Next Installment!
Title: Frozen Moments
Fandom: SPN/BTVS
Characters: Sam, Dean, Faith, Castiel
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2701
Author’s Notes: Spoilers for SPN S4. Continuing in the same universe as Meaningful Death and Somebody I Can Trust - my assumption is that Faith and Giles were in Cleveland during the events of “It’s a Terrible Life” and afterwards, gathering what they needed for an extended stay with Bobby and the boys leading up to the Apocalypse. While there, Faith gets a call from Sam about Castiel disappearing and he and Dean following Jimmy to Pontiac. She meets up with them during the events of Rapture.
Our story fades in during the final fight in the warehouse. Initial section quote is from BTVS S3, “Bad Girls”. Second section quote is from SPN S4, “Metamorphosis”
“Faith, no!”
“I didn’t…I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
“We need to call 911, now!”
Faith would have been the most surprised of anyone to know that ten years had gone by. Ten years since that frozen moment when she’d first struck wood into living flesh and stopped a beating heart. She understood now that it had been a mistake. She was far from the first Slayer, and very likely not the last, to have confused human for vampire in the heat of battle. At a distance, in the dark, the easy tells of pale, cool skin and lack of breath were useless.
And a vampire wasn’t likely to stop and feed in the middle of a melee. You could trust the feed - every Slayer knew that. It was etched on bone, carved on their soul; if it fed off human blood, you staked it.
She’d seen him on top of the woman, struggling for control. It hadn’t occurred to her that he needed help - Sam and Dean had been battling demons longer than she had. Until he let her know otherwise, Faith was going to assume Sam could handle himself.
She’d looked away for a moment, fighting her own target. Faith didn’t have the benefit of Ruby’s enchanted demon-killing knife, but she had been through three Watchers (four if you included Gwendolyn Post) - all well-versed in the non-magical ways of stopping a demon. When she looked up again, Sam was bent over the woman. His face was half-hidden from Faith, but she had no doubt what he was doing. Sammy, no…
Faith scrambled away from the dead body underneath her, looking around for a piece of wood.
*************
“So... Anything you wanna tell me, Sam?”
“Dean, hold on, okay? Just let me-“
“You gonna say, ‘let me explain’? You're gonna explain this?”
Dean hadn’t realized until that one frozen moment just how much of an idiot he was. You knew what Sam was messing with. Yeah, he’d known. He’d known Sam was using his powers, he’d known he was getting stronger…what exactly about demonic-born abilities didn’t scream blood magic to you?
Idiot.
On some level Dean knew he needed to stop the scene unfolding in front of him. Charge in, grab Sammy by his hair, drag him off the poor bitch he was feeding on, and beat the holy hell out of him until he came to his senses. He couldn’t make himself move, because on a far more conscious level he knew anything he did now would be too damn late.
One responsibility, and you couldn’t handle it. One job. Look out for Sammy.
That same brother who was now rising to his feet - blood-drenched and terrifyingly satisfied. Their eyes met briefly, and Dean blinked, sure he’d seen a flash of shame in Sam’s expression. “Sam,” he whispered, sick to his stomach.
Just as quickly as it had appeared, Sam had shaken it off. Shifting his attention behind Dean, to where Jimmy and his family were - Sam extended his hand. Where he’d struggled before, now the power seemed to come easily to him. Dean heard Jimmy’s wife start choking. He is saving people, he thought, glancing at the bodies sprawled around them. Sam’s powers would leave Jimmy’s wife none the worse for wear, and capable of eventually resuming a normal life. More than you can say for these poor bastards, whoever they are.
A loud *crack* reverberated through the warehouse. Dean tensed, looking wildly around for the gun that had gone off. Instead he saw Faith, a jagged length of wood gripped tight in one hand - her attention laser-focused on Sam. Realization hit in a rush that staggered Dean. “No. Oh no, no, no, no…Faith!”
She was charging, running full out towards Sam. Dean didn’t think about the implications, he just started moving to intercept her. Sam wasn’t a vampire, but a length of wood buried in his heart would make him just as dead.
