Two months. I'm getting worse. Sorry, readers! I'm going to keep trying, I promise! Hope the wait was worth it.
Walking into Guidry's Cajun Café, Lizzy has to smile. The place is old, run down but in just the right way, and everything about it screams vintage (too old) decor and great greasy spoon. Dean would love it here. He always goes on and on about gumbo when they head this far south. He loves the stuff. The more random and roadside the stop, the happier his taste buds tend to be. Of course, Benny would end up in a place like this.
If Dean ever gave Benny half a chance, he'd realize they would get along really well. Lizzy knows it in her heart. They'd be friends.
Which makes everything that much harder.
Skipping the tables, Lizzy chooses to sit at the counter top. She's only there for all of a half a minute before a young woman is in front of her.
"You know what you want?" she smiles out warmly, her vibe nothing short of pleasant and kind.
"Do I have a choice in a place like this in Louisiana?" Lizzy smirks in kind, folding her hands in front of her on the counter in an unthreatening way.
"We got some first-class gumbo," the server tells her.
"Then I know what I want," Lizzy grins. "Actually, can I have three to go?"
"To go?" the woman asks, looking at her strange. "Hope you live nearby. S'only good when it's fresh and hot."
"I'll make it work," Lizzy nods. She then has a sudden recollection of her afternoon, Dean's smiling face between her legs with a shit-eating, chocolate-coated grin. "And what ya' got for pie?"
"The special's pecan."
"A couple slices of that too, please," Lizzy adds on, smiling wide.
Nodding, the server walks away to prepare her order.
As she waits, Lizzy looks around. This is Benny's place of work. He has a job. She has to huff a quiet laugh to herself at the very thought. When she met Benny, he was a sharp-teeth gnashing monster that ripped into the vampires she was surrounded by.
And when her eyes land on the photo taped to the side of the old, antique looking cash register at the end of the counter, Lizzy grins wider. Benny and the female server she just met, happy faces staring right back at her, look relaxed and joyful. Benny has a place. He has friends and a job.
Benny has a home here in Carencro.
Now more than ever before, Lizzy needs to prove that Benny had nothing to do with this vamp kill and make sure he's still safe here. In the place he's made his own.
"Bad news," the server's voice cuts into Lizzy's thoughts. "Out of pecan."
"Of course," Lizzy returns, politely accepting the letdown. "That's all right. Oh, actually, maybe you can make it up to me. I'm looking for a good friend of mine that, over time, I've lost track of. I heard he's been kicking around these parts. Name's Roy?"
"Well, Roy works the night shift here. I mean, if we're talking about the same Roy."
"If your Roy is the one schlepping around town in beat-up camper. The thing looks like a rolling death trap."
"Yeah," the server lights up with the comment. "And here, I thought I was the only one who gave him trouble over that piece of junk."
"Oh god, no!" Lizzy laughs. "That thing is a mess."
"Gonna drive it 'till it won't drive."
"You clearly know him well," Lizzy laughs and holds out a hand. "Lizzy."
The server shakes her hands and lets go of a light, airy laugh. "Small world. I'm Elizabeth."
"Lovely name," Lizzy jokes. "You wouldn't happen to know where he's parking that terrible camper these days, would you?"
"Well, he, uh, was parking it out back, but just called to tell me he's gone up the road to Mill Creek for a few days."
"Oh. Okay. Figures I'd just miss him. He say why?"
"Oh... fishing, I think. He really deserves a break," Elizabeth informs warmly, clearly having a soft spot for the man they're talking about. "He's been working doubles for the last two weeks straight."
"Well, alright," Lizzy grins and pulls out a couple twenties from her pocket as she stands up from her stool. "Here you go. Thank you for your help."
"Let me get you some change…."
"You helped me out. Consider it my thanks… and, um, if Roy pops up before I find him, could you tell him to give Lizzy a ring?" She pulls out a business card and hands it to Elizabeth.
She looks at it once, reading the information on it. "Jacksonville PD?"
Lizzy laughs. "Sure am."
"You don't seem like a cop," Elizabeth cheerfully informs.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Have Roy just give me a buzz."
"He's not actually in trouble or anything, is he?" Elizabeth gets worried once she realizes a police officer is looking for her friend.
