Just want to say that our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and families of those at the Connecticut School yesterday. Having said that, here's another quick update for ya'll!
Instead of finding themselves in a garden, the Winchesters find themselves in the house in Lawrence. It's dark and empty and Gracilynn finds it kind of spooky. In the background, she hears a train whistle.
"What the… Why we back home?" Dean asks, confusion evident in his voice.
"I don't know. So what are we going to do?" Sam responds, making sure Gracilynn is near them still.
"Keep looking for the road again, I guess," Dean answers. Gracilynn has a feeling someone is watching them and she turns around to see Mary Winchester behind them in a white nightgown.
"Honey. Why are you up?" Mary says to Dean.
"Look. I'm…I'm sorry. I love you but you're not real and we don't have time…" Dean says.
"Did you have another nightmare? Tell me," Mary interrupts.
"I gotta go," Dean says, trying to shrug her off.
"Then how 'bout I tell you my nightmare, Dean? The night I burned," Mary says. The three younger Winchesters' eyes grow big as blood appears above Mary's stomach.
"Sammy, Gracie, let's get out of here," Dean says shakily, walking away.
"Don't you walk away from me," Mary demands. Dean stops, halting Sam and Gracilynn. "I never loved you. You were my burden. I was shackled to you. Look what it got me."
Mary blinks and her eyes turn yellow. Gracilynn hears a sharp intake of breath and she looks over to see fear and…something else in her dad and uncles' eyes. Mary stares at Dean and he finds himself frozen in place.
"Dad?" Gracilynn asks, not liking the looks on their faces. Sam comes out of his thoughts and looks over at Gracilynn, realizing they needed to leave, right now.
"Dean," Sam says, trying to get his brothers attention. Dean finally turns to his brother, but he looks devastated. The lights in the house suddenly change color, an unhealthy green. The room changes around them and the doors are all gone. Mary blinks and this time her eyes are their own natural blue.
"The worst was the smell. The pain, well. What can you say about your skin bubbling off? But the smell was so… You know, for a second I thought I'd left a pot roast burning in the oven. But… it was my meat," she says, staring directly at Dean, causing him to look back at her. Not for long though. He makes his way away from her and begins to look over where the doorway used to be, finding it's been bricked over.
"And then, finally, I was dead. The one silver lining was that at least I was away from you," Mary continues. She takes a deep breath. "Everybody leaves you, Dean. You noticed? Mommy. Daddy. Even Sam. Won't be long until Gracie does too."
Gracilynn flinches slightly at the nickname coming off her lips. It didn't sound right. She looks over at her uncle and sees that he looks upset at Mary's words. He doesn't say anything though; just stands there listening.
"You ever ask yourself why? Maybe it's not them. Maybe, it's you," Mary says, chuckling. Dean flinches slightly, his own inner voice agreeing with her.
"Easy now, kitten," Zachariah says, walking in behind Mary while she smiles evilly.
"You did this," Sam accuses.
"And I'm just getting started. I mean, guys. Did you really think you could just sneak past me into Mission Control?" Zachariah says humorously.
"You son of a bitch," Sam says, taking a step forward. He doesn't make it very far because a large angel goon appears and holds him in place easily. He looks over and sees Dean is in the same predicament. His gaze shifts to his niece and sees another large angel holding her in a bear hug and pulling her backwards away from them a few feet.
"You know, I'd say the same thing about you, Sam but I have actually grown quite fond of your mother. Or at least the Blessed Memory of her," Zachariah says, moving a piece of Mary's hair out of the way. He bends down and kisses her neck, causing Dean to look away. "I think we're going to be logging a lot of quality time together. I've discovered she's quite the…milf."
"You can gloat all you want, you dick, you're still bald," Dean says, attempting sarcasm.
"In heaven, I have six wings and four faces, one of whom is a lion. You see this because you're…" Zachariah says angrily before suddenly breaking himself off. He runs his fingers down Mary's arm and this time Sam looks away. "…limited."
Zachariah snaps his fingers and Mary suddenly disappears.
"Let's brass tack this, shall we?" Zachariah says.
"You gonna ball-gag us until we say yes? Huh, yeah, I've heard that one too," Dean says sarcastically, this time much more convincing. Zachariah walks up to him and slams a fist into his stomach. Gracilynn sucks in a breath. Dean folds over, letting out a pained groan.
