Have yourself a merry little Christmas...
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~December 21, 2007 (approximately 4:27 p.m. at the home of Michael and Kate)~
Shia stared down at the sleeping, four month old baby. Lynx was so big now and it was hard for Shia to grasp the fact that her baby is growing up, her first tooth came in the other day, and she's starting to but just about everything in her mouth. Lynx was starting to sit up by herself and becoming more independent.
Dean walked in the nursery that Kat and Michael set up for his daughter to find Shia watching the baby sleep, he knew that they would have to leave soon to work on another case and he hated the idea because he almost missed her first Thanksgiving, and now he will most definitely miss her first Christmas and it made his heart drop inside.
"Baby?" Dean greeted Shia as he walked up behind her to lay his hand on her lower back as they both watched their daughter sleep. Dean will never stop looking at his daughter in awe, her physical appearance made it clear that she was Dean's daughter. She had lightly tan skin, her hair was sandy blonde, and when her eyes were open they were undeniably hazel. Shia would call her "mini Dean" since she looked just like her daddy.
"I don't like leaving around Christmas, Dean. It's her first Christmas and we won't be here. Some parents we are." Shia said with a scoff, as a tear slowly escaped from one of her brown eyes. Dean looked at his wife and reached over to wipe her tear and kissed her forehead.
"I know. I hate it just as much as you do. I almost missed her first Thanksgiving. How do you think it makes me feel knowing that I will for sure miss my little girl's first Christmas. It's not right but we gotta do what we have to, just to make sure this world is a bit safer for her as she gets older."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, I know you're right." Shia said as she laid her head against Dean's shoulder. "She's getting so big."
"I know. She weighs 12 pounds and 2 ounces. It's all that breast milk she drinks, and they small bits of baby food." Dean said proudly as he continued to watch the sleeping baby. Just then, Kate, wife of Michael walked in with a to go basket full of food for the road.
"Shia? Dean? Uh, Sam said you all should be going now. I don't mean to interrupt your moment." Kate said softly. Shia turned to look at her and smiled, she thought that Kate was very pretty. She had straight blond hair and pale skin, her eyes were gorgeous and her presence in general was just peaceful. Michael was for sure a lucky man.
"No, it's okay, Kate." Shia said as she walked over to her, Dean politely took the basket from Kate and smiled, he then gave Shia a quick kiss and told her he'll be outside waiting, but before he did any of that he made sure to give Lynx a kiss on her forehead. "Just...please, take care of her. That baby is my world."
"I know, Shia. We will protect her and love her as if she was our own. You all have a safe hunt and be back in time for the annual after Christmas dinner meal Michael and I plan every year, but we actually have people to invite over this time. You, and the guys, Ellen and her daughter, Julius and his new girlfriend, and Bobby of course."
"Jules have a new girlfriend?" Shia asked with an eyebrow raised. Kate smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, a girl named 'Natasha' but she prefers to be called 'Tasha.'" Kate informed the curious demi god. Shia shook her head but hugging Kate and walking back over to place a gently kiss on Lynx's forehead. And then, it was time to go.
~December 22, 2007 (approximately 7:03 a.m.)YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN~
A little girl was looking outside through the glass door while her mom was outside, being interviewed by the Winchesters.
"Um, my daughter and I were in our beds. Mike was downstairs decorating the tree. I heard a thump on the roof and then I heard Mike scream. And now I'm talking to the FBI." The woman said looking from the ground to Shia and Dean Winchester.
"And you didn't see any of it?" Dean asked the common question while being on a case.
"No, he was… he was just gone."
"The doors were locked? There was no forced entry?" Shia asked gently as she became really sympathetic for the woman.
"That's right."
"Does anybody else have a key?" Dean asked.
"My parents."
"Where do they live?"
"Florida." The woman said as he stared at the ground again. Shia and Dean shared a look. Sam walked out of the house.
"Thanks for letting me have a look around, Mrs. Walsh. I think we, uh, got just about everything we need. We're all set." Sam told the woman, known as Mrs. Walsh.
"We'll be in touch." Shia told her, and she nodded. The Winchester trio began to walk down the steps when Mrs. Walsh called out to them.
"Agents..." Mrs. Walsh said. "The police said my husband might have been kidnapped." Dean nodded thoughtfully and said, "Could be."
"Then why haven't the kidnappers called? O-or – or demanded a ransom? It's three days till Christmas. What am I supposed to tell our daughter?" Shia felt her heart sink for the woman, because in a way she knew exactly how she felt when the day comes that she'll have to explain to Lynx why her father isn't there for Christmas.
"We're very sorry." Shia said softly. Then they all walked away as Mrs. Walsh went inside.
"Find anything?" Dean asked his brother as they made their way to the impala.
"Stocking, mistletoe… this." Sam said with a sigh as he gave Dean something out of his pocket.
"A tooth? Where was this?"
"In the chimney."
"Chimney? No way a man fits up a chimney. It's too narrow."
"No way he fits up in one piece." Shia said with a small smirk as she thought of something similar to the joke in a show she watched when everyone is asleep. Dean turned to his and raised an eyebrow.
