Chapter 7

Brooklyn

The Impala pulled up to a prison entrance in Livingston, West Virgina. We got called here on a case when an inmate mysteriously vanished.

As we pulled up to the gate, Dean told us, "Get your badges out." I pulled out mine as Dean and Sam did the same. I hand mine up from the backseat as the voice on the intercom says, "State the nature of your visit."

"From the office of the Inspector General. Got an appointment with the warden." He flashes the badges before handing them back.

"Thank you. Parking is to the left. Look for visitor parking only."

"All right," Dean said before rolling up his window. We started to pull in, looking for our parking spot as Dean asked Sam, "So who is this guy?"

Sam looked at his tablet, "Tommy Tolliver was convicted of six murders back in '09, but those are just the ones that stuck. According to the news, he escaped from a locked cell on death row, this inexplicable, Houdini-esque escape."

"So what are we thinking? Some sort of a mass-murdering magician?" I asked?

Nodding, Sam said, "Yeah, or a teleporting demon or a who knows what that can walk through Supermax walls. Could be in our wheelhouse."

We park the car before heading inside the prison. We our way to Tommy's cell where the Warden is checking out the blood on the floor. Dean is the one to double check, "Warden Skeiff?"

The Warden stands up and faces us, confusion on his face.

Sam explains, pointing to Dean, me, and himself. "Uh, Inspectors Moore, Carter, and Ranaldo. We spoke on the phone."

The Warden nods and shakes our hands, "Ah, yes. Welcome to death row. Have a look. But good luck finding anything out of TDJC compliance," he said as we enter.

Dean motions for Sam and me to follow the Warden outside to question him while he uses the EMP reader inside.

I speak up, hoping to keep the Warden's attention and get some information on what happened. "So, why don't you tell us what happened?"

"The night Tolliver disappeared, our little ship was running as tight as ever, and I got documentation to prove it."

"Do you stand by what the press is saying locked cell, no security breach, no guard misconduct?" Sam asked?

"Which press? Mainstream media is calling for my head, said I was grossly incompetent. But the tabloids, they're saying-"

I cut him off, "They're saying it's magic that Tommy pulled off some dark miracle to escape. You saying you believe that?"

The Warden sighed and shrugged, "I'm saying there was some kind of magician on the block last night, but it wasn't Tommy."

Dean finishes up before we head to the surveillance room where a guard is loading the security footage up.

Pointing to the screen, the Warden says, "That's right before Tolliver vanished." There are three camera views of what was happening, only for them to go dark and switch back on. One of the guards aimed their gun at the others before firing.

"Is it one of the guards?" I asked?

"Nope. But I don't know who he is, how he got in, or how he and Tolliver got out."

Dean eyed the screen, "Can you zoom in on that?"

"Can and have. Too dark to make out much of anything," The monitor guard said.

"Just, do it," Dean said and watched them as they zoomed in. "Blow it up," He ordered before watching the screen. He rubs his arm as a single name leaves his lips.

"Cain."

Just when we thought we were somewhat in the clearing, Cain decides to pay a visit. I can feel Dean's nerves and slight fear as he turns and leaves. I follow, leaving Sam to say his goodbyes before chasing after us.

We head to the car in silence, only speaking when Dean asks Sam and me what we want to eat. He heads over to a food truck, grabbing our food and talking on the phone to someone. He hangs up as he gets into the Impala.

"So?" Sam asked questionable.

"Cas is still not answering."

Sam nods once, "Great," he says before looking at his laptop on his lap. "Well, I have been looking into Tommy Tolliver, seeing if I can figure out why Cain went to the trouble of springing him."

"And?" Dean asked?

"Still pretty unclear. I did find this blotter out of Orlando about his dad, Leon Tolliver. Uh, like father, like son. Convicted felon, fresh warrant for an assault charge, but he's gone missing, hasn't been seen in a week."

I looked at Sam questionable, "You think the two are connected?"

Sam shrugged in response, "I mean, the police just assumed he fled the warrant, but if Cain took Tommy, it might not be a coincidence."

Dean asked, "So, what, Cain's got a vendetta against the entire family?"

"Maybe."

Dean's Dean's cell phone rings and he pulls it out of his pocket, reading Cas' name before putting it on speaker. "Het, where you at?"

"Illinois."