"Nah. I'm just a friend. Trust me, he sees that… he'll know he's safe to call. Thanks, Elizabeth."
Lizzy leaves the café with her takeout bag in hand. Once she's in the Impala, bag on the seat next to her, she pulls out her cell phone. She quickly dials Benny's number, waiting as it rings.
"Leave a message at the beep."
Benny doesn't pick up. Not good.
"Benny boy. There's a dead body here in Carencro with two holes in its neck. I came looking for you so that my husband and brother-in-law don't lop your head off and was told you went fishing. Do I need to tell you what this looks like? Don't run away. We need to talk."
Lizzy hangs up. She then reaches to the floor of the passenger side and pulls out her laptop. In minutes, she has Benny's cell phone tracked to the middle of the woods up in Mill Creek. It's not far. She can get there in no time."
After a solid hour-long nap, Sammy was ready to go. Castiel would never admit to doing a little dream walking in Sammy's head, making sure the child is happy and peaceful even in sleep, but he did. Sammy dreams of helping his daddy with the car and coloring with his aunt. He also dreamed all about his mother getting him a puppy. His attachment to dogs is strong and Castiel feels he should try and do something about that. Elizabeth always says her son's happiness and well being is her priority.
Well, it's his also.
"We eat dinner now?" Sammy asks his friend, big green eyes lit up and hopeful with the very idea of food.
Castiel smiles. "You are your father's son."
"Huh?" Sammy questions his comment, like always.
"You and your father, you both love food."
"Mommy say daddy eats like a wild animal."
"Well, your mother is very right about that," Castiel tells him as he stands off the couch, Sammy on his hip. "We have left over pizza from yesterday and, seeing as I'm not much of a cook myself, I think…."
Castiel blinks several times. The white room is bright and quiet. He looks to his side and sees no child in his arms, just empty air. He panics.
"Relax, Castiel," he hears a voice tell him. When he looks to the desk in the room, he sees a suit-clad woman, hands folded and looking at him. "I just need to speak with you."
"Who are you and where is Samuel?" Castiel booms out in his most intimidating voice.
"I see you still don't remember your other visits here."
"What other visits!?" Castiel asks, the feeling of trouble and wrong and panic set in. "Where are we!?"
"Same place you've been three times before now," the woman smiles stiffly. "You're home."
Castiel's eyes narrow, figuring it out. "Heaven."
"Yes."
"I've never seen this part of Heaven," Castiel lets her know.
"That's not entirely true," she spills the truth right away. "We've met like this before. You just don't remember."
"Why not?"
"You weren't ready to," she tells them.
"Who are you?"
"Naomi," she answers. "And I need you to tell me anything you know about the Winchesters. Specifically, Sam and Louise."
"Why them?"
"We have some intel… we think something is going on soon with them," she very mysteriously tells him. "We want to keep tabs on them. Know their every move. Dean and Elizabeth too. And Samuel."
"You don't have the right to even speak his name," Castiel sees red, hands balled into hard fists. "I won't tell you anything."
"You have before."
"I don't believe you."
"Has anything new happened within Sam and Louise's relationship?"
"They fought recently," Castiel explains without thinking. "Lou's brother was in trouble and Sam went with her to help… but he'd wanted to head to New Orleans to handle a vampire case…. Wait! Why am I telling you this!?"
"Has Samuel displayed any powers or potential for powers beyond that of a normal human?"
"No… Damn it!" Castiel shouts with frustration, leaning his hands into Naomi's desk. "I don't want to tell you anything!"
"So, basically you have nothing new to share since we last spoke."
"I don't." Castiel's eyes are wild as he struggles, trying so hard to stop himself but he can't.
"Okay. We're done here for now then."
Blinking a few more times with the sudden scenery change yet again, Castiel recognizes the Winchester home.
"What you think, Cassie?"
In his arms once more is Samuel, his eyes focused on the angel with curiosity. He's waiting for an answer.
"I, uh," Castiel thinks hard about what he was in the middle of saying. His mind blanked out. "What?"
"You say we eat the old pizza and then you stop."
Oh, right. Pizza. That's what they were talking about. "I think it's best we eat pizza again. That's all."
"Yay!" Sammy shouts and bounces on Castiel's hip with excitement. "I love pizza!"
