Down the Rabbit Hole

Self-Possessed Part 2

Sam headed back into the house and found Bobby in the kitchen.
"Woke up and you were gone. Where you been?"
"Just driving around, no biggie." Sam sat down at the table where Bobby had put out a pack of cards. "Where's Lacey?"
"She's outside trying to call Dean." Bobby said as he sat down too. Sam nodded as Bobby began to deal the cards.

After trying Dean a few times and getting no answer Lacey headed back to Bobby's porch. As she was about to open the front door she heard a creak behind her. As she turned around she felt a hand on her shoulder and suddenly she was standing in a field in the middle of nowhere.
"What the hell..." She stumbled backwards and found herself face to face with Balthazar.
"Balthazar? What are you doing here?" She frowned, folding her arms across her chest.
"I just thought I'd drop in, see how my favourite little demi-angel was doing." Lacey raised an eyebrow.
"So you've heard about what I am."
"Yes. Although it wasn't too difficult to put two and two together. There was always a rumour going around that dear old Dad had found a new toy to play with. But the archangels kept you very hush, hush. Didn't want the riff-raff knowing there was a more powerful player than them on the board."
"Right." Lacey nodded. "And now that you know?" Balthazar shrugged.
"Well up until recently they all thought I was dead so I don't think a popularity survey was top of their list." Lacey smiled.
"Fair enough." She turned to go. "Sorry to cut the visit short but I have somewhere to be."
"How is everything with you and monkey man?" Balthazar butted in. Lacey frowned.
"You're not gonna get an answer if you call him that. His name is Dean." Balthazar raised his hands in defeat.
"I like how you knew who I was referring to though... So yes, how are things with you and Dean?"
"Fine. Why?"
"Well if you were back on the market..." He trailed off.
"Sorry to disappoint but I'm not." She turned to go again.
"You're sure?" Balthazar appeared in front of her.
"Of what?"
"That everything's fine between you?"
"Why do I get the feeling you're stalling me?" Lacey glared at him. "What are you up to?"
"Well you are a smart cookie. Yes, I am on distraction duty. So things would go much better if you'd just stay here a while longer."
"Better for who...Sam?" Realisation dawned. "You're doing this for Sam? What is he planning?"
"Let's just say he needed a little alone time with Bobby." Lacey tried to leave again but Balthazar grabbed her wrist holding her back.
"Please let go of me. I actually happen to like you Balthazar, but of you don't let me go I will have to hurt you, even if I don't want to." They shared a look for a moment before he let go of her.
"Can't blame a guy for trying." He smiled at her. She nodded at him before teleporting out.

Lacey focused on Bobby and teleported right to his side. When she opened her eyes she was standing in a dark enclosed space.
"Bobby?" She asked. Bobby jumped at the sound of her voice. He had been peering through a crack in the door.
"About damn time you showed up. Where have you been?"
"Balthazar showed up. Sam recruited him." Lacey explained. "Bobby...I got to ask..."
"Yeah?"
"Why are we in a closet?"
"You'll see." Bobby replied just as an axe came through the door. Lacey jumped back in shock. The axe was removed and a second hole was chopped open, big enough to see Sam on the other side of the door.
"Don't say 'Here's Johnny!'" Bobby warned him.
"I got to do this Bobby. I'm sorry. You shouldn't have cornered yourself."
"I didn't." Bobby pulled a lever and a trap door opened up under Sam's feet, sending him flying through the floor. The two of them stepped out of the closet.
"Remind me never to piss you off." Lacey muttered as the trap door closed again. They headed to the kitchen and Bobby lead her down into the basement. They could hear Sam on the other side of the panic room door, trying to wrench it open. Bobby pulled open the communicating hatch.
"Reinforced steel core, titanium kick plate. Get comfy. You want to explain what this is about?"
"I just...I have to do this Bobby." Sam sounded resigned.
"Says who?"
"If Dean shoves that soul back in me think how bad that could really be. I can't let it happen Bobby. I mean, It's not like I want to kill you. You've been nothing but good to me."
"So....what, demon deal or something?" Bobby guessed.
"Spell."
"You're making a mistake Sam."
"I'm trying to survive."
"Dean's got a way to make it safe." Bobby tried to reassure him.
"Oh yeah, what, some wall inside my head that might stay up? Come on."
"If it works..."
"What if it doesn't? Dean doesn't care about me. He just cares about his little brother Sammy, burning in hell. He'll kill me to get that other guy back."
"He doesn't see it that way." Lacey said softly. "He see's it as making you whole again."
"Look, I...I know how scary it is. But you know what's scarier? You right now. You're not in your right head, son. You're not giving us much choice here." There was no answer. "Sam? Balls!" Bobby opened the door and headed into the panic room.
"Ain't nobody killing me in my house but me. I don't want to blow your legs out boy, but I will." Bobby growled as he levelled his shotgun only to find Sam escaping out of a vent in the panic room wall.
"You take the front, I'll take the back." Bobby instructed. Lacey nodded and teleported herself upstairs. She raced across the front yard, searching for Sam. When it felt like she'd gone through every row of cars she headed back towards the house.
"Bobby?" She called, but got no answer. She noticed a trail of blood on the floor and followed it to an abandoned barn on the edge of Bobby's property. She opened the door and found Bobby tied to a chair, Sam standing over him with a knife.
"Sam!" He jumped and spun to face her. "Please, don't do this, there must be another way." She pleaded. She slowly walked towards him, hands held up.
"I'm sorry. This is how it has to be." Sam told her. He turned back to Bobby only to come face to face wit Dean.
"Hi Sam, I'm back." He said, before punching him in the face.

