The Consequences of Prophesy Part One
Master Post
Prologue
The student hurried along the paths toward the edge of campus. He was in a hurry to get home, and hoped he could make it before too long.
The student paused and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Hello?” he asked. He grinned.
“No, I’m headed back to my apartment. Class just got out,” the student said. He stopped, shook his head, and started walking again. “No, actually. Just some very weird dreams. You?” He paused and listened to the person on the other end. “Really? Are you sure haven’t just been having too much fun with your lighter?”
He grinned. “I know that, jerk,” he said. “Anyway, I’m being dragged to a party tonight- yes, I know. But what can I do?” He paused. “When?” He looked around cautiously for a second. “I haven’t noticed anything, but they’ve probably gotten a bit more subtle since the last time. I hope. You know how it is- we never seem to catch a hint until it’s almost too late. No, I’m fine. Besides, I can handle it if something happens.”
Laughing, the student checked for traffic before crossing the street. “Okay, okay - and yes, that'd be appreciated. I've been getting the feeling that there's more to the dreams than I thought at first. It’d be nice to have someone else around who knows what’s going on.”
He shook his head. “Of course not! How do you tell someone something like that, anyway? I’ll tell her eventually, don’t worry. Just… once things are a little clearer, and I’ve got a bit of proof. She does know the back story, just not that we actually believe the attackers had a point.”
He stopped in front of a building. “Listen, I need to go- No, jerk, I’m at my apartment, and I need both hands. Yeah, I’ll talk to you later.”
He absently juggled keys, phone and backpack as he entered his apartment building. Across the street another man, dressed much like every student around, pulled out his own cell phone.
Jessica Moore looked up from her books as her boyfriend entered their apartment. “How was class?” she asked.
Sam Winchester shrugged. “Boring, as usual. I hate this class. Anyway, I’ve got something more interesting to ask you about.”
Jess blinked and smiled. “Oh?”
“Dean’s in the area and wants to know if he can crash on our couch tonight and maybe for the weekend. If it’s alright with you…?” he looked at her pleadingly.
She smiled up at him. “Of course it’s alright. It’ll be good to see him again. I haven’t seen him since last spring break.”
Sam smiled. “Neither have I. He’s been busy with… something. I don’t dare ask what.”
She grinned. “That sounds like him. And have you heard from your father lately?”
“Yes, Dean sent me an email just last week, telling me that Dad was going to drop off the radar for a bit. He’s got some sort of line on that crazy cult that’s been trying to kill me since I was a baby.”
Jess nodded. She knew the story- the nation knew the story, though most didn’t know the names of the victims.
A group of crazy, end times obsessed survivalists had decided that seven weeks old Sammy Winchester would grow up to be some sort of demonic overlord and help destroy the world.
They’d attacked the Winchester’s house on June 21, and wounded both little Sammy and his four year old brother, Dean, before their mother, Mary, and father, John, managed to force them away from the boys.
Mary had been killed, but not before putting up a tremendous fight, enough for John to take out the men she wasn’t dealing with, and rescue their sons. One of the men had been captured, and he’d spilled everything about why they’d attacked.
But despite the resulting media frenzy, the names of the family that had been attacked had been kept from the public eye. Even the worst of the journalists had seen that it would only hurt the baby.
Most people didn’t know that the survivalists had tried to kidnap Sam several times since then, but had never succeeded. Sam had been rather vague on why.
Jess blinked and shook herself out of her thoughts. “When is your brother getting here?”
Sam shrugged. “It depends on how long his business takes,” he said. “He’ll probably get in at about 3am tonight, knowing him.”
Jess laughed
Sam sat up slowly and glanced at the clock. It was 3:42am and he could hear someone- or something- in the apartment. He sighed. It was probably just his brother, but he’d been raised not to take anything for granted, and he had to check.
He made sure to avoid that one creaky point on the floor as he made his way toward the quiet sounds. After a moment, he could see that there was a man in the living room.
As the man passed by the doorway, Sam struck, hoping to get him into a choke hold. His opponent ducked out of Sam’s grasp and the fight was on- until the man pinned Sam to the ground.
“Whoa, easy there, tiger!” the man exclaimed.
Sam scowled as he finally got a good look at the intruder. “Dean, you scared the crap out of me!”
“That’s ‘cause you’re out of practice,” Dean retorted.
Sam scowled, knocked Dean over and pinned his brother to the ground.
“Or not,” Dean conceded. “Get off me.”
Sam got up and pulled Dean up with him. “Dean, next time, don’t break in, alright? What if I hadn’t realized it was you?”
Dean chuckled. “You would have, before you did anything to hurt me.”
Sam sighed. “Next time, just knock and wake me up, alright?”
The light turned on, and they both turned to look at Jess. “Sam? What’s going on?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Dean decided to break in rather then wake us up,” he told her. “Which, considering how light I sleep, just doesn’t work.”
She glared at Dean. “Next time, knock,” she ordered.
Dean laughed. “You are so far out of Sam’s league,” he said. “You know that, right Sammy?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “You only tell me that every time you visit,” he replied. “And its Sam, jerk.”
“Bitch,” Dean replied promptly.
Jess sighed. “Argue later,” she ordered. “I’m going back to bed, and so is Sam. Dean, you know where the couch is.”
The brothers watched her go back to the bedroom. Then Sam smiled and shook his head. “We’ll talk in the morning,” he said.
“Yeah, we will,” Dean said. “And Sam?”
Sam turned back around.
“It’s starting.”
Sam nodded.
Jess woke up again to the tantalizing smells of something cooking and the low sounds of Sam and Dean talking and laughing.
She blinked sleep out of her eyes and stretched. Definitely time to get up.
She wandered into the kitchen. Dean was at the stove, expertly flipping pancakes while Sam chopped fruit on the counter. They were laughing about something as they looked over at her. “Jess, hi,” Dean smiled.
She returned the grin. “Hello, Dean,” she said. “Much better time to say hello, isn’t it?”
She leaned in and stole a piece of cantaloupe from Sam’s pile of fruit.
Sam laughed.
“Good morning,” she told him as she kissed him on the cheek.
“Morning,” he leaned down and gave her a proper kiss.
Dean whistled after a moment and they broke apart. Sam shot him a look over Jess’s shoulder. Dean smirked back. “Pancakes are ready,” he said innocently.
Jess turned to the cupboard. “I’ll set the table,” she said.
They were all quiet as they ate, but once they were done and were cleaning up, Jess turned to Dean. “So, what have you been up to lately?”
Dean grinned. “Running errands, mostly. Got into a bit of trouble down in New Orleans, but other then that, nothing much.”
“What sort of trouble?” Jess asked.
“Just a couple of guys didn’t want me in their bar.”
Sam put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “But you’re fine, obviously.”
“Come on, Sammy. It was two drunk men. I’d have to be way off my game for them to take me down,” Dean said as he finished putting the leftover fruit salad away. “Anyway, do you have any plans for the day?”
Sam shrugged. “Not really,” he said. “Jess?”
She shook her head. “Just a study group in the library,” she said. “And I have to work this afternoon.”
“Then Sam and I will stay here,” Dean said. “I promise to keep him in one piece, though.”
Jess smiled. “That means you can’t fight in the living room,” she said.
He deflated, but it was exaggerated enough that she was certain he hadn’t planned anything of the sort.
“You boys have fun,” she said. “I’ll see you tonight.” She turned to head into the bedroom to get ready, but swung back around as a thought occurred to her. “Dean, you are staying tonight, right?”
Dean nodded. “Maybe for the weekend, if you don’t mind.”
She grinned. “Of course I don’t,” she said.
She headed back into the bedroom. Sam followed her to grab his own clothes. “Jess… I…”
“It’s something important, isn’t it?”
“Dean wouldn’t be here in the middle of the semester if it wasn’t.”
Then find out what it is, and tell me later.”
Sam looked troubled. He kissed her goodbye, but didn’t say anything as she picked up her bag and headed out the door.
Dean looked just as troubled as he watched her go. Jess bit her lip. She didn’t like this. She just didn’t know what this was.
Sam was waiting for Dean to start. Dean didn’t say anything for nearly five minutes after Jess left.
Sam swallowed. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“You got the e-mail I sent, right?” Dean asked.
“Yes, of course I did. Thanks for the heads up.”
