Disclaimer: I own nothing except Kayla
A.N: Here is chapter 9. Read and Review.
Dean puts some food in the fridge, and then turns around. An invisible audience claps and cheers. He looks at the table, which has a gigantic sandwich on it. "I'm gonna need a bigger mouth," he says, and the audience laughs loudly. The door opens and Sam and Kayla walk in. "Hey there Sam. What's happening?" Dean asks.
"Oh nothing," Sam replies, putting his hands on his hips. "Just the end of the world." Dean smiles.
Sam and Kayla look at the sandwich. "You're gonna need a bigger mouth." The audience erupts in laughter again as Dean stares in surprise at them.
"Hey," Sam says. "Have you done your research yet?" Dean glances at the door behind him. "Oh yeah. All kinds of research. All night."
"Yeah?" Sam looks surprised, smiling. Whereas Kayla looks suspicious. The door opens behind Dean and a girl wearing only her bra and underwear walks out.
"Oh Dean! We have some more research to do."
Sam crosses his arms. "Dean..."
Dean sighs. "Son of a bitch."
Two Days Earlier
In a busy hospital, a nurse and a doctor go into an elevator together. The doctor slowly looks at the nurse, then begins to kiss her passionately. It's actually a TV show that Dean's watching.
"What are you watching?" Kayla asks, buttoning up Sam's shirt cuffs.
"A hospital show," Dean replies. "Dr. Sexy M.D. It's based on a book."
Kayla laughs as Sam smirks. "When did you hit menopause?"
"It's called channel surfing," Dean retorts., standing up and turning of the TV. "You ready?"
"Are you?" Sam says.
"Uh, one more time? The FBI is here why exactly?" The trio are talking to the local sheriff.
"It might have something to do with one of your locals getting his head ripped off," Dean replies.
"Bill Randolph died from a bear attack," the sheriff says.
"How sure are you that it was a bear?" Sam asks.
"What else would it be?" the sheriff says.
"Well whatever it was, it chased Mr. Randolph through the woods, smashed through his front door, followed him up the stairs, and killed him – in his bedroom. Is that common? A bear doing all that?" Kayla asks.
"It depends on how pissed off it is, I guess," the sheriff replies. "Look – the Randolph's way up in High Country. You got trout runs that'll make a grown man weep. And bears."
"Right – what about Mrs. Randolph?" Sam cuts in. "The file says she saw the whole thing."
"Yes, she did," the sheriff nods. "My heart goes out to that poor woman."
"She said bear?" Dean asks.
The sheriff hesitates. "Kathy Randolph went through a hell of a trauma. She's confused." Dean nods knowingly.
"What did she say?" Sam asks.
"No, it must have been a bear," Kathy says. The boys and Kayla are talking to her in the Interview Room. "I mean, what else could it have been?"
Sam leans closer. "Mrs. Randolph. What do you think it was?"
She shakes her head. "No, I remember clearly now. It was definitely a bear."
"We're sure it was," Kayla says softly, sitting next to her. "But see, it helps us to hear every angle. So just tell us what you thought you saw."
"Um, well..." She sighs. "It's impossible, but... I could have sworn I saw... the Incredible Hulk." The trio stare.
"The Incredible Hulk?" Sam repeats.
"I told you, it's crazy," Kathy says.
"Bana or Norton?" Dean asks.
"Oh no, those movies were terrible. The TV Hulk," she replies.
"Lou Ferrigno," Dean says. "The spiky-haired Lou Ferrigno."
"Who the hell are they talking about?" Kayla whispers to Sam.
He shakes his head, "I'll tell you later."
"Yes," she nods.
"Ah." Dean, Sam and Kayla look at each other.
"You think I'm crazy," she says.
"No, no. It's just... is there... would there be any reason why Lou Ferrigno – the Incredible Hulk – would have a grudge against your husband?" Dean asks.
"No," she says, giving them a weird look.
Dean is looking at the newspaper article online about the 'bear' attack when Sam and Kayla walk in. "Find anything?" Dean asks.
"Well, we saw the house," Sam says. "And there is a giant, eight-foot-wide hole where the door used to be – almost like a..."
"A Hulk-sized hole," Dean finishes.
"Maybe," Kayla says. "What've you got?"
