Chapter Eighteen

Adam didn't like the way Benny was smiling.

It wasn't even a smile, so much as a leer. He looked happy to be here. Wherever here was.

All around him Adam could see nothing but bleak, monochrome forest, as far as his eyes could see. It was a little migraine-inducing, because there was literally nothing else.

Dean's reaction when he'd heard of Sam being here came to mind, and Adam gulped. This place had to be bad, if Dean feared it, because as far as Adam knew, there wasn't much that could frighten his brothers.

Beside him, Benny was still grinning – or grimacing. It could be either. "Let's go," he growled at Adam, who jumped. Benny hadn't seemed so threatening earlier, but back then Dean had been there. Now Adam was on his own, alone, with a vampire. It didn't matter that Dean trusted Benny – Adam was still terrified.

Benny was making his way through the forest like he remembered every inch of it. He probably did, thought Adam. The kid was going over self-defense techniques in his mind. Beheading kills vampires, he reminded himself just in case this went south. Only problem? He didn't have a single weapon on him.

There was nothing on the forest floor either except for small rocks, and Adam had a gut feeling that pebbles annoyed monsters more than they harmed them. So, heart beating wildly and stomach twisting, he followed Benny, trying to make as less noise as possible. It wouldn't do to attract anything else.

He wondered if Benny knew where Sam would be, but he was too nervous to ask. Benny looked nothing like the gentle guy from topside – down here he looked wild and excitable, almost feral. Like he wouldn't hesitate to rip anything apart. Dean had said Benny didn't kill, but Adam was beginning to have his doubts.

He heard rustling, but before he could do anything to protect himself from a potential attacker, something jumped out of a nearby bush right at him. With a wild cry he rolled to the side, thanking God for Sam and Dean's evasive technique training. He knew, though, that there was only so much he could do to save himself before the monster – whatever it was – got tired of playing and just ate him, and so he curled up in a defensive position, trying not to leave his head exposed.

But the attack never happened. Instead, there was a whimper and a thud, and Adam slowly uncurled himself to see Benny standing over a large black furry corpse. "Hurry up," he snapped at Adam, who scrambled to his feet and followed after the vampire's already retreating back, trying to give the black dog the widest berth he possibly could.

Nothing attacked them after that, but Adam remained on edge, heart beating faster than it had been before. It almost felt like he was going to go into cardiac arrest. A few paces ahead, Benny was hacking though some bushes, and Adam made his way slowly through the path the vampire had cleared.

They emerged in a clearing, and standing there was–

"SAM!"

"Adam?!" Sam said, stunned, as the kid barreled into his arms and hung on tight. "What – how the hell – how'd you get in here?" he demanded.

"I don't know!" Adam exclaimed into Sam's jacket. "One minute I was with Dean, and then I was here, and oh God–"

"What happened to you?" asked Sam, holding him at arm's length.

"Black dog," said Benny curtly, and Sam's head snapped in that direction. His expression changed abruptly.

"If you've hurt him," he began, but Adam cut him off, feeling obligated to defend Benny. He was their ticket out, and he had, after all, saved Adam.

"He didn't," he said quickly. "He killed the black dog."

Sam's expression changed again. "He did?"

Adam nodded, still holding Sam's jacket tightly.

Sam looked up at Benny and nodded reluctantly. "Thank you," he managed, but he sounded sincere.

Benny nodded in return. "You're Dean's brothers," was all he said.

"Sam?"

Adam turned his head to see where the new voice had come from. Bobby Singer was standing there, half-concealed behind Sam's massive form, staring incredulously at the two younger Winchesters. "Sam, what the hell's going on?" he asked. "How in the hell is the kid alive?"

"Long story," mumbled Sam. "We found him a couple of weeks ago. We still don't know how he got out."

Bobby was staring unnervingly at Adam. "Are you sure it's him?" he asked, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Sam nodded. "We checked. It's definitely him."

Adam offered Bobby a tentative smile. "Hi?"