"I noticed," Castiel smiles and heads for the kitchen. If he's going to stay on Sammy's good side for the foreseeable future, he'd better feed the kid well.
Using her phone to navigate on foot, it takes about a mile of hiking to get to the pinged spot on her map. As soon as she gets close enough, Lizzy realizes her friend is in the middle of digging a grave. Not good.
A few silent steps closer and she accidentally snaps a stick.
"It's not me, Liz."
Benny's voice cuts through the wooded quiet, his head lifted as he listens for every sound she makes as she gives up her skulking. He knew it was her, smelling her from a mile away.
"Is that what all the vamps doing some grave digging mid-day say?" Lizzy asks, her tone not at all accusatory. She'll give him a fair chance to explain.
"Probably not. But it wasn't me," Benny repeats, dropping his shovel and wiping his hands on a handkerchief from his back pocket.
"But wait… which me are we talking about? The Benny I know… or the Roy that I've been hearing so much about?" Lizzy says with a smirk, hands on her hips as she stands a few feet away, waiting for him to turn and address her.
Benny turns around and looks right at her. His eyes dart to her hand that's held behind her back. He knows what she's gripping.
"I'm just trying to blend in," he explains to her easily.
"Blend in?" Lizzy cocks an eyebrow. "That grave isn't helping."
"You just here to hassle me?" Benny questions, already over the banter.
"Who're you burying, Benny?" she asks, not judgment in her tone.
"Victim number two," he tells her, pocketing his handkerchief. "If you're concerned about the missed calls, I didn't want to get you involved. Now... want to safety that thing...?" he nods to her hidden hand while his own hand touches the machete holstered at his hip "Talk a little bit or what?"
Lizzy drops her machete to her side, still holding it. "I'm all ears. What's going on?"
"Rogue vamp. Came into the café a couple nights ago. Youngster goes by the name of Desmond. He, uh, he remembers me from the good old days."
"Your vampirate days?" Lizzy tries to get the full picture.
"That label is stupid."
"Made me laugh. Lou was proud of it." Lizzy smirks.
Benny huffs a quick laugh while watching Lizzy holster her weapon. "I know it's hard to believe, but I haven't always been this cute and cuddly."
"Now, I don't believe that for a second," she laughs a bit.
"He's chasing a memory, Liz," he gets back to business. "That's all. He's crewing up a new nest. He's hoping I can give him some cred. I told him no."
"Okay. So far, this is a pretty good explanation," she nods calmly. "Let's get to the part about the blood."
"He didn't want to take no for an answer. He's trying to roust me out, leaving dead bodies in my wake till I sign up. Two bodies in two days. No amateur is gonna kick me out of my hometown, Liz. Not this time." His tone turns dark at some point, his anger clear.
"Hometown? You grew up here?"
Denny nods with a slight grin. "Born and bred. With Andrea gone and you and Lou hunting again, seemed like the right time for a homecoming… you ladies being the only ones who ever keep all my ducks in a row. Went back to my old job at the café. I even found someone to hold myself accountable to. Best kind of someone, Liz. Family."
"Elizabeth," Lizzy grins.
"My great-granddaughter," he grins back with pride.
"I never even knew you had kids, Benny," Lizzy tells him, thinking how weird it is that she doesn't know such big details about Benny after all this time.
"Yeah, well… you talked about your own youngin' enough for both of us," Benny jokes.
"Ha-ha, asshole," Lizzy playfully responds. "Does she know?"
"No, no. As far as she's concerned, I was just another drifter. I'd like to keep it that way. It's been tough walking the line here after all those years in Purgatory not having to deal with the hunger. But Elizabeth... she keeps me honest. I finally feel like I got a handle on this thing."
"Handle on it? Benny, dude, you've got two stiffs on your hands and two hunters on your ass."
"Oh, please. The half-wit who found me at the café?" Benny scoffs. "I'll take my chances with him."
"That half-wit was sent by my husband and brother-in-law. Trust me… they're not people you want to mess with."
"I don't have time to worry about them," Benny denies her warning. "I didn't think Desmond had an ounce of steel in his spine, but I was wrong about that. So, now I'm gonna do what I should have done two days ago, which is put him back where he belongs."
"You sure you got this on your own?"
"We survived Purgatory, darlin'. What do you think?" He smirks at her with something flirtatious.