"Well it turns out that Bill Randolph had quite the temper. He's got two accounts of spousal battery, bar brawls, and court-ordered anger management sessions," Dean reads. "You might say, you wouldn't like him when he's angry."
"So, a hot-head, getting killed by TV's greatest hot-head," Sam says. "Kinda sounds like just desserts, doesn't it. It's all starting to make sense."
Dean looks at him. "How is it starting to make sense?"
"Well, we found something else at the crime scene," Sam replies, pulling something out of his pocket. "Candy wrappers." He drops them on the table. "Lots of them."
"Just desserts," Dean begins, picking up one of the wrappers. "Sweet tooth. Screwing with people before you kill them – we're dealing with a trickster, aren't we?" He stands up to face Sam.
"Sure looks like," Sam replies.
"What's a trickster?" Kayla asks, looking completely lost.
"A very powerful creature. A demi-god. They can create anything from thin air. They have a wicked sense," Sam tells her.
"Good," Dean says. "I've wanted to gank that mother since the Mystery Spot."
Sam glances at him. "You sure?"
Dean stares. "Yeah I'm sure."
"No, I mean are you sure you wanna kill him?" Sam goes on.
"Son of a bitch didn't think twice about icing me. A thousand times," Dean reminds him.
"What the hell did I miss?" Kayla asks.
"No I know, I mean –I'm just saying..." Sam begins.
"What are you saying?" Dean asks. "If you don't wanna kill him, then what?"
"Talk to him?" Sam suggests. "Look, think about it, Dean. He's one of the most powerful creatures we've ever met. Maybe we can use him."
"For what?" Dean asks.
"Okay – Trickster's like a Hugh Hefner type, right? Wine, women, song – maybe he doesn't want the party to end! Maybe he hates this angels and demons stuff as much as we do. Maybe he'll help us."
"You're serious?" Dean says. "Ally with the trickster."
"Yeah," Sam says.
"A bloody, violent monster, and you wanna be Facebook friends with him?" Dean goes on. "Nice, Sammy."
"The world is gonna end, Dean. We don't have the luxury of a moral stand," Sam reminds him. "Look, I'm just saying, it's worth a shot. That's all. If it doesn't work, we'll kill him."
Dean sighs. "How're we gonna find the guy, anyway?"
"Well he never takes just one victim, right? He'll show," Sam replies.
Dean is sitting on his bed, sharpening a wooden stake and showing Kayla how to do it as well. Sam sits nearby, listening to a police radio. He hears an officer saying he has something at an old mill.
"What are you looking at there son?" Another officer replies.
"Honestly, Walt, I wouldn't even know how to describe what I'm seeing," the first officer says. "Just – send everybody."
"Alright, stay calm, stay by your car, help's on the way," the second officer assures him.
"That sounds weird," Dean says.
"Weird enough to be our guy?" Kayla wonders. Dean and Dam shrug.
Outside the old mill, the trio park and get out of the Impala. Dean looks around. "There was a murder here, and there's no police cars. There's nobody. How does that look to you?"
"Crappy," Sam replies, as Dean opens the trunk. They grab a stake each and a flashlight, and head into the building.
No sooner do they step in the door, everything changes. They're in a hospital, the boys wearing lab coats and scrubs and Kayla wearing scrubs. The weapons are gone. "What the hell?" Dean says. Two nurses walk by.
"Doctor," they both say looking at the boys.
"Doctor?" Sam repeats. Dean opens the door they just came out of, but it's a supply closet, and there's a woman and a man, both nurses, inside kissing. He closes it again. They start to walk forward, just as a dark-haired woman in scrubs walks up.
"Doctor," she says, then slaps Sam across the face.
"Ow!" he says.
"Seriously?" she says.
"What?" he asks.
"Seriously?" she says again. "You're brilliant, you know that? And a coward. You're a brilliant coward."
"Uh, what are you talking about?" Sam asks.
She slaps him again. "As if you don't know!" She walks away.
Dean stares. "I don't believe this."
"What?" Sam asks.
"That was Dr. Piccolo," Dean replies.
"Who?" Sam and Kayla ask.
"Dr. Ellen Piccolo! The sexy, yet earnest doctor at..." He sees the words up on the wall. "Seattle Mercy Hospital."
Kayla looks at Sam, "I'll handle this one. Uh, Dean? What the hell are you talking about?"
"The doctor get-ups. The sexy interns! The 'seriously's. It all makes sense!" Dean says.
