Detectives Michell and his partner Detective Ballard were investigating the headless body found in the alley.
"His name is James Alwood, suspected killer." Henry wanted to put this guy away for years, but because of a sloppy police work, he was let off scott free. He was the main suspect of murdering a elderly shopkeeper.
"At least he can't hurt anyone anymore." Diana hated vigilante justice, but that case haunted her predecessor, Daryl Morris. She nodded to the coroner to take his body and head away.
"Doesn't mean it makes it right." Henry read the case files, poor Xian Lu was just making a living at his own convenience store. He seen the security footage, the guy shot him even when he handed over all of the cash. The police that showed up after a witness called 911, allowed a visitor to take pictures and the crime scene was damaged. James face was shown on the tape, still the jury couldn't agree on the outcome. He was let go with a controversial ruling.
"He shot and robbed a innocent man." That guy was shot at for a lunchbox. He was getting interviewed by another cop. "Did you talk to him?".
"He agreed to come to the station. Get this, he claims he heard a horse."
Henry looked at Diane.
"There were no horse prints." They only footprints were the two men.
"Then explain the head." It was a clean cut. Guy was dead in seconds. Blood was everywhere. "It was like he was in a guillotine." Diane was obsessed with history. The French Revolution was her favorite subject to study.
"Then where is the weapon?" Henry saw the body. Guy's head had evidence it was a large knife or sword.
"Won't be the first head I seen." Diana knew about vampires, she knew a few hunters in the city. But she kept that knowledge to herself.
"Maryland must be crazy. No wonder you transferred." Henry heard of her crooked partner and those two suspects.
"Yeah." Diana had to make a call. She knew of a professional. "I'm going back to the station, this will be a long night."
"I'll hit the nearest Starbucks!"
Once Diana was in her car, she called Bobby Singer.
"A guy with his head cut off? Sure it's not some psycho?" Once Diana explained about a horse, Bobby rubbed his eyes. "Yeah. I'll catch the first plane out." He was back home, he had no luck tracking down that demonic academy. He didn't want to bother those witches in San Francisco, they had their hands full. But he didn't want to come alone.
Bobby and Rufus were staring at the dead body.
"I don't know what to say. This was a professional cut." The coroner already finished the autopsy, he concluded it was a large blade that killed the guy. What he couldn't figure out was the height. "He was killed with a sharp weapon, however the guy had to be either very tall, or..."
"Riding a horse." Dammit. Bobby knew it.
"How did you know that?" The young coroner asks.
"We seen our share of weird cases." Rufus came to the same conclusion.
"Anyways, I have to type my report, here is my notes. Excuse me."
Once the guy left, Bobby and Rufus start talking.
"Does this sound familiar?"
"Sleepy Hallow."
"Balls."
"Yeah, we studied him back at Knox." Rufus attended there during his junior and high school years, he applied there as a joke. He was surprised when he was invited to a interview, and when he flew to Scotland, no one was was in shock as Rufus when he was offered a scholarship plus free lodging. The vice principal, Anne Whipple was impressed by his 'natural gifts.'
"Knox? They let you in?" Bobby heard of it from Sam. "How come I never heard of it?" It wasn't written in any lore or texts he had.
"They are very exclusive." Rufus was very private about his life, but he was a proud graduate.
Bobby snorted.
"Jealous?" Rufus suspected Bobby was. He was a great hunter, a brilliant researcher, plus a legend in the hunting community. Many young hunters called him for advice.
"You don't need a fancy degree to be a hunter."
"But you learn faster, and have a advantage over everyone else."
"Anyways." Bobby needed to change the subject. "What do we know about the horseman?"
"There is countless legends. Some say he is a demon from Hell, others say he is a ghost, a popular one is he is a Tulpa."
"But he isn't those things."
"No. He was real, but he didn't die with his head cut off. He died of natural causes."
"What does that mean?" Bobby was confused.
"You like kids?"
Bobby was in awe.
"This is Magic School? It's like a real life Henry Potter." He blushed when Rufus snorted.
"You read that crap? The author made her fortune from stealing ideas. She wasn't even a student at either schools, her best friend was. Her stupid books gave every instructor a migraine, every student thinking they can use their powers to fight evil with toy wands. The library had to ban the books!"
Bobby watched as a young teenager levitated by him reading a book. He knew magic existed, but to see it used so casually.
