A Special Presentation
A black screen with cheerful tempo music plays as the opening screen comes on with cheesy seventies graphics showing.
An Instrumental take of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was playing as the opening scene comes on.
One year ago in a random town somewhere, a little boy was waiting excitingly for a special Christmas visitor.
Ding Dong!
Little Stevie runs to the door. He waited all year to see a very special visitor.
"Grandpa!" He hugs his grandfather. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you too." Donald hated long flights. But to see his grandson's smile on Christmas morning made his trip worth it.
"Did you bring me any presents?" Stevie knew his grandpa always pretended to be Santa. He played along, he knew how important Christmas was to him.
"Maybe. But you know that's Santa's job." He knew Stevie was getting older and was starting not to believe in Santa. That's why he had his gifts and Santa suit hidden in his rental car. "You been a good boy?"
"Always." He always got presents, hopefully with the school detentions he racked up, 'Santa' forgave him.
"Well, better go to bed early tonight, it's Christmas Eve. Santa is shy about his looks."
Very early the next morning, Donald dresses up as the Jolly Red Man. Putting on his fake beard, he picks up his jingle bells and rings it, knowing fully well his grandson would be watching from the staircase.
Jingle Jingle!
He smiles when he heard the small footsteps. Stevie, he was getting quieter every year.
"Santa!" Stevie whispers. He knew it was Grandpa, but he didn't care. He always showed up.
Don hearing little Stevie on the staircase, starts taking out presents from the bag he carried.
Thump!
The hell? Don looked up. The hell was that?
"Reindeer?" Wow. Grandpa sure went out this year.
Don shook off the noise. He had to hurry and sneak out after the presents were "delivered." He had to head to the twenty four hour diner to have a cup of coffee. That way he can come home and act surprised that Santa came.
He just finished putting the last gift under the tree when he heard more thumps from the roof. Looking up in confusion, he quickly looks at the fireplace. The heck? He goes and checks out the source of the noise. Seeing ashes falling, he bends over to see what was happening.
Stevie was startled when he saw his grandpa getting pulled into the fireplace. Hearing a scream, he runs upstairs to wake his parents.
The last thing Santa Don left behind was a bloodied red boot from his Santa costume.
The usual title card was replaced with a Christmas ornament exploding with Christmas lettering, with a tiny Santa hat on the show's name. The sounds of jingle bells was heard in the background with snow falling on the screen.
Boston, Massachusetts
Present Day
"All Because of Mr. Santa Claus" by Hal David & John Cacavas was playing in the background as last minute shoppers milled around, most of the shelves stripped bare.
"How much is this?" Dean hated shopping, but no way was he letting his heavily pregnant wife in this madhouse. He told her to hit Amazon for her Christmas shopping.
"You have very good taste."
Dean flinched at the price.
"That's a little out of my price range." He pointed to a charm bracelet. "How much is that thing? I'll take it. Wrap it up."
Dean had to fight his way out the door, his arms were full.
"Dammit!" His carefully wrapped present fell on the floor, but before Dean could pick it up, it got stepped on. "Merry Christmas to you too!" He swore as he tried to pick it up. Seeing a hand picking it up off the floor, Dean growled. "Put that back before you get your ass kicked." He saved for months for that gift.
"Looks like you need help." Sam smiles at Dean. "It's Christmas! Why so grouchy?"
"Thanks." Dean sighed as Sam takes some of the bags. "I been here for hours." He had a ton of presents to buy. Especially baby clothes. His baby was going to be born in a few weeks. He wondered why Sam was here, he said he was spending a quiet Christmas with his newly pregnant wife. "You and Sis changed your mind? Sorry, I didn't buy your present yet."
"I'm good." Sam usually hated Christmas, but after getting the news, Sam loved the holidays. "I came here alone. Piper, Victor called, wanted to see his daughters for the holiday. I have a few days before I drive back."
"Really? That's good. Because there is no room. Devon, he met a chick. If you want, I know a cheap motel in town. Wait a minute. You drove?"
"I figured you missed your Baby. Sorry."
"Aww thanks Sammy." He hated driving Jenna's mom's car, it was a ugly SUV. "Help me put these presents in the back. I need to get the hell outta here."
"Nice room!" It was a typical hole in a wall. Cheap, run down, and dirty. It was just like old times. "Got a beer?"
Sam opens the motel fridge.
"Here ya go." Once they open their beers, they started talking.
"So Sammy, you came here, leaving a beautiful wife behind in San Francisco. No way are you here just to see me. Case?"
"Yep." Sam hated to leave Piper behind, but she insisted that he check out a case. She said she needed to help out her sisters for a few days. Sam was driving back as soon as she was done, he was spending Christmas in San Francisco with her and Phoebe. As for Paige and Billie, Paige was staying with her boyfriend, and Billie was heading home to her parents. "Too bad you just missed one, a banshee was killing people."
"Christmas is usually busy for hunters." The monsters usually took advantage of the holiday, people tended to let their guard down. "Is it dead?"
"Never stood a chance. Riot was with me, familiars, they know how to track down those things." He and Riot were good friends, Riot kept Sam company on occasion, as a familiar, Sam wasn't his only charge. He did say he was moving in with Sam and Piper full time after their baby was born.
"So, why are you still here?"
"I wanted to see you before I left again."
"Going west?" Dean loved his brother, Dean realized this was going to be first Christmas Sam wasn't going to be around. "Say hi for me."
"North actually. Found a another case."
"Another one?" Hmm. "Need a riding partner?" He didn't want to leave his wife behind, but he was getting restless. Playing this Christmas role at his in-laws was getting boring.
"Wouldn't your wife kill you?" Jenna was usually sweet, but she was getting restless these days. Dean emailed Sam, said she kept looking for cases. Both Dean and Devon shut her down when she insisted on going on a hunt. The case she wanted, was a case of a lone vampire hunting homeless people. Both Dean and Devon took care of that vamp, by cutting off its head.
"I can call her. How long will we be? One, two?"
"Maybe a week. The case's in Michigan."
