Hollowing Souls

Appointment in Samarra

November 3rd, 2011

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

"You what?!"

Alex looked up from her book, glancing towards her bedroom door. Apparently Sam was here, and, by the sound of it, Dean was back as well. She discarded her paperback onto the nightstand and descended the stairs, grabbing her bag of half-price Halloween candy on the way down.

"Just hear me out."

"I heard Cas and Crowley when they said it would either kill me or turn me into Jello, Dean!" Sam was standing toe to toe to his brother, face red. "I heard enough!"

"Death said he could put up a wall." Oh right. Apparently Dean was back from his trip down to Chicago. One of John's old friends said they could help him meet Death. Alex wasn't really sure how it all worked.

Sam, however, seem much less interested in how Dean had figured this al out. "A wall?" he asked instead.


"Yes, yes, a wall that — basically — you won't remember hell."

"Really?"

"Really."

"For good? Like a cure?" Sam still sounded skeptical.

"No, not a cure. It — he said it could last a lifetime," Dean insisted.

Any sign of hopefulness disappeared. "Great." Sam circled around to the other side of his brother. "So we're playing fast and loose with my life here, don't you think, Dean?"

Alex slipped into the room, wings pulled in close, trying to avoid attention. She walked over to where Bobby was sitting on the couch, and sat down beside him. She fished a Snickers out of the bag, handing it to the hunter.

"I'm trying to save your life!" Dean spun around to face his brother, and his gaze flickered across her. "You — You heard what Alex said!"

"She didn't say anything hopeful," Sam snapped. "She said, 'we'll deal with it.' I don't know about you, but I don't like the sound of that! It's my life, Dean! My soul. And it sure as hell ain't your head that's gonna explode when this whole scheme of yours goes sideways!"

"Just curious." Bobby finally entered the conversation, standing up. "I presume Death's not doing this out of the goodness of his heart. So what's your half of the deal?" Dean looked away, and Bobby frowned. "I'm sorry, I didn't get that."

"I have to wear the ring for a day," Dean finally admitted.


"Why the hell would he want you to do that?" Alex tipped her head in confusion.

The hunter shrugged "Get his rocks off. I don't know. But I'm doing it."

Sam started moving towards the door, but Dean's words stopped him. "Where are you going?"

Sam turned to look at his brother, voice losing all of the anger it had before. "Look, I hear you, okay? I just need a minute to wrap my head around it, alright?" And with that, he left. Alex heard the backdoor close.

Dean followed him. With a glance over his shoulder, he motioned for them to follow as well. Alex trailed after Bobby, not sure where they were going, but having a pretty good idea of what was going to happen.

She was right. Sam wove through the cars, obviously intent on something. Eventually he stopped, looking down. Dean stepped forward, reaching into his pocket. "Looking for this?" He held up Death's ring.

Sam turned around, evidently surprised at seeing them. He had regained his composure within the second. "Just taking a walk." He turned to go.

"Sam." Dean's voice had the hunter stopping. "I'm your brother." Dean stepped forward, pocketing the ring. Alex and Bobby hung back, content at watching from a distance. "I'm not gonna let you get hurt. I know what I'm doing here."