In The Beginning

Summary
Dean is sent back in time by Castiel to investigate the events unfolding around his parents when they were teenagers.

Motel
Dean is asleep on one of the beds in a motel room. Sam picks up his jacket, turns to look at Dean, then leaves the motel room. Outside, he walks up to a car. Ruby is inside. He gets in, and Ruby says “Ready?” “Definitely,” Sam replies.

Back inside, Dean is dreaming about Hell. He sees flashes of red and hears screams, and he wakes up suddenly. “Hello, Dean,” someone says, and he rolls over to see Castiel sitting on the side of the bed. “What were you dreaming about?” Dean looks annoyed. “What, you get your freak on by watching other people sleep? What do you want?” “Listen to me,” Castiel begins. “You have to stop it.” “Stop what?” Dean asks. Castiel doesn’t reply, but he reaches over and puts two fingers on Dean’s forehead.

“Move it, buddy.” Dean wakes up to see a cop leaning over him. It’s daytime. “You can’t sleep here,” the cop says. “Okay,” Dean says quickly. “Sleep where?” “Anywhere but here,” the cop says, and walks away. Dean finds he is laying on a bench beside the road. He quickly picks up his jacket, which was laying over him, and goes through the pockets. He pulls out John’s journal, and his cellphone – he flips the cellphone open, but he can’t get any signal. “Perfect,” he mutters, and then sees a diner across the road. He heads over.

He goes in and sits down beside another young man, who is reading a newspaper. “Hey, where the hell am I?” he asks. “Jaybird’s Diner,” the young man replies. “Yeah, thanks… I mean city and state,” Dean corrects. “Lawrence, Kansas?” the man replies, looking slightly amused. “Lawrence,” Dean repeats. “Hey, you okay buddy?” the other guy asks. “Yeah,” Dean replies, rubbing his head. “Tough night.” “Hey, coffee here, Rich,” the guy says, motioning to the waiter. Dean pulls out his cellphone. “Can you tell me where I can get reception on this thing?” The guy looks, and smiles. “USS Enterprise?” he says. Dean looks at him weird, and then turns to take the coffee from the waiter. “Nice threads,” he says, looking at the guy, who is dressed in a fur vest and big sunglasses. “You know Sonny and Cher broke up, right?” The young guy looks at Dean. “Sonny and Cher broke up?” he asks, shocked. Dean stares at him, then slowly looks around the diner. Everything looks just a little strange. Dean looks back at the newspaper the other young man is holding, and suddenly notices the date. Monday, April 30th, 1973. “Hey Winchester!” somebody suddenly says, and both young men turn around to look. An older man walks over. “Son of a bitch. How you doin’, Corporal?” He shakes hands with the young man next to Dean. “Hey Mr. D.!” he says, smiling. “I heard you were back,” the older man goes on. “Yeah for a little while now,” the young man replies. “Good to have you home, John. Damn good,” the older man says. “Dad?” Dean says quietly. John doesn’t hear him, but as he turns away from the older man he looks at Dean. “Do we know each other?” he asks. “I guess not,” Dean replies, shocked. John gets up. “Take it easy, pal.” Dean watches as John leaves, and as he looks away John looks back at him thoughtfully.

John is walking down the street, and Dean is following him at a distance. As Dean rounds a corner after John, he is stopped by Castiel standing in his way. “What is this?” Dean asks him frantically. “What does it look like?” Castiel replies. “Is it real?” Dean asks. “Very,” Dean asks. “Time is fluid, Dean,” Castiel replies, looking aorund calmly. “It’s not easy, but we can bend it on occasion.” “Well, bend it back! Or tell me what the hell I’m doing here,” Dean pleads. “I told you. You have to stop it,” Castiel says again. “Stop what?” Dean says irritably. “What, is there something nasty after my dad?” Suddenly, Dean hears a car horn and screeching tires, and he turns to look. When he looks back, Castiel is gone. “Oh come on, what are you allergic to straight answers, you son of a bitch?” Dean yells.

