#who got stabbed by a demon and was in a coma for four weeks trying to protect her newfound family

[pawphin]

long ramble in tags tldr: kindness rules

[sardonic-courtney]

Crowley x Reader. We Met Before. Part 6/7.

Summary: You end up living with Bobby after your parents die. You go to church and meet Priest Crowley and you end up getting along (if you know what i mean). A few years later when Bobby passes you move the the bunker with Sam and Dean and end up meeting Crowley again.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5  Part 7

Warings: Mentions of death, Maybe spelling and language.

Around  1500 words.

A little note before we start, I know technically the bunker isn’t around this time but I’m not following storylines, hence the random case.

Life moves with a Daemon in the basement.

A great way to say goodbye...

Over the next few months, you had expected a call or text, but nothing. To be fair you didn’t exactly try to reach out to him either. Church felt emptier, as did your free time. So, you just spent it building up a great book collection, training, and further bonding with Bobby. Life had turned back to normal. Other than Sam and Dean had became more distant dealing with angels, daemons, heaven, and hell. Which you guess is the usual just busier. You even went on your first few hunts. During one involving a wendigo you lost your phone, only to find it beyond repair. Which cut ties completely with Crowley.

**Four Year Time Jump**

Now 22 years old, you are a full-time hunter still living with Bobby, when you’re not staying in shabby motels.

Your days are filled with hunting, reading, and watching bad movies. And for some reason every Sunday you still found yourself in your spot at church. You told yourself it was still because you wanted to feel closer to your mum, but deep down you knew you were hoping for the chance he would walk back through those doors. But when he didn’t you pushed the sinking feeling away, it was ridiculous to still miss the man you had hardly known. Although when you think about it you did know him, maybe not for long, but you knew more about him then you did about the other close people in your life.

You had been on a few dates with random guys since then, but none of them really stuck, and to be honest you weren’t exactly looking for them to. Everything was going well, which with the life you live was bound to end soon. Which it did.

The shot...

The coma...

The death...

His death...

Bobby was gone.

To say it hit hard was an understatement. You weren’t even there when the shot fired. You visited him as soon as you heard but couldn’t shake the feeling you let him down in some way. Sam and Dean tried to explain what happened, but you didn’t fully understand, or didn’t want to. You mourned alongside Sam and Dean. Ending up moving into the bunker with them, where you resumed going on little hunts with them, but mainly staying back as designated researcher. The bunker was a lot homelier than the random motels, and although your combat was good, it wasn’t what it needed to be with what they were dealing with.

Over the next year you met Castiel when he was “Back to himself” as Dean put it. You two quickly becoming friends, when you got used to his quirks. Everything once again was back to a new normal, well as normal as it could have been. You did stop going to church, no longer seeing the point of finding a new one nearer. You grow closer to the boys, finding new things out about them both.

You and Dean’s relationship is a weird one. He is exactly as you would imagine an older brother to be. But is also annoyingly stubborn, always teasing, and argumentative. But that’s what you love about him. Especially when he would give in and let you take Baby to the shops.

Sam is more like a twin, even though he’s 6 years older than you. You still stayed up late when you could talk about whatever. He is the more freely sensitive one. He is however just as stubborn and caring, especially when it comes to your lack of interest in dating. It was strange but he wants to see you happy with someone. Even though he knows in this life it’s hard, he still wants you to try. Which you don’t see the point. No, it’s not because you can’t picture going on dates and talking to anyone other than that beautiful accent, or because you can’t see yourself kissing any other lips. It’s just because you didn’t see the point, because (Y/N) (L/N) was not the sort of person to be hung up on a guy and his forgotten promise.

Right now, you are sitting in the kitchen with Sam, in silence. You are reading a book you found on a random shelf, and Sam is typing away on his laptop. The past 3 weeks the bunker has been filled with a tense mix of emotions. Hunters had seemed to become the hunted, being killed in many forms some were ripped apart other drained of blood some still full of blood a couple had their eyes ripped out, some even as mundane as being stabbed. But no matter the method, they were all linked by one small mark on the left thumb. A delicate R.

The case was confusing to say the least, and all leads you guys had found turned out to be dead ends. Which is why after a week and a half of no progress, Sam and Dean had decided to call on a certain demon for help…and by call you meant forcefully summon against the king of hells wishes. But no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t get anything out of him.

Not that you really knew who ‘him’ was. All you knew was that even from the basement he managed to cause tension between the brothers. You weren’t allowed down there. That was your rule. Which you begrudgingly followed. Not without your arguments, which you kept up. You love the boys, but it seemed they were getting nowhere with their interrogating, and you being the best at getting information out of the three of you, it seemed like the obvious choice. If the two weren’t so adamant at keeping you away from the whole thing. Being deemed too impressionable or something regarding your safety.

To be honest all you knew was that he was an annoying dick, that Dean was considering killing, and he had the answers to your problems. You didn’t even get to know what Dean and Sam were doing down there to try get information. Which was what Dean was doing now…. or what he was doing before he comes into the kitchen, breaking the silence.

Dean let out a sigh. “I swear he finds joy in pissing me of”.

“That would be the King of hell for you Dean”. Sam says not bothering to look up from his screen.

“Why did we even bother?” Dean slugs into a seat at the table across from you.

“Because we have no other leads.” Sam said seeming bored, but you knew it was him trying to mask his annoyance.

“But it’s been 9 days and he still hasn’t acknowledged the attacks; the cocky bastard keeps rolling his eyes at me. I swear if he makes one more remark, I will stab his eyes out.” Dean looks at Sam, which Sam senses and looks up meeting his brother’s eyes. “Sammy, I don’t know what else to try”.

But before Sam could add anything on you joined in. This being your perfect opportunity to get information and meet this alleged king of hell. “Me! I’m still an option”.

Dean rolled his eyes falling back in his seat, moving his gaze to you. Sam following suit.

“No chance munchkin, as said before we are not taking the chance.” Dean repeated.

“But I don’t understand, why not”. You frowned.

“Because” Sam started this time. “He doesn’t know you exist, and it’s safer that way. He could use you as a weakness to get to us, he could hurt you. It’s just not worth it.”

“But hunters dying is?” you asked, managing to get them speechless. Which they remained. “Common guys. I’m good at getting out information, and like Dean said, what other choices have you got?”

Both the brothers looked at each other and then back at you, still remaining silent.

So, you pulled out your best attempt at puppy dog eyes, “Please, I’ll be safe I promise.”

Dean let out a defeated and gruff “Fine”.

“But we are keeping an eye on you” Sam added trying not to chuckle at how Dean had finally given in. He wouldn’t admit it, but your logic did seem like the best option in his eyes to.

“Deal” you said smiling. The three of you got up, ready to descend downwards to the captive, who hopefully had answers.

For some reason you were excited and nervous. You imagined all the ways you could get information, getting into his head and muddling it out. Sure, he was a daemon, but you had swindled information out of a few before, how different could this one be? But no matter what crossed your mind, you would never have known what had been locked up right under your feet for the past 9 days.

(Pointless note, this was sort of a filler bit for some time to pass. i kind of struggled with mixing past and present tense, but hopefully it’s not too confusing).

[zebraslovescupcakestoo]

Reporting for justice!

What a night...

I thought to myself after I left the bathroom to clean myself. It was my turn to do night shifts for the next couple of weeks in favor of some who asked to do day time for a bit. Normally, I would have asked to pick someone else but we're only a few who I can trust, especially the new ones, I had to make some sacrifices for now.

Which was something that wasn't new to me.

I'm very thankful that life DID had send me some important people to help me. Even if it's someone you'd never expect to become best friends after high school and used to be in gangs.

I walked down the apartment's resident to see my friend just took out some supper. No, I don't mean Sheba this time. She'd burn water.

It was someone who had red pointy hair, a red beard to match, a navy blue tailor coat and that Scottish accent. That friend is Woody McPecker, an ex-Irish gangster now a reformed journalist.

I settled down on his dinner table that was big enough for two maybe three if you can squeeze small enough.

I can't believed even years from that day, I never expected I'd be friends with someone who used to be in an Irish gang.

If I told you that we actually first crossed eyes in my high school years, you'd say this sounds cheesy like you're eating a grill cheese sandwich that was stuffed with a whole, cylinder, block roll of cheddar cheese. You don't need to taste it if it is actually THE cheese. Maybe too cheesy.

Actually, that's way too overboard with the cheese thing. But the main point was that we crossed path in high school and then we officially met couple of years back when I was in the police academy training.

“There, this should be warm enough to eat. My grandma used to make these back when she was in the homeland.” He then set a plate of Shepard pie for me as he'd probably went to get something to drink.

For a guy who's current job as a novice journalist, I'm surprise he can cook despite that most of his time was the 'eating on the go' type of guy. Although some areas of his apartment might need a bit more cleaning overdue or he's taking a page on my nephew's habits.

But then again, at least his cooking skill can make it to the second course compared to Sheba. No offence, but Sam did asked for her cookies one time and then told me secretly he can use them as treats for his 'friends that didn't like him and us.'

“So tell me, why were you at Bendy's mansion alone? Cat's got too curious?” I looked up to the direction of his voice to see him using a bottle opener for a single bottle of Apple cider. “I thought that you'd agree in front of all of us NOT to go after that dancing demon solo. Your feet would almost be part of a construction material of a bridge if I'd haven't intervened.”

“I know. First of all, I DIDN'T go off alone chasing after Bendy. They were the ones who got me behind my back when I was paroling. Second, how did you know where I was when that happened?” I know he doesn't own a car unless he borrowed one and even if he did, surely they would noticed anyone tailing them to the DeMon's mansion.

He then settled down after he did his bottle and then started to explain. “Let's say according to someone telling me about your shifts, you were doing night duties for the moment and I was just looking out for ya since my job is more time convenient rather than a 9-5 pace thing. Luckily for you, I have gang experiences long before you studied one in the academy. They're may be Italians, but their work of operations were hardly any different than ours if with few exceptions. Like how we used to do mostly dealing 'goods' while they mostly use violence in the underworld scene of Chicago.”

Like I've said, he's an EX-gangster of an Irish mob.

“I'm not here to bust you, black knight. Besides, I thought that we've bonded over some near death experiences we've had previous to this.” He jokingly asked.

“I don't think that you can count almost being shot out of a circus' canon one time from Bendy and Boris as one when they tried to kidnap a white tiger for his skin. Thankfully you and Sam managed to get me out before I blasted off.” I sighed as I took a bite to eat. I haven't felt that scared since I almost fell off of a high pier one time.

“Anyways... how about you tell me what stories were you supposed to uncover this time? I'm sure that it's not about me tonight.” Time convenient or not, Woody knows that he can't put things off anytime he wants.

“You could at least say thank you that I managed to get us out of there safely before Bendy notice we were gone and found his minions knocked out.” He smug a grin.

I can't deny Woody's speed abilities and knife fighting skills. He's like the only person that can mimic Bendy's skills even when his eyes goes red that makes him almost invincible. His stabbing/slicing techniques makes up from his throwing knife skill sets so that one difference. The other was that at least he's now a good person.

This might sound exaggerated, but one time a thug throw a wooden staff at us like a lance and Woody 'stabbed' so fast that all that was left was saw dust. When I say his 'spirit animal' is a woodpecker, I am not joking.

“I never said I wasn't thankful. I am grateful that you saved me. But what I'm worried is that you've haven't published anything lately asides your several pen names for trivial topics. Interviews or life stories are one thing, but big news like what is happening to the world or serious issues is what the journals and people are mostly interested.”

“Bah!” He waved it off. “You worry too much! We should at least be thankful that things are quiet for now so that we can take a breather. You know? You sometimes focus way too much on others that you forgot to think about yourself once in a while. Heck! You might have been in coma for two weeks, then woke up and you'd ask if everyone we're OK when you YOURSELF aren't. Single parent or not, you'd need to learn to take care of yourself a bit once in a while too, ya know?”

