Author's note: Hey there, I'm still alive! Still writing! Slowly but surely… it's been a crazy hectic life lately. Between holidays, finals, rescuing a puppy, making our other dog not hate us for rescuing a puppy, hosting parties, extra shifts for shopping, and the list goes on… I hope you are all well and still with me on this story. I promise there are some big things coming very quickly, and I'm so sorry for the slow pace lately. I hope I can pick it up guys, I really do. I love you all and appreciate the support and kindness you all show me! Please read and REVIEW. I MISS YOU GUYS. I miss hearing from you all. Love yall!
"It just doesn't make any sense, Dean. I mean, why would Uriel tell me you remembered Hell if you didn't?" Sam asked for the fifth time since we were sat at the table. I sighed, staring at the wood grain table in front of me.
"Maybe because he's a dick. Might have something to do with it. I mean I don't know why the hell he came talking to you anyways."
I didn't either… I can only imagine what he said to Sam after our little conversation. The conversation I refused to let Judson tell my brothers about. The same conversation I've been thinking about the last two days… the same conversation that put this rock in my gut that I can't seem to stop feeling.
"Maybe, but he's still an angel."
"Yeah, an angel who was ready to level an entire town. Look, I don't know what –"
"Radical. What else can I get you guys?" The overly cheerful waiter came by and interrupted.
"Uh, I think we're good." Judson smiled politely.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"You want to try a couple of fryer bombs? Or a chipotle chili changa?"
"No, no, we're – we're still good." Dean answered getting slightly annoyed.
"Okay, awesome" The waiter smiled as he walked away.
"Sam, honestly, I have no idea why Uriel told you what he did, okay?" Dean said lifting his drink to his mouth.
"Right." Sam scoffed.
"What?"
"Okay. Fine. Then look me in the eye and tell me you don't remember a thing from your time down under."
"Sam! Just drop it… I'm tired of listening to this same conversation. Uriel is a fucking dick! He's fucking with us okay?" I finally snapped, pushing my eyes back to the grain on the table again when I finished.
Sam sighed and sat back in his chair. Dean kicked me under the table making me look up to him, questions on his face. I could hear it without him speaking 'whats wrong' 'you've been in a mood lately' 'do we need to talk' etc etc… I just shook my head softly and pushed on a fake smile, then went back to picking at some fries.
"So he didn't say anything to you?" Sam then asked me.
"No. Sam, for the fourth time he did not talk to me… just you." I answered without looking up.
"You've just been-"
"Outstanding. Dessert time? Huh? Am I right?" The waiter came over and intervened again.
"Dude." Dean said exasperated.
"Listen. You have got to try our ice cream extreme. It's extreme"
"Uh, no extremities, please. Just the –" Judson started.
"Check? All right, awesome."
"I'm going to punch him." Dean said as he walked away.
"All right, so, where do we go from here?" Judson asked, swapping topics and getting the focus off my ill mood.
"I'm not sure. Uh, looks like it's been pretty quiet lately. No signs of demon activity, no omens or portents I can see." Sam answered.
"That's good news for once." Dean added.
"Yeah, just the typical smattering of crank UFO sightings and one possible vengeful spirit. Here, check this out. Uh... Up in Concrete, Washington, eyewitness reports of a ghost that's been haunting the showers of a women's health facility." Dean began choking on his drink as Sam mentioned women's showers. "The victim claims that the ghost threw her down a flight of stairs. I can see you're very interested."
"Women, showers. We got to save these people." He said suddenly in a hurry.
We paid the bill and made our way out to the car, while walking across the parking lot Dean grabbed the back of my shirt and tugged, I looked back and he nodded his head to the side, motioning for me to fall back. I let go of Judson and slowed my pace to walk along side Dean.
"Whats up with you kiddo? You haven't been yourself the last couple of days."
"I just don't feel good, De. Got a cold or something I guess." I tried to lie.
"Emily." He said stopping us and pulling me to face him. Then he bent down and put his eyes level with mine. "You suck at lying to me."
"Dean. You suck at reading me."
"Now I KNOW you're lying, to yourself and me."
"De, please. I just don't. There are things you don't want to talk about, and there are things I don't want to talk about. Can we just leave it at that?"
"No."
"Why?" I sighed.
"Because I'm worried about you."
"Dean. Don't be, I'm fine. I'm just bummed about the last case, okay?"
He stared at me for a moment.
"You sure no dark angles came knocking on your door in the middle of the night?"
"No." I lied. He squinted his eyes and I was having a hard time telling if he believed me or not. But he nodded and pulled me in for a small hug, then walked us back to the car. I slid in the backseat with Judson and he opened his arms for me. I laid down and fell asleep quickly.
…..
We were waiting outside for Sam and Judson to finish interviewing the shower victim. I was shocked when Dean allowed him to first crack at it. Dean and I waited on the steps, skimming the local paper, some article about a local winning the lottery. Wouldn't that be nice.
"Well, you pick up anything?" Sam asked as they came down the steps.
"No EMF in the shower or anywhere else. This house is clean." Dean answered.
"Yeah. I'm not surprised. I kind of got the feeling back there that crazy pushed Mrs. Armstrong down the stairs."
"I got to tell you, I'm pretty disappointed." Dean sighed.