"Hey, Cas, we got a lead. Cain abducted a Texas death row inmate named Tommy Tolliver," Dean said.

Cas destroyed that lead when he said, "He's dead." I rolled my eyes and huffed as I sat back into the backseat.

Sam, confused just like the rest of us, asked, "What? How do you know?"

"Call it an educated guess. Cain has been very busy."

"Okay, where are you? We'll come to you," Dean said.

There was a pause before Cas said, "I'll call you back," and hung up.

Deciding on heading to the Bunker, we drove off and changed our clothes before Cas joined us. Just like I had thought, Cain being back only brought more disappointment then anything else.

"Cain can't control the Mark. He's been secretly killing people for years."

"Now he's gone public," I said with a sigh.

Cas looked at Dean with sadness, "I'm sorry I couldn't bring better news, Dean."

"It's not your fault, Cas."

Sam, sitting at the table as well on his laptop, spoke up. "All right, the sheriff gave me a few more names, some preliminary I.D.s on the bodies."

"And?" I asked, hoping for this to be a quick case.

"And it seems to fit Cas' story. I mean, there's no way to tell the relation to Cain, obviously, but he's wiping out entire families, one after another."

Dean sighed, "So who's next? Is he done with the Tollivers?"

Sam looked at his computer, "Uh, I think so. I mean, Leon didn't have any siblings or any other children I can see, and Tommy was never married, so I... Oh, come on. Damn it."

"What?" Cas asked?

"Tommy did have a son, estranged, who lives with his mother in Ohio, uh, Austin Reynolds, 12 years old."

Of course, it had to be a kid.

Dean suddenly stood up, starting to walk away when Sam spoke up and stopped him. "Where you going?"

"We know where Cain's gonna be. The kid's in danger."

Sam stood up, "Okay, so what, we track him down to Ohio, and then what?"

"Then I'll do what I have to do. I'll kill Cain," Dean said, not sugar coating it at all before he went to pack a bag.

We all look at each other before heading to Dean's room, finding him loading a shotgun into a bag. Dean noticed us standing there and spoke up. "When he gave me the Mark, Cain said that this day would come, that after I killed Abaddon, I would have to come and put him down."

Sam scuffed, "Great. So you're taking orders from a madman."

"No, he wasn't mad then. I sent him back down this path. This is on me."

I shook my head, "It doesn't mean you have to be the one to go after him."

"Yes, it does. And there's only one thing that can kill him."

"The Blade," Sam said, sighing and looking away.

Cas spoke up, standing between Sam and Dean, "Dean's right."

Sam quickly shook his head, "Dean, wielding the Blade against Cain himself... win or lose, you may never come back from that fight."

Dean paused his packing, looking at the ground, "I know."

There was a pause before I took a couple of steps towards Dean and speaking with confidence. "But you will. Because we'll be there to make sure of it."

We wait until nighttime before heading to a barn where Austin was.

"Austin's upstairs in the barn. He's playing with a basketball."

"Cain will strike soon. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but soon," Dean said and looks over to his brother, "And when he does..."

"Yeah, I got it. You charge in with the Blade solo. And the kid? What, we just watch and wait until Cain attacks? I thought this was a rescue mission."

Dean nods, "We save the kid after Cain shows."

I speak up, looking between the boys, "We know what Cain's after. That's our only advantage. We want to trap Cain, we use it."

Sam threw his hands up in the air, "A 12-year-old as bait. I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Neither can I," A voice said and we all turn to see Crowley walking up to us.

"What's the matter, Crowley? You suddenly grow a conscience? Too good to put a minor in danger?" Dean said, making a face.

Crowley scrunched up his face, "Don't give a damn about the kid. I'm talking about the risk to us."

"There is no us. You're here for one reason. That's to hand me the Blade."

"Yeah, about that. Seeing as this is shaping up to be one of those, uh, two-step capture then kill kind of deals, I think your buddies would agree it's better to keep the Blade out of your hands until we've got Cain sewn up, just to be safe."

Dean turns and looks at Sam who shrugs and nods in agreement. I face Crowley, looking at him annoyed, "But when the time comes-"

"The Blade is all his. Assuming I get it back of course."

While we wait, I find myself standing outside the back of the barn, watching Austin playing with his basketball through a window. Dean makes his way over to me, making me turn my attention to him.

Glancing back at the kid and crossing my arms with a smile, I said, "He reminds me of me and my brother when we were kids. Completely oblivious to everything."

