The Same Coin [10/?]
This chapter has taken longer than I’d hoped to write. I blame that mostly on helping to staff an anime convention at the beginning of the month. It fried my brain for a little while. I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted for this chapter, but getting the characters to cooperate proved a problem. I’m reasonably happy with the end result, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine
Title: The Same Coin
Shows: Supernatural/Stargate SG-1
Beta: i_paint_the_sky
Word Count: 4 195
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure/Hurt/Comfort
Spoilers: None for either show
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from either Supernatural or Stargate SG-1
Summary: Crossover with Stargate SG-1. Sam and Dean are on the hunt for a demon, what happens when the rash of unexplained deaths attracts the attention of the SGC? -Set during Season 2 of Supernatural-
Dean glanced over his shoulder to the far side of the infirmary where Dr. Fraiser was discussing something with one of her nursing staff. They’d been inside the converted hospital for more than an hour now but no amount of testing was going to offer up any answers for Sam’s visions, which meant they were left waiting and wondering what was going to happen next.
The wounded hunter didn’t bother suppressing his sigh of frustration as he rolled his stiff shoulders, grimacing as the stitches pulled. He was more than a little fed up with not knowing what was going to happen to them from one minute to the next. There was also the fact that he and Sam were never truly alone within the SGC; even now Teal’c stood silently between them dark eyes watching intently.
“So what makes you believe?” Dean asked suddenly, tired of the silence that hung between them.
Teal’c raised a considering eyebrow as he looked down at Dean. “There is much in this universe, Dean Winchester, that cannot be explained.”
“And you don’t want to just brush it all aside?” he continued with a sarcastic turn of his lips.
The Jaffa was silent for a moment, considering his answer. “I too have experienced extremely vivid dreams,” he explained.
“Visions?” Dean asked dubiously and he realized how hypocritical it was for him to be doubtful. But even with Sam’s visions of the future, it had taken Dean awhile to accept them as fact.
If Teal’c thought the same he didn’t show it; he merely watched Dean with a raised brow. “I do not believe so, Dean Winchester.”
“But you’re still open to the possibility,” he didn’t bother making it a question.
“Indeed,” was all Teal’c said.
He nodded mutely, green eyes traveling to Sam, who was sitting on the edge of the bed staring intently at his hands. “Sammy, you alright?” he asked, stretching across the gap to slap his brother’s leg.
Sam jerked out of his thoughts, forehead creasing in surprise before his eyes locked onto Dean. “What now?”
“Good question,” Dean agreed, twisting to regard the doctor again. She was moving back towards them. “Any ideas?”
“Lots,” Sam quipped, pulling a hand through his hair. “Just nothing we can do here.”
Dean nodded in agreement, right hand supporting his left arm at the elbow. His shoulder ached pointedly but he wasn’t interested in restricting his movement yet again by putting the sling back on.
“Could we at least go somewhere we might be able to do something useful?” Sam demanded, suddenly getting up from the hospital bed so he was looking Teal’c directly in the eyes.
“Sam Winchester,” Teal’c intoned suddenly. “What is it you would be doing?”
The younger Winchester pulled himself up, squaring his shoulders. Dean smirked; he doubted Sam had even noticed he’d done it. It reminded him of Sam facing off with John and the memory drove regret and loss through his gut. “Anything other than sitting around doing nothing,” Sam fumed.
“Is everything alright here?” Dr. Fraiser asked, walking back over.
“No,” Sam said quickly. “I need to speak to Colonel O’Neill.”
“What a coincidence,” Daniel spoke up as he walked into the infirmary. “Jack needs to speak to you too.”
“Decided we’re telling the truth?” Dean couldn’t help but ask. “Or is that too much to hope for?”
Daniel offered him an understanding smile and Dean could only imagine the debates the archeologist had had with O’Neill. “The girl you ‘saw,’ Chloe,” he said pushing his glasses further up his nose. “She’s missing.”
Sam stiffened. “What do you mean missing?” he asked guardedly.
“Her parents have been murdered and she’s disappeared. The police believe she may be responsible,” Daniel clarified, watching Sam carefully.
“It would appear your vision was wrong, Sam Winchester,” Teal’c said bluntly.
Sam breathed in sharply, turning a look of disbelief on Dean. “That’s impossible!” he countered immediately.
Dean straightened up where he sat eyeing his brother intently. “Is it?”
“Yes,” Sam stated flatly. “When have my visions ever been wrong before?”
The older Winchester couldn’t refute that; as horrible as Sam’s visions had been for him, they’d all come true exactly as he’d seen them, despite Sam’s desperate attempts to head them off at the pass. Dean struggled to find something he could say to his brother; unfortunately, Daniel beat him to it.
“I guess there’s a first time for everything,” he said with a thoughtful expression.
Sam rounded on the archeologist glaring darkly. “Not for this! We’ve got to check the house,” he said, moving towards the door but both Daniel and Teal’c moved to intercept him. “Damnit!” he roared hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Dean hopped down from the bed and put himself between Sam and the members of SG-1. “Sam,” he spoke the name sharply to get his brother’s attention. “C’mere,” he said, pushing Sam towards the far side of the room.
“What the hell’s the point of these fucking visions, Dean?” Sam demanded, his face a torrent of emotions as he pulled a hand sharply though his hair. “If I can’t ever save anyone?!” his voice lowered as he turned his back on the rest of the room.
“I don’t know,” Dean confessed softly, hating to see Sam tear himself up over this. “But for now focus on the fact it didn’t happen the way you saw it. She’s missing not dead.”