"You wanted to save naked women." I mocked.
"Damn right I wanted to save some naked women."
I chuckled as we walked, a bunch of kids running past us, chasing someone.
"Run, Forrest, run!" Dean yelled as they blew past.
"Sorry, Dean, but I don't think anything's going on around here." I shrugged.
"Hey… wait." Judson said stopping and tipping his head towards a man arguing on the pier with a cop.
"How the hell was I supposed to get a look at it? It grabbed me from behind and threw me into a tree!" The man yelled.
"Something's going on." Judson suggested.
"Yeah, okay, Gus. I understand you got shook up. Anyone would be. But don't you think it – Don't you think it had to be a bear?" The cop replied.
"I know a damn bear track when I see one! This thing didn't leave bear tracks! Its feet were huge!"
"Now, Gus..."
"It was Bigfoot, Hal – The Bigfoot!"
"Oh no fucking way." I laughed slightly.
"Excuse us. FBI." Sam said as he and Dean walked over, I hung back with Judson and tried to just listen.
….
"What the hell's going on in this town? First there's a ghost that's not real, and now a Bigfoot sighting?" Dean asked as we walked through the woods where the man claimed to see big foot.
"Well, every hunter worth his salt knows Bigfoot's a hoax." Judson argued.
"Well, maybe somebody's pumping LSD into the town water supply."
"Uhh… were we exposed to LSD or are those feet print?" I asked as I stopped us and pointed down. There were HUGE foot prints in the mud, bigger than any I've ever seen.
"Okay. What do you suppose made that?" Sam asked to Judson.
"That, uh... is a big foot." Dean said bending down to examine it.
"Where do they go?" I asked noticing that they continue through the woods. We walked until they led us to a liquor store that had been clearly broken into.
"So, what – Bigfoot breaks into a liquor store, jonesing for some hooch? Amaretto and Irish cream. He's a girl-drink drunk." Dean asks as he picks up the empty bottles off the ground.
"Hey. Check this out." Sam called, we followed him over to where there used to be a rack of porn mags.
"He took the whole porno rack? Well, I'll say it again. What the hell is going on in this town?" Dean asked.
"I don't understand… why does bigfoot need booze and porn?" I questioned.
"Uh, cause he's a man?" Dean answered with a 'duh' tone. I shot him the best bitch face I could manage.
"Well, lets split up see if we can pick up more tracks." Sam suggested.
Judson and I split from my brothers and tried to find another trail around the back of the building.
"Em, when are you gonna tell them?"
"Tell them what?"
"About Uriel? They're getting really suspicious."
"I'm not. I told you it would only make shit worse."
"Em, you are so far in your head right now I don't know how to get you out…"
"I'll be fine Jud! Just… I just need some time."
He sighed but dropped it for now… I knew it wouldn't last long, and I could almost bet money that as soon as I leave him alone with either of my brothers he'll spill his guts. But what can I do? Barricade him away from them? Be more suspicious?
I just… want to stop causing more trouble than I'm worth.
"I got nothing." Dean said as we wrapped around the building and met with him and Sam again.
"It's got to be a joke, right? Some big-ass mother in a gorilla suit?" Judson shrugged.
"Or it's a Bigfoot. You know, and he's some kind of a alcoholo-porno addict. Kind of like a deep-woods Duchovny." Dean answered, just then a girl on a bike passed us with a cart full of porn mags, one falling from to the ground as he passed us.
"A little young for busty Asian beauties." Dean said as he picked it up.
"Well… let's see where she's going."
We followed her and watched as she returned several bottles of alcohol and the stack of magazines into the store, taping a piece of paper that said 'sorry' on it to the back door. We continued to follow her until she got home.
"Okay… who's knocking?" I asked.
"What's this, like a "Harry and the Hendersons" deal?" Sam asked.
"I don't know, lets find out." Dean said as he knocked.
"Hello?" The little girl answered the door.
"Hello! Um, could we... You know what? Are your parents home?" Sam asked.
"Nope."
"No. Um... Have you seen a really, really furry..." Sam started.
"Is he in trouble?" The little girl asked with doe eyes.
"No, no, no. Not at all." Sam chuckled. "We just – We wanted to make sure he was okay."
"He's my teddy bear. I think he's sick."
"Your teddy bear?" I asked for clarification She nodded. "Well. That is amazing, cause we uh… we're teddy bear doctors, and I'm the teddy bear nurse!" I smiled.
"Really? Can you please take a look at him?"
"Sure." I smiled.
She opened the door and we followed her inside.
"He's in my bedroom. He's pretty grumpy." She warned. Then she knocked on a door down the hall. "Teddy? There's some nice doctors here to see you."
With no reply she opened the door and revealed a giant teddy bear laying on the bed drinking a bottle of whiskey, crying, and watching TV.
"Close the friggin' door!" It turned and yelled, I turned to Judson in shock as the little girl shut the door. His face mimicked mine.
"See what I mean?"
"Uh, yeah." I nodded.
"All I ever wanted was a teddy which was big, real, and talked. But now he's sad all the time – not "ouch" sad, but ouch-in-the-head sad – says weird stuff, and smells like the bus."
"Sweetie. How exactly did your teddy become real?" Sam asked her.
"My name is Audrey. I wished for it."
"You wished for it?"