I know that I get that for some people who think that I think way too about others than myself, but I have a commitment as a detective police plus two kids to take care of and they both are trouble makers like my sister was at that age. “That would be the same day that the twins would behave and that's not gonna be anytime soon.”

Woody chuckled after he finished his dish. “Felix, those kids haven't reached the double digits yet. It's common for boys at that age to be a bit rowdy. They mostly want to have fun and enjoy themselves. I know cause I was just like that and look how I turned out!” I just stared blank with a 'really?' look.

“Ok! Ok! Maybe I had been on the wrong side of the law before, but I certainly do not harm any innocents and I learn the errors of my ways! I am now a changed good fella!” Woody swore with one hand on his heart and the other in the air. I exhaled and decided to let it go. Yes, I know that he didn't started out as a good kid image, but I do believed that anyone can change if they are willing to try.

“So let's get back to the journalist topic, what stories are you going to do? Is there anything that you might want to ask me for?” I could at least return the favor.

“Now that you mentioned it, I do have some cases that I might need your detective help to solve. Since Bendy boy is going to California for a 'restful retreat' and your cousin not in the states at the moment. We all can investigate together. I know some folks who can look after your kids!”

I stopped him for a second. “Wait! Wait! Wait! Hold up! What do you mean by we ALL investigate together?”

“Oh that? I meant us two with Sammy and Matty. Us four will go investigate on these small but unusual cases.” He clarified, but I had to say this: “Look, I get that things aren't that busy for now, but don't you think that the other two would be busy? Matteo, I would understand if he's not busy on most days, but Sam's...” I didn't have much to say about him for now cause I haven't heard him from the court house lately.

“Oh, he didn't told you yet? He's taken' a little break after winning that big case today. So he's free on most days since he's not gonna work much unless it involves you-know-who.”

“Oh... I forgot about it. It's the big case with that soda fraud. I must have been busy earlier to hear the news.” I was so busy with the kids before my shift that it slipped my mind. Sure, there was a mild case that there were counterfeit sodas during these past few weeks. It's not a major news but the effects is that people were giving money to crooks who gave the cheaper priced sodas from the local markets. The drinks quality weren't as good, they tasted awful and some didn't had that fizz. Some people tried to get a refund, but the 'sellers' weren't there anymore.

“We're glad that you were the one who took the photos of those people as one of the most effective evidence. A good majority of them were caught and brought into questioning.” We did had other evidences that was convincing, but Woody was the one who really saved the day. “Nah! I'm just taking their 'good' angle for when the photos will be printed in the papers tomorrow.” He smirked. “Anyways, back to some cases in question, there are some that us 4 need to go together.”

“So there's a detective, a journalist, a lawyer and a coroner in one group. That sounded like a start of a bad bar joke.” And none of them aren't even funny for a drunk man.

“Stay with me on this. There are some claims that involves supernatural cases.” He took out some case files that were in thin binders, but I set the line there. I had reasons NOT to go in these kind of cases.

“I'm out! Look, I said this a couple of times already, but let me be clear. Just because I have this 'ability' doesn't mean I'm into supernatural cases. I can't afford to do some of this stuff on the side when we're in a middle of the operation 'take down.' There's no way that the chief will approve any ghosts, 'spiritual' mediums or fictional monsters. There's needs to be more than just someone in a costume that's not on Halloween day.”

“That I agree, cause some of these cases had their 'victims' being scammed or harassed. Kinda like that soda counterfeit case where it's not exactly the type of soda, it's brand or the market that sells them. This would require some investigation and prevent more people falling into their traps or stop those people from attacking others in a costume.” He tries to convince me.

On the first phase, I do agree that some people would try and take money from innocent buyers out of products or false readings. The second... I do get that idea of being attacked by an unknown person. That doesn't need any 'scary' costume to frighten anybody in the night.

So I eventually decided to help. “Alright. I'll help if these cases are as serious as you said it is. But I'll need to report any cases that 'we' uncovered and solved.”

Woody shakes my hand. “I knew you'd be there for me, cool cat! Now, here's the first one we're gonna go...”

Another scary night Another spooky fright And you just might be in danger.

Thus began our formation of the 'freelancing' investigation team. A group of people with separate talents that barely had any connections to one another.

The first one was about a group of teenage girls from a prestigious, all girl school reserved for rich or gifted well... girls. The case was that there's a club that specializes fortune telling and connecting the 'other side' jazz that charges not only their classmates a pretty dollar, but some grieving folks that wanted to talk to their deceased loved ones.

Getting a reading wasn't easy considering the 'no boys allowed' in most of the school's properties unless it's a visiting male relative. Woody managed to get one of the members to set us up for a 'seance' session at night when there's fewer teachers on guard in exchange of paid in cash and some photos... of Sam, Matteo and me for some odd reasons...

Look! I'm not saying that we're not all ugly! Just... why?! I mean, Sam's actually a good looking man in his 30's and Matteo had that mysterious Italian vibe going for him. Not to mention they've probably had better pay than I do that might play a hand in it. But why me?! I'm not that- Oh! Never mind! I do not need to know! ANYWAYS! Ohh the ghost is here and it's always a fake The ghost is here and there's no reason to shake The ghost is here, oh give us a break It's fake.

When we've arrived at the scene, we played out as a group of guys who wanted to contact my 'deceased' relative. We picked that story cause we wanted to be as convincingly true. During the middle of a chant-like seance, that the lyrics sounded like something that I've read in a children nursery rhyme, there's a faint image of a ghost that floated in the middle of the circle. The ghost wasn't exactly 'frightening' but Woody got spooked and he forgot to let go of my hand when he ran away in a panic. Dragging me along, we hit a wall that was actually a rotary door that lead to a hidden room with another member that handled a projector. Thus, this ended the investigation. All members of the club were then exposed as a fraud, we reported it to the dean about it and then later, their parents had to send them away to a different school after some either got expelled or suspended for a few days.

We DID however almost got boiled in hot water when we ourselves actually had broken the 'no boys allowed' rule. Thankfully Sam had pointed out the evidence about the money, the people, their projector that was actually the school's property that they 'borrowed' it that we actually need to stop them. The dean then decided to let us off the hook, but we were warned and told to ask her permission if ever we encountered a similar case like this. Another ghoul attack She's breathing down our back So we're making tracks for the exit.

The second case was about a creature called 'Night beast,' original, that haunts a cemetery the past few months. Rumors from chased out eye witness say that during night time they hear someone digging whenever they walked across the area. The ones that did went to 'investigate,' they met with this some sort of a horrid, man-sized bat-like creature and was chased out.

At first, I thought that it was just some sort of a vampire prank, but when I heard some reports of getting slashed, not to mentioned that Matteo felt something of a 'disturbance' among the 'resting' and that he felt like he needs to do something. Oh the ghost is here and it's a crook in a suit The ghost is here and he's protecting some loot The ghost is here, oh give him the boot He's fake.

So we devised a plan. Me and Matteo will be playing as the night visitors for a 'relative' of Matteo to lure them out while Sam and Woody will be hiding to catch out bat of the night with a well set trap.

On that full moon night, me and Matteo walked into one of the tombs to see if our 'guardian' of the cemetery will be in tonight. It doesn't take much steps inside when he broke free from the newer caskets. I took out a hand mirror, upon Woody's request to see if this 'guy' doesn't have a reflection.

Yup, it's some big guy in a costume. Now we run!

It doesn't matter where we go, we know A ghost is gonna show and so We look for the bogus We look for the scam And every time the ghost is a sham.

We make sure that during the day time, we'd memorized the tombstone's placements so that we knew exactly which direction we need to take for us and him to follow. Once we've passed the trees that the others were hiding, Matteo rang a little bell and then they pulled the cord. Thankfully, it worked and now our target is eating dirt and before he realized it, he was tied up very quickly thanks to Woody.

He took off the mask only to reveal he's a small time thief that was wanted from a neighboring state. Not only that he was wanted for stealing jewelry from wealthy homes, but he was also wanted for stealing jewelry from the cemeteries too!

Well, that would explain a good part...

Thankfully, he was then transferred to the neighboring state he was wanted and we manage to find his stash from the newer caskets that he hid and a good majority was returned.

Matteo noticed that we might have knocked over a couple of makeshift flower offerings during the chase. I offered to help him place them with him and we got along fine...

We see an eerie light And if the mood is right Then you just might sight a monster.

We had several others before we came to the last rumor with a 'vengeful,' mutant, fish-man that's frightening most of the seafood sellers from the street markets during evenings. This was personal to me.

Not only does this masked fish-man was scaring off the workers, but there were reports of that 'mutant' stealing their goods!!

At this point in the game, I'm getting convinced that even if this isn't as big as the Alfonzo Mafia case, but taking an important food aliments from small business owners, only to get them in a much more expensive price point from another competitive fish market? This takes the fish cakes!

No one takes a basic human and cat food rights just for a few dollar more! Not on my cat eye's watch!

Oh the ghost is here, it's our frightening task To face our fears and the creep in the mask So the ghost is here, there's no reason to ask He's fake.

We followed the clues, witnesses and a theory that this might be a dirty strategy for the competitors to scare their rivals, take their goods and sell it for a higher profit. Upon sneaking in one of their warehouses where they shipped and stored their goods, we checked for any markings.

We've set up a plan to track down their goods by marking them so that we can find and then prove the guilty people to be held responsible for this mess. This time, I was with Sam in the main storehouse while the others went to find the light switches in the power/control center. We were using flashlights and looked for the recently 'new arrivals' to check if they had the matching numbers that the victims marked.

It's a match. However, that not the only discovery we've made... Our fish mutant is also the security guard!

We both bolted through the isles as it chases us. Sam told me to go corner it in the canned seafood section as he used his hook shot techniques to go up. I get that I'm supposed to lure him there but for what and what is he doing?!

I was then cornered and I was close to that fish mutant within feet from each other. Not that I'm not a skillful fighter, but I've had some troubles with opponents that are almost body builder types like Boris. Not to mentioned that the claws were an addition to a heck-naw! Flair.

Suddenly the lights went on to brighten up the whole warehouse,  it blinded the fish mutant but it's the same for me. All I did was trying to adjust my eyes to the lights and then I heard someone being tackled into the wall of canned sardines. I had to take a few seconds more to see that Sam had taken my handcuffs on this unconscious security guard.

It didn't took a second long before we heard the police siren and soon some officers, which are the ones that I'm familiar with and another high ranking officer to see us. Woody was ready for a picture as we all see that underneath the fish mutant was one of the rival employees that was harassing the local fish marketeers and taking their goods.  

It's been almost a week since that last case we did as a team. Sure, it's not a major news like taking down that notorious Alfonso mafia, but it did brought us quite a praising reputation. We we're referenced as the 'freelance investigation team' according to the public. Woody did a pretty good job as a journalist rather than an officer of the law. I think it was for the best when he decided to do so a few months ago.

We decided to celebrate as to throw a big party at a fun family dinner including the guys, Sheba, Kitty, the twins with a couple of their friends. Just to keep them company asides from adults. It was an enjoyable moment with just us as friends and family get together. I felt like it was like that old times when it was with my father, sister and the twins when they were younger.

Unfortunately, it got interrupted by someone. It was in the middle of a pinball machine contest, where I was holding Inky while Woody was holding Winky so they can be high enough to use the controllers. I felt something smacked at the back of my head as if someone tried to get my attention. I looked to see that my cousin was standing behind me. “I was feeling quite distress that I wasn't invited, my dear cousin. I thought that we we're close... well, I'm the better one but still, we we're so close.”

“What are you doing here, Alex? You weren't invited.” Woody noticed what was going on.

“Aww! Did I ruffled your little feathers, you annoying parrot? Well too bad. I'm obviously not letting 'him' have a goodnight this time. You've been getting too lucky lately, cousin. Have you forgotten that this will not last forever? That there might be someone who, oh, I don't know... MIGHT be in danger while you're 'resting?'” He teased me as to make me feel guilty of taking a night off for this. I grew wary of his attitude ever since he reappeared for more than 2 years. I can take whatever he's throwing at me as long as it doesn't involves those who were close to me, but as much as I want to stop him from smacking my head, I can't break off from Inky at the moment and neither Woody can.