Tackling Faith at a full-out run was something akin to grabbing a runaway train. Dean didn’t worry about finesse - he used his weight and their combined momentum to throw her off course; redirect her away from Sam. “Faith, listen to me!” They hit the floor of the warehouse together, with Dean underneath her. Faith was off him in a flash - Dean had to scramble to put himself between her and Sam again. “Look at me, Faith. You don’t want to do this.”
Her single-minded determination was starting to waver. Dean knew he had at least part of her attention. “Faith!” he said sharply, trying to increase his influence over the situation. “He’s not a vampire. He’s human.” Dean held his hands out in a placating gesture. “He’s still Sam. One…one of us.” The last sentence was harder to get out than he’d expected.
Even in the dim light, Dean could see how white the skin stretched across Faith’s knuckles had gone where she was gripping the stake. “Come on, babe,” he said as gently as he could manage, “drop it.”
Faith glanced down at the weapon in her hand, then up past Dean to where he knew Sam was. “Aw, fuck,” he muttered, bracing himself for her final rush, knowing the stake was going to hurt like a son of a bitch when he put himself in its path.
*********************
“Faith, it’s me. Did you tell him?”
“We’ve been a little busy, Sammy.”
“Faith, you can’t tell him. Not yet. We just got him back.”
Sam really had thought about it - hesitated as long as he dared. He’d wondered millions of times over the past year how he was going to break the news to Dean, and this was probably the last way he would have chosen to make it happen. Larger considerations had finally pushed him over the edge. Even if they managed to defeat the three lesser demons, the odds of Amelia Novak coming out of the experience unscathed were almost nonexistent. Sam’s power was the only chance they had of saving her.
I’m sorry, man, he thought, looking at Dean. His brother’s expression was stunned, horrified, and more than a little nauseated. Sam shuddered, knowing the fight they were going to have about this would be epic. I didn’t have a choice. Reaching out to where Jimmy and his family stood, Sam gathered himself.
The power came easily this time, a rush of energy that filled him - elevated him past fear, past doubt. Come on, you son of a bitch, he thought, surrounding Amelia with power and squeezing. Steady pressure was best, he’d found. Steady, continuous pressure - it took longer to force the demonic essence out, but it left the victim in better physical shape once they were clean.
Sam closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the rush of power. Things were simpler when he was saving a normal - they always had been. It was worth the fear, the doubt, and the blood, when he stepped into the fray and knew some poor bastard would be able to walk out whole as a result.
He dimly heard sounds of a scuffle break out behind him, but he didn’t let himself be distracted by it. He had to trust Faith and Dean to be able to handle whatever had snuck up behind them - Amelia had dropped to her knees, and was vomiting thick clouds of black, greasy smoke all over the floor. She was almost clean. No matter the cost, Sam was not going to stop until she was free.
*******************************
Not a vampire. Dean’s words were at odds with every instinct Faith possessed, but they struck deep. That’s how he’s doing it, she realized abruptly. She’d seen Sam’s exorcism trick once before, almost a year ago. Faith - you’ve gotta see this! He’d been so excited, dragging her out to where he and Ruby had some poor bastard tied to a chair.
It had taken more self-control than Faith usually managed for her to keep quiet while Sam demonstrated what he’d learned. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, it had been impressive. It seemed to take a lot of effort on Sam’s part, but once he was finished they had been able to let the man go on his merry way. Sam seemed convinced he’d have nightmares, but no lingering physical effects of his possession.
Faith herself hadn’t been able to get past the fact that it was all exactly what Dean had been afraid of Sam getting involved in. She’d left soon after that, heading back to resume her own life in Cleveland.
You should have stayed. It wasn’t the first time she’d thought that. Her attention slid back to Dean. He was watching her closely, trying to anticipate what she was going to do. I’m sorry, she thought. I should have stopped him. It didn’t take a Giles to figure out Sam had found a way to use demon blood to boost his abilities.
“C’mon, babe,” Dean said. Faith flinched at the sound of his voice. “Drop it.”
