Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver is the 19th episode of Season 8. It aired on April 3, 2013.

Summary
Sam and Dean respond to a call from Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley's voice in his head. After hearing Kevin's news, Sam and Dean team up with a Reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi and realizes he must find Benny and ask for a huge favor.

Plot
The scene begins with Kevin waking up in the middle of the night. He is hearing Crowley. He looks all around him, but cannot see him. Crowley then proceeds to tell him he is in his head and everywhere else. He then proceeds to tell him "You irked me last time and lost a finger. Imagine what will happen this time." Kevin sees that his whole hand is missing and his legs gone.

Sam and Dean go to see Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley's voice in his head. They get there and see Kevin freaking out. Neither one thinks Kevin is hearing Crowley in his head but they try and calm him down. Kevin then proceeds to tell them he has decoded the second trial. The trial involves going to Hell to rescue an innocent soul and deliver it to Heaven. Not sure of how to get into Hell, Sam and Dean agree they need some more info and go out to get some.

Sam and Dean go to a crossroad to find a demon. They summon a demon and trap him. They then take the demon to an undisclosed location and start torturing him. Sam says it would be easier if he just told them how to get into Hell. He say he won't tell, 'cause it's a secret and they (other demons) will kill him. They then pour more holy water on his head. He then says "Wait...you get someone to smuggle you across the border for a price." He also says that they have secret ways in and out of hell and heaven and that it is used to smuggle souls. The demon wants to die at the hands of the brothers rather than a painful, torturous death by Crowley. Dean agrees, but only after he tells them everything.

Later, they go to meet a taxi driver named Ajay. They tell him they want to do business and cross the border. He is confused because they are mortal and no one wants to get into Hell while alive. Sam persists in his questioning asking if it was possible. He does have special skills. It would also require overhead. Ajay says it could be pricey. Dean asks how pricey. He says they are resourceful enough and that one day they will owe him a favor. Sam is confused by the fact he seems to know them. Ajay says "Of course, you are the Winchesters". Dean is also confused by this. Ajay then proceeds to say that he is the Reaper who took Bobby Singer to Hell. Sam is confused because they burned his bones so he should have gone to Heaven. "Not necessarily" says Ajay. Dean gets irritated and retorts that good guys go to Heaven. Ajay says that usually but it depends on who you know. They find out it was Crowley who sent Bobby to Hell. Dean asks for two tickets down and three back. Ajay says it is too risky and can only take one. Sam and Dean step aside to discuss it. Sam says he has to do the trials himself and Dean can't come and he will bring Bobby back. They tell Ajay it will be just Sam and ask how it works. Ajay assures Dean that Sam will be back in 24 hours and not to worry.

Sam goes with the Reaper. They come to a back alley with a lot of graffitti and in the middle of it is a painted door. Ajay tells Sam to take his hand. Once they go through the door, Sam and Ajay appear in a forest. Only it is not Hell, but Purgatory. Sam becomes pissed off and says this is not what he paid for. Ajay then tells him to follow the stream where three trees meet and that is the portal to Hell. He warns Sam to be back in 24 hours precisely and to be there if he wants to get back home.

Dean gets back to the boat after picking up some burgers for him and  Kevin. He comes in calling for Kevin and hears nothing at first. He calls for Kevin again and then Kevin comes out of one of the closets saying "I thought it was safer in here. Kevin then tells Dean how terrified he is of Crowley finding him. Dean tells him to get a grip. Kevin says he can't take it anymore. But Dean urges him to keep going, because that's what they do best.

Crowley finds Ajay eating in his cab. After suffering much fear and stress, he cracks and tells Crowley everything. After hearing what he wants from Ajay, Crowley stabs him in the back, killing him.

