SoaM - Ch 4 - SuperWhoLock

Something of a Mystery
Chapter 4: Something of a Perversion of Relations
Warning: Perverted jokes, tempers, angst, general DW-verse confusion
Rating: T, to be safe

xXx

Dean and the Doctor stood on the porch, one sipping a beer, the other ginger ale.  "It's too bad he didn't have any tomato juice," the Doctor rambled.  "I really like tomato juice.  It gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling.  Like home, or...  New new new New York."

Dean gave him an odd look, knowing he was avoiding the topic at hand but unwilling to call him out on it.  "New new New York?" he asked bemusedly.

The alien man shook his head.  "No.  New new new New York," he said.  "Forth Earthling-settled planet several million years from now, New new new Earth.  They're good about keeping the names of cities and countries."  He smiled, but quickly sobered.  "I can't help you."

Dean almost missed the soft answer.  "He's not really dead," he protested half-heartedly.  After all, he'd expected the answer.  "It can wait until you're done dealing with Jack's robot problem."

"Cybermen, and it's only a suspicion," the Doctor corrected without heat.  "I'm so sorry, Dean.  It breaks my heart that Sam went through so much, when he was such an amazing man.  He was very brave, and very kind to do what he did for you, and the world.  And it's not like I can't... but I won't do it.  I'm so very sorry."

"Why not?" Dean demanded, riling with the ease of years of practice.  "Why won't you help him?  He helped you, with those androids!  He's helped the world, he stopped a fucking apocalypse, Doctor!  He's saved innocent lives many times over, risked his life, nearly died for this God-forsaken planet- why not, Doctor?  WHY NOT?!"

The Doctor met his gaze with a heart-broken calm.  "I'm sorry, Dean.  I really am.  But you have no idea what kind of trouble I could cause by going there and getting him.  There's no chance he's even still in one piece-"

"Don't you think I know that?" the Winchester demanded.  "It doesn't matter!  At least if he dies and goes to heaven or whatever, it'll be better than that place!"

"Would it?" the Doctor asked quietly.  "And what about you?  What about this place?  I could put the Earth in danger just by being in that place myself.  Do you know what sort of power Lucifer would have if he could possess me?  It's best to-"

"To what?" Dean hissed, taking a step toward the Doctor, who didn't even flinch.  "To leave Sammy there?  Doctor, I've been to Hell, I remember what hell is like, and that place where Sam is, it's no different.  Why won't you help him?  Save him, please."

The Doctor swallowed, closing his eyes.  "I'm sorry, Dean.  I'm so sorry," he whispered, a repetition that the man before him didn't want to hear.

"Do it."  The click of a gun.  Desperation in Dean's voice.

The Doctor opened his eyes and stared at Dean sadly.  "If shooting me will help you, then do it, Dean.  But I won't, I can't bring Sam back."

A moment of tense silence passed before Dean slowly lowered the gun.  "Why?  I don't understand."

"I already told you."  The Doctor sighed.  He thought maybe he should cry for these tortured souls... but he couldn't bring himself to shed those tears.  Sam deserved better than that.

Dean sighed and turned away, staring out over the veritable jungle of vehicles that made up Bobby's "business".  "I want my baby brother back, Doctor.  Is there something wrong with trying?"  He didn't wait for the Doctor to answer, and the Doctor didn't even try to.

"He told me to go... live an apple pie life, you know.  He wanted me to go on and live with Lisa and Ben.  And I tried.  I tried so hard.  I clung to them like I was afraid.  And I was.  Every time I turned around, I was afraid something would grab Ben, or kill Lisa.  I was terrified."

The Doctor hesitated, but then stepped up beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.  Dean sighed and sagged slightly.  "Eventually I couldn't take it anymore.  I packed up, told her what was up and left.  Started searching again, for any way to get Sammy back that I could.  When that fell through, I started taking on jobs again."

The Doctor gave his shoulder a squeeze.  "Would you like to come with me, after this Cybermen business?" he asked.  "I can't bring Sam back, but... maybe I can help you cope.  Because clearly you haven't let yourself do that yet."

Dean hesitated, turning to look at the Doctor.  "What about Cas?"

The Doctor beamed.  "If he wants, he's welcome as well."  He turned slightly, gaze slanting toward the shadows.  "Of course, that's up to him."

Cas stepped into sight, face expressionless.  "Are you so sure you want an angel with you?"

The Doctor winced.  "Ow, I deserved that..."  He turned toward Cas.  "I'm sorry about what I said, Cas.  That was very unfair to you, and I know you try your hardest to help Dean however you can."

Cas frowned faintly, eying the Doctor.  "You are forgiven," he relented at last.

The Doctor beamed.  "And you're welcome to come with us!"

"I will think about it," was the cryptic reply.

xXx

Three days later...

Samuel Winchester
May 2, 1983 - May 13, 2008
"The Guy that Saved the World- and No one Even Knew"

Dean read the words three or four times before he realized what he was doing.  The Doctor was off with Jack, Sherlock and John, gone back to England to deal with the Cybermen, and Dean...  He'd forced himself to finally come see this.

