Hunter's Mystique

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or its Characters including Sam and Dean Winchester, Bobby Singer, Castiel, etc. They are the property of Eric Kripke and The CW.

Author's Note: Hey guys, so I've been thinking about writing this story since the middle of Season Four and I wanted to get the first chapter out there before the Season Five Premiere. I didn't get as much written as I had wanted to by this time and I am in school so I might not update as regularly as I should, but I'll try my best. I really hope you like it!

Chapter One

Lucifer's Arrival

The searing white light was expanding from the altar, quickly enveloping the entire room. The crosses that were emerged in shadows just seconds before were suddenly illuminated and then engulfed by the ironically pure white light emanating from the center of the church. Clutching to one another, the estranged brothers instinctively back down the long aisle of the church as the horrifying reality of their situation fully sank in: Lucifer was coming.

The floor was rumbling, rocking the once stable foundation of the building. A piercing cry rang out, bouncing off the walls and then transforming into a loud, guttural roar. The cringe-worthy sound seemed to snap Dean out of his initial shock. He quickly turned away from the growing light, grabbed his younger brother Sam by the arm and started dragging him towards the large, wooden double doors.

"Wh-what are you doing? Dean, we need to stay. We've got to fight…to stop him!" Sam shouted, struggling to rip his arm from his brother's vice-like grip.

Dean pushed through the heavy doors in silence, sprinting outside, through the darkness of the night to his gleaming, '67 Chevy Impala. He forced Sam into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut, rushed to the driver's side, and quickly peeled out of the parking lot.

"Dean, stop! We gotta go back!" Sam protested, turning on his brother.

"Yeah, Sammy, you know what? That is a great idea! Let's go fight the all-powerful angel bent on the destruction of the human race." He paused a moment to let that idea sink into Sam's mind and then continued. "You're right. I think that you, who's drained from killing Lilith with the abnormal powers you got from your addiction to sucking demon blood, and I, who has neither a weapon to fight Lucifer with or any idea how to kill him, could absolutely defeat the world's original evil badass in an epic showdown right now."

Sam was silent for a moment as Dean waited for his response. Sam finally heaved a heavy sigh and sunk back into the worn, leather seat.

"Okay. I get it. I could do without the sarcasm." He finally replied.

"Too bad. You deserve it." Dean said, tightening his grip so that his knuckles started turning white.

"Dean, I'm so sorry."

"You should be Sam! If you had just listened to me for once, none of this would have happened."

"You know what? Can we not talk about this right now? I think there are a few more pressing issues we should deal with at the moment. Like maybe…how are we gonna save the world?" Sam said.

"I don't know." Dean mumbled, "We need to get away and figure out some sort of plan."

"Like?"

"Like I don't know! We need to talk to Cas. He may know how I'm 'destined' to stop Lucifer." Dean said.

"Castiel? I thought he made it clear that he wasn't going to help." Sam stated, genuinely confused.

"Well, he changed his mind. He was the one who helped me get to you." Dean said.

"I didn't do it for you." The sudden and unexpected voice from the backseat responded to Dean's statement, surprising him so much that he swerved the car dangerously across both lanes.

"Jesus Cas, not the best time to pop in. We're kind of on high alert here. If you haven't noticed, the literal devil is back above ground." Dean cursed at the rogue angel.

"I noticed." Castiel's deep, raspy voice responded, in it's usual, humorless tone.

"I'm pretty sure that was rhetorical." Sam said, piping into the conversation. Castiel said nothing in response, merely staring at Sam in annoyance.

Dean noticed the sudden tension in the air and decided to break the uncomfortable silence.

"So Cas, how do we kill Lucifer?" Dean asked the obvious question, in a lighthearted tone that didn't match the seriousness of the situation.

Castiel refused to answer at first. He shifted his focus from Sam to stare at the back of Dean's head as he drove. And with each second of silence that passed, the pit in Dean's stomach grew tenfold.

"Cas?" Dean prodded.

"I am honestly not sure."

"Excuse me?" Sam asked, turning in his seat to face the angel directly. "You're not sure? What do you mean by that?"

Castiel turned his steely gaze back to the younger Winchester.

"I don't need to hear any skepticism from you Sam. I'm not the one who broke the final seal." Castiel snapped.

