[AU] dark gonna catch me here

[gavemea_45]

Not two seconds after the door closed, Dean started demanding answers. Sam explained pretty much everything, although he glossed over the part where Wynonna'd threatened to shoot him, and for the most part Dean took it pretty well.

Until he made the suggestion of bringing Wynonna - and Peacemaker - to a crossroads and forcing the demon there to give up Dean's contract.

By the time the fight's over, Sam's certain of two things. First, that Dean's not willing to listen to reason because he doesn't want to risk Sam. And second, that he's not going to let his brother go to hell.

He makes sure Dean thinks he's asleep first, and waits until he hears his brother start snoring... then waits another half hour to make sure. Once he's certain Dean's not faking, Sam sneaks out and borrows the Impala.

There's a crossroads three miles north, an isolated one with an abandoned gas station nearby that he can use to get to the bar.

It'll do.

Comments

[pacificator]

She sees Waverly tucked into the corner of the couch, safe and sound, and does a perimeter check around the homestead, but there's no sign of the Stone Witch or any more of her toadies. The skull's in pieces and dust on the ground, and Doc's bedded down in the barn.

The temptation to go see if he's still awake is almost more than she can take, so she straightens her shoulders and tightens her jaw and opens the door to the house, instead, focusing on the bar between the worlds.

Thankfully, it works. She slips inside, Peacemaker tucked into her boot, and makes for a stool at the bar.

[gavemea_45]

He's fully prepared to wait for as long as it takes. Time doesn't pass in the world behind him when he's in this bar, and Sam intends to make use of that. He's not going back until he can bring Wynonna with him. He's not.

But when he opens the door through the back entrance of the gas station, he realizes he's not going to have to wait as long as he'd thought he might. Sam makes his way across the room and slides onto the next bar stool over.

"Hey."

[pacificator]

Unlike the last time he saw her, she's completely sober, her eyes clear as she looks over at him, despite the beer she's nursing. "Hey."

Wynonna lifts her drink. "Heard you guys had some fun back in Purgatory with Waverly."

[gavemea_45]

"That's one word for it," he says, dryly. "How's she doing? Keeping up those salt wards?"

[pacificator]

"Yeah, those weren't enough."

She presses her mouth into a line and gives him a wry glance. "But you don't have to worry about it. It's over now."

[gavemea_45]

"Shit." Everything narrows to a single point of focus. Sam searches her face. "Damn it, we shouldn't have left --"

[pacificator]

"Yeah, maybe not," she agrees, leaning one arm on the bartop.

"But Waves had Doc there, when the Stone Witch came for her. So."

[gavemea_45]

"The blacksmith said that damned skull was the Stone Witch's son," Sam observes. He feels numb and a little cold. "And that she'd bound your uncle to it, before. Why the hell did it go nuclear with Waverly? She's okay?"

[pacificator]

"I don't know. Blacksmith's dead. Bled out in my goddamn barn."

She breathes in through her nose, then shakes her head. "Waverly's okay. She broke the skull. I got back in time to help her and Doc run the bitch off the homestead."

[gavemea_45]

Sam breathes out a harsh rush of air. "I am never believing your sister again when she says everything's fine and not to worry about her."

More quietly, he adds, "I'm sorry, Wynonna."

[pacificator]

She grimaces, but can't convince even herself he didn't have every reason to believe her baby sister. "Well, she's pretty convincing," she says. "Maybe the Stone Bitch would have just waited for you to go away even if you had stayed. So don't worry about it."

[gavemea_45]

He will, he knows, but it's clear Wynonna's giving him a pass. He'll take it and be grateful.

"So she's dealt with now? The Stone Witch?"

[pacificator]

"Oh, no. Hell no. Couldn't be that easy."

She spins her glass on the bar, mouth twisting. "Doc grazed her with a shot, you know? But then he got the same injury. So... that's cool."

[gavemea_45]

Sam stares at her. "What happens when someone else wounds her? Does that hit him too?"

[pacificator]

"Your guess is as good as mine."

The smile she turns on him is bright and unamused. "But pretty sure we'll find out sooner rather than later."

[gavemea_45]

Sam shakes his head. That doesn't sound in any way good. "What does she want?"

[pacificator]

"Uh, she wanted her son's skull. To bring him and his brother back to life. But Waverly kind of put a damper on that whole..."

She waves a hand in a circle. "Thing."

[gavemea_45]

Sam pinches the bridge of his nose. "Right. Because that'd end well." He glances up at Wynonna. "Please tell me you guys burned what was left?"

[pacificator]

"The thing's dust," she tells him. "There's nothing left to burn. Waverly threw it against the wall."

[gavemea_45]

"Okay. Good." Sam sighs. "Sounds like you've had a hell of a day."

[pacificator]

"Oh, no, my day was fine. That was just the last hour."

She sets the sole of her boot on the rung of her stool and flicks her hair over her shoulder as she considers him. "How about you?"

[gavemea_45]

"You already know about our little field trip. Spent some time explaining everything to Dean once we got back."

Sam shrugs, and keeps his voice carefully even. "Spent the rest of the day on the road, headed for Indiana. There's someone there Dean wants to visit."

[pacificator]

"Indiana?"

She lifts her eyebrows, dubious. "Yeah, who?"

[gavemea_45]

"An ex-girlfriend. Sort of," Sam says, awkwardly. "He's, um. Insisting on doing... a lot of things, before -- before."

He has to ask. He'll beg if he has to. But after nearly getting Waverly killed by leaving her there alone, Sam's terrified of what Wynonna might say.

[pacificator]

"Ah yes, the old ex-lover apology tour. I'm familiar with it."

Not for precisely the same reasons, but still. "Find anything useful in getting him out of that deal yet?"