The Seventh Faerie: Capter Two
Fic title: The Seventh Faerie
Author name: seramercury
Artist name: tzeni17
Genre: Het, AU
Pairing: Dean/Jo
Rating: R
Word count: 20,154 words
Warnings: language, violence, implied sexual assault
Summary: Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle have finally found happiness--together. The Yellow-Eyed Demon is dead and things are starting to feel normal for a change. That is, until a new evil threatens to erase everything they hold dear--their relationship, their families, and their very lives.
Flora entered the room nearly an hour after Jo lost consciousness. Her eyes widened as she rushed to the human's side. The girl was pale, cold to the touch, and was not responding in any way. Realization struck her and made her sick to her stomach. Someone had learned of Flora's enchantment on the Changeling!
"Daughter."
Flora jumped, turning to face her father. "Yes?" she asked.
“I know about everything.”
"What have you done?" she asked, shaking. This was not supposed to happen. All she had been trying to do to help these humans had failed.
"The Changeling will be draining the life from both of these humans now," her father told her. "I warned you, Flora. They cannot be trusted and these two will be dealt with accordingly. I have not told the council about what you have done, but I will have to, because they will find out. If you admit how wrong you were then you will not have to face punishment."
Flora looked at her father sadly, tears in her eyes. How could she possibly tell these people they were right? Standing tall, she shook her head. "No, Father. I will accept my punishment! I do not believe these humans deserve to be hurt in any way."
"Very well, daughter. I will meet with the council immediately."
*****
Ellen held Dean's hand as he slept. She ended up having to climb onto the bed to keep him still when he thrashed about during a nightmare. At some point during the night a few of the injury sites from the rock salt had become infected and he had a temperature of 103 degrees. Luckily the fever broke around two a.m. Sam had run to the diner to get them some breakfast and coffee. The minute he left, Dean woke up.
"Ellen?"
"I'm right here, Dean. You feelin' any better?"
Dean would have shaken his head but she knew he couldn't move at all. "Tired," he told her. "Can barely move. Is that normal?"
"Are you in pain too?" Ellen asked, with a frown.
"A little. Not as much as before. I just feel like all my energy's been sapped." Dean looked around the room. "Where's Sam?"
"He'll be back in bit. Coffee run."
"Ah. So how bad was it?"
Ellen got up to get some water for Dean to drink. "You had a pretty high fever and were in a lot of pain. Here, honey, drink some of this up," she said, helping him lift his head.
She was not happy about this turn of events at all. Dean should really be in the hospital, but the doctors would have questioned the injuries and they would be able to figure out he had been shot, which in turn would trigger a police investigation. Personally she would rather have an investigation just so Dean would be able to get the treatment he really needed. Ellen was half tempted to call an ambulance herself.
"Don't, Ellen."
"What?"
"I can see it in your face. No hospitals."
"Dean."
"No!" Dean replied, determination in his eyes.
*****
Sam was heading back to the hotel when his cell phone rang. "Hey, Bobby. It's been a long time, I know. Yeah. All I know is that we have a Changeling in the place of Jo and most of its focus is on Dean. Your friend agrees that it's a faerie Changeling? Damn, I was hoping I'd been wrong, ya know? I'm heading back to the motel now. Okay, I'll see you then. Thanks, Bobby."
When Sam opened the door he wasn't prepared for what he saw. Dean was clutching his head. Every time Ellen got near him he would tell her to back off. "Dean!" Sam exclaimed, rushing to his brother's side.
That snapped Dean out of whatever this was enough for him to say, "Jo!" then collapse in Sam's arms.
Sam gently laid his brother on the bed, relieved when he checked for a pulse and found one. "What happened?" he asked, looking up at Ellen. Sam stood up and went to her side because she looked deathly pale. "Ellen!"
She blinked, looking up at him and Sam found himself having to lower her to the chair. "I didn't know what to do. He just started screaming about Jo and then he grabbed his head. Sam, what the hell is going on?"
"Bobby has a friend who's been helping him go over what we know. She confirmed that it's a faerie Changeling."
Ellen was quiet for a few minutes before replying. "It's not after Jo, is it?"
"No, for some reason it's after Dean. We're going to do an invocation when they get here," Sam told her. "This girl is an expert on faeries.” Ellen nodded, getting to her feet, and began to run around the room gathering supplies together. "Ellen?"
Ellen picked up a few more things and went to the door, pausing but not turning to face Sam. "I'm going after that fucking Changeling, Sam, and don't you dare try to stop me! Those faeries have my daughter and they're killin' Dean!”
“Ellen, please don’t go after it!” Sam said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She finally turned to face him, and she was crying. “We can’t just go after it half-cocked. At least wait until Bobby gets here and we get more information about it. We gotta do this smart, Ellen!”
“All right, Sam,” she replied, giving in. “We’ll go when they’re ready.”
*****
Dean was running towards the familiar voice. He had to get there fast; he didn’t know why, he just had to. “Jo!” he exclaimed when he saw her come into view.
“Dean!”