"Let's go see the headmaster. He or she can tell us how he escaped these halls."
The angel Jophiel was staring coolly at the two hunters. He was in a visage of a young man, he took over Magic School on Michael's orders.
"You two are hunters. Deal with it. It has nothing to do with us." Jophiel hated Earth, he hated kids. But orders are orders. These young witches are needed.
"The Horseman could only conjured here, one of your students made it."
"So?"
Bobby was taken aback by the rude tone. He only met a few angels, most kept to themselves. The ones he had problems with, they killed Eleanor.
"A innocent man is dead! Magic is in danger of getting exposed!"
Jophiel rolled his eyes.
"Head to the library, just be careful you don't lose your heads."
"Dick." He jumped when the door slammed behind him.
"Angels usually are." Rufus met a few, righteous snobs. Most were prejudiced against anyone that lived on Earth. "I been here a few times, I'll show you where the library is."
Bobby was fascinated by all the knowledge kept here. His books, nothing compared to this place.
"Done gawking? Let's find that book." Rufus knew which book to find.
"The Legend of Sleepy Hallow? That's just a fairy tale." Bobby read it several times, plus seen the movie.
"Not this one. If you bother reading the fine print, this is a autobiography of his life."
"So his parents lived in Scotland, but before that they lived in France?"
"Yep. Neither were French Royalty, or nobles. They just happened to be honeymooners renting a room in someone's estate. They just happened to have bad timing.''
"Then what does it have to do with the Horseman?"
"If you stop interrupting me, I'll tell you."
"Jackass." Bobby only used his favorite insult for young hunters. For Rufus and John, it was always 'Jackass.' For younger hunters, it was 'Idgits.'
"The couple ran with nothing but their nightclothes. It was a dark time. They didn't come alone, their landlord, the owner of the estate ran with them. He helped them escape to the trees, and lead them to the woods. There he led them to freedom."
"And?" Where was Rufus going with this?
"The landlord was a wizard. To help them escape, he made himself look like a scary creature. You can tell what happens next. It was Halloween, he used pumpkins to scare away the mob."
"Was his name Crane by any chance?" Bobby heard of the fairy tales from Sam and Dean. That all were true stories.
"The landlord? Yep. The couple's son, he wrote the story about the horseman. He just made it into a spooky story. The wizard, he returned to Scotland, he couldn't return to France for obvious reasons. Legends say he was the one that started Forrest Hills." Out of the four, it was the oldest institution.
"Interesting. So Rufus, how do we stop this horseman. A man is dead, we have to solve this case quickly." The story was fascinating, the knowledge Bobby had was nothing compared to the schools.
"We find the witch that started it." Rufus had an idea what kind of powers he or she used. Good thing he studied witchcraft.
Diana was reading her notes when Henry slammed a file on her desk.
"We just lost this case. Secret Service, they are taking over."
"Huh? Why? This is a homicide investigation." Diana was confused.
"No idea." Henry hated losing a case like this, but it was outta of their hands. He was carrying another folder. "Got a new case. It's personal."
Bobby was asked to substitute to a class of students.
"I'm just a old man. I know nothin' bout magic! Why don't you ask Rufus?!" Bobby was surprised when the vice principal asked him to teach a class. The regular teacher was sick from food poisoning from the lunch he had at the cafeteria.
"They are good kids, don't worry, today's lesson is about history. Not magic."
"Magic? I'll see what I can teach." He didn't mind kids, but when she opened the door, Bobby realized how over the head he was.
"Have fun!" As she shoved him inside.
In a alley in a rough section of San Francisco, a young man was being roughed up by a thug.
"Listen. You owe me. You have to do what I say."
"Donnie. I'll get you the money. I just want out of the life!" The young man who called himself 'Speed' was really regretting borrowing money from Donnie.
"You better show up. If it wasn't for me, your momma would be still at that hospital! I'll see you then." Donnie punches Speed in the abdomen as a warning.
Speed coughs as he was bent over. He had half, then the medical bill came in. Speed knew he couldn't do this forever. But his mom was sick. He couldn't help but pray for a answer. He walked out of the alley and ran straight into Henry Mitchel.
"Hey Speed, what's up buddy?" As Henry slammed him into a wall.
"Hey I did nothing!" Speed couldn't believe his bad luck. First Donnie, then his former parole officer. "I was just having a smoke!"