They dragged Sam back to Bobby's and chained him to the cot in the panic room.
"I can't keep doing this Bobby. I mean, what, am I gonna tie him up every time he tries to kill someone? And that's not gonna hold him. I mean he's..."
"Capable of anything." Bobby filled in.
"What am I supposed to do here?"
"I don't know." Bobby shook his head sadly.
"Dean, you did your best. No one can ask for more." Lacey told him gently, pulling him into a hug. He sighed and hugged her back before leading her back upstairs. The two of them froze as they reached the top of the stairs and found Death sitting at Bobby's kitchen table.
"Dean, Lacey, join me. I brought enough to share." He pushed a plate of hot dogs towards them. "From a little stand in Los Angeles known for their bacon dogs. Sit." They sat down hesitantly.
"Boy, what's with you and cheap food?" Dean asked, jokingly.
"I could ask you the same thing. Thought I'd have a treat before I put the ring back on. Heavier than it looks, isn't it? Sometimes you just want the thing off. But you know that. Not hungry?" He asked them. Lacey picked up one of the hotdogs and took a bite.
"Look... I think you know that I flunked. So there. Oh, and by the way, I uh...I sucked at being you. Really screwed up the whole natural order thing. But I'm sure you knew about that too."
"So, if you could go back, would you simply kill the little girl? No fuss, no stomping your feet?"
"Knowing what I know now, yeah." Dean admitted.
"I'm surprised to hear that. Surprised and glad."
"Yeah, well, don't get excited. I would have saved the nurse, okay? That's it."
"I think it's a little more than that. Today, you got a hard look behind the curtain. Wrecking the natural order's not quite as much fun when you have to mop up the mess, is it? This is hard for you, Dean. You throw away your life because you've come to assume that it'll bounce right back into your lap. But the human soul is not a rubber ball. It's vulnerable, impermanent, but stronger than you know. And more valuable than you can imagine. So... I think you've learned something today."
"Want to know what I think? I think you knew I wouldn't last a day." Dean accused.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Death replied stoically.
"I lost, fine. But at least have the balls to admit that it was rigged from the jump." Dean growled.
"Most people speak to me with more respect." Death warned.
"I didn't mean..." Dean back tracked.
"We're done here." Death got to his feet. "It's been lovely. But now I'm going to go to hell to get your brother's soul." They stared at him in surprise.
"Why would you do that for me?"
"I wouldn't do it for you. You and your brother keep coming back. You're an affront to the balance of the universe and you cause disruption on a global scale." Dean grinned sheepishly.
"I apologize for that."
"But you have use. Right now you're digging at something. The intrepid detective. I want you to keep digging, Dean."
"So you're just gonna be cryptic or..."
"It's about the souls. You'll understand when you need to." Death got to his feet and moved as if to leave.
"Wait...with Sam...is this wall thing really going to work?"
"Call it 75%." Death guessed before disappearing. Lacey and Dean stared in shock.
"Bobby!" Dean shouted as they ran down the stairs to the basement. "Open the door." Dean instructed.
"What happened?" Bobby asked.
"Now!" Bobby turned the handle and pushed the door open.
"Get away from me! Don't! Don't!" Sam tugged at his restraints, trying to escape as Death leant down beside him.
"Now Sam, I'm going to put up a barrier inside your mind." Death informed him.
"No, don't touch me!"
"It might feel a little itchy. Do me a favour...don't scratch the wall. Trust me, you're not gonna like what happens." He warned him.
"Please...don't do this." Sam begged as Death opened his bag and removed the glowing orb that was Sam's soul. "No! No! You don't know! You don't know what'll happen to me! Dean, please! No, no, no!" The glowing light disappeared into Sam's chest as Sam began to scream. Lacey turned and buried her face in Deans chest, not wanting to witness the pain crossing Sam's face. Dean pulled her close to him and backed out of the panic room, shutting the door behind them.