Jess sat on the floor of the storeroom flicking through the pages of the journal that Forester had left with them as he had gone to talk to the Winchester brothers. "This thing is nuts!"

"Like any of this situation makes any sense," Emily replied.

"What do mean?" Rory asked as she walked over to him.

He handed the book over to her, "These guys should be locked up, for their own safety at least, if this thing is anything to go by."

Rory skimmed through the pages looking at the notes and scribblings as well as drawings in the journal, many of the entries dated in the early '80's "Maybe these two are in a cult and they're trying to recruit Dean?"

"Could be. He seems to believe all the demon stuff they have been telling him; and if they've been making him stay with their friends they've had plenty of time to try to brainwash him into it," Jess said.

"Yeah, the Scientologists use Tom Cruise and John Travolta as PR and these guys go for kidnapping and bullets?" Luke interjected.

"And I suppose you are going to suggest that this 'Sam' went through plastic surgery just to look like Rory's ex– boyfriend so they could recruit him?" Emily asked mockingly.

Lorelai looked over at her fiancé. "She's got you there – got to be easier ways to recruit somebody."

"Not to mention the antichrist thing," April said.

Rory handed the book back to Jess. "This journal was started over 20 years ago, they could have been raised in a cult, Sam and his brother 'Dean' I mean. Boy that sounds weird."

"Sure does," Luke said.

Rory nodded before continuing. "Maybe instead of trying to recruit our Dean, they are really trying to leave the cult and the rest of the followers aren't happy about it so started calling one of them the Antichrist to…."

"Make the rest go after them?" Jess said filling in the rest of Rory's train of thought. "Got to love a mob mentality don't you."

"That is a possibility," Lorelai said. "Dean…I mean our 'Dean' is only being dragged along for the ride."

Rory nodded. "Poor Dean."

"Bag boy couldn't end up getting tangled up with the Amish could he," Jess said sarcastically.

"Got to thank him though, gets me out of going over place settings again," Luke replied lightly to which Emily glowered at him.

"Will you guys shut up?" Lorelai said glancing over to the corner of the room.

Clara curled up beside some shelves as the others talked.

"Clara, are you okay?" Rory asked causing the girl to move further away from them.

"Clara?" Lorelai asked seeing the girl's response.

"He came to say goodbye to us. He came to say goodbye," the girl said quietly holding back the tears causing Rory to move a step closer to her to comfort her.

"NO!" Clara said pulling away. "You don't touch me."

Rory stood still, unsure what to do. "Clara, I don't understand?"

"I'm losing my brother, he came to say goodbye, so even if we all get out of this I'm not going to see him again because he's not planning on coming back here," Clara spat out. "He came to say goodbye to us. Don't you understand? He came back to say goodbye and you guys are treating it like 'Clue' and now have started in on the jokes."

Lorelai moved threw a look in Luke's direction causing him to take a breath.

"Sorry kid," Luke responded. "Just trying to understand why this is happening, that is all."

Clara sniffed as the tears began to flow.

"I'm sure there is a way out of this for him, I'm not sure how but I'm sure there is," Rory said.


"You guys okay?" Winchester asked as he stuck his head round the door of the little room.

Emily glared at him, "We'd be better if you considered letting us go."

"Mom," Lorelai said through gritted teeth as she held on to Rory.

"If she's Rory and you're Lorelai, then that makes her, Emily right?" Winchester said.

"You know who they are?" Jess asked.

"Them, sure and ladies I apologize for getting you mixed up in this mess. I promise not to let Forester out on his own again until he's able to cross the street himself," Winchester said, light heartedly as he looked over the three Gilmore women. He turned to Emily, "Got to admit that's not a bad gene pool you got going for you there."

"Excuse me?" Emily replied confused.

"Hey, back off," Luke said protesting causing Lorelai to put a hand on his arm.

Winchester smirked, "Dude chill, just being polite and paying the ladies a compliment – she did good work, and I can appreciate – takes a lot of class to stay calm and composed under this type of situation and I can see where Rory and Lorelai got it from."

"Well, thank you," Emily replied.

"You're welcome," Winchester said with a smile.

"And I can see why Forester held that torch for Rory here for that long and why he thought she was way out of his league."

"I'm not out of his 'league'," Rory said before looking round the room. "I'm not in any league."

"None of my business, saying what I was told; give your ex boyfriend a beer and he won't shut up," Winchester said. "Then he falls over, which I got to admit, is at least different from dealing with my brother and what he does after he gets past his two beer limit."

"But I'm not in a league," Rory said protesting.

"Don't sell yourself short," Winchester said. "Most guys would consider themselves lucky if a girl like you gave them the time of day, why should Forester there feel any different? The same could be said about Lorelai there."

Luke glowered at Winchester as he gave Lorelai a smile.

"This is yours," Jess said as he got up and thrust the journal into Winchester's hands.

