Part Eight: Meet the Parents
It had been a week since Reese and Dean spent that afternoon at Sioux River together. A few cases since then. More and more information about Doom's Day flooding the minds of the hunters. Reese and Dean had grown even closer than before as the days passed. Reese knew deep down that she might not see the boys much longer after the Apocalypse, after the big prize fight with the devil. Even then, she enjoyed every day with them, whether it was wiping out a vamp nest or hanging out at a local bar, she was going to spend every moment with the Winchester's before it was too late.
Sam, Dean and Reese crashed at the local motel for some shut eye before moving onto the next case. After their usual showers and change of clothes, they turned in for the night. Reese laid on her right side with Dean pressed against her back. His arms relaxed around her waste. She snuggled in closer before his arm tensed. She took notice but didn't move. She knew that if he was tense in his sleep, he'd wake up swinging. She had caught the tail end of a sleepy punch one night, resulting in a blue shiner for a few days. Dean was devastated. But Reese knew that was the backlash of being a hunter. She didn't move until he relaxed again, but instead of relaxing, Dean shot straight up from his sleep. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead and shoulders. Reese sat up slowly, placing her hand on his back.
"Dean? What is it?" Dean slowly turned towards her, his breathing slowly returning to normal. Sam had heard Reese's voice and sat up, sliding his shirt back on. Dean remained quiet until his brother was fully dressed and awake. Once Sam was on his feet, Dean nodded.
"Anna." he only said. Sam's chest tightened and Reese raised her brow.
"Who's Anna?" she asked. Dean placed his hand on her knee for reassurance.
"An angel. Did she get into contact with you?" Sam asked, puzzled by the whole situation.
"She gate crashed my head. She said she couldn't find us and I told her it was because of Cas branding our ribs." Dean paused to take a look at Reese, who was visually concerned for her partner. Dean squeezed her knee. "Anna seemed kind of pissed when I mentioned Cas. Said that he tossed her in the pearly prison?"
"Why would Cas throw her in prison? I thought they were buddies." Sam said.
"Heaven has a friggin' jail?" Reese asked. Dean chuckled at her.
"I guess so. But why would Cas do that?"
"I just asked that!" Sam said, "We gotta call Cas. Get his side of the story." Dean and Reese nodded before getting out of bed. Once they were dressed, Reese made the call.
Cas had came to them and explained everything going on with Anna. How she disobeyed heaven. Reese had pointed out that Cas had done the same thing. But Cas turned and told her that was before he got close to the brothers.
Cas told the trio to stay behind and he would take care of Anna. They reluctantly agreed. Once he was gone, Reese packed their bags, just in case they had to get on the road. Sam did some research as he normally does and Dean watched Reese move about the room. She stopped in front of him to pick up her discarded sleep shorts. Dean cocked his head to the side and grabbed her by the waist down onto the bed. She yelled as she was dragged down. Sam groaned behind them. "Seriously guys? I'm still here." he said, not looking up from his laptop. Reese smacked Deans' chest and stood up again.
"Sorry Sam." she smiled his way before picking up her shorts and placing them in the bag. Dean stood to his feet to help Reese before they heard a quiet flap of wings. They turned and Cas was standing before them again.
"Well?" Reese asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Anna escaped prison. She's on a mission." he explained.
"What mission?" Dean asked. Sam came to stand beside his brother and Reese. Cas took a deep breath.
"To kill Sam Winchester."
"What? Why?" Reese asked. Sam tightened his fist and took a seat on the bed. Dean rubbed his face and began pacing. Cas collected some items from the hunter's bags and began drawing on the black round table. Reese helped Cas by placing some of the items he needed.
"Really? Anna? I don't believe it." Dean said softly.
"It's true." Cas stated.
"So she's gone all Glenn Close, huh? That's awesome." Cas stopped drawing to look up at Dean.
"Who's Glenn Close?"
"No one. Just this psycho bitch who likes to boil rabbits." Reese rolled her eyes and Cas looked back down to finish his sketch.
"So, the plan to kill me, would it actually stop Satan?"
"Sam!" Reese called.
"No, Sam, come on." Dean said. Sam ignored them.
"Cas, what do you think? Does Anna have a point?" Dean and Reese both looked from their brother to Cas. He hesitated.
"No. She's, uh, Glenn Close." Sam rolled his eyes at that.
"I don't get it. We're looking for the chick that wants to gank Sam? Why poke the bear?" Reese asked, placing that last item on the table. She walked around the angel to join Sam and Dean.
"Anna will keep trying. She won't give up until Sam is dead. So we kill her first."
"I like that idea." Reese said. Cas poured oil into the bowl before him and began chanting.
"Zode Amah Ranah Esla Gigaro Sob." he pinched one of the ingredients and tossed it into the bowl, sending sparks into the air. Something took over Cas as he took a few steps back and then leaned against the chair to keep himself on his feet. He took a minute to catch his breath before leaning up with his eyes still closed. "I found her"
"Where is she?" Dean asked, ready to get the ball rolling.
