The Consequences of Prophesy Part Three
Part Two
Sam slouched down in the passenger seat, reading the e-mail Meg had sent him.
She sounded pretty impressed with Jess. Impressing Meg was hard for a human to do, but Jess was doing it. Sam wasn’t surprised. Jess always made an impression on him. Meg had also assured Sam that Jess was coming to terms with what she’d learned. Sam couldn’t really trust that, not until he saw Jess again for himself.
And Sam knew that he couldn’t see her again.
Sam shook his head to get rid of those thoughts and paged down his e-mails. Nothing major, just a few of his classmates wondering how he was doing.
“So, where next?” Dean asked.
Sam put his phone down. “Well, if we want to take care of a ghost or two, we can head for Wisconsin, but we’re not Hunters.”
Dean grinned. “Nope, we’re not,” he said. “But ghosts are annoying. What is it?”
“Well, it might not be a ghost. There’s something in Lake Manitoc that’s drowning people.”
Dean considered it. “I don’t think that’s something for us. Let some Hunter get it.”
Sam shrugged. “Alright,” he said easily. It didn’t really matter to him. He and Dean had acted as Hunters before- taking out a few ghosts, a werewolf, and assorted other creatures, but they didn’t really care about doing it.
It’s not like they were Hunters, after all. And it wasn’t like anyone they might save wouldn’t die sooner or later. Probably sooner, the way the demons were preparing for whatever Azazel was planning.
Sam pulled out his notebook. “Alright then. I suppose our next stop would be Scott Carey. Nothing related to powers just yet, but who knows, he might be hiding it.”
Sam held up the sheet of information. “Says here he’s been in and out of therapy his whole life.”
Dean snorted. “Great,” he said. “Sounds like a real game winner.”
Sam smirked. “Yeah, I’m not sure he’ll make it to the big showdown. Still, it’d be a good idea to check him out. It’s him or Jake Talley, but we wouldn’t have a reason to get onto a military base, and by the time we get one, he’ll probably be over in the Middle East.”
“Army?” Dean asked.
Sam nodded. “If he doesn’t get killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, he’ll probably make it to the endgame.”
“You know, I just don’t understand this whole “fight to the end” thing.”
Sam shrugged. “It’s Azazel’s plan,” he said. “And he wasn’t even human to start with. How can we even begin to guess why he’s doing this the way he is?”
Dean nodded. “True. So, back to Scott Carey. Am I going the right way?”
“Yep. Just keep going until you hit Illinois, then let me know,” Sam said.
“So, how are classes going?” Meg asked as Jess opened the door to her apartment.
“Almost over,” Jess said. “One more week, and then its time for finals.”
“Getting stressed?” Meg asked.
Jess glared at the demon. “What do you think?” she asked. “I’ve got one class that I absolutely can’t fail. I need to pass for a class next semester. Plus, one of my professors is an absolute misogynic jerk, almost never gives any of his female students more then a C, and I can’t lose my 4.0.” She paused and smiled sheepishly. “Not that all that really matters, I suppose.”
Meg smiled. “I like it, it’s a nice change from the rest of the worries I hear every day.”
Jess smiled. “Really, I need a break,” she said. “None of my friends can take a break, so I’ve been pacing through my apartment. I’m going to go nuts if I keep studying.”
Meg studied her. She looked rather frazzled at the moment, true, but a lot of the students she’d passed had looked the same way, and she’d seen Sam in the same state a few times.
“I have an idea,” Meg said. “You need a break. Go on, get ready to head out. What’s your favorite place to go to relax?”
Jess frowned. “I…”
“Never mind, you’re too frazzled to think.” Meg stared at Jess for a moment. The jeans and shirt would work fine. They weren’t going to go clubbing, after all. “Can you take an hour or two from studying?” she asked.
Jess blinked. “Yes,” she said slowly. “Why?”
“Good,” Meg said. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Jess asked as she grabbed her purse. She didn’t look worried at all. Meg liked how the woman was more fascinated by demons then afraid of them.
“Just that Mexican restaurant you showed me,” Meg said. “We can plan our trip, have some of the best Mexican food that I’ve had in a long time, and just relax a bit.”
Jess nodded. “Sounds good to me,” she said. “Oh, we really will have to use your car for the trip,” she said. “My parents are going to take mine away if I don’t change my mind.” She huffed. “As if I would.”
Meg nodded. “I expected something like that,” she said. “And my car is better, anyway. Come on, let’s go. I’ll have you back here and studying in two hours.”
Sam groaned as he opened the door to the mansion. They’d just spent well over a month on the road, checking things out. At one point, they’d had to deal with a chaos demon that liked to take planes down. It wasn’t like they wanted to Hunt. It was just, if something like that was going to fall into their laps, they were going to take care of it. That was one of the better ways to let the sane Hunters know that they weren’t actually evil, if only so that the sane Hunters wouldn’t go after them until it was too late. They’d also checked out about half a dozen of the other chosen, just to see if they were displaying any powers yet.
Most of them were keeping it under wraps, but since Sam had been looking, they’d found signs that it was happening to them.
But now it was nearly Christmas, and he and Dean had picked up a Hunter on their tail shortly after leaving the last of the chosen behind. They’d returned to the mansion to get rid of him or her.
Sam yawned as he closed the door behind them. He was tired. They’d been traveling hard for two days now, and he really needed to sleep.
Sam stopped dead as he saw who was waiting for him in the main entrance way.
“Jess?” he breathed.
“Sam,” Jess replied, smiling up at him.
Sam froze. It couldn’t be. How could Jess be here? She didn’t even know where the mansion was…
Meg stepped out from behind Jess.
Sam just barely noticed that nearly everyone in the household was watching. He still couldn’t move. Dean chuckled. “Hey, Jess,” he said, though he sounded surprised.
Jess nodded at Dean then returned her attention to Sam. “Aren’t you going to say anything, Sam?” she asked.
“I…” Sam trailed off. He couldn’t believe she was here. “You’re really here?”
Jess punched him hard. Sam groaned and stumbled back a step. “You idiot,” she hissed. “Did you really think I’d hate you? Sam, you are without a doubt the biggest moron in the world!” She grabbed him and began dragging him away. “We are not having this conversation with an audience,” she declared as she pushed him into one of the many offices on the main floor. She shut the door in Dean’s face and then turned to Sam.
She was furious, Sam could tell. Her eyes were all but literally flashing, her cheeks were pink, and she was trembling violently. She was gorgeous.
Jess’s eyes widened.
Sam cringed as he realized he’d said that last part out loud.
Her eyes softened. “Sam,” she said. “Did you really think I’d hate you?” she asked.
“I’m the antichrist,” Sam said. “You should be running as far away as you can.”
“I love you,” Jess said. “And do you really want to destroy the world?”
Sam shook his head. “Not really. But I do want to… well,” he sighed. “Not sure how much I can say.”
Jess shook her head. “You big lummox,” she said. “Men! I don’t really care what you are. You’re Sam. You’ll always be Sam.” She leaned up and kissed him.
Sam closed his eyes. He had wished for this. He would have prayed for this, but he knew that his prayers would never be answered.
After a long moment, Sam broke away. “My room is on the second floor,” he said softly.
Jess smiled. “I know. I’ve been here for a day, and I’ve been staying in your room.”
Sam grinned. “That’s great,” he said. “Oh, Jess,” he whispered. “I missed you so much.”
She smiled up at him. “I missed you too, you big idiot.”
He leaned down and kissed her again. “Jess…” he said quietly. He shook his head. “What would I do without you?”
“Crash and burn, baby,” she said. “Isn’t that obvious?”
Sam smiled and leaned forward. Maybe they wouldn’t move to his bedroom just yet. “Something like that,” he murmured.
“So, should you really be here?” Dean asked Meg as soon as the door closed behind Sam and Jess.
Meg shrugged. “Jess suggested it. She’s determined, Dean, and she’s not leaving Sam.”
Dean shook his head. “Strong girl,” he said.
Meg nodded slowly. “Yeah, tell me about it. She’s pretty interesting and brave, for a human. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a human willing to do what she’s doing.”
“What about Sam and I? Not to mention Dad,” Dean asked, amused.
Meg smirked. “Come on, Dean. Sam’s our savior, you know that. You’re his brother and one of the chosen. And your father is my father’s host right now.
“Right, whatever,” Dean said. The way the demons refused to classify the Winchesters as human- and therefore prey- amused him to no end. “Thank you for bringing her here. Sammy was going crazy worrying.”
Meg nodded. “The Boy King sure doesn’t have much optimism, does he?”
“You know he hates that title.”
“I know,” Meg grinned cheerfully. “Anyway, what’s been happening?” Meg asked
Dean grabbed his bags as well as Sam’s and headed up the stairs. “Not much,” Dean said. “Sammy and I have been checking out a few of the other chosen. Most of them seem to be getting the first hints of their powers. Just like Sam is.”
Meg nodded. “Anyone I should keep my eye on?”
“Well, there is one named Ava who seemed to know we were coming. Probably precognition, like Sam.”
“I’ll avoid her,” Meg said.
“Yeah, you’ll want to be careful, the Hunters seem to realize that there are more demons out and about nowadays.”
“I’m always careful,” Meg said. “Why do you think I’m still up here, even if I have had to change hosts a few times?”
Dean nodded. “Good point,” he said as he dropped Sam’s bag off on his bed and headed for the next room over. “So, are you and Jess staying?”
“For the winter break, at least,” Meg said. “And don’t think she didn’t have a bit of a fight with her family about that.”
Dean turned around. “The Moores are off limits,” he warned. “Got it?”
Meg pouted. “Fine,” she said.
“Jess wouldn’t forgive Sam if demons killed her parents,” Dean said.
Meg nodded. “I guess you’re right,” she said.
“Of course I’m right,” Dean grinned. “How bad was the fight?”
“There’s a reason we drove here in my car,” Meg said. “You know, I really do like the girl, even if she doesn’t like it when I tell her about some of the rituals I’ve done.”
“Meg, some of those rituals make my Dad squeamish, never mind a girl who didn’t even know about our world three months ago.”
Meg grinned. “She didn’t throw up, though.”
Dean blinked, impressed. “Now I know she’s the right girl for Sammy.”
Meg nodded. “Well, Sam always did like human girls more then demons. Strange, isn’t it?”
Dean shrugged. “Not really, considering that some of those demons helped raise us.” At her glance, he smirked. “It’d be a little creepy if he picked you, you know.”
Meg shuddered. “Oh, no, just no. Not that I wouldn’t be flattered, but Sam is just not my type. He might be the type of host I’d take if I went for male hosts, but… no.”
