Southern Comfort Part 2

The crime scene investigator took pictures of the blood on the wall behind the Sheriff's desk.

"Alright. We're set." The man noted. "Let's go."

"Yeah." Another man agreed.

The two men pushed the stretcher away. Dean, Garth, Sam, and Angela stood around the Sheriff's bloodstained desk.

"Ten bones says Deputy Doug had an axe to grind with his boss," Dean noted.

"How can you be so sure?" Garth questioned.

Dean just pointed to the green goo that was on the Sheriff's tape dispenser.

"Ah, what the hell?" Garth groaned.

"Maybe we torched the wrong redneck." Dean sighed.

"Or maybe not." Angela countered. "Maybe an object was removed from the grave, something the specter's attaching itself to."

"Like Bobby's flask?" Dean asked.

"Um, I don't know, guys." Garth frowned. "You saw what I saw. Those kids didn't take anything."

"Or they did." Sam retorted.

"And the specter hitched a ride with it." Dean nodded.

"And whoever has the object gets possessed," Sam added.

"Okay." Garth nodded. "So, who's got the object, and, more importantly, who do they got a grudge against?"

~/~\~

Sam, Dean, Garth, and Angela were in the holding cell with Deputy Wallace.

"Alright," Angela started. "We need you to focus, Deputy. Other lives depend on it. Tell me what happened after you shot the Sheriff."

"I was on the ground." Deputy Walla recalled. "I think Karl tackled me, and I asked what happened."

"And?" Dean questioned.

"He didn't answer me. He just took my gun and walked away."

"Did he say where he was going?" Dean pressed.

Deputy Wallace shrugged. "I guess… I must have hurt him, too. He said he was going to the hospital."

The four hunters looked at each other, then left the cell quickly.

"You three find out what you can about the unknown soldier. I got the hospital." Dean instructed.

~/~\~

Garth, Sam, and Angela got out of Garth's vehicle and walked towards the library.

"Hey, uh, guys." Garth started. "If you ever need to talk, I just want to let you know that I'm here. About anything—you know, life, uh, Dean, you."

"I'm okay. Thanks." Sam replied.

"I mean, it just seems like you guys are talking but nobody's listening to each other. I had this cousin once—well, he's gone now—but his name was Frank." Garth rambled. "Frank and I used to build…" he trailed off as he walked into the library.

Angela nudged Sam, who was just standing on the steps outside. "Babe, you're zoning out. Come on."

~/~\~

Dean got out of the Impala, which was parked behind the Sheriff's truck. Dean glanced in the open window of the truck and walked on.

~/~\~

A librarian was leading Sam, Angela, and Garth through the library.

"You do know there is a good reason he's called the unknown soldier, right?" she raised her brows.

"Right." Angela nodded. "Uh, we were just hoping maybe a theory or two had been floated around over the years—something local, maybe?"

The librarian nodded. "There is one." She took a book from the shelf.

~/~\~

Deputy Karl attempted to shoot the man that was cowering against the counter, but the gun didn't fire.

"Looks like you're shooting blanks," Dean commented from behind Karl.

Karl turned to face Dean, and Dean grabbed the rifle before punching Karl in the face.

"Hey, that tickled," Karl smirked.

Karl punched Dean, who fell heavily to the floor. He grabbed Dean and pulled him to his feet again.

~/~\~

"Corporal Collins of the Union shot and killed his brother, Vance, who fought for the Confederacy. Local boys." The librarian explained, pointing at a picture of Vance.

Sam's brows furrowed. "Wait, so two brothers fought on opposite sides of the Civil War?"

"Legend had it that Vance swore vengeance on his brother with his dying breath. Years later—consumed by guilt, no doubt—the corporal dug his brother up where he'd buried him on the battlefield and brought him home."

"Are you suggesting this Vance guy is the unknown soldier?" Garth asked curiously.

"That's one theory, anyway." The librarian nodded.

"What's that?" Sam pointed to the photo of Vance.

~/~\~

Karl was holding Dean tightly by the throat.

"Karl, listen, I know the specter's turning the temperature up in there." Dean managed to get out. "So, just tell me what the object is, and we'll send this joker home."

"I don't think so," Karl smirked. "There's unfinished business, thanks to you." He added, sniffing Dean. "Oh, the specter likes you."

