Chapter 4

Sam packed his backpack, filling it with everything they would need. Dean sheathed a knife at his wrist, rolling down his sleeves to conceal the weaponry.

"Gonna feel naked without a gun." The oldest brother rolled his shoulders back missing the feel of a 9 millimeter.

The young hunter shrugged. They were going to a populated building. Guns would be heard, then attract the attention of the local PD. "You can bring it, but you can't use it." Sam suggested.

"Temptation," Mac added, cocking an eyebrow in Dean's direction to see what he would do.

The older Winchester smiled, grabbed the gun and tucked it in the rear waistband of his dark jeans. "Bringing it."

Ames placed everything he needed in his satchel. "I'm going to the hospital and see about helping Beth. You boys call me if you need anything." He waited until he got a nod of affirmation from both of them. "I'll meet you back here when it's all done."

Sam carried the backpack on one shoulder. They settled into their seats at the Spiritist meeting after making their greetings. They were on heightened alert, but everything seemed the same as the last meeting.

Dean stayed hunched over; covering the EMF he used to monitor the room. He elbowed Sam to get his attention.

"What?"

The older Winchester held up the EMF. The colorful bars lit up, signaling the presence of something supernatural.

"Which one?" Sam whispered, scanning the gathered people.

Dean shook his head. "I don’t know."

Sam bolted up, awkwardly finding himself standing in front of fifteen people. He wanted to dissolve back into his chair, but there he stood, committed to his part. "I am here. Where am I?"

The older Winchester covered his mouth. "Method acting?" he mumbled, but Sam could hear him.

"You are with friends," answered Joachim with a surprised expression etched on his face.

"I want to go home." Sam stated, knowing an uneasy spirit or live person were both seeking the same feelings of peace within their souls.

"You are almost there."

"Is this heaven?" He looked around at them, pretending he wasn’t really seeing them. "Cristo!" he exclaimed, looking for a reaction from the rapt crowd.

Dean stood up and placed a reassuring arm around Sam's shoulder, taking the moment to whisper in his brother's ear, "Got him." He glanced at David. "It's okay; you can move along now and be with other spirits. Casper, I hear, is a friendly ghost." Dean stated louder for the others to hear.

Sam gave his brother a sidelong glance. Dean wasn't giving him much to work with, but he wanted to end the charade. He let his body relax into his brother who helped him to sit. "Wha. . .What happened?" The youngest Winchester blinked.

"Why don’t we take a break?" Joachim announced, looking at the brothers strangely.

Sam stood up, watching how David was mingling with the others. The brothers walked over to intercept him when a hand pulled at the front of Dean's waistband.

He was surprised that Celia was pulling in him close to her. He kept an eye on Sam as he tried to sidestep the dark haired woman.

"Hey." Celia pressed into him. She was coming on too strong. He liked girls who were proactive, this was a bit much especially when there an exorcism needing to be performed.

As he tried to pull away he felt her finger his knife from the sheath. He went to grasp her arm, but she clamped down with an incredible strength. Celia pulled the knife out, brought the blade low and stabbed him. The blade went deep, stopping when it went through, finding its mark. He pushed her away with a gasp, forcing her to fall back into some chairs. He glanced at his brother who was blocking David's exit. Screams erupted because of his actions against Celia. Hands came forward to try to restrain Dean, keeping him from aiding Sam. He pushed them away, tried to get closer to his brother while ignoring the blood seeping down his leg.

David was the same height as Sam and pushed him to the side, causing the younger Winchester's head to smack against the window frame. Sam was stunned, blinking as blood trickled down the side of his head. David came in for another attack forcing the darker haired hunter to the ground.

Disregarding the pulsating wound at his hip, Dean came to his brother's side. He kicked at David's head, hearing a satisfying crack as David released Sam.

The younger hunter blinked in stunned confusion, then recognized his brother. "Help me up." he stated.

Dean aided his brother to wavering feet. Sam roughly pulled open the backpack, handing his brother the salt. David and Celia were getting up and everyone needed protection.

"Get behind the line!" Dean yelled as he poured the salt in a thick band. The room was large, but at least they were on the side with the entrance.

The Spiritist members didn’t listen, instead deciding to aid Celia and David. Joachim pushed them away, getting between the possessed Spiritists and the rest of the congregation. "Listen to them! Go! There is evil here!"

