"Here we are. I'll be back." The cute hairstylist says walking away.
Wendy Goodson smiles, he always gave her good service, her hair always looked incredible. Chris, very expensive and always in demand, luckily Wendy always got an appointment whenever she wanted.
"What shall we do today?" Chris asked earlier that day. He always made time for Wendy, she was one of his richest clients. "Maybe a trim? Some highlights? Your hair, it is a work of art." Ass kissing always worked, Chris was looking forward to his tip. He almost had enough for his French espresso machine for his salon. He said hello to a young woman walking in. His place said 'Josephine's' it belonged to his mom before she retired and moved to Florida.
"Why not both?" She had a dinner date with Donald, she was planning on getting him drunk. She was tired of being a Realtor, a stay at home mom was more lucrative. He could afford a few thousand a month in child support. He did separate from Maggie though at least.
"Your wish is my command." After her hair was done, she was now under the large hairdryer. Humming softly, she was reading a tabloid magazine.
"Joanna Norman. You lucky duck." She used to work as a faith healer, always in demand, her clients claimed she was the real deal. Then one day she was exposed as a fraud. The IRS was after her, she owed several thousands in unpaid bills, her home, bank accounts, everything she owned was taken away to settle her debts. Then she vanished. Now she was a established socialite. Her second husband, the evasive John Norman, confirmed bachelor, was now a happily married man. He paid off her outstanding debts, and gave her the life she was accustomed to. That's what Wendy wanted, she deserved that as well.
Phew. Why was this so hot? She put down the magazine. Ow! She still had eight minutes left.
After a minute she was sweating. Fuck this. As she touched the hairdryer, she gasped in how hot it was.
"Chris!" She yelled. She had to get out of there. She was about to slide down, then to her horror slid back up. "Chris!"
The salon was loud with music, plus it didn't help there was a wedding party for their appointment.
"Ow. Oh. Chris!" She couldn't move. "CHRIS!" She screamed. She felt like her head was on fire. "OW!" She was in trouble.
Too bad no one heard her final screams.
Chris walks to the room where the large hairdryers were hidden. He saw the timer was done, it was time for Wendy to take off those foils.
"There we are. Lets see." When Chris lifted off the helmet, he was horrified on what he saw. Wendy was dead. "Oh my god. HELP!"
Lawrence, Kansas
"Are you sure you don't want me there? It's not just you I have to worry about." Dean, he hated being away from his wife. She was carrying his baby after all. "I can drive there and be there in a day." Jenna was in Boston for her father's birthday. Devon couldn't make it, he said he was on a business trip. "Uh. Uh. Fine. Tell the old man I said happy birthday." Dean couldn't make it, he had to work. He didn't want to miss any shifts, he had to provide for his growing family. "No hunting. You hear me?" He smiled. He loved her giggles. "Okay. Have fun. Bye." He hangs up the phone.
When was his next day off? He looked at the calendar. Yikes. When he heard the bells, he threw down his phone and runs down the hallway.
He threw on his gear and jumped in his truck. Once everyone was on, he turned on the sirens and drove away.
"We have a fire in Coney Hotel, possible 7-C-1."
"This is truck number 27, we are on our way." Dean puts down his radio.
"Isn't this exciting!" Lawrence's newest firefighter was squirming in excitement.
"First time breaking your cherry?" Dean remarked as he sped through the intersection. Every second counted, a life was on the line.
"First fire? Yep." He was terrified, but being a firefighter is what he always dreamt of. "Having a exciting job, always expecting the unexpected! It's so cool!"
"Trust me kid, you'll get tired of excitement real fast." Dean didn't know what was worse, fighting fires, saving lives, fighting evil, saving lives. He knew both careers were 'exciting,' but at least he got paid to be a firefighter. A hunter on the other hand, Sam and Dean used stolen credit cards to fund their lifestyle.
Once they got to their location, Dean and the rookie jump out of the truck.
"You! Attach that hose!" He barked at the rookie, he saw a bunch of bystanders standing around watching the fire. "Step back!" The flames were shooting out of the hotel. He hurries to the manager who was covered in black soot sitting in a ambulance. "Anyone inside?"
"I don't know. It happened so fast." He coughs. "All my employees escaped, but I have a few guests."
"Dammit." Dean had to move fast. He saw his fellow firefighters hosing down the building. He wasn't sure if there was anyone inside, but he had to check. Picking up his ax, he and a few others run inside.
"Fire department! Is there anyone inside?!" Dean calls. Hearing a whimper, he gestures for someone to break down the door. He's been a hunter long enough to sense something supernatural. Seeing a figure down the hall, he quickly hurries towards it. "Ma'am? Are you alright?" He only had seconds to escape, fires were unpredictable.
"My husband!" Cough. "The hot tub." Dean yells at another firefighter to carry her out. He had to hurry, there was a man to save.
Sam was jogging back from the gym when he saw the fire. Recognizing Dean's department, he hurries towards it
"Hey! Back off!" A cop stops Sam. "Can't come any closer!"
"My brother!" Sam hated Dean's job, unlike hunting, Dean worked alone. Sam had no idea why he picked firefighting, Dean was always haunted by their mom's death. Mary died in a fire.