She was standing in front of him, clutching her stomach. Dean almost paled at the amount of blood seeping through her fingers. He ran over to her, catching her as she lost her footing.
“Dean,” she said again, sobbing.
He tore his eyes from the blood as she fell into his arms. “God, Jo, I’m so sorry! I should have gone with you!”
Jo reached up to touch his cheek with a shaky hand. “And then you’d be holding yourself together because you would have protected me!”
“Damn straight!” Dean replied.
“But why can’t I ever protect you, Dean? Why can’t anyone?”
Dean didn’t even know how to respond to that. It was just inferred, since the day of the fire, that Dean would always be protecting Sammy. Protecting his dad, pretty much everyone he encountered. No one ever asked him if they could protect him.
“I love you!” Jo gasped out, pulling Dean from his thoughts.
“I love you too, Jo.”
Jo cried out as a wave a pain washed over her and Dean nearly screamed with her. “Hey, its okay, I’ve got you. I’ve always got you!”
Before she could reply, Jo disappeared. Dean stared at the area she had just occupied. The only remaining part of her was a puddle of bright red blood. “Jo,” he whispered.
*****
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
Ellen frowned at the girl. She didn’t seem to be more than 20 years old but apparently she had years of study and history when it came to faeries and their Changelings. When Bobby told her a young woman was coming, Ellen figured she’d be about Sam or Dean’s age, not someone barely out of high school.
Fiona Phillips* was the daughter of the well-known singer Molly Phillips. Fiona had become a paranormal researcher after high school and was pretty damn good at it. And from the looks of it Bobby had been training her, too.
“Faeries recognize the brutality and stupidity of humans,” Fiona was saying.
Sam blinked. “What? Dean has never hurt a human being.”
“Maybe not, but he has killed paranormal creatures, hasn’t he?” At Sam’s nod, she continued. “To faeries that means he’s killed creatures just like them.”
Ellen spoke up now. “It’s not like the faeries would have benefited from a Rawhead getting loose or a spirit goin’ free. What about a demon? If a demon brought about the end of the world, they probably wouldn’t survive either.”
“Take it easy, you two,” Bobby said. “Fi’s just givin’ you background information that’s gonna help us here. And just so you know the fact that you don’t see what the iron around here and the salt is doing to the Changeling just means it’s playin’ with your mind. They’re skilled hypnotists.”
Fiona nodded. “Faeries can seem to manipulate electromagnetic fields to alter light and sound. They can also cause humans to become lost and directionless. Right now that’s what they’ve done to your brother, Sam.”
“How can we help him?”
“We need to find the faerie mound and recite an invocation. The faeries will come to talk and may even tell us where Jo is but they won’t tell us how to get there or bring her to us. Not until they’re finished punishing Dean.”
“Well what are we waiting for?” Sam asked. “Let’s get going.”
“We can’t all go,” Bobby said, glancing over at Dean. “Someone’s gotta faerie-proof this room and sit with Dean.”
Ellen looked torn but knew the only thing she could do for Jo right now was sit with Dean. Besides, who knew what ideas Sam could come up with that could get them all killed?
“All right, I’ve got it,” she said. “Just tell me what I need to keep him protected.”
Fiona smiled as she grabbed the bag she had brought with her. It contained iron, of course, as well as crosses, St. John’s wart, red verbena, daisies, and churchyard mold. She also had a few horseshoes to hang over the doors and windows.
Once Ellen was settled in the room with everything she might need, the others set off for the faerie mound. Ellen sat watching Dean for the longest time. The first time she met him she thought he was too much like his father and didn't want Jo anywhere near him.
Now here she was two years later, wondering whether they would even have a future together.
*****
As Sam drove to the location she had given him, Fiona sat back in the seat and closed her eyes. She remembered running into Dean at Singer's Salvage Yard when she was chasing what she thought was a gremlin. What better place for one to be than a salvage yard?
She had been right and with Dean's help they had taken care of the creature. Bobby hadn't been pleased to find a mess they left in the garage but he forgave them once they explained what happened. Fiona hadn't seen Dean since then but she always remembered him. She remembered how he didn't treat her any differently than he would a boy.
"We're here," Sam said. "I guess."
She smiled as she reached for the door handle. "Yep, exactly where we need to be, Sam."
Fiona nodded when she found the right spot. Sam and Bobby exchanged a glance, apparently wondering how she had come to the conclusion that she had found a faerie mound. Fiona spoke up, “Do you see the way the clovers surround the area? Faeries love clovers. In fact, it’s said that if someone walks around with a wreath of clovers around their neck, a faerie will appear to them.”
Bobby shrugged at Sam as Fiona knelt and pulled things from her bag. She had some sort of crystal, smeared in blood no doubt, and three hazel wands, stripped and inscribed. She motioned for the two men to sit beside her.
“I’m going to begin the invocation,” she said. “No matter what happens, don’t try to stop me. Once I start the faeries will try to scare us into giving up, but if we’re going to help Dean then we have to go through with this.”
Sam took a deep breath. “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, I can. He is my brother.”