She smiles and rolls her eyes. "Alright, fine. You go deal with Desmond while I convince Dean and Martin to lay off. I figure you need your payback. We all do," Lizzy spells it out as she sees it.
"You really think they'll go for that?"
With a sigh and a worried smile, Lizzy tells him, "If Dean really does love me like he says he does, then yeah. He'll go for it."
"Well, okay then," Benny nods.
"And you know… you have to disappear from here now," Lizzy rips off the bandage. "No more Roy. No more working with your family at the diner. You have to poof, vanish."
Benny, heartbroken, looks the to ground below him, jaw clenched. He sighs, looking up at Lizzy with watery eyes. "Yeah. I know." His voice cracks slightly.
"I'm sorry…."
"Not your fault, Liz. Just… is what it is."
She nods but can't stay put while he looks so hurt and lost. She walks right up to him and pulls her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. She doesn't say anything, just hugs him.
Benny nods to himself once more, preparing himself to do what he has to in order to stay alive in this new world he's been brought back into. He fights the usual scent of nearby blood, the sound of it rushing through Lizzy, to focus on the comfort. He needed this.
"I care about you, Benny," Lizzy reminds him. "Be safe and smart. And you know my number if you need me."
"I know, Liz," Benny drawls out, sighing. "Thanks for comin'."
"Anytime," Lizzy smiles.
"Hey, grab me a Coke?"
Lou shakes her head and turns sharply to her left. Sam's looking at her, waiting for a response to his request, and when she stays silent He raises his eyebrows in silent question. She sees the drink cart coming their way soon and understands.
"Yeah… sorry," Lou smiles slightly before looking away from her husband, choosing to look ahead the couple rows to the back of Derek's head. He found a last second ticket and was able to jump on their plane with them.
"Alright, do we need to talk about this? Right now?" Sam asks her in a hushed tone, seeing through her weak attempts at acting normal.
"Surrounded by normal people? Yeah. Sounds like a good idea," she sarcastically bates back, whispers like he is.
"It's not ideal, but you're not okay. Usually you can handle yourself until you have a chance to figure it out," Sam points out. "I'm just…." He drops a hand on top of hers as it's placed on the arm rest between them. He links his fingers in her much smaller ones and stares at their physical connection. "I'm worried about you."
"What about you?" Lou asks. "You've got the same shitty fate as me."
"Yeah… but I'm used to it," Sam smiles sadly when he meets her eyes. He can see the fear and sadness in them. "I'm Lucifer's meatsuit. Doesn't get much worse than that."
"You don't think being Satan's father is worse!?" Lou shouts in a whisper, panicking internally.
"No. I don't," he easily answers. "Because I'm not fathering the Antichrist. I don't have to, at least. Now that I know."
Lou just stares at him, swallowing hard, before asking, "But I thought you wanted kids? You kept pushing for that the past year…."
"Come on," Sam shoves the thought away instantly. "You were the smart one about it. You know we can't do that. I want that, yes. I see Sammy all the time and… of course, I want that. But then I look at Sammy and…."
"You so don't," Lou finishes for him.
"Exactly. I mean, the kid's best friend is an angel… that carved protective symbols into his ribs at the age of before he was a month old. He was attacked before he was born. I may have wanted that whole… normal family thing… but it's not in the cards." Sam squeezes her hand. "And this was the final nail in the coffin for that. We know, for sure, that we can't have kids. The decision was made for us."
Lou's face softens for the first time. He's right. They just simply cannot have kids. There's not other way around it. They can't ever have kids.
For the first time since the demon spilled the big secret to them, Lou's entire being loosens and the weight lessens.
"You're right," she flips her hand around, palm up so it presses to him, and squeezes his hand right back. "Actually, this makes everything way easier, doesn't it?"
"Disappointing… but easier," Sam nods. He then leans over the armrest and kisses her quickly.
Lou smiles back and feels better. When the realization hits, all responsibility and fear and guilt disappears.
She's got a plan.
"Let me get this straight," Martin agitates, pacing the small motel room with an almost empty glass of whiskey. "I follow your boy... down a freaking path and trip over a fresh vamp kill, and then you practically catch him in the act of burying a second body, and you're still taking his side?" He stops at the old refrigerator and yanks an ice tray out of the freezer. All his movements are sharp and frantic, the fire building inside him at how this hunt has gone all because of Lizzy.