Sam was silent for a minute, considering Dean’s words, but his expression didn’t lighten; if anything it darkened. “Man, it’s just like Ava all over again.”
That was not the conclusion Dean had hoped Sam would come to, although he could see the definite similarities. “We don’t know that,” he countered quickly.
“We don’t?” Sam scoffed just a quickly.
Dean nodded, though it was clear Sam wasn’t about to believe him. “We don’t even know for sure if she’s one of the psychic kids, okay?”
“What else could it be?” his little brother demanded.
Dean opened his mouth to reply but didn’t immediately have an answer.
Sam shook his head before pulling both hands down his face. “Okay, we know it’s not the same demon we’ve been hunting,” his tone was absolutely positive. “They don’t change their MO.”
That had always been something of a reassuring truth to the creatures they hunted. Those abominations did what they did and yeah, it was horrifying but it was predictable; once you found the pattern you could anticipate the next move. And put a stop to it, if you could get there in time.
Sam released a breath. “We need to get inside that house,” he stated, arms folding tightly across his chest.
Dean stopped himself from asking ‘why.’ Deep down he understood where Sam was coming from, even if he knew going to the house wouldn’t change anything. It’d confirm what they suspected and already knew. “Unless you’ve thought of a brilliant escape plan, I think we’re stuck here.”
The younger hunter looked up at him without raising his head, “You know this base was designed to keep people out, not in….”
“What?” Dean jerked back in surprise. “Seriously?” he forced himself not to glance towards the other end of the room, knowing full well that they were being watched.
“But it won’t do us much good,” Sam sighed, rubbing at his eyes.
“Not unless we can get our stuff on the way out,” Dean finished with a sigh of his own.
Sam’s brow creased in thought. “One of us might be able to pull it off,” Sam whispered, eyeing Dean expectantly.
The older Winchester sighed. “Why do I have to be the diversion?”
“Because I’ve studied the layout of this place longer than you,” Sam pointed out quickly, very aware that they might not be left alone much longer.
“When?” Dean scoffed.
“When researching the victims,” he replied with a subtle shrug. “The information was there, figured I might as well try and get us out of here since you were busy--”
“Bleeding all over the place,” Dean finished pointedly.
“Right…” Sam said, a barely perceivable smile twitching the corners of his mouth. “Think you lost enough to pass out?”
“Daniel!” Jack shouted, drawing Dean and Sam’s private conversation to a close.
“Jack, you made good time,” Daniel replied simply.
Dean glanced around Sam’s tall frame to see the Colonel stride into the room. “I think we missed our opportunity.”
“Where are they?” Jack demanded; Daniel pointed an unimpressed finger towards the Winchesters. “What the hell is going on?”
“And you think we would know, why?” Sam returned, slowly turning to face the Colonel.
Jack started, hands rising in disbelief, “You two have had the answers to everything else so far.”
“Hard to know more than you, when we’re cut off from the rest of the world,” Dean pointed out sarcastically.
“Your girl has gone missing, not exactly what you said would happen,” Jack pointed out.
“It’s complicated,” the younger Winchester said.
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “Really?” he asked incredulously. “More complicated than a demon killing people?”
“The simple answer, yes,” Sam replied coldly.
Dean knew that wasn’t going to fly with the Colonel. Releasing a rush of air, Dean pulled a hand down his jaw. “If you’ve read the journal you know we’ve been hunting a yellow eyed demon for 23 years,” he began green eyes sweeping across the room.
“You started hunting this when you were four?” Jack cut in tone humorless.
In no mood to deal with Jack’s skepticism, Dean just flipped the Colonel off and continued with his explanation. “Yellow Eye’s has been leaving a slow trail of bodies for decades…”
---SPN/SG-1---
“Let me get this straight,” General Hammond said, leaning back in his leather chair. “They’re talking about a second demon.”
“Yes and no,” Daniel spoke up, bouncing slightly on his toes.
“Well, which is it?”
Jack gestured for Daniel to finish his explanation; he’d listened to what Sam and Dean had to say but that didn’t mean he believed them. The archeologist on the other hand had been filled with questions for them, having apparently memorized their father’s journal already.
“Yes, they believe another demon was responsible for Chloe’s disappearance,” Daniel said, gesturing towards the briefing room where Sam and Dean waited. “No, we’re not going to be dealing with two demons.”
Daniel adjusted his glasses and took a step forward, a clear sign he was fascinated by all this. “Apparently this isn’t the first time someone has disappeared like this. The Winchesters believe this yellow eyed demon is responsible for it, along with many other deaths,” Daniel paused for a brief second. “But he doesn’t seem to stay in one place for very long. He’s more than likely already long gone.”
“So what is this?” Hammond asked bluntly. “Just a coincidence?”
“Oh no, Sir,” Jack replied, feigning excitement. “The Winchesters have theories about that as well.”
“The other girl that disappeared, Ava Wilson, was also psychic like Sam; same age too, just like Chloe,” Daniel once again took up the explanation but Jack couldn’t stop himself from groaning in disgust at the use of the word ‘psychic’.
“And they believe there’s some sort of connection?” the General asked.
“Apparently this demon has some sort of big ‘secret’ plan for these children,” Jack said, throwing his arms into the air at the ridiculousness of this discussion.
Hammond swiveled his chair back towards his desk. “How does this affect the other demon?”
Jack wondered silently if it bothered anyone else how comfortably and freely they were tossing around that term now; he seriously doubted it. “It doesn’t,” he said bluntly.
“Although it would explain why Sam’s vision didn’t happen the way he saw it,” Daniel was quick to add.