"Stand back!" Sam had no choice but to watch.
He was just watching helplessly till he saw a woman getting carried out.
The fire didn't get under control for a long time, the hotel was gone, there was no saving it. When Sam saw Dean coming out, he waved. Of course no one could tell who's who, but he knew his brother better than anyone.
Once the fire was out, Dean watched with dull eyes when he saw the bodybag. One guy. Dean hated losing people, once he got to the room, guy was already dead. Smoke must have got to him.
"You did good." The Fire Marshal slaps Dean on the back. Dean managed to save three people.
"Yea." One guy. Who was he? Dean needed a stiff drink.
Later at a bar, Dean was nursing a beer.
"I'll have what's he's having. Plus one more." Sam sits beside his brother. "I heard. You saved a few people."
"Not all of them." That man. He had a family. Dean downs his beer.
Sam sighs. He knew exactly what Dean was talking about.
"You can't save everyone." As hunters, there was people they lost. They can save hundreds, but the few dozen they lost over the years, they haunted Sam's dreams.
Dean stares numbly at the wall.
"Dean. Let's go home." Sam knew Dean was very depressed.
It was a few days later when the Fire Marshal concluded his investigation.
"He was already dead before the fire started. It was a electrical fire. The hot tub was just installed a few days ago by a new company. Dean, it wasn't your fault." Sam was reading the news article online. "He was electrocuted before the fire started. No matter what you did, you couldn't have saved him." Carl Dunlop, he and his family were the only guests at that hotel. "You saved his family." Carl's wife and two children were safe.
"I guess." Dean had a nightmare last night. He heard his dad screaming in Sam's nursery. Dean didn't see it, but he heard John calling Mary's name. He remembered carrying baby Sam out. Then the explosion. Dean never told Sam how much their dad cried that week. "How's Piper?"
"She's doing good." Sam didn't know when she'll be back, she just told Sam she needed to spend time with Paige. She almost died from a mission she did. "How's Jen?"
"She's fine." Dean worried about her everyday. But at least she's safe. "Found us a case."
"Really? Now?" Sam couldn't believe it. When Dean tossed a coin on the table, Sam's eyes went big.
"Where did you get this?" That coin, it was used as hexes, only the highest skilled witches used those.
"Boss found it in the hot tub." Dean tried not to hate witches, but bad witches gave Dean the creeps. "This isn't the only one, a hunter called, he said the same coin was found in a salon. A woman was deep fried extra crispy." He needed a break. Hunting evil, that can take Dean's mind off things.
"Do you know where?"
Prosperity, Indiana
Dean was tossing and turning in his motel room. He had this nightmare every night for the last few weeks.
"Daddy!" Four year old Dean cried. He heard his dad screaming. His baby brother was crying in his crib.
"Take your brother and run as fast as you can! Go Dean! Go! Mary!" He heard his dad screaming for his wife.
Dean carried his baby brother out as fast as he could. He was short, luckily his parents didn't lock the deadbolt. When he got to the front lawn, he saw Sam's room on fire.
"It's gonna be okay Sammy." Dean was just a toddler, but was very overprotective of his brother.
It was a few seconds later that their father picked Dean up and ran across the street just as the explosion happened.
What Dean saw, he never told anyone. He saw a shadow of a man watching from Sammy's room. Dean heard his voice.
"This is only the beginning."
Dean sat up straight, his heart beating out of his chest.
"Dean? You alright?" Sam's voice was coming from the other bed in their shared motel room.
"I'm fine. Just a bad dream." Azazel. He killed their mom, killed Sam, thankfully Lucifer brought him back, and killed their dad. Dean didn't know why he was dreaming of him. It's been years.
"You want to talk about it?"
Dean shook his head.
"You sure?" Both had nightmares, but Dean preferred those nightmares over his memories.
"I'm going to get something from the vending machine." He had to call his wife, make sure she was okay.
"Okay." Sam wished Dean would open himself more. He always kept his secrets to himself.
A young woman wearing a black hoodie was walking back from a convenient store carrying junk food. She didn't indulge often, but since she was in America, why not? She ignored the junkies checking her out, she wasn't worried, she was perfectly safe.
Once she got into her rented car, she took out her cell and sent a text to her contact.
'Just arrived in town. I'll be staying at the Marriott Presidential Suite.' Why not? She wasn't paying for it, her grandpa was. Turning on her engine, she drove away.
The Impala drives down the downtown street. Neither brother talked, Sam gave up trying to carry on a conversation. As Dean drove, Sam noticed banners hanging from a museum, as well as a bust. They were splitting up, Dean was gonna check out that salon, that hunter that found that coin was going to talk to Dean, while Sam was going to interview Wendy's employee. See if she had any enemies.
"Meet me back at the motel." Dean clipped. He was driving straight to Boston after this, he had to see Jenna.
"Sure." Sam wondered what was going on in Dean's head. He was wondering about Piper, why she was shutting everyone out. Ever since she found out about Jenna's pregnancy, she's been acting so depressed and angry. Like a few days ago, she snapped at Sam over dinner. All he said that he wanted to eat more healthy. Piper threw her cell at him and told him to order himself a dinner if he was so picky. Then she stormed out.
