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It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester, Part 2
Halloween
Dean sat in the front seat of the impala, tossing yet another candy wrapper into the huge pile in the passenger seat. He inhaled, clutching his stomach.
"I told you not to eat so many. It's really bad for your digestive system… especially all those chewy caramel ones," Rachel grimaced from the back seat. Dean glared at her before his phone rang. He fondled his jacket pockets awkwardly before finally whipping out his cell and answering.
"Hey," Dean greeted, pressing the speaker button so Rachel could hear. She shoved the wrappers onto the floor and climbed into the passenger seat.
"How's it going?" Sam asked through the speaker as Dean threw up his hands in annoyance of the mess Rachel had made.
"Awesome. Yeah, we talked with Mrs. Razor Blade again. We've been sitting out in front of her house for hours and we've got a big steamy pile of nothing," Dean complained.
"Not to mention candy wrappers," Rachel muttered and Dean rolled his eyes.
"Look, Dean, someone planted those hex bags, someone with access to both houses. There's gotta be a connection," Sam explained.
"I already told you guys it's the blonde. Or the teacher, I don't remember which one had the connection," Lee called from behind Sam.
"Yeah, well we still have to make sure we have the right people before we just run in guns blazing. Maybe in Your world they were the witches, but we don't know—"Sam was interrupted.
"Yes, we do know, and if you'd just listen instead of being super cautious about everything—"Dean and Rachel heard Lee's muffled voice from over the speaker.
"Okay, Okay! Calm down. It doesn't hurt to be a little precautious. Sam's right," Rachel cut in.
"Yeah well I hope we find him soon 'cause I'm starting to cramp like a—son of a bitch," Dean noticed something out the window.
Rachel grabbed Dean's arm instinctively, ducking low.
"Quit whining," Sam told him over the phone.
"No, Sam, he means 'son of a bitch,'" Rachel said into the speaker.
"The blonde… she's here! She's the babysitter," Rachel told them eagerly over the phone.
…
Dean flung his keys onto the table as he and Rachel entered. Lee had fallen asleep at the foot of Sam's bed, and the suede purple blanket was draped over her. When Dean slammed the door shut, however, she awoke abruptly, flinging the blanket off of her and tumbling to the floor.
"Ow," she muttered, pulling herself up and plopping down next to Sam, who chuckled softly.
"You okay?" he asked her.
"I'm fine." She grumbled. Rachel patted her shoulder lightly before sitting on the other bed.
"So? Our apple-bobbing cheerleader?" Sam asked Dean.
"Tracy? The Wallace's babysitter. Hate to say it, but you were right, Lee." Dean confirmed.
"She told me she'd never even heard of Luke Wallace." He said, shrugging out of his jacket.
"Huh. Interesting look for a centuries-old witch," Sam pondered.
"Yeah, well if you were a 600 year-old hag and you could pick any costume to come back in, wouldn't you go for a hot cheerleader?" Dean offered, sitting on the opposite bed next to Rachel.
"I would," Rachel admitted, at the same time as Dean.
Sam looked at them, eyebrows raised.
"What?!" Rachel shrugged, fist-bumping Dean. "Mmm," Dean grunted, lost in thought.
"Well, Tracy's not as wholesome as she looks." Sam sighed.
"Apparently she got into a violent altercation with one of her teachers, got suspended from school," Sam told Dean, handing him his laptop.
Lee sat up straighter, grabbing Sam's shoulder. He turned to look at her as she met his eyes eagerly.
"That's him. That's the teacher guy… her brother," Lee explained.
Sam nodded, and the brothers shared a look.
"Alright, you two stay here, Sam and I'll go check out the school," Dean instructed.
"What! I want to come!" Lee protested, going to stand. But Sam put his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her down.
"No. Get some rest. You're obviously tired—you practically fell asleep on top of me," Sam reminded her.
Lee sighed in defeat. "Fine." She agreed, and soon after changing into their FBI gear, the boys drove off.
"Hey, Lee?" Rachel asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," Lee answered.
"Any luck on that whole angel-proofed mind thing?" Rachel quietly added.
Lee sighed. "No, Rache, I'm sorry… I've just been so caught up with this Samhain case I almost forgot. It's just—we can't let this guy get loose. If he does—"she shook her head.
"All Hell breaks loose… literally? I get it, Lee. Besides, it's not your problem, it's mine," Rachel said, turning to walk to the next room.
"Hey…." Lee called after her.
Rachel turned.
"We're in this together. You know that. That means your problems are my problems, okay?" Lee asked.
Rachel nodded.
Lee exhaled, flinging herself back onto the pillows. They smelled like Sam, and she burrowed under the blankets, clutching a pillow to her chest.
…
Sam and Dean opened the door to the motel, and Sam immediately drew his gun, aiming at the stranger inside. "Who are you?!" He demanded.