"Your dark humor is starting to scaring me." Dean told her before he went back to looking at the tooth. "Alright, so, if dad went up the chimney—"
"We need to find out what dragged him up there." Sam said as he got in the passenger seat.
"If he was dragged." Shia commented as she snuggled in the back. Dean shook his head as she started the impala.
~December 22, 2007 (approximately 9:14 a.m.) Motel~
Sam and Shia was searching the Internet for information about demons, the door opened as Dean walked inside, carrying a brown paper bag.
"So, was I right? Is it the serial-killing chimney sweep?" Dean asked as he walked over to Sam and Shia.
"Yep. It's, uh, it's actually Dick Van Dyke." Sam said making a reference that only Shia got.
"Who?" Dean asked.
"Mary Poppins?" Shia asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Who's that?"
"Oh come on— never mind." Sam said unbelievably as he waved his hand at his clueless brother.
"Well, it turns out that Walsh is the second guy in town grabbed out of his house this month."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah." Dean said as pulled up a chair to sit next Shia, he grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers.
"The other guy get dragged up the chimney, too?" Sam asked. Shia shook her head and commented, "if he was dragged." Both brothers looked at her for a moment and continued talking.
"Don't know. Witnesses said they heard a thump on the roof." Dean shrugged, followed by Sam as he shrugged as well. "So, what the hell do you think we're dealing with?"
"Actually, I have an idea."
"Yeah?"
"Uh, it's gonna sound crazy." Sam said as he suddenly got insecure about his idea.
"Our life is crazy." Shia said trying to support Sam's idea.
"Yeah. What could you possibly say that sounds crazy to me?" Dean said following his wife in supporting Sam's idea with out even hearing it yet.
"Um… evil Santa." Sam said with a nervous smile. Shia nodded and smiled back at Sam thinking his idea was cute. Dean paused for a moment and then nodded as well.
"Yeah, that's crazy." Dean said dismissing the idea. Shia gave her husband at look that he kind of liked but she meant it as scolding him for not supporting his brother even a little bit.
"Yeah… I mean, I'm just saying that there's some version of the anti-Claus in every culture." Sam said as he showed Dean and Shia some evil Santa pictures. "You got Belsnickel, Krampus, Black Peter. Whatever you want to call it, there's all sorts of lore."
"Saying what?"
"Saying ... back in the day, Santa's brother went rogue and now he shows up around Christmas time, but instead of bringing presents, he punishes the wicked."
"By hauling their ass up chimneys?" Dean asked almost unbelievably.
"For starters, yeah." Sam agreed not catching Dean's slight sarcasm.
"So, this is your theory, huh? Santa's shady brother?"
"Well, ah – I'm just saying, that's what the lore says."
"Santa doesn't have a brother. There is no Santa."
"Yeah, I know. You're the one who told me that in the first place, remember?" Sam said as he looked at Dean, who looked down, maybe feeling a little guilty. Sam turned back to his computer and sighed. Shia felt so bad for Sam, she wanted to kick Dean's butt for being an ass to his brother. "Yeah, you know what, I could be wrong. I ...gotta be wrong."
"Maybe, maybe not." Dean said as the guilt was eating him up inside.
"What?"
"I did a little digging. Turns out both victims visited the same place before they got snatched."
"Where?" Shia quickly asked as she looked at Dean for an answer. He just smirked and grabbed his keys waiting for Sam and Shia to get ready.
~December 22, 2007 (approximately 10:42 a.m.)SANTA'SVILLAGE~
Christmas music played, children were playing, and people wearing Christmas costumes were walking. Shia smiled at each person that walked pass her but the feeling of missing her baby would creep on her as she saw all the mommies and daddies have their baby in extremely warming clothes taking pictures. Shia just wanted a piece of that moment with Lynx. The thought of missing her first Christmas continued to pain her mentally.
"It does kind of lend credence to the theory, don't it?" Dean asked as they all continued to walk, he looked at his wife and followed her gaze. He felt bad to see other families and their babies and he knew what she was feeling. Dean wrapped and arm around Shia's waist pulling her closer to him.
"Yeah, but anti-Claus? Couldn't be." Sam said walking forward with his brother and sister in law.
"It's a Christmas miracle. Hey, speaking of, we should have one this year at the motel since we can't have one with Lynx."
"Have one what?"
"A Christmas." Dean said with a smile. Shia grinned at him but then she saw Sam's expression. Something wasn't right, Sam was a bit bitter towards Christmas.
"No, thanks." Sam said with scoff. "The only reason why I wanted to earlier was because of Lynx."
"No, we'll get a tree, a little Boston market, just like when we were little."
"Dean, those weren't exactly Hallmark memories for me, you know."
"What are you talking about? We had some great Christmases." Dean said ignoring Sam's attitude. Shia began to feel like their was something deeper than what Sam was displaying.
"Guys, do not start arguing in public. Please." Shia commented to the brothers but as always, they ignored her.
"Whose childhood are you talking about?" Sam asked bitterly.
"Oh, come on, Sam." Dean said trying to get his baby brother in the spirit.
"No! Just… no."
