Children of the Wild Ones

[reticentric]

Chapter Four

As far as demons went Crowley was just as fucked up as the rest of them, however he knew which side his bread was buttered on and it wasn’t Lucifer’s. He was the kinda guy that would sell his own mother out for a break hence helping them the best he could to keep the world from roasting. The fact that he needed people to be of sound mind to keep making deals was the only reason Dean even humored what he had to say. Towns full of Crote infested citizens wouldn’t do anyone any good, not even the King of the crossroads. Still Dean hoped he was just being an asshole and pulling their chains.

Yeah there had been people in the warehouse screaming for help so he and Sam had helped them. Saved some chick in a pink shirt, and a man and a woman hiding behind large taped up packages of the so-called swine flu cure. But their eyes hadn’t been red and they damn sure hadn’t tried to kill anyone, not like the other poor suckers that eventually ended up with their heads blown off. When the place was clear Sam had laid the explosives and boom…no more Niveus.

There was no way they could have missed it…unless the infected hadn’t cooked properly yet. Unless a more concentrated dose gave you instant jacked up raged filled maniac while say just a prick took a while to surface, like it had back in Rivergrove. In which case anyone could have it now and they wouldn’t know until someone came after them with a meat cleaver.

Fuck!

Sam shifted his long legs in the foot wells of the front seat, his fingers tapping frenetically against his knee. “What are we gonna do if Crowley is right? I mean there is no way to contain this thing.”

Dean sighed from his place behind the wheel of the Impala. “Kill whatever we can, whatever tries to kill us. I don’t know about the rest. I’ve been thinking…” He wet his lips. “What if this is like in Rivergrove? Ya know where it takes a while to incubate or whatever? The whole town could have it and we’d have no idea until it was too late.”

Sam’s expression said it all. “Hey Cas, is there any way to tell who has it? Like some kinda angel vision or whatever?”

Castiel continued to gaze out of the window of the backseat as he spoke. “No, not until it manifests itself. However since what you have told me of the virus seems to be demon based, burning it out like one burns a demon would most likely be possible even though I doubt the host would survive.”

So we are back to square one. “What do we know about this town?”

Digging into his bag, Sam pulled out a few crumpled papers. “Okay. Galva, Iowa it’s a small town in Ida County; only about four hundred and thirty some people. I don’t know about you but if I had just seen a bunch of my co workers murdered hiding out in a small town sounds good to me.”

Dean nodded and pressed down onto the accelerator. The car roared and gained speed, humming as it sailed along the highway. Green eyes darted up to the rearview mirror to take in the figure sitting quietly. It was obvious that Cas had a lot on his mind; hell he could totally relate. But in all honestly he wondered just how bad off the angel was when it came to his powers. Like was he sticking close because he knew it was what he wanted or was it because he didn’t have the juice to do otherwise?

He hoped it wasn’t the latter.

Defeating the devil and stopping his master plan had been worth ten of Dean’s lives but the thought of Cas losing his grace permanently for it didn’t sit right with him. That was probably because of his whole self sacrificing deal-something he’d never add to the long list of things he was actually ashamed of. It just made more sense for him to take on the brunt of everything. He’d never really wanted much out of life besides his family safe, a good burger and maybe a bed with magic fingers. He wasn’t like Sam who wanted a quiet little normal life someday away from the job. And when he thought about it, it just made more sense to die if dying meant others got what they wanted. So he’d die if it meant Cas got to keep his grace.

Or he’d trade his own if that was what it took.

Speaking of, had Michael knew this would happen? Had he seen the Croatoan bullshit and then decided to bow out instead of actually help them deal with it? God there were so many unanswered questions, and really while he was cool as hell Dean would never understand why Michael had done what he’d done. How he’d went from claiming you couldn’t beat City Hall to handing over the keys to the whole damn building.

Though with Lucifer dead and God still AWOL, maybe he’d just decided fuck it. Let someone else do all the heavy lifting for a while.

