Title: Nothing and Everything

Part Two: Retribution

Chapter 40

~~~~~~~~~~

The task Sam had sent Sophie on was not a thing she’d expected. His plan was risky, ballsy, and had the terrific potential of failure. There was a logic to it, however, that made her think they had something of a chance. He’d thought about each step.

She looked at the slip of paper Sam had given her, checked to make sure she had the tiny box in her bag, and headed into the hotel, walking straight up to the desk and addressing the clerk standing there.

“Hello. I’m looking for…” Sophie glanced down at the slip of paper in her hand. “…Mr. Rickster. T. Rickster.”

“You mean Teddy? He’s out at the pool.”

“Thank you.” Sophie stepped outside, picking her way across the concrete patio to the blonde man lounging on one chair. He matched the description Sam had given her. Blonde hair and beard, piercing eyes, arrogant demeanor. There was a slight air of depression and defeat to the way he was lying on the chair. He was slumped, legs spread and hands around the biggest cocktail with the longest straw she’d ever seen. “Are you Mr. Rickster?”

“Depends on who’s asking.” He lowered his sunglasses a fraction, lips pursing as he studied her. “Mmm. Hot blonde babe.” One fingered wiggled, indicating her outfit of jeans, blouse, and jacket. “You’re overdressed, honey. I see you in more of a string and tiny triangles of fabric ensemble.”

“Are you him then?”

He removed the sunglasses. “In the flesh. You got a name?”

“Sophie.”

“What can Teddy do for you, Sophie?”

Sophie removed the tiny box Sam had given her from her bag and sat on the chaise lounge next to Teddy’s. She held it out. “Here.”

The powerless Trickster calling himself Teddy glanced down at it and back up. “I’m flattered, but I’m not the marrying type. I’d love you and leave you. It’d be --”

“Open it.” She held it closer.

He stared at her, then put his drink down, sat and turned. His legs brushed hers, face moving close to hers, so close that someone watching might think he was going to kiss her. “Why?”

She smelled the liquor on his breath, felt the heat of his body. “I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the contents.” The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she stared right back at him. He had a presence, power or no, and for the first time in long months…Sophie felt something inside of her stir. Fascination perhaps? Her heart began to beat a bit faster and she didn’t feel as detached as she had. Right now, for whatever reason, she was in the moment and it felt good.

One brow twitched upwards and he took the box, really looking at it. Surprise flitted across his features and he flipped it open. A sliver of mist slipped from the box and into him. His eyes closed and his body jerked with what looked like a spasm of pain.

Sophie pressed her lips close to his ear. “Consider it an olive branch from a mutual acquaintance.” He smelled like spices and musk, an appealing scent. She sat back.

Teddy laughed and looked down at one hand, spreading his fingers. “What does Sam want from me?”

“Your assistance.”

That hand curled into a fist. “No.”

“In exchange, you’ll receive a much bigger gift than the little one I brought. He’s willing to be generous.”

“Give me one good reason why I should help that hunter dick. He emasculated me just because I had a thing for his girlfriend.”

“Wife.”

“She wasn’t then,” he drawled. “He didn’t even do the merciful thing and kill me. He and his brother left me helpless. Dicks.”

Sam had filled her in on what the Trickster had been planning. “You intended to kidnap her, make her believe you were Sam, get her pregnant, and steal the child.”

“Some guys are so jealous….” Reaching for his drink, he sucked in a mouthful and swallowed it.

Sophie placed a hand on his knee. “He’s offering you some life back.” That knee felt human beneath her hand.

He tilted his head a fraction to the left. “Why?”

“Because he’s going to capture the soul stealer. Put him back in his prison.”

He went very still. “It takes more than one hunter.”

“Yes. He wants you there.”

“If he wants me there…. Where will his brother be while he’s capturing it?”

“If the plan works, Dean will be evacuating civilians and getting Jo out of there.” Sam had made it clear that Dean most likely wouldn’t follow the plan. Neither would Jo. They’d want to help and be right in the thick of things.

“And Gwen? Where will she be?”

He still had a thing for Gwen she saw. “Not there.” Sam had been adamant that Gwen remain behind. He didn’t want her anywhere near the place when the showdown occurred.

“Uh-huh. What’s my role in this little plan of Sammy’s?”

“You’re one of the hunters needed.”

He stared at her, his little grin condescending. “I’m not a hunter, sweetheart. I’m one of the things hunters hunt. Was anyway, before Sam did his thing and made me helpless. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to hide when something big and bad I’d pissed off sometime or other came through here looking for me?”

“Why hide? Why not deal with them?”

“Because I’m as good as human like this! Helpless!”

“I think, with your knowledge, you’re actually far from helpless, Teddy. You were just scared. Now you know how humans feel facing things like you, don’t you?” Sophie lifted her hand from his knee as he glanced away. “You are a hunter you know. Every tourist you’ve ever taken to task has been your prey. You’re as much a hunter as we are and if this creature remains uncontained, you’ll be just as hunted. I’d say you have a stake in this endeavor. If not for yourself, then your children. You do care for your children, yes?”

“Of course I do. I love them every bit as much as human parents love their children.”