"All right, Grinch." Dean said trying to mask his surprised expression. Dean pulled Shia forward and walked away, while Sam stood still. Suddenly, he notices a reindeer's statue is staring at him, Sam stood there uncomfortably before following Dean and Shia.
"You shouldn't just push the whole Christmas thing on him, Dean." Shia told her husband as they walked, she made sure Sam didn't here them as he lingered back behind them.
"Why not?"
"Well, honey, you won't be here next Christmas. The only reason why he wanted one a couple of days ago was because of Lynx."
"You don't think I know that, Shia?" Dean asked, he was a little irritated with the whole situation but when he saw Shia's face he felt bad. He turned to look at Sam, but he was looking like he was lost in some memory.
"You'd think with the 10 bucks it costs to get into this place, Santa could scrounge up a little snow." Dean said trying to relieve the tension between everyone, Shia grinned at him.
"What?" Sam asked awakening from his daydreaming. Shia raised an eyebrow at him, but avoided saying anything especially in front of Dean.
"Nothing. What are we looking for, again?"
"Um…lore says that the anti-Claus will walk with a limp and smell like sweets."
"Great. So we're looking for a pimp Santa. Why the sweets?" Dean asked. Shia couldn't help but smile widely at Dean's terrible ponds.
"Think about it, Dean. If you smell like candy, the kids will come closer, you know?" Shia told him but cringed as she realized what she just said. It was gross when you think about it.
"That's creepy. How does this thing know who's been naughty and who's been nice?"
"We don't know." Shia said. A man wearing a Santa Claus costume sat outside a small barn. A woman and boy walk up to him.
"So, Ronny, come sit on Santa's knee. Ah, there you go. You been a good boy this year?" Santa asked the boy.
"Yeah." The boy said nodding happily. Shia watched the scene in front if her and smiled. She then leaned on Dean.
"Babe, wouldn't it be cute if Lynx took some Christmas pictures right now?" Shia asked Dean.
"Shia, she already has some pictures done."
"More wouldn't hurt."
"Good. Santa's got a special gift for you." The winchester trio heard the Santa man say to the little boy, Ronny, as he cackled creepily.
"Maybe we do know how Santa knows if the kids are naughty or nice." Dean said looking at Santa and the boy speculatively. Ronny's mother took his arm and lead him away from the Santa.
"Time to go, Ronny." The mom said as they walked off. A woman in an elf costume walked up to Sam, Shia and Dean.
"Welcome to Santa's court. Can I escort your child to Santa?" The elf woman said looking at Dean and Sam. Shia smiled at the girl knowing the see thinks that Sam and Dean are a couple.
"Uh…" Sam said lost for words.
"No. No. Uh, but actually my brother here," Dean said as he smacked Sam on the shoulder. "...it's been a lifelong dream of his." Shia glared at Dean, but he gave his wife a goofy grin that made her heart jump.
"Uh, sorry. No kids over… 12." The lady elf said slowly, but her face looked slightly confused.
"No, he's just kidding. We only came here to watch." Sam said so quickly that he didn't realize how gross it sounded. The lady elf looked at Dean, who shook his head. The young elf backed off.
"Eww." She said to Sam before walking off quickly.
"I-I didn't mean that we came here to w— Y— Thanks a lot, Dean. Thanks for that."
Dean looked at Shia and smiled, but she shook her head at him. Dean then laughed but when he looked up. He became serious. Sam, Shia, and Dean watched the Santa leave his chair. It was hard not to notice that the Santa had a bad limp.
"Are you seeing this?" Dean asked the two people beside him. Sam nodded and Shia just continued to stare.
"A lot of people walk with limps, right?" Shia asked still watching the santa man.
"Tell me you didn't smell that. That was candy, guys."
"That was Ripple. I think. Had to be." S said looking from Dean to the "creepy" Santa again.
"Maybe." Dean said as she grabbed Shia's hand.
"We're willing to take that chance?" Shia asked both of the boys with a raised eyebrow.
~December 22, 2007 (approximately 11:27 p.m.) Creepy Santa's House~
Inside the Impala, Sam, Shia and Dean were spying on a simple house that was decorated with Christmas lights; the house belonged to the creepy Santa they witnessed earlier.
"What time is it?" Dean asked for the sixth time within a minute. Shia sighed as she sat back in the backseat closing her eyes slowly drifting off to sleep.
"Same as the last time you asked. Here…" said Sam as he handed Dean a thermos. "...caffeinate." Dean took the thermos from Sam and tried to pour coffee into the cup, but the thermos was empty.
"Wonderful." Dean said. Suddenly, he scoffed. "Hey, Sam."
"Yeah?"
"Why are you the boy that hates Christmas?" Dean asked innocently with a smile. Shia heard the question and couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
"Dean ..." Sam said slowly, very unimpressed.
"I mean, I admit it. You know, we had a few bumpy holidays when we were kids."
"Bumpy?"
"That was then, Sam, you need to move pass your childhood." Shia softly said as she leaned forward from the backseat tiredly. "We'll do it right this year."
"Look, Dean, and Shia. If you two want to have Christmas, knock yourselves out. Just don't involve me." Sam said with an annoyed tone. Shia and Dean looked at him in disbelief.