Dean sighed and Castiel’s head turned, their eyes meeting in the mirror. Powered down as he was, Dean couldn’t help but wonder if Cas could still read his mind. If not he was hella intuitive about his moods…which made sense because no one knew him like Cas did. Not even Sam. Maybe before Hell but not now.

Heh.

“Dean. Dean you’re gonna miss our exit!” Sam hit him in the shoulder.

Jerking his eyes back onto the road, he cursed and cut off the car attempting to pass them, ignoring the angry honks as he merged off onto the exit they needed to take. He could tell his brother wanted to be an annoying little asshole but was thankful when he just grinned and shook his head. Castiel for his part went back to staring out the window like almost getting into a minor accident was an everyday thing.

This is gonne be a long day, he thought to himself.

~*~

No matter how small the town there always seemed to be a diner on one of the lonely streets or off to itself in a parking lot. Usually there were a few people inside either truckers or locals dying for their morning coffee but O’Brien’s was totally vacant. Probably because of the gaping hole in one of the windows the size of a tire. In fact he wouldn’t be surprised if someone had thrown a tire through it. He just hoped his baby would be okay parked in front of it. He had no issues busting a cap in the ass of someone that tried to scratch her or dent her, Crote or not.

Sam sniffed and glanced around with a frown. “This doesn’t look good.”

Dean made sure his gun was loaded before tucking it into the band of his jeans. “No, it doesn’t.” Pause. “We should look around. Cas, you want a gun?”

Castiel blinked at him. “Why would I need a firearm?”

Dean waved a hand. “To shoot something if it comes after you.”

Castiel turned and started walking. “I am still an angel, Dean. I can take care of myself.”

Dean huffed but didn’t say anything else on the matter. “Okay. Let’s get going then.”

Vacant streets during a work day didn’t have to be a bad thing but their luck never shifted that way. Dean figured everyone was hiding or dead, or already infected and waiting to rip their balls off. Four hundred and some Crotes could do a lot of danger if not contained. Or destroyed.

His spidey senses were tingling but he didn’t feel particularly amped up but then he’d already decided to put his trust into what always worked; his trigger finger and a loaded gun.

There was no debris laying in the road or cars with their doors still open. It sorta looked like everyone just decided to stay home for some reason. “You think people are hiding out?”

Sam shrugged. “Could be. Waiting for the cops or whatever if something happened. Maybe we should go to the police station and see if there have been any disturbances.”

Good idea. “Let’s go.”

They made their way without incident to the police station to find two lonely people inside, the receptionist and an itchy looking newbie pacing back and forth in front of her desk. He drew his Beretta the minute they stepped inside, his hand trembling to keep it steady.

“Whoa, whoa calm down.” Dean lifted both his hands into the air. “I’m Agent Bonham and these are my partners Agent Copeland…and Agent Moscone. I got my badge in my front pocket if you wanna see it.”

Jumpy’s brown eyes darted between them before he slowly reached into Dean’s jacket, pulling out his fake badge with a fumbling tug. He looked it over and his entire expression morphed into one of relief. “Oh! I-I’m sorry Agents. I-things have been really weird here. Sorry.” He handed it back, one apparently enough for him to have belief in.

Dean took it easily. “No problem. We uh, got a tip that something strange was going on here. Thought since we were in the area we’d check it out. What’s your name?”

“Riggs. William Riggs. And this is Rebecca.” He pointed to the pretty redhead watching them. “The Sheriff is out at the moment I’m afraid. In fact most of the department is out…”

“Why?” Sam asked. “What’s going on?”

“It-it’s hard to say really.” Officer Riggs stammered. “We got a call that this man’s niece was going crazy, tearing up his house and hitting him. We thought it was a routine domestic case but when police arrived on the scene she was insane. She’d beat the hell out of her uncle and then attacked one of the officers, nearly ripping a chunk out of his neck with her teeth.” He sighed sadly. “They had to shoot her. She died on the scene but they took her uncle to the hospital.”

“Is he there now?” Sam inquired, managing to be comforting and inquisitive at the same time. “We’d really like to talk to him.”

