Dean was in his cell doing push ups. The days were starting to melt together and he couldn't tell what day it was. Hell, he had no clue if it was day or night. His captors refused to say anything. So far he hadn't seen Jo, Paige or Prue. The stuck up bitch that was responsible for interrogating him was no longer around, the last thing he overheard that she was on her way to investigate some weird murders. Whoever is committing these murders were stealing men's hearts. The British believe it may either be a werewolf or a witch committing these murders. Dean wasn't sure. He had a feeling whoever was commiting these crimes was killing for a specific reason.
The door to his cell opened and a man he didn't recognize walked in. "Good evening, Mr. Winchester. How are we today?"
"I am fine. How are you?" Dean responds in a sarcastic voice.
"Well, no need to be rude. I am not here for a social call. I am here to make you a offer."
Dean looks straight ahead, not looking in his direction.
"I am here to inform you that you are on assignment."
Dean says nothing.
The man with the British accent sighs. "Oh, where are my manners. My name is Mick Davies. I come from..."
Dean cuts him off. "Don't care."
"No need to be rude. We are short of agents and need a experienced hunter to assist us. You won't be alone, you will be working with your friend, Paige Matthews."
Dean looks up. He was getting out? With Paige? What is the catch? He looks at Mick suspiciously.
Mick was looking at a tablet. "There is reports of women and men dying of heart failure."
"You are letting me out of here to explore people that died of heart attacks?" Dean was incredulous.
"The hearts of the people that died stopped unexpectedly. All the victims are believed to have died from fright. The hair on their heads turned white."
Dean just stared at him. This was new. This was never mentioned in any of dad's journals. What kind of demon is this?
"What about Prue Halliwell?"
Mick looked at him with regret. "I'm sorry, Miss Halliwell is currently busy on a hunt and won't be joining you today. However, the car is downstairs and Miss Matthews is already downstairs. Come with me."
Dean follows Mick downstairs and into the car, a Toyota Prius of all things. Ugh. Paige was already inside. She was in the backseat just daydreaming. She wanted to use her Whitelighter powers to orb away, but was wearing a device around her neck to suppress her magic. She smiled when she saw Dean. She looked past him and Mick to see if Prue was right behind her and was disappointed when she wasn't there. Dean when he saw Paige was relieved to see she was alright. She was wearing a weird device around her neck. Dean wanted to take it off, but it was flashing a red light. He remembered a old movie once. The device around a prisoner's neck was a bomb, if it was jostled in any way, it would explode. He hoped that necklace was just a tracking device.
"Well, should we be going?" Mick tells them.
It was awhile later till Mick drives up to a very nice hotel. Dean and Paige were in awe. It looked gorgeous. It was very clean looking and had manicured lawns with porters and valets. After they got out of the car Mick hands the valet his keys. When they walked inside, the place was even more gorgeous. Damn. There was even crystal chandeliers and a small water fountain inside. Dean and Paige's mouths were hanging open.
"My apologies this place is run down. My bosses gave me a very tight budget. Your rooms are upstairs and both of you have been given a change of clothes and prepaid credit cards. There is enough for you to purchase some new clothing. Neither one of you have to worry about your food budget, all meals are already paid for. Just go to the restaurant and order whatever you like."
Dean not giving Mick the satisfaction of seeing what he really thought about the fancy hotel tells him, "This has to do I guess."
Paige had to hide her smile when Mick gave Dean a embarrassed look. "My apologies."
Paige was in her room an hour later. That meal she ordered. She couldn't remember how well fed she last ate. Maybe during her college graduation, only when she was dating a trust fund baby at the time. The clothes the Men of Letters gave her looked like feds clothes, very business like. They even gave her fresh underwear. Creepy. They knew her bra cup size. Mick had told both of them that there was over $1000 for a clothing budget and expenses for the job they were on. Paige was impressed. But as much as she hated to admit it, was being a member of the Men of Letters such a bad thing? They stopped monsters and saved human lives. Mick had told Paige earlier at dinner that there hadn't been any deaths in Great Britain in over fifty years due to any monster or demon attacks being stopped by their organization.
She wasn't tired. She wanted to go for a walk. She was going to ask Mick if it was okay if she went outside for fresh air when there was a knock. When she looked through the peephole, it was Dean.
"Hey Dean."
"Paige, can I talk to you?"
"Sure. Come in."
