Stomach bug? Part 5
Title: Stomach Bug? (chps 19 to 22)
Summary: Sam is sick with what appears to be a stomach bug, Dean must find out what it is as the situation gets worse. Mystery and angst in this...also contains graphic scenes
Characters/Pairings: Gen, Dean, Sam, Mild Dean/OC, other OCs
Author:
chocca2
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: *sigh* No, I don’t own them, I don’t own much, in fact there have been questions surrounding the ownership of my mind. However, saying that, any characters you don’t recognize have been derived from my head.
Warnings: Violence, graphic descriptions, Strong language, Dark fic
Author’s Note: This was done a while ago so its set around season one. It was my first SN fanfic and originally posted on Fanfiction.net. It's quite a long story (around 30,000 words in total) so will post a few chapters at a time to make a bit more manageable to read. Reviews are very welcome!
(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7)
As if time itself had slowed down, Dean watched the beaker and all its contents slip from his finger tips and fall to the ground. The glass shattered into pieces and the crash echoed through the silent room.
The hunter instincts within him took hold immediately. He raised his shot gun in one swift movement and stood firm with his eyes locked on the target waiting for it to make the first move. The dark shadow remained motionless causing the atmosphere to become dense with anticipation.
"Dean! Don’t shoot!" Evelyn’s voice was filled with desperation as she repeated it again.
"Don’t shoot Dean. It won’t work."
"What?" His reply was sharp and he turned slightly still keeping his target in sight.
"What the hell are we gonna do?"
Before Evelyn could respond, the shadow dispersed into the darkness and disappeared.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"That didn’t go how I imagined it and by the look on your face you feel the same?"
Dean shot Evelyn a concerned look before drawing closer to Sam.
Evelyn did not answer with her voice, in fear of losing composure, but her expression said it all. Blinking rapidly she looked down at Celia’s unconscious body. She brought the young woman closer to her and sat in silence.
Dean knelt next to his baby brother and brushed his hand through Sam’s hair.
"Hey Sammy, It’s over." He tipped his head to the ground as he thought about the shadow that was previously before them.
With his voice almost a whisper he looked up at Sam with disappointment on his face.
"No, wait, it’s nearly over Sammy, just hold on a bit longer."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pain. Sharp, throbbing pain was the first thing he felt. The centre of it coming from his stomach and flowing up through his spine right to the temples of his head. Sam wanted to cry, but that seemed too much effort. Every breath he took caused the agony to radiate further across his body.
‘ Dean? Oh God! Please help me!’ He desperately pleaded in his head for the only person he knew would bring comfort to him.
He couldn’t remember the last time he wanted his brother so desperately. Sam knew his thoughts went unheard and that he would have to voice them. He licked his dry lips and tried to swallow realizing that it would be a challenge to speak.
It took everything he had left in him to open his eyes only to find darkness and haze. Sam concentrated against the throbbing to make out the voices surrounding him.
‘Dean? He’s here thank god.’ Sam made another attempt to open his eyes and focus them on the familiar voice.
The room was spinning and his vision was doubled, however he could just make out the outline of his brother who was standing with his back facing him.
As he strained his eyes to focus, he noticed that there was something else in the room, he couldn’t see it, but he could feel it. It was something evil and it had his brother’s attention.
Licking his lips once more, Sam attempted to call out Dean’s name.
‘Dean?’ Once again, his attempt was unsuccessful and only caused more pain to shoot through his body, this time taking away all of his senses as it engulfed him.
Sam sobbed as he passed out.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Evelyn?" Dean stood upright from his station next to Sam and walked over to the older woman.
"Evelyn?" He sighed as he received no response.
Dean placed his hand on her shoulder as he softly applied pressure. "Evelyn? Please, I need you. We’ve got to keep it together?"
This time, Dean forced the older woman to make eye contact with him. Dean felt a chill ripple down his spine as he saw the vacant expression on her face. She was obviously in shock and the events of the night were beginning to take their toll on her.
"Look, I know how you feel, but we have to finish this, Sam and Celia need us." The hunter emphasized his last words.
Evelyn snapped from her trance and looked him in the eyes. She saw his hunger for a resolution and the last words he spoke pierced her heart as she regained some composure. Sam and Celia needed them. Nodding her head, she looked around the room taking in the situation again.
"I’m sorry honey, it’s just…all this…I…" Evelyn’s voice trembled. She looked down at Celia.
Dean took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder at Sam on the bed. He wanted to give Evelyn time, but knew that they were vulnerable and in danger.
"Look. We need to buy some time. At least until we can figure how to waste this thing." Dean placed his hand over hers.
"I know you can do something to protect us again? Can you do that?" Dean eyed Evelyn as he waited for a response.
"Tell me what you need? How can I help?"
Evelyn cleared her throat and looked up at Dean. "Okay, I…I can protect the house, we need the house…Maybe if you stay with…" Evelyn looked down at Celia then at Sam, her face showing concern for both of them.
"What can I get you? Tell me what you need." Dean pleaded. He didn’t want to leave his brother, but he knew time was running out.
Evelyn shook her head in response. "No… I’m the only one who can do this, you need to stay here and protect them while I…It’s complicated, but I can do it." She watched the hunter’s disapproving eyes as she spoke.
"Your brother needs you and Celia needs your protection, please take care of her. I have to fix this Dean."
Dean felt uncomfortable about letting Evelyn go out alone while this thing was loose. He knew she could handle herself, but he felt safer if they stuck together.
"Okay, how long will it take?… The protection?" Dean stood and picked up his gun.
"Fifteen minutes." Evelyn started to untangle herself from Celia.
"There’s not much here, but you can use this." She held out a small black pouch.
"Spread what’s in there in circle around yourselves. Stay in it until I’m done." Evelyn motioned for Dean to help with Celia.
Dean gently moved Sam over to the right before he walked toward Evelyn and lifted the young woman’s unconscious form over to Sam’s bed. He carefully placed her next to his brother.
Evelyn was standing behind the hunter. She looked up at him and produced a reassuring smile as she placed a hand on the side of Dean’s face.
"Take care of them Okay? Your brother’s lucky to have you and Celia, well we both know how she feels about you." Evelyn broke eye contact as she turned away and walked out of the room leaving Dean speechless.
He was confused, yet he knew what he had heard. She was saying goodbye.
Dean shook his head hoping that he was wrong, that Evelyn had not spoken her last words to him. He barely had time to process his thoughts when he heard his brother’s cry.
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"Sam? Hey bro I’m here." Dean knelt over Sam’s bed. He looked over at Celia whose status had not changed.
"How ya feeling kiddo?" Dean asked while watching Sam return to consciousness. His observations turned into concern when he noticed the frown and creases on his brother’s forehead.
Sam’s sobs were muffed as he attempted to open his eyes, he could sense, and vaguely hear his brother’s voice.