"What makes sense?" Kayla asks, the pair of them gaping at him. "What's going on?"
"We're IN Dr. Sexy, M.D.," Dean replies.
"Dude, what the hell?" Dean asks as they round the corner.
"I dunno," Sam says.
"No seriously, what the hell?" Dean asks again.
"I don't know," Sam says again.
"One theory, any theory," Dean says.
"Uh, the trickster trapped us in TV land," Sam suggests.
"That's your theory? That's stupid," Dean replies.
"You're the one who said we're on Dr. Sexy, M.D.," Sam reminds him.
"Yeah, but TV land isn't TV land! I mean, there's actors, and lights, and crew members, you know. This looks real!" Dean says.
"It can't be," Kayla says. "Dean, how can this possibly be real?"
"I don't know, alright?" Dean says, stopping. A woman walks by. "Doctor."
"But there goes Dr. Wang," Dean says. "The sexy but arrogant heart surgeon." He sees a man in a robe sitting on a stretcher. "And there's Johnny Drake. He's not even alive. He's a ghost in the mind of... of her." A dark haired woman walks over and sits next to the man on the stretcher. "The sexy but neurotic doctor over there."
"It is so sad that you know all this," Kayla grins, looking up at Dean.
"So this show has ghosts?" Sam asks. "Why?"
"I dunno," Dean says. "It is compelling."
"I thought you said you weren't a fan," Sam says, smiling.
"I'm not. I'm not," Dean replies.
"Yeah, right," Kayla whispers to Sam. "He's turning into a fangirl." Dean turns and looks down the hallway, then freezes.
"Oh boy."
"What?" Sam asks.
"It's him," Dean says. "It's him, it's Dr. Sexy." A bearded man walks down the hallway towards them, then stops. Kayla frowns, looking at him closely, as though she recognises him.
"Doctor."
"Doctor," Dean replies, looking at the floor nervously.
"Doctor," the man says to Sam. Sam nods. Dean nudges him.
"Doctor," Sam says quickly. Kayla stays silent, still trying to work out how she knows him.
"You wanna give me one good reason why you defied my direct order?" the man asks Dean. "To do the experimental face transplant on Mrs. Beal?"
Dean glances at Sam. "One reason?"
"Sure," Dean says, clearing his throat. He glances down, and notices that the doctor is wearing white tennis shoes. He suddenly shoves Dr. Sexy against the wall. "You're not Dr. Sexy."
"You're crazy," the man says.
"Really?" Dean says. "Because I swore, part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes."
"Yeah, you're not a fan," Sam says behind him as Kayla snickers.
"It's a guilty pleasure," Dean snaps.
"Call security," Dr. Sexy says.
"Yeah, go ahead pal," Dean says. "See, we know what you are."
All around them, time freezes. Nobody's moving. Dean looks back at Dr. Sexy, and he changes into the Trickster.
"You guys are getting better!" he grins. "Hello Kayla."
"How do you know me?" she gasps, hiding behind Dean.
"Get us the hell outta here," Dean glares.
The Trickster looks around. "Or what?" He shoves Dean's arm off of him. "Don't see your wooden stakes, big guy."
"That was you on the police scanner, right?" Sam asks. "This was a trick."
"Hellloooo," the Trickster says. "Trickster! I heard you two yahoos were in town, how could I resist?"
"Where the hell are we?" Dean asks.
"You like it? It's all homemade," the Trickster says. "My own sets – my own actors. Call it my own little idiot box."
"You think I'm an idiot," Kayla pouts.
"No, of course not. I just brought you hear to keep you safe. If you're left alone pout there you may get hurt, and we can't have that can we?" the Trickster replies.
"How do we get out?" Dean asks.
"That, my friend, is the sixty-four dollar question," the Trickster replies.
"Whatever. We just, we need to talk to you. We need your help," Sam says.
The Trickster looks at him. "Hmmm. Let me guess. You two mutton-heads broke the world, and you want me to sweep up your mess."
"Please. Just five minutes," Sam says. "Hear us out."
"Sure," the Trickster says. "Tell you what. Survive the next twenty-four hours, we'll talk."
"Survive what?" Dean asks.
"The game!" the Trickster smiles.
"What game?" Dean asks.
"You're in it," the Trickster replies.