Bobby nodded at him. "How ya doing?" he asked gruffly.

"Okay," Adam replied truthfully. "Sam and Dean are helping me with, uh, Lucifer."

Bobby's eyes widened. "Lucifer's in yer grapefruit?" he asked Adam.

"Yeah, but we're taking care of it," Sam said hastily. It didn't take a rocket scientist to tell that all he wanted was to get out of Purgatory as soon as possible. "Let's get going, then." He looked up at Benny.

The vampire nodded. He'd been watching the three interact with a cautious expression, but he too was raring to get them out. He may be an undead creature but even he couldn't refute that Purgatory was no place for an 18-year-old innocent kid.

"Follow me," was all he said.

They began the trek to the portal, Benny leading the way. They encountered nothing on their way, which everyone found suspicious but no one commented on, not wanting to jinx it. Adam and Bobby were talking, Adam recounting the last couple of weeks for Bobby's benefit. The old man had a soft expression on his face as he listened to the kid, and to Sam, it seemed as if Bobby looked... proud of them. The thought made him smile.

He remembered something else then, something to do with Benny and Dean, and immediately his heart sank. He still didn't think Benny was completely trustworthy, but he acknowledged that he had been at least a little wrong about him. And yet here Benny was, willing to risk his own life to get them out.

Sam quickened his step so that he was walking side by side with Benny. He wondered how to start the conversation. Luckily for him, Benny spoke first. "Dean's told me a lot about you."

"Yeah?" asked Sam. "What – what did he say?"

Benny glanced sideways at Sam. "He told me that you were all he fought for, down here."

The words sent a sudden wave of warmth all throughout Sam, right down to his toes. "He – he said that?" he muttered, trying to keep his voice under control.

"He did," confirmed Benny.

An awkward silence passed, the only sounds of leaves crunching beneath their feet and Adam and Bobby talking softly. Then Sam cleared his throat and said, "So. Um. Thank you. For saving Dean's ass down here."

Benny considered him for a long while, before finally nodded, smiling strangely. "And now I'm savin yours. I'm a disgrace to my own people."

Sam didn't know how to answer to that, so he remained silent.

"We're here," Benny said some time later.

"This is the seam?" asked Bobby, and Benny nodded. They all looked up, squinting at the haze of electric blue somewhere above them.

"This will get us back home?" asked Adam, tone hopeful.

Benny nodded again. "You boys remember what I told you?" He'd explained earlier when they'd been walking.

"Yeah," Sam answered, before turning to Bobby. "When we get topside, it's a straight express to Heaven. No time for goodbyes."

Bobby grinned. "I already said goodbye to you boys once. Didn't seem to take."

"Do we get to see you again?" Adam asked, looking disappointed that Bobby had to go.

"I don't know," Bobby said with a shrug. "Didn't figure I'd see you again, but here ya are." He patted Adam's shoulder, and Adam smiled.

"Let's do this quick," Sam said nervously, handing Bobby a knife. Adam watched in morbid fascination as Bobby carved a gash in his arm, and then handed the knife to Sam so he could so the same.

"Conjuncti sumus, unum sumus," said Sam, before grabbing Bobby's forearm. The old man seemed to dissolve before their very eyes, before his essence was sucked into Sam's arm. Adam watched as it swirled just under the surface of his skin, as if Bobby was exploring Sam's arteries.

Sam held the knife out to Benny. "Come on. Your turn."

Benny just looked at the knife, then up at Sam.

"Hurry up!" Sam insisted, shaking the knife a little.

Before Benny could answer, a new voice called out "Benny!"

Adam whipped around, heart sinking when he saw what looked like more vampires coming their way. "Sam?" he said, inching closer to his brother. "Sam, are they...?"

"Shh, it's okay," Sam muttered, moving to shield Adam. "They're not going to hurt you."

There were three of them, and they looked excited at the prospect of fresh blood. Especially fresh Winchester blood. Sam readied himself for a fight.