"Not where. When." Cas straightened his posture. "It's 1978."
"What?" Sam and Reese said.
"Why 1978? I wasn't even born yet." Sam asked.
"You won't be, if she kills your parents." The trio of hunters all tensed their shoulders. "Anna can't get to you because of me. So she's going after them."
"Take us back, right now." Dean said through clenched teeth.
"And deliver you right to Anna? I should go alone."
"Cas, it's their parents. We're going." Reese said, stepping in front of Dean.
"It's not that easy." Cas said, turning his back on them.
"Why not?"
"Time travel is difficult even with the powers of heaven at my disposal."
"But you're cut off." Sam breathed.
"So what? You're like a DeLorean without enough plutonium?" Dean asked. Cas sighed.
"I don't understand that reference. But I'm telling you, taking this trip, with passengers no less, it'll weaken me." Dean went to take a step to Cas but Reese held out her arm to stop him. She was the one who took a step.
"Cas listen to me. It's their mom and dad. If we can save them, and not just from Anna. If we can set things right for them then we have to try. For the boy's sake." Dean placed his hand on her back. She turned and looked at him and smiled. Sam nodded to her and she nodded back. She turned back to Dean and kissed him on the cheek. "Why can't you guys have a second chance to get your lives back?"
"If we do this, we might never meet." Dean grabbed her hand. She smiled.
"If this gets your family back, you won't need me." Dean bit his lip as Cas moved around them and started to pack a bag with holy oil and three angel blades. He zipped the bag and turned to see Dean and Reese lip locked and Sam turned around, putting on his jacket. He cleared his throat.
"Ready?" Sam slipped the bag onto his shoulder.
"Not really." he scoffed. Dean took hold of Reese's hand as Cas placed his fingers on the boy's heads.
"Bend your knees. Don't let go of my hand." Reese nodded. Then time seemed to stop and swirl around them.
When Reese opened her eyes again, they were standing in the middle of the street. Her hand still tightly closed around Dean's. The three of them jumped and turned to the sound of a horn honking at them. Just as they were moving out of the way of the first car, a second car skid to a stop in front of them. Once they made it to the side walk, Sam let out a large breath of air.
"Did we make it?" Sam asked.
"Unless they're bringing Pintos back into production, I'd say yes."
"That's great that we made it back, but, where's Castiel?" Reese asked, grabbing Dean's hand again. Dean turned and started down the side walk before he noticed the angel sitting on the ground next to a parked car, blood dripping from his nose.
"Cas?" He let go of Reese's hand and started toward him.
"Cas! Hey!" Reese called, once she was beside him, he knelt down and took his head in her hands. "Hey buddy, are you all right?" Cas reached and touched Reese's hands and gave her a small smile.
"I'm fine Ms. Nyles. Much better than I expected." Cas said before he coughed up more blood.
"Take it easy, feathers. And it's Reese." she laughed before taking out her rag from her back pocket and wiping the blood from his mouth. Sam bent down and checked his breathing.
"He's breathing, sort of. What do we do?" Sam asked, wiping his hand against his jeans. Dean looked around and took note they were right beside a hotel. He motioned to Reese and help him get Cas to his feet and they carried him in. They checked him into the honeymoon suite. Reese walked inside with Cas to make it seem legit. Dean smiled at the clerk.
"Thanks man. Just don't disturb them, yeah?"
"Sure, no problem." the clerk got close to Dean and whispered, "Hey you wanna buy some dope?" Dean's eyes widened and he laughed.
"Um. No thank you. Maybe next time." he nodded. The clerk shrugged his shoulders and walked back down the hall. Dean waited for the clerk to disappear from the hallway before knocking on the door. Reese quietly opened the door and crept out. Her and Dean hurried back outside to Sam, hoping he had their parent's address. As Dean and Reese made their way back to Sam, he was laughing at the people who were walking past them.
"I mean, the mustaches alone…"
"We paid for Cas for five nights up in the honeymoon suite. I told the manager do not disturb, no matter what. You know what he said to me? Yeah, 'Don't sweat it. Wanna buy some dope?' Dope! We ought to stick around here. Buy some stocks in Microsoft."
"We might have to if Cas doesn't recover." Reese pointed out.
"Is he all right?" Sam asked, looking to his big brother. Dean shrugged.
"What do I look like, Dr. Angel Medicine Woman? He'll wake up. He's tough, for a little nerdy dude with wings."
"If he landed like that, so did Anna. Should buy us some time." Reese said crossing her arms.
"So did you find them?" Dean asked, looking down at the ripped paper Sam had in his hand.
"Yeah." he held up the paper. "The Winchesters. 485 Robin Tree." Dean nodded.
"Well, I guess it's time I met your parents." Reese patted Dean on the shoulder before walking away to find a car to jack. Dean shook his head and they followed her.
