. Me however.....this is not gonna be fun.” Sam groaned.

````````````````````````````````````````
“Sammy ?” Dean whispered shakily and Sam smiled up at him.

“It’s okay Dean, you can do this.”

“And if I screw up?” Dean asked, staring at the incantation fearfully. Sam reached up and gently cupped his cheek in one hand, Dean leaning into his touch.

“You won’t, I believe in you Dean.” Sam whispered and Dean nodded, taking a deep breath before he began to read the incantation. When he finished he looked to see Sam lying completely limp on the bed, eyes half open but unseeing.

“Sam? Sammy?” Dean called, reaching out to shake Sam’s unresponsive form. He gasped as a familiar looking cloud suddenly brushed up against him.
“Sam......that you?” The cloud wrapped around him and Dean closed his eyes as he felt the love it radiated. The cloud moved away and then it slowly began to stretch out until it was in the basic shape of a person and Dean grinned.
“Show off.” Dean grumbled and the cloud seemed to laugh.
“My turn I guess.” Dean murmured and then moved to lie down beside Sam. Sam’s...soul for lack of a better word, moved to hover at his side and he gave it a shaky smile before closing his eyes and focusing on leaving his body. He felt funny, disconnected and then he was looking down at his body. He looked over and saw Sam standing on the other side of the bed.

“Told you, you could do it.” Sam told him and Dean smiled, reaching for Sam only for his hand to go right through him.

“Sam?” Dean asked in alarm and Sam moved closer, letting his hand hover just above Dean and Dean found he could feel....something, almost like static.

“It’s alright Dean, no bodies remember? Come on; let’s see what we can find.”

`````````````````````````````````````````````````
“Cole?” She wrapped her bathrobe tighter around herself as she looked around the empty room.  
“It's Mom. Your dad thinks I'm crazy. Are you here? A picture frame fell over. I could have sworn it was you, baby. Are you still here with me?” She pleaded and then the soccer ball on the dresser started to spin before flying past her to bounce off the door.  “Oh, my god!” She left the room, going straight through Sam and Dean who ended up being pelted by balls.  
“Stop! How are you doing that?” Dean called out to the kid who did stop but stared suspiciously at them.

“Who are you?” Cole demanded shakily, eyes wide.
“You’re.....smoke. You’re like that thing!”
 “Relax, Cole. It's okay.” Sam tried, holding his hands up.
“How do you know my name?”
“Look, this isn't gonna be easy to hear, but...you're—dead. You're a spirit. Us too, sort of.” Sam tried and Dean just looked at him.
“Yeah, thanks, Haley Joel. I know I'm dead. What do you want?” Cole snapped at them.
“We just want to talk.”
“About what?” Cole demanded.

````````````````````````````````````````````````
 220;This all must be pretty overwhelming, huh? Pretty scary, too.” Sam said as he sat down next to Cole’s closet.
“The worst is my mom.” The kid whispered sadly.
“Must be hard seeing her like this.”
“She's always coming in here, talking to me, telling me how sad she is. I knock some stuff over to let her know I'm here, but...she only gets sadder.” Cole admitted, leaning forwards a little. Sam chuckled.
“Well, you might want to ease up on the flying soccer balls.” He told him and Cole stared at the floor.
“I'm not telling you where the smoke is. Besides you’re smoke too, why can’t you find it?”

“Because Dean and I.....we’re trying to help people. The other smoke isn’t, it wants to....well it wants to do some really bad things that will hurt everyone. That’s why it took the Reaper and why we have to find and stop it.” Sam stopped, thinking.
“What if I told you that if you helped me, you wouldn't have to leave here? Ever?” He offered.
“What about the one downstairs?” Cole asked.
“Tessa? Oh, she wouldn't bother you. No reaper would. You could just stay here with your family For as long as you wanted.”
“You can do that?” Cole asked hopefully and Sam smiled.
“Yeah, you bet I can do that. I’m smoke too after all.”
“You swear?”
“I swear.” Sam answered, feeling a small flinch of guilt at lying. Though he could help the kid stay it would be better for him to move on.