“He was but, hell three hours later and he was going crazy too. Attacked a few nurses and other patients. Barricaded them all up in the morgue with him.” Riggs realized he still had his gun out and put it away. “Our town is small so thankfully we were able to get all of the patients sent to the town over. The Sheriff took a few men to the hospital to hopefully talk the man down and…he’s been gone ever sense.”

Fuck. “How long ago was that?”

Riggs whimpered. “Almost three hours. Rebecca and I are waiting for them to come back before we call in reinforcements. Or maybe even the damn CDC-heard those people might have had something to make them act like that.”

Smoothing a hand over his face, Dean shook his head. “No. Look what you and your friend here are gonna do is stay here right with the doors locked until we come back. Do you understand me? Don’t let anyone in no matter how good you know them. And don’t call anyone else.”

Riggs swallowed but nodded. “Ye-yes sir.”

“Good. Now where is the hospital?”

“Over on Main Street. You can’t miss it really.”

Turning on his heels, Dean stalked out with Sam and Castiel behind him. He could hear Riggs locking the door behind them as he headed in the direction the young officer had pointed. There was no sense in pretending this could be some regular case of crazy people, especially when all signs pointed to the Croatoan virus. So far he could guess the niece infected the uncle and after he got revved up, he went after anyone within reach. It was safe to say the Sheriff and his good men were probably already infected as well, either waiting to turn or just turning.

Shit, that sounded like ten or more people waiting to do some damage. He hoped they had enough bullets.

Rounding the corner of a clothing store, Sam put on his bitch face. “What are we planning to do, exactly? What if the Sheriff and his officers have been infected but haven’t turned yet? Can we really just…shoot them?”

Dean cringed inwardly because he honestly wasn’t sure what the right answer was. “I don’t know, Sam. I do know however we can’t let any of those things get out.”

Sam gazed at him. “What if they already have? If any of the patients were attacked you know they were sent to another hospital somewhere for treatment. I mean we can’t just go from town to town hunting for the infected especially when we don’t know who the infected are.”

The words were there on his brother’s tongue, he could tell. Words he didn’t want to utter out loud because the truth of them was just too much to take in. “I know,” he said softly. “But we can kill the sons of bitches here. Afterwards we’ll head back to Bobby’s and regroup. Try to come up with some kinda game plan.”

That appeared enough for Sam at the moment. “Okay. Let’s-”

The sound of glass shattering cut Sam off and Dean found himself being grabbed roughly by the shoulders by hands that bruised before he was tossed into what was left of the shop window. He grunted as he crashed into several metal clothing racks, pain blooming in his lower back when he hit the floor. He heard Sam yell and then another smash, turning over just in time to see his brother come flying through the door and into the counter.

“Sam!” Dean shouted.

Their attacker immediately honed on to the sound of his voice and jumped on him. It was a woman with bloody nails, red eyes and stained teeth that looked like they’d been gnashing something. She screeched and tried to claw at his face, stronger than any normal human had a right to be. Dean held her hands back with one hand and fumbled for his gun as he tried to buck her off of him.

Suddenly she was wretched away and tossed carelessly into a wall. She slammed into it hard but was up in a second, snarling like a crazed animal and charging. Dean watched as Castiel picked up a plastic hanger and jammed it straight through her eye, sending it out the back of her skull. She dropped to the floor like a stone, not even twitching.

“Ugh.” He slowly sat up. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” Castiel replied helping him to stand.

“Sammy?” Dean swerved around Castiel to check on his brother. “You okay?”

Sam groaned. “Yeah. Crap. I’d forgotten how strong they are.” A beat. “You think they’re wandering around or starting to leave the hospital?”

I think we’re screwed no matter where they are. “Hopefully just leaving the hospital.” He touched the tender skin of his lower back. “I guess we could get up onto the roof and pick them off one by one.”

Sam snorted. “And hope they all come this way?”

He smiled sadly. “I guess so unless you got a better idea.”

His brother scratched the back of his head. “You can’t…do your Michael thing to get rid of them?”

Dean rolled his shoulders. The last thing he wanted to depend on was that. “I don’t even know what my Michael thing is. And while I’m trying to get it to work they could be kicking me to death.” He wanted to ask Cas if he could do it but knew he couldn’t. And he wasn’t about to rub that in. “If we could get them all into one place we could at least get rid of them.”