"How do we play?" Dean asks.
"You're playing it," the Trickster says, shrugging.
"What are the rules?" Dean asks. The Trickster wiggles his eyebrows and disappears. "Oh, son of a bitch," Dean curses as time starts moving again.
"Oh by the way," Dean says as the boys head down another hallway, "Talking with monsters? Hell of a plan."
"Just... what do we do now?" Sam says.
"You know what I'm doing? Leaving," Dean replies. Sam stops suddenly, just managing to move out of the way of another slap in the face. It's the same doctor as earlier, Dr. Piccolo.
"Lady, what the hell?" Sam says. She shakes her head.
"You are a brilliant, brilliant..."
"Yeah, a coward. You already said that. But I got news for you. I am not a doctor," Sam says.
She gapes at him. "Don't say that! You are the finest cerebrovascular neurosurgeon I have ever met. And I have met plenty! So that girl died on your table. It wasn't your fault! It wasn't anybody's fault. Sometimes people just die."
Sam looks at her for a long time. "I have no idea what you're saying to me."
"You're afraid," she says, shaking her head gently. "You're afraid to operate again. And you're afraid to love." She walks away crying, and Dean rolls his eyes.
"Yeah. We're getting out of here," Sam says.
They walk a few more steps and then "Hey – Doctor?" There's a bearded man standing to their left.
They stop. "Yes?" Dean says.
"My wife needs that face transplant," the man says.
"Okay. You know what pal? None of this is real," Dean says. "Okay? And your wife doesn't need jacksquat. Okay?" They keep walking.
"Hey doctor," the man says, and he takes out a gun and shoots Dean in the back, then hurries away. Dean grabs for Sam.
"Real," he gasps. "It's real!"
"Dean!" Kayla screams.
"No no no," Sam says as Dean falls to his knees. "No no no! Hey! We need a doctor!"
A few minutes later, Dean is laying face down on an operating table. A whole bunch of doctors are standing around him, including Sam. Kayla's standing at the side of the room. "BP's eighty over fifty. And dropping," a nurse says, and looks at Sam. He nods awkwardly.
"Doctor," another nurse says, holding out an instrument.
"What?" Sam says, looking at her, then shaking his head at the instrument.
"Sam! Do something. Come on," Dean says. Sam leans close.
"I don't know how to use any of this crap!" he whispers.
"Figure it out!" Dean hisses. Sam straightens up and smiles at all the nurses again.
"Sam! Hurry up! I'm waiting," Dean says.
"You can do it Sam," Kayla says softly.
"Okay. I need a penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey," Sam says. Everyone stares at him. "STAT!" he says finally, and they move.
Sam finishes stitching up Dean's back. "We okay? How's it looking?" Dean asks anxiously.
"Yup. You'll be fine," Sam assures him. He glances up and sees Dr. Piccolo standing outside, watching him. She's crying.
"I love you," she mouths. Sam raises his eyebrows at her and looks away. Dean watches the floor, and the feet disappear. Suddenly, he can hear clapping. And chanting.
The boys are standing with their feet strapped into boots, up on platforms. Kayla is standing at the side, dressed in a skimpy red leather outfit. "What the hell am I wearing?" she whispers. A Japanese man comes out of some doors behind them, to loud cheering.
"Let's play – NUTCRACKER!" he yells, and everyone cheers again. The boys and Kayla look around. Below the brothers is a stick with a ball on the end of it. There's a timer on the wall. The man pulls out an envelope from his jacket.
"Sam Winchester," he says, then, speaking in Japanese, asks "What was the name of the demon you chose over your own brother? Countdown." The twenty seconds start going down.
"What?" Sam says. "Um. What am I supposed to say?"
"You think I know?" Dean replies.
"Don't look at me," Kayla calls, waving her hands.
"Uh, I don't understand Japanese," Sam says to the man. The man repeats the question, again in Japanese. Sam huffs. "Is he screwing with me? I – I can't speak Japanese!" The timer goes off.
"Ahhh," the man sighs. "The answer is 'Ruby'!" The boys shrug at each other. "I'm sorry, Sam Winchester."
"Sorry?" Sam repeats. "Sorry for what? Dean?" Dean shrugs. A second later, the ball on the stick flies up and hits Sam in the groin. Everyone cheers.
"NUTCRACKER!" the host yells again. Dean stares in horror and Kayla stands in shock.
