Through the Never - BtVS/Supernatural/Angel - 9/10
Title: Through the Never
Author: twisted_slinky
Artist: sarah_jones
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel/Supernatural
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Season 6 for SPN. Post S7 for BTVS. Sam is having an out of body experience, and it seems the only person who can help him is a girl who's rather experienced in being a glowing ball of light. Sam/Dawn.
Warnings: Violence, language, innuendos, and some non-explicit sexual encounters of the het variety. Spoilers for BTVS and Angel all seasons; spoilers for SPN through season 6.
Wordcount: ~43k
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural or Angel. Written for fun, not profit.
Link to Story Masterpost: http://twisted-slinky.livejournal.com/32939.html
Link to Art Masterpost: http://sarah-jones.livejournal.com/105137.html (or see it on her website here)
Chapter 9: Paved with Good Intentions
Dawn felt high and sore and numb below the waist. She lingered beside the kitchen counter, enjoying a spoonful of peanut butter with a happy hum at her lips, barely aware that another human being had stepped into the room. She'd been waiting in the kitchen, snooping through the cabinets, for nearly an hour now, and yet, despite the boredom, she'd enjoyed the time to herself. To think.
Or, more specifically to enjoy the instant re-play in her head-good lord of the hotties, cold outside or not, that was…that was wow. And, she thought she'd had wow before, but obviously not Sam Winchester's brand of wow. It was quick, frenzied, and quiet to keep from waking the others inside the house, but, Holy Hannah, it was like he'd spent the last few months studying her body, mapping out exactly what he'd wanted to try out-maybe he had. Trapped in that ball, he'd had a lot frustration that couldn't be worked out in a physical way, which she hadn't exactly made easy for him.
And, something about the way he'd kissed her when they'd finished. It was a promise that there was more to come. Dawn felt heat pooling in her stomach at the thought alone. They were seriously going to need a room next time.
A cleared throat pulled her from her naughty recollection, and she shot Dean a guilty smile. No, nothing to see here. Totally didn't defile your car recently.
"Hey." She tossed the spoon in the sink, hoping he couldn't see the flush at her cheeks. "Did you and Bobby finish interrogating Sam already?"
Dean frowned, so dramatically that it was nearly a pout, and pulled a chair out from under the table…Well, it looked like it used to be a table. It more closely resembled a desk at the moment.
"We weren't 'interrogating' him," he snapped. "We were just asking him questions. You know, the usual-how you been, what dimension have you been hanging out in lately, Satan still taking the wheel? And he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he was in a pretty mood considering the night he had."
Good mood, you say? Wouldn't know anything about that. Dawn bit down her grin.
Instead of putting the jar's lid back on, Dawn snatched up a clean spoon, stuck it inside the sticky mess, and handed the peanut butter to Dean. He blinked twice at it and took the offered snack, sitting it aside.
"Uh. Thanks." But he didn't touch the spoon. "So… I need to talk to you."
"Oh, it's my turn now." Dawn plopped down into the other chair. "Isn't Bobby coming?"
Dean shook his head, looking perturbed. Dawn realized it was probably because of how casually she'd brought up the older hunter. Like she knew him or something. Dawn decided to reign in it in-she might have spooked them when they arrived. Dean had put Sam up in the bedroom and come back to see Dawn chatting Bobby up about his anti-supernatural panic room. The hunters had just stared dumbly at her and given half answers until she took the offered blanket and pillow and surrendered to the couch.
"Bobby went on a supply run," Dean said. "Sam's upstairs. And, yeah, it's your turn."
"Well, what do you want to know? Because, I honestly have no clue how we managed to get from my world to yours. Sam told you about the Key thing?"
She watched him closely, gauging his reaction. He rolled his shoulder, as if working out an old kink, but didn't lose eye contact.
He so trusts me. Not.
"Sam said you were a key to the doors of the dimensions, something about your blood or… Hell, I don't even know. But, you're a not a supernatural creature, or Cas wouldn't have been able to find a human soul in you." Dean paused, twitching his jaw as if trying to form the right words. "Sam told me what happened. Mostly. And, I believe him."
Dawn nodded. "You should." She cocked her head. "So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about?"
Again with the jaw. Sam was right about Winchesters and their attempts to hold it all in. Finally, Dean cleared his throat again, his husky voice rushed when it returned. "What are your intentions toward my brother?"
Dawn waited for more, then let the words sink him. The laughter rattled its way through her body before it left her mouth in short, gasping bursts. Dean didn't look particularly pleased with the reaction. He rolled his eyes, aggravated-possibly more with himself than her judging from the way he slumped back in his chair.
