The Seventh Faerie: Chapter Four
Fic title: The Seventh Faerie
Author name: seramercury
Artist name: tzeni17
Genre: Het, AU
Pairing: Dean/Jo
Rating: R
Word count: 20,154 words
Warnings: language, violence, implied sexual assault
Summary: Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle have finally found happiness--together. The Yellow-Eyed Demon is dead and things are starting to feel normal for a change. That is, until a new evil threatens to erase everything they hold dear--their relationship, their families, and their very lives.
“Something ain’t right.”
“Of course not, Bobby,” Sam said, stopping in mid pace. The abrupt silence was startling, echoing down the halls of the hospital. “Dean was stabbed by a fucking faerie!”
Bobby gave him an annoyed look. “Well I know that, Sam; what I mean is where did Musgrave go? He goes to all this trouble to put a spell on Jo and when it doesn’t work he tortures Dean, sure, but then disappears before he’s dead? Like I said, something ain’t right!”
While the two hunters were discussing what Musgrave was really up to, Ellen was dealing with her distraught daughter. “Honey, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. Dean knows it wasn’t you! Besides, you broke free from that spell all by yourself!”
“I know,” Jo whispered. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. “It’s just gonna take me some time to deal with it.”
“You’re not alone through this. I will always be there for you.”
Jo lifted her head, smiling at Ellen. “Thanks for understanding, Mom.”
“Excuse me, but I’m looking for Dean Singer’s family.”
Bobby nodded, walking up to the doctor. “That’s us,” he said. “I’m Bobby Singer.”
“Dr. Freemont,” the man replied, shaking Bobby’s hand. “Dean is stable now but we almost lost him. The knife perforated his spleen and it had to be removed. He’s currently sedated and will be like that for the rest of the night.
“We have him on broad range antibiotics to keep infection from setting in. Since I’ve downgraded him to serious condition, and due to the nature of his injuries, I can only allow one person to remain with him, but you’ll all be able to see him briefly before you leave for the night.”
Sam took a deep breath before speaking up. “He’ll be okay, though?”
Dr. Freemont nodded. “Dean seems to be a fighter. He’s just going to need plenty of rest for the next month or so.”
“Good luck with that,” Bobby said, laughing, but relief was evident in his voice.
The doctor smiled. “I’ve known quite a few families who say that about their loved ones. I have a brother who thinks he’s invincible,” he said as a nurse came over. “This is Flora, she’ll take you to see Dean.”
“Thank you,” Ellen said, after exchanging glances with Bobby. Flora looked exactly like a certain faerie they had met days ago, but why wouldn’t she be using a glamour on them?
The answer to Ellen’s question would be revealed once everyone had entered Dean’s room. “Flora!” Jo exclaimed.
“Hello,” she said, looking over at Dean. Flora moved closer and frowned. “It is as I feared.”
“What do you mean by that?” Sam asked.
Flora looked up at him, sympathy in her eyes. “Your brother has been poisoned.”
“The doctor said nothing about him being poisoned,” Bobby told her. “Are you sure?”
“No one would be able to detect it.”
Jo went to Dean’s side, taking his hand in hers. “If that’s true then you have the antidote, right?”
Flora bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “Only Musgrave can save Dean. If he doesn’t, the poison will kill him.”
“How long do we have?” Ellen asked, watching as Jo and Sam never once took their eyes off Dean.
“Three days, maybe a week. It just depends on how much he was given. I can do a spell to find out or I can ask the council for help so that we might stop Musgrave.” Flora paused, looking at the floor. “I just learned from my father that he was the cause of my mother’s death.”
Sam walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Flora looked up at him. “We’ll find him and make him pay for everything he’s ever done.”
She nodded. “Yes, we will! Sam, will you come with me?”
He looked over at Bobby, who nodded. “We’ll keep an eye on him; just do what you have to do.”
*****
Dean was in and out of consciousness the next morning. Once he was fully awake he began complaining about being laid up in bed while Sam was off doing who knew what to save his life.
“Come on, Bobby!” Dean said, sitting up.
He didn’t care that his stomach was killing him. He didn’t care that he was dizzy and freezing. He didn’t care that he could die any day now. He just knew he couldn’t let Sam risk his life for him.
“You ain’t leaving, ya idjit!” Bobby replied, crossing his arms.
“Just get the doctor in here,” Dean told him. “I’ll talk to him myself!”
Jo made a move to get the doctor, but Ellen grabbed her arm. “No, darlin,’ we’re not giving Dean what he wants here. He isn’t in charge today.”
“Mom, Dean’s gonna figure out a way to slip right from under our noses without making a sound tonight. We might as well just let him sign out so at least he wouldn’t be out there alone!”
Dean smirked at Jo, but she glared at him. He could tell she didn’t really want to let him out either. He hated being the one who had to be looked after. Dean knew that when he did sign out AMA, they were going to be all over him.
Jo sighed and went out to find the doctor. Dean rubbed his tired eyes as Ellen frowned, handing him a change of clothes. “Are you sure about this, Dean?” she asked.
Dean was actually teary-eyed at her question. He decided to chalk it up to being drugged, but he was hard-pressed to admit that he loved the attention. Ellen was like a second mother to him.
“Dean?”
He blinked, looking up at her. “Yeah,” Dean replied. “I’m sure!”