Startled, she stared down at the stake, having forgotten for a moment that she was still holding it. You killed a man… She’d killed several, but it had been a long, long time. Faith looked up past Dean - Sam was deep in his power now. And you would have added him to your list. The awareness was sobering.
Amelia Novak was on her knees. Faith didn’t remember how long the process had taken before, but she suspected it was almost over. And then the screaming really starts. Her attention slid back to Dean. He was braced, tense, clearly wondering what she was about to do. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Dropping the stake, she turned and ran.
“Faith…dammit!”
***************************
Dean was torn between following Faith, and dealing with the more immediate nightmare that had been unleashed behind him.
Concern for Sam finally won out, as it always did. He turned to see that while he’d been faced off with Faith, things had taken another definite turn for the weird behind him. Sam had finished with Jimmy’s wife, and now something new was happening between Jimmy and his kid. The girl was crouched in front of her father, and while the voice was hers - the tone and inflection was pure Cas. Better late than never, Dean thought, stealing a nervous glance at his brother, and wondering what the angel would have to say about what Sam had just done.
“Where’s Faith?” Sam asked.
Dean was saved having to answer right away, or even acknowledge that his brother had spoken. A blinding flash of white light engulfed Jimmy and Claire, forcing Sam and Dean to shield their eyes for several long moments. When the glare subsided, Castiel was solidly back in Jimmy’s body and getting up off the dusty floor.
The angel spared one glance for Claire, before striding towards them. Dean had fully expected him to stop and finally reveal whatever was so important that he couldn’t even talk to Dean about it inside his own head. When he kept walking without saying a word, it took Dean a moment to process it. “Cas, hold up! What were you going to tell me?” He couldn’t let the angel get away before knowing. I can’t let all of this crap be for nothing.
Castiel slowly turned back to face him. Dean noticed Sam inch backwards, staying carefully out of Castiel’s direct line of sight. At least he’s got that much of a fucking clue, Dean thought. The angel was staring at Dean, as inscrutable as ever. Sam might as well not have existed. “I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean,” he said at last. “I serve Heaven, I don’t serve Man. And I certainly don’t serve you.”
Dean flinched, the only sign of how badly he wanted to unleash on Cas. It wasn’t the first time the angel had failed to be helpful, but tonight it was just one more headache Dean didn’t need. Before he could recover his balance, Castiel had turned his back and was walking away. “Screw you,” Dean muttered.
“Dean.” Sam again. Dean squeezed his eyes shut, forcing back tears. He couldn’t deal with Sam right now, couldn’t face just how badly he’d failed his kid brother.
“Dean. Where’s Faith?”
Dean sighed heavily. “She left,” he said, finally meeting Sam’s gaze. “Ran off.” It was a struggle, but Dean forced himself not to look away. The temptation was overwhelming to shy away from the blood, and the truth of what Sam had done…what he was.
For his part, Sam seemed to be having problems processing what Dean had said. “Shouldn’t we go after her?”
Dean glanced quickly at Amelia and Claire. Amelia had her arms around Claire; she appeared to have shifted smoothly from being possessed back to being a mother to her child. Dean suspected she hadn’t given Castiel more than a moment of awareness. Claire was real. Claire was something she could cling to - something she could fix.
I feel you, lady, Dean thought.
“I’ll go,” he said finally, shifting his attention back to Sam. “You make sure they’re okay.” He gestured vaguely at what remained of Jimmy’s family. “We owe them that much, at least.”
Sam self-consciously dragged up the tail of his shirt and wiped it across his mouth - eliminating the worst of the blood. “Shouldn’t I come with you?” His expression was uncertain, leaving no doubt in Dean’s mind that Sam suspected Faith had fled because of what he’d done.
“No,” he said more firmly. “You stay here. I’ll bring her back.”
“Dean…”
Something inside Dean broke. “She almost staked you, Sam.” He could see the horror filling Sam’s eyes as Dean’s words finally registered. “I’ve got to go after her.” He swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. “I’ve got to convince her you’re not a vampire.”
