What's Up, Tiger Mommy? Part 1

Dean was eating a hamburger at an outdoor table. "Are you kidding me?" he asked through a mouthful. "You're kidding me."

"What?" Kevin asked. "Is it too much to ask if we can swing by and check on my mom?"

"Swing by?" Dean repeated, brows raised. "It's a day's drive in the opposite direction. You know that, right?"

"Yes." Kevin nodded. "I understand we're in a hurry."

"Okay, well, then, what's the problem?" Dean questioned.

Kevin clenched his jaw. "Channing's broken neck is my problem!" he snapped. "As in I'd rather not see my mom twisted into a corkscrew."

"Kid's got a point, Dean." Sam defended.

"Stay out of this." Dean retorted, earning a smile from Sam and Angela. "Kevin, your mom is fine," Dean assured as a waitress brought more food.

"How can you possibly know that?" Kevin asked.

Dean sighed. "Because Crowley needs her to be, okay? In fact, he's probably got the place stacked with bodyguards right now, protecting her so that when you do show up, they'll pounce on you both."

Kevin raised his brows. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"She's bait, man, plain and simple." Dean shrugged. "And you want to swim right up and bite the hook? Look, we have got Crowley by the short and curlies, okay? All we need to do is find the tablet, whip up the spell, and—boom!—sunshine and sandy beaches."

Kevin pursed his lips. "Dean, my mom's all alone." He pressed. "She's surrounded by demons. Can you really not understand why I want to make sure she's okay?"

Dean looked at Sam and Angela, who just shrugged. Dean rolled his eyes.

"Son of a bitch." He muttered as he threw his hamburger down onto the table. "Fine. Let's go."

~/~\~

Neighbor, Michigan

The Impala was parked across the street from a blue house. Dean, Sam, Angela, and Kevin were all looking at the house, Sam through binoculars.

"Tiger mom, 9 o'clock," Sam noted.

Kevin grabbed the binoculars from Sam. "Where?"

"Left window," Angela replied.

Kevin looked sadly at his mother. "She seems okay. Sad…but okay."

"Check out the mailman," Dean commented.

Kevin looked through the binoculars at a mailman putting letters into the mailbox. "Yeah, that's Carl. So what?"

"Yeah, well, Carl's filled your mom's mailbox three times since we've been sitting here," Dean replied.

Kevin frowned. "He's a demon?"

"And see the gardener?" Dean asked, pointing at the man watering plants in front of the house. "Think that plant needs any more water?" he added, noticing that water was running onto a path and down the stairs in front of the house.

~/~\~

The gardener was still watering plants with a hose. The water stopped flowing and he walked around the side of the house to investigate. Dean stabbed him with the demon knife, causing the demon to scream and fall down, dead.

The mailman was walking along the street in front of the house when he heard a noise nearby. His eyes turned black as he went to investigate. He walked through the unlatched gate to the backyard and found Dean and Angela standing there. The two hunters waved as Sam stepped out from behind the gate and stabbed the mailman with the knife.

~/~\~

Mrs. Tran and Eunice were sitting at the kitchen table playing cards.

"He'll be back," Eunice assured. "You just have to believe."

"Thanks, Eunice." Mrs. Tran replied sincerely. "And I do believe. I just…wish I could do more."

"Linda, you're doing all you should by staying here." Eunice comforted. "He needs to know he has a home to come back to."

Mrs. Tran was about to reply when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Tran opened it to find Kevin standing there.

"Hi, Mom." Kevin smiled.

"Oh!" Mrs. Tran cried. "Kev—Kevin!"

Dean, Sam, and Angela stepped forward from either side of Kevin and splashed holy water on Mrs. Tran.

"Ah! Oh!" Mrs. Tran exclaimed, surprised. "What…"

"She's clean." Dean nodded.

Kevin hugged Mrs. Tran tightly, who cried with happiness in his arms.

Angela sniffed the air. "You smell that?" she asked, her face contorting in disgust. "Ugh. The sulfur is making me nauseous."

Sam, Dean, and Angela walked into the house. As Sam and Angela entered the kitchen, black smoke poured from Eunice's mouth.

"Et secta diabolica, omnis congregation, omnis legio, omnis incursion…" Sam chanted, causing the smoke to flow back into Eunice. "Infernalis adversarii, omnis spiritus exorcizamus!"

Kevin put his arms around Mrs. Tran as she watched in horror. Dean stabbed Eunice with the demon knife, causing a scream to erupt from Mrs. Tran's mouth. Eunice screamed as her body flashed with light. Sam stood protectively in front of Angela as the demon fell to the ground, dead.

