A/N: "Home" is still one of my all-time favorite episodes. Terrwyn Ailil recently challenged me to do an AU story, so here is an idea I had. Please review!

Chapter 1

Dean, having finally broken through Jenni's door with the ax, made his way down the hall to the kitchen, calling out for Sam, hoping he was in time.

He arrived to see the fiery figure stalking toward his brother, who appeared to be pinned to the wall by some invisible force.

Dean raised the shotgun and aimed, hoping to hell the salt rounds would have enough of an effect to release Sam and open them to their next move. Finger on the trigger, he suddenly heard Sam call out.

"No! No don't!"

"What? Why?" Dean asked, not taking his eyes from his target.

"Because I know who it is," Sam answered, his voice shaking slightly. "I can see her now."

Dean watched as suddenly the flames dissipated, revealing the stunning, strangely serene form of his mother.

He couldn't move. Could barely breathe. To be standing here in his childhood home with his kid brother behind him and their deceased mother before him. She hadn't changed, aged a day. She was still so beautiful. And when she smiled and approached him, he was amazed his legs didn't buckle out from under him.

So close now, she met his eyes, radiating such warmth, love and … was that pride?

"Dean."

Dean tried to speak but just couldn't find his voice.

Mary passed him and went to Sam. God, Sammy, Dean thought. What this must be doing to him …

Sam, in the meantime, was himself frozen in place and not just by the poltergeist. He felt that even if free of its hold he wouldn't be able to move. There, standing just mere feet away, was his mother. The mother he had no memory of. The mother that had been idolized by his family, and, seeing her now, rightfully so. She was a goddess. But just moments ago, she had been a flaming figure, one that had tried to kill him once already and had stalked toward him to finish the job. But that didn't matter now. Now there was only her and she was coming toward him.

He tried to blink away the tears so he could take her in clearly.

"Sam."

Oh God, Sam hitched, then smiled. He'd never heard her speak his name before. And it was music.

But then her expression changed. Her brow crinkled and she looked …

"I'm sorry."

He didn't understand. Here he was having his first conversation with his mother ever and she was apologizing? For what? For the poltergeist's attack? For dying? For not being there? For the way Dad raised them?

"For what?"

She looked so sad. Like she wanted to say more and he was desperate for her to, but all she did was back away.

No!! he shouted in his mind. Don't go, please! Stay with us.

As she turned to walk away, Sam saw Dean trying to stay standing, looking like he wanted to say something, anything. They both watched as Mary looked up to the ceiling.

"You, get out of my house," she scolded. "And let go of my son."

Suddenly her hair blew upwards and the flames returned. There was a terrible screech and the brothers knew Mary had just banished the poltergeist for good. The flames blew out in a blast of brightness, forcing both brothers to turn their eyes away, temporarily blinded. Suddenly Sam found himself free and quickly regained his footing. When he looked back up, he saw Dean hadn't moved and saw why.

Mary was still standing there in her nightgown. Oh God, Sam thought. We get more time with her …

Dean finally managed to find his voice. "Mom …" Well, it's a start.

"Boys, you have to get to Missouri's," Mary said firmly.

Sam and Dean looked at each other, then back to their mother.

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked.

"Mom, how are you here? Have you been here the whole time? Are you trapped here?" Dean asked. If that was the case, he'd find a way to set her free. Maybe that's why she needed Missouri.

"Please Dean, there's no time. Just take your brother and go to Missouri's, now."

"Why?" Sam and Dean asked together, seeing how desperate the ghost of their mother was and wanting, willing to do anything she asked.

Then Mary said something they in a million years would never have predicted.

"Because your father is there."