*Author's Note: Apparently, I've confused some of my readers with the last chapter from Dean's perspective. Yes, it was a memory, and yes he flashed from his memory of one of his skirmishes with Sam, to the present; waking from Hell, in a pine box. So he is disoriented to say the least. It was based on my own imagination and that promo shot we were given from TPTB. I had no idea how Dean was going to come back and this is how I imagined it. This, I believe is the conclusion. I don't know what anyone expects or hopes to have happen, but I have an idea and I'm sticking to it. Thanks for all the reviews and to those who simply added me, it's a boost to the morale. =) Thanks.

Chapter 7

Kenzie finally unloaded her trunk with the bags of salt she picked up from a local store, courtesy of Frank's Feed. Dropping one at the rear of Dean's car and another at Bobby's pickup, she left one for herself. If nothing else came from what they were about to do, at least she got in some weight training. She pocketed a bag of water balloons, knowing damn well, Bobby wasn't going to get a kick out of her idea, but it was better to be safe, than sorry; especially in their line of defense. Tripping up the steps to her own cottage, Kenzie cursed out loud, and threw open the door. Inside, Sam and Bobby were mulling over some papers and all was quiet; too quiet.

"Hey fellas," Kenzie huffed, "sorry it took so long, but…"

"Took long, my rear-end," Bobby grumbled, "you've been sitting in that mass grave of granite you call a driveway for over a half hour."

Sam looked up to see Kenzie's reaction and he couldn't hold back a small chuckle.

"Seriously, Kenz," Sam walked up to her and put a gangly arm around her petite frame, "we're hunters, we know when we're being spied on."

Kenzie elbowed him in the gut to which Sam exhaled a humph and she tussled his hair. Grinning from ear to ear, she teased the two men that crowded her small, already claustrophobic, living room.

"Just wanted you two to kiss and make up," she shrugged, "didn't know it'd turn into an episode of Dr. Phil."

Sam's mouth dropped into an exaggerated O and Bobby shook his head,

"Great, another smart ass," Bobby pulled on the brim of his hat.

"Speaking of smart asses," he rose from the chair, his burly mass of tans and plaids, "we doin' this or what?"

"Sam fill you in?" Kenzie asked him receiving the answer loud and clear as Bobby exited the frame of the room and had one hand on the doorknob. She exhaled I guess that's a yes, and waited on Sam to gather his things. He walked up behind her, closed the front door over, and together they made way to their designated cars. She removed the bag of water balloons and halfheartedly waved them under Sam's nose.

"Think Dean'll be in a playful mood?"

Sam shuffled his weight uneasily as he stared at the packet of rainbow colored levity that she held in her hands. His hands, however, were shoved far down into his jean pockets and his hair, a shaggy mess, fell into his crestfallen face.

"I don't know what kind of mood he'll be in," he slowly removed his hands from his pockets and Kenzie reached hers out to grasp them. Sam lifted her tiny body up, so that they were nose to nose, Eskimo kissed her, and set her down on the hood of her car. She took his head into her hands and pulled him down to her chest, where his lengthy torso was immediately halved and now eye level with Kenzie.

"Sam," she whispered, looking over his head, "whatever happens, we'll get through it."

"We aren't goin' anywhere."

"I don't know about you," Bobby hollered over the kick start of his truck's engine, "but I'm 'bout ready to head over to that field."

Kenzie tossed the bag of balloons to Bobby and countered, "First you gotta bless us some water."

"You ain't serious, girl?" Bobby eyed her with a look that could only be summarized by a countrified, Idjit.

"Serious as a heart attack," she shifted from Sam's grasp and hopped off the hood of her car. She walked to the hose on the side of her house and began to fill up a bucket. She reached into her pocket and found a string of rosaries from her mother and handed them to a sour Bobby who left his engine running and his door open.