Dean nodded. “I couldn’t tell you everything in the e-mail, since it wasn’t secure. But Dad didn’t go alone.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean… I thought they weren’t planning that for another year or so!”
“They weren’t,” Dean said. “But things change, Sammy, you know that. Well, you know he’s got a lot to get ready for.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Sam said. “I just figured there’d be more time.”
Dean shrugged. “And I’m here for a reason,” he said. “Some of the new Hunters have taken up the crusade.”
Sam sighed and rolled his eyes. “And they don’t even realize that they’re just driving me to do what they’re trying to prevent.”
Dean shrugged. “Hey, you know what they say about me,” he pointed out.
Sam laughed. “When I take over the world, you can be my right hand man,” he promised.
Dean laughed with him.
They grinned at each other for a moment. “Are you going to tell Jess?” Dean finally asked.
“She knows the basics,” Sam said. “I told her that when we started getting serious.”
“She doesn’t know demons and all that actually exist,” Dean retorted.
“I’ve been… introducing the ideas,” Sam said. “Getting her used to the idea that there’s a lot more in heaven and earth and all that. But it’s hard. I don’t want to scare her away.” He shook his head. “I plan on telling her everything before I…”
Dean waited for a moment. “No, you don’t get to stop there, Sammy. Before what?”
Sam sighed. “Will you help me shop for a ring before you leave?” he asked quietly.
Dean’s eyes widened. “You’re that serious about her?” he asked.
Sam nodded slowly.
“Yeah, I’ll go with you, Sammy,” he said.
Sam looked down, smiling. “And… if she says yes, even after she knows everything, will you be my best man?” He looked up at his brother, eyes pleading.
Dean’s jaw dropped. “You want me to be your best man?”
Sam nodded. “I wouldn’t want anyone else,” he said.
Dean sat back, stunned. “Yes,” he breathed. “Of course.
Sam’s grin was infectious, and Dean couldn’t help but grin back.
“I didn’t realize it was getting that serious,” he said. “Does Dad or anyone else know?”
Sam shook his head. “No,” he said. “I wanted to tell you first.”
After a moment, Sam shook his head. “Anyway, we’ve gotten off topic.”
Dean took a deep breath. “You’re right,” he said. “You know, you might not have a chance to marry her.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I… Dean, remember that dream I mentioned on the phone? It’s been a reoccurring dream where she dies.”
Dean sat up. “How?”
Sam shook his head. “The Hunters,” he said. “They attack- you’re there- and I don’t see all of it, but she’s hurt, at least. There’s enough blood that I’m not sure if she’s alive.”
Dean swallowed. “It’s a dream, Sam,” he said, though he wasn’t all that certain that it wasn’t. “It has to be.”
“Dean I’m twenty-two,” Sam said.
Dean sighed. “I know,” he said. “But even if that is what we think it is, we can change it.”
“I hope so,” Sam said. He took a deep breath. “Can we change the subject? Please, just for now?”
Dean nodded. “Alright,” he said. “Sammy, what do you want to do today?”
Sam shook off his bad mood. “Ring shopping?” he asked. “Not to buy, yet, but just check out a few stores.
“We can do that,” Dean said.
Dean was singing along to the Led Zeppelin song on the radio when he turned down the street to the apartment. They’d looked at several rings, and made a short list of rings Sam thought Jess would like, and they were both in good moods.
Sam glanced around as they pulled up to the apartment. “Dean…” he started quietly.
“Something’s up,” Dean said, reading his tone.
“Yes,” Sam said. “Those cars- the blue ford truck and the green camero aren’t… they’re not supposed to be here. I’ve never seen them before.”
Dean continued driving, only to swing around and park on the next street over. “Up the back? If we’re just being paranoid, all we’ll do is scare Jess a bit.”
Sam nodded. Cautiously, they both pulled themselves up the fire escape.
“Sam, what do you have on you?”
Sam glanced down. “Not much,” he said. “Just my Glock and a boot knife. I’m pushing that as it is at school.”
Dean snorted quietly. “I just have my gun and a couple of knives too, unfortunately. We’re going to need a hell of a plan.”
“If something’s wrong,” Sam said, though he didn’t doubt that something was.
He kept low as they reached the closed window to his apartment. After a moment, he dared to peak inside for a brief look. That look was all he needed. Three men stood in the main room, surrounding Jess, who was tied to a chair and gagged.
“Hunters,” Sam whispered. “Three of them, the ones I saw in my dreams, though I don’t recognize them beyond that.”
“Damn.” Despite the curse, Dean sounded unsurprised.
“They’ve got Jess,” Sam’s breath hitched. “Just like in my dream.”
“We’ll rescue her,” Dean said. “We won’t let a bunch of Hunters take her.”
Sam managed a tight grin.
Gordon Walker eyed the girl they had tied up. She was scared, but she has still found the courage to glare at them. They’d been forced to gag her to get her to stop cursing at them and possibly warn their target.
She really was quite pretty. Beauty, brains, and an attitude to match- it was easy to see why the antichrist had chosen her. It was a shame she seemed loyal to that creature.
The front door opened. Gordon, Kubrick, and Creedy stiffened as the girl’s eyes widened. She began to struggle again. Gordon thought he heard something behind him, but it was just the wind through the open window.
Creedy crumpled to the ground as Sam Winchester, the antichrist, walking into the apartment. Gordon kept his focus on the abomination while Kubrick turned to face whatever had taken out Creedy. Kubrick, however, flew forward before he completed his turn. Gordon could see someone else standing there. This wasn’t going well.
Gordon fired at the abomination, which finally moved, diving behind a wall.
Gordon swung around toward the other thing in the room- only to come face to face with the abomination’s brother. “I’d heard you were in town, traitor,” he snarled at Dean Winchester.
The other man smiled mockingly. “Traitor to what?” he asked.
“The human race!”
Winchester laughed. “Am I really a traitor when I’m just keeping my brother alive?” He sprung forward and knocked Gordon off balance.
Gordon still managed to get off one shot, but it didn’t hit Winchester or the abomination. Gordon didn’t particularly care after that.
Winchester was one hell of a fighter, and the abomination- from what Gordon could see of the other fight- was just as good.
Then everything went black.
Dean looked up as soon as he was sure the Hunter he was fighting was unconscious. Sam had taken out his two opponents and was already on the phone with emergency services.
Dean glanced at Jess. He’d seen that she’d been hit by the bullet, but he’d been unable to get to her. She stared at him without seeing him, but he was relieved to see that she was still breathing.
Dean spent a futile moment trying to stop the flow of blood, but that did nothing but leave his hands covered in it.
“Sam?” Jess asked shakily.
“He’s getting help, sweetheart,” Dean said. He glanced down at his hands. Sam reached them and placed his hands over Dean’s. Dean freed one of his hands and brushed the first two fingers across her forehead. The blood left behind a pattern which would appear to be accidental to anyone who didn’t recognize what it was. “I’m not really that good at this, Jess, but it should work,” Dean said.
She blinked at him, uncomprehending.
Dean took a deep breath and then chanted quietly. It was a simple spell, one he’d learned when he was ten. He’d never had to do it in a life or death situation before, but he knew it would work.
He finished just as the paramedics and police broke down the door. Sam smiled gratefully at him. Jess had a fighting chance now.
The man picked up the phone. “Hello?” he asked. He had no idea who would be calling at this hour.
“Pastor James Murphy?” The young man on the other end of the line asked. He sounded pleasant enough, if rather abrupt.
“Yes, young man, I am Pastor Murphy. May I help you?”
“I doubt it. I just called to give you a warning,” the young man’s tone shifted, became colder.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I am Sam Winchester, Pastor Murphy,” the man said.
Jim gasped.
“So you have heard of me,” Sam said.
“I have. I don’t believe the stories Hunters tell of you,” Jim said.
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Sam replied. “But that doesn’t matter. I just called to give you and the more sane Hunters a warning. Get your fanatical brethren under control, Pastor Murphy. I was perfectly willing to live and let live. But then some of the fanatics attacked my girlfriend, just because she’s my girlfriend. The fanatics are pushing me toward the fate they want to prevent. Next time you see a Hunter, ask what they know of self-fulfilling prophesies.”
Jim inhaled sharply. “Is your girlfriend alright?”
