"River Tam! I've expecting you for four and a half years!"
The larger woman hugged her and River smiled, returning the hug. Crowley was still locking the car up when Missouri yelled for him.
"Get in here, Walker!"
"Walker?" River raised an eyebrow as Missouri let go of her. Crowley waved his hand as he closed the door behind them.
"You'll see soon enough."
"You've been expecting me?" River faced Missouri.
"I have. Since I met Sam. I knew when I realized he hadn't encountered you yet. You'd be coming, but only when he was in a whole mess of trouble."
"On that note," Crowley spoke up, "She has no idea what you're on about."
"Except she knows what I'm referring to." Missouri stated, "And stay out the brandy!"
The Demon swore in the next room as River sat on a sofa Missouri directed her to.
"You're talking about Sam and I being connected." River stated.
"Something like that." Missouri sat across from her in a chair. A table was between them. "Did Crowley tell you what you'll be doing?"
"Remembering what I forgot, give or take." River stated.
"Your past life."
"Pardon?" River stammered. "Do you mean before the Academy...?"
"I mean before you or our current version of Sam were born." Missouri stated, her eyes serious, "It's like your souls are playing an eternal game of tag. Raziel is always trying to catch up with Sammael. Always."
"I've heard the name 'Raziel' a few times now..." River whispered. "...but Sammael is new."
"Far from new." Missouri exhaled, "I can show you your past lives. The trouble is you may not like how they ended."
"Why do I need to know them?" River questioned.
"The Devil's grasp on Sam is strong. In order to set him free you need to call on your memories together." She explained.
"Our memories...?" River whispered.
"When you first encountered Sam, you had this need to protect him, to save him, right?" Missouri asked it like she was asking the time.
"How did you know that?"
"Simple. You two are bound until the cycle is broken. But to break the rules you must first learn them. That's where I come in. I can place you in a deep enough sleep that I can help your mind remember what your soul know by reliving it." Missouri held her hands out. "It won't be pretty. This bond the two of you share is twisted with pain and passion. Are you prepared to do what it takes?"
"I-"
"You better be!" Crowley shouted from the next room, "I don't want to have been wasting my time for naught!"
"Get out of my pantry!" Missouri shouted as River laughed. "I'm working on some supper for all of us before we send this one out!"
"Thank god! She's been killing my appetite of late!"
"Come on River." Missouri stood up with a hearty laugh. "Let's scrap a supper together."