Car Dealership
“Fine young man like yourself, just starting out… how about I take off another 250,” a car salesman is saying to John. John thinks for a bit then says, “Let’s do it.” The salesman leaves to get the paperwork, and John heads over to a little Volkswagen van, and starts looking it over, smiling. “That’s not the one you want,” a voice says, and John turns to see Dean, leaning on the hood of the Impala. “You following me?” John asks. “No, I was just passing by,” Dean replies. “I never got to thank you for that cup of coffee this morning. I was a little out of it.” “More than a little,” John says. “Let me repay the favor,” Dean replies. “This is the car you want.” He knocks on the hood of the Impala. “Oh yeah?” John says. “You know something about cars?” “Yeah,” Dean says. “Yeah, my dad taught me everything I know. And this, this is a great car.” He opens the hood, and John joins him in looking inside. “327 four barrel to it, and 75 horses,” Dean goes on. “A little TLC, this thing is cherry.” “You know, man, you’re right,” John says, grinning. “What’re you buying that thing for?” Dean asks, motioning to the Volkswagen van. “Kinda promised someone I would,” John admits. “Over a ’67 Chevy? I mean come on, this is the car of a lifetime! Trust me, this thing is still gonna be badass when it’s forty,” Dean says thoughtfully. John pauses for a moment, then holds out his hand. “John Winchester,” he says. “Thanks.” “Dean Van Halen,” Dean replies. “And thank you.” John goes to look into the car, and Dean thinks for a bit, then says “I was in pretty rough shape this morning, huh?” “No kidding,” John says. “I’ve been hung over before, but… I was getting chills in that diner,” Dean says carefully. “You didn’t feel any of those cold spots, did you?” John shakes his head. “I swore I smelled something weird,” Dean goes on. “You know, like rotten eggs. You didn’t happen to smell any sulphur, by chance?” “Nah,” John says. “There been any cattle mutilations in town?” Dean asks. “Okay, mister, stop it,” John says, looking confused. “Yeah, if only I knew what to stop,” Dean says quietly. “Listen, uh – watch out for yourself, okay?” “Yeah, sure,” John says, still looking confused. Dean points at the car, and then walks away. The car salesman comes up behind John and says, “So?” John points at the Impala. “I’ll take this one.”

John pulls up in the Impala outside a house, and Dean, in a small beige car, watches from a distance. A blond girl comes running out of the house and down towards John, then stops, looking at the car. “What’s this?” she asks. “My car,” John says. “What happened to the van?” she asks. “Mary, this is better than the van! It’s got a 327 four barrel carburator!” John says excitedly. “Mom?” Dean whispers from his own car.

Diner
Dean is watching his parents from outside a diner, looking in at them eating together. “Sammy, wherever you are,” Dean says quietly. “Mom is a babe. I’m going to Hell. Again.”

“Why don’t you just talk to him?” John says to Mary. “My dad’s being my dad, John, it’s not you,” Mary says. “How is not me?” John asks. “He’s been like this for how many years?” “He’s just protective over me, that’s all,” Mary replies. “He doesn’t want me to-", "-Hook up with a mechanic from a family of mechanics?” John finishes. “No!” Mary says. “Hey. I love you. For exactly what you are. I’ll be right back.” She gets up and walks away. John sighs, and takes a little red box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal a ring.

Dean is watching outside when suddenly Mary appears behind him. “Why are you following us?” she says, and begins to beat up Dean. “What, are you crazy?” Dean tries to say, but she keeps attacking him. Dean stops her for a second, and she says “You’ve been trailing us since my house.” “I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Dean says. “Really?” she knees him in the stomach, and he finally manages to grab her and push her against the wall, stopping her. “Okay, how about we talk about this, huh?” he says. “Let me go!” she says. Dean suddenly notices something on her wrist – it’s a charm bracelet, but the charms are all kinds of symbols – pentagrams and crosses. Dean lets her go, and she turns to look at him. “Are you a hunter?” he asks, in shock.