"Sam, Wait! It's Castiel…the angel" Dean answered.
Lee stood in the corner of the hotel, arms crossed, while Rachel sat at the table, staring at her hands.
"Well, nice of you to join our joyous reunion," Lee sarcastically drawled.
"What the Hell, why didn't you call?" Dean asked, walking over to her.
"Apparently he doesn't like phones," she told Dean angrily, glaring at the other man at the room, who stood staring out the window.
"Him I don't know," Dean told Sam.
Castiel rose, walking over to the boys.
"Hello, Sam." He greeted.
"Oh my God. Er, uh, I didn't mean to—sorry," Sam stuttered.
"It's an honor, really. I-I've heard a lot about you," Sam said, holding out his hand.
Dean went to close the door as Cas shook Sam's hand.
"And I, you," Cas uttered.
"Sam Winchester—The boy with the demon blood," Cas enveloped Sam's hand in his.
"Glad to hear you've ceased your extracurricular activities." Castiel added, and the boyish gleam in Sam's eyes faded.
"Let's keep it that way," The man in the corner grumbled in a deep voice.
Lee's lip curled in hatred.
Dean noticed her expression worriedly.
"Yeah, okay, Chuckles," he said to the mysterious man.
"Who's your friend?" he asked Cas.
"The raising of Samhain—have you stopped it?" Cas asked Sam.
"Why?" Dean asked.
"Dean, have you located the witch?" Cas pressed.
"Yes, we've located the witch."Dean answered, annoyed.
"And is the witch dead?" Cas asked.
"No, but—"Sam began, still heartbroken.
"We know who it is," Dean finished.
"Apparently the witch knows who you are, too." Cas said, walking over to the bedside table and picking up a small hex bag.
"This was inside the wall of your room," he announced, holding up the tiny brown pouch.
"If we hadn't found it, surely one or all of you would be dead," Cas told them.
"Well, kudos to you. We would have found it." Lee replied acidly.
Cas turned and stared at her gravely. She clenched her jaw and finally broke away from his icy gaze.
"Do you know where the witch is now?" Castiel continued. Dean turned sideways and shot his brother a glance. Sam shrugged slightly.
"We're working on it." Dean told him.
"That's unfortunate." Castiel deduced.
"What do you care?" Dean asked.
"The raising of Samhain is one of the 66 seals," Castiel announced.
Dean looked to Lee for confirmation, and she nodded slightly.
"So this is about your buddy Lucifer," Dean commented.
"Lucifer is no friend of ours," the dark man rumbled, gaining everyone's attention.
Rachel flinched when he spoke.
"It's just an expression," Dean explained, looking at the man wearily.
"Lucifer cannot rise. The breaking of the seal must be prevented at all costs." Castiel said.
"Okay great. Now that you're here, why don't you tell us where the witch is, we'll gank her, and everybody goes home?" Dean proposed.
"We are not omniscient. This witch is very powerful. She's cloaked, even to our methods."
"Okay, well, we already know who she is. So if we work together—"Sam offered, but was interrupted by the man at the window.
"Enough of this," he snarled.
"Okay, who are you, and why should I care?" Dean sniped.
"Dean, I wouldn't…" Lee warned, as the man turned.
"This is Uriel, He's what you might call… a specialist," Castiel introduced as the man walked over to where the men stood.
"What kind of a specialist?" Dean inquired.
"What they mean to say is 'killer,' isn't that right, Cas?" Rachel suddenly growled, walking over to them.
They all looked over at her.
"What are you gonna do?" Dean asked the angels.
"You need to leave this town immediately." Cas told them, and Lee shook her head, scoffing angrily from where she stood.
"Why?" Dean questioned.
"Because we're about to destroy it," Castiel stated, matter-of-factly.
The brothers looked at each other, shocked.
"So this is your plan? You're gonna smite the whole friggin' town?" Dean asked incredulously.
"We're out of time. This witch has to die. The seal must be saved." Cas told them.
"There are a thousand people here," Sam cried.
"1, 214," Uriel corrected.
"And you're willing to kill them all?" Sam questioned incredulously.
"This isn't the first time I've… purified a city." Uriel answered.
"Look, I understand this is regrettable." Cas said.
"Regrettable?" Dean echoed sarcastically.
"Too many seals have broken already."
"So you screwed the pooch on some seals and now this town has to pay the price?" Dean summarized.
"It's the lives of 1,000 against the lives of 6 billion, there's a bigger picture here" Castiel reasoned. Sam looked completely shocked.
"Right… 'cause, uh, you're bigger picture kinda guys," Dean doubted.
"Lucifer cannot rise," Cas stepped forward threateningly. "He does, and Hell rises with him. Is that something that you're willing to risk?"