It was hours before she came home, when Sam asked, she said she was hunting. Her and Sam ending up arguing all night, she made Sam sleep on the couch. Their breakfast the next day was icy. Ever since they got back from Oregon, Sam wondered what was going on with her. Especially after she got over her flu.
"What's going on with everyone?" Sam said out loud.
"Around here? Who knows?" The voice made Sam turn around. "Hey, you're Sam Winchester? Aren't you?''
Sam turned around at the voice. He saw a pretty brunette, but he didn't know her name.
"Hi. Have we met?"
Dean was writing down notes. The poor bastard was shaking, he was the one that found Wendy's body.
"Do you know why she was killed?"
"I don't know. I already have my insurance guy on it, I just renovated this place. The lawsuit, it will destroy me." The guy sniffles. Dean forced himself not to roll his eyes. A woman was murdered, and all he cared about was money. "Thanks for your time." He closes his notebook. Where was that guy? A hunter was supposed to meet him here. Seeing Sam, he walks out of the salon.
''Well?"
"A accident. No enemies, no spurned ex-lovers. Just a bad accident." Who Sam was talking to earlier, he was keeping her to himself at the moment.
"Except we know it was no accident." There was a witch involved.
"Piper isn't like that. I'm not like that." Sam hated it when a witch turned bad.
"I'm not blaming you. Where to?"
Somewhere across town Dewy Stevens was saying goodbye to his employee. He had a good day, especially since he secured that contract. This was gonna make him rich. He couldn't wait to go home and see his wife, then after that, send her and the kids to their grandma's. He had a date. The motel room on the highway, he was going to meet up with some lady friends he met at the strip club last week.
Putting his tools in the back of his truck, he goes to use the john before he heads home for the day. After he goes in the porta potty, he closes the door.
A nail gun slowly lifts up and aims towards the john.
Dewy was wondering what was going on, he heard the machine to his nail gun going off. Was this a prank? Buttoning his pants, he turns around to tell his guys to knock it off.
"C'mon guys..! The hell?" He saw a nail gun, but that's not what scared him. It was who was behind it.
He didn't have time to scream as they nail gun went off. It was painful, really painful. He knew this was the end.
The nails were the last thing he saw before they shot right in his eyes.
"Rock a Bye Baby" was playing on the baby machine. A young mother was cooing at her baby.
"It's late."
"I know. I just hate being away." She smiled at her baby before she puts her child in the crib.
"Come to bed."
"In a minute!" She whispers. She smiled at the crib. Since the song ended, she turned the machine back on. The soothing tone started playing again.
He was laying in his bed when he heard the screams. Running towards the nursery, he saw his dead wife on the ceiling. He didn't have time to scream, saving their baby was his first priority. No way was he letting that bastard win.
Dean saw the coin. Whoever this was, they had to be stopped. He goes to the trailer where Sam was.
"Any clues?" Dean was sick of this. He hated hunting. He threw down that coin. "We need to bring back the stake." He ignored Sam's glare.
"What's with you? And don't complain it's about witches. Something is really bothering you."
"Remember mom?"
"Mom? Is that what's about? What about her?" Today was the anniversary of her death. Ignoring the computer, he looks at Dean. Dean looked so tired. No wonder he's been acting so weird.
"Her smile. Sammy, she was so beautiful." Dean sighed with a sad smile. "You should have seen her smile when she brought you home from the hospital. You were so tiny." Dean remembered her radiant smile. Their father was beaming. "She handed you to me to hold. Of course dad was worried I'll drop you, but I never did."
"Azazel will never get his claws on Jen, especially my niece or nephew. I promise." Forgetting the computer, he shuts it off. "Forget about today. Lets go for dinner. My treat." Sam knew who was behind it, but at the moment didn't care. "Call your wife, after this case is over, take the car and drive to Boston. Forget hunting, your priories are your family."
"Thanks Sam." Dean was so tired. That dream he had recently, he saw the flames. But he couldn't figure out who was in the nursery. Those screams. He never wanted to hear them again.
Sue was watching Maggie with admiration, she was barking orders at the wait staff. Tonight was her big night, she was opening her first art auction.
"Place looks great!" God Maggie was so beautiful. If only she looked at Sue the way she looked at art.
"No thanks to Don." Maggie takes a sip of the bottle water that was on the table next to her.
"He doesn't deserve you. Him and Wendy. That knife in the heart, you didn't deserve that." Sue suspected Don and Wendy was having a affair. That's why she spied on Don. As soon as they started kissing, Sue used her camera to take pictures.
"And I love you for that." She places her hand over Sue's. "No! The still life goes that way! Not the left!"
"I love you too.'' Sue says quietly as Maggie walks away. When she saw who walked inside, she steps I front of him. "Don." She said in a cool voice.
"I need to see my wife." He saw Maggie admiring her paintings.
"You mean soon to be ex-wife." Sue corrected.
"You would like that wouldn't you." He wasn't blind. "I made one mistake."
"So you say." Sue hated him. For hurting Maggie, and knowing Maggie still loved him.