Mary’s House
John pulls up outside Mary’s house, outside which is a mailbox marked “The Campbells”. “See you later,” he says. “If you’re lucky,” she says, and kisses him. He pulls away, and she waits until Dean comes out from behind a tree. “Dean, right?” she says. “I’m not sure you should come in.” “You can trust me,” he says. “I mean come on, we’re all hunters, right? I mean we’re… we’re practically family.” “The thing is, my dad… he’s a little… um…” she begins. “Oh I gotta meet him,” Dean says. “You’ve heard of him?” she asks incredulously. “Clearly not enough,” Dean replies.

“So you’re a hunter,” Mary's father says. “Tell me, Mr. Hunter, you kill vampires with wooden stakes or silver?” “Neither,” Dean replies. “You cut their heads off. So did I pass your test?” “Yup,” Mary's father replies. “Now get out of my house.” “Dad!” Mary begins. “I don’t trust other hunters, Dean,” her father says. “Don’t want their help. Don’t want them around my family.” “Knock it off, Samuel,” a voice says, and a woman walks in from the next room. “He’s a hunter,” Samuel says. “He passed your little pop quiz, and now I’m inviting him to dinner. Are you hungry?” she asks Dean. “Starving,” Dean replies. “Good.” She shakes hands with him. “I’m Deanna, you’ve met my husband Samuel – now wash up.” “Samuel and… Deanna?” Dean asks Mary. She nods. “Really,” he says.

At the dinner table, Deanna asks “First time in Lawrence, Dean?” “Well… it’s been a while,” Dean replies, happily eating. “Things sure have changed, I think.” “You working a job?” Samuel asks. “Yeah, maybe,” Dean says. “What’s that mean?” Samuel asks. “It means I don’t trust other hunters either, Samuel,” Dean says, smiling a little. “Hey, so… why were you following me and John?” Mary interrupts. “I thought something was after your… your boyfriend,” Dean says. “But uh… I don’t think that anymore.” “John Winchester mixing it up with spirits…” Deanna says with a little smile. “Can you imagine?” Samuel sighs, and Mary looks over. “I saw that,” she says accusingly. “Saw what?” he asks. “That sour lemon look,” she says. “No, John’s a really... nice... nice civilian,” Samuel tries. “So, what?” Mary asks. “You’d rather me be with a guy like this?” she looks at Dean. “What? No, no,” Dean says quickly. “No, of course not...” Samuel begins, but Deanna interrupts. “That’s enough, both of you. We have company.” “So what about you, Samuel, you working a job?” Dean asks. “Might be,” Samuel replies, but Mary looks annoyed and says “He’s working a job on the Witshire farm.” “Witshire… why does that name sound familiar to me?” Dean asks. “Well, it’s been all over the papers – Tom Witshire got tangled up in a combine a few towns over,” Samuel replies. “That kinda thing happens,” Dean says. “Except why was he on it in the first place when his crops are all dead?” Samuel says. “Demonic omens?” Dean guesses. “That’s what I gotta find out,” Samuel says. “What about the rest of the town? Did you find anything on the web?” Dean asks. When everybody gives him a weird look, he quickly says “…of the information that you’ve assembled.” “Electrical storms, maybe,” Deanna replies. “The weather service graphs should be here on Friday.” “By mail?” Dean says. “No, we hired a jetliner to fly them to us overnight,” Samuel says sarcastically. Dean laughs a little, and then says “You know, it sounds to me like we might be hunting the same thing. You know if we go in there in numbers, we can take care of this real quick.” “What part of we work alone do you not understand, son?” Samuel says.

“And I’m here because…” Mary says. She is in the car with her father, outside a big farm house. “Family business, Mary,” Samuel says. He is dressed as a priest. “Family.” They get out of the car. “What, you’d rather be waving pompoms at a bunch of dumb jocks?” Samuel asks as he rounds the car, holding a cake. Mary smiles, then notices a young man, leaning against a tree in the backyard. She heads over. “Uh, where are you going?” her dad asks. “To do the job, Dad,” she says. Samuel continues up onto the porch, and is just about to knock on the door when it opens. Dean is standing inside with the wife, dressed as a priest himself. “Father,” Samuel says. “I see you beat me here.” “The Lord is funny that way,” Dean says, smiling. “Beth Witshire, this is my associate, our senior, senior priest – Father Chaney.” With a look at Dean, Samuel says “Please except our deepest condolences on behalf of the county diocese,” and hands her the cake. “Miss Whitshire was just telling me all about Tom,” Dean says. “And how normal and ordinary things were the day before his death.” “I see. So you didn’t notice anything unusual, ma’am?” Samuel asks. “You mean like… my husband’s guts fertilizing the back forty?” she says sarcastically. Samuel is lost for words, and Dean smiles a little. “Excuse me.” He walks away.

