Chapter Fifteen

The trip to Montana was boring and long, but it was also a time for them to plan until they couldn’t plan anymore. When they met up with Corbin, they were greeted by a man that looked like a hairy version of Caleb. It brought back memories about Caleb that made the brothers smile wistfully before getting out of the car to meet Corbin. They took the Colt with gratitude, not needing to say much more than that because it was well known just what they were going to be using that gun for. So, with a final glance back at the watching older man, the trio headed for Yellowstone...and destiny.

They arrived at the park entrance on the third day of their traveling from the Roadhouse and they knew they needed to rest and regroup a bit, but they couldn’t. Not when they were so close. So they went in, taking the pass that was handed to them by the rather bored looking gate ranger before they drove in. They parked in the designated area that was about two miles into the park, and then sat there. Sam glanced at the other two and grinned sheepishly. "So, any ideas on how we could find them specifically?"

"Well, we know they're in the northwest corner of the park, near the geysers. So..." Dean smirked at Sarah.

"So we just go towards that area until we stumble on them," Sarah finished with a grin.

"Right. Well...let's get a move on!" Dean ordered before pushing out of the car. He stopped though as he caught sight of someone heading towards them. "Well I'll be damned..."

"What is it...oh my god...Andy? Is that you?" Sam called out as he also saw who was approaching and headed towards the other young man.

"Who's Andy?" Sarah whispered to Dean after coming around and watched as Sam and the one named Andy shook hands in greeting while smiling and asking each other how things had been and such not.

"Andy Gallagher. We met up with him in Guthrie, Oklahoma about two and a half years ago. He's like Sam. He can control people with his voice..." Dean grinned at her as he winked. "Best watch out on him," he added and she swatted him. They both looked up as Sam and Andy came over to them. "Dude! Long time no see! How's it hangin'?" Dean asked with a laugh as he shook hands with Andy as well in greeting.

"Eh, ok. I'm not...quite sure why I'm here, but I think it's good that I am?" Andy replied with a grin as he shrugged. He tilted his head at Sarah when he saw her.

"Oh, Andy...this is my girlfriend, Sarah Blake. Sarah, this is an old friend, Andy Gallagher," Sam hastened to introduce them and Sarah grinned at Andy.

"A pleasure. Dean told me that you're like Sam, huh?" Sarah greeted Andy as they shook hands.

"Uh, yea...lost our moms in fires and all that," Andy responded uncertainly as he glanced at the other two men for confirmation of it being all right to speak on such things.

"So what brings you here? Seriously, man...I thought you were happy over in Guthrie," Dean commented as he leaned back against the car.

"Not sure, to tell you the truth," Andy answered with a slight laugh while rubbing his head. "I just...got this sudden urge to go towards Yellowstone and so, here I am! Maybe it's a good thing..." He trailed off indecisively as he glanced at the other three.

"Yea, actually...I think it is," Sam responded with a grin and the sparkle of an idea in his eyes as he focused on the other two. "Four heads are better than three," he added in explanation.

"Ya got a point there," Dean replied with a sigh as he scratched his neck. "But his powers won't work on the others that are there," he pointed out.

"Doesn't matter. He won't have to control anyone and we can split up the circle into four parts so that it's done faster," Sam retorted excitedly as he leaned in and both Dean and Sarah had to fight the urge to kiss him in his exuberance.

"Um, what are you guys talking about?" Andy asked meekly as he watched them in discomfort, knowing that it was something important and not liking the danger level that it sounded like it was on.

They all looked at him and grinned before Dean slung an arm around Andy's shoulders and pulled the other young man close. "Andy...Andy, Andy, Andy...ya ever wanted to be an unsung hero?" he asked with a smirk and Andy blinked at him. Quickly, he told Andy their plan of surrounding the gathered with a devil's trap and then doing an exorcism before killing the demon that had killed their mothers and fathers.

Blinking again as everything was explained, Andy tapped his lip nervously. "So you um, want me to help make this circle and do an exorcism? But uh...I don't know Latin..." he said softly and looked like he was trying to shrink into a small ball.

"I can teach you on the way. Come on, Andy...please?" Sam requested quietly as they stood in the waning daylight, knowing that this would be the last piece to making it. If they had all four, they could easily get the circle done and be able to finish things in no time...that is if there were no hitches.