Bobby took the rosaries and looked to Sam, remembering the last time he blessed some water that ultimately labored the advances of Lilith's swarm of demons the night they lost Dean. He began the blessing of the water by invoking a Latin phrase and dipped the rosaries in and out of the water, "In nomeni Patri et Fili Spiritus Sanct," and Kenzie crossed herself, something she hadn't done in ages. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. The water began to boil as Bobby recited the incantation for a sixth time and dropped the beads into the water, the tiny baubles sunk to the bottom of the bucket, the silver Crucifix catching the last of the light from the setting sun. "That should do it," Bobby adjusted his cap and ripped open the bags of balloons. He shook his head and thought again, handing them over to the kids. He laughed to himself, kids, they were far from it, but water balloons weren't his style. He reached into his breast pocket of his down filled jacket and removed a flask. He poured the remainder of the bitter liquid out onto the grass and dunk it into the bucket, tiny bubbles rising to the top, as it filled up. He twisted the cap back on and nodded to Sam. "I'll stick with this," he winked and walked to the car.

He watched as Sam and Kenzie began to fill up the balloons, taking time and ease, while they tied tiny knots into the latex. He reached into his glove compartment and retrieved a small bottle of whiskey. Twisted off the top and took a swig. He muttered a prayer and pointed the bottle to the sky. "If this works, yeah, well…I'll start believin' again."

Grabbing a few of the balloons, Sam and Kenzie each walked to their individual cars, looked over at one another and nodded. They didn't have to speak, because words were useless at a time like this. Kenzie already knew omitting the fact that she had seen Dean from Sam was one lie too many, promising him that they'll get through it, was a stretch, if anything. It ached her to know that Dean was only miles away but trapped. Trapped as if he couldn't leave his grave; trapped as if he didn't want to. Why were his attempts futile? They drove to the abandoned site, dark clouds were being strewn together overhead, the swirls of gray and abysmal black, circling above the very spot where Dean was standing. His eyes transfixed on the oncoming vehicles, the wind that had been blowing intensely seemed to cease altogether, creating an eerie silence and stillness. The chill in the air enveloped the three as they lowered their windows and revved their engines. Sam watched intensely at his brother who looked to each of the drivers as they turned their engines over, one after another. Dean's eyes fixed on his brother and tilted his head, as if to say, What in the hell are you doin'?

And that's when Dean noticed, the flow of white crystals, encircling him from three directions; culminating towards the northern front, Bobby's truck, Dean's car being driven by his little brother, and Lara…Dean put a hand to his head, almost slapping himself as if to say, That's who that was! A small smirk appeared on his lips, and Kenzie could have sworn he recognized her, finally. The entrapped him in a large ass circle of salt. Of course they did. He wouldn't had taken any less of a precaution if it were any of them in his shoes. They each exited their vehicles and began to slowly walk towards Dean. Sam held tightly onto the grip of Ruby's knife, his one hand behind his back. Kenzie tossed a balloon up and down in her hand, a rifle loaded with rock salt bullets, planted firmly between her shoulder blade and neck. Bobby too, held a shotgun, his two fleshy hands gripped tightly onto the barrel and neck of his precious artillery. Sam looked towards Kenzie and nodded, his order wordless. Kenzie pitched the balloon.

Dean staggered back as the balloon hit him straight between the eyes. The water dripped down his clean shaven face, not a scar, or burn mark visible. He wiped his hand and pinched his nose; shaking the water off.

"Huh," Bobby murmured, "that was pretty effective." He tapped his breast pocket where the holy water rested against his heart.

Sam revealed Ruby's knife but held its blade downward and Kenzie planted her gun into the dirt, barrel down. Dean's eyes rounded with anxiety and his lips parted, slowly. Sam inched forward and reached out to touch Dean's arm. Half expecting his fingers to eek through his flesh, Sam's breath caught in his throat, as his fingers jammed into rock, solid, flesh and bone. Dean's lips curled up slightly and a chuckle sounded from the pit of his stomach to the vast opening of his mouth.

"Really, Sammy," Dean grinned, "it's about Goddamned time."

"I about damn near lost my mind, thinkin' I was seein' things."

Sam turned to Kenzie and Bobby and they couldn't help but sigh with relief. They weren't crazy. They weren't seeing unexplained things; they were standing face to face with a miracle.