March 15, 1937, Providence, RI - On a dark, stormy night, heavily-drinking author H. P. Lovecraft types away frantically on a manual typewriter. Lights flash in his home as thunder crashes, branches from a tree outside scratching at the window. His door opens by itself. "Hello?" he calls, slipping a gun from his desk drawer and locking the door. He pours more booze. Something crashes through his window. "Please," he begs, "we didn't know, I'm sorry." He and his just finished manuscript, HAUNTER ... read more March 15, 1937, Providence, RI - On a dark, stormy night, heavily-drinking author H. P. Lovecraft types away frantically on a manual typewriter. Lights flash in his home as thunder crashes, branches from a tree outside scratching at the window. His door opens by itself. "Hello?" he calls, slipping a gun from his desk drawer and locking the door. He pours more booze. Something crashes through his window. "Please," he begs, "we didn't know, I'm sorry." He and his just finished manuscript, HAUNTER OF THE DARK, now covered in blood, fall to the floor. read less

Title

Ben Braedon reads a book in his room.

Bobby's house - "At least you tried," Sam comforts Dean. "A fat lot of good it did," laments Dean, "why did he even come, right?" He slams a book shut, complaining that Grandpa Samuel's journals aren't helping; Jebediah Campbell has squat to tell them about how to stop Cas from cracking Purgatory. Bobby enters. "It's not about the journals we have, it's about the one we don't," he says, "our pal Cas didn't stop in last night just to mend fences... read more Ben Braedon reads a book in his room.

Bobby's house - "At least you tried," Sam comforts Dean. "A fat lot of good it did," laments Dean, "why did he even come, right?" He slams a book shut, complaining that Grandpa Samuel's journals aren't helping; Jebediah Campbell has squat to tell them about how to stop Cas from cracking Purgatory. Bobby enters. "It's not about the journals we have, it's about the one we don't," he says, "our pal Cas didn't stop in last night just to mend fences--he stole the journal of one Moishe Campbell." Of the New York Campbells, which causes a raised eye from Dean. LOL! Not to worry, though, Bobby made a copy--"Bobby Singer, paranoid bastard, glad to meetcha." (Best. Line. Ever!)

Bobby shows Dean something Moishe wrote in the journal--"Went to talk to Howard Phillip about the events of March 10th," reads Dean. Hearing that "Phillip" is actually H. P. Lovecraft, Sam reaches out, eager to read the document. "Am I supposed to know who that is?" asks Dean. "Horror writer?" says Bobby, surprised--AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS? THE CTHULHU?" Sam stares at his brother, astonished. "No, I was too busy having sex with women," says Dean. Lovecraft often wrote about doors to other dimensions and letting the scary crap through, explains Bobby. "So you're saying you think Lovecraft knew something about Purgatory," says Sam. "All I know is, Moishe paid him a visit," answers Bobby.

Ben, headphones in his ears, sits in his room reading, ironically, CTHULHU TALES, a giant squid on the cover. Downstairs, Lisa brings iced tea to boyfriend Matt, and he drapes an arm around her shoulders as she sits next to him on the couch to watch baseball. Someone crashes through the window. Ben hears even through the headphones and creeps to watch from the staircase. "Just let her go," Matt begs the captor holding Lisa, and gets his neck snapped for his trouble. Ben races to his room, slams and slides a chair under his door and calls Dean, who he has on speed dial. "Ben?" says Dean tersely. "There's men in the house," Ben says quickly, "they killed Matt, they got Mom, they're coming, I hear them." "What are they?" demands Dean. "I don't know," says Ben. "Did you see their eyes? Their teeth" Dean asks. The kid answers no to both. "I need to know," says Dean, but Ben has no answers. "Where are you?" Dean asks. "In my room," says Ben. Dean wants him to get the shotgun he left in Lisa's closet, but the kid's too scared. "Dean, what do I do?" Terrified, Dean rubs his face, and Bobby and Sam, realizing what's happened, are upset for him. "Ben, listen to me--go to your window--and jump." "WHAT?" cries Ben. "Any bones you break won't compare to what they're gonna do to you, you've got to jump," insists Dean. "Okay, I'm going," the boy says, clearing everything off his desk to make room. "I'm comin' to get you and your mom right now, I promise," says Dean, "you with me, Ben? Ben?" However, Crowley has picked up Ben's phone. "Hello, Dean," he says in his charming, smarmy tone, "fancy a chat?" read less