"I'm going to do a lot more than that. I've cleared my schedule. Get him up," Dean says. The angel goon behind Dean forces him to a standing position again and Zachariah punches him in the stomach. Sam and Gracilynn struggle against the angel goons holding them, but to no avail. "Let me tell you something. I was on the fast track once. Employee of the month, every month, forever. I would walk these halls and people would AVERT THEIR EYES!"
The house begins to rumble and shake.
"I HAD 'RESPECT''! And then they assigned me you. Now look at me," he continues, chuckling unhappily. "I can't close the deal on a couple of flannel-wearing maggots? Everybody's laughing at me… and they're right to do it. So! Say yes, don't say yes; I'm still going to take it out of your asses. It's personal now, boys, and the last person in the history of creation you want as your enemy is me. And I'll tell you why. Lucifer may be strong, but I'm… 'petty'. I'm going to be the angel on your shoulder for the rest of eternity. And when I'm done, I'll go after your annoying little brat."
"Excuse me. Sir?" a slightly older black man says from behind Zachariah before Dean can threaten anything. Zachariah turns to face him.
"I'm in a meeting," Zachariah says tersely.
"I'm sorry. I need to speak to those three," the man says.
"Excuse me?" Zachariah asks, shocked.
"It's a bad time, I know, but I'm afraid I have to insist," the man says.
"You don't get to insist jack-squat," Zachariah says angrily. The older man just stares at Zachariah, not backing down; he is putting Zachariah on edge.
"No, you're right. But the boss does. His orders," the new man says.
"You're lying," Zachariah says, uncertain of his own accusation.
"I wouldn't lie about this. Look, fire me if you want. Sooner or later, he's going to come back home and you know how he is with that whole wrath thing," the black man counters. Zachariah looks over at the Winchesters. He returns his gaze to the man, but the man doesn't back down. There is a flutter of wings and suddenly Zachariah and his angel muscle are gone. Gracilynn instantly moves to her dad. Dean and Sam move closer, making sure either one is on Gracilynn's side and she is slightly behind them. The three of them stare at the new angel before them.
Gracilynn begins to look around, noticing the smell is different. She sees there are no longer in the house but instead, a garden. More like a conservatory. The sounds of the forest greet their ears. The three Winchesters walk down stone steps as one to meet Joshua.
"This is heaven's Garden?" Sam asks.
"It's-it's nice… ish. I guess," Dean says.
"You see what you want to here. For some it's God's throne room; for others it's Eden. You two, I believe it's the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. You came here on a field trip," Joshua says. Sam nods his head, remembering the field trip they went on.
"So why is Gracie seeing this then too?" Dean asks.
"Well, we can't have two different Eden's at once," Joshua says, "It went with the majority."
"You're Joshua," Sam says.
"I'm Joshua," Joshua says, nodding.
"So, you talk to God," Sam states.
"Mostly, He talks to me," Joshua corrects.
"Well, we need to speak to Him. It's important," Sam says impatiently.
"Where is he?" Dean asks.
"On Earth," Joshua answers.
"Doing what?" Dean asks.
"I don't know," replies Joshua.
"Do you know where on Earth?" Sam tries.
"No, sorry. We don't exactly speak face-to-face," Joshua answers.
"I… I don't get it. God's not talking to nobody so…," Dean begins.
"Why's he talking to me," Joshua finishes for him. "I sometimes think it's because I can sympathize…gardener to gardener…and, between us, I think he gets lonely."
"Well, my heart's breaking for him," Dean says disgustedly.
"Well, can you at least get him a message for us?" Sam asks, interrupting.
"Actually, he has a message for you. Back off," Joshua says. Gracilynn raises her eyebrows at the abrupt message.
"What?" Dean asks, surprised himself.
"He knows already. Everything you want to tell him," Joshua explains.
"But…" Dean begins.
"He knows what the angels are doing," Joshua interrupts. "He knows that the Apocalypse has begun. He just doesn't think it's his problem."
"Not his problem?" Dean asks stunned.
"That's kinda funny considering he created everything. That kinda makes this his problem, ya think?" Gracilynn says sarcastically.
"God saved you already. He put you on that plane. He brought back Castiel," Joshua says to the boys, ignoring Gracilynn jibe. He then turns to face Sam directly. "He granted you Salvation in heaven and after everything you've done too. It's more than he's intervened in a long time. He's finished. Magic amulet or not, you won't be able to find him."
"But he can stop it. He can stop all of it," Dean says.
"I suppose he could but he won't," Joshua says matter-of-factly.
"Why not?" Dean says, not understanding any of this.
"Why does he allow evil in the first place. You could drive yourself nuts asking questions like that," Joshua answers.