"You sure? I can stay. Sam's a witch, he can take care of himself."
Sam smiles as Dean talks on his cell. He says he wants out of the life, have a normal life, but after the sisters declined the Angel of Destiny's offer, both brothers admitted they were getting bored as well. Hunting was in their blood. At least for the next few months.
"Well?"
"She didn't argue. She must have read my mind." Jenna was getting bored herself, she told Dean to hunt for her. "So this case. What's it about?"
"Missing people, always around the Christmas Holiday."
"Santa gone bad?" Both knew that was impossible. Santa did exist, which surprised both brothers, he was always just a story. He was a former human, he met his wife, Mrs Claus when she came to Earth on a fairie trip back in the early AD century. The former saint was kidnapped by fairies, they saw the good he was doing and made a deal with him, telling him he can do more good somewhere else. The Priest agreed, as much as he loved his job at the church, it was too limiting. How exactly he became Santa Claus is a mystery, but early legends say they saw a fat man with a long white beard dropping off presents at the homes of small children, always with a sleigh adorned with jingle bells. Always being led with eight reindeer, one with a glowing red nose. Dean was surprised when he found out Santa existed, but apologized to Sam for lying about Santa not existing all those years ago when they were kids.
"Well we know it's not him. But I been searching the lore, there are dark versions of Santa. Belsnickel, Krampus, Zwarte Piet, but none are evil."
"Krampus?" He was believed to be a demon.
"I looked into that, he was killed centuries ago by hunters."
"So what exactly are we hunting?"
"Not exactly sure, already checked the Book of Shadows, called Bobby, none have no idea what we're dealing with."
"So how did you find this case?"
"Last week, a woman's husband went missing."
"Is that so unusual?" People tended to run off during the holidays, Dean remembered their father John taking off after a case was done. Christmas was his busiest season.
"Blood was strewn all over the living room, leading up the fireplace. Their daughter claimed that 'Santa' took daddy away."
"Sounds like a case to me. When do we leave?"
Ypsilanti, Michigan
A little girl was watching her mom talking to a man in a tailored suit. He was nodding and writing down notes, his partner, the tall man with the shaggy longish hair was waiting in the car they came in, leaving immediately after looking in the fireplace.
"I already told this to the police. My husband was downstairs decorating the tree, my daughter and myself were already in bed. I heard a thump from the roof, next thing I heard was my husband screaming. Now I'm talking to the FBI." Elaine Walsh was shaken. How was she supposed to go through Christmas now?
"You didn't see anything?" Dean was writing things down, he was glad to be helping out Sam, but hated being away from his wife.
Mrs Walsh sniffled.
"We have every door and window locked, the alarm was on, only my parents have the spare key and pass code."
"And where are your parent's now?"
"Florida." Her parents were flying up here, they didn't want their daughter and granddaughter alone for Christmas.
"We'll be in touch." He closes his notebook and was about to walk away, when Mrs Walsh called for him back.
"Agent?" When 'Agent Holiday' turned around, she asked about her husband's possible kidnapping. "Its been a few days. Isn't there usually a ransom demanded in these things?" She had some money, but not very much. "Christmas is less than a week away."
Less than a week? Oh crap. They had to solve this case quickly before Christmas.
"We'll be in touch." Dean walks to his car and goes inside. "Find out anything?" When Sam hands him a plastic sandwich bag, Dean grimaces at the content inside. "A tooth?'
"Was inside the chimney. Along with fresh blood."
"We know he didn't climb inside, it's too narrow."
"Not in one piece anyways." Whatever this was, both brothers needed to solve this case quickly.
"Then we need to find the thing that killed him." They drive away on the clear roads, not a hint of snow in sight.
Later that night Sam was on his laptop trying to find anything he missed. He already called Piper, letting her know what was going on. She said she was going to look in the Book, see if there was anything she missed about a evil Christmas monster. He nodded at Dean who walked in with a greasy bag of food.
"Find out anything?" He opens the bag of food. "Stores are closed early, hope you don't mind burgers."
"I searched for hours. Before you asked, I called around. Bobby is looking, Piper too."
"So this evil chimney sweeper, kidnaps some guy before Christmas?" Dean unwraps his burger and takes a bite. He hoped Jenna's parents didn't serve vegan turkey, Dean was looking forward to eating a real Christmas feast.
"Well it wasn't Dick Van Dyke." Sam usually watched all the Christmas specials when he was younger whenever they were on the road.
"Who?"
"Mary Poppins."
"Who is that?'' He was hungrily eyeing Sam's burger, instead he eats his onion rings instead.
"Really?" Dean was going to be a father, and he had no idea who that was. "Never mind. Anyways, Mr Walsh was the second guy to disappear." The first guy's disappearance, that's what caught Sam's attention. That email he got, he couldn't figure out why that hunter couldn't solve that case himself.
"Uh huh."
"Same M.O. Guy disappears up a chimney, never seen again. Blood left behind. Cases identical happened every couple of years all across the country."
"Then why hadn't we heard about this? Dad never mentioned a case like this."
"I don't know. We know how busy December is for us." Halloween was just as busy, but it was usually witches that were affected.
"It's not Santa. Evil brother?" Dean suggested. He texted his wife, making sure she was safe at home. He was so glad Devon was there to keep an eye on her.
"I have no idea." Sam was stumped. He heard of the Anti-Santa, the opposite of Santa, he punished the wicked by killing them. But the missing men, they were all vanilla and boring. "The two that disappeared, they were good men."
"Mmm." Dean remembering the day he said there was no Santa apologizes to Sam. "Sammy? You think Santa is coming?" His face was red. "I mean, I said he was fake. But."
"Who knows? Remember our lives are told to children as scary ghost stories." Sam never thought that their lives would be like this. "Pass me my burger." He saw Dean eyeing it. "Order a pizza, extra pepperoni."
The next day they were at a rundown Christmas village.
"Ten bucks entry fee for this crap." Dean was almost broke. He was so glad Sam paid for the pizza last night.
"This place was the last place the two victims were seen before they, you know." There was kids present. They were careful not to say anything incriminating.