*****
Sam followed Flora into the woods, wondering if maybe this was a trap and she was working for Musgrave. A sudden, excruciating pain took a hold of Sam’s head. He grabbed at his temples as he fell to his knees in agony, wondering what had caused this. Of course-a faerie enchantment. Just before he could cry out, the pain was gone, erased every bit as quickly as it had appeared. Once it lifted Sam realized that Flora had eased the pressure from his mind. She wasn’t going to betray them; he knew that now. Not after that.
“Sorry,” he said as he got to his feet. “Thank you.”
Flora turned to face him, smiling. “It’s all right, Sam. You are only concerned for your family and that is very noble. I will admit that you are all very different from the humans I usually encounter.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” she replied with a laugh as light as a feather.
A door appeared in front of them. Flora opened it and they entered. Sam was in awe at the sight that greeted him. He heard the sound of birds twittering and a babbling brook, which he learned from Flora, was her people talking.
“What are they saying?”
Flora chuckled. “They are amazed at your height, actually.”
“Really,” Sam said as the pair walked through the small city. He never would have imagined he’d be in faerie world. He knew Dean would probably get a kick out of seeing him there because of their short stature compared to his King Kong height.
Sam saw someone approaching. This man had white hair peppered with flecks of black. “Flora!” he said as he approached them.
“Father,” she replied. “This is Sam Winchester. Sam, this is my father, Niehart.”
Niehart nodded. “I truly am sorry and utterly ashamed at what has happened. I hope you can forgive us.”
“We understand your position,” Sam told him. “I think right now we need to focus on Musgrave and figuring out how to find him so he can give Dean the antidote to the poison.”
“I agree. Come! The council is waiting for us.”
Sam sat beside Flora as the meeting was called to order. Unfortunately the reason for him being there seemed to be low on their priority list. It was their fault he even had to come to this damn meeting to begin with.
“Samuel Winchester.” He blinked when his name was called. The faerie who spoke looked similar to Sir Ian McKellen’s Gandalf, only smaller and with wings. “I understand your frustration. Please, step forward. My name is Brasher and welcome to our world. Please tell us what you would ask of us.”
He glanced back at Flora, who nodded encouragingly. “I am asking for your help,” Sam said. “My brother, Dean, was poisoned by Musgrave. Flora says only Musgrave can remove it, since he put it there. We need help to locate him. We need help to convince him to save Dean!”
“I do not know if we can convince him,” Brasher admitted. “However, we will discuss this. Flora, how long does this young man have before he succumbs to the poison?”
Flora stood. “I performed a spell to learn that answer before arriving here. We have a little over a week, sir.”
Sam looked back at her, curious as to how she cast a spell without him seeing it happen. Faeries certainly were tricky creatures. He turned to face Brasher again as he answered her.
“Very well, we will convene here within the hour,” Brasher said. “Samuel, bring your brother and your friends here for their protection. Musgrave will know that you have come to seek our help.”
“I will. Thank you!”
*****
Jo shook her head as Dean walked across the kitchen to the refrigerator. “You’d better not be getting a beer,” she told him, not looking up from the book she was reading.
“Damn! You’re worse than your mom!”
She looked up at him with a smirk. “I’ll take that as a compliment!”
Dean attempted to hide a wince as he sat down with the glass of lemonade he had begrudgingly poured himself. “Shut up, Joanna!”
“I wasn’t gonna say anything!”
“You were thinking it!”
Jo chuckled, shaking her head, but her voice was steady and calm. “You know why I was, don’t you?”
He nodded as he took her hand. “I know, baby. I’m just not used to being the one who’s being taken care of.”
“I know you aren’t,” Jo replied, squeezing his hand.
She took that moment to really look at him. Dean’s skin was deathly pale and there were dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. He was even wearing three long sleeve shirts despite the fact that it was sweltering in Bobby’s house.
Dean sighed and dropped his head to the table. “This really sucks,” he mumbled.
Jo scooted her chair over, running a hand through his hair. “I know, but we’ll get through this, I promise!” she told him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Dean.”
“I love you too, Jo.”
*****
A sudden breeze caused the couple to lift their heads. Dean’s eyes widened when he saw who was standing there. “Aww, the two of you make a faerie wanna claw his eyes out!”
“Musgrave!”
“Mister States the Obvious,” he said with a smirk, sending Jo away with a flick of his wrist. Dean stood up, knocking his chair to the floor. “Take it easy there! Don’t wanna tear those stitches.”
Dean grabbed at his stomach when he felt a slight sting. Looking down, he saw that Musgrave did indeed tear the stitches and that blood was seeping through.
“What’s the matter, Dean?”
“Where’s Jo?” he asked, ignoring the fact that he was probably going to bleed all over Bobby’s kitchen floor.
With another wave of his hand Jo appeared beside Musgrave. He grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly. “Let me go!”
“Why would I do that?” he asked, pulling her closer to him. Way too close for Dean’s liking. “I wouldn’t move, Dean; I could easily kill her.”
Dean was fighting the dizziness he felt. He wasn’t sure if it was the poison or the fact that he was bleeding to death… again. Either way he wasn’t going to give Musgrave the satisfaction.
Musgrave and Dean glared at one another. Before Dean could reply, Musgrave grabbed Jo roughly by her hair and smashed his lips against hers. He was holding Jo with a spell so she couldn’t attack him the way she had the last time.
Dean ran towards them. Just as he reached them there was a loud POP and Musgrave was gone. “Jo!” Dean exclaimed, catching her.
“I’m okay,” she told him as he held her.
The couple looked around the room after a bit, each wondering what had happened to Musgrave. Jo had clearly forgotten about Dean’s stitches until wetness dripped onto her foot.
“Oh God, Dean!” She exclaimed, pulling him to the couch. “Lie down.”
Dean smirked as he complied. “I don’t know if I’m up for that kind of activity just yet, Jo.”
“You’re such an ass!” Jo replied with a light chuckle as she went to get the first aid kit. Just as she began to clean the wound, Bobby and Ellen returned.
“What the hell happened now?” Bobby asked.
As Jo continued her ministrations, Dean spoke up, telling the two older hunters about their visit from Musgrave. When he was finished he closed his eyes, as if just talking had taken everything out of him.
“Dean?” Jo said, patting his cheek worriedly. Her frown deepened when she felt the heat radiating from it. “It’s no time for a nap.”
“Tired.”
“I know you are, but we gotta figure out what’s going on and how to stop this damn faerie before the poison…” She trailed off, tears slipping from her eyes before she could stop them. “Dean…”
Dean opened his eyes, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. “We’ll figure this out, Jo. Sam will have a plan when he gets back, I know it!”
It was another hour before Sam did arrive. By then Dean was ten times worse, shivering under a mountain of blankets. He attempted to sleep, but he was never able to get enough rest.
He heard bits of the garbled conversation Sam was having with the others and was itching to know what they were talking about. He was too exhausted to even move
“Dean?” He blinked, looking up at Sam with droopy eyelids. “Hey. We’re gonna take you to faerie land.”
“What?” Dean wasn’t sure he heard his brother right. “Why are we going to Disneyland?”
Sam chuckled. “Faerie land, Dean. The faerie council is meeting as we speak to figure out what they can do to help.”
“'K, Sammy, but you are not carrying me to the car!”
“Yeah, whatever you say, big brother.”
*****
Musgrave grinned. When he’d stabbed Dean, his enchanted blade had seared the poison into Dean’s flesh and forged a link between the two of them, allowing Musgrave to see all that happened to the hunter in his absence. Soon, Dean would arrive in the faerie world. When he arrived, everything would be in faerie terms. He could place glamours on the human.
He would be rid of Dean Winchester forever and the demon who Musgrave had thought of as a father would be avenged. Not even the fabled The Seventh Faerie could stop him! Not with the demon’s powers!
Azazel had been like a father to him. He had been powerful and it was sheer luck John Winchester had been able to kill him. Not without a sacrifice and he knew he could use that against Dean.
*****
While Jo and Ellen sat with Dean, Sam and Bobby joined Flora in the council chambers to hear the final decision. The two hunters were relieved that the faeries had decided to help. After all, it was their fault they were in this position to begin with.
“Samuel Winchester, the council has spoken on the matter and we have agreed to help you find Musgrave.”
Sam stood, nodding. “Thank you! I really appreciate this.”
“You must understand that while we can help you locate Musgrave, the one who can ultimately save your brother is himself.”
He glanced back at Flora, who nodded. “How would he have to do that?”
Brasher walked over to Sam. “Dean is already connected to Musgrave through the poison in his system. Using that link will make it easier for Dean to fight him. He must use all his mental capabilities.”
“Mental capabilities?” Sam asked.
He knew how people who could see into Dean’s mind would manipulate him. They would use his family against him. Tell him he was worthless like Azazel did. Sam didn’t know if this was going to end well at all, but honestly he couldn’t think of another way to help Dean.
“Okay, I’ll talk to him. What’s going to happen if he decides not to go through with this?” Sam knew his brother would if there was a chance to live, but he wanted to be able to give Dean the choice.
“There is one other hope, but we have not called on her for help in centuries. We do not even have proof of her existence anymore.”
“Who?” Sam asked.
“The Seventh Faerie,” Brasher replied. “She helps the afflicted when they are no longer capable of defending themselves. She gives them strength to defeat the evil they are infected with. I must admit that humans rarely come back unscathed from what The Seventh Faerie gives them.”
Bobby stood up. “Um… excuse me, sorry to interrupt your little powwow session here, but what the hell does that mean, ‘rarely come back unscathed’?”
“They usually do not live for more than two days after,” Brasher admitted, after a long pause.
“Well, that’s some crazy shit!”
“Bobby!” Sam said, taking his arm.
“No, Sam! This ain’t right! Dean was only doing his job as a hunter and the faeries here had to go all high and mighty because he’s killin’ evil creatures who threaten people’s lives every fucking damn day! Hell, I’m sure they’ve threatened people in this world too! They gotta be if they have this Seventh Faerie that’s supposed to save them all. From what, humans?”
Brasher shook his head as the guards moved to take a step closer to the human.
“You are right, Bobby Singer,” Brasher told him. “We have been threatened by non-human creatures before and have lost many good people to them. We even deal with demons, more recently one with yellow eyes.”
Sam and Bobby exchanged a look. “What do you mean a demon with yellow eyes?” Sam asked. “Azazel?”
Brasher nodded. “You have heard of him?”
“I did. He’s dead, though.”
“That is wonderful news! We thought he would be back soon, but have not heard from him in quite some time.”
Sam took a deep breath. “That’s because my dad killed him.”
The faeries began to murmur to one another, seeming amazed that they had been inadvertently saved by a human. “Your family will be honored, Samuel Winchester, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that your brother will survive unscathed.”
*****
Jo shakily pressed the cool cloth on Dean’s forehead again. He seemed to be getting worse by the minute and all she could do was sit there and let it happen. She grabbed his hand when he reached for her. “Jo.”
“I’m right here, Dean,” she said. “I’m not leaving you either.”
