Topic: Lost and Found

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:29 EST
Red Dragon Inn, Room 29...

When Lilli said she was tired, woo-boy did she mean it. Because while she'd gotten a very decent night's sleep the day before, there was still a certain level of energy that seemed to elude her. Perhaps it was the aging coming so close to the end, or even the healing she'd done. The emotional stress was a factor she didn't count, simply because she was better than that; stronger. Wasn't she" These thoughts were far behind, however, because the gypsy still looked like a pile of lumpy blankets and a bed tousled mop of red curls. Not a limb stuck out. She was dead to the world, breathing peaceably.

When Dean awoke the next morning, his head felt like the size of Texas. He vaguely remembered an encouter with a bottle of bourbon and a redhead. No, two redheads. Shit, Lilli. He shoved a hand through his hair, which was sticking up this way and that, and glanced over at Sam's bed and last night's roommate, frowning. He remembered her tucking him in and then curling up in Sam's bed for the night and he'd promised again to make her breakfast in the morning. He'd at least owed her that. He reached around and ran his fingers over the fading scar on the back of his shoulder and wondered if she hadn't saved his life. After a moment, he quietly climbed out of bed, head pounding, wishing he had taken the bottle with him and not left it with Clover. Hair of the Dog and all. He leaned over and pulled his boots on, leaving them untied for now because he was just too hung over to make his fingers work right.

Sam was outside, wrapped in a 'borrowed' coat, and clothes that were not made for his build. They height was right, the weight was not. He looked slouchy to say the least. He waited patiently for a couple that left one of the adjacent rooms to stroll down the stairs and then went to work on the lock as the key wasn't on him any longer. He had a lump on top of his head from the bars of the cage, and a generally foul mood that one would get while walking mostly naked through cold, wet woodlands.

The lump beneath Sam's blankets didn't move too much- it shifted and displayed a new series of hills and valleys in the soft comforter, and those rumpled curls did their damnedest impression of hell-fire snakes slithering in the early stints of morning light creeping through the window- but that was about all. Signs of life were minimal. After all, Lilliana had been drinking too. Possibly not anywhere near as stiffly as Dean had, but it was enough.

Dean stood up, stretching his back, feeling a little sore and cramped, feeling like he'd kill right now for a cup of black coffee. He looked over at Lilli again, unsure if he should wake her and let her know he was going to make breakfast or surprise her. He didn't really want to leave her alone. He'd only been gone a short time when Sam had disappeared. He wandered over to Sam's bed and leaned down to adjust the lay of the blankets, even though it was probably completely unnecessary as cocooned as she was in them. He pushed some of those red curls back from her face and brushed a kiss against her cheek.

Wire hanger, pocket knife and a little luck, would leave the lock undone and he started turning the knob slowly, wondering if his brother was still in the room. What if he left' Moved to another room' He peeked in, being certain there were no more love happy couples, or worse...

"....Brish, lay off. Bugger Ma fer yer breakfas', ya' Goddess-damned creepst'er." Lilliana's face scrunched up a bit from the kiss. Apparently her brother had a sick sense of humor, and the sleepy gypsy was already curling up a fist beneath the blankets, readying a punch. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, and was clearly caught in another year's worth of memories as well as the lingering cobwebs of sleep.

He blinked, Dean' Someone in *his* bed, and voice recognized, The Redhead. The "Sam go find out if she likes me, Redhead," in his bed! "What the hell"!" He was no longer quiet, and the door was pushed open a little too hard.

Dean wasn't sure who Brish was. He'd never heard her mention the name before and had never met anyone by that name. Friend, lover, brother" He had no idea. "It's me, Lil. Dean," he said quietly, not wanting to startle her.

He didn't care who was startled. "Dean"!"

"Mm' AH! Brish! Ge' yer friends ou' o' here! M'naked!" Dean's voice, combined with the haze of sleep and Sam's abrupt, non-too quiet exclamation resulted in that sleepily curled fist coming up and out from under the covers in a sloppy jab formation. Unbeknownst to Lilli, she wasn't nude, she wasn't in her wagon with her family, and those were not pesky cousins or friends of her brother. Either way, the fist was still flying, as were covers.

Startled by Sam's sudden and unexpected appearance, the fist caught Dean in the chin and he staggered backwards, losing his balance and almost falling on his assets.

The bone in Dean's chin elicited a yelp from the gypsy as she curled right back up in a whirlwind of limbs, hair, and blankets, curling her fist into her stomach. "Oh fer cryin' ou' loud!"

He was nearly pouting, he wanted to be the one that put Dean on his ass, instead the girl got the honors. "I'm out in the damned woods all night and you are here, warmed up to the redhead?"

Dean rubbed at his chin, swinging a glance from one to the other, gawking a little at Sam, and then the love for his brother won out. He smiled, still rubbing his chin and turned toward his brother to give him a bear hug. "Sam! Where the hell have you been" I've been worried sick. You look like hell. Smell like shit, too. Lilli and I have been looking all over." The words were just tumbling out in an emotional rush.