"You're serious?" Dawn giggled. "'My intentions?' It's a little too late to be having this conversation, isn't it?"
Dean's brow wrinkled in confusion. His eyes widened and he made a face. "Oh, come on," he huffed. "You guys didn't-you did? When the hell did you manage-? Shit, never mind. That's not what I'm talking about." He paused, waiting a moment for her to sober up. "Listen, lady, in my experience, people don't just go to that much trouble to help out someone they don't know. We've run into too many backstabbing-"
"Say 'bitches' and get slapped." Dawn glared at him, and he held his tongue. "This is about Ruby. And all the other people and things that have done you wrong. I get that," she said. "I've been betrayed before, too. So, I get it. Trust issues abound."
"Then you understand why I have a hard time believing you'd put everything on the line just to help Sam." It wasn't a question.
Dawn leaned forward, and he mimicked the movement. "What do you do, Dean?" When he didn't reply, she asked again. "What are you, Dean? What were you raised to do?"
"I'm a hunter," he said. He stared down at his hands, hanging between his knees, and nodded once to himself. "Save people. Hunt things."
"What do you get out of it?" she asked.
Dean didn't answer immediately. "Sam said your friends, your sister, are in the same business." He glanced up. "You, too, then?"
"For a long time, I didn't think I was like my sister. I didn't understand how she'd sacrifice her life, any chance to be normal, just to slay evil." Dawn reached out, resting a hand over his and then pulled away when she felt him tense. "But, yeah. Turns out, I am like her. Like you guys. Your brother needed help. What would you have done in my place?"
Dean took a long breath. "These days… I don't even know." He brushed off that answer. His eyes grinned when they found hers. "Wouldn't have had sex with him afterward, that's for damned sure."
Dawn didn't dare blush. She gave him a cocky smile of her own. "Well, that's where you and I differ, isn't it?"
Dean stood, brow raised. "This talk has officially gotten too weird for me."
"You started it."
"I'm ending it," Dean shot back, stepping toward the doorway into the main room. "Get your dirty laundry together-need to do a load before the old codger gets back and starts complaining about the stench."
Dawn rolled her eyes and turned away from him, staring at the dishes. She wondered if Bobby would think she was overstepping her bounds if she washed them up, put on something to eat for lunch… Mid-way through the thought, she heard the creak of a shoe against the wooden flooring. The double doors leading to the other room slid shut.
"Remembered another awkward question you wanted to ask me?"
But, when she glanced over her shoulder, it wasn't Dean behind her. She took a quick step away, surprised by the angel's appearance, but Castiel didn't move to announce himself. He simply stared at her, his blue eyes intense and unblinking.
"Dean's in the other room," she said, softly, but she'd already realized that the angel knew as much. And that he'd shut the doors anyhow.
Nervousness crawled over her, like ants marching up and down her arms, and she swallowed. The grimness of the angel's expression didn't sit well with her, supposed friend or not. "Castiel, right? With guy the disappearing hand trick that I never want to see again? Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes," he said, solemnly.
Dawn felt his fingers close around her wrist before she'd even had a chance to step out of reach. Cas' grip tightened on her. "I regret that this must be done," he said, quietly, "but it's necessary, if I'm to protect this world."
Dawn had the sinking feeling that the words were an apology.
Sam had just bound down the stairs and into the study when Dean stormed back through the front door, snapping his cell phone shut as he moved. Sam caught his eye. "Not upstairs either. Anything?"
"She's not outside unless she's hiding in a car." Dean shook his head, aggravated by the mere suggestion. "I called Bobby-he's headed home now. He's going to drive in the other direction a bit, see if he spots her hitchhiking."
"This smells all kinds of wrong." Sam knew he sounded breathless, as if the search had worn him out, but it wasn't exertion but worry sapping the life from him. "This isn't like Dawn. I mean, she's reckless sometimes, but she wouldn't have taken off, no matter what you'd said to her. She wouldn't have left…" Me. She wouldn't have left "me." It was the word he left off the end, not wanting to admit to that level of trust just yet.
Dean seemed to hear it nevertheless, but gave a quick jerk, backtracking. "I didn't say anything bad, damn it!" he snapped. "She wasn't pissed when I left her. Hell, she was crackin' jokes about your 'good mood'-oh, and way to go, Sammy." Dean smirked, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "The girl's not in this dimension twenty-four hours and you-"
"Dean!"
"Yeah, yeah-not the time." Dean ran his hand down his face and tilted his head in consent. "But you're right. Something smells off. I wasn't out of this friggin' room but for a second-I should have heard her if she tried to leave. It's like she vanished." His eyes widened slightly, and Sam didn't particularly like the conclusion they'd both just come to.
