Good God, Y'all
Sam stood at the doorway of Bobby's hospital room. He sat in his wheel by the window in a teal robe and his hat. Adonia and Genna went down the hall to grab some things out of the vending machine. Dean came up and stood next to Sam with a big brown envelope.
"It's been like three days now," Dean asked. Sam sighed.
"We go to cheer him up. Maybe I'll give him a backrub," Dean added jokingly.
"Dean."
"Well, what, then?"
"Look...we might have to wrap our heads around the idea that Bobby might not just bounce back this time," Sam confessed. After a pause, the girls walked back while eating chips along the way.
"What's in the envelope," Genna asked with a mouth full of barbeque chips.
"Went to Radiology," he opened the envelope and pulled out the x-rays, "got some glamour shots." He handed them to Genna, then Sam and Adonia stood on each side to looked at them. The ribs had Enochian writing on them.
"Let's just say the doctors are baffled," Dean added.
"Holy shit," Sam commented.
"Yeah, well, Cas carved you one, too. Well, all of us," he looked at the girls with a smirk and they rolled their eyes.
"So, how does it feel to be in the big white box again," Dean asked Adonia, referring to her past occupation of being a nurse in Charlottesville. She shrugged.
"I honestly don't miss it. I didn't like them before and if I find myself in one now, it's bad news. Especially when I can call doctors out on their bullshit," she nodded her head in Bobby's direction. Sam's cell phone rang.
"Hello? Castiel? Uh...St. Martin's Hospital. Why? What are you- Cas?" He hung up. A nurse and a doctor rushed by and within a couple of seconds, Cas walked up to the group.
"Cellphone, Cas? Really," Genna joked.
"Since when do angels need to reach out and touch someone," Dean asked.
"You're hidden from angels now- all angels. I won't be able to simply-"
"Enough foreplay. Get over her and lay your damn hands on," Bobby turned his head to look at the group by the door, "Get healing. Now."
"I can't," Castiel said with guilt. Bobby looked at him, surprised. He turned his wheelchair to face them. The other hunters looked at Cas in shock.
"Say again," Bobby demanded. Cas walked into the room
"I'm cut off from heaven and much of heaven's power. Certain things I can do. Certain things I can't."
"You're telling me you lost your mojo just in time to get me stuck in this trap the rest of my life?"
"I'm sorry."
"Shove it up your ass." Bobby turned back around and stared out the window. Dean turned to Sam.
"At least he's talking now."
"I heard that," Bobby snapped back. Cas walked back to the hunters.
"I don't have much time. We need to talk.
"Okay," Dean said simply.
"Your plan to kill Lucifer."
"Yeah, you want to help?"
"No. It's foolish. It can't be done."
"Oh. Thanks for the support."
"But I believe I have the solution. There is someone besides Michael strong enough to take on Lucifer. Strong enough to stop the apocalypse."
"Who's that," Genna asked with no idea who he was referring to.
"The one who resurrected me and put you on that airplane. The one who began everything. God." Genna sighed, hoping there was a different answer. Ever since she fell, she was nowhere near the religious type. She lost all faith in God after the mishap upstairs.
"I'm gonna find God." Genna took everyone into Bobby's room and shut the door.
"God," she questioned.
"Yes."
"God."
"Yes! He isn't in heaven. He has to be somewhere."
"Try New Mexico. I hear he's on a tortilla," she joked.
"No, he's not on any flatbread." She laughed at his naiveness.
"He is out there, Genavieve."
"-or he's up and kicking and doesn't give a rat's ass about any of us." Cas glared at her. The others looked at each other, knowing they should step back, but they were too curious.
"I mean, look around you, Cas. The world is falling apart. We are literally at the end of days here and he's off somewhere kicked back and enjoying the show."
"Enough. This is not a theological issue. It's strategic. With God's help, we can win."
"It's a pipe dream, Cas." Cas advanced to her.