"Oh yeah?" Dean raised his brows. "Why don't you tell him to come on out here and we'll make promise bracelets."

Karl flung Dean onto and over a desk.

~/~\~

"Most of the soldiers were poor farmers, so…" the librarian turned to another page in the book. "The families would give them a penny on a string. It was for good luck, and in case they ever got lost, they always had a penny for food or drink."

"A penny," Sam muttered.

~/~\~

Karl held up a penny with a hole drilled through it. "Here. Have a taste." He smirked, pressing the penny into Dean's palm.

~/~\~

Sam, Garth, and Angela left the library. Sam was on the phone.

"It's me. Do what you gotta." Dean's voicemail recited.

"Dean, hey," Sam started. "There was a string on the floor of the tomb. It used to hold an old penny. That's the object. We're coming right now."

~/~\~

Sam, Angela, and Garth walked into the motel room. Sam had his phone to his ear.

"Dean?" Sam's brows furrowed. "What the hell, man? We went to the hospital." He explained. Dean was sitting on a bed, his ringing phone next to him. "You're not answering your phone."

Dean had black goo running from his right ear. He stood up and pointed a gun at Sam and Angela. "You should have looked for me when I was in Purgatory." He snarled.

~/~\~

Dean was pointing his gun at Sam and Angela.

"Come on, Dean." Angela pleaded. "We know it's not you in there pulling the strings."

"Shut up!" Dean roared. He turned to Garth, who made a made towards his belt for a weapon. "Don't!" he snarled before turning to Sam. "You never wanted this life. Always blamed me for pulling you back in it."

"That's not true," Sam assured.

"Really?" Dean glared. "'Cause everything you've ever done since you climbed into my ride has been to deceive me."

"What do you want me to say? That I've made mistakes?" Sam raised his brows. "I've made mistakes, Dean!"

"That's not Dean, Sam." Garth cut in.

"Shut up!" Dean yelled. "Mistakes? Well, let's go through some of Sammy's greatest hits. Drinking demon blood, check. Being in cahoots with Ruby." He glared. "Not telling me that you lost your soul. Or how about running around with Samuel for a whole year, letting me think that you were dead while you're doing all kinds of crazy! Those aren't mistakes, Sam. Those are choices!"

"Alright. You said it." Sam agreed. "We've both played a little fast and loose."

"Yeah, I might have lied, but I never betrayed you. I never once left you or Angie to die!" Dean yelled. "And for what, some apple pie life? You left me for an apple pie life?"

Sam put a hand on the gun and punched Dean. He pushed Dean into a glass pane, which shattered, and punched Dean twice more. Dean backhanded Sam, headbutted him, then kicked him across the room. Sam fell to the floor, then pulled himself up to lean against a sofa.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Garth exclaimed, getting between Sam and Dean.

Angela took this as an opportunity to run over to Sam. She knelt down next to him. "You okay, baby?" She asked.

Sam nodded and looked up at Garth. "Garth, don't."

"No, he won't kill me. His beef isn't with me." Garth replied. "You're not gonna shoot me, are you, Dean?"

Dean pointed the gun at Garth. "Move."

"Come on, Dean. You do not want to kill your brother and sister-in-law." Garth stressed. "You've been protecting Sam your whole life, and you've been protecting Angie since you met her. Don't stop now."

"They left me to rot in Purgatory!" Dean roared.

"Alright. Alright. Maybe they did." Garth shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't there. But I'm sure they had their reasons."

"Just like you had your reasons for Benny." Sam reminded.

Garth's brows furrowed. "Who?"

Angela shifted uncomfortably, feeling an unfamiliar pain in her abdomen.

"Benny has been more family to me in the past year than you two have ever been!" Dean yelled. "That's right. Cas let me down. Angie let me down. You let me down. The only person that hasn't let me down is Benny."

"I know you're angry," Garth noted. "But, man, you got to fight this thing. Do not do this! Just let it go. Come on, Dean."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "Goodbye, Sam, Angie."

Dean attempted to push past Garth, but Garth punched Dean. The penny dropped from Dean's hand.

Garth shook the hand he used to punch Dean. "Ow! God!" he groaned as he picked up the penny.

"Garth, don't!" Angela exclaimed. She squeezed her eyes shut, the pain in her abdomen worsening. "Oh, God." She groaned.