Reese could feel the tension as they entered the Winchester's home. She could feel the anger coming off of Mary every time she looked at Dean. And Sam looked like someone shot his dog. She could tell in her gut this was not going to end well. She looked over at Sam who was literally staring into Mary's soul. Mary was looking back at her son like he had lost his mind. Dean kept his eyes on the floor and his grip tight on Reese's hand. Reese looked up at their father. Now she knew where Dean got his looks from. He was a spitting image of his father. John cleared the silence with a question to his youngest.
"You sure you're okay, Sam?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah. I'm just, um…" he looked back to Mary. "You're so beautiful." Both Dean and Reese's eyes widened at the comment. Dean played it quick.
"He means that in a non-weird-wholesome, family kind of way."
"Yeah, right!" Sam said, trying to keep the awkwardness out of his voice. Reese simply chuckled.
"We haven't seen Mary in quite some time and you see, she's the spitting image of our mom. I mean, it's…"
"Eerie." Sam finished. John nodded, glad that that moment had passed.
"So how are you guys related?" John asked Reese. She lifted her shoulders, not prepared for that kind of question.
"Um… I'm not related by blood. I'm uh, um. I uh…"
"My girlfriend." Dean blurted. "Me and Sam are Mary's distant cousins."
"Right. So you knew Mary's parents?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mary's dad was pretty much like a grandpa to us."
"Oh. It's tragic. That heart attack." John reached over and grabbed his wife's hand. Reese smiled at the jester. John was deeply in love with Mary, but he had absolutely no idea that Mary was a hunter. Reese was surprised herself. She had always thought John was the hunter. She had always heard the name John Winchester from her own father, but never Mary. Not even Samuel. Reese perked her ears so she could get more of Dean's past that he would never open up to her.
Mary smiled at her husband and then shot daggers back at Dean.
"Yes, it was."
"So what are you guys doing in town anyway?" John asked.
"Uh, business, you know."
"Oh yeah, what line of work?" John asked. The three hunters all blurted out three different job titles. Dean said scrap metal, Sam said plumbing and Reese said pest control. Reese was the closest one to their actual jobs, but she wasn't going to gloat. Mary jumped to her feet.
"Oh, gosh, it's almost seven. I hate to be rude, but I gotta get dinner ready."
"Maybe they could stay." John asked.
"I'm sure they have to leave." Mary pressured. Before John could counter, the phone in the kitchen rang. John stood to his feet.
"Uh, look, please stay. You know, it'd mean a lot to me. I haven't met much of Mary's side of the family." with that, John turned and walked into the kitchen to answer the phone. The three hunters got to their feet before Mary stepped in their path.
"You have to leave, now."
"Mary, just listen…" Reese started.
"No, you listen. Last time I saw you," she turned to Dean. "A demon killed my parents. Now you waltz in here like you're family? Whatever you want, no. Leave me alone."
"You and John are in danger." Sam said quietly.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Something is coming for you." Dean said.
"Demon?"
"Not exactly"
"What, then?" Mary lowered her in head in question.
"It's really hard to explain, okay?"
"An angel." Reese blurted. The boys look down at her. "What? She needs to know." Reese rolled her eyes and looked back at the matriarch.
"What?" Mary laughed. "There's no such thing."
"I wish…" Dean said. "But they're twice as strong as demons and bigger dicks."
"Why would an angel wanna kill us?"
"It's a long story, and we'll tell you the whole thing, but right now, you've gotta trust us and we gotta go." Dean motioned toward the door. Mary stood frozen, knowing it was impossible for angels to do harm to humans. Reese took a small step toward her.
"Mary, look at me. Okay? Woman to Woman. Hunter to Hunter. We're not lying to you. The boys are right. We have to go. Now." Reese voice took an authoritative tone. Finally Mary nodded her head in agreement.
"Okay. Where do we go?"
"Out of here. We gotta move now." Dean said.
"Okay, but what do I tell John?"
"Just tell him…" Dean stopped talking when he noticed the silence in the kitchen. "John?" he called. He looked back to Reese and his brother and the four hunters moved quickly into the kitchen to find John gone and a note hanging by the phone. The note read 'Back in 15. J.' Mary looked a the trio of hunters and they all packed up in the car and headed to the one place Mary knew to find him.
The hunters exited the car and snuck into the mechanics shop to see Anna toss John across the room and over a car. Dean pulled his blade from his jacket and aimed the hilt at Anna. She turned and caught him by the throat while her other landed at his wrist.
"I wish I could say it's good to see you, Anna." Dean choked.
