FIC - Supernatural Inception (Unimaginative Title is Unimaginative) 1/3
Title: Supernatural Inception
Author: villain
Rating: pg-13
Pairings: Eames/Arthur (main) and other various pairings from both fandoms.
Word Count: 12,132 (how did you get so long?)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Only the idea is mine, and I'm sure someone could find some way to take that from me too.
A/N: I have absolutely no idea where this came from. One night the idea hit me and now here I am three days later with monster.
Summary: [Supernatural Crossover] What happens when the Inception team are hired to pick the brains of the Winchester brothers. There are secrets here that are not meant to be found.
Dean has that odd feeling when he knows that he's dreaming, but there is no sight of Castiel that usually accompanies that feeling. Taking stock of his surroundings brings another odd feeling because it looks exactly like the motel room he's sharing with Sam. Not necessarily weird, but every other time he's been in his own dreams Castiel brought him somewhere else. Which is his first clue that something is not right.
His second clue comes about three seconds later.
“Dean!” Sam is standing right behind him with his hands on his hips and a bitchface firmly in place. “Were you even listening to a word I said?”
“What are you doing here?” Dean asked.
Sam's brow furrowed in confusion as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Dude, what are you talking about? I was trying to tell you that something's up with this new job and you just kinda zoned out on me.”
That wasn't right.
Dean shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and took a good long look at his brother. Everything looked right, the mannerisms were perfect and so undoubtedly Sammy that if it wasn't for the tickle in the back of his brain that screamed dream he'd never know something was off.
Maybe it was Sam. Maybe some angel or something had put the mind-whammy on them while they were sleeping. Maybe Sam just didn't know because he's never been on a dreamwalk with an angel before. That had sounded less gay in his head.
“Look, Sammy. This is going to sound crazy, but I need you to listen for a second ok?” Worry crept into Sam's features and Dean took a deep breath before continuing. “We're dreaming. And before you say anything about how crazy that sounds I know what it feels like.” He hurried on when it looked like Sam was about to say something. “Cas has taken me into dreams before, and this feels just like that. I think something worked some mojo on us.”
Sam released a small huff of laughter and shook his head, his arms uncrossing to clap his hands. “Well done, darling. What gave me away?”
Dean jerked at the smug accented voice that came out of Sam's mouth. He took a step back and fell easily into a fighting stance. “What the hell are you, you sonofabitch? Where's my brother?”
The thing wearing Sam's face slid his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Your little Samantha is just fine. Sleeping like a baby when I last saw him.”
The nickname seemed to slip easily off this imposter's tongue, but it set Dean's blood boiling. No one called Sam that but him. And Gabriel on occasion but that was beside the point. “If we're dreaming then how do I know he's really ok? I have no reason to trust the creature walking around in my brain and kidnapping my little brother.”
The thing put a hand over it's heart in a dramatic flourish. “Creature? Darling that is quite harsh. And as for the kidnapping part, you're both still in you're lovely motel room, so technically we haven't kidnapped anyone.” The grin that spread itself across Sam's mouth made Dean almost physically sick.
“Then what the hell are you doing in my head? What do you want with us?” Dean straightened out of his stance, but he wouldn't fool himself into relaxing completely around this thing. No telling what it had up its sleeve. “And I know you're not my brother so could you drop the act?”
Mirth danced in Sam's eyes and it was so familiar that if Dean didn't know that Gabriel was on their side now he would have blamed the whole thing on the Archangel turned Trickster turned whatever-the-hell-he-was-now. “But he's such a pretty little Godzilla. I don't think I've had the pleasure of being this tall before.”
A shimmer surrounded the creature and between one blink and the next Dean found himself no looking at a gorgeously well-endowed bottle blonde wearing a red dress that revealed more than it covered. “Is this more to your liking then?”
Dean couldn't deny that the picture this thing projected was more his style, but that still didn't tell him what was going on. “Tempting, but I'd really like to know when the hell we can get out of here.”
The blonde pouted and crossed her arms under her cleavage, making Dean swallow and avert his eyes. “Am I boring you already, pet?” She checked a slim silver watch on her wrist that Dean hadn't noticed before looking back up with a wink. “Don't worry though, we've still got time. And I think I know just the thing to wipe that frown off your face.”
The shimmer reappeared and Dean felt his stomach twist when Castiel's blue eyes looked back at him.
He swallowed thickly and the creature hummed in interest. “Guess I've hit the nail on the head then, haven't I?” He slid his hands into the pockets of Castiel's trench coat and wiped any traces of a smile off his face before continuing, “Interesting what one can pick up on when they're paying attention.”
The voice was Castiel's now as well and Dean forced himself to look away, forced himself to keep thinking strategy when all he wanted to do was shake this thing and tell it that it had absolutely no right to wear Castiel's skin. “So,” he cleared his throat. “So you've been following us? Picking up our habits and stuff by stalking us?”
That made his gut clench. If they'd missed this thing following them what else had they missed? And why hadn't Cas or Gabe picked up on it?
