'Alright Dean.' Evi walked out of the kitchen of her family Diner. Sam and Dean stood waiting anxiously at the front counter. Evi brought out a plate with a big piece of pie on it. 'The trick is to just eat it in one bite. The mixture is ground up in this piece of pie. Just take a bite and swallow it fast.'
'Okay.' Dean took a deep breath. He held the fork in his hand mentally preparing himself for what he was about to ingest.
'After you finish that bite you can eat the rest to get the bad taste out of your mouth.' She smiled nervously. 'I made this myself, it's a special recipe.'
'Well I appreciate the effort.' Dean acknowledged Evi. He was glad that Evi and Sam were no longer mad at him. After Ofure left his room last night Sam and Evi sat up with Dean all night drinking and telling stories. He wished that they were all sitting down to eat regular pie. He took another deep breath. 'Alright, I can do this.' Dean sat down at the counter. Sam sat next to him. Dean took another minute, he looked around the Diner. It looked different than the last time he saw it. 'I have to hand it to you Evi, you really cleaned this place up.'
'Thanks Dean.' She looked around the room. 'I got new furniture, I painted the walls. The kitchen is so clean it's almost criminal.'
'It'll be perfect for when you are ready to open.' Sam reminded her.
'I think so. It's good, I needed something to distract me after Hunter left. And it's always been our dream to run this place together. I guess I got kind of obsessed with it after that day, I decided if Hunter ever comes back that this place would be ready.' She smiled widely. There was a moment of silence where everyone in the room seemed to reflect on the events of the past few weeks. Dean felt the warmth coming from Evi and Sam and felt happy.
'Okay Dean.' Sam nodded. 'This is your last chance. You sure you don't want to back out?' Sam asked him.
'Yup.' He answered quickly. 'I'm sure.'
'Even though we didn't hear back from Bobby?'
'Yup.' Dean agreed. 'I'm sure it's fine Sam. Bobby told me to do this, so I'm going to do it.'
'Okay.' Sam took a big breath. He watched his brother with anticipation. There was a strange uneasy feeling in Sam's stomach. He wasn't sure what was going to happen and worried that Dean would get hurt.
'Here we go.' Dean plunged his fork into the cherry pie. He separated a big piece very carefully, he could see the dark powder in the middle of the sweet cherries. It looked foreboding. 'I sure hope this doesn't turn me off from eating pie.' Dean said as he looked down at the slice. He thought about his last sentence and started laughing to himself. 'What the hell am I saying that's not possible.'
'He loves pie.' Sam chimed in looking at Evi from across the counter.
'You've told me.' She laughed.
'Alright.' Dean continued to encourage himself. He didn't want to do this but he knew he had to. Dean put the fork up to his mouth. His lips parted and he plunged the fork deep into his open mouth. The bitter taste of the powder immediately overpowered any other flavors in the pie slice. He chewed quickly grinding the piece down into something he could swallow. 'Oh God.' He groaned. He took his fork and stabbed the remaining bit of pie on the plate that contained the rest of the powder. He put it in his mouth with the first bite. He tried to chew faster so he could swallow the bite. The taste burned inside of his mouth and seemed to make his stomach turn instantly.
'Take it easy please.' Evi warned Dean. 'Don't choke.' She watched him nervously. She had an overwhelming feeling that this punishment was too much for Dean. She felt guilty for making him eat it. She began to hyperventilate watching him. Sam saw Evi's reaction and put his hand on top of hers.
'Evi, calm down. We need to keep a level head here. Dean is okay, Dean you're okay right?' He asked his brother.
'Yeah.' Dean replied with his mouth full. He wasn't sure if that was true though. He felt his body try and repel the food from his mouth. He swallow hard but his body wouldn't let the food leave his mouth. 'Shit.' He moaned out. 'Water.' Evi handed him a glass of water and he filled his mouth with it trying to wash the food down. It was no use. It was like there was a wall in his throat that wouldn't allow him to swallow. Dean stamped his foot hard on the ground trying again to swallow. This time the food and liquid moved its way into his throat. Slowly it slid down and into his stomach where it landed like a lead brick.
'Dean.' Sam put his hand to his brothers shoulder. 'You swallowed it?'
'Yup.' Dean opened his mouth wide to show Sam and Evi that the pie was all gone. Dean nodded his head in agreement. Sam could see that his brothers skin was turning a sickening shade of gray. Evi noticed it too.
'Dean you don't look so good.' She remarked.