"Hanging around with old friends? You should know Donnie is bad news. San Francisco is pretty far from LA." Henry takes Speed to his undercover cruiser. "Let's catch up at the precinct."
"How was it?" Rufus was smiling a knowing smile at Bobby.
"Those kids are a bunch of idgits." They tried playing a prank on Bobby, but he immediately shut it down. The instructions weren't exactly clear, so Bobby talked about fairy tales. Most of the kids were surprised to find out that they were real. He was surprised to know that they knew who he was, a few of them were transfers from Knox. Three of the students were training to be hunters. He had fun, he realized he missed being around teenagers. Two of them reminded him of a young Sam and Dean. "Any luck finding the witch?"
"It's like a needle in a haystack. Any one of these kids can be the boogyman." Rufus couldn't wait to get out of there. He hated kids. "I have a idea how to vanquish the tulpa, follow me."
Speed was let go with a stern warning, Henry warned him to keep his nose clean. Speed wanted nothing more, but his mom needed medicine. Unfortunately he had no choice but to take one last job.
"We do this, your debt is paid." Donnie had a plan, that's why he brought Speed. "We rob the liquor store, you drive. That's it. Got it, Demore?" He was holding a switchblade. At that moment, Speed was making a huge mistake.
"I changed my mind. I don't want to do this." Speed will find another way to help his mom. He remembered Henry's words.
"This is your last chance kid. You won't be able to save your mom in prison."
"You don't have a choice." He nods at the two men in the back.
Speed swallows. He knew the police was watching, he wasn't dumb, he was listening carefully at the police chatter. He only came along to get rid of Donnie. Once Donnie was in jail, he can take his mom and leave the city. He'll find a way to help her. He had to wait for his chance. Hopefully Henry believed him.
"Really? Really!" Rufus was pissed. "Don't you dare laugh." Bobby managed to kill the Horseman, but didn't get to save Rufus in time. His head was sitting on a pile of jerseys. "Out of all the spots!"
"I said I was sorry!" Bobby was apologetic. "He came so fast, I barely had time to react!" He threw the potion him and Rufus made, but not before Rufus' head was cut off. Thankfully Rufus was fine, just pissed off.
"Just find the damned kid so we can get the hell out of here!"
"Hey mom." No way was he telling his mom where he was at the whole time. He hated to say it, he was glad he was stabbed. Luckily it was a mild flesh wound.
"Demore where is my glasses?"
"On your head Ma." He opened up the insulin kit. He swore to pay back Henry. "Time for your medicine."
"Kid. This isn't the way." Bobby had his hands up. The young male witch was holding a knife using his powers on a teacher.
"No one ever listened to me. All I wanted was a normal life. Be with my family. But Gideon, he kidnapped me! Kept me against my will!" Zackary Sheldon shouted. He had two tears streaming down his face. "I wasn't a kid to him. I was a weapon! A means to an end!" He held the knife closer to the whimpering woman. "Stay back!" When he saw some teachers coming closer. "Tell Michael I want my freedom!"
Bobby sighed. He understood how he felt. Sam, Dean, John's selfish expectations from his sons. Even Adam wasn't immune to the Winchester curse. With his hands up, he carefully took a step forward.
"Son. Everyone here has a choice. The person who ran this place. He's long gone. This isn't you."
Zachary trembles.
"An innocent is dead. I already lost." He started shaking. He read that article online.
"Hunters, witches, whitelighters, we all lost someone. But we also save many more. Put down the knife." Bobby came closer to Zachary and holds out his hand.
Zachary was crying. The knife drops to the floor.
Bobby watched as he was taken away.
"Mr Singer?"
"I can take him home."
"So what now?" Rufus was checking his neck. "I always wondered if the beheaded were still alive after the guillotine. Hmph. So what happens now?"
"He has to stay for a disciplinary hearing. Summoning a tulpa is one thing, but it escaped."
"Guy was a killer. I would have put a bullet in him myself." Rufus knew that guy killed more than that shopkeeper. "What are you planning on doing?"
"They won't let him go home so easily." The angels wouldn't care, but they still had to follow protocol.
"You doing what I think you're doing?"
The young witch didn't know what was going to happen to him. What was going to happen to him? Prison? His powers bounded? When the door opened he was surprised to see who it was.