I’ve got to lie to her. The truth lay heavy between them. If Sam Winchester wasn’t a vampire, it was really only a technicality. Turning his back on his brother, Dean jogged out of the warehouse.
He found Faith on her knees under a tree just outside. One hand was awkwardly holding her hair out of the way, and she was braced on the other arm - throwing up noisily in the damp grass. “It’s me,” he said softly, crouching beside her - very aware of how stupid it would have been to surprise her.
Faith paused briefly in her retching, and Dean slid a hand over hers, taking over the duty of keeping her hair back just in time for her next bout of vomiting.
He waited patiently until her convulsions stopped, and she’d been quiet for a few moments. “I’m all right,” she said finally. Dean didn’t believe her, but he helped her get to her feet and away from the mess. He started to help her sit down near the warehouse, when she stopped him - forced him to look at her.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
It was the last thing Dean had expected to hear. “You’re sorry? Babe, if anyone needs to be apologizing here, it sure as hell isn’t you.” He nudged her gently. “Come on. Sit down for a minute.” She didn’t fight him. Dean could feel her trembling as he helped her sit on the ground, her back against the outside wall of the warehouse.
Once she was settled, Dean crouched in front of her. “You said you’d watch my back until this went down. You still mean that?”
She didn’t say anything at first; Dean couldn’t blame her for being hesitant. Finally she nodded. “I’ve got you.”
Dean smiled at her, giving her cheek a quick caress before pushing himself back to his feet. He had to work fast. Sam would be turning the charm up to nuclear levels on Jimmy’s family - not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it would forestall his inevitable confrontation with Dean.
And Faith, he realized, glancing down at the Slayer. Sam had been almost more concerned with Faith’s reaction to what he’d done than he had been Dean’s. And he didn’t make the vampire connection. The realization almost derailed Dean’s focus completely. There was a lot more going on here than he had the time or energy to sift through.
Pulling out his cell phone, Dean hit the speed dial. “Bobby - we need your help.”
Fandom: SPN/BTVS
Characters: Sam, Dean, Faith, Castiel
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2701
Author’s Notes: Spoilers for SPN S4. Continuing in the same universe as Meaningful Death and Somebody I Can Trust - my assumption is that Faith and Giles were in Cleveland during the events of “It’s a Terrible Life” and afterwards, gathering what they needed for an extended stay with Bobby and the boys leading up to the Apocalypse. While there, Faith gets a call from Sam about Castiel disappearing and he and Dean following Jimmy to Pontiac. She meets up with them during the events of Rapture.
Our story fades in during the final fight in the warehouse. Initial section quote is from BTVS S3, “Bad Girls”. Second section quote is from SPN S4, “Metamorphosis”
“Faith, no!”
“I didn’t…I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
“We need to call 911, now!”
Faith would have been the most surprised of anyone to know that ten years had gone by. Ten years since that frozen moment when she’d first struck wood into living flesh and stopped a beating heart. She understood now that it had been a mistake. She was far from the first Slayer, and very likely not the last, to have confused human for vampire in the heat of battle. At a distance, in the dark, the easy tells of pale, cool skin and lack of breath were useless.
And a vampire wasn’t likely to stop and feed in the middle of a melee. You could trust the feed - every Slayer knew that. It was etched on bone, carved on their soul; if it fed off human blood, you staked it.
She’d seen him on top of the woman, struggling for control. It hadn’t occurred to her that he needed help - Sam and Dean had been battling demons longer than she had. Until he let her know otherwise, Faith was going to assume Sam could handle himself.
She’d looked away for a moment, fighting her own target. Faith didn’t have the benefit of Ruby’s enchanted demon-killing knife, but she had been through three Watchers (four if you included Gwendolyn Post) - all well-versed in the non-magical ways of stopping a demon. When she looked up again, Sam was bent over the woman. His face was half-hidden from Faith, but she had no doubt what he was doing. Sammy, no…
Faith scrambled away from the dead body underneath her, looking around for a piece of wood.