“Stalk is such a negative sounding word.” The creature had slipped back into what Dean assumed was its own voice. “I prefer spying.”
Dean clenched his fists at his sides. “I don't care what you prefer, let me the hell out of here before I fuckin strangle you.”
The thing smiled with Castiel's lips and spread his arms out to the sides. “You're welcome to try.”
Nausea roiled in Dean's gut at seeing Cas so vulnerable and open like that but he forced his brain to remember that that thing was not Castiel. A growl lodged itself in his throat and he launched himself at the creature, grinning smugly at the look of surprise in its eyes as they both fell to the ground.
Dean got in the first hit and the thing's head jerked to the side with the force of the blow as Dean settled himself on its chest. He swung again and Castiel's face seemed to melt away for a brief moment, being replaced by green eyes, darker stubble and thicker lips spitting blood before the illusion snapped back into place.
The distraction gave his opponent enough of an opening to reverse their positions and flip Dean onto his back, pinning his arms over his head. “Now that wasn't very nice. Here I am thinking that you'd never hit you dear little friend and here you are beating him bloody. I sense an underlying flow of tension.”
Dean jerked his hips up, trying to unseat the creature from its perch but all it did was tire him out. “You're not him,” he spat, putting all his frustration and anger behind the statement.
The animosity didn't seem to even phase the thing as it grinned again and leaned forward into his personal space, both of them breathing the same air. “Ah, and there's the rub. You only wish I was.”
Music far off in the background made its way to the forefront of Dean's mind before it all blanked out again as the creature surged forward to press Castiel's lips to his.
Eames surged up from his rickety motel chair and drew the needle out of his wrist with a grace that only came from overuse of the motion. “Well that was not how I wanted that to go. Are we set to pull out, darling?”
A throat cleared behind him and a cold weight settled in his stomach as he turned around.
Arthur was on his knees, hands behind his back with a man's hand on the collar of his suit jacket. The man was nothing special, maybe 5'7 -if that- and he didn't look like he was hiding much muscle behind that jacket. There was no reason he should have gotten the better of Arthur.
The other man he recognized as Castiel, the man he had just gotten done impersonating in the elder Winchester's dream. Castiel was standing imposingly over where Ariadne sat on the other motel bed with Cobb.
Sam Winchester was now very much awake and, now that he was looking for him, Eames noticed he was also standing very much in Eames' personal space. “I swear, I leave for five minutes and you've all managed to cock up what was supposed to be an easy job. Well done.”
Cobb glared at him and Arthur discreetly rolled his eyes, while Ariadne actually smiled at him. Eames gave her credit for being so relaxed in this particular situation, but part of him felt guilty that she was so comfortable in what added up as a potential shoot-and-run-before-they-catch-on type of job.
“What did you do to my brother?”
Ah, that would be the other Mr. Winchester demanding answers.
“He's asleep. No harm, no foul and everyone goes home happy. Shall we get on that, then?”
The small man behind Arthur snorted in what sounded like a particularly painful sounding laugh. “Like you're going to get off that easily, Nathaniel.”
That-that was not good. This man knew his first name. His real first name. Besides his team only his family knew his first name. “And just how do you know me? I'm almost certain I've never met you before.”
The man grinned and set his hand on the top of Arthur's head. Anyone else wouldn't have seen the flinch in Arthur's gaze but Eames was looking for it. “You'd be surprised at what I know, darling.”
Eames narrowed his eyes and something like cold fear gripped his chest. If this man had been in Arthur's -in any of his team's- heads there would be hell to pay.
Castiel cleared his throat and all attention slowly turned to him. “There is no need for antagonistic behavior, Gabriel. We need to get these men,” Ariadne sniffed and Castiel actually gave her a chastised look before reiterating. “These people, out of here. It is in our best interest to, as you say, cut and run.”
Eames blinked and looked around at the people gathered in the small room. Were these men actually going to let them go? They hadn't gotten what they wanted, but their employer hadn't necessarily seemed like the kind that they needed to be afraid of. The man may have been old money, but he didn't exactly scream danger.
“On that note,” Gabriel started, “Just who is your employer? And what did he want with these two muttonheads?”
“But I didn't-”
Dean chose that moment to jerk up in bed with a gasping breath that had most of the room's occupants jerking in surprise. He looked down at his arm and ripped the IV line out of his skin before turning his gaze on the rest of the room. Eames had almost forgotten about the other man.
It was in the next few moments that everything seemed to happen at once.
Castiel and Sam moved almost as one towards Dean's side. Cobb took his now lack of a guard to pull a concealed gun from its ankle holster and surge to his feet with it pointed in Dean's direction. Arthur slammed his head back into Gabriel's groin before forcing himself to stand, the top of his head connecting with Gabriel's jaw and knocking the man into the wall. Eames pulled his Beretta from it's shoulder holster and trained it on Gabriel's head before the man could reorient himself.
Eames' eyes jumped to Arthur's form where the point man was now straightening his suit, brushing his hands over the lapels before throwing a quick glare over his shoulder at Gabriel. “Alright there, darling?” Eames asked.
