Chapter Twelve

Warnings: Some language, violence, and a touch of gore.

‘thoughts’

Sam walked into Missouri's kitchen to the sounds of soft talking and found Missouri, Bobby, and his haggard brother discussing some hunt that Bobby had researched for Ellen. He could tell that Missouri and Bobby were worried about Dean, which was a clear sign that Dean had had another bad night. As the day drew nearer for the end of Dean's deal, Dean was becoming more haunted and withdrawn. It didn't help that Clark's calls had stopped coming. Sam feared that that alone might break Dean more than any time spent in the pit.

He nodded at them before going over and pouring himself some coffee and doctoring it up. He sat down at the table and, after getting glared at by Missouri, dished himself some of the grits and bacon that were waiting to be eaten. From the way Dean was shakily sipping his obviously cold coffee, he knew that Dean hadn't eaten anything again. "So, anything new?" he asked before sipping his coffee and wincing as his tongue was burned from the hot coffee.

“Not since yesterday. Ellen got back to me and told me that Greg was taking on that case I was working on yesterday for her, so hopefully those sirens around the Hudson Bay will be taken care of soon. She says hi by the way,” Bobby replied with a slight smirk at Sam before sipping his own coffee.

“Ah...we’ll have to visit her when this is all done, eh Dean,” Sam commented casually while not looking at his brother. He knew that his brother would just glare at him for his optimism but he wasn’t going to give up. Not with Lex’s last phone call hinting that he might have found something that was going to help. He tried to ignore the reminder that even Lex hadn’t heard from Clark in the past two days. He didn’t want his brother to know that his supposed lover was AWOL.

He heard some shifting and looked over to see Dean glancing around nervously as his trembling fingers tightened around his cup. Sam looked over at Missouri and Bobby in worry and they looked just as grim. The hounds were at it again. He sighed and tried to eat, but his food tasted like ash. He moved to push his plate away, but a quick look of disapproval from Missouri stopped him cold and forced him to eat some more. He had to keep his strength up for Dean, if for no one else. He just wished he could do more.

There was suddenly a knock at the door that had them all looking over in surprise and wariness before Missouri got up to go answer when there was another knock. Sam noted that Bobby was slipping out a .45 and he palmed his own Colt as they focused on the voices at the door. Suddenly Missouri returned with a perky blonde young lady, who smiled at them in greeting. Missouri was obviously trying not to grin as she gestured to the young lady. “Sam, I believe you know this girl. She says that her name is Chloe Sullivan,” Missouri said and Sam cried out happily as he stood up.

“Chloe! Oh my god, how did you find us?!” Sam demanded as he hugged her before standing back and gazing at her. “Wow, you’re nothing like Lex told me about you…he needs his eyes checked I think,” he added and she laughed.

“Why thank you! You’re nothing like he described either…I think you’re right in that he needs his eyes checked!” Chloe responded before grabbing her bag. “Anyways, you’re asking stupid questions. Hello, reporter! And like Lex wouldn’t be able to find you since you, ahem, already told him where you were, duh!” she added and rolled her eyes as he grinned sheepishly.

“Oh yea…lots has happened since I saw him,” Sam admitted with a chuckle before glancing at the others. “Oh! Um, yea, introductions. That’s Missouri, and then that’s Bobby Singer, one of our really good hunter friends. And um…that’s Dean, my brother,” he said as he pointed to each in turn.

“Pleasure to meet all of you!” Chloe replied with a smile to each of them before tugging Sam to the side. “How is Dean?” she whispered quietly as she pulled out some papers and bit her lip.

“Not good. I don’t suppose you know where Clark is, do you,” Sam responded dejectedly before looking at what was in her hand. “What’s this?”

“It’s what Lex and I have managed to find. He’s not here yet because he needs to go and get the last piece himself. He’s going to rush as much as possible to make it tonight before you guys go. Do you know where you guys are going to take this?” she asked as he looked over her notes.

“Yea. Outside of Oak Hills Cemetery. It’s…where our parents’ headstones are,” he told her softly and she frowned in confusion.

“Um oookay? You make it sound like their bodies aren’t there!” she joked and laughed uncomfortably. Her smile slipped away as he gazed at her solemnly. “Oh god, I’m such an ass! They really *aren’t* there, are they? Oh Sam…I’m sorry,” she whispered apologetically and bit her lip.

“It’s ok. You didn’t know. There’s…really nothing to say,” Sam reassured her before looking at her and Lex’s notes, dismissing the conversation. “Wow, you guys really got some great info!” he said with a wide grin and felt like a small load had been lifted off of his shoulders. He pulled her into the living room after a quick glance at his tired brother and sat down.

“You haven’t told Dean yet, have you?” Chloe whispered as she sat next to him on the couch. She frowned when he shook his head. “Why not? Lex never told me why,” she persisted and he smirked at her.

“If Dean doesn’t know, then the part of the contract that says that if he tries to weasel his way out of the deal will have me dead and rotting won’t kick in. At least…we hope. Bobby and I aren’t sure on it, but it makes sense. So that’s a loophole we’re hoping on,” Sam explained and she nodded in understanding. “Does Lex have both of the amulets?” he asked as he looked over the notes with an experienced eye.

“I have one of them. We have to get it on Dean without his knowing before we go to the place. Same with the other one. They both have to be touching his skin somehow. Lucky for us they don’t have to be like…on a chakra point or anything like that, so if we can slip it into his shirt somehow so it’s out of sight, out of mind that’d be the best,” Chloe answered softly before pulling out a small amulet that was a dull green and oval shaped. It had a bronze filigreed casing and was on a black cord that was long enough to let it be hidden under any shirt.

Smiling slightly, Sam took it before looking at the instructions. “We have to chant some as soon as the time is right and it’ll capture the soul. It doesn’t have to be loud even, so you could do it a ways away so you aren’t seen. Same with the other one, it looks like. That’s good. It’ll make things easier. Bobby’ll be doing the incantations along with Missouri, so it should all work out,” he stated and his eyes were sparkling with hope. “This just might work,” he murmured and bit his lip.

“I hope it does, Sam. I wish Clark was here,” Chloe whispered sadly and Sam couldn’t help the frustrated sigh that left him.

“Do you know where he is?” Sam asked as he folded the papers around the amulet. They’d get it on Dean later somehow, but for now he needed some answers.

“He went to his Fortress of Solitude, but that was four days ago. None of us have seen hide or hair of him. I’m really worried that something went down. Even his cousin Kara doesn’t know where he went. She said that, when she went to the fortress, it looked like something had drained some of the energy of the fortress and Jor-El had been less than forthcoming to her, stating that a battle was coming that would determine the balance for good and evil as we know it,” Chloe elucidated as she fidgeted with her purse.

“Well that’s cryptic,” Sam replied with a snort and rolled his eyes. “Dean needs him…he’s losing it bad and he’s losing hope. Clark was…is…what he has always needed in life,” he added quietly before looking at her.

Chloe smiled warmly and sighed. “Yea, he has that way about him with people. And the thing is I *know* that Dean is very special to him. That’s why his disappearing act is even stranger,” she explained before smiling again. “Guess we’ll just have to hope that he appears to save the day again,” she added with a slight laugh.

With a small smile, Sam looked back down at the folded papers. Hope was all they had for the moment. He looked over as he heard the garage door open and knew his brother was going to the car to let out some steam. “Listen, Chloe…talk things over with Bobby and Missouri. They’ll let you in on what all’s happening in everything else. I’m going to be with my brother,” he told her distractedly before glancing at her with a smile.

“Uh sure ok…I’ll just go in there I guess,” Chloe answered in confusion before going into the kitchen. Sam followed her briefly to put the papers minus the amulet on the table for them before going out into the garage.

He went over to Dean as Dean tinkered under the hood and felt his stomach lurch as his brother’s shaking hands banged the ratchet against the engine briefly. “Hey, need some help?” he asked gently as he came over to the side of the car and leaned in.

“Nah, I got it. Thanks,” Dean replied as nonchalantly as he could, but the shifty set of his gaze showed that Sam was right to worry. He kept flinching and looking around and Sam knew it would be only a matter of time before his brother’s cool veneer broke.

His thoughts were broken when Dean’s gasp of horror floated out and he looked up at his brother to see him stepping back with a look of terror on his face before he turned away. “Dean! What is it?” he asked in worry as he straightened up and reached for his brother. He tried to ignore the hurt that flashed through him when his brother pulled away and told himself that it wasn’t *him* Dean was afraid of. “Dean?”

“Ah…uh…” Dean cleared his throat as he tried to catch his breath and turned away from Sam while leaning against the car for support. “S’nothing, Sam. Don’t worry about it,” he said finally, his voice gruff with his desperate move to hide his fear.

“Dean…you’re my brother. I want to help,” Sam said quietly before reaching out again and placing a firm hand on his brother’s trembling shoulder and squeezing it, reminding his brother that he was there. “Talk to me. Don’t let it beat you,” he added in a whisper and smiled reassuringly as Dean turned a bit to look at him.

“It’s…just some stuff. I hear the hounds and…and sometimes when I look at you or Bobby or Missouri, your…faces…just go…it’s a bit…terrifying,” Dean explained hesitantly and laughed a bit at the end self-consciously. He rubbed the back of his neck swiftly before wiping that hand over his face and sighing. He smiled a bit, but it was sad and tore at Sam’s heart. “I’m…kinda glad that Clark isn’t here, ya know? I mean…if I had to see him like that…” he trailed off and swallowed hard before looking at the bumper of his car and running a finger along the edge of the open hood.

“Yea, I know. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but we’re all here for you, Dean. And I know that Clark would be here too…” Sam stopped as he saw Dean’s face crumple a bit.

“Nah, I don’t think he would be, Sam. I think…I don’t think we were ever meant to be anything more than a one night fuck,” Dean whispered shakily and Sam couldn’t stop himself from hugging his brother when he saw Dean’s lip tremble and a tear roll down the too pale face.

“Don’t say that…don’t you even believe it…” Sam whispered fiercely as he hugged his brother tightly to him while fighting his own tears. “You *are* worth knowing, Dean. And I know that Clark knows. Something’s happened, but he *will* be here…I promise you,” he added firmly and smiled when Dean’s arms finally wrapped around him, taking the strength that he was offering. Yes, his brother could be stubborn and self-deprecating like the best of them, but he knew when to ask for help in times of need. No matter what, Sam would *always* be there for his brother. Even when others failed him. He *owed* it to Dean to do that for all the times that Dean had sacrificed everything for him.

He held onto his brother as long as he could and, before Dean pushed him away, slipped the amulet into Dean’s shirt. Since he’d been holding it, it was warm so the sudden touch of cold metal and stone wouldn’t alert his brother to its presence. He’d taken it off of the cord so that there wouldn’t be anything loose to make Dean suspicious and he hoped his brother would leave it alone if he did feel it. If, as had often happened in the past, Dean did find it, he’d most likely put it towards Sam or Bobby being protective…which they were. He’d leave it alone then, as was his habit. At least…that’s what Sam hoped would happen.

They worked on the Impala together, Sam teasing Dean about putting new paint on the sides and Dean threatening him with haunting if he so much as put a different type of window wipers on it than it was used to. It was a desperate teasing that they sought refuge in as the day moved on towards evening.

Finally, as the sun began to set, they brought the Impala out, but stopped as another car drove into the driveway. Sam laughed happily as he got out and trotted to Lex as he stepped out of his own car. They hugged tightly for a few seconds before separating just a bit. Lex showed the amulet to Sam and whispered something before they both turned towards Dean. They both felt their hearts break as Dean’s small hopeful smile and searching gaze faded away when there was no sign of Clark with Lex. Dean’s eyes became dull as the last of his hope seemed to shatter before their very eyes and Sam felt panic rise up and clench his throat tight. “Dean…” he managed as he reached for his brother, but stopped as Dean shook his head and turned away.

“It’s ok, Sammy…” Dean whispered before flashing a fake smile at his brother.

“No it’s not ok! Dean, don’t give up! He’ll be here! I know it!” Sam cried as he rushed to his brother’s side and gripped Dean’s left shoulder to turn him. Dean looked up at him sadly and Sam didn’t stop to think as he hugged his brother tightly. He slipped the last amulet in place as he rubbed his brother’s shivering body before pulling back. “We’ll beat this and then you and Clark are gonna sit down and have a long talk about commitment issues,” he added and grinned as Dean smirked briefly at him.

“Yea whatever, Sammy…come on. Time’s a’wastin’ and Hell don’t wait for nobody,” Dean retorted before looking over at Lex. He went over and stuck his hand out. “Lex…you watch over my baby brother, ok? Don’t be getting him into any fights, you hear?” he ordered and smirked as Lex gripped his hand.

“I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that, Dean. But for argument’s sake, I’ll abide by that,” Lex replied with a smile. He was tugged into a brief, back slapping hug and stepped back.

“Stay out of trouble, Luthor. Catch ya on the flipside,” Dean called as he got into the passenger’s side of his car. Sam smiled at Lex and nodded before slipping into the driver’s side and driving them towards their destination.

Lex watched them go and then looked towards the house where Chloe, an older man Lex assumed was Bobby, and a black woman that was most likely Missouri were standing. He nodded and got into his car and was joined by them. They had to hurry to get to the cemetery before Sam and Dean to get into position. For everything to work, they had to be out of sight, but able to hear everything and that would take a bit of figuring. Hopefully, Sam would be able to follow through on his part. Everything depended on timing.