"We'll stop this witch before she summons anyone," Sam pleaded. "Your seal won't be broken, and no one has to die!"
"We're wasting time with these mud monkeys," Uriel muttered.
"I'm sorry. But we have our orders." Castiel said.
"No, you can't do this, you—you're angels! I mean, aren't you supposed to—you're supposed to show mercy!" Sam admonished.
Uriel chuckled. "Says who?"
"We have no choice." Castiel told them.
Lee ran a hand over her face, turning away.
"Of course you have a choice. I mean, come on, what, you've never – never questioned a crap order, huh? What are you both just a couple of hammers?" Dean inquired.
"Look, even if you can't understand it, have faith. The plan is just." Cas declared.
"How can you even say that?" Sam asked.
"Because it comes from Heaven. That makes it just." Castiel assured him.
"Must be nice to be so sure of yourselves," Dean disgustedly remarked.
"Tell me something, Dean. When your father gave you an order, didn't you obey?" Cas questioned.
"Sorry, Boys, it looks like plans have changed." Dean decided.
Dean squinted angrily.
"You think you can stop us?" Uriel asked threateningly.
"No. But if you're gonna smite this whole town… then you're gonna have to smite us with it because we are not leaving." Dean promised, walking up to Uriel.
Lee went to take a stand next to Sam.
"See, you went to the trouble of busting me out of Hell, I figure I'm worth something to the man upstairs. You want to waste me? Go ahead. See how he digs that." Dean provoked.
"I will drag you out of here myself," Uriel threatened.
"Yeah, but you'll have to kill me. Then we're back to the same problem. I mean, come on. You're gonna wipe out a whole town for one little witch? Sounds to me like you're compensating for something." Dean told him.
He nodded and turned to Sam, Cas and the girls.
"We can do this. We will find that witch. We will stop the summoning." Dean promised Cas.
"Castiel, I will not let these—"Uriel was interrupted by Cas.
"Enough. I suggest you move quickly." Cas told him, and with a flutter of wings, the angels were gone.
Rachel collapsed to the floor.
"Oh my God, Rachel?!" Lee exclaimed, kneeling next to her friend, and checking her pulse frantically. Sam hovered.
Lee felt a weak pulse.
"She must have just passed out, but she's fine." Lee assured them quickly.
"I'll stay here with her, you two Go. Try the teacher's classroom," She instructed through clenched teeth. Dean nodded and grabbed his jacket, heading for the door, Sam on his heels.
Lee pulled Rachel onto her lap, smoothing her curly hair back as she stared at the closed door in anticipation.
…
It was now nightfall, and Lee had only heard from the boys about an hour earlier, when they had told her of their plan to stop the ritual. She paced nervously in the motel room, looking over anxiously at Rachel's unconscious form under the covers of one of the beds. Suddenly Lee's phone rang, piercing through the tense silence.
"Hello?" she answered breathlessly.
"Lee, hey it's Sam, you're on speaker."
"Sam! Dean, what happened?" Lee asked worriedly.
"Well, Samhain is on the loose. Turns out you were right about Tracy. She and the teacher were siblings, but he decided to use her as the last sacrifice. We came in, and she used her hoodoo on us and the next minute Samhain was breaking her neck. We're heading to the cemetery now." Dean told her.
"What?! Guys, even if you do stop him, it won't matter to the angels. The seal has been broken, and that's all they care about." Lee explained.
"Wh- So even if we do take him down, we're still one step closer to the apocalypse?" Dean asked her.
"Yes."
"Peachy. Alright, well, we'll let you know how it goes," Dean told her, and he hung up.
Lee went back to pacing.
Suddenly, she realized she couldn't wait there any longer. She walked over to the bedside table, scrawled a quick not to Rachel in case she woke up, and ran out to the Chevelle, armed with salt, a long dagger, and an iron pipe.
…
She pulled in to the cemetery only to find chaos. Teenagers were running away from the crypt, terrified. Lee mentally prepared herself, taking a deep breath before she ran in. She sprinted into the dimly lit tomb, stepping carefully over the bodies she assumed Dean and Sam had taken care of. Suddenly, a ghost flickered before her, and Lee ducked, slicing her iron pipe through the air in a long arc as she ran through. She skidded to a stop as she caught sight of Dean, who stood in the doorway of a long hall.
"Dean!" she cried breathlessly, and he turned, wide-eyed.
"Lee?! What the Hell?! You can't be here; It's too dangerous!" he scorned.
"What…" She caught sight of the scene that had caught Dean's attention.
Sam stood in front of Samhain, hand raised as he exorcised him with his mind.
Lee stared, mouth agape, and Dean turned his attention back to his brother, adjusting the strap of his duffle bag on his shoulder once again.