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Jo looked at Ellen as she sat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder to offer what comfort she could. She smiled sadly, as she glanced down at Dean in the bed. He seemed so small and fragile lying there. Those were not words she would ever have used to describe Dean in the past and it hurt her to the core.
Sam and Bobby arrived a few minutes later and went over what the council had told them. “I don’t even know if Dean is lucid enough to decide that,” Jo said. “I can barely keep him conscious enough to drink any water.”
“I gotta do this, Jo,” Dean said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay if you don’t,” she told him, running a hand through his hair. “No one is going to judge you for it.”
Dean took a deep breath and looked into her eyes to show he wasn’t backing down on this. “I want to do this, Jo. I need to do this! If I don’t who’s to say Musgrave won’t come after any of you?”
Jo nodded grimly. She knew Dean would sacrifice himself if it meant that Musgrave would be gone for good and would never be able to harm anyone ever again. She hated and loved Dean for that.
“Okay, Dean,” Jo said, putting his hand to her lips and kissing it. “We’ll do it your way.”
A light breeze filled the room and everyone looked at the foot of Dean’s bed to see Flora standing there. She had a light glow around her and she was smiling. “Dean, I am very pleased to finally meet you. I am the Seventh Faerie.”
Jo stood up, fire in her eyes. “Wait a minute! You’re the Seventh Faerie? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Jo!” Dean said. “Relax and let her talk. I’m sure she has a good reason.”
Everyone took a seat as Flora began to speak. “The title of Seventh Faerie has been passed on in my family for generations. I took the title when my mother passed away. Father was adamant about my not being put in the position she was. He did not wish for me to reveal myself until it was absolutely necessary.
“I am ashamed that I have waited so long, Dean Winchester. I hope you can forgive me and that you will allow me to help you defeat Musgrave.”
Dean attempted to sit up and was finally able to with Jo’s help. “I’m ready whenever you are,” he said with grin.
*****
Musgrave knew something was going on and he was going to figure out what it was. Dean Winchester had been taken to the faerie world. He had a few contacts remaining there. Some were still loyal to him so he wasn't going to make this easy for him. An evil grin appeared on Musgrave's face. No, this wasn't going to be pleasant for any of them at all.
*****
"I have to do what?"
"Become one with your mind," Flora explained. "It is not that difficult. All you need to do is focus. You will need a safe haven to go to in your mind and that will be what you will focus on."
Dean nodded and closed his eyes. He felt stupid doing this, but he had to. Taking a deep breath, Dean imagined Sam, Jo, Bobby, and Ellen- his family. They were smiling encouragingly and it was amazing how much love he felt from them. "Okay, I got it."
Flora smiled. "Good. We'll begin shortly. I trust you would like some time with your family."
"I would, thanks."
She left the room and allowed Ellen and Bobby to enter. Ellen immediately sat beside Dean and pulled him into a hug. "Your parents would be so proud of you, Dean," she told him, kissing his cheek. "And I am too!"
Dean smiled as she pulled away, placing a hand on his cheek. "Thanks, Ellen," he said as she got up. With tears in her eyes, she nodded and left the room.
"Wow this is awkward," Dean finally said after a few minutes.
"You think so?"
"Bobby," Dean began, "you're awesome, you know that? Thanks for everything. You're like a dad to me and I don't know how I would ever be able to repay you for that."
Bobby patted Dean on the shoulder. "Son, you've already paid me back for that a thousand times over."
"I love you, Bobby, and in case I don't make it, you'll keep an eye on Sam, right?"
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that, but I'll keep an eye on Sam anyway," Bobby replied, giving Dean a hug. "And I love you too."
Dean shook his head. "All right, enough of that. I'm going to have more than enough caring and sharing when Sam gets in here."
Bobby chuckled and left to send in the next person. It was Jo and she was looking very pale. Dean held out his hand and when she accepted it, he pulled her onto the bed with him. Jo suddenly launched herself into his arms.
"Dean…”
Dean held her close. “I know I'll be fine because nothing is going to take me away from you, Jo. Nothing! I may have a lot to lose but that is not an option to me. I've had enough taken from me so I'm going to do the taking from Musgrave."
She swallowed. "Are you really up for this?" she asked. "I know you're not going to physically fight this guy but we've both seen first hand what faeries can make us see and believe."
"What choice do I have, Jo?" Dean replied. "You know I can't just sit here and let him slowly kill me with this poison and I won't let him try to do the same to another person because I was afraid I couldn't defeat him. I will!"
Jo leaned in to kiss him on the lips. "I know you will, Dean," she said as she wrapped her arms around him. "I love you and don't you forget it!"
"Never, Jo Harvelle. I love you too!" The two held each other a few minutes longer but they knew it couldn't last, at least not right now.
Sam came into the room after Jo left. "You need anything?" he asked.
"Just take care of the Impala. And don't do anything stupid like put a CD player in her! She's a classic and she better stay that way. Got it, Sammy?"
"Got it, Dean," Sam replied with a chuckle. He sobered up immediately. "Maybe we can figure something else out. Maybe the faeries can put a glamour on you instead so we can trick Musgrave into thinking you've been cured and he'll come here."
Dean shook his head. "Come on, Sam, you really think he's gonna fall for something like that?"
"Not really," Sam replied. "You can't blame me for trying, though. You are always risking your life for everyone else, why can't you let someone help you for a change."
"Sammy, you know I have to do this. I promise the next time one of us has to risk his life for someone; it can be your turn. . Just let me take care of this, okay?"
