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justinedelargeTitle: Sure Got a Dirty Mouth Chapter 73: Daddy's Here
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
justinedelarge
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Rating: R
Warning: Wincest
Word Count: 3306
Disclaimer: I don't own what I don't own. But I do own what I do own, such as my original characters and my plot.
Summary: Gus seeks help from an unexpected source. John makes contact.
Master post of all chapters here
Sam woke with a start. He and Dean fallen into a light slumber on the carpet in front of the couch, and now Sam was cold.
Cold, and uneasy.
Dean sat up, his hair jutting up, a large sex knot rubbed into the back from thrashing his head on the carpet. He rubbed his eyes with both fists, and then patted his hair down as best he could. “I’m hungry.”
“Said Dean Winchester, always.” Sam picked up his stack of clothes on the floor and dressed quickly. Dean stumbled to the bathroom and urinated, then pulled on his sweatpants, t-shirt and flannel.
Sam came into the bedroom and eyed Dean up and down, his mouth parted.
“What?”
“You know that when I go in the men’s department and get to the flannel section, I think of you and it gets me, um, going?”
“Dude. Seriously?”
Sam shook his head. “It’s like…lingerie.”
Dean laughed and pulled Sam onto the bed.
“And sweatpants.”
“You think sweatpants are hot.”
Sam looked over his shoulder toward the door with a worried expression.“Well, now I do. I mean…the fabric’s so soft, and your, I mean, it’s all right there. And they’re so easy to pull down and half the time you go commando, so…”
“Ah, Sammy. Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more…” Dean wrapped his legs around Sam and pulled him closer.
Sam glanced at the door again.
“We’re alone, Sam. It’s ok. Got our own place here.”
“I just… I keep feeling like…”
“What?”
“Like Dad’s about to come home.”
Dean shuddered. “Yeah, well. You don’t ever have to worry about that again. We’re not going back. Right?”
Sam nodded.
“I mean, we’re gonna have to deal with him. Find a way to make our peace with all of it. He’s our dad, you know?”
Sam nodded.
“But we don’t ever have to live with him again. I promised. I meant it. So relax, ok? Tell me more about your thing for flannel and sweatpants.”
“It’s not a thing. I just like it.”
“Don’t tell me you have a thing for tube socks too.”
“Actually…”
“God loves me. He really—“ Dean stopped short. “Sam?”
Sam took the amulet in his hand, holding it gently. Just listening.
“If there are demons, and there really are angels, like Mom said…”
“Yeah?”
“There…there really is a God too?”
Sam brought the amulet to his mouth and kissed it. “I think there is. I do.”
“And… God…”
“Says pure love bears no sin.”
Dean exhaled. “Don’t suppose we can just tell people that.”
“Shut up, leave us alone, God says it’s ok?”
Sam shook his head sadly. “I think they’d want it in writing.”
“Probably.” Dean smiled at Sam, who was holding the amulet to his lips. “So, you’re not hungry? I’m starving. So you gotta be at least a little hungry—“ He noticed an expression of pain flit across Sam’s face. “Sammy?”
Sam winced and pressed his hands to his temples.
Dean’s face fell. “Sam. Hey.” He held Sam as he fell back onto the bed, crying out in pain.
“Jesus, leave him alone, wouldja?” Dean yelled at nothing and no one in particular.
Sam shivered and opened his eyes. “Someone… someone’s calling me.” He sat up and reached for his boots.
“What are you doing?”
“Someone needs me. Outside.”
“You are not crossing that salt line, Sam. There are demons and god knows what else out there, wanting god knows what with you.”
“Demons can’t touch me, Dean.” Sam finished tugging on his boots and stood up. “And I can make them leave you alone too. So come with me.”
“Uh-uh. Not gonna happen.”
“I’m going outside. Are you coming with me or what?”
Dean swore, and reached for his boots.
Sam called ahead to have the passageway cleared.
~
Juliane called John’s room. “Some of the others are coming through. I’ll let you know when it’s clear.”
John set down his glass of water. “I’m planning on being holed up in here all day, actually. It might make it easier if you let everyone else they come and go as they please, and I’ll just let you know if I need to come out. What do you think?”
Juliane agreed to assume John would stay inside his apartment with the door locked unless he told her otherwise. She called Sam back and explained it, letting him know they could move freely for the time being.