She smiled. “I know you would do anything for him, Sam, but this is something I have to do.”
“Thanks, Fiona.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Good God, are you two finished with the chick flick moment?” Bobby asked. “It’s almost sunset and something tells me we should get started!”
Fiona agreed. She began to chant in Latin:
Whispered secrets hidden again,
Hidden in this faerie glen,
Enchanted princes, wily wizards,
And those magic, winged lizards,
Follow me to the faerie land,
Where mermaids sing of pirates glad,
Where those young never grow old,
Where the best stories always are told.
Come, sweet child, to the land of Nod,
Where you may find things so odd,
Drift, my sweet, into these magical dreams,
Follow the rushing of these magical streams.
As Fiona neared the end of the invocation, the wind began to pick up. There was a mixture of twittering birds and the murmuring of a stream through the forest. The three remained seated in the same spot as the wind died down.
*****
Looking up, Sam realized there was someone standing there. He didn’t seem that much different from a human. True the man had pointy ears and was small in stature, but beyond that he looked almost… human.
“I do not like your thoughts,” he said looking directly at Sam.
“What?”
“I do not look almost human, for it is an insult!”
Before Sam could say anything else, Fiona stood up and bowed. “Master Faerie, I have come to seek your council on the Changeling sent to Dean Winchester.”
“Ah yes,” the faerie nodded. “I know of whom you speak. She is not faring well. Humans seem to be a very emotional people, very fragile as well.”
Now Sam couldn’t stop himself. “What the hell did you do? Dean and Jo have done nothing to warrant this treatment! We’ve never tried to come after you or kill any of your kind yet you seem to be perfectly all right with coming after us! Why?”
“You are coming after the…” He trailed off trying to think of the human word. “The supernatural, also known as beings like us.”
Bobby stood up to add his argument. “You’re nothing like the beings we hunt. Well, at least I thought you weren't! We hunt demons, spirits who are lost, hell spawn, werewolves, and wendigo! You can’t tell me any of them are related to faeries! You can’t tell me that anything that associates itself with the devil is anything the faeries would ever deal with.”
“Those points we can agree with,” the faerie replied.
“Then please let Jo and my brother go!” Sam said.
The faerie merely stood there staring at Sam as if trying to understand the reasoning for this particular human's emotions. "Please return here in two days time. I will have an answer for you."
"Wait!" Sam exclaimed, but it was too late, he had gone. He frowned, looking over at Fiona who was brushing the hair from her face. She had an expression that Sam didn't care for. "What is it?" he asked.
"That was Musgrave, a very well known faerie in all the mythical stories. He is known for..." Fiona trailed off, biting her bottom lip.
"Known for what?" Sam asked, advancing towards her. Bobby grabbed his arm and the youngest Winchester took a breath. "Fiona, please!"
"He's known for torturing humans. He causes them pain and makes them go crazy. Sometimes he kills them, but most have been driven to suicide because of him."
Sam shook his head. "No! Dean would never commit suicide!"
Fiona nodded in understanding. "I realize that, Sam, and I don't mean to anything by it. I've read many accounts from families who said the same thing about their loved ones."
"You gotta understand something about these boys," he told her. "They're all they got in the world in the way of family. I try to be there for them as much as I can but Sam and Dean have a bond no one has been able to destroy. Oh they've sure has hell tried, though."
Fiona stopped walking and looked over at Bobby. "That could just be what we need," she said with a smile.
Sam sighed and headed back to the car as Bobby helped Fiona pack everything up.
*****
Dean was running faster and faster but no matter how fast he ran, the hell hound was catching up to him. He could already smell the rancid breath. It made him sick to his stomach, but he continued to run. He wasn't going to allow that damn thing to kill him.
He looked up ahead when he heard Jo screaming his name. Dean shook his head. This thing was not going to kill her too! Slowing down and ignoring Jo as she tried to tell him not to stop, he turned around to face the creature that was now bearing down on him.
*****
Jo glanced behind her as she ran but the hell hound was still chasing after her. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the sounds Dean had made when the creatures tore into him. It made her stomach churn. Suddenly she stopped and was expelling the last thing she had eaten, which wasn’t much.
Before she could move an inch, she felt the stale breath of one of the hounds at her neck. Jo slowly stood, pretending she didn’t notice. Turning, with anger and rage in her heart, Jo tackled the hound with a feral shout and the two fell to the ground.
She ignored claws as they raked over her stomach, back, and face. She ignored the pain as its teeth sank into her shoulder. Jo felt nothing because she became numb. She was now numb in body and spirit.
As Jo lay there, staring up at the clouds, she heard a familiar voice calling her name, but that couldn't be real. He was dead. She saw him die! A lone tear escaped her eye as realization dawned on her. She wouldn't have let this damn thing kill her if...
"Dean," she choked out with her last breath.
*****
Ellen watched as Dean slept fitfully. The problem was, no matter what she did, she couldn't wake him up. She only hoped Jo wasn't experiencing the same thing. She nearly jumped when there was a knock at the door.