*************
“So... Anything you wanna tell me, Sam?”
“Dean, hold on, okay? Just let me-“
“You gonna say, ‘let me explain’? You're gonna explain this?”
Dean hadn’t realized until that one frozen moment just how much of an idiot he was. You knew what Sam was messing with. Yeah, he’d known. He’d known Sam was using his powers, he’d known he was getting stronger…what exactly about demonic-born abilities didn’t scream blood magic to you?
Idiot.
On some level Dean knew he needed to stop the scene unfolding in front of him. Charge in, grab Sammy by his hair, drag him off the poor bitch he was feeding on, and beat the holy hell out of him until he came to his senses. He couldn’t make himself move, because on a far more conscious level he knew anything he did now would be too damn late.
One responsibility, and you couldn’t handle it. One job. Look out for Sammy.
That same brother who was now rising to his feet - blood-drenched and terrifyingly satisfied. Their eyes met briefly, and Dean blinked, sure he’d seen a flash of shame in Sam’s expression. “Sam,” he whispered, sick to his stomach.
Just as quickly as it had appeared, Sam had shaken it off. Shifting his attention behind Dean, to where Jimmy and his family were - Sam extended his hand. Where he’d struggled before, now the power seemed to come easily to him. Dean heard Jimmy’s wife start choking. He is saving people, he thought, glancing at the bodies sprawled around them. Sam’s powers would leave Jimmy’s wife none the worse for wear, and capable of eventually resuming a normal life. More than you can say for these poor bastards, whoever they are.
A loud *crack* reverberated through the warehouse. Dean tensed, looking wildly around for the gun that had gone off. Instead he saw Faith, a jagged length of wood gripped tight in one hand - her attention laser-focused on Sam. Realization hit in a rush that staggered Dean. “No. Oh no, no, no, no…Faith!”
She was charging, running full out towards Sam. Dean didn’t think about the implications, he just started moving to intercept her. Sam wasn’t a vampire, but a length of wood buried in his heart would make him just as dead.
Tackling Faith at a full-out run was something akin to grabbing a runaway train. Dean didn’t worry about finesse - he used his weight and their combined momentum to throw her off course; redirect her away from Sam. “Faith, listen to me!” They hit the floor of the warehouse together, with Dean underneath her. Faith was off him in a flash - Dean had to scramble to put himself between her and Sam again. “Look at me, Faith. You don’t want to do this.”
Her single-minded determination was starting to waver. Dean knew he had at least part of her attention. “Faith!” he said sharply, trying to increase his influence over the situation. “He’s not a vampire. He’s human.” Dean held his hands out in a placating gesture. “He’s still Sam. One…one of us.” The last sentence was harder to get out than he’d expected.
Even in the dim light, Dean could see how white the skin stretched across Faith’s knuckles had gone where she was gripping the stake. “Come on, babe,” he said as gently as he could manage, “drop it.”
Faith glanced down at the weapon in her hand, then up past Dean to where he knew Sam was. “Aw, fuck,” he muttered, bracing himself for her final rush, knowing the stake was going to hurt like a son of a bitch when he put himself in its path.
*********************
“Faith, it’s me. Did you tell him?”
“We’ve been a little busy, Sammy.”
“Faith, you can’t tell him. Not yet. We just got him back.”
Sam really had thought about it - hesitated as long as he dared. He’d wondered millions of times over the past year how he was going to break the news to Dean, and this was probably the last way he would have chosen to make it happen. Larger considerations had finally pushed him over the edge. Even if they managed to defeat the three lesser demons, the odds of Amelia Novak coming out of the experience unscathed were almost nonexistent. Sam’s power was the only chance they had of saving her.
I’m sorry, man, he thought, looking at Dean. His brother’s expression was stunned, horrified, and more than a little nauseated. Sam shuddered, knowing the fight they were going to have about this would be epic. I didn’t have a choice. Reaching out to where Jimmy and his family stood, Sam gathered himself.