"How long has it been?" asks Crowley--"since my so-called demise, yes?" "Let 'em go, NOW," commands Dean, "or I swear I'll. . ." "You'll rip me a cornucopia of orifices," guesses Crowley, "let's get to the bit where I tell you how this goes--your chocolate's been in my peanut butter for far too long." "I'm going to kill you!" warns Dean. "I've got your--what are they?--ex-lady friend and not-kid and am keeping them until I'm satisfied that you've BACKED THE HELL OFF!" screeches Crowley. "Last ch... read more "How long has it been?" asks Crowley--"since my so-called demise, yes?" "Let 'em go, NOW," commands Dean, "or I swear I'll. . ." "You'll rip me a cornucopia of orifices," guesses Crowley, "let's get to the bit where I tell you how this goes--your chocolate's been in my peanut butter for far too long." "I'm going to kill you!" warns Dean. "I've got your--what are they?--ex-lady friend and not-kid and am keeping them until I'm satisfied that you've BACKED THE HELL OFF!" screeches Crowley. "Last chance, let 'em go easy," warns Dean. "You're adorable when you get all threatening," says Crowley, "don't worry, I won't hurt them, provided you and Jolly Green (LOL!) stand down. Got it? Splendid. Kisses." He hangs up. Dean's face screws up in misery. "What's the story?" asks Bobby as Sam hovers close by. "Lisa and Ben keep breathin' as long as we sit on our thumbs," answers Dean. "You think Cas knows about this?" asks Sam. "We gotta assume he does," says Dean. "So what are we gonna do?" asks Sam. "I'll tell you what we're NOT gonna do," says Dean, "sit here, I'm goin' after 'em." "I'm going with," insists Sam. "No, Sam," says Dean, "you and Bobby stay on the Lovecraft thing, Cas is already way ahead of us." "You gotta be nuts if you think I'm gonna let you do this alone," declares Sam, "Bobby can take care of the case." "Guys," says Bobby, standing. "This is a big ball," says Dean, "we can't drop it now." "Fine," agrees Bobby, "but how are you two gonna find Lisa and Ben?"

Bobby heads out in his car. Sam and Dean have set up an angel-summoning ritual on the hood of the Impala (blasphemy!), causing streetlamps to explode. "I'm sorry, boys," says Balthazar, "do I look like a manservant to you? No? Then quit RINGING FOR ME, please!" "This is important," says Dean. "I was drinking a '75 Dom out of a soprano's naval when you called," says Balthazar, "THAT was important." (Gotta love old hedonist Balthy, who enjoys the pleasurable spoils of war far more than the battles.) "Crowley's alive," reports Sam. "You've been scooped," the angel says, "Cas already told me." "Did Cas tell you that he's Crowley's butt-buddy, you smug little dick?" asks Dean. "Excuse me?" asks Balthazar. "Handshake deal," says Sam, "Go halfsies on all the souls in Purgatory--he fill you in on that?" "Yes, yes, of course he did," says Balthazar, although his expression says different. "Oh, yes, of course," says Sam sarcastically, "we can read it all over your face." "Crowley and Cas took two people who are very important to me," explains Dean. "And I care about this because. . .?" asks the angel. "Because maybe there's a shred of decency underneath this snarky crap," says Dean. Balthazar finishes off his glass of Dom. "They're innocent people," says Dean passionately, "and I'm asking for your help." "Hmm, I see," says Balthazar, "very nice." He flies away. "SON-OF-A-BITCH!" shouts Dean, words echoing on the air. Sam suggests calling Cas--perhaps he didn't know anything about the kidnapping --but Dean won't hear about it. "So WHAT then?" demands Sam.

Bobby pays a visit to Judah, an H. P. Lovecraft expert who considers the author's work literature and feels he should be taught in schools along with Dickens and Dean R. Koontz. "That's the angle I'm taking with my piece," says Bobby. The man brags he has the largest collection of Lovecraft's private letters. "You must be catnip to the ladies," says Bobby. (LMAO!) "I'm in a long-term on-line relationship," the man says. (LMAO even harder!) When Bobby inquires about March 10, 1937, he's asked if he's working with "the other guy" who wears a trench coat, looks like Colombo, talks like Rainman. Bobby explains they're competitors from rival magazines. Howard had a dinner party that night, invited six friends who were co-worshipers in a black magic cult. They were getting together that night to perform a ritual intending to open a door to another dimension. "Why would they do that?" asks Bobby, mortified. "See what's out there, maybe it's friendly," Judah says, grinning. "It's NEVER friendly," says Bobby, turning the other man's smile to a frown, "I would imagine--so did it work, the spell?" "Well, there was no mention of Cthulhu in the morning papers," the other man says, and goes to his file cabinet to find some letters he has detailing the dinner. However, he finds the binder empty. "It's not like an invisible guy could pop in and steal 'em, right," says Bobby. "Right," the guy agrees weakly. "Call me if you find 'em," says Bobby. "Okay, thanks, thanks again for coming by, huh," Judah says.