He suddenly stopped when a shadowy appearance entered our situation. “Why hello, dear old 'friend.' I've seen you've recovered from our last... encounter. Did you find another decent job or just a 'temporary' part-time?” Matteo might have spooken one of our nine lives if he's gonna continue like a grim reaper facade. I remembered how Matteo once told me how he and Alex met and almost killed in Egypt, but I've yet to know how Alex got wary of Matteo since. I mean, Matteo had to wear a mask for his eyes thanks to him, but why is he afraid of him now? Have he and Matteo had a second encounter before coming here?

He took a step back but maintained his composure. He knows that he can manage Matteo well cause his melee fighting skills weren't his forte. Awakened or not, he's still not a match for Alex.

Unless someone else who just happens to return from the gentleman’s restroom. Alex only took one step back to hit him and looked up with eyes wide opened. He might have a toe to toe advantage for us three, but Sam's a different story. It didn't take much for Sam to knock him out with a fist on the head. He might not be a boxer, but he can do knock out punches.“Please let me take out this thrash. The waitresses are busy enough with something else tonight.” Sam picks him up from the jacket as they both left... Thank Ra that the girls are in the ladies room at the moment and that it's not crowded tonight. Even the kids didn't noticed but I think it's the fact that they're busy with the game to notice their surroundings. For this time, I'll take it and talk to him next time.

“Cheer up, cool cat. This ain't the time to be pessimistic. In fact, I've got a nice juicy reward for all of us excluding cue tip there.” Woody said before the pinball games were done.

“What surprise?” The twins heard that. Aw, Tuna Fish! Once they heard that, it's almost impossible to change the subject. But that didn't stop Woody to try. “Oh, I'm afraid it's for the adults and there won't be any kids you age there, kittens. But don't ch'a worry! If you both behave really good, you can spend a whole night with Coach Tony and his son!” They both got that sparkle in their little emerald green eyes like they just heard a message from God.

Not only coach Tony is like another father figure to them, but he's one of the kind heart adult that would make every kid included, even if they're not the best. The kids love him and his son too. I think that they almost looked like they're triplets. My kids would probably only be on their best behavior around him more than I can think of.

They soon started begging me to go to the 'adults only' event, so after thinking about it quickly, I said to then only if they behave and to stick to the rules, they can. They hugged me and then they ran over to Kitty and Sheba as soon as they came.

“What's with them?” Sheba asked. “Oh, Felix will tell about it later. He just needed to be informed about what's gonna happened in a couple of weeks. I'm sure we'll be there.” Matteo smiled and Sheba was a bit charmed.

“Ohhhhh! You're so mystique when you say that! Felix! You better give us all the details later!” Sheba told me as they head to the table to get their things as they passed by Sam once he's returned. She and Matteo got along well since... well, our introductions a couple of moths before.

“Alright! Now that they're distracted and that us guys are all here, guess what's gonna be happenin' big this time around here!” Woody reached over my shoulders and Matteo's as to make us closer while Sam just bended down a bit. Judging from their faces, I'm guessing that they've have planned on something. “So! Just to finish our celebration of our teamwork during the random cases, which involves money scams, robberies and harassment, we've been invited to the Chicago's summer ball this year.” Woody announced with a big grin.

What? The annual Chicago's summer ball? That's like one of the big events in the city annually. Normally, only the first class, important business owners, politicians and sometimes big guest stars gather for an evening night club jazz and a garden stroll that's decorated just for the event before reopened for the whole public. Anyone like ourselves would only dream to attend at the event.

“The old mayor gave all of us exclusive VIP tickets for our works and a couple of extras for the girls. We were chosen for each of our talents separately and since this would also be part of my journalist career, it would mean quite a lot to me if we can all go together!” Woody flashed the tickets. As much as this was a very good news, I had to...

“But... I'm not exactly social elite type. Not to mentioned that Bendy and Boris will be there too since they're required to attend AND they never turn down free alcohols and five star meals.” Not to mentioned mingling with top class women who wanted to climb the latter or gold digging their ways... Another reason why I don't like about him is that he uses his money to get whatever he wants. What ever happened to being loyal to one partner for life?

“Bah! I wouldn't worry about that brat and his wolf rug on that night, Félix.” Sam waved a bit. “Animator or mafia boss, even he can't get away with anything on that particular night. There will be guards, photographers and even people that aren't in his favors at the event. Some of it will be in papers and television wide after all and well... there will be too many eye witnesses everywhere.” He's got a good point. Bendy can be maliciously calculating but he knows better than plotting something within these events.

Well, 'inside' the events. If you can count his lower crew members to do his dirty work outside in the city else where.

“This would be my first time attending to such event, si? It would be interesting if it's any different from where I came from and it would ease me if you can come.” Matteo charmed in as if he wanted me to attend too.

“Come on, ya old bugger! Think of it as a free date in a fancy dinner restaurant with special guest stars! Ya girl will love it!” Woody is really urging me to go.

You know what? What the heck! What can possibly go wrong?

----Author's Notes-----

You have NO idea of how long it took me, even in quarantine times, that I wanted to finish this but I was too numb to do so... Like I wanted to do it but I'm lacking of motivation to do so?

So anyways, I decided to redo my second OC of Woody McPecker as an ex-Irish gangster now journalist. I did watched previous years on the war between the Irish and the Italians gang members who wanted a piece of territories in the new world. Long story short, they were at war with each other. So I thought that this would be an interesting concept for someone who's a former gangster, knows the strings of operations in between the gangs and knows their methods of how they work.

So I thought that it would be interesting if there's like a redeeming character like that and hopefully Woody would be a much better OC for this that he was in my Golden Eyes series. I thought that he would be done as an extra but after some thoughts, he would be just fine as a journalist and knows stuff like Sheba's level and my first personal favorite OC, Sam Toucan.

That was inspired by an old Scooby Doo VHS movie back in the 90's and this song inspires it.

I bet it would be neat if this would work out like that Scooby Doo vibes with a larger character casts like that on the official BBTIM AU!

I hope that everyone is doing fine and that hopefully we will see the light at the end of that tunnel, stay safe!

BBTIM Characters belongs to @marini4 and some Ocs belongs to me.

[the-house-of-the-nine]

In Depths Below: Vengeance Part 1

Three days after Kun-Lai . . .

[ L.K ]   The incident in Kun-Lai summit had left the order completely rattled and in shambles, and there were multiple members of the Nine who had met experienced head on, the skills of the mad mercenary, Kelkiros.  He has done a number on most of them. Burns and minor scrapes and bumps to the students who were in his way, and a few of the magical users who were unfortunately in his wake.

But few others were not as fortunate. Koltun for starters may have been more or less just banged around, but the demon was hardly weak. A mistake on his part but then again who would have guessed the insane mechanical nightmare would have had powers of divinity.  Burns on his demonic flesh needed to be wrapped and treated.  The ribs that were broken, would need to mend; rest was all that could be done.  A bit of pain medicine and a few days in bed would have had him on his feet; but the injuries would last well over a months time.

Marseille lay in a hospital bed with a waterskin attached to a large pole. It was dripping a fluid through an intravenous attachment. He had been stabbed not once, not twice, but actually four times in that small stint. Kelkiros was deadly accurate as well with his blade, he hit right below his rib cage and twice in the stomach. It would be a bit touch and go for the few nights he was in anguish.

But unlike most, Shaldorei were very magically hardened. Conventional healing would be a much better manner. Casting magic would be minor to help but healing was required to take a natural course.  He was conscious but laying quietly in the room that was nearly all but empty by this point.

Doctor Whistletorque was attending. He was a scientist, an engineer and apparently a physician. The good doctor was reading blueprints while keeping tabs. It was silent and that was exactly how he liked it.

[ P.K ]   Koltun had yet to wake up and Vari more times than not often found herself beside his bed in the infirmary. Today was no different, her head bowed, her eyes closed. She looked to be sleeping, but many would know otherwise.

The reverent has been a vigilant lookout, not allowing many to tend to him and taking over. She had sponge bathed him, stroked his hair, watched his chest rise and fall for hours without turning away, but still she remained unless pulled away by someone who needed her for whatever task regarding Lazarius. But she always made her way back to the bedside, a fear beginning to bubble within her about the possibility that... he might not wake.

So now, she rested. Her head atop one palm as the other had curled around his supine hand along the bed. Her melancholy for such a moment was rare, the others in the order likely seeing such acts and leaving her be when realizing she was... changing. More times than not the woman struggled to keep her emotions in check. Her missing brother. Koltun in a coma. Kross readying to leave them. She felt overwhelmed, something she was certainly not used to. Her fingers tightened along the hand she held and she leaned forward, her forehead now pressing onto his thigh as she simply breathed.

“Please wake up...”

[ L.K ]   “The chanthes of him not waking up are approxthemetly zero point four perthent.” Whistletorque, the gnomish doctor had said as he was hardly paying her any mind but gnomes had exceptional hearing.

The little mad scientist would hum softly and sniffle a few times, he did this, he was a gnome.  “Youre that scthary lady I only met onthce at the manor...when I sthnuck in...nobody could quite figure out how..”.

He let out that creepy gnomish giggle as he looked her way. “Then ya disthapeared...did good work gettin thosthe partsth back to me for the forge though.”

Whistletorque was harmless, but mad. Arguing or insulting him would not help or affect him at all. As he placed his work down his little fat legs would wobble him over toward Vari and step up the miniature ladder to get up to Kolt and observe him. Now standing beside the Harbinger he looked her way.

“He isth strong...don’t worry. With everything that isth happening...we look to you now Harbinger...we will be your strength when you need usth mostht.”

[ V.D ]   The previous nights seemed to have had... Quite the effect on everyone it seemed. Such was a revelation that she momentarily lingered on to marvel the heart wrenching display between Vari and Koltun. Alas, Verzatea would not stare long, soon to sweep her fiery gaze across the rest of the infirmary in an effort to spot the insufferable shade of which last she saw barely breathing and being carted off by soldiers.

There was a pang of guilt she felt, having seen the Shaldorei so vulnerable. Why? She wasn't quite certain. But she liked to theorize.

Like that perhaps she felt guilty because often she wished death upon him for peace of mind, but seeing him truly be so close to death and have to revive him was... Life altering.

Because yes, he was an intolerable toe rag with a mind smaller than a seed but... He was a shade. Well trained by the Inquisitor himself, entrusted to protect the most precious of the order... And despite his behavior toward some of the Nine, he did his job. He did it well. He was as devoted as they come. A bad attitude didn't equal death.

Thus, dressed in a simple knee length sheath... The Confessor neared Mars's side, her hands clasped behind her figure before inclining her head to greet him. There would be a seamless confidence to her voice as she addressed him, such a tone was nothing like how she'd spoken in the past few weeks, especially not to him -- and it certainly fitted her.

"Marseille," she greeted him. "How are you feeling?"

[ K.A ]   Koltun had woken slowly, staying still as he assessed the damage and quietly cursed his own stupidity. A -light- user! How the hell was that mechanical monstrosity a -light- user?! Of all the magics it could have wielded it had to be that. He felt like he had been hit by zeppelin, and judging by Vari's gentle touch and whispered plea's he probably looked it as well.

Though when the gnome returned, the demon finally shifted, rolling a cottoned tongue along the insides of his mouth to try and work up some semblance of saliva before croaking out a barely heard.

"By the sunwell, dont let the gnome take anything important off me..." Gradually, he got his spectral sight working once more, felfire sputtering to life within empty sockets as he returned Vari's squeeze and rolled his head to the side to see her.

"Even if he's right... not going anywhere just yet." With several grunts he forced himself to sit up, managing a weak smirk before drawing Vari's hand up the length of his torso to place a kiss upon her knuckles. "Told you... not losing you again."