Dean walks over to the desk and sits down on the chair in front of it. "Paige, do you find it strange that the Men of Letters are letting us out on a case?"
"I don't know. You used to hunt. I fight demons on a regular basis. Remember what Mick said earlier? The Men of Letters kill monsters and demons all the time. Maybe they need us. Remember, You-Know-Who is destroying You-Know-What at the moment. Maybe they need us."
"I'm still a hunter. Besides, its been years since we last heard anything. I don't trust these assholes. Paige, look past the fancy tech, the amount of money they throw around. You can't trust anyone. Where is Prue? Mick says she is on a case. But what if she is in trouble. Plus look at what happened to Jo. It wasn't her fault about Alistair at the hospital. The Men of Letters are blaming her for it anyways. The last time I seen her she was getting a interrogation by that Toni chick. She was getting hooked up on machines, and she looked like she was in pain. Plus where are Sam and Piper? And Phoebe? The people there said nothing about them."
Paige thinks about what Dean said. He was right. She nodded at Dean. "Prue, Phoebe and Piper. Where are they?"
"What about Sam and Castiel? Plus Jack?"
"Maybe Jack is with his family." Paige says cautiously. She wasn't stupid. Who knows if this room is bugged. No way is she saying a word about Jack's family and his true background.
Dean and Paige just sit there not saying anything. Paige looks at Dean. "Want to grab a beer downstairs?"
Dean smiles at Paige. "Sure. First smartest idea I heard all day."
Mick wakes up the next day when his alarm goes off. Ah. He slept good for the first time in weeks. Paige was such a charming young woman. Much more polite than that boor Dean. He hopes to take Paige out for dinner sometime, just the two of them. Right after they solve this case. He goes to the bathroom and freshens up. After he got dressed he was wondering if he should call for room service, then decides against it. He wants to invite Paige for breakfast downstairs before Dean wakes up. After getting dressed, he goes to Paige's room and knocks on the door. Expecting to see a sleepy Paige, he is shocked to see a bleary eyed Dean.
"Morning. What time is it?" Dean asks him sleepily.
Mick just stares at him. "7 am."
"7 am? God, where did the time go. I'm going to my room. I need a nap."
"Checkout time is at 10, and we are on a case." Mick tells him coldly. Jealous at Dean spending the night with Paige.
"I just need an hour. I'll be at breakfast at 8ish." Dean tells him. He goes to his room.
Paige goes the door and seeing Mick she smiles. "Morning, sunshine!"
Mick looks at Paige and answers her back business-like, "Good morning Miss Matthews. I am here to inform you that checkout is at 10 am. We will be heading out right after that to solve this case."
"Cool. Can you come back in a hour? I need to take a shower and freshen up. I'll meet you both for breakfast downstairs."
Mick nods at Paige. Dammit. Paige is not available. Her and Dean must be a couple he concluded. He sighs disappointingly at the thought. He goes back to his room to get changed and go for a jog to clear his mind.
Paige was downstairs at the hotel's restaurant an hour later deciding on what to order for breakfast when she sees Mick walking in. She waves at him enthusiastically. Mick walks towards her and sits down confused on why Paige and Dean are not having a romantic breakfast together.
"Hey Mick." Paige says shyly. God, Mick was a total babe. Way hotter than that stuck up Ketch. Plus that British accent. Mmm. She hoped he wasn't married or gay. It's been months since she was with a man.
"Morning Paige. Where is Dean?"
"Dean? Probably still sleeping. When he drinks, he tends to go a little overboard. Expect him to come down hungover and grouchy."
Mick nods. As expected Dean walks in the restaurant a few minutes later looking like he never slept all night with a unhappy face. "Ugh, why does morning have to come SO early?" He whined.
Paige just giggles at him. "I told you to stop having all those shots. We are on a active case."
"Yeah, yeah. Coffee. Now." He closes his eyes.
Paige waves at their waitress. She tells her to get coffees for her and Dean. She asked Mick if he wanted a cup, but Mick declined, ordering tea instead.
After breakfast was over and all three were on the road Mick was telling them about the case they were about to go on. Paige was deep in thought. This sounded very familiar. She swore she heard of a demon that invoked fear in people. She wished her sisters were here. They were experienced in things like it. She asked Dean if he heard of any demons like that. Dean answered that he fought many demons but none that specialized in frightening people to death for fun. Mick was also stumped. They headed to town to look at the local morgue to see the bodies that were killed by the demon.