"Thanks," Winchester held it reverently for a moment before putting in the pocket of his coat while he had a smile on his face. "Remind me never to lend that guy the keys to my car. I'd never find my baby again."

"Do you believe what is …?" Lorelai asked.

"In the journal?" Winchester asked to which Lorelai nodded. "Doesn't matter to you if I do, does it? There is what there is and that is it."

"How Forest Gump of you," Jess said. "How about letting us go, or at least telling us when you're planning to leave or have you changed your mind on that?"

"Dude calm down," Winchester said, trying to placate Jess. "I keep trying to tell you I ain't going to hurt anyone. Well, not here anyway. The guy across the street I ain't too sure about, but I have to work out a way to get to him first."

"Thank you for the reassurance," Emily said in a slightly condescending tone.

"Lady, as I said before you are definitely a class act," Winchester replied to her before he turned his attention to the two scared younger girls, "Clara, Slugger, you two okay?"

"Slugger?" Rory asked.

"My name is April," April said.

Winchester grinned. "Considering the right hook you tried to throw I think I'll stick with Slugger. All the books in that bag you threw at my head yours?"

"Most of them are my cousin Jess's," she said with a shake of her head. She looked over at her cousin. "I think I messed up your notes."

"It's okay," Jess replied.

"Jess?" Winchester asked.

"That's me, the one with some words for you," Jess replied.

"Whatever. Lot of books to have, dude," Winchester said before turning to Clara. "Are you holding up alright?"

"Go to hell!" Clara spat out.

"If I said I was working on that would it help?" Winchester took a breath. "Look, if I had the time, I'd get Forester out of this. Hell, I wouldn't have gotten him mixed up in it. But, I'll be honest, I don't and truth be told I actually might need him. I know that isn't much help to you, but I'm going to get you guys and your brother out of this alive, and make sure your family is safe. Not sure how exactly but I'll work something out."

"That's not exactly helpful to her," Lorelai said as she moved over to the scared girl and pulled her into a hug.

Winchester nodded, "I know. But, it's all I got right now."

"Wait a minute Jess? As in Jess Mariano? The guy that wrote that book? The Jess Mariano that she dumped Forester for back in high school?" Winchester asked, turning around to face Jess while pointing to Rory.

"You know about that?" Rory said. "Dean...Forester told you about that."

"As I said hand him a beer and you cannot shut the guy up!" Winchester reiterated.

"He dumped her," Jess pointed out.

"Really," Winchester said confused.

"Yeah really!" Jess replied firmly.

Winchester took a moment looking over the man in front of him, before he scratched his nose, "None of my business, don't know the whole story, only what I was told, which got to admit I kinda got lost when he hit the 'pretty hair' stuff."

"Pretty hair?" Rory asked, at exactly the same moment Luke became interested into the floor.

"Don't ask me," Winchester said. "That was the point we took the booze away from him. Okay, I took the booze away from him. Sam was at that point doing his 'Look at me, I'm the taller than everybody' act. Seriously, it was like wrangling two humungous three year olds."

"Thanks for the image," Jess said.

"Hey Dude, your past isn't my business. I don't know what really went down; you could have just looked at him wrong for all I know. I remember what it was like back in high school, all these hormones swimming about, and thinking with parts that shouldn't think. Got caught with my hand in the cookie jar too many times to recall back in those days, if you know my meaning," Winchester said causing Jess to glare at him. "I'm just making conversation and all I got to go on is what I've been told which ain't much. So what if what happened is really a tomato, tomahto deal, what these days ain't when you take a step back and look at it. But, I asked you did you write that book?"

"My book?" Jess asked surprised. "You know about my book?"

"Copy was in with his stuff along with some clippings from articles Rory here wrote, think he bought it because he knew you," Winchester explained. "Sam said it was okay, a little on the pretentious side, typical first book deal, the style was a little rough but he liked it. Said once you got a few under your belt, got things straight in your head then he'd want to read more."

"Dean… I mean our Dean had Jess's book and some of the articles I wrote?" Rory asked.

Winchester nodded, "As I said think it is the whole 'I knew them when' thing. Though have to admit your book dude, I skimmed."

"You read my book?" Jess asked.

"Not my taste, agree with my brother about you being full of yourself when you wrote it, but I ain't really a big literary critic so what do I know," Winchester said with a shrug. "I was bored, it was there, and nothing was on cable for an hour. And yes, I read it because he said it had been written by a guy he knew from way back when and I wanted to see if there anything in it I could use as dirt on him."

"April told you it was skimmable," Luke said with a smile on his face.

"Literary criticism in a hostage situation?" Rory said. "Bet Philip Roth never had to deal with that."

"New format," her mother said, "If you can argue under gun fire, then you're prepared for anything. Even a lack of coffee."

"The less you are caffeinated right now the better," Luke replied to which Lorelai pouted.

"Don't know about that," Winchester interjected. "Lady after my own heart 'cause I could really do with some of that right now. Stronger the better."