"Oh, yeah, that'd be great. Me and my babe making cranberry molds." Dean said with a scoff. Shia chose to say nothing instead she leaned back in her seat. They return to watching the house. Santa, still in his red cap, but in a green tank top, looks outside, then closed his curtains.
"What's up with Saint Nicotine?"
"Oh God. Dean, stop with that puns." Shia told her husband. Just as Dean was about to say something they could hear a women's voice scream, "Oh, my God!" Sam, Shia and Dean jumped out of the car and ran to the house with their guns drawn. Dean looked inside the window of the front door.
"Huh."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just that, uh… well, you know, Mr. Gung Ho Christmas might have to blow away Santa." Sam said with a smirk but Dean didn't find it amusing.
"Shia, babe, stay out here in case something comes up." Dean told her; Shia nodded and stayed outside watching her surroundings carefully.
After moments of standing there, Shia realized that whatever was going on Dean and Sam were handling it. The young demi god felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, and quickly she grabbed it.
'Everything still planned for Christmas?'
Shia smiled widely and quickly texted back.
'Sure thing.'
Just then the two Winchester brothers walked out of the house where they entered just not long ago. Dean huffed pass Shia and towards the Impala.
"What happened?" Shia asked as walked after Dean.
"He's not our guy and we don't know the words to silent night." Sam said to which Shia stopped in her tracks. The brothers then turned around to look at her.
"What?" Dean asked as he took note on the look she was giving them.
"How could you not know the lyrics to Silent Night?" Shia said with an amused grin; both of the brothers rolled their eyes and walked on.
~December 23, 2007 (approximately 1:12 p.m.) MOTEL~
After interviewing a second family, the Winchester trio sat in the motel room coming up with ideas and researching information. Shia was on the phone talking with her dad.
"Yeah, all right. Well, keep looking, would you? Thanks, daddy. See ya soon." Shia hung up and turned to the boys. "Well… we're not dealing with the anti-Claus."
"What did Bobby say?" Dean asked his wife as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap.
"Uh, that we're morons. He also said that it was probably meadowsweet in those wreaths. So, Sam, look it up." Shia said as she laid her head on Dean's shoulder; she smiled when Dean placed a kiss on her forehead. Sam ignored the intimacy between the couple and did what he was told and looked up information on his laptop.
"So, what the hell is meadowsweet?" Dean asked after he was finished kissing on his girl.
"It's pretty rare and it's probably the most powerful plant in pagan lore."
"Pagan lore?" Shia asked with a raised eyebrow; she started to think about her pagan lore lessons that Bobby but her in when she was sixteen.
"Yeah. See, they used meadowsweet for human sacrifice. It was kind of like a… Chum for their gods. Gods were drawn to it and they'd stop by and snack on whatever was the nearest human."
"Why would somebody be using that for Christmas wreaths?" Dean asked.
"It's not as crazy as it sounds, Dean. I mean, pretty much every Christmas tradition is pagan." Shia said before Sam could.
"Christmas is Jesus's birthday."
"No, Jesus's birthday was probably in the fall. It was actually the winter solstice festival that was co-opted by the Church and renamed "Christmas". But I mean, the Yule log, the tree, even Santa's red suit – that's all remnants of pagan worship." Sam said as he continued typing.
"How do you know that? What are you gonna tell me next? Easter bunny's Jewish?" Dean challenged his baby brother. Shia said nothing and let the scene play out in front of her. Refusing the challenge, Sam sat there and said nothing. "So you think we're gonna dealing with a pagan god?"
"Yeah, probably Hold Nickar, god of the winter solstice."
"And all these Martha Stewart wannabes, buying these fancy wreaths…"
"Yeah, it's pretty much like putting a neon sign on your front door saying "Come kill us". So fucked up." Shia mumbled as she got up from Dean's lap and walked over to her duffel bag to take a look at her phone again.
"Great." Dean said sarcastically.
"Huh… When you sacrifice to Hold Nickar, guess what he gives you in return." Sam said reading off an article he found.
"Lap dances, hopefully." Dean said. Shia looked up and glared at him.
"Mild weather."
"Like no snow in the middle of December in the middle of Michigan." Dean said as he looked out the window.
"For instance." Sam said in agreement.
"You know, I thought that was weird but didn't say much about it." Shia said with both hands on her hips.
"Do we know how to kill it yet?"
"No, daddy's working on that right now. We got to figure out where they're selling those wreaths." Shia told them.
"You think they're selling them on purpose? Feeding the victims to this thing?"
"Let's find out." Sam said as he grabbed his coat while exhaling loudly.
~December 23, 2007 (approximately 2:23 p.m.) Christmas Store~
Sam, Dean and Shia entered the store the song "Deck the halls" was playing. Shia placed her hand in Dean's to which he gladly held on to.
"Know this song, Dean?" Shia whispered in Dean's ear teasing him about not knowing Christmas music. Dean said nothing but rolled his eyes playfully.
"Help you, kids?" The shopkeeper man said as the Winchester walked towards him.
"Uh, hope so. Uh, we were playing Jenga over at the Walshes' the other night, and, uh… well, he hasn't shut up since about this Christmas wreath, and..." Dean stopped for a moment and turned to Sam. "I don't know, you tell him."