"Still working with the Winchesters," noted one of the fast-approaching vampires.

"Hurry up!" Sam repeated, looking tensely at Benny.

To his surprise, the vampire shook his head. "Time for you to go, Sam," he said, turning and thumping Sam's shoulder.

"What?" Sam didn't get it. "Benny?"

"Go on," said Benny, giving Adam a farewell smile. "It's me they want. You two get goin. Just – just make sure you tell Dean I said goodbye."

"Wait, Benny," began Sam, but the vampire cut him off.

"I was never much good up there anyway." He gestured a little impatiently towards the portal. "Go!"

"Wait," Sam said again, and Benny turned, looking a little irked at the constant interruptions. To his surprise, Sam threw him his crudely made machete. With a smile, Benny caught and turned, leaping into the fray.

Sam grabbed Adam's hand and said, "Come on, Adam. Let's get out of here." They raced up to the portal, Adam clutching his brother's hand tight, and once they were there Sam turned one last time.

He didn't like what he saw. Benny was outnumbered, but he seemed to be holding his own well, and it was only a matter of time before he overpowered his foes. "Benny?" he called out anyway, almost without thinking of it.

"Sam, come on!" Adam said, and tugged at Sam's hand. All Sam could see was electric blue all around him as he and Adam were sucked into the portal, transported away from Benny and Purgatory.

When Adam opened his eyes, for a moment he thought they hadn't left. There was still forest everywhere, but then he saw that it was dark, and the air was foggy. They were not in Purgatory anymore.

"Sam?" he asked, tugging on his brother's hand again.

"We're out," Sam stated, looking around. "Come on, let's find Dean." To Adam's surprise and gratitude, he didn't let go of his hand. The kid was still trying to process what had happened in the past few hours, and it was beginning to feel a little overwhelming.

They heard footsteps nearby, and immediately Adam tensed. He knew it was irrational, because they were topside, but Purgatory's monsters refused to leave his mind. "It's okay," Sam whispered to him. "It's nothing. Not a monster."

"How do you know?" whispered Adam back.

Instead of replying, Sam led Adam a few steps ahead, into a small clearing. To Adam's immense relief he saw Dean, standing and staring at his brothers like he couldn't believe what he was saying. Even Adam had nothing to say at this point. The raw relief on Dean's face was too much to take in.

As soon as they were within reach Dean grabbed both Sam and Adam and yanked them closer, his arms coming up to wrap around them and hold them close. Adam found his face squashed against Dean's shoulder, the material cutting into his skin, but he didn't care at all. Just seeing Dean again was a gigantic relief all in itself.

"Thank God, thank God," Dean was muttering feverishly fast into Sam's hair. "Are you both all right, oh God..."

"We're fine," Sam assured him, one arm around Dean and the other around Adam. "We're okay."

"Are you?" asked Adam.

Instead of replying, Dean gave Adam's shoulders a squeeze and then held both his brothers at arm's length. "Bobby?" he questioned Sam.

"I got him out," Sam told Dean.

"Good," said Dean fiercely. "How was he?"

"Same old Bobby," Sam said. "Ornery as hell."

"As he should be," Dean said. "And Benny?" His heart sank when Sam shook his head sadly.

"Benny stayed behind so we could leave," he told Dean. "We were attacked by vampires, and – and he stayed behind to fight them off. I get the feeling that even if that didn't happen... he didn't wanna come back, you know? I'm sorry," he added, and he looked it too.

Dean pursed his lips, before saying, "No, you're probably right. He's – he's better off there." Then he turned to Adam. "You okay, Small Fry?"

Adam nodded, somewhat shakily. "I'm fine," he muttered. "Not too bad."

"Okay," said Dean, satisfied. "Let's put that old man where he belongs."

Sam got to work. "Solvo haec phantasmata in terram," he said as he cut his arm again, "et inde, ad olympum."

Adam wasn't one for corny descriptions, but even he had to admit that seeing Bobby's soul released, floating freely in the air above their heads, was kind of weirdly beautiful. It was glowing brightly against the night sky, wisping upwards to heaven...

