The Sharp Edge of Earth by dotfic [R]

[maerhys.livejournal.com]

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: general fiction
Length: 29,000 words
Author on LJ: dotfic
Author Website: master lists

Why this must be read: The summary: Having sold his soul to save Sam's life, Dean finds himself in Hell at the mercy of the demon Alastair, who is intent on breaking him. But all that Dean was and is, everyone who's had an impact on him, are still a part of Dean, and he won't break easily. As Dean takes refuge in his own mind to escape the torture, angels gather, ordered to undertake an unusual mission: rescue The Righteous Man from Hell. Castiel knows an invasion of Hell will be difficult, but he has no idea how much this mission will demand of him, how wrong the best-laid plans can go – and how much everything is about to change irrevocably. Meanwhile, Dean's defenses and his hope start to fail. He thinks no one is ever coming to save him. He's wrong. Here's a snippet:

The sun gleams off the chrome of a '75 Cadillac Eldorado and a '71 Buick Skylark. The air tastes of dust, a little metallic. "These are just about rotted away," Bobby says, leaning next to Dean against the sun-heated side of a tan Chrysler Imperial that still ran if it wasn't a cold day. "Have to use them for spare parts rather than try to sell 'em whole." "Yeah, not much you can do once they've rusted through like that." Dean taps his fingers on the Chrysler, the metal hot to touch. Bobby rubs his hand over his beard. "Depends," he says. "Sometimes it's only on the surface, and the core structure's still strong." "And sometimes maybe it wasn't built to last," Dean says. "The good ones can stand up to the rain and wear and tear. The others rust and give out." "You want to keep ducking the issue with car metaphors, or you want to talk about this?" Bobby says wryly. "You and your daddy and Sam – you aren't the rusting and giving out types. Dinged up a lot, is all." Dean laughs. "Sounds like you're describing yourself." "Well, I'm certainly dinged up." Bobby turns, and his fingers dig hard into Dean's shoulder. "You hearing me, Dean?" "I hear you." "Maybe, but that ain't the same as listening. Remember this." Bobby's grip tightens. "You remember this." "I'm trying," Dean says. "I can't…I can't remember like I used to. It's slipping away. It's all slipping away." Dean presses his palms hard against the old Imperial. "I need to keep it, if I can keep it then maybe I won't – I gotta keep hold of all of it." "Then you do it, son."

The intensity of the story makes for a read that speeds along, but also keeps the reader engrossed in what the characters' motivations are and why they are such. The deft prose is perfect for the story in that it is moving and often tender, but it never gets dramatic or over the top. This is one of the few stories I find myself mulling over at the strangest times, and that's because it's unforgettable and lingers long after you've finished the read.


The Sharp Edge of Earth