"At the wishing well."
Dean pushed the door back open and I leaned my head in again.
"Look at this. You believe this crap?" The teddy bear asked pointing to the news on the TV.
"Not really." I gulped.
"It is a terrible world. Why am I here?!"
"For tea parties!" The little girl shouted.
"Tea parties? Is that all there is?"
"Um. We should talk." I suggested.
"Sweetie, give us a second, okay? Okay." Sam told the little girl as we stepped away.
"Are we... Should we... Uh, are we gonna kill this teddy bear?" I asked.
"How? Do we shoot it, burn it?" Dean asked.
"I don't know. Both?" Sam shrugged.
"How do we even know that's gonna work? I don't want some giant, flaming, pissed-off teddy on our hands." I added.
"Yeah. Besides, I get the feeling that the bear isn't really the, you know, core problem here. Audrey. Where are your parents?"
"My mom wished they were in Bali, so I think they're in Bali."
"Okay, well... I'm really sorry to have to break this to you, but... your bear is sick. Yeah, he's – he's got..." Sam started.
"Lollipop disease." I finished for him.
"It's not uncommon for a bear his size. But, see, it's – it's really contagious." Sam continued.
"Yeah, so, is there – is there someone, maybe a grown-up, that you can stay with while we treat him?" I asked her.
"Mrs. Hurley lives down the street."
"Good, yeah, good. Uh, we'd like you to stay there for a few days, okay?"
"Okay."
"Oh, and, Audrey? Where is this wishing well?"
…..
We walked into the local Chinese restaurant that features one very odd fountain placed in the center of the dining room, a boy stood and threw in a coin, then he mumbled a few words and left.
"Think it works?" I asked leaning over to Judson.
"Got a better explanation for teddy back there?" He asked putting his arm around me.
"Well, there's one way to find out." Dean said stepping up and tossing in a quarter.
"What are you gonna wish for?" Sam asked.
"Shh! Not supposed to tell." Dean scalded him as he tossed it in. Suddenly the door chimed as it opened, and in walked a delivery guy that was obviously not from this restaurant.
"Somebody order a footlong Italian with jalapeño?" He asked.
"That'd be me." Dean smiled.
"No fucking way…" I said in shock.
I turned around to the fountain and stared at it, thinking about what it could mean for me, for us… if this shit is really real, then one wish could change things.
"Hey, lets get a table." Dean said walking over, I followed reluctantly.
(THIRD PERSON POV)
"I think it works, dude. That was pretty specific." Dean said as he took a large bite out of his sand which.
"The teddy bear, the sandwich..." Sam sighed.
"Mm. I'm guessing this." Dean said turning the newspaper to show the article about the lottery winner.
"I'm guessing that." Judson said pointing to the engagement announcement beside it.
"Well, that definitely goes on the list. What are we supposed to do, huh? Stop people's wishes from coming true? I mean, it sounds like kind of a douche-y thing to do." Dean shrugged.
"Yeah, maybe. But come on, man. When has something like this ever come without a price tag? And usually a deadly one." Sam warned.
"I don't know. It's a damn good sandwich."
Sam shot him an annoyed expression.
"All right. Fine. We'll put a hold on the wishing till we figure out what's going on."
"Uh, gentlemen, gentlemen. I'm sorry. We don't allow people to eat outside food here." A waiter came over and interrupted.
Dean and Sam initiated their lie of being with the health department to shut the town off from the well until they could figure out more details, but Judson was watching Emily. She stared at the well from the moment they sat at the table, not saying a word. Just staring.
He worried about what was going through her head, and at that moment he decided that her brothers had to know about Emily's conversation with Uriel. It had affected her somewhere deep, put her on a constant thought of self doubt. Judson worried what this would turn into if he didn't intervene soon.
Before he realized what was happening the restaurant began to empty out. He stood and pulled Emily's attention as well. She stood and he linked his hand in hers.
Dean tossed Sam a coin. Sam hesitated.
"Oh, come on. Aren't you a little bit tempted?" Dean asked him.
"No." Sam chuckled. "Wouldn't be real. I wouldn't trust it."
"I don't know. That bear seemed pretty real." Emily sighed.
"Yeah."
"Come on, if you could wish yourself back, you know, before it all started... Think about it. You'd be some big yuppie lawyer with a nice car and a white picket fence." Dean told him.
"Not what I'd wish for."
"Seriously?"
"It's too late to go back to our old lives, Dean. I'm not that guy anymore."
"All right, well, what, then? Hmm? What would Sammy wish for?"
"Lilith's head on a plate. Bloody."
All three of them turned to look up to Sam, while he stared into the water. Emily contemplated Sam's wish… something similar to her own. She would wish for Lillith to be dead. For Dean to have never gone to hell. For Sam never to have died. For herself to never have these powers… never be in the way.
"Okay. What is that?" Dean said leaning down.
"Some kind of old coin. I don't recognize the markings."
"Damn." Dean groaned as he reached in to grab it but it was stuck to the bottom.
"Lift with your legs." Sam mocked.
"Is that little mother welded on there? Huh."
"I'll get the crow bar." Emily sighed walking out to the impala.
Once she was out the door Judson turned to Sam and Dean.
"Hey uh, we need to talk tonight. After Em goes to sleep… okay?"