"So, Christmas in the Manor? Won't be the same."
"Dean." Christmas was never his favorite holiday.
"Next year will be different. We'll have our kids. We know our lives won't be the same anymore." Dean was incredibly nervous. Jenna called, said she was feeling cramps. She told Dean not to worry, her mom said that was normal.
"Yeah." Sam realized that was true. He was going to be a father. "Our kids, what will we tell them?" Sam had another nightmare, that Dean beat him to death, leaving Piper a widow.
"We'll worry about that when the time comes. We need to figure out where to have Christmas next year. We'll go all out. A tree, decorations, a turkey from the local supermarket, Sis' pies." Dean's mouth drools. "Anyways, we need to see if anything sticks out around here." He was looking around
Sam smiles. Dean was going to be a dad soon. Good thing Sam already had his gift.
Broken Bow Nebraska, Christmas Eve a Couple of Years Ago
A eight year old Sam was wrapping a Christmas present using newspaper as Christmas wrap. "A Year Without Santa Claus" was playing on the TV in the background. His older brother, a twelve year old Dean was eyeing him with suspicion.
"What's that?"
"A present for dad." Sam was glad he had enough tape, he stole it from the teacher's classroom.
"Oh yeah? Where you steal it from?" Dean said snarkily.
"Nowhere. Bobby gave it to me. Said it was special." Sam liked it, he knew who he was going to give it to, hopefully he was going to love it.
"What's in it?"
"A pony." Sam said with sarcasm. There! That was as good as he could get it.
"Funny. Remind me to laugh." Dean picks up a old magazine he found in the motel's bathroom and sits down on the bed to read.
"Dean? Dad's gonna be here for Christmas right?" John either missed Christmas or was passed out on the couch. Dean was usually the one that made Christmas dinner. Last year it was a cooked chicken he stole from a local supermarket.
"He'll be here. He never misses a year." Dean lied. John hated Christmas, that's why he was always on the road. Dean was always neutral, but always tried to make it up to Sam by trying to make a happy Christmas for him. Remembering the first Christmas dinner they had, they dined on peanut butter sandwiches and grape juice. Dean was only around Sam's age. John as usual, was passed out drunk on the couch. Sam loved Dean's present, it was a army men set he begged John to buy at the local thrift store. Most were already gone, the only was left was stuck in the astray in the passenger car door side Sam always sat in.
"Christmas is tomorrow." It's been over a week. Sam was bored. Kids their age were usually with their families.
"He'll be here."
"Promise?"
"Yeah." Dean hoped so. Oh crap. He needed to get Sam a present. He was so busy taking care of Sam, he didn't have time to steal a present.
"Where is Dad anyways?"
"On business. Christmas is his busiest season." That was the truth at least. Dean's been hunting since he was in first grade. He begged John not to tell Sam, at least till he was older.
"What does he sell anyways?" Dean always said John was a traveling salesman.
"Stuff. Now quit asking."
"Fine." Sam flops on the bed next to Dean. "Dean?"
"What?" What a cool car. Not as nice as the Impala, Dean hoped he drove it when he got older.
"Is Dad a spy?" He looks curiously at Dean.
"Yeah. He's James Bond." Kinda true, he did go on secret missions even Dean didn't know.
"You can tell me the truth. I'm not a baby anymore."
"Believe me you don't want to know." He needed to protect Sam as much as possible.
"Is that why we never talk about...Mom?" He flinched when Dean jumps off the bed and stares furiously at Sam's face.
"Shut up! You don't ever mention her name again!" He angrily puts on his boots and winter gear.
"Where are you going?"
"Out." He storms out, slamming the door behind him.
Present Day
Sam was staring blankly at a group of kids waiting in line to see Santa Claus.
"What are you thinking about?" Dean looks at the group of kids. "You want to see Santa too? Babies cry." Dean remembered Sam's first visit. He cried on Santa's lap. So did a four year old Dean, but he never told anyone. "Our kids, we'll be busy next year." Dean realized his kid will be here. Sam realized that too. "Better enjoy that quiet life, we'll be neck deep in diapers."
"Yeah." Sam swore to never have his baby in the life. But he worried about the future. "So this Anti-Claus, it walks with a limp and smells like sweets."
"A pimp Santa? Reminds me of that trickster." The Pied Piper, he wondered why he wanted Jenna. He was surprised to find out they met years ago in a dream. "Tricksters like sweets. This Bad Santa, it uses candy and cookies to lure kids?" Dean mentally swore to have a couple of wooden stakes handy, just in case.
"Think about it. Smells like candy, the kids will come." Sam had to make sure there was anti-lures everywhere for tricksters. Good thing he knew his magic.
"Gross. Guy goes close..." Dean made a slicing motion on his neck.
"I'll make you some potions and crystals. Dean look." They saw Santa get up after handing the last kid a candy cane. He was walking with a limp. The sweet smell of syrup was on him as he walked by them.
Sam and Dean give each other a knowing look. They were about to follow Santa when they were approached by a young woman wearing a elf costume.
"Hi there. Welcome to Santa's Court." The sign above Santa's chair said Santa's Court. "Santa had to use the facilities, he'll be right back. If you want, I can escort your children to Santa's village to wait."
"Oh, our kids are not here yet, our wives, they are..." Dean uses his arms to gesture a pregnant belly. The elf smiles. "My brother here, he wants a picture to send to his baby in nine months. He never had a chance to sit on Santa's lap when he was that young." He ignored Sam's dirty look.
"Oh, congrats. But I'm afraid it's restricted to kids under...twelve. But if you want Santa's autograph, it's five dollars. Next year you can bring your babies, children under two are free."
"What? Oh. Actually we came here to watch." Only then Sam realized how that sounded when she backed away in disgust.
"Ew. My condolences to your wives." She walked away, clearly grossed out.
"Thanks Dean." When Dean starts laughing. "Where is he?"
"Dunno. But not here. Wait till nightfall." After this they were both leaving town. Sam just hoped he made it home on time, magic was out of whack during Christmas, he didn't want to chance orbing somewhere random during Christmas.