Bobby and a hunter friend of his had gotten together and made it, buying the burial plot, the funeral, everything.  Dean hadn't attended, and the casket was empty anyway.

"My... last hope," Dean said, forcing himself to speak.  He had to tell Sam, even though he knew Sam couldn't hear a word of it.  "The Doctor.  He... won't save you.  And maybe that's for the best, right?  I mean... maybe..."  He stopped and laughed hoarsely.  "Who am I kidding?  Of course it's not.  You're down there, suffering, because I can't save you.  I'm sorry, Sammy.  I tried.  I tried for so long...  But I guess I'm not much of a big brother, huh?"

"For what it's worth, I think you're a delightful big brother, sweetheart."

Dean jumped and turned, surprised to find the gorgeous woman that the Doctor had come with.  He'd... sort of left without her, but she hadn't appeared to notice yet.  Or she didn't care.  "Oh, uh, River.  I didn't... hear you come up."

She smiled.  "I have ninja training," she replied with a teasing wink.

He gave her a tense smile.  "Oh, right."

River came up to stand next to him, then fiddled in her pocket and withdrew a gun.  "Lazer settings... may I?"

Bemused, Dean nodded, and watched her kneel beside Sammy's grave.  She carved a few symbols into the stone before leaning back to put the gun away.  "It's Time Lord.  A burial rite, detailing peace in the after life."

"Thank you," he said, holding a hand out to help her up.

She took it and smiled, then gave him a hug.  "Any time, sweety."  She glanced toward the heavens as a distant rumble reached them.  "Looks like rain.  Let's get back, hm?"

Dean nodded.  "Yeah, okay."

She grabbed his arm and hooked her's through it, tugging him into a walk.  "So what do you lads do for fun around here?"

"Uh, pick up chicks at a bar?" he said, blinking.

"Meh, bars are boring," she said.  "I always win the fights.  Only one I've ever lost to was the Doctor."

"You got into a bar fight with the Doctor?" he asked skeptically.

"Technically... no."  She smirked.  "But we fought plenty... and had plenty of make up sex."

"Augh," he moaned.

xXx

"It's... a robot..."

"No shit, Sherlock," Jack retorted, in a bit of a bad mood.

When they had returned to London, they had immediately gone to the Torchwood headquarters in town, only to find the place decimated and Ianto unconscious underneath a rigging.  Luckily, no one had died, but Ianto was suffering from short term amnesia from hitting his head.  He couldn't remember anything that had happened in the past week, so he was basically no help with investigation.

Not only that, but the cameras were taken out during the destruction, and the computer fried.  Any footage that had been caught on tape was lost.  The Doctor had remarked that it was almost planned, and if they were truly dealing with Cybermen, then it probably was.

They had left Jack's subordinates to the cleaning up and had gone off after a witness report.  When they got to the woman's house, she was unconscious, but her webcam had been on - she had been speaking with her sister - and they were able to view the occurrence.  Now they were watching the video of a Cyberman walking in and grabbing the woman by the throat.

It suddenly dropped her and turned.  A moment's hesitation, and then it walked off down the hall.  A woman suddenly appeared from out of the view of the camera.

"Woah, that's new," Jack said, blinking.

Creepily, her head turned, eyes looking right into the Doctor's, and she smirked.  "I can't wait to meet you, you gorgeous man!"  She giggled and literally vanished right before them.

The Doctor blinked.  "What...?"

"Ah, a demon."

Sherlock and Jack jumped, turning to see that Cas was standing there behind them, watching over their shoulders.  The Doctor turned and smiled.  "Hello, Castiel!  Did you need something?"

"John is impatient for your return to the apartment.  He has news of some sort," Cas replied, tilting his head.  "And Dean says that River is uncontrollable."  He actually frowned at this, irritated.

The Doctor snickered.  "She always is," he said fondly.  "Alright, Cas.  I'll return to make her behave soon."

"I will meet you in one hour at the apartment of John's," he said, and disappeared.

Sherlock frowned slightly, noting that Cas seemed awfully... fond of John...  Then he shook the thought away as irrational.  Cas was an angel, for God's sake.  Nothing would happen!

"You know, if you pout for too long, your face will stick that way," Jack said cheerfully.  "And then I might cry."

The consulting detective blinked and gave Jack a bemused look.  "Why would you cry?"

"Well, because-"

"Jack, no," the Doctor said, closing the video file and straightening.

Jack scoffed.  "Can't I have an innocent conversation with anyone?"

The Doctor's brows lifted at the use of the word 'innocent', to which Jack pulled out the puppy dog look.  It didn't work, so he pouted and shook his head.  "You're downright cruel, Doctor!"

The lightbulb finally blinked on and Sherlock recoiled.  "I- I am not interested in you!" he stammered.

Jack giggled.  "Your pants say otherwise."

"Jack!" the Doctor scolded, face faintly red.  "That was crude!"

"You're right...  I'm sorry," Jack said, looking completely uncontrite.

The Doctor sighed.  "Let's go," he said, giving up.  For now.