[ L.K ]   Whistletorque gave a smile and a gentle pat to the side of the bed and winked. “Told ya thisth belligerent fart wasthn’t gonna go justht yet! I have your pain meds when you’re ready demonbunsth.”. Again there was that cackle as the chubby gnome walked away and went back to his business.

[ K.A ]   "Dont ... need meds... you squat little crackpot..." Koltun fired back with a grin. Though what he said and what happened next didn't quite equate with each other. He gave a wince and sunk slowly back down, groaning like a broken tea kettle the entire way down.

"Damnit... fine. Demonbuns needs pain killers... " he chuffed, reaching down to feel his ribs. "Then I'll think of a proper insult for you, shnookums."

"And bring me Raith. . .someone find the boy.  " Koltun croaked, checking to make sure he didn't break a horn.  He hadn’t, thank goodness for asymmetry.

[ L.K ]   The gnome would go about to getting the items needed for Koltun but would otherwise go silent and fall into the background for now.

Marseille on the other hand would slowly open his eyes at the sound of the voice that had come to visit him.

“Have you any luck on finding the Master yet?”. Lazarius was actually the only thing on his mind, but he knew that Verza was trying. He didn’t want to be rude and quickly changed his tone.

“I had no idea that monster was so fast...four times...in what seemed like a second...”. The Shaldorei let out a sigh as he tried his best to lean forward and failed, a frustrating grimace would be seen, he was not used to this, he hated being useless.

“And you? Are you alright?”

[ P.K ]   Vari didn't even have time to react to the lisp-addled gnome before she felt Koltun move and then heard his voice. She immediately picked her head up, staring wide eyed at him and then seeming to look him over to make sure he was really alright. She could say nothing, just stare as he let his crack-jokes flow and checked himself over.

Eventually, though, she ignored everything and everyone in the room.

"You are okay," she breathed out, the chill of her breath reaching his bared torso and neck.

Before he could answer she quite literally tossed herself at Koltun, her arms curling around his body, forgetting about his pain and her own supernatural strength as she just wanted to.... hold him. Odd.

[ K.A ]   "You could sa--GAUGH!!" Vari was on him, sending a jolt of pain through his massive frame from injuries he didn't even know he had! It made him drool slightly... on Vari's shoulder.

"Mnerghnmpain" he wheezed, though got his arms around the knight regardless, gripping hold until the pain shuddered from his body.

"I'm okay... but if you ...keep jumping on me like that, I might not be!"

Not that he was complaining. Admittedly he was surprised by the sudden affection, savoring it gladly even if her knee had found a truly uncomfortable place to crush. "I'm okay, Vari." He said softly, letting his head come to rest against hers.

[ R / L ]   Raith was actually not very far off, and a summons brought into the infirmary, holding a book under his arm.

"What is the meaning of--" he froze upon seeing Koltun. He didn't look terribly concerned...shocked, perhaps, but not concerned. Perhaps he was just putting on a brave face, but he calmly walked over to where Koltun lay.

"Man, what happened to you?"

[ K.A ]   "I made a foolish mistake, Boy. I underestimated my opponent, didn't learn... this is the payment for it." Keeping hold of Vari, Kolt tried to shift his bits from beneath the crush of her knee. "You wanted to be useful... I have a task for you."

[ R / L ]   "Yeah?" Raith rose an eyebrow, listening.

[ V.D ]   Clearing her throat, the Confessor would incline her head, actually taking a moment to gather herself, eyes lingering on the ground as she composed herself.

"The.. Inquisitor..," she exhaled shortly, pushing down her desire to beat around the bush.

"No. No, there are no new developments. The Council will soon gather to discuss how to proceed. At least now we can breathe easier."

She wouldn't outright admit it, but the event of the previous night had shaken her to the core. It had sent her stumbling back, all that progress made seemed... Wasted. She wouldn't confide into him about that, though.

"I'll be fine. I have far too much work to do, rather than focus on bad memories."

She would peer toward the gnome and ask calmly.

“What is his status? How soon can we move forward and get him out of this bed?”

[ P.K ]   She immediately released him upon his yelp of pain and she looked... well, she looked fucking horrified and she knelt along the bed on all fours, almost straddling him. "I'msosorry!" she rushed out, blinking rapidly, trying to reach for him but not touching him, now terrified of hurting him again...

"What can I do?!" She looked panicked! Who was this Vari? As his head came to rest on her own while he kept a hold on her, she noticed his shifting and quite quickly moved her knee.

Let's thank the gods she was not in her plate. She settled beside him finally, not giving a damn of who saw the affection and simply... curled into his side as she more gently wrapped a cold arm around his torso while he talked to Raith.

[ R / L ]   Raith just...stared at Vari now.

"...Did she hit her head?"

[ P.K ]   Her lich-fire hues snapped open and she glared at Raith, her nose and mouth hidden from his view as she quite literally was snuggling into Koltun.

[ R / L ]   Raith was unphased by her glare. "No, seriously, did she?"

[ K.A ]   Kolt uttered a low growl towards Raith, a warning to mind his manners, keeping his arms around the death knight even as she shuffled around.

"She's happy I'm alive." He grinned. "I'm fine. Pounce me all you like, just easy on the bits! I still need those. And maybe a bit on the ribs for right now."

He wheezed, refusing to admit that that hurt a lot more than he would have thought. Not like he was going to say that though. Too manly. Settling into the snuggle with absolutely no shame whatsoever, Kolt looked back to Raith.

"Raith, you wanted your abilities used? You're going to use them. Don’t take this as an excuse to think your learning is finished, far from it. Even the Harbringer, The Confessor, Lazarius and myself still need to learn. The day you think you know everything is the day you label yourself a fool."

He coughed and made a check for the gnome. Dammit he needed those painkillers. Oh well.

"Lazarius is missing. We are down assets, including myself until I'm out of this bed or have killed Whistletorque. You're going to help The Confessor and The Harbinger find him. When I'm up, you will be helping me. Understood?"

[ R / L ]   "Yessir." he nodded. And with that, he left, but not before sparing another glance of confusion at the snugly Vari. Who are you and what have you done with Vari, seriously.

[ P.K ]   Vari turned her chin up to look at Koltun when he coughed, seeing him look around, and she shifted her attention to see the gnome. She gingerly peeled her self from his side and made to stand behind the gnome... tapping him on his head of wild hair.

"Pain meds for Koltun," she demanded. Ahhhh. There was Vari.

[ L.K ]   “Yesth yesth pain medsth. A pleaseth or thank you could be used...”. The gnome waddled back over with a beverage of Kolts choosing and a cup of very potent and powerful drugs.

“Yah need me tah sthick em down your throat like a pooch again demonbunsth?”.

He chortled and handed everything to Vari, the fat little gnome had wished to return to his blueprints but would continue to his next patient.

[ P.K ]   She wandered back toward Koltun before snatching the items from the gnome. "Thanks," she mumbled before looking at Koltun.

[ L.K ]   Whistletorque then waddled his fat dumpy self back over to Tea and huffed. He was tired from having to move, the most work he did all week.

“The Shaldorei isth sthtable. He hasth been that way for a day or two, perhapths he will be back on histh feet in another week or so...”

“I will be on my feet by tonight. I have leads that a member of the Magistrate is visiting his villa in southern Stranglethorn. I will be paying him a visit and extracting information from him.”. Marseille hissed as he remained on his back stuck and still hooked up to the IV. 

“And I’m sthuddenly going to sthprout up another two feet...”. Whistletorque looked back at Verza with those fat lens goggles.

“By weeksth end at bestht.”

[ V.D ]   Gently the Confessor aimed to rest a hand atop Marseille's forearm, as if to comfort him, turning to eye the gnome before expressing softly. "By weeks end. Thank you, Whistletorque."

Thus she'd turn to the dark elf, pointing out. "You're no good to us if you don't heal properly, just to get hurt even more and take even longer to heal. You'll soon be out and about-- in the meanwhile, is there any other shade you're comfortable handing the lead off to? Or any member of the order?"

[ L.K ]   “Are there ... what?”. The Shaldorei glazed over her face and suddenly pulled his hand away. Why was she touching him anyway?

“You don’t understand how this actually works do you?”.

Marseille was rather rude in his expression but serious.

“I am the only shade Lazarius has.... the Ren’dorei he was training is no shade...she is his apprentice...I am different...much different. And I will act with or without the councils digression, my orders are from Lazarius himself...if he is forfeit I am to do as instructed. I will be leaving for Stranglethorn by nights end.”.

He sighed and looked toward her. “I can’t sit in this bed knowing he is out there Verzatea.”. He used her name and had finally looked like a person, saddened and frustrated and scared.

[ Z.A ]   Zalra couldn’t tell what was happening anymore, If she wasn’t pacing she was simply forced to take a seat in the infirmary like a good little patient. Her injuries were not as dire as others, especially Marseille’s, so the now-void-elf could not find any personal reason to stay still; during her check-up and around the Bastille her Sin’dorei disguise pendant was pocketed. True form shining for the doctor.

When the diagnostics came back it was concluded that Zalra had broken ribs, a few fractures in her shoulder, and bruises to rival most. But, thankfully with the progression in Azerothian medicine, healing magic aside from the Light did not harm her. Those ribs and fractures were set into place within the first day, however, even the best of bodies demanded rest after such spells hastened natural recovery. The only way she managed to wriggle free from the infirmary was to strike a deal; a night of rest in Zalra’s own bed with the promise of a check-up the next day before being deployed to any mission revolving around the Inquisitor.

So, there she stood. In the infirmary doorway, gazing at all those checked in. The huntress bowed her head respectfully towards those gathered before she crossed the threshold further into the room. Her eyes immediately shifted to the speaking Shal’dorei.

“I am g-glad to see you are not dead.” She admitted in the most genuine way she could with such a brash statement. At least she was being honest

“Confessor. Harbinger.” she greeted. Her illuminated, violet eyes then drifted to Raith and Koltun; just before he’d left of course.. She simply gave a bow to the former. A smile was sent Siida's way as she greeted the familiar woman as well. When Marseille mentioned Stranglethorn, she stared at him. Zalra almost forgot she was at the infirmary for a god damn checkup.

[ S.K ]   "If you're going to Stranglethorn, I'm going with you." Siida said softly, looking around at those who were gathered in the infirmary. She still had the buzz of the void about her, and something in her eyes would brook little to no argument.

She'd come here to check on everyone that had gone to the summit in hopes of saving Lazarius.  She had also no intention of sitting back and waiting for people to get better, if she could be of use; well dammit all she would be.

[ V.D ]   The gesture of moving away from her touch would cause the Confessor to stand and distance herself once again, turning atop her heels to meander further from his bed, her arms folding beneath her near nonexistent bosom midst murmuring,

"I know he's out there, Marseille--," the sudden stirring of the others would draw the Confessor into a silence, her lips pressing into a firm line, concealing her irritations and aggravations all at once.

[ L.K ]   Marseille looked over toward Siida and scoffed as he rolled his head back and peered up at the ceiling. “I cannot bring you on a mission like that Little Sister.”. Her nickname was mostly because that was how Lazarius described her, as his younger sister.

“It would comprise the mission...you know nothing of stealth and infiltration.”

[ S.K ]   “And you know more than well that men are stupid and full of greed, should I arrive to plead for my brothers life and mercy they would assume little about me beyond the way that I look...not everything is a nail to be hammered, finesse could spare you another trip here Marseille.”  She had sent a tone as equal to his own right back at him.  She would be going and that was final.

[ Z.A ]   Zalra huffed softly under her breath as the Shal’dorei breezed over her statement. Fair. He didn’t have to respond to her from an obvious comment. Regardless of being metaphorically brushed aside, the Ren’dorei stepped further into the room, glancing around for the doctor. He was close by, however, once her illuminated gaze landed on him, she simply turned her head back to Marseille.

“Then I join you. If it is stealth you need.” She commented flatly.

[ L.K ]   Marseille was more than capable and was about to ignore both of them.