The faces of the victims and seeing their white hair on their young bodies, unsettled all three. The faces of the victims were contorted in a frozen terrified expression made them grimace. What could have scared them to death. Dean wished he knew. This demon obviously hated getting his hands dirty and made their victims die in fright. Dean swore to kill it. They decided to split up. Paige offered to check out the victims vacant homes, Dean offered to interview the local police, and Mick went to interview the victim's family members.
Paige after showing off her fake badge, was allowed in the crime scene. One of the victims, Theresa Ollins, was a practicing Wiccan. There was Wiccan objects and earthly decorations everywhere. This demon must have saw her as a threat and killed her. Paige wondered what her deepest fear was to cause her to die so young. She looked around the apartment for clues and saw a painting that held a depiction of a vampire getting killed by a woman. Was this woman afraid of vampires? Paige looked around. There was anti vampire objects everywhere. Garlic cloves, crosses, holy water, wooden stakes and when she went in the bedroom, looked in the closet. Pushing away the clothing, she saw a large blade and vials of what Paige believed to be dead mens blood. Theresa was a vampire hunter. A vampire must have hired this demon to kill Theresa.
Dean was talking to the lieutenant in charge of the case. "So how many of victims are there?"
The lieutenant sighs "There was four. This case is unusual. According to the medical coroner, all were healthy and in good health."
"Other than age and good health did any of them have anything in common?"
"At every scene, there was occult symbols. Two of them were practicing wiccans. So far there is no crime committed, but all had the same cause of death. Massive heart failure causing death. The white hair is new to us. We have no idea why. There is security footage and witness to one of the victims. He was a cashier at a book store. The place was packed due to a book signing by a guest. He was found by his wife after her shift ended. She called 911 and found him deceased."
"Was his hair white at the book store?" Dean asked with his notepad out.
"That is the unusual part. His hair was dark. When his wife found him his whole hair was white as snow. According to his neighbours, he arrived home twenty minutes before his wife arrived. There was no signs of a break in. No chemicals or bleach in his head."
"Thank you for your time." Dean closes his notebook. He walked out of the police station and waits for Mick who was at the place of the latest victim interviewing the wife. He closed his eyes. 'C'mon Sam. The hell are you. Please be okay. CAS! Where are you!' He punches the car in frustration.
"I don't know. He always took good care of himself. He was always on a strict diet and exercised regularly." She blows her nose. Mick always the gentleman, hands her a tissue. "He was at work and he always texts me whenever he came home. This time he didn't. Why, is there a explanation for his accident?"
"Mrs. Frane, can I take a look around your apartment?"
"Of course. Please take your time, I have to make some phone calls."
Mick goes around the apartment looking for some clues. He stopped to use the bathroom and saw a box with a baby on it. After he done using the washroom, he looked in the room closest to him. Looking around there was exercise equipment and books meant for fitness fanatics. When he leaves the room, he sees a picture in the second bedroom. The second room was converted in a weight room. As he looked closely at the picture, he saw the guy who died. Judging by how young he was back then, Mick assumed he was in high school. He was very overweight.
Leaving the room he takes a look at the recent pictures on the wall. The man, Quincy Frane was slim and fit. He knew this was going to be an embarrassing question to ask his wife. Approaching her he waits for her to finish her call. Seeing Mick, she said goodbye and hung up.
"Mrs Frane..."
"Clarissa."
"Clarissa. Was your husband ever had a phobia of gaining weight?"
"What? What kind of question is that?"
Mick's face was pink. "You mentioned Quincy was a fanatic in exercising and having a healthy lifestyle. Did he have a fear of gaining it all back?"
Clarissa thinks. "Yes. His father was abusive to Quincy his whole life when he was younger. He always berated Quincy for being fat. He was obsessed with what the people he was associated with thought. Since Quincy left home at eighteen, he worked out excessively to lose the weight. Since then we always lived a healthy lifestyle. But what was the point. Quincy died of a heart attack."
"His father. Is he still around?"
"No. He died five years ago."
"Thank you." Mick leaves. Hmm. A vengeful spirit? Perhaps. He needs to find death records. But that will counteract with the other deaths. He goes to the police station where Dean was. He hoped Paige was there.