Dean grinned. He’d won that round. It was rare that he left Meg at a loss for words. “Anyway, Sam and I have been driving all day. I need to hit the sack, and soon,” he said. “I’m exhausted.”
“Humans,” Meg said in amusement. “Fine. You can tell me about your trip later.”
Dean nodded. “With Azazel out of contact, you’re the one in charge for now, and we did find out some interesting things.”
Sam smiled as Jess held a box and shook it at him. “I know you don’t celebrate Christmas, Sam, but you are going to open this present,” she said.
Sam grinned. “And you know why my family doesn’t celebrate Christmas.”
Jess shrugged. “So your family includes a few demons. That doesn’t mean you can’t open your present!”
Sam shook his head, chuckling. She was handling this so well. He couldn’t quite believe how well. He took the present.
Jess grinned deviously as he opened it- only to find a Halloween devil costume. Sam stared at it, not quite sure he believed it was there. Jess started to laugh.
Sam glanced up at her. “Jess?” he asked. She had given him a devil costume?
Jess smirked and bounced up and down on the bed. “Come on, Sam. You can’t tell me that it’s not a little funny.”
“You got me a devil costume,” Sam said.
“You said it yourself- you’re the antichrist,” Jess said. “It’s funny.”
Sam bit his lip. Ok, so it was funny.
Jess saw the look and grinned. “You think it’s funny too!” she said.
Sam looked away. “Alright, yes, I do,” he said. “But a devil costume?”
Jess grinned. “I am going to make fun of you,” she declared. “You are not going to get to take this seriously.”
Sam tilted his head. “You’re crazy, you know that, right Jess?”
Jess grinned. “My boyfriend is the antichrist,” she said. “Of course I’m crazy!”
Sam chuckled. He leaned over and began to tickle her. She shrieked and tackled him back into the bed.
Maybe he could get used to Christmas.
Dean glanced around. Jess and Meg were getting ready to return to Palo Alto. Despite that, Sam was happily helping Jess load her stuff in the car.
Dean knew exactly when he’d seen that look on Sam’s face last- when he had talked about proposing to Jess.
Sam didn’t even seem to mind that he wasn’t going to see Jess for months, because he knew that she accepted him. Dean grinned. If only the Hunters could see him now! The man they were condemning as the antichrist was meekly accepting orders from his girlfriend as he helped her pack the car.
Dean chuckled as Sam stopped and stared at her standing in the snow. It was like, even after three weeks, he couldn’t believe that she was here. Dean had seen this several times over the break. Sam would stare at Jess for hours. Jess seemed to understand it and made sure to stay close to Sam.
Dean had watched, amused, as Sam had opened up to her. It was the first time they’d been around someone who wasn’t a demon and knew who Sam was. Sam hadn’t told her everything, but he had told her most things. Jess had accepted the truth with a remarkable calm, even if she was prone to teasing Sam about his titles.
Dean was grateful. Sam’s feelings for her meant that she would be protected. Her acceptance of Sam meant that Dean would kill for her.
Meg leaned against the doorframe across from Dean. “He’s completely besotted,” she said.
Dean snorted. “Where did you pick that word up? Besotted? Come on!”
“It was in common usage when I first got out of Hell,” Meg said.
Sam and Jess stopped packing up and turned to look at Dean and Meg.
Dean smiled at them. “Don’t mind us,” he said. “Just a bit of gossip.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes, and if I’m not careful, you two will gang up on me.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw Meg grin.
“Come on, Sammy, we’re not that bad,” Meg said.
“It’s Sam,” Sam insisted. “And you just made my point.”
“Aw, we’re practically family, Sam. Why can’t I call you Sammy?”
“Oh, yes, that exactly the kind of name I should have. The antichrist’s name is Sammy,” Sam retorted. “I don’t think so. I have to tolerate it from Dean, Dad, and Azazel, but that’s it.”
“Spoilsport,” Meg said.
“You bet,” Sam replied.
Dean laughed. “Sammy’s got a point, you know,” he said, grinning when Sam glowered at him.
“Well, I suppose we should probably go,” Jess said, before Sam could launch himself at Dean.
Dean glanced at her. “What to get back to school that bad? Or do you just want to get away from the insanity here?”
Jess lifted an eyebrow. “Classes start in three days. It’s not that I want to, but I have to.”
Sam sighed. “Good luck with everything, Jess,” Sam said.
She grinned. “Of course,” she said. “And, Sam, don’t worry. My parents are feeling a lot better about you since you convinced me to finish my bachelor’s.”
Sam nodded. “Once things heat up, we’ll need to warn them.”
“They won’t believe a word,” Jess said.
“I know. But we need to warn them.”
“That’s later,” Dean said. “Let’s just worry about what’s going on now,” he said. “We’ve all got things to do.”
Meg nodded and headed for the car. “By the way, Sam, I really don’t mind keeping an eye on Jess. Bodyguard duty to your consort is not a chore.”
Sam started to sputter. Dean threw his head back and laughed hysterically.
“Jess, it’s not…”
Jess kissed Sam. “I know, Sam,” she said. “Don’t worry.”
Meg grinned at Sam. “Aw, she’s not going to get angry at you,” she said. “Looks like she really means it.”
Sam sighed. “I can’t win, can I?”
Jess kissed him again. “I love you,” she said quietly.
Sam kissed her. “I love you, too,” he said. “You have that book I gave you?”
Jess nodded. “I’ll study it,” she said. “Remember to call me, this time, you big idiot,” she said. “I’m not going to leave you.”
Sam nodded. “I know that now,” he said.
Dean looked to the side and started whistling.
Jess walked up to him and slapped him upside the head. “Stop it,” she said.
Dean stopped. Jess was scary when she glared at you like that.
Meg chuckled. “Come on, then, Jess,” she said. “Hmm… I think I’m going to need to teach you a few things once we’re back in Palo Alto. You handle these two well enough, but I think you should learn more about our world.”
Jess grinned and headed for the car. “Sounds good. And Sam and Dean are easy to handle- they’re men.”
Sam and Dean glanced at each other before following them to the car. “Be careful,” Sam ordered. “We know that the Hunters know about you, Jess. And Meg, watch out for her.”
Meg smiled. “I will. You’ve got your own plans, I assume?”
“We’re going to check out more of the chosen,” Dean said. “And a few other things, probably. We might check out what’s going on with your friend, Jess, if we can. That whole thing about her brother’s arrest sounds fishy.”
Sam nodded. “We’ll keep an eye on that,” Sam agreed. “But I’m not sure we can do anything to help Becky and Zach just yet.”
Jess nodded. “Alright,” she said. Sam and Jess hugged, and then Jess slid into the passenger seat. “Love you,” she told Sam.
Sam watched as the car drove away. Despite everything, he had a small smile on his face.
Dean grinned. “Come on, Sammy. What do you say to getting an early start tomorrow?”
Sam nodded. “Sounds like a plan. We’ve got about five of the chosen to check out. That’s about it for those in America.”
“What about that Army guy?”
Sam shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think he’s going to be on deployment soon. Or something. Anyway, he’s not going to be easy to get to. I bet Azazel will drag him to wherever he’s planning on holding that thing for the last round.”
Dean nodded. “He’ll be the one to watch,” he said.
Sam frowned. “Yeah, but he’ll still be freaked out by the whole thing.”
“Well, it’s not like you don’t have to worry about it for a while,” Dean said.
Sam laughed. “True,” he said. “Come on, let’s go pack.”
Jess let Meg into the apartment with a smile. “Meg,” she said. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Meg shook her head. “Sam and Dean are fine,” she said. “Are you doing anything important right now?”
“Just studying,” Jess said. “Nothing that can’t wait until later.”
Meg smiled. “Great, we’re going out,” she said. “I’ve got some things I think you should learn.”
Jess frowned. “What sort of things?”
Meg sobered. “I know you think it was a joke, being called Sam’s consort, but that’s how a lot of demons are going to see you,” she said. “I want you to be able to protect yourself, if any demons get bright ideas. Most aren’t going to dare, but there are a few factions who don’t like the Winchesters.”
Jess paled. “What can I do against demons?”
Meg smiled. “It’s mostly knife fighting,” Meg assured her. “Plus, a few of the simpler forms of witchcraft, the kind a normal human can do.”
Jess blinked. “Like the spell Dean used to help save my life?”
Meg nodded. “I’ll be teaching that one to you.” She smiled. “Come on, let’s go.
Jess grabbed a light coat- California or not, it was still February, and a little cold- and followed Meg out the door.
Sam leaned against the Impala as he waited for Dean to get the keys to a motel room. They’d been crisscrossing the country for the better part of two months now. Azazel had contacted them a couple of times with instructions, and they’d been running errands for him ever since leaving the mansion.
It was nearly the end of February, and they were headed for St. Louis, where they were finally sure they could do something to help Zach.
They’d be there tomorrow. Sam had hacked into the police reports, including Rebecca’s statement, and he admitted that things were not looking good for Zach.
They got their stuff out of the car and into the room. “So, what do you think?”
“The police have a pretty good case against Zach,” Sam said.
“What type of friends did you have at college, anyway?”
“Zach didn’t do it,” Sam said. “I know him; I know enough to know that he didn’t do it.”
“Does he know you’re the Boy King?”
“Of course not,” Sam said.
“Then maybe you don’t know that he’s a murderer,” Dean said cheerfully.
Sam shook his head. “No, he would not have tortured his girlfriend. I know it. I grew up around psychotic murderers, Dean. Zach isn’t one, and the police reports say that whoever tortured and killed his girlfriend was.”
Dean glanced at Sam, who smiled. “Admit it, Dean, aside from Dad, we were raised by psychos. And Dad’s not that much better.”
Dean laughed. “Isn’t that part of being a demon?”
Sam nodded, grinning.
Dean sobered. “Alright, I believe you. Who or what did it?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. It could be a simple human criminal, someone who can disguise himself, or something a little more out there.”
Dean nodded. “Alright, so we have no idea what to plan for.”
“Silver works on a lot of creatures, and a human will die just as easily if they’re shot by silver as by lead.”
Dean laughed. “True,” he said. “Sam, have you killed a human yet?”
Sam shook his head. “No, I haven’t. You?”
“There are people who died because of me but no, I haven’t killed anyone directly, yet.”
Sam sighed. “Great,” he muttered. “Let’s hope that this is some sort of creature. I don’t think I’d hesitate if it was a human, but I don’t know for sure.”
“Me neither,” Dean said.
Sam paced back and forth as he watched Dean as he was led off in handcuffs, never mind the dead body that looked just like his brother.