“You do want revenge for what he did to two of them? I’ve heard he was brutal. Savage.”

Cold rage began to swim in his eyes. “Yes,” he bit out.

“Then help us. Get your revenge on him and get some of your life back in the process. We’ll scratch each other’s backs and call it even when it’s over.”

He thought a long moment, then snapped his fingers. A small drink appeared and he handed it to her. “Okay, Sophie. Tell your boss we have a deal.”

She called Sam a few minutes later, arranging to meet him in Nebraska, Trickster Teddy in tow.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dean kept Jo occupied in the room most of the day before the reunion, keeping her from whatever obsessive plans she’d made. She wasn’t happy about it, but the ways he’d kept her occupied had kept her somewhat happy.

The morning of the reunion dawned sunny and clear, to which Jo responded with a muttered declaration that it should be dark and storming.

“You’re being dramatic,” Dean told her and reached for his jacket, abandoning all attempts to get to the voicemail Sam had left. All he got was a weird hiss when he played it, like there’d been interference on whatever line he’d used. He wasn’t concerned. If there’d been trouble, Sam would’ve called more than once and he would’ve tried Jo’s phone when he couldn’t reach Dean. Could’ve even been an accidental dial.

She hugged herself, hands rubbing her arms as though she was cold. “Seriously, Dean. You can’t feel it? It’s like an electrical charge in the air.”

“It’s your imagination. You’ve built this up as something horrible. Of course you’re going to think you feel something.”

She didn’t comment, putting on her own jacket so they could get breakfast.

All day she was jittery, like she’d drunk too many cups of coffee, and as time to get ready to go rolled around, Jo’s paranoia began to rub off on him. While she was in the bathroom putting on her makeup, he tucked a knife in his boot and a gun under his button down shirt. It never hurt to be prepared for anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Gwen held Jack in her arms and leaned against the doorway. “Sam?”

She’d been watching him get ready to leave and was staring at him like he was crazy.

He finished adding various daggers, knives, and other instruments to a cloth roll. “Yes?”

“What’s that doing out?” She jerked her chin towards the Trickster box.

He turned his head, staring at it. His plan was risky, he knew. Monsters couldn’t be trusted, especially the Trickster, but in order to get the upper hand with the soul stealer, he needed one hell of an arrogant monster. The Trickster fit the bill. He’d open the middle sized box before they went to fight the soul stealer. The big one here on the table was in case things went south. It was Sam’s insurance that he could turn the tide in some way and maybe one of them would survive if things got bad. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?”

“Trust me.” He added the vials of herbs and oils they’d need to a specially made case, then snapped it shut.

“I’m going with you,” she announced.

“Hell you are.” Sam realized vaguely that he sounded like Dean as he spoke. “For one thing, if none of us come back, you’ll need to raise Jack.” He turned, hands resting on his hips, slanting a pointed stare at her stomach. “You’ll need to raise our baby.” She had the tiniest of bumps beginning, visible when she was naked but not when clothed. Her clothes hid it so far.

She looked away. “I can help.”

“I’ve got it covered. Dean and Jo will evacuate civilians and Sophie will assist me. I already called Dean.” The call had gone to voicemail, but he’d left a detailed message and would try again later to make sure Dean had gotten it. He’d keep trying.

“And the Trickster?” She raised her brows, waiting for an answer he wasn’t going to give her. “Come on, Sam. What do you need him for? I heard you tell Sophie how to find him. I thought we were done with him.”

“I know what I’m doing,” he repeated.

“You damn well better.”

“I do.”

“Don’t get cocky. You have your notes?”

He patted his shirt pocket. “Photocopy for me here, and ones for Sophie, Dean, and Jo in that case.” He pointed to the case with the oils and herbs.

Stepping to him, she tugged the sheets from his pocket and laid them on the table, opening them. Jack yawned and tangled a hand in her hair. She glanced through them and back up at him. “You’re nuts.”

“That’s a nice thing to say about the father of your baby.”

“Unless it’s true. Then it’s just a fact.”

He took the papers back, folding them and returning them to his pocket. “It’ll work. I’m sure of it. I checked and double checked everything. The changes should go around whatever it was Aaron added. I wouldn’t try this if I wasn’t sure.”

She sighed and set Jack down on the couch. He curled over onto his side and closed his eyes. “Fine.”

“Gwen, we have to do something. He’s heading for Dean and Jo. What other option is there?”

Crossing her arms, she shook her head. “I said ‘fine’. Go. Take care of him. Leave me here babysitting.”

Blinking, he went to her, hands grasping her arms. “Don’t do that. You know I like having you at my back. The four of us…we’re a good team, but it’s not necessary that you be there. It’s best if you keep Jack and our baby safe. Gwen, honey,” he used the endearment in an attempt to make her see the sense in this, “it’d kill me if he got you and our baby. I couldn’t….” He licked his lips. “Stay here. Please.”

Her hands pressed against his chest, fingers curling in his shirt. “Be careful.”

“Hey…it’s me you’re talking to.”

“Exactly.” She patted his chest. “You and Dean? Not always cautious.” Gwen raised a hand and brushed his hair from his forehead. “Be careful.”

Sam left a few minutes later.