~
When he got the all-clear, they headed out. Sam shut the door and locked the deadbolt. He handed the key to Dean, simply because it was habit that Dean kept the keys.
“Sam. This is dangerous.”
“So is everything else we do.”
“I just have a bad feeling about this.” They walked down the hall.
“You’re just on edge.”
“Shouldn’t I be?”
“Yeah, but—“
“Sam, let me be worried about you. It’s what I do.”
They passed into the common room.
~
When John heard the sounds of his sons talking in the hallway, he opened his door a crack and peered out. He watched Sam lock the door, watched them walk away from him down the hall. When they were out of sight, he closed his door, ran back to his bedroom and retrieved his set of lock picks from his duffel. He walked quietly to their door and picked the lock with the speed and ease of a seasoned professional. He closed the door behind him, and turned the deadbolt from the inside until it locked with a soft snick. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes.
He was in.
~
Juliane and Danny were seated at a small table playing chess. Sam and Dean greeted them. Juliane stood up, prepared to protest, or warn them, but Sam took her hand.
“I just forgot something in our car. It’s important. Just take a second.”
She squeezed his hand. “Be careful. I’ve gotten kind of attached to seeing your faces around here.”
Dean grinned. “Wait ‘till my stitches come out. I’ll be pretty again like I used to be.”
Danny lifted up his bishop and placed it down a few squares away. Dean glanced at the board, looking a bit lost. “Sam loves chess. I never did learn to play.”
Danny’s head jerked up. “Oh, you’d love it. It’s battle strategy.”
This caught Dean’s attention. “Really?”
Danny waved his hand over the board. “These are your forces, and that’s the enemy army. You have different military tools, and you use them in different ways. And just like in war, you can’t just think one move ahead. You need to plan twelve moves ahead, and predict what they’re going to do every step of the way. And if they do something you didn’t anticipate, you have to work out your 12 moves all over again.”
Sam took Dean’s hand and squeezed it. “Dean.” His voice was placid, but the urgency he felt was transmitted through his fingers, just to Dean.
“Will you show me later?” Dean asked. Danny nodded.
Dean let Sam lead him out to the front. They unlocked the door leading to the parking lot and stepped out into the cold. Standing across from them at the salt line was a new demon standing guard. This one was huge, 6’4” and packed with muscle, visible even beneath the bulky Arctic hunting gear he wore. He did not smile when he saw them.
Sam led Dean around the side towards their car. Sam made as if he was getting something out of the trunk. The guard, seeing they were not aiming to leave, resumed his vigilance at the main entrance.
Quietly, Sam headed toward the back, looking around. In the bushes, a voice called to them. “Sam Winchester.”
Sam drew nearer. Dean stuck by his side, hand on his knife.
In the thick green bushes, on the other side of the salt speed bump, stood Gus. He sighed with relief when he saw them. “You heard me. I wasn’t sure.”
Sam ran his fingers through his hair. “That was you?” Gus nodded. “That hurt.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Since when do demons say they’re sorry?” Dean barked.
“I, um, I’m new.”
Dean shook his head. “You’re…what? Like, they just minted you?”
“It’s a long story. But in a way, yes.”
“Why did you call me?” Sam interrupted.
“I need your help.”
“Don’t trust him, Sam.” Dean frowned.
“Azazel is here. He’s in town.” Sam and Dean both turned pale. “He’s really mad because we’ve been messing up so much. And he…he did something really bad to someone I, um, care about.”
“Demons don’t care about anything. Except being demons.”
Sam stared at Dean, brows furrowing. Dean got the message and snorted air through his nose, but he backed off.
“He hurt him and locked him in his—“ Gus stopped himself from saying meat suit. “His vessel. It’s like he stapled him to it. He’s locked in. And he can’t bug out now, and he’s…” Gus stopped to compose himself. “He burned him. He’s all burnt up.” Dean recoiled, nostrils flaring. You never get the scent of burning human flesh out of your memory. “And he can’t get out. And Azazel won’t heal him.”
“Wait…what? Azazel can heal people?” Sam took a step forward. Dean put his hand on his arm, holding him back.
Gus nodded. “He can do a lot of things most of us can’t. Anyway, I heard that you two did something special to drive one of us out of his vessel. Something with your knife. I thought. I thought maybe you could do it to him, so he could get out.”
“Why the hell would we help one of you?” Dean’s mouth contorted in a snarl.
