Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.
"Right there; they're boarding in thirty minutes." Sam pointed at the board announcing all the flight boarding times.
"Okay," Dean huffed, catching his breath after running into the airport. "We still have some cards to play. We need to find a phone." Dean started off to find a phone. Finding one attached to the wall, Dean picked it up.
Airport services.
"Hi, Gate 13."
Who are you calling, sir?
"I'm trying to contact an Amanda Walker, she's a flight attendant on flight, um, flight 424."
The female voice is broadcasted through the whole airport. Amanda Walker, Amanda Walker you have a phone call from Gate 13.
"C'mon." Dean huffed into the receiver as the line remained silent on the other end.
"This is Amanda Walker." The female voice on the other end caused a flood of relief to fill Dean. He could save her from the demon, but he needed an excuse to keep her off the flight.
"Miss Walker. Hi, this is Doctor James Hetfield from the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. We have a Karen Walker here." Sam was leaning in close, trying to hear what Amanda's answer would be.
"Karen?" Dean almost felt bad about causing Amanda to worry. Almost.
"It's nothing serious, just a minor car accident, but she was injured, so-"
"Wait wait wait, that can't be possible. I just got off the phone with her."
Shit. "You what?" Sam leaned even closer, concern written on his features.
"Five minutes ago. She's at her house cramming... for... a final. Who is this?" Suspicion was evident in Amanda's voice.
Dean floundered for a good excuse. "Um, must be some mistake..."
Amanda sounded pissed as well as confused. "And how would you even know I was here?" After a pause, Amanda lowered her voice. "Is this one of Vince's friends?"
Dean shrugged at Sam. "Guilty as charged." An awkward laugh escapes Dean's lips.
"This is unbelievable." Amanda was angry again.
"He's... really... sorry."
"Well, you tell him to mind his own business and stay out of my life, okay?"
Dean was grasping at straws in a last ditch attempt to keep Amanda off that plane. "Yes, BUT he really needs to see you, tonight, so-"
"No, I'm sorry, it's too late."
"Don't be like that. I mean, c'mon, the guy's a mess. Really. It's... pathetic." Like this cover story.
Amanda's tone softened. "Really?"
"Oh yeah." He's got her.
"Look, I've got to go. Um, tell him to call me when I land."
Damn it, nope nope nope! "Nono, wait. Amanda!" The click of the call ending was like knives cutting through him. Amanda was going to board that plane, and she was going to die, and it was all Dean's fault. "Damn it! I was so close."
Sam shook his head. "Alright, it's time for Plan B: we're getting on that plane."
Dean's eyes widened. "W-w- Now just hold on a second."
"Dean, the plane is leaving with over a hundred passengers on board, and if we're right," Sam glances around to make sure he's not overheard, "that plane's gonna crash."
"I know!" Dean's voice was far too high for his liking.
"Okay, we need to get on that plane, we need to find that demon, and we need to exorcise it." Sam couldn't see why Dean was being so difficult. People's lives were at risk! "I'll get the tickets, you just got, get whatever you can out of the trunk, whatever'll make it past security. Meet me here in five minutes." Dean didn't budge. "Are you okay?"
Dean paused, shrugged, and made a face. "No, not really."
Sam was confused. "Why? What's wrong?"
Dean was whispering now. "Well, I kinda have this problem with, um..." Dean was waving his hand up and down, gave up and sighed.
Sam's eyebrows went up as he figured it out. "Flying?"
Dean got defensive. "Well, it's never really been an issue until now."
"You're joking, right?" Sam couldn't believe his older brother was afraid of flying. Of all the things to be scared of, he was scared - no, terrified - of flying.
"Do I look like I'm joking?! Why do you think I drive everywhere, Sam?"
Sam had to figure out a plan to save the people on the plane, but Dean was limiting his options. They only had about twenty minutes left now. "Alright, uh, I'll go."
Dean's wide eyes got impossibly wider. "What?!"
"I'll do this one on my own."
"What are you, nuts?" Dean wasn't about to let his brother go on that death trap! "You said it yourself; the plane's gonna crash."
Sam spoke quickly. "We can do this together or I can do this by myself. I'm not seeing a better option here."
"C'mon." Dean looked around as if the answer to his problems would just appear. "Really? Man." Another couple more mumbling complaints, Dean nodded. "Five minutes."
Sam ran up with the tickets. "Let's go, man. Fifteen minutes and counting."
Dean was sitting on the ground, his back against the wall, knees pulled up to his chest. The bag was lying off to the side. "I don't know if I can do this, Sam."
Sam knelt down next to Dean. "Dude, are you alright. Dean, what - are you shaking?"
Dean's entire body was trembling ever so slightly, as his breathing was short and shallow. Sam knew what he had to do.
Scooping up the bag by Dean's side, Sam stood up. "I'll see you when I get off."
Dean lifted his head up, yelling, "SAM!" as he struggled to get his shaky legs underneath him.