"Dean? Help me, please." Sam groaned.
Dean swallowed the lump in his throat; his brother was still suffering.
"I’m here Sammy? What’s wrong?" A tear slipped from Sam’s eye as he moaned and looked up at his brother.
"Oh god! My stomach! Dean, I can’t take…the pain!" Sam was exhausted from speaking. He rolled over to his side and curled in on himself, bringing his knees to his stomach.
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Sam could hear his brother’s voice. He could feel the sturdy, yet gentle grip on his shoulder as he curled in on himself in an attempt to gain some control over the pain.
He tried to focus, tried to think about something else other than the agony, however it was no use. He couldn’t shake the feeling that gripped him.
Sam wanted to cry out. He wanted to scream, but then realized that it would be impossible because he was sobbing violently. He felt the pillow grow moist with his tears as he trembled and rocked his body.
He also felt a strong embrace around him. He tensed before understanding that it was Dean. He couldn’t make any sense of what was being said, but he received some comfort in knowing that his brother was there.
Although Sam had his eyes firmly closed, he knew that Dean had him, he was safe.
Safe in his brother’s arms.
xxxxXXXxxxx
Evelyn’s hands trembled as she arranged the few items that she had found in her bag.
‘This isn’t enough!’ She thought as she looked around the bedroom, knowing she would have to search the house for some other ingredients.
Her stomach sank as she thought about what she would be forced to do.
She hadn’t lied to Dean. She could protect them and the house, but it would be at a high cost.
Evelyn looked at the ground and bit her lower lip. This was something that she swore never to do again. She swore that she would never return to these ways, knowing the consequences all to well. After all, she had seen what happened to her former friend and she knew that with a Loa, there was always a sacrifice.
….. 20 years ago….
The two women rushed into the room, shutting the door behind them as they playfully chuckled and placed their belongings on the ground.
"Do you think she saw us?" One of the out of breath women spoke softly.
"No, I don’t think so."
"What is it that you told her? That Rose had better keep her mouth shut!" The shorter of the two spat while spilling all of the contents of her bag across the table.
Both women rush through this process and twenty minutes later the preparations were complete. Each woman worked out her individual duties and they worked carefully around each other.
Aurora looked over at Evelyn and smiled.
They stood side by side in front of the small wooden table.
"Now, you’re sure that we have everything?" Evelyn’s dark eyes were serious as she questioned the woman that stood next to her.
"Yes, I’m sure" Aurora nodded and then with a grin, added, "mother."
"I’m not your mother Aurora, but I am older n’ bigger than you are! As a matter of fact, I’m wiser too." She added as she playfully nudged her friend.
Aurora rolled her eyes and she nudged the taller woman back. She quickly looked around the room and drew in a deep breath.
"You ready Eve?" She asked with keen eyes.
Slowly, she positioned the knife over her palm. Evelyn replied with a curt nod, picked up her own blade, positioned it, and held her hand over the bowl.
"As ready as I’ll ever be. You do know that there’s no turning back once we start this, right?" Her face was serious again as she questioned she shorter woman.
"Now I mean it Aurora, you know what where doing here, this stuff, it’s not…." Before she could finish she felt a soft hand over her lips.
The woman before her looked up at her and gave her a cocky sigh.
"I’ve heard this all before Eve, don’t you go all soft on me. Now, are we gonna do this or what?"
Evelyn let out little giggle as she realized how repetitive she had become.
"Okay, okay." The atmosphere became tense as silence once again filled the room.
Each woman drew their blades swiftly across their palms, hiding grimaces as the skin was broken.
The blood from the fresh cuts dripped into the bowl, staining the other ingredients with crimson. Sounds of a hand made shaker and chanting began. It penetrated through the dark room.
Both women wavered as they watched the candles blow out one by one. As the last one blew out, they stopped and drew closer to each other. The room remained silent for over a minute before they both gripped tightly to one another.
Their attention turned toward the new presence in the far corner. The air was thick and the light was sparse, however both knew it was there.
"It worked!" Aurora whispered, her voice filled with excitement and fear.
Evelyn replied with a gasp. "We did it! The Loa, it’s here!"
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Dean wrung the small towel firmly, squeezing the excess liquid away before placing it onto his brother’s forehead. He brushed away the bangs that clung to Sam’s face.
"Sammy, your fever is really up there." Dean whispered sharply.
He watched his brother twitch at the touch of the cold towel. He knew that Sam was awake. Although the youngest’s eyes were closed, Dean could sense that Sam could feel his presence. With that in mind, he continued to speak, muttering soft nothingness into Sam’s ear in a vain attempt to provide some comfort from the nightmarish ordeal that Sam was going through.
The speaking was done just as much for himself as it was for his brother. He knew that he had to remain strong. He couldn’t let Sam see him struggling for control over his emotions. He was the oldest. He was the one with the most control, the most bravery. He was the one that was supposed to console the youngest one’s troubles and worries.
Dean knew that he was strong, but the lack of sleep caused the adrenaline levels in his bloodstream to plummet down until they hardly existed at all, which made it all the more difficult to stay focussed and keep strong. His ears were sharp, able to pick up even the smallest noise, but the last ten minutes had consisted of nothing, but his own movements and sounds.
Evelyn had been gone for more than an hour and Dean knew that something wasn’t quite right with her. He’d known it even before she had left, she’d been planning something that she didn’t want him involved in. That single, gnawing bit of understanding, the understanding that something was definitely up was enough for Dean to lose patience with himself for letting her go alone in the first place, especially with that thing still lurking around out there.
Despite the mental lashing he was giving himself for letting Evelyn go alone, another, slightly more prominent voice of reason and rationalization chimed through telling him that Evelyn seemed to know what she was doing. It was very likely that she’d be fine, she could take care of herself, but at the moment, Sam was unable to. Sam was still sick. The fever within the younger brother was consuming him and clouding his consciousness. Sam was suffering, while that thing was still out there. He hoped against hope that whatever Evelyn was up to, it involved the permanent punishment of the creature that did this to his brother.
He listened to the silence and realized just how much he missed Sam’s nagging voice yapping at him and rattling off some research containing terms that Dean had no idea about and was forced to ask Sam for a translation into ‘Dean English’ so he could grab whatever weapons and supplies needed and kick some serious bad guy ass. Hell, Dean even missed the ‘lost puppy’ look in Sam’s eyes as he placed every ounce of trust he had on his big brother. Sam trusted him, trusted him with his life, a life that Dean wasn’t too keen on letting slip away, not when there was something he could do about it.
‘We’ll get through this, Sam. I’ll find a way to get you out of this mess.’ Dean thought to himself and then his face blanked with a hint of ghosting amusement.
Damn it! He’d just gone all chick flicky on himself. It’s a good thing Sam wasn’t coherent enough to rib him about it or he would never live it down.