“Because I’ll help you. I’ll tell you everything. And I’ll help you against the Boss. I mean, Azazel.”
Sam and Dean stared at each other.
“Why would you do that?” Sam asked.
“You won’t believe me if I tell you.”
Sam cocked his head. “Try me.”
Gus blinked fast. “I, he, um, it’s like…”
“You love him.” Sam shook his head in disbelief. “You love him?”
Gus gave a tiny nod, paused, then nodded more emphatically. “Yeah.”
“For fuck’s sake. Demons and love don’t mix, Sam! You know that! And demons don’t switch sides.” He turned Sam to face him.
Sam put his hand on Dean’s cheek. “You trust me?”
Dean swallowed hard and nodded.
Sam turned back to Gus and reached out over the salt line. “Give me your hand.”
“Sammy…” Dean’s voice was a low rumble, warning Sam to be careful.
Gus put his hand in Sam’s. He held it, looking into Gus’s eyes, breathing in and out slowly. “He’s telling the truth.” Sam shook his head and released Gus’s hand. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but it’s true.”
“Demons in love. What the hell?” Dean said, mostly to himself.
The sound of car tires buzzing past them on the road made everyone start. Gus sniffled in the cold air. “What Azazel did to him? It wasn’t right. It’s not… I mean, we have laws. Just like you. Our system of justice has rules. Not many, but we have them. He shouldn’t have done what he did. We have freedom to enter and exit our vessel. What he did—locking him in and then hurting him like that— was wrong.”
“Your vessel. You mean the person whose body you stole.” Dean’s face reddened.
“Dean.” Sam shot Dean a look. Dean rolled his eyes, but he backed off, respecting that Sam knew what he was doing.
Sam took a deep breath. “We need to think about it. Talk it over with our people.”
Gus nodded. “Of course.” He told Sam what hospital Rosier was at and what room. “I’ll be there pretty much the whole time.”
“What, you don’t have to stalk us?”
“We sort of got laid off. “
Dean’s head wobbled on his shoulders, like all of this was too much to take.
“I gotta go. My replacement up there is about to do a perimeter check. If you help us, we’ll help you. Both of us.”
“How can we trust a word you’re saying?” Dean pressed the issue.
“I give you my word.”
Dean spat on the ground. “What is your word even worth? What are you going to swear on, you soulless bastard?”
“I have a soul.”
Sam and Dean’s mouths fell open.
“I was human. Until they turned me. All of us demons. We were either angels or humans once. And I was human. So I swear on who I used to be.” Gus’s expression was sad. “That guy was a pretty good person. You’d have liked him. He always kept his word.”
“We’ll think about it.” Sam shifted his weight from one foot to the other, brushing against the green shrub with a soft rustle.
Gus put his hands on his knees and blew out a loud breath, visibly relieved. He straightened up. “Thank you.” He turned to go and looked back over his shoulder. “I never meant this to happen to me, you know. Some of us…”
“Demons.” Dean helpfully finished his sentence.
“Some of us demons don’t want to be this way. We’d… we’d give anything to not be.” He smiled ruefully. “Just so you know.” He trudged off, leaving Sam and Dean alone.
“What the hell?”
Sam shook his head. “What the hell.”
“We gotta talk to Bobby. Reggie.”
Sam exhaled hard. “Yeah.”
Dean put his arm around Sam. “I got you, Sammy.”
Walking back to the front door, Sam said quietly, “You ever wish we could just be normal?”
Dean stopped and pulled Sam into an embrace. “All the time, Sammy. All the time.”
“Think it’ll ever happen?”
“Yeah. It’ll happen.” Sam buried his face in Dean’s shoulder. Dean held Sam close. “Someday.”
~
Sam stopped at the car to bring out a bag of car magazines they’d left in the back seat, so as to make their cover story good. They rang from the front office, and asked Juliane to call Bobby and Reggie and ask them to come to the common room.
There, Sam and Dean told them all what had just happened. They expected the room to erupt in loud chatter, but instead, everyone sat quietly and thought.
It was remarkable. Four highly intelligent, trained hunters simply allowing the information to settle, using their minds, their memories, their instincts to formulate a reasoned response instead of just speaking the first thought that came to mind.