Next, we see Sam in Purgatory looking for the backdoor to hell. He is attacked by a monster and he cuts off its head with it's own weapon. He then sees a set of rocks and removes one. Air rushes into the opening. The portal to Hell. Sam then disappears down the "rabbit hole." Sam finds himself in a long passage and starts to walk. The sounds of the tortured souls trapped in cages are everywhere. While Sam is trying to find Bobby, he looks to the side and sees a girl. She is asking him if he is here for her and she knew he would come. She keeps repeating those phrases over and over. He finally comes upon a cage in which a man is turned around and stares at the wall. He opens the door to the cage and says "Bobby?" Bobby then turns around and punches him in the face. Bobby tells him to get out of here you black-eyed son-of-a-bitch. Sam says that it's him, Sam Winchester. To prove he is who says he is Sam tells Bobby about the time he got a free pedicure at Mall of America. Bobby then hugs Sam in relief. Bobby asks Sam why he is there and Sam tells him it is to get him out and hands him a knife.

Crowley is back at his office freaking out that the Winchesters have once again been a thorn in his side. He has no idea what they are up to and wants to know before Kevin finishes the translation. He then insists he needs Kevin. He claims that Kevin and Dean have the good half of the tablet while he has the crappy half with the acknowledgements. He then shouts at his assistant to find Kevin.

Meanwhile Dean is making breakfast for him and Kevin. Kevin comes in from outdoors and says that he temporarily hidden the tablet. Dean is very angry and Kevin locks himself in his room. Then Dean receives a visit from an angel named Naomi. She tells Dean she is the one who rescued Castiel from Purgatory. Dean is pissed at her because she is the one who had Castiel spy on them. She tells Dean that she has reached out to Castiel to try and help him because when he came back from Purgatory he was extremely damaged. Dean tells her he doesn't trust angels and she points out the fact that he did not ward the place from them. She tries to explain that all she wants is to help Castiel and close the gates of hell. Dean does not believe her. She tells him that Ajay's way into Hell is through Purgatory. Dean is shocked and she tells him that they on the same side.

Sam and Bobby are walking through the corridors of Hell to get back to Purgatory. Along the way they come into contact with a couple of demons and kill them. Then they run into a demon that looks just like Sam. Bobby is confused and not sure which one to trust he stabs one. The demon dies. Sam says" You knew it was me right?" Bobby tells him he guessed. And they run.

Meanwhile, Dean goes to find Ajay and fins him dead in his cab.

Sam and Bobby get out of hell and back into Purgatory. Bobby asks "What is this?" Sam tells him not to get mad but they are in Purgatory. Bobby exclaims "Balls!" Sam says lets go and they head off to the meeting spot.

Dean then calls Benny and tells him he needs to ask for a huge favor.

Back in the woods Bobby asks Sam how many more trials he has and he says just one. Bobby is super excited to be reunited with Sam again and is happy that he will be able to be around them again. Unfortunately, Sam tells Bobby that in order for the trial to be complete, his soul must go to Heaven and since they burned his bones they have nothing to tie him to earth anymore. Disappointed, Bobby resigns himself to his fate. Bobby tells Sam he has to find a way to spring him from heaven. Sam starts to get nervous. Bobby asks what is wrong and Sam tells him the reaper isn't back to get them out.

Dean and Benny meet up at the spot where Sam and Ajay had entered Purgatory. Dean says to Benny if he does not want to do it, he completely understands. Dean then tells Benny he is sorry and he does not want to send him back there but is for his brother. Benny agrees to do it. Dean says that he owes Benny. Benny says that Dean doesn't owe him anything. He then says he needs a break from this world and that he doesn't fit in with humans or vampires. Dean says he will get him out. He tells him to catch a ride with Sam like he did with him. Benny nods in agreement. They hug, Dean says thank you and proceeds to cut off Benny's head.

Back in Purgatory, Bobby is giving Sam crap for not trying to get his brother out of Purgatory. Soon they find themselves surrounded by creatures in Purgatory and they have to fight them off. A few seconds later Benny appears to help and Sam is confused. Sam asks why he is there. Benny fills them in on the details. Bobby is mad that Dean is friends with a vampire. Sam thanks Benny for saving them and Dean. Benny says he is a disgrace to his own people and chuckles. They then get to the opening and Bobby asks if that is it. Sam cuts his arm and Bobby cuts his arm while Sam says a spell. They join arms and Sam takes in Bobby's soul. Sam says it is Benny's turn. Benny just looks at him. Someone calls out Benny's name. It is a group of three vampires. Benny tells Sam to go and walks over to the vampires. Sam tries to get Benny to come with but he says "Nah. I was never any good up there.You tell Dean bye for me". Sam understands and runs to the opening but not before throwing him the knife Dean gave him from Purgatory.