Dean heads over to where Mary is standing with the young man. “Charlie, would you like to tell the Father here what you just told me?” she says kindly. “Dad drank sometimes,” Charlie says. “Sometimes he got rough with Mom. “And that’s when the stranger came?” Mary prompts. “I just thought he was some Bible thumper, like you all,” Charlie continues. “He showed up about a week ago.” “Saying what?” Dean asks. “Did I want the beatings to stop,” Charlie says. “I just thought he was crazy. “I didn’t think…” He pauses, and Dean watches him carefully. “And the next thing I know, Dad’s dead,” Charlie says. “Am I going to jail?” “You didn’t do this, Charlie,” Mary says kindly. “Did the stranger want something in return?” Dean asks. “He didn’t want anything,” Charlie says. “Come on, he wasn’t just handing out freebies now, was he?” Dean says. “He did say something about coming to call in about ten years from now,” Charlie admits. “Maybe he’d want something then.” “Something like what?” Dean asks. “I don’t know, okay!?” Charlie replies. “Look, I told you, he was nuts!” Dean and Mary exchange glances, and then walk a few feet away. “What do you think?” she asks. “I think he just pimped his soul to a demon, and he doesn’t even know it,” Dean replies. Mary heads back over to Charlie. “Do you remember what the stranger looked like?” she asks. “Yeah – uh, he was about five-ten, white… he was kind of normal lookin', really.” “Anything else?” Mary asks. “There was one thing. It’s just… the light hit his eyes in a weird way and for a moment I could’ve sworn…” “That they were black? Or red, maybe?” Dean guesses. “No,” Charlie says. “They were yellow... pale yellow.” Dean stares at the boy in shock.

Mary’s House
“What do you say we just slow down and talk this thing through?” Samuel says, as Dean throws down a couple of maps on the table. “There’s nothing to talk about,” Dean says. “Except you’re saying this is a demon and none of us have ever heard of a demon with yellow eyes,” Samuel replies. “Yeah, well I have,” Dean says, looking at his grandfather. “This thing killed my family.” “Just calm down, son,” Samuel tries. “You don’t get it, do you?” Dean begins. “I mean you are in danger–-we are all in danger, in fact you need to get yourself someplace safe.” “Not until we know what we’re dealing with here,” Samuel argues. “Sam’s right, Dean, it could be a demon, it could be a shapeshifter, it could be any number of things,” Deanna puts in. “I know what this thing is!” Dean says firmly. “And I’m gonna kill it. That’s all the talking I need to do.” “You’re gonna kill a demon? How?” Samuel asks. “There’s a hunter named Daniel Elkins, he lives in Colorado,” Dean says, pointing to the map. “He has Colt’s gun.” “The Colt,” Samuel says, pacing a little. “I’ve heard about the Colt. I used to tell it to Mary as a bedtime story.” “Well, it’s real,” Dean says. Samuel exchanges glances with Deanna. “Say that it is,” he says. “You’ve got some kind of a crystal ball telling you where this demon’s gonna be?” “Yeah, maybe I do,” Dean says, pulling out John’s journal. He tells them that his dad wrote down anyone he ever thought came in contact with Azazel. “Who, where, and when,” Dean finishes. “Why?” Samuel asks. “'Cause the more he could learn about the son of a bitch the more he could learn about why it killed my mom,” Dean says. “Look – Witshire farm. I told you that name sounded familiar.” “That was two days ago,” Samuel says. “How the hell is that on your dad’s list?” “Uh,” Dean says. “My dad could see the future. Look at this – it looks like he’s gonna hit here tomorrow night.” “Liddy Walsh?” Samuel says. “Haleyville.” “That’s close,” Dean says. “Yeah that’s about three miles but…” Samuel] looks at [[Deanna Campbell|Deanna. Dean looks at them. “I know you guys think I’m crazy.” “You seem like a really nice kid, Dean, but, yeah, you’re crazy,” Samuel says. “Yeah, maybe,” Dean says. “But I know where this bastard’s gonna be, and I’m going to stop it. Once and for all.”