"Sam?"
"Yeah?" Sam says, face red with pain. One of the girls standing nearby calls to the man, and he goes over, puling Kayla with him. The girl passes her a packet. Kayla holds it up adn smiles nervously.
"Have we discussed these nutritious Shrimp Chips?" she says, in Japanese. "
Lots of nutrition tastes great, and the more one eats, the slimmer they get, just like you," the man says.
"You okay?" Dean asks Sam. Sam gives him a look.
There's a beeping noise, and lights flash.
"Now what?" Dean wonders. The doors open again, and Castiel walks through.
"Is this another trick?" Sam says.
"It's me," Cas says.
"Cas," Kayla calls and runs over.
"Uh, what are you doing here?"
"Us? What are you doing here?" Dean replies.
"Looking for you! You've been missing for days," Cas says.
"So get us the hell out of here then!" Sam says. "Let's go," Cas says, reaching out his hands towards them, but then he disappears.
"Cas?" Kayla asks , confused.
"No, no no no," the host says, walking over. "Mr. Trickster does not like pretty boy angels." He pulls out another envelope.
"Dean Winchester." Dean looks at him, wide-eyed. In Japanese, he asks "Would your mother and father still be alive, if your brother was never born? Countdown."
"What do I do? What do I do? I don't wanna get it in the nuts," Dean says desperately.
"I dunno, I don't – wait," Sam says. "I played a doctor."
"What?" Dean says.
"In Dr. Sexy! I played a doctor! I operated," Sam goes on.
"So?" Dean asks.
"So I played the role the trickster wanted me to play! Maybe we just have to go along with it," Sam explains.
"Go along with what?" Dean asks.
"With the game! We're on a game show right, so we just answer the question!"
"In Japanese?" Dean growls. "I don't know Japanese!"
"Try!" Sam urges.
"Dammit!" Dean presses the red button in front of him and the timer stops. Dean thinks for a minute, then says in Japanese "The answer is... yes?" The host looks at him for a long time.
"Dean Winchester – Nutcracker champion!" He throws the envelope in the air.
"How did you do that?" Sam asks.
"I have no idea," Dean says, forcing a grin.
"So that's it," Sam says. "We play our roles, we survive."
"Yeah, play our roles for how long?" Dean wonders.
"Good question," Sam replies.
"What about me?" Kayla asks. "I haven't had a role yet." The boys look at her, unable to answer her question.
The next thing Kayla knows she is in a bright room with pictures of angels covering the walls. "Where am I?" she wonders out loud.
"Hello Kay-Kay," the Trickster says from behind her. She turns around.
"How do you know me?" she asks quietly, fear evident in her eyes. The Trickster sighs and walks over to her. He tucks a stand of her long blonde hair behind her ear.
"You're still so beautiful," he says gently, looking down at her.
"Where are Sam and Dean?" she asks.
He smirks, "Genital Herpes advert." Kayla gently giggles and shakes her head.
"Why angels?" she asks, looking around the room.
"Just because you've lost your grace, doesn't mean that people can't tell that you're an angel." She looks at him surprised. Her world then turns black.
The trio are in the Sun'n Sand motel. "Son of a bitch," Dean is just finishing.
Sam walks over to the scantily clad girl and takes her arm. "I am really really very sorry, but we've got some work to do." He leads her toward the door.
"But we did do work!" she says, looking at Dean. "In depth."
Kayla's standing there with her eyes closed, muttering, "Don't think about it. Brain will explode."
The girl waves at Dean as she leaves. Sam gives him a look.
"How long do we have to keep doing this?" Dean says through gritted teeth.
"I dunno," Sam says. "Maybe forever?" The audience laughs. "We might die in here," Sam adds, and they laugh again.
"How is that funny?" Dean snaps. "Vultures."
Castiel walks in, some bloody cuts on his face. The audience cheers.
"Cas," Kayla yells happily, running over to him. "What happened to you?"
"You okay?" Dean asks.
"I don't have much time," Cas says, coming over.
"What happened?" Sam asks.
"I got out," Cas says.
"From where?" Dean asks.
"Listen to me," Cas says. "Something is not right. This thing is much more powerful than it should be and it shouldn't be able to know what Kayla is."
"What thing, the trickster?" Dean asks.
"If it is a Trickster," Cas replies.