"What time is it?" Dean yawned. He hoped he wasn't tired enough to drive home. He'll fly home, but no way was he leaving Baby here.
"Same as last time. Here." Sam hands him a thermos.
Dean stares mournfully at the empty canister.
"Wonderful." He tosses the bottle back to Sam. "Sam."
"What."
"You still hate Christmas?" Dean knew Sam hated Halloween just as much, plus any holiday there was.
"Hard to say, our holidays growing up sucked."
"And now? Remember it isn't about us anymore."
"I know." Sam knew he had to put down his feelings, he had to change his attitude soon. He nods to Santa who closed his curtains. Hearing a woman screaming a minute later, both run out with guns drawn.
"The hell!" The same guy they saw earlier was holding a liquor bottle staring at the two men who broke in. The woman screaming was happy at the present she got from her boyfriend on the commercial that was playing on the TV.
"Oh crap." They quickly put away their guns. They knew guns were worthless against a Trickster, but they forgot their stakes in their car. "Um, Silent Night..." Dean warbles. He tapped Sam who started singing as well. He just hoped the guy didn't call the cops.
Santa laughed. He was drunk, but sat down to enjoy the show.
"Merry Christmas." Dean grabs Sam and quickly pulls him out of the trailer after they finished singing.
In a house decorated across town, a little boy was staring at wonder at the fireplace. "Silent Night" was playing in the background.
"Santa? You're here early." He backs away in horror at the creature that crawls away from the fireplace.
The humanoid creature growls as he walks by the boy, completely ignoring him. It stomps up the stairs and walks in the parents bedroom.
The boy was frozen as his parents start screaming from their bedroom. His mom's screams were silenced as he heard a smack. When he heard a thump, he watched silently as the creature drags a sack with a struggling body inside.
Thump, thump. The sound was more horrifying with each step. The boy can only watch as his father was killed in front of him. Seeing his father's dead body about to be dragged up the chimney, he knew he'll never see Christmas the same way again.
The creature was silent as it ate the Christmas cookie that was left on the coffee table.
The next day, both Sam and Dean were checking out the latest crime scene.
"So your son says your husband was dragged up the chimney?" Dean felt bad for the four year old, he knew he'll hate Christmas now as much as Sam did.
"He says. But I don't know. It was so dark. He must have been seeing things." Mrs Caldwell was shaken. "My son, he says he doesn't like Christmas anymore. Says Santa is evil. Whoever did this, he must have dressed up as Santa to rob us." She rubbed the black eye over her face. "I already made a emergency appointment with the child therapist. Luckily he's open on Christmas Eve."
Dean looked at advent calendar on the wall behind her. Christmas Eve was tomorrow. He looked at Sam. They had to leave either tonight or early tomorrow morning. He just hoped Sam could catch a plane time to California in time.
"This wreath. Mrs Caldwell where did you get this?" Sam kept staring at the wreath. Only then Dean noticed that Sam kept taking pictures of it.
"Excuse me?" Mrs Caldwell said in confusion.
"Our families, we're supposed to be home for Christmas. I'm sorry for your loss." Dean had to drag Sam out. Once they were outside, Dean starts ragging on Sam. "A wreath? I'm sure Sis would love a designer handbag instead. Maybe some shoes. I'll tell her your shoe size." Dean teased.
"The wreath, we seen it before. It was at the Walshes' and at the first murder scene." They seen the crime scene photos from the first case.
"I know. I was just testing you." Dean noticed as well, usually he didn't, but he thought he saw them at his in-laws house. "I gotta call home, tell Jen to burn all their wreaths. I suggest you call Victor and tell him the same thing."
Once they got back at their motel room, both were getting ready to leave. Whatever this thing was, they were gonna kill it and immediately leave town. Sam just hoped he made it to San Francisco in time, the weather said mild weather, but only in the east coast. Everywhere else, it was cold and snowy. Even San Francisco was cold, there was no snow, but it was cold and rainy.
"Thanks Bobby." They already had their stakes, hopefully this thing was vulnerable to wood. Dean was loading his bag, they were leaving immediately after this case. Dean was letting Sam borrow the car if there wasn't a flight, he already asked Devon for a huge favor to help Sam get there. "Well, we're morons." After Sam hung up. "Sent him and Piper those pictures, both said they had meadowsweet in the wreaths."
"Awesome. Mind filling me in, I'm not a wiccan." Sam was a witch, he should have known about his herbs.
"It's one of the most powerful plants there is. Usually common in the wild, but the berries themselves are rare. Usually harvested in late fall."
"So..."
"So, the killings happen during December. It takes time for the berries to ripen. It is commonly used in pagan sacrifices."
"So we're dealing with a evil pagan god. Okay, will our stakes kill it." When Sam nodded, Dean loaded his gun. "Let's track down where those wreaths were sold, and go from there." Whatever this thing was, Dean didn't care. He had to head back soon, he had a feeling his wife needed him.
"This the place?" They were outside a random shop. Christmas shoppers were everywhere.
"The only store in town where they custom order wreaths. Let's check it out." If the killer was the owner, they were gonna wait till he closes his store and stake the guy.
The shopkeeper was cataloging his store when the door opened with a jingle.
"Can I help you boys?" Usually it was moms and older people that came to his shop. Most young people headed to the big box stores for their Christmas shopping.
"Hi. We're here about a Christmas wreath. You see, we were playing Jenga at the Walshes the other night, and my brother here won't shut up about their wreath." Dean pretended not to see Sam's annoyed look.
"Yeah, it was yummy." Sam said sarcastically. He was sick of Dean putting him in embarrassing situations.
"I sell a lot of wreaths guys."
"Yeah, but this one. It's green with white meadowsweet berries in it. I practice wiccan, and want to embrace my religion." Might as well embarrass his brother back. "My brother here is a atheist." He slaps Dean's back. This time it was Dean that gave him a dirty look. Dean hated most organized religion, either pagan or religion. Both gave Dean a headache.