And then it stopped, and Adam changed his mind about it. It didn't look beautiful anymore – it had turned into an ugly brown color, and kept trying to move upwards. It was as if hitting an invisible barrier, and Adam's stomach turned. This couldn't be good.

Right on cue, he heard someone speak. "Hello, boys." Before he could turn out to see who it was, he felt himself flying through the air and slamming into a tree trunk.

"Son of a bitch," he groaned, his back protesting. On both sides of him, Sam and Dean were also stuck to tree trunks, struggling mightily against invisible bonds.

"Bobby Singer," said Crowley, glancing upwards at the soul trying to break free. "I'd know you anywhere."

"Sounds vaguely wrong," commented Adam. The guy in front of them was clearly dangerous, and yet the boy couldn't resist the urge to keep his mouth shut.

Crowley's eyes snapped upwards. "What have we here?"

"None of your business," snarled Dean. "Let Bobby go! He doesn't belong in Hell."

"He does if I say he does," said Crowley casually, attention momentarily diverted from Adam. "He's inflicted untold damage on my kind. From where I sit, actually – Hell's too good for him." He turned back to Adam. "So – do I know you?"

"Um, no?" replied Adam. "I don't think we've met."

Crowley narrowed his eyes. Then he turned to face Dean. "Is that one of mine?" he asked angrily. "Have you been keeping them as pets?"

"He's not a demon," said Sam loudly and clearly.

Crowley scoffed. "You think I don't know a demon when I see one?"

"I am honestly not a demon," Adam told Crowley. "I'm not even twenty! Technically," he added.

Crowley opened his mouth to say something, but just then appeared another person – who also happened to be the last thing Adam needed. "You again," he groaned, and Naomi spared him a condescending smile before whatever was holding him against the tree trunk disappeared, and he crumpled to the ground.

"Ow!" he yelled as he felt his ankle bend at a strange angle. "A little gentler next time, please!"

"You all right?" Sam asked him.

"I think I sprained my ankle," he groaned, accepting Dean's outstretched hand and getting unsteadily to his feet. Dean released his hand and he latched on to the tree trunk for support.

"Siding with them, Naomi?" Crowley was saying. "You don't know those two. Before they're done, we'll both be locked away."

Naomi smiled at Crowley. "I'm just hoping they lock you away, dear. The rest I'll figure out."

Adam leaned closer to Dean. "Is it just me, or are they checking each other out?" he whispered.

"It's not just you," was Dean's answer, even as he observed what was going on. "I think they like to fuck occasionally."

"Dean!" Sam looked like he was going to throw up. It could be because he was ill, but Adam was more inclined to think it was due to Dean's comment. He turned back to Crowley and Naomi talking, and tried to imagine any situation where the two of them would–

He shook his head furiously, and contemplated getting some brain bleach.

"Bureaucrat," Crowley spat. "You're fighting outside your weight class."

Naomi's expression changed abruptly – she now looked extremely angry. "Don't call me a bureaucrat." She extended her hand, her eyes glowing white.

"Now that's just fucking creepy," muttered Adam, inching closer to Dean and wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. It seemed that he was discovering new things every day.

Crowley had vanished, and Adam watched as Naomi flicked her fingers, allowing Bobby's soul to escape. It looked pretty again, as it sped eagerly upwards.

Naomi smiled cryptically at the brothers. "I told you you could trust me." And then she too, was gone.

"What the hell?" asked Sam, looking askance at Dean.

"I'll tell you later," Dean said. "Let's get this trial done." He glanced at Adam. "Should he be seeing this?"

Sam shrugged. "It's not much. It's okay," he said, and Dean acquiesced.

Adam watched, once more fascinated, as Sam drew a piece of paper from his pocket and began reading from it. It was a strange language, consisting of monosyllabic words. The moment Sam was done, he cried out in pain and fell to his knees.