~~~~~~~~~~

When Atropos surrendered to his pursuit of her, Balthazar realized that he truly did enjoy being around her. She was all the things he’d called her and more. He was playing with fire and didn’t really care because that fire was spectacularly bright and dangerous. She was thrilling and he reveled in being the one to entice her to relax.

“Tell me something no one knows.” Balthazar walked the fingers of one hand across her hip, expecting something light, along the lines of ‘I like cats and foggy mornings’. What she said was like a ton of bricks dropping on his head.

“Aaron Bennett’s death was a special order, an adjustment to correct events.”

He forgot to breath for a moment. “Aaron Bennett.”

“Gwen Winchester’s father?”

“You mean…. He was assassinated?” Balthazar sat up. His thoughts began to go in several different directions, trying to make sense of this new information in light of what he already knew.

“You could put it that way. I received a message to intervene in an altercation, to let it go one way.”

“Were you told the exact reason?”

She drew the covers against her and sat up, reaching for her glasses and slipping them on. “Knowledge. He’d figured out something he wasn’t supposed to.”

“Let me get this straight, Atropos. Heaven had a hit out on Aaron Bennett because he’d learned things he wasn’t supposed to know? Symbols maybe?”

“I suppose. I was told he was dangerous and for order and balance I needed to see to him.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Have you been told to ‘see to’ Sam Winchester?”

She glanced towards their empty drink glasses. “I can’t answer that, Balthazar. You know that.”

“Sam understands. Is he to be terminated as well?”

“You’re not part of the loop. I can’t tell you.”

Getting up, he reached for his clothes. “I have to go.”

“Castiel knows, you know.” She watched him with wide eyes. “He’s in the loop. He knows.”

He paused in buttoning his shirt, a thought occurring to him. “Is that the reason behind his erratic behavior of late?”

She didn’t reply. She didn’t have to. The answer was all over her face.

He swore. “You and your sisters and boss have had Castiel over a barrel doing your dirty work.” So much made sense now. “For months.” No wonder Castiel had been in such a state.