Bobby spoke first. “You’re right to be cautious. But there is precedent for demons and humans working together for a common goal. Without the humans getting fucked over royally in the process.” He described the cases he’d read about. Everyone listened attentively.
Juliane spoke next. “With your powers, Sam, what you did to protect Dean, I… I don’t feel like you’d be putting yourself in danger by going to a public hospital. I mean, just that part. I think you wouldn’t be at risk there.”
“And you’ve got the knives. Those are some powerful weapons against demons right there. And might be real helpful to have a controlled experiment with them. See if you can replicate what happened in the alley.” Reggie rubbed his hand over his moustache.
Danny chimed in. “The thing we’re all asking ourselves is what then? Say you do help this demon. Say they promise to help you. Can you trust a word they say? Or are they going to use you for their purposes?”
“Like demons do.” Dean spoke up.
“Like demons do.” Danny nodded in agreement.
Dean leaned forward.“Bobby. Is it true? What he said about how demons are made? Either angels who fell or humans who were…turned?”
“Since I don’t know anyone who went to hell and back, I can’t say for sure. But I’ve read some lore that suggested that, yes.”
They fell silent again, everyone thinking. “Sam? What do you think?” Bobby asked.
Everyone waited as Sam composed his thoughts. “He was telling the truth that he cares for the other demon. I saw it in him. Felt it. He loves him. I’m sure of that. And if I can tell if he was lying there, I think I could tell if he was lying to me about other things.” He paused. “I think we’ve had our asses kicked too hard for too long, and we need a break. We could use an inside man or two.”
“What if it’s some kind of trap?” Bobby frowned.
“We’re basically pinned down in a foxhole here, hoping not to get our heads shot off.” Sam stood up. “I’m tired of waiting around while things happen to me. So I say we try.” He looked at Dean.
“You know I’ll back your play.”
Sam smiled. “I know. But what do you think of it?”
Dean took a deep breath. “I’m worried, yeah. But you’re right. Everything you said.” He took Sam’s hand, playing with his fingers. “So, we go now?”
“Why not?”
“We’re coming with you.” Bobby’s expression was stern.
“Like hell you are.” Sam crossed his arms. “We fought too hard to get you inside here. Me and Dean, they seem ok with letting us come and go. But you?”
Dean chimed in. “You gotta stay here, man. Much as I want you right there with us for this, we need you here more. If they didn’t want you in here, that means it helps us that you are in here. You go out, they aren’t gonna let you back in, and the next time, they might…” Dean stopped, his meaning clear without needing to be put into words.
“I don’t like it,” Bobby complained.
“I know.”
“ I’m coming with you.” Reggie’s tone made it clear he would not take no for an answer. “I made those knives. I need to be there.”
Sam and Dean looked at each other, coming to a consesnsus without speaking. “Sure,” Sam said.
Dean rose to his feet. “We’ll get our coats and meet you back here.”
“I’m still mad as hell you’re leaving me here,” Bobby grumbled.
Sam went to the movie library, skimmed it, and pulled out three films. “Here you go. High Plains Drifter, The Searchers, and Silverado. That’ll keep you busy.”
“That and a little whiskey.”
“Well, that I got,” Reggie drawled.
“You be careful as hell.” Bobby looked up at Reggie. “And you take care of my boys.”
“Don’t even need to ask.”
Reggie helped Bobby to his feet, and they made their way down the hallway slowly, Reggie with his permanent slight limp, Bobby crutching along awkwardly. They paused at Sam and Dean’s door. Bobby reached out for Sam’s hand. He said nothing, just squeezed his fingers.
“Me too.” Sam squeezed back.
“Gimme like five minutes. Gotta drain the lizard.” Reggie grinned.
“Alright.” Reggie and Bobby walked down the hall. Dean patted his pockets until he found the one with the key, unlocked the door and held it open for Sam. He went inside, and stopped dead a few feet past the threshold.
“Hey, Sam.” John stood up from the couch.
Dean’s fingers opened, the key tumbling out and falling to the floor with a clink. “Dad??”
Reggie and Bobby turned, twin horrified expressions on their faces. Reggie ran back, Bobby limping after him as fast as the crutches could carry him. Dean lunged forward, trying to put himself between Sam and John, but it was too late.
John was on him. Wrapping him in a bear hug, shoulders heaving, holding him close as if he could protect him from all the terrors this world had in store for him, tears streaming down his face, stroking his hair, murmuring, “My boy. My boy. My sweet little boy.”