"A wiccan huh? Don't get many witches around here. It's my busiest season. I'm sorry. I'm completely sold out. But if you want to celebrate the January solstice, I can place a special rush order just for you." January was his slowest month, but the kid there just gave him new ideas. He was in danger of losing his small store thanks to the new discount supercenter that just opened. The wiccan faith was a untapped market.
"I appreciate that." Piper didn't practice her wiccan background, but he knew Phoebe and occasionally Paige did. He wondered if his baby should know his or her own faith. Sam didn't practice religion, but always had faith.
"Anyways." Dean had to change the subject. "The meadowsweet. It's pretty rare and expensive. Isn't that saved for you know potions and ceremonies?" Dean saw Sam make some weird portions out of things he never heard of. "Seems like a waste to put them in wreaths."
"Maybe. But they make my wreaths special. Sold out almost immediately. If you want your own, I'll give you some names." He wrote down something. "Here. There's a guy in town who sells Christmas trees. You probably can get a wreath at a discount." He writes down another name. "This woman here, Madge Carrigan, she gave me her wreaths for free. She probably has some spare meadowsweet to give you."
"She gave you her wreaths for free?" Sam should have known. The weird weather, this was Michigan. There wasn't a snowflake in sight. Heck even Boston was warm. He knew now what was responsible.
"Why not? People pay a buttload for this crap." Those wreaths were so beautiful, he sold them at a two hundred percent markup.
"That's the spirit." Dean thanks the shopkeeper and once they were in the car, they talk about their next move. "So where do we go first?" The tree nursery was closing early.
"We'll check out the tree place first, it's just a few blocks away. Then we'll see the wreath lady. See if she knows she is summoning Hold Nickar."
"You know your pagan gods, Sam."
"If you studied lore, you should know that Christmas is a pagan holiday." Sam watched the scenery going by as Dean drove.
"So it isn't Jesus' birthday?" He stopped at a red light.
"It is believed he was born sometime in the fall, before the Winter Solstice. Everything you see here is pagan. The colour red, the yule log, mistletoe, the trees, the holiday was renamed Christmas by the church."
"And the Easter bunny? Is that real too? He's Jewish right?" When Sam didn't say anything, Dean sighed. "This pagan god, what is he?" They pull up to the lot.
"Hold Nickar, if you give him what he wants, he'll reward you." Sam saw most of the trees were sold out, but he did see some wreaths at a discount.
"A lap dance?" He smiled at a baby.
"Mild weather. If it was a rough summer, the farmers would sacrifice people to have a extended crop. The god comes, brings mild weather. The crop grows, they reward him with meadowsweet. The berries, they are like candy to gods."
"The people that buy those things. They don't realize what they bought inside their homes." He saw some mistletoe for sale and bought one.
"Yeah, it's a neon sign to say come kill us!" Sam hoped it wasn't a witch gone bad, it made good witches a target to hunters.
"Can I help you? Sorry I'm all out of trees." The guy tells them when they walk up to him.
"Actually, we are looking for wreaths. A guy told us he buys them from you." Dean was admiring the display. He was already planning next year's holiday. The cheesier, the better. That way Jenna and his baby didn't have to travel.
"I have a few, but they are pretty dry. I sold most of my stock to Mrs Carrigan. She pretty much cleaned me out, trees included. Made a killing this year. If you want my wreaths, I can sell them at five dollars each."
"So we have our suspect. Sorry Sam." Dean was holding a wreath, he wanted to take it home and practice decorating it. He knew Sam hated bad witches. "Those meadowsweet wreaths, how much does one sell for?" He wondered what to decorate this with. Candy canes? He saw a dollar store, maybe he can buy some random crap.
"A few hundred dollars at least. Pure meadowsweet berries are very hard to grow. The ones you find at the stores are either fake, or white cranberries made to look like the real thing."
"And Martha Stewart is giving them away for free. Sounds too suspicious. How are we gonna yank this bitch?" Dean had no witch killing bullets, he refused to carry them anymore, especially when he found out Piper was pregnant with his nibling. Staring at the wreath, he smiles. "Remember when Dad brought home that wreath he stole from the local liquor store? I can try to replicate it." It was made out of old beer cans but Dean loved it. Shame they forgot it in Broken Bow. They quickly left town before New Years after John's case was done.
"You sure are taking this Christmas stuff seriously." Sam knew Dean was excited about his baby, but this was overdrive.
"Had a nightmare last night. Everything was gone. You, Sis, every witch was hunted down and killed. The world went to shit. Every hunter was overwhelmed by the extra work. Jen and I were never home, we were always hunting. We had to make sure our kid was safe." Dean hated those nightmares, especially now with his baby being born in a few weeks.
"We'll stop it." Sam swore. He had to make sure that dark future didn't happen.
Neither one didn't say anything more as they drove back to the motel.
Flashback
"I thought you went out." Sam was reading that same magazine Dean was reading earlier. He preferred a real book, but he had no library card.
"I did. Brought Christmas Dinner." He tosses a bag to Sam. "Here's your veggies." Gives him a bag of vegetable chips as well. Dean was unpacking a precooked chicken out of the plastic bag he brought home from the local grocery store. He admires the beer can wreath John brought home a few weeks ago that was hanging over the motel door.
"I know you sleep with a gun under a pillow. Why you salt the room every time we come to a new place." What Sam saw, every question he had was answered with what he found.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Dean flops on his bed once the groceries was put away. "Don't look at my stuff."
Sam silently gets off the couch and throws John's journal in Dean's lap. Seeing Dean's expression he knew everything was read was true. Dean stood up.
"Dad's gonna kick your ass for that." Even Dean was not allowed to touch that book, although Dean skimmed through it from time to time whenever John wasn't around.
"Is it true?"
"No. Shut up. You don't know nothing." Dean insisted.
"Monsters are real, aren't they." What Sam saw, he will never forget it.
"Don't mention any of this to Dad, cause I'll end you." Seeing Sam nod, Dean sighs. He started hunting when he was Sam's age. "You know why Dad travels a lot. Becuase he has to. Remember when you said Dad was a spy? He kinda is. He's a hero, he saves everyone and no one ever knows."