"Sure." Sam said giving Dean and look. Shia couldn't look up from the ground; she was afraid she was going to blow their cover. Sam turned back to the shopkeeper and smiled awkwardly. "It was yummy."
"I sell a lot of wreaths, kids. Usually get woman coming in all the time with catalogs on the wreaths they want."
"Right, right, but – but you see, this one would have been really special. It had, uh, it had, uh, green leaves, um, white buds on it. It might have been made of, uh… meadowsweet?" Sam told the man describing the wreath perfectly.
"Well, aren't you a fussy one?" The shopkeeper asked Sam jokingly. Sam looked taken aback, embarrassed. Shia's grip on Dean's hand got tighter because she felt that at any moment, she was going to burst out in laughter.
"He is…" said Dean as he laughed while Sam looked at him, annoyed.
"Anyway, I know the one you're talking about. I'm all out."
"Huh. Seems like this meadowsweet stuff's pretty rare and expensive. Why make wreaths out of it?" Dean asked the man suspiciously.
"Beats me. I didn't make them."
"Who did?" Shia asked his as she was starting to get serious about the case.
"Madge Carrigan, a local lady. She said the wreaths were so special, she gave them to me for free." The shopkeeper informed the winchester trio.
"She didn't charge you?" Shia asked.
"Nope."
"Did you sell them for free?" Dean asked curiously.
"Hell no. It's Christmas. People pay a buttload for this crap." The shopkeeper said smugly. Dean raised an eyebrow and nodded proudly.
"That's the spirit." Dean said with a smile.
~December 23, 2007 (approximately 10:13 p.m.)MOTEL~
Dean opened the door and turned on the light. Sam and Shia followed him in. Almost immediately Shia went to the bed Dean and her shared and laid down.
"How much do you think a meadowsweet wreath would cost?" Dean asked the two people in the room.
"A couple hundred dollars, at least." Sam said and Shia nodded in agreement.
"This lady's giving them away for free? What do you two think about that?" Dean said as he sat beside Shia's stretched out body; he motioned for her to lay her head on his lap and she did. As soon as she did, Dean started to play with her hair.
"Well, sounds pretty suspicious." Shia said but it came out as a small moan but neither of the brothers said anything. Sam then took off his jacket and sat on the bed across form Dean and Shia.
"Remember that wreath Dad brought home that one year?" Dean asked Sam; Shia could hear the joy Dean had in his voice.
"You mean the one he stole from, like, a liquor store?" Sam said with slight bitter tone to his voice.
"Yeah, it was a bunch of empty beer cans. That thing was great. I bet if I looked around hard enough, I could probably find one just like it."
"Alright. Dude… What's going on with you?"
"What?"
"I mean, since when are you Bing Crosby all of a sudden? Why do you want Christmas so bad?" Sam asked Dean. Shia closed her eyes and attempted to fall asleep but knowing that they were finally talk about the situation that got them tensed made her not want to sleep.
"Why are you so against it? I mean, were your childhood memories that traumatic?"
"No, that has nothing to do with it."
"Then what?" Dean asked.
"I-I mean, I-I just… I don't get it. You haven't talked about Christmas in years." Sam said softly shaking his head.
"Well, yeah. This is my last year. Not to mention that I won't be seeing my kid anytime soon, I wanted to enjoy Christmas a little." Dean told his brother; he looked down in his lap to see that Shia was finally asleep. "I mean, man, all I wanted was to give my baby the best first Christmas she could ever imagine. But I can't do that now, so I was wanting to find a way to take it off my mind." Sam nodded slowly, he paused and let out a small sigh.
"I know. That's why I can't."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I can't just sit around, drinking eggnog, pretending everything's okay, when I know next Christmas you'll be dead." Sam finally told his brother part of the reason why he didn't want a Christmas. Dean nodded as he understood his brother reasons. "I just can't." Dean looked away realizing the sadness in Sam's voice. Both of them were silent. Moments later, Dean laid Shia correctly in the bed and cuddles next to her falling asleep with her. Not long after, in his bed, Sam does the same.
~December 24, 2007 (approximately 11:09 a.m.)~
Sam, Shia and Dean walked up to a big white house with Christmas decorations on the lawn.
"This is where Mrs. Wreath lives, huh? Can't you just feel the evil pagan vibe?" Dean noted almost sarcastically. Dean knocked on the door and a older lady, known as Madge, greeted them.
"Yes?" The older lady said sweetly. She came off as kind but way too kind for Shia's liking.
"Please tell me you're the Madge Carrigan who makes the meadowsweet wreaths." Dean said with false excitement.
"Why, yes I am." Madge said with a wide smile. Dean turned to Sam and his wife with a smile.
"Ha! Bingo."
"Yeah? Uh, well, we were just admiring your wreaths in Mr. Sylar's place the other day?" Sam told the elderly woman.
"You were? Well, isn't that meadowsweet just the finest-smelling thing you ever smelled?"
"It is, it sure is. But the problem is, is that all you wreaths had sold out before we got the chance to buy one." Shia said as she loop one of her arms through Dean's.