Back at another hotel Dean, Mick and Paige was looking at the medical examiners reports and police reports. What did they all have in common? Quincy wasn't a wiccan, but was wearing a pagan necklace. Theresa was a hunter, and so was the other two. One of the victims, named Diana, was a witch. All of them died the exact same death. Dean was thinking hard and was staring at the notes when he blurted out, "That's it!"
"What is it?" Paige asked as Mick looked up.
"All of these victims died from fright. But everyone of them had something in common. All four had a pagan symbol on their bodies."
"Yeah so. We do too." Mick says.
"Yeah, but we have tattoos. None of the victims didn't. Those symbols, they are fake."
"But Theresa was a hunter. She would have known those were fake."
"True, but what if it was a gift. No a symbol of anti demon, but a ordinary design. Paige, where was the last place the victims shopped at."
Paige looks at the notes on the table. "Moonlight Eclipse."
"This store, it specializes in wiccan gifts and magic."
"Yeah, and your point being..." Mick says.
"What if this demon is targeting these victims. Mick, what did these people buy, other than these necklaces."
"Nothing."
"I thought so. But it is not about the symbols, it what these people did for a living. Three were hunters. Quincy wasn't. What if they were being watched. Whomever summoned this demon wanted them gone."
"But what about Quincy? He and his wife weren't hunters or witches."
"Yes, but Quincy wasn't the target. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. His wife is the target."
"Clarissa? Why her?"
"Mick, what did you see at her apartment?"
"Exercise equipment, books, old pictures. Why?"
"What else."
"A pregnancy test."
"Paige, is there a special holiday or event coming later this year?"
Paige thinks. "There is a event not listed in the Gregorian calendar. It is listed in the old Julian calendar. It is the year of new beginnings. The holiday says whomever is born on a certain date under a full moon in the thirteenth hour will bring gifts in the world. The soul born on that date will create a special gift for the world."
"What does that mean?"
"According to the book," Paige says vaguely, not sure if she could trust Mick. "There is people that are special people. There were three hunters. All three were either witches or Wiccan. They saved countless lives, and one of them Levi was a healer. But Quincy wasn't witch or a hunter. His wife on the other hand, is possibly pregnant. What if the demon was hired by someone from the future. Her child could be a future doctor or a legendary hunter."
Dean thinks. First the news of the world ending, then Dean getting kidnapped, now a future demon? God, he hated being a hunter sometimes.
Mick stands up. "We have to save her and her unborn child!"
"Mick, we have experience hunting, you don't." Dean tells him.
Mick was insulted. "Excuse me. I been a member of the Men of Letters since I was a child. I hunted as long as you and your brother. Except our exams were in the field. Not a classroom."
"Whatever Mick. Fine. But keep your guard up. This demon of the present will most likely use our biggest fears against us. Remember, nothing he says or shows you are real. Ignore him."
All three get ready to head out. Not sure what kind of demon this was, they packed angel blades, holy water and memorized the Enochian spell to expel demons. Dean and Paige were grim. Even if they defeat this demon, they have to return to the Men of Letters base. Escaping wasn't a option. Prue, Jo and Alfie were still prisoners and will be killed if they left. They head to Clarissa's apartment.
Meanwhile in Clarissa's apartment, Clarissa was on her couch making arrangements for her husband's funeral when she heard a noise. Looking up she saw nothing. But the noise came again. It was coming from her bedroom. When she heard it she picked up a gun from underneath the couch. Her parents were cops. They were vigilant about their children's lives an always kept guns in their home. Clarissa and Quincy were no different. Holding her gun she makes her way to the bedroom. When she got there, it was empty. Until she saw a middle aged man dressed in black standing in the corner.
"Hello Clarissa."
She hold up her gun. "Who are you."
"Doesn't matter. What do you really fear?"
"Nothing. I already called the police. They are on their way. Stay there, or I'll shoot. "
He waves his hand over her face. "Hmm. Your greatest fear. You fear dying alone. Being all alone with no loved ones around. Your husband is dead. He died of a heart attack, Your father died on duty, your mom is estranged from you. Your sister is in Europe. I will show you the future." He then shows her future. She trembles and her heart starts beating fast at the image. A white spot sprouts on her head. Before anything else could happen, the door breaks open on the apartment door. Dean, Paige and Mick run inside.
"Clarissa!" Mick calls out.
Paige sees a shadow in the bedroom.."Over there!"