--------------------------------
Sam felt like his body was burning from the inside out. The ripples of pain and heat, followed by the fear and longing for an end caused a scream to boil just beneath the surface and lodge itself in the core of his very soul.
A sensation of cold tingling, coming from an unknown source helped him to draw attention away from the nightmare he was caught up in, but there was still discomfort. Something inside of him was stirring and he could feel it slowly consuming him one painful piece by one painful piece.
‘C’mon, just focus. Try to move, concentrate on moving, forget about everything else and just focus.’ Sam urged himself through his painful mind.
"Sam...fever...up there." Dean’s distant words slid through his thoughts.
‘Oh, I must have a fever, I’ve had fevers before. That would explain why it’s so damn difficult to focus. Wait though, this time seems different, somehow...’ Sam thought to himself as his brother’s words registered on his scale of understanding.
Different or not, it was okay. Dean would take care of him, he always had, why should this time be any different? Sam felt his head being moved, but it gained no reaction of fear within him because he knew it was just Dean. The pain throbbing through him made it hard to understand the words that Dean was speaking, but he gave in and allowed his body to be guided by the careful hands of his brother. He trusted Dean. He trusted Dean with his life.
A rush of cool liquid passed over his lips and only then did he realize what was happening. He opened his mouth to sip greedily at the water that would calm the fiery inferno that was his body, but the liquid was pulled away before the fire was put out. It was torture! He groaned a bit, wanting the liquid back to calm the flames and then he felt a hand on his shoulder and a comforting presence looming above him. Dean. It was definitely Dean.
"Okay, I’m gonna give the water back, but you have to drink it slowly, Sammy." Dean’s voice was firm and soothing all at the same time and Sam could hear the worry in the words.
The water was returned and Sam did as he was told, drinking it slowly until he could drink no more. The lingering moisture on his lips was brushed away and Sam remembered that he had to breathe. He choked down the puddle of water still in his mouth as a result of his greed for the liquid and drew a deep breath, feeling his stomach flip a bit, he willed the water to remain in place.
Despite his best efforts, the water simply refused to cooperate. Sam tried to choke back the burning in his throat, but knew he no longer had control. He moaned incoherently and Dean responded immediately, knowing what was about to happen. He gently turned Sam onto his side and waited for what was to come.
Sam felt the familiar taste of copper metal invading his mouth, followed quickly by convulsing pain that caused him to stiffen. He coughed, trying to rid himself of the awful taste and horrible pain and heard Dean’s near-panicked voice ring in his ears as the red fluid from before flowed freely past his dry lips.
"Oh shit! Sammy!"
xxxxXXXxxxx
Evelyn looked down at her trembling hands. She fought to keep them still, while grasping firmly on the handle of the blade that she slid over her palm. Her breath came in heavy gasps and her anxiety grew with every breath.
The creases on her forehead multiplied and a small sob escaped her lips as she recalled a memory that she had never forgiven and it had never been forgotten, no matter how much she tried to push it away it always found a way to return and haunt her like a ghost.
20 years ago
2 days after the conjuring.
The air was thick with panic and regret and quilted with an intense silence that was finally broken by the older of the two women.
"Aurora we need to fix this and we have to do it soon!" Evelyn replied.
Aurora became unnerved by the tone of the other woman’s. It was filled with fear, remorse and guilt.
Everything had been planned. The conjuring, the spell, the equipment, everything, right down to the very last detail. The two women had worked well together, each bringing skills of varying levels to the table. The pieces of their plan had taken shape. Everything was supposed to have been planned! Still they left out one very important detail, the ‘what if.’
What if things went wrong? Neither woman had thought of that. They hadn’t expected that factor to be needed. In a perfect world, the world the envisioned, nothing went wrong, everything went perfect. Yet their world was not the real world and in the real world, bad things often happened and this was one of those times...Things had gone wrong. Things had gone very wrong. The Loa was out of control, neither woman could control it and it wanted to hurt them, it wanted to rid itself of them once and for all. It had already tried twice, one for each woman and they had the scars to show for it, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Now the women wanted out, this wasn’t part of the plan. They wanted out now.
The ‘what if’ was a small, yet crucially fundamental piece to making the final picture and the lack of experience of both women had come back for them.
"There is a way." Aurora dropped her head to gaze at the ground. She didn’t want to face her friend, didn’t want to make eye contact because what she was about to say went against all that her friend believed in.
Evelyn moved closer, frowning. She had heard what Aurora had said, but wanted her to say it again.
"What was that Aurora?"
"I said there is a way we can get rid of it, without us getting hurt anymore, but we need a sacrifice." Her voice picked up in tempo a bit and she finally dared to make eye contact with Evelyn. However, the sight of the other woman’s face, tense and concerned caused her to drop her head once more. She knew that Evelyn knew what she was talking about, the flicker of familiarity in her friend’s dark eyes told her that much.
"A sacrifice." Aurora repeated.
Evelyn quickly shook her head in disapproval. "No, No!" She started to pace. "I can’t believe your even suggesting that! Do you know what that means?!?" Her strides became quicker and more anxious."Someone will have to die, Aurora!" Evelyn nearly shouted.
"Yes, I know. We have to decide on someone." Aurora choked out. Evelyn stared at her in disbelief, she couldn’t believe that her ‘friend’ was even suggesting such a notion! It went beyond a simple realization. It was directly in the centre of the realm of the cruel.
"Aurora, we got into this mess ourselves and we have to fix it. What you’re suggesting, it’s..it’s inhumane! We can’t do that! We can’t make someone else pay for our stupid mistakes! No, it has to be one of us." Evelyn’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared coldly at Aurora in disapproval.
"Evelyn, I don’t want to die! The sacrifice isn’t specific, it just has to be a human, why can’t it be someone else?" Aurora snapped.
Evelyn turned away from Aurora, wanting to lash out at Aurora for once again suggesting such a cruel act, but she knew the rules. The sacrifice wasn’t specific, it could be some stranger on the street and the Loa wouldn’t care, not as long as it got what it wanted. It was also true that neither woman wanted to die, but what Aurora was suggesting went against everything Evelyn believed. She couldn’t bare the thought of taking another human’s life to spare her own, it just wasn’t right. No, one of them had to pay for them.
"Evelyn, I am not going to die!" Aurora’s words were shouted.
From the moment Aurora mentioned taking the life of another to save their own, the two women were no longer a team. They were unable to see eye to eye and that moment was what ended their friendship forever.
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Later that same day, Aurora watched her younger cousin through piercing eyes, her mind working wildly in an attempt to save her own life.
