Battling Perdition

Chapter 1

The atmosphere inside the Impala was tense, just as it had been for the past week. Dean drove, eyes focused straight ahead and hands clenched on the steering wheel. Sam stared out the window, occasionally opening his mouth to speak and always thinking better of it.

"Dean-" he started finally.

Dean held out a hand, eyes never leaving the road. "Save it," he said. "Just don't."

Sam sighed and returned to staring at the empty, blue sky. A week ago he'd gotten Dean out of his crossroads deal. By some miracle loophole, ownership of the soul had yet to be transferred onto Lilith. A single bullet from the Colt through a demon's forehead and Dean had been free. Sam was ecstatic, still was if he was honest with himself. But Dean had been furious. He'd lashed out at Sam that night, yelling about how Sam could have died, how Dean had done this to protect Sam and now Sam had gone and screwed it all up. But Sam had stood firm and refused to apologize. How could he when he knew the clock was no longer ticking for Dean? That his brother wasn't going to face eternal damnation in a matter of months? But Dean had refused to see it that way and since then, every conversation between the brothers had been short and awkward.

The silence carried on for another hour before Dean spoke. "Getting a little concerned about Bobby," he said. "Said he'd call about an hour ago."

Sam frowned, then glanced at his own phone to check for missed calls. Nothing. "He probably just got busy or something. Lost track of time. We'll be there soon anyway."

"Mmmm."

Bobby still hadn't contacted them by the time they reached Sioux Falls about forty-five minutes later. Sam tried to call as they drove through town and finally he picked up.

"Bobby, what the hell's going on?" Sam demanded before Bobby could get a word in beyond "hello."

"Sorry," Bobby didn't sound all that sorry, just grumpy. "Been dealing with a few...well, you'll see when you get here."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's fine. It's just, no, yeah."

"Well, that clears things up."

"Shut it, boy. Everything's fine. Just got some stuff that needs dealing with."

"Right. See you in ten."

Sam hung up and Dean looked at him for the first time in hours. "Well?"

"He's fine. Apparently got something going on, but nothing important enough to explain."

Dean sighed. "Well,hopefully it won't get in the way. We need to figure out this Lilith bitch's game and fast. She's gonna be pissed. It's personal now."

No thanks to you, was the unspoken ending to that sentence. Sam clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. Screw what Dean thought, he'd come around someday. Sam had saved his life. Hell, he'd literally saved his soul. They were both alive and in some semblance of health and that was all that mattered.

–

There was a man sitting on the roof of a battered '87 Honda when they pulled up.

Though maybe perched was more accurate, Dean realized as he stopped the car. The man sat stiffly, as though guarding Bobby's house. His eyes never left Dean as he and Sam stepped out of the car.

Dean frowned. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Castiel."

Bobby hurried over as Dean repeated, "Castiel?"

The man nodded and gracefully slid off the roof. His trenchcoat billowed slightly as he landed.

"I am an angel of the Lord."

"Oh, Christ," Bobby muttered. Dean turned to him, but before he could say anything Bobby grabbed him and Sam each by an arm and dragged them into the house.

–

"So..." Dean started as Bobby closed the door behind them. "Care to explain what the hell that was all about?"

"Remember that hunt up in Illinois I told you boys about last week?"

"Yeah. Demons, right?"

"That's the one. Well, the demons wound up holing up in this house out in Pontiac. Little suburban house, nothing too special. And the family who owned it, turned out they were off visiting his grandmother for a week. So, you know, demons get in, make themselves at home. Family gets home a few days later. Mom, Dad, and twelve year old daughter. They don't notice anything's wrong, go to bed. Demons return. Ambush the family, tie them up in the living room. Kill the mother and daughter before the hunters were able to stop them."

Sam grimaced. "That's horrible."

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with Feathers out there?" Dean asked.

"That's Dad, apparently." Bobby said. "He followed Greg back to South Dakota. Greg decides to come to me for help and then takes off, leaving him stranded." He shuffled slightly. "And it's not like I could just throw the guy out."

"But why the angel thing?"

"The whole thing messed him up, that's for damn sure. He's seven shades of crazy now."

"And you tested him?" Dean said, "Made sure the demons were gone."

"Boy, do I look like a fool to you?" Bobby asked, glaring at Dean. "Obviously. There's nothing remotely supernatural about him. Keeps jabbering on about the apocalypse. I checked with all of my contacts, not a single omen anywhere. It's a tragedy, but it's an Earthly one."

Sam gazed out the window where the man was visible, still in his perch. "Poor guy." he muttered, "Do we know his real name?"

"Jimmy Novak. But good luck getting him to answer to it."

"So, what, we just play along with the angel story?" Dean asked.

Bobby shrugged. "I've tried to get him back in touch with reality, but honestly, in his situation would you want to?"

Dean had no answer to that. He just stepped over to the window and looked out at Jimmy, still unmoving, guarding against things it was far too late to stop.