'I'm fine.' Dean choked out as he clutched his stomach. 'It's just, heavy that's all.' Dean took a few deep breaths trying to convince himself that it was all mind over matter. He thought back to Ofure's words. 'It only works if you believe.' As long as he believes that this is going to work and that it won't make him sick he should be fine. He tried to push the sickening feeling that bubbled in his stomach out of his mind. He turned up the corners of his mouth to force out a smile. Then he felt all the blood draining from his face, the room began to spin and an overwhelming feeling of heat came over him. He knew he couldn't ignore this. 'Oh shit.' He choked out. 'I'm going down Sammy.' Dean felt his entire body buckle and start to slide off the bar stool. He couldn't control his body at all, it landed hard onto the linoleum floor.
'Dean!' Evi yelled. She ran around the counter and reached out for him. She put her hand to his forehead. 'Sam he's burning up.'
'I can see that.' Sam began to breath heavy. 'He's sweating like a pig. Get a cold towel.'
'Oh no' Dean moaned out in agony. 'Sammy, my insides are boiling.'
'It's okay Dean. It'll subside. Evi's getting you a wet towel that will help.'
'What if it doesn't help?' He looked up at his brother with wide eyes. 'What if Ofure was wrong, what if I can't handle this.'
'Don't say that Dean.' Sam gripped his brothers shoulder. 'You can't think like that.' He watched his brothers eyes as they starting rolling upwards away from Sam. 'Dean, stay with me.' He lightly shook his brothers shoulders.
'Sammy, I really feel like I'm dying.' Dean whispered. As soon as the words escaped his mouth Dean realized how scared he was. A millions thoughts began running through Dean's mind. What if this was the end. He thought about all he had been through with Sam, all the adventures they had been on, all the mistakes he had made. A feeling of regret began to wash over him. 'Sammy, I'm really sorry. I just wanted to make things right.' His breathing became shallow and he felt a great weight on top of his body. 'I don't want to die.'
'Stop it Dean.' Sam shook Dean lightly again. 'You're not dying. You're going to be just fine. Seriously.' Sam felt the temperature in the air drop rapidly. A feeling of panic washed over him. He knew someone else was in the Diner with them. He turned around quickly.
'And what do we have here?' A voice boomed. Sam eyes widened and he held his breath. He didn't recognize the voice or the dark figure. He felt his blood run cold. Standing before him was a tall dark figure. 'Stupid boys, this is what happens when you summon a Fallen Angel. And just to be clear here, Dean is dying.'
'What the hell?' Sam blinked his eyes rapidly. The man looked similar to the one they saw in the Diner last time they were here. He realized it was another Fallen Angel. The words he spoke began to reverberated in Sam's mind. 'This is what happens when you summon a Fallen Angel.' What was he talking about. Sam's mind raced.
'Sammy?' Dean whispered. 'What's going on Sammy?' Dean was too weak and feverish to really understand what was going on. He tried to look at what Sam was staring at. But, his head was spinning and his hearing was muffled. Sam clutched onto his brothers hand tightly.
'Just relax Dean.' Sam whispered to his brother. Sam's head began spinning. He couldn't believe what he saw standing in front of him. Ofure had tricked them.
'Let me introduce myself to you, I am Zagan.' The Fallen Angel began speaking. 'I really do appreciate you boys springing me from Hell.' He smiled.
'What are you talking about?' Sam demanded.
'The powder, that was summoning mixture. When your dim witted brother there swallowed it, a crack in the wall of hell opened up, just big enough for your truly to squeeze out.' He stretched his arms out in front of him. 'I wish I could do something to show my appreciation but unfortunately I'm here on business.'
'What business?' Sam asked him.
'The two of you were the ones who killed my brother a few weeks ago. In this exact same spot I believe. So my business is revenge.' He laughed loudly. 'You're all going to die.'
'I wouldn't be so sure of myself if I were you.' Sam growled.
'Oh really?' He laughed.
'Yes, it's not going to be that easy.' He challenged the Fallen Angel. 'We've killed your kind before, what makes you think we can't do it again.' He gritted his teeth at the ugly creature standing before him.
'Well, for starters it looks like your down a man.' He pointed to Dean.
'That doesn't matter.' Sam swallowed hard. 'I'll kill you myself.' He smiled.
'Wait.' A woman appeared seemingly out of no where. She was dressed in a brightly colored patchwork dress that hung to her ankles. Sam didn't recognize her but Dean did. He lifted his head up to get a better look at her.
'Ofure?' He groaned.
'Yes, Dean.' She held her hand out to him. 'Are you alright?'
'I've been better.'
'Hang in there. We're going to fix this.' She nodded her head.
'Hold on a second.' Sam put his hand up to shield Ofure. 'You're not going to fix anything. What the hell are you doing here? You tricked us. You poisoned my brother.'