"You're thinking an angel took her?" Sam let out a shallow breath. His body thrummed with anticipation, muscles tight and ready for a fight. "Shit, Dean."
"If Cas said he felt you two arrive, or whatever, then, maybe someone else did too." Dean looked like the thought put a sour taste in his mouth. He nodded before Sam could make the request, and closed his eyes in prayer. "Cas, we could really use your help down here." He peeked through one eyelid and growled in frustration when he didn't spot the angel. Unconsciously tilting his head toward the heavens, his voice came out rushed. "Come on, dude! We've got an emergency of the your-douchebag-big-brothers variety!"
"You don't say?"
Both brothers jumped at the sound of the voice, hands automatically moving for useless weapons. Balthazar rolled his eyes at the heated glares sent his way.
"Balthazar," Dean bit, like the name was a curse. "You might not have noticed, but we weren't exactly praying to you."
"Castiel isn't coming, boys," the angel announced, a tight, bitter grin breaking through his annoyance. He leaned back, taking a seat on the edge of Bobby's desk and waving a hand dismissively. "Now, if you two of you are quite done checking under the welcome mat for your lost hide-away Key, perhaps you'd like to do something a bit more constructive with your time."
Hands in fists at his side, Sam barely kept himself from lunging forward. He knew this angel's face, from those foggy memories. Balthazar. Asshole. Stole Heaven's weapons. Cas let him go. He shook his head, cutting off the string of thoughts.
His voice was dangerously low. "What have you done with Dawn?"
"Dawn?" He raised a brow. "Ah-the Key's name. Of course. She'd need one, wouldn't she? Being human and all…" He hesitated, his gaze drifting from one brother to the other. There was a hint of weariness in his eyes that confused Sam, but neither of the Winchesters had a chance to question it. "While I realize that the expert stealing of powerful, divine weapons is obviously in my repertoire, I'm afraid you're barking up the wrong angel this time."
Sam smirked back, but the expression remained more of a snarl. "And you're just here to, what, lend us a hand finding her?"
"I'm not here to do a damn thing for the Brothers Winchester," the angel snapped, losing some of his calm control. He stood a bit straighter, his aggravation barely masking the plea in his voice. "I'm here to stop a friend, before he gets himself in over his head. And, my guess is, the two of you will want to help, since this is entirely your fault, after all."
What the hell? Sam felt a hand hold him in place, stop him from asking what this had to do with Dawn missing, and Dean stepped past him, a frown on his face.
Dean stared the angel down a moment. "What are you trying to say exactly?"
"Do I really have to spell it out to you?" Balthazar sighed. "Castiel loves you humans far too much for his own good, and he's about to make a very stupid mistake in his attempt to save the lot of you."
Sam watched the shift on his brother's face, from betrayal to denial, and instantly, his stomach dropped.
Sam didn't like where this was going. Balthazar's words had sent a few other foggy memories to surface, and he didn't like what they implicated-his soulless self hadn't known who'd raised him from Hell. Dean still didn't know. Cas hadn't told him the truth when he'd asked. Why? Because he was ashamed he'd failed to retrieve all of him? The why didn't really matter-what did matter was that Cas had lied about it… And, now, with his instincts back in place, some of those other memories of the angel were beginning to seem a bit out-of-character as well.
"Bullshit," Dean hissed. "I've got every reason to trust Castiel, and absolutely no reason to trust you. And you want me to believe he just up and kidnapped Sam's girl because…Why? He wanted to take a vacation to another dimension?"
"I don't know the exact reason, but I could take a guess." Balthazar cocked his head. "But, wouldn't you rather ask him yourself?"
Dawn wrapped her arms around herself, holding tight. Wherever she was now, it was experiencing a cold front. That, or her body was reacting to the dread flooding her thoughts. She shivered, a movement that seemed lost on the man standing a few feet away, his back to her, as if he found something immensely interesting about the gray wall in front of him.
No, she corrected herself. Not a man, an angel, because, hey, I've been kidnapped by a Hell Goddess before, so why not? But, if there was a distinction between a person and an angel, other than the whole superpowers thing and the lack of social know-how, she was having a hard time seeing it in this guy.
His voice was low, steady. Focused. A man-err, angel-on a mission. "…And he's not wrong-Raphael does have the ability to put the Apocalypse back in motion," he was finishing, "unless he is stopped. I cannot conquer him as I currently am. The souls will be of great aid. You can understand, then, why I require your abilities."