Rose was small in frame and height. She had long, curly hair that bounced with every movement, the chocolate colour matching her eyes. Her cousin was happy, ready to face whatever was thrown at her, living the perfect life, having everything that one could ever ask for. To Aurora, Rose’s faults and imperfections went unseen in their family. Rose got pregnant, had a baby, it was considered a gift! Rose turned her back on the arts (a family tradition) and it went unchallenged by the family, they supported her in it, reasoning that it was her choice and she could do as she wished. The jealously toward Rose had been eating Aurora alive and she had finally crossed the line stretching between Love and Hate for her cousin.
Rose held a small bundle tightly against her and rocked back and forth, humming to the little life-force that giggled back to her. The sight bothered Aurora straight through to the bone. Everything about Rose bothered her.
"She doesn’t deserve anything she’s got." Aurora muttered as she turned away and walked back toward the room that held the entity.
That was it, she’d made up her mind. She wasn’t going to die, she refused to. The sacrifice had been decided upon and that sacrifice would be Rose...
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Evelyn didn’t feel the vile slip from her grip, not even the shattering of the shards that projected from the object woke her from the trance, she felt lost in thought, in pain and emotion. The thunder that roared through the sky, followed by the blinding light that crackled fiercely caused the older woman to jump. The storm that had engulfed the sky was intense and had come on quickly with a force that threatened to flatten anything in its way.
Evelyn trembled and forced her eyes shut, slowly sinking to her knees. She wanted it to be over, she just needed everything to go away. The atmosphere was intense and her mind was filled with thoughts that she had once managed to put aside, but that control had slipped away from her and she knew she would once again have to re-live the horror that she had buried long ago with the woman she once knew…..Rose.
20 years ago….
Evelyn sighed as she thought about the argument she had with Aurora. Things were tense and a silent change had taken place between them that Evelyn felt would change their friendship forever. Shaking away the thoughts that were flying through her mind, Evelyn continued toward the room that had started the whole ordeal.
She knew that they were both scared and both were not thinking clearly at the time. Everything still seemed bleak for them but at least now she had time to process what they had done and the few choices they had. Evelyn had mentally decided that she could talk to her friend and discuss what they needed to do sensibly, without involving anyone else’s suffering.
It was only when she approached the door to the room where they had conjured up the Loa that she felt the chill. It was the same chill that crawled up her spine upon the Loa’s arrival. There was light seeping through the cracks lining the door frame. She knew that someone was in there.
She figured that it had to have been Aurora and so she slowly crept toward the room. There was a deafening silence that hung heavy in the air, however, it only lasted for a few moments before a horrifying scream erupted from the closed door in front of her. She froze before opening it to reveal a sight that brought her to her knees.
What she saw chilled her to the bone. She could sense the evil power building up and surrounding her. Evelyn had walked in just in time to watch Rose’s lifeless body float in mid air.
The young woman’s back was arched while her head and arms hung limp. As Evelyn watched the dark form in shadows move, it become clear what had happened and who was responsible for it.
Another figure stood watching in the darkness as well. Tears spilled from Evelyn’s eyes and she could hear gasps and desperate pleas that escaped the form that was now distorted by her sorrow. Evelyn turned her head away from Rose’s floating body. She knew it was too late for the other woman and she was almost glad that it was nearly over for her. The pain Rose had to have been feeling must have been excruciating.
Not surprisingly, the Loa was enjoying every moment of the crisis, it had what it wanted, what it needed and now it was just having some fun at the expense of others. The Loa twisted the body in mid air and watched the lifeless woman, taking joy in the pain it had caused the helpless woman.
Evelyn remained where she’d fallen on her knees on the floor, too weak and too afraid to move. She brought her hands to cover her face and sobbed into them. She tried as hard as she could to drown out the gurgled pleas and screams that slowly began to fade as the evil consumed Rose’s body.
Present...
About ten minutes later, Evelyn felt that she had finally gained enough composure to open her eyes. The sobs she had been releasing had been so harsh that they left her body weak and trembling. The memory of Rose just floating there, helpless to the control of the Loa still haunted her and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to re-bury it this time, it had already taken control of her and she knew that to get this all to stop, another sacrifice would have to be made.
She had to tell Celia the truth about her mother. Evelyn shuddered as another jolt of lightening struck and she grabbed the nearest chair to pull herself up to the table. She picked up a nearby pen and held it so tightly that it shook with the sheer force of the grasp. She pulled a tablet of paper close to her, choked back a sob and began to write.
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Dean flinched from his thoughts when a loud crash of thunder sliced through the silence. His eyes drifted to his little brother who had once again passed out from the pain. He ran his hands nervously across his face and tried his best to keep calm.
"D..D…Dean?" It was a whisper, forced and so silent that he wasn’t sure if he’d just imagined it or if it was real.
"Evelyn?...I …Dea.." Dean was sure that he’d heard something this time.
He attempted to move to Celia’s side, but stopped when he remembered the soft grip of his brother wrapped gently around his hand. He sat back down, not willing to lose the connection that he had with Sam.
"Celia, I’m here. How are you feeling?" Dean’s voice fluctuated in tone and hovered somewhere between relief and fear, his emotions finally taking a toll on him.
"God, Celia, I thought you weren’t going to wake up. I was worried." Dean murmured to her.
Celia turned her head from side to side, her faced scrunched as she fought the nightmare that had woke her up.
"Celia? Are you with me?" Dean reached over to her, still keeping his grasp on Sam’s hand and he stroked the side of her face, gently, trying to coax her to consciousness.
"wha, what… h..happened?" Celia struggled, taking in a rushed breath.
"Oh It’s a long story. Long stories take time to tell and right now, we don’t have that time." Dean spoke softly.
The oldest Winchester watched Celia turn her head to face Sam.
"Sam’s still sick. He seems even worse and I don’t…"Again Dean felt his emotions threatening him and he took a deep breath to settle them.
"I don’t know how to help him. Evelyn’s gone. She hasn’t come back, and it’s been nearly three hours, and…" He watched Celia’s eyes move around the room as she scanned her surroundings.
"I’ve gotta find her, Celia! I have to help Sam!" His last phrase was spoken with a fierce passion that expressed the seriousness of the issue.
Celia shook her head, causing Dean to pull a frustrated expression. He watched her lick her lips and draw a breath.
"Evelyn…some…thing…wro..wrong!" Celia shouted.
Dean looked down at Sam who was still curled into the fetal position, with his hand holding Dean’s.
"It will be okay Sammy. Celia, listen I need you to stay here with Sam. Do you think you can do that?" He didn’t wait for a reply, not wanting to hear any answer other than yes.
He blew out a long breath and slid his hand out of Sam’s grip, instantly causing his younger brother to groan.
"It’s okay Sammy, I’m coming back. You stay with Celia for a bit okay?" Dean placed Sam’s hot, clammy hand into Celia’s and squeezed their palms together tightly.
"I’m going to find Evelyn." He stood up quickly, not wanting to have a change of heart.
It was difficult to leave them alone, knowing their only protection would be that offered by Evelyn. Dean looked back one last time and left the room.
