Death in the Mountains

Disclaimer: I do not own the Supernatural or Sharyn McCrumb story elements.


1 Hour, 8 Minutes

Sam’s consciousness erupted when he felt strange hands touching him. Sam’s mind shrieked, trapped within his tortured body, unable to even draw away. Suddenly he was someplace dry and light, looking up at a white plaster ceiling. Pain, which had haunted him for hours, suddenly fled his body, making him gasp at its absence. His vision cleared and he saw a face with high cheekbones and dark skin hovering over him. Sam had seen this man before, but where? Was he one of the countless people his family had helped since he was a child?

The man noticed his gaze, and smiled suddenly. “It’s okay Sam; I was fast enough to save you this time.” Sam blinked. Save him? No, he was supposed to save people. Sam could hear other people, movement. Sam almost laughed when he heard Dean, yelling, cursing, but definitely alive. He could feel Star, she was close. She was in pain, but still living. Star had the resilience of all young things and would recover. Sam could hear Jay, too. Loud, angry, upset, but his voice was strong.

Vera? He couldn’t hear her. She had cleansed him of the taint of the demons, his body had been in pain, but his soul was light and clean. Sam decided he could live with the rest, the maiming, the scars, the memories because his spirit had been healed. Where was she?

Suddenly Sam could feel an enormous drain, a terrible exhaustion as his face, hand, chest and genitals began to burn and itch. He arched his back and screamed, more out of surprise than pain. Another man came into view, blond, balding, but with understanding blue eyes. He gave Sam a reassuring smile before he felt more hands on him.

Blue, green, gold and silver energy was pouring into him. Sam could feel the bones in his crushed hand knit, feel the skin on his face rejoin and spread. There was a gentle hand in his brain, soothing, softening the past day. Sam was so tired, but he no longer felt like withdrawing into himself. He understood that he was safe. The pain, the nightmare was over. The hands on his body no longer terrified him to the point of becoming catatonic.

The hand in his mind slowly withdrew, but the burning itch in his face, hand and chest didn’t. Sam could hear more yelling, a voice he didn’t know, and an angry response. Then he let his eyes close and he drifted into exhaustion.

~*~


Griffin crouched next to Dean’s priestess. Dean had been taken away with Sam, but it was wrong that these strangers had left the priestess behind. These new humans didn’t realize how much she was needed. He looked up and mewled at the Principality that was standing over them.

“I know, Little One, but I can not do any more tonight. It is good that you stayed with her; Shade can not leave young Star yet. Dean is glad you stayed as well.” Griffin was relieved. He thought Dean would want him to stay. He and Dean were new to each other; it wasn’t always easy to know what his human needed. The dark-haired woman who could bend time looked at Griffin, frowning. At least she was bending time around Vera, giving her precious minutes. Griffin had a little hope; maybe they were coming back for her? He nuzzled the priestess’ hand, letting her know she was not alone. She hadn’t yet slipped away enough to see the sad-eyed Principality.

The clouds had rolled away revealing the bright stars and moon. Moonlight reflected in the mud puddles on the ground. Griffin’s sharp ears caught the squish-slush-slap of someone running towards them awkwardly carrying several bulky items. Griffin cocked his head, it was a young Seer. The woman stopped bending time as they placed a cervical collar around the Vera’s neck and carefully rolled her onto a plastic board with hand grips all along the sides.

Griffin trailed them as they loaded Vera in the back of the truck and leaped in behind them. The man drove slowly while the woman started to bend time again. Griffin squalled his own grief. She was slipping away in a soft haze of pain. Why didn’t they take her with Dean and Sam?

~*~


As soon as Dean lost sight of Vera he quietly unsheathed a small throwing knife from the small of his back. In the confusion no one had checked him too thoroughly for weapons other than a very quick pat down. He moved carefully, cutting through his restraints; Atin began to talk to him when they got close to the house.

Atin’s face was contracted with urgency. “Dean, we got to get some information from you fast.”

Dean palmed the knife and glared. “Screw you. I don't have to tell you anything.”

Atin clenched his teeth. “Please, we need to know what's going on here!”

Dean blinked and winced from the pain in his newly-cracked ribs as the gurney was hoisted up the stairs and across the doorway of the house. He was pushed through the kitchen and into the front hall. Dean shook his head, hissing in pain. These guys had to be aliens of some kind. “You jack ass, you’re kidnapping me and my brother, or did you forget? Why should I tell you anything you can use?”