Sam sighed. "Fine, Dean, but I am not going to leave this room."
| CHAPTER FIVE | MASTER POST |
Author name: seramercury
Artist name: tzeni17
Genre: Het, AU
Pairing: Dean/Jo
Rating: R
Word count: 20,154 words
Warnings: language, violence, implied sexual assault
Summary: Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle have finally found happiness--together. The Yellow-Eyed Demon is dead and things are starting to feel normal for a change. That is, until a new evil threatens to erase everything they hold dear--their relationship, their families, and their very lives.
“Something ain’t right.”
“Of course not, Bobby,” Sam said, stopping in mid pace. The abrupt silence was startling, echoing down the halls of the hospital. “Dean was stabbed by a fucking faerie!”
Bobby gave him an annoyed look. “Well I know that, Sam; what I mean is where did Musgrave go? He goes to all this trouble to put a spell on Jo and when it doesn’t work he tortures Dean, sure, but then disappears before he’s dead? Like I said, something ain’t right!”
While the two hunters were discussing what Musgrave was really up to, Ellen was dealing with her distraught daughter. “Honey, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. Dean knows it wasn’t you! Besides, you broke free from that spell all by yourself!”
“I know,” Jo whispered. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. “It’s just gonna take me some time to deal with it.”
“You’re not alone through this. I will always be there for you.”
Jo lifted her head, smiling at Ellen. “Thanks for understanding, Mom.”
“Excuse me, but I’m looking for Dean Singer’s family.”
Bobby nodded, walking up to the doctor. “That’s us,” he said. “I’m Bobby Singer.”
“Dr. Freemont,” the man replied, shaking Bobby’s hand. “Dean is stable now but we almost lost him. The knife perforated his spleen and it had to be removed. He’s currently sedated and will be like that for the rest of the night.
“We have him on broad range antibiotics to keep infection from setting in. Since I’ve downgraded him to serious condition, and due to the nature of his injuries, I can only allow one person to remain with him, but you’ll all be able to see him briefly before you leave for the night.”
Sam took a deep breath before speaking up. “He’ll be okay, though?”
Dr. Freemont nodded. “Dean seems to be a fighter. He’s just going to need plenty of rest for the next month or so.”
“Good luck with that,” Bobby said, laughing, but relief was evident in his voice.
The doctor smiled. “I’ve known quite a few families who say that about their loved ones. I have a brother who thinks he’s invincible,” he said as a nurse came over. “This is Flora, she’ll take you to see Dean.”
“Thank you,” Ellen said, after exchanging glances with Bobby. Flora looked exactly like a certain faerie they had met days ago, but why wouldn’t she be using a glamour on them?
The answer to Ellen’s question would be revealed once everyone had entered Dean’s room. “Flora!” Jo exclaimed.
“Hello,” she said, looking over at Dean. Flora moved closer and frowned. “It is as I feared.”
“What do you mean by that?” Sam asked.
Flora looked up at him, sympathy in her eyes. “Your brother has been poisoned.”
“The doctor said nothing about him being poisoned,” Bobby told her. “Are you sure?”
“No one would be able to detect it.”
Jo went to Dean’s side, taking his hand in hers. “If that’s true then you have the antidote, right?”
Flora bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “Only Musgrave can save Dean. If he doesn’t, the poison will kill him.”
“How long do we have?” Ellen asked, watching as Jo and Sam never once took their eyes off Dean.
“Three days, maybe a week. It just depends on how much he was given. I can do a spell to find out or I can ask the council for help so that we might stop Musgrave.” Flora paused, looking at the floor. “I just learned from my father that he was the cause of my mother’s death.”
Sam walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Flora looked up at him. “We’ll find him and make him pay for everything he’s ever done.”
She nodded. “Yes, we will! Sam, will you come with me?”
He looked over at Bobby, who nodded. “We’ll keep an eye on him; just do what you have to do.”
*****
Dean was in and out of consciousness the next morning. Once he was fully awake he began complaining about being laid up in bed while Sam was off doing who knew what to save his life.
“Come on, Bobby!” Dean said, sitting up.
He didn’t care that his stomach was killing him. He didn’t care that he was dizzy and freezing. He didn’t care that he could die any day now. He just knew he couldn’t let Sam risk his life for him.
“You ain’t leaving, ya idjit!” Bobby replied, crossing his arms.
“Just get the doctor in here,” Dean told him. “I’ll talk to him myself!”
Jo made a move to get the doctor, but Ellen grabbed her arm. “No, darlin,’ we’re not giving Dean what he wants here. He isn’t in charge today.”
“Mom, Dean’s gonna figure out a way to slip right from under our noses without making a sound tonight. We might as well just let him sign out so at least he wouldn’t be out there alone!”
Dean smirked at Jo, but she glared at him. He could tell she didn’t really want to let him out either. He hated being the one who had to be looked after. Dean knew that when he did sign out AMA, they were going to be all over him.
Jo sighed and went out to find the doctor. Dean rubbed his tired eyes as Ellen frowned, handing him a change of clothes. “Are you sure about this, Dean?” she asked.
Dean was actually teary-eyed at her question. He decided to chalk it up to being drugged, but he was hard-pressed to admit that he loved the attention. Ellen was like a second mother to him.
“Dean?”
He blinked, looking up at her. “Yeah,” Dean replied. “I’m sure!”
*****
Sam followed Flora into the woods, wondering if maybe this was a trap and she was working for Musgrave. A sudden, excruciating pain took a hold of Sam’s head. He grabbed at his temples as he fell to his knees in agony, wondering what had caused this. Of course-a faerie enchantment. Just before he could cry out, the pain was gone, erased every bit as quickly as it had appeared. Once it lifted Sam realized that Flora had eased the pressure from his mind. She wasn’t going to betray them; he knew that now. Not after that.