"I have to make this quick." He told himself.
Summary: Sam is sick with what appears to be a stomach bug, Dean must find out what it is as the situation gets worse. Mystery and angst in this...also contains graphic scenes
Characters/Pairings: Gen, Dean, Sam, Mild Dean/OC, other OCs
Author:
chocca2
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: *sigh* No, I don’t own them, I don’t own much, in fact there have been questions surrounding the ownership of my mind. However, saying that, any characters you don’t recognize have been derived from my head.
Warnings: Violence, graphic descriptions, Strong language, Dark fic
Author’s Note: This was done a while ago so its set around season one. It was my first SN fanfic and originally posted on Fanfiction.net. It's quite a long story (around 30,000 words in total) so will post a few chapters at a time to make a bit more manageable to read. Reviews are very welcome!
(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7)
As if time itself had slowed down, Dean watched the beaker and all its contents slip from his finger tips and fall to the ground. The glass shattered into pieces and the crash echoed through the silent room.
The hunter instincts within him took hold immediately. He raised his shot gun in one swift movement and stood firm with his eyes locked on the target waiting for it to make the first move. The dark shadow remained motionless causing the atmosphere to become dense with anticipation.
"Dean! Don’t shoot!" Evelyn’s voice was filled with desperation as she repeated it again.
"Don’t shoot Dean. It won’t work."
"What?" His reply was sharp and he turned slightly still keeping his target in sight.
"What the hell are we gonna do?"
Before Evelyn could respond, the shadow dispersed into the darkness and disappeared.
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"That didn’t go how I imagined it and by the look on your face you feel the same?"
Dean shot Evelyn a concerned look before drawing closer to Sam.
Evelyn did not answer with her voice, in fear of losing composure, but her expression said it all. Blinking rapidly she looked down at Celia’s unconscious body. She brought the young woman closer to her and sat in silence.
Dean knelt next to his baby brother and brushed his hand through Sam’s hair.
"Hey Sammy, It’s over." He tipped his head to the ground as he thought about the shadow that was previously before them.
With his voice almost a whisper he looked up at Sam with disappointment on his face.
"No, wait, it’s nearly over Sammy, just hold on a bit longer."
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Pain. Sharp, throbbing pain was the first thing he felt. The centre of it coming from his stomach and flowing up through his spine right to the temples of his head. Sam wanted to cry, but that seemed too much effort. Every breath he took caused the agony to radiate further across his body.
‘ Dean? Oh God! Please help me!’ He desperately pleaded in his head for the only person he knew would bring comfort to him.
He couldn’t remember the last time he wanted his brother so desperately. Sam knew his thoughts went unheard and that he would have to voice them. He licked his dry lips and tried to swallow realizing that it would be a challenge to speak.
It took everything he had left in him to open his eyes only to find darkness and haze. Sam concentrated against the throbbing to make out the voices surrounding him.
‘Dean? He’s here thank god.’ Sam made another attempt to open his eyes and focus them on the familiar voice.
The room was spinning and his vision was doubled, however he could just make out the outline of his brother who was standing with his back facing him.
As he strained his eyes to focus, he noticed that there was something else in the room, he couldn’t see it, but he could feel it. It was something evil and it had his brother’s attention.
Licking his lips once more, Sam attempted to call out Dean’s name.
‘Dean?’ Once again, his attempt was unsuccessful and only caused more pain to shoot through his body, this time taking away all of his senses as it engulfed him.
Sam sobbed as he passed out.
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"Evelyn?" Dean stood upright from his station next to Sam and walked over to the older woman.
"Evelyn?" He sighed as he received no response.
Dean placed his hand on her shoulder as he softly applied pressure. "Evelyn? Please, I need you. We’ve got to keep it together?"
This time, Dean forced the older woman to make eye contact with him. Dean felt a chill ripple down his spine as he saw the vacant expression on her face. She was obviously in shock and the events of the night were beginning to take their toll on her.
"Look, I know how you feel, but we have to finish this, Sam and Celia need us." The hunter emphasized his last words.
Evelyn snapped from her trance and looked him in the eyes. She saw his hunger for a resolution and the last words he spoke pierced her heart as she regained some composure. Sam and Celia needed them. Nodding her head, she looked around the room taking in the situation again.
"I’m sorry honey, it’s just…all this…I…" Evelyn’s voice trembled. She looked down at Celia.
Dean took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder at Sam on the bed. He wanted to give Evelyn time, but knew that they were vulnerable and in danger.
"Look. We need to buy some time. At least until we can figure how to waste this thing." Dean placed his hand over hers.
"I know you can do something to protect us again? Can you do that?" Dean eyed Evelyn as he waited for a response.
"Tell me what you need? How can I help?"
Evelyn cleared her throat and looked up at Dean. "Okay, I…I can protect the house, we need the house…Maybe if you stay with…" Evelyn looked down at Celia then at Sam, her face showing concern for both of them.
"What can I get you? Tell me what you need." Dean pleaded. He didn’t want to leave his brother, but he knew time was running out.
Evelyn shook her head in response. "No… I’m the only one who can do this, you need to stay here and protect them while I…It’s complicated, but I can do it." She watched the hunter’s disapproving eyes as she spoke.
"Your brother needs you and Celia needs your protection, please take care of her. I have to fix this Dean."
Dean felt uncomfortable about letting Evelyn go out alone while this thing was loose. He knew she could handle herself, but he felt safer if they stuck together.
"Okay, how long will it take?… The protection?" Dean stood and picked up his gun.
"Fifteen minutes." Evelyn started to untangle herself from Celia.
"There’s not much here, but you can use this." She held out a small black pouch.
"Spread what’s in there in circle around yourselves. Stay in it until I’m done." Evelyn motioned for Dean to help with Celia.
Dean gently moved Sam over to the right before he walked toward Evelyn and lifted the young woman’s unconscious form over to Sam’s bed. He carefully placed her next to his brother.
Evelyn was standing behind the hunter. She looked up at him and produced a reassuring smile as she placed a hand on the side of Dean’s face.
"Take care of them Okay? Your brother’s lucky to have you and Celia, well we both know how she feels about you." Evelyn broke eye contact as she turned away and walked out of the room leaving Dean speechless.
He was confused, yet he knew what he had heard. She was saying goodbye.
Dean shook his head hoping that he was wrong, that Evelyn had not spoken her last words to him. He barely had time to process his thoughts when he heard his brother’s cry.
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"Sam? Hey bro I’m here." Dean knelt over Sam’s bed. He looked over at Celia whose status had not changed.
"How ya feeling kiddo?" Dean asked while watching Sam return to consciousness. His observations turned into concern when he noticed the frown and creases on his brother’s forehead.
Sam’s sobs were muffed as he attempted to open his eyes, he could sense, and vaguely hear his brother’s voice.