Arthur turned a scathing look on him. “Fine, Mr. Eames. And I'll be even better when we can get out of this disease infested building.”
“Working on it.”
Cobb grabbed Ariadne by the wrist and pulled her up behind him, shielding her in case anything went wrong. She was, of course, fully capable of defending herself but it was for the sake of propriety.
Dean slid his hand towards his pillow and Eames followed the movement before raising his eyes to Cobb. Dom clicked the safety off his gun and shifted it to aim at Dean. Everything froze again and Dean released a frustrated sigh. “So what?” he asked. “Mexican stand-off time?”
Against his better judgment Eames smiled, throwing Arthur a grin, “Oh I like him. Do we really have to kill them?”
Castiel and Gabriel -weird names, those two- jerked almost imperceptibly, but it was Eames' job to notice these things. Something was going on.
“We have a job to finish, Eames.” Arthur replied curtly. Of course they weren't going to actually kill these men, but they had to make them believe that they were capable of it.
Eames shook his head, but his gun remained steady on Gabriel. “Always business with you, isn't it Arthur? Didn't anyone ever teach you that all work and no-”
Cobb cleared his throat and slowly started to slide around the bed toward Eames and the door. “Now is not the time for you two to flirt, we need to get out of here.” His hand moved to Ariadne's back and he guided her towards the door. “Get the van started, we'll be out as soon as we take care of this.”
For a moment it looked like Ariadne would argue, but a pleading look from Cobb had her nodding silently and hurrying out the door. The tension left behind was something that could almost be physically seen.
“Arthur, get the device ready to go,” Cobb ordered, and at any other time Eames knew that Arthur probably would have disputed the direct order but with the situation they were in Eames figured that Arthur would want to get out as quickly as the rest of them.
When Arthur moved past him he brushed his shoulder against Eames', their own little sign to tell the other that they were fine.
Gabriel shifted his weight and Eames' attention snapped back to the smaller man, his smile gone as he clicked off the safety. A sheepish grin crossed Gabriel's face and he held up his hands while motioning towards his little group of friends.
Eames nodded, “Oh, alright.” he said testily. “Get over there.”
“Thanks man,” Gabriel answered, sliding a foot towards the others. “But I really don't think you should be waving that thing around like that.”
There was the sound of the PASIV clicking closed followed by a snap and the room exploded. Or at least it seemed like it.
Eames gun exploded in his hand and he jerked with a cry of pain, bringing the injured appendage in close to his chest while he dropped to one knee. He recognized Arthur's voice shouting his name, but the only things registering in his pain clouded mind were his hand and the fact that Gabriel and Castiel were no longer where they had been.
Gabriel now had Cobb face down on the carpet with his foot between the extractor's shoulder blades. Arthur was pinned to the wall behind him with Castiel's hand around his throat.
The sound of a gun being primed was loud in the once again silent room and Eames looked up blearily to find Dean standing over him with a handgun and a very angry look, Sam at his shoulder in what seemed like a very practiced motion. “Are we done with the posturing? Now can figure out what the hell is going on here?”
Arthur made a choked sound and Cobb looked up from his spot on the floor. Sam drew in a breath, “Ah, Dean. Maybe we should ah, you know, let them up first?”
Dean seemed to weigh that option for a moment before lowering his gun and nodding to the other two. “You guys can let them up. I think we've got it covered for now.”
Gabriel backed up to stand at Sam's side just behind Dean and Cobb took the opportunity to climb to his feet with as much grace as he could muster after being pinned by a man a good four inches shorter than he was.
Eames heard Arthur take a gasping breath behind him before a hand settled on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Cobb knelt down on his other side and gently pulled his hand away from where Eames had cradled it against himself. “It doesn't look too bad. Ariadne's got a first aid kit in the van we can use.”
Gabriel made an impatient sound in the back of his throat and planted both his hands on his hips. “Oh, he'll be fine. I'm still waiting for those answers we asked for.”
Arthur's hand tightened on Eames' shoulder and Cobb kept his head down. This was not going well.
The glare the well dressed man threw Gabriel probably would have dropped a less courageous man, but the Archangel was not about to back down. Dean had the feeling that even though they had these men under guard they were slowly losing control over the situation. They needed to reign this in. Quickly.
“Cas, go get the girl from outside and bring her in here. I'll feel better when we've got all these assholes in the same spot.” Castiel bristled at the tone from Dean's voice -and Dean would apologize later- but right now he needed to show that he was in control now.
Castiel moved towards the door when Dean called for him to stop. “Take the airway, Cas. We need to show these guys just what the hell they're messing with. Gabriel, can you strengthen the wards on this place without getting us noticed?” He didn't turn to address the Archangel and he knew he'd get bitched at later, but something told him not to take his eyes of this group. They might have been the underdogs at the moment but Dean knew that power could change hands just as easily as it had earlier. Even without angelic assistance.