The General rested both palms on the surface of his desk before pushing himself to his feet. “What’s your next move?”
“Sam’s insistent that we need to look at the house,” the archeologist replied, sounding more than a little curious himself. “There’s also the matter of the artifact…” Daniel trailed off when he noticed both the Colonel and General were staring at him. “Sorry,” he said taking a step back.
“Daniel’s right,” Jack said bluntly, returning his attention to the general. “If the artifact is connected, it’s safer in our hands than those of the general public.”
“I haven’t managed to get anywhere through normal channels,” Daniel added. “The university isn’t interested in sharing their find with anyone.”
“Colonel, I’m authorizing you and Teal’c to retrieve the artifact and bring it back on base.”
Jack felt himself stand a little straighter, not quite at attention but he nodded sharply all the same.
“May I suggest one of the Winchesters go along as well?” Daniel asked and quickly clarified. “They know better than anyone here how to defend themselves should you run into the demon again.”
“He has a point, Jack,” Hammond agreed with a rueful smile.
The Colonel glanced briefly out the door, seeing Sam and Dean seated at the briefing table with Carter and Teal’c. Dean was idly twisting his chair while Sam was in what appeared to be a deep discussion with the Captain.
“Are you sure that’s wise, General?” Jack couldn’t stop himself from asking; they were after all still civilians, even if they had better training than most soldiers.
Hammond nodded once. “Have them both sign nondisclosure agreements and keep an eye on him. I want that artifact brought back to the SGC.”
“General, what about Chloe?” Daniel asked suddenly.
“You said there was no longer a connection.”
“No longer a connection to the demon that attacked Sam and Dean,” he clarified quickly. “But a demon was involved, possibly the one that the Winchesters have been hunting for 23 years. It’s a lead they can’t afford to overlook.”
“I get the impression you’re just as eager to examine the house, Dr. Jackson,” Hammond said shrewdly.
Daniel nodded immediately. “I’d like to get a better understanding of the lives the Winchesters lead.”
“I won’t be able to gain you access to the crime scene; it’d raise too many red flags with local PD.”
“That’s okay General,” Jack cut in quickly. “Breaking and entering is one of their strong suits.
---SPN/SG-1---
It was well passed midnight when Sam climbed from the nondescript Government Issue truck, pulling his beat up duffle with him. They chose to park a block away from their destination, the safest way to avoid detection if there was still a police presence at the Cole house. He and Dean had snuck into their fair share of crime scenes over the years and it felt more than a little strange to be doing it again with members of the SGC. They were military, well at least Samantha was. It was clear that their line of work allowed for greater latitude in bending of the rules; that didn’t make it feel any less wrong.
He tried not to think about Dean and what his brother was doing right now. Sam hadn’t thought it was a good idea that Dean accompany Jack and Teal’c to get the artifact. But Dean hadn’t been about to sit it out or take any sort of concern from his little brother. It was just another one of those stubborn Winchester traits.
“Do you know what you’re looking for?” the Captain asked as they made their way down a narrow alley which connected the two streets together.
Sam shrugged, brown eyes scanning the length of the street that he could easily see. “I’ll know it when I see it,” he said.
“I’d imagine you’re looking for some sign that your demon was there,” Daniel mused quietly.
The hunter tried not to flinch at the word ‘your;’ he never wanted to be connected like that with Yellow Eyes. At the same time, Sam knew he couldn’t lie to himself forever; John’s confession to Dean had made that more than clear. There was no use denying the connection, even if this dark link served no other purpose than to force him to kill. He’d made Dean promise him that he’d stop him if it ever got that far. That offered Sam some small comfort.
Sam cleared his throat and directed Daniel and Samantha to follow him towards the back of the house. “At the very least, there’ll be sulfur,” he answered finally, though Sam was hoping to find something more to confirm who Chloe was.
They made it around the back of the house; yellow police tap cordoned off the front but there didn’t appear to be a police presence outside the home. Sam glanced briefly at the two members of SG-1; they were both carefully watching their surroundings but didn’t appear the least bit bothered with what they were doing. Getting inside the house proved no trouble at all. Once inside Sam passed a flashlight to both the Captain and Dr. Jackson.
“Scent of blood is overpowering,” Daniel said, wrinkling his nose.
Sam flicked on his light, panning the beam across the kitchen. “Demons aren’t known for killing cleanly,” he told them flatly. “I’m going to look in the bedrooms.”
Making his way towards the hallway, Sam’s brown eyes swept over the living room, where it appeared the worst of the attack had taken place. Sam stopped at the first room, casting the beam from his flashlight over the furnishing before stepping across the threshold. Chloe’s room looked like any normal girl’s bedroom: pictures and art hung from the walls and various stuffed animals lined the top of a bookshelf. He moved over to the closet and pulled the doors open; pressing aside the clothes, Sam wasn’t surprised to see a blank wall. He couldn’t expect them to all leave the same signs.
Sam released a breath, turning back to the room his eyes landing on a large spiral bound book resting on the center of Chloe’s desk.
“Find anything?” Carter asked from the hallway.
The hunter lifted the book into his hands, flipping it opened. “Maybe…” he muttered, seeing the detailed portraits inside.
“You were right,” Daniel said, coming in behind Samantha. “There was sulfur in the living room.”
Sam nodded absently, flipping back a couple of pages, his stomach dropping when he saw a familiar face. “Ava…” the name was barely above a whisper.
The Captain came up beside him, flashlight further illuminating the picture. “What?”
“This is Ava Wilson,” Sam explained; the pencil artwork was near picture quality, there was no mistaking the face. “She’s another of the psychic children.”