"Dean? Help me, please." Sam groaned.
Dean swallowed the lump in his throat; his brother was still suffering.
"I’m here Sammy? What’s wrong?" A tear slipped from Sam’s eye as he moaned and looked up at his brother.
"Oh god! My stomach! Dean, I can’t take…the pain!" Sam was exhausted from speaking. He rolled over to his side and curled in on himself, bringing his knees to his stomach.
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Sam could hear his brother’s voice. He could feel the sturdy, yet gentle grip on his shoulder as he curled in on himself in an attempt to gain some control over the pain.
He tried to focus, tried to think about something else other than the agony, however it was no use. He couldn’t shake the feeling that gripped him.
Sam wanted to cry out. He wanted to scream, but then realized that it would be impossible because he was sobbing violently. He felt the pillow grow moist with his tears as he trembled and rocked his body.
He also felt a strong embrace around him. He tensed before understanding that it was Dean. He couldn’t make any sense of what was being said, but he received some comfort in knowing that his brother was there.
Although Sam had his eyes firmly closed, he knew that Dean had him, he was safe.
Safe in his brother’s arms.
xxxxXXXxxxx
Evelyn’s hands trembled as she arranged the few items that she had found in her bag.
‘This isn’t enough!’ She thought as she looked around the bedroom, knowing she would have to search the house for some other ingredients.
Her stomach sank as she thought about what she would be forced to do.
She hadn’t lied to Dean. She could protect them and the house, but it would be at a high cost.
Evelyn looked at the ground and bit her lower lip. This was something that she swore never to do again. She swore that she would never return to these ways, knowing the consequences all to well. After all, she had seen what happened to her former friend and she knew that with a Loa, there was always a sacrifice.
….. 20 years ago….
The two women rushed into the room, shutting the door behind them as they playfully chuckled and placed their belongings on the ground.
"Do you think she saw us?" One of the out of breath women spoke softly.
"No, I don’t think so."
"What is it that you told her? That Rose had better keep her mouth shut!" The shorter of the two spat while spilling all of the contents of her bag across the table.
Both women rush through this process and twenty minutes later the preparations were complete. Each woman worked out her individual duties and they worked carefully around each other.
Aurora looked over at Evelyn and smiled.
They stood side by side in front of the small wooden table.
"Now, you’re sure that we have everything?" Evelyn’s dark eyes were serious as she questioned the woman that stood next to her.
"Yes, I’m sure" Aurora nodded and then with a grin, added, "mother."
"I’m not your mother Aurora, but I am older n’ bigger than you are! As a matter of fact, I’m wiser too." She added as she playfully nudged her friend.
Aurora rolled her eyes and she nudged the taller woman back. She quickly looked around the room and drew in a deep breath.
"You ready Eve?" She asked with keen eyes.
Slowly, she positioned the knife over her palm. Evelyn replied with a curt nod, picked up her own blade, positioned it, and held her hand over the bowl.
"As ready as I’ll ever be. You do know that there’s no turning back once we start this, right?" Her face was serious again as she questioned she shorter woman.
"Now I mean it Aurora, you know what where doing here, this stuff, it’s not…." Before she could finish she felt a soft hand over her lips.
The woman before her looked up at her and gave her a cocky sigh.
"I’ve heard this all before Eve, don’t you go all soft on me. Now, are we gonna do this or what?"
Evelyn let out little giggle as she realized how repetitive she had become.
"Okay, okay." The atmosphere became tense as silence once again filled the room.
Each woman drew their blades swiftly across their palms, hiding grimaces as the skin was broken.
The blood from the fresh cuts dripped into the bowl, staining the other ingredients with crimson. Sounds of a hand made shaker and chanting began. It penetrated through the dark room.
Both women wavered as they watched the candles blow out one by one. As the last one blew out, they stopped and drew closer to each other. The room remained silent for over a minute before they both gripped tightly to one another.
Their attention turned toward the new presence in the far corner. The air was thick and the light was sparse, however both knew it was there.
"It worked!" Aurora whispered, her voice filled with excitement and fear.
Evelyn replied with a gasp. "We did it! The Loa, it’s here!"
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Dean wrung the small towel firmly, squeezing the excess liquid away before placing it onto his brother’s forehead. He brushed away the bangs that clung to Sam’s face.
"Sammy, your fever is really up there." Dean whispered sharply.
He watched his brother twitch at the touch of the cold towel. He knew that Sam was awake. Although the youngest’s eyes were closed, Dean could sense that Sam could feel his presence. With that in mind, he continued to speak, muttering soft nothingness into Sam’s ear in a vain attempt to provide some comfort from the nightmarish ordeal that Sam was going through.
The speaking was done just as much for himself as it was for his brother. He knew that he had to remain strong. He couldn’t let Sam see him struggling for control over his emotions. He was the oldest. He was the one with the most control, the most bravery. He was the one that was supposed to console the youngest one’s troubles and worries.
Dean knew that he was strong, but the lack of sleep caused the adrenaline levels in his bloodstream to plummet down until they hardly existed at all, which made it all the more difficult to stay focussed and keep strong. His ears were sharp, able to pick up even the smallest noise, but the last ten minutes had consisted of nothing, but his own movements and sounds.
Evelyn had been gone for more than an hour and Dean knew that something wasn’t quite right with her. He’d known it even before she had left, she’d been planning something that she didn’t want him involved in. That single, gnawing bit of understanding, the understanding that something was definitely up was enough for Dean to lose patience with himself for letting her go alone in the first place, especially with that thing still lurking around out there.
Despite the mental lashing he was giving himself for letting Evelyn go alone, another, slightly more prominent voice of reason and rationalization chimed through telling him that Evelyn seemed to know what she was doing. It was very likely that she’d be fine, she could take care of herself, but at the moment, Sam was unable to. Sam was still sick. The fever within the younger brother was consuming him and clouding his consciousness. Sam was suffering, while that thing was still out there. He hoped against hope that whatever Evelyn was up to, it involved the permanent punishment of the creature that did this to his brother.
He listened to the silence and realized just how much he missed Sam’s nagging voice yapping at him and rattling off some research containing terms that Dean had no idea about and was forced to ask Sam for a translation into ‘Dean English’ so he could grab whatever weapons and supplies needed and kick some serious bad guy ass. Hell, Dean even missed the ‘lost puppy’ look in Sam’s eyes as he placed every ounce of trust he had on his big brother. Sam trusted him, trusted him with his life, a life that Dean wasn’t too keen on letting slip away, not when there was something he could do about it.
‘We’ll get through this, Sam. I’ll find a way to get you out of this mess.’ Dean thought to himself and then his face blanked with a hint of ghosting amusement.
Damn it! He’d just gone all chick flicky on himself. It’s a good thing Sam wasn’t coherent enough to rib him about it or he would never live it down.