“She’ll be fine,” Sam replied. “Eventually. But the next group that attacks me won’t be. I’m through playing with kid gloves. Your people have gone too far. Warn all the Hunters that next time, all the attackers die.”
“Mr. Winchester, most Hunters don’t believe that you will bring about the end of the world, and we know that those that do are actually pushing you away from humanity. Let those of us who don’t believe your so-called destiny help you.”
“No,” Sam said. “My family and I can handle this. You and your friends never bothered to help us before. No Hunter vouched for us the first ten times we were attacked. Why should we accept your help now?” The phone clicked, and Jim knew that the boy had hung up.
Jim took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It seemed he had some phone calls to make.
He carefully dialed and waited. Once the other person answered, he took a deep breath. “Bobby? I just got a very interesting phone call. We might have a problem.”
Jess drifted awake slowly. She could hear a steady beeping, smelled the mix of medicine and sickness that told her she was in a hospital. And she hurt. She heard voices off to the side. “I don’t think we have much of a choice, Dean,” it was Sam.
“I know. I just wish…”
“Me too,” Sam said. “I don’t want to ruin her life like this.”
“You’re not ruining her life,” Dean replied. “You’re going to make her safer.”
“Except for the Hunters, Dean. They’re going to come after her now. They know I’ll do anything to keep her safe.”
“Yeah, but the sane ones know it too, dude,” Dean said. “And they don’t think you’re the antichrist.”
“They give me the benefit of the doubt, Dean,” Sam said. “They know that damn prophesy as well as the insane ones.”
Jess tried to frown. It sounded like Sam and Dean actually thought there was some merit to the cult member’s thoughts.
“What am I going to do, Dean?” Sam finally asked. “Jess is going to hate me.”
Dean sighed. “No she won’t, Sam,” Dean said. “She’ll be mad, sure, but… hell, you’ve been trying to figure out how to tell her since you met her.”
“I know. And once we started dating, I warned her about the Hunters.”
Dean sighed. “Yeah, you did. Remember that. She’ll understand in time.”
“I think I need to leave school,” Sam said. “We’ve been able to keep my location a secret for four years, but now the Hunters know where I am.”
Jess wanted to let Sam know she was awake, but she was more interested in listening.
“Azazel won’t be pleased,” Dean said. “And neither will Dad.” Jess frowned. Who was Azazel?
“They’ve both gone off the map, Dean,” Sam said. “Who knows when they’ll find out? Besides, after this attack, I’d have to move. And… I hate it, but it’ll keep Jess safer.”
“Sammy…” Dean whispered.
Sam didn’t say anything for a long time. “I don’t want to do it. But I can’t keep her safe if I stay in school.”
“You can’t keep her safe if you leave her, Sam,” Dean said.
“So I can call in some help,” Sam said. “I can’t just let her… this is my fault. I knew the Hunters would find me again. I should have known they’d use anyone I was close to. I should have known, Dean.”
“Sam, this is not your fault,” Dean said. “It’s never been your fault. The Hunters did this; they’re the ones who killed Mom, not you.”
“But I should have known…”
Jess shifted slightly and Sam cut himself off. “Jess?” he asked quietly, rushing to her side.
“Sam,” she whispered, opening her eyes. Sam looked awful, tired and worried.
She sighed. Whatever he’d been talking about was important, but it could wait. She didn’t have the strength to talk about it right now.
Sam stared down at Jess. She’d finally woken up, and the doctors were saying that she’d recover completely, with only a scar to show for the attack. She hadn’t said anything about the attack, or how Sam had blamed himself. He couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d been awake and if she’d heard his discussion with Dean.
It didn’t actually matter, of course, he had to tell her no matter what.
Dean slipped back into the room. “She’s asleep again?” he asked.
Sam nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Have you heard from the Moores? I know they’re on a cruise and completely out of touch, but we’ve been trying to call them for a day now.”
“Nothing,” Dean said.
“They’re going to hate me,” Sam said. “This happens when they’re out of touch? Mr. Moore didn’t like me anyway, but now…”
Dean shook his head. “Is he going to be a problem?”
Sam laughed soundlessly. “No,” he said decisively. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”
Dean sighed. “It’s not your fault,” he said.
Sam knew Dean had said it before. So had their father, so had everyone else they’d grown up around. It hadn’t been his fault that their mom had died. Still, some part of him felt that it was his fault. The Hunters had been there to kill him. They had been there to kill him yesterday, too. Jess’s injuries were because of that.
So Sam settled for making a noise that really meant nothing.
Dean eyed him for a moment before sighing and sitting down next to Sam. “You know, visiting hours will be over soon.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sam said. “I have to… god, the police,” he said. “I haven’t talked to them yet.”
Dean laughed. “They want your statement, yeah, but everything’s pretty clear, especially with our history. And, well, the guy I knocked out is already ranting about how you’re an abomination.”
“Lovely,” Sam said. “And I… Dean, I can’t think straight,” he said. “I don’t know what to do next.”
“Don’t worry, Sammy, I’ve taken care of it,” Dean said. “I’ve already talked to the local FBI office. They’re not happy, and they’re making noises about suggesting the Witness Protection Program again. And guess who’ll be here soon?”
“Actually, I’m already here, Dean.”
They looked up at the man at the door.
“Agent Henriksen!” Sam said. He stood up quickly- too quickly, he swayed a moment.
“Sit back down, Sam,” Victor Henriksen said.
“When was the last time you slept, dude?” Dean asked.
Sam gave his brother a look, but sat back down.
“You got here fast,” Dean said.
Henriksen shrugged. “I was in the area because of another case,” he said. “Anyway, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d hoped that I wouldn’t see you boys again.”
Sam smiled wanly. “No problem, Agent,” he said. “I wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again either.”
“So, I’ve already read your statement, Dean. Sam, is there anything you can add?”
“Probably not,” Sam said, glancing at Jess. “Jess is my girlfriend, we’ve been living together for over a year now- since the start of the last school year- and the cultists just used her to get to me. I think she was just wounded accidentally in the struggle.”
“About that…” Henriksen started.
Sam sighed. “I think we’ve had this talk before.”
“Yes, we have. Call the cops next time,” Henriksen said. “I know John taught you two to defend yourselves, but you really should leave this stuff to the professionals.” He sighed. “Now that I’ve given you the scolding my bosses wanted me to, how are you?”
“Sam and I just have bruises,” Dean said. “It’s Jess that was hurt.”
“And if we’d called the cops, she’d have been hurt worse, probably even killed,” Sam said. He was absolutely certain of that. His dreams had shown him that much.
Henriksen nodded. “Knowing these cultists like we do, I’d have to say yes. What do you plan to do now, Sam?” he asked.
Sam sighed. “Jess’s parents will be here in a few hours,” he said. “They’re flying in. I guess I’ll need to pick them up at the airport.”
“Sam, I think he means long term.”
Sam sighed. “Leave,” he said. “The cultists are targeting others again. I’m not going to put Jess in anymore danger. It’s part of the reason I went to Stanford in the first place- Dad and Dean were getting targeted.”
Henriksen nodded. “I understand, Sam,” he said. “Have you heard from your father yet?”
Sam shook his head. “He was trying to lead the cultists away from me; he went under the radar a few weeks ago.”
The FBI agent nodded, but he didn’t look happy. “Understood,” he said. “But he should be here with you,” he said.
“It’s not like Dad knew about this,” Dean said. “Not even… well, there’s no way anyone could have known.”
Henriksen nodded. “It’s just bad timing,” he said.
Sam sighed. It was bad timing, but he couldn’t be entirely sure that it wasn’t planned. It would be just perfect if it was. At least he knew that it wasn’t John Winchester who had planned it this way if it’d been planned.
Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give Azazel an earful if that was the case. Sam rather hoped that it wasn’t part of some plan, to be honest.
He sighed and focused back on the subject at hand.
Dean was staring at him. “Sam, you shouldn’t have to give all this up,” he said.
Sam nodded. “You’re right,” he said angrily. “I shouldn’t have to give up a full ride. We shouldn’t have had to move at least twice a year when we were kids. Mom shouldn’t have died when I wasn’t even two months old. You shouldn’t have had to grow up knowing that people thought your brother would end the world. I shouldn’t have had to grow up like that…”
He cut himself off, and headed for the bed Jess lay in. “None of it should have happened,” he said. “But it did. And now I have to deal with the consequences.” He sat down next to her.