"As much as I love to talking to you, this is important. Maggie!" He waved to her.
Maggie glared at Don. She saw Sue standing guard, clearly she wanted to protect Maggie.
"It's okay Sue. Don and I have to have a little chat."
"I'll be right over there." Giving Don a dirty look, she walks away.
"What do you want?" Maggie stared at Don with resentment.
"You are seriously considering this." The art show, the material things. Don knew it was all an act. "She doesn't give a rat's ass about us." Isabel, she was enchanting all witches with new powers. Don was around long enough that it came with a heavy price. "You know when it's over, she'll kill us." The First Witch, she only came to Earth for one reason.
"It's better than the alternative!" Maggie hissed. "We know what's coming. I need to be strong."
"Then what? When it's over, we become mortal. All this, gone. We'll age and die, if we're lucky."
"Is that why you are working with that hunter?" She wasn't stupid.
"He's better than dying. Maggie please. We need to run."
"Unlike you, I'm no coward." She flounced away.
Don sighed. Plan B then. He heads outside. When he saw the dead plants, he stopped dead in his tracks. When he saw his bust with his likeness split in half, he saw red.
He looked up to see Maggie smiling. This was war.
Sam was typing on his laptop when Dean emerged from the shower.
"So did you find out anything?"
"Like I suspected. We have not one, but two witches." Sam knew it. The dead plants, the deaths. "We have a real life War of the Roses here."
"Who is it?" Dean didn't care, he just wanted to go home. His hunter friend said he was on it.
"Remember those people?"
"The three deaths? What about 'em." Dean walked over to the fridge and takes out a banana creme pie. Yum.
"They all had something in common. They were working with a Don Stark."
"Don Stark? Where did I hear that name before?" Dean said absently. He takes out a fork and starts digging in. God this was good. He preferred apple, especially from his sister in law, she used organic apples.
"Anyways, they all had something in common. They were supposed to break ground on a new shopping centre."
"Uh huh."
"Things fell apart. Deals were canceled, there was threats of lawsuits, things turned ugly."
"Like murder." Witches. He felt bad for Sam, he knew he hated being associated with evil.
"Yeah. But that's not all I found. Remember Carl Dunlop?"
Dean sighed. He lost his appetite. He pushed the pie away.
"What about him." He never forgot his wife's sobs. Especially his kids. They kept asking Dean if Daddy was okay.
"His death was no accident."
"No shit."
"No. You don't understand. Dean, you were meant to find his body." He saw Dean look up.
"Huh?"
"This witch, he was sending a message. To us."
"What?" Dean was confused. "He killed a guy to send me a message? Why?"
"To bring us here. Dean. I don't think this is a typical case." Sam already made some calls, he made a few hex bags to protect themselves.
"So what do you expect us to do?" Dean never carried a witch killing gun anymore, he didn't want to hurt Sam or his friends. "You want us to yank these witches the old fashioned way?" Dean had to be careful, he didn't want to hurt Sam.
"Just do what I say." Sam had a plan.
Maggie was at the auction reading from her prepared speech.
"Thanks for coming. Most of you know that philosophy and art are my two passions but tonight- hey! The ice! People are going to be here any minute!" Maggie had to make a good expression. Isabel was her honored guest. She smiled at Sue's applause.
''That was beautiful." She loved anything Maggie said.
"Thanks." Maggie was all dressed up, she was wearing her most expensive perfume and was wearing her newest gown. She couldn't wait for tonight.
Dean was just having a beer when Sam walked in carrying a bag. When Sam threw his bag in front of Dean's face, Dean grimaced.
"Seriously? Ugh! Those stink." He was wondering what Sam was up to.
"I got those on sale. Butcher shop's freezer is down, same with everyone's else's."
"Man, there must be one pissed off witch around here." He had to make sure he never pissed Sis off, he didn't want to get blown up.
''Yep. Burst pipes, blackouts, I hope the hex bags are enough."
"If only Sis was around, she and her sisters can combine their powers." Dean always admired their magic. Especially the Power of Three. They defeated a whole bunch of demons in one shot.
"I would never put her in danger like that." Sam swore. He already was planning on catching a flight to San Francisco, he had a feeling Piper was in trouble. She seemed so tired during their phone calls.
"Here." Dean's nose was crinkled. "Take them, ugh." That smell.
Sue screams as she dropped her glass.
"That is disgusting!" There was two eyeballs in her drink. "Who would do this?" She and Maggie were about to open the doors.
Don Stark was smiling as he drove up. He hated to ruin his wife's evening, but it was for her own good.
"Noooo." Her paintings, they were melting. "NOOO!" Don, how dare he!
"Is it Don? Figures. Maggie. We'll fix this. There are people here that love you. Everyone will understand." She didn't see the silver platter, those were the last words she ever spoke before her head fell off.
Don smiles huge. He could feel Maggie's fury. He had to hurry home, the witch and his brother were on their way.
"Fine." Maggie seethed. She knew he was bringing the two hunters, why he wanted to work with that witch, she had no idea. His wife was more powerful. Stepping over Sue's headless body, she storms out.