"Sam?" Dean yelled frantically. "What? What?! Talk to me, Sam! What?!"

"Is he okay, what's going on?" asked Adam, hand hovering uncertainly over Sam's shoulder, no idea what to do.

"It's okay, it's okay!" Sam said quickly, clutching his arm with his other hand. "I'm okay, it's okay!" He took a deep breath and relaxed somewhat. "It's done."

"How's your leg?" asked Sam, once they were back on the road. He had just finished up a conversation with Dean that Adam hadn't bothered paying attention to – the adrenaline had worn off and he was just too tired.

"Okay," he answered, prodding it. "It's not the first time I've had a sprained ankle."

"You'll be fine," said Dean somewhat dismissively. He shot Adam a discreet glance in the rearview mirror, clearly trying to discern if Purgatory had any lasting effects.

"It's a weird place, Purgatory," Adam said with a yawn. "You spent how long in there?"

"A year," answered Dean shortly.

"How did you manage?" Adam inquired after a moment of silence. "A couple hours in there were bad enough."

"I had Benny and Cas with me," Dean told him. "And–" He stopped abruptly, and Sam looked at him, clearly knowing what he had wanted to say. Dean looked a bit surprised that Sam knew, but then he nodded and turned back to the road.

Adam yawned loudly and obnoxiously. "Married," he coughed.

Dean raised an eyebrow. "What was that, Small Fry?"

"Married," repeated Adam. "You two are married as fuck."

Without a word Dean grabbed the nearest cassette tape and lobbed it back at Adam. "OW!" yelled the boy, rubbing his head where it had hit him. "Asshole!"

Dean grinned widely in response.

"Control your husband, please," Adam griped at Sam, before dodging the second cassette tape thrown at him.

I'm really sorry for the long wait, guys. University is a lot more work than I thought it might be. Quizzes everywhere D: I also, um, might or might not have gotten both my shoulders bruised pretty bad, and pulled muscles in my left hand (THAT'S MY WRITING HAND GDI) and left leg. So yeah. Throw in a couple of personal problems, and that tends to kind of fuck up your update schedule.

In other news - I'm doing betterish now. I even made some friends in university, which I thought wasn't possible. Don't worry, I still hate 98% of the people here. Useless, entitled peasants.

WE HAVE A MUMMY IN OUR PHYSIOLOGY LAB AND I NAMED HIM RICARDO AND HE'S MY BEST FRIEND :D

Okay, my arm hurts, so this is going to be a short AN for once. I'm sorry to those who've missed my lovely sunny personality.

Thanks to Sapphire Ookami, Guest, klee744, reannablue, ShadowsOfTheSupernatural, agent iz hyper, angeleyenc, SPNxBookworn, Lia Whyteleafe and RHatch89 for reviewing. Here, why don't you guys have a tomato farm:D

I HAVE STARTED WATCHING DOCTOR WHO FULL TIME IT IS RUINING MY LIFE AND I MISS NINE AND I SHIP NINE/ROSE SO HARD IT HURTS BUT I MISS HIM AND UGHH WHAT IS MY LIFE

Question of the day - what's your opinion on Benny?

Personally, I thought he was a good character but I didn't really like him much. He helped Dean not out of the goodness of his undead heart but because he wanted out of Purgatory. He hasn't always been an angel, he killed people before Purgatory. I hate that Dean tells Sam that Benny's the only one who never let him down, that Benny's been more of a brother to him than Sam. He wasn't honest with Sam about Benny, and he expected Sam to just deal with it, completely forgetting the episode with Amy. She was a much more 'innocent' monster than Benny - she only killed to save her son.

And I don't know if you guys saw the deleted scene from Taxi Driver? Dean asks Benny if he ever fell off the wagon and fed. Benny doesn't deny it - his face says it all. I'll link a gifset here: remymckwakker tumblr com / post / 63568226677 /

Get rid of the spaces, eh?

Looking forward to hearing from you guys again. I've actually missed you a lot :')

Love,
Remy