Author:
justinedelargeFandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Rating: R
Warning: Wincest
Word Count: 3306
Disclaimer: I don't own what I don't own. But I do own what I do own, such as my original characters and my plot.
Summary: Gus seeks help from an unexpected source. John makes contact.
Master post of all chapters here
Sam woke with a start. He and Dean fallen into a light slumber on the carpet in front of the couch, and now Sam was cold.
Cold, and uneasy.
Dean sat up, his hair jutting up, a large sex knot rubbed into the back from thrashing his head on the carpet. He rubbed his eyes with both fists, and then patted his hair down as best he could. “I’m hungry.”
“Said Dean Winchester, always.” Sam picked up his stack of clothes on the floor and dressed quickly. Dean stumbled to the bathroom and urinated, then pulled on his sweatpants, t-shirt and flannel.
Sam came into the bedroom and eyed Dean up and down, his mouth parted.
“What?”
“You know that when I go in the men’s department and get to the flannel section, I think of you and it gets me, um, going?”
“Dude. Seriously?”
Sam shook his head. “It’s like…lingerie.”
Dean laughed and pulled Sam onto the bed.
“And sweatpants.”
“You think sweatpants are hot.”
Sam looked over his shoulder toward the door with a worried expression.“Well, now I do. I mean…the fabric’s so soft, and your, I mean, it’s all right there. And they’re so easy to pull down and half the time you go commando, so…”
“Ah, Sammy. Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more…” Dean wrapped his legs around Sam and pulled him closer.
Sam glanced at the door again.
“We’re alone, Sam. It’s ok. Got our own place here.”
“I just… I keep feeling like…”
“What?”
“Like Dad’s about to come home.”
Dean shuddered. “Yeah, well. You don’t ever have to worry about that again. We’re not going back. Right?”
Sam nodded.
“I mean, we’re gonna have to deal with him. Find a way to make our peace with all of it. He’s our dad, you know?”
Sam nodded.
“But we don’t ever have to live with him again. I promised. I meant it. So relax, ok? Tell me more about your thing for flannel and sweatpants.”
“It’s not a thing. I just like it.”
“Don’t tell me you have a thing for tube socks too.”
“Actually…”
“God loves me. He really—“ Dean stopped short. “Sam?”
Sam took the amulet in his hand, holding it gently. Just listening.
“If there are demons, and there really are angels, like Mom said…”
“Yeah?”
“There…there really is a God too?”
Sam brought the amulet to his mouth and kissed it. “I think there is. I do.”
“And… God…”
“Says pure love bears no sin.”
Dean exhaled. “Don’t suppose we can just tell people that.”
“Shut up, leave us alone, God says it’s ok?”
Sam shook his head sadly. “I think they’d want it in writing.”
“Probably.” Dean smiled at Sam, who was holding the amulet to his lips. “So, you’re not hungry? I’m starving. So you gotta be at least a little hungry—“ He noticed an expression of pain flit across Sam’s face. “Sammy?”
Sam winced and pressed his hands to his temples.
Dean’s face fell. “Sam. Hey.” He held Sam as he fell back onto the bed, crying out in pain.
“Jesus, leave him alone, wouldja?” Dean yelled at nothing and no one in particular.
Sam shivered and opened his eyes. “Someone… someone’s calling me.” He sat up and reached for his boots.
“What are you doing?”
“Someone needs me. Outside.”
“You are not crossing that salt line, Sam. There are demons and god knows what else out there, wanting god knows what with you.”
“Demons can’t touch me, Dean.” Sam finished tugging on his boots and stood up. “And I can make them leave you alone too. So come with me.”
“Uh-uh. Not gonna happen.”
“I’m going outside. Are you coming with me or what?”
Dean swore, and reached for his boots.
Sam called ahead to have the passageway cleared.
~
Juliane called John’s room. “Some of the others are coming through. I’ll let you know when it’s clear.”
John set down his glass of water. “I’m planning on being holed up in here all day, actually. It might make it easier if you let everyone else they come and go as they please, and I’ll just let you know if I need to come out. What do you think?”
Juliane agreed to assume John would stay inside his apartment with the door locked unless he told her otherwise. She called Sam back and explained it, letting him know they could move freely for the time being.