"Oh boy." Sam saw the emergency vehicles. "This will be be fun." When they got inside after showing off their fake badges, they saw the headless body and head.
"We have to be on our toes. You sure you know what you're doing?" Dean saw the amount of blood. Seeing the ruined paintings, he knew the wife was pissed.
"Yep. Let's pick up our stuff." Dean refused to let Sam keep the chicken feet in the car, so Sam put everything in a cooler and left everything in the motel room. "Let's head to ground zero." The Stark Mansion, she told Sam to meet her there.
Don was enjoying his scotch when Maggie stormed in.
"Hi honey, how was the party?" As he takes a sip. Ahh. Macallan M, a single sip was a few thousand at least.
"Bastard. You ruined me!"
"Like you almost ruined Jenny Klein's? She is my assistant! Nothing more!" Good thing he found that coin in time. She was like his niece. Poor girl was traumatized by her cupcakes. "The beating hearts, nice touch." He pours another shot.
"Shove it. You, me! Let's end this." Isabel was gone, Maggie didn't sense her anymore.
Don stood up, he was waiting for this. Sure enough, the boys broke in with their bowl.
"Furor davina virtute in infernum eam detrude!" Dean chants. Sam threw down the match.
Maggie smirks.
"Let me guess. Chicken feet? For a witch, you forgot your basic rules. Double check everything is right!"
"It's risky, putting your brother in danger like that. The spell would have killed him too, but both of you knew that." Don finishes his drink. "You forgot to chill your chicken feet. For obvious reasons, I can't let you leave." He holds Maggie's hand. "Shall we?" They start chanting.
"I sure hope you know what you are doing." Sam had a plan, he said he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Trust me." Where was she? He and Dean were then thrown against the wall, frozen in place.
"...Supune-te ordinelor mele-"
"That's enough!"
Don and Maggie couldn't believe it.
"Kyra?" An exact lookalike of Maggie, she came strolling in wearing sweats and a black hoodie over her face.
"Sweetie, didn't we tell you about making a good expression?" Maggie never thought she'll see her great granddaughter many generations down alive.
"Liberate vincula!" (Free the chains!) Sam and Dean unfroze from their positions. "Sorry about that. My great grandparents times a few are very hot tempered." She stood in front of them after taking off her hood. "They are my friends! Grandpa Don, you promised!"
"I wasn't about to hurt them. Unlike your grandma here." He glared at his wife.
"How dare you turn my grandchild against me!"
"Would you two stop! It was bad enough in 1813!" She was pregnant with her only child at the time, both of them bickered over how Kyra's son would be raised. "God." She was embarrassed. "Sam, Dean. Usually they act differently around strangers. Ahem. Grandpa Don, about Isabel..."
"She promised to protect you if I joined her." Maggie was devastated when Kyra died. She tried for years to release her from Hell, unlike her, Kyra was a innocent.
"Like she would keep her promises. Her motives, they are selfish." Don was shaking his head. "Since you're here, you got my message?"
"You mean the dead guy? We don't work with murderers." Dean hated dark witches.
"A few lives. Big deal. Carl and Dewy, they introduced you to Wendy!" Maggie throws her hands on her hips glaring at her husband. "And don't get me started on Jenny!"
''Like I said before! Jenny is my assistant! She is like my niece! How many times do I have to explain myself! As for Wendy, I ended it! Besides, remember that sailor in 1492?''
"Christopher and I were just friends! He was trying to prove the world was round! I felt sorry for him!"
Sam and Dean were trying not to smile. They had bickers with their wives themselves. Dean gestured for Sam to wait outside.
Once Don saw the Winchesters leaving. He wagged a finger at his wife.
"LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!"
"Would you two stop!" Kyra was getting a headache. Hell wasn't as annoying. "We have a bigger problem then your bickering! I called you for your help!"
"You're right." Don was ashamed. He was the one that pushed Kyra to marry that man. Because of him, she died and went to Hell. "Mags, I never wanted to hurt you. Or my grandchild." He loved Kyra.
"That's why I sent our great grandson to live with hunters. I didn't want Samuel being used as a demon vessel." She never met Samuel Colt, but she didn't want him to be raised by a demon. So she sent him to Wyoming to be raised with hunters. "Kyra, bring in those hunters. We need to strategize." She and Don had work together, they didn't want to lose Kyra again.
Sam and Dean were listening to the two witches. They too were scared. They were afraid of the future. Sam turned down being in a coven, he said he preferred to be with his wife and brother. Dean promised not to hunt them, but only if they stop hunting people. Both witches agreed, they had to stop wasting time, especially when Kyra said the end of the world was inevitable.
Once they got back to their motel room, both were startled seeing a man walking in. Taking out their guns, they demanded who he was.
"Winchesters. Finally." When Dean shot him, he laughed. "Got to do better than that." He had black ooze coming out of his chest. Sam was about to chant a spell when the guy fell to the floor getting electrocuted.
"Good thing I followed you here." He used his electric spell on the guy. "He'll be out for a few days. Leviathans. So uncouth."
"Uhhhh...Thanks?" Dean didn't know what else to say.
"What was that thing?" Sam never saw anything that was immune to Dean's new bullets.