Dean sighs and nods in agreement. There is a pause before Dean speaks up again, seeming nervous.

"Brooke, there's something I need to say. I don't know what will happen today and if I don't say it then I'll regret it." I look at him confused as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black ring box. I recognized it as the one that was in Dean's keep safe box in his room.

Crap.

I quickly wrap my hands around his and the box, shaking my head, "No, Dean." He immediately looks confused and saddened by my words. Quickly I shake my head, "I mean, yes, a thousand times yes, but not like this. Not now."

Dean goes silent as he looks down and nods before putting the ring box back in his pocket. He seems hurt by my words, but before anything could be said or done Sam walks in, seeming to sense the tension and pause.

Clearing his throat, Dean looks at his brother, "What?"

"It's time."

I want to kick myself for what just happened. Of course I would say yes, but not like this, not when we don't even knows what's going to happen in the next five minutes.

Everyone got in their places before Cain showed up. Austin had only taken a few steps out of the barn when Cain stopped him, pulling out a knife from his coat. "I'm here to kill you."

"No, you won't. Run!" Cas yelled.

Austin turns and run towards the barn where Sam and I meet him. I guide him inside while Sam closes the door behind us and holds them shut. I stand in front of Austin, watching as Cain bangs on the doors. Suddenly, the banging stops and Sam turns away from the door only to be thrown against the wall.

I hear a noise behind me and turn around as well, finding Cain now behind me. He backhands me and a yelp leaves my lips before I land on the ground.

"Don't. Please don't," Austin begs.

Cain suddenly stabs Austin in the stomach but just as he does so he disappears in a cloud of purple smoke. Cain looks slightly surprised as I stand up, smirking. "Illusion spell."

Shaking his head, Cain chuckled, "Smart girl."

Sam stands up as well, making his way towards me. The real Austin is long gone."

"8th-century magic," Cain starts as Crowley walks into the Bar. "If I had to hazard a guess, Rune of Amaranth."

"Good eye. Something I picked up from my mother," Crowley smirked.

Cain eyed the demon, "Well, I know you fear me. I can only assume..." He uses his boot to clear away some hay from the floor to uncover a Devil's Trap. "Oh. Clever. Won't hold me for long, you know."

"It won't need to," Sam said. With that, three of us turned and walked out of the door. Dean passes by the opening, taking a look at Cain before the barn doors close.

We head back down the outside stairs as Castiel walks up to us.

"Cas, hey, you okay?" Sam asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. It worked?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding.

"My turn," Dean said.

Sam and I stood in front of Dean, Sam speaking up with plead in his voice. "Dean, look, we want to help."

Quickly and predictable, Dean shook his head, "No. No, with you in the ring, it'd just be a liability."

"Dean," I said with a sigh, looking at him in hopes he could see how badly I wanted to join him.

Turning to me, Dean said, "I'd be too worried about what he could do to you... Or what I could. Plus, I need you four out here to take out whatever comes out of there. And I'm serious. I mean whatever comes out."

Crowley smiled, "Happily."

I glared at Crowley before looking at the ground. Crowley holds up the Blade towards Dean. "What guarantee do I have that you'll give it back when you're done?"

"If I survive and I come out of there and I don't give it back, you'll all have a much bigger problem on your hands." With that, Dean took the Blade, eyeing it for a moment before sucking in a breath. He looked at us, giving us a reassuring look, "I'm good."

Quickly, I close the space between Dean and me and put my hands on his cheeks, making him look at me. "Now you listen to me. If you feel yourself slipping into that darkness you fight it. You fight it for me, for Sam, for Cas. Think of me, think of what you have here." I move one of my hands and place it on his heart. "Let this guide you back to us."

With that, I leaned up, giving him a quick kiss before stepping back.

Dean gives all of us a look before he climbs the stairs again. He sucks in a breath before entering, closing the door behind him.

A few minutes passed before I found myself sitting on some hay, waiting impatiently and nervously. Sam eventually makes his way over to me, sitting next to me. "He'll be okay," Sam tried to reassure me.

Sighing, I said, "I know. I hope." There was a small pause before I spoke up. "Dean was going to ask me to marry him." Sam looked at me surprised as I continued, looking at the ground. "I stopped him and told him not now, not like this. But part of me wanted to say yes, to finally have something good happen in our lives."