"I killed two angels this week. Our brothers. I'm hunted. I rebelled. And I did it, all of it, for you. Sam and Dean destroyed the world and I lost everything, for nothing. So keep your opinions to yourself." Genna looked into his angry eyes. She looked down, not knowing what to say.
"You didn't drop in just to tear us a new hole. What is it you want," Bobby chimed in. Cas' eyes were fixated on Genna's.
"I did come for something. An amulet," he looked away from her.
"An amulet? What kind?"
"Very rare, very powerful. It burns hot in God's presence. It'll help me find him."
"A God EMF," Sam asked with slight sarcasm.
"Well, I don't know what you're talking about," Bobby added.
"I know. You don't," Cas looked at Dean, then dropped his gaze to his amulet.
"What, this," Dean asked.
"May I borrow it?"
"No."
"Dean. Give it to me." Dean was silent, realizing Castiel was serious. He thought it over and took off the amulet.
"Alright, I guess." Dean fiddled with it a bit before giving it away, then handed it to Cas. Dean watched Cas as he took he favorite gift away from him that Sam gave him when they were little during Christmas.
"Don't lose it," Dean warned, "Oh, great. Now I feel naked."
"I'll be in touch," Cas said to him. Dean nodded. Cas looked past his shoulder at Genna with a hint of guilt in his eyes. She looked at him quickly then turned away. Cas disappeared.
"When you find God, tell him to send legs!" Bobby yelled.
Bobby's cell phone rang. It was Rufus. He could barely understand him. All Bobby could catch were "demons" and "River Pass, Colorado", then gunshots. The hunters hurried on their way for backup. They approached a bridge on a dirt, gravel road and half of it was torn down. The remains laid in the river. Dean turned off the car and everyone got out.
"This is the only road in or out," Dean mentioned. Adonia took out her phone.
"No signal."
"Rufus was right. Demons got this place locked down," Dean said.
"Looks like we're hiking in," Genna said, getting ready to grab her stuff.
"And the hits just keep on coming," Dean commented.
They walked into the town and it was completely empty; quiet too. All they carried on them were guns, the rest was in a dark green bag on Dean and Sam's shoulders. They looked under a flipped car in the middle of the road, but it was empty. Even the sprinklers were still active in yards. They came across an old tan car that was still running. Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" was playing loudly in the speakers. Sam reached in and turned off the car. When they continued walking, the streets were even quieter. They passed a gorgeous red Mustang in good condition. Dean whistled at it and Adonia couldn't pry her eyes away from it. It was her dream car.
"Nice to see you actually have good taste excluding that Camaro you were driving," Dean commented. She laughed.
"Shut up. I know cars too." They silenced themselves when they finally came across fresh blood between a car and a baby's stroller. They began to follow the trail of blood until they heard a gun click behind them. They cocked their guns, leveled them, and whipped around. They lowered their weapons shortly after.
"Ellen," Sam asked.
"Hello, boys and girls," she lowered her weapon and walked towards them.
"Ellen, what the heck's going on here," Dean asked. Ellen splashed him in the face with holy water and raised her gun. He closed his eyes, irritated, but understood why she did it.
"We're us," he said. She lowered her gun and walked past everyone to the nearby brick church.
There was a devil's trap drawn inside the doorway and a line of salt across the threshold. Everyone walked across with no problems. Ellen turned back to them.
"Real glad to see you boys." She said shakily. She hugged Dean, pulled back, and slapped him.
"The can of whoopass I ought to open on you."
"Ow!"
"You can't pick up a phone? What are you, allergic to giving me a peace of mind? I got to find out that you're alive from Rufus?"
"Sorry, Ellen," Dean said, rubbing his face.
"Yeah, you better be. You better put me on speed dial, kid."
"Yes ma'am." She turned to the girls.
"I won't slap you, but same goes for you." She extended her arms and hugged the girls at the same time.
"Have you called you parents," she asked Genna. Genna shook her head.