“I don’t need either of you.”.

His tone was fiercely persistent and he was growing annoyed.

“There may be more of these men...who knows if they even know one another. The man named Dawnseeker is the one who hired the mercenaries..supposedly Kelkiros said they were taking the Master back to Quel’thalas...that is a fools answer.”

Marseille sighed and shook his head

“Go through the dossiers Little Sister.  You and I both know where The Inquisitor was keeping his information...find the others that know nothing the Magisters plans ... and as long as she.” he pointed to Zalra. “...is willing to look after you... you both can go and remove them yourselves, let me do my own work.”

[ S.K ]   "Very well.... get-better-soon. . ." Siida said, each word snapping like bones in her maw as she left up the stairs without another word. She knew her brother's office well enough and where the dossiers were kept.  If Marseille was not going to budge on the matter then she would find a way to put her abilities to good use.

[ Z.A ]   There was a dissatisfied sigh that left her dark lips as Marseille nearly dismissed both women wanting to assist. Siida, she could understand the hesitation with the girl. Not that the young Kash’ebahl was incapable, simply she was too important to let join the fray so haphazardly.

Each member of the Nine that she had met thus far had a pride that would get them, if not others under them, killed. It was ridiculous how fast someone demanded to face a task so large alone when capable hands were available.  Then again, if he was correct and there were more of these enemies about; they may have to split their combine powers to orchestrate an attack. These thoughts that occasionally surfaced in her mind never left, however; naturally, Zalra held her tongue. As long as she got what she wanted, there was no need to further retort.

“Then we move for the order, Shal’dorei.” She whispered softly; unimpressed and decided now would be the best time to exit behind the youthful sister.

[ V.D ]   Tea watched the exchange through half lidded eyes, exhaling shortly through flared nostrils. With a small shake of the head the woman would turn, muttering out loud as she moved for the exit,

"Come see me before you three leave. I have wares you'll need, in case you get caught in a snag."

[ L.K ]   “Marseille.”. He corrected her. “You must be Azurestar. The master has told me about you.”. The white pinkish eyes of the shade would look her over.

“I'm sure you are used to a different type of interaction but I am used to working alone. The lot of you want to ridicule me for my ways, look at yourself and consider there is a reason the Master trusts me to act on his behalf without question.”.

He snapped back and attempted to leave the bed but failed, miserably.

“Gods below you would think half of you would recall how the master works within the shadows. Shades do not even know where they act or who one another are..”

[ Z.A ]   There was another dissatisfied sigh that left.  No longer did she wish to suffer through the intolerant words of the shade, choosing rather to bite her tongue yet again and be on her way.

[ K.A ]    Koltun settled back, watching in quiet amusement as Vari returned to herself and managed to attain the seemingly unattainable painkillers. Naturally as they were handed to him with a drink; non alcoholic ale, he made a face. More so at the idea of ale-less ale than the meds. They were downed in several gulps and the cups set aside, leaving Vari and Kolt with time to wait until they kicked in.

That gave him a chance to overhear what was being said. Marseille's words drew a thin frown to his lips, offering a curious glance to Vari. As far as he was concerned, she was in charge. While he was one of the Nine, the Blade Warden, Protector, she was the matron of the order.

"Have any of you considered consulting the Harbinger?" He called out casually, wriggling to try to sit up once more.

"Last I checked she was leading, as well as the closest to Lazarius. So instead of each sizing up who has the bigger cock here and dashing--" he eyed Marseille "...some of us crawling, off to Stranglethorn, why don't we consult the entire council to build on a plan that satisfies prior orders -and- helps us find Lazarius."

Koltun grunted and stiffly stretched a wing out, to inspect it. "That is unless you all truly enjoy running around with your heads up your asses while neglecting assets that could assist you." He shrugged, biting back a wince.

"That and you look like the south end of a northbound Fel fiend. Somehow I don't think you're going to be 'stealthing' anywhere just yet. No more than I am."

[ P.K ]   Vari was staring toward the opposite wall as Koltun inquired of the others their consultations. She shifted her attentions down to him when he mentioned the entire council, feeling a semblance of pride in him then. Vari lifted a hand and brought it down to stroke along one of his horns, admiring it a moment, never actually... touching one. Interesting. She continued to remain silent, however, letting the others speak of what they wished as she offered undiluted affection to Koltun, a rare thing of course, but something she was finding.... she enjoyed.

[ L.K ]   Marseille suddenly sat up. He had enough of these people.

“Be my guest demon, speak to my master about what I am to do. I will enjoy watching him put you in your place.  Oh that is right. . .he is victim to some perverse magisters psychotic greed.”. The Shaldorei suddenly ripped the iv from his arm and swung his leg over onto the floor.

“I am his Shade.  Do you know what that means?”  he snapped as his body contorted in an attempt to leave. “His shadow, his eyes and his ears.  I am to do what he cannot for I walk within his wake and act as he sees fit. Your council means little to me. So sit in your bed and lick your wounds. I will find my master. You should be grateful my services are even here, be sure to ask your twin Harbinger what my purpose is.”.

The shade then took several steps toward the door. Where Koltuns beverages and meal was being stored would be tipped to the floor as he left. This would be the last time Marseille would be heard skulking around the Bastille. He was returning to the shadows where he belonged.

Whistletorque sat there in his chair as the mess was made and the Shaldorei stumbled out.

“You need to have your sthtiches taken out!!! Sthtupid elf...”.

The gnome would grumble and hiss as he waddled over to clean the mess and get Kolt some new stuff. “I justht made thisth sthoup too...dammit.”

[ P.K ]   "That is ENOUGH," Vari finally bellowed, turning her eyes on Mars and then Koltun, her hand freezing atop his horn which... sadly began to frost in her fury. She quickly pulled her hand away from him so as not to freeze it completely and looked at everyone gathered.

"Why must we act like insulate fucking children when my brother is missing?!" She seethed, her breath catching from her anger as she watched the retreating back of the shade. Too much had happened and she was beyond over the cock swinging of the others.

She snapped her furious eyes to the gnome and then closed them, seeming to... calm herself. When she reopened her gaze, Vari was... on the verge of tears N'zoth, the world must be freezing the fuck over finally. She walked over toward the gnome and squatted down as she silently helped him clean the mess.

[ L.K ]   The little gnome would reach over with a gloved little hand that looked like a package of tiny little sausages all squashed into a soggy bag. He placed it on a finger of the Harbinger and gave her a warm hearted smile. “You are the Harbinger. I will get demonbunsth better postht hasthte... and offer any of my experimenths and inventionsth to your servithce.”

[ P.K ]   She immediately froze and snapped her eyes to her finger where his chubby palm gripped her. He'd start to feel his hand get frigid before she looked up and forced a saddened smile and a singular nod.

"You've my thanks," her quiet tone reverberated to the lisping creature as she moved her finger out of his fat, sweaty grip so she didn't frostbite him.

[ K.A ]   There wasn't much else to do but watch, rolling his tongue over a canine thoughtfully. Well, at least until Vari's sudden fury sent a brief brain freeze down from his horn. His features pinched slightly, more perplexed than anything, until they eased into silent fury. Vari held tears in her eyes. Normally he would make a shocked comment, or some teasing statement, but seeing the emotion, so raw and unbidden.... all Koltun felt was rage. Hot, roiling anger. At Marseille, at the situation.

It was enough to draw the Blade Warden out bed, large, leathery wings expending in an experimental stretch. It was both a good thing, and a bad thing those pain killers kicked in, allowing him to be able to get up at all, much less work his wings out, even if everything was a bit wobbly. "I'll bloody show you who's master you impudent little pin cushion." Kolt wheezed more than growled, lumbering over to where Vari and Whistletorque cleaned.

"Shades cant hide from me. He can dance as many bloody shadows as he likes, I can still see him. Give the word, Harbinger, and I'll hunt him down and remove his stitches personally."

[ P.K ]   Vari pushed up from where she squatted and turned to Koltun, sudden concern in her lich'd gaze.

"You should not be up," she said with that same concern in her voice a she walked over toward him, ignoring his request about hunting Marseille.

[ L.K ]   “Your Harbinger has spoken”. Kross was standing in doorway. “And this conversation is through. For if I must suffer through living for the rest of eternity it will not be listening to any of this prepubescent squabbling. Now get in bed or you will join me in the afterlife.”. Kross snapped at Koltun and pointed at the cot.

“Let Marseille do as he wishes. I expected you all to be at each others throats.  Tensions are high and our time frame to complete our task dwindles steadily closer to its end... “

Kross placed his hand on the shoulder of his surrogate daughter and inhaled slowly. “There is work to be done.”

[ P.K ]   Vari felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation for Kross' interruption, her shoulders quite literally slumping slightly. She moved to Koltun's side, an arm curling around him if allowed such.

"Thank you, Kross," she said finally, her tired, weathered face lifting to meet his own. She offered a saddened smile before shifting Koltun out the door. "Come on - I will take you to... well, you can stay in my chambers," she offered quietly, nodding at the gnome as they passed.

"Please bring anything he will need there."

[ K.A ]   Koltun's jaw hung open, staring at Kross.

"What?! But he-- I just-- they--'" he continued to stare before letting out a frustrated sigh, throwing his hands up. "That's not fair!"

Yes, folks, it was time for the man pout. We all know it, we've all seen it. It happens to all men when they are hurt or have a cold. And Koltun was no exception. For a truly vicious looking creature, he could whip up an incredible pout as well.

"I can make it to your chambers...." he mumbled almost petulantly to himself, allowing Vari to wrap her arm about him and guide him out towards her chambers. At least it wasn't an infirmary. "I'll still visit you from time to time, Shnookums" he teasingly called back to Whistletorque

[ L.K ]   “Asth you wish Harbinger.”. Squeaked the gnome as he began to gather tools, food, medicine, a mechanical squirrel, and the balloons.

“Letsth get you cozy Pill-idari.”. He chuckled and looked toward Kolt as he was leaving.

“I call him that causthe he loves histh pills!”. He cackled and clapped his chubby meat-sack hands before scooping up everything he’d need to settle the man into his new room.

[ P.K ]   Vari actually... laughed, shaking her head and out she went, Koltun in tow and that ridiculous gnome chortling after.

[ L.K ]   Kross would be all that remained in the room.  The flickering candles and torches extinguished the second he burst into a white vapor and vanished.  They had work to do. . .

TBC.... “In Depths Below: Vengeance Part 2.” . . . . .

@zalraazurestar

@siidaraykashebahl

@pyravari-kashebahl

@daltalah

@thebladeitself

@whatadarkbitch

@lady-dawnblood

@zandalaridruidofgonk

[bamby0304]

The Hart: Chapter One

Summary:  When Lizzie was just a few months old, she lost her father. Fifteen years later she lost her mother, and then her sister. Now in her early twenties Lizzie spends her days and nights hunting things and saving people. When the Winchesters meet the bright eyed and bubbly blonde they don’t realise what they’re in for… and neither does she…

Part Ten: Hunted

Masterlist

Warnings: Violence and death

Bamby

SPOV

I stepped into the roadhouse, walking up to Ellen as she stood behind the bar cleaning some glasses. Clearing my throat, I got her attention.

"Sam." she offered a light smile.

"Hey, Ellen." I nodded. "You don't seem that surprised to see me."

"Your brother's been calling. Worried sick. Looking for you."

"Yeah, I figured he might." I'd snuck out of our hotel room a couple of days ago and made my way here with a stolen car.

"What's going on between you two?" she asked, leaning against the bar.

Ignoring her question, I changed the subject. "How's Jo?"

She nodded knowingly, understanding that I wasn't going to answer her question, so she moved on to me. "Well, I don't really know."

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't seen her in weeks. She sends a postcard now and again." she shrugged.

"What happened?"

"After she worked that job with you two boys and Lizzie, she decided she wanted to keep on hunting. I said, 'Not under my roof', and she said, 'Fine'."

I chuckled lightly. "So, I'm probably the last person you wanna see right now."