"Something that shouldn't be here." He walks over to their mattresses and takes out two coins.
"Seriously? You promised Kyra." Dean knew he didn't trust witches.
"I did, but my wife. She thinks you are a bad influence. If you want, I can pay for your children's tuition at Knox. You can pay me back by saving the world." Kyra wasn't close to them, she hadn't spoken to him in centuries. "I'll be seeing you around, take care."
"I was going to sleep, but I'll chance driving. Need a ride to the bus station?" No way was Dean staying in this town.
Forrest Hills, Scotland
Chris was staring absently at the lake. It was so peaceful here, way different than the future he came from.
"Hey." Bianca stands beside him. "It's beautiful isn't it." She raised her head up soaking in the sun.
Chris didn't say a word.
"We're already changing things." Bianca already was seeing it. People who died in the past were alive now, her parents were happy and not split up. "You know she'll be born eventually." Chris' fiancee, she was the love of his life.
Chris just stares at lake. Bianca sighs.
"You want to talk about it?"
Chris smiles.
"Remember Cas and his drunken orgies?"
"Ewwww. Thanks for the bad memories." She was only a kid, but heard the moans. Men, women, Castiel wasn't picky. Her brother teased her for months.
"DJ, no matter how bad things got, he always made sure everyone wasn't left behind."
"Aunt Paige's motto." She always wondered what Sacred Meadows was like. It was destroyed by the United States Army. "Remember the fight about hygiene products?" The toilet paper shortage. Phew.
"Never mind the mandatory birth control." Since supplies were limited, everyone was required to abstain. Of course some religious zealots disagreed and bred like bunnies, claiming it was God's Will, even with Michael arguing He didn't give a shit. DJ and the other leaders had them imprisoned. Chris heard the screams of the back alley 'sterilizations.' Poor women. "What about you, you miss home?"
"Yeah." It was a dark future, but Bianca missed it terribly. An outsider would be terrified, but to her, it was home. Her family, her friends, they were all close. "Do you miss her?"
"Everyday." Chris remembered her laugh, her smile, how she always found sunshine even in the darkest times. Feeling himself tear up, he pushed his emotions down. "We'll fix things, then we'll live happily ever after."
"Will you? Remember you won't be with her, your younger self will, maybe." Changing the future means changing the past.
"I know." Chris thought about that everyday. "But knowing she would be alive, that's a good enough reason for me." That pained Chris, but sacrifices needed to be done. "I have a class to teach."
"Yeah. Mrs Winters is bringing the students to write a paper on the witch trials. I have to be there to assist with their research." She liked her job as a librarian, but she missed being on the road. "Kyra will be back tomorrow, we better get back to work. Benny will be checking in on us." She heads back to the school.
Before Chris follows Bianca, he takes another long look. This lake, the planet, Creation Itself. Everyone took things for granted.
"I'll make sure you have a good life. Promise."
"Chris!"
"I'm coming!" Sheesh. So impatient.
San Francisco, California
Piper was dancing hard at the club. Savannah, she was good. Piper was kicking herself for not hiring her at P3 all those years ago, P3 would still be around.
"Want to dance?" A good looking punk asked.
"Sure!" Piper needed this. No responsibilities, no demons, no annoyances. Just booze and good times. Dean, he was right about partying.
"Piper! Piper!"
"Nope. Not listening." She pulled the guy closer. He didn't mind, he was drunk. She didn't protest when he grabbed her ass. "Hey!" She felt herself getting pulled away.
"She's married. Bye bye!" Phoebe waves him off.
"The hell?! It was one dance!" Piper grabs a drink off a passing waitress and downs it.
"What's wrong with you! Piper!" When she took something out her pocket, Phoebe slaps her hand away.
"The hell?! Those were mine!" She couldn't pick them up, the dancing patrons stomped her package into powder.
"Drugs? Seriously?! Do you even know what's in those?" Phoebe couldn't believe it.
"They are perfectly safe! My friend Kenneth said they would make me forget my problems!" Piper smiled sexily to a guy who was watching from the bar.
"That's it!" Phoebe couldn't take this anymore. "You are coming back with me! Sam is on his way here!"
"Sam." Piper closes her eyes.
"Your husband? Remember?"
"Oh yes, the ole ball and chain." He wasn't as annoying as Leo, but he did nothing but irritate her the last few weeks. "I forgot about him." She started dancing again.
The hell was her problem? Ever since her flu. She's been acting so weird.
"Piper honey? It's getting late. Maybe you should come back with me!" God was this place loud.
"Then go!" She turns deliberately around. "Hey! Let go!" Phoebe grabbed her around.
''Oh my god." Piper's eyes. "You're sick. You need to go home." Her eyes were bloodshot red.
"I feel fine! I just had a long day." Phew. The room was spinning. She stumbled back. Why was the crowd so blurry? She fell to the floor unconscious.
"Oh my god. Call 911! Piper! Piper!" Her skin was hot and was sheen with cold sweat.
Paige came rushing to the hospital. As soon as Phoebe called from the ambulance, she told Richard that she had to go. Sam was already there, he came immediately to be with his wife.