"If you count a brief conversation before we set Lucifer loose a call, then yeah. But about everything else, no. I can't bring myself to do it. I wrote a letter though. Just to let them know I was okay. I just can't handle a phone call right now." She nodded, trying to understand, but she still thought it would be best to call. Ellen knew Genna's parents. Bobby, Ellen, Rufus, and John have all helped out the Belacqua's and Salvatore's a few times in the past. Ellen gave Adonia a look. She knew she didn't really have anyone to call, so she avoided the conversation.
"What's going on, Ellen," Dean asked.
"More than I can handle alone."
"How many demons are there," Sam asked.
"Pretty much the whole town, minus the dead people and these guys." She stopped at closed door and turned back to them.
"So, this is it, right? End times?" The hunters glance at each other.
"It's got to be," she added.
"Seems like it," Adonia commented. Ellen knocked on the door.
"It's me." The peep hole in the door shifted to reveal an eye and the door was opened shortly after. An attractive man, around the age of 26 opened the door with a shotgun. They walk in to a white and red tiled floor with worried civilians pacing on it or sitting at the floral covered table. There weren't many of them. Some older, some their age, one of them was pregnant.
"This is Sam, Dean, Addie, and Genna. They're hunters, here to help," Ellen introduced them.
"You guys hop to this whole demon thing," the doorman asked. His name was Austin.
"Yeah. Are you," Dean asked.
"My wife's eyes turned black. She came at me with a brick. Kind of makes you embrace the paranormal," an older man in a suit said. He was about 43, good looking for his age.
"Alright. Catch us up," Genna said to Ellen.
"I doubt I know much more than you. Rufus called. Said he was in town investigating omens. All of a sudden, the whole town was possessed. Me and Jo were nearby—"
"You're hunting with Jo," Adonia questioned, knowing how protective Ellen was of her.
"Yeah, for a while now. We got here, and the place—well, the place was like you see it. Couldn't find Rufus, then me and Jo got separated. I was out looking when I found you."
"Don't worry. We'll find her," Dean assured her.
"Either way, these people cannot just sit here," Sam protested, "We got to get them out now."
"No, it's not that easy. I've been trying. We already made a run for it once."
"What happened?"
"There used to be twenty of us." The hunters looked around the room. Excluding them, there were ten left.
"Well, there's five of us now-" Ellen interrupted Dean.
"You don't know what it's like out there. Demons are everywhere. We won't be able to cover everybody."
"What if we get everyone guns," Sam asked.
"What, are you gonna arm up baby bump over here," Dean asked, pointing out the nervous pregnant woman.
"More salt we can fire at once, more demons we can keep away."
"There's a sporting goods store we passed on Main on the way in. I bet they got guns," Genna mentioned. Sam and Dean drop their bags.
"Alright. You stay. We'll go," Sam suggested, talking to Ellen.
"What about-" Ellen began to ask about her daughter.
"If Jo and Rufus are out there, we'll bring them back," Adonia told her. Austin took the wooden plank out of the door handles and let the hunters out. He gave Adonia a look in passing.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Why don't I just go," Dean asked.
"What? Alone," Sam asked.
"Well, yeah. Somebody's got to stay here and start giving them Shotgun 101."
"Yeah, Ellen." Sam goes upstairs, but Dean reaches out to stop him.
"No, no, no. It's gonna go a lot faster if you stay and help, okay?"
"While you go get guns and salt and look for Jo and Rufus? That's stupid."
"I can handle it."
"You're right, but I'm going with you then," Genna said. Sam thought about it.
"You don't want me going out there."
"I didn't say that."
"Around demons."
"I didn't say that."
"Fine, then let's go."
The hunters come back fully prepared. Sam had an encounter with two demons while he got the salt from Quick Mart. He killed them with the knife with little struggle. He saw the demon blood and temptation went through his mind, but the others found him before he had a taste. When they came back, everyone had a gun and the hunters went around to help everyone. Sam helped the pregnant woman and her husband, Ellen helped Roger (the man who lost his wife), Genna helped the priest along with the younger civilians, Dean helped the older men, and Adonia helped Austin. Adonia set the butt of a rifle on the table and faces Austin.