"I can't believe he agreed to do this.'' Rufus bounded Zachary's powers. Both Bobby and Rufus insisted this was the only way they could keep him safe. He didn't care, he hated Magic School and didn't mind being mortal. He wanted to go home but Rufus and Bobby wouldn't let him. They both said the authorities will be waiting for him. "So what now?"
Bobby bought him a bus ticket to head south.
"I have a few friends. They wouldn't mind a experienced ex witch." Zachary was heading to one of one of Bobby's and Rufus' hunter's contacts. They wave goodbye as the bus pulled away. "He'll be okay, I gave him a charm, he'll be unrecognizable." Bobby didn't tell Rufus he made a deal. It wasn't a Crossroads Deal, but Michael agreed to his terms. "So where are you off to?"
"There's a hunt in Ohio. Reports people are killing their loved ones, with no memory of the event. Sounds suspicious.'' Rufus knew about that demonic academy, however, the killers showed great remorse.
"You need a hand?"
"Just what I need. Stuck with you in that sardine can you call a car."
"Hate to break it to you, but I flew here."
"You kidding me? I have to drive you?" Rufus brought a stolen car, but it was impounded by the city.
"I can stop off at the liquor mart. I know what to get." Idgit.
"You know I don't drink the cheap stuff."
"And you wonder why you are always broke. Johnny Blue isn't cheap." He knew Rufus won't drink anything less.
"Who. Who are you?" Speed had tears in his eyes seeing his mom's dead body.
"She died of diabetes complications. Now you are free."
Speed was a good fighter, he grew up in the roughest, most dangerous part of skid row. But he knew he won't stand a chance with this guy. He knew that Donnie and his thug friends would be dead before they had a chance to draw out their guns. He put up his hands.
"Keep out of trouble from now on, when the time comes, we'll be asking you to pay back your debt."
Speed's heart was beating fast. That man wasn't human. He warned Speed not to try suicide, or he'll be brought back as a vegetable. Always awake, trapped forever in his body, never sleeping, always awake.
"I'm sorry Ma." He knelt beside her and sobbed. Thankfully the man left. "Say hi to Shantelle." He closed her eyes. He was all alone now, but he wasn't about to let his mom rot here alone.
"Detective Mitchel."
"Henry, it's Demore."
Paige was humming as she typed on her computer. Tomorrow was her day off, and she had a bit of good news. Her ex, Charles was moving back. Telling Paige, he had very good news to tell her.
Paige was humming "Here Comes the Bride" when she was interrupted by a knock.
"Come in!" Nothing could ruin her day. "Morning Billie!'' Her part time employee was about to move in, Paige was about to move out, she was fantasizing about moving in with Charles in his manor. Of course he did own several homes across the globe, Paige can live anywhere she wants. But for now, she divided her time here at Scared Meadows and at the Manor. "What can I do for you?"
"Wow. Paige, you look amazing." Even with her short hair, Paige had this glow about her. Something was up, Paige kept humming all week.
"Thank you Billie." She turned around and touched up her lipstick.
"The reason I came here, is that I need some time off. At least till school starts."
"Done." Paige already gave Castiel his promotion. Castiel was grateful, he was getting bored at his old position. Paige was training him to take over her duties, she was thinking spending more time with family. Especially Piper, she seemed lost these days. "What about after, you'll be on a casual basis till Spring."
"Yeah, and between fighting demons and school, plus finding Christy's killer, I been busy."
"Don't stretch yourself too thin. Take time to relax, have fun."
"Thanks." As Billie was about to turn around, she stops in her tracks. "Oh! Now I remember why I came here. You have a visitor."
"Who?" Couldn't be Charles, he was still overseas.
"Your father. He said he came to see you."
Samuel Wilder was sitting in the waiting area. Its been a long time since he was here. Sacred Meadows, it changed since the thirties. He was nervous about seeing his daughter, he hasn't seen her since she was a baby. When he saw a young woman walking out, he was struck on how beautiful she was.
"My god. You are the splitting image of your mother." He remembered meeting Patty when he was assigned as her whitelighter. Even though she was married, she and him had a passionate affair resulting in her getting pregnant with their only daughter.
"Samuel." Paige was staring coolly at her biological father.
"Samuel? You mean Dad?"
"How are his vitals?"
"Steady." The young man was still unconscious. "Wonder why he ran into the streets?"
"Witnesses say he was disoriented and confused."