Dean walks into the next room – Mary’s sitting down, looking at records and smiling. Dean clears his throat. “I’m shoving off, so I just wanted to say bye.” “Really? So soon?” she asks, standing up. “Yeah, I got work to do. Hey, I just wanted to tell you… for what it’s worth – it doesn’t matter what your dad thinks. I like that John kid,” Dean says. She laughs. “You do?” “Yeah. Yeah, I think you two are meant to be. Hell, I’m depending on it.” “What?” she says, and Dean quickly shakes his head. “Nothing. Um, can I ask you a question?” She nods, and he says “What’s he like - John?” “Why do you ask?” she says. “Just curious,” Dean replies. “I dunno,” she says, smiling. “He’s sweet. Kind. Even after the war, even after everything - he still believes in happily ever after, you know?” Dean smiles. “He’s everything a hunter isn’t,” she goes on. “No offense.” “None taken,” Dean replies. She sighs. “Can I tell you something? He’s gonna ask me to marry him.” She grins. “Tomorrow, I think! Oh, Dad’s gonna explode! But I don’t care. I’ll run away, if I have to. I just… I love John. And…" Mary pauses. "You what?" "I wanna get out." She says quietly, looking at him. "This job, this... life. I hate it. I want a family. I wanna be safe. You know the worst thing I can think of? The very worst thing? Is for my children to be raised into this life like I was. Well… I won’t let it happen.” Dean’s eyes well up with tears, and he quickly looks down. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “Hey… are you okay?” she asks. “Yeah, no, I’m fine,” Dean replies quickly. “Hey, M-Mary? Can I tell you something?” he asks. "Sure" she says, smiling a little. “Even if this sounds really weird. Will you promise me that you will remember?” “Okay,” she says, with a small laugh. “On November 2nd, 1983... don’t get out of bed. No matter what you hear, or what you see... Promise me you won’t get out of bed,” Dean finishes, crying now. “Okay,” she says, looking confused but truthful. “’Kay.” Dean turns away, trying to smile as he leaves.

On the road
Dean is driving along the road when suddenly Castiel appears in the passenger seat, making Dean jump. “So what, God’s my co-pilot, is that it?” Dean asks. Castiel is silent. “Well, you’re a regular chatty Cathy,” Dean says. “Tell me something. Sam would’ve wanted in on this. Why not bring him back?” “You had to do this alone, Dean,” Castiel replies. “And you don’t care that he’s tearing up the future looking for me right now?” Dean asks. “Sam is not looking for you,” Castiel says. “All right, if I do this, then the family curse breaks, right?” Dean asks. “Mom and Dad live happily ever after and Sam and I grow up playing Little League and chasing tail?” “You realize, if you do alter the future,” Castiel begins, “your father, you, Sam – you’ll never become hunters. And all those people you saved – they’ll die.” Dean is silent for a second, then replies “I realize.” “And you don’t care,” Castiel says. “Oh, I care,” Dean says. “I care a lot. But these are my parents. I’m not going to let them die again. I can’t. Not if I can stop it.” He turns to look at Castiel but he’s gone.

Daniel Elkins’ House
Dean carefully opens up a safe, and takes out the Colt. He is looking at the chamber when he hears a shotgun load behind him. “Hold it right there, friend,” a man says. “Drop the gun, be on your way.” Dean holds up the gun, and then quickly turns to aim it at the man. “Can’t do it, Daniel,” he says. “Who the hell are you?” Daniel asks. “A hunter,” Dean replies. “Just like yourself.” “A thief’s more like it,” Daniel replies. “I just need it for a few days,” Dean says. “Not happening, mister,” Daniel answers. “Look, I have a chance to save my family’s lives,” Dean tells him. “My family. But I need this gun to do it. So, if you wanna stop me, kill me.” He lowers the Colt. Dean walks around Daniel, heading for the door slowly. Daniel follows him with the shotgun, but then as Dean looks back at him, he lowers it. “There’s some hunters in Lawrence… the Campbells,” Dean says. “Never heard of ‘em,” Daniel replies. “That’s where she’ll be,” Dean says. Daniel nods, and Dean leaves.

