A Week of Supernatural Romance

I Know Those Eyes

Day 2: Loss/Truth

A/N: What if the truth behind Jacob joining the Demon Queen wasn't because he (for some strange reason) thought there might still be a piece of Lily inside the body but because of something not even Ben knows about him?

Ben sits on the uncomfortable stone steps leading up to the cage Arthur's body was lying in. To think, just mere hours ago, they were in the human world planning their attack with the rest of the Supernatural Alliance, and now the team was trapped in the Netherworld. And if that wasn't bad enough, they had to solve Arthur's murder without the Demon Queen finding out about it! The guard wouldn't tell them why they and Arthur were wanted alive (if he even knew), but if the team wanted any chance at surviving this, they needed to get information any way they could.

So now, most of the team was confined to the cell with literal HELL FIRE burning below them while two of their own were out in the Netherworld searching for Arthur's killer. Those two were in so much danger... They all were so long as they were trapped. They needed to stop the Demon Queen before she could break the veil between worlds, but so far, they were no closer to defeating her than they had been when Arthur was alive.

The golden cross Ben's father had given him at his confirmation was clenched so tightly in his hand that the points dug into his skin. He'd been praying to whatever power would listen that his team, no, his family, would survive this. This ragtag group of hunters was his family, and his job was to protect them. But being in metaphorical Hell was draining his hope, and what made it even harder for him to stay strong was the fact that there was still no sign of Jacob during all this.

"Jake..." Ben whispers too quietly for any team member to hear.

He knew everyone was angry after they learned the Chief had pledged his loyalty to the Demon Queen. But Ben knew Jacob better than any of them, and there had to be more to the story than what Arthur had told them. Jacob watched Lily die; he buried her body; he knew just as well as Ben did that she was gone, and the only thing inside her body was the Demon Queen. So why did Jacob betray them? What did the Demon Queen promise him for his cooperation? Because to Ben, that is the only way Jacob would have turned him back on the family they made.

And it had to be something big for Jacob to leave Ben... Not only had they known each other since they were in the army, but they were close... Closer than the team realized. Their love had started slowly; Ben didn't want to push Jacob into a new relationship following Lily's death until he was ready, and Jacob was worried about what would happen if other hunters found out how close they were. Both feared that other hunters would use their relationship to get the better of them, but they couldn't deny what their hearts wanted.

Behind closed doors, they showed their love freely. A kiss here, some cuddling there, and even making love when they were sure the rest of the team was asleep. The last thing they needed was someone walking in on them doing that! And even in public they still found ways to express their love. Sometimes, Ben would gently place his arm on Jacob's stump, or the Chief would bring the medic fresh coffee made just the way he liked it. Maybe their love wasn't as shown off as others, but it was their love, and Ben wouldn't change it for the world.

"You! Shepherd!" the demon guard yells from outside the cell bars, "get up! You're coming with me!"

"What?! You can't take Ben!" Gwen cried.

"I can and I will," the guard (they never did learn his name) snapped, "come on, Shepherd, you've been summoned!"

"Summoned? By who?" Ben asks, deciding best not to argue and steps out of the cell.

The guard locks the door before the others can try and escape, "someone you don't want to keep waiting... So just do what I say or else!"

Ben shuts his mouth as the guard binds his arms behind his back with cuffs made of the same glowing metal as the demons' weapons. As he is escorted away from the holding cells, he hears the team yelling for him until they reach the end of the hall. Outside of the makeshift prison, the guard takes him through the Netherworld, being careful to avoid anyone seeing them. After walking through the humid environment, Ben is brought through a tunnel into what must be the Demon Queen's palace.