Blood dripped from the younger Winchester's nose as he struggled with his powers, meeting Dean's gaze. He focused his attention back on the powerful demon before him, clutching at his head painfully. Lee watched in dismay and shock as Samhain's inky black soul dripped from his vessel's gaping mouth, swirling and shrieking as it leaked through the Earth and back down to Hell, leaving a charred imprint on the tiled floor beneath the dead art teacher's body. Sam gasped heavily, looking slowly up at his brother, and then to Lee. Dean stared at his brother with a troubled expression.
…
One Day After Halloween
Sam packed his clothes, brows furrowed in thought, as Lee watched him from the other bed, arms wrapped around her knees as she hugged her legs to her chest, scowling unconsciously. Sam was careful not to look at her as he shoved his newly folded shirt into his faded duffle bag.
"Tomorrow is November 2nd," Uriel said from the table by the window, and Lee started, surprised at the dark-skinned angel's sudden appearance. Sam turned to face him.
"That's an anniversary for you, right?" Uriel asked.
"What are you doing here?" Sam questioned in a throaty voice.
"It's the day Azazel killed your mother. And, 22 years later, your girlfriend, too. It must be difficult to bear. Yet you brazenly use the power he gave you. His profane blood pumping through your veins," Uriel went on brutally. Lee looked up, glowering at him.
"Excuse me?" Sam asked angrily.
"You were told not to use your abilities." Uriel stated.
"And what was I supposed to do? That demon would have killed me and my brother and everyone," Sam defended.
"You were told not to,"Uriel shook his head.
Lee watched intently.
"If Samhain had gotten loose in this town—"Sam shook his head, eyes glassy.
"You've been warned. Twice now," Uriel told him.
"You know, my brother was right about you. You are dicks." Sam declared.
With a whoosh, Uriel was suddenly in front of Sam. Lee stood abruptly.
"The only reason you're still alive, Sam Winchester, is because you've been useful. The moment that ceases to be true… the second you become more trouble than you're worth, one word—one—and I will turn you to dust." Uriel warned.
Sam nodded, and Uriel turned away. Lee strode to Sam, placing her hand on his shoulder. Sam placed his hand atop hers for a moment, until Uriel turned his attention back to them.
"As for your brother, Tell him that maybe he should climb off that high horse of his. Ask Dean… what he remembers from Hell," Uriel proposed, before disappearing in a flutter of wings.
Lee's hand dropped from Sam's shoulder as she turned away, hugging her arms around herself. She could feel Sam's questioning gaze on her back, and she closed her eyes, torn.
…
Dean sat on a sunny park bench, immersed in thought as he watched the children laugh and play on the playground before him. There was a whoosh, and Castiel appeared beside him. Dean sighed.
"Let me guess: You're here for the 'I told you so'." Dean posed, looking over at the trench coated angel beside him.
"No." Cas answered.
"Well, good, 'cause I'm really not that interested," Dean remarked.
"I am not here to judge you, Dean." Cas declared.
"Then why are you here?" Dean demanded.
"Our orders—"Cas began.
"Yeah, you know what, I've had about enough of these orders of yours," Dean interrupted.
"Our orders… were not to stop the summoning of Samhain. They were to do whatever you told us to do." Cas continued.
Dean leaned forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. "Your orders were to follow my orders?" he inquired.
"It was a test… to see how you would perform under… battlefield conditions, you might say," Cas clarified.
Dean looked confused. "It was a witch… not the Tet Offensive," he said.
Cas chuckled.
"So, I, Uh, failed your test, huh? I get it. But you know what? If you were to waive that—that magic time-travelling wand of yours and we had to do it all over again, I'd make the same call…'cause, see , I don't know what's gonna happen when these seals are broken, Hell, I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. But what I do know is that this here? These kids, the swings, the trees, all of it—are still here because of my brother and me." Dean rambled.
Cas nodded slowly. "You misunderstand me, Dean. I'm not like you think. I was praying that you would choose to save the town." He disclosed.
"You were?" Dean posed.
"These people—They're all my father's creations. They're works of art. And yet—even though you stopped Samhain, the seal was broken, and we are one step closer to Hell on Earth for all creation, and that's not an expression, Dean. It's literal. You of all people should… appreciate what that means." He looked sideways at the green-eyed man.
"I'll tell you something if you promise not to tell another soul," The blue-eyed angel proposed.
"Okay," Dean agreed.
"I'm not, uh… a hammer, as you say. I have questions. I… I have doubts. I don't know what is right and what is wrong anymore…and whether you passed or failed here," he looked at Dean curiously.
"But, in the coming months, you will have more decisions to make. I don't envy the weight that's on your shoulders, Dean. I truly don't."
They stared at each other thoughtfully before Dean looked down, and out across the field. When he looked back to where the angel once sat, Castiel was gone.
A/N: Please remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed