AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is episode 6 in the series "The Song Remains the Same", a serialized story written in the episodic style of the original show. It can be read as a stand alone story, and a summary of the story so far will be given at the beginning of this episode. (Btw there is a lovely little photo banner that goes with this story. If you'd like to see it, google: fanspired live journal and click on "Bad Blood" in the serial master post.
Other episodes in this series:
Pilot episode "I Can Never Go Home"
Episode 2 "Golem"
Episode 3 "Prank'd"
Episode 4: "Together"
Episode 5: "Something Wicked?"
(Remember, if you have favourited me as an author, you still need to favourite/story alert this episode to be sure of receiving alerts from the site when it has been updated).
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS: I should like to offer my grateful thanks to my most loyal supporter for being my beta-reader and, as always, I offer my apologies to the writers and creators of Supernatural for my use and abuse of their original material. I write for love only, Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke/CW. PLEASE NOTE: This episode contains an homage to a much loved Joss Whedon character, but this is NOT a crossover story; it retains the integrity of the Supernatural universe and its rules. Also, any similarity to living actors ends at the name. My apologies to Joss and his people. Please take it as a compliment :)
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EPISODE 6: BAD BLOOD
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THE ROAD SO FAR:
After leading a hunting raid that leads to the death of his cousin, Sam Campbell is estranged from his hunter family and tries to escape the life. He attempts to start afresh in a new town and is employed by John Winchester, but a death vision of John's wife and son under horribly familiar circumstances draws him back into the world of the supernatural. When the yellow eyed demon possesses John and murders his wife, Amanda, Sam rescues their son Dean and teaches him about hunting. Dean abandons his old life as a college student and would be musician and, together, he and Sam embark on a quest to find and rescue John, and avenge the deaths of their mothers.
The friends have tentatively embarked on a sexual relationship. Dean is coaxing Sam to address his intimacy issues and they have been growing closer. Sam is considering telling Dean about his psychic abilities. Meanwhile a clue about the Colt from the demon Gemma (Ruby in disguise) has led them to Red Lodge.
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Prologue
Sunrise, Wyoming. May 1st 1856.
There was no sound at first but for the wind in the trees and the song of birds. At first. Then came the distant rumble of hooves, drawing nearer, growing louder, until the horse thundered along the dirt track and drew up sharply in the clearing outside the old timber shack. The rider, a fair haired man with a young face and old eyes, swung free of the saddle and dropped to the ground, spurs rattling as his boots hit the dirt, the tails of his long coat swaying around his shins. He didn't bother to tether the horse to the hitching rail, just let it wander freely up the track; he knew it wouldn't roam far. Pausing to light a cheroot he inhaled deeply, lips twisting into a sardonic smirk as he surveyed his environment
"Home sweet home?" he challenged, betraying traces of a deep southern drawl, as he let himself into the cabin.
The weathered old hunter barely glanced up from the volume where he was scribbling in a rapid sloping hand. "For now," he confirmed, gruffly.
"You're a long way from Connecticut," the young man observed. "I heard you were building a railroad. Not enough profit in arms dealing, then?" There was no response except the scratching of the pen so he continued in a more serious tone. "Your devil's trap won't stop it, Colt. There's only one thing that will. Do you have it or not?"
The hunter finally raised his head. Tossing back his jacket he revealed the gun holstered at his hip. "You have to catch him first," he pointed out.
"Oh, I'll find him," the visitor drawled, low and silky. "But will it get the job done?"
A humorless smile touched the corners of Colt's lips as he drew the gun out of the holster and handed it to the fair haired man. "This gun will kill anything that walks on God's green earth," he assured him.
"The Beast, too?"
The confidence withered from Colt's expression, but he nodded nevertheless. "It'll kill the Demon and his spawn if it comes to that," he said. "Better it doesn't."
The visitor examined the weapon. It was a thing of beauty, a precision instrument in every detail. The inky black metal was ornately decorated, there was a pentacle branded into the polished walnut grip, and the barrel bore the legend "non timebo mala". There were 5 bullets loaded in the cylinder.
"The rest are in there." Colt indicated a box on the desk. "Don't waste 'em. The gun's useless once they're gone." He watched the other man place the gun in its box and close the lid, but as he moved to pick it up Colt held it with a restraining hand. "I'm trusting you with a fearful weapon," he said. "It isn't to be used indiscriminately."
The other man smirked. "Growing morals in your old age, Colt?" he asked.
"I'm thinking of the children," Colt persisted. "They're not the monsters. They're just innocent victims."
The visitor raised his gaze from the box. His knowing eyes held Colt's, and his lips peeled back in a rueful grin that revealed the sharp points of his second set of teeth. "So were we all," he commented, "once upon a time."
Colt absorbed the point then nodded grimly. "Once upon a time," he agreed.
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