“Dean, are you sure that's a good idea?” Sam asked. Dean could feel his brother's warmth at his back and it made him feel slightly more comfortable.
“Yeah, I'm sure. Even if they're working against us right now I think a little bit of showing off might get them on our side of the fence.” The tingle of Gabriel working his mojo washed over him and he nodded at Castiel, giving the angel a small smile before the flapping of wings signaled his disappearance.
Dean turned back towards the men in front of him to see just what kind of reaction Castiel's abrupt departure had gotten.
The one on the right, Arthur, was digging in the pocket of his trousers with one hand while the other went white knuckled in the fabric of Eames' tweed jacket. The other two watched as he pulled a red die out of his pocket, quickly averting their eyes as he rolled it across the carpet.
Dean thought it rolled a five, but he couldn't be sure.
Arthur rolled the die twice more before sliding it back in his pocket and pulling at Eames' shoulder to get the man to turn around again. When he had the attention of both men he leaned in and whispered one word. “Reality.”
There was a muffled scream from outside and in the next moment Castiel was arriving with another beat of his wings with Ariadne held tight against his side. The moment they touched down she bent at the waist, arms around her stomach. Dean knew she was trying not to throw up. The first time flying with an angel was always nauseating.
To her credit, she got herself under control rather quickly. Looking up at Castiel with wild eyes she took a quick step back, shoving her hand into her jeans pocket. “Cobb-Cobb are we-?”
The man that Dean would guess was Cobb got up slowly and moved to put both hands on Ariadne's shoulders. “It's real, Ariadne. You're not dreaming, just stay calm, ok?” He pulled her back towards their little group huddled on the floor and Dean got the feeling that they were closing ranks on them.
“Dean, something's not right.” Sam whispered, and Dean had to bury the urge to snort. “Ya think?”
Dean looked at the group again and moved back to sit on the edge of one of the beds. “Does that need to be treated?” he asked, waving his gun in the general direction of Eames' hand.
Eames' eyes narrowed in hesitant confusion, but it was Arthur that spoke up. “You did it. I may not know how you did it but the least you could do is fix it.” The animosity in the man's voice would have given Bobby a run for his money.
Cobb cleared his throat and Eames reached up to touch the hand on his shoulder. “I'm fine, pet. No need to start hissing like a tomcat.”
Arthur seemed to reel himself in and Dean watched as the corner of Cobb's mouth lifted in a small smile. This was not an ordinary group of criminals. When Dean looked at them he saw a family, and his heart thudded in his chest. He couldn't do anything to hurt these people.
“Gabriel,” Dean said absently. “You can clean up your own mess, right?”
For a moment Dean thought Gabriel would argue, but he felt Sam move closer to the Archangel and Dean knew he'd get his way as long as Sam was on his side.
“Fine, fine.” Gabriel huffed out, annoyance dripping from his tone in a thickness that made it sound like he was volunteering to jump on a live grenade. “But next time you need to be rescued from evil dream-stealers don't come crawling to me.” He snapped.
There was a collective breath from the other group and then Eames was pushing himself to his feet, opening and closing his hand in a fist to test the dexterity.
Arthur was reaching for his pocket again but this time it was Castiel's voice that stopped him. “This is still your reality, Mr. Harvitt. There is no need for continuously checking it against your own judgment.”
Arthur froze and looked up at Castiel like the angel had just told him Santa Claus didn't exist; part surprised fear and part defeat. “How do you know my name?” He turned to Gabriel and the vulnerable look on his face was gone like someone had taken a rag to his face and simply wiped it clean. “And for that matter how did you know Eames' name?”
Castiel tipped his head, his eyes darting towards Dean as if asking for permission.
Dean shared a look with Sam before settling on a shrug.
Castiel looked apprehensively back at Gabriel and the other angel sighed loudly. “For the love of our Father.” He mumbled under his breath. Taking a step forward to stand beside where Dean was sitting Gabriel leaned forward slightly as if addressing a captivated audience -which he kind of was- and said in his best I'm-better-than-you-voice, “We are magical angels of the Almighty Lord. Prostrate yourselves before our awesome power.”
Sam actually laughed and the gobsmacked look on Castiel's face alone was worth it.
Ariadne was the first of the group to make a sound, but a snort of laughter was not what they had been expecting. Gabriel's monologue may have been funny, but Dean thought you should only be able to laugh if you were in on the joke. “Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, still trying to control herself. “It's just that you're so-”
“Finish that sentence with something other than the word awesome and I will smite you where you stand, girlie,” Gabriel growled.
This only served to set her and Sam off again, and just like that the tension seemed to clear a little. Dean took it as an opportunity set things straight. “What do you guys say we all sit down comfortably and discuss this like grownups? I know I'd feel a lot better if I could put my gun away and not have to worry about getting shot when my back's turned.”
The others turned to Cobb and the man seemed to think it over for a moment before slowly extending his hand to Dean. “We reserve the right to walk out of here at any time, no questions asked?”