"Oh, fudge!"
"You wouldn't have another one that we could buy from you, would you?" Dean said sending the woman false hope.
"Oh, no, I'm afraid those were the only ones I had for this season." Madge said sadly.
"Aww…" said Shia with a small frown.
"Tell me something, why did you decide to make them out of meadowsweet?" Dean asked kindly, giving off the vibe that he wanted to make some of his own. Just then, Mr. Carrigan came down the staircase inside the house. He had an old-fashioned pipe and a cardigan. The two of them together are very 1950s.
"Why, the smell, of course! I don't think I've ever smelled anything finer."
"Yeah… um, you mentioned that." Sam said as he raised an eyebrow at the woman.
"What's going on, honey?" The older man said happily as he stood beside his wife.
"Well, just some nice kids asking about my wreaths, dear."
"Oh, the wreaths are fine. Fine wreaths. Oh, care for some peanut brittle?" The man kindly offered them peanut brittle. Dean reached out to take some, but Shia slapped Dean's arm away.
"We're okay. Thank you for your time." Shia said as she led the two boys away from the overly happy, old couple.
~Later that day around night time~
Dean was sharpening a wooden stake, while Sam used the laptop. Five other wooden stakes are on the bed and floor near Dean. Shia was putting her hair up and adjusting her hunting outfit that she bought days ago, Dean has told her numerous of times that she should wear it every hunt. She wore tight leather pants, tight tank top the didn't cover the bottom of her stomach; she also wore combat boot that were comfortable enough to fight in. The room was quiet when suddenly Sam clapped his hands together.
"I knew it! Something was way off with those two." Sam said happily letting the two people in the room that he got some information.
"What'd you find?" Dean asked.
"The Carrigans lived in Seattle, last year, where two abductions took place right around Christmas. They moved here in January. All that Christmas crap in their house – that wasn't boughs of holly. It was vervain and mint." Sam told him.
"Pagan stuff?"
"Serious pagan stuff." Shia said slowly as she folded her arms under her breast.
"So what, Ozzie and Harriet are keeping a pagan god hidden underneath their plastic-covered couch?"
"I don't know. All I know is we gotta check them out. So, what about Bobby? He's sure evergreen stakes will kill this thing, right?"
"Of course he's sure, my dad is a genius." Shia told Sam as she looked over to the stakes Dean had out for them.
~•~
The Winchester trio sat in the Impala stalking the house for the best opportunity to go in the home of the Pagan gods.
"Now, remember to stay close babe. Don't go in after us. You'll be our back up." Dean told Shia for the fifth time. Shia said nothing, she only nodded. Sam and Dean walked toward the house. Christmas music was playing "O Come All Ye Faithful" Dean picked the lock. Shia watched as the boys walked in and she immediately felt worried. Sam and Dean each held a wooden stake.
Dean looked at the couch that was still covered with plastic, and whispered "See? Plastic." Sam touched it too as Dean shook his head disapprovingly.
Dean went into the living room and looked at all the Christmas decor, while Sam went to the hall, which is also decorated with ornaments and snow globes. Sam went into the kitchen and saw plates of cookies and cakes. He shined his flashlight on the lock of a door.
"Hey, Dean." Sam softly called out to get Dean's attention. Dean and Sam walked downstairs to the basement. Dean pointed his flashlight and found bones covered with blood in a large bowl. They checked the room and realized the whole basement looked like a butchery room rather than a storage room. Sam found a leather bag covered with blood. He looked disgusted and moved to another spot. Sam poked a bag that was hanging from the wall and the bag moved – someone inside was struggling. Madge grabbed Sam's neck from behind and lifted him off the ground as he yelled in surprise. Dean heard him and came running.
"Sam!"
Madge pushed Sam against a wall and held him by the throat. Dean ran to him and tried to stake Madge, but Mr. Sunshine grabbed his arm and knocked his head against a wall. Dean fell to the ground, unconscious. Madge looked at her husband, who smiled and nodded and looked back at Sam, who was struggling to breathe.
"Gosh, I wish you boys hadn't come down here. Now, I wonder...where's the demi god?"
Sam moved his flashlight to the Carrigans' faces, which appeared monster-like when in the beam of the flashlight but turn back to normal out of the light. Madge slammed Sam's head hard against the wall and allowed him to drop to the ground.
~•~
Shia sat outside of the Impala tapping her foot against the pavement, it's been thirty minutes and they still weren't back. Shia knew that there was something wrong but she promised Dean that she'd wait until it was forty five minutes after they went in. Shia couldn't bare the bad feeling in her heart so she quickly ran over to the window to the kitchen area only to find Dean and Sam tied up to chairs. Shia shook her head and continued to watch making sure she wasn't seen. "Idiots should have let me gone with them."
Shia had to watch the boys go under some massive pain but the worst was yet to come.
Madge went closer to Dean and sliced his arm just like her husband did to Sam moments ago.
"You bitch!" Dean screamed. Shia had to cover her eyes for a moment.
"Oh, my goodness me! Somebody owes a nickel to the swear jar. Oh, do you know what I say when I feel like swearing?" Dean looked Madge in the eyes, as she gestured with her sharp knife in cheesy emphasis. "Fudge."