"You too, Dean." Reese became angry at the angel. She became even more angry when she tossed Dean through the window. Reese walked over to his fallen blade and picked it up. Sam had given Mary his and he went to check on John. The two female hunters stood, blades at the ready, for the angel to attack. They circled around each other before Mary took her first swing at Anna. Anna dodged only to back into Reese. She shoved her forward and slashed, catching Anna by the cheek. The cut shined a bright blue before she turned to face Mary once again. Mary took another swing, catching Anna's hand. Blood seeped from it. Reese threw a kick into Anna's back and Mary took one more swing before the angel disappeared. The girls looked around before Mary backed into Anna. She went to swing, but Anna caught her arm. She apologized to the hunter before yanking her arm behind her. With one solid throw, Mary was launched into the air and over another car. Reese called out her name before taking her steps to finish Anna off. But Anna caught her as well and tossed her across the shop into a wooden shelf. Reese crushed it with her body and landed in the pile of debris. Anna looked to Reese, knowing she would not be a threat any longer and started to slowly stalk Mary. She was climbing over the car onto the other side to escape the angel. Mary steadied herself against a counter and grabbed onto a tire iron. Anna didn't see the motion until Mary quickly turned and drove the iron straight into the angel's chest. Anna coughed and blood seeped through her lips. Anna looked at Mary, reached for iron and began pulling it from her chest.
"Sorry. It's not that easy to kill an angel." she said, Mary stood frozen in fear before Sam's voice cracked through the tension.
"No, but you can distract them." While the hunters were busy with the angel, Sam had cut the palm of his hand and drew an Angel Banishment sigil on the flat surface behind him. Blood ran from the mark and his hand as he slapped the wall, earning Anna a one way trip through space. The light cleared and the hunters looked around to make sure the sigil worked. John leaned against a car, anger and confusion seen on his face. Dean had woken from his stupor to pull Reese from the debris. They all remained silent as they checked for major injuries and the five of them piled into the Impala and headed to Mary's Hunter Safe House.
The ride to the safe house was unbearable. Reese's body was sore, she was tired and she was ready for this case to be over. Her, Dean and Sam sat in the back of the Impala, waiting for someone to break the silence. John held onto the steering wheel with white knuckles before finally asking his questions.
"Monsters. Monsters?" he asked to Mary.
"Yes." she breathed.
"Monsters are real."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know how too…"
"And you fight them?" John interrupted. "All of you?"
"Guilty." Reese said quietly as the boys said yes. John stayed quiet for a moment before continuing.
"How long?"
"All my life." Mary said slowly. "John, just try to understand…"
"She didn't have a choice…" Sam said.
"Shut up! All of you! Look, not another word or so help me, I will turn this car around." Reese stifled a laugh. Sam lightly smacked her leg.
"Wow, awkward family road trip." Dean said quietly. Reese smacked his leg that time. Dean shrugged and they continued to be quiet until they reached the safe house.
Once they arrived, they all got out of the Impala and made their trek into the house. Sam grabbed their duffel and they followed Mary in. She flipped on the lights as they entered the kitchen.
"Place has been in the family for years." She bent down and picked up the rug, revealing a devil's trap. "Devil's trap. Pure iron fixtures, of course. There should be salt and holy water in the pantry. Knives, guns." she explained.
"All that stuff will do is piss it off." Sam said.
"What'll kill it? Or slow it down, at least?" Mary asked. Reese and Dean stayed close to John, just in case he made a run for it. He was still pale and a little angry over the whole situation. Sam took a step forward and took a breath.
"Not much."
"Great." Mary laughed as she leaned against he door jam.
"Well, he said not much, but not nothing. We packed." Dean said, taking the duffel from Sam. He walked over to the table and sat the bag down. "We put this up if she comes close we beam her right off the starship." Dean said, taking out paper with the banishment sigil on it. Reese came up between them and began explaining also. John stayed behind and watched the hunters interact with the different weapons being placed before him. Reese picked up the wooden jar.
"This is holy oil. It's kind of like a devil's trap for angels." Reese handed her the bottle. Sam put his hand on Mary's shoulder.
"Come on, I'll show you how it works." Sam started out of the room and Mary followed, but not before she took a look at her husband, who looked like he could throw up at any moment. John looked away from her. Mary sighed and followed Sam. Dean and Reese continued searching the bag for weapons they could use that would do some damage. John walked up to them, now ready to join in on the fight.
"Hey, what's the deal with the thing on the paper?" he asked quietly. Dean's face became slightly annoyed. Reese knew it had something to do with his father and the subject of hunting.
"It's a sigil. That means…"
"I don't care what it means, where's it go?" John interrupted him. Dean remained quiet for a moment before Reese took over. She could tell by the way Dean was carrying himself that he was slightly annoyed and irritated.
"It goes on a door, or a wall." Reese said, placing her hand on John's shoulder. "Any flat surface will work."
"How big should I make it?" John asked her. His tone a little more relaxed with her.
"John…" Dean started.
"What?" John's tone darkened once more when he spoke to Dean. Dean took a deep breath to sue his anger. "You all might have treated me like a fool, but I am not useless. I can draw a damn, whatever it is, a sigil." Reese knew right then where Dean's temper came from. Dean was more like his father than he'd like to admit. In order to keep not only his temper in check and John from getting hurt, Reese patted Dean on the chest to stop their conversation.