He had to do something…
His eyes lit up. Henriksen! Sam fumbled for his phone.
“Agent Henriksen,” the FBI agent answered.
“Agent, thank god,” Sam said. “It’s Sam Winchester.” A couple of police officers looked over at him.
“Sam,” Henriksen said. “What the hell is going on in St. Louis?”
Sam gulped. “Dean’s been framed,” he said. “The culprit framed a friend of mine, so we headed out to figure out what was going on. Then he framed Dean. The culprit hurt another friend, and then abducted me. He was going to kill me, but Dean stopped him and killed him. He was arrested after that, charged with attacking and killing my friend’s girlfriend and another woman, and attacking me and a friend. But they have the body of the man who did it.”
Henriksen sighed. “Geez, Sam,” he said.
“I know,” Sam moaned. “He didn’t do it, but the police aren’t listening to Becky and I. Becky’s the friend who was attacked.”
“Alright,” Henriksen said. “Since this might be something the cult is doing, I’ll be right up. Let me call the local police, they might listen to me.”
“Thank you, Agent Henriksen,” Sam said.
“It’s not a problem, Sam,” Henriksen said. “Your case is my main one, and I’m between other cases.”
Sam nodded, and then realized that Henriksen couldn’t see him. “I understand. Agent, how long do you think this will take? Do you think they’ll charge him?”
“They have two eyewitnesses saying he didn’t do it, the dead killer, and probably no real material evidence. I’d say that no, they won’t. But still, the cult might pick up on this and go after the two of you.”
“I didn’t even think about that,” Sam said. “Right, you’re right. I’ll be careful.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours, Sam,” Henriksen said before hanging up.
Sam sighed and ended the call.
“Who’d you call?” an officer asked.
Sam grinned. “A friend of the family’s,” he said. “Agent Henriksen, a federal agent in charge of catching the cult that’s been gunning for me and my brother, Officer Brown.”
“What?” Officer Brown asked.
Sam sighed. “There’s this doomsday cult out there that thinks I’m the antichrist. If they catch all the media attention, they’ll be coming after me.”
Brown blinked at him. He stared at Sam. Sam knew what he had to be thinking. Brown was wondering how a kid like Sam could be the antichrist.
While at college, Sam had deliberately cultivated a look that Dean had told him made him look more like an overgrown puppy then the antichrist.
It made him seem more trustworthy to police, and kept anyone from believing the Hunters.
Sam grinned. “Anyway, he’s coming up. He’ll want to protect me, and hopefully capture one or two of the cult members.”
Brown scowled. “Should we take you into protective custody?” he asked.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve never needed to go into protective custody before.”
Brown sighed and jogged over to the detective in charge.
Sam snorted and looked around. He found Becky, who was leaning against the wall out of the way, and headed for her. “You alright?” he asked.
Becky took a deep breath. “I think I’ll be fine,” she said. “Will your brother be alright?”
“I hope so,” he said. “They don’t really have much of a case on him. Just your testimony and you’ve already retracted it.”
“Good,” Becky said. “He didn’t do it. You weren’t even in St. Louis when Zach was framed.”
Sam nodded.
The detective in charge stopped in front of them. He stared at Sam for a moment before speaking. “Sam Winchester? I’m Detective Wells. Officer Brown informed me that you might be in danger. Would you like protective custody at this time?”
“Sam?” Becky asked.
Sam shook his head. “I think I’ll be fine,” he said. “Agent Henriksen will be here in a few hours, and the people after me won’t be able to find me before he gets here. Besides which, you still need my statement, so I’ll be down at the station anyway, Detective.”
Detective Wells nodded. “You are, of course, free to change your mind. But yes, we do still need your statement. And yours as well, Ms. Warren. I’d appreciate it if the two of you would not talk to each other at this time.”
Sam nodded. “Of course,” he said. “It’ll be alright, Becky,” he told his friend before leaning against the wall away from her.”
Victor hurried into the police station.
His badge would get him through most of the obstacles, but he knew that he wasn’t going to see Sam until the younger Winchester was doing giving his statement. Dean, however, he could see. As a fellow officer of the law, he’d be able to get access to the prisoners with no problems.
He smiled at the sergeant at the front desk. “I’d like to see Dean Winchester,” he said as he showed the officer his badge.
The sergeant took the badge and looked it over. “Agent, we were told that you might be coming. Winchester is being held in one of the interrogation rooms.”
Victor nodded. “Has he been provided with a lawyer yet, Sergeant Beckett?”
“The DA will be sending one over,” Beckett said.
“I want to talk to Mr. Winchester before he arrives and kicks us out,” he said.
“Of course,” Beckett said. “I’ll get someone to show you where they are.”
“You do that,” Victor said. He knew that these officers were just doing what they were supposed to do. He just hoped that things worked out. He knew Dean, knew him well enough that Dean wouldn’t do this. Plus, he knew Dean has an alibi for at least the first murder.
Another officer led Victor through the building. “So, are you here to charge Winchester with a federal crime?” the officer asked.
“No,” Victor said. He didn’t say anything else.
The agent snorted. “Right, well, be careful. He just killed two women, tried to kill a third, and tried to kill his brother.”
“His brother disagrees,” Victor said as the officer opened a door.
“Agent Henriksen?” Dean asked as he looked up. “What are you doing here?”
Victor snorted. “You’re all over the news, Dean,” he said as he closed the door behind him. “So, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“You shouldn’t go, Bill,” Ellen Harvelle said.
“I’m not going to kill the boy,” her husband said. “I just want to observe him for a bit.”
“But there’s no evidence that he’s evil,” Ellen said.
“I know, that’s why I want to watch him,” Bill said. “And if I can pick them up in St. Louis, I can follow them for a while. Ash is going to help me by keeping an eye on their car by satellite.
“Be careful,” Ellen said. “And don’t get caught.”
“Don’t worry,” Bill said. “I’ll only go after Winchester if I get proof that he’s what they say he is. Otherwise, I’ll just follow them for a bit.”
Dean smiled as he leaned against the door of his car.
“Thanks, Agent,” Dean said.
Henriksen smiled. “It wasn’t a problem, Dean,” he said. “Plus, I didn’t do anything. They had the killer, and they knew it. They cleared you once they had all the evidence in. Though I’d love to know how you managed to get a doppelganger.”
Dean shrugged. “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
Sam snorted. “Yeah, at least you’re not in prison,” he agreed.
“So, where are you boys headed next?” Henriksen asked.
Sam shrugged and glanced at Dean. “Where ever the wind takes us, I guess,” Dean said. “Well away from St. Louis, though. I’m sure we’ll be attacked if we stay any longer. Sam, you said goodbye to your friends yet?’
“Yeah, I have,” Sam said. “Becky isn’t happy with my explanation, though.”
Henriksen laughed. “Well, try to keep in touch, alright?”
“We’ll do our best,” Sam said. “Good luck.”
“You too,” Henriksen said.
As the federal agent walked away, Dean glanced around. For a moment, he thought someone was watching them.
Sam frowned as Dean glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned. “What is it?” Sam asked.
“I think we’re being followed,” Dean replied. He made a quick right turn onto a side street and continued on as if nothing was wrong. “Yeah, we’re being followed.”
Sam looked out the side mirror. “Which car?” he asked.
“The green pickup,” Dean said.
“I see it,” Sam said as he picked it out of the traffic. “Hunter?”
“I don’t know,” Dean said as he made another left turn. Sam watched as the truck followed them. “Sonofabitch,” Dean muttered.
“Tell me about it,” Sam muttered.
“I’m going to try something stupid,” Dean muttered. “Get ready.”
Sam made a face. “At least you admit it,” he muttered. “Ready.”
Dean turned right this time, and then almost immediately left. He followed the side street of the little suburb for a while, making random turns in the hopes of losing their tail.
“I don’t see him,” Sam reported once they found one of the main streets.
“Ok, time to get out of town,” Dean said.
“Yep,” Sam glanced at the street signs, and then pulled out the map of Michigan. “Alright, let’s find an interstate and head south.”
Sam glanced around the small convenience store. Aside from the cashier and Sam, the place was deserted. Dean was just outside, getting gas for the car while Sam picked up some snacks for them.
They were both jumpy. The green pickup had found them again 500 miles from St Louis, and they’d been forced to lose him again. Then whoever was in the pickup had found them less then a hundred miles later.
They had currently lost their follower, but neither of them knew when he might show up again.
Neither of them liked it at all. They had no idea how he or she was still following them, and they wanted him gone.
Sam picked up their standard road snacks- a couple of bags of jerky, one of peanut M&Ms, a snickers bar, and two sodas. He paid and headed back to the car.
“So, I was thinking we ought to head back to the mansion,” Sam said once they were back on the road.
“That’s sounds like a good plan,” Dean said. “There’s no way this guy is getting through the wards around the mansion.”
“Exactly,” Sam said.
Dean glanced around. “Alright, we’ll stay on this road for another few hours, and then head west.”
“It’ll only take us a day or so to get there if we just trade off driving,” Sam said.
“Yeah,” Dean replied. “We’ll do that.”
Sam chanced a look behind us. “As soon as we lose him again,” he groaned.
“Damn, this guy is persistent.”
“I know,” Sam said. He sighed.
“Are you getting any idea who this is?” Dean asked.
Sam shook his head. “Nope,” he said. “I guess it’s a Hunter, but I really have no idea.”
“Well, you really should pick up the psychic stuff,” Dean said.
“You too.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” Dean argued. “I don’t think I’ve got any abilities.” He glanced in the rearview mirror again. “Dude, this guy just will not get lost. I wonder if he’s the psychic.”
Sam chuckled. “Yeah, there’s an idea,” he said. “Or he could have planted a tracker on the car.”
“He better not’ve touched my car,” Dean muttered. “Alright, fine. The next time we lose him, we’ll search.”
Sam nodded. “Or he could be using satellites. Don’t the Hunters have that one computer guy who can make a computer do almost anything? I bet he could hack into some system and use the satellites to find the car.”
“Yeah, Ash or Alex or A-something or other. But dude, can that actually be done?”
“I think so,” Sam said. “Or they could be using locator spells of some type.”
“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” Dean asked.
“Well, we gotta lose this guy for good before he does something. Whoever he is.”
“And whatever he might do,” Dean added.
Azazel grinned as he stood up. It was time for him to put the next part of his plan into place. It had taken him some time to get things ready, but finally, he had everything he needed.
The Hunter’s attack had helped his plans along in one sense, while derailing them in a greater way. He had planned on using the Winchesters to provide him with both Sam- his father’s vessel- and Dean- the Righteous Man.
But the Hunters had attacked, and now Sam or Dean could be Lucifer’s vessel, and he had no one to be the Righteous Man.
It had taken him this long to locate another candidate for the role. Now, it was just a matter of procuring him.
Azazel sent John to sleep. He didn’t want anyone guessing what he was about to do, not even someone on his side. He blinked and went to find the man he had identified as being a righteous man. Perhaps the man wasn’t the Righteous Man, but he had potential.
John would not be happy when he woke up, but he’d understand.
Azazel stood by the side of the back road, invisible, and watched as the lone car on the road approached.
There was a family in there, and the father was righteous, a good man… and a vessel.
Azazel smiled. He hadn’t been sure of that last part, but now he knew. He knew the Righteous Man would need to be a vessel. He could only hope that that would be enough. If it wasn’t, then he’d have to find the perfect vessel, and hope that the angels didn’t pick up what he was trying to do. He knew that supposedly, the Winchesters were the only ones who could do it, but he wasn’t sure. Still, if he was wrong about this one, then there were always some Winchester cousins he could check out.
With a thought, Azazel blew the one of the tires on the car. The driver immediately lost control on the slippery road.
Azazel cushioned the daughter in the back, so that she was merely knocked out. At the same time, he made sure that the mother died almost instantly and the father was fatally wounded.
Azazel grinned for just an instant before sobering. That had been a nice piece of work. He approached the car and allowed the father to see him.
The man groaned. “Help,” he managed to say.
Azazel leaned against the car door. Luckily the window was open. “You’re dying,” he said.
“Please,” the man said. “My wife and daughter,” he groaned.
“Your wife is already dead,” Azazel said. “And your daughter will be fine. But she’ll be alone, Jimmy Novak.”
Jimmy groaned and closed his eyes. “No,” he moaned.
“You don’t want her to go to her grandparents, do you?” Azazel asked. “Because that’s what will happen. Your wife’s parents will challenge the will and win custody. Then they’ll destroy her life, since they’ll say that it was your fault their daughter married and had her. Because Claire is your daughter, they’ll ruin her life.”
“Stop,” Jimmy groaned. “It won’t happen that way!”
“Yes it will,” Azazel said. He allowed that to sink in for a long moment. “But I can change that,” he finally said.
Jimmy looked at him. “How?”
“If you agree, I’ll bring your wife back, and she’ll be there for your daughter. You’ll know that little Claire will be happy with her mother. They’ll meet someone else, and he’ll adopt Claire in the end.”
“But…”
“But you’ll take your wife’s place. You’ll come with me. Your family will mourn, but they’ll be alive.”
Jimmy groaned and turned his head away. “Can I say goodbye?” he asked.
“Of course,” Azazel said. “I’ll give you a few minutes, long enough for you to know that they’ll be fine.”
Jimmy closed his eyes. Azazel knew he’d won, however. Jimmy was desperate. He didn’t want his in-laws to raise his daughter. He knew how much they hated him.
“Alright,” Jimmy said. “I’ll go with you.”
Azazel suppressed a triumphant grin. “Good,” he said. “I suggest you don’t tell them, however.” Amelia gasped and began to breathe again. Jimmy groaned and turned painfully to look at her. Azazel made sure they couldn’t see him again, and watched. Amelia would think that she only received a minor concussion. Claire, too, woke up. Another car would be driving down the road in less then a minute. The driver was a doctor, and they’d try to help.
Jimmy managed to kiss his wife one last time and reached out to run his fingers through his daughter’s hair. “I love you both,” he said quietly. Azazel stepped forward, still invisible to the woman’s eyes.
“Time to go, Jimmy,” Azazel said.
Jimmy sighed and closed his eyes. “Love you so much,” he whispered as he died. The other car skidded to a halt right behind the Novak’s car.
Azazel didn’t stay to watch. He’d make sure that Amelia and Claire were fine- he kept his deals- but right now, he had a soul to deliver to Alastair.
Dean sighed as he pulled into yet another rest stop. They’d been going in circles for the past two days, losing their follower, then picking him up again, then losing him again. They’d always headed in the general direction of the mansion when they could.
He and Sam were both exhausted. They’d determined that the car didn’t have a tracker on it, but there were just too many other ways their follower could be finding them, both mundane and supernatural.
“Hey, Dean?” Sam asked groggily. “Where are we?”
“About ten hours from the mansion,” Dean said. “Assuming we managed to lose this guy, so we can head there.”
Sam nodded. “We switching?” he asked.
Dean groaned. “Yeah, I think we need to,” he said. “I’m wiped out.”
They got gas and snacks again, switched places, and headed out again. Sam swore softly about fifteen minutes into the drive. Dean groaned.
“Already?” he asked.
“Yep,” Sam muttered. He scowled. “I wish this guy would just go away!”
“I know!” Dean snapped. He was angry, very angry. He just wanted to go home, and if only their follower’s tire would just get a flat, they could get away again for a few hours.
He felt a wave of… something push out from him. He collapsed back into his seat as he heard the bang of a tire blowing out. He turned just as their stalker wrestled his car over to the side of the road.
“Dean…” Sam whispered. “Did you…”
“I think I did,” Dean said, wide eyed.
Sam and Dean stayed at the mansion for a week, just paranoid enough to worry about their follower to keep under the cover of the wards. Dean was slowly figuring out how he blew out their pursuer’s tire, and how to do it again.
But now they were on the way to Saginaw, Michigan, to check out another of the Chosen.
Max Miller lived in Saginaw with his father and stepmother. Sam wasn’t sure what power he was going to show, but he did want to check on the competition. There was no one on the interstate with them, and Dean was currently going nearly ninety.
Sam sat up suddenly. At the same moment, Dean swerved onto the shoulder. Sam barely noticed. He could hear screams and mocking laughter, and one voice sobbing.
He shuddered and closed his eyes. Immediately, he could see a room lit by firelight.
There was a rack in the middle of the room, and a man bound on that rack. Another man stood in front of him. The man strapped down was sobbing brokenly. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll do it. God help me, I’ll do it.”
The man- demon- in front of him smiled and snapped his fingers. The man fell off the rack and on to the messy ground of the room. The demon knelt down next to him and pulled him up. “Good,” he said.
The demon handed the slightly unsteady man a scalpel as another man appeared on the rack. The free man- dark haired, light eyed- hesitated, eyeing the scalpel.
“Whatever you want to do, Jimmy,” the demon said.
Jimmy nodded and took a deep breath. The hand holding the scalpel hovered over the other man for a long moment. Jimmy took another deep breath and drove the scalpel into the man’s stomach.
The man screamed, and the demon smiled. There was nothing for a long moment, and then the room rocked. Jimmy didn’t seem to notice, but the demon did, and his smile widened.
Sam’s eyes snapped open, and he could no longer see the room. He could still hear laughter and the beginning of a celebration. Eventually, the sounds faded away and he was able to focus on the world again. He checked the clock. Less then a minute had passed, but it had felt like forever.
He realized he was shaking. That vision had been terrifying. Beside him, Dean was shaking too.
“What was that?” they asked at the same time.
They looked at each other. “A man named Jimmy, stabbing someone on a rack?” Dean asked shakily.
Sam nodded. “And laughter, screams, and celebration.”
Dean swallowed. “Hell,” he said. “We just saw Hell.”
“Yes,” Sam said. “They were in Hell. And Hell was rejoicing for some reason.”
“What is Azazel doing?” Dean asked. “I mean… it has to be something he’s doing, right?”
Sam nodded. “I think so,” he said. “I need to call Dad.”
“He won’t pick up,” Dean said as Sam dialed.
“I’m still going to call,” Sam said. He listened to his Dad’s message and swallowed. “Dad,” he said. “Call, please. Dean and I just saw something… we need to know. Please!”
Sam closed the phone and shuddered. “That was…”
“Bad,” Dean said. “Is that what your visions are like?”
“No,” Sam said. “I’ve never had one when I’m awake. And it…”
“Maybe Meg knows what’s going on,” Dean said as he pulled out his own phone.
“Maybe.” Sam listened as Dean called Meg, however.
“Hey, Meg,” Dean said, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably.
Dean didn’t say anything for a long moment. “No, Sam and I are in one piece,” he said. “We just…” he paused again. “Fine,” he snapped. “Sammy and I both had a vision of some sort, at the same time. It was the same thing, too, so it’s something important. We have no idea what it is, though.”
Dean paused. “Yes, I did, too,” he said. “No, I don’t know why I haven’t had any before now. Do you want to hear about it, or not?”
He smiled. He looked calmer and in better shape already. “I thought so,” he said.
Sam smiled slightly. Hearing his brother arguing with Meg was comforting in a way he didn’t understand. It seemed to be comforting for Dean, too.
“It was a room, with a man on a rack. The man said he would do something, and a demon got him off the rack and handed him a scalpel. The man stabbed someone else on the rack. Then we heard someone celebrating. Meg, Sam and I think the vision took place in Hell. Why would Hell celebrate if a human started stabbing another human?”
He was silent for a long moment. “What?” he finally asked.
“What is it?” Sam asked.
Dean shook his head. “No, Sam and I are fine. Worried and confused, but fine. No, I don’t know why we would have seen that. Is it true? Does that mean that Azazel is getting closer to his goal?”
He paused again. “Yeah, I’ll tell him. Thanks, Meg,” he said. “No, really, thanks.”
Dean ended the call slowly. “God,” he said quietly.
“What is it, Dean?” Sam asked. “What did we see?”
Dean took a deep breath. “We just saw the first seal being broken,” he said.
“Seal?” Sam asked. His eyes widened. “You mean the seals keeping Lucifer in Hell. Those seals?”
Dean nodded. “I do,” he said. “Apparently, Azazel found someone to break it.”
Sam grinned. “That’s a good thing, right? I mean, Azazel’s plan is working.”
Dean shrugged. “Yeah, but where’s your army? You’re supposed to be leading a demon army before the first seal broke.”
“I’m not ready to lead an army yet,” Sam pointed out. “Maybe it just happened faster then Azazel thought it would.”
Dean nodded. “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired,” he said.
As soon as Dean mentioned it, Sam felt the fatigue suddenly dragging at him. “There should be a motel around somewhere,” Sam said.
“I saw one in that town about a mile back,” Dean said. He started the car and pulled onto the road again, only to swing around back the way they’d come. He glanced at Sam. Sam could see the matching exhaustion in Dean’s gaze.
“We gotta talk about this, but I just want to sleep,” Sam said.
Dean nodded. “You get a room, I’ll get our gear,” he said once he’d found the motel and pulled in.