Sam put his hand on my shoulder, making me look at him. "When Dean walks out of that door, alive and himself, then you can. And for the record, whenever you say yes, I'm happy to call you part of this family. I already do."

I smiled before hugging Sam who returned it.

We suddenly pulled away when we heard the door to the barn open. All of us stood up and watched as Dean walked down the stairs.

"Dean?" Sam asked worriedly. He does nothing.

Crowley held out his hand, "Dean, the Blade."

Dean takes a moment, looking down at the Blade before walking towards Crowley. He goes to lay the Blade in his hand only to turn and give it to Castiel. Crowley's face falls, "You lied to me."

"It's not the first time today. Cain's list, you weren't on it."

I make my way up to Dean, wrapping my arms around him and letting out a relived sigh. "You did it. You did it," I whispered to him as he wrapped his own arms around me.

Sam offered to drive us back but Dean said he wouldn't let Sam drive his car until he was dead.

Dean's POV

I glanced in the rearview mirror of my Impala, checking to see that the road was clear both in front and behind us. My eyes moved downward, seeing Brooke sprawled out in the back seat, sound to sleep. I couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight before focusing back on the road.

Sam sat next to me, his attention on his phone. He was quiet as he searched on his phone, acting like I had no idea what he was doing.

"Sam! I know what you're doing over there, and it ain't porn." Sam sighed, moving his phone down, looking like he was a kid caught doing something he shouldn't be doing.

"Look, man, we have checked every website, okay? We've checked it twice. Sammy, when we work a case, there's always that, that point when we have to face the truth, right? Even if we don't like it. Well, truth is..." I held out my arm, gesturing towards the Mark of Cain which was covered by my jacket. "...There's no way around this. We saw what happened to Cain, okay? I'm not happy about it. But I got to move on, move forward. So I'm gonna keep doing what we do while I still can. And I'd like you and Brooke to be there with me."

Sam quietly said, "Okay," before he was silent. There was a pause before Sam spoke up, "So, you proposed to Brooke."

I sucked in a breath, realizing that Brooke must have told him. "She tell you about that?"

"Yeah, and about how badly she wanted to say yes," Sam said, glancing over at me.

"Yeah, well, you know me, wrong time, wrong place I guess."

Sam lifted his hand, gesturing a little as he looked between me and the road. "Dean, Brooke loves you, more than anything. It's just, she doesn't want the whole thing to feel like it's forced."

I couldn't help the scuff that left my lips, "Yeah."

Sam starred at me, sighing before he looked ahead.

Although I didn't show it, Sam was right. I knew with every part of me that Brooke loved me, that she felt what I felt. I knew that the timing wasn't good, and it seemed like a "if I die" thing which gave the opposite feeling I wanted it too. When I propose, I don't want it to feel forced or feel like it's just something I'm doing because I may die. When I propose I want it to mean we have a life together, that it's not just for the next ten minutes, but the next lifetime.

But that still didn't stop the tension I felt.

Unconsciously, I glanced in the backseat once again, watching Brooke's chest rise and fall as she slept soundly. I sighed before pulling in front of the Bunker.

"We're home, kidos."

Brooke sat up in the back with a yawn as I opened my door and headed inside. I was in dire need of some coffee and a week's sleep.

Once we all got into the Bunker and got settled, Sam started up some coffee and we gathered around the kitchen table drinking a cup. I could feel the cuts and bruises on my body and I only imagined how bad I probable looked.

"Dean, um, you know, what you did back there, it was incredible. You know, if you can do that without losing yourself, that's cause for hope, even without a cure," Sam said, seeming to tread cautiously.

"Yeah, maybe," I mumbled as I looked at my cup. I could feel eyes on me, but I didn't look up until Cas was walking into the room. "So, where's the Blade?" I asked?

"Somewhere safe."

"Good. Well, if you guys will excuse me, I think I am gonna go sleep for about four days," I said, standing with my cup of coffee.

"I'll be in, in a bit," Brooke said.

"It's okay," I said, not meaning for it to come out so irritating as it did. I stopped and looked at Brooke, seeing the worry in her eyes. I nodded to her, "I'm good," I reassured before walking past Cas. I patted his shoulder as I walked by before heading to my bedroom alone and in silence.

A new visitor shows up and the moment you've been waiting for is finally here in the next chapter!