"Fighting the damn Bogeyman, while you are here playing house!" he was irritated.

"Warmin' up t'wha'. S'cuse me, kid, bu' I've go' a name ya' know....Oh cripes. Goddess ya' have good bones..." The world was starting to become more real. Pain helped with that. Managing what was left of her dignity, Lilliana swept back the wildfire tumble of her hair and moved up from the pile of blankets to watch the two reunite. Despite it all, she was smiling a little; it reeked of home.

Dean pulled back and took a closer look at his brother. "The Boogeyman. Here in Rhydin?"

Boogeyman. Clearly she'd missed something, and it showed in her bemused face. Her thoughts drifted to the oogey-swamp witch stories she'd heard as a child.

"He's not the most hygienic guy in town, you know?" He was ready to ball up his own fist and take a swing. He felt like hell, and did indeed look like hell.

Dean ignored his brother's rebuffs for now. He was somewhat used to them. "Did you kill him?"

"With a stick?"

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:30 EST
Dean was done hugging and all about the hunt, now that Sam was back, safe and sound, relatively speaking anyway. He felt a huge burden lift from his shoulders. He could go back to being his normal self again. "Poke it in the eye?"

"I'm gonna poke you in the eye, Jerk."

Dean smirked. "Bitch." And then he remembered Lilli. "Oh..." He turned toward the redhead who was still in Sam's bed. "You remember Lilli." He elbowed Sam in the ribs and whispered, "She likes me."

"Obviously." He got the tightlipped Sam smile. "Lilli."

The intense irritation she'd come to upon waking was quickly fading. The banter was almost exactly the same as the kind she and her younger brother slung at each other. Without her quite meaning to, she laughed and gave a wave to Sam. Contrary to what she'd thought earlier, she wasn't nude-just rumpled and in her blouse and underbust instead of the full blown corset. Hey, you try sleeping in one of those. "Mornin'....Did yer idio' brother t'ell ya' he go' himself hur'" We laid a spell....bu' he couldn' wai' t'ill mornin'. I came back an' he was whinin' like a woman 'bou' a few scratches on his back." She smirked, hiding the fresh memories with all the ease of a practiced liar. Well. The sort of liar that underplayed things to keep others from worrying, that is.

"He's always been the wimp of us," a wink to Lilli then.

Dean frowned, not really wanting to be there when Sam heard what he did, so he inched his way toward the door. "I'm gonna go get us something to eat. Sam, get cleaned up. I think you might fit in some of my things." He chuckled to himself, muttering. "If you don't mind looking like you're waiting for the flood."

He glared at Dean.

"Oi, i' sounds like he's had a worse t'ime ou' o' any of us, sweet'lin'. Bett'er be nicer b'fore he whacks ya' harder than I did." Trying not to look too smug, given the dull protest of her knuckles, Lilli shook her head and moved towards the small collection of things she had on the nightstand.

Dean was tall, over six feet in height, but Sam was taller, and Dean was always teasing him, calling him overgrown and freakish. He flashed a grin at Lilli. "He has to catch me first. He might be bigger, but I'm faster."

"Aye, like Brishen's a lanky carnie clown an' I'm a squa' t'oad by comparison?" Snickering quietly, the gypsy pulled out a brush from the large, lumpy pack she'd left behind-foresight or magic" One could never tell. She was at that age where she was sleeping nude and had since mastered the art of making miniature pocket universes. "I can zap his arse green, bu' he ca cat'ch me an' surprisingly lif' me no problem."

He turned a slow look at Dean, smiling, "You have to sleep sometime."

It dawned on Dean finally who Brishen must be. "Brishen is your brother?" he asked, hand on the door handle, still planning on making them all breakfast, or at least grabbing some coffee. They had some major catching up to do, but not before breakfast.

"I'm getting a shower....and out of the boxers that are too small," he announced before heading into their bathroom.

"Aye. He's no' the bast'ard though, jus' me." It didn't sound as she was saying this as an insult either, but a proud little compliment. Spying how Dean was toying with the door and the space beyond it, Lilli brightened just a little. "Ooh, I see. I did say ya' owe me breakfas', eh?" Chuckling aside to Sam, the gypsy rolled her eyes. "I hope he doesn' think tha' line works on the ladies."

"Dude!" Dean called after his brother with a smirk. "Too much information!" He looked back to Lilli, frowning at little at the bastard comment, but not commenting on it. "You wanna help me with breakfast while the Boy Wonder gets cleaned up?" If Sam was right and it truly was the Boogeyman they were after, he wouldn't be interested in a fully grown Sam.

He closed the door behind himself. They had no idea what it was like to be in too tight, too SHORT boxers. Riding up the crack, allowing fall out to one side or the other...

