jennytork

ENCOUNTERING ELEMENTALS

Sam idly tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of Boston's "Long Time" and announced, "Chicago city limits."

Dean looked up from the newspaper accounts. He lay them aside and grabbed a sheet of paper Sam had printed out before they left the hotel. He read the directions off, and a half hour later the Impala was pulling up outside a motel on the outskirts of the city.

Once they were in the room, Sam turned to Dean, shaking his head. "I'm still having a little trouble believing 'Mister Voicemail' actually picked up."

"Oh, believe me, I gave him a little hell for it," Dean chuckled. "Not too much, but enough to let him know I was not happy about the radio silence."

Sam lay the research on the table and asked, "Did Dad set us on this, or--"

Dean shook his head. "Said he was heading here. We were closer, so I told him we'd handle it."

"Good." Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, but I'm gettin' sick of the co-ordinates game."

"I hear you," Dean said, curling a hand on the back of Sam's neck and squeezing once before releasing him. "But right now, you know it's best if we keep our distance from Dad."

"Cause of Gemini," they sighed in unison, and Sam finished, "Doesn't mean I like it."

"Nobody's sayin' you have to," Dean smiled a little bit. "I don't like it, either."

Sam finally returned the slight smile. "That makes me feel better."

"Good. Now, let's get fed and--"

The crackle of the police scanner from one of their duffels interrupted Dean. They listened as another murder was reported. The sickened horror in the voice told them more than the almost clinical words.

Sam wrote down the address while Dean grabbed his keys. "I'll get our fed suits out of the trunk."

Sam looked up. "Wait – I got a better idea. I wanna try something."

"What?" Dean asked, then sighed deeply as Sam's grin turned almost wicked.

~*~*~*~*~

Meg watched as the creature bid farewell to the stranger and closed the door. You better have made sure he was clean, she snarled.

The creature didn't respond – as usual.

After the favour I did you, you owe me one.

She felt the creature roll her eyes, dismissing her.

Winchester is coming. I made sure of it.

The creature had been waking through the apartment. She froze.

I called him, Meg said. Told him to stay away. You know that will bring him like a moth to a flame.

".....how....."

When you caught me on the phone. I wasn't calling for help.

"You.... You were... helping me?"

Of course I was. We want the same thing. We both want to survive. You won't be in me forever and I fully intend to survive this!

"You coudn't have done that. Not for that reason."

Then why are you talking to me?

"....I....."

~*~*~*~*~

He found a motel on the outskirts of Denver and stopped for the night. He was furious at his body's demand for sleep instead of driving.

He had to get to Chicago.

His boys were more than likely walking into something meant for him. He had to get to his boys!

And if he ran into that Elemental that seemed to have attached itself to them?

He would make it wish it had never heard the name Winchester.

On to Part Two