“No questions asked.” Dean answered, taking the offered hand and shaking it firmly. “I'll even hold the door open for you.”
part 2
Author: villain
Rating: pg-13
Pairings: Eames/Arthur (main) and other various pairings from both fandoms.
Word Count: 12,132 (how did you get so long?)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Only the idea is mine, and I'm sure someone could find some way to take that from me too.
A/N: I have absolutely no idea where this came from. One night the idea hit me and now here I am three days later with monster.
Summary: [Supernatural Crossover] What happens when the Inception team are hired to pick the brains of the Winchester brothers. There are secrets here that are not meant to be found.
Dean has that odd feeling when he knows that he's dreaming, but there is no sight of Castiel that usually accompanies that feeling. Taking stock of his surroundings brings another odd feeling because it looks exactly like the motel room he's sharing with Sam. Not necessarily weird, but every other time he's been in his own dreams Castiel brought him somewhere else. Which is his first clue that something is not right.
His second clue comes about three seconds later.
“Dean!” Sam is standing right behind him with his hands on his hips and a bitchface firmly in place. “Were you even listening to a word I said?”
“What are you doing here?” Dean asked.
Sam's brow furrowed in confusion as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Dude, what are you talking about? I was trying to tell you that something's up with this new job and you just kinda zoned out on me.”
That wasn't right.
Dean shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and took a good long look at his brother. Everything looked right, the mannerisms were perfect and so undoubtedly Sammy that if it wasn't for the tickle in the back of his brain that screamed dream he'd never know something was off.
Maybe it was Sam. Maybe some angel or something had put the mind-whammy on them while they were sleeping. Maybe Sam just didn't know because he's never been on a dreamwalk with an angel before. That had sounded less gay in his head.
“Look, Sammy. This is going to sound crazy, but I need you to listen for a second ok?” Worry crept into Sam's features and Dean took a deep breath before continuing. “We're dreaming. And before you say anything about how crazy that sounds I know what it feels like.” He hurried on when it looked like Sam was about to say something. “Cas has taken me into dreams before, and this feels just like that. I think something worked some mojo on us.”
Sam released a small huff of laughter and shook his head, his arms uncrossing to clap his hands. “Well done, darling. What gave me away?”
Dean jerked at the smug accented voice that came out of Sam's mouth. He took a step back and fell easily into a fighting stance. “What the hell are you, you sonofabitch? Where's my brother?”
The thing wearing Sam's face slid his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Your little Samantha is just fine. Sleeping like a baby when I last saw him.”
The nickname seemed to slip easily off this imposter's tongue, but it set Dean's blood boiling. No one called Sam that but him. And Gabriel on occasion but that was beside the point. “If we're dreaming then how do I know he's really ok? I have no reason to trust the creature walking around in my brain and kidnapping my little brother.”
The thing put a hand over it's heart in a dramatic flourish. “Creature? Darling that is quite harsh. And as for the kidnapping part, you're both still in you're lovely motel room, so technically we haven't kidnapped anyone.” The grin that spread itself across Sam's mouth made Dean almost physically sick.
“Then what the hell are you doing in my head? What do you want with us?” Dean straightened out of his stance, but he wouldn't fool himself into relaxing completely around this thing. No telling what it had up its sleeve. “And I know you're not my brother so could you drop the act?”
Mirth danced in Sam's eyes and it was so familiar that if Dean didn't know that Gabriel was on their side now he would have blamed the whole thing on the Archangel turned Trickster turned whatever-the-hell-he-was-now. “But he's such a pretty little Godzilla. I don't think I've had the pleasure of being this tall before.”
A shimmer surrounded the creature and between one blink and the next Dean found himself no looking at a gorgeously well-endowed bottle blonde wearing a red dress that revealed more than it covered. “Is this more to your liking then?”
Dean couldn't deny that the picture this thing projected was more his style, but that still didn't tell him what was going on. “Tempting, but I'd really like to know when the hell we can get out of here.”
The blonde pouted and crossed her arms under her cleavage, making Dean swallow and avert his eyes. “Am I boring you already, pet?” She checked a slim silver watch on her wrist that Dean hadn't noticed before looking back up with a wink. “Don't worry though, we've still got time. And I think I know just the thing to wipe that frown off your face.”
The shimmer reappeared and Dean felt his stomach twist when Castiel's blue eyes looked back at him.
He swallowed thickly and the creature hummed in interest. “Guess I've hit the nail on the head then, haven't I?” He slid his hands into the pockets of Castiel's trench coat and wiped any traces of a smile off his face before continuing, “Interesting what one can pick up on when they're paying attention.”
The voice was Castiel's now as well and Dean forced himself to look away, forced himself to keep thinking strategy when all he wanted to do was shake this thing and tell it that it had absolutely no right to wear Castiel's skin. “So,” he cleared his throat. “So you've been following us? Picking up our habits and stuff by stalking us?”
That made his gut clench. If they'd missed this thing following them what else had they missed? And why hadn't Cas or Gabe picked up on it?