"What do you mean?" Sam asks.
Suddenly Cas is thrown against the wall and falls to the floor. The Trickster jogs in.
"Hello!" Cas looks up – his mouth is taped shut. "Thank you! Please! Stop!" The Trickster waves his hand as the audience cheers. "Hi Castiel!" He flicks his hand, and Cas disappears.
"Not again," Kayla moans.
"Where did you just send him?" Dean asks.
"Relax! He'll live," the Trickster replies. "Mmmmaybe."
"Alright, you know what? I'm done with the monkey dance," Dean says dangerously, moving so he's right in front of the Trickster. "Okay? We get it."
"Yeah? Get what, hotshot?"
"Playing our roles! Right? That's your game," Dean says.
"That's half the game," the Trickster says.
"What's the other half?" Sam asks.
"Play your roles out there," the Trickster says.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean asks.
"Oh you know! Sam, starring as Lucifer. Dean, starring as Michael. Your celebrity death match! Play your roles!"
"You want us to say yes to those sons of bitches?" Sam says in surprise.
"Hells yeah! Let's light this candle!" The Trickster says.
"We do that, the world will end," Sam tells him.
"Yeah? And who's fault is that?" The Trickster asks. "Who popped Lucifer out of the box? Hmm? Look. It started! You started it! It can't be stopped. So let's get it over with!"
Dean nods, glaring. "Heaven or Hell? Which side you on?"
"I'm not on either side," he replies.
"Yeah right. You'll grab an ankle, Michael or Lucifer, which one is it?" Dean insists.
The Trickster smiles. "You listen to me, you arrogant dick. I don't work for either of those S.O.B.s. Believe me."
"Hmm," Dean says. "Oh, you're somebody's bitch." The Trickster grabs him and flings him against the wall. "Don't you ever – ever –presume to know what I am." He lets go of Dean with one hand and points at Sam. "Now listen very closely. Here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna suck it up, accept your responsibilities, and play the roles that destiny has chosen for you."
"Let him go," Kayla growls before Sam can say anything. The Trickster does as she asks.
"And if we don't?" Sam asks.
"Then you'll stay here in TV land. Forever," the Trickster replies. "300 channels, and nothing's on." He snaps his fingers.
The trio are at a crime scene. It's night. There's a dead man on the ground, he's been shot in the stomach. They're wearing suits and sunglasses.
"Oh, come on!" Dean says. Another officer walks up.
"So. What do you think?"
"What do I think? I think go screw yourself, that's what I think," Dean snaps irritably.
"Uh, could you give us a second please?" Sam asks. The man walks away. Sam puts his hand on Dean's shoulder. "You gotta calm down."
"Calm down? I am wearing sunglasses at night! You know who does that? No-talent douchebags." He takes them off. "I hate this game. I hate that we are in a procedural cop show. And you wanna know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows! There's like three hundred of them on television. They're all the freaking same! It's 'Oooh. Plane crashed here'. Oh shut up!" Kayla snickers at Dean's rant.
"Hey," Sam says, taking off his own sunglasses. "Check out sweet tooth over there." Dean looks. The man who talked them earlier is standing near the body, eating a lollipop.
"Think that's him?" Dean asks.
"Just follow my lead," Sam replies.
They put on their sunglasses and walk under the police tape. "You uh – you okay?" the officer with the lollipop asks as Kayla walks round to stand next to him.
"Yeah. What've we got?" Dean asks slowly.
"Well, aside from the ligature marks around his neck, he has what appears to be a roll of quarters jammed down his throat," the cop replies. Sam takes off his glasses to look.
"Well I say, jackpot." He puts back on his sunglasses.
The other cop laughs. "Also, there was a stab wound to the lower abdomen there." Dean picks up a stick and pokes at the wound, then stands up and puts back on his own sunglasses.
"Well I say, no guts, no glory."
"Get that guy a... Tums,"Sam adds. The cop chuckles appreciatively.
Dean looks at him. "Gutterball."
The cop laughs again. "Good one guys." Dean stabs him in the chest with a stake. The man falls to the ground and dies. Someone starts laughing behind Kayla. She turns to see the Trickster, standing behind them. "You got the wrong guy, idiot."
"Did we?" Dean asks, and Sam stabs the Trickster from behind.