Lorelai smiled, "If you could scrounge up two cups I'd be really grateful. I know one pot got hit, but I'm hoping that was the decaf."

"Lorelai?" Luke said.

"The man offered," she replied. "I'm just being co-operative with him and it's only one cup."

"See what I can do for you," Winchester smiled before turning to Luke. "Do you have any of that pie left? Because dude, if you did that would be real sweet."

"You want pie?" Luke asked.

"Sure," Winchester asked. "I can get it and I'll leave the cash on the counter if you're worried about that."

"You think I'm worried about cash?" Luke asked.

"Well, trying not to piss you off anymore than you already are, seeing how you guys and Forester go way back and all," Winchester said with a shrug causing Luke to knot his brow.

"And how can you think of your stomach at a time like this?" Rory asked.

"Who else if going to think of it? I can get you a piece if you want," Winchester offered. "Anybody?"

Lorelai thought for a second, before turning to Luke, "What type was it again today?"

"Apple, with a hit of cinnamon, if I'm not mistaken" Winchester said before Luke had a chance to say a word.

"Did Caesar make it?" Lorelai asked her fiancé.

"Yes… but I don't see," Luke started to say.

"Caesar?" Winchester asked.

"My short cook," Luke said.

"Tell him that it was good pie dude, chef should be congratulated. Though, there is a diner on the I5 that does a better crust, just outside Tacoma. Filling ain't as good though. Maybe I could leave you the address and your guy can talk to their guy.

"I could have a piece…with some ice cream? It's the freezer," Lorelai said before looking down at the scared girl in her arms. "I think someone else could do with some as well."

Winchester nodded, looking at Clara for a moment, "Anyone else?"

Rory looked over at the others including April, "I could go some ice cream. What about you April?"

Luke nodded, "Yeah I think she could do with some."

"Can I have just the pie?" April asked.

"Think that can be arranged," Winchester said with a smile looking over at Jess, "What about you dude, pie, coffee, use of the facilities – could be here for a while, might want to get comfortable. Though, you seem to know the place a hell of a lot better than I do."

"I can't believe you lot are having this conversation," Emily said.

"Why not?" Lorelai asked.

"I agree with her, why not. Can always talk about pie," Winchester said. "Not saying it was the best apple I've ever had. There was that one in, where was it, Burkittsville – damn good pie."

"So why don't you go back there," Jess asked.

"Fugly Scarecrow, dude," Winchester stated. "Real Fugly Scarecrow! I'll do a lot for good pie, but that was too much. Not to mention almost being made a human sacrifice."

"Human sacrifice?" Rory asked.

"Long story and as I said real fugly scarecrow," Winchester said. "Turned out okay obviously – but so should have gotten that recipe."

"But you said human sacrifice," April said.

"Guess we aren't going to be talking about pie anymore are we?" Winchester said looking at the faces around him. "If it helps fugly scarecrow is gone?"

"Is that what you did with Dean, 'our' Dean? Drag him into stuff like that, whatever cult thing you believe in," Rory asked Winchester accusingly.

"I'm not part of anything. Hell if any religion accepted me, I'd advise you to stay well away from it as I no Sunday school type," Winchester explained.

"You aren't kidding on that are you," Lorelai replied.

"And for the record, we didn't do anything to your friend," Winchester protested. "Just a case of wrong time, wrong place and in his case, wrong face."

"He came here to say goodbye to us," Clara said.

Winchester exhaled loudly. "Made up his mind then."

"Made up his mind about what?"

"Taking Shortbus' place," Ruby said as she entered the storeroom.

"How the hell?" Winchester said to her before yelling for his brother to get in there.

"Jesus," Forester said as he followed on behind.

"Hello to you too," Ruby said with a smile on her face.

"Ruby, how did you get down here?" Sam asked

"Yeah, we left you upstairs," Winchester said firmly. "You shouldn't have been able to get down here!"

"What can I say I'm special and if hadn't entered your moronic brain this is the 21st century, you left me in reach of a wall socket and a cable. Salt blows if you if plug in a fan!" she said with a smile on her face, she looked at Sam, "You have got to start thinking more than one step ahead, especially if you are going to be responsible for the replacement here."

"I told you, I'm not replacing anybody even if I do stick around," Forester said firmly.

"Really 'Dean' you're not replacing anyone, that's not what Shortbus thinks or hopes."

"Ruby shut up!" Winchester said.

"Dean?" Sam said looking at his brother before turning to Forester, "Dean?"

"Oh they didn't say? Big bro is getting desperate, thinks you need a little friend to play with after he goes to the land down under and Mr. Forester here might fit the bill. Someone you can call and have those girlie chats that you're brother here says you don't have," Ruby said ignoring the confused looks she was getting from Sam as she turning to the group.

"So Forester or 'RD', what is it you prefer?" she asked Forester, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends? And who do I have to kill to get some French fries around here?"