“Did she live around here?” Daniel asked, coming to stand on Sam’s other side.
“No, not even close,” Sam replied, flipping back another page. “This is Scott Carey.”
“Another psychic?” Carter asked.
“Yeah…” he breathed, going to the very first page of the book. For the first twenty or so pages it looked like a normal art book: pictures of still life, animals and beautiful landscapes. Sam’s heart clenched when he came to the next picture. “Jess…” he felt tears well up in his eyes as he stared at the picture of his girlfriend pinned to the ceiling of his apartment.
---SPN/SG-1---
Dean crouched in front of the locked door, small flashlight held between his teeth as he manipulated the pins to gain access inside the university. Teal’c and O’Neill stood guard, backs to the door, but Dean could feel Jack glancing towards him every couple of seconds. Winchester smirked in satisfaction when he felt the last pin fall into place and quickly turned the knob.
“I can do that too, you know,” Jack commented to Teal’c as Dean straightened up. “I just don’t feel like it.”
“Is that what it says on your resume?” Dean asked with a smirk. “I just don’t feel like it?”
Jack gave him an unimpressed look before stepping inside the building. Dean chuckled to himself, readjusting his grip on his favorite double-barreled shotgun. Dean felt a little more in control now that he had some of his equipment back. Jack had drawn the line at letting Dean take his ivory handled Colt, only allowing for rock salt rounds, but bullets weren’t likely to help with anything they might run into now.
“Where is the artifact?” Teal’c asked bringing up the rear.
Dean pointed towards the hall on their left. “This way.” He reached into his coat pocket, left hand closing around the EMF meter; it wouldn’t do them much good once they got into the room where the artifact and other bones were being kept but it might still be able to offer a little advanced warning if the demon was stalking them.
Glancing up towards the ceiling, Dean’s green eyes caught sight of one of the many security cameras on campus. “You sure your techs took care of the surveillance?” he asked, coming up behind the Colonel.
Jack came to a stop. “Just how would you and Sam have done this without us?” O’Neill asked sarcastically.
“We’d manage,” Dean said defensively.
“Your method of ‘managing’ wouldn’t happen to be how you ended up on the FBI’s most wanted list, would it?” Jack returned tone amused.
Dean offered the Colonel a sneer before continuing down the hall. “Speaking of the Feds, what exactly are your plans?”
“Well, you’re clearly not what anyone thinks you are,” he replied in an offhand way.
Winchester chuckled dryly; that was a truth, mostly because people just weren’t up to believing in the possibility that the supernatural was more than a crazed pipe dream. Even people who claimed to be open-minded about the world he and Sam lived in tended to shut down when they actually, truly had to accept the very real existence of the supernatural.
“What you really mean to say is, you don’t know yet,” Dean said, coming to a stop outside their intended destination. “Those nondisclosure agreements might not be enough? Seriously, what would you do if someone refused to…” he trailed off when the familiar buzz of the EMF came muffled from his pocket.
“Does it warn of the demon?” Teal’c asked as Dean pulled the small device from his leather coat.
Dean swept the antenna towards the closed door watching as the reading went up slightly. “Could be,” he admitted. “Might also just be reacting to the artifact. Here, hold it,” he said, passing the EMF to Jack so he could fish his lock picks back out of his pocket.
Slipping the slender pieces of metal inside the lock, Dean worked quickly, the doors inside the university far easier to bypass than the ones at the main entrances. Dean pushed the door opened a crack, peering into the room: only illuminated by the street lights outside, the large room was filled with a near bluish glow.
“Alright,” he said quietly, glancing back towards Jack and Teal’c. “Remember the plan?”
“Indeed,” Teal’c replied simply.
No surprise to Dean, Jack wasn’t going to be so easy. “You know, it wasn’t really all that complicated to begin with,” he said condescendingly.
Dean just smirked. “I wanted to keep it nice and simple for you, first hunt and all.”
“This is hardly my first rodeo,” Jack countered indignantly.
“Really? When was the last time you tangled with a demon that can hide in the shadows?” Dean returned, eyebrow raised curiously.
Jack’s expression hardened but Dean could have sworn he saw amusement buried deep in the Colonel’s brown eyes. “Let’s get on with this,” O’Neill said, passing the EMF meter back to Dean.
Winchester nodded in agreement, still smiling as his green eyes fell on the hard shelled case Teal’c carried over his left shoulder. They’d filled it with rock salt before leaving the base; lacking an iron lined case they could store the artifact in for travel, Dean thought this was their best bet for avoiding the demon once the box was in their possession. Admittedly, he wasn’t positive that it would actually work but he hadn’t let that part slip to the Colonel.
Jack shouldered passed Dean, obviously use to taking point. The hunter followed a step behind, attention immediately honing in on the artifact at the far side of the room. Long black shadows stretched across the floor of the room, cast by tables and cabinets. Dean knew each one of them could possibly conceal the demonic creature. He turned up the volume on his EMF, the buzzing becoming more persistent.
The meter screamed suddenly but even that wasn’t enough warning. Jack was flung aside, the demon roaring into existence. Dean raised his shotgun without thought, pulling the trigger; rock salt exploded against the creature’s chest causing it to shriek in pain. “Teal’c, get the artifact!” he shouted firing his second round.