A second later, the crime scene fades, and they're standing in the old abandoned mill again. Their clothes are back to normal. The Trickster is laying on the ground. The trio exchange glances.
Dean is brushing his teeth. "I'm worried, man. What that S.O.B. did to Cas. You know, where is he?" He turns around, heads out of the bathroom. "Sam?" No answer. The room's empty, except for Kayla . "Where are you?"
Outside, Dean tries to call Sam, but only gets his voicemail. "Sam. It's me. Where the hell did you go?" Dean says, then hangs up as he and Kayla get in the Impala.
"Dean?" Dean and Kayla look around.
"Sam? Where are you?"
"I dunno," Sam says. Dean looks down. Where the Impala's radio usually is, there's a red light, going along with Sam's voice.
"Oh crap," Sam says. "I don't think we killed the Trickster."
Dean drives down the road. The Impala has flashing red lights on the front as well. "Okay. Stake didn't work," Dean says. "So what, this's another trick?"
"I dunno. Maybe the stake didn't work because it's not a trickster?" Sam's voice replies.
"What do you mean?" Dean asks.
"I mean, you heard Cas. He said this thing was too powerful to be a Trickster," Sam reminds him.
"Yeah, and did you notice the way he looked at Cas? Almost like he knew him," Dean comments.
"And he knew me, he knew what I was," Kayla says, looking at Dean.
"And how pissed he got when you brought up Michael and Lucifer," Sam adds.
"Son of a bitch," Dean says.
"What?" Sam asks.
"I think I know what we're dealing with," Dean replies.
Dean parks the car at Centennial Point Wilderness Area, and is going through the trunk. Kayla's leaning against the hood.
"Dean?" Sam's voice says.
"What?" Dean says.
"That – uh – feels really uncomfortable," Sam replies. Dean rolls his eyes and Kayla laughs. Dean then closes the trunk, hard.
"Ow," Sam says. "You sure this is gonna work?"
"No, but I have no other ideas," Dean says. He stands in front of the Impala and looks up. "Alright, you son of a bitch! Uncle! We'll do it!"
"Trickster!" Kayla yells.
"Should I honk?" Sam asks.
"Wow! Sam! Get a load of the rims on you," the Trickster says, walking up.
"Eat me," Sam snaps.
"Okay boys. Ready to go quietly?" The Trickster asks.
"Whoa whoa whoa. Not so fast," Dean says. "Nobody's going anywhere until Sam has opposable thumbs."
"What's the difference? Satan's gonna ride his ass one way or another," the Trickster replies. Dean glares at him. The Trickster sighs, snaps his fingers, and Sam climbs out of the car. "Happy?" the Trickster says.
"Tell me one thing. Why didn't the stake kill you?" Dean asks.
"Well I am the Trickster," he reminds them.
"Or maybe you're not," Dean says. Sam holds up a lighter, which he drops onto the ground. A ring of fire goes up around the Trickster.
"Maybe you've always been an angel," Dean says.
The Trickster laughs. "A what? Did somebody slip a mickey in your powershake, kid?"
"I'll tell you what," Dean says, ignoring him. "You just jump out of the holy fire, and we'll call it our mistake." The Trickster laughs again, then stops. The woods and conservation area around them disappears. They're back in the mill again.
The Trickster claps. "Well played, kids. Well played. Where'd you get the holy oil?"
"Well you might say we pulled it out of Sam's ass," Dean replies.
"Where'd I screw up?" the Trickster asks.
"You didn't. But nobody gets the jump on Cas like you did," Sam says. "Mostly it was the way you talked about Armageddon and the way you treated Kayla," Dean says.
"Meaning?" the Trickster asks.
"Well call it personal experience, but nobody gets that angry and protective unless it's their own family," Dean replies.
"So which one are you?" Sam asks. "Grumpy, Sneezy, or Douchey?"
"Gabriel, okay?" he says. "They call me Gabriel."
"Gabriel," Sam repeats. "The archangel."
"Guilty," Gabriel says.
"Brother," Kayla breaths, staring at him.
"Okay, Gabriel. How does an archangel become a Trickster?" Dean asks.
"My own private witness protection," Gabriel replies. "I skipped out of Heaven, had a face transplant, carved out my own little corner of the world. Till you two screwed it all up."
"And what did Daddy say when you ran off and joined the pagans?" Dean asks.