The car grew silent again as a new wave of guilt crashed over Sam.

"You're telling us you have no ideas on how to stop him?" Dean asked after a minute.

"That's not what I said. I have ideas, but none that are sure to work." Castiel said monotonously.

"Care to share?" Sam inquired.

"I have the blade Uriel used to slaughter my fallen brethren a few months ago. As you know, Lucifer is an angel so there is a possibility that the blade could be used to defeat him."

"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" Dean asked.

"Because there is a chance this weapon could be useless against him and we didn't want rely on it. He is an ancient source of evil who has only grown more powerful with time. There are rituals and latin incantations to help ensure your success with the blade, but the biggest plan I have for the two of you is to do research. A lot of it." Castiel said.

"Really? That's your sage advice? Your sacred wisdom? Do research." Dean said, his irritation rising.

"Yes." Castiel answered simply.

"I think we could have figured that out on our own. Thanks." Sam muttered. "Unless there's an Idiot's Guide to Killing Lucifer that you want to point us to."

"You'll need to expand your research beyond just Lucifer. He's the newest leader of all demons. If you think Lilith was hard to get to you don't want to imagine the protection that will be surrounding Lucifer: The strongest, highest levels of demons. And they won't succumb to a smoke sucking Sam or a gun-wielding Dean. You're going to require more. Some assistance." Castiel elaborated.

"Yeah, we got Bobby." Dean pointed out.

"Not enough." Castiel replied immediately, as if knowing what Dean would say. "You'll need more help than what Bobby alone can provide." He explained.

"Then who else? Other hunters?"

"One in particular: A retired hunter who runs an auto shop out of Worcester, Massachusetts. It's called C.J.'s."

"What's so special about this guy?" Sam asked, skeptically.

Castiel snapped his head toward Sam, looking him square in the eye and said ominously. "Just find Charlie Warren." And he disappeared before the name was completely logged into either boy's memory.

After taking a moment to register the conversation, Dean made a sudden turn off the highway, up onto an exit ramp and eventually into a gas station.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked.

"Filling her up and buying a map to Boston." Dean answered truthfully.

"You're actually listening to him?"

"Yes, I mean I know his reasons are cryptic, but I also know he has them. He wouldn't send us there otherwise. So I say we check it out." Dean explained his reasoning.

"I guess we could use the reinforcements." Sam said.

"Absolutely." Dean agreed, getting out of the car and approaching the pump. "This Charlie dude just better not be another long-lost sibling. If we have to deal with another Adam situation, I swear I will kick dad's ass the next time I'm in Hell." Dean joked, with an edge of seriousness in his tone.

"Next time?" Sam asked.

Dean shrugged. "I'm assuming." He said with a smile before going into the convenience store attached to the gas station and loading up on his favorite snacks in anticipation for the long road trip ahead.

Sam slumped farther down in his seat, relishing the few moments he had to himself. His entire body felt heavy and it was a relief for him to finally rest. Any remnants of pure adrenaline that he had been running on since killing Lilith were quickly dripping out of his system. He slowly closed his eyes, letting exhaustion overcome him, but promising himself not to fall asleep.

Dean came back to the car, arms full of various, unhealthy snack foods, and threw them through one of the back windows. He unfolded his newly coveted map and began figuring out the fastest route to Massachusetts. "So, Sam, what do you think? Do you want to take the first leg or-." Dean trailed off after sweeping his eyes from the map to Sam's sleeping form.

Dean smiled at his brother, as he curled up against the side of the Impala. He looked so innocent, so harmless that Dean could hardly believe the person that Sam had become.

"Stop staring at me. It's creepy!" Sam murmured loud enough for Dean to hear, his eyes still sealed shut.

"What? No. I…no!" Dean protested.

"I can feel you watching me." Sam sighed.

"Whatever. Go back to sleep." Dean demanded, embarrassed by his moment of brotherly nostalgia.

"Not sleeping. I'm just resting my eyes." Sam muttered and let out a long yawn.

"Sure." Dean responded sarcastically. He refolded the map and crawled back into his car. He threw it in gear and sped out of the gas station, the tires squealing as they spun out, hoping to leave Lucifer far behind in their dust. At least for now.