JO HARVELLE is scrubbing the bar down as she says goodnight to some customers.
Once they clear out, Sam enters and clears his throat.
"Sorry, we're closing up," Jo says, back to him.
"How about just one for the road?"
Jo turns to face him in shock, face not looking welcoming.
"Well, you're the last person I'd expect to see."
"Well, I guess I'm full of surprises," Sam smirks. "So can I get a beer?"
"Sure. One beer."
He sits down at the bar and she brings the bottle over, setting it down firmly before heading over to continue cleaning up.
"So how'd you find me?"
"Well, uh, it's kind of what we do, you know?"
"Speaking of 'we', where's Dean?"
"Couldn't make it," Sam shrugs.
She eyes him for a moment before continuing.
"So what're you doing here Sam? I mean we didn't exactly part on the best of terms."
"Right. Um, well, that's why I'm here," he begins, taking off his jacket. "I kinda- I wanted to see if we could square things, you know?"
Jo's eyes narrow in on a circular burn mark with a short line on it on Sam's forearm.
"That looks like it hurts," she nods to it.
"No. Nah," he shakes his head, "just, just had a run-in with a hot stove."
No hot stove leaves a mark like that on a person.
"So, you were saying something about squaring things?"
"Yeah. Um... Look, I know how you feel about my dad. And I can't say I blame you. He was obsessed- consumed with hunting. And he didn't care who got caught in the cross-fire. And I guess that included your dad. But that was my father. That's not me."
"What about Dean?"
"Well, Dean's more like my father than I am, but h-..."
Sam trails off when he sees the look on Jo's face and he laughs a little.
"Boy. You're really carrying a torch for him, aren't you?"
She scoffs, shifting uncomfortably.
"I'll take that as a yes. It's too bad. Cause, see, Dean likes you, sure, but not in the way you'd want. I mean, maybe as a kind of a... little sister, you know? Especially now that Georgie's back in the picture."
"Georgie?"
Jo hasn't heard that name in years, but she still remembers the girl who was like a twin sister to her when they were both still in pigtails.
"Yeah, he really likes her, you know? It's only a matter of time before he tries to get into her pants. But you? With you, romance is out of the question, he," Sam laughs, "he kind of thinks you're a schoolgirl, you know?"
There's a beat of silence as she processes his words.
"I'm not trying to hurt you, Jo, I- I'm telling you cause I care."
"That's real kind of you, Sam," she says, face void of any real emotion.
"I mean it," he insists, placing a hand over hers on the bar suggestively, almost possessively. "I care about you a lot."
"Sam, what's going on?"
She's getting more frantic now, trying to pull her hand away, but his grip is like iron and he won't let go.
"I can be more to you, Jo."
"Maybe you should leave."
"Okay."
Sam shoves her hand away and stands to leave; Jo turns to face the bar, leaning on it heavily. Suddenly, Sam reappears, grabbing her from behind and manhandling her.
"Sam, get off me! Sam! Get off me! Let go!"
She closes her right hand on the beer bottle, but before she can hit him with it, he grabs her wrist and slams it into the bar, shattering the bottle.
"Jo, Jo, Jo."
He shoves her around until she faces the bar and pins her there, left hand over her wrist and right hand stroking her hair.
"Sam, no! No! Please! Please!"
Sam slams her forehead into the bar, effectively knocking her out. He lifts her carefully to lie on the bar, stroking her hair in a disturbingly gentle manner.
"It didn't have to be this way," he purrs. "Maybe it did."
⩫GMS⩫
Jo comes to as Sam is tying her in a sitting position to a wide wooden post.
"What the hell is going on?" she demands. "What are you doing?"
"So what exactly did your mom tell you about how your dad died?" he asks conversationally.
"You're not Sam."
"Don't be so sure about that. Answer the question."
Jo says nothing; Sam sighs heavily and goes around to the other side. He sits in front of her, leaning in, his expression shifting to one of open concern. He pulls out a large knife and strokes her face with it.
"Come on. It's me," he purrs. "You can tell me anything, you know that. Answer. The question."
"Fine," she says.
"Fine."
"Our dads were in California: Devil's Gate Reservoir. Ben, Oscar, and Leon Stevens were also with them. They were setting a trap for some kind of hellspawn. My dad drew the short end of the stick, was used as the bait while the others were waiting, hiding."
