001. - okay...i'm ready.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[He's there one minute...and then he's not.

It's not what he expected, and because of that he doesn't make a move for a good long while. There's a book and pen in the corner, on a desk, and it seems only natural to record his thoughts before whatever is about to happen takes place.

The pen leaves a large blotch of ink where he hesitates before he begins to write.]

I don't understand what's happening.

I gave him the Colt. I said my goodbyes and I held up my end of the bargain...so where is it? Where's the demons, where's my demon? I made my deal for

[An aimless line trails on the end of the 'r' as his mind fails him. He goes back over the encounter in his head, but something's missing. It's not so much a memory loss, but a gray patch in his mind, a thick fog he can't see through. It's obscuring...something...]

Maybe I spoke too soon. Maybe I really did end up in Hell.

I sold my soul, and for the life of me I can't remember why...

Comments

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[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

... Dad?

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Hearing his voice, John looks up sharply, head whipping around for the source.]

Dean?! Where are you?

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[his voice is quiet, trying to keep level]

There's - a number on the door. What is it?

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Practicality being a priority, John rises from the desk and heads over to the door of his room. Surprised to find it opens, he checks the number and calls out.]

I'm in room 1418...Dean, where are you?

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

'm downstairs. Just gimme a sec. [journal close - he leaves. one timeskip later, Dean's at the door, taking the liberty of opening it.]

... Dad. [he looks at his father like he hasn't seen him in years -- which he hasn't. years. decades. all that time spent in hell, wishing to see him one last time, plus the two he'd already spent without him.]

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[He shuts the door, hearing the sounds of what he can only assume is Dean leaving the room when he's not even there. Confusion and fear are equally at war for dominance in his head...how the hell did Dean end up here? If this really is Hell, did Dean get hurt somehow? Goddamnit, there was something wrong here and he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was...

A short while later, his door's opening and Dean's walking in...after John has reflexively reached for a weapon he no longer has, fumbling uselessly for the Colt that isn't at his back. Relaxing at the sight of Dean, he walks over, only slightly aware of the shock and awe on his son's features and embraces him briefly, but fiercely.]

Christ, Dean...are you and Sam okay?

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[Dean hugs his father, gripping him tightly, closing his eyes.]

Yeah, dad. We're fine. Both of us.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

Good...that's good.

[Drawing back, he fixes Dean with a stern, sober...and deeply confused look.]

Dean...what're you doing here? Where...what is this place? I found...something about a sentient castle but I can't say I trust it.

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[Dean can't seem to look away from his father.] It's the truth. This place... 's called Paradisa. Takes people outta their own times and lives and brings 'em here for a while. No way back, as far as I know. Sam and I, we've... been here a while.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

So Sam's here, too...

[Frowning thoughtfully, he takes a step back and rakes a hand back through his hair, slowly feeling the weight of the bullet he realizes he just dodged...knowing where he's heading when he returns, not remembering why he's doing it.

It's a lot to adapt to, but given the things he sees every day, John Winchester is a very adaptable man.

Turning back to Dean, he finally notes the dazed look on Dean's face that's clearly more than just simple shock at seeing him.]

Dean?...

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

Dad... you said you just sold your soul?

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Jesus...making a mental note not to touch that damn journal again, he sobers as his features go blank with shock and sorrow.]

You...forget what you saw me write, okay? It's not your concern, don't worry about it.

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

... No, dad... I already knew you made that deal. In the hospital, two days after the accident.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Here, have a confused John.]

How...who...

[shakes his head]

It doesn't matter...Dean, I made that deal today. What the hell are you talkin' about?

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

... Time's different here. This place pulls people from different places in time, sometimes gets it all mixed up.

... It's been two years, dad.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[It's two blows at once...first the idea that this Dean is from another time, not his Dean from his time...then the knowledge that it's been so long for him. And if he knows about the deal...]

Oh my...oh God. Dean...

[Trailing off, he moves over to embrace his son again, swallowing past a sudden knot in his throat.]

Jesus...