The nurse and doctor walk out. The young man slept peacefully, unaware of the danger he was in.
"You have some nerve coming here." Paige was annoyed. "I lived and worked here for years, and not once have you came to see me." She remembered Victor, he was gone over the years, but he fought for custody, and went out of his way to make up for lost time with his daughters.
"Paige, I had my reasons." He and Paige knew that was bullshit.
"Whatever. What can I help you with. Are you here to check in? We work extensively with public and private insurance."
Samuel stared at Paige. She was the Director? Usually positions like this was chosen by Heaven. Paige was a whitelighter. Maybe Castiel recommended her. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but feel proud.
"I need your help. My charge, he reappeared recently."
"Your charge. Uh, you do realize whitelighters are finito."
"What are you talking about?"
"Orb. Orb to the cafeteria. Don't be shy, we seen it all." When Samuel tried, Paige couldn't help but smirk.
"Why can't I orb?"
"You been living under a rock? There is no more whitelighters. We're extinct." Seeing Samuel's expression, Paige's eyebrows rose. "Are you serious? You didn't know?"
"I been on a mission." Samuel couldn't tell her, he was deep undercover in the Underworld. "What do you mean there's no more whitelighters?"
"War is coming. God, He is destroying reality. Michael, the archangel from another world, he took away the whitelighters. Why, I have no idea. Myself, and Claire's niece, our whitelighter side was bounded to keep us safe. Consider yourself lucky."
Samuel could only blink. Is that why Anna sent him downstairs all those years ago? He wondered why she performed that spell on him.
"I'll worry about that later. My charge, JD, he will die if I don't get him out of there."
The demon Vaklav was smiling charmingly at the young nurse.
"Yeah, I'm filling in for Dr Winfield." The real Winfield was burning in the hospital furnace. "So I'll take over John Doe's case."
"Of course Doctor..."
"Vaklav." He waited till the nurse left. "Finally." He had to hurry, he had to kill the kid before Michael or the Princes finds out.
"We have to hurry. JD, he might be dead." Samuel, he wished he still had his powers. Now he was helpless. "Couldn't you drive faster?" They were driving slowly.
"You do realize I'm trying to lay low." Paige was still being careful. She didn't want anymore fame. Especially since that article online showed up. Thankfully it was gone, that journalist was gone, he announced on social media he was covering the conflicts overseas. No one was more relieved than Prue, she was laying really low these days. She was out of town on assignment, she was traveling with the circus. "It's bad enough I had a church dedicated to me, but it was terrible that my sisters were dragged into it."
"Wait? What!" Samuel was in shock.
Paige gave him a side look.
"If you came to see me more often, you'll understand. This is taking too long, I'm calling Agent Murphy."
"Okay. A guy who's name is just JD. Got it. I'll check the John Does." Murphy was glad he was was back in San Francisco. What was happening in that base, he didn't want to think about it. Thankfully that Crowley guy was long gone. He walked over to the nurses desk.
"Agent Murphy. I need to see John Doe. And before you ask, yes I do have a warrant."
Billie Jenkins yawned as she walked in the hospital. She never told Paige she volunteered as a candy striper. It was the only way she could get that scholarship. The school wouldn't accept Scared Meadows since it was a private hospital. At least it was only a few months.
"Hi Deb. How's things." Billie liked it here, the staff was very friendly. She loved her other job, Paige and the others were super nice, but it was pretty isolating. Here, everyone was more diverse.
"Busy. Mr Andrews is driving us crazy."
"Must be Thursday." Thursday was checkers. Usually Billie hated checkers, but Mr Andrews made it fun. He had the best stories. He confided in Billie he was a former hunter, but was forced to retire when he had that accident. He didn't mind retiring, he always said that there was only one way out, and it was in a body bag.
"Before you see him can you get some water for the patient in room 301."
"Sure." When Billie was about to go to the kitchen, she saw a guy in a suit. She wouldn't have noticed him, not until she saw him tucking in a gun. Oh oh. She was about to call security, till she saw a doctor wheeling a man away. "Since when does a doctor have dirty boots." Till she saw his eyes. Oh shit.
"You are such a pain. Oh well. I enjoyed your father's pain. Shame I can't keep you any longer, but I have to clear my tracks." Vaklav had to get rid of his collection. He loved collecting innocents, especially when every one of them were future whitelighters. But since Heaven didn't need them anymore, neither did he. Just when he was about to destroy him, the door slammed open.