Joachim pressed the people to the other side of the salt line, making sure his congregation was safe. David lashed out; grabbing Joachim's right foot and dragging him back, away from the salt line. Luckily, the Spiritist counselor was able to grip a chair and swung it around, hitting the possessed man on the side of his face. It was enough to provide an opportunity to run to safety.

Sam began reading the incantation as Dean completed the line. Celia tried to cross over the barrier to attack, but was thrown back. In rage she threw a chair which clattered over the line.

The meeting members screamed as David and Celia threw more chairs at them, discovering although they could not cross the line, the chairs could. The twosome sent one chair at the window. It fell with a clatter to the fire escape below.

Dean placed a hand on the gun safely in his waistband. It was tempting to take the gun out to provide a defense. However, the weapon would cause more fear and problems. Sam just needed a chance to finish.

Over the din of chairs and screaming a voice could be heard chanting. Joachim was guiding his friends to hold hands, forming a link. He placed himself in the center of the group and continued to chant.

Dean attempted to get to his brother's side as Sam wavered in reciting the Latin words. The older Winchester rolled to the floor as the podium completed an aerial turn and then crashed behind him. Sam glanced over to his brother, giving him a grin of relief. The momentary lapse cost him, as a chair careened in the younger hunter's direction, hitting him. Sam collapsed to the ground.

"Sam!" Dean crawled to his brother's side. But, Sam was still holding onto consciousness and reached for the papers, reading the last refrain. "Absum quod permoveo in ut a diversus locus!"

With a roar David spewed forth black soot from his mouth. Celia writhed in pain on the ground in a fetal position as the same darkness left her body, intermingled with David's destitute spirit and then vanished.

Dean reached his brother, tapping him on the face. Blood had seeped down from the cut in Sam's hairline. The older hunter reached for the papers curled up in his brother's hand. He lurched for his knife which had clattered to the ground after Celia's initial attack.

David lay crumpled on the ground. Dean dropped on the wood floor next to him and pulled the man's arm, exposing his open palm. With one fluid moment he cut David's palm, and placed it face down on wood floor, rubbing it back and forth to let the blood mark the area. "Is locus est venalicium," he repeated three times.

Satisfied the job was completed Dean struggled to stand up. His hip burned. He looked down and saw the dark was of his jeans was hiding the blood stain traveling down his pant leg. Sammy needed help more than he did.

There was a knock on the glass door of the room, causing the people in the stunned room to jump back. The members stepped away, giving Joachim access to the door. The counselor opened the door, using his body to shield the destruction in the room. "Sorry, we found two rats. We'll clean it up. Won't happen again." He closed the door before the person on the other side could react any further. "Help Celia and David. We need to clean this place up." He ordered as he stepped over the scatterings of the room and made his way to Dean's side.

The older Winchester had an arm under his brother's shoulder. He looked up when he saw Joachim, putting his hands under Sam's armpits and pulling him up to a seated position. "Do you want me to call an ambulance?"

"No, I just need to get him to the car." Dean again tried to wake Sam this time receiving a moan in response. "Come on Sammy, help us out."

Sam opened his eyes with a groan. He moved his feet trying to assist the two men. It was a slow going shuffle as they made their way to the elevator. Joachim pressed the down button, looking around to make sure no one else was in the hall.

"Where did you learn that?" Dean asked, feeling as if Joachim was supporting more of Sam's weight than he was. It didn’t matter; all that mattered was getting Sam to Mac.

They entered the elevator. "My nanny in Brazil was an African woman. She taught me how to deal with evil."

Luckily the car was parked in front of the building, and they didn’t use the subway system. "Are you going to keep doing it?" Dean asked as they placed Sam in the passenger seat.

Joachim shut the passenger side door, escorted Dean to the driver's side, and opened his door for him. "It is worth the risk to help people."

Dean nodded in agreement. "It shouldn’t happen again." The last incantation had sealed the group away from evil spirits.

"Thank you," Joachim said as he grabbed Dean's hand, placing his business card in the hunter's palm. "If I can ever be of assistance. . ."

Dean curled his bloodstained fingers over the card and shut the door. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb. He fumbled for his cellphone. "Mac, we're coming in hot."

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