Henriksen sighed. “I’m sorry, Sam,” he said. “I should have been able to…
“Don’t,” Dean said. “The cultists are too good at hiding. There was nothing any of you or your people could do about them. They won’t stop. At least you managed to get them classified as terrorists.”
Sam sighed. “They’re not going to stop until I’m dead, they’re all dead, or they’re all in prison,” he said. “And they’re just too good at hiding.”
Henriksen sighed again. “I just feel that I should do more for you boys,” he said. “No one should be chased like this, Hunted like this, because of some prophesy that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Sam smiled slightly. “Thank you, Agent,” he said softly.
Beside him, Jess turned her head toward him. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly when she saw Sam sitting next to her. “Hi, Jess,” Sam said quietly, Henriksen forgotten for the moment.
Behind Sam, Dean jerked his head to the door. He and the FBI agent left, leaving Jess and Sam alone for a moment.
Victor studied Dean for a long moment. “You and Sam are hiding something,” he said.
Dean shrugged. “Yeah, we are,” he said. “It’s nothing major, Agent, nothing anyone can help us with.”
“Does it relate to the cult?” Victor asked.
“Only in the sense that I need to convince Sam not to leave his girlfriend because of them,” Dean said.
Victor snorted. “You Winchesters are all far too stubborn,” he said. “Good luck with that,” he said.
Dean sighed. “Yeah, I know,” he said. “If only I could find a way… But Sam is convinced that Jess will hate him. She knew about the cultists before this, before you ask, but Sam still thinks she’ll hate him.”
Victor sighed. “I’ll be in touch, Dean,” he said. “You still have my cell phone number, right?”
“Yeah, we do,” Dean said.
“Be careful.”
“Of course,” Dean said. “Good luck catching the cultists.”
He didn’t sound like he believed Victor was actually going to have any luck. Victor didn’t blame him.
“I can’t change your mind, can I?” Jess asked.
Sam shook his head. “I’d stay if I could, but it’s too dangerous for you,” he said.
“Why?” Jess asked. “The cultists were stopped.”
Sam sighed. She knew he was still reeling from her parent’s visit and their complete disapproval of him. Now, he had said that he needed to leave. Jess was nearly completely healed now, and Sam was leaving.
“It’s more then that,” Sam said. “There’s more of them out there. And I’ve been…” he stopped and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s bad, Jess,” he said. “I won’t ever be able to keep you safe from them if I don’t go. And, well, you know how I’ve been trying to tell you something for a while?”
Jess nodded. She looked over at where Dean was standing by the door. Dean just nodded at Sam.
Sam nodded and sat down on the couch next to her. “I haven’t been able to find the words for a while now,” he said. “I was thinking about telling you the day we were attacked. I figured Dean could help me. Or he could help me move out if you didn’t believe me. But then you were hurt by the Hunters.”
“Hunters?” Jess asked.
“That’s what they call themselves. That’s what we call them.”
“What do they Hunt, beside you?” Jess asked.
“Evil,” Sam said. “Supernatural evil.”
Jess sighed. “Sam, they believe that you’re the antichrist, or whatever. They probably Hunt innocents who just happen to have something odd happen around them.”
Sam sighed. “For the most part, no, they don’t,” he said. “They’re right, in a way.” He snorted. “The supernatural exists. Ghosts, witches, werewolves, they all exist. So do demons.”
“Sam, quit teasing me.”
“He’s not, Jess,” Dean said. “The world around us is full of more then just humans,” he said.
Jess stared at Dean, then at Sam.
Sam sighed. “I’ve wanted to tell you for months,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure how.”
“Are they right about you?” she asked.
“Only in the sense that they’ve pushed me on that path,” Sam said softly. “If it wasn’t for them, I’d just be another college student. Mostly.”
He sighed. “I… when we were attacked when I was a baby, Dad and Mom didn’t defeat the Hunters on their own. A demon possessed Dad and stopped them. He wasn’t able to save Mom, but he did manage to save the three of us.”
Dean nodded. “That demon- Azazel- has helped us, Jess. He’s got some plan for us, but all he’s done to us is protect us from the Hunters. He’s gone off to get things set up, and Dad’s gone with him.”
“A demon,” Jess said skeptically.
Sam nodded. “Azazel is a very powerful, very high level demon,” he said. “He protects us.”
Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and turned to Sam. “Are the… Hunters right about you?”
Sam nodded. “Only in a very broad sense. I don’t want to destroy the world- just… it’s complicated. They made it a self-fulfilling prophesy,” he said. “If they hadn’t attacked my home, Dad wouldn’t have been driven to protect Dean and I, and I doubt we would have met Azazel until I was… well, right about now, actually,” he frowned. “It’s a very long story,” he said. “But I don’t want to kill everyone, I promise.”
Jess nodded. “I need to think,” she said.
Sam closed his eyes. “I know,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
He stood up, but she pulled him back down. “Sam, it’s a lot to think about, but I still love you.”
Sam smiled sadly. “Let the shock fade,” he said. “But I’ll always love you, Jess.”
She pulled him into a kiss. His eyes were very bright when he pulled away and stood up. “Jess, I’ve got a friend who will be coming here to keep you safe. She won’t hurt you, but I don’t know if she’ll introduce herself to you.”
“What’s her name?” Jess asked.
“I think she’s calling herself Meg right now, but I’m not sure,” Sam said. “Just… I want to make sure that the Hunters won’t come after you again, and if they do, I want you to be protected. I love you, Jess,” he said.
He stepped back. “Let’s go,” he told Dean roughly.
Dean stared at him. “I’ll take care of him,” he promised Jess.
Jess watched as Sam walked out the door. It had obviously something that hurt for him to do.
She wished she could comfort him, but she wasn’t sure if he was really telling her the truth. She believed he believed it. Jess closed her eyes. She had some research to do.
Dean glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye. Sam had been silent nearly the entire trip, except for when he had to speak, like when they were ordering in diners or when Dean sent Sam in to get motel rooms.
Sam was grieving, almost as much as he would be if Jess had died. “You know, she doesn’t hate you,” Dean said.
“Once it sinks in, she will,” Sam said. “Dean, I’m destined to help bring about the apocalypse. I was just fooling myself thinking I could ever have a relationship that didn’t end with the girl hating me.”
“Sammy…” Dean trailed off. “Jess is a smart woman. She loves you. She’ll understand.”
Sam didn’t say anything as Dean turned into the driveway.
“Home base,” Dean said as he looked up at the large mansion.
Once Dean parked in the large garage, Sam slid out of the car and headed for the trunk.
Dean sighed. He’d left Sam’s cell phone number with Jess, as well as Dean’s own number, and he hoped she’d call soon.
Dean got out just as Sam pulled out his two duffels. “Let’s go,” Sam said. “I want to take a shower and then sleep for about twelve hours.”
Dean huffed. “Remember, you haven’t been here in nearly four years,” Dean said.
“It can wait,” Sam replied. “I just want to sleep.”
Dean sighed and collected his duffle. The rest of Sam’s stuff would be fine in the car until later. Sam hadn’t taken much anyway- anything that wasn’t personal in nature had stayed with Jess.
Sam headed for the entrance. Dean watched as he hesitated just before entering. “I didn’t plan on returning until I had a degree,” Sam said quietly.
“I know,” Dean replied. “Everyone agreed that was the best plan.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I never expected to…”
“Yeah,” Dean said. He forced a smile. “Come on, little brother, let’s grab some showers and some sleep.”
Sam nodded but didn’t smile back.
They were, luckily, able to sneak in without anyone noticing they were there. Dean ran interference until Sam was in bed, and then headed down to let the housekeepers know they were there.
Sam rolled over, reaching out for Jess, only to find she wasn’t there.
Sam opened his eyes. For a moment, he wasn’t sure where he was, but then he recognized the walls of the room. His room back at the home base, the one he’d grown up in, when he and his family wasn’t on the road to get away from Hunters, at least.
Sam smiled sadly. He’d had an unusual childhood, but he knew that had been out of his father’s hands. John Winchester had done his best to make sure his sons had the best childhood they could. It hadn’t been John’s fault that the Hunters had been obsessed with killing a then-innocent boy.
Sam tilted his head back. His life hadn’t been easy, and if he could have traded it for a normal childhood, he would have- he’d have given anything to have his mother survive that night.