Mary’s House
Mary and her father are sitting at the table, cleaning and loading weapons. “Dean say where he was going?” she asks. “Said he was gonna kill a demon,” Samuel replies. “Kill a demon,” Mary says with a laugh. “That’s impossible.” “Yep,” Samuel says. “Where?” Mary asks. “Uh, I dunno – over in Haleyville? The Walsh’s, maybe?” “Wait, not Liddy Walsh?” Mary says. “Well yeah, I think so,” her dad says. “Dad, she’s a friend of mine!” Mary says. “We’ve gotta help her.” “What’s wrong?” her mom asks, walking in. “I’ll be in the car,” Mary says, leaving the room. “She wants to hunt, she doesn’t want to hunt… is this some female time of month thing?” Samuel asks his wife. Deanna sighs and leaves. “What?” he says.

The Walsh’s
There is a doctor, talking to Liddy, and he’s telling her that someone she loves is very sick. “It’s time to talk about arrangements,” he says. “But you have to do something, Doctor Brown!” she says desperately. “There is a way –a cure, actually,” he says. “But I’ll need your help.” “What do I have to do?” she asks. “Nothing, you don’t have to do anything,” he says. “Just in ten years, I’m going to come to you and ask for something. Nothing you’ll miss.” “What?” she says. His eyes turn yellow. Just then the door flies open, and Samuel comes in with a gun. He shoots the demon, but he gets right back up and waves his hand, sending Samuel and his gun flying. “Oh God…” Liddy gasps. “Hold that thought,” the demon says, standing up. He walks over to where Samuel is up against the wall. “You son of a bitch!” Samuel says angrily. But the demon whirls around and grabs Mary, who is standing behind him, by the throat. She slashes him with a knife, and he stops. “Well, hello there,” he says. “Where the hell have they been hiding you?” She slashes at him with the knife a few more times, but he manages to grab her and knock it out of her hand. She then punches him in the face, and he looks at her. “I like you. You’ve got a lotta spunk.” He grabs her and slams her into a mirror just as Dean runs in with the Colt. “Let her go!” Dean yells. “Where’d you get that gun?” the demon asks. As Dean loads it, the demon suddenly leaves the man’s body. Dean lowers the gun, disappointed.

“Mary, what else did he say to you?” Dean is asking Mary. “I told you. Just that he liked me,” Mary says. “What did he mean by that?” Samuel comes out of the house. “Liddy’s a strong kid, she’ll be fine. Are you okay?” “No, Dad, I’m pretty far from okay. Can we go?” she says. She heads to the car. “Nice job in there,” Samuel says to Dean. “I missed the shot,” Dean says. “Take the compliment, son,” Samuel replies. “I’m saying that I was wrong about you.” “We need to talk, alone,” Dean says.

Mary’s House
“We have to kill this thing now,” Dean is saying, Samuel is sitting down at a table. “Or Mary dies.” “What? How do you know that?” Samuel asks. “I just do, okay?” Dean replies. “When?” Samuel asks. “Maybe not today, probably years from now, but it’s happening, trust me,” Dean says. “So what are you some kind of a psychic now too?” Samuel replies. “No,” Dean says. He pauses for a second, thinking, then says, “Alright, listen to me.” He sits down at the table. “This is gonna sound a little… alright, it’s gonna sound massively, massively crazy. Mary is my mother.” “Excuse me?” Samuel tries. “And I am your grandson,” Dean goes on, ignoring him. “And I know what the hell I’m talking about.” “You wanna run that by me again, son?” Samuel says. “My real name is Dean Winchester,” Dean continues. “I was born January 24th, 1979. My parents are Mary and John Winchester.” “I don’t have to listen to this,” Samuel says, sitting back. “Mary gets killed by a yellow-eyed demon,” Dean interrupts. “In 1983. And I think tonight is the moment when he caught her scent. And if we don’t catch this thing now – and it gets away? Then Mary dies. So, I’m asking you. Please.”