"You know your way around a gun at all?" He looked at her and took the gun. He expertly disassembled it. She smirked and nodded, impressed. He laid the gun on the table and put his hands in his pockets with a smirk on his face.
"Where'd you serve," she asked.
"Fallujah – two tours. Got back a little over a year ago. Takes one to know one. Where'd you serve?" She laughed slightly.
"I didn't. My dad did when I was little. His friends that served with him came over a lot for dinners. It's always been easy to spot a soldier."
"Military dad. Must not have been easy." She shrugged.
"Made me like so much more," she said with a smile. He smiled and blushed slightly. Dean walked over to Sam, who was now sitting on the edge of the short stage. He sat down next to him. Sam was watching the nearby table with Adonia and Austin talking by it. He couldn't hear what they were talking about but there were a lot of smiles and laughter.
"Hey," Dean said as he sat down.
"Hey."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just...at the store. Those demons were possessing teenagers. I mean, I had to slit some kid's throat."
"Come on, Sam, you had to."
"I know. I just...it used to be like... I just wish I could save people like I used to." He looked back up at Adonia, who seemed happy for once.
"What, you mean when you were all hopped up on demon blood?"
"I didn't say that." Dean noticed Sam's continuous glance and scoffed with a slight laugh.
"You sure this isn't about the way things used to be between you two? Saving people, when everything was somewhat normal and Addie had the hots for you?" Sam looked down.
"Come on, Sam. What did you expect? You keep the girl waiting for nearly 5 years, this was bound to happen eventually. Surprised it didn't happen sooner," he commented looking her over. Sam gave him a look.
"Sorry," Dean said.
"I'll be back," Ellen said in front of them.
"Where are you going," Dean asked.
"I can't sit here on my ass. My daughter's out there somewhere. I'm not back in a half an hour, go. Get these people out of here." Dean and Sam stand up. Genna and Adonia notice the little conference and join them.
"No, wait. I'll go with you," Sam insisted.
"Whoa, hold on. Can I talk to you for a second," Adonia asked. Adonia and Sam leave the room.
"You're going to go out there again," she asked in disbelief.
"Well, shit doesn't hit the fan with coffee breaks," he said.
"I'll go," she insisted.
"It's fine. Just stay here. Get 'em ready. I'll cover Ellen."
"Why does it have to be you?"
"Oh, that's right. I forgot. You think I'll take one look at a demon and suddenly fall off the wagon, as if, after everything, I haven't learned my lesson."
"Well, have you?" Sam punched the wall. With the door still open, Ellen and the hunters looked over in curiosity.
"If you actually think I-" Adonia stood there, unafraid. Sam was about to leave but she grabbed his arm.
"Sam, wait," he came back hesitantly and looked at her.
"I'm on your side, remember? I'm trying to trust you again, I am. It's just after what happened at the store, I didn't think it would be a good idea." She studied the look on his face. He was hiding something.
"What else is wrong? This anger is built up from something else." He looked into the room and back at her.
"It's nothing. You should probably go back to Austin." He left her standing in the hall, confused. She scoffed in disbelief. She went straight to Ellen and volunteered to join her.
It was still daytime. The sprinklers were still going.
"So, where did you see her last," Adonia asked.
"Up ahead. So what's up with you and Sam," Ellen asked without skipping a beat. Adonia looked over and then back.
"It was hard not to notice, how different things are between all of you these days." Adonia stayed silent.
"Lot of bad road there, huh? What happened? Some other girl come between you or something?"
"Just...stresses of the job. You know how it is. Kind of surprised, you and Jo hunting. Weren't you always saying she couldn't handle the life," Adonia asked, changing the subject.
"She can't. But if she's gonna do it anyway-"
"You want to keep an eye on her." Adonia looked down the street; smoke rose from behind trees. She got Ellen's attention and pointed it out.
"Is that a chimney going?"
"Looks like it. Come on," Adonia lead the way. They approached a house with smoke coming from the chimney. They hid behind another building and peered around the corner; visible inside the house was a black-eyed demon.