“Stalk is such a negative sounding word.” The creature had slipped back into what Dean assumed was its own voice. “I prefer spying.”
Dean clenched his fists at his sides. “I don't care what you prefer, let me the hell out of here before I fuckin strangle you.”
The thing smiled with Castiel's lips and spread his arms out to the sides. “You're welcome to try.”
Nausea roiled in Dean's gut at seeing Cas so vulnerable and open like that but he forced his brain to remember that that thing was not Castiel. A growl lodged itself in his throat and he launched himself at the creature, grinning smugly at the look of surprise in its eyes as they both fell to the ground.
Dean got in the first hit and the thing's head jerked to the side with the force of the blow as Dean settled himself on its chest. He swung again and Castiel's face seemed to melt away for a brief moment, being replaced by green eyes, darker stubble and thicker lips spitting blood before the illusion snapped back into place.
The distraction gave his opponent enough of an opening to reverse their positions and flip Dean onto his back, pinning his arms over his head. “Now that wasn't very nice. Here I am thinking that you'd never hit you dear little friend and here you are beating him bloody. I sense an underlying flow of tension.”
Dean jerked his hips up, trying to unseat the creature from its perch but all it did was tire him out. “You're not him,” he spat, putting all his frustration and anger behind the statement.
The animosity didn't seem to even phase the thing as it grinned again and leaned forward into his personal space, both of them breathing the same air. “Ah, and there's the rub. You only wish I was.”
Music far off in the background made its way to the forefront of Dean's mind before it all blanked out again as the creature surged forward to press Castiel's lips to his.
Eames surged up from his rickety motel chair and drew the needle out of his wrist with a grace that only came from overuse of the motion. “Well that was not how I wanted that to go. Are we set to pull out, darling?”
A throat cleared behind him and a cold weight settled in his stomach as he turned around.
Arthur was on his knees, hands behind his back with a man's hand on the collar of his suit jacket. The man was nothing special, maybe 5'7 -if that- and he didn't look like he was hiding much muscle behind that jacket. There was no reason he should have gotten the better of Arthur.
The other man he recognized as Castiel, the man he had just gotten done impersonating in the elder Winchester's dream. Castiel was standing imposingly over where Ariadne sat on the other motel bed with Cobb.
Sam Winchester was now very much awake and, now that he was looking for him, Eames noticed he was also standing very much in Eames' personal space. “I swear, I leave for five minutes and you've all managed to cock up what was supposed to be an easy job. Well done.”
Cobb glared at him and Arthur discreetly rolled his eyes, while Ariadne actually smiled at him. Eames gave her credit for being so relaxed in this particular situation, but part of him felt guilty that she was so comfortable in what added up as a potential shoot-and-run-before-they-catch-on type of job.
“What did you do to my brother?”
Ah, that would be the other Mr. Winchester demanding answers.
“He's asleep. No harm, no foul and everyone goes home happy. Shall we get on that, then?”
The small man behind Arthur snorted in what sounded like a particularly painful sounding laugh. “Like you're going to get off that easily, Nathaniel.”
That-that was not good. This man knew his first name. His real first name. Besides his team only his family knew his first name. “And just how do you know me? I'm almost certain I've never met you before.”
The man grinned and set his hand on the top of Arthur's head. Anyone else wouldn't have seen the flinch in Arthur's gaze but Eames was looking for it. “You'd be surprised at what I know, darling.”
Eames narrowed his eyes and something like cold fear gripped his chest. If this man had been in Arthur's -in any of his team's- heads there would be hell to pay.
Castiel cleared his throat and all attention slowly turned to him. “There is no need for antagonistic behavior, Gabriel. We need to get these men,” Ariadne sniffed and Castiel actually gave her a chastised look before reiterating. “These people, out of here. It is in our best interest to, as you say, cut and run.”
Eames blinked and looked around at the people gathered in the small room. Were these men actually going to let them go? They hadn't gotten what they wanted, but their employer hadn't necessarily seemed like the kind that they needed to be afraid of. The man may have been old money, but he didn't exactly scream danger.
“On that note,” Gabriel started, “Just who is your employer? And what did he want with these two muttonheads?”
“But I didn't-”
Dean chose that moment to jerk up in bed with a gasping breath that had most of the room's occupants jerking in surprise. He looked down at his arm and ripped the IV line out of his skin before turning his gaze on the rest of the room. Eames had almost forgotten about the other man.
It was in the next few moments that everything seemed to happen at once.
Castiel and Sam moved almost as one towards Dean's side. Cobb took his now lack of a guard to pull a concealed gun from its ankle holster and surge to his feet with it pointed in Dean's direction. Arthur slammed his head back into Gabriel's groin before forcing himself to stand, the top of his head connecting with Gabriel's jaw and knocking the man into the wall. Eames pulled his Beretta from it's shoulder holster and trained it on Gabriel's head before the man could reorient himself.
Eames' eyes jumped to Arthur's form where the point man was now straightening his suit, brushing his hands over the lapels before throwing a quick glare over his shoulder at Gabriel. “Alright there, darling?” Eames asked.