On the phone, Bobby tells Sam, who is walking his salvage yard in front of a barn-like building, "Lovecraft tried to jimmy a damned dimensional door." "So what happened?" asks Sam. "Nothin' much," says Bobby, "except I dug, and every person invited to the hoedown dead or disappeared within a year." "Wow--so where are you off to now?" asks Sam. "Have a chat with one of the guests," replies Bobby. "Didn't you just say everyone there died?" asks Sam. "Everyone Lovecraft invited died," says Bobby, "seems the maid had a nine-year- old son--he was there." "He'd be 83 years old now," says Sam, "where is he?" "Same place he's been since the big night," says Bobby, "locked in a mental ward." "Keep me posted," says Sam. "How're things going there?" asks Bobby--"got any leads on Lisa and Ben?" "We're makin' a few inquiries," says Sam, "slow goin'. Better than you'd expect." Behind Sam we hear the sound of a man screaming out in pain. Inside, Dean has just electrically dispatched what looks like one of many demons in his search for info on the whereabouts of Ben and Lisa. Dean looks at the bloody knife. "Next customer," he rasps, tying a demon to a chair. "Look," the guy says, "I don't know anything." "Yeah, we'll see," says Dean, taking a swig of booze. Sam enters and offers to take over for a while, given that Dean is running on whiskey, coffee and whatever else he's taking. Sam thinks he's grasping at straws, but Dean figures if he kills enough demons, one of them is bound to tell him where Crowley is. "Back off," Dean orders, "Lisa and Ben, wherever they are, that's 100% on me, and if they're hurt (he stops a moment, unable to even bear the thought), I'll yell if I need you." Solemn-faced, Sam exits the barn.

"Castiel, it's Sam. I don't know if you're in on this whole Ben-Lisa thing, but if you have any heart whatsoever, bring 'em back to us, man, come on, please, I'm begging you--I am begging you, do you understand?" He stares around, hearing the wind, seeing nothing. Cas is there, but invisible, and stares after Sam compassionately.

"Smiling Faces" appropriately plays in the background as Cas appears in Crowley's lab. "Sweetie, you're tense," the demon greets him. "You took Ben and Lisa, accuses Cas. "I told you. . ." says Cas. ". . .not to touch Sam and Dean," says Crowley, "I respected that; I'm merely exploiting the obvious loophole. As long as I have the woman and the boy, your fop-coiffed little heroes will be scouring the earth for THEM, therefore not YOU and not ME--everybody wins." "You should have talked to me first," says Cas. "I'd rather ask permission than forgiveness," says the demon. "Where are they, Crowley?" Cas demands angrily. Crowley gestures sewing his lips shut and dropping the key in his pocket. "You are not to harm them," warns Cas, "do you understand me?" "You're maxed out on putting humans out of bounds," says Crowley, "I'll deal with them as I please. Wanna stop me? GO FIND FRIGGIN' PURGATORY!!!" There's the sound of radio waves and Cas touches his hand to his ear, as if getting a communication. "Call on the Batphone?" quips Crowley--"they never call during business hours, do they?" "I'll be back," threatens Cas, much like Ahnold.

"Cas, Cas, Cas, so good of you to come," praises Balthazar, meeting Castiel in heaven, a pretty wooded area near a stream. "Why did you summon me here," asks Cas. "Can I ask you a direct question?" queries Balthazar. "Of course," replies Cas. "Are in en flagrante with the King of Hades?" asks Balthazar. (Doesn't en flagrante mean having sex with, or caught caught in the act of having sex with?) "Of course not," lies Cas. "You always were such a terrible liar," chuckles Balthy--"so it's true--all right, then--why?" "It's a means to an end," says Cas, "you understand that." "Absolutely," says the other angel, "but what's the end here, exactly, raid Purgatory, snatch up all the souls. . ." "Win the war," says Cas. "And I can only assume you'd be the vessel, correct?" says Balthy--"suck up all those souls into yourself--all that power?" "It's the only way," says Cas. "Or too much juice for you," says Balthazar, "in which case, you explode, taking a substantial chunk of the planet with you." "That won't happen," asserts Cas. "Of course," says Balthazar, "just tell me that it's entirely risk-free." "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you," says Cas, "but I need to know--are you with me or not?" Laughing, Balthazar says, "You know, you may be certifiable, but fine--in for a penny, in for a pound." "How did you hear about this, anyway?" asks Cas. "Your monkeys, of course," says Balthazar, "they're just a touch worked up about that kidnapping business."