"It's cool. It's all good. I'm cool." Garth assured.

Sam's brows furrowed, and he looked down at Angela. "Baby, are you okay?"

"I don't know," Angela muttered. "Ow. Something's wrong." She whimpered.

The three men looked at Angela in concern.

"Kid, are you okay?" Dean frowned.

Angela took a deep breath. "I don't know what's going on." She shook her head.

"It could be stress," Garth suggested. "I mean, you did just try to shoot her and Sam." He glanced at Dean. "You two need to go outside, now." He told the brothers.

~/~\~

Garth walked to his vehicle, carrying a bag. Dean followed him.

"It took me forever to melt that penny, but it's finally gone," Garth confirmed.

Dean nodded, but still looked confused. "How come that penny didn't jack you like anyone else? I mean, I can understand why it didn't affect the kid who took it. He's young and innocent. But, uh, everyone at some point in their life feels like they've been screwed."

Garth shook his head. "Not me, man. I let all that stuff go with the help of my yogi, my Sega Genesis. And you should, too. You can't change the past, amigo." He replied. "Now, there's something I want to say to you. Stop being an idjit! You and Sam need to figure out whatever problem you have that's going on. Angie had minor stress pains, but it could get a lot worse if the stress continues to occur." He explained. "Now, you know what's coming next, right?" Garth spread his arms slightly. "Come on."

Dean looked away. "Oh…"

"Come on." Garth smiled.

"Yeah, okay." Dean nodded as Garth hugged him. "Hey, uh…" Dean took Bobby's hat out of his back pocket and put it on Garth's head. "Keep on truckin', Garth."

"Thanks." Garth smiled as one of his cell phones started to play M.C. Hammer's 'U Can't Touch This'. "Oh, got to go." He got in his car. "Yo, Lamar." He answered. "What do we got? Wendigo? You got a flare gun? No? What about a flame thrower?" he questioned. Garth laughed. "Then you'd better get some sneakers, buddy, 'cause you're gonna have to run. Alright."

Garth hung up and tried to unsuccessfully to start his vehicle. He slammed a hand on the steering wheel.

"Balls!" he yelled.

Garth tried again to start his vehicle, this time with success. He gave Dean a thumbs-up and drove away.

~/~\~

Sam was wiping his face with water at the sink. Angela ran her hand through his hair gently.

"You okay, Sammy?" she asked.

Sam nodded and looked at her. "What about you? How are you doing?"

Angela rested a hand on her stomach. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just minor stress pains."

Sam sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, baby." He whispered, pulling her close.

Angela hugged Sam tightly. "I know. We just need to figure all this crap out."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Sammy! Angie!" Dean yelled from outside the bathroom.

~/~\~

Sam closed the trunk of the Impala. Dean walked up to the couple, hands in his pockets.

"Look, guys, I don't even remember what I said, but, uh—

"But what?" Sam interrupted. "But you didn't mean it? Oh, please." He scoffed. "We all know you didn't need that penny to say those things."

"Come on, Sam." Dean sighed.

"Own up to your crap, Dean." Sam snapped. "Angie and I told you from the jump where we were coming from, why we didn't look for you. But you? You had secrets. You had Benny. And you got on your high and mighty, and you've been kicking us ever since you got back. But, that's over. So, move on, or we will. These arguments are stressing Angela out, which isn't good for the baby. So, I'm done arguing. I'm not letting Angie, or my baby, get hurt."

Dean nodded in agreement. "Okay. I hear you." He agreed before looking at Angela. "I'm sorry, kid."

Angela just smiled softly and nodded, acknowledging the apology. "Good." She replied.

"You know what?" Sam narrowed his eyes at Dean. "Hear this, too. I just might be that hunter that runs into Benny one day and ices him."

Dean pursed his lips. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, won't we?"

"Yeah." Sam scoffed. "Yeah. You keep saying that." Sam opened the back door for Angela and got in after her. "Get some rest, baby." He murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.


A/N: Hey guys, sorry this chapter is up so late. I've been working all weekend and I've been exhausted. I really hope you liked this chapter, it was a really interesting one to write :) Also, feel free to send in any requests for Snapshots! Thank you for your patience and the recent reviews. Love y'all :) xoxo

~Emily