She laughed. "Oh, don't get me wrong. I wish I could blame the hell out of you boys. It'd be easier. Truth is, it's not your fault. Sam... None of it is. I want you to know that I forgave your daddy a long time ago, for what happened to my Bill. I just don't think he ever forgave himself."

"What did happen?"

It was her turn to ignore my question. "So, why did you come here, sweetie?"

"I need help."

"What am I looking for, Sam?" Ash asked.

"Other people." I kept my voice low so only he and Ellen could hear me. "Other psychics like me. As many as possible. And I need a nationwide search."

"But I thought there was no way to track them all down." Ellen noted. "Not all of them had nursery fires like you did."

"Well, no." I shrugged. "But some had to. Start there."

Ash didn't move right away. "First you gotta tell me how Elizabeth's doing. Haven't seen her in months. Haven't heard from her." he shook his head. "It's like you and Dean came around and swept her off her feet or something."

"You get me what I need, and I'll tell you what you want to know about Lizzie." I offered.

There was barely a second between me finishing my sentence and him starting his. "I'll be right back." he said before rushing off.

"Come on." Ellen nudged me. "I'll get you a beer."

I sat down and waited by the bar. She placed the beer in front of me. I wasn't even half way through it by the time Ash came back out.

"Done and done." he came to sit next to me.

"That was fast."

"Well, apparently, that's my job." he shrugged. "Make a monkey dance at the keyboard."

Ellen rolled her eyes. "Just tell us what you got, Ash."

"Four folks fit the profile, nationwide. Born in '83. Mother died in a nursery fire, the whole shebang."

"Four? That's it?" I thought there'd be a lot more than that...

"Sam Winchester from Lawrence, Kansas. Max Miller from Saginaw, Michigan. Andrew Gallagher from Guthrie, Oklahoma. And, uh… another name, Scott Carey." he placed the list in front of me.

I grabbed it to look at the name I hadn't heard, but saw no other information. "You got an address?"

"Kind of." he nodded. "The Arbor Hills Cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana. Plot 486."

"So he's dead?"

"Killed. About a month ago."

"Killed how?"

"Stabbed. In a parking lot. Fuzz don't have much. No suspects."

"All right." I took another drink before putting my beer down. "Thank you."

"So..." before I could move, he went on. "Elizabeth."

Sighing, I sat back down. "What do you want to know?"

"She met anyone?"

"No. She doesn't seem like the kind of person to settle down. Besides, we're always on the move, and I'm pretty sure she'd never hook up with a hunter."

"How is she?" Ellen asked, a sad look in her eyes. "When Dean calls, I never hear from her. You think she'll come back anytime soon?" there was a hopeful tone in her voice.

I just sighed. "I don't know. I think she feels like she really messed up, with you and Jo. I guess with everything that happened to her mum, she's scared of losing you guys, too. So she's just pushing you to the side for now."

"She told you about her mum?" Ellen looked surprised.

"Yeah." I nodded. "We came across a crossroads demon. After the case, she told me about her mum and the deal. She feels guilty about it, like it's her fault."

Dean didn't know. I hadn't told him, and I was pretty sure Lizzie wouldn't. I'd asked her more about it, but she wasn't saying anything. All I knew was that she somehow ended up in a coma and her mum made a deal to save her. Ten years later Lizzie found her mum after the hellhounds had gotten to her.

"So she didn't tell you anything else?" Ellen asked.

"No..." I frowned. "What else is there for her to tell?"

Ellen and Ash shared a look before Ash answered. "That's something you're gonna have to ask her, Sam I am."

"I've gotta do this first." I nodded to the list as I stood and started for the door.

Before I could get far, Ellen's voice stopped me. "Where are you going?"

"Indiana." I answered.

"Sam..." she watched as I stopped and turned to her. "I gotta call Dean, I gotta let him know where you are."

"Ellen, I'm trying to find answers about who I am." I explained. "My brother means well, but he can't protect me from that. Please."

Letting out a sigh, she nodded.

I'd gone to see Scott Carey's father. He'd shown me Scott's room, which is where I'd found a wall covered in pictures of yellow eyes in his wardrobe. Mr Carey also told me how Scott had been having nightmares and migraines. I had no doubt he was one of the psychics now.

Walking towards my hotel room, the sun gone, with hardly any one around, I could feel eyes on me. I could feel someone watching me as they snuck up.

As I reached my door, I waited for a moment before spinning around, grabbing them, and pushing them against the wall. "Who are you?"

It was a girl. She looked to be around my age. "Please. You're in danger."

Now in my hotel room, I watched as the girl from outside paced. "Okay, look, I know how all this sounds, but I'm not insane and I'm not on drugs. Okay? I'm normal. This is way, way off the map for me."

"All right, all right, just... Just calm down okay? What's your name?"

"Ava."

"Ava?"

"Ava Wilson."

"Ava, I'm Sam Winchester, all right?" I introduced myself. "Now, you were telling me about these dreams of yours?"

"Oh, yeah, okay... About a year ago I started having these, like headaches and just, nightmares, I guess. And I didn't think much of it, until I had this one dream where I saw this guy get stabbed in a parking lot."

"When was this?"

"About a month ago, but anyway…" she reached into her handbag and pulled out a newspaper clipping. "A couple of days later I found this." I took the clipping. It was an article about Scott's death. "I saw this guy die. Days before it happened. I don't know why, I don't know- It's just, some reason my dreams are coming true. And last night, I had another one."

"Okay." I waited expectantly.

She looked up at me. "About you. I saw you die."

"How did you find me?"

"Oh, ah, you had motel stationary. And I Googled the motel and it was real. And so I just thought that I should warn you."

I let out a short laugh. "I don't believe this..."

She groaned. "No, of course you don't. You think I'm a total nut job."

I shook my head. "Wait, no, no, no, no, I mean, you must be one of us."

"Sorry. One of- One of who?"

"One of the psychics like me." I explained. "Look, Ava, I have visions too, all right? So- So, we're connected."

She laughed. "Okay, so... you're nuts. That's great."

Seeing that I was losing her, I tried to convince her that I was right and not crazy. "No, okay, okay, look, did your mother happen to die in a house fire?"

"No, my mother lives in Palm Beach."

"So you don't fit the pattern either..."

DPOV

I was driving along the road, Liz rested her head on my shoulder as she slept. We hadn't stopped looking for Sam. We had no idea to look, but we were going to stop trying. At first, I'd offered to take Liz back to the roadhouse. Sam was my brother, and this wasn't her problem. But she refused, and insisted I let her go with me. Apparently, she and Sam had become good friends, and she was almost just as worried as I was.

My phone started to ring, waking her up.

She groaned, rubbing at her eyes as she looked up at me. "Who is it?"

"I don't know." I shrugged before answering the phone. "Hello?"

"It's Ellen."

"Ellen." looking over at Liz for a moment, I spoke into the phone again. "Have you heard from him?"

"I have. But he made me promise not to tell you where he is."

"Come on. Something bad could be going on here and I swore I'd look after that kid."

"Now, Dean, they say you can't protect your loved ones forever." she started, but quickly went on. "Well, I say screw that. What else is family for? He's in Lafayette, Indiana."

"Thanks." I hung up.

"We got him?" Liz asked, moving back over to her side.

I nodded. "We got him."

SPOV

"Why can't you just leave town? Please, before you blow up?" Ava clearly wanted me out of here.

"No, I can't."

"Oh, God. Why not?"

"Because there's something going on here, Ava. With you. With me. I mean, there are others like us out there. And we're all a part of something. And I gotta figure out what."

"Okay, you know what?" she stood up. "Screw you, buddy, okay? Because I'm a secretary from Peoria. And I'm not part of anything. Do you see this?" she showed me an engagement ring on her finger. "I am getting married in eight weeks. I am supposed to be home addressing invitations. Which I'm way behind on, by the way. But instead, I drove out here to save your weirdo ass. But if you just wanna stay here and die, fine. Me, I'm due back on planet Earth." she grabbed her bag and started for the door.

"Don't you wanna know why this is happening?" I asked, causing her to stop. "I mean, don't these visions scare the hell out of you? Because if you walk out that door right now, you might never know the truth." as she turned to me again, I shrugged. "I need your help."

Ava had stayed the night- in the spare bed. The next morning she'd helped by distracting Scott's therapist, while I snuck into his office and stole Scott's file. Walking back into the hotel room, I dumped the file on the table and looked to Ava.

"Are you okay?" I asked, seeing a look on her face I couldn't quite read.

She turned to me. "Am I okay?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"I just helped you steal some dead guy's confidential psych files... I'm awesome!" she beamed.

I grinned. "Let's see what we got then." pulling out the voice recorder I set it on the table before pressing play.

"It started a little over a year ago. Migraines at first. Then I found that I could do stuff." Scott said.

"What do you mean, 'do stuff'?" the therapist asked.

"I have this ability. When I touch something, I can electrocute it if I want."

EPOV

Dean drove into the parking lot of the Blue Rose Motel. I looked into the windows, trying to see any sign of Sam, when I spotted him. His back was turned, but I knew it was him.

"There." I pointed to the room.

Dean stopped and turned the car off. "Thank God you're okay." he let out a breath of relief as we watched his brother. Sam moved from the window, revealing a woman in the room as well. Dean chuckled. "Oh, you're better than okay. Sam, you sly dog."

SPOV

"What else does the Yellow-Eyed man say?"

"He has plans for me. He says there's a war coming. And people like e, we're gonna be the soldiers. Everything is about to change."

I reached over and turned it off, not wanting to hear any more for the moment.

"He's not talking about us, right?" Ava asked.

"Yeah, I think he is." I moved around to the other side of the table.

"Well- But how can we turn into that?"

Sighing, I shrugged as I went to sit down. "I don't-"

Coincidently, I'd moved right in time as a bullet broke through the window and hit the wall behind me.

Getting to the ground quickly, I grabbed Ava and held her down as well as she froze and another shot bullet hit the wall.

DPOV

Liz and I snuck up the stairs to the roof of a building across from Sam's room.

"Gordon!" I ran up to him as he lay on the roof with a rifle. Kicking him away from the gun, I got down and punched him. "You do that to my brother? I'll kill you."

"Dean, wait."

But I didn't give him a chance to speak, I just punched him again, and again.

I didn't notice him grab the rifle, which he then used to hit me across the head. He was quick. As I fell back, he got to his feet and aimed at Liz. I froze as he stepped up to her and pressed the barrel of his gun to her temple.

"Now either you can do this the easy way. Or your friend here..." Gordon pressed the barrel against her head harder. "She gets a bullet."

SPOV

Once the shooting had stopped, Ava and I headed over to the building across from my room. We made our way up to the roof, where we found some blood and bullet shells.

"Wait, I don't understand. Shouldn't we be talking to the cops?" Ava asked.

"Trust me, they wouldn't do us much good." I told her as I crouched down to look at the shells. "These are .223 caliber. Subsonic rounds. The guy must have out a suppressor on the rifle."

"Dude, who are you?"

"I just- I just watch a lot of T.J. Hooker." I lied, standing back up as I pulled out my phone and dialled Dean's number.

"Who are you calling?"

"My brother. I think we definitely need help."

"Hello?"

"Dean."

"Sam, we've been looking for you."

"Yeah, look, I'm in Indiana, Lafayette."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I talked to Ellen. Liz and I just got here. It's a real funky town. You ditched us, Sammy. You ditched me."

There was something wrong... "Yeah, I'm sorry, look, right now, there's someone after me."

"What? Who?"

"I don't know. That's what we need to find out. Where are you?"

"I'm staying at 5637 Monroe Street. Why don't you meet me here?"

"Yeah, sure." I answered before hanging up.

"What is it?" Ave could see there was something wrong.

"My brother and friend are in trouble."

"What?"

"He gave me a code word. Someone's got a gun on him."

"Code word?"

"Yeah, funky town." when I looked up and saw the confusion on her face, I explained. "Well, he thought of it. It's kind of a long story. Come on." I nodded back to the stairs before we left.