"Vampires pick people off from the outskirts of town, okay? This was just another one that Benny just happened to come across while looking for the actual vampire that did it," Lizzy excuses, standing against the wall, watching Martin closely. He's looking more and more like a caged animal.
"Pfffft!" Martin huffs in disbelief, picking up a fork from the small table and stabbing at the ice cubes that won't loosen.
"Vampires don't drain people where they hang out, especially not in the diners that they work in with their great-grand kids," Lizzy spells it out. "In fact, killing any human… it's not Benny's style."
"Not his style?" Martin freaks out on her. "Not his style?!"
"Okay, L… listen, we came here on a dead body and you asked for some time," Dean breaks in, trying to prevent unnecessary anger. "But now there's another dead body and, your story? Doesn't sound all that good."
"At all!" Martin adds in, pouring more whiskey into his glass with the stabbed ice in it.
"Am I going on just trust here?" Dean asks, desperate for more from her. He wants to believe. He wants her to be right. But he needs more.
"Yeah," Lizzy answers meekly, wishing she could give more.
"Okay. Okay… but we've killed for way less. You know that."
"Yes, I do. Too well. But this is Benny," Lizzy pleads her case. "The one thing I can say about Benny… he has never let me down. And you know what we've seen together."
"What if you're just too close to this to see it right?" Dean plays Devil's advocate with her. Martin nods vehemently at what Dean says, pointing at him.
"I can't give you proof. All I can say is I know I'm right. And ask that you put some faith in me."
"I put my faith in what I know. And I know vamps need to be put down," Martin cuts in, too angry to handle this conversation quietly.
"Martin, I've been patient, but you're bugging the fuck outta me right now, man," Lizzy finally breaks, the old Lizzy coming through. The angry Lizzy. "Who the fuck are you anyways!?"
"Who the fuck are you!?" Martin turns it right around on her. "I was hunting when you were in diapers!"
"And a lot's changed since you lost your fucking mind and were painting creepy clowns in a locked ward! Back the fuck off!" she shouts, taking a few big strides towards Martin.
"Ho! Hold on!" Dean intervenes, grabbing her with an arm hooked around her waist and pulling her back.
"If you're not going after him, then fine. I will!" Martin screams right back.
"You touch him, you die, asshole!" Lizzy fire out, fighting Dean's hold.
"Stop!" Dean bellows out over them both, pushing Lizzy by the shoulders to the bed and plopping her onto it with a shove. "Everybody shut up a second."
Every one quiets for a beat, Lizzy taking a few deep breaths to calm. It's been a long time since she's gotten that worked up. She tries to take her emotional level down, but when she glances at Martin she can't help but get mad again. "You're not gonna find him," she says much more quietly this time.
"Don't underestimate me," Martin returns with quickly.
"Even if you do, I'm gonna tell you this. You'll be lucky to get out alive," Lizzy issues a fair warning. "You go after him, you're a dead man. Period. That's just fair warning."
Martin drains his drink and begins pacing again.
Dean runs a hand over his mouth, looking down at his wife sitting at the edge of the bed while thinking. What a fucking mess this has turned into. "L, you know how bad this looks."
"Of course," she nods.
"And you get how hard this pill is for us to swallow just on your word?"
Nodding again, Lizzy answers, "I'm asking a lot. But I never ask for anything like this. You know how rare and out of the normal this is for me. You have to believe me."
He doesn't want to. He wants the vampire that has his wife's number to disappear off the planet. He wants Benny gone. But he wants his wife in his life far more and he knows the damage this could do to their relationship if he goes against her.
Just when Dean is about to tell her he's with her on this, Martin steps up to her side. He takes a swing and smashes his empty glass into the side of her head.
Lizzy's body falls onto its side and rolls to the floor. She lays there, head already bleeding, completely knocked out.
Instantly, Dean's eyes land on Martin with wide, wild fury.
Martin's hands go out in front of himself in surrender immediately. "She made her choice, Dean."
Without even blinking, Dean shoves Martin into the wall with all the force he can muster, his forearm smashed into the older hunter's neck with as much force as he can use without killing him.