Sam nodded.
Part Four
Sam slouched down in the passenger seat, reading the e-mail Meg had sent him.
She sounded pretty impressed with Jess. Impressing Meg was hard for a human to do, but Jess was doing it. Sam wasn’t surprised. Jess always made an impression on him. Meg had also assured Sam that Jess was coming to terms with what she’d learned. Sam couldn’t really trust that, not until he saw Jess again for himself.
And Sam knew that he couldn’t see her again.
Sam shook his head to get rid of those thoughts and paged down his e-mails. Nothing major, just a few of his classmates wondering how he was doing.
“So, where next?” Dean asked.
Sam put his phone down. “Well, if we want to take care of a ghost or two, we can head for Wisconsin, but we’re not Hunters.”
Dean grinned. “Nope, we’re not,” he said. “But ghosts are annoying. What is it?”
“Well, it might not be a ghost. There’s something in Lake Manitoc that’s drowning people.”
Dean considered it. “I don’t think that’s something for us. Let some Hunter get it.”
Sam shrugged. “Alright,” he said easily. It didn’t really matter to him. He and Dean had acted as Hunters before- taking out a few ghosts, a werewolf, and assorted other creatures, but they didn’t really care about doing it.
It’s not like they were Hunters, after all. And it wasn’t like anyone they might save wouldn’t die sooner or later. Probably sooner, the way the demons were preparing for whatever Azazel was planning.
Sam pulled out his notebook. “Alright then. I suppose our next stop would be Scott Carey. Nothing related to powers just yet, but who knows, he might be hiding it.”
Sam held up the sheet of information. “Says here he’s been in and out of therapy his whole life.”
Dean snorted. “Great,” he said. “Sounds like a real game winner.”
Sam smirked. “Yeah, I’m not sure he’ll make it to the big showdown. Still, it’d be a good idea to check him out. It’s him or Jake Talley, but we wouldn’t have a reason to get onto a military base, and by the time we get one, he’ll probably be over in the Middle East.”
“Army?” Dean asked.
Sam nodded. “If he doesn’t get killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, he’ll probably make it to the endgame.”
“You know, I just don’t understand this whole “fight to the end” thing.”
Sam shrugged. “It’s Azazel’s plan,” he said. “And he wasn’t even human to start with. How can we even begin to guess why he’s doing this the way he is?”
Dean nodded. “True. So, back to Scott Carey. Am I going the right way?”
“Yep. Just keep going until you hit Illinois, then let me know,” Sam said.
“So, how are classes going?” Meg asked as Jess opened the door to her apartment.
“Almost over,” Jess said. “One more week, and then its time for finals.”
“Getting stressed?” Meg asked.
Jess glared at the demon. “What do you think?” she asked. “I’ve got one class that I absolutely can’t fail. I need to pass for a class next semester. Plus, one of my professors is an absolute misogynic jerk, almost never gives any of his female students more then a C, and I can’t lose my 4.0.” She paused and smiled sheepishly. “Not that all that really matters, I suppose.”
Meg smiled. “I like it, it’s a nice change from the rest of the worries I hear every day.”
Jess smiled. “Really, I need a break,” she said. “None of my friends can take a break, so I’ve been pacing through my apartment. I’m going to go nuts if I keep studying.”
Meg studied her. She looked rather frazzled at the moment, true, but a lot of the students she’d passed had looked the same way, and she’d seen Sam in the same state a few times.
“I have an idea,” Meg said. “You need a break. Go on, get ready to head out. What’s your favorite place to go to relax?”
Jess frowned. “I…”
“Never mind, you’re too frazzled to think.” Meg stared at Jess for a moment. The jeans and shirt would work fine. They weren’t going to go clubbing, after all. “Can you take an hour or two from studying?” she asked.
Jess blinked. “Yes,” she said slowly. “Why?”
“Good,” Meg said. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Jess asked as she grabbed her purse. She didn’t look worried at all. Meg liked how the woman was more fascinated by demons then afraid of them.
“Just that Mexican restaurant you showed me,” Meg said. “We can plan our trip, have some of the best Mexican food that I’ve had in a long time, and just relax a bit.”
Jess nodded. “Sounds good to me,” she said. “Oh, we really will have to use your car for the trip,” she said. “My parents are going to take mine away if I don’t change my mind.” She huffed. “As if I would.”
Meg nodded. “I expected something like that,” she said. “And my car is better, anyway. Come on, let’s go. I’ll have you back here and studying in two hours.”
Sam groaned as he opened the door to the mansion. They’d just spent well over a month on the road, checking things out. At one point, they’d had to deal with a chaos demon that liked to take planes down. It wasn’t like they wanted to Hunt. It was just, if something like that was going to fall into their laps, they were going to take care of it. That was one of the better ways to let the sane Hunters know that they weren’t actually evil, if only so that the sane Hunters wouldn’t go after them until it was too late. They’d also checked out about half a dozen of the other chosen, just to see if they were displaying any powers yet.
Most of them were keeping it under wraps, but since Sam had been looking, they’d found signs that it was happening to them.
But now it was nearly Christmas, and he and Dean had picked up a Hunter on their tail shortly after leaving the last of the chosen behind. They’d returned to the mansion to get rid of him or her.
Sam yawned as he closed the door behind them. He was tired. They’d been traveling hard for two days now, and he really needed to sleep.
Sam stopped dead as he saw who was waiting for him in the main entrance way.
“Jess?” he breathed.
“Sam,” Jess replied, smiling up at him.
Sam froze. It couldn’t be. How could Jess be here? She didn’t even know where the mansion was…
Meg stepped out from behind Jess.
Sam just barely noticed that nearly everyone in the household was watching. He still couldn’t move. Dean chuckled. “Hey, Jess,” he said, though he sounded surprised.
Jess nodded at Dean then returned her attention to Sam. “Aren’t you going to say anything, Sam?” she asked.
“I…” Sam trailed off. He couldn’t believe she was here. “You’re really here?”
Jess punched him hard. Sam groaned and stumbled back a step. “You idiot,” she hissed. “Did you really think I’d hate you? Sam, you are without a doubt the biggest moron in the world!” She grabbed him and began dragging him away. “We are not having this conversation with an audience,” she declared as she pushed him into one of the many offices on the main floor. She shut the door in Dean’s face and then turned to Sam.
She was furious, Sam could tell. Her eyes were all but literally flashing, her cheeks were pink, and she was trembling violently. She was gorgeous.
Jess’s eyes widened.
Sam cringed as he realized he’d said that last part out loud.
Her eyes softened. “Sam,” she said. “Did you really think I’d hate you?” she asked.
“I’m the antichrist,” Sam said. “You should be running as far away as you can.”
“I love you,” Jess said. “And do you really want to destroy the world?”
Sam shook his head. “Not really. But I do want to… well,” he sighed. “Not sure how much I can say.”
Jess shook her head. “You big lummox,” she said. “Men! I don’t really care what you are. You’re Sam. You’ll always be Sam.” She leaned up and kissed him.
Sam closed his eyes. He had wished for this. He would have prayed for this, but he knew that his prayers would never be answered.
After a long moment, Sam broke away. “My room is on the second floor,” he said softly.
Jess smiled. “I know. I’ve been here for a day, and I’ve been staying in your room.”
Sam grinned. “That’s great,” he said. “Oh, Jess,” he whispered. “I missed you so much.”
She smiled up at him. “I missed you too, you big idiot.”
He leaned down and kissed her again. “Jess…” he said quietly. He shook his head. “What would I do without you?”
“Crash and burn, baby,” she said. “Isn’t that obvious?”
Sam smiled and leaned forward. Maybe they wouldn’t move to his bedroom just yet. “Something like that,” he murmured.
“So, should you really be here?” Dean asked Meg as soon as the door closed behind Sam and Jess.
Meg shrugged. “Jess suggested it. She’s determined, Dean, and she’s not leaving Sam.”
Dean shook his head. “Strong girl,” he said.
Meg nodded slowly. “Yeah, tell me about it. She’s pretty interesting and brave, for a human. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a human willing to do what she’s doing.”
“What about Sam and I? Not to mention Dad,” Dean asked, amused.
Meg smirked. “Come on, Dean. Sam’s our savior, you know that. You’re his brother and one of the chosen. And your father is my father’s host right now.
“Right, whatever,” Dean said. The way the demons refused to classify the Winchesters as human- and therefore prey- amused him to no end. “Thank you for bringing her here. Sammy was going crazy worrying.”
Meg nodded. “The Boy King sure doesn’t have much optimism, does he?”
“You know he hates that title.”
“I know,” Meg grinned cheerfully. “Anyway, what’s been happening?” Meg asked
Dean grabbed his bags as well as Sam’s and headed up the stairs. “Not much,” Dean said. “Sammy and I have been checking out a few of the other chosen. Most of them seem to be getting the first hints of their powers. Just like Sam is.”
Meg nodded. “Anyone I should keep my eye on?”
“Well, there is one named Ava who seemed to know we were coming. Probably precognition, like Sam.”
“I’ll avoid her,” Meg said.
“Yeah, you’ll want to be careful, the Hunters seem to realize that there are more demons out and about nowadays.”
“I’m always careful,” Meg said. “Why do you think I’m still up here, even if I have had to change hosts a few times?”
Dean nodded. “Good point,” he said as he dropped Sam’s bag off on his bed and headed for the next room over. “So, are you and Jess staying?”
“For the winter break, at least,” Meg said. “And don’t think she didn’t have a bit of a fight with her family about that.”
Dean turned around. “The Moores are off limits,” he warned. “Got it?”
Meg pouted. “Fine,” she said.
“Jess wouldn’t forgive Sam if demons killed her parents,” Dean said.
Meg nodded. “I guess you’re right,” she said.
“Of course I’m right,” Dean grinned. “How bad was the fight?”
“There’s a reason we drove here in my car,” Meg said. “You know, I really do like the girl, even if she doesn’t like it when I tell her about some of the rituals I’ve done.”
“Meg, some of those rituals make my Dad squeamish, never mind a girl who didn’t even know about our world three months ago.”
Meg grinned. “She didn’t throw up, though.”
Dean blinked, impressed. “Now I know she’s the right girl for Sammy.”
Meg nodded. “Well, Sam always did like human girls more then demons. Strange, isn’t it?”
Dean shrugged. “Not really, considering that some of those demons helped raise us.” At her glance, he smirked. “It’d be a little creepy if he picked you, you know.”
Meg shuddered. “Oh, no, just no. Not that I wouldn’t be flattered, but Sam is just not my type. He might be the type of host I’d take if I went for male hosts, but… no.”
Dean grinned. He’d won that round. It was rare that he left Meg at a loss for words. “Anyway, Sam and I have been driving all day. I need to hit the sack, and soon,” he said. “I’m exhausted.”
“Humans,” Meg said in amusement. “Fine. You can tell me about your trip later.”
Dean nodded. “With Azazel out of contact, you’re the one in charge for now, and we did find out some interesting things.”
Sam smiled as Jess held a box and shook it at him. “I know you don’t celebrate Christmas, Sam, but you are going to open this present,” she said.
Sam grinned. “And you know why my family doesn’t celebrate Christmas.”
Jess shrugged. “So your family includes a few demons. That doesn’t mean you can’t open your present!”
Sam shook his head, chuckling. She was handling this so well. He couldn’t quite believe how well. He took the present.
Jess grinned deviously as he opened it- only to find a Halloween devil costume. Sam stared at it, not quite sure he believed it was there. Jess started to laugh.
Sam glanced up at her. “Jess?” he asked. She had given him a devil costume?
Jess smirked and bounced up and down on the bed. “Come on, Sam. You can’t tell me that it’s not a little funny.”
“You got me a devil costume,” Sam said.
“You said it yourself- you’re the antichrist,” Jess said. “It’s funny.”
Sam bit his lip. Ok, so it was funny.
Jess saw the look and grinned. “You think it’s funny too!” she said.
Sam looked away. “Alright, yes, I do,” he said. “But a devil costume?”
Jess grinned. “I am going to make fun of you,” she declared. “You are not going to get to take this seriously.”
Sam tilted his head. “You’re crazy, you know that, right Jess?”
Jess grinned. “My boyfriend is the antichrist,” she said. “Of course I’m crazy!”
Sam chuckled. He leaned over and began to tickle her. She shrieked and tackled him back into the bed.
Maybe he could get used to Christmas.
Dean glanced around. Jess and Meg were getting ready to return to Palo Alto. Despite that, Sam was happily helping Jess load her stuff in the car.
Dean knew exactly when he’d seen that look on Sam’s face last- when he had talked about proposing to Jess.
Sam didn’t even seem to mind that he wasn’t going to see Jess for months, because he knew that she accepted him. Dean grinned. If only the Hunters could see him now! The man they were condemning as the antichrist was meekly accepting orders from his girlfriend as he helped her pack the car.
Dean chuckled as Sam stopped and stared at her standing in the snow. It was like, even after three weeks, he couldn’t believe that she was here. Dean had seen this several times over the break. Sam would stare at Jess for hours. Jess seemed to understand it and made sure to stay close to Sam.
Dean had watched, amused, as Sam had opened up to her. It was the first time they’d been around someone who wasn’t a demon and knew who Sam was. Sam hadn’t told her everything, but he had told her most things. Jess had accepted the truth with a remarkable calm, even if she was prone to teasing Sam about his titles.
Dean was grateful. Sam’s feelings for her meant that she would be protected. Her acceptance of Sam meant that Dean would kill for her.
Meg leaned against the doorframe across from Dean. “He’s completely besotted,” she said.
Dean snorted. “Where did you pick that word up? Besotted? Come on!”
“It was in common usage when I first got out of Hell,” Meg said.
Sam and Jess stopped packing up and turned to look at Dean and Meg.
Dean smiled at them. “Don’t mind us,” he said. “Just a bit of gossip.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes, and if I’m not careful, you two will gang up on me.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw Meg grin.
“Come on, Sammy, we’re not that bad,” Meg said.
“It’s Sam,” Sam insisted. “And you just made my point.”
“Aw, we’re practically family, Sam. Why can’t I call you Sammy?”
“Oh, yes, that exactly the kind of name I should have. The antichrist’s name is Sammy,” Sam retorted. “I don’t think so. I have to tolerate it from Dean, Dad, and Azazel, but that’s it.”
“Spoilsport,” Meg said.
“You bet,” Sam replied.
Dean laughed. “Sammy’s got a point, you know,” he said, grinning when Sam glowered at him.
“Well, I suppose we should probably go,” Jess said, before Sam could launch himself at Dean.
Dean glanced at her. “What to get back to school that bad? Or do you just want to get away from the insanity here?”
Jess lifted an eyebrow. “Classes start in three days. It’s not that I want to, but I have to.”
Sam sighed. “Good luck with everything, Jess,” Sam said.
She grinned. “Of course,” she said. “And, Sam, don’t worry. My parents are feeling a lot better about you since you convinced me to finish my bachelor’s.”
Sam nodded. “Once things heat up, we’ll need to warn them.”
“They won’t believe a word,” Jess said.
“I know. But we need to warn them.”
“That’s later,” Dean said. “Let’s just worry about what’s going on now,” he said. “We’ve all got things to do.”
Meg nodded and headed for the car. “By the way, Sam, I really don’t mind keeping an eye on Jess. Bodyguard duty to your consort is not a chore.”
Sam started to sputter. Dean threw his head back and laughed hysterically.
“Jess, it’s not…”
Jess kissed Sam. “I know, Sam,” she said. “Don’t worry.”
Meg grinned at Sam. “Aw, she’s not going to get angry at you,” she said. “Looks like she really means it.”
Sam sighed. “I can’t win, can I?”
Jess kissed him again. “I love you,” she said quietly.
Sam kissed her. “I love you, too,” he said. “You have that book I gave you?”
Jess nodded. “I’ll study it,” she said. “Remember to call me, this time, you big idiot,” she said. “I’m not going to leave you.”
Sam nodded. “I know that now,” he said.
Dean looked to the side and started whistling.
Jess walked up to him and slapped him upside the head. “Stop it,” she said.
Dean stopped. Jess was scary when she glared at you like that.
Meg chuckled. “Come on, then, Jess,” she said. “Hmm… I think I’m going to need to teach you a few things once we’re back in Palo Alto. You handle these two well enough, but I think you should learn more about our world.”
Jess grinned and headed for the car. “Sounds good. And Sam and Dean are easy to handle- they’re men.”
Sam and Dean glanced at each other before following them to the car. “Be careful,” Sam ordered. “We know that the Hunters know about you, Jess. And Meg, watch out for her.”
Meg smiled. “I will. You’ve got your own plans, I assume?”
“We’re going to check out more of the chosen,” Dean said. “And a few other things, probably. We might check out what’s going on with your friend, Jess, if we can. That whole thing about her brother’s arrest sounds fishy.”
Sam nodded. “We’ll keep an eye on that,” Sam agreed. “But I’m not sure we can do anything to help Becky and Zach just yet.”
Jess nodded. “Alright,” she said. Sam and Jess hugged, and then Jess slid into the passenger seat. “Love you,” she told Sam.
Sam watched as the car drove away. Despite everything, he had a small smile on his face.
Dean grinned. “Come on, Sammy. What do you say to getting an early start tomorrow?”
Sam nodded. “Sounds like a plan. We’ve got about five of the chosen to check out. That’s about it for those in America.”
“What about that Army guy?”
Sam shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think he’s going to be on deployment soon. Or something. Anyway, he’s not going to be easy to get to. I bet Azazel will drag him to wherever he’s planning on holding that thing for the last round.”
Dean nodded. “He’ll be the one to watch,” he said.
Sam frowned. “Yeah, but he’ll still be freaked out by the whole thing.”
“Well, it’s not like you don’t have to worry about it for a while,” Dean said.
Sam laughed. “True,” he said. “Come on, let’s go pack.”
Jess let Meg into the apartment with a smile. “Meg,” she said. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Meg shook her head. “Sam and Dean are fine,” she said. “Are you doing anything important right now?”
“Just studying,” Jess said. “Nothing that can’t wait until later.”
Meg smiled. “Great, we’re going out,” she said. “I’ve got some things I think you should learn.”
Jess frowned. “What sort of things?”
Meg sobered. “I know you think it was a joke, being called Sam’s consort, but that’s how a lot of demons are going to see you,” she said. “I want you to be able to protect yourself, if any demons get bright ideas. Most aren’t going to dare, but there are a few factions who don’t like the Winchesters.”
Jess paled. “What can I do against demons?”
Meg smiled. “It’s mostly knife fighting,” Meg assured her. “Plus, a few of the simpler forms of witchcraft, the kind a normal human can do.”
Jess blinked. “Like the spell Dean used to help save my life?”
Meg nodded. “I’ll be teaching that one to you.” She smiled. “Come on, let’s go.
Jess grabbed a light coat- California or not, it was still February, and a little cold- and followed Meg out the door.
Sam leaned against the Impala as he waited for Dean to get the keys to a motel room. They’d been crisscrossing the country for the better part of two months now. Azazel had contacted them a couple of times with instructions, and they’d been running errands for him ever since leaving the mansion.
It was nearly the end of February, and they were headed for St. Louis, where they were finally sure they could do something to help Zach.
They’d be there tomorrow. Sam had hacked into the police reports, including Rebecca’s statement, and he admitted that things were not looking good for Zach.
They got their stuff out of the car and into the room. “So, what do you think?”
“The police have a pretty good case against Zach,” Sam said.
“What type of friends did you have at college, anyway?”
“Zach didn’t do it,” Sam said. “I know him; I know enough to know that he didn’t do it.”
“Does he know you’re the Boy King?”
“Of course not,” Sam said.
“Then maybe you don’t know that he’s a murderer,” Dean said cheerfully.
Sam shook his head. “No, he would not have tortured his girlfriend. I know it. I grew up around psychotic murderers, Dean. Zach isn’t one, and the police reports say that whoever tortured and killed his girlfriend was.”
Dean glanced at Sam, who smiled. “Admit it, Dean, aside from Dad, we were raised by psychos. And Dad’s not that much better.”
Dean laughed. “Isn’t that part of being a demon?”
Sam nodded, grinning.
Dean sobered. “Alright, I believe you. Who or what did it?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. It could be a simple human criminal, someone who can disguise himself, or something a little more out there.”
Dean nodded. “Alright, so we have no idea what to plan for.”
“Silver works on a lot of creatures, and a human will die just as easily if they’re shot by silver as by lead.”
Dean laughed. “True,” he said. “Sam, have you killed a human yet?”
Sam shook his head. “No, I haven’t. You?”
“There are people who died because of me but no, I haven’t killed anyone directly, yet.”
Sam sighed. “Great,” he muttered. “Let’s hope that this is some sort of creature. I don’t think I’d hesitate if it was a human, but I don’t know for sure.”
“Me neither,” Dean said.
Sam paced back and forth as he watched Dean as he was led off in handcuffs, never mind the dead body that looked just like his brother.