They all go the bedroom and sees the demon. He was in a body of a middle age man. He hair was grey and had yellowed teeth. His eyes weren't black like most demons, but had a invisible powerful aura around him.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A hunter, a witch and a member of a secret society. Welcome. My name is Barbas. Also known as the Demon of Fear. Now what do you all fear?" Before he can wave his hand, Dean tells Mick to take Clarissa away from here. Mick protested, but before he can leave Barbas waves his hand over Mick's direction.
"You fear getting assassinated by The Men of Letters. You want to leave, yet you cannot. You were responsible for your best friend dying." Mick whips his head around and sees Arthur Ketch pointing a gun to his head. With Dr. Hess ordering his demise.
He waves his hand at Paige.
"You fear not living up to Prue. She was around a lot longer than you. She was chosen to be a agent by the Men of Letters, you were too weak. Also, the walls are closing around you. Your sisters are locking you away in a box to get rid of you. The Power of Three, not Four." Paige sees the walls closing in and starts screaming.
Dean looks at Barbas. "Your mind tricks won't work on me. I been through it all."
"Hmm. I see your love ones. Jenna and Sam. You are afraid to lose Jenna, but even more afraid to lose your brother. You lost him once, but you are afraid he will disappear forever this time."
Dean sees Jake and the Yellow Eyed Demon in the room instead of Barbas. No. Jake is dead. Dean killed him when he stabbed Sam. Azazel was standing behind Jake smiling.
"Why hello, Dean. It's been a awhile. How's things."
Dean raised his gun. "You are not real. You refused to come back since Lucifer is working with Heaven. All of you are in hiding." He looks at Jake. "You are dead. Your body was salted and burned by Bobby and myself even though you didn't deserve a hunter's funeral."
Jake's eyes turned black. "I may be dead, but I upgraded. I am not longer human. I am a demon now. Thanks to you. I'm going to finish what I started. Killing your brother forever this time. Not even your archangel can bring him back, not with Creation ending."
"Dean?"
"Sam?"
Both Jenna and Sam come running in. Before Dean could do anything, Jake smokes out of his former body and goes inside Jenna.
"No. You are not real. Jenna is not here. You are lying you son of a bitch!"
Jake/Jenna laughs and then proceeds to break her own neck. Then he pulls out a blade.
"This time it is permanent. This knife, it destroys souls. I'm sure you never heard of it, but a blade exists to destroy human souls. It was banished by Heaven for being too dangerous, but I found it. Now your brother can die for good." He then grabs Sam and stabs him again and again. Dean felt his heart breaking. He just lost the two people he loves the most. He saw his vision getting black until he hears another voice.
"That is a illusion! All of you, snap out if it!"
Paige looks up. 'Huh.' Who is that? The voice belonged to a man. He was a guy around Dean's age who was holding a angel blade. He goes towards Barbas and gets ready to stab him until he vanishes.
"Fuck! Asshole got away. Next time, I'll kill him."
Mick picks himself off the floor. His heart was still racing when Ketch pulled the trigger. He was sure he was dead, he passed out. Paige also was getting her bearings back. The vision of seeing those walls closing in and feeling like she couldn't live up to Prue shook Paige to the core.
Dean felt the tracks of the tears down his face. Seeing Jenna and Sam die was his biggest fear. But the knowledge of a blade that destroys souls, did it really exist? He hoped not. He looked at the people in the room. Clarissa was okay, she had her head down crying silently, Mick was standing there trying to wake up, and Paige was breathing hard. Dean looks at the guy who saved their lives. He was gone.
'The hell? Where did he go?' Before Dean could do anything, Paige spoke up.
"You guys okay?"
When everyone says yes, Paige suggests they drive Clarissa to the hospital to check her out. She was possibly pregnant and they wanted to make sure she was alright. Dean agreed and walked out with Mick. When he looked at the mirror in the hallway, Dean swore he saw a streak of white hair on his head. When he looked again, his hair was normal. His heart was still shaking. He knew he had to escape. He needed to start planning. Seeing Sam and Jenna die before his eyes frightened him.
The man in the hallway watched as the three companions and the woman they saved, walk away. He managed to save them, but they weren't with Prue Halliwell. He hoped she was with them, but she wasn't. He thought about she could be next. He was far away from the west coast, but the text he received from a blocked number suggested she may be in Los Angeles.