Sam blinked. “How about we lure them here, lock them in and set the building on fire. Then we could tell Riggs to just tell everyone else to leave. If the whole town burns, well, it’s better than the alternative.”

It was a sick plan but he liked it. “Sounds good to me. How do we get them here?”

Sam pushed floppy hair out of his eyes. “They want more people to infect right? I think causing a fuss would work. One of us can yell from the roof while the other waits behind a dumpster or something. Once they are inside-”

“The other sets the place on fire.” Dean finished for him. “Okay you hide and I’ll get them here.” Sam opened his mouth to protest but Dean cut him off again. “No Sam, I got this. I can heal and you can’t.”

“And how do you plan to get out of a burning building?” Sam snapped.

“Fly of course.” Dean said sarcastically. “Now go. I saw a gas tank on the side when we walked by. You shoot that and it’s lights out for those Crote bastards. Cas…”

“Will stay with you.” Castiel responded, and obviously the subject was closed.

With a self-satisfied expression, probably because he knew there was no arguing with Castiel, Sam thrust his nose into the air and strolled towards the back of the store and out into the alley. Dean made a mental note to kick him in the ass later and motioned for Castiel to follow him before heading up a flight of stairs off to the right into what looked to be a storage area. The musky smell of old boxes and moldy cardboard burned his nose as he spied a rusty fire escape with a squeaky ladder leading up to the roof.

He slipped out onto it and after a few hard yanks got the ladder to come down enough so that he could hoist himself up and continue until he was climbing over the edge of the roof. Once he was safe he watched Castiel do the same without any trouble as well as bringing the ladder back up.

Pulling out his gun, he let its comforting weight calm him down. Not much really scared him anymore thanks to Hell but he could still get nervous. “You should have gone with Sam.”

Castiel cocked his head to the side. “Sam is quite capable of looking out for himself. He will not let himself be seen.”

Dean licked his lips. “And you think I can’t look out for myself?”

Castiel’s eyebrow barely lifted. “I think you don’t know how to ask for help even when you need it. You want Sam to be safe and yet you have no real regard for your own safety. So I am here to make sure this all…goes according to plan as it were.”

Lately it seemed to Dean that only Cas could say something so simple and yet make it feel like a hand was reaching into his chest and squeezing his heart. He was always just so honest and earnest about shit, which wasn’t a code most people lived by. Lies were safe. Lies were often the difference between hurt feelings and restraint. John didn’t have much restraint when it came to telling him what he’d done wrong, and he hoarded his compliments like a bear getting ready to hibernate. But Cas said whatever he wanted to say because he hadn’t learned not to. And it was infuriating at times and embarrassing at others, but he kinda hoped it never stopped.

Exhaling away the jittery feeling on his flesh, he looked out over the small town. “Yeah well, I want you safe too. For the record.”

Castiel stared at the side of his face. “I have never exactly thought otherwise. However I understand that you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good.”

Dean frowned because it wasn’t that straightforward. He’d die in a minute if it meant saving the world but he hated it when others died for him. “I’d never sacrifice you for the greater good. In case you haven’t noticed Cas but Sam and I aren’t really drowning in family right now. Besides my baby brother and Bobby I got nothing. Except you. Dying in a blaze of glory with my friends at my side is one thing. Throwing one into the fire to save my own ass? Never happen.” He thought about Ellen and Jo; the look on their faces when they realized they weren’t getting out of that hardware store. Even now he saw that look in his dreams. “Bottom line…no one else is gonna die on my watch.”

Putting a hand on his shoulder, Castiel squeezed. “You can’t save everyone Dean, though I know you will continue to try.”

Defiant, Dean’s jaw clenched. “Watch me.” Inching closer to the ledge, he started to shout. “Hey! Up here you sons a bitches! Hey! Anyone around that wants to rip me a part!” He waved his arms. “Well here I am! Come and get it! Grade A long pig right here!”