"So he's just going to sit back and watch the world burn?" Dean asks, annoyed.
"I know how important this was to you, Dean. I'm sorry," Joshua replies.
"Forget it. Just another dead-beat dad with a bunch of excuses, right. I'm used to that. I'll muddle through," Dean says emotionally.
"Except… you don't know if you can, this time. You can't kill the Devil, and you're losing faith, in yourself, your brother, and now this?" Joshua points out. Sam and Gracilynn look over at Dean. They begin to see how desperate and depressed he really is.
"God was your last hope. I just… I wish I could tell you something different," Joshua says apologetically.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Sam asks.
"You think that I would lie?" Joshua asks, a hint of hurt in his voice.
"It's just that… you're not exactly the first angel we've met," Sam explains.
"I'm rooting for you boys! I wish I could do more to help you, I do! But, I just trim the hedges," Joshua explains.
"So what now?" Dean asks.
"You go home again. I'm afraid this time, won't be like the last. This time, God wants you to remember," Joshua says, lifting a hand. There is a whooshing sound and a bright light blinds them.
There is a sound of a tractor-trailer accelerating outside. Sam and Dean are lying on their respective beds; Gracilynn lying on the floor. There is a whooshing sound and Sam's eyes fling open. He sucks in a huge breath of air and sits up in shock. There is another whooshing noise and Dean sits up on his own bed. Dean coughs and looks down at his chest. A third whooshing noise and Gracilynn gasps, bolting up into a sitting position on the floor.
"You alright?" Sam asks his brother.
"Define alright," Dean replies. "Gracie?"
"Smalls?" Sam asks the same time Dean does.
"These were my favorite pajama's," she whines, looking down at the blood stains. Dean checks her over, notices Sam doing the same. Dean reaches over and grabs his phone, dialing a number as he stands up.
Cas leans against the motel room divider as the Winchesters pack their bags. He looks lost and without hope.
"Maybe… maybe Joshua was lying," Cas says, earning an identical look from all three Winchesters. Dean zips up his bag and puts his coat on.
"I don't think he was, Cas. I'm sorry," Sam says, sighing. Dean watches Cas as he moves into the entryway. Cas looks up at the ceiling.
"You son of a bitch. I believed in…," he begins angrily, stopping himself. Dean makes a slight move as if to approach him. Cas searches the "sky" for a sign, anything that tells him God is listening. Nothing happens. He turns back to the trio of hunters and looks at Dean. He pulls the amulet from his pocket, holding it for a minute before he speaks.
"I don't need this anymore," he says, tossing it to Dean. Dean shakes it out in order to see what it is Cas threw at him. "It's worthless."
"Cas. Wait," Sam says after Cas turns away from them. There is a sound of wings and Cas disappears. Sam throws his shirt on the bed angrily and Gracilynn stares at the spot Cas was. Dean continues to look at the amulet in his hands.
"We'll find another way. We can still stop all this Dean," Sam says, looking over at his brother, not sure if he's trying to convince Dean or himself.
"How?" Dean says, finally looking up and over at his brother.
"I don't know, but we'll find it. You and me and Gracilynn, we'll find it," Sam responds. Dean looks at him disbelievingly and Sam knows he doesn't believe him. Dean grabs his bag and walks past Sam and Gracilynn without saying a word; doesn't even look at them. He pauses at the door and holds his hand out over the garbage. Gracilynn and Sam watch as the amulet hangs from Dean's hand. Dean pauses for a moment, but eventually drops the necklace into the trash can. He opens the motel room door and leaves for the car. Gracilynn stares at the garbage can, hearing her uncle take in a deep breath. She can hear the pain in his voice even with that simple act. She looks over at him and sees that he looks sad, but he also looks determined. Sam throws his coat on and, grabbing his bag, follows after Dean to the car. Gracilynn grabs her jacket and puts it on. She grabs her bag and walks to the door. She pauses when she reaches it for a moment. She looks out the door, seeing her uncle climb into the Impala off to her left. Her gaze shifts to the trash, taking in the necklace at the bottom of it. She knows it's because her dad has lost faith in God and heaven. But she also can't help but feel it's also because he has lost faith in Uncle Sam. Having been told the story behind the necklace in the beginning when Cas first took it, Gracilynn knows the significance behind her dad's actions. She glances outside at the sound of the horn blowing. She takes a deep breath and quickly reaches in to the can and shoves the necklace in to her pocket before shutting the door behind her. Things were going to better, and this necklace was going to be the key.
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