PREVIOUSLY:

Dean turned to Gilda. "How long before we know it worked?"

Gilda looked back down to her dear friend sadly. "I do not know. If it works, Charlie's Will will counteract the The Key's magic"

And if it doesn't?" Dean asked so scared he thought for sure he'd throw up.

"She'll be trapped and eventually die." Gilda said with a deep melancholy sigh.

The brothers exchanged a grim glance.

CHAPTER 33

Oz

Fairy treetop Village

"What the hell do we do now?" Dean asked impatiently.

Sam let out a deep troubled sigh. "Not much else to do but wait, I guess."

Dean didn't like the sound of that. Not one bit.

Gilda spoke. "You could come down from the treetops. Many of my kin here have only heard stories about humans. I'm sure they would find you quite fascinating."

Dean stared back at Gilda. "We're not a traveling exhibit." Dean shot back. "And we're not leaving her."

Gilda stared back at the weary brothers and nodded to herself after a moment. She glanced over at the table of food that had barely been touched since it had been brought in. "Eat then." She stated. "It may take awhile. You'll need your strength for whatever may come to pass."

Dean noted a subtle undertone in her voice and it triggered suspicions.

"What does that mean?" Dean asked point blank.

Gilda looked back to Dean gently. "Whatever road Charlie may or may not end up on, it's good to be prepared. Your strength is important." She motioned back to the table. "Eat something."

Dean stared back at Gilda. "You don't think she'll make it, do you?" Dean spoke in a surprised tone.

"I have faith in Charlie." She said.

"Yeah, that sounds really convincing there." Dean said sarcastically.

"I know the power of that Key. I can feel it's energy pulsating. It's strength increasing even as we speak. It will soon break free from my spell that binds it. If Charlie is not successful in gaining back control soon, she will be forever lost."

"Jesus... " Dean muttered. "Now there's a time limit? Does she know that?" Dean said motioning to Charlie's still body.

Gilda responded with a thin tight smile.

"Awesome." Sam responded. "There has got to be something we can do?"

"There is not. Whatever happens will be for the best." Gilda responded.

"For the best?" Dean scoffed. "There is only one way this can turn out. ONE. " Dean motioned with his index finger.

Gilda eyed Dean with empathy. "I know you love her. Very much. As do I. But Fate is a powerful force and it will dictate what happens here today."

Sam shook his head irritated. "You don't know much about us do you?"

One of Gilda's guards quietly leaned in towards her and whispered in her ear. Gilda nodded and reverted her attention back to the Winchesters somewhat apprehensively. "Now, I shall return shortly." Gilda said and then turned to leave.

"Wait a second! You're leaving? Now?" Dean asked again in a surprised tone.

"There are some important matters that require my attention. I shall return soon."

She said enigmatically. And with that she left before anyone could say anything more.

"Unbelievable." Dean complained. "Un -fucking-believable. We may as well destroy that damn key."

"If that's what needs to be..." Sam stopped short and suddenly looked highly concerned.

"What?" Dean asked.

"I can't believe I'm asking this but..do you have the Key?" Sam asked worriedly.

"Of course I do." Dean said. "It's in my pocket here.." Deans voice trailed off.

Dean shoved his hand down the front pocket of his jeans. His eyebrows scrunched together when he didn't find what he was expecting. He looked to his brother with a split second hesitation before he started to search through every jacket pocket, pant pocket, and their shirt pocket he had with a more frantic nature.

"I don't believe this..." Dean muttered.

"You don't have it?" Sam asked.

Dean searched all his pockets again. Then his eyes fell to the floor and he immediatly started scanning every corner. Sam did the same.

"It was one hell of a ride here. Maybe it fell out of your pocket...back in the forest...?" Sam guessed.

"I -I thought I had it..I.." Dean looked crestfallen. "Without that key..." Dean began.

A deathly silence ensued as they both absorbed the fact that their plan B had just gone right out the window.