"Really?" Sam was intrigued.
"Yeah. But like a real spy, he's not allowed to tell anyone. So you must keep this a secret."
"So the monsters under my bed are real?" Sam alway made sure to check every night before he went to sleep. He hated dark shadows, he always carried a flashlight everywhere he went. He dreamed that he was killed by one.
"Dad always said they weren't, but only after he checked."
"So if monsters are real? Then does that mean Santa is real?" When Dean shook his head Sam looked down in sadness. "Does that mean that monsters will get me?"
"They won't. Dad will make sure of it."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Dean will make sure of that.
"And Mom?" He saw Dean's expression. Dean took a a deep breath.
"It's complicated." Dean always wondered about that. When he asked John, John clammed up. He still remembered that night, hearing his dad's screams, calling out Mary's name. Dean carrying baby Sam out of the house.
''They got Mom, they'll probably get Dad, then us." Sam felt his innocence fading away. He teared up.
Dean seeing Sam looking sacred, gets up and sits beside him.
"They won't. Dad, he's a lot stronger than he seems. Besides he'll be here just in time for Christmas. He never misses a year."
Sam looked away from Dean crying silently.
"I'm going to bed."
Dean didn't say another word, he pretended not to hear Sam's sobs from his bed.
Present Day
They pull up to a house adorned with Christmas decor. The sign on the mailbox had "The Carrigans" written on both sides on it.
"Can you feel the evil pagan vibes?" Dean already had his gun. He was surprised Sam still carried witch killing bullets. When he asked Sam, he said was currently out of the ingredients to kill bad witches. "This is where Mrs Wreath lives huh? Do you think she keeps a shrine to Mr Winter here?" They walk up to the door and knocks. Dean smiles charmingly at the woman who answered the door.
"Yes?"
"Are you Mrs Carrigan? The one that makes those meadowsweet wreaths?"
"Why yes I am." She looked surprised.
"Ha! Bingo." He smiles at Sam. Dean noticed the inside was adorned with Christmas decor, the couch covered with plastic.
"Uh, we saw the wreath at Mr Sylar's place the other day, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful it was. Real meadowsweet berries are very hard to find." Sam saw her thoughtful expression. "I'm a botanist."
"My brother was always a nerd. We wanted to buy one, but they were all sold out."
"Oh fudge. Aren't they the most sweetest smelling things they ever are? It's a shame they are so difficult to grow. This batch of mine was my only ones. I'll would have been happy to give you a few to create your own, those meadowsweet are perfect for wreaths. But I only had enough for a few wreaths."
"Darn." When Dean saw a guy with a tobacco pipe walk up behind Mrs Carrigan, Dean realized they were dealing with much more than a ordinary witch.
"What's going on honey?" Edward Carrigan asks about the two strangers that were standing on the front porch.
"These two boys were asking about my wreaths."
"Beautiful aren't they? Would you like some peanut brittle?" He holds up a can full of homemade candy.
"No thanks." Sam slaps Dean's hand away from trying to take a piece. "We have to go."
"Merry Christmas!" The couple calls out as Sam and Dean walk over to the car.
"That's no witch." Sam knew it. Magic was out of whack, but he knew neither was human. "Good thing we have our stakes."
"We'll go tonight. We gotta hit the road tonight." Christmas was tomorrow. Sam swore to make it up to Piper, she sounded annoyed that Sam was taking so long to come back. "We'll get some sleep, then we check out afterwards."
Later that night, both men had their evergreen stakes ready. Sam checked it out with his wife, describing what he saw. Vervain and mint, both used by pagan gods to stay strong and healthy. Dean called back Bobby who told him about two other murders in Washington State last year. It wasn't consistent, sometimes it was radio silence for years at a time. Which would explain why no hunters ever hunted this thing.
"Plastic covers on the couch. I should have guessed they were monsters." Dean was jealous that Sam was able to figure it out so quickly.
"O Come All Ye Faithful" was playing as they walked to the front door. Dean was using a lock pick to open the door, he just hoped the door wasn't armed. Once they broke in, they took notice for the house covered in Christmas decor. Looked like a typical home, but both knew better. Ignoring the plate of cookies, they walk through the kitchen after searching through the first floor.
"Dean." Sam whispers. He shined his flashlight on the padlock on the basement's door. Dean nodded. Once Dean picked the lock they go downstairs.
The basement was creepy even for them. Sam was never a fan of dark places, after finding out how he died in a past life, he understood why. They walk slowly through the basement, trying hard not to breathe. The smell of the dead was overwhelming. Dean was disgusted at what was down there, there was human parts everywhere. Rib bones, a skull, even "fresh meat" on a saw. Sam was on the other side looking at bloodied leather clothes. Seeing a leather sack hanging on the wall, he goes to poke it. He jumped back when he heard muffles inside. Before he could warn Dean he got grabbed by Madge Carrigan.
"Sam!" Dean saw him being lifted by the neck. But before he could stab the monster with his wooden stake, Dean was grabbed by Mr Carrigan and got thrown across the wall slamming his head, knocking him out.
Sam felt so helpless. He knew a spell to knock out the monsters, but he could barely breathe with Madge holding his neck.
"If you wanted a invitation, you should have asked."
Sam used his flashlight to shine a light on their faces. Their true faces shined from either the flashlight or Sam's wiccan vision. That was the last thing he saw before Madge slams his head against the wall.
It was Dean that woke up first. With blurry eyes, he saw he was tied up on a chair. Hearing breathing, he knew that Sam was behind him.
"Sam?" Hearing muffles, Dean knew his mouth was either gagged or tied up. "So you were right." Sam mentioned they weren't human. He glared at the monstrous couple that strolled in wearing ugly Christmas sweaters.
"You're awake. Thought you two lazybones would sleep through the party." Madge giggles.
"Oh yeah, we're partiers." Dean said sarcastically.
"Isn't he just a kick in the pants honey?" Mr Carrigton says smoking his pipe. "You're hunters, your brother a witch. Had to gag him, can't have him chanting his magic on us, ruining our fun."