"Daddy doesn't say anything about anything," Gabriel says.
"Then what happened?" Sam asks. "Why did you ditch?"
"Well do you blame him?" Dean says. "I mean his brothers are heavy-weight douchenozzles."
"Hey!" Kayla exclaims. "They're my family too."
"Shut your cakehole," Gabriel says dangerously. "You don't know anything about my family. I love my father. My brothers. My sister. Love them! But watching them turn on each other? Tear at each other's throats? Succumb to madness and grief. I couldn't bear it! Okay? So I left. And now it's happening all over again."
"Then help us stop it!" Sam says.
"It can't be stopped," Gabriel says.
"You wanna see the end of the world?" Dean asks.
"I want it to be over!" Gabriel shouts. "I have to sit back and watch my own brothers kill each other, thanks to you two! Heaven, Hell, I don't care who wins! I just want it to be over!"
"It doesn't have to be like that," Sam cuts in. "There has to be some way to pull the plug."
Gabriel laughs. "You do not know my family! What you guys call the apocalypse? I used to call Sunday dinner. That's why there's no stopping this. Because this isn't about a war. It's about two brothers that loved each other, and betrayed each other. You think you'd be able to relate."
"What're you talking about?" Sam asks. Gabriel whistles. "You sorry sons of bitches. Why do you think you two are the vessels? Think about it. Michael – the big brother. Loyal to an absent father. And Lucifer – the little brother. Rebellious of daddy's plan. You were born to this, boys. It's your destiny! It was always you! 'As it is in Heaven, so it must be on Earth'. One brother has to kill the other."
"So what the hell are you saying?" Dean interrupts.
"Why do you think I've always taken such an interest in you?" Gabriel asks. "Because from the moment Dad flipped on the lights around here, we knew it was all gonna end with you. Always."
Dean looks at Sam. "No. That's not gonna happen."
"I'm sorry," Gabriel says. "But it is. Guys... I wish this were a TV show. Easy answers... endings wrapped up in a bow. But this is real. And it's gonna end bloody for all of us. That's just how it's gotta be."
"So... boys. Now what? Stare at each other for the rest of eternity?"
"Well first of all, you're gonna bring Cas back from wherever you stashed him," Dean snaps.
"Oh am I?" Gabriel says.
"Yeah. Or we're going to dunk you in some holy oil, and deep fry ourselves an archangel," Dean threatens.
"Please, Gabriel," Kayla begs.
"Never could say no to you." Gabriel rolls his eyes, but he snaps his fingers. Cas appears next to them.
"Cas, you okay?" Kayla asks.
"I'm fine," Cas replies. "Hello Gabriel."
Gabriel smiles. "Hey bro. How's the search for Daddy going? Let me guess. Awful!" Cas glares at him, but Gabriel isn't bothered.
"Okay, we're out of here," Dean says, a little shakily. "Come on, Sam, Kayla." They walk away, Dean pulling Kayla with him.
"Uh, okay. Uh, guys? So – so what? You're just gonna – you're gonna leave me here forever?" Gabriel calls.
Dean turns back. "No. We're not. Because we don't screw with people, like you do. And for this record? This isn't about some prize fight between your brothers. Or some destiny that can't be stopped. This is about you, being too afraid to stand up to your family!" He turns away and pulls fire alarm. Above them, the sprinklers turn on. "Don't say I never did anything for you," Dean calls.
"Goodbye Gabriel," Kayla shouts. They leave. Gabriel watches them go as the fire around him slowly burns out.
"All that stuff he was spouting in there, you think he was telling the truth?" Dean asks as the boys, Kayla and Cas head to the car.
"I think he believes it," Sam replies.
"So what do we do?" Dean asks, looking at him.
"I dunno," Sam admits.
"I'll tell you one thing. Right about now, I wish I was back on a TV show," Dean says.
"Yeah me too," Sam agrees, and they get in the car.
"Do you think he knows who I was?" Kayla asks as they drive off.
"Maybe. But I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of his mouth," Dean says.
"Don't worry. You will find out some day," Sam assures her.
"I just hope that I find out in time," Kayla mutters.
A/N: I absolutely love Gabriel. He is so funny. Here's a couple of questions for you.
1- Should I save Gabriel or kill him off, like they do in the show?
2- Does anyone think that they know who Kayla was as an angel?
Please Review.
Jenni
