Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

The Party You Are Trying To Reach Is Currently Deceased

"Who the hell are you?"

Baby leaned forward. "We've only got two minutes, so here's the skinny. I'm Baby, Dean's Impala. I got turned human by persons or magicks unknown, and long story short, I really screwed up. Got myself all sorts of messed up, and now Dean and Sammy don't trust me."

Admitting that to someone, even a ghost, seemed to make it even worse. Her heart sank in her chest. Nothing would ever hurt her more than the look in her boys' eyes when they woke up from her dreamworld. The look of disappointment and distrust.

Ellen's reply was succinct. "Booze or drugs?"

Baby felt shame creeping through her frame. "African dreamroot. I kept using until I accidentally overdosed. They had to save me." Unable to hold Ellen's gaze, her chin ducked to touch her chest. "You're the closest thing we've ever had to a mom, and I don't know who else to ask. How do I fix this?"

"First off, what were you thinkin', playin' that level of stupid?" Ellen leaned over the table and grasped Baby's wrist. Her fingers were see-through, firm as iron and cold as winter air. "Hunting's a dangerous way of life even for the stone-cold sober. Sure, I've made my livin' givin' booze to guys who kill the monsters, but they always knew when to put a cork in it and push on. Especially when they had others depending on them." A squeeze on her hand tugged her eyes back up to meet Ellen's. "As for making it up to them, you've got to kick this habit. You're done with it, right?" The girl nodded vigorously. "Good. That's the best first step you can do. The rest you have to work out on your own." She gave a reassuring smile as her image began fading out. "You seem like a smart girl. Just be careful, and don't forget to say..."

Ellen's voice only hung for a second after her form dissipated. Baby leaned back in her chair and sighed as Miranda stirred. The psychic picked up another card and turned it over. "The Hermit," she said softly. "Bobby Singer."

No sooner had Miranda's chin dipped did Bobby appear in the chair Ellen had just vacated. He held up a hand as Baby started to speak. "Save it. Elle told me what needed telling. Said you were lookin' for help since you're on the outs with those two idjits." He shook his head in disappointment. "African dream root? Really? That's some real messed-up brain scrambling you decided to bring into your game."

"Hey, you were drunk half the time."

"Yeah, but I was a functioning drunk. You mixed up your realities, fucked up on the job, and almost checked yourself in the coma ward - permanently."

About to argue, Baby clicked her jaw shut and remembered why he was here in the first place. "Got any ideas?" she asked with a weak smile.

"For talkin' 'bout your feelings? Hate to break it to ya, sweetheart, but I ain't exactly Doctor Phil. Hell, I couldn't even think they know how to fix this, and I'm pretty sure they wanna."

Hope flickered to life in Baby's heart. "Really?"

"You're family, ain't cha? Family will always break your heart, but they're always willin' to try and make it better. Trust me, they're gonna wanna fix this and you should be around when they do."

Her smile was weak and apologetic. "So I've got a shot?"

"A damn good one, so long as you follow through." Bobby flashed a wry grin. "It'll be tough, and it won't be pretty, but it'll be worth it in the end. Those two can be stubborn about saving people, and I can see you've got that same bullheaded personality. Stick it out, and don't forget to say..."

He faded away just before he could finish speaking. Baby didn't have time to speak before Miranda reached up and flipped over another card. "The Star. Miss Jo Harvelle is arriving."

"But Bobby was still - " Baby started to say as Jo Harvelle materialized. The sight of the girl Dean had - liked? loved? Was fond of? Even Baby hadn't been sure of his feelings for the female hunter - sent the words scurrying into silence.

"The secrets those two could keep would write a small series," said Jo with a humorless chuckle. "But I agree with my mom. It was a damn fool thing to use that stuff while on the job. Might want to lead with how stupid you were, see how they react to that."

Baby shrugged a shoulder. "I thought that would be real easy to figure."

"They don't always get what's real easy right off the bat. They're dense like that sometimes." Jo gave her own shrug, fondness shining from her eyes and glowing from her smile. "Go with the obvious, then work up to the apology. If they try to talk over you, you go and talk right back over them. Push through it until you both are red in the face. And remember, you've only gotta say..."

Baby couldn't help her frustrated groan when Jo faded out of existence. "Aw, come on! Can't one of you stick around long enough to finish a goddamn thought?" She looked back at Miranda expectantly as the psychic shivered. "Okay, batter up. Who's next up to the plate?"

But instead of turning another card over, Miranda lifted her sightless eyes to meet hers. "John and Mary Winchester cannot be reached."

"Cannot be reached?" Baby repeated. "What, did you lose your service provider or something?"

Miranda shrugged. "Sometimes a soul cannot be reached for reasons. It is rare, I grant you, but I cannot d a thing about it. If you like, I can try reaching out to another two souls of your choosing."

Denied the parents of her boys, Baby quickly settled for the next best thing. "I only want to speak to Henry Winchester."

Miranda nodded, her eyelids already drooping as she slipped back into the trance. "The Magician. He is coming."

She sat up straighter as the clean-cut figure of Henry Winchester solidified and came into focus. He tilted his head slightly at her. "Why ask for me?"

"Because you know about magic." Lifting off her amulet, Baby held it out in her palm towards the spirit. "What do you make of this?"

He leaned forward to examine the pendant. "Holy bronze, looks Sumatran in origin, maybe a primordial deity. Seems to possess an abnormally large amount of magical energy." His eyes glanced up. "Not from you?"

"No. Near as I can figure, it's powering some spell that keeps me human." She held it up between them. "Any ideas who's got enough juice to make that possible?"

Now in full Men of Letters mode, Henry crossed his arms in thought. "Gods, some very high-ranking demons, for certain. Maybe angels, if they're anything like the boys described. A few nature spirits could - "

"Short answer, please," Baby interrupted. "We've only got four minutes and I can't exactly keep dropping quarters to keep this call going after."

Henry smiled at the generation-appropriate metaphor. "Honestly, any number of creatures could have done this to you. I would run an identifying spell on it, try to narrow down some points of origin."

"Tried that. Didn't fly too well."

"Did you try an origin spell with vague parameters?"

"All it told me was that the magic was not celestial or demonic."

"Well, our locator spells really were in their infancy at the time." Henry shook his head. "What you need is a specialist. Someone who knows more about obscure magical nuances."

Baby couldn't help a defeated groan as she slumped forward in her chair. "Well that's just maddeningly unhelpful. I was really hoping for a name or a good place to start looking."

He shrugged. "Can't solve all your problems, dear. But I can give you a piece of advice if you'll allow me to."

She couldn't help but compare Henry's politely worded query to Dean's stilted attempts at offering his own advice. Old-school gentleman's manners really are something rare in this day and age. "I'd really appreciate it."

Henry smiled fondly at her, like a father who was proud of his child's realizing that she was in over her head. "I believe you already know what you need to do. All you needed was someone else to tell you what it was. So what do you think you need to do now?"

She grinned back at the Winchester patriarch. "I think you've cleared it up for me, Henry. Thank you."

"You're welcome, my dear. And remember, all you have to say is..." He faded away just as Miranda roused herself, but Baby wasn't angry at the interruption this time.

The psychic walked her to the door and stood at the threshold. "Did you find out what you wanted to know?"

"I did, thank you." Now I understand what it is I have to do.

I have to say...is that I'm sorry.

Oh my gosh, I'm sorry to have taken so long in updating. I'm doing my best, so please bear with me!

Enjoy this chapter, and please leave a review!