He had to do something…
His eyes lit up. Henriksen! Sam fumbled for his phone.
“Agent Henriksen,” the FBI agent answered.
“Agent, thank god,” Sam said. “It’s Sam Winchester.” A couple of police officers looked over at him.
“Sam,” Henriksen said. “What the hell is going on in St. Louis?”
Sam gulped. “Dean’s been framed,” he said. “The culprit framed a friend of mine, so we headed out to figure out what was going on. Then he framed Dean. The culprit hurt another friend, and then abducted me. He was going to kill me, but Dean stopped him and killed him. He was arrested after that, charged with attacking and killing my friend’s girlfriend and another woman, and attacking me and a friend. But they have the body of the man who did it.”
Henriksen sighed. “Geez, Sam,” he said.
“I know,” Sam moaned. “He didn’t do it, but the police aren’t listening to Becky and I. Becky’s the friend who was attacked.”
“Alright,” Henriksen said. “Since this might be something the cult is doing, I’ll be right up. Let me call the local police, they might listen to me.”
“Thank you, Agent Henriksen,” Sam said.
“It’s not a problem, Sam,” Henriksen said. “Your case is my main one, and I’m between other cases.”
Sam nodded, and then realized that Henriksen couldn’t see him. “I understand. Agent, how long do you think this will take? Do you think they’ll charge him?”
“They have two eyewitnesses saying he didn’t do it, the dead killer, and probably no real material evidence. I’d say that no, they won’t. But still, the cult might pick up on this and go after the two of you.”
“I didn’t even think about that,” Sam said. “Right, you’re right. I’ll be careful.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours, Sam,” Henriksen said before hanging up.
Sam sighed and ended the call.
“Who’d you call?” an officer asked.
Sam grinned. “A friend of the family’s,” he said. “Agent Henriksen, a federal agent in charge of catching the cult that’s been gunning for me and my brother, Officer Brown.”
“What?” Officer Brown asked.
Sam sighed. “There’s this doomsday cult out there that thinks I’m the antichrist. If they catch all the media attention, they’ll be coming after me.”
Brown blinked at him. He stared at Sam. Sam knew what he had to be thinking. Brown was wondering how a kid like Sam could be the antichrist.
While at college, Sam had deliberately cultivated a look that Dean had told him made him look more like an overgrown puppy then the antichrist.
It made him seem more trustworthy to police, and kept anyone from believing the Hunters.
Sam grinned. “Anyway, he’s coming up. He’ll want to protect me, and hopefully capture one or two of the cult members.”
Brown scowled. “Should we take you into protective custody?” he asked.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve never needed to go into protective custody before.”
Brown sighed and jogged over to the detective in charge.
Sam snorted and looked around. He found Becky, who was leaning against the wall out of the way, and headed for her. “You alright?” he asked.
Becky took a deep breath. “I think I’ll be fine,” she said. “Will your brother be alright?”
“I hope so,” he said. “They don’t really have much of a case on him. Just your testimony and you’ve already retracted it.”
“Good,” Becky said. “He didn’t do it. You weren’t even in St. Louis when Zach was framed.”
Sam nodded.
The detective in charge stopped in front of them. He stared at Sam for a moment before speaking. “Sam Winchester? I’m Detective Wells. Officer Brown informed me that you might be in danger. Would you like protective custody at this time?”
“Sam?” Becky asked.
Sam shook his head. “I think I’ll be fine,” he said. “Agent Henriksen will be here in a few hours, and the people after me won’t be able to find me before he gets here. Besides which, you still need my statement, so I’ll be down at the station anyway, Detective.”
Detective Wells nodded. “You are, of course, free to change your mind. But yes, we do still need your statement. And yours as well, Ms. Warren. I’d appreciate it if the two of you would not talk to each other at this time.”
Sam nodded. “Of course,” he said. “It’ll be alright, Becky,” he told his friend before leaning against the wall away from her.”
Victor hurried into the police station.
His badge would get him through most of the obstacles, but he knew that he wasn’t going to see Sam until the younger Winchester was doing giving his statement. Dean, however, he could see. As a fellow officer of the law, he’d be able to get access to the prisoners with no problems.
He smiled at the sergeant at the front desk. “I’d like to see Dean Winchester,” he said as he showed the officer his badge.
The sergeant took the badge and looked it over. “Agent, we were told that you might be coming. Winchester is being held in one of the interrogation rooms.”
Victor nodded. “Has he been provided with a lawyer yet, Sergeant Beckett?”
“The DA will be sending one over,” Beckett said.
“I want to talk to Mr. Winchester before he arrives and kicks us out,” he said.
“Of course,” Beckett said. “I’ll get someone to show you where they are.”
“You do that,” Victor said. He knew that these officers were just doing what they were supposed to do. He just hoped that things worked out. He knew Dean, knew him well enough that Dean wouldn’t do this. Plus, he knew Dean has an alibi for at least the first murder.
Another officer led Victor through the building. “So, are you here to charge Winchester with a federal crime?” the officer asked.
“No,” Victor said. He didn’t say anything else.
The agent snorted. “Right, well, be careful. He just killed two women, tried to kill a third, and tried to kill his brother.”
“His brother disagrees,” Victor said as the officer opened a door.
“Agent Henriksen?” Dean asked as he looked up. “What are you doing here?”
Victor snorted. “You’re all over the news, Dean,” he said as he closed the door behind him. “So, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“You shouldn’t go, Bill,” Ellen Harvelle said.
“I’m not going to kill the boy,” her husband said. “I just want to observe him for a bit.”
“But there’s no evidence that he’s evil,” Ellen said.
“I know, that’s why I want to watch him,” Bill said. “And if I can pick them up in St. Louis, I can follow them for a while. Ash is going to help me by keeping an eye on their car by satellite.
“Be careful,” Ellen said. “And don’t get caught.”
“Don’t worry,” Bill said. “I’ll only go after Winchester if I get proof that he’s what they say he is. Otherwise, I’ll just follow them for a bit.”
Dean smiled as he leaned against the door of his car.
“Thanks, Agent,” Dean said.
Henriksen smiled. “It wasn’t a problem, Dean,” he said. “Plus, I didn’t do anything. They had the killer, and they knew it. They cleared you once they had all the evidence in. Though I’d love to know how you managed to get a doppelganger.”
Dean shrugged. “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
Sam snorted. “Yeah, at least you’re not in prison,” he agreed.
“So, where are you boys headed next?” Henriksen asked.
Sam shrugged and glanced at Dean. “Where ever the wind takes us, I guess,” Dean said. “Well away from St. Louis, though. I’m sure we’ll be attacked if we stay any longer. Sam, you said goodbye to your friends yet?’
“Yeah, I have,” Sam said. “Becky isn’t happy with my explanation, though.”
Henriksen laughed. “Well, try to keep in touch, alright?”
“We’ll do our best,” Sam said. “Good luck.”
“You too,” Henriksen said.
As the federal agent walked away, Dean glanced around. For a moment, he thought someone was watching them.
Sam frowned as Dean glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned. “What is it?” Sam asked.
“I think we’re being followed,” Dean replied. He made a quick right turn onto a side street and continued on as if nothing was wrong. “Yeah, we’re being followed.”
Sam looked out the side mirror. “Which car?” he asked.
“The green pickup,” Dean said.
“I see it,” Sam said as he picked it out of the traffic. “Hunter?”
“I don’t know,” Dean said as he made another left turn. Sam watched as the truck followed them. “Sonofabitch,” Dean muttered.
“Tell me about it,” Sam muttered.
“I’m going to try something stupid,” Dean muttered. “Get ready.”
Sam made a face. “At least you admit it,” he muttered. “Ready.”
Dean turned right this time, and then almost immediately left. He followed the side street of the little suburb for a while, making random turns in the hopes of losing their tail.
“I don’t see him,” Sam reported once they found one of the main streets.
“Ok, time to get out of town,” Dean said.
“Yep,” Sam glanced at the street signs, and then pulled out the map of Michigan. “Alright, let’s find an interstate and head south.”
Sam glanced around the small convenience store. Aside from the cashier and Sam, the place was deserted. Dean was just outside, getting gas for the car while Sam picked up some snacks for them.
They were both jumpy. The green pickup had found them again 500 miles from St Louis, and they’d been forced to lose him again. Then whoever was in the pickup had found them less then a hundred miles later.
They had currently lost their follower, but neither of them knew when he might show up again.
Neither of them liked it at all. They had no idea how he or she was still following them, and they wanted him gone.
Sam picked up their standard road snacks- a couple of bags of jerky, one of peanut M&Ms, a snickers bar, and two sodas. He paid and headed back to the car.
“So, I was thinking we ought to head back to the mansion,” Sam said once they were back on the road.
“That’s sounds like a good plan,” Dean said. “There’s no way this guy is getting through the wards around the mansion.”
“Exactly,” Sam said.
Dean glanced around. “Alright, we’ll stay on this road for another few hours, and then head west.”
“It’ll only take us a day or so to get there if we just trade off driving,” Sam said.
“Yeah,” Dean replied. “We’ll do that.”
Sam chanced a look behind us. “As soon as we lose him again,” he groaned.
“Damn, this guy is persistent.”
“I know,” Sam said. He sighed.
“Are you getting any idea who this is?” Dean asked.
Sam shook his head. “Nope,” he said. “I guess it’s a Hunter, but I really have no idea.”
“Well, you really should pick up the psychic stuff,” Dean said.
“You too.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” Dean argued. “I don’t think I’ve got any abilities.” He glanced in the rearview mirror again. “Dude, this guy just will not get lost. I wonder if he’s the psychic.”
Sam chuckled. “Yeah, there’s an idea,” he said. “Or he could have planted a tracker on the car.”
“He better not’ve touched my car,” Dean muttered. “Alright, fine. The next time we lose him, we’ll search.”
Sam nodded. “Or he could be using satellites. Don’t the Hunters have that one computer guy who can make a computer do almost anything? I bet he could hack into some system and use the satellites to find the car.”
“Yeah, Ash or Alex or A-something or other. But dude, can that actually be done?”
“I think so,” Sam said. “Or they could be using locator spells of some type.”
“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” Dean asked.
“Well, we gotta lose this guy for good before he does something. Whoever he is.”
“And whatever he might do,” Dean added.
Azazel grinned as he stood up. It was time for him to put the next part of his plan into place. It had taken him some time to get things ready, but finally, he had everything he needed.
The Hunter’s attack had helped his plans along in one sense, while derailing them in a greater way. He had planned on using the Winchesters to provide him with both Sam- his father’s vessel- and Dean- the Righteous Man.