"Mom! Mom, it's me! Please let me in! Mom!"
She remained seated, shaking with anger. Anger for what this creature was doing to her daughter. "I know who you are!" she finally exclaimed. "You better pray I don't come out there, you bastard, or I swear to God, I will kill you!"
"Mom, please! It's me! They're going to kill me! Mom!"
Dean stirred in his sleep. "Jo..." he muttered. "So sorry... I love you!"
Ellen swallowed around the lump in her throat and stood up, patting Dean on the shoulder. What if that really was Jo out there? No, it couldn't be! Jo wouldn't be returned until the Changeling was dead. That was what helped Ellen make her decision; the Changeling wasn't dead so she would take care of it right now despite the fact that she was alone.
A few moments later she was standing in front of the door. "Jo, I'm going to open the door now, honey," she said as she reached for the handle. When she did open it, no one was there. Ellen didn't notice that she had kicked the salt line until it was too late. A strong force shoved her outside and the door slammed. Her heart leaped into her throat when she heard Dean screaming.
"No!" she cried, banging on the door. How could she have been so stupid? Why couldn't she have just waited for everyone else to come back?
"Ellen!" She turned to see Sam, Bobby, and Fiona heading towards there.
"What happened?" Sam asked eyes wide. "Where's Dean?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I just... I tried to trick it, Sam," Ellen replied, grabbing him by his shoulders. "It's in there with him!"
*****
The Changeling stood over the human, a smirk settled on her features. She closed her eyes and soon the man woke up, confusion evident on his face.
"Jo?"
"I've been thinking about the different ways I could hurt you, Dean," she said. He tried to move but the Changeling had already placed a spell on him so he couldn't. "You raped me! I never thought, you, of all people would do something like that to me."
"No! Jo! Please! I would never do that! You gotta believe me!"
The Changeling pulled a knife from behind her back. "It doesn't really matter now, does it, Dean?" White, hot pain erupted as the Changeling stabbed the knife deep into Dean's thigh. At the same time memories of him raping Jo flashed before him.
*****
Tears of pain and disgust seeped through his tightly closed eyes. "God, no! I don't remember... Jo, please!"
Dean felt the knife being pulled from his leg and the memories stopped. He took several deep breaths before he opened his eyes to find Sam, Bobby, Ellen, and some other chick, who looked vaguely familiar, standing around him.
"Sammy?"
"I'm right here, Dean," he said as Ellen grabbed the first aid kit and handed it to him. "Where did the Changeling go?"
"Wasn't... a Changeling," Dean gasped out. "It was... was Jo."
Bobby put his arm around Ellen, but she pushed him away and went to the other side of the room.
The familiar-looking girl smiled reassuringly as she stepped up to Dean's bed. "That wasn't Jo," she told him. "You know deep down she would never hurt you."
Dean thought about what she said and as he started to believe her... believe himself. He began to get sleepy again. "Sammy, you done yet? Your poking is hurting my leg and I'm tired."
"No!" the girl exclaimed. Her face reddened slightly when all eyes turned to face her. "Dean, if you fall asleep you'll be in the Changeling's grasp again! You cannot fall asleep!"
"Okay, okay, I get it, but who the hell are you?"
"You don't remember her, Dean?" Bobby asked.
Dean took a minute to really look at her. It was hard to concentrate at first because he was so tired, but suddenly it dawned on him. “When he was thirteen, he and Sam had been staying with Bobby. He had met Fiona when her mom’s band was playing in the area.
"Oh my God, Fi?"
She smiled with a nod. "Yeah, Dean."
"Okay I don't remember that so you'll have to fill me in," Sam said looking back and forth between the two.
Dean nodded but instantly regretted it as a sharp pain coursed through his head. "Sam!" he gasped out, clutching his brother's arms.
*****
Before Sam could respond Dean began to convulse. "Help me hold him down!" Sam exclaimed as Bobby and Fiona rushed over to help. After two long minutes, Dean relaxed, head lolling on his brother's shoulder.
Sam gently laid him on the bed then looked up at Fiona, frowning. "What the hell is going on around here? From the little I've read, this seems like something completely different from a faerie Changeling!"
"I-I don't know," Fiona said, her face pale.
Bobby spoke up. "What about that Musgrave character? You think he could be behind this?"
"I wouldn't put it past him," Fiona replied. "I have a friend who's more of an expert on Musgrave than I am. Let me give him a call."
When she went outside to make the call, Sam finally realized that Ellen was across the room. He went over to her and took her hand. "You okay?"
"This is my fault!"
"No way! It was a Changeling, Ellen! You can't blame yourself for wanting to stop that damn thing!"
Ellen blinked, finally snapping out of it. “Is Dean all right?" she asked, rushing to his side. She took in the wrapped bandage around his leg and how pale he was. When Dean began to stir and mumble incoherently, Ellen placed a hand on his forehead and he immediately relaxed.