"Phoebe!" She rushes in her arms. "How is she?" She was on a date with Richard at his estate when Phoebe called. Richard understood, he said he'll be praying for her.
"I don't know. She's in the trauma unit. Sam is with her." There was only one family member allowed, Phoebe felt like it was right that Sam was with her. "She was dancing then she fainted. Doctors won't tell me anything." She's been inside the emergency room for an hour. "I don't know what's wrong." She tried using her empath powers, but she didn't feel anything. "I called Prue, there was no answer."
"Last I heard she was in South Africa, cells won't work where she is." God they could use her astral project powers right now. Seeing Sam, they stood up.
"Well?" Sam looked stricken.
"I don't know. Doctors are running tests. I need to call Dean, cells aren't allowed in here."
"No, I'll call him. Be with your wife." Paige saw his pain. She'll bring him here if she had to.
"Thanks." He goes back inside.
"I'm gonna call dad. He needs to be here." Phoebe needed air. "Want a pop? I'm getting one." Phoebe said absently. She gets up.
"Hello? Hellloooo!" Where was she? Piper was looking around, it looked so empty in here. This was a hospital. Where was everyone?
Phoebe was carrying two cans when she accidentally tripped over something.
"I'm so sorry!" A little boy was sitting in a wheelchair. Her two cans were sitting on his lap.
"Can I have one?"
"Of course! Have both!" She was so embarrassed.
"One is fine. Yum, root beer." He opens the can. "My mom won't let me drink pop, says it's bad for my teeth."
"She's right though." Phoebe didn't drink pop often, but when she did, it was always diet. "Thanks." She opens her own can.
"She's a dentist, she always takes things too seriously. What's so bad about sweets? Chocolate is awesome."
"Yes it is." Phoebe smiles. "I'm Phoebe. What's your name?"
"Michael."
"I see you have a gaming system. What are you playing?" Mindless conversation, that will keep her mind of things.
"It's so cool, it's called Faith and Quest." He turns on the system. "My character, he has to defeat a evil god, but get this, God isn't the enemy."
"Really?" Phoebe didn't play videogames, but she knew Jenna's brother did. "That sounds exciting."
"It is. You can choose to be any character. A human, an angel or a demon." He smiles as he pushes the buttons.
"Wow. That sounds awesome."
"Yeah. It makes me forget that I'm here. I'm sick. Cancer." Only then Phoebe notices his hat, underneath he was bald with no eyebrows.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." She felt awful.
"Don't cry! My mom cries and makes me feel guilty." He saw Phoebe tearing up. "You're visiting someone here aren't you."
"My sister. She's sick." Phoebe felt the tears. It was like before when Piper was sick and died. Then Paige in that coma, and Prue with that heart attack. "I'm sorry!" She couldn't stop the tears.
"Here." He hands her some tissues. "They're clean. Promise." He smiles at her laugh. "I'm not afraid. I have faith." He smiled at his mom. "I have to go, my mom is here. She's taking me to Disneyland for the weekend."
"Have a good time." She waves as he gets wheeled away. "Bye!"
"Bye! Tell your sister she'll be okay!"
Phoebe felt so sad, but talking to Michael cheered her up. Realizing the time, she rushes back to the waiting room.
"Dad!" She hugs him.
"Sweetheart. The doctor came while you were gone." As soon as Paige called, he immediately came down here when Paige orbed him.
"What are they saying?" Seeing his face, her heart dropped.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean? You don't know."
"The doctor is running tests. So far there is nothing wrong."
"That's good right?"
"I hope so." Victor was trying to hold his emotions together for his daughter.
"Can I see her?" She saw Paige walking out of the ER. Sam refused to leave her side.
"Not yet. Right now they are moving her to the ICU unit."
ICU? Oh god.
"Paige? Can I have Krissy's number?"
Piper was looking in the manor. Where was everyone?
"Phoebe! Paige!" The entire house was empty. She had to go home. Sam needed her.
"You gotta be kidding me." Her house was bare. The entire neighbourhood was devoid of people. The hell was she?
The Darklighter was getting his arrows ready, there was no more whitelighters thanks to Michael, but that didn't mean it was any easier to go after witches. But he sensed his old enemy on Earth.
"After all that time, you and I will have that final showdown." Luckily he knew how to cross the astral plane. "You sure he's there?"
"He is. Remember, don't hurt the witch. You hear me?"
"She isn't my problem." He looks at the First Witch. "What's so special about her?" He knew she was a Charmed One, but her older sister was on the hit list for Heaven and Hell. The rewards were huge, but he wasn't interested.
"You better get going, the door won't be open long."
"Yes ma'am." He says sarcastically. He leaves the Underworld, but not until bringing some friends. The other darklighters will keep the witches busy for awhile. "What do I call you? Isabel, Victoria, N-"
"Enough!"
"You don't want anyone to find out your real name?" He was one of the few that knew her and her mate back in the day. "Why hide? You and I used to work together with Adam and his two sons." He was best friends with Cain and Abel till Abel's tragic death, and he himself went to Hell after he murdered a woman. Cain was the first murderer, no one gave a shit about the second. Unlike most demons, he didn't a rat's ass about the eternal battle of Good vs Evil. As for Armageddon, he was neutral about it. "Well if you see your husband, tell him I said hello." He was on Earth. Why she was avoiding him, he had no idea.