The story had chilled her to the bone, and Dawn didn't reply, or dare move, afraid that a nod would look like she was conceding the point behind his tale: to justify his actions, like most oblivious villains do. Castiel glanced over his shoulder, watching her for a reaction.
The weary expression in his eyes looked so completely human. He was torn, emotionally, even though he didn't display it the way normal people did. And, that, the fact that he was doubtful of his own actions, that was the only thing keeping her from attempting-with what would no doubt lead to a disastrous ending-one of the more basic defense spells Willow had taught her. Instead, Dawn forced herself to calm down, release her comforting self-hug, and take him all in.
This is Castiel. Sam told me everything he knew about him. I can handle this-granted, I could do a better job with Sam in my head to guide me. Why the heck did you have to go and get a body, Sam?
"So, in conclusion, you've been working with a demon," Dawn said, unable to stop the words from slipping out, "and lying to your only friends about it? I could be wrong, but I think I've heard this story before, and it didn't turn out so hot."
Yes. Chastise the kidnapper. That's always worked so well for me in the past.
He didn't react, at all, but his eyes seemed to dim, the only acknowledgement that the words had cut him like a knife. Or, at least, Dawn hoped they had. She wanted to believe that what Sam had told her about this guy was true. And, God help her-seriously, a hand would be nice, Big Guy!-but she did believe the angel to be a friend. Sam had been so adamant about the fact… She'd felt it in his emotions, in his soul. So, she channeled that, trying to put herself in Sam's shoes-what would he say if his brother's best friend suddenly revealed a super-villain-esque plan?
"I didn't think you'd understand," Castiel admitted, nevertheless looking upset. "But I am doing this for them, for the world they love. This is the only way possible to insure its safety."
"Oh, I get that part."
Dawn took a cautious step to one side, getting a better glimpse of the dimly lit room that they'd, for lack of a better word, apparated into. It appeared to be a basement of some sort, the floor and wall cleared of debris, no doubt in preparation for a ritual. Or a not-so-virgin sacrifice. She brushed that terrifying thought away, and let her gaze sweep the area again. There was an exit, but it was too far away to be of any help. So much for easy.
"I get that you want to save the world, and you'll use any means necessary. Gotcha. But, I think you're kind of forgetting something."
Castiel's eyes darted up, narrowed.
Dawn didn't wait for his reply. "You've already done this once before, Castiel. Or, okay, maybe you didn't, but those guys you've been lying to did. Those weak, human guys. They managed it, with your help… What I don't get is why you think you have to be Supreme Emperor of the Universe to do what they did with will-power and a kick-ass car-yeah, orb-Sam was chatty. I know how it went down the first time, so consider my opinion on the matter informed."
"I can't…" Castiel's fingers curled into fists at his side, his gaze lowered from hers. "Raphael will destroy them if they become involved. This is my fight now."
"Yeah, but you're not fighting it alone." Dawn felt her fear folding to aggravation. "And you shouldn't have to-but don't you think Sam and Dean would be a better choice than some demon?"
"You wound me, sweetheart. I'm not just some demon."
Dawn barely stopped herself from jumping out of skin when a hand rested on the small of her back, stilling her completely. The man-err, demon-who had appeared so suddenly at her side was wearing a steady, dangerous smirk.
"Or haven't you heard," he said, his British accent practically dripping from his lips, "I'm the King of Hell."
"Crowley," Dawn growled, stepping out of his grip. "Yeah, I caught your name during story-time."
Crowley didn't lose the tiny grin at the corner of his mouth, but something flickered in his eyes. Excitement. Dawn swallowed hard. That can't be good.
He casually turned his attention to Castiel. "What do you say I put our little investment here somewhere safe until we can use her? I've got just the place."
Castiel's voice was hard. "No."
Crowley opened his mouth to speak, but Castiel's sharp gaze cut him off. "I said no. I need to…further explore her essence."
The demon cocked one brow. "Always knew you angels were kinky buggers. Mind if I join you? Gotta say, I'm rather interested in learning what makes a Key tick, myself."
"Leave." Castiel seemed to think better of his quick reply. "I would prefer to do this alone," he said, more softly.
Crowley's smile faltered, but he raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. But I get my chance next," he said. He shot her a dark look. "And don't break the bloody thing…"
He was gone a moment later, leaving the angel and the girl to their lonesome.
"Explore my essence?" Dawn tried to keep her voice steady. "That doesn't sound comfortable."
Castiel tilted his head. "It won't be," he said, quietly. "But, I need to know how you work in order to use you to open the door to Purgatory."
Dawn took a breath, angry. With herself. With stupid angels and stupid demons. With Sam for not being in her head right now. Still, her voice trembled. "Are you planning to kill me?"