The demon dodged the shot before diving into Dean’s personal space. He barely had time to breathe before Dean realized he was being thrown across the room. The hunter slammed into one of the bone laden tables; he felt detached for a second as he heard the bones crunch and the table crack beneath him. Pain assaulted him a heartbeat later, his head cracking off the cold tile floor. Despite his best efforts blackness swam up over his senses pulling him into the black.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Go to: Nine | Eleven
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine
Title: The Same Coin
Shows: Supernatural/Stargate SG-1
Beta: i_paint_the_sky
Word Count: 4 195
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure/Hurt/Comfort
Spoilers: None for either show
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from either Supernatural or Stargate SG-1
Summary: Crossover with Stargate SG-1. Sam and Dean are on the hunt for a demon, what happens when the rash of unexplained deaths attracts the attention of the SGC? -Set during Season 2 of Supernatural-
Dean glanced over his shoulder to the far side of the infirmary where Dr. Fraiser was discussing something with one of her nursing staff. They’d been inside the converted hospital for more than an hour now but no amount of testing was going to offer up any answers for Sam’s visions, which meant they were left waiting and wondering what was going to happen next.
The wounded hunter didn’t bother suppressing his sigh of frustration as he rolled his stiff shoulders, grimacing as the stitches pulled. He was more than a little fed up with not knowing what was going to happen to them from one minute to the next. There was also the fact that he and Sam were never truly alone within the SGC; even now Teal’c stood silently between them dark eyes watching intently.
“So what makes you believe?” Dean asked suddenly, tired of the silence that hung between them.
Teal’c raised a considering eyebrow as he looked down at Dean. “There is much in this universe, Dean Winchester, that cannot be explained.”
“And you don’t want to just brush it all aside?” he continued with a sarcastic turn of his lips.
The Jaffa was silent for a moment, considering his answer. “I too have experienced extremely vivid dreams,” he explained.
“Visions?” Dean asked dubiously and he realized how hypocritical it was for him to be doubtful. But even with Sam’s visions of the future, it had taken Dean awhile to accept them as fact.
If Teal’c thought the same he didn’t show it; he merely watched Dean with a raised brow. “I do not believe so, Dean Winchester.”
“But you’re still open to the possibility,” he didn’t bother making it a question.
“Indeed,” was all Teal’c said.
He nodded mutely, green eyes traveling to Sam, who was sitting on the edge of the bed staring intently at his hands. “Sammy, you alright?” he asked, stretching across the gap to slap his brother’s leg.
Sam jerked out of his thoughts, forehead creasing in surprise before his eyes locked onto Dean. “What now?”
“Good question,” Dean agreed, twisting to regard the doctor again. She was moving back towards them. “Any ideas?”
“Lots,” Sam quipped, pulling a hand through his hair. “Just nothing we can do here.”
Dean nodded in agreement, right hand supporting his left arm at the elbow. His shoulder ached pointedly but he wasn’t interested in restricting his movement yet again by putting the sling back on.
“Could we at least go somewhere we might be able to do something useful?” Sam demanded, suddenly getting up from the hospital bed so he was looking Teal’c directly in the eyes.
“Sam Winchester,” Teal’c intoned suddenly. “What is it you would be doing?”
The younger Winchester pulled himself up, squaring his shoulders. Dean smirked; he doubted Sam had even noticed he’d done it. It reminded him of Sam facing off with John and the memory drove regret and loss through his gut. “Anything other than sitting around doing nothing,” Sam fumed.
“Is everything alright here?” Dr. Fraiser asked, walking back over.
“No,” Sam said quickly. “I need to speak to Colonel O’Neill.”
“What a coincidence,” Daniel spoke up as he walked into the infirmary. “Jack needs to speak to you too.”
“Decided we’re telling the truth?” Dean couldn’t help but ask. “Or is that too much to hope for?”
Daniel offered him an understanding smile and Dean could only imagine the debates the archeologist had had with O’Neill. “The girl you ‘saw,’ Chloe,” he said pushing his glasses further up his nose. “She’s missing.”
Sam stiffened. “What do you mean missing?” he asked guardedly.
“Her parents have been murdered and she’s disappeared. The police believe she may be responsible,” Daniel clarified, watching Sam carefully.
“It would appear your vision was wrong, Sam Winchester,” Teal’c said bluntly.
Sam breathed in sharply, turning a look of disbelief on Dean. “That’s impossible!” he countered immediately.
Dean straightened up where he sat eyeing his brother intently. “Is it?”
“Yes,” Sam stated flatly. “When have my visions ever been wrong before?”
The older Winchester couldn’t refute that; as horrible as Sam’s visions had been for him, they’d all come true exactly as he’d seen them, despite Sam’s desperate attempts to head them off at the pass. Dean struggled to find something he could say to his brother; unfortunately, Daniel beat him to it.
“I guess there’s a first time for everything,” he said with a thoughtful expression.
Sam rounded on the archeologist glaring darkly. “Not for this! We’ve got to check the house,” he said, moving towards the door but both Daniel and Teal’c moved to intercept him. “Damnit!” he roared hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Dean hopped down from the bed and put himself between Sam and the members of SG-1. “Sam,” he spoke the name sharply to get his brother’s attention. “C’mere,” he said, pushing Sam towards the far side of the room.
“What the hell’s the point of these fucking visions, Dean?” Sam demanded, his face a torrent of emotions as he pulled a hand sharply though his hair. “If I can’t ever save anyone?!” his voice lowered as he turned his back on the rest of the room.
“I don’t know,” Dean confessed softly, hating to see Sam tear himself up over this. “But for now focus on the fact it didn’t happen the way you saw it. She’s missing not dead.”
Sam was silent for a minute, considering Dean’s words, but his expression didn’t lighten; if anything it darkened. “Man, it’s just like Ava all over again.”
