Chapter 25
The quartet landed with a crash in the January snow of long ago. Cas, who'd never been sent back by anyone but himself, would have fallen on the ice if a prepared Dean hadn't stood by to catch him. Even now Cas wasn't so used to the whole human thing.
"I've never been into Lawrence herself before. You'll have to lead from here," Charlie reminded them. She could have found her way, but this was their hometown, their home. It wasn't up to Charlie to lead Sam and Dean home.
"You okay?" Sam asked remembering how unsteady she'd been last time they time traveled.
"Yeah," she told them face taut with confusion, "Actually I've never felt better. That can't be good." Only in the life of a Winchester could feeling good be bad.
"We're on the wrong side of town," Dean told them recognizing his elementary school. "Give me a second I'll hotwire that car."
"When a girl says she wants a car for her sweet 16 she doesn't imagine having to steal it," Charlie joked as she used her powers to bring the car roaring to life. "I'll meet you there." Charlie disappeared with a pop and a startled Sam looked to the others as he spoke.
"I'd actually forgotten she could do that. Why didn't she just go to the church herself and then come pick us up?" No one needed to answer him. They all knew. Charlie just didn't want to be alone.
Everyone knew something was up when Charlie appeared just to have gotten there a half hour later when those who couldn't teleport arrived. Still, they'd decided they had no choice but trust Charlie and if she wanted to talk… she wouldn't shut up.
Dean, who Mary knew best, led the charge up to his door, knocking cautiously a young John opened the door.
"I remember you!" he exclaimed shaking Dean's hand, "You and Sam are Mary's cousins right? It's so nice of you to check up on her. To be honest I think you might be the only family she's got left."
"John. Who is it?" Mary asked waddling towards her husband. When she saw Dean her lips retracted into a pursed position and she addressed her husband," Why don't you give us a second."
"Mary. Let them inside. You should be resting," John fretted.
"I'll just be a minute," she told him firmly. With a shrug he back away from the door and left them alone.
"Mary I know this is a really bad time," Dean began looking down at his mother… and himself.
"No. The first time we met my parents and John end up killed by a yellow eyed demon. Then you bring you hunter buddy Sam and…" Mary trailed off as she tried to remember what Michael erased, "And then I end up with absolutely no memory passed dinner. I don't think I even want to know what happened. My son will be born any day now and this will NEVER be his life. Now leave and don't come back."
"Mary listen. You're in danger," Sam told her but she'd hear nothing of it.
"Go and take you're…. Alice?" Mary noticed Cas and Charlie for the first time. "Alice? Is that you?"
Charlie stepped forward a tear welling in the corner of her eye. "No. I'm not your sister. I… I'm your niece."
"That's not possible! My sister has been dead for years an even if she somehow survived you're far too old to be her daughter."
"It's true," Charlie assured her, "I'm Alice's daughter, Mary Campbell. She named me after you. We're from the future. These are my half brothers Sam, Dean, and our friend Cas."
"Time travel?" Mary repeated dubiously, "That's not possible.. but I guess in the future it is and you can just come back to before it was. Ha! Everyone in the future must have a police box."
This time only the Campbells understood the reference so Charlie made a mental note that if she survived this she would show her brothers that the TV could be used for more than porn.
"Mary. I know you have no reason to believe us. I wouldn't believe us. Yet, Look into my eyes. They're your sister's eyes and they're not lying. You and your child are in danger. If you won't let us help you then you and your son will die before he's even born, tomorrow."
"Who… Why? Why would anyone want to kill me?" Mary asked. Dean couldn't remember ever seeing his mom cry and all he wanted to do was embrace her. Still he couldn't. They were already walking the tight rope telling Mary they were from the future. If she learnt that Sam and Dean were her children it would destroy her. She'd know she was going to die and her children would become hunters everything she never wanted. Even if she knew what would happen it would still happen. Unless you're an angel time doesn't change. Dean, as much as he hated the truth, understood that now.
"Because of this little guy in there," Charlie told her dead aunt gently placing her hand on her unborn big brother.
"What! What will he do?" Mary asked holding him in a protective embrace.
"Save the world." Leave it to a teenage girl and a pregnant woman to get emotional. "He's gonna save the world and over 7 billion people for those he cares about.
"What will he be president?" Mary joked causing Dean to snort with laughter.
"Something like that," Dean told her smiling at the ridiculous notion," Something like that.
Mary stood silent before opening the door and allowing Cas and her family inside. "I'll take care of John. Once he's gone we can talk." When Mary spoke it was clear she spoke to Charlie alone even if they all could hear her words. "John, honey, can you run to the store? I don't have enough food for six and these boys, Dean especially, look like they're as ravenous as our son."
This time none of the future gang could hold their laughter inside.