“It’s not like that,” she protested and he saw that she really believed it.

“Open your eyes, sweetheart. It’s exactly like that and Cas has had to stand by….” Balthazar shook his head. “He’s so attached to that family. What has your boss been up to? What’s Death’s plan this time?”

“He’s not my boss. We’re departments collabo--”

“He’s your boss. Now tell me…Fate. Is Sam Winchester going to die for his knowledge just like Aaron Bennett died?”

Atropos swallowed hard, glanced about the large bedroom, and began to talk.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jo dressed carefully, putting on her black dress and heels, curling her hair, and putting on a touch of makeup. The invitation had said ‘casual’, but knowing Heather Holt, that was code for ‘dressy’. It was just like her and her friends to show up in evening gowns when everyone else was in jeans. Jo would just anticipate that and dress accordingly. If she was wrong, who cared? She had a killer little black dress that made Dean drool every time she put it on, not to mention she felt fabulous wearing it.

Dean looked down at his jeans, clean t-shirt and button down. “I thought you said I was fine in jeans.”

“You are. All the guys will be in jeans and either a t-shirt or their blue dress shirt, the one reserved for weddings, graduations, and funerals.” It was the male dress code in this part of Nebraska and in many parts of many states. Working men had their special shirt and suit and then all their other clothes, mostly casual. Similar for women, though there were still tricky areas to maneuver.

“Why are you wearing your fancy dress? Not that I’m complaining, mind you, just curious why you’re gussying up.” He was confused, frowning.

Should she bother explaining about ‘Heather code’? “Because they won’t be expecting it.”

“They?”

She’d barely had time to check out the exits since Dean had refused to let her get out of the car. He’d overruled her on that, but she still had a few other tricks and this was one. She’d keep the group off guard. “They. Heather’s group.”

He sighed and rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “Jo, I doubt they’re out to get you.”

“Do you know for sure?”

“No.”

“Then we’ll do this my way.”

He at least turned half away before rolling his eyes. “Fine. You ready?”

“Go start the car. I’ll be out in a minute. I have to get my bag ready.” She indicated the tiny clutch purse she’d brought and had no intention of using. When he’d gone, she checked her real bag, then followed Dean out. He gave the bag a glance.

“Decided to take a change of clothes?”

She merely smiled, letting him think that and setting it at her feet.

The drive was around five minutes. The parking lot was half full already and, as they got out of the Impala, Jo smelled the very distinct scent of someone smoking pot.

Dean sniffed. “Is that --”

“Oh yeah. It’s probably Andy Archer around the corner, working up the nerve to go in. He spent our entire senior year stoned. He was the most interesting part of chemistry. Did I tell you the cops raided our junior-senior prom looking for drugs?”

“Yeah? You disguise your voice when you called that tip in?”

“I know not what you refer to,” she replied in a prim tone, while pleased he knew her well enough to read between the words. She’d made sure to leave before calling that tip in and had watched from the park across the street. It had been entertaining to watch Heather Holt scream that her daddy ‘would hear about this’. Ellen had heard it on the scanner and accused Jo, rightly, of being the one to make the call that had ended Heather, Heather, Jenny, and Tanya’s planning in everyone there being searched.

“Uh-huh.” Coming around the car, he held out his arm to her. “Shall we?”

“Hold on.” Jo shouldered her bag. It was heavier than she’d anticipated. Maybe she should’ve done a trial run.

“Why don’t you leave that here? We’ll come get it if you need to change.”

“I’d rather keep it with us.”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Jo.”

“Let’s go in,” she replied with a smile.