That was not the conclusion Dean had hoped Sam would come to, although he could see the definite similarities. “We don’t know that,” he countered quickly.
“We don’t?” Sam scoffed just a quickly.
Dean nodded, though it was clear Sam wasn’t about to believe him. “We don’t even know for sure if she’s one of the psychic kids, okay?”
“What else could it be?” his little brother demanded.
Dean opened his mouth to reply but didn’t immediately have an answer.
Sam shook his head before pulling both hands down his face. “Okay, we know it’s not the same demon we’ve been hunting,” his tone was absolutely positive. “They don’t change their MO.”
That had always been something of a reassuring truth to the creatures they hunted. Those abominations did what they did and yeah, it was horrifying but it was predictable; once you found the pattern you could anticipate the next move. And put a stop to it, if you could get there in time.
Sam released a breath. “We need to get inside that house,” he stated, arms folding tightly across his chest.
Dean stopped himself from asking ‘why.’ Deep down he understood where Sam was coming from, even if he knew going to the house wouldn’t change anything. It’d confirm what they suspected and already knew. “Unless you’ve thought of a brilliant escape plan, I think we’re stuck here.”
The younger hunter looked up at him without raising his head, “You know this base was designed to keep people out, not in….”
“What?” Dean jerked back in surprise. “Seriously?” he forced himself not to glance towards the other end of the room, knowing full well that they were being watched.
“But it won’t do us much good,” Sam sighed, rubbing at his eyes.
“Not unless we can get our stuff on the way out,” Dean finished with a sigh of his own.
Sam’s brow creased in thought. “One of us might be able to pull it off,” Sam whispered, eyeing Dean expectantly.
The older Winchester sighed. “Why do I have to be the diversion?”
“Because I’ve studied the layout of this place longer than you,” Sam pointed out quickly, very aware that they might not be left alone much longer.
“When?” Dean scoffed.
“When researching the victims,” he replied with a subtle shrug. “The information was there, figured I might as well try and get us out of here since you were busy--”
“Bleeding all over the place,” Dean finished pointedly.
“Right…” Sam said, a barely perceivable smile twitching the corners of his mouth. “Think you lost enough to pass out?”
“Daniel!” Jack shouted, drawing Dean and Sam’s private conversation to a close.
“Jack, you made good time,” Daniel replied simply.
Dean glanced around Sam’s tall frame to see the Colonel stride into the room. “I think we missed our opportunity.”
“Where are they?” Jack demanded; Daniel pointed an unimpressed finger towards the Winchesters. “What the hell is going on?”
“And you think we would know, why?” Sam returned, slowly turning to face the Colonel.
Jack started, hands rising in disbelief, “You two have had the answers to everything else so far.”
“Hard to know more than you, when we’re cut off from the rest of the world,” Dean pointed out sarcastically.
“Your girl has gone missing, not exactly what you said would happen,” Jack pointed out.
“It’s complicated,” the younger Winchester said.
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “Really?” he asked incredulously. “More complicated than a demon killing people?”
“The simple answer, yes,” Sam replied coldly.
Dean knew that wasn’t going to fly with the Colonel. Releasing a rush of air, Dean pulled a hand down his jaw. “If you’ve read the journal you know we’ve been hunting a yellow eyed demon for 23 years,” he began green eyes sweeping across the room.
“You started hunting this when you were four?” Jack cut in tone humorless.
In no mood to deal with Jack’s skepticism, Dean just flipped the Colonel off and continued with his explanation. “Yellow Eye’s has been leaving a slow trail of bodies for decades…”
---SPN/SG-1---
“Let me get this straight,” General Hammond said, leaning back in his leather chair. “They’re talking about a second demon.”
“Yes and no,” Daniel spoke up, bouncing slightly on his toes.
“Well, which is it?”
Jack gestured for Daniel to finish his explanation; he’d listened to what Sam and Dean had to say but that didn’t mean he believed them. The archeologist on the other hand had been filled with questions for them, having apparently memorized their father’s journal already.
“Yes, they believe another demon was responsible for Chloe’s disappearance,” Daniel said, gesturing towards the briefing room where Sam and Dean waited. “No, we’re not going to be dealing with two demons.”
Daniel adjusted his glasses and took a step forward, a clear sign he was fascinated by all this. “Apparently this isn’t the first time someone has disappeared like this. The Winchesters believe this yellow eyed demon is responsible for it, along with many other deaths,” Daniel paused for a brief second. “But he doesn’t seem to stay in one place for very long. He’s more than likely already long gone.”
“So what is this?” Hammond asked bluntly. “Just a coincidence?”
“Oh no, Sir,” Jack replied, feigning excitement. “The Winchesters have theories about that as well.”
“The other girl that disappeared, Ava Wilson, was also psychic like Sam; same age too, just like Chloe,” Daniel once again took up the explanation but Jack couldn’t stop himself from groaning in disgust at the use of the word ‘psychic’.
“And they believe there’s some sort of connection?” the General asked.
“Apparently this demon has some sort of big ‘secret’ plan for these children,” Jack said, throwing his arms into the air at the ridiculousness of this discussion.
Hammond swiveled his chair back towards his desk. “How does this affect the other demon?”
Jack wondered silently if it bothered anyone else how comfortably and freely they were tossing around that term now; he seriously doubted it. “It doesn’t,” he said bluntly.
“Although it would explain why Sam’s vision didn’t happen the way he saw it,” Daniel was quick to add.
The General rested both palms on the surface of his desk before pushing himself to his feet. “What’s your next move?”