"Freeze! Hands in the air!" Murphy was pointing his gun at the demon.
Valklov threw a fireball at him. Luckily, he missed. Murphy retaliated by shooting at his chest. When Vaklov smirked, Murphy realized how screwed he was.
"You humans never learn." Just when he was about to fire another fireball, he gasped when he heard chants. "You."
What a thing to forget. Billie wished she brought her knife. Luckily she memorized the anti possession spell.
"I'll deal with you later." He heard the alarms. No way he was dealing with exposure.
"Are you alright?" Billie was helping up Murphy.
"Yea. You know that chant?" The Halliwells, they made him memorize it.
"It's part of my job." Just then Paige and her father ran in.
"JD!" Samuel runs towards the stretcher. "Oh thank god." He was alive, just unconscious. "I have to get him outta here."
Just then Paige notices a blushing Billie.
"Billie? What's going on? I thought you were taking time off."
"Not now Paige." Samuel looked at Billie. "Mind getting a wheelchair?"
"Go. I'll deal with this." Already he could hear the sirens. He wasn't looking forward to explaining this to his bosses.
Later at the manor, Paige and Samuel were arguing.
"Couldn't you send him to Sacred Meadows?"
"With Murphy around? It's bad enough that he knows about witches and the supernatural, but as far as I know, he doesn't know about my work!" Paige wasn't 100% sure about that, but she wasn't taking any chances. She still remembered the British Men of Letters, how close they got to taking over that place.
"He needs medical and psychological care. When he wakes up, he'll think it is still the fifties." Samuel couldn't believed he failed again. He was glad his whitelighters powers were stripped. First Pearl, JD, Patty and now Paige. He preferred hunting, he didn't have to deal with the responsibilities. He shoved the memory of Anna away, that was painful. "How about your sisters? Can they help?"
"Can't." Piper was away, she was looking for her husband. Prue was working, Paige knew she was on a case, trying to find out that demon who were trying to kill the nymphs. Phoebe was getting ready for college. "Wait here."
Samuel was praying. He cared about all of his charges, but he wondered why he was chosen as a whitelighter, he failed every one of his charges. When Paige walked in with that blonde from the hospital, he stood up.
"Witch or hunter?"
"Student. Plus a witch. Paige, I have to get back to the hospital. Otherwise, I'll get fired."
"You volunteer!"
"Shh! JD is still unconscious."
"Sorry." Paige whispered.
"If I lose this job, bye bye to my scholarship." Billie needed all the money she could save. She decided to head to Knox. When she heard that headmistress was offering scholarships, she decided to apply. Even it is only a semester. That's all she needed.
"Don't worry, we'll get you to college. I'll tell the hospital that I needed you for a emergency. You are still my employee."
"Ladies. Hi. JD here needs help."
Billie looked at the young man on the couch. He was cute. Like a young James Dean. He was even dressed like him.
"He's cute." She looked at Samuel. "I don't work for free. Eighteen dollars an hour, plus a deposit."
"Done. Paige?"
"Keep him here. Don't let him out of your sight."
Once they left, Billie took out her phone. She decided to look at other schools. Special schools. Hmm. What's this? Kendriks?
"Formally known as Newcastle College of the Magical Arts. Cool." When she heard moans, she hurriedly put her phone away.
"Sam? Sam?" JD was moaning in his sleep.
"Hurry Paige." She wasn't trained for amnesia patients.
"So you been tracking down missing people since the twenties?"
"Not me personally. It was a man named Walter Winchester that started that investigation."
"Of course." Those Winchesters. Paige did her homework. Sam, Dean they should know about their family's background. They were more than just barbaric hunters.
"Yea. We been looking through old files. Everyone of the family says they all disappeared when they got their picture taken. The latest case was thirty years ago."
"Wendy Sawyer. Samuel, feel like checking this out?"
"Sure Paige." He was disappointed she didn't call him Dad.
Later that afternoon, they were interviewing Mr Sawyer. The poor old man was teary holding her picture.
"She was a good girl. She was an angel. Always helping out others, going out of her way to be nice. She dreamt about being a teacher for special needs kids." His shoulders started shaking.