Atin shook his head. Dean was finding it hard to pay attention to him between his pain and the chaos in the hall. “We're not kidnapping you. You and your brother need medical attention. Look.” Atin pointed to Sam, who was laying a few feet away from him. Dean turned his head and saw Sam’s genitals heal completely, still covered in blood but whole beneath. He shuddered as he watched skin grow and his testicles reform into their correct shape. He could see Lin Yao cleaning Sam as she spoke urgently to Mike, whose face was frightening blank. A short blond man’s hands were gently cradling Sam’s head, his eyes closed.

Dean shivered again at the sight; convinced they were pod people. Nothing about this makes any sense. "Then what do you want?"

Atin took a deep breath, “Vera Kesterson, what is she? What has she done? Has she hurt you or Sam?”

Dean was getting both confused and angry. "You seemed to have a good reason to kill her earlier!"

Atin’s face contorted for a moment; and from somewhere Dean felt an almost agonizing regret. “That might have been a mistake, that's why we need to know what is going.”

Dean gaped at him, "Mistake? Mistake!" he shouted, despite the pain in his ribs. "You killed Vera and you think it was by mistake!"

Dean lashed out with his small knife, giving Atin a long shallow cut across his left forearm. He rolled off the gurney and shoved it towards Atin, putting most of his weight on his good right ankle. Atin yelled out a warning, but the rest of the Comacines barely glanced up, except for LaShonda, who carefully circled Dean. She and Atin exchanged glances, they had often worked together subduing rogue psychics, they didn’t expect Dean to be too much of a problem.

Atin tried projecting calm and trust to Dean, but he wasn’t responding very well to it. If Sam was also an Empath, Dean may have built up a resistance to certain types of psychic psychological manipulation. That was fairly common among non-gifted relatives and caregivers of psychics. Atin took a cautious step toward Dean and tried talking. “Dean, put down the knife, we didn't kill her. She’s still alive. We’re helping Sam; you see we’re making him better, right?”

Dean knew he was trying to distract him, but he risked a quick glance at his brother, he could see they were working on his left hand now. Dean’s eyes turned their intensity back on Atin. "Then where is she?" he demanded, refusing to be distracted.

Atin stepped sideways, circling Dean and making him follow his movement. “She's still outside. She was hurt much worse than you and Sam. We didn't do it, you saw that, right?”

Dean was incredulous. "You shot at her. You distracted her." He fumbled with his cell phone, thinking of calling Spencer and LeDonne for help.

Atin raised his voice over the clatter of medical equipment and Sam’s sudden screams. “Dean, nobody you call can stop this.”

Dean carefully scanned the hall, each breath harsh and painful. His eyes flicked to the hall behind Atin, the one that lead to the ritual room and library. Jay burst out of the bathroom door and came tearing out into the hall, yelling something about his aunt. Dean only had a glance of him before a short man built like a small tank followed and tackled Jay from behind, throwing him into the scarred wooden floor. Dean had to wince; Jay was gasping like the wind had been knocked out of him.

The little guy wrapped his arm around Jay’s neck in a chokehold. “Leave Jay alone, you little shit,” Dean yelled.

Atin glanced over his shoulder, biting back a curse. Where was Pascal? He was supposed to be helping with the younger Kesterson. “Zip, get him out of here!”

Atin turned his attention back towards Dean. Even though he was injured, Dean was obviously still a force to be reckoned with. “Dean, he didn't mean to hurt him, we know he's upset. He was hurt earlier, we're just trying to keep him calm and out of the way of our medical team.”

There was a sudden clatter at the back door as Cheryl and Pascal came in with Vera Kesterson. While Dean’s attention was distracted again, LaShonda lunged, knocking Dean down. She and Atin were on him in a heartbeat. Lin Yao broke away from Sam, scrambling across the floor to kneel next to a struggling Dean, quickly injecting him with a fast acting sedative.

Atin was still holding Dean down, making sure he was completely out before they treated his injuries, when suddenly an attack came from a totally unexpected source. One moment he was holding Dean still as he drifted into unconsciousness, and the next moment he was fending off four sets of claws and a small mouth full of fangs.


~*~


Cheryl released the time bubble just a little. Could Vera Kesterson really be a Guardian? Was that what Pascal’s visions had been about? Cheryl decided to treat her as one until they knew for sure. She was probably dying and it would hurt nothing. “Are you in any pain?” Cheryl asked softly.

Vera’s roaming eyes seem to finally notice her. “Hurts to breathe,” she managed to say after a moment.

“My name is Cheryl, I'm not a nurse but I can give you a shot of morphine. Do you want it?”