In the 100 mile wilderness in Maine, Dean is waiting in the forest. Sam comes out and Dean is waiting there for him. They hug. Dean asks if he got him out. Sam tells him: Only Bobby. Dean is confused. Sam then proceeds to tell Dean that Benny got them out by using himself as bait against a bunch of vamps. Sam also told Dean that it didn't seem like Benny wanted out. Dean agrees but is clearly upset by it. Dean then asks about how Bobby is and Sam tells him he is good but worried. Sam then says a chant and cuts his arm open and release Bobby's soul to the sky, when Crowley pops into say that Bobby is his and belongs in hell. Then Noami appears and say "Who says that?" Crowley, realizing who it is, becomes annoyed. Naomi says that Crowley cannot take an innocent soul to hell. She tries to kill Crowley but he flees. She lets Bobby's spirit soar toward Heaven. She then smiles at Dean and says " I told you you can trust me." Sam asks who that was and Dean says he will tell him later and to get the trial done and Sam reads from a paper. His hand then begins to glow and fill with pain. Dean becomes concerned but the pain passes quickly and Sam tells him it is ok and it is done. Sam tells Dean he would go back for Benny if he wants, too.

Back at the boat Kevin is freaking out cause he is still hearing Crowley. He keeps telling himself it is just a dream. Soon the whole house shakes and gets loud. Kevin puts his hands over his ears as the glass on the windows breaks. Soon Crowley shows up and says that he killed his mother to find him and found him by her cellphone. A few seconds later, Kevin's screams are heard.

Sam and Dean are driving back when Dean tells Sam that he buried Benny but he did not burn his bones. He then tells Sam that Benny stuck his neck out for him and he did not think it was right to burn them. They then decide to check on Kevin.

Sam and Dean get to the boat. Dean calls out for Kevin. No one is there. They are not sure what happened. They think Kevin finally snapped and left. Everything is gone including his notes on the tablet. But where did he go?

Characters

 * Dean Winchester
 * Sam Winchester
 * Kevin Tran
 * Crowley
 * Naomi
 * Benny Lafitte
 * Bobby Singer
 * Ajay

Featured Supernatural Beings

 * Demons
 * Angels (Naomi)
 * Reapers (Ajay)
 * Vampires (Benny and 3 unnamed)
 * Ghosts (Bobby)

Quotess?

 * Dean (to the male Crossroads Demon): What happened to the hot chicks?
 * Ajay  (to Sam): Smuggling a mortal across the border is risky enough, but gate-crashing a Winchester into Hell seriously blows.


 * Crowley (to Ajay): Patience isn’t one of my virtues. Well, I don’t have any virtues, but if I did I’m certain that patience wouldn’t be one.


 * Bobby (to Sam):You’re the 200th Sam I’ve seen today. That’s how they screw with me, just endless Sams and Deans all wearing the same black eyes.


 * Sam (to Bobby): What about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made Dean swear to never tell another living soul how it changed your life.


 * Crowley (to Kevin): What you people never seem to understand is that you are nothing. Fleeting blips of light. I am forever!

Continuity

 * This is the first appearance of Bobby Singer since Survival of the Fittest.
 * This is the first appearance of Hell since Man's Best Friend With Benefits.

Trivia

 * The episode title could be referencing the rogue Reaper Ajay, who moonlighted as a taxi driver. It could also be referencing Sam being a taxi for Bobby's soul.
 * Bumper sticker on Ajay's taxi reads "HOW'S MY DRIVING ? CALL 1-555-GO2-HELL" Source
 * When Sam was trying to convince Bobby that he wasn't a demon, he was referencing the episode You Can't Handle The Truth, when Bobby told Dean about being a fan of Tori Spelling and getting a pedicure.