Notes: *For those who don’t know, Fiona and Molly Phillips are characters from the old Disney Channel show, “So Weird”.
| CHAPTER THREE | MASTER POST |
Author name: seramercury
Artist name: tzeni17
Genre: Het, AU
Pairing: Dean/Jo
Rating: R
Word count: 20,154 words
Warnings: language, violence, implied sexual assault
Summary: Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle have finally found happiness--together. The Yellow-Eyed Demon is dead and things are starting to feel normal for a change. That is, until a new evil threatens to erase everything they hold dear--their relationship, their families, and their very lives.
Flora entered the room nearly an hour after Jo lost consciousness. Her eyes widened as she rushed to the human's side. The girl was pale, cold to the touch, and was not responding in any way. Realization struck her and made her sick to her stomach. Someone had learned of Flora's enchantment on the Changeling!
"Daughter."
Flora jumped, turning to face her father. "Yes?" she asked.
“I know about everything.”
"What have you done?" she asked, shaking. This was not supposed to happen. All she had been trying to do to help these humans had failed.
"The Changeling will be draining the life from both of these humans now," her father told her. "I warned you, Flora. They cannot be trusted and these two will be dealt with accordingly. I have not told the council about what you have done, but I will have to, because they will find out. If you admit how wrong you were then you will not have to face punishment."
Flora looked at her father sadly, tears in her eyes. How could she possibly tell these people they were right? Standing tall, she shook her head. "No, Father. I will accept my punishment! I do not believe these humans deserve to be hurt in any way."
"Very well, daughter. I will meet with the council immediately."
*****
Ellen held Dean's hand as he slept. She ended up having to climb onto the bed to keep him still when he thrashed about during a nightmare. At some point during the night a few of the injury sites from the rock salt had become infected and he had a temperature of 103 degrees. Luckily the fever broke around two a.m. Sam had run to the diner to get them some breakfast and coffee. The minute he left, Dean woke up.
"Ellen?"
"I'm right here, Dean. You feelin' any better?"
Dean would have shaken his head but she knew he couldn't move at all. "Tired," he told her. "Can barely move. Is that normal?"
"Are you in pain too?" Ellen asked, with a frown.
"A little. Not as much as before. I just feel like all my energy's been sapped." Dean looked around the room. "Where's Sam?"
"He'll be back in bit. Coffee run."
"Ah. So how bad was it?"
Ellen got up to get some water for Dean to drink. "You had a pretty high fever and were in a lot of pain. Here, honey, drink some of this up," she said, helping him lift his head.
She was not happy about this turn of events at all. Dean should really be in the hospital, but the doctors would have questioned the injuries and they would be able to figure out he had been shot, which in turn would trigger a police investigation. Personally she would rather have an investigation just so Dean would be able to get the treatment he really needed. Ellen was half tempted to call an ambulance herself.
"Don't, Ellen."
"What?"
"I can see it in your face. No hospitals."
"Dean."
"No!" Dean replied, determination in his eyes.
*****
Sam was heading back to the hotel when his cell phone rang. "Hey, Bobby. It's been a long time, I know. Yeah. All I know is that we have a Changeling in the place of Jo and most of its focus is on Dean. Your friend agrees that it's a faerie Changeling? Damn, I was hoping I'd been wrong, ya know? I'm heading back to the motel now. Okay, I'll see you then. Thanks, Bobby."
When Sam opened the door he wasn't prepared for what he saw. Dean was clutching his head. Every time Ellen got near him he would tell her to back off. "Dean!" Sam exclaimed, rushing to his brother's side.
That snapped Dean out of whatever this was enough for him to say, "Jo!" then collapse in Sam's arms.
Sam gently laid his brother on the bed, relieved when he checked for a pulse and found one. "What happened?" he asked, looking up at Ellen. Sam stood up and went to her side because she looked deathly pale. "Ellen!"
She blinked, looking up at him and Sam found himself having to lower her to the chair. "I didn't know what to do. He just started screaming about Jo and then he grabbed his head. Sam, what the hell is going on?"
"Bobby has a friend who's been helping him go over what we know. She confirmed that it's a faerie Changeling."
Ellen was quiet for a few minutes before replying. "It's not after Jo, is it?"
"No, for some reason it's after Dean. We're going to do an invocation when they get here," Sam told her. "This girl is an expert on faeries.” Ellen nodded, getting to her feet, and began to run around the room gathering supplies together. "Ellen?"
Ellen picked up a few more things and went to the door, pausing but not turning to face Sam. "I'm going after that fucking Changeling, Sam, and don't you dare try to stop me! Those faeries have my daughter and they're killin' Dean!”
“Ellen, please don’t go after it!” Sam said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She finally turned to face him, and she was crying. “We can’t just go after it half-cocked. At least wait until Bobby gets here and we get more information about it. We gotta do this smart, Ellen!”
“All right, Sam,” she replied, giving in. “We’ll go when they’re ready.”
*****
Dean was running towards the familiar voice. He had to get there fast; he didn’t know why, he just had to. “Jo!” he exclaimed when he saw her come into view.
“Dean!”