Vera gasped in pain. “No, can't go like that, not in sacred space.” Cheryl was confused, what did she mean by sacred space?

She laid her hand on Vera’s brow, hoping to comfort the dying woman. “The others are working on Dean and Sam. Your nephew was walking back to the house earlier, he seemed tired but okay.”

Vera tried to speak again. “Good, I hope Sam...” the rest of what she tried to say was just a mumble.

Cheryl nudged a wet cat away from her in annoyance. It kept meowing loudly in the closed space in the back of the truck. Finally she gave up and began petting the soggy tangle of fur. The cat was so dirty now it was hard to tell what color it was. "Hey kitty, sorry no treats."

The meows and Cheryl’s comment caught Vera’s faltering attention. “Not a kitty...Dean? Where are you?”

“Back in the house,” Cheryl tried to comfort her, knowing she would want to see them again before she went. “Just hang in there.”

Vera didn’t seem to understand her. “Griffin? Why? I need to see Jay.”

Cheryl sighed. This was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. She wished Pascal would hurry. The trip across the fields seemed to be taking years.

“Jay?” Vera asked again.

“Jay's in the house.” Cheryl repeated again. “We’ll be there in a minute.”

The truck finally slowed to a stop. Pascal came around the back to help Cheryl maneuver Vera out. Cheryl thought he looked too young to be out here tonight. His usually curly hair was plastered to his head and his eyes were wide in a pale face. “She still alive?” The tone of his voice made her realize that Pascal wholeheartedly believed Vera Kesterson was a Guardian. Her heart ached for him, knowing how hard Seers took things when they couldn’t save a life.

“Barely,” Cheryl responded curtly, not wanting to give an unrealistic assessment of the situation. Better not to get Pascal’s hopes up.


~*~


Griffin ran along side of Cheryl, his eyes anxiously on Vera’s still, pale hand drifting above him. He hoped they were taking her to the same place Dean was, so he could be with him too. The Principality followed as well, waiting until Vera would need him.

As Griffin padded through the door to the front hall the hair on his back bristled out. The man who was talking to his human earlier was holding him down on the hard wood floor. Vera may be hurt, but Griffin knew his duty. With a furious scream he launched himself across the room and flung himself at Dean’s captor. He flew at the man’s face, but the man managed to fend him off with his forearm. Griffin was still pleased when he heard his enemy’s yelp of pain as most of his claws found flesh. Griffin tumbled to the floor, but with an ear splitting yowl that echoed off the walls. He twisted, ready to launch another attack when he felt someone behind him. Before he knew it, he was thrown outside onto the front porch, where he futilely attacked the front door in a fury.

After a few moments of growling and pacing, the young cat calmed down enough to form a plan. There were a lot of windows, surely someone must have left one open. He could claw his way through the screen and get back into the house. Griffin reminded himself that he was a familiar, and his place was with his human. These bizarre strangers couldn’t keep him away from Dean.


~*~


Ben had been in healing links with Mike more times than he could count. Together the two of them could, and often did, work miracles. Mike healed bodies from traumatic injuries, and he calmed the stress and anguish of the mind. He couldn’t make them forget the horrific events that hurt them, but he could make sure they didn’t have flashbacks, nightmares or suffer self-loathing because of whatever tragedy had befallen them.

Mike usually was miserly with his power; healing only enough to be sure his patients would live and suffer no maiming. A few scars here and there were the price of being a member of the Order. Mike doled his power out so sparingly for a good reason, even he had his limits, and you never know when someone else might need his strength to survive.

This time was different. Mike was pouring healing into Sam with a speed that astonished even him. Sam’s internal injuries, his anus and genitals were totally healed, the bones in his crushed hand now restored.

Ben grabbed Mike’s shoulder. “Stop, Mike, stop! Sam is going to live; you can finish the rest later.” For the first time Ben was afraid Mike was ready to burn himself out on a patient.

Mike glared at him furious at being pulled out of a healing trance. “I am not going to let him wake up and see himself like this! I’ll work on Dean a few days from now.” Ben gazed at him dumbfounded for a moment. Mike was his foster brother, they had grown up together and Ben had long since gotten over being jealous of his greater gifts. Despite Mike’s arrogance, he’d always had a deep wellspring of caring and compassion that he covered with arrogance to keep most people at arm’s length.

“Mike,” Ben put as much emotion into that one word he could, reminding Mike of all the times they had spent together, all of the childhood secrets they shared. “What about Vera? The one who fought that demon, what about her? She may even be a Guardian.”

