Chapter 28

She debated how, or if, to tell Sam everything that had gone through her mind last night. Her resentment of being tested by the One, her anger at feeling she was failing the test; or her envy of the life Amelia Stone would have after the goddess left her body. Envy was definitely not a feeling she had ever experienced before. How did she tell him a powerful and ancient goddess cried herself to sleep because she was jealous of a young woman with a life-time of love and happiness in front of her?

She didn't. Mother Nature had decided it was time to 'pull up her big-girl panties' and start acting like the being she was. Not like some love-struck child. "I apologize for my behavior, in the car and after we got here. I appreciate your kindness last night. My behavior, in general, has been totally unprincipled. It won't happen again." She made the terse statements in a tone that left no room for discussion. She stood up from the table, grabbed a change of clothes. "I would like to clean up before we attempt to find Haley." And she disappeared into the bathroom before Sam could see the tears threatening to expose her misery.

He sat there, trying to figure out what had happened. After the ritual, he had driven to their destination feeling she could smite him any second. She had cried herself asleep in his arms. He had woken up with Amelia back to her pleasant, if subdued, self. The woman who just walked into the bathroom wasn't any of those women. He wondered about her frequent personality changes; maybe she was as crazy as the other gods he had encountered. He hoped not. He had pinned all his hopes of saving Dean on her and her plan.

He sighed as he got up from the table and grabbed his bag with Haley's information. If she wanted to forget about becoming friends and just stick to business, he could do that. He had gotten his laptop out and was looking for additional details on Haley Parks; trying to find a home address or phone, figuring she'd be home on maternity leave. He had just found a phone number and address for the only 'R & H Parks' in the Toledo-Bowling Green area, when Amelia came out of the shower.

"I tried to leave enough hot water for you to take a shower." Was all Amelia said as she sat the clothes she had been wearing on the bed. She avoided making eye contact as he got up, got some clean clothes and headed to the bathroom. She went back to the step outside the door, and sat in the morning sunshine to wait for Sam to be dressed.

Now that she was suppressing her feelings and totally focused on their quest, it occurred to her they needed some information from Apsu before they found Haley. She was assuming the girl would give Sam the milk; that she would be no different than the others and be willing to help any way she could. It was the process of collecting and applying the donations that she was unsure of. When the talisman had been created the world was a very different place. Travelling more than a few miles was considered a long trek. The ancients would have had the seven gather together and make their fluid donations all at one time. And that would mean they would be present when the ritual was performed. Did they need similar conditions? Or could Sam gather the fluids of each of the other six separately; while driving to their various locations?

Amelia heard Sam come out of the bathroom and went back inside, closing the door behind her. "Sam, we need to ask Apsu some questions before we make contact with Haley." She said without any preamble.

He looked up, surprised by her statement. "What?"

"We need to know when she should give you the milk. Could it be given to the talisman now? Or could you take it now but use it later, when we're ready? Does it have to be given at the same time as all the others? And if so, does she and the others need to be present, when the ritual is performed?" She paused to watch his reaction. He just sat at the table, and instinctively reached up and wrapped his hand around Dean's amulet.

"Oh God. We've been so focused on finding the seven people, I never thought about the logistics of this." He finally looked up at her, a desperation in his eyes she hadn't seen for four days. She wanted to wrap him in a hug and tell him it would all work out, instead she said in an impersonal tone, "Please don't lose hope, I'm still sure we can make this work." She came and sat at the table, next to him. "Let's just ask him for some details. Once we know more, we can make our plans."

He nodded and then looked down to where he was holding the amulet. That's when he noticed it was cold and quiet. "He doesn't seem very interested right now." He held the amulet out so Amelia could feel it. The second she touched it, it started humming again. "I guess he just missed you." Sam said; relief obvious in his voice. He took the necklace off to hand to her.

She stopped him and smiled back at him, half-heartedly, but it was a smile. "We will both need to be part of this." She took his hands and laced their fingers together around the amulet. Sam watched her close her eyes and take a few deep breaths. Within a few seconds there was a slight glow emanating from her hands, and it started spreading out and gaining intensity until it encompassed both of them. Sam closed his eyes as the light became too bright to see.

As soon as closed his eyes, he saw a woman and a man talking in an ancient, shaded portico. They turned and she waved for him to join them. "Sam, I'd like you to meet Apsu." The woman said in Amelia's voice, but she didn't look anything like the young woman he knew.

"Uggh" Sam had smiled and nodded at the Sumerian god; but Apsu had grabbed Sam and gave him a tight hug. "Nice to meet you." He said when the god let go of him.

Apsu smiled broadly at Sam. "I, too, am glad to meet you. Tiamat has told me very nice things about you and your brother."

Sam looked at them confused for a couple of seconds before remembering that Tiamat had been Mother Nature's name when she knew the god. He guessed this must be what she had looked like when she was also a Sumerian goddess alongside Apsu. "And she has spoken dearly of you." They both turned to look at the goddess.

She gestured to a bench and they all sat. "Apsu, we have been searching for the seven people to share their love of Dean with you; so that you may release him from Purgatory. And you can be freed from Ea's curse." She paused while he nodded his approval. She took his hands as she continued. "We are to the point we need more details of how to gather and use the fluids that are to be shared."

He furrowed his brows. "I don't understand. It is just as I told you. The seven of you share your fluids, demonstrating the love you have for this man; then you, Tiamat, say the incantation and I will free him as I free myself."

"Apsu. Much has changed since you were imprisoned. The seven are spread out over great distances." She paused briefly to see if he wanted to ask for details. "We would like to know if they must all be there to share the fluids at the same time; or may they donate them one at a time before the ritual is performed?"

"Could not Sam use the mighty chariot of his brother, to travel these great distances and collect the seven?"

"You know about the Impala?' Sam asked.

"Impala? That must be a great, magical antelope to pull a chariot at the speeds and over the distances I have felt for the last 20 years."

Sam smiled. Dean would like that description of his beloved car. He was getting ready to explain an automobile to Apsu, but Tiamat shook her head.

"Yes, Sam could do that. But what we would like to know; could he collect the donations individually? As he travels around, seeking the other six to help."

The god closed his eyes, obviously thinking about the question. "Well, I find nothing in Ea's curse or door-opening incantation that says it couldn't be done that way." Both Sam and Tiamat let out the breaths they had been holding. He smiled seeing the relief in their faces. "But," the smiles disappeared from the faces of the other two. "How would he keep them purified while going from person to person?"

"What?" Sam asked.

"They must be used in the same state as when they are given by the seven. How would you keep them from drying out and free from dirt while riding in a chariot?"

"We would just need to keep them clean and sealed, so they don't dry out, to maintain the purity?" She asked.

"Yes. Is that possible in these times?"

"I think we can manage it." Sam supplied.

They sat and questioned the trapped god for additional details; until Tiamat looked up at Sam and concern swept her face. "Apsu, we must hurry. Sam needs to get back to his corporeal body." As she spoke, Sam noticed he seemed to be disappearing; just like Marty McFly in Back to the Future.