Looking up at them, Andy searched each of their gazes before sighing and nodding. "Yea, I'll help. I can't just stand by and *not* do anything, ya know? Not after that thing was responsible for..." He stopped and swallowed hard as his hands clenched into shaking fists.

"Thank you, Andy," Sarah murmured sympathetically as she took one of his fists into her hands and squeezed it gently, comfortingly. He smiled up at her and she returned the smile before looking at the other two. "So? Let's get a move on!" she suggested with a grin and Dean snorted before whapping at her as he moved to the trunk.

"Just um, how are we going to make this uh...devil's trap?" Andy asked nervously as they followed the eldest brother. He glanced inside the trunk after it was opened and whistled as he saw the arsenal there. "Wow...that's...that's a lot of killing stuff..." he muttered in awe and some fear.

"Don't worry. We won't use it on you...hopefully," Dean replied nonchalantly as he began pulling out four tin turpentine cans while Sam hauled out their dad's journal and a notebook, which he began writing in as soon as he found what he was looking for in the journal. Dean handed one of the cans to Andy and then another of them to Sarah. "That has a mixture of rock salt and gofer dust and it'll trap those demons or whatever inside the circle. I'll show you the design we're doin' and I'll draw it...well as best I can," he explained with a roguish grin.

"What is gofer dust?" Andy asked in bemusement as he took the can and tilted it to see what was inside.

"Voodoo. We learned about it from....well someone we tried to help. Long story for later. Anyways, it works like rock salt in keeping things either out or in," Dean replied before grabbing the Book of Solomon and flipping to the page with the devil's trap on it. "Now this is what we're doin'. Real simple, yea? We each take a quarter starting at the midpoints of the circle before separating and meeting up with one of the others. Doesn't matter if it's straight, the goal'll be to connect it and be as accurate as you can with the sigils, k?" he elucidated while looking at Sarah and Andy alternately as they took in the shape. "I figure that Sarah, you'll do the top right and Sam can do the bottom right. Andy, you do the top left and I'll finish with the bottom left."

"Sounds good. Make a copy of our sections. We can also keep in contact through our cells so we can meet up," Sarah agreed as she traced her section over Dean's shoulder.

"Right. When we get there, we can do a calculation on how far we'll need to walk etcetera. I'm not sure if we should do it at night or durin' the day. We'll figure that later. Right now, we just need to get there," Dean finished before grabbing the notebook when Sam handed it to him so he could make his own copies of the design.

"Here. This is the exorcism rite. I'll teach you the Latin on the way. We should have plenty of time to do that," Sam said as he handed Sarah and Andy the slips of paper that had the rite written down for them.

"Um, one question," Andy started as he stared at the slip of paper. "How are we going to find them?"

Dean and Sam glanced at each other before refocusing on the other two. "We um...haven't quite figured that out yet, but we're kinda just gonna hike towards that general area and hope to stumble on them," Dean answered with a lopsided grin before going back to his copying.

Mouth dropping open in dumbfounded shock, Andy stared at the brothers. "You're kidding, right?! I thought you had some master plan!" he cried in half anger and half incredulity.

"We do! But tracking demons has always been...difficult. Unless you and Sam can use your psychic thing to zero in on them, we’re kinda screwed, ok?” Dean replied defensively as he looked up from his drawing at Andy’s outburst.

“Oh man...we’re screwed as it is...” Andy moaned and Sarah snickered while Sam grinned sympathetically.

“Don’t worry. Just be careful and on guard,” Sam stated softly as he put a steadying hand on Andy’s shoulder. Andy smiled weakly up at him and nodded in understanding.

Finishing with the drawings, Dean handed them each a copy. He sighed softly and scratched his head. “Ok, well let’s get goin’,” he murmured before hauling a pack onto his back and was mimicked by Sam. Sarah pulled on backpack and grinned at Andy as she strapped the salt/dust container onto her belt and let Sam put a dagger and a rock salt rifle and a gun with silver bullets on her as well. Dean went over to Andy and did the same. “This rifle has rock salt. Won’t kill anyone, but it packs a wallop. This dagger is pure silver. You can use it for the drawing as well. This other gun has silver bullets. Nasty to the paranormal and will slow down demons,” he explained quietly to the very nervous youth. He smiled then and clapped Andy on the shoulder. “You’ll do fine.”

Blinking before smiling tightly, Andy nodded. “Thanks Dean. I’ll try not to let you down,” he murmured and Dean’s grin flashed before another pat was put upon the smaller shoulder.

Turning, Dean caught the gaze of his brother and then Sarah before nodding. “We do this. No one stop if one of us falls. We finish this bullshit,” he declared softly as he stood tall. The other three nodded firmly as they straightened as well before they all turned towards where the map that Andy had snagged showed the geysers to be.

They hiked for four hours along the known pathways, talking softly as either Sam or Dean taught them the Latin or they discussed the design that they were going to use. But, by the third hour, they fell silent and into their own thoughts. At the fourth hour, it became clear that something was up. “Hey Sammy...what’s wrong?” Dean asked as he looked over at his brother as they were getting ready to start hiking again after taking a small break to rest.

Grunting, Sam clutched at his head and shuddered. “Visions...won’t stop...” he panted out in pain and groaned as he bent over. Andy suddenly turned to the side and puked, shaking as he clutched at his head and retched.

“What’s going on, Dean?” Sarah hissed as she went to Andy while Dean held his brother steady.

“We must be gettin’ close and their homin’ in on it,” Dean replied, but his face was twisted slightly in worry as he watched his brother fight through the pain. “C’mon Sammy breathe through it...” he whispered as he laced their fingers together.

A soft gasp left Sam and he calmed down almost immediately as he clung to Dean’s hand. Andy also seemed to be calming down as Sarah brushed her hand through his hair and steadied him. Dean watched as Sam took steadying breaths and noted the surprise in his brother’s gaze. “Ok there, Sammy?” he murmured.

“Y-Yea actually...I don’t get it...” Sam whispered in shock as he looked up at his brother.

Frowning in thought, Dean released Sam’s hand and leaned away just a bit. Almost immediately, Sam cried out and clutched at his head in agony. Dean swiftly moved back in and laced their hands together, soothing his brother. “I don’t fuckin’ believe it,” he muttered.

“What is it, Dean?” Sarah asked as she helped Andy over to them, taking a cue from what she’d observed and kept a hand on Andy.

“You and me, because we ain’t one of those kids, we’re the grounders for these two,” Dean ground out and sighed heavily before grinning at Sam. “Guess we’re holdin’ hands like ole times,” he teased his brother and dodged the swat his brother aimed at him.

“You gotta be fuckin’ me,” Sam groaned and sighed.

“Not now, but later,” Dean whispered to him and grinned when Sam nudged him while smiling as well. Looking back up, Dean winked at Sarah. “Keep a hand on Andy. It’ll protect him. Let’s get movin’,” he suggested before helping his brother up.

“Drink some water first,” Sarah ordered as she tugged on Sam and Andy’s water bottles. They both gulped down some water before they started hiking again hand in hand. The next hour passed a bit more laboriously since the two non-psychics had to keep touching the psychics. Their surroundings eventually began to thin out and become steamier as they approached the geysers and they became more cautious. Dean finally made Sam hold Sarah’s hand and crept ahead to do some reconnaissance.

He returned about twenty minutes later, scowling and cursing softly. “Man this sucks out loud! Plans have to change, kids. The area they’re in is fuckin’ huge and filled with incubi and succubae. We can’t do that trap without catching some attention,” he explained shortly and plopped down next to his brother in irritation.

“Well why can’t we make smaller versions of them and lure them there, then do the exorcisms?” Andy asked as he leaned back onto one elbow while still touching Sarah’s hand.

Blinking, Dean looked over at Andy before grinning widely. “You got one there at least. But should we do four or how many?”

“I think we should do two, pairing up so we can make it a bit bigger and then that way we can watch each other’s backs,” Sam suggested as he rested his head on Sarah’s lap.

“Sounds good. We’ll make them on either side of the camp, which is seriously huge, and then exorcise them,” Dean replied with a nod.

“How many do you think there are?” Sarah asked as she stretched a bit.