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[And Dean embraces his dad tightly again, taking in that ever-familiar scent, the feel of John's arms around him that always used to make him feel /safe/, and still does, even now... he does his best to keep his eyes from stinging. There are so many things he's feeling right now, among them the desire to yell at him, ask him why he had to do it, blame him for everything that has happened since, tell him how fucking much he missed him, tell him about mom and Azazel and Castiel and the goddamn Apocalypse, but he can't sort it out -- so he says nothing.]

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[For a long while he just stands there, holding on for dear life and aching inside. Not just because he can't remember why he did it, what could have possibly been worth giving that son of a bitch what he wanted, but because one more time he failed his son. He let him suffer, he didn't do enough to protect him...he gave his life and left Dean alone when he ought to have been there. Just once, he ought to have let Dean have someone he could lean on.

Drawing back after a long while, he draws a shaky breath and pats Dean's shoulders, lifting a hand to catch his cheek in a rare show of paternal affection.]

I'm sorry.

[He hesitates, then gives his cheek a fond but firm pat before releasing him completely.]

I'm sorry you had to go through that, son.

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[He steels himself for dad's sake, still looking at him, and, typically, waving off his own suffering --]

Doesn't matter. 's good to have you back.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Laughs just a little, nodding as he stares at his feet for a minute.]

Yeah...it's good to be...well...here.

[rocksalting.livejournal.com]

[looks down with a small laugh, a sniff of amusement, even though he's not sure what he's laughing at. And suddenly pride seeps in, something he's wanted dad to know since it happened, even though dad's spirit helped...]

You'd probably wanna know... we killed him, dad. The Demon.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[He blinks...gapes...blinks again...gapes some more...and finally beams with tears in his eyes and a shaky sigh.]

I'd like to say I'm surprised, but...

[Broad grin]

Ya did good, Dean. I'm so...I'm so proud...

Ya did good.

[sent_farfaraway]

[have some writing ~]

Hello there.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Blanching when he sees the neat handwriting blossom across the page, he hesitates a good long moment before writing back.]

Hello.

[sent_farfaraway]

[Dean might throttle her later but eh she's a demon]

Enjoying your stay?

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Wondering if he's taking too big a risk by answering the talking journal, he cautiously responds.]

When I figure out where I am, I'll let you know.

[sent_farfaraway]

[more writing... and informative at that]

It's Paradisa. [she knows there is a page number with all of this information but meh she's not flipping around plus Dean is probably en route]

You're in a sentient castle, that has pulled countless people out of their timelines, usually at either amazingly perfect times, or just the opposite. Some want to stay forever, others can't wait to get out. Trouble is that part isn't your choice. It cost you something valuable to get here, but usually not possessions. Sometimes memories, sometimes skills or things you barely knew you had before.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Already very aware that something's missing...or at the very least, very wrong, he takes a moment to consider the possibility that the book...or whoever's making this writing appear...is right.]

Okay, say I believe this line. Why was I brought here?

[asangelsfly.livejournal.com]

[ HI HAVE AN ANGEL STALKING UR ENTRY JOHN ;]b ]

[sent_farfaraway]

[she saw that....]

[asangelsfly.livejournal.com]

[ you, shut up okay -- brb STALKING ]

[sent_farfaraway]

[make her :P -- and she was here first and being proactive too!]

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[*is stalked by an angel and waiting for the demons to come out and eat his brain because after all, he sold his soul, right?

...RIGHT?!? ;p]

[onlyanapple.livejournal.com]

[Here you go, John, have a demon]

This place is far quieter than Hell. What with the lack of the screaming and the burning and everything.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

So it seems...only question I have now is who the hell are you?

[onlyanapple.livejournal.com]

Name's Crowley. [Low chuckle] Your turn.

[winchester-john.livejournal.com]

[Dubious, but hey, he's in a castle that pulled him out of time and space. It's just another day at the office, and he's ready for a fight if a fight's in his future.]

Winchester.

[onlyanapple.livejournal.com]

....Like the gun?