“Sorry,” he said as he got to his feet. “Thank you.”
Flora turned to face him, smiling. “It’s all right, Sam. You are only concerned for your family and that is very noble. I will admit that you are all very different from the humans I usually encounter.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” she replied with a laugh as light as a feather.
A door appeared in front of them. Flora opened it and they entered. Sam was in awe at the sight that greeted him. He heard the sound of birds twittering and a babbling brook, which he learned from Flora, was her people talking.
“What are they saying?”
Flora chuckled. “They are amazed at your height, actually.”
“Really,” Sam said as the pair walked through the small city. He never would have imagined he’d be in faerie world. He knew Dean would probably get a kick out of seeing him there because of their short stature compared to his King Kong height.
Sam saw someone approaching. This man had white hair peppered with flecks of black. “Flora!” he said as he approached them.
“Father,” she replied. “This is Sam Winchester. Sam, this is my father, Niehart.”
Niehart nodded. “I truly am sorry and utterly ashamed at what has happened. I hope you can forgive us.”
“We understand your position,” Sam told him. “I think right now we need to focus on Musgrave and figuring out how to find him so he can give Dean the antidote to the poison.”
“I agree. Come! The council is waiting for us.”
Sam sat beside Flora as the meeting was called to order. Unfortunately the reason for him being there seemed to be low on their priority list. It was their fault he even had to come to this damn meeting to begin with.
“Samuel Winchester.” He blinked when his name was called. The faerie who spoke looked similar to Sir Ian McKellen’s Gandalf, only smaller and with wings. “I understand your frustration. Please, step forward. My name is Brasher and welcome to our world. Please tell us what you would ask of us.”
He glanced back at Flora, who nodded encouragingly. “I am asking for your help,” Sam said. “My brother, Dean, was poisoned by Musgrave. Flora says only Musgrave can remove it, since he put it there. We need help to locate him. We need help to convince him to save Dean!”
“I do not know if we can convince him,” Brasher admitted. “However, we will discuss this. Flora, how long does this young man have before he succumbs to the poison?”
Flora stood. “I performed a spell to learn that answer before arriving here. We have a little over a week, sir.”
Sam looked back at her, curious as to how she cast a spell without him seeing it happen. Faeries certainly were tricky creatures. He turned to face Brasher again as he answered her.
“Very well, we will convene here within the hour,” Brasher said. “Samuel, bring your brother and your friends here for their protection. Musgrave will know that you have come to seek our help.”
“I will. Thank you!”
*****
Jo shook her head as Dean walked across the kitchen to the refrigerator. “You’d better not be getting a beer,” she told him, not looking up from the book she was reading.
“Damn! You’re worse than your mom!”
She looked up at him with a smirk. “I’ll take that as a compliment!”
Dean attempted to hide a wince as he sat down with the glass of lemonade he had begrudgingly poured himself. “Shut up, Joanna!”
“I wasn’t gonna say anything!”
“You were thinking it!”
Jo chuckled, shaking her head, but her voice was steady and calm. “You know why I was, don’t you?”
He nodded as he took her hand. “I know, baby. I’m just not used to being the one who’s being taken care of.”
“I know you aren’t,” Jo replied, squeezing his hand.
She took that moment to really look at him. Dean’s skin was deathly pale and there were dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. He was even wearing three long sleeve shirts despite the fact that it was sweltering in Bobby’s house.
Dean sighed and dropped his head to the table. “This really sucks,” he mumbled.
Jo scooted her chair over, running a hand through his hair. “I know, but we’ll get through this, I promise!” she told him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Dean.”
“I love you too, Jo.”
*****
A sudden breeze caused the couple to lift their heads. Dean’s eyes widened when he saw who was standing there. “Aww, the two of you make a faerie wanna claw his eyes out!”
“Musgrave!”
“Mister States the Obvious,” he said with a smirk, sending Jo away with a flick of his wrist. Dean stood up, knocking his chair to the floor. “Take it easy there! Don’t wanna tear those stitches.”
Dean grabbed at his stomach when he felt a slight sting. Looking down, he saw that Musgrave did indeed tear the stitches and that blood was seeping through.
“What’s the matter, Dean?”
“Where’s Jo?” he asked, ignoring the fact that he was probably going to bleed all over Bobby’s kitchen floor.
With another wave of his hand Jo appeared beside Musgrave. He grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly. “Let me go!”
“Why would I do that?” he asked, pulling her closer to him. Way too close for Dean’s liking. “I wouldn’t move, Dean; I could easily kill her.”
Dean was fighting the dizziness he felt. He wasn’t sure if it was the poison or the fact that he was bleeding to death… again. Either way he wasn’t going to give Musgrave the satisfaction.
Musgrave and Dean glared at one another. Before Dean could reply, Musgrave grabbed Jo roughly by her hair and smashed his lips against hers. He was holding Jo with a spell so she couldn’t attack him the way she had the last time.
Dean ran towards them. Just as he reached them there was a loud POP and Musgrave was gone. “Jo!” Dean exclaimed, catching her.
“I’m okay,” she told him as he held her.
The couple looked around the room after a bit, each wondering what had happened to Musgrave. Jo had clearly forgotten about Dean’s stitches until wetness dripped onto her foot.
“Oh God, Dean!” She exclaimed, pulling him to the couch. “Lie down.”