But the Hunters had attacked, and now Sam or Dean could be Lucifer’s vessel, and he had no one to be the Righteous Man.
It had taken him this long to locate another candidate for the role. Now, it was just a matter of procuring him.
Azazel sent John to sleep. He didn’t want anyone guessing what he was about to do, not even someone on his side. He blinked and went to find the man he had identified as being a righteous man. Perhaps the man wasn’t the Righteous Man, but he had potential.
John would not be happy when he woke up, but he’d understand.
Azazel stood by the side of the back road, invisible, and watched as the lone car on the road approached.
There was a family in there, and the father was righteous, a good man… and a vessel.
Azazel smiled. He hadn’t been sure of that last part, but now he knew. He knew the Righteous Man would need to be a vessel. He could only hope that that would be enough. If it wasn’t, then he’d have to find the perfect vessel, and hope that the angels didn’t pick up what he was trying to do. He knew that supposedly, the Winchesters were the only ones who could do it, but he wasn’t sure. Still, if he was wrong about this one, then there were always some Winchester cousins he could check out.
With a thought, Azazel blew the one of the tires on the car. The driver immediately lost control on the slippery road.
Azazel cushioned the daughter in the back, so that she was merely knocked out. At the same time, he made sure that the mother died almost instantly and the father was fatally wounded.
Azazel grinned for just an instant before sobering. That had been a nice piece of work. He approached the car and allowed the father to see him.
The man groaned. “Help,” he managed to say.
Azazel leaned against the car door. Luckily the window was open. “You’re dying,” he said.
“Please,” the man said. “My wife and daughter,” he groaned.
“Your wife is already dead,” Azazel said. “And your daughter will be fine. But she’ll be alone, Jimmy Novak.”
Jimmy groaned and closed his eyes. “No,” he moaned.
“You don’t want her to go to her grandparents, do you?” Azazel asked. “Because that’s what will happen. Your wife’s parents will challenge the will and win custody. Then they’ll destroy her life, since they’ll say that it was your fault their daughter married and had her. Because Claire is your daughter, they’ll ruin her life.”
“Stop,” Jimmy groaned. “It won’t happen that way!”
“Yes it will,” Azazel said. He allowed that to sink in for a long moment. “But I can change that,” he finally said.
Jimmy looked at him. “How?”
“If you agree, I’ll bring your wife back, and she’ll be there for your daughter. You’ll know that little Claire will be happy with her mother. They’ll meet someone else, and he’ll adopt Claire in the end.”
“But…”
“But you’ll take your wife’s place. You’ll come with me. Your family will mourn, but they’ll be alive.”
Jimmy groaned and turned his head away. “Can I say goodbye?” he asked.
“Of course,” Azazel said. “I’ll give you a few minutes, long enough for you to know that they’ll be fine.”
Jimmy closed his eyes. Azazel knew he’d won, however. Jimmy was desperate. He didn’t want his in-laws to raise his daughter. He knew how much they hated him.
“Alright,” Jimmy said. “I’ll go with you.”
Azazel suppressed a triumphant grin. “Good,” he said. “I suggest you don’t tell them, however.” Amelia gasped and began to breathe again. Jimmy groaned and turned painfully to look at her. Azazel made sure they couldn’t see him again, and watched. Amelia would think that she only received a minor concussion. Claire, too, woke up. Another car would be driving down the road in less then a minute. The driver was a doctor, and they’d try to help.
Jimmy managed to kiss his wife one last time and reached out to run his fingers through his daughter’s hair. “I love you both,” he said quietly. Azazel stepped forward, still invisible to the woman’s eyes.
“Time to go, Jimmy,” Azazel said.
Jimmy sighed and closed his eyes. “Love you so much,” he whispered as he died. The other car skidded to a halt right behind the Novak’s car.
Azazel didn’t stay to watch. He’d make sure that Amelia and Claire were fine- he kept his deals- but right now, he had a soul to deliver to Alastair.
Dean sighed as he pulled into yet another rest stop. They’d been going in circles for the past two days, losing their follower, then picking him up again, then losing him again. They’d always headed in the general direction of the mansion when they could.
He and Sam were both exhausted. They’d determined that the car didn’t have a tracker on it, but there were just too many other ways their follower could be finding them, both mundane and supernatural.
“Hey, Dean?” Sam asked groggily. “Where are we?”
“About ten hours from the mansion,” Dean said. “Assuming we managed to lose this guy, so we can head there.”
Sam nodded. “We switching?” he asked.
Dean groaned. “Yeah, I think we need to,” he said. “I’m wiped out.”
They got gas and snacks again, switched places, and headed out again. Sam swore softly about fifteen minutes into the drive. Dean groaned.
“Already?” he asked.
“Yep,” Sam muttered. He scowled. “I wish this guy would just go away!”
“I know!” Dean snapped. He was angry, very angry. He just wanted to go home, and if only their follower’s tire would just get a flat, they could get away again for a few hours.
He felt a wave of… something push out from him. He collapsed back into his seat as he heard the bang of a tire blowing out. He turned just as their stalker wrestled his car over to the side of the road.
“Dean…” Sam whispered. “Did you…”
“I think I did,” Dean said, wide eyed.
Sam and Dean stayed at the mansion for a week, just paranoid enough to worry about their follower to keep under the cover of the wards. Dean was slowly figuring out how he blew out their pursuer’s tire, and how to do it again.
But now they were on the way to Saginaw, Michigan, to check out another of the Chosen.
Max Miller lived in Saginaw with his father and stepmother. Sam wasn’t sure what power he was going to show, but he did want to check on the competition. There was no one on the interstate with them, and Dean was currently going nearly ninety.
Sam sat up suddenly. At the same moment, Dean swerved onto the shoulder. Sam barely noticed. He could hear screams and mocking laughter, and one voice sobbing.
He shuddered and closed his eyes. Immediately, he could see a room lit by firelight.
There was a rack in the middle of the room, and a man bound on that rack. Another man stood in front of him. The man strapped down was sobbing brokenly. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll do it. God help me, I’ll do it.”
The man- demon- in front of him smiled and snapped his fingers. The man fell off the rack and on to the messy ground of the room. The demon knelt down next to him and pulled him up. “Good,” he said.
The demon handed the slightly unsteady man a scalpel as another man appeared on the rack. The free man- dark haired, light eyed- hesitated, eyeing the scalpel.
“Whatever you want to do, Jimmy,” the demon said.
Jimmy nodded and took a deep breath. The hand holding the scalpel hovered over the other man for a long moment. Jimmy took another deep breath and drove the scalpel into the man’s stomach.
The man screamed, and the demon smiled. There was nothing for a long moment, and then the room rocked. Jimmy didn’t seem to notice, but the demon did, and his smile widened.
Sam’s eyes snapped open, and he could no longer see the room. He could still hear laughter and the beginning of a celebration. Eventually, the sounds faded away and he was able to focus on the world again. He checked the clock. Less then a minute had passed, but it had felt like forever.
He realized he was shaking. That vision had been terrifying. Beside him, Dean was shaking too.
“What was that?” they asked at the same time.
They looked at each other. “A man named Jimmy, stabbing someone on a rack?” Dean asked shakily.
Sam nodded. “And laughter, screams, and celebration.”
Dean swallowed. “Hell,” he said. “We just saw Hell.”
“Yes,” Sam said. “They were in Hell. And Hell was rejoicing for some reason.”
“What is Azazel doing?” Dean asked. “I mean… it has to be something he’s doing, right?”
Sam nodded. “I think so,” he said. “I need to call Dad.”
“He won’t pick up,” Dean said as Sam dialed.
“I’m still going to call,” Sam said. He listened to his Dad’s message and swallowed. “Dad,” he said. “Call, please. Dean and I just saw something… we need to know. Please!”
Sam closed the phone and shuddered. “That was…”
“Bad,” Dean said. “Is that what your visions are like?”
“No,” Sam said. “I’ve never had one when I’m awake. And it…”
“Maybe Meg knows what’s going on,” Dean said as he pulled out his own phone.
“Maybe.” Sam listened as Dean called Meg, however.
“Hey, Meg,” Dean said, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably.
Dean didn’t say anything for a long moment. “No, Sam and I are in one piece,” he said. “We just…” he paused again. “Fine,” he snapped. “Sammy and I both had a vision of some sort, at the same time. It was the same thing, too, so it’s something important. We have no idea what it is, though.”
Dean paused. “Yes, I did, too,” he said. “No, I don’t know why I haven’t had any before now. Do you want to hear about it, or not?”
He smiled. He looked calmer and in better shape already. “I thought so,” he said.
Sam smiled slightly. Hearing his brother arguing with Meg was comforting in a way he didn’t understand. It seemed to be comforting for Dean, too.
“It was a room, with a man on a rack. The man said he would do something, and a demon got him off the rack and handed him a scalpel. The man stabbed someone else on the rack. Then we heard someone celebrating. Meg, Sam and I think the vision took place in Hell. Why would Hell celebrate if a human started stabbing another human?”
He was silent for a long moment. “What?” he finally asked.
“What is it?” Sam asked.
Dean shook his head. “No, Sam and I are fine. Worried and confused, but fine. No, I don’t know why we would have seen that. Is it true? Does that mean that Azazel is getting closer to his goal?”
He paused again. “Yeah, I’ll tell him. Thanks, Meg,” he said. “No, really, thanks.”
Dean ended the call slowly. “God,” he said quietly.
“What is it, Dean?” Sam asked. “What did we see?”
Dean took a deep breath. “We just saw the first seal being broken,” he said.
“Seal?” Sam asked. His eyes widened. “You mean the seals keeping Lucifer in Hell. Those seals?”
Dean nodded. “I do,” he said. “Apparently, Azazel found someone to break it.”
Sam grinned. “That’s a good thing, right? I mean, Azazel’s plan is working.”
Dean shrugged. “Yeah, but where’s your army? You’re supposed to be leading a demon army before the first seal broke.”
“I’m not ready to lead an army yet,” Sam pointed out. “Maybe it just happened faster then Azazel thought it would.”
Dean nodded. “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired,” he said.
As soon as Dean mentioned it, Sam felt the fatigue suddenly dragging at him. “There should be a motel around somewhere,” Sam said.
“I saw one in that town about a mile back,” Dean said. He started the car and pulled onto the road again, only to swing around back the way they’d come. He glanced at Sam. Sam could see the matching exhaustion in Dean’s gaze.
“We gotta talk about this, but I just want to sleep,” Sam said.
Dean nodded. “You get a room, I’ll get our gear,” he said once he’d found the motel and pulled in.
Sam nodded.
Part Four