"Mm....Yes. Goddess knows I can' handle all tha' this early in the mornin'." Apparently, 'all of THAT', along with a gesture towards the bathroom door, meant Sam's unmentionables. Breakfast however, that she could handle. Quirking a brow, she eyed Dean with the smallest of smiles, nodding. "I don' think this const'it'ut'es breakfas' in bed, bu' I suppose there's st'ill t'ime fer tha'." Time. Such a funny word.

Dean lifted a brow at Lilli, wondering what she meant by that and if she meant what he thought she meant. He secretly hoped so, and his eyes wandered over her more than ample curves. To think he'd almost gone home with Clover last night. So close and yet so far. What was it with him and redheads anyway' Too bad there weren't two of him, or maybe half a dozen. But there was enough of him to go around, or so he thought. "Sammy, we're gonna get some grub. And then, you're gonna tell us all about your adventures with the Booger." Dean didn't know it yet, but he'd had his own encounter with the Boog, while he was searching for his brother. It was the Boog who'd gouged his back and left him with a fading white scar.

Dean and Lilli departed to fetch breakfast while Sam cleaned up.

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:31 EST
When Lilli returned, she was toting a tray, as was Dean, which he set down long enough to get the door for Lilli.

Lilli had a hip to use for balance, mind, but Dean's gentility was appreciated; she showed him with a small, oddly shy smile. Quite simply, she wasn't used to the constant dance. It was a lay'em, love'm, and leave'm sort of world for the gypsy. Not that any lover in her past could boast she was easy, oh no, quite far from it. She had taste and a style to match. One didn't play with fire unless they could handle the lick of the flames; ask any man who'd burnt his fingers. It'd been a risk worth taking. Chuckling, she chased away the first tendrils of a blush she felt rising to her cheeks. Spying Sam back out and fresh as a new coin, she grinned. "Aah, he ret'urns from the trough fresh an' new....Hungry m'dove?"

"Starving," He nodded to Lili. He borrowed two of Dean's shirts, sleeves rolled up to hide the fact they were too short, and decided to sit on Dean's bed, because...well, Lilli was in his, and God only knew what happened there.

"I think we migh' have raided all tha' was worth raidin' down in the kit'chen. Though bein' a t'ender an' havin' a key t'the goodes' o' the goods helps t'oo." Lilli added slyly as she pulled up a little silver skeleton key from the side of her skirt. It had big RDI letters across it. Dean frowned a little, unsure he liked the idea of Lilli making endearments toward Sam, a small stab of jealousy. He was taller and smarter and more filled out than Dean, and though older, Dean had always been a little envious of his brother. He said nothing of that, however, and just quietly closed the door behind him and set the pot of coffee on the table and filled three mugs.

He didn't care what they had to eat at this point. The Boog wasn't really one for entertaining. Bread, nearly spoiled milk or water was about all they'd been given to eat and drink. "What'd you manage to find?"

Setting the tray down, she grinned. "They d'liver fresh breads in the mornin', nice an' heart'y. Firs' season's honey came in t'oo, an' some fresh produce. Didn' wan' t'dally t'oo long so I pulled cold sausages from the fridge from yest'erday's visi' from the smoker, an' some boiled eggs. Coffee's ho' though." Protein, protein, heavy, complex carbs and all sorts of good sugar to jolt the system if the caffeine didn't do it. Lilli was already at a snap of sausage with one hand while the other had set to slicing what looked like a bread that hadn't missed a single grain in the making.

"Dean's a righ' wizard w' tha' ambrosias liquid." She added lightly over her shoulder, grinning. Why' Lilliana hadn't quite mastered the modern coffee machine downstairs yet. Dean had taken up the sword and shield to conquer the mechanical beast though.

He nodded, watching the redhead, then looked over at Dean. He was glad to see his brother, and glad to know that she had taken care of him, no matter what else happened. His safety was important to Sam, just as Sam's was important to Dean. "Yeah, he learned from Dad."

Oh, it was nothing, and he needed a jolt to get him going in the morning, especially after a night like the previous one spent binging on bourbon. "It's just coffee. It's not a big deal." He handed each of them a cup and took a closer look at his brother.

He took the cup with a nod of thanks to his brother, then eyed him in return.

"Oh aye' Coffee, magic....Good t'know we all picked up the bett'er bit's o' our parent's though, hm?" She shot a glance across to the younger Winchester, letting him have the full, bright brunt of her unnaturally colored eyes. Inhuman would be the word. Magical would be another. They were the only part of herself she didn't bother hiding, and the only part that showed she was much more than a soft figure that reeked of the mortal coil.

Dean pulled out a chair for Lilli, and since there were only two at the table, he grabbed a hunk of bread and took a seat at the bottom of his bed. How to make coffee was probably the least important lesson he'd learned from his father, but again, that was left unsaid.

"Yeah, Dad can make a mean cup," he smiled, and nodded before he was taking a sip from the cup.

"So, you gonna spill your guts or are we gonna pretend it's tea time a while longer?"