Dean just smiles.
"And you two are gods. Guess we are even. Mind letting us go for Christmas?"
The two gods laugh.
"And miss Christmas Dinner? You two are our honored guests." Mr Carrigton smiles. "It's not just hunters that want us dead, witches as well. Did your wife send you to us to scout?" He tells a glaring Sam. "Never ate a witch before, but guess we'll find out." He takes a finger and rubs it among Sam's arm. Once he was done, he puts it in his mouth. "Mmmmm! Delicious. You'll make a fine course."
Dean was incredibly grossed out, he felt bad for Sam who was trembling with rage.
"You could have lived if you didn't kill people." The poor bastard in the basement was still alive. Dean heard him whimpering in that bag when Sam poked it.
"Oh don't be so wet." Mrs Carrigan hummed as she set her tools down.
"You boys can't even understand how things used to be. We used to have hundreds of tributes a year. People came far and wide to have us at their towns for their crops. Mother Nature, she wasn't happy, she is strict about schedules. But even she knew not to cross us." He puts down his pipe. "Now we barely eat. Some years we starve."
"We can survive for decades without food. The bad weather, that was us with our stomachs growling." She puts dry wreaths on Sam and Dean. "Oh, aren't you darling!" She admires her work.
"Forgot the meadowsweet?" Dean didn't smell anything.
"It's there, just a little dry. It's tradition." Mrs Carrigan tells them cheerfully.
"Well then. Been a while since we sat down to have a proper meal. All our meals were on the go." He takes out a large knife. "Here you go, you can start with the witch, hopefully he doesn't know how to use his hands."
Dean grimaced as he heard Sam's muffled sounds of pain. Even with the gag, Sam was screaming in pain.
"There. That wasn't so bad." Mrs Carrigan was holding Sam's fingernail with his blood.
"Bitch!" Dean swore.
"Language!" Mrs Carrigan scolded.
"You should show us some respect." Mr Carrigan tells an angry Dean. "Back in the day we were worshiped! Millions came to us from all over. Us gods, we lived the sweet life. Then this Jesus character shows up and ruins the fun! Our altars burnt down, us hunted like animals." He picked up a plier. "We had to adjust."
"Mmm hmm, it wasn't just hunters that were after us, it was witches as well. They wanted our power." Mrs Carrigan hands her husband her knife. "That Warren witch, she was the one that accused us of witchcraft."
"Good thing we were good friends with Matthew Tate. Shame he was put in a necklace." He cuts Dean's arm, Dean refusing to scream. Once he puts down his knife, he uses his pliers to take out Dean's teeth. "Don't fight, it will be earlier if you don't fight."
Dean closed his eyes, but when the doorbell rang, Dean asks them of they should get that.
"Don't you go anywhere!" Mrs Carrigan teased. She and her husband got and answer the door.
"Merry Christmas! I brought you a fruit cake!" Their neighbour handed them her homemade cake.
"Why thank you, looks delicious. Coming later this week for game night?" Mrs Carrigan asks.
"Never miss it." The friendly neighbour says cheerfully.
"Thank you for the lovely present, Mrs Carrigan and I are heading early to bed, but have a good night."
"Night!" Once they close the door, Mrs Carrigan drops the cake, with her husband absentmindedly stepping on it. "Now where were we...Oh dear. Looks like we got some runners." Hearing the doors slam in the kitchen, she smiles. "What a fun tradition! The boys as are making us work up a appetite!"
"We'll be eating well tonight!"
"Any ideas?" The monsters true voices were growling hard at the doors. They blocked the doors to the kitchen, hopefully they had enough time to find some weapons to kill the monsters.
"Our evergreen stakes are in the basement." Sam spies the Christmas tree. "Dean."
"Got it!" Once they rip down the tree, they wait for the couple to escape the kitchen. Sure enough Mr Carrigan tackles Dean to the ground. Dean barely had time to react before getting punched several times.
"Stupid witch! I loved that tree!" She always had a close relationship with trees. She goes to hit Sam when she got hit with the broken Christmas tree and stabbed to death.
"MADGE!" Mr Carrigan screams. He tried to help his wife but found out he couldn't move. "You son of a witch." He died when Dean stabbed him through with the bottom half of the tree.
"Thanks Sammy." Dean was breathing hard. Hearing the clock go off, Dean swore. "Do you think we can drive back before Christmas is over?" Jenna was gonna kill him.
Once they freed the guy from the basement, they jump into the Impala and drive away. They just hoped they made it home in time.
Boston, Massachusetts
"He'll be here."
"I know." Dean was on a case, Jenna hoped he made it on time. "Phew." She felt so heavy.
"You alright?"
"Mom, I'm fine." She was looking out the window, hoping to see Dean's black Impala. "Oof." The baby was kicking hard. "Daddy will be home soon." She looked away from the window. Feeling her phone buzzing, she looked at her text. Dean was stuck in Ohio, a major snowstorm was brewing. He promised to be on the road ASAP after the storm ended.
"Let's not open the gifts yet, I want Dean here." She already bought him his, it was a car part he was admiring. It cost a fortune, that particular car part was very hard to find for the Impala. Hearing the doorbell, she volunteers to answer it. "Hi!" Devon's new girlfriend was standing on the porch. "Did you get locked out? Where's my brother?"
"He's at the local gas station, he ran into a old friend, said he'll be back in time for dinner. Can I come in?" She was a fellow hunter, according to Devon, they met on a hunt.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you too." Jenna put down her pizza, she wasn't very hungry. She insisted they postpone Christmas till Dean came back, she wanted him here with her. "Argh." She touched her belly.
"Jen?" Devon was looking at her with worry.
"I'm fine." She felt so weird. "Mmm! Oh god. Mom?"
''Oh my god. Honey? I think your water just broke." Jenna's pants were wet. "We gotta get you to a hospital."
"I can't! Argh! Dean's not here yet!" She was breathing hard. "It's too early!" She still had a few more weeks left.
"You don't have a choice." Dana gets out of her chair. "We gotta go. Honey? Get the car!"