'No, that's not right.' She shook her head furiously.
'Yes it is.' Zagan interjected. 'That's exactly what she did and now your brother is dying an agonizing death. How does it feel Dean?' He yelled across the room to Dean who was on the floor writhing in pain.
'Eat shit!' He yelled back as loudly as he could.
'Ooh Feisty!' Zagan laughed at Dean.
'Wait, he doesn't have to die. Let me explain!' She began. 'You see my grandfather, he was taken. By one of Zagan's minions. The Black Eyed Children.'
'Right, we know all about them.' Sam replied quickly. He was un interested in what she had to say and he was angry that she betrayed him. 'They're dead thanks to us.'
'Yes, but my Grandfather's soul is still lost in limbo. Much like your friends.'
'So?' Sam shook his head.
'There is no earthly way for me to retrieve lost souls.' She frowned.
'That's not what you said the other day.' Dean groaned.
'I know. I had to tell you that so you would help me. I tried to find a way to get him back. I searched and searched but found nothing.'
'This explanation isn't helping your case at all lady.' Sam fumed at her.
'After a rash of terrible nightmares Zagan came to me in a dream. He told me he could help bring him back, I knew I had to get my Grandfather back. So we made a deal.'
'That's great.' Sam replied sarcastically. 'You made a deal to trade my brothers life for your Grandfathers?'
'Well...' She began.
'Not quite. Sam.' Zagan interjected. 'She made a deal to trade both your lives.'
'So, you were never going to help us get Hunter back? This was all one big trick.' Sam tried to clarify.
'No, I knew that once my Grandfather was recovered we could retrieve all the lost souls. He is very powerful, he could help bring everyone back, including your friends.'
'And you thought I'd just let that happen?' Zagan shook her head at her.
'Well...' She looked nervous.
'Your plan was to get your Grandfather back and then kill me?' Zagan laughed. 'Looks like that backfired. Now that I'm out of hell I'm going to destroy all of you.'
'So that wasn't Bobby was it?' Dean attempted to sit up. He held onto his stomach as he could feel it continue to burn inside.
'I'm sorry Dean. That was me.' Ofure looked at him with sadness in her eyes. 'I didn't think you would listen to me. I have the ability to mask myself, and I thought that would be my only hope.'
'I can't believe you.' Dean coughed violently. 'I knew there was something not quite right. For future information Bobby always takes a beer when it's offered.' The fury in his speech caused his stomach pain to intensify. He put his head back on the ground and began writhing in agony. 'I hope this is all worth it to you.' He groaned.
'I'm sorry Dean, but the only reason you believed I was your friend, was because you wanted to.' She continued. 'You wanted so desperately to make things right and to win your brother back.'
'You bitch.' He growled. 'I'm tired of this crap. If I live through this, I'm definitely going to kill you.' He felt a sharp pain in his stomach. 'Arrggg!' He clutched his body in pain.
'Alright, looks like this therapy session is over with. Ofure it looks like your out of luck.' Zagan laughed. 'All of you for that matter. The two of you are no match for me.' He turned to face Sam. 'And with your poor brother in the state he's in. As soon as you turn your back I'm going to take him away just like I did your other friends.'
'No.' Ofure pleaded. She felt personally responsible for the terrible turn this whole situation had taken. She wasn't going to let him get away with this. 'I won't let that happen.' She put her foot down hard on the ground. 'You may be a Fallen Angel but I'm still very powerful as are the Winchester brothers.'
'Oh cut the theatrics.' Dean slowly climbed to his feet clutching his middle. He was weak but he wasn't going to just lay on the ground for this whole thing. He was mad as hell that Ofure put him through all of this. 'As far as I'm concerned Ofure your just as much he enemy as he is.' Dean pointed to Zagan.
'Dean, you must understand. I did what I did to get my Grandfather back. It was an act of desperation but it was a risk I had to take. I was going to make things right as soon as he was returned to me. I wanted to help you I really did.'
'Yeah right.' Sam chimed in.
'Dean, Sam, what would you have done in the same situation?' She asked them. There was hope in her voice.
'For starters.' Dean began. 'I wouldn't have made a deal with this guy to trade someone else's life away I'll tell you that.' He fumed at her.
'Speak of the Devil.' Zagan said. 'Look who decided to drop in.' Zagan waived his hand and a cloud of smoke appeared. 'All this fuss over one feeble old man.'
'Ofure help me!' The man's voice cut through the smoke. The smoke cleared and the image of The Hoodoo Medicine Man wrapped in chains appeared floating in the air next to the Fallen Angel.