Dean smirked as he complied. “I don’t know if I’m up for that kind of activity just yet, Jo.”
“You’re such an ass!” Jo replied with a light chuckle as she went to get the first aid kit. Just as she began to clean the wound, Bobby and Ellen returned.
“What the hell happened now?” Bobby asked.
As Jo continued her ministrations, Dean spoke up, telling the two older hunters about their visit from Musgrave. When he was finished he closed his eyes, as if just talking had taken everything out of him.
“Dean?” Jo said, patting his cheek worriedly. Her frown deepened when she felt the heat radiating from it. “It’s no time for a nap.”
“Tired.”
“I know you are, but we gotta figure out what’s going on and how to stop this damn faerie before the poison…” She trailed off, tears slipping from her eyes before she could stop them. “Dean…”
Dean opened his eyes, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. “We’ll figure this out, Jo. Sam will have a plan when he gets back, I know it!”
It was another hour before Sam did arrive. By then Dean was ten times worse, shivering under a mountain of blankets. He attempted to sleep, but he was never able to get enough rest.
He heard bits of the garbled conversation Sam was having with the others and was itching to know what they were talking about. He was too exhausted to even move
“Dean?” He blinked, looking up at Sam with droopy eyelids. “Hey. We’re gonna take you to faerie land.”
“What?” Dean wasn’t sure he heard his brother right. “Why are we going to Disneyland?”
Sam chuckled. “Faerie land, Dean. The faerie council is meeting as we speak to figure out what they can do to help.”
“'K, Sammy, but you are not carrying me to the car!”
“Yeah, whatever you say, big brother.”
*****
Musgrave grinned. When he’d stabbed Dean, his enchanted blade had seared the poison into Dean’s flesh and forged a link between the two of them, allowing Musgrave to see all that happened to the hunter in his absence. Soon, Dean would arrive in the faerie world. When he arrived, everything would be in faerie terms. He could place glamours on the human.
He would be rid of Dean Winchester forever and the demon who Musgrave had thought of as a father would be avenged. Not even the fabled The Seventh Faerie could stop him! Not with the demon’s powers!
Azazel had been like a father to him. He had been powerful and it was sheer luck John Winchester had been able to kill him. Not without a sacrifice and he knew he could use that against Dean.
*****
While Jo and Ellen sat with Dean, Sam and Bobby joined Flora in the council chambers to hear the final decision. The two hunters were relieved that the faeries had decided to help. After all, it was their fault they were in this position to begin with.
“Samuel Winchester, the council has spoken on the matter and we have agreed to help you find Musgrave.”
Sam stood, nodding. “Thank you! I really appreciate this.”
“You must understand that while we can help you locate Musgrave, the one who can ultimately save your brother is himself.”
He glanced back at Flora, who nodded. “How would he have to do that?”
Brasher walked over to Sam. “Dean is already connected to Musgrave through the poison in his system. Using that link will make it easier for Dean to fight him. He must use all his mental capabilities.”
“Mental capabilities?” Sam asked.
He knew how people who could see into Dean’s mind would manipulate him. They would use his family against him. Tell him he was worthless like Azazel did. Sam didn’t know if this was going to end well at all, but honestly he couldn’t think of another way to help Dean.
“Okay, I’ll talk to him. What’s going to happen if he decides not to go through with this?” Sam knew his brother would if there was a chance to live, but he wanted to be able to give Dean the choice.
“There is one other hope, but we have not called on her for help in centuries. We do not even have proof of her existence anymore.”
“Who?” Sam asked.
“The Seventh Faerie,” Brasher replied. “She helps the afflicted when they are no longer capable of defending themselves. She gives them strength to defeat the evil they are infected with. I must admit that humans rarely come back unscathed from what The Seventh Faerie gives them.”
Bobby stood up. “Um… excuse me, sorry to interrupt your little powwow session here, but what the hell does that mean, ‘rarely come back unscathed’?”
“They usually do not live for more than two days after,” Brasher admitted, after a long pause.
“Well, that’s some crazy shit!”
“Bobby!” Sam said, taking his arm.
“No, Sam! This ain’t right! Dean was only doing his job as a hunter and the faeries here had to go all high and mighty because he’s killin’ evil creatures who threaten people’s lives every fucking damn day! Hell, I’m sure they’ve threatened people in this world too! They gotta be if they have this Seventh Faerie that’s supposed to save them all. From what, humans?”
Brasher shook his head as the guards moved to take a step closer to the human.
“You are right, Bobby Singer,” Brasher told him. “We have been threatened by non-human creatures before and have lost many good people to them. We even deal with demons, more recently one with yellow eyes.”
Sam and Bobby exchanged a look. “What do you mean a demon with yellow eyes?” Sam asked. “Azazel?”
Brasher nodded. “You have heard of him?”
“I did. He’s dead, though.”
“That is wonderful news! We thought he would be back soon, but have not heard from him in quite some time.”
Sam took a deep breath. “That’s because my dad killed him.”
The faeries began to murmur to one another, seeming amazed that they had been inadvertently saved by a human. “Your family will be honored, Samuel Winchester, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that your brother will survive unscathed.”
*****
Jo shakily pressed the cool cloth on Dean’s forehead again. He seemed to be getting worse by the minute and all she could do was sit there and let it happen. She grabbed his hand when he reached for her. “Jo.”
“I’m right here, Dean,” she said. “I’m not leaving you either.”