She was standing in front of him, clutching her stomach. Dean almost paled at the amount of blood seeping through her fingers. He ran over to her, catching her as she lost her footing.
“Dean,” she said again, sobbing.
He tore his eyes from the blood as she fell into his arms. “God, Jo, I’m so sorry! I should have gone with you!”
Jo reached up to touch his cheek with a shaky hand. “And then you’d be holding yourself together because you would have protected me!”
“Damn straight!” Dean replied.
“But why can’t I ever protect you, Dean? Why can’t anyone?”
Dean didn’t even know how to respond to that. It was just inferred, since the day of the fire, that Dean would always be protecting Sammy. Protecting his dad, pretty much everyone he encountered. No one ever asked him if they could protect him.
“I love you!” Jo gasped out, pulling Dean from his thoughts.
“I love you too, Jo.”
Jo cried out as a wave a pain washed over her and Dean nearly screamed with her. “Hey, its okay, I’ve got you. I’ve always got you!”
Before she could reply, Jo disappeared. Dean stared at the area she had just occupied. The only remaining part of her was a puddle of bright red blood. “Jo,” he whispered.
*****
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
Ellen frowned at the girl. She didn’t seem to be more than 20 years old but apparently she had years of study and history when it came to faeries and their Changelings. When Bobby told her a young woman was coming, Ellen figured she’d be about Sam or Dean’s age, not someone barely out of high school.
Fiona Phillips* was the daughter of the well-known singer Molly Phillips. Fiona had become a paranormal researcher after high school and was pretty damn good at it. And from the looks of it Bobby had been training her, too.
“Faeries recognize the brutality and stupidity of humans,” Fiona was saying.
Sam blinked. “What? Dean has never hurt a human being.”
“Maybe not, but he has killed paranormal creatures, hasn’t he?” At Sam’s nod, she continued. “To faeries that means he’s killed creatures just like them.”
Ellen spoke up now. “It’s not like the faeries would have benefited from a Rawhead getting loose or a spirit goin’ free. What about a demon? If a demon brought about the end of the world, they probably wouldn’t survive either.”
“Take it easy, you two,” Bobby said. “Fi’s just givin’ you background information that’s gonna help us here. And just so you know the fact that you don’t see what the iron around here and the salt is doing to the Changeling just means it’s playin’ with your mind. They’re skilled hypnotists.”
Fiona nodded. “Faeries can seem to manipulate electromagnetic fields to alter light and sound. They can also cause humans to become lost and directionless. Right now that’s what they’ve done to your brother, Sam.”
“How can we help him?”
“We need to find the faerie mound and recite an invocation. The faeries will come to talk and may even tell us where Jo is but they won’t tell us how to get there or bring her to us. Not until they’re finished punishing Dean.”
“Well what are we waiting for?” Sam asked. “Let’s get going.”
“We can’t all go,” Bobby said, glancing over at Dean. “Someone’s gotta faerie-proof this room and sit with Dean.”
Ellen looked torn but knew the only thing she could do for Jo right now was sit with Dean. Besides, who knew what ideas Sam could come up with that could get them all killed?
“All right, I’ve got it,” she said. “Just tell me what I need to keep him protected.”
Fiona smiled as she grabbed the bag she had brought with her. It contained iron, of course, as well as crosses, St. John’s wart, red verbena, daisies, and churchyard mold. She also had a few horseshoes to hang over the doors and windows.
Once Ellen was settled in the room with everything she might need, the others set off for the faerie mound. Ellen sat watching Dean for the longest time. The first time she met him she thought he was too much like his father and didn't want Jo anywhere near him.
Now here she was two years later, wondering whether they would even have a future together.
*****
As Sam drove to the location she had given him, Fiona sat back in the seat and closed her eyes. She remembered running into Dean at Singer's Salvage Yard when she was chasing what she thought was a gremlin. What better place for one to be than a salvage yard?
She had been right and with Dean's help they had taken care of the creature. Bobby hadn't been pleased to find a mess they left in the garage but he forgave them once they explained what happened. Fiona hadn't seen Dean since then but she always remembered him. She remembered how he didn't treat her any differently than he would a boy.
"We're here," Sam said. "I guess."
She smiled as she reached for the door handle. "Yep, exactly where we need to be, Sam."
Fiona nodded when she found the right spot. Sam and Bobby exchanged a glance, apparently wondering how she had come to the conclusion that she had found a faerie mound. Fiona spoke up, “Do you see the way the clovers surround the area? Faeries love clovers. In fact, it’s said that if someone walks around with a wreath of clovers around their neck, a faerie will appear to them.”
Bobby shrugged at Sam as Fiona knelt and pulled things from her bag. She had some sort of crystal, smeared in blood no doubt, and three hazel wands, stripped and inscribed. She motioned for the two men to sit beside her.
“I’m going to begin the invocation,” she said. “No matter what happens, don’t try to stop me. Once I start the faeries will try to scare us into giving up, but if we’re going to help Dean then we have to go through with this.”
Sam took a deep breath. “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, I can. He is my brother.”