They were both momentarily surprised when Lin Yao ran to sedate Dean they hadn’t even noticed he was fighting Atin and LaShonda. Jay was still yelling as Pascal and Cheryl brought in Vera on a backboard. A large wet cat then attacked Atin. Lin Yao grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and threw it out the front door.

Mike finally spared a glance for Vera Kesterson. “We are not sure yet if she even is one. Guardians die all the time. The boy will take her place. Besides, I don’t have permission to heal her.”

Ben was stunned by the callousness of Mike’s attitude. Mike was usually kept out of the field these days so he wouldn’t be tempted to heal those that he came across who needed it. He would never turn his back on anyone he even suspected was a Guardian; most of the time he’d be putting in an urgent call to Mistress Tudor for permission to save a life.

Now he would rather be sure Sam Winchester didn’t wake up tomorrow morning with his face bandaged while he let a possible guardian die. Mike could still be sure Sam didn’t scar, he could have set the bones in Sam’s hands and healed them slowly over several days to conserve his power. Mike’s obsession with the Winchester brothers was even more deep seated and dangerous than he realized. They were Hunters, how could they fulfill their destinies if Mike wanted to wrap them in cotton and keep them protected?

Ben tried to restrain his own fury. “You’re not even trying, you’re not calling Hradani!”

Mike looked at him as if he were surprised that Ben was angry. “I don’t have time” was all he said before turning his attention back to Sam.

“Well I do.” Ben spat the words out like venom that had been collecting in his mind over the last few moments. He turned away from his brother in disgust and frantically searched the house for a telephone. Cell reception was bad tonight and he didn’t want to take a chance on a bad connection.

He found a telephone in the library and dialed the number. “Mistress Hradini Tudor’s personal line; this is her assistant Jeffery speaking.”

Ben’s tongue almost tripped over itself with his urgency. “Jeffrey, this is Ben Jorgensen with the Winchester contact team in eastern Tennessee. I need to speak with Hradani, it’s an emergency.”

Jeffrey sounded reluctant. “You do realize that it is after 4 in the morning here; Mistress Hradani has had a very long day.”

Ben bit back a growl. “I know that, I wouldn’t be calling her right now if it wasn’t literally a matter of life and death. Wake her up, I’ll take any fallout.”

“Very well.”

A few moments later Hradani came on the line, sounding as aware and crisp as ever with her Indian-British accent. “Yes Ben?”

Ben quickly recounted the events that had taken place since he had spoken to her earlier in the day; how Vera Kesterson was possibly a Guardian, Sam’s injuries, Pascal’s past life, the demons that had been exorcised and Mike’s obsession with the Winchester brothers and his callous indifference to the life of a possible Guardian. He was almost gasping with the effort to get it all out; desperately hoping that he could convince Hradani fast enough to save Vera Kesterson’s life.


~*~


Pascal was stunned by the shouting match he just witnessed between Ben and Mike. From everything he had heard about the brothers this was totally out of character for both of them. Mike returned to healing Sam’s slashed face and chest as if nothing had happened. Pascal tried to get his attention, but he seemed to have blocked everything out. Pascal’s heart dropped as he saw Sam’s face become smooth and take on a healthy tone. Mike had poured an astonishing amount of power into the younger Winchester. He probably didn’t have anything left.

After Mike came out of trance, he tried again. "She's a Guardian,” he said desperately, motioning to where Vera lay on the floor, “you can't just leave her there to die!"

Mike glared at him, furious for being questioned on his decisions for a second time that night. “We don't know that. If she is, the boy will take her place.”

Pascal was on the verge of tears. He had to save the Guardian. He could see Ravenmocker crouching over Vera. “Jay will go nuts if she dies; he's already threatened to put a blood curse on us all!”

Mike snarled a sarcastic response. “A curse? Go take care of Jay before I report you for insubordination.”

“She's important. I Saw it. If she dies, there’ll be a war,” Pascal pleaded.

Mike stared at him. Wars between Orders were rare; how could a backwoods magician/psychic, no matter how powerful, be the cause of a war, and with whom?

Before Mike had a chance to question the young Seer further Ben came skidding back into the front hall clutching a phone. “Mike, I have the Mistress on the line!” he called, brandishing the cordless telephone.

Mike grunted in annoyance, he needed to get Sam settled for the night and take a look at Dean. “Tell her I don't have time to talk.”

Ben’s face turned plum red. “She says stop now and come to the phone. That's a direct order!” Mike snarled and snatched the phone out of Ben’s hand, stalking back to the kitchen to hear her.