```````````````````````````````````````````
Dean sat up with a gasp, coughing on the last of his own.....cloud and wasn’t that a weird thing to even think about. He took a few deep breaths and then looked over at Sam who was still hovering next to his body. Dean pulled Sam’s body into his arms before whispering in his ear, watching as the cloud was suddenly sucked into Sam’s body and he jerked in Dean’s arms.

“Easy Sammy.” Dean whispered and Sam took some deep breaths.

“Can we never do that again?” Sam asked and Dean laughed.

“Wasn’t that bad.”

“Says you.” Sam grumbled, content for the moment to let Dean hold him. But they had a hunt to finish, preferably before another Seal was broken so Sam reluctantly sat up and then got off the bed.
“We better get moving, not much time.” Sam said, looking out the window to see that it was night time. They grabbed weapons and then left the room, heading for the funeral parlour.
 
“This looks like New Jack City. Can nobody can see this?” Dean asked as they stared at the building, earning a few odd looks from other people but they were used to that.
“Maybe it's demon invisible ink. Only see it if you’re a demon or in the veil.” Sam offered quietly.
“Any idea what it's for?”
“We'll find out.” Sam stated, reaching for the door. It opened easily and they walked inside, looking around. They paused as they spotted a demon standing over the two Reapers and Dean grinned before appearing before the weaker demon and slamming his fist into its face. Sam smiled indulgently and then followed Dean, getting his own hit in on the poor over classed demon.  Unfortunately neither was watching their feet so they didn’t notice the interesting design on the floor until they were on top of it. Another demon appeared to finish the one unfinished line and the brothers suddenly found themselves trapped.  A third demon strolled causally into the room and smirked at them.

“Boys. Find the place okay?” The demon asked as his eyes rolled to white briefly, letting them both know who they were facing. Alastair walked up to them, stopping just outside the very elaborate design and then he splashed Dean with holy water and Dean hissed in pain.
“Holy water, rock salt and a few other little ingredients, painful for demons of even your calibre.  Not so much fun anymore, is it?” Alastair taunted and Sam glared at him even as Dean got control of the pain.
“Alastair. You bastard.” Dean snarled.
“Well, go on. Why don't you try some of your mojo on me now, hotshot?” Dean glanced at Sam who silently fumed, unable to reach Alastair past the circle.

“Go to hell.” Sam snapped at him and Alastair sighed.
“Ah, if only I could. But they just keep sending me back up to this arctic craphole.” He told them as he approached the Reaper’s.
“To kill death?” Dean asked, staring at Tessa.  
“No, to kill death twice. It takes two to break a seal. I figured another one would show up, though. They're like lemmings.” He said and then tossed the water on Sam who hissed, holding his stomach as the skin smoked.
“By the way, it's, uh, good to see you again, Dean.”
“You can splash us all you want, but you can't kill us.” Dean stated smugly and Alastair smirked.

“Maybe, maybe not.” He took out a scythe, turning it over in his hands.
“Anyhoo... Moon's in the right spot. The board is set. Let's get started, shall we?”  
“You're gonna kill a reaper with that? It's little on the nose, don't you think?”
“Is it? An old friend lent it to me. You know, he doesn't really ride a pale horse? But he does have three amigos.” Alastair said as he walked over to the male Reaper. “And they're just jonesing for the apocalypse.” He knelt beside the Reaper, looking up to grin at the trapped brothers. “It pays to have friends in low places.” He grabbed the Reaper by its collar and hauled him up.
“Don't you think?” He put the scythe to the Reaper’s neck and the mans eyes opened but he seemed unable to struggle.
“Hic cruor messorius, illud sigillum, quod luciferem reverendum obstringit, aperiat ut resurgat!” Alastair pulled the scythe across his neck and there was a white-blue light. When it was gone he lowered the Reaper’s body to the floor and then straightened up. Sma looked around for some way to stop him and then his eyes locked on the chandelier above Alastair. Alastair went to Tessa and pulled her up, waking her up. Tessa looked at them, knowing what was happening. Sam looked at Dean and then the chandelier.
“Stop!” Tessa screamed. Dean joined Sam in staring at the chandelier, throwing everything they had at it.  
“Hic cruor messorius illud sigillum, quod luciferem reverendum obstringit—“ he chanted even as the chandelier began to vibrate. Tessa watched them and began to think she might survive.
“—aperiat ut—“ the chandelier ‘s chain snapped.
“—resurgat!” it landed on a corner of the Reaper trap, breaking it and Tessa vanished. She reappeared in front of the brothers and knelt, breaking the trap.
“Bye-bye.” Dean called and all three vanished. They reappeared in the boys’ motel room and Dean flopped down onto his bed, still a bit sore. Sam was instantly at his side, pulling Dean’s shirt up to take a look.
“M’fine Sam.” Dean complained but Sam continued to look for any serious damage.