The power came easily this time, a rush of energy that filled him - elevated him past fear, past doubt. Come on, you son of a bitch, he thought, surrounding Amelia with power and squeezing. Steady pressure was best, he’d found. Steady, continuous pressure - it took longer to force the demonic essence out, but it left the victim in better physical shape once they were clean.
Sam closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the rush of power. Things were simpler when he was saving a normal - they always had been. It was worth the fear, the doubt, and the blood, when he stepped into the fray and knew some poor bastard would be able to walk out whole as a result.
He dimly heard sounds of a scuffle break out behind him, but he didn’t let himself be distracted by it. He had to trust Faith and Dean to be able to handle whatever had snuck up behind them - Amelia had dropped to her knees, and was vomiting thick clouds of black, greasy smoke all over the floor. She was almost clean. No matter the cost, Sam was not going to stop until she was free.
*******************************
Not a vampire. Dean’s words were at odds with every instinct Faith possessed, but they struck deep. That’s how he’s doing it, she realized abruptly. She’d seen Sam’s exorcism trick once before, almost a year ago. Faith - you’ve gotta see this! He’d been so excited, dragging her out to where he and Ruby had some poor bastard tied to a chair.
It had taken more self-control than Faith usually managed for her to keep quiet while Sam demonstrated what he’d learned. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, it had been impressive. It seemed to take a lot of effort on Sam’s part, but once he was finished they had been able to let the man go on his merry way. Sam seemed convinced he’d have nightmares, but no lingering physical effects of his possession.
Faith herself hadn’t been able to get past the fact that it was all exactly what Dean had been afraid of Sam getting involved in. She’d left soon after that, heading back to resume her own life in Cleveland.
You should have stayed. It wasn’t the first time she’d thought that. Her attention slid back to Dean. He was watching her closely, trying to anticipate what she was going to do. I’m sorry, she thought. I should have stopped him. It didn’t take a Giles to figure out Sam had found a way to use demon blood to boost his abilities.
“C’mon, babe,” Dean said. Faith flinched at the sound of his voice. “Drop it.”
Startled, she stared down at the stake, having forgotten for a moment that she was still holding it. You killed a man… She’d killed several, but it had been a long, long time. Faith looked up past Dean - Sam was deep in his power now. And you would have added him to your list. The awareness was sobering.
Amelia Novak was on her knees. Faith didn’t remember how long the process had taken before, but she suspected it was almost over. And then the screaming really starts. Her attention slid back to Dean. He was braced, tense, clearly wondering what she was about to do. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Dropping the stake, she turned and ran.
“Faith…dammit!”
***************************
Dean was torn between following Faith, and dealing with the more immediate nightmare that had been unleashed behind him.
Concern for Sam finally won out, as it always did. He turned to see that while he’d been faced off with Faith, things had taken another definite turn for the weird behind him. Sam had finished with Jimmy’s wife, and now something new was happening between Jimmy and his kid. The girl was crouched in front of her father, and while the voice was hers - the tone and inflection was pure Cas. Better late than never, Dean thought, stealing a nervous glance at his brother, and wondering what the angel would have to say about what Sam had just done.
“Where’s Faith?” Sam asked.
Dean was saved having to answer right away, or even acknowledge that his brother had spoken. A blinding flash of white light engulfed Jimmy and Claire, forcing Sam and Dean to shield their eyes for several long moments. When the glare subsided, Castiel was solidly back in Jimmy’s body and getting up off the dusty floor.
The angel spared one glance for Claire, before striding towards them. Dean had fully expected him to stop and finally reveal whatever was so important that he couldn’t even talk to Dean about it inside his own head. When he kept walking without saying a word, it took Dean a moment to process it. “Cas, hold up! What were you going to tell me?” He couldn’t let the angel get away before knowing. I can’t let all of this crap be for nothing.
Castiel slowly turned back to face him. Dean noticed Sam inch backwards, staying carefully out of Castiel’s direct line of sight. At least he’s got that much of a fucking clue, Dean thought. The angel was staring at Dean, as inscrutable as ever. Sam might as well not have existed. “I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean,” he said at last. “I serve Heaven, I don’t serve Man. And I certainly don’t serve you.”