"Eunice!" Mrs. Tran cried.

"That's not Eunice," Dean replied.

~/~\~

Mrs. Tran was sitting on the sofa. Kevin sat down next to her.

"Mrs. Tran, your friend was possessed by a demon," Angela explained gently.

"Have you ever seen The Exorcist?" Kevin asked his mother.

Mrs. Tran gave Kevin a look. "Is that what you've been doing all this time—watching television?" she asked before turning to the three hunters. "Did you really have to kill her?"

"The demon would have warned Crowley where Kevin was if we didn't," Dean explained.

"And Crowley is the one who kidnapped you?" Mrs. Tran asked Kevin.

"Yeah." Kevin nodded. "He needs me to translate his stupid tablet so he can take over the universe or something."

"Which is why we need to get it so that we can slam the gates of Hell forever with Crowley inside," Dean added.

"So, that things like that don't ever happen again." Sam referenced Eunice.

Mrs. Tran paused for a moment before looking at Kevin. "Prophet of the Lord, huh? It does have a nice ring to it. I'll get packed." She replied as she got up.

Dean nodded. "We're gonna need a safe house since Crowley's been to the cabin, so—

Mrs. Tran's brows furrowed. "Safe house? I thought we were going to get the tablet."

"Uh, we are," Dean replied. "You're taking a trip to a demon-free zone."

"And risk letting Kevin fall into the hands of this Crowley again?" she scoffed. "I don't think so."

"Mrs. Tran, all due respect, but Dean's right," Angela replied. "Crowley—he's not just a killer. He trades in torment. And if he can find a way to separate your soul from you, he'll take that soul and—and roast it till there's nothing left but black smoke. Look, it's best if you let us handle this."

"I understand." Mrs. Tran nodded. "But, it's not my soul I'm worried about. It's my son's."

"Kevin, you want to back us up here?" Dean asked. "Came all the way down here to pull her out of the fire, and now she wants to jump right back in."

Kevin shrugged helplessly. "Like I can tell her what to do?"

Dean and Mrs. Tran looked at each other. Dean finally chuckled and shrugged.

"Alright. Coming with us has conditions—uh, hex bags to stay off the bad guys' radar and, uh, you're gonna have to get inked up." Dean smirked.

"Do what, now?" Kevin frowned.

"Yeah, uh…" Sam pulled his shirt open to reveal his tattoo. "You too, shortstop. Keeps the demons out."

"Fine." Mrs. Tran shrugged.

"Really?" Dean scoffed.

"What, like it's my first tattoo?" she retorted before walking out of the room.

"I like her." Angela grinned.

Kevin just stared after his mother, clearly shocked. Dean smiled, somewhat admiringly.

~/~\~

Kevin whimpered as the tattoo artist worked on his arm. Next to him, his mother sat impassively as another tattoo artist worked on her arm. She reached out her hand for Kevin to hold. Dean, Sam, and Angela stood at the front of the tattoo parlor watching. Sam had his arm around Angela's waist.

"You smell it, guys?" Dean smirked.

Angela's brows furrowed. "Burning flesh?"

"Revenge. So close." Dean corrected before he looked up at Sam. "Hey, Sam, how'd you do that reverse-exorcism thing?"

"Just said the verse backward." Sam shrugged.

~/~\~

Laramie, Wyoming

Sam and Angela walked hand-in-hand through the bus station while Dean walked separately from them. Kevin and Mrs. Tran sat on the bench waiting for them.

"So, the place is clean, far as we can tell," Angela said as they met up with Dean.

Kevin handed the key to Dean, who waved it slightly.

"Alright," Dean sighed. "Positive thoughts." He muttered as he opened a locker. Dean frowned and turned to face Kevin. "You hid the Word of God in a diaper bag?"

"No." Kevin frowned.

Dean looked through the bag, which seemed to be empty. Sam just smirked.

"Shut up." Dean snapped as he tossed the bag back into the locker and slammed the door.

~/~\~

Kevin and Mrs. Tran were sitting on the bench again. Sam, Dean, and Angela, now wearing their FBI apparel, were standing with a guard in front of the lockers.

"Been nothing but trouble with these lockers. Got broken into damn near every day for a while. Could never figure out who it was till yesterday." The guard explained.

"Oh, so, you know who did it?" Angela asked.

"Sure." The guard nodded. "Was Clem Smedley, a guy who worked the desk before me."

"Please tell me he's down at County right now," Dean replied.

"Yep, waiting for arraignment."

"Thanks," Sam replied.

