Sam jerked awake when he heard his phone go off. It was Dean. "The scarecrow climbed off its cross?" he asked after Dean had finished explaining what had happened.
"Yeah, I'm tellin' ya. Burkitsville, Indiana. Fun Town", Dean said sarcastically.
"It didn't kill the couple, did it?" Sam asked.
"No", Dean replied "I can cope without you, you know".
"So, something must be animating it. A spirit", Sam guessed.
"No, it's more than a spirit. It's a god. A Pagan god, anyway", Dean said correcting him.
Sam frowned "What makes you say that?"
"The annual cycle of its killings? And the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. Like some kind of fertility right. And you should see the locals. The way they treated this couple. Fattenin' 'em up like a Christmas turkey", Dean explained.
Sam nodded. That did make perfect sense to him "The last meal", he said "Given to sacrificial victims".
"Yeah, I'm thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan god", Dean said.
"So, a god possesses the scarecrow..." Sam began.
"And the scarecrow takes its sacrifice. And for another year, the crops won't wilt, and disease won't spread", Dean finished.
"Do you know which god you're dealing with?" Sam asked.
"No, not yet", Dean answered.
"Well, you figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it", Sam stated.
"I know. I'm actually going to be heading to a local community college. I've got an appointment with a professor in a few hours. You know, since I don't have my trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research", Dean said earning a laugh from his brother.
"You know, if you're hinting you need my help, just ask", Sam said with a smile.
"I'm not hinting anything" Dean said "Actually, uh—I want you to know...I mean, don't think..." he trailed off as he didn't really know how to apologise to his brother.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, too", Sam said knowing what Dean was struggling to say.
"Sam. You were right. You gotta do your own thing. You gotta live your own life", Dean admitted.
"Are you serious?" Sam asked rather surprised by that.
"You've always known what you want", Dean said "And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I—anyway...I admire that about you. I'm proud of you, Sammy".
"I don't even know what to say", Sam said. It was true, he didn't know quite what to say about that.
"Say you'll take care of yourself", Dean said.
"I will", Sam promised.
"Call me when you find Dad", Dean requested.
"OK. Bye, Dean", Sam said and hung up.
The next day things took a turn for the worse when Sam tried to call his brother several times to see what he found out at the college but Dean's phone went straight to voicemail. "Still no answer?" Lena asked seeing him hang up, a worried look on his face.
"No. It keeps going straight to voicemail", Sam replied.
"You think he's in trouble don't you?" Lena asked.
"Yes", Sam replied "I'm going to need to borrow your car".
"No", Lena said.
"Lena..."
"You're not borrowing my car because I'm coming with you", Lena cut in.
"Lena, you can't. It's too dangerous", Sam said. He didn't want her to get hurt like she did with the Hook Man.
"I don't care. I'm going whether you like it or not", Lena said firmly.
"And she won't be going alone", Nathan added, stepping up next to his sister "I'm going too".
Sam sighed, looked like he didn't have much choice. If he wanted to help his brother then h was going to have to let the two siblings tag along.
"Now that's settled, I'll be back in a minute", Lena said and left the room. She hurried up the stairs, pausing at the top and glancing down at the door. She was tempted to do a spell on it to keep it sealed but she decided against it, trusting that Nathan could handle the Winchester.
She continued on to her room where she pulled on her trainers and jacket. Lena also grabbed her keys and purse before she went back downstairs. Sam and Nathan were waiting patiently by the door. "I'm ready. Let's go save your brother", Lena said as she walked down the last few steps.
~Orchard~
"How are we supposed to find Dean in here?" Lena asked as they walked through the orchard.
"I don't know", Sam replied "Just keep your ears open. Maybe we'll hear him". Lena nodded, doing just that. After a few minutes of walking they heard Dean's voice. The trio followed it and found Dean tied to a tree. A young woman was tied to the tree next to him.
"Oh! Oh, I take everything back I said", Dean said overjoyed to see his brother "I'm so happy to see you", he looked at Lena who was currently untying Emily "you too Lena and…Nate, was it?"
"Yeah, that's me", Nathan confirmed, keeping an eye on the surroundings to make sure nothing snuck up on them.
"You guys need to keep an eye on that scarecrow. He could come alive any minute", Dean warned.
"What scarecrow?" Sam asked pulling the last of the ropes off of Dean. The older Winchester got up and saw that the scarecrow's post was empty. He and Sam exchange nervous looks as Lena helped Emily up.
"I'm guessing by those looks we need to run", Lena stated.
"You would be right", Dean agreed. The five of them took off. As they ran, the older Winchester Dean hastily explained everything that he'd learned.
"Alright, now, this sacred tree you're talking about..." Sam began.
"It's the source of its power", Dean finished.
"So let's find it and burn it", Lena added.
"Nah, in the morning", Dean said "Let's just shag ass before Leather Face catches up". The group reached a clearing where some of the elders and townspeople where waiting for them. "This way", Dean said. He, Sam, Lena, Emily and Nathan turn around but they were blocked in all directions.
"Please. Let us go", Emily pleaded to her aunt and uncle.
"It'll be over quickly, I promise" Harley, her uncle assured her.
"Please", Emily begged.
"Emily, you have to let him take you. You have to—" he was abruptly broken off when the scarecrow's sickle was suddenly plunged into his back. Emily and her aunt, Stacy screamed. Lena gasped stumbling back into her half-brother. Nathan's arms went around her, pulling her closer to him. Emily runs into Dean's arms when Stacy was grabbed by the scarecrow too. The remaining people run away screaming, absolutely terrified.
"Come on, let's go", Dean said and the group started running again. They heard a noise and turn around, but the scarecrow and its victims have disappeared.
When morning came, the Winchester brothers, Nathan, Lena and Emily tracked down the sacred tree. Emily didn't hesitate to burn it down to the ground. After everything she'd been through the night before, she was done with Burkitsville.