She smiled. “I know you would do anything for him, Sam, but this is something I have to do.”
“Thanks, Fiona.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Good God, are you two finished with the chick flick moment?” Bobby asked. “It’s almost sunset and something tells me we should get started!”
Fiona agreed. She began to chant in Latin:
Whispered secrets hidden again,
Hidden in this faerie glen,
Enchanted princes, wily wizards,
And those magic, winged lizards,
Follow me to the faerie land,
Where mermaids sing of pirates glad,
Where those young never grow old,
Where the best stories always are told.
Come, sweet child, to the land of Nod,
Where you may find things so odd,
Drift, my sweet, into these magical dreams,
Follow the rushing of these magical streams.
As Fiona neared the end of the invocation, the wind began to pick up. There was a mixture of twittering birds and the murmuring of a stream through the forest. The three remained seated in the same spot as the wind died down.
*****
Looking up, Sam realized there was someone standing there. He didn’t seem that much different from a human. True the man had pointy ears and was small in stature, but beyond that he looked almost… human.
“I do not like your thoughts,” he said looking directly at Sam.
“What?”
“I do not look almost human, for it is an insult!”
Before Sam could say anything else, Fiona stood up and bowed. “Master Faerie, I have come to seek your council on the Changeling sent to Dean Winchester.”
“Ah yes,” the faerie nodded. “I know of whom you speak. She is not faring well. Humans seem to be a very emotional people, very fragile as well.”
Now Sam couldn’t stop himself. “What the hell did you do? Dean and Jo have done nothing to warrant this treatment! We’ve never tried to come after you or kill any of your kind yet you seem to be perfectly all right with coming after us! Why?”
“You are coming after the…” He trailed off trying to think of the human word. “The supernatural, also known as beings like us.”
Bobby stood up to add his argument. “You’re nothing like the beings we hunt. Well, at least I thought you weren't! We hunt demons, spirits who are lost, hell spawn, werewolves, and wendigo! You can’t tell me any of them are related to faeries! You can’t tell me that anything that associates itself with the devil is anything the faeries would ever deal with.”
“Those points we can agree with,” the faerie replied.
“Then please let Jo and my brother go!” Sam said.
The faerie merely stood there staring at Sam as if trying to understand the reasoning for this particular human's emotions. "Please return here in two days time. I will have an answer for you."
"Wait!" Sam exclaimed, but it was too late, he had gone. He frowned, looking over at Fiona who was brushing the hair from her face. She had an expression that Sam didn't care for. "What is it?" he asked.
"That was Musgrave, a very well known faerie in all the mythical stories. He is known for..." Fiona trailed off, biting her bottom lip.
"Known for what?" Sam asked, advancing towards her. Bobby grabbed his arm and the youngest Winchester took a breath. "Fiona, please!"
"He's known for torturing humans. He causes them pain and makes them go crazy. Sometimes he kills them, but most have been driven to suicide because of him."
Sam shook his head. "No! Dean would never commit suicide!"
Fiona nodded in understanding. "I realize that, Sam, and I don't mean to anything by it. I've read many accounts from families who said the same thing about their loved ones."
"You gotta understand something about these boys," he told her. "They're all they got in the world in the way of family. I try to be there for them as much as I can but Sam and Dean have a bond no one has been able to destroy. Oh they've sure has hell tried, though."
Fiona stopped walking and looked over at Bobby. "That could just be what we need," she said with a smile.
Sam sighed and headed back to the car as Bobby helped Fiona pack everything up.
*****
Dean was running faster and faster but no matter how fast he ran, the hell hound was catching up to him. He could already smell the rancid breath. It made him sick to his stomach, but he continued to run. He wasn't going to allow that damn thing to kill him.
He looked up ahead when he heard Jo screaming his name. Dean shook his head. This thing was not going to kill her too! Slowing down and ignoring Jo as she tried to tell him not to stop, he turned around to face the creature that was now bearing down on him.
*****
Jo glanced behind her as she ran but the hell hound was still chasing after her. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the sounds Dean had made when the creatures tore into him. It made her stomach churn. Suddenly she stopped and was expelling the last thing she had eaten, which wasn’t much.
Before she could move an inch, she felt the stale breath of one of the hounds at her neck. Jo slowly stood, pretending she didn’t notice. Turning, with anger and rage in her heart, Jo tackled the hound with a feral shout and the two fell to the ground.
She ignored claws as they raked over her stomach, back, and face. She ignored the pain as its teeth sank into her shoulder. Jo felt nothing because she became numb. She was now numb in body and spirit.
As Jo lay there, staring up at the clouds, she heard a familiar voice calling her name, but that couldn't be real. He was dead. She saw him die! A lone tear escaped her eye as realization dawned on her. She wouldn't have let this damn thing kill her if...
"Dean," she choked out with her last breath.
*****
Ellen watched as Dean slept fitfully. The problem was, no matter what she did, she couldn't wake him up. She only hoped Jo wasn't experiencing the same thing. She nearly jumped when there was a knock at the door.