"John, why don't you go help Sam out. The sigil has to be done in, um…" she thought for a moment. She didn't want to freak him out, but John also wanted them to be blunt with him. She let out a breath, "It's gotta be done in human blood. And let me tell you, it leaves a nasty scar." she said, holding up her hand to show her scars from slicing her own hands. John looked at her for a moment before reaching down to pull one of the long knives they had packed. He took off the cover and sliced his palm. Proving that he could do what ever they could too. John looked at the blood running from his hand and looked at the two hunters before him.
"So, how big?" John asked again.
"I'll show you." Dean nodded. Remembering how stubborn his father was, Dean chuckled to himself and both Reese and John looked at him like he had lost his mind.
"What?" they both asked. Dean's face slacked from him humor and he let a smirk play in his cheeks.
"All of a sudden, you really remind me of my dad." he shook his head and walked into another room, leaving John and Reese to ponder on his statement. Reese scoffed and followed him, leaving John to his thoughts.
"Dean?" she called. She found him leaning against the door jam, looking outside. "Dean?" she asked again, quietly. He didn't move. "Dean." she said again, getting his attention. He let out a sigh.
"Yeah, Reese?' he breathed. She came to stand beside him, his eyes not leaving the dark landscape.
"You wanna talk about it?" she asked, trying to reel him back in.
"No. Not really. Maybe after all of this is over." he said, standing from his leaned posture to look at her. He could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't convinced. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her brows, silently telling him what he needed to know. He sighed again. "After this is over, Reese. I'll spill." Reese smiled and uncrossed her arms.
"Good." she said as she leaned up and pecked his lips before going to find Sam and Mary. Dean stood still and laughed to himself as Reese walked off.
"What did I get myself into?" he asked himself before following her.
Meanwhile, after getting blasted half way across the planet, Anna stood in a forest not far from the Winchester's safe house. It didn't take her long to get back to where she first started. She closed her eyes and focused on her task. Within moments, she heard a quiet flap of wings behind her. "Uriel." she stated. She turned around to see a well dressed man standing behind her with his arms placed in his pockets. "You look well."
"You shouldn't have called. We're under strict orders not to come down here. Much less take a vessel." Anna remained quiet. Uriel noticed something odd about her. "You're not the Anna of now." he pointed out.
"No, but thirty years from now, I'm still your superior. I need you to kill some humans." She smirked at the angel.
"Always happy to do some smiting." Uriel smiled back. "But what's going on?"
"In the future, these people are going to kill you, Uriel." Uriel tensed at that comment. "I'm giving you the chance to kill them first."
"Thank you." he smiled, ready to take on the hunters.
Dean walked back into the kitchen to find Mary and Reese pouring holy water on the floor. Reese looked up at the sound of foot steps and gave him a smile before returning to her task. Mary looked up at him also, ready to get going with the next step.
"Okay. You said you'd explain everything when we had a minute. We have a minute." Mary told him. Her voice seething with authority. Reese stood to her feet and placed the oil back on the table. "Why does an angel want me dead?"
"Because they're dicks." Dean let out.
"Not good enough." she laughed. "I didn't even know they existed and now I'm a target?"
"It's complicated."
"Fine." Mary said, standing to her feet. "All ears."
"You're just gonna have to trust me." Dean said, Reese remained quiet. Letting them handle the situation. This was a family matter. She didn't have a dog in that race.
"I've been trusting you all day." Mary's voice got lower with anger.
"It's kind of hard to believe."
"All right then. I'm walking out the door." Before Mary could take her first step Dean stopped her with the one sentence Reese thought he would never say.
"I'm your son." Mary stopped and looked at Dean like he had just grown horns.
"What?"
"I'm your son." Dean stepped closer to her. Reese pulled a chair out from the table and took a seat. There wasn't anything she could do at this moment. "I'm sorry. I don't know how else to say it. We're from the year 2010. An angel zapped us back here. Not the one that attacked you, friendlier."
"You can't expect me to believe that." Dean nodded at her and quickly thought how he could convince her of the truth.
"Our names are Dean and Sam Winchester." Mary looked at him in shock. "We were named after your parents." Dean licked his lips and continued. "When I would get sick, you would make me tomato rice soup, because that's what your mom made you. And instead of a lullaby, you would sing 'Hey Jude'. That's your favorite Beatles song." Reese sat and listened. Tears brimming on her lids. She never knew any of that about Dean because he would never open up to her. Mary had tears of own, shaking her head in denial.
"I don't believe it." she said, still shaking her head.
"Me either." Reese said quietly. Dean looked at her and she saw his soul through his eyes. She wanted nothing more than get up and kiss the pain away.
"I'm sorry, but it's true." Dean stated. Something crossed Mary's mind and a horrified look spread across her features.
"I raised my kids to be hunters?" She asked. Dean's eyes widened.
"No, no. You didn't."
"How could I do that to you?"
"You didn't do it." Dean stepped closer. Reese stood to her feet and walked closer to the mother and son. She knew what he was about to say next. "Because you're dead." The look of shock and denial was clear on Mary's face. She took that statement quite well, and that surprised both Reese and Dean.
"What…" Mary swallowed. "What happened?"
"Yellow-eyed demon." Dean stated. Mary knew then it was because of the deal she made to bring John back to life the last time her and Dean met. "He killed you and John became a hunter to get revenge. He raised us in this life." Mary was shell shocked. Her whole world was crumbling beneath her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Dean's face turned hard as he squared his shoulders to continue. "Listen to me. A demon comes into Sam's nursery, exactly six months after he's born. November 2nd, 1983. Remember that date and whatever you do, do not go in there. You wake up that morning and you take Sam, and you run."
"That's not good enough, Dean." Sam's voice echoed through the room. Reese wiped the tears from her eyes and held onto Dean's arm for comfort. Mary still couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her children were hunters, she dies in less than ten years and she'll never watch her sons grow into the men she wishes to see. "Wherever she goes, the demon will find her. Find me." Dean remained silent, knowing that his little brother was right.
"Well, then what?" Reese asked, coming into view from behind Dean. Sam cleared his throat.
"She can leave Dad, that's what." Sam looked to Dean and then to Mary. "You gotta leave John."
"What?" Mary asked.
"When this is all over, walk away and never look back."
"So we're never born." Dean finished. "He's right." Mary and Reese both protested against the idea. Reese spoke her mind first.
"That's crazy, guys! If we succeed here, and we go back to different lives, there's still a chance I could meet you guys! But never being born? Did you even stop to think about how I would feel about this?" Reese's anger poured from her body. She was pissed, and she was going to let the boys know it.
"Reese, listen to me. This is bigger than you and me." Dean pleaded.
"Are you kidding me? I understand that this is your family. But what about me? Just gonna forget everything we've been through these past few months?"
"Reese…" Dean asked. Reese didn't let him finish before throwing a swift right hook into the side of his face before walking out of the room. Dean's head whipped around at the punch and when he righted himself, Reese was gone. He looked to his mother, wanting to get her side.
"I can't…" she whispered. "You're saying that you're my children and now you're saying…"
"You have no other choice." Sam said.
"There's a big difference between dying and never being born." Dean added.
"Okay, well, I'm not okay with this!" Mary argued. She needed to let them know it was impossible for her to leave her husband.
"Listen, if you think you can have that normal life you want so bad… but you can't. I'm sorry." Sam explained. "It's all gonna go rotten. You are gonna die and your children will be cursed." Mary shook her head. She couldn't just up and leave. She had worked too hard to get to the life she had now.
"There has to be a way." she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"No. This is the way. Leave John." Dean said, still rubbing at the spot Reese had tagged.
"I can't." Mary said sternly. Dean gulped.
"This is bigger than us. There are so many more lives at stake here."
"You don't understand. I can't!" Mary yelled, trying desperately to get Dean to see what was underneath. "It's too late. I'm… I'm pregnant." Dean and Sam's eyes widened at that statement. Mary was pregnant with Dean and now there was nothing they could do. Just as Reese came back into the kitchen after cooling down, John came running in behind her.
"Hey, we got a problem! Those blood things, the sigils, they're gone."
"Gone as in…?" Sam asked.
"I drew one on the back of the door. I turned around and when I looked again, it was a smudge." Reese turned and walked around Dean to look at the door in question. Her eyes widened when she saw that John wasn't lying.
"He's right." she confirmed.
"There's no more holy oil." Mary said. Reese came to stand by Dean once more just as the lights began to flicker. A high pitched ring blared through the hunter's ears. They covered their ears as the noise became louder. Soon, the lights completely went out and the windows exploded. Dean grabbed Reese to cover her from the glass.
The ringing stopped and the hunters retrieved their blades. The door behind Reese and Dean swung open. The hunters turned and saw an angel coming through the door way.
"Who the hell are you?" Dean asked. The angel began unbuttoning his coat sleeves.
"I'm Uriel." Dean cursed under his breath as he pulled Reese behind him. He motioned for everyone to run. Sam grabbed his mother and turned to his right to see Anna staring at them. Dean turned to his brother and shrugged.
"Here goes nothing." He swung the blade in his hand before he and Reese charged at Uriel. Sam went after Anna as John grabbed Mary to protect her. With one movement, Reese and Dean were on the ground and Anna threw Sam through the joining wall. Uriel kicked Dean in the stomach and whipped around to punch Reese. Reese hit the ground hard as Dean tried to recover from the blow. Her blade was knocked from her hand on the way down. She looked up to see it laying a few feet from her. She got to her feet and tried to retrieve it, but Uriel got to her first. He ran his fingers down her cheek and helped her to feet. He smiled at her before giving her an angelic blast through the window to the outside. The world went dark before her eyes when she hit the ground. The last thing she heard was Dean calling her name. Anna had blasted John through a window also. Sam rolled over to see Mary unprotected. He jumped to his feet and ran in front of her. Anna turned and ran to a hole in the wall behind her. She ripped a long piece of piping from it and as Sam was stalking after her, she drive the end into his stomach, causing blood to flow through the tubing.