“I counted at least ten succubae and incubi and thirteen...no fourteen humans. Though, from what I could see, all of them were demon possessed. A female was the leader, that much I could tell, but I couldn’t tell who it was, not that I’d *know* who it was,” Dean answered as he rested his chin on his hand which he had braced on his crossed knees. He saw Sam glance away and frowned. “Sammy? You know somethin’?” he asked lightly, though it was a tone firm with command.

“It’s nothin’. I just...somethin’ isn’t clickin’,” Sam replied softly as he rubbed his eyes. “Did you see the portal?”

“Port-wait yes. I did see this dark oval over the mud,” Dean answered as he placed his hand on Sam’s knee.

“Portal for what?” Sarah asked nervously.

“Demons,” Sam replied shortly before sitting up, though he immediately gripped Dean’s arm in defense against the demon bombardment.

“We gotta guard you two against this stupid shit,” Dean growled out as he chewed on his lip. He blinked, and then grinned. “I got it. Let’s see if this works,” he muttered before grabbing his dagger. He pulled it out and brought it to his hair, which he cut a chunk off of. He then pricked his thumb and rubbed his blood on the hair before reaching into his pocket and grabbing some twine, which he twisted around it before tying it around Sam’s wrist. He then gestured for Sam to let go of him and they watched warily as Sam did so, and then blinked in shock when he proved to be immune to the influence. “Yes! Score for me!” Dean crowed and laughed.

“What just happened?” Sam asked in shock as he touched the charm before staring at his grinning brother.

“Me and Sarah are immune to the demon’s control and you guys aren’t bothered while touching us. So...” Dean’s grin grew as he waggled his eyebrows.

“Blood and the connection...” Sarah whispered in understanding before taking a lock of her hair and holding it closer to Dean. “Do it! We can help Andy then get going!” she ordered excitedly. Dean repeated his procedure with her hair and his blood before tying it around Andy’s wrist.

Staring at the charm, Andy’s grin was almost blinding. “Dude this so rocks! You’re a genius, Dean!” he exclaimed and laughed.

“Nah...” Dean replied with a shrug and chuckled. “Well ok, maybe,” he added quickly.

“Yea there’s that ego. Ok, brain-boy, let’s get going,” Sarah retorted as she ruffled his hair affectionately before they all stood.

“Right. Sam, go with Sarah. Andy, with me. We’ll go to the other side of the camp and set up our trap and you do the same here. Then, Sam and I’ll pick off the succubae and incubi while you two draw the kiddies to the traps and close them. You wait for us to get there to start the exorcism,” Dean ordered sternly as he stretched.

“Use your daggers to draw in the hard dirt, and then we can use the dust salt to make a decoy trap so that they will walk into the dirt trap. And whatever you do, do not stop,” Sam added as he checked his gun for the number of silver bullets. Dean did the same as did Andy and Sarah and all were satisfied that they’d have enough. With nods and final glances, they split up, Dean and Andy heading for the other side of the camp while Sam and Sarah started their construction.

*~~*

Sam wiped his forehead as he finished the last incision in the ground for their dirt trap while Sarah finished with the false trap just to the lower right. If things worked, the demon kids would come in, dodge the salt trap into the real one and Sam would have picked off any of the succubae and incubi that had followed. With the trap being far enough into the earth, they wouldn’t be able to break it with a scuff of the shoe and Sam made sure that there was no loose dirt so it wouldn’t be covered either.

He smiled as Sarah came over and kissed his neck before glancing over his work. “Looks good. Good thing Dean had thought to rewrite that trap so we could read it,” Sarah commented and grinned as she remembered how Dean and Andy had rushed back just after leaving with those tough parting words to redraw the complete trap so they all knew what was going on.

Laughing softly as he bent down and brushed away the last of the loose dirt, Sam sighed. “Think they’re done?” he asked as he glanced at her.

“Maybe...call them?” Sarah suggested with a wink and he rolled his eyes.

“I’ll text him...less of a distraction,” Sam retorted and proceeded to do that. [Are you done yet?]

They waited a few minutes and prepared their weapons while they waited for an answer. They both nearly jumped when his cell vibrated.

[Two minutes. Be ready, geek boy.]

Grinning as he showed her the reply, Sam swallowed around the lump in his throat. This was it. They would either survive this or they wouldn’t. He hoped with his whole heart that they would, but he had a very bad feeling that if they did, it would be with grievous injuries to their very souls.

Shaking his head, he smiled at Sarah and nodded. “All right, ready?” he asked softly and she nodded as she got her dagger out. They headed for the camp silently and took in the sight of all the sloppily set up tents that were positioned in a haphazard circle surrounding a dark oval that seemed to be scratched in the very air. Nodding silently at each other, they went towards where a group of six humans stood together near a tent that was arranged nicer than the others nearby. “Hey! I heard that you guys were startin’ a glee club? Can we join?” Sam shouted as he stood near them.

All six looked over and glared as four incubi floated up as well behind them, hissing. Sam grinned wickedly before turning with Sarah and rushing back the way they’d come with the group of nasties hot on their tails. Sam shifted to the side just behind a tree and waited until the humans were past before moving out between them and the incubi, firing rapidly and hitting each demon seeder dead center in their foreheads and killing them instantly. He heard the screams of rage and pain from behind him and grinned before turning and running to where Sarah was standing just outside of the real trap where the six demon kids were snarling and pacing, but completely powerless.

“You’re betraying your own kind,” a taller black man growled out angrily as he saw Sam and the others agreed with growled insults.

“No, I’m savin’ my kind. Go to hell,” Sam retorted coldly as he and Sarah pulled out a small rosary and the exorcism. They spoke in sync, their inflections and accents perfectly in tune as they expelled the enraged and terrified demons from the kids they’d taken over. Once all six of the demons had been dispatched, the two ran over to the collapsed humans. “Hey, you ok?” Sam asked the black man that had threatened him.

“Thank you...god thank you...” the man whispered tremulously and Sam smiled as he heard soft weeping and gratitude floating out from all of them. “They were....using us to make more of them and that portal...it’s...pure evil...”

“There’s an army massing there. Kill the yellow-eyed demon and you’ll win,” one of the girls whispered as she rubbed her face and smiled at them gratefully. “Thank you...”

“No problem. You guys get as far from here as ya can. Go that way and grab some of that salt dust in the trap there and you’ll be protected a bit from anythin’,” Sam explained as he and Sarah helped them up.

“Be careful. She’s very powerful,” one of the smaller men warned them before they all grabbed some of the mixture and heading away as fast as they could.

Looking at Sarah briefly, Sam smiled before heading with her towards the camp again. The soft sounds of succubae wailing floated towards them and they headed for the center of the camp where the portal was. Once there, Sam picked off the two succubae that were gathered around the dark skinned female standing near the portal. He kept his gun trained on the woman as did Sarah as they picked their way to the edge of the mud. “No where to run,” Sam snarled out, his eyes narrowed in focused anger.

“Who says I’m running, Sammy? I was just waiting for the final actors to arrive,” the woman drawled as she turned slowly and Sam felt the blood leave his face.

“C-Cassie? Oh god no...” he whispered shakily and his aim wavered as she grinned slowly at him, her once chocolate eyes now golden with the evil inside of her.

“Oh god yes, Sammy...what? Did you think I’d take some old scruffy man again?” Cassie replied with a leer as she caressed her hands along her torso before taking a step towards them. Sam and Sarah backed up slowly and she laughed lightly. “Oh...are you scared of me? Wasn’t dear ole daddy scary enough for you?” she taunted him as she took another step closer.

“Shut the fuck up...” Sam snarled as he retrained his aim on her.

“Or what? You’ll shoot me? Oh yea...you can’t. You don’t have the Colt anymore, now do you?” she retorted before narrowing her eyes. Sam and Sarah suddenly went flying and were pinned against a couple of nearby boulders, grunting or crying out in pain when they impacted. Laughing again as she sauntered over, Cassie eyed them leisurely. “You’re making this too easy, Sammy boy. True, you freed my kids, but it’s too late. The portal’s almost done and there won’t be anything to stop us,” she purred as she came up and caressed a finger along his chest. “Mmm I hope you like mayhem and massacres cuz there’s going to be a lot of it,” she whispered.

“Get your hands off of him, you bitch!”

Sarah’s growl caught Cassie’s attention and she looked over at the other woman. “Well now...Sarah. You came here too, I’m surprised. Lil miss rich girl coming and getting all dirty. Course, fucking the two Winchesters is quite the accomplishment,” she crooned as she walked over to Sarah and cupped her chin. Sarah jerked her chin away and glared at Cassie. Laughing softly, Cassie slapped Sarah. “Aw, poor baby! Couldn’t save her daddy and now won’t be able to save her fuck toy!” she declared cruelly before laughing.

“Get the fuck away from her!” Sam shouted as he strained to break free and the earth seemed to tremble under them.

Smirking in surprise, Cassie stepped back and faced Sam. “Why Sammy...did you just make the earth move?” she asked derisively as she put her hands on her hips in amusement.

“Not just the earth, bitch,” was the only warning from Sarah before the wind blew up around Cassie and sent her flying into the mud pools with a cry of surprise. Sam and Sarah dropped to their feet, free from the demon’s hold and quickly reached for their guns. But they didn’t get to regain their holds for long as they were flattened to the ground when Cassie stood from the mud pool, dripping mud that she brushed off while walking out of the pool.

“That wasn’t nice at all,” Cassie snapped coldly and Sarah screamed as she felt searing pain run through her body as a couple of ribs suddenly popped in her torso. “Mother Nature might’ve chosen you, but you’ll not defeat me!”

“Sarah!” Sam cried out as Sarah screamed again when her leg twisted and a sickening popping sound shot out before it fell at an odd angle.

The sudden sound of a gunshot echoed around them as Cassie jerked to a stop and collapsed to the ground slowly with a hole appearing in her black shirt just under her breast as a bullet left her body. Sam instantly crawled over to Sarah as he stared at Cassie’s body and turned his girlfriend over carefully as she gasped in pain. They both looked over as Dean and Andy came over swiftly, both training their guns on the body as they joined their partners. Dean stumbled to a stop as soon as he got close to Cassie and Sam watched as his brother shook his head slowly in shock while Andy came over to the other two immediately and began checking Sarah’s injuries.

Kneeling in the mud, Dean touched a shaking hand to Cassie’s face. “Oh god...Cassie...” he whispered shakily and swallowed hard in pain and the sudden emotions that were blocking his throat.

“Do it, Dean...” Cassie’s whisper was hard and choked, for Andy had managed to shoot her in the lungs when he had fired. She looked up at Dean, her eyes filled with grief and pain as well as guilt. “Take me out while it’s weakened. I can’t hold it for much longer.”

“I...I can’t Cassie...” Dean managed on a sob as he touched her face. “How...”

“It took me one night when I was near daddy’s grave. It m-made me kill mom and then a couple of other people as well as Sarah’s dad. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t fight it for long...Do it, Dean...please. I know about...everything. I have nothing here anymore. Do it,” she whispered shakily as she gripped his hand. “Hurry...now Dean...NOW!” she cried in command.

On automatic, Dean stood and took out the Colt, aiming it without thought and shot her through the heart. She managed a weak smile before collapsing to the ground as the demon managed a scream with her last breath before they both died. Through his tears, Dean looked over as a wail of rage flew from the portal before it collapsed with a resounding boom that shook the ground they stood on and left nothing to even show it had been there.

“She was the fire...” Sam whispered through his tears as he held Sarah tenderly. “The last one to hold the evil...she helped purify it...”

And now all’s well, boys. I’m proud of ya.

The quiet declaration startled them all and they looked over to see John Winchester standing with Cassie next to him. “Dad...Cassie...” Dean choked out as he took a step towards them.

Thanks to you, Dean, we’re free to move on. You and Sam live good long lives, John stated as he beamed at his sons. Thank you.

From the both of us. Thank you Sam...Dean...Sarah...Andy. Live well, Cassie added as they disappeared and the four hunters were left wondering if what they’d just seen had been a dream.

Whatever had happened, they were done. It was time to move on and do as the two spirits had ordered: live. Dean looked over at Sam and smiled weakly. “Time to go home, Sammy.”

Smiling back, Sam nodded. “Yeup...time indeed.”

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