Ben looked around the room, quickly deciding how to use the scant resources that were left. They had to keep the woman at his feet alive long enough to find out if she really was a Guardian. “Mike’s been relieved of command. Cheryl, how much longer can you keep her bubbled?”

The strain was showing on her. "Five more minutes is all I can do." Ben could tell Cheryl was committed to keeping Vera Kesterson alive for now as well. It made sense; she and Pascal seemed to have bonded over this mission.

Ben’s eyes ranged over the people in the room until he found Lin Yao. “What do you have left?” he asked desperately, knowing she too had been drained along with Mike working on Sam.

Lin Yao looked at him wearily through her tangled hair. “About the same.” Ben thanked God that between Cheryl being able to slow time and Lin Yao’s ability to stabilize critically injured patients they had ten precious minutes.

Ben turned back to Pascal, who was staring at a spot on the wall above Vera’s head. Ben wondered for a moment, but they didn’t have time. “Pascal, didn't you say Jay is a booster?”

Pascal jumped and looked at him gratefully. “Yes, Jay could boost Cheryl but he's almost drained himself. What about Zip?”

Ben shook his head. “No, he's not trained, this is too dangerous. What do you think he has left? Lin Yao, be ready to take over from Cheryl.”

Pascal’s brow creased, looking far too old for a moment. Ben almost shuddered at the strange look in his eyes. “Jay would give everything to save his aunt.”

They didn’t have time for romantic self sacrifice tonight. “We can't let him give everything, he has to stay alive.” Ben would not let Jay Kesterson burn himself out.

Pascal nodded. “I'll go get him.”

Mike slowly walked back into the room, his face cold and stiff. “I don't know if I have enough left to save her, LaShonda, give me a total run down again.”

LaShonda looked relieved as she gave Mike a comprehensive list of Vera’s injuries.

Mike grunted again, looking like he was being forced to put his hand into a fire. “Move Sam off that gurney and her onto it.”

Pascal came racing back into the room, Jay on his heels while Zip clung to his arm, trying to keep him restrained. “Jay says Zip can feed him power and he can stabilize it.” Pascal reported.

Mike’s eyes glittered maliciously. “Good, can't risk the baby Guardian.”

“Mike!” Ben reprimanded.

“Yes sir, I will obey with a glad heart.”

Zip had stopped Jay about ten feet away from Vera, afraid that he would jostle her in his near hysterics.

“Shut up,” Jay yelled; his voice still raw. “Just keep her from dying.”

Mike seemed to be in only two modes that night, grunting or snarling. Somehow he managed to do both at once. “Get over here; you might be a psychic wunderkind, but this type of work still requires touch.”

Jay didn’t react to Mike’s sarcasm but turned to Zip. “Are you right handed or left?”

Zip was puzzled, "Right handed." He wanted to look away from Jay but couldn’t. Jay was transmitting his deep sorrow and his eyes were begging him for something he wasn’t sure he could give.

Jay took a deep breath and was obviously trying to compose himself. “Put your right hand on my back, between my shoulder blades, okay? That’s your projecting hand.”

Zip complied, trying to stifle a surge of excitement. He could actually do something; he had ability too, just like the rest of the Comacines. Jay reached out to touch Mike, who twitched irritably.

“Let’s see how far I get,” the healer muttered. He looked back to Jay. “Don't tap yourself out. You don't get to die tonight. If you are a Guardian Line, she's expendable, you are not.” Jay’s eyes glared out of a bruised face. Mike snarled again. “Reality's a bitch, quit thinking so hard.”

His snarls and sarcasm stopped as soon as Mike felt power flooding into him. He had never experienced anything close to this. It was almost a mystical experience. He felt Jay slip forward, leaning on his back for support. Jay’s body felt warm and pliant against his and for a moment Mike had to drive out wholly inappropriate thoughts.

He reached out his hands, laying them gently along Vera’s ribs. He would only do enough to keep her alive until morning. He broke off after a moment, frustrated. “Damn it, she's not letting me in. What sort of idiot has such hard shields they won't let a healer in when they're dying?”

Mike could feel as much as hear Jay’s sobs. “Aunt Vera! Take down your shields, please?”


~*~

Vera laid on the backboard, looking at the ceiling. She couldn’t move her head due to the neck brace they had put on her. She felt strange. Her back hurt, and it was painful to breathe. She knew she had been injured badly when she was thrown into the altar by the demon. Vera could hear movement in the hall around her and the chandelier was above her. Occasionally a young Asian woman came into her range of view, but other than that, she seemed oddly detached. She could hear people calling Sam and Dean’s names, and she thought she heard Jay yelling a little while ago.