"Why what's up?" Sam asked concerned.
"She doesn't want me to tell you. She'll be pissed… just. Come get me when she galls asleep."
"Alright." Dean nodded.
Emily walked back in and the three men tried to seem as uninterested in her as possible, but they all watched her carefully as she handed her brother the crow bar, and a hammer.
Dean tries to pry it free from the bottom with no luck, then he positions the bar and slams the hammer down, the coin didn't budge.
"Damn!" He yelled as he caught his hand with the hammer.
"Coin's magical." Judson said bending down to take a closer look.
"Boy, I'd say. I think it's hoodoo that's protecting the well. I don't think we can destroy this."
Sam proceeded to drain the water out of the fountain, and trace the coin and its pattern.
"Here, you guys go look into this." He said handing it to Dean.
"Where you going?"
"Something just occurred to me." He said as he walked out the door.
"Well… I guess we get to do the research this time. Yall ready?"
"Yeah." Judson nodded.
Emily continued to stare into the well as it filled back up with water.
"Em." Dean called out, but she didn't respond.
"Emily." He called again, this time she jumped and turned towards him.
"Yeah, yeah… sorry. Let's go."
"You sure you're good kiddo?"
"Yeah. Just tired is all."
"C'mon. Let's go back to the room." He said reaching out and pulling Emily under his arm.
He had been concerned about her behavior the last couple of days but now he was really worried, anxious for night to fall so that he could find out what was really going on with her. Find out what happened that could have set her off in such a way that she pulled back from them all. What does the kid know that he doesn't? And why…
(Emily's POV)
Sam came in the door just as Dean began another round of puking. I sat next to him and wiped his face with a damp cloth.
"Dean? You all right?" Sam asked coming around the corner.
"The wishes turn bad, Sam. The wishes turn very bad." Dean grumbled.
"Here De, take a drink." I said handing him some ginger ale.
"The sandwich, huh?"
"The coin was Babylonian. It's cursed. I found some fragments of a legend. The, uh... the serpent is Tiamat, which is the, uh, Babylonian god of primordial chaos. I guess their, uh, priests were working some serious black magic." Dean explained trying not to puke the entire time.
"They made the coin?"
"Yeah, to sow the seeds of chaos. Whoever tosses a coin in the wishing well, makes a wish, it turns on the well. Then it starts granting wishes to all comers." I added.
"But the wishes get twisted. You ask for a talking teddy..."
"You get a bipolar nut job. " Dean answered.
"And you get E. coli." I smiled.
"Mm. This thing has turned more than one town upside down over the centuries. It's even wiped a few off the map. I mean, one person gets their wish, it's trouble, but everybody gets their wish... "
"It's chaos."
"Any way to stop it?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. One way. We got to find the first wisher. Whoever dropped the coin in and made the first wish, they're the only ones who can pull it back out and reverse the wishes. So for now, we've got a couple of nutso dreams come true, but once the word gets out about the well, things are just gonna get crazier and crazier."
"So tomorrow we track down the first wisher."
"Yep."
"So where's Judson?"
"I sent him to the store to pick up some soup." I said.
"Okay, well. Let's get some sleep… you look like you could use it Em. I'll get him from here."
"You sure?"
"Yeah sweetheart, get some sleep. I'll keep an eye on him."
"Get some rest De." I said kissing his forehead, he hugged me briefly before I stood and walked away. I changed clothes and slid into the bed. Truth is I was exhausted. All I could think about was that stupid well… about what it is I'd wish for.
About it's consequences. Would it make it worse? Make it better?
All I wanna do is make things better… I wanna fix it.
….
(THIRD PERSON POV)
Judson came through the door of the motel and found Emily asleep on the bed, then he found Sam at the table and Dean leaned against the bathroom door.
"Still feel like shit?" He asked as he set the bag of soup down next to Dean.
"Mmhm." Dean grumbled.
"She's asleep." Sam interrupted them. "If you want to talk we need to do it now before she wakes up."
"Right." Judson sighed. "Look. I know you guys picked up on the fact that she's been acting weird."
"Yeah?" Dean said standing, pushing his nausea aside and focusing on the conversation.
"She lied… Uriel came to her while you two were sleeping. The night I came back from that hunt… she's a wreck."
"What?! What did he say to her?"
"Dean! Shut up before you wake her up!" Sam scalded.
"He told her something about being in the way, that they were trying to get to you and that her and Sam were obstacles to that, and that she wasn't wanted by the angels or the demons, and that she's not wanted by anyone pretty much. I don't know why but she just can't shake it… she feels like she's a nuisance."
"Dammit…" Sam sighed. "We've been down this road before. He must have just drug up some old insecurities. And her abilities are finally calming down, but I know they still bother her."
"I swear I'm going to rip his damn lungs out." Dean growled as the thought of Uriel crossed his mind.
"Well before we do that, not that I'm against it, we need to snap her out of it… she was staring at that fountain the entire time we were there today. She's going to try something."
"She wouldn't." Dean argued.
"Oh you don't think she'd wish to go back? Stop Sam from dying or you from going to hell? I guarantee you it's on her mind. I guarantee you she's planning something."
"No… she knows these things have consequences. She wouldn't be so stupid. I mean yeah sure… she sends us back in time but who the hell knows what's going to go wrong in all that! She wouldn't risk it."
"Well regardless on whether or not you do or don't think she'll do anything… we still gotta talk to her Dean. She's been so distant lately, now we know why." Sam interrupted them again.
"If you just attack her with this she'll flip. She'll know I told you and she'll feel outnumbered. You gotta get her to tell you."
"Oh and how the hell are we gonna do that?"
"Dean. You've known her for her entire life, if anyone is going to do that then it's going to be you."
Dean rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair as he paced. It angered him to no end that he couldn't kill Uriel with his bare hands right then and there where he stood. He wanted Uriel to suffer for causing Emily pain.
"Well we can't do anything while she's asleep. So just let me sleep on it. Figure this shit out." Dean finally sighed. "I'm beat anyways."
"Alright, I'll see you guys in the morning. Keep an eye on her."
"Yeah, yeah. We got her Romeo."
….
(Emily's POV)
There was shuffling in the bed next to me. Tossing and turning of some sort. I slowly woke up to find Dean sweaty and mumbling in his sleep.
"Sammy." I called out, finding him sitting at a table watching.
"Yeah Em, I know."
"We gotta wake him up."
"He's lying Em."
"So what… Sammy. Let him have this one thing to himself. At least till he's ready. Please."
Sam rolled his eyes. I leaned over and began to nudge Dean's shoulder.
"Dean, wake up."
"What? I'm up. What?" He jumped.
"Sleep well?" Sam asked before I could answer.
"Yeah. Tan, rested, and ready."
"Dean, come on, man. You think I can't see it?"
"See what?"
"The nightmares, the drinking. We're with you 24/7. We know something's going on."
"Sam please…" I interrupted.
"Uriel wasn't lying, but you are. You remember Hell, don't you?"
"What do you want from me, huh? What?" Dean stood and asked.
"The truth, Dean. I mean, I'm your brother. I, I just wish you'd talk to me."
"Yeah well… we're not the Brady bunch. We don't talk about everything Sammy."
"Cute." Sam said rolling his eyes.
"Come on, can we stow the couples therapy, huh? We're on a job. I want to work. What do you got? Please?"
"We got teddy bear, uh, lottery guy, invisible pervert guy. They all must have wished sometime in the last two weeks. But who wished first, and how are we supposed to know who else wished for what when?"
"Well, it helps when they announce it in the paper. Goes back a month."
"Wesley Mondale and Ms. Hope Lynn Casey have announced their surprise engagement."
"Ah, true love." I sighed.
"Best lead we got." Sam shrugged.
"So that's where we'll pick up in the morning. Can we all go to sleep now? Sam?"
"Fine."
"Night Sammy." I said as he finally left the table and moved towards his bed.
"Night Em."
I waited till the lights were off to roll over and bump Dean with my elbow.
"Hm." He mumbled.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah kiddo. I'm good."
"Are you sure? Seems like that one was a doozy."
"Yeah." He said quietly. Detached.
"When are you going to tell him… or me?"
"I don't know yet."
"De, the longer you wait the harder it will be"
"Em, please don't do this."
I sighed, then I pushed over and laid against him, my head on his chest. Listening to the strong and steady beat of his heart. I remember laying on the floor, covered in blood begging to hear this sound again. His arm wrapped around me and the over whelming feeling of safety and comfort. The feeling I've had all my life.
Suddenly I had the urge to tell him. Tell him everything… about Uriel.
"De." I whispered.
"Yeah Em?"
"I…"
"Spit it out kiddo." He said gently, looking at me as if he knew.
My mouth opened, but I didn't know how to say it. How to start.
"I love you." I finally whispered, then I hid my face in the crook of his arm again and waited to fall asleep.
…..
"Morning." Judson said coming through the door with coffee in hand. I leaned up in bed and smiled at him briefly. He set down the coffees and walked over to kiss me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him in place as he tried to pull away.
Dean coughed to get our attention and break us apart as he pretended like he was just reading the paper. I let go of Judson who winked at me as he joined my brothers at the table. I stretched as I stood.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" I asked.
"When you get dressed we're gonna go check out that lovey dovey couple who just got engaged."
"You guys really think that's who started all this?"
"Could be." Sam shrugged.
"Well. Let's go find out."
"When we get there we play this thing hardball." Dean added.
"What are we gonna do if it is him?"
"We're going to make him stop all this. It has to end."
"All of it?" I asked hesitantly. Dean looked up at my curiously.
"Yes, every wish has had consequences Em. Severe consequences. It's not worth it."
"What if it is worth it to some people. We just screw them over?"
"Em… where is this coming from?" Sam asked softly, staring at me… knowingly. Just like Dean did last night. I suddenly looked up to Judson, who's eyes were glued to the floor.
"Oh you son of a bitch." I muttered crossing my arms
"Emily." Judson sighed.
"I can't believe you told them."
"He didn't have to kiddo, we knew something was up. We knew you were keeping something from us. He just filled in the missing information." Sam said trying to defend him as he stood and walked towards me but I backed away.
"Emily how could you listen to that dick?!" Dean asked. "I mean after everything we've been through you STILL let someone like him in your head? What did I do wrong to give you such a low opinion of yourself?"
"Dean it's not even like that!"
"Well then enlighten me here Em! What the hell is it about?"