Mental institution - "You sure you're not with that other reporter, in the coat?" an elderly man asks Bobby--"liar, that one, not who he says." "No, sir, I'm not affiliated with his paper," Bobby assures him, explaining he has questions about that 1937 dinner party. Everyone wants to know about that night, says the old man, irritated. "You know the story--they did their spell, and they all said it failed." Whispering, he asks Bobby, "Do you believe in monsters?" "Yup," replies Bobby. "You know, you go sayin' that in here, they'll lock you in for the rest of your life!" warns the old man. "Whatever you saw, you tell me," says Bobby, "and I'll buy it straight." "The spell worked," reveals the old man, "a door opened and something came through, but it was invisible, so no one knew. except me." "How did you know?" wonders Bobby. "Because it took my mother!" the old man reveals, "it went into her, she wasn't the same, she even smelled different. And then, she disappeared--and surprise, one by one, they all start dying." "I'm sorry--about your mom," says Bobby. "You're the first person that ever said that," says the old man gratefully, "hey, you wanta see a picture?" He hands over a photo, the back of which says Eleanor, 1935. "I'll be damned!" mutters Bobby.

Back at the demon-torturing, Dean fills a large syringe with what looks like blood. "I promise you, pal--start talking," orders Dean, "or I swear, I will rip your skin off, strip by strip, and then I'm gonna kill you and then I'm gonna do it to the next demon--do ya hear me?" The demon has blood spilling from his mouth. Dean, however, has unknowingly opened the devil's trap on the floor with his boot. "Yeah, I hear you," answers the demon, eyes going black as he sends Dean flying across the room. He advances on Dean and grips his throat, ordering, "Stop talking, you miserable sac!" Castiel appears behind the demon and grips his head, killing him in a flash of intense white light. Dean, stunned, stares at the angel who used to be his friend. read less

"I didn't ask for your help," gasps Dean. "Regardless, you're welcome," says Cas. "Why are you here?" asks Dean. "I had no idea Crowley would take Lisa and Ben," says Cas. "Yeah, right," says Dean. "You don't believe me," says Cas, truly stunned. "I don't believe a word that's coming out of your mouth," says Dean. This really hurts Cas, who says, "I thought you said we were like family. Well I think that too. Shouldn't trust run both ways?" "Cas, I just can't," says Dean. "I do everything that y... read more "I didn't ask for your help," gasps Dean. "Regardless, you're welcome," says Cas. "Why are you here?" asks Dean. "I had no idea Crowley would take Lisa and Ben," says Cas. "Yeah, right," says Dean. "You don't believe me," says Cas, truly stunned. "I don't believe a word that's coming out of your mouth," says Dean. This really hurts Cas, who says, "I thought you said we were like family. Well I think that too. Shouldn't trust run both ways?" "Cas, I just can't," says Dean. "I do everything that you ask," says Cas, "I always come when you call." (ALWAYS?) "I am your friend. Still, despite your lack of faith in me, and now your threats, I just saved you, yet again. Has anyone but your closest kin ever done more for you? All I ask is this one thing." "Trust your plan to pop Purgatory?" asks Dean in disbelief. "I've earned that, Dean," says Cas--"I've come to tell you that I will find Lisa and Ben and I will bring them back. Stand behind me the one time I ask." "You askin' me to stand down?" demands Dean-- "that's the same damn ransom note Crowley handed me, you know that, right? Well no thanks--I'll find them myself. In fact, why don't you go back to Crowley and tell him both of you can kiss my ass?" Dean turns away and presses his fist to his mouth as if trying to stop himself from crying. The last thing he hears is the sound of Cas' wings as he leaves.