Was this what it felt like to be dying? Everything seemed to be slipping away slowly. Vera knew that just leaving her here was a bad sign. Whoever their rescuers were had decided that her injuries were so extensive that it was a waste of resources to treat her.

Where was Jay? She wanted to see her nephew again, to give him her blessings and his last Initiation. She needed to pass Jay this last bit of power. Vera had put all of her hopes and energy into Jay from the time he was born. In many ways, he was more Vera’s child than his mother’s.

Vera heard Dean’s voice rising in anger. Dean always seemed angry, or at least aggressive. She wouldn’t mind seeing him again, but she had to see Jay. She tried calling out Jay’s name, tried to catch the eyes of the young woman, but she wasn’t paying attention to her. Vera closed her eyes, defeated more by not being able to see Jay than by dying. She knew her end could come tonight; she didn’t want to die, but if Jay, Dean and Sam were all right, she was content to go.

Vera felt someone touching her cheek. She opened her eyes as quickly as she could, hoping that it was Jay. It almost crushed her faltering heart when she looked into the dark face and eyes of a stranger instead. The man’s long, dark hair fell across her face as he stroked her cheek.

“Don’t give up hope yet, little sister. Jay has not forgotten you; he is fighting for your life even now.” He smiled gently, a bare, soft curve to his lips. “I will stay with you” he promised. The strange man’s presence was comforting.

Vera decided that if she might die, she would die while praising her Gods and the Light which she tried to serve as best as she could. “Blessed be the Air, that gives Life,” she whispered. “Blessed be the Water, that gives Life; Blessed be the Earth, that gives Life; Blessed be the Fire, that gives Life. Blessed be the Light, that is Life and that maintains the Balance. I Dedicate myself to the Light.” Vera’s voice began to falter as she struggled to finish the prayer. “May I be part of the Balance. Blessed be the Light.”

Vera paused for a moment, her thoughts going to her faith once more. Although she recited the Charge of the Goddess in her mind, only a few broken phrases did she manage to speak. “…I give knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death…freedom…reunion with those that have gone before…I call upon your soul…from me all things proceed and to me they must return…heart that rejoices…mirth…the Mystery…never find it…been with you …beginning…”

Suddenly there was a flurry of activity; Vera could see people clustering around her. An IV was being placed in her arm. She could see Jay’s pale, frightened face. “Aunt Vera” she heard him call. “Please take down your shields; you have to let him help you.”

She was confused. They almost never took down their shields, and certainly not in the presence of strangers. Vera felt strange hands touching her, laden with power. A healer; Jay was feeding him energy. “Aunt Vera, please!” Jay’s voice was anguished and she could see him crying. Even when he was a child she hated to see him cry. If it was so important to Jay, she would do it. Jay was the only one that she would do this for.

Vera let her shields and illusions fall away in layers reluctantly. She never liked showing what she really was. It was too dangerous. Silence was power, and when she was younger it was the only type of power she had. Vera had turned letting people underestimate her into an art form. She had pretended to be less than what she was for so long she had almost convinced herself that her abilities were as weak as she depicted.

Suddenly life was pouring into her, and Vera knew that she was no longer dying. It was becoming easier to breathe, and her body exploded into pain. She screamed once before someone put morphine into her IV and she drifted into unconsciousness. The last thing she heard was a triumphant cry from the strange man with the long, black hair.


~*~


Ben stared at Jay for a moment from across the front hall. He was sitting on the stairs between Zip and Pascal; slumped, appearing so hopeless and dejected it hurt to look at him. Ben may not be a Seer, but he knew the young man was going to be a problem whether he was a Guardian or not. Jay was projecting a psychically ‘invisible’ aura, the same trick he used earlier to hide from them. Thankfully, Ben knew how to read body language.

The situation was finally under control; Sam and Dean were both asleep in their room. Ben had to wonder why the two of them shared a bed despite all the empty bedrooms. He supposed it was a hold over from their childhood; being raised in roaming poverty they probably shared a bed often and they still did it now out of habit and comfort. Whatever the situation, it was best they were kept together. Ben knew it would keep them calmer when they woke up and could see each other. He knew Greg would probably grumble about this, saying it would be easier to control them if they were separated, but Ben knew that would be unforgivably cruel.

Vera Kesterson was being kept on the backboard until someone could drive into Johnson City or Knoxville to get medical equipment. Mike healed her internal injuries just enough to keep her alive. None of them wanted to waste resources if she wasn’t a Guardian. If she was, they needed to keep her immobile to be sure they didn’t aggravate her spinal injuries. If she wasn’t a Guardian, even if she were not behind the deaths in the area and wasn’t manipulating Sam and Dean, they would have to let her die. Their resources were limited; they couldn’t afford to keep non-Comacine members or people who were not Guardians or Hunters alive. If that were the case, they would take Jay with them to Hawaii and keep him there until he turned 21. Other Orders would have no issues with forcible recruiting an underage and very strong psychic. He might hate them afterwards, not understanding how the Orders operated, but at least he would be safe and allowed to live his life in freedom. Ben just wished he was one of theirs, but no one had recognized him as a Comacine. He hoped the young man would join the Winchesters as a Hunter. He had too much potential talent to spend his life on a farm in an isolated town.

Ben sighed; they would have to question him in the morning. They needed answers and soon, but right now Jay was too exhausted. They would put him to bed and try tomorrow morning. The bones, the bloody crystals, not being able to contact Nora Bonesteel; there were too many issues that had to be resolved.

He spoke quietly to LaShonda, who nodded and found both an oral and injectable painkiller and sedative. They would try to get Jay to take the tablets first; if he refused he would be given the injection. Ben was in no mood for any more arguments or surprises tonight. He signaled to Atin, and the two of them and LaShonda approached the stairs. Jay looked at them apprehensively, much to Ben’s regret. He wished he had no reason to fear them, but the night’s events had made that impossible.

“Jay, LaShonda has a mild pain reliever and something to help you sleep for you to take.” Ben said in a gentle tone, empathically projecting calm to Jay. Ben could tell he wasn’t affected. Was anyone on this farm responsive to empathic ability? “Then we'll put you in the room with Sam and Dean.”

Jay’s eyes flickered to where Vera was laying in the hall. “No, let me stay with my aunt, please!”

Ben let his expression harden; he could see he was going to have to be firm with him. He hated it, but he was going to have to be cruel to be kind; he needed to establish his authority. “That's out of the question. She needs complete quiet to recuperate. The less people with her, the better. End of discussion. Will you take the pill or do we have to inject you?”

LaShonda played ‘good cop’, but Ben could tell she was genuinely touched by the young man’s fear and worry. “Come on, honey, you're hurt and you need to sleep, you can see her tomorrow.”

Jay’s eyes went wild. “No, you're letting her die, please let me be with her, I don't want her to die alone...” Anything else he said was lost among sobs as he finally broke down. Ben nodded to Atin, who enveloped him in a bear hug while LaShonda quickly sedated him. Ben saw Pascal’s face drawn with worry, and Zip looked away, obviously upset as well. Ben was worried about Pascal; he was getting too emotionally involved. Maybe that was a good thing in Jay’s case, though. Jay might respond better to someone who believed him.

Atin murmured comfort to Jay as he slowly went limp, rubbing his back. Ben was glad he was on the mission; Atin was excellent in the field dealing with frightened psychics. His patience was amazing and he never held grudges, even when he was injured by them. Atin wholeheartedly believed in the Order’s mission. After the sedative had fully taken effect, he hefted Jay over his shoulder and carried him to Sam and Dean’s room, laying him on the mattress and box springs from his room. It would be easier to keep all three of them together for now, but Ben was careful to be sure the sedation would wear off at different times for each of them. He didn’t want all three of these men to wake up at the same time.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly he turned to LaShonda as Atin left the room. “Will you stay and monitor them for awhile?”

She nodded. “All right, but I don't see how any of them can even blink. Do you want to dig around Jay’s head a bit while he's out? The way he can disappear is just wrong.”

Ben’s brow creased as he considered scanning Jay’s mind. “I know, but after the kind of traps we experienced in Vera's office, I'm afraid if I dig around I'll fall into another one. We just don't know what either of them is capable of.”

LaShonda shuddered. “All right, but now that you mention it, I'm almost afraid to be alone with him.” She looked down at Jay, still pale under his scrapes and bruises. “Have somebody bring me some ice packs; he's swelling up pretty badly. Zip bandaged his wrists too tightly. I'll need to change them.”

“Well so far, both Vera and Jay's magic seems to be defensive, so that's good news. As long as we don't threaten them, then we should be safe.”

She responded with an angry grunt. “Well, I guess that should have told us something.”

Ben blinked his eyes rapidly. “Too bad we missed the point. I don't want to make anymore mistakes; the sooner we package everyone up for Hawaii the better I'll feel. I wish Pascal could see what is going to happen. I have a bad feeling things aren't over yet.”

LaShonda was so tired her childhood accent began slipping out. “Honey, you ain't the only one. I'm not looking forward to Greg and Miriam getting back. Keep 'em away from this poor boy and his aunt.”

He grimaced, Greg’s hatred of all magic was well known. Most Comacines distrusted it, but few detested it so strongly. Miriam wasn’t much better. “Greg, you’re right and you just reminded me we can't get in touch with them. Last Mike heard their van got stuck.” Ben groaned. “Maybe that was just as well.”

LaShonda was quiet a moment, her brown eyes bloodshot and weary. “With the Kestersons I'm not surprised. If they have some sort of defensive magic it might have been responsible for it.”

Ben looked at Jay speculatively. “You may be on to something there. You okay here for awhile? I'll send in Cheryl if you want company.”

LaShonda smiled her thanks and looked at the sleeping Winchesters. Nothing turned out the way it was supposed to, but at least everyone was still alive. The minute Ben shut the door she heard him say in astonishment, "How did you get back in here? Shoo, shoo!" She then heard a loud hiss. LaShonda was sure that cat was wearing army boots the way it thundered down the stairs.

~*~

The text message read: "Hey Sugar, vision. See me." Will Woodfin closed his cell thoughtfully; the message was from his wife and Seer, Yolanda. It had to be an important and urgent vision for her to text him; usually she could wait for him to return home. As head of the Priory of Nyx his duties often took him away from home. He hesitated on accepting to be the leader, not wanting Yolanda to be raising their five children without his support. Will had accepted only after Yolanda told him she’d had a vision where he had led the Order into a new era. Exactly what the new era was to be hadn’t been revealed yet. Maybe this was the moment.

Will had wrapped up his business early so he was already on his way home. He guided his motorcycle to the underground parking of his headquarters and took a private elevator to his executive suite on the top floor. Eleven-year-old Ethan was playing the Xbox in the living room, eight-year-old Rosie ran to greet him and Will swept her up in a big hug. The twins and Amy must either be in bed or out. Yolanda's eyes were worried and distracted, Will was surprised she was letting the kids stay up so late, it was almost midnight. She shooed Rosie off and led Will into the office.

Once the office door was closed Yolanda let out her breath. “Did you hear the Winchester boys have been found?” Will nodded; the gossip among the Orders was that the Comacines had finally tracked them down. Will thought it was for the best. The Comacines, despite their tight-assed, control freak issues, were excellent at helping Hunters and rogue psychics. From the rumors it sounded as if the brothers could use help in both departments. Will was puzzled at the anxious cast over his wife’s dark and delicate features. How could two near legendary, but homeless Hunters cause so much concern?

“I saw them with that old teacher of yours Sugar, can never remember her name. She and the Winchester brothers could be the start of a three-way war between the major Orders. There are too many variables.” Yolanda’s eyes were wide with fear. “The balance of power could tip into the Knight’s favor. Somehow a number of underage, very rare and powerful psychics are going to be found around them. You know how the Knights are.” Will felt a slow anger burning in his gut. The Laws allowed anyone under the age of 21 to be forcibly recruited into an Order if they were not a part of an established Hunter or Guardian Line. The logic was that the Lines were very small compared to the Orders, and the Line’s younger members had to be protected. The children of Order members and any psychics that were not part of a Line were fair game. Some Orders took advantage of this, others did so rarely. The Knights were one of the worst.

“How old is Sam Winchester? Do we know?” Will asked. Yolanda shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I know he must be close.” From the bits of gossip Will had been able to glean, it sounded like Sam was a strong Seer, telekinetic, empath and had remote vision, a powerful combination. It was rare that someone had more than one ability; Sam had four and it sounded as if he was fairly strong in all of them. He would be a tasty prize for the Knights. Even if he were over 21, they still might try taking him.

If Sam and Dean Winchester were with Vera Kesterson, it probably meant she had taken Sam on as a student. Will had been the head of the Priory for a little over a year now and had been considering contacting Vera again. It looked like events were forcing his hand. If the Knights managed to take Sam and any other strong psychics, the balance of power could shift in their favor, which the Priory would not allow. Second, the Priory of Nyx owed Vera Kesterson a great deal, and he knew it. Will wasn’t going to let her and her students become pawns in the centuries long struggle between the ancient Orders.

~*~

“Dedication to the Light” written by Inga Johannesen

“Charge of the Goddess” by Doreen Valiente.