[h3] Duke [/h3]

Duke walked quickly to his truck. As he patted his jeans pocket, he realized that his keys weren’t in his pocket and thinking about it, he wasn’t honestly sure where they were. He didn’t have time to go searching Esme’s things trying to find them. He had to go. He had to go right then or he risked hurting even more people in the house. He wasn’t safe to be around. The only thing he could think about was revenge…and hate…and pain.

To his relief, when he reached the truck, the door was unlocked. He pulled the door open, and quickly reached below the steering wheel, pulling the panel open. He reached into his pocket, pulling his pocket knife, and stripped the wires to the starter, touching them together. They sparked, and Duke reached in with his hand, pressing down on the gas pedal to bring the truck to life. He carefully let off the gas, and he used the knife to press the metal of the wires against the steering column, crimping them together so the truck would stay running. After that, he tossed Ruby’s knife across the seat and climbed into the truck, putting it in gear as quick as he could, before peeling out of the parking spot.

Unfortunately, he heard Esme screaming at him, as he drove off, but he didn’t slow down. Even if she wanted him around, out of habit, she would never forgive him for hitting her, for hurting Dean or for showing that level of rage. It wasn’t him, and he knew it, but there was no way he could explain that to Esme…not now. He passed through the ‘Singer Salvage’ sign and out onto the road, not entirely sure where he was planning to go.

Duke reached across as he drove, and he pulled one of his cellphones from the glove box, flipping it open and speed dialing a number. The person on the other line picked up relatively quick, as Duke glanced up at himself in the rearview mirror and sniffled, “Hey Raina. That thing you said Chase couldn’t handle a few days ago with the demons…”

The person on the other line spoke for a second and Duke nodded his head at no one, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he tightened his jaw.

“Yeah. I know I said I had bigger issues. But some time just opened up and I need that address for tonight. Call it a sudden urge to work.” Duke explained and the woman continued asking him questions, which was making his blood boil the more he had to explain himself. “No. No the Winchesters won’t be with me. I got this though. Text me the address.”

Duke hung up the phone, not willing to answer anymore questions. After a few moments, his phone chimed, and he read the message, knowing the exact location. He wasn’t sure he was in the shape to fight anyone, with his injuries and how tired he was, but he was sure going to try. Blaze of glory or not, he had to kill something…

————

[b] A bit later in a warehouse just south of Sioux Falls [/b]

Duke slit the throat of a female demon, dropping her to the ground with disregard before turning in a squat toward a male that was patiently circling him, stalling for backup. Duke knew what they were doing. He had already killed five of them. There was no telling how many were coming from there. His eyes were dilated, his face a constant bloody snarl and his hand held Ruby’s knife as if it was his life blood as he stared down the demon.

“I’m finishin’ this…right here. I want Lilith.” Duke growled and the demon laughed, his head fully thrown back in a cackle, before turning to a giggling pout.

“You’re so adorable. What you want is Alastair. I can smell it. But unfortunately for you, the blood junkie with the mutton chops finished him off before you could get to him. Shame about your sister, really…she was…special.” The demon sneered at Duke, as Duke gripped the knife tighter, his blood boiling at the fact that a demon would even dare to bring Mika up, after what they did to her. 

“Shut your mouth and tell me how to get to Lilith.”

“One hot piece of ass dies, and suddenly, the Winchesters send their little…blonde…ticking time bomb to kill Lilith? And while he’s half broken. Wow. Escalation. What good is it going to do your sweet little soul to kill her? She’s not…”

“She’ll do!” Duke screamed suddenly, holding the knife out in front of him as the demon took a step forward. 

“And you’ll feel nothing. Just like right now. You have gallons…GALLONS of demon blood all over your hands, washed in it like holy water, and you feel…nothing. But you’re about to feel a lot…of pain.” 

As the demon finished his words, the panels that covered the roof of the warehouse began to flutter in the wind, the lights flickering and buzzing above their heads. Then, the doors on all sides burst open, and demons poured in. There were close to a dozen of them, if Duke was counting right. He was screwed…

“Alright. Well come on! I know which direction I’m goin’…so I’m gonna send as many of you black eyed sons of bitches to Hell as I can on my way upstairs.” Duke called out to them. They didn’t move, just standing there, which caused Duke to tilt his head to the side, confused. 

“Who are you to the Winchesters?” A male demon asked, stepping forward through a small crowd of demons, his head tilted as he pointed a knife Duke had never seen before at him. It was long and silver, almost like a bright little sword. “Oh, you’re wondering about this? Angel squabble. They’re being picked off…apparently by their own. And when they drop? So do these little guys. Can kill almost anything. I’ll ask again, who are you to the Winchesters?”

“Dead weight. A liability. Thorn in the side. I ain’t nothin’ to them they can’t lose.” Duke shrugged, his voice hoarse and tired as he stared the demon down casually. 

“You came here…hurt. Your face is busted, your hands are bruised and if I can hear that right, you have a cracked rib. This is a suicide mission for you.”

“There are worse ways to go out, I guess. At least I know where I’m goin’…Already been there. Already done that. Look, if you think takin’ me or killin’ me is gonna drive you right into the arms of the Winchesters, I got bad news for you. If you haven’t noticed…they ain’t here. They didn’t come after me.” Duke slurred, his eyes fixed on the silver blade that was twirling around in the man’s hand.