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Sam felt like his body was burning from the inside out. The ripples of pain and heat, followed by the fear and longing for an end caused a scream to boil just beneath the surface and lodge itself in the core of his very soul.
A sensation of cold tingling, coming from an unknown source helped him to draw attention away from the nightmare he was caught up in, but there was still discomfort. Something inside of him was stirring and he could feel it slowly consuming him one painful piece by one painful piece.
‘C’mon, just focus. Try to move, concentrate on moving, forget about everything else and just focus.’ Sam urged himself through his painful mind.
"Sam...fever...up there." Dean’s distant words slid through his thoughts.
‘Oh, I must have a fever, I’ve had fevers before. That would explain why it’s so damn difficult to focus. Wait though, this time seems different, somehow...’ Sam thought to himself as his brother’s words registered on his scale of understanding.
Different or not, it was okay. Dean would take care of him, he always had, why should this time be any different? Sam felt his head being moved, but it gained no reaction of fear within him because he knew it was just Dean. The pain throbbing through him made it hard to understand the words that Dean was speaking, but he gave in and allowed his body to be guided by the careful hands of his brother. He trusted Dean. He trusted Dean with his life.
A rush of cool liquid passed over his lips and only then did he realize what was happening. He opened his mouth to sip greedily at the water that would calm the fiery inferno that was his body, but the liquid was pulled away before the fire was put out. It was torture! He groaned a bit, wanting the liquid back to calm the flames and then he felt a hand on his shoulder and a comforting presence looming above him. Dean. It was definitely Dean.
"Okay, I’m gonna give the water back, but you have to drink it slowly, Sammy." Dean’s voice was firm and soothing all at the same time and Sam could hear the worry in the words.
The water was returned and Sam did as he was told, drinking it slowly until he could drink no more. The lingering moisture on his lips was brushed away and Sam remembered that he had to breathe. He choked down the puddle of water still in his mouth as a result of his greed for the liquid and drew a deep breath, feeling his stomach flip a bit, he willed the water to remain in place.
Despite his best efforts, the water simply refused to cooperate. Sam tried to choke back the burning in his throat, but knew he no longer had control. He moaned incoherently and Dean responded immediately, knowing what was about to happen. He gently turned Sam onto his side and waited for what was to come.
Sam felt the familiar taste of copper metal invading his mouth, followed quickly by convulsing pain that caused him to stiffen. He coughed, trying to rid himself of the awful taste and horrible pain and heard Dean’s near-panicked voice ring in his ears as the red fluid from before flowed freely past his dry lips.
"Oh shit! Sammy!"
xxxxXXXxxxx
Evelyn looked down at her trembling hands. She fought to keep them still, while grasping firmly on the handle of the blade that she slid over her palm. Her breath came in heavy gasps and her anxiety grew with every breath.
The creases on her forehead multiplied and a small sob escaped her lips as she recalled a memory that she had never forgiven and it had never been forgotten, no matter how much she tried to push it away it always found a way to return and haunt her like a ghost.
20 years ago
2 days after the conjuring.
The air was thick with panic and regret and quilted with an intense silence that was finally broken by the older of the two women.
"Aurora we need to fix this and we have to do it soon!" Evelyn replied.
Aurora became unnerved by the tone of the other woman’s. It was filled with fear, remorse and guilt.
Everything had been planned. The conjuring, the spell, the equipment, everything, right down to the very last detail. The two women had worked well together, each bringing skills of varying levels to the table. The pieces of their plan had taken shape. Everything was supposed to have been planned! Still they left out one very important detail, the ‘what if.’
What if things went wrong? Neither woman had thought of that. They hadn’t expected that factor to be needed. In a perfect world, the world the envisioned, nothing went wrong, everything went perfect. Yet their world was not the real world and in the real world, bad things often happened and this was one of those times...Things had gone wrong. Things had gone very wrong. The Loa was out of control, neither woman could control it and it wanted to hurt them, it wanted to rid itself of them once and for all. It had already tried twice, one for each woman and they had the scars to show for it, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Now the women wanted out, this wasn’t part of the plan. They wanted out now.
The ‘what if’ was a small, yet crucially fundamental piece to making the final picture and the lack of experience of both women had come back for them.
"There is a way." Aurora dropped her head to gaze at the ground. She didn’t want to face her friend, didn’t want to make eye contact because what she was about to say went against all that her friend believed in.
Evelyn moved closer, frowning. She had heard what Aurora had said, but wanted her to say it again.
"What was that Aurora?"
"I said there is a way we can get rid of it, without us getting hurt anymore, but we need a sacrifice." Her voice picked up in tempo a bit and she finally dared to make eye contact with Evelyn. However, the sight of the other woman’s face, tense and concerned caused her to drop her head once more. She knew that Evelyn knew what she was talking about, the flicker of familiarity in her friend’s dark eyes told her that much.
"A sacrifice." Aurora repeated.
Evelyn quickly shook her head in disapproval. "No, No!" She started to pace. "I can’t believe your even suggesting that! Do you know what that means?!?" Her strides became quicker and more anxious."Someone will have to die, Aurora!" Evelyn nearly shouted.
"Yes, I know. We have to decide on someone." Aurora choked out. Evelyn stared at her in disbelief, she couldn’t believe that her ‘friend’ was even suggesting such a notion! It went beyond a simple realization. It was directly in the centre of the realm of the cruel.
"Aurora, we got into this mess ourselves and we have to fix it. What you’re suggesting, it’s..it’s inhumane! We can’t do that! We can’t make someone else pay for our stupid mistakes! No, it has to be one of us." Evelyn’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared coldly at Aurora in disapproval.
"Evelyn, I don’t want to die! The sacrifice isn’t specific, it just has to be a human, why can’t it be someone else?" Aurora snapped.
Evelyn turned away from Aurora, wanting to lash out at Aurora for once again suggesting such a cruel act, but she knew the rules. The sacrifice wasn’t specific, it could be some stranger on the street and the Loa wouldn’t care, not as long as it got what it wanted. It was also true that neither woman wanted to die, but what Aurora was suggesting went against everything Evelyn believed. She couldn’t bare the thought of taking another human’s life to spare her own, it just wasn’t right. No, one of them had to pay for them.
"Evelyn, I am not going to die!" Aurora’s words were shouted.
From the moment Aurora mentioned taking the life of another to save their own, the two women were no longer a team. They were unable to see eye to eye and that moment was what ended their friendship forever.
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Later that same day, Aurora watched her younger cousin through piercing eyes, her mind working wildly in an attempt to save her own life.
Rose was small in frame and height. She had long, curly hair that bounced with every movement, the chocolate colour matching her eyes. Her cousin was happy, ready to face whatever was thrown at her, living the perfect life, having everything that one could ever ask for. To Aurora, Rose’s faults and imperfections went unseen in their family. Rose got pregnant, had a baby, it was considered a gift! Rose turned her back on the arts (a family tradition) and it went unchallenged by the family, they supported her in it, reasoning that it was her choice and she could do as she wished. The jealously toward Rose had been eating Aurora alive and she had finally crossed the line stretching between Love and Hate for her cousin.