~
When he got the all-clear, they headed out. Sam shut the door and locked the deadbolt. He handed the key to Dean, simply because it was habit that Dean kept the keys.
“Sam. This is dangerous.”
“So is everything else we do.”
“I just have a bad feeling about this.” They walked down the hall.
“You’re just on edge.”
“Shouldn’t I be?”
“Yeah, but—“
“Sam, let me be worried about you. It’s what I do.”
They passed into the common room.
~
When John heard the sounds of his sons talking in the hallway, he opened his door a crack and peered out. He watched Sam lock the door, watched them walk away from him down the hall. When they were out of sight, he closed his door, ran back to his bedroom and retrieved his set of lock picks from his duffel. He walked quietly to their door and picked the lock with the speed and ease of a seasoned professional. He closed the door behind him, and turned the deadbolt from the inside until it locked with a soft snick. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes.
He was in.
~
Juliane and Danny were seated at a small table playing chess. Sam and Dean greeted them. Juliane stood up, prepared to protest, or warn them, but Sam took her hand.
“I just forgot something in our car. It’s important. Just take a second.”
She squeezed his hand. “Be careful. I’ve gotten kind of attached to seeing your faces around here.”
Dean grinned. “Wait ‘till my stitches come out. I’ll be pretty again like I used to be.”
Danny lifted up his bishop and placed it down a few squares away. Dean glanced at the board, looking a bit lost. “Sam loves chess. I never did learn to play.”
Danny’s head jerked up. “Oh, you’d love it. It’s battle strategy.”
This caught Dean’s attention. “Really?”
Danny waved his hand over the board. “These are your forces, and that’s the enemy army. You have different military tools, and you use them in different ways. And just like in war, you can’t just think one move ahead. You need to plan twelve moves ahead, and predict what they’re going to do every step of the way. And if they do something you didn’t anticipate, you have to work out your 12 moves all over again.”
Sam took Dean’s hand and squeezed it. “Dean.” His voice was placid, but the urgency he felt was transmitted through his fingers, just to Dean.
“Will you show me later?” Dean asked. Danny nodded.
Dean let Sam lead him out to the front. They unlocked the door leading to the parking lot and stepped out into the cold. Standing across from them at the salt line was a new demon standing guard. This one was huge, 6’4” and packed with muscle, visible even beneath the bulky Arctic hunting gear he wore. He did not smile when he saw them.
Sam led Dean around the side towards their car. Sam made as if he was getting something out of the trunk. The guard, seeing they were not aiming to leave, resumed his vigilance at the main entrance.
Quietly, Sam headed toward the back, looking around. In the bushes, a voice called to them. “Sam Winchester.”
Sam drew nearer. Dean stuck by his side, hand on his knife.
In the thick green bushes, on the other side of the salt speed bump, stood Gus. He sighed with relief when he saw them. “You heard me. I wasn’t sure.”
Sam ran his fingers through his hair. “That was you?” Gus nodded. “That hurt.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Since when do demons say they’re sorry?” Dean barked.
“I, um, I’m new.”
Dean shook his head. “You’re…what? Like, they just minted you?”
“It’s a long story. But in a way, yes.”
“Why did you call me?” Sam interrupted.
“I need your help.”
“Don’t trust him, Sam.” Dean frowned.
“Azazel is here. He’s in town.” Sam and Dean both turned pale. “He’s really mad because we’ve been messing up so much. And he…he did something really bad to someone I, um, care about.”
“Demons don’t care about anything. Except being demons.”
Sam stared at Dean, brows furrowing. Dean got the message and snorted air through his nose, but he backed off.
“He hurt him and locked him in his—“ Gus stopped himself from saying meat suit. “His vessel. It’s like he stapled him to it. He’s locked in. And he can’t bug out now, and he’s…” Gus stopped to compose himself. “He burned him. He’s all burnt up.” Dean recoiled, nostrils flaring. You never get the scent of burning human flesh out of your memory. “And he can’t get out. And Azazel won’t heal him.”
“Wait…what? Azazel can heal people?” Sam took a step forward. Dean put his hand on his arm, holding him back.
Gus nodded. “He can do a lot of things most of us can’t. Anyway, I heard that you two did something special to drive one of us out of his vessel. Something with your knife. I thought. I thought maybe you could do it to him, so he could get out.”
“Why the hell would we help one of you?” Dean’s mouth contorted in a snarl.
