Babes in Toyland 9B/10
Title: Babes in Toyland Chapter 9B/10
It was nightfall by the time they reached Hartfield Haven, Dean and Sam wanting to stay at the cabin until Casey felt stronger, but the girl insisting they return. The gate had been repaired and as they approached the house, Dean could see sheets of plywood covering the broken windows.
Casey ambulated under her own steam, back ramrod straight as sheer will propelled her up the stairs with Dean and Sam following. Josh enveloped her in a fierce hug before guiding her into Trotter’s awaiting arms. He then pulled Sam into a tight embrace. “Thank you. Thank you for bringing her home.”
Several girls were seated at the bar surrounding a laptop. Casey crossed to them, receiving a few more hugs and pats, and trained her eyes on the images on the small screen.
Josh relinquished his hold on Sam to wrap an uncomfortable looking Dean in a similar hug. Trotter stepped up to the younger Winchester , eyes moist and lips trembling. Sam understood and nodded his acknowledgment of the silent gratitude.
The door to the training room opened and Ariel came in trailed closely by Steve. She visibly paled at the sight of Casey, eyes wide in surprise. Faster than Dean was able to track, Casey’s hand shot out and pulled the gun hidden at small of the nearest girl’s back. Fluidly, she raised the gun and leveled it at Ariel.
“Casey, what are you doing?” Ariel took a step back, bumping into Steve behind her.
“You forgot about the new cameras Josh had installed at the main gate.” Casey’s thumb slowly pulled the hammer back on the gun, the muzzle never wavering. With her free hand, she turned the portable computer for Ariel to see and pressed a button. Sam and Dean shuffled to the side for a better view.
A black and white video played on the screen, the image of the front gate, closed and locked against the backdrop of the fading sunset. Ariel came into view, a knife shining in the dying rays of the sun as the black-haired girl scraped the sharp point into random posts. Pocketing the knife, she unlocked the gate and tugged the iron chain free. Sam recognized the blonde woman that approached Ariel, the two greeting each other like old friends. Looking over at Dean, Sam saw that his brother recognized Meg as well.
“Casey, I-“ Ariel began.
“Say one more word and I’ll put a bullet in your brain. You broke the wards and let them in here. They killed Leah, Rebecca, Rachel and Sarah. Your friends, your comrades. Girls that promised to lay their lives down for you. You were going to give her Sam and Joey - the Boy King and his heir apparent. And all for what? My place in the Guard?” Casey was seething, her normal calm slipping. “Was their blood worth my position? Was the blood of my son worth it?”
Sam’s hand twitched, itching for the gun tucked in the waistband of his jeans. Next to him, Dean fidgeted, his tense body vibrating with anger.
“Casey,” Ariel croaked.
“Get her out of here. Send a security detail to escort her back to The Campus. If she tries to run, kill her.” Casey lowered her weapon, deflating once Ariel had been led away by four of the girls.
“You’re just going to let her go,” Steve asked incredulously, “She-she let those things in here. They’re dead because of her.” And, honestly, Dean agreed with his objection.
“Steve,” Josh said quiet and placating, moving to his upset lover.
Casey sighed, deflating. She sank onto one of the barstool, eyes tired and sorrowful. “My hands are tied, Steve. Our law dictates that she be sent back to The Campus so a tribunal can be convened.” She lifted her sympathetic gaze to the Steve, “Unless she does something monumentally stupid, she’s untouchable. If any of us gets a notion for vigilante justice, we’ll just end up taking her place in front of the tribunal.”
“Casey,” Trotter began, ready to protest, “you can’t really think that the tribunal…”
“She’ll stand trial,” Casey answered his half-asked question firmly, “I won’t kill her unless she gives me a reason.”
Sam felt Dean move beside him. “Well, let’s hope she gives you one.”
*****
Later that night, hours after everyone had turned in for the night, Sam crept down the stairs searching for Casey. He’d checked her room to find the room empty and the bed still made. He found her standing at the end of the massive dining room table, fingering the deep groove where the table had split during the attack.
“This table has been here as long as I can remember. Josh’s mother picked it out of hundreds of options. She said it was strong and, unlike the prettier choices, would be able to take any abuse we could inflict upon it.”
“I’m sure Josh can find another one like it.” Sam ran the tips of his fingers over the polished wood.
“Nah, we’ll fix it and it’ll it be stronger because of the damage.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out four chains, a round medallions hanging on each. She laid them out on an unmarred portion of the table.
“I’ve got to send them to their families. Let them know that their light has been extinguished. It’s one thing for it to happen in an attack. It’s another for it to happen because of a betrayal.” She shook her head, flinging the thoughts from her mind like a dog does water from its ears. “Sorry, maudlin.”
“You have a right to be.” Sam encircled her in a hug.
Stepping out of his reach, she looked up at him. “Did you talk to Dean about what we discussed?”
“I mentioned it. Casey, don’t worry about that now. You have enough on your mind without worrying about our petty problems.”
“So Dean liked the idea,” she continued on as if he hadn’t spoken.
“Yes, but..”
“I need to get things settled here again. I have to promote some of the Betas and still need to deal with Ariel. I know that Steve and Trotter are mad, but I have to follow our law. I have to trust the tribunal to handle this appropriately. Otherwise, everything I’ve worked for and sacrificed my whole life was for nothing.” She stroked her index finger over the silver chains, nail tracing the runes engraved in the metal. Sighing, she smiled weakly at him. “So if you guys can wait a few months, we’ll get the ball rolling on it.”
Sam and Dean had been introduced to the Betas, the other girls present upon their return to the ranch. Josh explained that there were three Guards - Alphas, Betas and Omegas. Once the Alphas had been compromised , Trotter had immediately called the Betas in knowing that Casey would need to replace the fallen warriors from their ranks.
“If you’re sure, we’ll wait.”
“It’s settled then,”Casey smiled, reaching out and threading her fingers with his. He squeezed her hand reassuringly.