“Sam’s insistent that we need to look at the house,” the archeologist replied, sounding more than a little curious himself. “There’s also the matter of the artifact…” Daniel trailed off when he noticed both the Colonel and General were staring at him. “Sorry,” he said taking a step back.
“Daniel’s right,” Jack said bluntly, returning his attention to the general. “If the artifact is connected, it’s safer in our hands than those of the general public.”
“I haven’t managed to get anywhere through normal channels,” Daniel added. “The university isn’t interested in sharing their find with anyone.”
“Colonel, I’m authorizing you and Teal’c to retrieve the artifact and bring it back on base.”
Jack felt himself stand a little straighter, not quite at attention but he nodded sharply all the same.
“May I suggest one of the Winchesters go along as well?” Daniel asked and quickly clarified. “They know better than anyone here how to defend themselves should you run into the demon again.”
“He has a point, Jack,” Hammond agreed with a rueful smile.
The Colonel glanced briefly out the door, seeing Sam and Dean seated at the briefing table with Carter and Teal’c. Dean was idly twisting his chair while Sam was in what appeared to be a deep discussion with the Captain.
“Are you sure that’s wise, General?” Jack couldn’t stop himself from asking; they were after all still civilians, even if they had better training than most soldiers.
Hammond nodded once. “Have them both sign nondisclosure agreements and keep an eye on him. I want that artifact brought back to the SGC.”
“General, what about Chloe?” Daniel asked suddenly.
“You said there was no longer a connection.”
“No longer a connection to the demon that attacked Sam and Dean,” he clarified quickly. “But a demon was involved, possibly the one that the Winchesters have been hunting for 23 years. It’s a lead they can’t afford to overlook.”
“I get the impression you’re just as eager to examine the house, Dr. Jackson,” Hammond said shrewdly.
Daniel nodded immediately. “I’d like to get a better understanding of the lives the Winchesters lead.”
“I won’t be able to gain you access to the crime scene; it’d raise too many red flags with local PD.”
“That’s okay General,” Jack cut in quickly. “Breaking and entering is one of their strong suits.
---SPN/SG-1---
It was well passed midnight when Sam climbed from the nondescript Government Issue truck, pulling his beat up duffle with him. They chose to park a block away from their destination, the safest way to avoid detection if there was still a police presence at the Cole house. He and Dean had snuck into their fair share of crime scenes over the years and it felt more than a little strange to be doing it again with members of the SGC. They were military, well at least Samantha was. It was clear that their line of work allowed for greater latitude in bending of the rules; that didn’t make it feel any less wrong.
He tried not to think about Dean and what his brother was doing right now. Sam hadn’t thought it was a good idea that Dean accompany Jack and Teal’c to get the artifact. But Dean hadn’t been about to sit it out or take any sort of concern from his little brother. It was just another one of those stubborn Winchester traits.
“Do you know what you’re looking for?” the Captain asked as they made their way down a narrow alley which connected the two streets together.
Sam shrugged, brown eyes scanning the length of the street that he could easily see. “I’ll know it when I see it,” he said.
“I’d imagine you’re looking for some sign that your demon was there,” Daniel mused quietly.
The hunter tried not to flinch at the word ‘your;’ he never wanted to be connected like that with Yellow Eyes. At the same time, Sam knew he couldn’t lie to himself forever; John’s confession to Dean had made that more than clear. There was no use denying the connection, even if this dark link served no other purpose than to force him to kill. He’d made Dean promise him that he’d stop him if it ever got that far. That offered Sam some small comfort.
Sam cleared his throat and directed Daniel and Samantha to follow him towards the back of the house. “At the very least, there’ll be sulfur,” he answered finally, though Sam was hoping to find something more to confirm who Chloe was.
They made it around the back of the house; yellow police tap cordoned off the front but there didn’t appear to be a police presence outside the home. Sam glanced briefly at the two members of SG-1; they were both carefully watching their surroundings but didn’t appear the least bit bothered with what they were doing. Getting inside the house proved no trouble at all. Once inside Sam passed a flashlight to both the Captain and Dr. Jackson.
“Scent of blood is overpowering,” Daniel said, wrinkling his nose.
Sam flicked on his light, panning the beam across the kitchen. “Demons aren’t known for killing cleanly,” he told them flatly. “I’m going to look in the bedrooms.”
Making his way towards the hallway, Sam’s brown eyes swept over the living room, where it appeared the worst of the attack had taken place. Sam stopped at the first room, casting the beam from his flashlight over the furnishing before stepping across the threshold. Chloe’s room looked like any normal girl’s bedroom: pictures and art hung from the walls and various stuffed animals lined the top of a bookshelf. He moved over to the closet and pulled the doors open; pressing aside the clothes, Sam wasn’t surprised to see a blank wall. He couldn’t expect them to all leave the same signs.
Sam released a breath, turning back to the room his eyes landing on a large spiral bound book resting on the center of Chloe’s desk.
“Find anything?” Carter asked from the hallway.
The hunter lifted the book into his hands, flipping it opened. “Maybe…” he muttered, seeing the detailed portraits inside.
“You were right,” Daniel said, coming in behind Samantha. “There was sulfur in the living room.”
Sam nodded absently, flipping back a couple of pages, his stomach dropping when he saw a familiar face. “Ava…” the name was barely above a whisper.
The Captain came up beside him, flashlight further illuminating the picture. “What?”
“This is Ava Wilson,” Sam explained; the pencil artwork was near picture quality, there was no mistaking the face. “She’s another of the psychic children.”
“Did she live around here?” Daniel asked, coming to stand on Sam’s other side.