Arthur turned a scathing look on him. “Fine, Mr. Eames. And I'll be even better when we can get out of this disease infested building.”
“Working on it.”
Cobb grabbed Ariadne by the wrist and pulled her up behind him, shielding her in case anything went wrong. She was, of course, fully capable of defending herself but it was for the sake of propriety.
Dean slid his hand towards his pillow and Eames followed the movement before raising his eyes to Cobb. Dom clicked the safety off his gun and shifted it to aim at Dean. Everything froze again and Dean released a frustrated sigh. “So what?” he asked. “Mexican stand-off time?”
Against his better judgment Eames smiled, throwing Arthur a grin, “Oh I like him. Do we really have to kill them?”
Castiel and Gabriel -weird names, those two- jerked almost imperceptibly, but it was Eames' job to notice these things. Something was going on.
“We have a job to finish, Eames.” Arthur replied curtly. Of course they weren't going to actually kill these men, but they had to make them believe that they were capable of it.
Eames shook his head, but his gun remained steady on Gabriel. “Always business with you, isn't it Arthur? Didn't anyone ever teach you that all work and no-”
Cobb cleared his throat and slowly started to slide around the bed toward Eames and the door. “Now is not the time for you two to flirt, we need to get out of here.” His hand moved to Ariadne's back and he guided her towards the door. “Get the van started, we'll be out as soon as we take care of this.”
For a moment it looked like Ariadne would argue, but a pleading look from Cobb had her nodding silently and hurrying out the door. The tension left behind was something that could almost be physically seen.
“Arthur, get the device ready to go,” Cobb ordered, and at any other time Eames knew that Arthur probably would have disputed the direct order but with the situation they were in Eames figured that Arthur would want to get out as quickly as the rest of them.
When Arthur moved past him he brushed his shoulder against Eames', their own little sign to tell the other that they were fine.
Gabriel shifted his weight and Eames' attention snapped back to the smaller man, his smile gone as he clicked off the safety. A sheepish grin crossed Gabriel's face and he held up his hands while motioning towards his little group of friends.
Eames nodded, “Oh, alright.” he said testily. “Get over there.”
“Thanks man,” Gabriel answered, sliding a foot towards the others. “But I really don't think you should be waving that thing around like that.”
There was the sound of the PASIV clicking closed followed by a snap and the room exploded. Or at least it seemed like it.
Eames gun exploded in his hand and he jerked with a cry of pain, bringing the injured appendage in close to his chest while he dropped to one knee. He recognized Arthur's voice shouting his name, but the only things registering in his pain clouded mind were his hand and the fact that Gabriel and Castiel were no longer where they had been.
Gabriel now had Cobb face down on the carpet with his foot between the extractor's shoulder blades. Arthur was pinned to the wall behind him with Castiel's hand around his throat.
The sound of a gun being primed was loud in the once again silent room and Eames looked up blearily to find Dean standing over him with a handgun and a very angry look, Sam at his shoulder in what seemed like a very practiced motion. “Are we done with the posturing? Now can figure out what the hell is going on here?”
Arthur made a choked sound and Cobb looked up from his spot on the floor. Sam drew in a breath, “Ah, Dean. Maybe we should ah, you know, let them up first?”
Dean seemed to weigh that option for a moment before lowering his gun and nodding to the other two. “You guys can let them up. I think we've got it covered for now.”
Gabriel backed up to stand at Sam's side just behind Dean and Cobb took the opportunity to climb to his feet with as much grace as he could muster after being pinned by a man a good four inches shorter than he was.
Eames heard Arthur take a gasping breath behind him before a hand settled on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Cobb knelt down on his other side and gently pulled his hand away from where Eames had cradled it against himself. “It doesn't look too bad. Ariadne's got a first aid kit in the van we can use.”
Gabriel made an impatient sound in the back of his throat and planted both his hands on his hips. “Oh, he'll be fine. I'm still waiting for those answers we asked for.”
Arthur's hand tightened on Eames' shoulder and Cobb kept his head down. This was not going well.
The glare the well dressed man threw Gabriel probably would have dropped a less courageous man, but the Archangel was not about to back down. Dean had the feeling that even though they had these men under guard they were slowly losing control over the situation. They needed to reign this in. Quickly.
“Cas, go get the girl from outside and bring her in here. I'll feel better when we've got all these assholes in the same spot.” Castiel bristled at the tone from Dean's voice -and Dean would apologize later- but right now he needed to show that he was in control now.
Castiel moved towards the door when Dean called for him to stop. “Take the airway, Cas. We need to show these guys just what the hell they're messing with. Gabriel, can you strengthen the wards on this place without getting us noticed?” He didn't turn to address the Archangel and he knew he'd get bitched at later, but something told him not to take his eyes of this group. They might have been the underdogs at the moment but Dean knew that power could change hands just as easily as it had earlier. Even without angelic assistance.
“Dean, are you sure that's a good idea?” Sam asked. Dean could feel his brother's warmth at his back and it made him feel slightly more comfortable.
“Yeah, I'm sure. Even if they're working against us right now I think a little bit of showing off might get them on our side of the fence.” The tingle of Gabriel working his mojo washed over him and he nodded at Castiel, giving the angel a small smile before the flapping of wings signaled his disappearance.
Dean turned back towards the men in front of him to see just what kind of reaction Castiel's abrupt departure had gotten.
The one on the right, Arthur, was digging in the pocket of his trousers with one hand while the other went white knuckled in the fabric of Eames' tweed jacket. The other two watched as he pulled a red die out of his pocket, quickly averting their eyes as he rolled it across the carpet.
Dean thought it rolled a five, but he couldn't be sure.
Arthur rolled the die twice more before sliding it back in his pocket and pulling at Eames' shoulder to get the man to turn around again. When he had the attention of both men he leaned in and whispered one word. “Reality.”
There was a muffled scream from outside and in the next moment Castiel was arriving with another beat of his wings with Ariadne held tight against his side. The moment they touched down she bent at the waist, arms around her stomach. Dean knew she was trying not to throw up. The first time flying with an angel was always nauseating.
To her credit, she got herself under control rather quickly. Looking up at Castiel with wild eyes she took a quick step back, shoving her hand into her jeans pocket. “Cobb-Cobb are we-?”
The man that Dean would guess was Cobb got up slowly and moved to put both hands on Ariadne's shoulders. “It's real, Ariadne. You're not dreaming, just stay calm, ok?” He pulled her back towards their little group huddled on the floor and Dean got the feeling that they were closing ranks on them.
“Dean, something's not right.” Sam whispered, and Dean had to bury the urge to snort. “Ya think?”
Dean looked at the group again and moved back to sit on the edge of one of the beds. “Does that need to be treated?” he asked, waving his gun in the general direction of Eames' hand.
Eames' eyes narrowed in hesitant confusion, but it was Arthur that spoke up. “You did it. I may not know how you did it but the least you could do is fix it.” The animosity in the man's voice would have given Bobby a run for his money.
Cobb cleared his throat and Eames reached up to touch the hand on his shoulder. “I'm fine, pet. No need to start hissing like a tomcat.”
Arthur seemed to reel himself in and Dean watched as the corner of Cobb's mouth lifted in a small smile. This was not an ordinary group of criminals. When Dean looked at them he saw a family, and his heart thudded in his chest. He couldn't do anything to hurt these people.
“Gabriel,” Dean said absently. “You can clean up your own mess, right?”
For a moment Dean thought Gabriel would argue, but he felt Sam move closer to the Archangel and Dean knew he'd get his way as long as Sam was on his side.
“Fine, fine.” Gabriel huffed out, annoyance dripping from his tone in a thickness that made it sound like he was volunteering to jump on a live grenade. “But next time you need to be rescued from evil dream-stealers don't come crawling to me.” He snapped.
There was a collective breath from the other group and then Eames was pushing himself to his feet, opening and closing his hand in a fist to test the dexterity.
Arthur was reaching for his pocket again but this time it was Castiel's voice that stopped him. “This is still your reality, Mr. Harvitt. There is no need for continuously checking it against your own judgment.”
Arthur froze and looked up at Castiel like the angel had just told him Santa Claus didn't exist; part surprised fear and part defeat. “How do you know my name?” He turned to Gabriel and the vulnerable look on his face was gone like someone had taken a rag to his face and simply wiped it clean. “And for that matter how did you know Eames' name?”
Castiel tipped his head, his eyes darting towards Dean as if asking for permission.
Dean shared a look with Sam before settling on a shrug.
Castiel looked apprehensively back at Gabriel and the other angel sighed loudly. “For the love of our Father.” He mumbled under his breath. Taking a step forward to stand beside where Dean was sitting Gabriel leaned forward slightly as if addressing a captivated audience -which he kind of was- and said in his best I'm-better-than-you-voice, “We are magical angels of the Almighty Lord. Prostrate yourselves before our awesome power.”
Sam actually laughed and the gobsmacked look on Castiel's face alone was worth it.
Ariadne was the first of the group to make a sound, but a snort of laughter was not what they had been expecting. Gabriel's monologue may have been funny, but Dean thought you should only be able to laugh if you were in on the joke. “Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, still trying to control herself. “It's just that you're so-”
“Finish that sentence with something other than the word awesome and I will smite you where you stand, girlie,” Gabriel growled.
This only served to set her and Sam off again, and just like that the tension seemed to clear a little. Dean took it as an opportunity set things straight. “What do you guys say we all sit down comfortably and discuss this like grownups? I know I'd feel a lot better if I could put my gun away and not have to worry about getting shot when my back's turned.”
The others turned to Cobb and the man seemed to think it over for a moment before slowly extending his hand to Dean. “We reserve the right to walk out of here at any time, no questions asked?”
“No questions asked.” Dean answered, taking the offered hand and shaking it firmly. “I'll even hold the door open for you.”
part 2