Castiel look startled by the question. "No," he replied, in that same low voice, "I do not believe that will be necessary."
"What if it is? What if you can't open the door without killing me? Would you do it?"
He stayed quiet a moment too long.
She bit her bottom lip, trying to stop herself, but she couldn't. A tear ran down her face. She bitterly reached up, swiping it away. One morning with the guy of her dreams. One morning was all she'd been allowed. Life was so unfair. "I'm not asking if you could. I'm asking if you would. Would you do that to Sam?"
It was a blow that hit home. She saw the doubt cross his face, but he remained stony.
"See that." She raised a finger, pointing it at his chest. "See that hesitation right there. That's how you should know something's wrong. You sacrificed everything you were so that Dean and Sam wouldn't have to, and then you're suddenly willing to hurt them again? You said Crowley 'loaned' you some of Hell's souls to give you a boost, right? You don't think that's screwing with your decision making skills just a bit?"
"That has nothing to do with-"
"Doesn't it? Okay-from the Angel 101 I received, I know you guys pick up vessels from devout people. Good people, usually, right? And you get your strength from Heaven-aka, the souls upstairs? And demons, they get their power from souls downstairs, right?" She shook her head. "So, you seriously think that switching up the type of batteries you're using isn't having an effect on you?"
Castiel blinked at her, but then shook his head. "Even if it were so… Raphael remains to be defeated. I require the strength the souls of Purgatory can give me."
Dawn rested her forehead against her palm and groaned in frustration. "Jeeze, seriously? My sister has spent most of her life keeping the power-hungry types away from a manhole to monsterland, and guess what? Those guys wanting to break it open are the ones who want to end the world, not save it. I've seen it before, Cas-good things, they're so not coming through that door." She took a breath and reached out, digging her fingers into the sleeve of his coat. "If you need help so badly, ask for it. For God's sake, just ask! You have friends, real ones."
Castiel pulled out of her grip, his brow low, face set. The expression sunk her tirade like the Titanic. "I will not pull the Winchesters back into this. They shouldn't have to face this battle again. Already, they've lost too much."
Defeated, Dawn frowned, closing her eyes to block him out. "Castiel, please. Don't."
"I'm sorry," she heard him say. She didn't look at him, even when she heard his voice lose its confidence. "Raphael must be defeated at all costs. I know what that means now. Sacrifices must be made."
"I apologize for requesting an audience during your off hours, but don't you think the restraints are a bit unnecessary?"
Lilah's voice was strained, no doubt due to the thin, biting chains digging into her upper arms, holding her flush against the floor of Hell's most frequented office. Another set of restraints curled around her bare ankles. Despite her position, staring up at a ceiling that was a black, endless void and being forced to listen to the teasing sounds of his footsteps, there was a complete lack of fear on her face. Crowley considered, for a moment, how much fun it might be to change that, but his time was better spent on another task. He sighed, put out-work was work.
"Oh, darling, I haven't a problem with the hour. Haven't you heard? A demon's work is never done." He paused, located himself at her right shoulder, and stared down at the woman with a smirk at his lips. "This is a good position for you, you know. At my feet." The grin grew tighter. "I'd be apt to enjoy it I weren't having a particularly bad day."
Lilah attempted to cock her head. "Let me guess. Having angel problems?"
The chains groaned, breaking flesh as they lost their slack. Lilah barely winced.
"How ever did you know?" Crowley asked. The playfulness left his voice. "Bleedin' idiot's having second thoughts about our arrangement. He puts on a damn good front, but there's no lying to a demon. I know it's there… Doubt. A dangerous thing. He plans to leave me in the dust."
"If the angel's being uncooperative, I suggest you take your business elsewhere." Lilah smiled pleasantly when he raised a brow. "But, you should do it quickly."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Crowley already knew what it meant, of course. Dimensional doors, Key at the ready or not, couldn't be opened without a bit of blood on the forehead and a sense decent timing, at least not without putting in more work than necessary.
"The window is open."
"Now?"
"Now." Lilah nodded, her hair spilling out like a blanket around her. "I was here to bring you the rest of what you need to open the portal. The paperwork is on your desk."
Crowley snorted. "That's well and good, but I have the sneaking suspicion my angel's about to go rogue. It won't do to have him run off with my new toy and open the door without me."
Lilah shrugged. "Then stop him. If you can't, find someone who can."
The demon stepped away from her, ignoring her struggle against the chains, and glanced the scroll of paper lying on his mahogany desk. "I suppose I might have an enemy of an enemy up my sleeve…"
READ CHAPTER 10