Part 2
Prologue
The student hurried along the paths toward the edge of campus. He was in a hurry to get home, and hoped he could make it before too long.
The student paused and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Hello?” he asked. He grinned.
“No, I’m headed back to my apartment. Class just got out,” the student said. He stopped, shook his head, and started walking again. “No, actually. Just some very weird dreams. You?” He paused and listened to the person on the other end. “Really? Are you sure haven’t just been having too much fun with your lighter?”
He grinned. “I know that, jerk,” he said. “Anyway, I’m being dragged to a party tonight- yes, I know. But what can I do?” He paused. “When?” He looked around cautiously for a second. “I haven’t noticed anything, but they’ve probably gotten a bit more subtle since the last time. I hope. You know how it is- we never seem to catch a hint until it’s almost too late. No, I’m fine. Besides, I can handle it if something happens.”
Laughing, the student checked for traffic before crossing the street. “Okay, okay - and yes, that'd be appreciated. I've been getting the feeling that there's more to the dreams than I thought at first. It’d be nice to have someone else around who knows what’s going on.”
He shook his head. “Of course not! How do you tell someone something like that, anyway? I’ll tell her eventually, don’t worry. Just… once things are a little clearer, and I’ve got a bit of proof. She does know the back story, just not that we actually believe the attackers had a point.”
He stopped in front of a building. “Listen, I need to go- No, jerk, I’m at my apartment, and I need both hands. Yeah, I’ll talk to you later.”
He absently juggled keys, phone and backpack as he entered his apartment building. Across the street another man, dressed much like every student around, pulled out his own cell phone.
Jessica Moore looked up from her books as her boyfriend entered their apartment. “How was class?” she asked.
Sam Winchester shrugged. “Boring, as usual. I hate this class. Anyway, I’ve got something more interesting to ask you about.”
Jess blinked and smiled. “Oh?”
“Dean’s in the area and wants to know if he can crash on our couch tonight and maybe for the weekend. If it’s alright with you…?” he looked at her pleadingly.
She smiled up at him. “Of course it’s alright. It’ll be good to see him again. I haven’t seen him since last spring break.”
Sam smiled. “Neither have I. He’s been busy with… something. I don’t dare ask what.”
She grinned. “That sounds like him. And have you heard from your father lately?”
“Yes, Dean sent me an email just last week, telling me that Dad was going to drop off the radar for a bit. He’s got some sort of line on that crazy cult that’s been trying to kill me since I was a baby.”
Jess nodded. She knew the story- the nation knew the story, though most didn’t know the names of the victims.
A group of crazy, end times obsessed survivalists had decided that seven weeks old Sammy Winchester would grow up to be some sort of demonic overlord and help destroy the world.
They’d attacked the Winchester’s house on June 21, and wounded both little Sammy and his four year old brother, Dean, before their mother, Mary, and father, John, managed to force them away from the boys.
Mary had been killed, but not before putting up a tremendous fight, enough for John to take out the men she wasn’t dealing with, and rescue their sons. One of the men had been captured, and he’d spilled everything about why they’d attacked.
But despite the resulting media frenzy, the names of the family that had been attacked had been kept from the public eye. Even the worst of the journalists had seen that it would only hurt the baby.
Most people didn’t know that the survivalists had tried to kidnap Sam several times since then, but had never succeeded. Sam had been rather vague on why.
Jess blinked and shook herself out of her thoughts. “When is your brother getting here?”
Sam shrugged. “It depends on how long his business takes,” he said. “He’ll probably get in at about 3am tonight, knowing him.”
Jess laughed
Sam sat up slowly and glanced at the clock. It was 3:42am and he could hear someone- or something- in the apartment. He sighed. It was probably just his brother, but he’d been raised not to take anything for granted, and he had to check.
He made sure to avoid that one creaky point on the floor as he made his way toward the quiet sounds. After a moment, he could see that there was a man in the living room.
As the man passed by the doorway, Sam struck, hoping to get him into a choke hold. His opponent ducked out of Sam’s grasp and the fight was on- until the man pinned Sam to the ground.
“Whoa, easy there, tiger!” the man exclaimed.
Sam scowled as he finally got a good look at the intruder. “Dean, you scared the crap out of me!”
“That’s ‘cause you’re out of practice,” Dean retorted.
Sam scowled, knocked Dean over and pinned his brother to the ground.
“Or not,” Dean conceded. “Get off me.”
Sam got up and pulled Dean up with him. “Dean, next time, don’t break in, alright? What if I hadn’t realized it was you?”
Dean chuckled. “You would have, before you did anything to hurt me.”
Sam sighed. “Next time, just knock and wake me up, alright?”
The light turned on, and they both turned to look at Jess. “Sam? What’s going on?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Dean decided to break in rather then wake us up,” he told her. “Which, considering how light I sleep, just doesn’t work.”
She glared at Dean. “Next time, knock,” she ordered.
Dean laughed. “You are so far out of Sam’s league,” he said. “You know that, right Sammy?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “You only tell me that every time you visit,” he replied. “And its Sam, jerk.”
“Bitch,” Dean replied promptly.
Jess sighed. “Argue later,” she ordered. “I’m going back to bed, and so is Sam. Dean, you know where the couch is.”
The brothers watched her go back to the bedroom. Then Sam smiled and shook his head. “We’ll talk in the morning,” he said.
“Yeah, we will,” Dean said. “And Sam?”
Sam turned back around.
“It’s starting.”
Sam nodded.
Jess woke up again to the tantalizing smells of something cooking and the low sounds of Sam and Dean talking and laughing.
She blinked sleep out of her eyes and stretched. Definitely time to get up.
She wandered into the kitchen. Dean was at the stove, expertly flipping pancakes while Sam chopped fruit on the counter. They were laughing about something as they looked over at her. “Jess, hi,” Dean smiled.
She returned the grin. “Hello, Dean,” she said. “Much better time to say hello, isn’t it?”
She leaned in and stole a piece of cantaloupe from Sam’s pile of fruit.
Sam laughed.
“Good morning,” she told him as she kissed him on the cheek.
“Morning,” he leaned down and gave her a proper kiss.
Dean whistled after a moment and they broke apart. Sam shot him a look over Jess’s shoulder. Dean smirked back. “Pancakes are ready,” he said innocently.
Jess turned to the cupboard. “I’ll set the table,” she said.
They were all quiet as they ate, but once they were done and were cleaning up, Jess turned to Dean. “So, what have you been up to lately?”
Dean grinned. “Running errands, mostly. Got into a bit of trouble down in New Orleans, but other then that, nothing much.”
“What sort of trouble?” Jess asked.
“Just a couple of guys didn’t want me in their bar.”
Sam put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “But you’re fine, obviously.”
“Come on, Sammy. It was two drunk men. I’d have to be way off my game for them to take me down,” Dean said as he finished putting the leftover fruit salad away. “Anyway, do you have any plans for the day?”
Sam shrugged. “Not really,” he said. “Jess?”
She shook her head. “Just a study group in the library,” she said. “And I have to work this afternoon.”
“Then Sam and I will stay here,” Dean said. “I promise to keep him in one piece, though.”
Jess smiled. “That means you can’t fight in the living room,” she said.
He deflated, but it was exaggerated enough that she was certain he hadn’t planned anything of the sort.
“You boys have fun,” she said. “I’ll see you tonight.” She turned to head into the bedroom to get ready, but swung back around as a thought occurred to her. “Dean, you are staying tonight, right?”
Dean nodded. “Maybe for the weekend, if you don’t mind.”
She grinned. “Of course I don’t,” she said.
She headed back into the bedroom. Sam followed her to grab his own clothes. “Jess… I…”
“It’s something important, isn’t it?”
“Dean wouldn’t be here in the middle of the semester if it wasn’t.”
Then find out what it is, and tell me later.”
Sam looked troubled. He kissed her goodbye, but didn’t say anything as she picked up her bag and headed out the door.
Dean looked just as troubled as he watched her go. Jess bit her lip. She didn’t like this. She just didn’t know what this was.
Sam was waiting for Dean to start. Dean didn’t say anything for nearly five minutes after Jess left.
Sam swallowed. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“You got the e-mail I sent, right?” Dean asked.
“Yes, of course I did. Thanks for the heads up.”