~/~\~

Clem, Sam, and Angela were sitting at the interrogation table. Dean slowly paced near the table.

"Should have known they'd plant LoJack in one of them bags," Clem explained. "Sharp guy, that Jerry. He'll be a fine replacement for me."

"Right." Angela nodded. "Well, in one of those lockers, there was a tablet. Do you know where it is?"

"Can I even acknowledge that without my Lawyer here?" Clem questioned.

"Uh, look," Sam shifted slightly. "I'm sure we can work out a little, uh, something-something with the locals if you just cooperate."

Clem suddenly looked interested. "What kind of something-something?"

Dean started to zone out, remembering something from Purgatory.

~/~\~

Dean turned a slow circle with his axe weapon in his hand. Benny was standing in front of a humanoid monster that was sprawled with its back to a tree.

"I don't think he knows, man." Benny sighed.

~/~\~

"Leniency?" Angela suggested.

Clem shifted slightly, tempted by the offer.

~/~\~

Dean leaned over and put a hand on the monster's shoulder. "Oh, he knows. Where's the angel?" he glared.

~/~\~

"So, here's what I'm thinking—full immunity from all charges…" Clem suggested as Dean removed his tie. "Both past, present, and future."

Dean walked behind Clem and put the tie around his neck. He pulled Clem to his feet, pushed him against the wall, and held a knife to his throat.

"Hey!" Sam rapped his hand on the table, trying to get Dean's attention.

"Dean!" Angela snapped.

"You…" Dean glared.

~/~\~

Dean smirked menacingly at the monster, who was now chained to the tree. "Feel that?"

"There's a stream." The monster breathed.

"Go on." Dean glared.

"It runs through a clearing not far from here. I'll show you."

Dean held the tip of the knife against the monster's throat under its chin. "How about you just tell me?"

~/~\~

"Hey!" Sam snapped.

Dean was still holding his knife to Clem's throat.

"Dean!" Angela yelled.

Clem stared at Dean with wide eyes. "Pawn shop, First and Main."

~/~\~

"Go on," Dean demanded.

"Three day's journey." The monster replied. "Follow the stream. There's a clearing. You'll find your angel there."

Dean looked behind him at Benny, who raised a brow. He turned back to the monster. "You know what, Mutt? I believe you."

Dean pushed the knife into the monster's skull from under its chin. The monster started to choke and gurgle. Dean yanked the knife out and the monster's head fell forward.

~/~\~

"Dean?" Sam pressed.

Dean removed the tie from Clem's neck.

"Come on," Angela demanded.

Sam, Dean, and Angela left the interrogation room.

~/~\~

A red Ferrari was parked on the side of the street. The Impala pulled up and Dean, Sam, Angela, Kevin, and Mrs. Tran got out.

"Whoa," Kevin smirked as he looked at the Ferrari.

"Hey." Mrs. Tran said, moving her finger in a circular motion.

~/~\~

"Hello, sir," Sam greeted as they walked into the pawn shop. "Agents Neil, Sixx, and Kelly." He flashed his badge. "Uh, we're looking for a tablet."

"About, uh, yea big, got some hieroglyphic crap on it," Dean added.

"Sold to you by a thief named Clem. Ring a bell?" Angela asked.

"Nope." The clerk replied nonchalantly.

Dean looked at the clerk's name tag. "Hey, Lyle, I've had a really, really bad day today, so I'm not in the mood to dilly-dally. If you want to do this the rough way, I am happy to oblige."

"Sure." Lyle nodded. "We can do it that way, if you want to get famous." He gestured to the security cameras.

Mrs. Tran walked up to the counter. "That your car outside?"

"What's it to you, mail-order?" Lyle retorted.

"Hey!" Dean slammed his hand on the counter. "Pal!"

"I got it." Mrs. Tran waved him off. "I notice you're driving with expired tags, maybe because you just acquired it in a trade, and I'm guessing that means you haven't registered it yet, which means you haven't paid the tax. Is that correct?"

"None of your business," Lyle replied defensively.

"Kevin, average blue book on a 2010 Ferrari F430 Spider?" she asked.

"$217, 000," Kevin replied.

"And the five percent Wyoming tax?" Mrs. Tran questioned.

"$10,850," Sam answered.

"$10,000. Something tells me you're the type who might balk at a tax bill that big." Mrs. Tran told Lyle.

Lyle shifted nervously. "W-what is this, an FBI audit?"

"No." Mrs. Tran replied. "But my brother, who happens to work for the Wyoming tax assessor's office could arrange that if he thought something untoward was happening here. So, what's it going to be—the tablet or that piece of Eurotrash crap you call a car?"