“Because I’ll help you. I’ll tell you everything. And I’ll help you against the Boss. I mean, Azazel.”
Sam and Dean stared at each other.
“Why would you do that?” Sam asked.
“You won’t believe me if I tell you.”
Sam cocked his head. “Try me.”
Gus blinked fast. “I, he, um, it’s like…”
“You love him.” Sam shook his head in disbelief. “You love him?”
Gus gave a tiny nod, paused, then nodded more emphatically. “Yeah.”
“For fuck’s sake. Demons and love don’t mix, Sam! You know that! And demons don’t switch sides.” He turned Sam to face him.
Sam put his hand on Dean’s cheek. “You trust me?”
Dean swallowed hard and nodded.
Sam turned back to Gus and reached out over the salt line. “Give me your hand.”
“Sammy…” Dean’s voice was a low rumble, warning Sam to be careful.
Gus put his hand in Sam’s. He held it, looking into Gus’s eyes, breathing in and out slowly. “He’s telling the truth.” Sam shook his head and released Gus’s hand. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but it’s true.”
“Demons in love. What the hell?” Dean said, mostly to himself.
The sound of car tires buzzing past them on the road made everyone start. Gus sniffled in the cold air. “What Azazel did to him? It wasn’t right. It’s not… I mean, we have laws. Just like you. Our system of justice has rules. Not many, but we have them. He shouldn’t have done what he did. We have freedom to enter and exit our vessel. What he did—locking him in and then hurting him like that— was wrong.”
“Your vessel. You mean the person whose body you stole.” Dean’s face reddened.
“Dean.” Sam shot Dean a look. Dean rolled his eyes, but he backed off, respecting that Sam knew what he was doing.
Sam took a deep breath. “We need to think about it. Talk it over with our people.”
Gus nodded. “Of course.” He told Sam what hospital Rosier was at and what room. “I’ll be there pretty much the whole time.”
“What, you don’t have to stalk us?”
“We sort of got laid off. “
Dean’s head wobbled on his shoulders, like all of this was too much to take.
“I gotta go. My replacement up there is about to do a perimeter check. If you help us, we’ll help you. Both of us.”
“How can we trust a word you’re saying?” Dean pressed the issue.
“I give you my word.”
Dean spat on the ground. “What is your word even worth? What are you going to swear on, you soulless bastard?”
“I have a soul.”
Sam and Dean’s mouths fell open.
“I was human. Until they turned me. All of us demons. We were either angels or humans once. And I was human. So I swear on who I used to be.” Gus’s expression was sad. “That guy was a pretty good person. You’d have liked him. He always kept his word.”
“We’ll think about it.” Sam shifted his weight from one foot to the other, brushing against the green shrub with a soft rustle.
Gus put his hands on his knees and blew out a loud breath, visibly relieved. He straightened up. “Thank you.” He turned to go and looked back over his shoulder. “I never meant this to happen to me, you know. Some of us…”
“Demons.” Dean helpfully finished his sentence.
“Some of us demons don’t want to be this way. We’d… we’d give anything to not be.” He smiled ruefully. “Just so you know.” He trudged off, leaving Sam and Dean alone.
“What the hell?”
Sam shook his head. “What the hell.”
“We gotta talk to Bobby. Reggie.”
Sam exhaled hard. “Yeah.”
Dean put his arm around Sam. “I got you, Sammy.”
Walking back to the front door, Sam said quietly, “You ever wish we could just be normal?”
Dean stopped and pulled Sam into an embrace. “All the time, Sammy. All the time.”
“Think it’ll ever happen?”
“Yeah. It’ll happen.” Sam buried his face in Dean’s shoulder. Dean held Sam close. “Someday.”
~
Sam stopped at the car to bring out a bag of car magazines they’d left in the back seat, so as to make their cover story good. They rang from the front office, and asked Juliane to call Bobby and Reggie and ask them to come to the common room.
There, Sam and Dean told them all what had just happened. They expected the room to erupt in loud chatter, but instead, everyone sat quietly and thought.
It was remarkable. Four highly intelligent, trained hunters simply allowing the information to settle, using their minds, their memories, their instincts to formulate a reasoned response instead of just speaking the first thought that came to mind.
Bobby spoke first. “You’re right to be cautious. But there is precedent for demons and humans working together for a common goal. Without the humans getting fucked over royally in the process.” He described the cases he’d read about. Everyone listened attentively.