Mary runs out of the house to where John is waiting outside and hugs him. “Hey, you okay?” he asks. “You promised you’d take me away,” she says. “Of course I did,” he says. “Do it now,” she says, looking at him seriously. He opens the door for her and lets her into the car, looking confused and a little scared.

“How did I know about the Colt, huh? How did I know about the yellow-eyed demon, or where it would be?” Dean is saying desperately. “I’m not making this up, Samuel.” “Every bone in my body is aching to put you six feet under but… there’s something about you, I can’t shake it. I may be crazier than you, son, but I believe you,” Samuel tells him. “Thank you,” Dean says, smiling a little. “Now, how do we find this bastard?” Samuel asks. “Right here, the list,” Dean says, opening John’s journal. “And with the Colt?” Samuel asks. Dean pulls it out of his jacket and puts it on the table. “Yeah.” Samuel looks for a minute then says, “Let me see it.” Dean goes to pick it up then stops, and moves it further away. “Sorry, I don’t let anybody hold it.” “I’m your grandfather,” Samuel says. “Nothing personal,” Dean replies. “Sure it is. Especially when it’s me you’re trying to kill,” Samuel says, and his eyes turn yellow. Dean is suddenly thrown back against the wall.

The demon looks at him. “Future boy, huh? I know only one thing that’s got the juice to swing something like that… you must have friends in high places. So, I kill your mommy? That’s why you came all this way to see little old me?” “Oh, I came here to kill you,” Dean says, glaring. “Hey, wait a minute,” the demon says, leaning down. “If that slut Mary’s your mommy then… are you one of my psychic kids?” He leans close and smells Dean, then says “No. Not you. Maybe you've got a sis… or a bro. That’s terrific. I guess it all worked out. After all, that’s why I’m here.” “So that’s what this is about, all these deals you’re making? You don’t want these people’s souls?” Dean says. “No,” Azazel says. “I just want their children. I’m here to choose the perfect parents – like your mommy.” “Why her? Why any of them?” Dean asks. Behind them, Deanna comes to the door and looks in, quietly. “Because they’re strong. They’re pure. They eat their wheaties,” Azazel says. “My own little master race. They’re ideal breeders. Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, no one’s breeding with me. Though Mary? Man, I’d like to make an exception. So far, she’s my favorite.” Dean suddenly notices Deanna at the door, but he quickly looks away. “So why make the deals?” “I need permission,” Azazel says, as Deanna enters the room behind him and comes closer. “I need to be invited into the houses – I know, red tape’ll drive you nuts, but in ten short years, it’ll all be worth it. 'Cause you know what I’m gonna do, to your sibling? I’m gonna stand over their crib and I’m gonna bleed into their mouth – demon blood is better than all those vitamins and minerals, it makes you big and strong!” “For what?” Dean asks. “So, they can lead your discount demon army? Is that your big plan?” “Please,” Azazel says, grinning. “My end game’s a hell of a lot bigger than that, kid.” “End game? What end game?” Dean asks. “Like I’m gonna tell you,” the demon replies. “All those angels, sitting on your shoulder. No. I’m gonna cover my tracks good.” “You can cover whatever the hell you want,” Dean says. “I’m still gonna kill you.” “Right. Now that I’d like to see,” Azazel smiles. “Maybe not today. But you look into my eyes, you son of a bitch. 'Cause I’m the one that kills you,” Dean says dangerously. Azazel looks a little caught off guard for a minute, but then he laughs. “So, you’re gonna save everyone, is that it?” Deanna sees the Colt on the ground. “Well, I’ll tell you one person that you’re not gonna save,” the demon goes on, taking out a knife. “Your grandpappy.” He stabs himself in the stomach, and Deanna screams “No!” from the doorway. She jumps for the gun, but Azazel sends her flying away onto the floor, then heads toward her. She tries to get away, but he grabs her and breaks her neck. Dean gets away and grabs the Colt, but when he reaches his grandmother, the demon is gone. He looks at his dead grandmother and realizes – “Mary! Mary!” he yells.