Dean nodded. “I couldn’t tell you everything in the e-mail, since it wasn’t secure. But Dad didn’t go alone.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean… I thought they weren’t planning that for another year or so!”
“They weren’t,” Dean said. “But things change, Sammy, you know that. Well, you know he’s got a lot to get ready for.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Sam said. “I just figured there’d be more time.”
Dean shrugged. “And I’m here for a reason,” he said. “Some of the new Hunters have taken up the crusade.”
Sam sighed and rolled his eyes. “And they don’t even realize that they’re just driving me to do what they’re trying to prevent.”
Dean shrugged. “Hey, you know what they say about me,” he pointed out.
Sam laughed. “When I take over the world, you can be my right hand man,” he promised.
Dean laughed with him.
They grinned at each other for a moment. “Are you going to tell Jess?” Dean finally asked.
“She knows the basics,” Sam said. “I told her that when we started getting serious.”
“She doesn’t know demons and all that actually exist,” Dean retorted.
“I’ve been… introducing the ideas,” Sam said. “Getting her used to the idea that there’s a lot more in heaven and earth and all that. But it’s hard. I don’t want to scare her away.” He shook his head. “I plan on telling her everything before I…”
Dean waited for a moment. “No, you don’t get to stop there, Sammy. Before what?”
Sam sighed. “Will you help me shop for a ring before you leave?” he asked quietly.
Dean’s eyes widened. “You’re that serious about her?” he asked.
Sam nodded slowly.
“Yeah, I’ll go with you, Sammy,” he said.
Sam looked down, smiling. “And… if she says yes, even after she knows everything, will you be my best man?” He looked up at his brother, eyes pleading.
Dean’s jaw dropped. “You want me to be your best man?”
Sam nodded. “I wouldn’t want anyone else,” he said.
Dean sat back, stunned. “Yes,” he breathed. “Of course.
Sam’s grin was infectious, and Dean couldn’t help but grin back.
“I didn’t realize it was getting that serious,” he said. “Does Dad or anyone else know?”
Sam shook his head. “No,” he said. “I wanted to tell you first.”
After a moment, Sam shook his head. “Anyway, we’ve gotten off topic.”
Dean took a deep breath. “You’re right,” he said. “You know, you might not have a chance to marry her.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I… Dean, remember that dream I mentioned on the phone? It’s been a reoccurring dream where she dies.”
Dean sat up. “How?”
Sam shook his head. “The Hunters,” he said. “They attack- you’re there- and I don’t see all of it, but she’s hurt, at least. There’s enough blood that I’m not sure if she’s alive.”
Dean swallowed. “It’s a dream, Sam,” he said, though he wasn’t all that certain that it wasn’t. “It has to be.”
“Dean I’m twenty-two,” Sam said.
Dean sighed. “I know,” he said. “But even if that is what we think it is, we can change it.”
“I hope so,” Sam said. He took a deep breath. “Can we change the subject? Please, just for now?”
Dean nodded. “Alright,” he said. “Sammy, what do you want to do today?”
Sam shook off his bad mood. “Ring shopping?” he asked. “Not to buy, yet, but just check out a few stores.
“We can do that,” Dean said.
Dean was singing along to the Led Zeppelin song on the radio when he turned down the street to the apartment. They’d looked at several rings, and made a short list of rings Sam thought Jess would like, and they were both in good moods.
Sam glanced around as they pulled up to the apartment. “Dean…” he started quietly.
“Something’s up,” Dean said, reading his tone.
“Yes,” Sam said. “Those cars- the blue ford truck and the green camero aren’t… they’re not supposed to be here. I’ve never seen them before.”
Dean continued driving, only to swing around and park on the next street over. “Up the back? If we’re just being paranoid, all we’ll do is scare Jess a bit.”
Sam nodded. Cautiously, they both pulled themselves up the fire escape.
“Sam, what do you have on you?”
Sam glanced down. “Not much,” he said. “Just my Glock and a boot knife. I’m pushing that as it is at school.”
Dean snorted quietly. “I just have my gun and a couple of knives too, unfortunately. We’re going to need a hell of a plan.”
“If something’s wrong,” Sam said, though he didn’t doubt that something was.
He kept low as they reached the closed window to his apartment. After a moment, he dared to peak inside for a brief look. That look was all he needed. Three men stood in the main room, surrounding Jess, who was tied to a chair and gagged.
“Hunters,” Sam whispered. “Three of them, the ones I saw in my dreams, though I don’t recognize them beyond that.”
“Damn.” Despite the curse, Dean sounded unsurprised.
“They’ve got Jess,” Sam’s breath hitched. “Just like in my dream.”
“We’ll rescue her,” Dean said. “We won’t let a bunch of Hunters take her.”
Sam managed a tight grin.
Gordon Walker eyed the girl they had tied up. She was scared, but she has still found the courage to glare at them. They’d been forced to gag her to get her to stop cursing at them and possibly warn their target.
She really was quite pretty. Beauty, brains, and an attitude to match- it was easy to see why the antichrist had chosen her. It was a shame she seemed loyal to that creature.
The front door opened. Gordon, Kubrick, and Creedy stiffened as the girl’s eyes widened. She began to struggle again. Gordon thought he heard something behind him, but it was just the wind through the open window.
Creedy crumpled to the ground as Sam Winchester, the antichrist, walking into the apartment. Gordon kept his focus on the abomination while Kubrick turned to face whatever had taken out Creedy. Kubrick, however, flew forward before he completed his turn. Gordon could see someone else standing there. This wasn’t going well.
Gordon fired at the abomination, which finally moved, diving behind a wall.
Gordon swung around toward the other thing in the room- only to come face to face with the abomination’s brother. “I’d heard you were in town, traitor,” he snarled at Dean Winchester.
The other man smiled mockingly. “Traitor to what?” he asked.
“The human race!”
Winchester laughed. “Am I really a traitor when I’m just keeping my brother alive?” He sprung forward and knocked Gordon off balance.
Gordon still managed to get off one shot, but it didn’t hit Winchester or the abomination. Gordon didn’t particularly care after that.
Winchester was one hell of a fighter, and the abomination- from what Gordon could see of the other fight- was just as good.
Then everything went black.
Dean looked up as soon as he was sure the Hunter he was fighting was unconscious. Sam had taken out his two opponents and was already on the phone with emergency services.
Dean glanced at Jess. He’d seen that she’d been hit by the bullet, but he’d been unable to get to her. She stared at him without seeing him, but he was relieved to see that she was still breathing.
Dean spent a futile moment trying to stop the flow of blood, but that did nothing but leave his hands covered in it.
“Sam?” Jess asked shakily.
“He’s getting help, sweetheart,” Dean said. He glanced down at his hands. Sam reached them and placed his hands over Dean’s. Dean freed one of his hands and brushed the first two fingers across her forehead. The blood left behind a pattern which would appear to be accidental to anyone who didn’t recognize what it was. “I’m not really that good at this, Jess, but it should work,” Dean said.
She blinked at him, uncomprehending.
Dean took a deep breath and then chanted quietly. It was a simple spell, one he’d learned when he was ten. He’d never had to do it in a life or death situation before, but he knew it would work.
He finished just as the paramedics and police broke down the door. Sam smiled gratefully at him. Jess had a fighting chance now.
The man picked up the phone. “Hello?” he asked. He had no idea who would be calling at this hour.
“Pastor James Murphy?” The young man on the other end of the line asked. He sounded pleasant enough, if rather abrupt.
“Yes, young man, I am Pastor Murphy. May I help you?”
“I doubt it. I just called to give you a warning,” the young man’s tone shifted, became colder.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I am Sam Winchester, Pastor Murphy,” the man said.
Jim gasped.
“So you have heard of me,” Sam said.
“I have. I don’t believe the stories Hunters tell of you,” Jim said.
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Sam replied. “But that doesn’t matter. I just called to give you and the more sane Hunters a warning. Get your fanatical brethren under control, Pastor Murphy. I was perfectly willing to live and let live. But then some of the fanatics attacked my girlfriend, just because she’s my girlfriend. The fanatics are pushing me toward the fate they want to prevent. Next time you see a Hunter, ask what they know of self-fulfilling prophesies.”
Jim inhaled sharply. “Is your girlfriend alright?”
“She’ll be fine,” Sam replied. “Eventually. But the next group that attacks me won’t be. I’m through playing with kid gloves. Your people have gone too far. Warn all the Hunters that next time, all the attackers die.”