"Rude much?" He glared at Dean, then started to pick up the bread and a sausage. Lilli didn't so much stiffen as she did take a pause after Dean's abrupt query across to his brother. Mincing her lips in with her teeth, she offered them both a small smile as she swallowed a bite of bread and honey. The sausage was gone already. Yes. She had an appetite. "I don' have t'be here....I know how much ya' missed each other." Harping aside, of course. Dean shrugged. "Manners have never been my forte. Should I drink my coffee with a pinky extended?"

"I don' think I've heard ya' say tha' word since I zapped yer hair." Lilliana murmured with a smirk towards Dean.

Dean blinked over at Lilli. "Which word?" He was confused. "Manners?"

"Pink." The smirk widened into a fully fledged grin.

That managed to get a smirk from him. "Oh." He took a sip of his coffee, feeling a little grumpy but that's what happened when your head felt as big as a watermelon.

"There are about ten other kids there..." he paused hearing her mention pink so that got Dean a sideways look. No commentary, he shoved a bit of the sausage into his mouth and started chewing.

Dean chewed on the bread and then got up to snag a sausage and pop it into his mouth. "You know why you got grabbed and not me, don't you?"

Catching the tail end of Sam's expression, Lilli's eyes widened a bit. "Ge' yer brain ou' o' the gutt'er!" Her mind, however, was now sailing towards this mention of children being held captive.

"I was here, alone." That was his only reasoning for Dean's question, before he gave Lil a smirk.

"Boogeyman takes naughty kids, and I'm the obedient son." Dean smirked, teasing his brother a little. He finished off the sausage and turned serious. "Okay, so how do we do this" Silver, iron, fire?"

"B'fore I me' ya', sweet'lin', I t'urned a bi' o yer brother's hair pink fer bein' a bra' t'me when we were 'bou' t'en or so..." Her answer drifted off, however, and her attention sharpened elsewhere. Silver, iron, fire. Tools she herself knew well were for fending or slaying things. Dean might feel the weight of her eyes on him now as she picked up a cup of coffee and gave it a blow.

He just rolled his eyes then. "Yeah, right," he finished the bread with a swallow of coffee. "Seems to me that it was fire or silver. He's got too much iron around for that to bother hi..." he stopped, looking at Lilli, then Dean, and a smile crept across his face. "Dean?" He chuckled. "Had pink hair?"

"....made'm squeal like a girl." Lilli added, trying to conceal her cheshire expression. Evil, evil girl.

He looked at Dean again, trying not to laugh.

Dean glared at his brother. "Didn't you just say you left ten kids behind" Pink hair can wait. We've got work to do." Yes, Dean was going into hunter mode, all seriousness. He snagged another sausage. "Could burn him out. Where's he at' The spell said somewhere north."

"You can't burn him out, There are still kids in there, Dean."

Dean rolled his eyes, wondering if his brother really thought him an idiot. "No, we rescue them first, then burn him out."

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:31 EST
"If Sam's go' those nast'y clothes st'ill....I can perform somethin' easier an' more accurat'e now." Lilliana offered quietly. His business voice was contagious, and indeed, the fresh spool of memories brewing in her brain echoed all the way through down to each and every limb. She could help. "Could find the imp yer lookin' fer, an' I lef' tha' silver dagger here if I do b'lieve..."

Dean arched a brow at Lilli, then looked back at Sam with a questioning look. He didn't really want to get Lilli involved, but she already was involved. What she was saying made sense, and she'd already proven herself to him by saving his life.

"Yeah' I've still got them, they are in the bathroom floor."

Dean waited for his brother to go fetch his discarded clothing before he set his mug down and went over to Lilli, his expression softening. "You don't have to do this."

"Well....M'sure they reek o' the beas'. Bring'em here an' se' them on the floor when ya' have a momen'. Finish yer food firs' though. I won' have ya' all wast'in' precious energy on a ques' like this w'ou' havin' a proper meal." She'd started out helpful, and ended up with a slightly mothering tone to her voice; that simply came from being the oldest sibling and the oldest cousin. Turning to Dean, Lilli's brow wilted a bit. The thought crossed her mind to leave a while back, but she wouldn't feel right walking out like that. Not when she knew they'd be going off and possibly getting hurt and she knew she could help prevent that.

"I don' have t'do anythin'." Lilli replied with a little twitch in the corner of her lips. Eyeing another piece of bread, she gave it a small smear of honey before polishing it and her coffee off. She moved without any hinderance now-that obviously meant her shoulder was feeling better too.

He was already done, and he made that disappearing act into the bathroom to get the clothing. Really the only thing that was left was a sock and those boxers. The rest of the clothing had been ditched at Boog's and he stole what he showed up in.

"Lilli, I..." he trailed off, when she seemed to get stubborn on him. There were things he wanted to say, but he didn't quite know how. He didn't want her getting hurt. She'd already gotten hurt once because of him and he didn't want it to happen again. He was feeling something for her and it wasn't just friendship, but as they grew older and more memories emerged, he wondered if she felt the same.