"You wouldn't understand, Dean."
"Wouldn't understand what!"
"You wouldn't understand what it's like to have this crap inside of you! To have no idea where your place is! I mean come on, he's right! The demons hate me, they want Sam… the angels hate me. They only want you!"
"So what Emily! Who cares, the angels, the demons, they're all a bag of dicks!"
"But they're important dicks Dean, they have power, and they take commands from God himself! Don't you think that could mean something that they don't want me alive? Don't you think that could spell bad news for us later down the road! I just… I just don't want them anymore. I need to get rid of them."
"Emily, they're a part of you. You can't just get rid of them. Trust me, kiddo. I know what you mean but… its part of what makes you the person you are." Sam interjected.
"Says the man who was supposed to lead an army. You had purpose, evil purpose but still purpose Sam. You weren't 'a risk' or 'an abomination' or some 'wild card' that keeps fucking everything up! I need to get rid of them, Sammy."
"You don't know what kind of consequences a wish like that would have." Judson added.
"So what we shouldn't even try then? I mean what if the consequence isn't that bad! I mean we could go back to before Sam died, and stop Jake. We could prevent my abilities from starting, prevent Dean from making his deal. I mean we are STUPID not to try!"
"Emily no! Do you not remember yesterday? The wishes go bad!" Dean groaned.
"Worse then you going to hell Dean?" I glared at him. "Worse then you and I sitting in that god forsaken cabin crying our eyes out over Sam's cold dead body for three days before you made your deal!"
"We are past that. We are all here, we are alive, and we agreed to start fresh. You can't do this, Em. It's like playing Russian roulette with all of our lives. I mean if none of that stuff ever happened then maybe you never met dumbass Romeo, maybe you never saved us all those times with your abilities, hell… maybe you die instead of Sam in that town with Jake. What then Emily?"
"Then at least I wouldn't be the problem. I wouldn't be in the way, causing chaos, putting myself in stupid situations." I argued, then I went to open my mouth and had to gather myself. "Then at least I wouldn't have to watch both of my brothers die right in front of my eyes." I responded softly before pushing past them all and out the front door.
"Emily!" Judson came chasing after me as I walked through the parking lot. "Em, please baby."
"I specifically asked you NOT to tell them Jud! What the hell?!"
"I couldn't let you do something that might get you or someone else hurt, I could see the wheels turning in your head ever since we found out about the fountain. I couldn't let you make this mistake."
"Judson this could fix so many things! You don't understand… you have only ever known me after Sam died, you have only ever seen me suffer! My life before Sam died wasn't the best, but it wasn't this hard. I want to go back to that."
"What about us… what about me? Would you have ever met me if life didn't happen the way it did? Would we be here now? Huh? What if going back means you and I never met."
I stared at him with guilt in my eyes. I had never thought about that. I had never considered that life without these complications would mean a life without Judson. I don't want to lose him… I can't lose him. He means so much to me.
"What about us baby?" He asked as he held my face. "I know shit has been really hard on you lately. I know you hurt, and I know you're scared. I know losing Sam and Dean killed little pieces of you too, and even though they came back those parts of you didn't, but Emily we're here now. All of us. Together. I don't want you to give that up."
"… I just want to feel like I belong somewhere, Jud." I whimpered.
"Baby you belong right here, with me. With Sam and Dean. Fuck Uriel, he doesn't know what he's talking about."
"What if the angels really hate me."
"Has Castiel ever given you any indication that you are hated by angels? Huh?" He said as he rubbed my cheek.
"No." I whispered.
"There are probably thousands of angels up there baby, don't let one make you feel like you don't matter."
I nodded softly and wrapped my arms around his neck, his arms wound around my torso and he reached down to lift my thighs, I took his hint and wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me over to the impala and sat me on the trunk.
"No more pity party, okay? You let this thing go. Promise me?"
"I promise." I whispered.
….
Dean knocked on the door while Sam and Judson watched from the car.
"You sure you're good to work?" Dean asked.
"For the third and final time Dean, yes. I'm not going to do anything stupid."
"Better not." He grumbled just as the door opened, a bright young woman with brunette hair and a large smile opened the door.
"Hi there, we're from Floral Creation Center, Wes called us this afternoon and said you guys might want to look over some arrangements." I quickly said.
"Oh!" Her eyes went wide. "Yes yes please come in!"
We followed her into the door way and down the hall.
"Wes! You didn't tell me that you called the florists for the wedding." She cheered as we came around the corner to find a guy sitting in a recliner clearly confused.
"Huh?" He asked looking between Dean and I.
"You're the best! Mmm! Ah! I'm gonna go get my folders." The woman kissed him on the cheek before running up the stairs.
"Uh, o—Okay".
"Wesley, how's it going?" Dean asked.
"It's "Wes... ss." Aren't you the guys from the health department?"
"Yeah. And florists on the side." I smiled.
"Plus FBI. And on Thursdays, we're teddy bear doctors." Dean added.
"Huh?"
"Doesn't matter who we are. What matters is what we know."
"So, coin collector, huh, Wes?" I asked him as I pointed to the coin holders on the mantle.
"Oh. Yeah. My... grandfather gave them to me."
"Did you happen to lose one of those coins lately? And by "lose," I mean drop into a wishing well at Lucky Chin's and make a wish on it?" I raised an eyebrow.