One Day After Christmas
Rosemary Clooney's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was playing in the background, the hospital maternity ward filled with Christmas decor. A group of women were waiting anxiously in the maternity waiting room waiting on the news.
"It's been hours!" Phoebe had her head in her hands. "What's taking them so long?" They took a flight on Richard's family jet, it was the only way they could get here before Jenna gave birth. Jenna's family was the only ones allowed to see her other than Dean, leaving everyone else to wait for any news. Sam didn't want to leave Dean's side, insisting his brother needed him.
"She had a emergency C-Section. Thank god her parents brought her here on time." Paige's boyfriend went to the cafeteria to get some coffees for the exhausted women. "I'm just glad the storm didn't hit us."
"We owe Nature a huge favor." Piper pipes up. She was praying hard.
"I think we're even. Sam and Dean killed those two gods, she allowed all of us to be here on time." When Jenna called Dean, Sam called Piper to let her know Jenna was in labor. Piper, knowing how bad the weather was in the East Coast called for a favor. Nature was annoyed, but when she explained what Sam and Dean did, cleared the weather, allowing the two men to travel back to Boston. She did warn this was a one time thing, she was a huge stickler for schedules.
"There's Sam!" Phoebe pointed out. "Well?" Everyone stood up. Since Sam was the one that drove (Dean was too panicked to drive after Jenna called him), he was the one that was kept up to date with Jenna's labor.
"Come with me. But we can only stay for a few minutes."
"Awwwww! Look at the little nose!" Phoebe couldn't wait to babysit.
"Dean looks so happy." Paige waved to Dean who was holding a small bundle.
"That will be us next year." Sam was holding on to his wife who was tearing up.
"I'm just glad Jen is okay." Jenna was brought in for emergency surgery, she went into labor prematurely. "How's Dean holding up?"
"He's doing fine." Sam was worried sick for Dean, he was tearing up when he got the news. Jenna and her baby were in danger of losing their lives. At the moment she was recovering, but she and her baby were stuck in the neonatal unit of the maternity ward at the Boston hospital. He was smiling at Dean who was holding his daughter. "She's a Winchester alright."
"Looks like she is going to be a handful." Piper just hoped her own labor wasn't going to be that hard. "I'm a aunt."
"And I'm an uncle. Uncle Sam." Sam waves to his niece.
Flashback Christmas Morning
"Sam! Wake up!" A young Dean was shaking a young Sam. "Look!" It was snowing outside. "Dad was here!" A sleepy Sam woke up to see a small Christmas tree decorated with a few lights.
"Dad was here?"
"Yeah, and we made a killing." Dean moved out of the way when Sam got out of bed. "Why didn't he wake me up?" He was looking outside admiring the snow.
"He tried, many times."
"He did?" Sam was usually a light sleeper.
"Yeah. He brought Christmas." Dean nods to two gifts. He smiles at his brother who started unwrapping.
"Dad didn't show did he?" A barbie doll and a sparkly stick was laying on the floor. Pressing Dean, Dean admitted he stole them from a random house.
"He would if he could." Dean figured he was either snowed in, or passed out at a fellow hunter's house.
"If he's alive." Sam was crushed. He really wanted his whole family here for Christmas.
"He is. I told you he's a hero."
Sam nods. He then reaches into his jacket pocket and hands Dean a present.
"Here." It was the same gift he was wrapping the day before.
"Dad's gift?" Dean was flattered, but he wouldn't steal a present from John.
"I lied. I got this for you." Sam when Bobby handed him this necklace told him to give it to his father. "Bobby said it was special." Sam was debating on giving it to John, but when he looked at it, he knew who to really give it to.
"Thanks Sam. I love it." Dean smiled at the necklace and then puts it on.
Sam nodded.
Present Day
The sound of laughter rang through the hospital room. Jenna was so glad her parents had good insurance and was able to give her a private room.
"Thanks, I love it." Dean was really weirded out by his gift, it was a 'Dean' Funko Pop.
"It's autographed. Misha was the one that sent us those. We were just waiting for the chance to give it to you." The toy had Jensen Ackles' autograph on it.
Sam was smirking at his, he had the 'Sam' version. Jared Padalecki's signature was signed on the package.
"Guess this is the closest of us meeting those guys." He put down his toy. He was drinking a spiked eggnog, he already spiked Dean's. "What did you get?" He asked his wife.
"A half naked poster of us." It was a 'Charmed' poster with the three sisters covered in leaves. Holly's/Piper's picture had half her boob showing on her picture. Holly Marie Combs signed it 'To Piper, Good Luck!' She blushed at everyone's whistles. She quickly puts it face down on the bed.
"This is for you." Phoebe hands Jenna a wrapped present. Jenna teared up when she opened it. It had her dogs on it, both Julien and Jenna had their autographs along with paw prints of their dogs. "She was nice enough to send us that." Phoebe and Paige were really curious about her and sent her a private message on her Twitter. Both were surprised when she wrote back. She saw the videos and sent them well wishes. When they told her they were her biggest fans, she sent them that picture.
"Thank you." She stared at it, but seeing Dean's expression puts it away. "What did you get?"
After the impromptu party was done, everyone went home, they knew Jenna and Dean needed their privacy.
"Sorry I ruined Christmas. I really wanted to see your face when you unwrapped your gift." She told Dean what she got him. She was wearing her charm bracelet, it had a tiny car on it.
"You gave us the best present ever." They were in the neonatal unit, Jenna was breastfeeding their daughter. "Laura Mary Winchester, welcome to the world." Dean couldn't take his eyes off her.
Jenna looked out at the window, snow was falling down the sky. She saw Dean's Impala sitting in the hospital's parking lot.
"Want to watch Santa's Revenge afterwards?" She had her tablet. Krampus was Santa's enemy. It was a horror, but it was her favorite slasher movie.
"Sure. Then we can my watch my favorite Christmas movie." Die Hard was his favorite holiday movie.
"Sounds good to me."
The chapter ends with the final notes of Rosemary singing the final few notes, the snow falling outside on the Impala.