"Sshh....Calm yerself lover. I won' be gett'in' in harms way again t'oo soon." She murmured quietly aside to Dean.

Tact and experience told the witch that those boxers wouldn't be as much help as those socks. The floor was something everyone touched- that'd help her the most. Watching Sam through the crack in the door, she smiled. It tweaked a bit of her heart to see a family again, even a small one such as Dean and Sam. She'd be lying if anyone asked her if she wasn't homesick and hurting. She'd essentially just spent near a lifetime without them, with only ghosts of them.

Dean was moved to kiss her, but refrained, at least while there was a chance that Sam might interrupt at any minute, and with any luck, there'd be time for that later. "So, what happens now?" he asked, shifting back to business mode.

He held out the boxers and sock. Good call, no kissing in front of the brother.

Dean took his mug back up and sipped it, the coffee helping to alleviate the pain in his head a little.

"Yer darlin' brother there hands me his socks, an' I find yer oogey boogey man." Lilliana managed a little chuckle as Sam walked back into the room. Holding out her hands as she stood back up.

He handed over the sock and pitched the boxers into the trash.

Dean scrunched up his nose, which at twenty-four, was still covered in freckles, at the sight and smell of Sam's sock. "Dude, those are disgusting."

"She asked for them!"

"It'll be much simpler now....no blood needed." She added the last bit back over her shoulder to Dean with a wink. "Keep candle t'rick isn' wha' I'll be needin' anymor-Ah!" Lilli blinked once the grimy sock hit her hand. Wincing, she shivered, and not from the fact they were recently on the younger Winchester's beaten up feet. "Tha's no' a very friendly place ya' were in..." She drawled quietly as she gave the socks a warier eyeing over.

"I think he feeds on the fear, instead of the children," He said to them both.

Dean came up beside his brother, mug in hand, and watched Lilli.

"He cert'ainly has unseemly t'ast'es. Goddess help me if somethin' like this one walks in fer a cockt'ail..." She grumped quietly as she gave her head a shake and refocused her eyes on the socks. Quite the intense stare for so unseemly a bit of clothing. Tucking her teeth onto the plush of her lower lip, Lilli began to closer her fist over the socks; both of them. Cringing, she began to murmur wordlessly, still eyeing the bundle she was squishing tighter and tighter between her palms with the utmost concentration. Slowly but surely, out from the bottom of her hands a very thick, very vile looking black bit of ooze began to drip and splatter on the floor.

Dean stepped back, a little startled by the oozing black liquid and muttering, "What the hell..."

Sam too stepped back away from that. "Ugh."

The ooze, while it didn't seem to singe her hands, seemed to scar the floor just fine. It crackled and bubbled as a fresh smattering of tar to a cold street might. The witch's expression twitched, but not from the brother's small shows of disgust. If one looked closely, they'd see her eyes were glowing softly as they dropped from the freshly juiced socks to the growing pile of muck on the floor. "Call his name, Sam." She said darkly.

"Bogeyman?" He wasn't sure if that was the name she was asking for.

The ooze gave an sentient sort of jiggle and shift on the floor. Up it grew, inch by slimy inch, taking on a very lumpy, very misshapen form with two toeless legs and fingerless hands. Lilli, meanwhile, stood her ground despite the little six inch high golem's unsightly movements. Show no fear, control the essence. "Ya' migh' wan' t'ge' a cup an' cat'ch him b'fore he t'ries t'ret'urn to the body o' it's owner."

Dean was quietly watching them both, but for different reasons. Lilli, he was watching both because he was interested in what she was doing and trying to make sure she didn't get hurt. Sam, he was watching to see what his reaction would be to the spell and whether he was showing any signs of trauma.

"Dude, what the hell is that?" Sam asked.

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:31 EST
"The lil' bi' o' him ya' brough' back w' ya'." Yes, these were the juicy, evil leavings of the 'Bogeyman'. Sam's words were the seal, ending the spell and completing the task with the truth in his tongue. Even if it wasn't the creature's true name, the younger Winchester believed it. Belief was what made it all work. Faith was the answer, even faith born of fear. Dean poured what was left of his coffee out into the dead ashes in the hearth and crouched down beside the six inch high golem, turning his head to take a closer look at it, but keeping a safe distance.

Dean turned his cup over and placed it on top whatever it was that Lilli had called up from the dregs of evil that were in Sam's socks. It was like catching frogs on a summer day.

"That is not right. Why was that in my sock"!"

"Call i' a bi' o' realit'y brushin' the realm o' craft'y folk like m'self." She was purposely undercutting herself, yes, but it was better than boasting. Once Dean had the cup over the little gooey oogey, little indignant pinks and clunks began to ring out dully through the room-he'd broke her line of sight with the beastie. It was eager to be free now. The cup jostled a bit, but didn't seem to be turning over.