"Sammy!" Dean called, Uriel had given him a few good punches and kicks before holding him against the counter by his throat. Dean struggled for breath and strength after seeing the woman he cared about and his little brother being beaten and killed. Sam fell to his knees, took a deep breath and then collapsed dead at Anna's feet.
Outside, Reese was waken up by a bright light and a whispering voice. She looked directly at it and she couldn't deny the warmth it was offering her. She nodded at the whisper and her body felt warm and heavy at the same time. It felt like she was being pushed back into her own mind. She could see her surroundings, but she couldn't control her movements. She watched as her body made it's way back into the house. Her eyes saw Dean being held by the throat and Sam laying in a pool of blood. Her sight moved to Anna and Mary. Anna was standing in front of Mary, getting ready to strike, to complete her mission. Then she heard her own voice.
"Anna."
Anna whipped around to see Reese standing before her. Then she quickly realized it wasn't Reese standing before her. "Michael." she gasped. Michael had gotten permission from Reese to possess her body, if he could save Sam and Dean. Michael accepted and she said yes. The very thing she was trying to get Sam and Dean not to say.
Anna looked terrified as Michael approached her. He laid Reese's hand on Anna's shoulder and watched Anna burst into a bright blue green flame. Her body burning to a crisp before collapsing into a pile of ash. Michael walked to Mary and a comforting smile on Reese's face. He then turned to see Uriel walking towards him. Reese was relived that Dean was still alive, but she couldn't quite let him know that. She knew angel's needed permission to posses a vessel but she didn't know how much strength it took to expel one. She was far too weak to expel Michael and get back to her old self. She had no choice but to let this play out.
"Michael? I didn't know…" Uriel said, shaking his head.
"Goodbye, Uriel." Michael snapped his fingers and Uriel was gone. He turned Reese's body to face Mary once more.
"What did you do to Reese?" Mary asked. Mary was scared of the woman in front of her. She was scared that her husband could be dead. Mary had never been this scared in her life. Michael crept closer to her before speaking.
"Reese is fine. John is fine. Everything will be fine."
"Who…? What are you?" she asked through clenched teeth. Michael shushed her before placing two fingers on her head and then Mary fell to the ground. Dean caught his breath and made his way into the room with Michael. Dean held back his anger as he saw Reese Nyles before him. Possessed by the angel who wanted to ride around in his meat suit.
"I'll take care of that later." he thought. He leaned against the door frame and watched as Michael came toward him.
"Well, I'd say this conversation is long overdue, wouldn't you?" Dean gulped at the sound of the voice. It sounded like Reese, but then again, it didn't. And that scared him. He held onto his ribs and pointed.
"First, you fix him. Then you get the hell out of Reese." his voice was deep and angry.
"First we talk." Michael held up his hand to stop Dean from talking. "Then I fix your darling little Sammy. And I'll let Reese go." Michael kept his voice soft. Dean looked at Michael, starting with his feet then to his eyes. His heart constricted when he looked into his eyes. The deep ocean blue staring back at him was Reese.
"How'd you get in Reese anyway?" he asked.
"I told her I could save you and Sam. And she said yes." the cockiness started to seep through his words.
"I guess they oversold me being your one and only vessel." Dean said, still holding his ribs. Michael smiled at him.
"You're my true vessel, but not my only one."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's a bloodline."
"Bloodline?" Dean was still confused. Given Reese was like family, but she had no Winchester blood flowing through her veins. If she did, it was pretty awkward to think about. The thought made Dean shiver.
"Stretching back to Cain and Abel. It's in your blood, your family's blood. Reese here was meant for you, Dean. Her blood is meant to flow with yours. A destiny, kind of thing." Michael had intensionally let that one slip on purpose. Letting Dean know that Reese meant so much more to his story than Dean wanted to admit.
"What do you mean destiny? Reese and I are supposed to be together?" Dean shook his head, still in confusion.
"Now you're finally getting it." Michael said, crossing his arms and cocking his hip, the female part of his vessel slowly easing it's way out.
"Awesome. Six degrees of Heaven Bacon. What do you want with me?" Dean asked loudly. Michael chuckled.
"You really don't know the answer to that?"
"Well, you know I ain't gonna say yes, so why are you here?" Michael stepped to Dean. "What do you want with me?" Dean asked again, demanding an answer.
"I just want you to understand what you and I have to do."
"Oh, I get it. You got beef with your brother. Well, get some therapy, pal. Don't take it out on my planet!" Michael smiled and shook his head as his wanted vessel.
"You're wrong. No, Lucifer defied our father and he betrayed me, but still, I don't want this any more than you would wanna kill Sam." Dean knew that Michael was only playing his own game. Talking softly to Dean, making it seem like he wasn't a threat. Deep down, Dean knew that he should say yes, due to the time travel trip he had early in the year, but, being a Winchester, they could be stubborn. Michael turned and walked away from Dean, looking down at his fallen brother. "You know, my brother, I practically raised him. I took care of him in a way most people could never understand and I still love him." Dean kept his eyes on Michael, not sure what the angel had planned. Michael turned to Dean once again. "But I'm going to kill him because it is right and I have to."
