Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 51 of Temporary Home and part 3 of Houses of the Holy. I hope that you enjoy this chapter. I worked hard on this one too. It might not be the best because I am out of my element with this episode. Without further ado Chapter 51.

Chapter 51

The Church

Sam, Dean, and Aeron were walking through the sanctuary of the church with Father Reynolds.

"So you're interested in joining the parish?" Father Reynolds asked looking at the three of them.

"Yeah, well, you know, we just don't feel right unless we hit church every Sunday." Dean told him with a small smile.

"Where'd you say you lived before?"

"Uh…" Sam bit his lip. God they really hadn't thought this through. Not in the least bit.

"Fremont, Texas." Dean said.

"Yeah."

"Really? That's a nice town. Saint Teresa's parish, you must know the priest there."

"Sure… yeah, uh…"

"Father Shaughnessy." Aeron said looking at Father Reynolds.

Father Reynolds smiled at her.

"You know, we're just happy to be here now, Father." Sam said with a smile.

"And we're happy to have you, we could use some young blood around here"

"Hey listen, I gotta ask… No offense, but uh, the neighborhood?" Dean asked looking at Father Reynolds.

"Well, it's gone to seed a little, there's no denying that,, but that's why what the church does here is so important. Like I always say, you can expect a miracle, but in the mean time you work your butt off."

"Huh. Yeah, we heard about the murders."

"Yes, the victims were parishioners of mine, I'd known them for years."

"And the killers said that an angel made them do that?" Sam asked looking at Father Reynolds.

"Yes. Misguided souls, to think that God's messenger would appear and incite people to murder. It's tragic." Father Reynolds said shaking his head.

"So you don't believe in those angel yarns, huh?" Dean asked.

"Oh, no, I absolutely believe. Kind of goes with the job description."

Sam nodded to a painting on the wall. "Father, that's Michael, right?"

"That's right. The archangel Michael, with the flaming sword. The fighter of demons. Holy force against evil."

"So they're not really the Hallmark card version that everybody thinks? They're fierce right? Vigilant?"

"Well, I like to think of them as more loving than wrathful. But, uh, yeah, a lot of Scripture paints angels as God's warriors. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, the glory of the Lord shone down upon them, and they were terrified."

Sam and Aeron nodded their heads and Dean looked on in confusion. What the hell was he talking about.

"Luke. Two nine."

Dean nodded his head.

SNSNSN

The three hunters walked out of the church with Father Reynolds.

"Well, thank you for speaking with us, Father." Sam said with a smile.

"Oh, it's my pleasure. I hope to see you soon again."

Dean saw a collection of tribute items at the bottom of the steps. "Hey,Father, what's, what is all that for?"

"Oh, that's for Father Gregory. He was a priest here."

"Was?"

"He passed away right on these steps. He's interred in the church crypt."

Aeron blinked. She supposed that it would be normal for a priest to be buried in his own church. But it wasn't common of hearing it. At least not to her.

"When did this happen?" Dean asked curiously.

"Two months ago. He was shot for his car keys."

"I'm sorry." The two younger hunters said at the same time.

"Yeah, me too. He was a good friend. I didn't even have time to administer his last rites. But like I said, it's a tough neighborhood. Ever since he died I've been praying my heart out."

"For what?" Sam asked in confusion.

"For deliverance. From the violence and bloodshed around here. We could use a little divine intervention, I suppose."

"Well, Padre, thanks. We'll see you again." Dean said waving to him.

Father Reynolds went back inside of the church.

The three of them looked back at the shrine for the fallen Father.

"Well, it's all starting to make sense. Devoted priest dies a violent death? That's a vengeful spirit material right there." Dean said shaking his head.

Sam shifted uncomfortably.

"And he knew all the other stiffs, because they went to church here, in fact I'm willing to bet that because he was their priest, he knew things about them that nobody else knew."

"Then again, Father Reynolds started praying for God's help about two months ago, right? Right about the time all this started happening." Sam said putting his hands into his coat pockets.

"Aw, come on man, what's your deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look, I'll admit I'm a bit skeptic, but since when are you all Mr., uh, 700 Club? No, seriously. From the git-go you've been willing to buy this angel crap, man. I mean, what's next, are you going to start praying every day?"

"I do." Sam said looking back at his brother.

"What?"

"I do pray everyday. I have for a long time."

Dean looked at his brother in shock. "The things you learn about a guy. Huh. Hell I bet Red here doesn't pray."

Aeron shifted a little bit nervously. "Actually I do too."

Dean looked at her in surprise. He cleared his throat. "Well, come on, let's go and check out Father Gregory's grave." Dean said wiping his hands on his pants.

Aeron shook her head. "We might want to wait until dark. It's still pretty daylight."

"She's right Dean."