Phoebe walked in the ICU unit. Piper was in a special isolation room, Sam was sitting next to her wearing protective gear. He refused to leave her side, only leaving to use the facilities or to get something quick to eat. Phoebe waved when Sam looked up. Seeing Sam getting up, she waited outside the door.
"Sam." She wanted to hug him but knew she couldn't risk cross-contamination. "How is she?" Sam looked sorrowful.
"I don't know. The doctors still don't know. They drew so much blood." He looked behind her. "I'm going to see Dean, I'm sure she'll want to see you.".
"Thanks Sam." Once he left, she out in her own PPE. "Oh Piper." Piper was so still. Her body was covered in sweat, her bed was soaked. "Piper sweetie? I'm going to clean you up."
Phoebe just finished changing her blankets when a doctor walked in.
"Dr Clark. How is she?"
"I did all her tests, including drawing blood, x-rays, even ordered a CT scan."
"And?"
"There's nothing there. Everything came up clear." She was mystified.
"That's good news right?" Phoebe teared up when Dr Clark said the next thing.
"I'm currently running more tests. Ms Halliwell, I would suggest you pray for a miracle. Your sister, she is in a coma and may not wake up. Her organs are currently shutting down, I don't know why. I am sending her results to another lab, hopefully they will have more answers."
Phoebe had to stifle her sobs. When Sam walked in, she cried as he held her.
"I'm sorry!" She saw Sam crying. "I feel like it's my fault."
"No, it isn't yours.'' He had tears streaming down his face. "I already called for a specialist. She didn't answer her phone, but I left her a message."
"And Krissy?" Krissy had that miracle Rock. That saved Paige's life.
"Her phone is disconnected. Bobby and Rufus don't know where she went. Her and her friends, they disappeared sometime last month."
"Dammit." The whitelighters are gone, and she knew Heaven won't help. "Go sit with her. I'm gonna get Paige."
Phoebe was sitting in her car. She had to make sure everything was in her box. Once she finished packing everything, she takes out her shovel and starts digging.
"Phoebe Halliwell. It's my greatest pleasure."
Phoebe turned around to see a man wearing black with glowing red eyes.
"Sorry, all Deals are closed to the Halliwell Women."
"Who says? As far as I know you all wanted me, my sisters."
"That was before management changed. Our Queen, she made it clear she doesn't want anything from you."
"Bring her here, and I negotiate."
"Sorry, I'm just a cashier. No one bothers her, she is way stronger than Lillith ever was." He walks towards her. "It's too bad, we would love to see you downstairs, ever since we lost our seers, we have to guess everything."
"My sister is dying."
"Really? Do tell. Tell Zack what's going on." That British accent was fake, Phoebe wasn't fooled.
"Nice accent."
"It makes my wealthy clients comfortable. Want to know a little secret? They get more than ten years. When they make deals, they don't just head downstairs." He shuddered. His accent gone. "You know that rich business man with everything with his name on his ventures? He better enjoy it while he can."
"Can you at least tell me about my sister?"
"Which one?" He closes his eyes. "Ooh. That's not good."
"What. Tell me." Phoebe demanded.
"They are in a alley somewhere, a whole bunch of darklighters. They are helping their fellow friend open a door."
"Door? What door?"
"There are several doors. I don't know where. I'm just a salesman. A piece of advice, get there before they do." To Phoebe's frustration, he disappears. "Thanks for nothing." She muttered. She had to hurry back.
When she got back to the hospital, she saw Jenna and Dean sitting on chairs.
"Jenna. Dean." She allowed herself to get hugged by Jenna. Jenna wasn't showing yet, it was too early.
"How's things?"
"I called for a favor." When Phoebe looked over, she saw a old woman looking up.
"Hi." She looks at Dean. Who was she? She was short, with grey hair wearing a eye patch.
"My name's Lily. Lily Sunder."
Lily? That was the woman who killed all those angels.
"Yeah, I got old. Your friend, he called me for a favor. They can't get a hold of your witch. Desperate times I guess."
"Fine. About Piper." She knew she had to deal with those darklighters, but at the moment didn't care.
"I need to see her."
Phoebe and Paige lied and told everyone she was their grandmother. Sam allowed her to do her inspection.
"What's taking her so long?" Paige was worried sick. Lily was chanting something.
"I don't know. I wish she'll hurry." Phoebe was dying to know what was happening. When Lily walked out, Phoebe, Sam and Paige stood up. "Well?"
"I'm afraid there is nothing I can do. Your sister, she's in a plane, but I don't know which one."
"Oh god." Paige told Phoebe about her adventures with Richard.
"Is there anyway we can bring her back?" Sam asked. "I can trade. My life for hers."
"Piper would kill you."
"At least she won't be alone." He tells Paige. "How do we get her out of there."
"She isn't alone, but she is in danger."
Piper was running away from the darklighter.
"You can't run from me! You're in my world now!"
"Help!" Piper screamed. "Phoebe! Paige! Sam! Dean!" Oh god, where was she?