Impala
Sitting in the Impala together, John says to Mary, “I guess it’s no secret why I brought you way out here.” Mary looks at him. “John…” “Just… let me get through this, okay?” John interrupts. “Okay wait. There’s things you don’t know about me, John,” she says. “So?” he says. He takes out the little box and shows her the ring. “I will always love you, for exactly who you are.” Just as they’re about to kiss, there’s a knocking on Mary’s window. Her dad is standing outside. “What did I tell you?” he says. He pulls her out of the car. “Sir just listen!” John begins, getting out of the car. “Dad!” Mary says as he pulls her away. “You’re hurting me!” “Stay away from her!” the dad yells at John. “Hey, take it easy!” John says, coming anyway. Samuel grabs John and breaks his neck, and he falls to the ground. “No!” Mary kneels down, lifting John into her lap. “You killed him,” she says brokenly. “Well not just John, sweetie pie,” he says, crouching down and unzipping his jacket so she can see the blood on his shirt. “Mommy and Daddy too. They’re all dead.” “No…” she says. “Yup. ‘Fraid so,” the demon replies. “You’re a litte orphan now.” “You son of a bitch!” she yells. “Oh, stick and stones might break my bones… but they won’t bring your family back again,” he says. “I’ll kill you,” she says. “I swear. To God.” “Oh let’s not get nasty,” he says, sitting down. “Now look, we’ve both said some things that we regret. Let’s uh… kiss and make up. I’ll tell you what. I’ll arrange to have loverboy here brought back breathing.” “My parents too?” she asks, crying. “Nope – sorry doll, it’s not on the table. Think about it. You could be done with hunting forever – the white picket fence, station wagon – a couple of kids – no more monsters, or fear.” “And what? All it costs is my soul?” she says. “Oh no, you can keep your soul. I just need permission,” the demon replies. “For what?” she asks. “Mmmm, ten years I swing by your house for a little something, that’s all.” “For. What!?” she says loudly. “Relax,” he says. “As long as I’m not interrupted, nobody gets hurt. I promise.” Mary looks at John again. “Or you can spend the rest of your life, desperate, and alone,” the demon goes on. Mary? It’s a good deal. So whaddya say?” She looks at him.

Dean pulls up just in time to see Mary kissing the demon. “No!” he yells, jumping out of the car and aiming the Colt, but the demon leaves the grandfather’s body. Mary looks at him, and then back at John, who suddenly wakes up in her arms. Dean watches, crushed, when suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder. Castiel is standing behind him. Mary looks back, but Dean is gone. She hugs John, as John notices her father dead on the ground.

Motel
Dean wakes up gasping. Castiel is standing at the end of his bed. “I couldn’t stop any of it,” Dean says, sitting up. “She still made the deal. She still died in the nursery, didn’t she?” “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Castiel says. “You couldn’t have stopped it.” “What?” Dean asks, standing up. “Destiny can’t be changed, Dean,” Castiel replies. “All roads lead to the same destination.” “Then why’d you send me back?” Dean asks. “For the truth,” Castiel says. “Now you know everything we do.” “What the hell are you talking about?” Dean asks desperately. Castiel looks over to Sam’s bed, and Dean looks too. It’s empty. “Where’s Sam?” Dean asks. “We know what Azazel did to your brother, what we don’t know is why,” Castiel says. “What his end game is. He went to great lengths to cover that up.” “Where’s Sam?” Dean asks again. “425, Waterman,” Castiel replies. Dean walks past him, grabbing his jacket. “Your brother is headed down a dangerous road, Dean,” Castiel goes on. “We’re not sure where it leads. So stop it. Or we will.” Dean looks at Castiel, scared.

To Be Continued…

Featured Music

 * The Allman Bros Band - Ramblin' Man
 * Kenny Smith & The Loveliters - Go For Yourself

Quotes
"Mom's a babe... I'm going to Hell... again"