DPOV

Gordon hung up the phone. "Now, was that so hard?"

"Bite me."

He'd tied Liz and I to a chair each in an abandoned building, where he was planning to lure Sam. To kill him. It had me on edge, but I wasn't going to just give up. Not when people I cared about were in danger.

"Gordy." I started. "I know me and Sam ain't exactly your favourite people. But don't you think this is a little extreme? And Liz here hasn't done anything to deserve this."

He shook his head. "Elizabeth knows the drill. She's got nothing to worry about as long as she does what I say." turning to her, he gave a knowing look.

I frowned, my eyes moving from Liz, to Gordon and then back. "You two know each other?"

"Yes." Liz glared at Gordon.

"We worked on a case together." Gordon shrugged. "Elizabeth makes excellent bait."

"Go to hell." she snarled.

"But we didn't just work together." ignoring her, he stepped closer to her chair. "Elizabeth can be trusting when you want her to be." I wasn't stupid, I knew what he was saying. They'd slept together. "But you probably already know about that." he looked over to me then. "As for you and Sammy. This isn't about revenge."

As much as I wanted to rip into him for talking about Liz like that, I tried to keep cool and stay on track. "We did leave you tied up in your own mess for three days, which was awesome." I chuckled lightly. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh."

"I was planning on whooping your ass for that. But that's not what this is. This isn't personal. I'm not a killer. I'm a hunter. And your brother's fair game."

SPOV

"I don't think I should leave." she insisted as we headed for her car.

"I want you out of harm's way, Ava."

"But what about you?"

"What about you?"

"Harm's way doesn't really bother me."

"No, but you are walking right into my vision. I mean, this is how you die."

"Doesn't matter." I shrugged. "It's my brother. And my friend."

"Maybe I can help." she offered.

"You've done all you can. Just- Just go back to your fiancé." I told her as we reached her car. A blue Volkswagen bug.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." I opened the door for her. "Go home, Ava. You'll be safe there."

She got in the car and looked up at me through the open window. "Well, just... Promise me you'll call. When you get you brother and friend, just to let me know that everything's all right."

I gave a short nod. "I promise."

DPOV

"See, I was doing an exorcism down in Louisiana. Teenage girl. Seemed routine, some low-level demon. But between the jabbering and head-spinning, damn thing muttered something. About a coming war. I don't think it meant to. It just kind of slipped out, but it was too late. Piqued my interest. And you can really make a demon talk, if you got the right tools."

"And what happened to the girl it was possessing?" I asked, knowing what the answer was going to be.

"She didn't make it." was all he said.

"Well, you're a son of a bitch."

He stood up, walked over, and backhanded me across the face.

"Dean!" Liz called out. "Gordon, don't."

He just shook his head, moving to sit back down. "That's my mama you're talking about. Anyway, this demon tells me they have soldiers to fight in this coming war. Humans, fighting on hell's side. Do you believe that?"

"Do you think they want to live like this?" Liz asked him, venom in her voice. "They're just people."

"They're psychics, so they're not exactly pure humans." he argued, stepping up to her chair. "It wasn't that long ago you'd kill one of them on the spot."

She glared up at him. "What can I say, I've grown as a person."

The look in Liz's eyes was pure hatred. Whatever had happened in the past, still haunted her. It made me think of the time Ellen told me not to work with him. Was Liz the reason Ellen didn't trust the guy? I wouldn't have either if I found out he'd used her as bait. That would have been after he slept with her. Which still confused me. Why would she sleep with him of all people? He's crazy.

Though before I find out he was crazy, I thought he was a pretty decent guy. We'd hung out, gotten to know each other. He'd seemed like someone I could trust. But before long, his true colours showed up, and from there I knew I could and would never trust him again.

"You know the biggest kick in the ass?" he turned to me, going on. "This demon said I knew one of them. Our very own Sammy Winchester."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Oh, this is- This is a whole new level of moronic, even for you."

"Yeah." he nodded. "Come on, Dean. I know, about Sam's visions. I know everything."

"Really? Because a demon told you? Yeah, and it wasn't lying."

"Hey, Dean, I'm not some reckless yahoo, okay? I did my homework. Made damn sure it was true. Look, you got your Roadhouse connections, I got mine. That's how I found Sammy in the first place." he moved over to his chair and sat down again. "About a month ago, I found another one of these freaks, here in town. He could deep-fry a person just by touching them."

"Yeah, did he kill anyone?" I asked, looking over my ties, trying to find a way out. But there wasn't.

"Besides Mr Tinkles, the cat? No. But he was working up to it. They're all gonna be killers, Dean. We gotta take them all out. And that means Sammy too."

My eyes fell on the rifle in his hands. "You think Sam's stupid enough to walk through that front door?"

"No, I don't. Especially since I'm sure you found a way to warn him." he gave a short, face laugh. "You really think I'm that stupid?"

I didn't think he needed me to answer that.

"No." he got up and moved to his bag. "Sammy's gonna scope the place first. See me covering the front door. So he's gonna take the back. And when he does, he'll hit the tripwire. Then..." he pulled out a grenade, "boom."

"Sam's not gonna fall for a frigging tripwire."

"Maybe you're right." he nodded, reaching into the bag again, pulling out another grenade. "That's why I'll have a second one." he stepped up to me with a sigh. "Hey, look. I'm sorry. I wish I didn't have to do this, I really do. But for what it's worth, it'll be quick." he said before walking off to set up the traps.

The moment he was gone, I turned to Liz. "You slept with that guy?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I haven't slept with a hunter since. The last thing I need is to be screwed over, after I've been screwed."

EPOV

Gordon Walker. The asshole who nearly got me killed. The average lay that had made me give up on hunters. The lunatic determined to kill my friend. I wanted him dead. I wanted to kill him myself, but I was willing to give the honour to Dean seeing as it was his brother on the line here.

I didn't like the fact Dean now knew about Gordon's and my past. Not many people knew about it, and I had hoped it would stay that way. Because of him, most hunters didn't trust taking me out on the job. Because I'd been forcefully used as bait, it made them see me as a fragile, vulnerable, useless girl.

I wanted him dead.

"Come on man." Dean turned to Gordon as he walked back into the room where Dean and I were tied up. "I know, Sam, okay? Better than anyone. He's got more of a conscience than I do. I mean, the guy feels guilty surfing Internet for porn."

Gordon shrugged, coming to sit in between us. "Maybe you're right. But one day, he's gonna be a monster."

"How? Huh? How's a guy like Sam become a monster?"

"Beats me, but he will."

"No, you don't know that." Dean snapped.

"I'm surprised at you, Dean. Getting all emotional. I'd heard you were more or a professional than this. Look, let's say you were cruising around in that car of yours, and you had little Hitler riding shotgun, right? Back when he was just some goofy, crappy artist. But you knew what he was gonna turn into someday. You'd take him out." he clicked his fingers. "No questions. Am I right?"

"That's not Sam." Dean wasn't letting go of his brother though, and he shouldn't.

"Yes, it is. You just can't see it yet."

"I wish I'd killed you when I had the chance." I muttered, knowing he heard me.

Gordon turned to me then. "Really?" he asked, standing up and moving so he was in front of me.

"Yeah." I nodded. "You go on about Sam turning into a monster. How he's going to kill people. Be this scary soldier. See, to me that sounds exactly like you. Mindless killing. Doing what you think is right, without asking questions." shrugging, I kept eye contact, watching as he tensed his jaw. "You're the monster, Gordon. You always were."

He lifted his hand and back handed me. Hard.

My head snapped to the side and the chair lost balance, sending me to the ground. Unable to control where I landed, my head hit some loose, hard rubble. Pain throbbed as I let out a small cry.

"Liz!" Dean began to struggle against his binds. "Don't you touch her!"

Ignoring him, Gordon grabbed the arm of my chair and pulled me back up. He looked to my forehead, lifting a finger to press on it. I winced in pain and watched as he drew back his hand to show blood on his fingers.

"I didn't want to have to hurt you." he shook his head. "Look, I'm sympathetic. He's your friend." he nodded to Dean. "Your brother. You love the guy. But here's the thing." pulling out a cloth from his back pocket, he moved to stand behind me. "It would've wrecked him. But John, if it came right down to it, he'd have the stones to do the right thing here." he tied the cloth around my face like a gag before he headed over to Dean. "So you're telling me, you're not the man he is?" he asked Dean, gaging him as well.

Like I said, I wanted him dead.

DPOV

Liz and I tensed as Gordon turned to look at the back of the house. We could all here it. Sam was here, picking the lock of the door. About to walk into the death trap.

"You hear him?" Gordon asked. "Here he comes."

A moment later, the first bomb went off.

I yelled against my gag, struggling against my binds.

But Gordon didn't move. "Hold on. Not yet. Just wait and see."

The second bomb went off.

Gordon started for the back room. "Sorry, Dean." he said before disappearing.

Liz was crying, screaming against her gag. I was struggling to get out of my seat and to turn. I couldn't see Gordon anymore. I didn't know where he was going, or if Sam was alive. I had no idea what was happening. I was useless.

Sam couldn't be dead. It was my job to take care of him. It was my responsibility. He couldn't be dead. I wouldn't believe it. Not unless I see it with my own eyes.

If he was dead, I didn't know what was I supposed to do next. Sam was the only family I had. He was the only person I knew I could trust and count on no matter what. Without him, I'd be alone. When I was willing to die with him last week, that wasn't me being dramatic. If he was gone, I had no one else left, and I couldn't go on like that.

"Put it down now!" Sam yelled.

He was alive. He was alive!

Before I could get too excited, the sound of a fight sounded. Both Sam and Gordon grunting as parts of the house began to collapse and fall apart.

I started to struggle against my binds again. Needing to get free. Needing to save my brother.

Just as suddenly as it had started, it finished. The sound of footsteps coming our way could have bene either of them. If it was Gordon, then I'd know Sam was dead, and he'd be next. I wasn't letting him leave this house alive.

But it was Sam who stepped up to me. He was battered and bleeding, but he was alive and that was the main thing. Standing next to me, he untied on of my hands before he turned to help Liz with her binds.

The moment she was free, she stood and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead."

Sam chuckled lightly, hugging her back. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

I got myself free and stepped up to them, checking out Sam's injuries first, before taking a look at Liz's head- which was still bleeding. "Son of a-" I started for Gordon.

"Dean, no." Sam called after me.

"I let him live once. I won't make the same mistake twice." I argued.

But he just shook his head. "Trust me. Gordon's taken care of. Come on." he grabbed my shoulder and turned me to the front door.

The three of us left the house, ready to get the hell out of there. We were caught completely by surprise when Gordon walked out of the house and started shooting at us.

"Come on!" I yelled as the three of us started running for the bushes across the road. "You call this 'taken care of'?" I asked Sam as Gordon kept shooting. We jumped over a log and hid, unable to run anymore without risk of getting shot. "What the hell are we doing?"

"Just trust me on this, all right." Sam insisted.

Out of nowhere, a number of cops pulled up, sirens ringing as they blocked off any escape Gordon could have used.

"Drop your weapons. Get down on your knees!"

"Hands above your head now!"

"On the ground, right now!"

"Do it!"

Sam, Liz and I watched as Gordon dropped his guns and got down to his knees, raising his hands to his head. A cop came over and cuffed him as a few others moved to his car, hiding his stash of guns and weapons.

"Anonymous tip." Sam explained.

"You're a fine, upstanding citizen, Sam." I grinned before turning to Liz.

...

"Gordon Walker was hunting Sam?" Ellen asked on the other side of the phone.

I stood outside the Impala with Liz while Sam sat in the car. "He almost killed us. All of us. Because somebody over there can't keep their frigging mouth shut!"

"And you honestly think it was me? Or Ash, or Jo? No way."

I was pissed, and I had every right to be. "Well, who else knows about Sam, huh? You must've been talking to somebody."

"You can say a lot of things about us, but we aren't disloyal, and we're not stupid. We haven't breathed a word of this."