"Guess we found base camp," Ellen pointed out.
"Demons don't get cold. Makes you wonder what they're burning," Adonia pointed out. Suddenly, Ellen was grabbed from behind and screamed. A man grabbed her and another grabbed Adonia.
"Don't move, you evil skank," Jo exclaimed with a gun pointing at her mother. Adonia struggled with the demon, but he grabbed the shotgun from her, hit her in the stomach then chin with the butt of the gun. Adonia grabbed hold of the shotgun in unison with the demon and threw him against the wall. The other demon ran over to help, but Adonia hit him with the gun before he could grab her. Jo fought with Ellen next to them.
"Don't you hurt her. Don't you-"
"Give me my mom back, you black-eyed bitch!" Ellen looked at her, confused, then proceeded to fight. Adonia knocked out both demons.
"Ellen, run," she exclaimed as she held them at gun point. But she was hit on the back of the head and fell to the ground. Ellen took off running. Adonia rolled over to look at her attacker. It was Rufus.
"Got you now, you bitch." Adonia blacked out.
Adonia woke up, tied to a chair. She was in the same room as the fireplace, bright lights shining on her face. Rufus and Jo stood before her with mean faces. Adonia struggled to get loose.
"Uhn, uhn. No way you're getting out of those. Did you up myself. You're stuck right where I want you," Rufus leaned in to look at her closely with black eyes, "You evil son of a bitch." Adonia looked at him, confused. He slapped her, causing her head to turn away and she grunted. Jo unscrewed the top of a large container and splashed water on her. Holy water. Everyone was confused, but Rufus looked angrier. He walked over and grabbed her by the throat.
"No, no. Just-just wait," she begged. Rufus poured rock salt into her mouth as Jo held her head back. It almost made her vomit. Rufus began chanting.
"Exorcisamus te, exorcisamus te, omnis satanica—"
"Stop!"
"-omnis immundum-"
"Please!"
Genna paced the floor anxiously. Dean and Sam talked to each other while waiting. Someone pounded on the door. Everyone was startled. Dean opened the peephole, moved the plank and opened the door. Ellen came in, alone.
"Where's Addie," Genna asked. Ellen shook her head and sat down next to a young woman, who passed her a bottle of water.
"They took her? Demons took her? Oh my God. What if they're in here? The demons," the young woman asked, panicking.
"Could they get in," the pastor asked.
"No," Dean said. Genna grabbed a shotgun and headed for the door.
"Everybody sit tight. I got to-" Genna stopped with her hand on the doorknob and looked back. She grimaced and came back to the table where everyone else was depending on the hunters.
"Okay, we need to get a plan together. Tell me everything."
Jo continued to hold Adonia's head while Rufus poured salt on her.
"Please! Come on!"
"-omnis immundus-" Nothing happened, so Rufus stopped. Jo let go of her to pick up the water jug.
"Look! Something's not right! Don't you see that," Adonia asked. Jo splashed water in her face. Adonia spit out of a mouthful of water.
"Come on! Stop! Listen to me!" Jo was blocking Adonia's line of sight to the open door. When Jo went to grab something else, Adonia saw Roger just outside the door. Roger turned the ring on his right hand. She looked around and up. She was sitting directly under an elaborate devil's trap.
"Listen!" Jo and Rufus huddle in the corner.
"Why isn't it working," Jo asked.
"I don't know." Rufus looked over his shoulder at Adonia, who is now the one who is black-eyed. Their eyes appeared to be normal in their sight.
"Look, listen to me. Something's not right!"
"But she's not as strong as she thinks she is."
"You can see that. Please. Please. Just listen to me," she begged.
Ellen sat at the table with Genna, Dean, and Sam.
"One of them's in Jo. We got to get it out without hurting her," Ellen scoffed, "it called me a bitch.
"Bruise a little easy, don't you think," Dean asked.
"No, that's not what I meant. It called me a black-eyed bitch." Everyone thought about it.