"I'll try and remember that!" Dean said as he panted. Mr. Carrigan picked up a pair of pliers.
"You boys have no idea how lucky you are. There was a time when kids came from miles around, just to be sitting where you are." The pagan god stood in front of Sam with the pliers.
"What do you think you're doing with those?" Sam said as he began to panic. The monster smiled at Sam.
"You fudging touch me again and I'll fudging kill you!" Dean said as he looked at Madge. The older woman smiled proudly at Dean and said, "Very good!"
Shia shook her head and mumbled, "I can't much more of this. Fuck! What did I do? I can't just burst in there, that's suicide." Shia looked at her surroundings and spotted at family about to ring the doorbell to the house; she could hear Dean say "someone should get that." Moment's later the pagan gods left the room, Shia quickly orbed in the kitchen. Dean and Sam's face lit up.
"Baby, I'm so glad to see you." Dean whispered to his wife as she untied them. Shia quickly kissed their foreheads and motioned for them to go into the next room.
~•~
Madge and Mr. Carrigan opened the door to the kitchen and hurried inside.
"Now, where were we?" Madge said happily but frowned when she saw that Sam and Dean were no longer in their chairs. The Carrigans saw one of the doors closed, and turned around to see the other door closed too. Sam and Dean were each standing behind one of the doors, as the pagan gods tried to open them. Shia was looking around for something to kill them with. Dean pulled out a drawer to hold his door closed and went to help Sam.
"What do we do now? The evergreen stakes are in the basement!" Dean said as he leaned one hand on the door.
"Well, we need more evergreen, Dean!" Sam said but then he looked at the Christmas tree in the room where they stood. "I think I just found us some more. Shia go find the stakes in the basement just in case." Shia nodded and orbed to the basement. Sam looked at a large cabinet next to the door. "Help me get this."
Sam and Dean moved the cabinet in front of the door and pushed the Christmas tree over. They break branches from the tree to use as stakes. All is silent when they approach the kitchen door. Suddenly the pagan man tackled Dean to the ground. Madge walked up to Sam.
"You little thing." She said, her face momentarily distorted. "I loved that tree." Sam raised his stake. Madge hit Sam hard and he crashed into the couch and onto the floor. The pagan man punched Dean a number of times in the face. Madge walked closer to Sam and he hit her with the branches. Madge was about to attack Sam when he stabbed her with the Christmas tree stake.
"Madge!" The monster screamed as he looked at his dead wife. Sam pushed the stake deeper and Madge groaned, while Dean took the opportunity and hit the pagan god with his branches. Sam pushed the stake in further and Madge fell to the ground, dead. Dean stabbed Mr. Carrigan who screamed in pain, and Dean pulled it out and stabbed him again. The pagan gods laid dead next to each other. Sam breathed heavily, while Dean sighed in relief. They look at the dead bodies.
"Merry Christmas." Sam said as he looked at Dean, smiling briefly and sighed. Just then, Shia orbed in the room.
"Damn things had the stakes hidden." Shia said as she held up the stakes, but then she noticed the dead bodies on the floor and frowned. "I missed out on a fight again?! Damn it!" The Winchester brothers smiled at her and motioned for them to leave before cops would come.
~December 25, 2007 (approximately 12:45 a.m.) MOTEL~
Sam looked touched with his own memory. Ella Fitzgerald's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" played as Dean and Shia walked into the room. They looked surprised because Sam had decorated the room with a Christmas tree and "Merry Christmas" sign.
"Hey! You get the beer?" Sam asked holding a cup of eggnog. Shia smiled widely at Sam while Dean looked amazed.
"What's all this?" Dean asked motioning at the decorations in the room.
"What do you think it is? It's – it's Christmas." Dean looked at Sam, who let out a deep breath.
"What made you change your mind?" Dean asked as he took off his jacket.
"Here, uh ... try the eggnog." Sam said as he gave Shia and Dean a cup. "Let me know if it needs some more kick." Sam held out a bottle of whiskey. Shia didn't drink the eggnog but Dean did; he sipped it, coughed, and looked surprised at the taste.
"No, we're good." Dean told his brother. Shia giggled at Dean's expression.
"Yeah?" Sam asked happily.
"Yeah." Dean said with a smile.
When Sam looked away, Dean changed his expression on the eggnog, like it tasted toxic. Shia gave her glass to Dean and he gave her a look.
"Good. Well, uh, have a seat. Let's do… Christmas stuff, or whatever." Sam said awkwardly. Dean looked at the Christmas tree, which was decorated with lights and car air fresheners.
"All right, first things first." Dean said as he sat down in his seat, pulling Shia down with him. Sam sat on the couch; Dean took three packages wrapped in brown paper from a plastic bag and held them out to Sam. "Merry Christmas, Sam."
"Where'd you get these?" Sam asked with a wide smile.
"Someplace special." Dean told him and Sam gave him a look.
"The gas mart down the street." Shia end up telling Sam. Sam laughed. "Go on, Sam. Open them up."
"Well, great minds think alike, guys." Sam reached under the couch for three packages wrapped in newspaper, which he gives two to Dean and one to Shia.