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Jo looked at Ellen as she sat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder to offer what comfort she could. She smiled sadly, as she glanced down at Dean in the bed. He seemed so small and fragile lying there. Those were not words she would ever have used to describe Dean in the past and it hurt her to the core.
Sam and Bobby arrived a few minutes later and went over what the council had told them. “I don’t even know if Dean is lucid enough to decide that,” Jo said. “I can barely keep him conscious enough to drink any water.”
“I gotta do this, Jo,” Dean said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay if you don’t,” she told him, running a hand through his hair. “No one is going to judge you for it.”
Dean took a deep breath and looked into her eyes to show he wasn’t backing down on this. “I want to do this, Jo. I need to do this! If I don’t who’s to say Musgrave won’t come after any of you?”
Jo nodded grimly. She knew Dean would sacrifice himself if it meant that Musgrave would be gone for good and would never be able to harm anyone ever again. She hated and loved Dean for that.
“Okay, Dean,” Jo said, putting his hand to her lips and kissing it. “We’ll do it your way.”
A light breeze filled the room and everyone looked at the foot of Dean’s bed to see Flora standing there. She had a light glow around her and she was smiling. “Dean, I am very pleased to finally meet you. I am the Seventh Faerie.”
Jo stood up, fire in her eyes. “Wait a minute! You’re the Seventh Faerie? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Jo!” Dean said. “Relax and let her talk. I’m sure she has a good reason.”
Everyone took a seat as Flora began to speak. “The title of Seventh Faerie has been passed on in my family for generations. I took the title when my mother passed away. Father was adamant about my not being put in the position she was. He did not wish for me to reveal myself until it was absolutely necessary.
“I am ashamed that I have waited so long, Dean Winchester. I hope you can forgive me and that you will allow me to help you defeat Musgrave.”
Dean attempted to sit up and was finally able to with Jo’s help. “I’m ready whenever you are,” he said with grin.
*****
Musgrave knew something was going on and he was going to figure out what it was. Dean Winchester had been taken to the faerie world. He had a few contacts remaining there. Some were still loyal to him so he wasn't going to make this easy for him. An evil grin appeared on Musgrave's face. No, this wasn't going to be pleasant for any of them at all.
*****
"I have to do what?"
"Become one with your mind," Flora explained. "It is not that difficult. All you need to do is focus. You will need a safe haven to go to in your mind and that will be what you will focus on."
Dean nodded and closed his eyes. He felt stupid doing this, but he had to. Taking a deep breath, Dean imagined Sam, Jo, Bobby, and Ellen- his family. They were smiling encouragingly and it was amazing how much love he felt from them. "Okay, I got it."
Flora smiled. "Good. We'll begin shortly. I trust you would like some time with your family."
"I would, thanks."
She left the room and allowed Ellen and Bobby to enter. Ellen immediately sat beside Dean and pulled him into a hug. "Your parents would be so proud of you, Dean," she told him, kissing his cheek. "And I am too!"
Dean smiled as she pulled away, placing a hand on his cheek. "Thanks, Ellen," he said as she got up. With tears in her eyes, she nodded and left the room.
"Wow this is awkward," Dean finally said after a few minutes.
"You think so?"
"Bobby," Dean began, "you're awesome, you know that? Thanks for everything. You're like a dad to me and I don't know how I would ever be able to repay you for that."
Bobby patted Dean on the shoulder. "Son, you've already paid me back for that a thousand times over."
"I love you, Bobby, and in case I don't make it, you'll keep an eye on Sam, right?"
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that, but I'll keep an eye on Sam anyway," Bobby replied, giving Dean a hug. "And I love you too."
Dean shook his head. "All right, enough of that. I'm going to have more than enough caring and sharing when Sam gets in here."
Bobby chuckled and left to send in the next person. It was Jo and she was looking very pale. Dean held out his hand and when she accepted it, he pulled her onto the bed with him. Jo suddenly launched herself into his arms.
"Dean…”
Dean held her close. “I know I'll be fine because nothing is going to take me away from you, Jo. Nothing! I may have a lot to lose but that is not an option to me. I've had enough taken from me so I'm going to do the taking from Musgrave."
She swallowed. "Are you really up for this?" she asked. "I know you're not going to physically fight this guy but we've both seen first hand what faeries can make us see and believe."
"What choice do I have, Jo?" Dean replied. "You know I can't just sit here and let him slowly kill me with this poison and I won't let him try to do the same to another person because I was afraid I couldn't defeat him. I will!"
Jo leaned in to kiss him on the lips. "I know you will, Dean," she said as she wrapped her arms around him. "I love you and don't you forget it!"
"Never, Jo Harvelle. I love you too!" The two held each other a few minutes longer but they knew it couldn't last, at least not right now.
Sam came into the room after Jo left. "You need anything?" he asked.
"Just take care of the Impala. And don't do anything stupid like put a CD player in her! She's a classic and she better stay that way. Got it, Sammy?"
"Got it, Dean," Sam replied with a chuckle. He sobered up immediately. "Maybe we can figure something else out. Maybe the faeries can put a glamour on you instead so we can trick Musgrave into thinking you've been cured and he'll come here."
Dean shook his head. "Come on, Sam, you really think he's gonna fall for something like that?"
"Not really," Sam replied. "You can't blame me for trying, though. You are always risking your life for everyone else, why can't you let someone help you for a change."
"Sammy, you know I have to do this. I promise the next time one of us has to risk his life for someone; it can be your turn. . Just let me take care of this, okay?"
Sam sighed. "Fine, Dean, but I am not going to leave this room."
| CHAPTER FIVE | MASTER POST |