"Mom! Mom, it's me! Please let me in! Mom!"
She remained seated, shaking with anger. Anger for what this creature was doing to her daughter. "I know who you are!" she finally exclaimed. "You better pray I don't come out there, you bastard, or I swear to God, I will kill you!"
"Mom, please! It's me! They're going to kill me! Mom!"
Dean stirred in his sleep. "Jo..." he muttered. "So sorry... I love you!"
Ellen swallowed around the lump in her throat and stood up, patting Dean on the shoulder. What if that really was Jo out there? No, it couldn't be! Jo wouldn't be returned until the Changeling was dead. That was what helped Ellen make her decision; the Changeling wasn't dead so she would take care of it right now despite the fact that she was alone.
A few moments later she was standing in front of the door. "Jo, I'm going to open the door now, honey," she said as she reached for the handle. When she did open it, no one was there. Ellen didn't notice that she had kicked the salt line until it was too late. A strong force shoved her outside and the door slammed. Her heart leaped into her throat when she heard Dean screaming.
"No!" she cried, banging on the door. How could she have been so stupid? Why couldn't she have just waited for everyone else to come back?
"Ellen!" She turned to see Sam, Bobby, and Fiona heading towards there.
"What happened?" Sam asked eyes wide. "Where's Dean?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I just... I tried to trick it, Sam," Ellen replied, grabbing him by his shoulders. "It's in there with him!"
*****
The Changeling stood over the human, a smirk settled on her features. She closed her eyes and soon the man woke up, confusion evident on his face.
"Jo?"
"I've been thinking about the different ways I could hurt you, Dean," she said. He tried to move but the Changeling had already placed a spell on him so he couldn't. "You raped me! I never thought, you, of all people would do something like that to me."
"No! Jo! Please! I would never do that! You gotta believe me!"
The Changeling pulled a knife from behind her back. "It doesn't really matter now, does it, Dean?" White, hot pain erupted as the Changeling stabbed the knife deep into Dean's thigh. At the same time memories of him raping Jo flashed before him.
*****
Tears of pain and disgust seeped through his tightly closed eyes. "God, no! I don't remember... Jo, please!"
Dean felt the knife being pulled from his leg and the memories stopped. He took several deep breaths before he opened his eyes to find Sam, Bobby, Ellen, and some other chick, who looked vaguely familiar, standing around him.
"Sammy?"
"I'm right here, Dean," he said as Ellen grabbed the first aid kit and handed it to him. "Where did the Changeling go?"
"Wasn't... a Changeling," Dean gasped out. "It was... was Jo."
Bobby put his arm around Ellen, but she pushed him away and went to the other side of the room.
The familiar-looking girl smiled reassuringly as she stepped up to Dean's bed. "That wasn't Jo," she told him. "You know deep down she would never hurt you."
Dean thought about what she said and as he started to believe her... believe himself. He began to get sleepy again. "Sammy, you done yet? Your poking is hurting my leg and I'm tired."
"No!" the girl exclaimed. Her face reddened slightly when all eyes turned to face her. "Dean, if you fall asleep you'll be in the Changeling's grasp again! You cannot fall asleep!"
"Okay, okay, I get it, but who the hell are you?"
"You don't remember her, Dean?" Bobby asked.
Dean took a minute to really look at her. It was hard to concentrate at first because he was so tired, but suddenly it dawned on him. “When he was thirteen, he and Sam had been staying with Bobby. He had met Fiona when her mom’s band was playing in the area.
"Oh my God, Fi?"
She smiled with a nod. "Yeah, Dean."
"Okay I don't remember that so you'll have to fill me in," Sam said looking back and forth between the two.
Dean nodded but instantly regretted it as a sharp pain coursed through his head. "Sam!" he gasped out, clutching his brother's arms.
*****
Before Sam could respond Dean began to convulse. "Help me hold him down!" Sam exclaimed as Bobby and Fiona rushed over to help. After two long minutes, Dean relaxed, head lolling on his brother's shoulder.
Sam gently laid him on the bed then looked up at Fiona, frowning. "What the hell is going on around here? From the little I've read, this seems like something completely different from a faerie Changeling!"
"I-I don't know," Fiona said, her face pale.
Bobby spoke up. "What about that Musgrave character? You think he could be behind this?"
"I wouldn't put it past him," Fiona replied. "I have a friend who's more of an expert on Musgrave than I am. Let me give him a call."
When she went outside to make the call, Sam finally realized that Ellen was across the room. He went over to her and took her hand. "You okay?"
"This is my fault!"
"No way! It was a Changeling, Ellen! You can't blame yourself for wanting to stop that damn thing!"
Ellen blinked, finally snapping out of it. “Is Dean all right?" she asked, rushing to his side. She took in the wrapped bandage around his leg and how pale he was. When Dean began to stir and mumble incoherently, Ellen placed a hand on his forehead and he immediately relaxed.
Notes: *For those who don’t know, Fiona and Molly Phillips are characters from the old Disney Channel show, “So Weird”.
| CHAPTER THREE | MASTER POST |