Dean looked on almost proudly and Angela smirked at the exchange.

~/~\~

Angela knocked on the door of Room 126. "Are you sure this is the right place?" she asked Dean.

"It's what the pawn slip says." Dean sighed.

"Kevin?" A man called out, causing all five of them to turn. The man was dapperly dressed and held a cane.

"Who wants to know?" Dean walked towards the man.

"Oh, relax, Dean. I'm not going to steal your Prophet." He assured. "Ah. And you must be Kevin's mother." He smiled at Mrs. Tran. "Um…Beau. And it is my absolute pleasure." He kissed her hand suavely. "And, um, Kevin. Imagine my luck. Here I was, working so hard looking for you that I never stopped to think you might be looking for me. I have something for you."

"What is it?" Angela narrowed her eyes.

Beau held up an envelope with Kevin's name on it. "An invitation, my dear lady, to a very exclusive auction."

"Let me guess—where you'll be selling the tablet?" Dean asked.

"Well, when we acquire an item as hot as the Word of God, it's smart to unload it as fast as possible," Beau replied. "And we are in such desperate need of a headliner for tonight's gala."

"Well, I hope you have four extra tickets to your little eBay party." Dean retorted. "'Cause the Prophet's with us."

"Oh, if you're worried about the safety of the Prophet, rest assured that we have a strict 'no casting, no cursing, no supernaturally flicking the three of you against the wall just for the fun of it' policy."

"Is that right? How'd you manage that?" Sam questioned.

"Well," Beau smirked. "I am the right hand of a God, after all—Plutus, specifically."

Dean smirked. "Is that even a planet anymore?"

Beau looked unamused at Dean's joke. "It's the God of greed. And my liege has warded these premises against Hell, Heaves, and beyond—quite necessary with some of the players we see. And incidentally, quite possibly the safest place your precious Prophet could be." He explained. "Mmm. Well, since time is of the essence, perhaps I'll just go ahead and add a plus-four to the Prophet's invitation. Copacetic?"

Beau tossed the envelope into the air and disappeared.

"Well, thank you, Mr. Peanut!" Dean shouted at the empty air. "Alright. What do we have to bid?" he asked, earning a scoff from Sam. "What? We can't just show up there empty-handed."

"Dean, all we have to our names is a few hacked gold cards," Angela replied.

"Alright. Well, then, we're gonna have to get creative." Dean shrugged.

"Huh." Sam looked at the Impala. "Well…"

Dean frowned. "No. Mnh-mnh. Say it and I will kill you, your children, and your grandchildren."

"Dean, I may be pregnant, but I'll still kick your ass." Angela threatened.

"Okay, okay," Sam interjected. "Uh…Wait a second. They—these auctions—they display the items to the bidders beforehand, right?"

"Yeah, so?" Dean asked.

"So, all we got to do is get Kevin close enough to memorize the spell," Sam suggested.

Dean pondered this for a moment. "What do you think, Brainiac? Think you can swing it?" he asked Kevin.

"Of course he can swing it…" Mrs. Tran replied. "If the bumper stickers on my Previa mean anything."

Dean looked at the Impala. "They didn't mean it, Baby."

~/~\~

A man opened the door to admit Kevin, Sam, Angela, Mrs. Tran, and Dean. They each walked through a metal detector, which sounded an alarm for Dean.

"Now, now, Dean," Beau chastised. "The system only works when everyone participates."

Dean huffed and put his gun into a box containing other weapons. He held up the demon knife. "I'll be back for this." He warned.

~/~\~

Various auction attendees looked at the items that were on display in glass cases. The items included a sword, a manuscript, and a large hammer.

"How the hell are we supposed to know who's who?" Dean looked around.

"It's pretty simple, Dean," Angela replied. "They're all monsters."

"Hey, hey." Dean rushed.

Dean and the others walked over to a display case containing the tablet. A piece of metal had been affixed in front of the tablet so it couldn't be read.

"Great," Dean said sarcastically.

"I guess we're not as original as we thought." Kevin sighed.

"It's okay. It's okay." Sam assured. "We just got to come up with a plan 'B'."

"And what, pray tell, could possibly have been plan 'A'?" Crowley asked, causing them all to turn around. "Bring the Prophet to the most dangerous place on Earth, memorize the tablet, and then vamoose? Hello, boys. Angela."

A/N: Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm currently writing Southern Comfort Part 1, and I really think you guys are gonna like it! And thank you so much for the recent reviews! I'm so glad that you're enjoying the installment so far :) Love you guys xoxo

~Emily