“Mr. Winchester, most Hunters don’t believe that you will bring about the end of the world, and we know that those that do are actually pushing you away from humanity. Let those of us who don’t believe your so-called destiny help you.”
“No,” Sam said. “My family and I can handle this. You and your friends never bothered to help us before. No Hunter vouched for us the first ten times we were attacked. Why should we accept your help now?” The phone clicked, and Jim knew that the boy had hung up.
Jim took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It seemed he had some phone calls to make.
He carefully dialed and waited. Once the other person answered, he took a deep breath. “Bobby? I just got a very interesting phone call. We might have a problem.”
Jess drifted awake slowly. She could hear a steady beeping, smelled the mix of medicine and sickness that told her she was in a hospital. And she hurt. She heard voices off to the side. “I don’t think we have much of a choice, Dean,” it was Sam.
“I know. I just wish…”
“Me too,” Sam said. “I don’t want to ruin her life like this.”
“You’re not ruining her life,” Dean replied. “You’re going to make her safer.”
“Except for the Hunters, Dean. They’re going to come after her now. They know I’ll do anything to keep her safe.”
“Yeah, but the sane ones know it too, dude,” Dean said. “And they don’t think you’re the antichrist.”
“They give me the benefit of the doubt, Dean,” Sam said. “They know that damn prophesy as well as the insane ones.”
Jess tried to frown. It sounded like Sam and Dean actually thought there was some merit to the cult member’s thoughts.
“What am I going to do, Dean?” Sam finally asked. “Jess is going to hate me.”
Dean sighed. “No she won’t, Sam,” Dean said. “She’ll be mad, sure, but… hell, you’ve been trying to figure out how to tell her since you met her.”
“I know. And once we started dating, I warned her about the Hunters.”
Dean sighed. “Yeah, you did. Remember that. She’ll understand in time.”
“I think I need to leave school,” Sam said. “We’ve been able to keep my location a secret for four years, but now the Hunters know where I am.”
Jess wanted to let Sam know she was awake, but she was more interested in listening.
“Azazel won’t be pleased,” Dean said. “And neither will Dad.” Jess frowned. Who was Azazel?
“They’ve both gone off the map, Dean,” Sam said. “Who knows when they’ll find out? Besides, after this attack, I’d have to move. And… I hate it, but it’ll keep Jess safer.”
“Sammy…” Dean whispered.
Sam didn’t say anything for a long time. “I don’t want to do it. But I can’t keep her safe if I stay in school.”
“You can’t keep her safe if you leave her, Sam,” Dean said.
“So I can call in some help,” Sam said. “I can’t just let her… this is my fault. I knew the Hunters would find me again. I should have known they’d use anyone I was close to. I should have known, Dean.”
“Sam, this is not your fault,” Dean said. “It’s never been your fault. The Hunters did this; they’re the ones who killed Mom, not you.”
“But I should have known…”
Jess shifted slightly and Sam cut himself off. “Jess?” he asked quietly, rushing to her side.
“Sam,” she whispered, opening her eyes. Sam looked awful, tired and worried.
She sighed. Whatever he’d been talking about was important, but it could wait. She didn’t have the strength to talk about it right now.
Sam stared down at Jess. She’d finally woken up, and the doctors were saying that she’d recover completely, with only a scar to show for the attack. She hadn’t said anything about the attack, or how Sam had blamed himself. He couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d been awake and if she’d heard his discussion with Dean.
It didn’t actually matter, of course, he had to tell her no matter what.
Dean slipped back into the room. “She’s asleep again?” he asked.
Sam nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Have you heard from the Moores? I know they’re on a cruise and completely out of touch, but we’ve been trying to call them for a day now.”
“Nothing,” Dean said.
“They’re going to hate me,” Sam said. “This happens when they’re out of touch? Mr. Moore didn’t like me anyway, but now…”
Dean shook his head. “Is he going to be a problem?”
Sam laughed soundlessly. “No,” he said decisively. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”
Dean sighed. “It’s not your fault,” he said.
Sam knew Dean had said it before. So had their father, so had everyone else they’d grown up around. It hadn’t been his fault that their mom had died. Still, some part of him felt that it was his fault. The Hunters had been there to kill him. They had been there to kill him yesterday, too. Jess’s injuries were because of that.
So Sam settled for making a noise that really meant nothing.
Dean eyed him for a moment before sighing and sitting down next to Sam. “You know, visiting hours will be over soon.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sam said. “I have to… god, the police,” he said. “I haven’t talked to them yet.”
Dean laughed. “They want your statement, yeah, but everything’s pretty clear, especially with our history. And, well, the guy I knocked out is already ranting about how you’re an abomination.”
“Lovely,” Sam said. “And I… Dean, I can’t think straight,” he said. “I don’t know what to do next.”
“Don’t worry, Sammy, I’ve taken care of it,” Dean said. “I’ve already talked to the local FBI office. They’re not happy, and they’re making noises about suggesting the Witness Protection Program again. And guess who’ll be here soon?”
“Actually, I’m already here, Dean.”
They looked up at the man at the door.
“Agent Henriksen!” Sam said. He stood up quickly- too quickly, he swayed a moment.
“Sit back down, Sam,” Victor Henriksen said.
“When was the last time you slept, dude?” Dean asked.
Sam gave his brother a look, but sat back down.
“You got here fast,” Dean said.
Henriksen shrugged. “I was in the area because of another case,” he said. “Anyway, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d hoped that I wouldn’t see you boys again.”
Sam smiled wanly. “No problem, Agent,” he said. “I wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again either.”
“So, I’ve already read your statement, Dean. Sam, is there anything you can add?”
“Probably not,” Sam said, glancing at Jess. “Jess is my girlfriend, we’ve been living together for over a year now- since the start of the last school year- and the cultists just used her to get to me. I think she was just wounded accidentally in the struggle.”
“About that…” Henriksen started.
Sam sighed. “I think we’ve had this talk before.”
“Yes, we have. Call the cops next time,” Henriksen said. “I know John taught you two to defend yourselves, but you really should leave this stuff to the professionals.” He sighed. “Now that I’ve given you the scolding my bosses wanted me to, how are you?”
“Sam and I just have bruises,” Dean said. “It’s Jess that was hurt.”
“And if we’d called the cops, she’d have been hurt worse, probably even killed,” Sam said. He was absolutely certain of that. His dreams had shown him that much.
Henriksen nodded. “Knowing these cultists like we do, I’d have to say yes. What do you plan to do now, Sam?” he asked.
Sam sighed. “Jess’s parents will be here in a few hours,” he said. “They’re flying in. I guess I’ll need to pick them up at the airport.”
“Sam, I think he means long term.”
Sam sighed. “Leave,” he said. “The cultists are targeting others again. I’m not going to put Jess in anymore danger. It’s part of the reason I went to Stanford in the first place- Dad and Dean were getting targeted.”
Henriksen nodded. “I understand, Sam,” he said. “Have you heard from your father yet?”
Sam shook his head. “He was trying to lead the cultists away from me; he went under the radar a few weeks ago.”
The FBI agent nodded, but he didn’t look happy. “Understood,” he said. “But he should be here with you,” he said.
“It’s not like Dad knew about this,” Dean said. “Not even… well, there’s no way anyone could have known.”
Henriksen nodded. “It’s just bad timing,” he said.
Sam sighed. It was bad timing, but he couldn’t be entirely sure that it wasn’t planned. It would be just perfect if it was. At least he knew that it wasn’t John Winchester who had planned it this way if it’d been planned.
Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give Azazel an earful if that was the case. Sam rather hoped that it wasn’t part of some plan, to be honest.
He sighed and focused back on the subject at hand.
Dean was staring at him. “Sam, you shouldn’t have to give all this up,” he said.
Sam nodded. “You’re right,” he said angrily. “I shouldn’t have to give up a full ride. We shouldn’t have had to move at least twice a year when we were kids. Mom shouldn’t have died when I wasn’t even two months old. You shouldn’t have had to grow up knowing that people thought your brother would end the world. I shouldn’t have had to grow up like that…”
He cut himself off, and headed for the bed Jess lay in. “None of it should have happened,” he said. “But it did. And now I have to deal with the consequences.” He sat down next to her.