Chasing after Sam, Dean's heart fell as he saw Sam clear security and board the plane. He was too late. Sam had the other ticket, Dean's ticket, so Dean couldn't go after him. Sam was on his own in a plane that was destined to crash, and there was nothing Dean could do.
Sam took a deep breath as he settled down into his seat. Dean was probably freaking out right now, for multiple reasons, but he'd understand. Dean's probably already jumped into the Impala and is flooring it to get to the plane's destination right now. Sam smiled a little to himself at that.
The buckle your seatbelts sign lit up and Sam buckled in. He was in for the flight of his life.
Eight minutes later, Sam decided the plane had been in the air long enough to warrant him walking around. Only thirty-two more minutes left before the plane crashed. Only thirty-two more minutes left to find out who the demon is possessing and do a full-on exorcism.
Sam knew the demon would probably possess someone who was uneasy during this flight, and, considering how Amanda's last flight ended, he figured the flight attendant would be the perfect vessel. Standing up, Sam made his way towards the back of the plane. A flight attendant was getting a cart full of cups and drinks ready when he made it to the back.
A bit of turbulence threw Sam off balance and he leaned against the wall.
The flight attendant smiled. "Uneasy flyer?"
Sam smiled, the irony not lost on him. "Hehe, yeah." He checked her name tag: Amanda. Bingo.
"It happens to the best of us." She smiled again. "Can I get you anything?"
Sam gave a small shrug. "I just feel better walking around the plane you know? Although, you do this for a living so flying must come easily to you." Sam looked for any signs of obvious distress, but she seemed to be fairly calm.
"Well, you'd be surprised."
Sam's eyebrows rose. Maybe she's already possessed and that's why she's so calm. "How can this be your job and yet you're a nervous flyer?" Sam wracked his brain for a subtle way to figure out if she's a demon or not. Demons are supposed to flinch when they hear God's name, so maybe he could casually say God? But that's too obvious.
"That's a long story." Amanda obviously wasn't comfortable talking about it.
Sam decided to let it drop. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"It's okay. Listen, everyone is afraid of something. I don't want this to hold me back, so I'm trying to get past it." Amanda smiled.
Sam smiled. He really hoped she wasn't possessed. Remembering something his dad used to tell him, Sam muttered, "Christo."
Amanda tilted her head. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
Sam cleared his throat. "I-it's nothing. Just a cough." With that, Sam walked back to his seat.
He had to give Amanda some credit. She's really well adjusted. She almost died in the last plane she flew in, but here she is, calm as ever. The demon could be in just about anyone in the crowded plane. Sam had his work cut out for him.
Bending down to the bag at his feet, Sam pulled out a leather-bound book. It was full of different spells and incantations. He skimmed through the pages until he found an exorcism he thought might work. It had two parts, but Sam didn't really have the luxury of finding another, shorter exorcism at the moment. The first part takes the demon out of the vessel, making it more powerful, and the second part drags the demon back to hell. This was one hell of an exorcism. Reaching into the bag, Sam pulled out a clear water bottle and shoved it in the inside pocket of his jacket. He was hoping Dean had packed holy water and not just a water bottle for shits and giggles.
What Sam saw next almost made him laugh out loud. Dean's homemade EMF detector made out of an old Walkman radio was in the bag. He would never make fun of that hunk of junk again.
Sam plugged the earbuds in his ears and made another lap around the plane, slowly waving his Walkman side to side to see if anyone gave off any demonic vibes. The only thing that ever happened to the Walkman was a shrill noise in Sam's ear as he passed a guy with headphones blasting music. Sam got to the front of the plane and checked his watch. Only fifteen minutes left to find and exorcise this demon, and Sam had no idea what else to do.
As Sam was about to give up on the hunk of junk in his hands, the Walkman's lights turned red and the familiar sound of the EMF detector went off in the earbuds. Sam glanced up to see the co-pilot walk out of the bathroom.
"Christo."
The co-pilot froze and glanced over his shoulder, looking back just enough for Sam to see his eyes were black. The co-pilot was the demon.
Sam walked as calmly back to his seat as he could and put the Walkman back into the bag. How the hell was he supposed to exorcise the freaking co-pilot? Sam's only chance was to get help. This would've been a nice time to have Dean by his side. With no other option and only twelve minutes left, Sam once again left his seat and headed to the back of the plane.
Amanda turned around when she heard Sam walk up to her. "Oh, hi. The flight's not too bumpy, I hope?"
Sam shut the curtains leading to the cabin. "That's what I need to talk to you about."
"Um, okay. What can I do for you?"
"I know this is sounds weird, but I know you were on flight 2485."
Amanda narrowed her eyes. "Who are you guy?"
"I've talked to some of the other survivors, and I know something brought down that plane. It wasn't mechanical failure. I need your help to stop it from happening again."
Amanda tried pushing past Sam. "I'm sorry, but I'm very busy-"
Sam put his hand on her shoulder. "Look, there was something wrong with flight 2485, and maybe you sensed it and maybe you didn't, but there's something wrong with this flight, too. You've got to believe me!"