"Really?" Dean asked surprised and took the gifts.
"There you go."
"Come on." Sam opened his first gift, which was two porn magazines. Shia looked at Dean and frowned.
"Really, Dean?" Shia whispered to him. Dean gave her a smug look and shrugged.
"Skin mags!" Sam said with a laugh. Dean nodded, satisfied with Sam's reaction. "and…Shaving cream."
"You like?" Dean asked
"Yeah. Yeah."
It was Dean's and Shia's turn to open their presents. Dean chuckled and unwrap the gifts.
"Look at this." Dean said proudly as he lifted his presents, it was a candy bar and a bottle of oil. "Fuel for me and fuel for my baby. These are awesome. Thanks."
"A supply of ponytail holders and more sunglasses since Lynx broke my other ones!" Shia said proudly when she opened the newspaper to find two gifts inside. "Thanks, Sam, I love it."
"Good." Sam said with a grin. Suddenly, there was a bit of sadness in his face.
"Merry Christmas, y'all." Dean said as he raised his glass of eggnog.
"Yeah. Yeah." Sam said as he lifted his eggnog and made a toast with Dean's glass. "Here, Merry Christmas." Sam, Shia and Dean were silent, knowing that this could be their last Christmas together. They each took a drink of their eggnog and Dean whistled softly at the taste.
"Hey, Dean, y–." Sam looked sad and about to say something, but he hesitated, then sighed and looked at Dean again. "Do you feel like watching the game?"
"Absolutely." Dean said as he smiled in relief.
"Alright." Sam said with a smile. Sam stood up and turned on the TV. They watched the winter football game. Sam glanced at Dean and Dean smiled. He glanced at Sam and took another drink of his eggnog. Shia smiled at the two brothers and then suddenly remembered her plan, she grabbed her phone and texted Kate.
'Lynx still up? You have her ready?'
Moments later.
'Yeah, she's up...unfortunately. Haha. We have her ready.'
'Okay, I'll be there in a minute.'
"Uh, guys. I have to go to the bathroom. You two enjoy your game. I'll be back in a moment." Shia said as she kissed their foreheads once again before entering the bathroom and orbing to Michael's house. Kate honestly had Lynx ready to be orbed back to the motel; the baby was in her carrier smiling happily at her mommy once she saw her. Shia had to orb back the baby bag, Lynx and the carrier, and also the four gifts that Dean and Sam bought her about a week ago.
Shia was now back in the bathroom, she picked up Lynx from her carrier and snuggled he baby against her chest. Lynx drooled all over her mommy to which it made Shia smile widely. Shia quickly grabbed the gifts while holding Lynx in one arm. Luckily, they boys weren't paying attention to her when she walked out the bathroom. Shia quickly laid the gifts on the bed that Sam sleeps in and then she spoke.
"Guys, I think Lynx would like for you all to say hello to her before she ends up falling asleep." At Shia's words, Sam and Dean's head turned quickly to look at her. Dean's heart melted to she his daughter in Shia's arms staring at him and Sam. Dean quickly walked over to Shia and gladly took Lynx out of Shia's arms.
"My chunky monkey! Daddy misses you so much!" Dean said as he lifted the baby over his head to blow kisses over her small stomach; the baby cooed happily at her daddy as she touched his face. Sam and Shia stood back and watched the interaction between baby and daddy, they have never seen the truly soft side of Dean Winchester before Lynx was born; and now that's she here it was nice to see Dean open up in a certain way.
"We can open her presents up in the morning if you want, she's ours for the next couple of days. We just have to be sure to go to the dinner Kate and Michael set up. They've worked really hard on it." Shia told the boys as she kissed her baby's forehead while Dean cradled her to kiss chest.
"Shia, this is the best gift anyone could have given me; my sweet baby girl." Dean whispered as he got slightly emotionally. Sam smiled at his brother watching him, his wife, and baby interact. They for sure looked like a small family.
Minutes passed and somehow, Lynx was laid over Sam's chest while he slept in bed. Shia and Dean watched the niece and uncle moment. Dean pulled Shia by the waist and kissed her softly.
"Thanks you, baby. So much." Dean said for the tenth time and each time he did it, Shia would blush. "Don't think I forgot your Christmas gift."
"What?" Shia said amusingly but yet slightly confused. Dean walked over to Sam's duffel bag and pulled out a scrapbook. He smiled before handing it to Shia. When she opened it their were pictures of Lynx and Dean from when she was just born up until now. Shia's heart melted when she saw the Christmas picture her, Sam, Dean, and Lynx took in the studio mall about two weeks ago. They looked so normal and happy. "Dean—"
"You don't have to say anything. But, you do have to do something for me."
"Yeah? And what's that?" Shia said shyly with a grin. Dean went over to the radio and turned up slightly and the song slowly played "Baby, it's cold outside." Dean reached his hand out for her to grab and she did right after placing the book on the bed they shared.
They couple swayed to the music happily and romantically. Dean then pulled out a mistletoe and placed above their heads. Shia chuckled at his cheesiness but kissed him anyways. It was moments like this that made the Winchester's sane.