Chapter 11
"I'm sorry." Sam's breathing was nearly back to normal and he was using his sleeve to dry the tears from his face.
Amelia wanted to tell him no apology was necessary but knew he needed to say it, so she didn't say anything. She reached up and helped dry the last of the tears. She saw his thoughts drifting away from the nightmares of a few minutes ago, to memories of his brother comforting Sam as a little boy. She also saw later memories of Dean teasing Sam for 'being such a girl'. She wanted to tell him it was okay to cry, but didn't want to infringe on a past that Sam obviously cherished. She did, however, make a mental note to give Dean a piece of her mind after they got him back.
"Are you ready for me to tell you what the incantation means?" She asked as they both moved back to their own places on the bench seat of the car. He nodded.
"Okay. Well first off, you need to remember the ancient ones who….. created the talisman didn't have the same understanding of how the human body works as now." She paused to make sure he was staying calm and following her. "They had no idea of the intricate, inter-dependent functioning of the organs, and especially no idea the brain was the control center of those activites."
Sam remembered enough ancient Egyptian history to know that was why they didn't save the brain when they mummified the dead. "To the Egyptians the heart was considered the regulator of everything. They'd save it, and the lungs, the stomach and intestines in canopic jars."
"Yes, exactly. Well, the Sumerians who molded the amulet decided there were seven vital fluids that controlled the body. And that if someone could get all seven fluids to be shared with him, he would be able to open anything, even other dimensions. The key only needs a few drops of each fluid. They wanted our little friend here", Amelia paused and reached out and took the amulet in her hand and stroked it with her thumb, "to be a savior. They would never have asked someone to die by giving all of their vital fluids."
"Okay. If no one needs to die to provide fluids, why were you afraid to tell me about this?" He paused briefly. "Is it the purification?"
"The purification is simply an ablution in running water."
"They take a shower?" Sam could tell there was still something she was avoiding telling him.
"Well, back then, it was to be a bath in a river or stream. But that might work."
He used the finger roll again. "Come on, nothing you've said so far should be a reason not to tell me everything last night."
'It's which seven fluids are required." He raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders in question.
"It's been my experience; most people are reluctant to discuss some of these bodily functions."
"Oh, for god's sake. Just spit it out."
"Exactly!" She almost shouted.
"What?'
"Spit. Spit is one of the fluids. It represents the lungs and breathing." She stated with a tone of satisfaction and a smile on her face.
"Are you telling me, we have to get seven people to spit on Dean's amulet?"
Her smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. "No. No, no, no." She was shaking her head now, frustration clearly showing. "Seven people have to share seven different fluids."
"Why do I feel like we're finally getting to the reason for your stalling?" Sam sighed as he asked.
"They are all part of the natural, biologic function of the human body. For some reason, you humans have made performing the release of most of these fluids in front of others taboo." Amelia sounded a little bit defensive.
"We've come this far, let's get this over with. Okay, spit. What are the other six?"
"Blood to represent the heart, even the ancients knew it was the pump for this vital fluid." She held up a finger. "Bile because it's involved in the digestion of food in the stomach and bowels." Another finger. "Urine, even though they didn't know of the kidney's function; they knew urine carried wastes out of the body." She started raising another finger but Sam grabbed her hand. "Tears because eyes were thought to be the windows to the inner truths, or later the soul. " She stopped and looked at Sam stoically.
"And the last two?" He asked letting go of her hand.
"The fluids representing reproduction, one from each of the sexes, semen and breast milk."
Sam just stared. He finally understood why she had been reluctant to tell him about this before. While he was processing all the information, it occurred to him he'd be the one wearing the amulet around his neck covered with the various fluids. That's when he started turning a shade of green similar to Dean's eyes. He got the door of the car open just in time to not puke all over the car's interior. It really wouldn't do for him to get Dean back just to be killed because he tossed his cookies in the Impala.
ooooooooooooooooooooooOooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooOoooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooOoooooooooooooooOooooo ooooooooooo oooooooOoooooooo
Sam asked Amelia to drive the remainder of the way to Missouri's. He said he wanted to try calling her before they drove up to her place. Amelia was pretty sure he was also having a hard time concentrating after she finally revealed what the talisman had told her. There was more he should know, but she had left out the last few details about the talisman for now. They weren't really relevant to the plan to get Dean back and Sam had enough to comprehend for one day.
He found the psychic's number had changed from the one she had given them years ago, so Sam had Amelia stop at a convenience store so he could use a phone book and fill up the car. He knew she had said Missouri was expecting them but he decided to give her a call and make sure now was a good time. Sam got her voicemail and left a message, thinking she was probably with a client. Amelia had volunteered to fill up the car and she was still holding the gas nozzle to the old Chevy when he got off the phone. He went into the store to pay for the gas and grab a couple bottles of water, and noticed they had small bouquets of flowers.
Buying something as frivolous as flowers was not something he had ever gotten used to. It had been yet another reason Jess had been so perfect for him; she didn't expect him to waste his precious few extra dollars on things like flowers. He picked out two of the small bunches of flowers; one as an offering to Missouri and one to thank, or maybe apologize to, Amelia. It had been awhile since he had fallen apart like a few minutes ago in the car, and then only in front of Dean. He knew she thought no less of him, but he wanted her to know he appreciated her kindness. At least that's what he was trying to convince himself. It DID NOT have anything to do with her kissing him.
He took the water and flowers and headed out to the car. He noticed Amelia had finished putting the gas nozzle back in place and had closed up the gas door to the Impala. Sam headed to the driver's side of the car. "How about I take over the driving?" He called as he was ducking his head into the window. Only there was no one in the car. He dropped his purchases on the seat and started scanning the area for Amelia. As he rounded the back of the car, he noticed some yellow powder near where Amelia had been standing. He didn't really need to smell the few grains on the ground; he knew sulfur when he saw it. Sam's fear and panic were starting to kick in as he searched the parking lot.
He noticed the security cameras and was heading back into the store, to look at the footage, when he saw bright lights flashing from behind a panel van on the edge of the lot. As the lights were starting to fade, Sam could see under the van as three bodies fell to the ground. He hadn't been carrying his gun but already had the demon-killing knife in his hand. Just as he neared the rear of the van Amelia stepped around the front, brushing off her clothes. She startled slightly at seeing Sam. "I'm fine, Sam"
"What happened?" Sam had tucked the knife back into his jacket and was walking toward her. "Demons?" He asked pointing under the van at the bodies lying on the ground. She didn't have time to respond before Sam noticed the store clerk coming out of the store. Sam didn't know how much had been caught on the cameras or if the guy had seen the flash of light.
"Oh my God. Did you see that? Those guys were struck by lightning. Call 911." Sam yelled at the clerk.
Amelia picked up on what Sam was trying to do, and added some special effects. With her hands behind her back, she snapped her fingers and it sounded just like thunder. For good measure, she turned her body just enough to clap her hands, and a small lightning bolt struck the empty lot across the street.
As soon as the clerk had gone back into the building, they both jumped into the car and were out of sight before the police could ask the clerk what had happened. Sam was hoping the security camera's range didn't include the far side of the lot. Amelia was a little more pro-active. She called for one more lightning strike, and hit the security/alarm control box dead on.