"I'm so sorry." Murphy usually kept neutral, but the man's story touched him. He looked over at Samuel. He was stoned face, but he was holding Paige's hand. Paige, didn't seem to mind, she squeezed his hand back.
"She was a year away from graduating. She went to take her photo for her mom's birthday. That was the last time we ever saw her. My wife, she spent years searching. But she passed away without closure. My Wendy. Even her remains being found would being me peace."
Paige teared up. She looked down and saw her holding Samuel's hand. She didn't pull away, especially what Mr Sawyer said next.
"A father never stops loving his daughter." Paige and Samuel look at one another.
"Ahem." Murphy's throat clearing made Paige yank her hand away. She pretended not to see Samuel's hurt look. "This picture. Do you know where?"
"It was over at Knob Hill. But it's not there anymore. The photographer, he disappeared the same police, they couldn't find him, he was the main suspect of another girl's disappearance. It's been a long time." Mr Sawyer looks up with hope. "Does that mean you have a lead?"
"We're looking into it." Samuel had to give this man closure. Hopefully Wendy was still alive.
"Please. Do it for Wendy. And for her mother." He crossed his chest.
"I promise we'll solve it." Paige wondered if she had enough room at work. JD definitely had to check in, and Wendy and the others were out there, then they needed to check in as well. She'll wave all fees, they can work it off like many others before them. "Let's go."
"Where are you going?" Billie screwed up. Her phone went off, same with the television when JD accidentally stepped on the remote.
JD ignored her. He was overwhelmed by everything. The cars, the technology, the clothes. When he looked at the date on the newspaper, he panicked.
"What's going on?" Before Billie can answer, JD sees a young man talking to who he had to assume was his dad. "Dad. I have to see my dad." He runs off.
"JD! Wait!" Shit. She had to follow him.
An hour later, she was standing silently at the graveyard entrance. She didn't want to come in, she knew Christy was buried there. But she wanted to be there for JD who was saying goodbye to his family.
JD crossed his chest.
"Bye Dad. Mom. Sarah." His whole family was gone. He kneeled down to kiss their tombstones. His own grave was there, but he knew it was symbolic. "Thanks for never giving up on me. I'm alive, as you can see. I can't explain it. But, I swear. I'll won't waste it this time around. I'll go to college, I'll get a job. I'll get married. Have kids." He didn't cry, he knew his dad won't approve. He was always a macho man. "The future is weird. But I'll adjust." He smiles at Billie. "Till we meet again." He stands up and walks over to Billie. "So where is this hospital you told me about?"
"These colleges. They are empty." Samuel was no longer a whitelighter, but he been one long enough to sense human emotions. "Someone was here. These souls, they are gone."
"Michael. Son of a bitch." Paige really hoped he didn't know. She prayed they were in Heaven, but she really doubted it. "What about Wendy?"
"Right here." Both turned around. They demon was holding in to her neck. "Ah ah! Not another step, or the girl dies."
"You don't want her. Take me!" Samuel remembered Mr Sawyer's words. He knew Paige will most likely never forgive him. But Wendy, she needed to go home.
"Sam. Don't." She had her hands up, but she didn't want to lose Sam or Wendy. "Take me instead."
"Paige! What are you doing?"
Paige had a crazy plan, it was a gamble. But whatever it takes.
"What do you want. Him? A useless ex-whitelighter, her, a worthless girl? Or me. A witch as well as a Charmed One?"
"Paige!" He looks at the demon. "Take me! I'm your prize! I know every one of Heaven's secrets. Michael's plan, all of it! I know everything!"
The demon was planning on killing all three, but when Paige gave her offer, he was extremely tempted. But Samuel. His confession was worth his weight in gold.
"Please! Let Paige and Wendy go! Both safe. And I'll tell you everything!"
"Fine." He threw down Wendy. "Get the hell out of my sight." When Wendy ran out, he looked at both. "Why waste something so valuable? I'll take you both as my prisoners. My new college, it will worth a fortune!"
Paige was waiting for this. She looked at Samuel. When she mouthed something, Samuel was surprised. He nodded.
"Smile!"
Agent Murphy was smiling big at the father-daughter reunion. Both were crying. He knew he had a hell of a explanation, plus a damn report to write, but right now he just wanted to give the family privacy. He slowly shuts the door.