Dean groaned. "Alright. Alright we will check it out then."

SNSNSN

The three of them walked through the maze of stone walls of the crypt. They walked through it slowly. Sam brought up the rear of the three of them. They hadn't even noticed Sam wasn't with them when they walked further into the crypt.

Aeron flashed her light around. "For a crypt this is pretty clean." She said looking around.

"What did you expect mice or rats?" Dean questioned her.

Aeron shook her head. "We're not looking for the holy grail here Dean." She rolled her eyes. "This isn't the last crusade or anything."

"Hey."

"What it's true." Aeron said with a cheeky smile. She looked behind her. "Uh… Dean… Sam's not here."

"What?"

"Sam isn't with us."

"Damn it." Dean turned sharply on his heels and grabbed Aeron's arm taking her with him.

The two of them went back into the room.

"Sam, come on, get the lead out…" Dean's eyes widened when he saw sam on the ground. He rushed over to his younger brother. "Sammy? Sammy! Hey."

Sam jerked awake and groaned.

"You okay?"

Sam stared at the angel in shock. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm okay."

"Come on." Dean said hauling Sam up to his feet. He guided Sam into the sanctuary.

Aeron followed behind him. Aeron closed the door.

"You saw it, didn't you? Didn't you?" Dean asked looking at his little brother.

"Yeah. Yeah. Dean. I saw an angel."

"You…"

Sam sat down.

Dean pulled a flask out of his pocket unscrewing the lid. "Alright here."

"I don't want a drink."

Dean shrugged his shoulders. "So. What makes you think you saw a, uh, angel?"

"It just, it appeared before me and I just, this feeling washed over me, you know? Like, like peace. Like grace."

"Okay, Ecstasy Boy, maybe we'll get you some glowsticks and a nice hat, huh?"

Aeron hit him.

"Ow."

"Dean, I'm serious. It spoke to me, it knew who I was."

"It's just a spirit, Sam. Okay? And it's not the first one to be able to read people's minds." Dean sat down in another pew.

Aeron shook her head.

"Okay, let me guess. You were personally chosen to smite some sinner. You've just got to wait for some divine bat signal, is that it?"

"Yeah, actually."

"Great. I don't suppose you asked what this alleged bad guy did?"

"Actually I did, Dean. And the angel told me. He hasn't done anything. Yet. But he will."

Dean stood up and began to pace back and forth. "Oh, this is, this is… I don't believe this."

"Dean, the angel hasn't been wrong yet. Someone's going to do something awful, and I can stop it."

"You know, you're supposed to be bad too, maybe, maybe I should just stop you now."

"You know what, Dean? I don't understand. Why can't you even consider the possibility?'

"What, that this is an angel?"

"Yes!"

Aeron rubbed her face. "Really Sam? I mean… no one has really seen one."

"Maybe we're hunting an angel here, and we should stop. Maybe this is God's will."

"Okay, alright. You know what? I get it. You've got faith so does Red here. That's… hey, good for you two. I'm sure it makes things easier."He sat down. "I'll tell you who else had faith like that, Sam. Mom. She used to tell me when she tucked me in that angels were watching over us. In fact, that was the last thing she ever said to me." Dean admitted.

"You never told me that." Sam said looking at his brother.

"Well, what's to tell.? She was wrong. There was nothing protecting her. There's no higher power, there is no God. I mean, there's just chaos, and violence, and random unpredictable evil that, that come out of nowhere, and rips you to shreds. You want me to believe in this stuff? I'm going to need to see some hard proof. You got any? Well, I do. Proof that we're dealing with a spirit."

SNSNSN

The three of them went to Father Gregory's tombstone that was covered in creeping vines. The three of them crouched down before it.

"That looks like…" Sam beginning only to be cut off by Dean.

"It's wormwood. Plant associated with the dead. Specifically ones that are not at rest. I don't see it growing anywhere else, except over the murdered priest's marker. It's him Sam."

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Dean, I don't know what to think."

"Okay. You want some more proof? I'll give you more proof."

"How?"

"We'll summon Gregory's spirit."

"What? Here? In the church?"

"Yeah. Yeah, we just need a few odds and ends, and that, uh, seance ritual in dad's journal."

"Oh, a seance, great. Hope Whoopi's available."

"That's funny, actually. Seriously. If Father Gregory's spirit is around, a seance will bring him right to us. If it's him, then we'll put him to rest."

"But if it's an angel, it won't show. Nothing'll happen."

"Exactly. That's one of the perks of the job, Sam. We don't have to operate on faith. We can know for sure. Don't you want to know for sure?"

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This is the end of Chapter 51. Let me know what you think. And did anyone catch the movie reference that I had made in this episode? If you did let me know what it is. There will be a one shot written if you wish to take one. Let me know if you would like to see something. Until next time.