Rose held a small bundle tightly against her and rocked back and forth, humming to the little life-force that giggled back to her. The sight bothered Aurora straight through to the bone. Everything about Rose bothered her.
"She doesn’t deserve anything she’s got." Aurora muttered as she turned away and walked back toward the room that held the entity.
That was it, she’d made up her mind. She wasn’t going to die, she refused to. The sacrifice had been decided upon and that sacrifice would be Rose...
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Evelyn didn’t feel the vile slip from her grip, not even the shattering of the shards that projected from the object woke her from the trance, she felt lost in thought, in pain and emotion. The thunder that roared through the sky, followed by the blinding light that crackled fiercely caused the older woman to jump. The storm that had engulfed the sky was intense and had come on quickly with a force that threatened to flatten anything in its way.
Evelyn trembled and forced her eyes shut, slowly sinking to her knees. She wanted it to be over, she just needed everything to go away. The atmosphere was intense and her mind was filled with thoughts that she had once managed to put aside, but that control had slipped away from her and she knew she would once again have to re-live the horror that she had buried long ago with the woman she once knew…..Rose.
20 years ago….
Evelyn sighed as she thought about the argument she had with Aurora. Things were tense and a silent change had taken place between them that Evelyn felt would change their friendship forever. Shaking away the thoughts that were flying through her mind, Evelyn continued toward the room that had started the whole ordeal.
She knew that they were both scared and both were not thinking clearly at the time. Everything still seemed bleak for them but at least now she had time to process what they had done and the few choices they had. Evelyn had mentally decided that she could talk to her friend and discuss what they needed to do sensibly, without involving anyone else’s suffering.
It was only when she approached the door to the room where they had conjured up the Loa that she felt the chill. It was the same chill that crawled up her spine upon the Loa’s arrival. There was light seeping through the cracks lining the door frame. She knew that someone was in there.
She figured that it had to have been Aurora and so she slowly crept toward the room. There was a deafening silence that hung heavy in the air, however, it only lasted for a few moments before a horrifying scream erupted from the closed door in front of her. She froze before opening it to reveal a sight that brought her to her knees.
What she saw chilled her to the bone. She could sense the evil power building up and surrounding her. Evelyn had walked in just in time to watch Rose’s lifeless body float in mid air.
The young woman’s back was arched while her head and arms hung limp. As Evelyn watched the dark form in shadows move, it become clear what had happened and who was responsible for it.
Another figure stood watching in the darkness as well. Tears spilled from Evelyn’s eyes and she could hear gasps and desperate pleas that escaped the form that was now distorted by her sorrow. Evelyn turned her head away from Rose’s floating body. She knew it was too late for the other woman and she was almost glad that it was nearly over for her. The pain Rose had to have been feeling must have been excruciating.
Not surprisingly, the Loa was enjoying every moment of the crisis, it had what it wanted, what it needed and now it was just having some fun at the expense of others. The Loa twisted the body in mid air and watched the lifeless woman, taking joy in the pain it had caused the helpless woman.
Evelyn remained where she’d fallen on her knees on the floor, too weak and too afraid to move. She brought her hands to cover her face and sobbed into them. She tried as hard as she could to drown out the gurgled pleas and screams that slowly began to fade as the evil consumed Rose’s body.
Present...
About ten minutes later, Evelyn felt that she had finally gained enough composure to open her eyes. The sobs she had been releasing had been so harsh that they left her body weak and trembling. The memory of Rose just floating there, helpless to the control of the Loa still haunted her and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to re-bury it this time, it had already taken control of her and she knew that to get this all to stop, another sacrifice would have to be made.
She had to tell Celia the truth about her mother. Evelyn shuddered as another jolt of lightening struck and she grabbed the nearest chair to pull herself up to the table. She picked up a nearby pen and held it so tightly that it shook with the sheer force of the grasp. She pulled a tablet of paper close to her, choked back a sob and began to write.
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Dean flinched from his thoughts when a loud crash of thunder sliced through the silence. His eyes drifted to his little brother who had once again passed out from the pain. He ran his hands nervously across his face and tried his best to keep calm.
"D..D…Dean?" It was a whisper, forced and so silent that he wasn’t sure if he’d just imagined it or if it was real.
"Evelyn?...I …Dea.." Dean was sure that he’d heard something this time.
He attempted to move to Celia’s side, but stopped when he remembered the soft grip of his brother wrapped gently around his hand. He sat back down, not willing to lose the connection that he had with Sam.
"Celia, I’m here. How are you feeling?" Dean’s voice fluctuated in tone and hovered somewhere between relief and fear, his emotions finally taking a toll on him.
"God, Celia, I thought you weren’t going to wake up. I was worried." Dean murmured to her.
Celia turned her head from side to side, her faced scrunched as she fought the nightmare that had woke her up.
"Celia? Are you with me?" Dean reached over to her, still keeping his grasp on Sam’s hand and he stroked the side of her face, gently, trying to coax her to consciousness.
"wha, what… h..happened?" Celia struggled, taking in a rushed breath.
"Oh It’s a long story. Long stories take time to tell and right now, we don’t have that time." Dean spoke softly.
The oldest Winchester watched Celia turn her head to face Sam.
"Sam’s still sick. He seems even worse and I don’t…"Again Dean felt his emotions threatening him and he took a deep breath to settle them.
"I don’t know how to help him. Evelyn’s gone. She hasn’t come back, and it’s been nearly three hours, and…" He watched Celia’s eyes move around the room as she scanned her surroundings.
"I’ve gotta find her, Celia! I have to help Sam!" His last phrase was spoken with a fierce passion that expressed the seriousness of the issue.
Celia shook her head, causing Dean to pull a frustrated expression. He watched her lick her lips and draw a breath.
"Evelyn…some…thing…wro..wrong!" Celia shouted.
Dean looked down at Sam who was still curled into the fetal position, with his hand holding Dean’s.
"It will be okay Sammy. Celia, listen I need you to stay here with Sam. Do you think you can do that?" He didn’t wait for a reply, not wanting to hear any answer other than yes.
He blew out a long breath and slid his hand out of Sam’s grip, instantly causing his younger brother to groan.
"It’s okay Sammy, I’m coming back. You stay with Celia for a bit okay?" Dean placed Sam’s hot, clammy hand into Celia’s and squeezed their palms together tightly.
"I’m going to find Evelyn." He stood up quickly, not wanting to have a change of heart.
It was difficult to leave them alone, knowing their only protection would be that offered by Evelyn. Dean looked back one last time and left the room.
"I have to make this quick." He told himself.