"Gordon said he had Roadhouse connections, Ellen."

"And this roadhouse is full of other hunters. They're all smart, they're good trackers, each of them with their own patterns and connections. Hell, I could name twelve of them right now that are capable of putting this together." she sighed. "I am sorry about what happened, Dean. But I can't control these people. Or what they choose to believe. Just take care of Lizzie. You can't bring her back when they know she's been with you and Sam."

"Trust me. I'm not taking my eyes off her." I hung up the phone then, too pissed to talk to Ellen any more. Sighing, I turned and stepped up to Liz where she'd been standing next to me. Lifting a hand to her head, I checked out her bruising cut. "How's it feel?"

"Sore." she winced as I brushed my finger against it.

I pulled my hand back. "Sorry."

"It's fine." she shrugged. "At least it's stopped bleeding."

I hated seeing her like this, and I hated that I couldn't protect her back there. She shouldn't have gotten hurt. I shouldn't have let him get his hands on her. Or Sam.

Shaking my head, I sighed. "You wanna get out of here?"

"Yes please." she nodded, following me to get into the car.

EPOV

"Hey, Ava. It's Sam again." Sam was trying to get a hold of the girl he'd been hanging out with at his hotel, but she wasn't picking up. "Call me when you get this. Just wanna make sure you got home okay. All right, bye." he hung up.

"Everything all right?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Well, Gordon should be reaching for the soap for the next few years at least." Dean grinned.

Sam nodded. "Yeah. If they pin Scott Carey's murder on him. And if he doesn't bust out."

"Dude, if you ever take off like that again..." Dean left the threat hanging.

"What?" Sam gave a light smile to his brother. "You'll kill me?"

I reached over and slapped his shoulder "Not funny."

Sam just laughed. "All right. All right, so where to next then?"

"One word. Amsterdam." Dean answered.

"Dean-"

But he cut Sam off before he could go on. "Come on, man, I hear the coffee shops don't even serve coffee."

"I'm not gonna just ditch the job." Sam argued.

"Screw the job." both guys turned to me, surprised.

"You love the job." Sam noted.

I shook my head. "Look, Sam, you're my friend. And if we have to lay low to keep you safe, then that's what we'll do."

Dean nodded. "She's right. Majority rules."

Sam laughed. "When did this become a democracy?"

"Now." Dean and I answered at the same time.

Shaking his head, Sam sighed. "I've tried running before, guys. I ran all the way to California, and look what happened. You can't run from this. And you can't protect me."

"We can try." Dean shrugged.

Sam looked to his brother. "Look, Dean, I'm gonna keep hunting. I mean, whatever is coming, I'm taking it head-on. So if you two really wanna watch my back, then I guess you'll have to stick around."

Dean shook his head. "Bitch."

"Jerk." Sam responded right away.

I rolled my eyes. "Morons."

Sam chuckled lightly as he pulled out his phone.

"You're calling that Ava girl again?" Dean asked. "Are you sweet on her or something?"

"She's engaged, Dean."

"So?" Dean grinned, causing me to roll my eyes again. "What's the point of saving the world if you can't get a little nookie once in a while, huh?"

Sam pulled the phone away from his ear, not getting through again.

Dean looked to him for a moment. "What?"

"Just a feeling... How far is it to Peoria?"

...

"Hello?" Sam called as we walked into the house. "Is anybody home?"

The three of us headed form room to room with our torches, looking for any sign of Sam's friend and her fiancé. As we came to the bedroom we found him, lying on the bed... Dead. There was blood everywhere.

"Oh, my God." Sam came to a stop.

I couldn't tear my eyes form the body... All that blood... It reminded me of how I'd found my family. All the red. The blood. Everywhere. Walls, floors, on everything...

"Hey." Dena turned from the window, showing us his fingers and the yellow powder on them. "Sulphur. Demon's been here."

Sam shook his head, turning to leave, but when he stepped on something, he stopped and crouched down to pick it up. It was a woman's engagement ring.

Ava was gone.

Bamby

[tialovestelevision]

Five by Five

Faith time! It’s Faith time! 1. LA. Guy walks up to a group of people around a fire barrel. They’re burning people parts, and are demons, and are chasing him. He’s shooting his gun at the, and Angel and Wes just drove up in their car and cut a demon head off. His name is Marquez, and Angel hates saving the wrong guy. He’s giving him a ride. 2. Bus shows up at the station. Those are hella stylish boots getting off, which means… yes. Faith. Guy is smoking and watching her. Asks if she’s new in town. He’s telling her people take advantage, then trying to convince her to sleep with him. She beat him up and took his money and his jacket. And his ID, which means she knows where his place is, so she’s going to stay there. Is he dead? 3. Nineteenth century flashback. Angelus is with Darla in a house, wearing a blindfold. Roaring fire. Darla has a present for him, who is a Romani girl. Darla wants to watch him torture and eat her. 4. Angel is trying to talk Marquez into doing the right thing. Cordy doesn’t think he will, and that’ll be a waste of a vision. “Scratch the surface, and what do you find? More surface.” 5. “You’re gonna have to face your demons sometime.” “What if I don’t wanna face my demons?” “Then you’ll have to face mine.” Angel scares me sometimes. 6. Faith is dancing at a club. She spent some of the guy she killed’s money on that top. That very, very top. She steps into the middle of couples and punches someone out. Now there’s a brawl going on and she’s dancing and occasionally kicking people. 7. Lindsay is in court arguing that the DA lacks a case against his client because he has no witnesses. The DA accuses him of witness tampering, but has no proof because Wolfram & Hart tampers with those witnesses too. Angel shows up with Marquez, who is a witness. Lindsay is not happy with him. And is now in trouble. 8. Angel is a costly liability. And Lindsay has a visitor. The visitor has a solution to his problem. Lee is his name. Now Lee is meeting Lilah in the hallway. Lee’s idea is Faith. Lee doesn’t know where she is, but Lilah does. She wants to make the contact. Lee called her a bitch. 9. Cordy: “Unfortunately, we don’t do divorce cases. No, it’s not about the money. Wait, it’s about that much money? How soon can we meet?” Wes is worried about what Wolfram & Hart will do. 10. Lilah is talking to Faith. I think Faith thought Lilah was hitting on her. Wow, Lilah is a lot taller than Faith. Faith is looking at the idea of robbing Lilah, but is surprised Lilah knows her name. Lilah is terrified, but also knows how to play. They got Faith in the car. 11. Flashback. Darla coming home. Angel is leaning against the wall terrified and talking about people not screaming. Darla thinks he’s playing a game. Children scream, and Darla thinks he’s brought her some. He’s been cursed. Darla is disgusted by him and his filthy soul. She’s threatening to stake him… made him run away. 12. Faith at Wolfram & Hart. Talk talk background background orgasm joke orgasm joke business agreement. Lee complained that Faith might make him look bad; Faith is beating the shit out of him. Lilah seems to be turned on. Lindsay just reduced their dinner arrangements from 4 to 3. 13. Faith, Angel, and Cordy are talking business at the courthouse. Faith showed up and shot a crossbow at Angel, who caught the bolt. “That was so cool! This is gonna be fun.” Cordy and Wes look TERRIFIED. 14. “Giles says she left Sunnydale about a week ago. Described her mental state as borderline psychotic.” So we’ve had a week since Buffy got her body back. About a week and 1-2 days since Faith woke up. 15. They’re discussing what to do about Faith. Angel wants Cordy and Wes to leave town and lay low. Wes wants to stay, and points out that Faith is a person rather than a demon, and says that Angel should try to save her if there’s a chance. Angel points out that there was a chance, a year ago, and somebody called in a Council team to finish the process of fucking her right up. 16. Angel’s at home alone. He looked at his weapons then left the room and went to the office. Someone has opened the blinds in the front room. It’s Faith. Faith tossed him a gun to give him a chance, and Angel shot at her leg but it was loaded with a blank. Faith taunts him a bit and shoots him - the second bullet wasn’t a blank. Then she jumps out the window. 17. Angel is at Wolfram & Hart. A lawyer approached him and said he was at the Gruber meeting. That meeting was a disaster, as Angel was telling Frank, who works with Louisa in contracts, but the problem is not contracts. That was a very funny conversation. 18. Angel’s in Lindsey’s office. Going through paperwork on the desk. Lindsey just came in and found him there. Asked if he has respect for the law. It is a nice office. They’re threatening each other… Lindsey with the law, Angel with violence. They’ve got great patter. Angel is leaving, since Wolfram & Hart has a great security system. 19. Wes and Cordy are reading news about Faith as they approach Cordy’s house. Dennis won’t let Cordy open the door. Dennis thinks Cordy is bringing a man home… or he could be trying to keep them out because Faith is there. Since she is. Wes and Cordy are screwed. 20. Faith: “Shut up, Wesley.” 21. Wes tries to talk Faith down. Faith elbows Cordy into unconsciousness. Wes punches her, then she breaks his leg with a kick. 22. Flashback. Angel is stumbling through the streets. He’s trying to get himself killed, I think, but people are just beating him up a little. He ate Rudolf. And now he’s eating a woman. 23. Angel’s at Cordy’s place. Cordy is at home still, and Angel helped her up. She’s telling him what happened. Faith kidnapped Wesley. Pretty sure… yep. Torturing him. 24. Wes, this is not the moment for that. Now Faith is getting some glass to torture him with. 25. Huh. Faith didn’t kill the guy at the bus station. He’s in the hospital. Angel knows where Faith is. 26. Well, Faith tortured Wesley with the glass. Now she’s getting fire ready. She’s really angry with Wesley. Maybe moreso than Angel. 27. Angel’s there. How did he get in, with the owner of the house still alive? 28. Flashback. Angel’s stumbling around. He didn’t kill the people he was eating. 29. Banter about age and money and nature, then they fight. They hella fight. I think Faith is winning. Maybe a little less now. Very back and forth. Faith has a stake, but they both went out the window Faith is kicking Angel around and yelling about hi not knowing what evil is. He’s not fighting back now, at all, really. Wes is getting loose.Angel just outfought Faith for a moment. She’s yelling about being evil and sobbing. Coming apart. She wants him to kill her. She’s out of fight, completely. 30. Wes had a knife… he was going to stab her. But he dropped it when he saw her come apart. Overall: This is a two-parter. Or maybe a four-parter, with the previous Faith two-parter on Buffy. For “Sanctuary,” I’ll likely be talking about Angel and Faith. For “This Year’s Girl” and “Who Are You?” I talked about Faith and Buffy. So here, I’ll talk about Faith, herself. We don’t know a lot about how Faith became the person she was when she met Buffy. We know she’s from Boston, she was Called as Slayer, that her Watcher was killed and she went to Sunnydale. Who was she, though, before she met her Watcher? Who was her Watcher? That’s a mystery. She doesn’t like rules, and being Slayer seems to offer a way to escape them. Rules - institutions - have been a source not just of frustration for her but of pain. She never mentions family, and Buffy and her friends never ask. She was, it seems, mostly broken when we met her. The kind of broken that you paper over with a layer of toughness so thick as to make yourself look invulnerable, but that toughness is too rigid, so when it’s beaten past, everything collapses. She rebuilt herself after the incident with the Deputy Mayor and Wesley having her abducted by finding the Mayor - someone who honestly cared for her and was honest with her about how he was using her. He was a monster, but he was kind to her, specifically, in a real way, and she’d never really had that. Buffy had been friendly, but hadn’t really been kind. But she is put into a coma, and while she is out her world breaks again, even worse than before. And the Mayor, in his last posthumous act, offers her a way to rebuild it, but THAT breaks too. And, with everything shattered, she comes to LA. To someone who had not been kind to her, but who had offered to help her without asking for anything at all in return. She couldn’t admit she needed help… that would break the illusion she has that she is in any way functional. She couldn’t trust Angel because nobody wants nothing. But here she is. Faith is a terror, but she is a sympathetic - even pitiable - terror.