"Oh, because God said so?" Dean's attitude was creeping through his lips. He tried to stow it, but it was in his nature to be a smart-alec.
"Yes. From the beginning, he knew this was how it was going to end."
"And you're just gonna do whatever God says?"
"Yes, because I am a good son." Dean scoffed at that comment.
"Trust me, pal, take it from someone who knows, that is a dead-end street."
"And you think you know better than my father?" Dean took a small step back, thinking that he had made the angel angry. "One unimportant little man. What makes you think you get to choose?" Dean bit his lip. Highly irritated at all the high and mighty angels believing he can't choose for himself.
"Because I gotta believe that I can choose what I do with my 'unimportant little life'." Dean said, gritting his teeth. Michael was really starting to piss him off.
"You're wrong. You know how I know?" Dean remained quiet. Michael walked away from him again. "Think of a million random acts of chance that let John and Mary be born, to meet, to fall in love, to have the two of you. Think of the million random choices that you make and yet how each and every one of them brings you closer to your destiny. Do you know why that is? Because it's not random, it's not chance. It's a plan that is playing itself out perfectly." Michael smiled snidely. "Free will's an illusion, Dean. That's why you're going to say yes." Dean let his emotions out. Sadness, fear, loneliness all seeped through his eyes. "Oh, buck up! It could be worse. You know, unlike my brothers, I won't leave you a drooling mess when I'm done wearing you."
"But what about Reese?" Dean asked.
"Better than new! She won't remember me even being here. In fact, I'm gonna do your mom and your dad a favor." he replied, poking at Dean's chest.
"What?"
"Scrub their minds. They won't remember me or you." Realization hit Dean almost immediately.
"You can't do that."
"I'm just giving your mother what she wants. She can go back to her husband, her family."
"But she's gonna walk right into that nursery!"
"Obviously." Michael drawled on, turning from Dean again. "And you always knew that was going to play out one way or another. You can't fight city hall." Then, Dean knew he was fighting a losing battle. Michael knelt down and touched Sam's head and in a blink of an eye, he was gone. Michael stood to his feet again. "He's home. Safe and sound. Your turn." Michael reached for Dean's jacket but instead, running his fingers down his jawline. Dean clenched his jaw, wanting nothing more than to punch the angel out of Reese. "I'll see you soon, Dean." He lifted his fingers and Dean was transported home to the year 2010.
2010
Dean pulled a bottle of liquor from a brown paper bag and took a giant swig. Sam stood behind him, opening some plastic cups so he could also taste the amber liquid. Reese still hadn't made it home and neither had Cas. The boys were starting to get worried. Sam was unwrapping another cup when he looked up in the mirror to see Cas and Reese, holding on to each other to keep from falling down. "Castiel!" Sam yelled. The words made Dean turn quickly to find Cas and Reese standing in the same room as him. Sam grabbed Cas before he could fall. Dean caught Reese mid fall. He hauled her into his arms and pressed her to his chest. "I got you. I can't believe you made it!" Cas wiped his nose to see more blood on his fingers.
"We did?" he questioned. "I'm very surprised." With that, Cas passed out. Luckily Sam had a good hold on him or he would've hit the ground. Dean carried Reese to the bed while Sam followed. They both laid their friends down to rest. Dean ran his hand through Reese's hair before standing up completely.
"Well, I could use that drink now." he breathed out.
"Yeah." Sam agreed. Sam grabbed the cups and Dean the liquor. He then poured them both glasses and they sipped, watching their friends sleep.
"Well, this is it." Dean said, screwing the lid back on the bottle.
"This is what?"
"Team Free Will. One ex-blood junkie, one drop out with six bucks to his name, the hottest chick to walk the earth and Mr. Comatose over there. That's awesome." he said as he sipped.
"That's not funny." Sam said, looking down at Cas and Reese. Still in shock that they had even made it back to them.
"I'm not laughing." Sam sighed, not really wanting to drink anymore.
"They all say we'll say yes." he said.
"I know. It's getting annoying." Dean said, downing the rest of his glass. He leaned over and poured him another.
"What if they're right?"
"They're not." Sam rolled his eyes.
"I mean, why would we, either of us but I've been weak before." Sam said quietly.
"Sam…" Dean warned. He did not want to be part of his little brother's pity party.
"Michael got Reese to say yes."
"That was different. Anna was going to kill us."
"And if you could save her?" Sam questioned. "What would you say?" He knew better than to throw Reese's safety at Dean, but he also knew that was what it would take to get Dean to admit the truth. Dean remained silent. He sighed and looked down at Reese. Reese meant a lot to him. And if Michael was right, and she was meant for him, then he would probably say yes. Just to keep her safe.