Dean flinched, the only sign of how badly he wanted to unleash on Cas. It wasn’t the first time the angel had failed to be helpful, but tonight it was just one more headache Dean didn’t need. Before he could recover his balance, Castiel had turned his back and was walking away. “Screw you,” Dean muttered.
“Dean.” Sam again. Dean squeezed his eyes shut, forcing back tears. He couldn’t deal with Sam right now, couldn’t face just how badly he’d failed his kid brother.
“Dean. Where’s Faith?”
Dean sighed heavily. “She left,” he said, finally meeting Sam’s gaze. “Ran off.” It was a struggle, but Dean forced himself not to look away. The temptation was overwhelming to shy away from the blood, and the truth of what Sam had done…what he was.
For his part, Sam seemed to be having problems processing what Dean had said. “Shouldn’t we go after her?”
Dean glanced quickly at Amelia and Claire. Amelia had her arms around Claire; she appeared to have shifted smoothly from being possessed back to being a mother to her child. Dean suspected she hadn’t given Castiel more than a moment of awareness. Claire was real. Claire was something she could cling to - something she could fix.
I feel you, lady, Dean thought.
“I’ll go,” he said finally, shifting his attention back to Sam. “You make sure they’re okay.” He gestured vaguely at what remained of Jimmy’s family. “We owe them that much, at least.”
Sam self-consciously dragged up the tail of his shirt and wiped it across his mouth - eliminating the worst of the blood. “Shouldn’t I come with you?” His expression was uncertain, leaving no doubt in Dean’s mind that Sam suspected Faith had fled because of what he’d done.
“No,” he said more firmly. “You stay here. I’ll bring her back.”
“Dean…”
Something inside Dean broke. “She almost staked you, Sam.” He could see the horror filling Sam’s eyes as Dean’s words finally registered. “I’ve got to go after her.” He swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. “I’ve got to convince her you’re not a vampire.”
I’ve got to lie to her. The truth lay heavy between them. If Sam Winchester wasn’t a vampire, it was really only a technicality. Turning his back on his brother, Dean jogged out of the warehouse.
He found Faith on her knees under a tree just outside. One hand was awkwardly holding her hair out of the way, and she was braced on the other arm - throwing up noisily in the damp grass. “It’s me,” he said softly, crouching beside her - very aware of how stupid it would have been to surprise her.
Faith paused briefly in her retching, and Dean slid a hand over hers, taking over the duty of keeping her hair back just in time for her next bout of vomiting.
He waited patiently until her convulsions stopped, and she’d been quiet for a few moments. “I’m all right,” she said finally. Dean didn’t believe her, but he helped her get to her feet and away from the mess. He started to help her sit down near the warehouse, when she stopped him - forced him to look at her.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
It was the last thing Dean had expected to hear. “You’re sorry? Babe, if anyone needs to be apologizing here, it sure as hell isn’t you.” He nudged her gently. “Come on. Sit down for a minute.” She didn’t fight him. Dean could feel her trembling as he helped her sit on the ground, her back against the outside wall of the warehouse.
Once she was settled, Dean crouched in front of her. “You said you’d watch my back until this went down. You still mean that?”
She didn’t say anything at first; Dean couldn’t blame her for being hesitant. Finally she nodded. “I’ve got you.”
Dean smiled at her, giving her cheek a quick caress before pushing himself back to his feet. He had to work fast. Sam would be turning the charm up to nuclear levels on Jimmy’s family - not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it would forestall his inevitable confrontation with Dean.
And Faith, he realized, glancing down at the Slayer. Sam had been almost more concerned with Faith’s reaction to what he’d done than he had been Dean’s. And he didn’t make the vampire connection. The realization almost derailed Dean’s focus completely. There was a lot more going on here than he had the time or energy to sift through.
Pulling out his cell phone, Dean hit the speed dial. “Bobby - we need your help.”