All was quiet for a few minutes and then growls sounded, hungry-like grumbles that grew louder as dirty blood covered people ran down the street. There were about seventeen of them with some in police uniforms and others in hospital scrubs. They were ravenous, pushing and shoving each other like rabid animals trying to get to the meat when to be honest he wasn’t even sure they actually ate anything. They seemed more likely to just scratch and slash and break until nothing was left.

It wasn’t clear how much clarity they had left but they spotted Dean and tumbled into the store like a herd of elephants. He could hear them scrambling to find a way up while turning over anything in their path, being driven by the basic primal instincts to the sounds of drums only they could make out. It made him shiver but he pushed down his nerves and tapped a rhythm on the metal of the ladder until one poked its head out of the window, eyes red like a coal of fire.

Immediately it-or rather the man-was reaching for him. Dean watched with a calm face as others followed and when they realized they couldn’t get to him they got angrier, slamming themselves up against the brick until the fire escape shook violently.

Dean lowered the ladder just a little, just within reach and then swiftly moved over to the side where Sam was ducking down behind a large dumpster. “Think you can zap us back to the police station before we’re crispy critters?”

Castiel nodded once. “Yes.”

A bald head popped over the side of the roof and Dean smiled. “Showtime.”

Between one second and the next he was standing beside Sam who wasted no time firing a bullet straight into the large white propane tank. It sparked a blast so quick that Dean felt the severe heat on his face and wondered if he had any eyebrows left before he was blinking up at the police station, and watching a ball of fire explode into the sky from a few blocks over. It rumbled the small town and blew out a few windows while setting off several car alarms.

Riggs and Rebecca ran out of the building in a panic, gasping at what they saw.

“What the hell was that?!” Riggs demanded. “Did-did you blow up something!?”

Dean touched his forehead; eyebrows intact. Good. “You’re gonna wanna get out of town.” He looked Sam over to make sure he was okay and then turned to Castiel who thankfully didn’t look any worse for wear either.

Riggs shook his head. “No we-we need to call the fire department and-”

Dean had grabbed the collar of his uniform before really registering what he’d done. “Forget the fire department! The whole town burning to the ground would be a good thing!” He let the simpering man go after a minute. “If there is anyone left that you know about who wasn’t at the hospital, get them and go. You got me?”

Riggs didn’t protest any further. “Yes sir.”

Aggravated, Dean stormed off to where he’d left the Impala parked. The last thing he wanted to do was leave knowing there was a chance more of those things were out there but it wasn’t like they had a real choice. And it sucked but he was like ninety percent sure some of those patients had been infected and were now off to turn and infect more people. They’d never be able to track everyone down. They’d saved the world only to see it doomed and fucked up in another way. Why couldn’t they just win for once? Why did everything have to be so goddamn hard for the good guys?

Once they reached the car he climbed behind the wheel and sat there, staring at the large plumes of smoke that filtered into the air. He could smell it from here; burning rubber with a distinct hint of flesh. Death. “Crowley was right. We are fucked.”

Sam sighed but didn’t disagree. “What do we do now? I don’t think there is any possible way we can stop this.”

Flashes of 2014 made Dean shift uneasily. “There ain’t unless we start popping off whoever looks at us funny and we all know that ain’t happening. The most we can do is kill the ones we know are fucked up and-shit-I don’t know. I’d suggest we pray but that’s never done us any good.” Pause. “Let’s go. We don’t wanna be here if any cops from wherever show up.”

~*~

Reading Dean’s mind had been a privilege that Castiel never took lightly especially after he got the impression that Dean would rather he not do it. However he felt it was necessary to navigate their relationship and of course back then to push Zachariah’s agenda. Now that he was cut off from Heaven he didn’t have that particular power anymore and out of the many he could call upon, that was one he missed the most and at times not at all. For all of his blustering Dean was not the best at hiding his emotions. His eyes and his face always betrayed him in moments of panic, true happiness and worry. And right now Dean was consumed with worry.

After leaving Galva with heavy hearts over what they were not able to accomplish, they’d drove far enough to be considered safe before stopping at a little out of the way place for gas. Sam was leaning against the hood with a pen dangling from the corner of his mouth, tracking potential hot spots that might arise from where the Galva hospital patients had been transferred to. Dean was staring into space as the car was filled with gasoline, his arms folded tensely over his chest.

Before Dean Winchester Castiel had watched humans from afar and while he’d marveled at his Father’s creations he’d found them to be utterly impossible to understand. They were rash, violent and dreadful things at times. Apparently doomed to repeat history with wars and bigotry no matter how much they grew. Yet there was also so much beauty surrounding them and all of the simple things they found joy in.

Watching their child take their first steps.

The changing of the seasons when the leaves would turn red and gold.

Their excitement over joining with another human in the holy bonds of marriage.

All things angels scorned as trivial because they couldn’t begin to understand the point. Because they were light and air and shadow, and something as silly as snowfall meant nothing to them. Uriel had called them mud monkeys and Zachariah hadn’t cared how many died in the once forthcoming war. Only Anna had the foresight to realize how amazing humans were, going so far as to become one herself.

She would probably be helping now had I not turned her in. Had I not allowed the pain of reeducation to sway my earlier thoughts of what was right.

He mourned Anna, Uriel and even Zachariah to a certain extent. He mourned all of the angels that had died at his hands but he got it now or at least he felt he would eventually. That niggling question of why he’d asked himself while sitting in that playground with Dean; while trying to determine the source of his doubts over raining down death and destruction upon the innocent as well as the guilty.

Because life mattered. Because life was worth fighting for.

The Croatoan outbreak was going to happen but he knew Sam and Dean would never stop fighting. They’d called Bobby and told him the bad news, and Bobby had swore loudly before explaining how he would warn other hunters-ones he trusted-about the oncoming storm. He’d mentioned a Lee Chambers and his daughter Krissy as well as a “fool” named Garth. Supplies would start to be gathered and safe houses would begin to be set up.

Castiel looked down at his hands and made a fist. With all of his powers he could have done something, done more. Saved more though the fact that he could still save Dean made up for what he had lost, a little anyway. A part of him was tempted to go to Heaven and seek help but he honestly wasn’t sure the state it was in. If he would be welcomed back or killed on sight. The latter would upset Dean and he didn’t wish to die especially not when he was obviously needed.

And it wasn’t like Dean needed another thing to worry about.

Kicking at a small stone, he sidled up beside Dean. “Are you alright?”

Dean’s lips twitched. “Sure.”

“You don’t have to lie to me.” Castiel told him. “Today has been trying and I know that you are upset you couldn’t save more people. The ones you did save are thankful.”

“Will they still be thankful when they’re neck deep in Crotes?” He muttered. “I’ve seen the future Cas and it’s fucked up.”

“What you saw was what Zachariah wanted you to see. You have already changed much of it. And there is a chance that with Michael’s grace we will find a solution before things get out of hand.” A chill in the air caused goosebumps to break out along Castiel’s skin. He smoothed his hand over them, barely feeling them.

Dean-ever the perceptive one-noticed and reached into the backseat, yanking out the jacket he’d discarded earlier. “Here. We’ll get you some stuff on our way back to Bobby’s.”

Castiel didn’t exactly need the coat but he took it anyway and put it on. “Thank you.” A beat. “I think the world will have a better chance of dealing with the infected because of you. It will not be easy but I suppose nothing worth fighting for is.”

“This ain’t what you signed up for.”

“No. But then I…signed up for paradise until I learned a better way.”

“Sure you wouldn’t rather be back up with your frat brothers laughing at us poor mooks down here?”

“I am right where I chose to be, Dean. And I can do that because of you. No matter what happens I will never resent you for showing me the value of choice.”

Their eyes locked for a long moment before Dean’s dropped down to his lips. He cleared his throat but his arms unfolded and his body language shifted from tense to something else. “Heh. So um, wonder if they got any pie in there?”

“I’m afraid pie isn’t on the menu for you Deano.” Came a female voice that made them all jolt to attention and stare at her.

Dean’s gun clicked as he pointed it at her. “Meg.”

Chapter Five