Henriksen sighed. “I’m sorry, Sam,” he said. “I should have been able to…
“Don’t,” Dean said. “The cultists are too good at hiding. There was nothing any of you or your people could do about them. They won’t stop. At least you managed to get them classified as terrorists.”
Sam sighed. “They’re not going to stop until I’m dead, they’re all dead, or they’re all in prison,” he said. “And they’re just too good at hiding.”
Henriksen sighed again. “I just feel that I should do more for you boys,” he said. “No one should be chased like this, Hunted like this, because of some prophesy that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Sam smiled slightly. “Thank you, Agent,” he said softly.
Beside him, Jess turned her head toward him. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly when she saw Sam sitting next to her. “Hi, Jess,” Sam said quietly, Henriksen forgotten for the moment.
Behind Sam, Dean jerked his head to the door. He and the FBI agent left, leaving Jess and Sam alone for a moment.
Victor studied Dean for a long moment. “You and Sam are hiding something,” he said.
Dean shrugged. “Yeah, we are,” he said. “It’s nothing major, Agent, nothing anyone can help us with.”
“Does it relate to the cult?” Victor asked.
“Only in the sense that I need to convince Sam not to leave his girlfriend because of them,” Dean said.
Victor snorted. “You Winchesters are all far too stubborn,” he said. “Good luck with that,” he said.
Dean sighed. “Yeah, I know,” he said. “If only I could find a way… But Sam is convinced that Jess will hate him. She knew about the cultists before this, before you ask, but Sam still thinks she’ll hate him.”
Victor sighed. “I’ll be in touch, Dean,” he said. “You still have my cell phone number, right?”
“Yeah, we do,” Dean said.
“Be careful.”
“Of course,” Dean said. “Good luck catching the cultists.”
He didn’t sound like he believed Victor was actually going to have any luck. Victor didn’t blame him.
“I can’t change your mind, can I?” Jess asked.
Sam shook his head. “I’d stay if I could, but it’s too dangerous for you,” he said.
“Why?” Jess asked. “The cultists were stopped.”
Sam sighed. She knew he was still reeling from her parent’s visit and their complete disapproval of him. Now, he had said that he needed to leave. Jess was nearly completely healed now, and Sam was leaving.
“It’s more then that,” Sam said. “There’s more of them out there. And I’ve been…” he stopped and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s bad, Jess,” he said. “I won’t ever be able to keep you safe from them if I don’t go. And, well, you know how I’ve been trying to tell you something for a while?”
Jess nodded. She looked over at where Dean was standing by the door. Dean just nodded at Sam.
Sam nodded and sat down on the couch next to her. “I haven’t been able to find the words for a while now,” he said. “I was thinking about telling you the day we were attacked. I figured Dean could help me. Or he could help me move out if you didn’t believe me. But then you were hurt by the Hunters.”
“Hunters?” Jess asked.
“That’s what they call themselves. That’s what we call them.”
“What do they Hunt, beside you?” Jess asked.
“Evil,” Sam said. “Supernatural evil.”
Jess sighed. “Sam, they believe that you’re the antichrist, or whatever. They probably Hunt innocents who just happen to have something odd happen around them.”
Sam sighed. “For the most part, no, they don’t,” he said. “They’re right, in a way.” He snorted. “The supernatural exists. Ghosts, witches, werewolves, they all exist. So do demons.”
“Sam, quit teasing me.”
“He’s not, Jess,” Dean said. “The world around us is full of more then just humans,” he said.
Jess stared at Dean, then at Sam.
Sam sighed. “I’ve wanted to tell you for months,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure how.”
“Are they right about you?” she asked.
“Only in the sense that they’ve pushed me on that path,” Sam said softly. “If it wasn’t for them, I’d just be another college student. Mostly.”
He sighed. “I… when we were attacked when I was a baby, Dad and Mom didn’t defeat the Hunters on their own. A demon possessed Dad and stopped them. He wasn’t able to save Mom, but he did manage to save the three of us.”
Dean nodded. “That demon- Azazel- has helped us, Jess. He’s got some plan for us, but all he’s done to us is protect us from the Hunters. He’s gone off to get things set up, and Dad’s gone with him.”
“A demon,” Jess said skeptically.
Sam nodded. “Azazel is a very powerful, very high level demon,” he said. “He protects us.”
Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and turned to Sam. “Are the… Hunters right about you?”
Sam nodded. “Only in a very broad sense. I don’t want to destroy the world- just… it’s complicated. They made it a self-fulfilling prophesy,” he said. “If they hadn’t attacked my home, Dad wouldn’t have been driven to protect Dean and I, and I doubt we would have met Azazel until I was… well, right about now, actually,” he frowned. “It’s a very long story,” he said. “But I don’t want to kill everyone, I promise.”
Jess nodded. “I need to think,” she said.
Sam closed his eyes. “I know,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
He stood up, but she pulled him back down. “Sam, it’s a lot to think about, but I still love you.”
Sam smiled sadly. “Let the shock fade,” he said. “But I’ll always love you, Jess.”
She pulled him into a kiss. His eyes were very bright when he pulled away and stood up. “Jess, I’ve got a friend who will be coming here to keep you safe. She won’t hurt you, but I don’t know if she’ll introduce herself to you.”
“What’s her name?” Jess asked.
“I think she’s calling herself Meg right now, but I’m not sure,” Sam said. “Just… I want to make sure that the Hunters won’t come after you again, and if they do, I want you to be protected. I love you, Jess,” he said.
He stepped back. “Let’s go,” he told Dean roughly.
Dean stared at him. “I’ll take care of him,” he promised Jess.
Jess watched as Sam walked out the door. It had obviously something that hurt for him to do.
She wished she could comfort him, but she wasn’t sure if he was really telling her the truth. She believed he believed it. Jess closed her eyes. She had some research to do.
Dean glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye. Sam had been silent nearly the entire trip, except for when he had to speak, like when they were ordering in diners or when Dean sent Sam in to get motel rooms.
Sam was grieving, almost as much as he would be if Jess had died. “You know, she doesn’t hate you,” Dean said.
“Once it sinks in, she will,” Sam said. “Dean, I’m destined to help bring about the apocalypse. I was just fooling myself thinking I could ever have a relationship that didn’t end with the girl hating me.”
“Sammy…” Dean trailed off. “Jess is a smart woman. She loves you. She’ll understand.”
Sam didn’t say anything as Dean turned into the driveway.
“Home base,” Dean said as he looked up at the large mansion.
Once Dean parked in the large garage, Sam slid out of the car and headed for the trunk.
Dean sighed. He’d left Sam’s cell phone number with Jess, as well as Dean’s own number, and he hoped she’d call soon.
Dean got out just as Sam pulled out his two duffels. “Let’s go,” Sam said. “I want to take a shower and then sleep for about twelve hours.”
Dean huffed. “Remember, you haven’t been here in nearly four years,” Dean said.
“It can wait,” Sam replied. “I just want to sleep.”
Dean sighed and collected his duffle. The rest of Sam’s stuff would be fine in the car until later. Sam hadn’t taken much anyway- anything that wasn’t personal in nature had stayed with Jess.
Sam headed for the entrance. Dean watched as he hesitated just before entering. “I didn’t plan on returning until I had a degree,” Sam said quietly.
“I know,” Dean replied. “Everyone agreed that was the best plan.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I never expected to…”
“Yeah,” Dean said. He forced a smile. “Come on, little brother, let’s grab some showers and some sleep.”
Sam nodded but didn’t smile back.
They were, luckily, able to sneak in without anyone noticing they were there. Dean ran interference until Sam was in bed, and then headed down to let the housekeepers know they were there.
Sam rolled over, reaching out for Jess, only to find she wasn’t there.
Sam opened his eyes. For a moment, he wasn’t sure where he was, but then he recognized the walls of the room. His room back at the home base, the one he’d grown up in, when he and his family wasn’t on the road to get away from Hunters, at least.
Sam smiled sadly. He’d had an unusual childhood, but he knew that had been out of his father’s hands. John Winchester had done his best to make sure his sons had the best childhood they could. It hadn’t been John’s fault that the Hunters had been obsessed with killing a then-innocent boy.
Sam tilted his head back. His life hadn’t been easy, and if he could have traded it for a normal childhood, he would have- he’d have given anything to have his mother survive that night.
Part 2