"No, I – I don't know what you're, uh, talking about."
Just as Dean went to speak the woman came back down the stairs with folders and magazines in hand.
"Okay, now. I have a lot of ideas, but, you know, we don't have all the money in the world. Wes is between jobs right now. Means more time for me. You know, I'm thinking a Japanese-y ikebana kind of thing."
"Yes. I can see it." I smiled.
"Yeah. So, Hope, uh, tell us how you two lovebirds met." Dean asked.
"Oh, best day of my life."
"I bet."
"Yeah! It's the funniest thing. We both grew up here, but I never really knew who he was. Not by name anyway. Until one day last month, it was like I just… I just saw him for the first time. He was just... glowing. Oh, just glowing."
"Uh, babe, can you – can you get us some coffee?" Wes asked.
"Yes. Yeah." She rushed into the kitchen after kissing him over and over again. I kinda wanted to gag. I wonder if this is how Dean feels watching me kiss Judson?
"Wes, we know. So tell us the truth." Dean asked straight out.
"My – my grandfather found the coin in north Africa, you know, World War II. And, uh, he brought it back. He, um, he said it was a real wish-granting coin, but that nobody should ever use it. Um... It was all I had, and when he died, I thought, Well, you know what? Why not give the coin a shot?"
"Yeah, well, now you're gonna wish it back."
"Oh. Ha ha, no, I'm not."
"If you don't stop it, something bad's gonna happen." I tried to warn him.
"Something bad. Like us." Dean enforced.
"We really wish you'd come with us." I smiled.
….
"I don't get it. So, my wish came true. Why does that have to be a bad thing?" Wes asked form the backseat next to Judson. I sat between both my brothers in the front rolling my eyes.
"Because the wishes go south, Wes. Your town is going insane." Sam told him.
"Come on. You're gonna sit there and tell me that your relationship with Hope is functional, that it's what you wished for?" Dean asked him.
"I wished she would love me more than anything."
"Yeah, and, uh, how is that going? That seem healthy to you?"
"Well, it's a hell of a lot better than when she didn't know I was alive."
"You're not supposed to get what you want, man, not like this. Nobody is. That's what the coin does. It takes your heart's desires and it twists it back on you. You hear of the whole, uh, be careful what you wish for?" Judson asked him.
"Careful what you wish for." Wes mocked him. "You know who says that? Good-looking jerks like you guys, the ones who've got it so easy because you happen to be handsome."
"Easy?" I turned around and asked him.
"Yeah. Women like you look at men like them. You notice them. Women never notice me."
"Believe us, we do not have it easy." Sam corrected him.
"We are miserable. We never get what we want. In fact, we have to fight tooth and nail just to keep whatever it is we got." Dean added. "But you know what? Maybe that's the whole point, Wes."
"Yeah, people are people 'cause they're miserable bastards, 'cause they never get what they really want." Sam shrugged.
"Right, yeah, you get what you want, you get crazy." Judson sighed, winking at me.
"Take a look at Michael Jackson, hmm? Or Hasselhoff." I warned.
"You know what? Hope loves me now – completely. And it's awesome. Besides, look around. Where's all this, uh, insanity you guys were talking about?" Wes asked.
Just then as we pulled up to the stop sign we spotted the young boy who was being bullied yesterday rocking a vehicle back and forth with his bullies inside crying for help.
"Well, that should cover it." I sighed.
"Kneel before Todd! Kneel before Todd!" The kid screamed.
"I'll handle Todd. You get Wes to Lucky Chin's. Go!" Sam said jumping out of the car. Dean punched the gas and we kept going.
…..
(Third Person POV)
"That – that – that kid turned over that car like – like it was nothing." Wes mumbled.
"You should have seen the teddy bear. Now, come on. Fun's over. Time to pull the coin." Dean said as they pulled up and parked in front of the restaurant.
"Well, why can't we just get what we want?!" Wes pleaded one more time.
"Because that's life, Wes." Emily sighed stepping ahead of the three men, just before she was suddenly struck by lightning.
"EMILY!" Judson screamed as her body collapsed to the ground.
"Em!" Dean said shoving him to the side to shake her, checking and finding no pulse.
"No no no no… c'mon babygirl! Wake up! Dammit Emily wake up!" Dean yelled as he started compressions.
"Wes! The coin! Go get it now!" Judson screamed at him, realizing it was the only way to save her.
"But, what if I lose her!"
"IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THEN I'M GOING TO LOSE HER!" Judson growled slamming him against the front door. "Now go!"
Judson watched in distress as Dean continued to force Emily's heart to pump blood throughout her body, it hurt to watch. It hurt to watch him do the exact same thing she did the day he died. To hurt like you've never hurt before.
Wes entered the restaurant and was surprised at who he found standing in front of the well.
"Hope?"
"I had to do it, didn't I? They were gonna make you wish away our love."
"You wished her dead?"
"I love you more than anything." She smiled.
"Stop saying that. Stop it!"
"But I do. More than anything. More than me. More than life. Oh, Wes. Don't hate me." She begged wrapping her arms around his neck.