“Thank you both.” Tessa said and they both looked over at her before nodding.

“It’s our job.” Dean muttered and she smiled.

“I could use your help.” Tessa said and Sam nodded.

“I’ll go, Dean you stay here and rest.”

“Sam I’m fine, besides I’m not the only one who got splashed.” Dean pointed and Sam just stared at him, puppy dog eyes out in full force.
“Fine.” Dean grumbled and Sam kissed him gently before vanishing with Tessa.

“You can't run. Dean.” Dean was off the bed in an instant, ready for a fight and then he just stared at Alastair. The demon advanced and Dean backed up towards the bathroom.
“Not from me. I'm inside that angsty little noggin of yours.” He taunted and then screamed as blue-white lightning struck him. Dean shielded his eyes and when he looked Alastair was gone.  
“What the hell?” Dean muttered in confusion.
“Guess again.” He spun, relaxing and even smiling slightly when he saw Castiel.
“What just happened? You and Sam just saved a seal. We captured Alastair. Dean, this was a victory.” Castiel explained calmly, walking over to stand opposite Dean.
“Well, no thanks to you.”
“What makes you say that?” The angel asked.
“You were here the whole time?” Dean demanded to know.
“Enough of it.” Castiel looked away, ashamed?
“Well, thanks for your help with the holy water on steroids.”
“That script on the funeral home—we couldn't penetrate it.” Castiel explained and he found he meant it, without that he would have stepped in to help them escape.
“That was angel-proofing.”
“Why do you think I recruited you and Sam in the first place?” Castiel asked with a small smile.
“You recruited us?” Dean frowned and Castiel nodded.
“That wasn't your friend Bobby who called, Dean. It wasn't Bobby who told Sam about the seal.” Castiel explained and Dean’s eyes narrowed.
“That was you?” He demanded and Castiel looked down.
“If you want our help, why the hell didn't you just ask?” He snapped and Castiel took a half step back as Dean’s eyes flashed violet.
“Because whatever I ask, you seem to do the exact opposite.” Castiel stated flatly and Dean sighed, leaning back against the wall, anger gone.
“So, what now, huh? The people in this town, they just gonna start dying again?”
“Yes.”
“These are good people. What, you think you can make a few exceptions?” Dean asked quietly.

“To everything there is a season.” Was the equally as quiet answer.
“You made an exception for me.” Dean looked up at him and Castiel paused before looking at Dean.

“You're different.” With that the angel was gone.

Dean sighed and then went into the bathroom, deciding that he really needed a shower. When he re-emerged Sam was back, leaning back on the bed. Seeing Dean standing there in just a towel Sam smiled and held out a hand. Dean eagerly joined him on the bed, smiling as Sam removed his towel for him, pulling him into his arms.

“Everything went okay with Tessa?” Dean asked as he snuggled into Sam’s arms.

“Cole moved on in the end. Guess we’re done here. I was thinking....maybe we should track Alastair down and stop him?” Sam asked and Dean smiled.

“No need. He....showed up and then the angels captured him, according to Castiel anyway.”

“Good. Hope they let us have a swing at him if they’re going to kill him.” Sam muttered before kissing Dean who eagerly responded.

TBC...



Converting /tmp/phpuEc6FP to /dev/stdout