They got to the cemetery and hid the Porsche at the far end of the graveyard behind a large mausoleum, then crept to the large sign that was situated at the entrance to the Oak Hills Cemetery. Bobby and Missouri drew in the ground a circle with several sigils that Bobby said would basically shield them from the demon and allow for them to see and hear everything but for them to remain off the demon’s radar. Their chanting for the amulets would still be detected by the magical objects, but at least now they wouldn’t be caught as long as they stayed behind the sign and within the sigils’ circle. It was all up to Sam keeping Dean as whole as possible in the coming confrontation.

As the sun set, the Impala arrived and parked not far from where they were. Sam and Dean got out of the car and looked around slowly, though Dean was just a touch more edgy than Sam was as he looked around wildly. Sam put a steadying hand on his brother’s arm and kept his gaze ahead as he felt his brother’s eyes on him anxiously before looking ahead as well. As the darkness fell around them, a figure strode out of the shadows of the nearby grove of trees and stood before them. As the lights around them started to come on, Sam stiffened as Dean gasped softly.

“Well, well…Dean Winchester. We finally get to meet,” Clark said with an evil smirk and his eyes glowed deep purple which sent chills and horror through them as well as understanding. He tilted his head as he sauntered closer to them. “I see you recognize the body. Clark says hi, by the way,” he added in a conspiratorial stage whisper.

“Get out of his body *now* or so help me-”

“What? You’ll kill me? I don’t think so, Dean. I’m here to collect you for your debt, which you’ve been avoiding quite well I might add,” Clark replied in amusement and laughed. “And you can’t kill this body, Dean, even if you had it in your heart to kill a loved one. No…this one’s special and you know it.”

“You’re never going to get away with this,” Sam snarled through gritted teeth and Clark laughed again before grinning wickedly at Sam.

“Jealous, Sammy? We’ve found someone that could quite possibly take even *you* down. Don’t worry…he’ll cause more havoc than you. And you can’t *do* anything about it because he’s unbeatable,” Clark retorted as he ran his hands over his body and then stretched. “I did enjoy destroying a couple of small towns on the way in…such delicious screams. I’m so glad you found him, Dean! We always try to make the good byes as painful as possible by using the loved ones as our hosts,” he added and laughed evilly again.

Dean smirked then, which interested the demon. “You have no idea the trouble you’re getting into,” Dean murmured, but then suddenly jerked and stumbled as if he’d been knocked from behind. He cried out as his shirt was shredded suddenly along his right side and blood welled up from the deep scratches that appeared. He screamed as his injured shoulder was pulled forward and blood dripped down his arm as he was dragged before falling to the ground.

“Dean!!” Sam shouted in horror before rushing forward, but he was thrown back with a cry into the Impala. He slid down with a groan of pain and curled up while clutching his ribs as he looked over. Dean was still being dragged, but he was fighting whatever had him at the shoulder. “D-Dean…”

“Now, now, Sammy…you know the contract. Dean’s soul is mine. He doesn’t need this body anymore,” Clark responded in amusement before walking slowly towards Dean. Dean lay on his back panting for air while he clutched at his torn shoulder as it hung uselessly at his side. “Well Dean…did you say your good byes?” Clark asked sweetly and grinned maliciously as he stood over Dean’s body.

“Go to hell,” Dean spat out weakly as he sneered at Clark and didn’t even wince as Clark picked him up easily by the shirt.

“You first, sweetheart,” Clark whispered before kissing Dean hungrily. Dean’s hands automatically came up to push the demon away, but he was too weak as he leaned into the kiss. There was a flash of light and an otherworldly scream before Dean’s arms fell to his side lifelessly and his head fell back limply.

“NO!! DEAN!!” Sam screamed in panic. He didn’t know if everything had gone right, but he couldn’t think of that. Just seeing his brother dangling in Clark’s hold…’No! It’s not Clark! That’s a demon and he’s going to pay!’ he thought viciously as he pushed himself to his feet and glared furiously at the demon possessed Clark as Clark tossed Dean’s torn, bleeding, lifeless body to the side. He trembled as tears rolled down his face and he pulled out the Colt. “You…you’re going to die now,” he hissed out in rage as he angrily wiped his tears away.