"Don' ya' leave fingerprint's b'hind when ya' t'ouch a glass" Or a bi' o' hair b'hind when ya' use a brush?" She questioned Sam with a small, proud smile.

"Yeah, but not in someone's sock!"

Dean pushed the mug against the floor, so the thing couldn't escape, hard as it might try. "What do we do with it now?"

"I may be a wit'ch, bu' I do know the earthly leavin's o' things. T'echnology has forensis, or wha'ever they call i'. I have this." She gestured to the shivering cup. "M' Ma used t'find me an' Brish this way when we were younger....T'ake a bi' o' our hair or a dirt'y pair o' clothing."

"That could be handy in finding Dad."

Turning to Dean, she nodded towards the door. "Tha' lil' golem will be eager t'be back t' the body i' came from....Release'm, an' ya' will find yer oogey."

Dean looked from one to the other, not even sure there was a Dad to find anymore. Every day brought new memories and he wasn't sure when it was going to end. He turned to Sam, not ready to release the thing until they were ready to follow. "So, silver, you think" I loaded up while you were gone. There's a .45 in the cabinet."

"Silver," he nodded, watching his brother hold onto the cup. "That's just...not right."

This was the part Lilliana knew Dean would put his foot down on, and given how little she knew about the creature, and how powerful a vendetta Sam was to have against the Oogey, the witch wasn't going to press on with them during their quest. That didn't mean she was going to leave them empty handed. As she listened to their exchanges, she turned and began rummaging back around in her pack across the room.

Dean turned from Sam to Lilli, watching her and wondering what she was up to. "Maybe I should put it in a baggie," Dean suggested, feeling the thing struggling to be free.

He too wondered what Lilli wa digging for in the bag, and then looked at Dean. "Wouldn't a baggie kill it?"

"Silver's always a good be' fer anythin', les' yer dealin' w' the fae. Tha's iron. Bu' accordin' t'Sam, if I remember righ', there was plent'y o' iron where he was." Lilli called over her shoulder as she began to pull out a little spool of red cord and what appeared to be a small, ceramic canister of something. Two minute medallions seemingly crafted from a bit of crude, unrefined silver joined the collection of things building in her hands as well.

"An' no....It's a golem. I don' think golem's breathe." She chuckled as she turned back to them both.

He looked to Dean again, "Golem," nodding.

Dean was about to tell Sam the same thing, but Lilli beat him to it. "What are you doing?" he asked Lilli, starting to feel restless and ready for the hunt.

"I'm lett'in' ya' both charge where i' leads ya'....I'm no' 'bou' t'figh' ya' an' then figh' the Oogey." Lilliana's smile was a bit hesitant; she very much wanted to go and help, but somehow she knew it'd cause more problems than progress. With the little red length of hempen cord, something she'd no doubt dyed herself from the looks of it. She fashioned little impromptu necklaces with them and the crude little coins. She held out out to each of them. "Here....Somethin' t'prot'ec' ya'."

Dean slid a hand beneath the mug to keep the golem trapped and moved to his feet, both hands now occupied with keeping the little bugger trapped. He glanced at the coins Lilli had strung on cords to protect them, but was unable to grab one.

Sam took the charm, looking it over. "This is going to keep us safe?"

"In it's own way, aye." Still toting that soft smile of hers as she watched Sam inspect the seemingly innocuous object, Lilli gave the coin in his hands a gentle tap before moving towards the otherwise occupied Dean. Stooping down, she gave him the full sun of her eyes and the sweetest, fondest smile she could manage. Sam or no Sam. Leaning in, she murmured right beside his ear, but it was certainly loud enough for the younger, larger Winchester to hear. "Goddess keep ya' an' yers safe while ya' find the responsible part'y an' the innocent's st'ill st'ocked an' bound."

Her breath was close; it smelled of coffee and the honey she'd last consumed, and she knew it touched his skin. Slipping the cord over Dean's neck, she dropped her eyes to the impatient creature she'd created from the Oogey's socks, lest she find the blood rushing to her cheeks and embarrass herself further.

There was no mistaking the effect she had on him, just the same as she had since he'd first met her. He was tempted yet again to kiss her but was unable to touch her or pull her close, his hands otherwise occupied. His mouth, however, was another thing and he needed to say something before it was too late. "Lilli..." he said softly, not really caring if his brother overheard or not. He was filled with regret, wishing he hadn't wasted so much time, unsure how much time he had left.

He watched what Lilli was doing to Dean then, apparently a lot had been happening since he'd been gone and locked in a cage. He wasn't angry, just curious. He had seen his brother kiss a few, but none had an effect on him that he could remember like Lilli had.

Despite his feelings for Lilli, Sam was always the one who had priority in Dean's life, who stood foremost in his thoughts and in his heart. As far as Dean was concerned, keeping Sam safe was his primary task in life, and no matter how much he might want things to be different, that's just the way they were and would always be. At least, as far as he knew.

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:32 EST
"Thank you," he told her softly. It didn't seem like hardly enough, but he hoped those two little words said more than they seemed.