“No, not even close,” Sam replied, flipping back another page. “This is Scott Carey.”
“Another psychic?” Carter asked.
“Yeah…” he breathed, going to the very first page of the book. For the first twenty or so pages it looked like a normal art book: pictures of still life, animals and beautiful landscapes. Sam’s heart clenched when he came to the next picture. “Jess…” he felt tears well up in his eyes as he stared at the picture of his girlfriend pinned to the ceiling of his apartment.
---SPN/SG-1---
Dean crouched in front of the locked door, small flashlight held between his teeth as he manipulated the pins to gain access inside the university. Teal’c and O’Neill stood guard, backs to the door, but Dean could feel Jack glancing towards him every couple of seconds. Winchester smirked in satisfaction when he felt the last pin fall into place and quickly turned the knob.
“I can do that too, you know,” Jack commented to Teal’c as Dean straightened up. “I just don’t feel like it.”
“Is that what it says on your resume?” Dean asked with a smirk. “I just don’t feel like it?”
Jack gave him an unimpressed look before stepping inside the building. Dean chuckled to himself, readjusting his grip on his favorite double-barreled shotgun. Dean felt a little more in control now that he had some of his equipment back. Jack had drawn the line at letting Dean take his ivory handled Colt, only allowing for rock salt rounds, but bullets weren’t likely to help with anything they might run into now.
“Where is the artifact?” Teal’c asked bringing up the rear.
Dean pointed towards the hall on their left. “This way.” He reached into his coat pocket, left hand closing around the EMF meter; it wouldn’t do them much good once they got into the room where the artifact and other bones were being kept but it might still be able to offer a little advanced warning if the demon was stalking them.
Glancing up towards the ceiling, Dean’s green eyes caught sight of one of the many security cameras on campus. “You sure your techs took care of the surveillance?” he asked, coming up behind the Colonel.
Jack came to a stop. “Just how would you and Sam have done this without us?” O’Neill asked sarcastically.
“We’d manage,” Dean said defensively.
“Your method of ‘managing’ wouldn’t happen to be how you ended up on the FBI’s most wanted list, would it?” Jack returned tone amused.
Dean offered the Colonel a sneer before continuing down the hall. “Speaking of the Feds, what exactly are your plans?”
“Well, you’re clearly not what anyone thinks you are,” he replied in an offhand way.
Winchester chuckled dryly; that was a truth, mostly because people just weren’t up to believing in the possibility that the supernatural was more than a crazed pipe dream. Even people who claimed to be open-minded about the world he and Sam lived in tended to shut down when they actually, truly had to accept the very real existence of the supernatural.
“What you really mean to say is, you don’t know yet,” Dean said, coming to a stop outside their intended destination. “Those nondisclosure agreements might not be enough? Seriously, what would you do if someone refused to…” he trailed off when the familiar buzz of the EMF came muffled from his pocket.
“Does it warn of the demon?” Teal’c asked as Dean pulled the small device from his leather coat.
Dean swept the antenna towards the closed door watching as the reading went up slightly. “Could be,” he admitted. “Might also just be reacting to the artifact. Here, hold it,” he said, passing the EMF to Jack so he could fish his lock picks back out of his pocket.
Slipping the slender pieces of metal inside the lock, Dean worked quickly, the doors inside the university far easier to bypass than the ones at the main entrances. Dean pushed the door opened a crack, peering into the room: only illuminated by the street lights outside, the large room was filled with a near bluish glow.
“Alright,” he said quietly, glancing back towards Jack and Teal’c. “Remember the plan?”
“Indeed,” Teal’c replied simply.
No surprise to Dean, Jack wasn’t going to be so easy. “You know, it wasn’t really all that complicated to begin with,” he said condescendingly.
Dean just smirked. “I wanted to keep it nice and simple for you, first hunt and all.”
“This is hardly my first rodeo,” Jack countered indignantly.
“Really? When was the last time you tangled with a demon that can hide in the shadows?” Dean returned, eyebrow raised curiously.
Jack’s expression hardened but Dean could have sworn he saw amusement buried deep in the Colonel’s brown eyes. “Let’s get on with this,” O’Neill said, passing the EMF meter back to Dean.
Winchester nodded in agreement, still smiling as his green eyes fell on the hard shelled case Teal’c carried over his left shoulder. They’d filled it with rock salt before leaving the base; lacking an iron lined case they could store the artifact in for travel, Dean thought this was their best bet for avoiding the demon once the box was in their possession. Admittedly, he wasn’t positive that it would actually work but he hadn’t let that part slip to the Colonel.
Jack shouldered passed Dean, obviously use to taking point. The hunter followed a step behind, attention immediately honing in on the artifact at the far side of the room. Long black shadows stretched across the floor of the room, cast by tables and cabinets. Dean knew each one of them could possibly conceal the demonic creature. He turned up the volume on his EMF, the buzzing becoming more persistent.
The meter screamed suddenly but even that wasn’t enough warning. Jack was flung aside, the demon roaring into existence. Dean raised his shotgun without thought, pulling the trigger; rock salt exploded against the creature’s chest causing it to shriek in pain. “Teal’c, get the artifact!” he shouted firing his second round.
The demon dodged the shot before diving into Dean’s personal space. He barely had time to breathe before Dean realized he was being thrown across the room. The hunter slammed into one of the bone laden tables; he felt detached for a second as he heard the bones crunch and the table crack beneath him. Pain assaulted him a heartbeat later, his head cracking off the cold tile floor. Despite his best efforts blackness swam up over his senses pulling him into the black.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
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