“Now, now, Sammy…you wouldn’t want to hurt the love of Dean’s life’s body, would you?” Clark asked mockingly before sucking on one of his bloody fingers. “Besides…didn’t you hear? I’m invincible. I’m going to so enjoy taking out all of the pathetically weak humans that are still around,” he added before tapping his chin thoughtfully. “I think I’ll start in Metropolis and Smallville. Those little towns sure have escaped their fair share of death, haven’t they?” he inquired with a grin and laughed.

But his laugh suddenly choked as he flinched and stumbled a bit before falling to his knees and bending over as if he was going to be sick. He looked up at Sam in confusion as he felt his strength leaving him, making him dizzy and sick to his stomach and unable to stand. Sam smirked at him before glancing over and Clark looked over as well, but then fell to his side at what he saw. Chloe was stepping out from behind the sign with a large green stone that was glowing menacingly like a heartbeat and the demon realized that it was in time to *his* heartbeat with which it was pulsing. “What’s…happening…” he grunted out and grimaced as he rolled onto his stomach and tried to stand, only to fall on his face as he grew ever increasingly sick and weak.

“You should have done your research. You see, Clark is indeed invincible up to a certain point. When he comes into contact with Kryptonite, which are meteor rocks from his destroyed home world, he becomes weak and sick…vulnerable,” Lex explained as he came out as well and stood beside Chloe while smirking down at Clark. “We knew that you’d taken Clark’s body when Kara had told us that the balance for good and evil was going to be decided soon. So we had some precautions. Now, you’re going to leave Clark’s body or we’re going to shoot you with the Colt,” he added before nodding towards where Sam was aiming the Colt at Clark.

“You wouldn’t dare…” Clark whispered as he gasped for air and groaned as Chloe pushed the rock on him and made him shudder in pain. “You kill me and Dean’ll never…forgive you…” he managed as he sneered at them.

“Think again. He’d rather Clark died free than to ever be used for evil,” Sam hissed out before shooting Clark in the leg. Clark screamed in pain and jerked a bit as lightening shot through his leg. His body suddenly arched as a black cloud spewed out of his mouth and shot out into the night, leaving Clark breathless and moaning weakly as he rolled onto his side. Sam put away the gun as he quickly ran over to Clark while Chloe put away the meteor rock. “Clark…Clark, you ok man?” Sam whispered as he helped Clark to sit up.

“Y-Yea…give me a second,” Clark stuttered as he gasped for air and shivered. He looked around in utter bafflement. “Where am I?” he asked then looked over as he saw Bobby, Missouri, and Lex next to Dean’s body. “Dean! Oh god Dean!” he cried before crawling over as fast as his shaking body could take him. He sobbed as he saw his lover’s pale face and cupped it. “Oh god…is he…”

“Not for long, but his body is badly damaged. Looks like our ruse worked,” Lex remarked with a grin as he pulled out the two amulets that were nestled just under Dean’s back. One was glowing deep green while the other’s golden glow was just fading. He smirked at Clark’s confusion and explained quickly, “We used the golden amulet to make a copy of Dean’s soul to trick the demon into thinking that he’d gotten Dean’s soul. It’ll wear off in a couple of hours, but since the contract’s been fulfilled, Sam and Dean are off the hook.”

“And the green amulet is holding Dean’s real soul. But we only got six hours to heal Dean’s body enough so that he doesn’t collapse and die for real when we put his soul back in. I don’t know how we’re going to do that,” Bobby added grimly as he checked over Dean’s wounds.

“I can take care of that. What do I need to do to get Dean’s soul back into his body?” Clark asked firmly as he took the green amulet before gathering Dean’s body to him.

“Just follow the instructions written on here after you’ve healed Dean’s body. You have only five more minutes though, Clark before Dean’s brain dead,” Chloe whispered as she tucked the folded paper into Clark’s pants’ pocket.

“Not where I’m taking him, Chloe. He has time,” Clark replied with a reassuring smile before looking at the tearful Sam. “I’ll bring him back…I promise.” Sam nodded grimly and leaned into Lex as the bald man wrapped a strong arm around his shoulders to steady and comfort him.

“Hurry it up. We’ll keep dinner warm for you,” Missouri said briskly as she stood up with Bobby’s help.

“Don’t…we won’t be getting back *that* soon,” Clark promised with a roguish grin and then was gone before they could blink and a backlash of air that rustled their clothes and hair.

“Hmmm…well you know what they say,” Lex commented as they looked at each other in relieved bemusement. “Sex is a powerful healer.”  They all laughed in a mixture of relief and adrenaline before heading back to Missouri’s place. Time to celebrate their success.

TBC

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