"What kind of demons are these? Holy water and salt roll right off. My daughter may be an idiot, but she's not stupid. She wears an anti-possession charm. It's all kind of weird, right?"
"The whole thing's off," Genna commented.
"What's your instinct?"
"My instinct? My instinct is to call Bobby and ask for help... or either of you," Genna said.
"Well, tough. All you got's us, and all I got's you. So let's figure it out."
"Alright." Ellen smiled.
"Do you know why Rufus came to town? Was there a specific omen?"
"He said something about water. That's all I know."
"Padre, you know what she's talking about – the water," Dean asked.
"The river. Ran polluted all of a sudden."
"When?"
"Last Wednesday. And the demon thing started up the next day," Austin pointed out.
"Anything else? Anything," Sam asked.
"Maybe, but it's pretty random."
"Good. Random's good," Genna said eagerly.
"Shooting star, does that count?" The hunters look at each other.
"Real big. Same night. Wednesday."
"That definitely counts," Genna said. She stood up and went to the bookshelf. She brought a Bible back to the table and searched through it.
"So, uh, you think that all this comes from outer space," Austin asked.
"This isn't X-Files, pal," Sam said with an attitude. Genna found the passage she wanted and read it out loud.
"'And there fell a great star from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell upon the river, and the name of the star was Wormwood. And many men died.'"
"Revelation 8:10. Are you saying that this is about the apocalypse," the pastor asked.
"You could say. And these specific omens, they're prelude to what," Dean asked, reading over her shoulder.
"The Four Horsemen," Genna answered.
"And which one rides the red horse?"
"War."
"That cherry Mustang parked on Main," Sam pointed out. Ellen nodded.
"You can't think that a car-" The pastor began to say.
"It's the way I'd roll. I mean, think about it. It all makes sense. If War is a dude and he's here, maybe he's messing with our heads," Dean said.
"Turning us on each other," Genna added, "You said Jo called you a black-eyed bitch. They think we're demons, we think they're demons. What if there are no demons at all and we're all just killing each other?"
"Wait, just back up. It's the apocalypse," the pastor asked.
"Sorry, Padre," Dean said.
Adonia was alone in the room, still tied to the chair. Roger came in.
"Who the hell are you?" Roger gave a smug look and took off his glasses.
"What are you?"
"You caught me. Popped in to watch. I can hustle like that."
"So, the Roger everyone around here knows, the real Roger?"
"Buried in a ditch." Adonia rolled her eyes and nodded. Roger closed the door, moved another chair in front of her and sat down.
"So, who are you?"
"Here's a hint. I was in Germany. Then in Germany. Then in the Middle East. I was in Darfur when my beeper went off. I'm waiting to hook up with my siblings. I've got three. We're going to have so much fun together." Adonia scoffed under her breath in realization.
"I know who you are. There aren't any demons in town, are there?"
"Nope. Just frightened people ripping each other's throats out. I really haven't had to do too much. Take out a bridge here, lay in a little hallucination there, sit back, pop some corn, watch the show. Frankly, you're really vicious little animals, Adonia."
"No. You're doing this."
"Please. Last week, this was Mayberry. Now these people are stabbing each other's children."
"'Cause you made them see demons!"
"Honestly, people don't need a reason to kill each other. I mean, you seen the Irish? They're all Irish," Adonia rolled her eyes, "You think i'm a monster. I'm jello shots at a party. I just remove inhibitions."
"I'm gonna kill you myself." War laughed.
"Oh, that's adorable, considering you're my poster girl."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You can't stop thinking about it. Ever since Azazel tucked you away in Frontierland. Never got any real answers as to why you were there. Sure you're a witch and have psychic powers, but you're not the only one. Why were you chosen? You're special."
"You're wrong."
"Save your protests for your friends. I can see inside your head. And man, it is one-track city in there. Power, power, power. Lust for power. Same as always. You want to be strong again. Like when you ran away. But not just strong. Stronger than everybody. Good intentions – quick slide to the dark side, baby doll. You feel bad now? Wait til you're thigh deep in warm corpses. Because, my friend, I'm just getting started." War stood up and put his glasses back on.