Wes held her in his arms, and then glanced out the door, watching Dean bent on the ground crying. Begging for Emily to come back to life. But she laid there motionless. He saw the pain in his face, and then met eyes with Judson. There was something there that struck him, not only would he surely be murdered if he didn't make this right, but he then realized that what he had wasn't really love.
It wasn't what he wanted. It was all wrong.
Wes reached down and pulled the coin from the fountain. The moment he did Hope's grip loosened slightly, then she slowly pulled back.
"Do I know you?" She asked before slowly backing away from him and running out the door.
Judson watched as Hope ran past them down the street, then he leaned down over Emily. Taking her face in his hands.
"Wake up baby… please wake up." He whispered. Dean kneeling beside him, tears staining his face as he tried to gather himself.
As if being struck by lightning a second time suddenly she flew upwards with wide eyes, the glass in the lamp posts above them shattered, and car alarms down the street began to yell loudly.
"Emily! Emily…" Dean begged as he shoved Judson aside again and held her against his shoulder, so tightly she had a hard time breathing, although that could be partially due to the potentially cracked rib she had from the strength of Dean's compressions.
She coughed to catch her breath as she struggled to speak.
"What, what happened?"
"Wishes go bad Em… they go really bad." Dean sniffled, calming down once he realized she was okay. He rocked back and forth holding her, Judson silently waiting his turn to embrace her.
"Hey! What the hell happened?!" Sam asked running towards them.
"Too close for comfort." Is all Dean could say. Sam quickly realized how upset Dean was and knew it was better to ask him later.
…
(Emily's POV)
I finished showering and stepped out to towel dry my hair and get dressed, when I did I lingered in the mirror for a second to look for any bruising, there was the faint outline of one starting on my sternum, but I wasn't angry. I was thankful… thankful to be alive, thankful to have both of my brothers. Thankful to have Judson.
Thankful to have my life, because I was reminded just how quickly I could lose it all.
Watching Dean drive home with red-rimmed eyes hurt. Having him look back in the mirror once every ten seconds just to make sure I was still breathing hurt my heart. I suddenly felt selfish for even considering making a wish. For risking our lives.
But mostly I felt selfish because of the way Judson held me the entire car ride back to the motel. The strength in his grip when his arm reached all the way around my body and his hand landed on my ribs. The way he pressed his lips to my temple over, and over again, as if double checking to see that I was still alive, still warm. Heart still beating.
I opened the door and stepped out, setting my clothes down In the bag on the floor and meeting eyes with Sam. He smiled slightly and opened one arm. I walked over and sat on his knee.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm uh. I'm good. A little sore, but good."
"Dean went to gas up the car, should be back in about ten minutes."
"He okay?"
"I don't know. He's still pretty shook up."
"We need to talk to him when he gets back."
"Yeah, we do." Sam sighed.
"Until then. I'm gonna step next door. Check on Judson."
"Okay kiddo, don't be long. Dean will get anxious."
"I know." I said before I kissed his cheek and stood, walking next door. I knocked softly.
"Hey." He said as he pulled the door open.
"Hi." I smiled.
"You scared the hell out of me today. You know that?" He asked pulling me in and closing the door behind us.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry baby, it's not your fault… shit happens. I just. I thought I lost you Em." He said as he held me quietly.
"I'm sorry I was willing to risk us." I whispered. "I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay baby."
"I'm not going anywhere ya know?"
"I know… I just. Stay with me tonight."
"What about my brothers?"
"I don't care. I can't stand to have you out of my sight for another minute. Stay with me. Please."
"Okay." I whispered leaning in to kiss him.
…..
(Sam's POV)
My phone dinged just as Dean came through the door.
"Hey." I called out.
"Hey, where's Em."
"She just stepped next door… and she just texted saying she wants to stay over for a while."
"Okay." Dean nodded.
"Okay? That's it? … are you running a fever or something?"
"No. I uh… It's just been a long day. I don't want to fight with her."
"Dean. She's okay. I promise."
"I know Sammy… it's just. Man you didn't see it. She was literally a foot in front of me, and I couldn't protect her. Couldn't keep her safe."
"Dean. It was a magical fountain. Hope wished her dead, there was no stopping that. Just fixing it. Which you guys did."
"I know man… I just. I don't know." He said taking a large swig of whiskey. I sighed and sat back.
"You were right." He mumbled unexpectedly. I leaned forward.
"About what?"
"I shouldn't have lied to you. I do remember everything that happened to me in the Pit. Everything."
"So tell me about it."
"No."
"Does Emily know?"
"She knows that I remember. But I couldn't talk about it. Sam. I can't talk about it. I won't lie anymore but I'm not gonna talk about it."
"Dean, look, you can't just shoulder this thing alone. You got to let me help."
"How? Do you really think that a little heart-to-heart, some sharing and caring, is gonna change anything? Hmm? Somehow... heal me? I'm not talking about a bad day here."
"I know that."
"The things that I saw... there aren't words. There is no forgetting. There's no making it better. Because it is right here... [taps his head] forever. You wouldn't understand. And I could never make you understand. So I am sorry. But we're not talking about it… I'm going to bed. Tell Em goodnight for me."
I watched as he finished off the bottle and laid on the bed, eyes closed, headphones on, just like Emily does when she's avoiding us. I could see it weighing on him, I could feel curiosity burn in my gut. I just know he can't hold this in forever.