"Let's… just… go do… our… job," Martin barely struggles out, his air cut off hard.
"Your job is the go after monsters," Dean growls out. "Not my wife!"
Martin tries to reply but can't under the pressure Dean has on his neck.
"We're leaving," Dean explains, the pure anger in his voice enough to make a well versed and seasoned hunter like Martin want to piss himself. "And so are you. You disappear and you never contact us again. You aren't cut out for this anymore, Martin. Give it up!"
Dean shoves off of Martin and turns around to check on Lizzy. As he crouches to the ground, Martin keeps talking when he most certainly shouldn't.
"You're just gonna leave a vampire in this town to kill everyone!?" he challenges, rubbing his neck and coughing.
"I trust L! She's a better hunter than both of us!" Dean fires out over his shoulder, looking at the split scalp on the side of her head. He takes out a handkerchief and presses it in place once he knows there's no glass in it.
"Glad your dad wasn't around to hear that," Martin continues to run his mouth. "He'd have a mind to take you out the woodshed and show you what's what. Half inclined to do it myself."
No words needed, Dean stands tall with smooth, seemingly calm movements. He turns around, looks Martin right in the eye, and clocks him in the face.
Martin hits the ground not unlike Lizzy. He's out.
"Fucking knock my wife out," Dean mumbles out through clenched teeth, crouching to pick Lizzy up from the floor before heading out of the motel room and back into their car. "I'll knock you out… bitch."
He leaves Martin there alone.
"Is she hurt badly?" Castiel asks, phone pressed to his ear. His forehead wrinkles and his chest tightens when he hears that someone hurt Elizabeth. When he gets the answer, his face lightens only slight. "I'll heal her when you return here."
Glancing to the side room, Castiel watches Sammy in his pajamas playing with cars early in the morning. He's making engine sounds, crashing them into one another, and he's content.
"He's fine. He's energetic. And always hungry… but he's in good health. I've kept him safe."
Castiel nods when Dean's words make it clear that he's pleased with Castiel's work.
"I'll see you soon, Dean." He ends the call.
Castiel smiles slightly to himself, watching and listening to Sammy having fun for a moment. The house is quiet, Sammy just finished eating two full waffles and diced fruit, and it's nice. The more he's with these people, and the less time he's with Heaven, Castiel is understanding what it is that makes life enjoyable for humans. Enjoying others enjoyment, watching children grow up, forming attachments on a deeper level than familiarity and allies in war... he's loved it all.
His phone rings again, it still in his hand.
Sam Winchester
"Hello, Sam," Castiel greets. His brow furrows. "That was a very quick trip."
He nods as Sam speaks quickly, the busy airport noise in the background.
"Very well. Sammy and I will be here when you arrive in a few hours... Oh. Alright. I'll do the best I can to help, as always."
Castiel ends the call and walks over to Sammy.
"You talkin' to people?" Sammy asks, looking up from his toys for the first time.
"Yes," Castiel answers, picking up the child and perching him on his hip. "At first, your father. Then Sam."
"They come home now!?" Sammy gets excited, bouncing a bit.
"Yes," Castiel replies once more. "Your parents will be here tomorrow morning, around when you wake up."
"Tomorrow?" Sammy gets very sad, his back sagging. A whole day feels way too far away.
"I know it feels long to you, but time is long. One day, just twenty-four hours... it's actually just a flash in the time line of existence." Sammy's blank face stares at him, the expression Dean always wears when he's not understanding something Castiel explains is all over him. Castiel rolls his eyes. "It won't be that long. Plus, Sam and Lou are on their way also. They'll be here in a few hours."
"Yeah!" Sammy cheers, once again excited. His entire being lights up when he knows his family is coming home.
"And because of that..." Castiel starts, looking around the house. Items strewn about, food left out in the kitchen... "We need to clean up."
"I take a bath?" Sammy questions, thinking that's the clean up he means. His mom always tells him to clean himself up when he needs a bath. His dad always tells him to wash his butt.
"No... Well..." Castiel leans in and sniffs the boy. His face scrunches with the scent. "Yes. You absolutely need a bath. Then we can clean the house."
"I take bath, you clean house?" Sammy asks, hoping to get out of cleaning. He hates picking up.
"Nice try. We shall do both together. Let's go."