"Showtime for the meatsuits. Watch this." War twisted his ring. Blood flowed down his forehead. He kicked over his chair, dropped to the floor, and screamed. Rufus kicked the door open, Jo right behind him. War looked up at them.
"She did it!"
"No!" To Rufus and Jo, Adonia still looked black-eyed.
"She said they're coming! She said they're coming to get us!"
"No, stop! Jo, Rufus, he's lying! No!"
"You shut your mouth," Rufus exclaimed.
"Please! Jo! He's lying!" Rufus backhanded Adonia.
"So, now you're saying that there are no demons and War is a guy," Austin said walking back and forth.
"You believed crazy before," Sam said. Someone pounded on the door.
"Open up! It's Roger!" Austin checked the peephole and let War in. He was breathing hard, as if he's been running.
"I saw them, the demons. They know we're trying to leave. They said they're gonna pick us off one by one."
"Wait, wait, wait. What," Genna asked.
"I thought you said there were no demons," Austin noted.
"There's not. Where did you go?"
"I thought someone should go out and see what's going on!"
"Where did you see the demons and what did they say exactly," Sam asked.
"We just sit here, we're going to be dead," Austin said, getting anxious.
"No, we're not," Dean yelled.
"They're gonna kill us unless we kill them first," War lied.
"Hold on. Hold on," Genna said trying to get the attention again.
"No, we got people to protect. Alright, the able-bodied go hunt some demons." Austin picked up a shotgun and handed to a young man.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow your roll. This is not a demon thing," Dean said. War held up his right hand, twisted his ring, then pointed at the hunters.
"Look at their eyes! They're demons!" People gasped or raised their guns.
"Go, go," Dean yelled. They all made a run for it. Austin fired his shotgun and hit the door. War watched, triumphant.
Jo and Rufus loaded their shotguns. An explosion caused them to duck. They looked at each other, then readied their guns to go have a look. The front room of the house was devastated and empty. Rufus peered through the windows. Someone grabbed Rufus and pulled him through the window. Jo called out for him, but someone else grabbed her from behind. Dean slammed Rufus to the ground. Jo and Ellen fought.
"Now you listen up, Joanna Beth Harvelle," her mother warned. Dean hauled Rufus up and slammed him against the wall. Sam and Genna kept watch.
"Listen to me. I'm not a demon. Think, Rufus. All those omens.
"You go to hell." Dean and Rufus fought until Dean could hold Rufus steady again.
"Rufus! The polluted water, the shooting star, the red Mustang – it's War. I'm telling you, it's War."
"You're damn right it is." After a struggle, Dean tackled him.
"The Horseman!"
"Horseman?"
"Yes. He's turning us against each other. You're hallucinating." The black faded from Dean's eyes.
"The Horseman. War."
"Yes."
"Did you figure this out all by yourself, genius?"
Dean and Rufus bursted inside. Ellen turned and leveled a shotgun.
"Whoa, whoa," Dean called out.
"We all on the same page," she asked. They nodded. Sam and Genna followed.
"Hi, Jo," Dean said. Although subtle reaction, he was happy to see her.
"Hey."
"Okay...we got to find War before everybody in this town kills each other," Sam said. Gunshots were fired outside. Everyone ducked. Austin along with a couple other civilians were outside shooting down the house.
"Dammit! Where's Addie," Genna asked.
"Upstairs," Rufus said. Everyone split up.
Adonia was alone. The door opened; it was Genna.
"Gen. It's not demons," she warned.
"It's War," they said in unison.
"I just can't figure out how he's doing it," Genna said, while cutting her best friend free.
"The ring," Adonia clarified.
"The ring. The ring – that's right. He turned it right before he made everybody hallucinate and go crazy on us." Genna rushed to get them out.
"Right."
"We got to move. Come on." She helped Adonia up and they ran out the door. Rufus warned everyone to stop shooting at each other. One shot and the pastor was down. A young woman ran after him. Ellen ran after her to keep her from getting shot.