At the door, she took a deep breath to steady herself, then opened the door and walked inside.

~~~~~~~~~

Jo was up to something, only Dean couldn’t quite figure out what. He almost didn’t want to know what she had in that bag. She was looking too pleased with herself, which didn’t bode well. When she had that look, trouble was soon to follow.

Dean shook his head. He opened the door and followed her to a table in the hallway where a blond woman with a short, spiky haircut was sitting. She was pregnant, bigger than Jo had been in her last trimester. He tried not to stare.

“Jo Harvelle.” Jo gave her name and glanced around the hall in the way she did when assessing a location for threats.

The woman grinned. “Jo! Hi, it’s Tanya!” She pointed at her nearly illegible nametag. “Tanya Adamson! Well,” she rolled her eyes, “Tanya Adamson-Schmidt now.”

Jo frowned. “Tanya.” She said it like she didn’t remember her, yet Dean had heard an earful about two-faced Tanya not four hours earlier.

“You remember. We were in the same class from first on up?” She crossed Jo’s name off and held out two blank nametags. “Here. Fill these out. One for you, one for your husband.”

“I’m Dean,” he told her, writing his name with quick strokes while Jo took hers across the hall to the wall.

“Hi, Dean.”

Coming back to the table, Jo shoved the nametag at Dean. “I ran outta room. I need another.”

Tanya handed her a fresh one and Dean glanced down at the one she’d handed him. It read ‘kiss my ass, u sorry’ on it. She’d definitely run out of room. He could imagine how she’d intended on finishing it. He slipped it into the trash as Jo came back.

“I messed up. I need another.”

Staring up at her, Tanya frowned. “Jo, I only have one package of nametags here. What on earth are you messing up? It’s your name, for crying out loud, not trigonometry.”

At the glimpse of the ‘f you’ nametag, Dean decided it’d be far easier to make it for her. She was fully capable of going through that entire package Tanya had if he didn’t stop her. He took the third tag, filled it out, and pressed it to Jo’s dress, right above her left breast. “Thanks, Tanya. She’s a little nervous.”

That comment garnered him a murderous glare from his lovely bride.

“Oh, you shouldn’t be, Jo! I’m so glad you came! And you’re still so thin after two kids, too. Amazing!”

Rather implying that Tanya had thought Jo had gotten plump and broad through the beam after kids. If anything, Dean thought she was in better shape after having had Jack.

“I have a killer exercise routine. I’ll share it with you later.”

“That’d be great.” Tanya handed her a booklet that Jo shoved in her bag.

Both women smiled the most insincere smiles Dean had ever seen and he drew Jo away before she could make some further comment about beached whales or something. “Be nice,” he told her, giving her rear a pat.

“Make me,” she shot back.

“Relax.”

“No.”

“Enjoy yourself.”

“You enjoy yourself.”

“Okay, I will.”

They stopped just inside the gym doors, beside a man of average height and dark hair. He was holding a booklet like the one Jo had thrown in her bag and looking at the silver disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

Disco ball? Dean smirked. That was tasteful.

Jo peered at his nametag. “Tommy Hinshaw?”

Turning his head, he glanced at her nametag, eyes widening and hands moving to cover his crotch. “Jo. What, uh, what’re you doing here?”

She stared at him like he was a moron. “It’s a reunion,” she said slowly, the way she sometimes did with Jack.

“But what’re you doing here? We all voted you least likely to attend.”

“Why is that,” Dean asked, then held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Dean. Jo’s husband.”

Tommy shook his hand with a heartfelt and consoling, “Man, I’m so sorry.” He went back to covering his crotch with both hands. “It’s just, it was obvious Jo didn’t like it here. No school spirit, you know?”

“No school spirit? I had plenty of school spirit,” Jo scoffed.

Tommy shied back a few steps. “TPing the principal’s house doesn’t count.”

“Says who and it wasn’t tp. It was streamers in the school colors.”

Dean stifled a laugh. When enough were used, those streamers were just as bad as toilet paper.

“No school spirit. Hah!” She snorted and moved past Tommy further into the room.

“How’d you meet Jo,” Tommy asked, relaxing now that Jo was several feet away. His hands moved away from his groin.

“Met at the Roadhouse.”

“So you’ve known her awhile.”

“Long time now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jo came back. It was mildly entertaining to watch Tommy cover his crotch again in a reflexive movement. “Dean, come on. I want you to meet….someone. Yeah. We have to go to that side of the room.”

She didn’t have anyone she wanted him to meet, she just wanted to assess the room for exits and threats. He knew that, could see it in her eyes, and let her think he thought she really had someone she wanted him to meet. He held out his hand to Tommy again. “Nice meeting you, man. Later.”

Dean let Jo lead him across the room.