Juliane spoke next. “With your powers, Sam, what you did to protect Dean, I… I don’t feel like you’d be putting yourself in danger by going to a public hospital. I mean, just that part. I think you wouldn’t be at risk there.”
“And you’ve got the knives. Those are some powerful weapons against demons right there. And might be real helpful to have a controlled experiment with them. See if you can replicate what happened in the alley.” Reggie rubbed his hand over his moustache.
Danny chimed in. “The thing we’re all asking ourselves is what then? Say you do help this demon. Say they promise to help you. Can you trust a word they say? Or are they going to use you for their purposes?”
“Like demons do.” Dean spoke up.
“Like demons do.” Danny nodded in agreement.
Dean leaned forward.“Bobby. Is it true? What he said about how demons are made? Either angels who fell or humans who were…turned?”
“Since I don’t know anyone who went to hell and back, I can’t say for sure. But I’ve read some lore that suggested that, yes.”
They fell silent again, everyone thinking. “Sam? What do you think?” Bobby asked.
Everyone waited as Sam composed his thoughts. “He was telling the truth that he cares for the other demon. I saw it in him. Felt it. He loves him. I’m sure of that. And if I can tell if he was lying there, I think I could tell if he was lying to me about other things.” He paused. “I think we’ve had our asses kicked too hard for too long, and we need a break. We could use an inside man or two.”
“What if it’s some kind of trap?” Bobby frowned.
“We’re basically pinned down in a foxhole here, hoping not to get our heads shot off.” Sam stood up. “I’m tired of waiting around while things happen to me. So I say we try.” He looked at Dean.
“You know I’ll back your play.”
Sam smiled. “I know. But what do you think of it?”
Dean took a deep breath. “I’m worried, yeah. But you’re right. Everything you said.” He took Sam’s hand, playing with his fingers. “So, we go now?”
“Why not?”
“We’re coming with you.” Bobby’s expression was stern.
“Like hell you are.” Sam crossed his arms. “We fought too hard to get you inside here. Me and Dean, they seem ok with letting us come and go. But you?”
Dean chimed in. “You gotta stay here, man. Much as I want you right there with us for this, we need you here more. If they didn’t want you in here, that means it helps us that you are in here. You go out, they aren’t gonna let you back in, and the next time, they might…” Dean stopped, his meaning clear without needing to be put into words.
“I don’t like it,” Bobby complained.
“I know.”
“ I’m coming with you.” Reggie’s tone made it clear he would not take no for an answer. “I made those knives. I need to be there.”
Sam and Dean looked at each other, coming to a consesnsus without speaking. “Sure,” Sam said.
Dean rose to his feet. “We’ll get our coats and meet you back here.”
“I’m still mad as hell you’re leaving me here,” Bobby grumbled.
Sam went to the movie library, skimmed it, and pulled out three films. “Here you go. High Plains Drifter, The Searchers, and Silverado. That’ll keep you busy.”
“That and a little whiskey.”
“Well, that I got,” Reggie drawled.
“You be careful as hell.” Bobby looked up at Reggie. “And you take care of my boys.”
“Don’t even need to ask.”
Reggie helped Bobby to his feet, and they made their way down the hallway slowly, Reggie with his permanent slight limp, Bobby crutching along awkwardly. They paused at Sam and Dean’s door. Bobby reached out for Sam’s hand. He said nothing, just squeezed his fingers.
“Me too.” Sam squeezed back.
“Gimme like five minutes. Gotta drain the lizard.” Reggie grinned.
“Alright.” Reggie and Bobby walked down the hall. Dean patted his pockets until he found the one with the key, unlocked the door and held it open for Sam. He went inside, and stopped dead a few feet past the threshold.
“Hey, Sam.” John stood up from the couch.
Dean’s fingers opened, the key tumbling out and falling to the floor with a clink. “Dad??”
Reggie and Bobby turned, twin horrified expressions on their faces. Reggie ran back, Bobby limping after him as fast as the crutches could carry him. Dean lunged forward, trying to put himself between Sam and John, but it was too late.
John was on him. Wrapping him in a bear hug, shoulders heaving, holding him close as if he could protect him from all the terrors this world had in store for him, tears streaming down his face, stroking his hair, murmuring, “My boy. My boy. My sweet little boy.”