"Mm. I e'er t'ell ya' I like i' when ya' say m'name like tha'?" Though her grin implied she was teasing him, the look in her eyes said otherwise. Her teeth were down on her lips again, musing restlessly. The honest desire was there, and he was so close. Her own timeline she knew now thanks to a rather enlightening bit of conversation with a friend of the future, but Dean's, however, she didn't. "....yer welcome darlin'." Today was still all she had; all the brothers had. So she'd live for today, kiss the older Winchester at the temple, and rise up to offer Sam a hug.

"C'mere. A t'ouch is all i' t'akes....Won' hur' t'have the blessin' o' a wit'ch t'oo, would i'?" Lilli entreated Sam with a sheepish expression. She couldn't imagine walking back into the lion's den like he was about to.

He smiled and held his arms open to the hug. What else could he do for the woman that made stuff out of his socks.

"Oo Goddess yer t'all!" Laughing softly, she gave Sam a quick squeeze with her arms; and indeed. It was just enough. Just that quick press. That was all one needed for a little layer of love. Dean had no doubt felt it as well, although in a much smaller, albeit concentrated press.

Dean watched breathless as if caught in Lilli's spell while she kissed his forehead, secretly wishing she was kissing him somewhere else. He watched while she hugged his brother and looked away, not wanting to see if she'd kiss him, too.

Sam just smiled down at her. "Finally." Meaning that he was tired of being the "little" brother.

Dean turned back to silently contemplate the golem he held just beneath the stone glass, wondering what would happen when they let it loose. He was starting to feel restless, anxious for the hunt, in a hurry to get it over and done with.

No kiss for Sam. Though give it a a few weeks. If the brothers were still in town, Lilliana would be a kissing fool. "Oh' Did ya' really wan' a hug from the Queen tha' badly?" She teased him just before unwinding her arms and taking a step back. "Now be ready, when tha' cup's up he'll go zoomin' fast'er than a gingerbread doll ho' ou' o' the oven. An I expec' a dance as well as a kiss from both o' ya' come the Beltane celebrat'ions when I have t'pass m'crown." She couldn't help it; if he didn't make it. If they didn't make it....Instilling that little promise of reality in a few days seemed a good idea. Plus, she hadn't told Dean she found out her 'royal' status in the realm.

"I'm not sure we'll be here," Dean said glumly.

"....Well if m'prayers are anythin', ya' will be." She answered, trying not to let him hear the tightness in her throat.

"Why are we staying or not staying?" He was lost as to what they were talking about.

Lilli stiffened a bit as the realization of Sam being unaware of the aging process that'd befallen them all as of late. "Ah....W-well. Yer brother's gett'in' old, an' I think he's concerned he migh' t'ake a bigger whoopin' than' he's used to." She answered with a false smile.

"Huh." Was all he said when he didn't know what else to say. "He le' a girl t'urn a bi' o' his hide pink an' le' somethin' hop on his back an' scrat'ch him....Can ya' blame him quest'ionin' his game?" She added with a truer smile this time around. He wasn't really sure of anything anymore. Would they continue to age until they died of old age" Clover had said that others had stopped aging, but he wasn't sure how the spell worked. And even if they did break the spell, Rhydin wasn't home. They had to find their way home one way or another.

He laughed then. "I still can't see him with pink hair."

Dean shot a look over at the two of them. "I'm not questioning my game. I've tangled with worse things than this son of a bitch."

"Oh i' was lovely....An' ya' shush, mist'er. We both go' breakfas' this mornin'. As far as this gypsy's concerned, ya' st'ill owe'r." Lilli shot across slyly to the older sibling with a small back and forth twitch of her nose. Ah yes, back to being sassy. The hair part was lovely, she meant. Don't mind her mincing sentences.

He chuckled at Lilli. "You'll have to tell me about it when he can't hear."

With a look of determination and maybe a little cockiness, he handed the golem to Sam and went purposely over to Lilli. He reached over to brush some red curls back from her face. "I'll be back."

Sam took the golem, looking disgusted. "Uh, wait. I don't want this." He was watching Dean. "Dean?"

"I know." Her retort was cocky as can be, but that was often a dead giveaway for the gypsy; she wasn't naturally cocky. It was thing she did when her nerves had been prickled. Even when he got close, she turned her head a bit. She didn't want to see her smile was warring with a worried frown, or her eyes. She didn't mind shooting a glance to Sam however from beneath her lashes. "Is tha' any way t't'rea' a gif' a lady gave ya'?"

"You didn't give this to me....you gave it to him!" Elbow pointing at his brother.

"Oh now yer jus' splitt'in' hairs, don' t'ry t' be cut'e, it's jus' embarrassin'." She teased across to Sam, nose wrinkling.

"It's okay, you can have it. It was your sock," Dean smirked at his brother's annoyance, and then tipped Lilli's chin toward him, dipping his head down to capture her lips. Hey, you never know. It might be a last kiss, and he wasn't going to waste it.