Seeing that family. It reminded him of his dad. He was always away. He worked hard to give his family a good life. He worked as a truck driver. Long hours, always being on the road, only coming home to spend a single weekend every month. Murphy was thinking of changing careers, he was sick of being a yes man. Maybe he can do what he always wanted to do. Be a private investigator. Make his own hours, own his own business, maybe he can work for some hunters. He can do the brain work, do the research so others can concentrate on saving people. He took off his tie. Agent Murphy was giving his notice.
"Just how did you do this?" Piper was staring at the picture. The demon was trapped holding the camera.
"It was a gamble. But I had faith." Mr Sawyer's words. It echoed inside Paige. 'A father's love will transcend everything. Even evil.'
"My daughter, strongest woman I know." It will be a long road. But Samuel and Paige agreed to meet up every once in awhile. He knew he'll never replace Paige's adopted dad, but he remembered that dream he had. He and Patty were married, and were reunited with Paige. Both had a huge family reunion with her sisters and their friends. Shame it was just a dream.
"And JD?"
"He's my newest patient. He has no money, but he agreed to work off his debt. He is my new maintenance man." Paige was happy he knew his way around, he already fixed that filing cabinet that was always stuck. He handed her a phone. It was long dead, but when Paige plugged it in, she was surprised to see it charged. She didn't open it, it was still in her office. Anyways, I just need to fill in a few more positions. Sam? I mean dad." That felt weird, but Paige wanted to get to know her father.
"It's okay. You can call me Sam."
"I'll stick with Samuel. I have a brother in law named Sam." She looked at Piper. "Where's Phoebe?"
"She'll be here soon. Her car is out of gas, so she is waiting for the bus."
"I can pick her up. I need to clear my head." She remembered Billie's huge smile when she hired JD full time. She made him a new ID, it was the exact same name, except one slight change. His ID is now Johnathan David Williams the Third. He was named after his dad, and he didn't want to change it. His birthday was changed, plus his birthplace. It was a new start for JD.
"Wait! Before you go, how did you defeat the demon? Plus rescue those souls?"
"We just smiled."
Paige and Samuel asked to pose together. The demon, thinking he won, agreed. What he didn't expect was his camera to backfire. His camera worked, but what he didn't know is that Samuel changed the settings. When Paige and him went to the camera place, they saw the antique camera. Remembering Jenna's and Castiel's "treasures," those cursed objects, Paige figured the camera was cursed as well.
Samuel he used to make a living as a journalist when he was a hunter. He repaired them all the time, he also worked a second job as a camera repair guy. When Paige told him about her plan, he went inside the camera and "fixed" it. Paige had no idea what he did, but when the demon took the picture, he and the camera found themselves stuck forever in a photograph.
"And everyone else?" The people trapped in those photographs.
"Heaven. Michael didn't take them, their reapers did." Even the demon's vessel. "They are at peace." Samuel saw the lights.
"Well, I better get going. I'm gonna hit the coffee shop with Phoebe. Anyone want anything?"
"No thanks."
"I'm good."
"Suit yourselves."
Henry was standing in line. He was glad his former parolee wasn't involved in the robbery, but his mom. Poor kid. He was now a orphan. Henry swore to find a way to pay for the funeral. His mom, she tried her best.
He looked around, he saw a few couples. He was only in his early thirties, but he always figured he was too busy to date. But looking around, he wondered if he was meant to be with someone. There were a lot of beautiful women, but a woman with bleached blonde short hair caught his eye.
"Next! Hey copper, you're next!"
Huh? Oh right. He ordered his coffee. When he turned around after paying, the woman was gone.
"Damn." He lost her. Oh well. Hopefully he sees her again.
Billie was holding a single white rose. She never been here since the funeral. But she was here to say goodbye. She placed the rose on Christy's grave.
Christy Jenkins
Beloved Daughter, Cherished Sister
Billie didn't bother reading the DOB or death. It didn't matter.
"I won't rest till I find your killer. Until then, I will keep fighting. Bye Christy." She took one last long look and stood up. The sunset, it was truly beautiful. She immediately felt peaceful. She knew, right then Christy was finally at rest. "See you around." She walked away, with her spirits lifted.
Piper hung up the phone.
"What's up? Is it Sam?" Phoebe asked.
"No. That was Krissy. I think we have something to give her." Krissy wanted to become a full time hunter. "I think we have to honor her dad's legacy. The Holy Grail, it is her duty to guard it. That's her destiny."