"I'm not what you think, honey. Come on, keep this right here," she held the woman's hand on his wound to keep pressure on it. The same man was ready to shoot, but Rufus took his gun away.
"'Stop firing' usually means 'stop firing'."
Adonia found Ellen and stayed with the pastor and woman while Ellen went to help Jo. Austin grabbed Adonia and threw her down, aiming at her face. She appeared black-eyed. He hesitated, but pulled the trigger; out of bullets. Adonia grabbed the gun; Austin pulled a knife. Both drop the gun in favor of struggling over the knife. He sat on top of her while forcing the knife close to her throat.
Sam and Dean found War walking to his car. They grabbed him and held him back while Genna stood before him. She took out Ruby's knife.
"Who. That's a sweet little knife," he said sarcastically, "but come on. You can't kill War, kiddos."
"Oh, we know," Dean said. Genna drew the knife forward and cut off his finger that held his ring. He screamed in pain.
When the finger fell to the floor, the magic wore off. Adonia's eyes turned back to her shade of emerald and Austin stopped. He felt guilty, got off of her, and helped her up. The young man that shot the pastor realized what he had done and buried his head in his hands.
Genna picked up the ring, but the Mustang and War had disappeared.
The hunters sat at an old wooden picnic table on a clear, sunny day. Nothing put mountains and mounds of pine trees in the background. Dean held up War's golden ring and felt it between his fingers.
"So, pit stop at Mount Doom," he asked. Everyone was silent.
"Addie-"
"Sam, let's not."
"No, listen. This is important. I know you don't trust me," Adonia looked for a moment and back at him.
"Just, now I realize something. I don't trust me either, but you're trying to trust me again. I over reacted back there and I'm sorry." Genna and Dean looked at them, waiting. Adonia sighed.
"I need to tell you guys something while it's quiet for a change." They looked at her with their full attention.
"From the minute Azazel took Sam and I years ago, only thought in my head...and I tell myself it's nothing to worry about, I'm bait, and I started to believe it. But now I think...underneath, that I may be as messed up as Sam. No offense. I know how messed up that sounds, which means I know how messed up I am. Thing is, the problem's not that I'm a witch or a liability, not really. I mean, I, what I did, after Dean went to hell...you wouldn't believe. I don't believe it. I keep yelling at Sam for all he's done, but I'm the problem too. How far I'll go... There's something in me that...scares the hell out of me. In the last couple of days, I caught another glimpse..."
"What are you saying," Genna asked, scared out of her mind.
"I'm in no shape to be hunting. I need to step back, because I'm dangerous. Maybe it's best we just...go our separate ways." Genna thought for a moment.
"Well, I think you're right."
"I was expecting a fight," Adonia said, surprised.
"The truth is, I spend more time worrying about you than about doing anything right. And I just, I don't think it's my job, you know? Not now." Adonia nodded.
"I don't understand," Sam said. Adonia looked at him.
"I don't either, but I want to find out. I'm a hypocrite, Sam. I mean, I haven't sucked on demon blood, but I'm not perfect either. I'm not proud of what I've done. I'm not ready to talk about it, but I just want you to understand that I'm trying and I don't want any of you to worry. I'm sorry."
"I know you are, Addie," Genna said. Adonia moved to stand up.
"Hey, do you, uh, wanna take the Impala," Dean offered.
"It's okay," Adonia stood up, took a few steps, and turned back.
"Take care of yourselves." They all nodded. She walked to the Impala to grab her bag. Sam looked at the table, then stood.
"Addie, wait." She turned around and walked towards her. When he reached her, he gently grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her. She was surprised at first, but practically melted into the situation and grabbed his face to extend the kiss. When they pulled away, he looked at her, then pulled her into a hug. Their hearts were pounding. He let her go. Dean and Genna didn't bother hiding their smiles. Adonia proceeded to grab her bag and walked over to the pickup truck parked nearby. She said something to the driver and got in the passenger side. The truck drove off and the hunters watched her go.