"Hey...I?" Well hell, he was the one with the girl.

There was another witty retort somewhere no doubt, but it was all swallowed up; her lips were otherwise occupied. And for once Lilli found she didn't mind one bit. It was nice to indulge. Just a little, just enough of a press and a taste for him to know how badly she wanted everything to be okay. He and his brother gave her hope for the things she missed above all others, and the kiss....Well. She had a lot to say and no real time to say it. Why not put it to his lips" She couldn't resist; she let her hands rise up and cup his face. This time she didn't need a ritual to give him that warming zing of magic either, it was just an invisible flare up from the tips of her fingers. Right in. Right down and through. Five and six made that all a bit of a bend, but as Lilli began to move away, her smile showed she didn't seem to mind one little bit. "Bra'."

Sam was busily not looking at them or the twitching cup in his hands.

Dean Winchester

Date: 2011-04-17 13:33 EST
The debate on which was more a distressing thing to witness was no doubt at the forefront of Sam's mind, Lilli'd imagine. Her own brother was much the same way when he'd seen her in the past with boys. Men. It usually ended in a rain shower of mud balls or the launch of some poor, stray frog.

Dean returned the favor, putting what he was feeling into the kiss as well, and it wasn't just lust he was feeling, but something more, something deeper. He knew he couldn't stay in Rhydin forever, he couldn't spend the rest of his days with Lilli, but he didn't want to think about that now. He'd think about that later. It was the first time in his memory he'd let anyone get close since Cassie. He wasn't worried about Sam. If Sam wasn't used to Dean's little trysts by now, he never would be. He felt a little zing of magic, but wasn't quite sure if it was chemistry or if she was bewitching him again.

Probably both, knowing Lilli. "C'mon....Sooner ya' leave the sooner ya' can pay m' back." She murmured quietly to Dean just as she turned to give Sam a small, small smile. "Give'm hell, no on d'serves t'harm children like tha'."

"Thank you," Sam gave a shy smile then.

Dean smiled and stepped back a pace, letting her go. "Don't worry, we will." Dean felt he owed the son of a bitch something for trying to hurt his brother.

And then some. Wait a few years until Lilli aged a bit more; she'd remember her own trials by family's blood and magic. More scars. More memories to come. As she moved backward to her belongings and began to collect them, her eyes never left Sam or the creature in his grasp.

He nodded again and turned with the thing in hand, and looked at Dean. "Let's do this."

Dean took the coins and hung them around his neck, then went about the room gathering weapons and readying for the hunt. He made sure the weapons were loaded with silver, a shotgun for himself and a .45 for Sam. He then grabbed a sack and held it out to Sam. "Put it in here until we're ready to let it go."

He carefully put the thing into the sack, and quickly closed the top. "Okay."

Dean quickly tied the ends of the sack closed so the little bastard couldn't escape and handed Sam the .45. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I am good," He nodded. "Let's get them out of there."

Dean grinned, almost cockily again. It was obvious that he lived for the hunt, even reveled in it.

He took the .45, checked it and slid it into the waistband of his jeans.

Watching them mill, Lilliana found herself oddly devoid of expression. There was a lot to think about today. Slinging her bag over her shoulder carefully, she took a side glance out the window to the streets below. Feeling distant.

"I'm ready when you are, Sammy," he patted Sam's chest, a small frown forming, wishing their father was there hunting with them. "Like old times, huh, Sammy' Wish we had the Impala."

"Old times," he nodded. "Only they aren't so old." he laughed then.

Dean double-checked the shotgun again and satisfied it was loaded, he slung it over a shoulder. "Speak for yourself, Sammy. I've been doing this since I was six." It might be argued that he had actually been a little older or younger, but he felt his training started the day his father handed him his first handgun and ordered him to point and shoot.

He waved his finger in the air. "Whoopie." He grinned. "Lets go get them."

Dean grinned back, feeling like he was back in the saddle again, happy to have Sam hunting at his side, instead of sending him off to college. Once he had all his gear gathered, he turned back to Lillie and smiled. "Here's looking at you, kid." He winked and started toward the door.

Sam pulled open the door, and stepped out into the hall, allowing them a little more privacy

Lilli quirked a brow as her head swung back up and around from it's distant staring out the window. Well that was certainly a new one for her. Shaking her head, she gave him a silent gesture with her chin, indicating he should be going. I'll be okay, was written over and over again in her eyes.

In fact, he started down the hall, toward the steps. He remembered the way to the lair, and he was ready to get there and get the kids out.

He hesitated at the door, looking back at Lilli and worrying about leaving her alone, worrying if he'd ever see her again, worrying that the next time he saw her, everything might have changed again. He said nothing. There was nothing else to say, but only met her gaze, as if trying to silently tell her something with his eyes, and then he closed the door and was gone. It was time to finish what the Bogeyman had started.

(Many thanks to the players of Lilli and Sam for the above scene.)