Sam laughs.
"That's just like John and the others. Oh, I'll bet they dangled Bill like meat on a hook. Then what?"
He gets up and goes around to stand behind her.
"The thing showed up. John got too eager, jumped out too soon, got my dad exposed, out in the open. Ben and the boys tried to stop it, but the thing turned around... and killed him."
"Hm. Not quite," Sam hums, leaning in from behind her.
"What?"
"What? Oh. See, it hurt him. It didn't kill him. You really don't know the truth, do you? I bet your mom doesn't either."
He sits facing her again, leaning in close.
"Know what?" Jo spits.
"You see, Bill... was all clawed up. Ben and his boys got a few scratches, too, but Bill got the worst of it. Was holding his insides in his hands. He was gurgling and... praying to see you and Ellen one more time. So my dad... killed him. Put him out of his misery like a sick dog."
"You're lying," she sobs.
"I'm not. It's true," he insists, then continues in a sing-song. "My daddy shot your daddy in the head."
"How could you know that?"
"I hear things."
He stands up, stabbing the knife into the pillar just above head-level.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Like Daddy like daughter. You're bait. Open up."
He shoves a knotted rag into her mouth and ties it behind her neck.
"That's a girl."
At that moment, the door bursts open, and Dean and Georgie both enter with their guns drawn.
"Sam!" Dean yells.
Sam grabs the knife, calm expression twisting to one of desperate panic as he places it against Jo's throat.
"I begged you to stop me, Dean!"
"Put the knife down, dammit!"
Jo's eyes meet Georgie's in surprise. It's not the type of reunion the girls were expecting.
"I told you I can't fight it!" Sam continues. "My head feels like it's on fire, alright?! Dean. Kill me or I'm gonna kill her. Please. You'd be doing me a favor! Shoot me."
He spreads his arms, giving Dean and Georgie a free shot.
"Shoot me!"
"No, Sammy, come on," Dean shakes his head, looking at Jo out of the corner of his eye.
He turns away from Sam, lowering his gun. Georgie still has hers trained in Sam's direction.
"What the hell's wrong with you, Dean? Are you that scared of being alone that you'd rather let Jo die?"
Dean turns around suddenly, flinging water from a flask at Sam. It hisses and steams as it hits him.
"That's holy water, you demonic son of a bitch!"
Sam raises his head, eyes pitch black, and Dean flings more holy water at him. Sam growls, turns and runs, bursting through a window and fleeing. Georgie runs over and uses the knife to cut Jo free as Dean runs toward the shattered window.
"He was possessed?!" Jo cries.
"Dean turns back briefly to stare back at her. Georgie heads over to him and they both jump through the window without another word.
"Dean! Georgie!"
⩫GMS⩫
Sam, Dean and Georgie all carry handguns as they stalk each other through a dim, crowded warehouse. Dean and Georgie never see Sam directly the entire time they hide stealthily behind various crates and piles, shouting back and forth with him.
"So who are you?" Dean asks.
"I got lots of names," Sam replies.
"You've been in Sam since he disappeared, haven't you?" Georgie calls.
"You shoulda seen your faces when you thought he murdered that guy. Pathetic!"
"Why didn't you kill us? You had dozens of chances."
"Nah, that would have been too easy. Where's the fun in that? You see, this was a test. Wanted to see if I could push you far enough to waste Sam. Should've known you wouldn't have the sack. Anyway. Fun's over now."
"Well, I hope you got your kicks," Dean growls. "Cause you're gonna pay hell for this, I'm gonna make sure of that."
"How? You can't hurt me. Not without hurting your little brother and friend."
Georgie watches Dean slip his gun away and pull out the flask of holy water again.
"See, I think you're gonna die, guys," Sam continues. "You and every other hunter I can find. One look at Sam's dewy, sensitive eyes? They'll let me right in their door."
Sam gets up, heading outside, and Dean and Georgie follow. They're on an open-air dock, and Georgie tries not to think about how close they are to the water as she and Dean look around, trying to find Sam. Dean spots him first; he's behind them pointing his gun at them, and he shoves Georgie behind him just as Sam pulls the trigger. It hits him in the shoulder and the force knocks him, and subsequently Georgie, into the water with a splash. Sam peers over the edge, smiling when there's no sign of either of them.