“It almost grosses me out to have to kill you.” The demon spoke up, his nose snarled at Duke’s lack of care for his own wellbeing. “Wait a second…I recognize that accent. You’re…Dean Winchester’s little blonde friend. What’s the name again? Hatfield.”

“Let me guess…just spitballin’. You a McCoy? Is that what the beef is here? It’s been like 200 years. Get over it already.” Duke smirked and the demon chuckled lightly, taking a step forward. Duke took one step back, stepping into the chest of a much larger demon, who wrapped his arms around Duke’s body, stomping his foot against the back of Duke’s left knee and dropping him hard onto his knees on the floor. 

[h3] Cason [/h3] 

Cason felt Sam at his side as Sam began to pull Dean away from Duke, before Duke ever left. Cason took a step back, holding a hand out to try and stop Esme from running after Duke. There was no way she could stop him if she tried, and even if Cason could pop into the truck and do his best to stop him from running off, Duke was upset and he had a knife that could kill Cason with one good swing. After a few moments, Cason did turn around to look at Nat, his head tilting with sympathy at how terrified she seemed. 

He didn’t have much of a chance to run over to her, or to check on her, when Esme came back. His head snapped to her as she called his name, scanning her face and his own face flooding with sympathy as she explained that though they didn’t have the most sound history, she was asking him for a favor. He had already decided to go after Duke before Esme ever asked him. He nodded his head and held up a hand, telling her to stop with her offers, as she said she owed him.

As Nat agreed with Esme from behind him, Cason took a deep breath, “I’ll bring him back, and then we’ll decide who owes who, alright? What I need from you, is permission to bring him back by any means necessary. He doesn’t like me. I can’t guarantee he’s going to come willingly.”

He turned, as he waited for the go ahead from Esme, walking over to Nat with a sad look on his face, “And I’ll be back. Alright? I’m gonna come back for Esme. She can come to back me up with him. I’ll be back.”

Cason leaned in and kissed Nat deeply, wiping her tears with his thumbs, before pulling back and pressing his forehead to hers, scanning her eyes with a look that he knew she would read as ‘I’ll take care of you’. Then he stepped back and he disappeared, reappearing outside of a train yard at first. He listened, his head buzzing with sounds from his contacts as he placed the order out for them to ask around, or drop into a few places. Within seconds, several of them said the same place, described Duke and used the name ‘Hatfield’.

“There you are…” Cason smiled, before disappearing and reappearing just outside the warehouse where Duke was losing his hand, and it felt as if he was going to lose it rapidly, and bloody…and willingly. Cason sighed, before disappearing once again and reappearing in Bobby’s living room, wrapping his arm around Esme without a word. They both landed in the parking lot of the warehouse, and Cason quickly pulled Esme into a shadow, pressing her back against the side of the building.

“No matter what you hear…not matter what you’re feeling, you stay here. I will call your name when it’s safe. But right now? I have to go and kill my way in. I’m gonna have to try and convince him to come with me. I might need help with that. But there are a dozen demons around him, right now. You can’t go with me.” Cason explained calmly, but his eyes were serious and worried. “He found himself a nest and he’s going to lose unless I go get him.”

[h3] Dean [/h3]

Dean groaned as Sam’s arms wrapped around his body, realizing that it was over, but also, Sam was there. He had issues besting Sam on his best day, but in the shape he was in, he had to just submit to being pulled across the floor by his baby brother. Being pulled to his feet made his entire body feel like lead, as he stumbled against Sam and took a deep breath, rocking on his feet. He grabbed Sam’s shirt tightly in his fist, using his brother’s larger frame to hold him up.

But Sam just echoed Duke’s words. Sam was right, and in some small part of Dean’s brain, he wanted to argue with him, and tell him not to talk about Mika as if she had a choice. But that would likely start another fight that he couldn’t win. He turned his eyes up to look at Sam’s, seeing how large and teary they were. His own swollen eyes softened, and the tears bubbled up, as he couldn’t really say anything.

Unfortunately, Sam and Duke were right…

Dean leaned in, exhausted and emotionally devastated and he nodded, before leaning his face on Sam’s shoulder, all of the emotion from the past few days crashing down around him in what felt like his first tears since Mika died. She was gone. There was nothing he could do to bring her back. He was holding onto her too tight, and it wasn’t right. This whole thing wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair, but he was being selfish. Dean broke, his quiet sobs shaking his shoulders as he wrapped an arm around Sam and he clutched the back of his shirt for dear life, finally allowing himself to mourn.

“Should I um…should I get a bed ready for him?” Anna asked, her own voice quivering with sadness as she watched Dean just release all of his emotions on Sam, now that they were touching. Anna whisked a tear away from her cheek, and she didn’t wait for Sam to answer her, simply turning to walk up the stairs, “When he calms down, bring him up. I’ll patch him up. Bring an ice pack.”

Once in Mika’s room, Anna looked around, trying to avoid reminders of Mika. She removed a few of Mika’s things from view, placing them in the closet so that Dean wouldn’t have to simply stare at them. She then walked to the bathroom, and rummaged around until she found a large first aid kit. She grabbed it, and a couple of towels, tossing them on the bed.