It's storming. Bobby pulls up to a cabin protected by Enochian symbols and knocks on the door. Ellie, the lovely blond lady who gave Dean a dragon-killing sword several episodes back, answers. "It's been a while," he says solemnly. Biting her lip, she invites him in and asks how he found her. "We weren't together long, but I know a thing or two about you," he says, "I know your safe-houses, and this one ain't all that safe." "Did you come here just to. . .chat?" she asks, taking a stiff sip of her drink. (Whoa, Bobby, nookie ahead?) Taking a long sip of his drink, Bobby says, "I know what you are, Ellie." He shows her the photo he got from the old man. "You aren't exactly from Milwaukee, are ya?" he asks. "Not exactly," she agrees. "Not that I'd have minded," he says, "but you kinda fibbed about your age." "Just slightly," she says, "nine hundred years." Bobby wants to know what HER game is; Eve came through and raised all kinds of hell immediately. "What's with the slow burn?" he asks. "We're not all alike," she says. "Monsters," he says. "If it makes you feel better to call me that, fine," she says. "You're from freakin' Purgatory," he reminds her, "you never thought to mention that the whole time we slept together?" (Sounds like a sexual buzz-kill to me, honestly.) "I am what I am," she says, "and I happen to be a friend." He wants an explanation. "I didn't ask those idiots to crack the door," she says, "I just happened to be the thing that fell through, and let me tell you something--you are lucky it was me." "You're sayin' you're on our side?" asks Bobby. "I'm on MY side," says Ellie, "I happen to LIKE it here! I don't want to see this place turned into some bloody wasteland." "So you killed H. P. Lovecraft?" asks Bobby. "Please, that guy couldn't even write hello," she says--"I have spent 75 years trying to keep the door closed. Why do you think I gave Dean the sword? To stop Eve. Hell, you guys were supposed to kill the damn dragons." "This all comes down to one angel," says Bobby, "he wants Purgatory and he's looking for you!" "Well thanks for the heads-up," she says nervously. "I know him, El," says Bobby, "he's going to figure it out, one way or another, now the only way I can stop him is to get ahead of him--I need to know how you open the door." "No, it's too dangerous for anyone to know," insists Ellie. "If I found you, he ain't far behind," promises Bobby, "at least let me take you somewhere, protect you." "No, thanks," she says, smiling, "I have a couple of other places lined up, don't worry. Bobby, you're just a man. I'm better off protecting myself." (Gotta say, I love this gal! Attractive, independent, a monster, yeah, but one who can hold her own, loves earth as is and wants to stick around and protect the humans. She found Bobby good relationship material, if just a man, LOL, and won't risk his life by giving him the way to open the door to Purgatory because SHE wants to protect HIM. That tickles me.)

Bobby's - Sam pours a drink. Balthazar appears. "Drinking your feelings, Sam?" he asks--"I thought that was your brother's thing." "Stressful times," says Sam, taking a gulp. "We need to talk," says Balthazar, "I know I'm going to live to regret this, but I'm officially (he looks heavenward) on your team--you bastards." Dean, now with Sam, arms crossed over his chest, asks, "And we should believe you why?" "Would you believe I had a shred of decency?" asks Balthazar. "No," says Sam. "Aw, that hurts!" says the angel--"Okay, you're right, it's survival. I asked Cas some questions and I disliked his answers. He seems awfully sure of himself for a man who wants to swallow a million nuclear reactors! These things can get a bit Chernobyl, you know. So, voila, consider me your double agent. Oh and I took the liberty of searching for your friends--took a while, Crowley's a clever one." "You found them?" demands Dean. Good news--yes, he did, bad news, he can't retrieve them himself because Crowley angel-proofed the entire bloody building--"I guess he doesn't trust Cas--seems that marriage is going swimmingly." "Get us as close as you can," orders Dean. "Sure," agrees Balthazar, "but then you're on your own. He brings them to a warehouse-hangar where it's pouring rain. "All right, boys," says the angel, "this is where I get off. God be with you and what have you." The brothers smoothly, easily kill a look-out demon and enter the building. They split up. Sam is quickly hit over the head, captured and imprisoned, leaving Dean to fight this one alone, which is only right, since Lisa and Ben do belong to him.

Lisa and Ben are tied up and sitting down in what looks like a cold, dreary basement-type place. Whether or not they're getting food or water isn't clear. Hearing commotion at the top of the stairs outside, the two demons guarding Lisa and Ben head up to see what's going on. Suddenly, the entire door crashes in; Dean has used the DKK to dispatch all the demons. "Dean, thank God," says Lisa as he bends to cut their bonds. "Let's get you out of here," he says. Lisa abruptly grabs the knife away from him and presses it against Ben's throat. "He's not going anywhere," she warns, eyes turning demon-black, "and neither am I."

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"Crowley thought you might come," says demonLisa, "so he had me jump this hot little piece of ass for insurance. Can't go losing our leverage now, can we?" Dean steps closer, she backs Ben and herself away. "Free appendectomy," she snarks, "you know, she's awake in here, your mom--I can hear her thinking." "Don't listen to her, Ben," says Dean. "I was just gonna tell him that you're his real daddy," taunts demonLisa. (OMG!!! WHAT???) She laughs cruelly. "Just kidding," she says, "who knows who y... read more "Crowley thought you might come," says demonLisa, "so he had me jump this hot little piece of ass for insurance. Can't go losing our leverage now, can we?" Dean steps closer, she backs Ben and herself away. "Free appendectomy," she snarks, "you know, she's awake in here, your mom--I can hear her thinking." "Don't listen to her, Ben," says Dean. "I was just gonna tell him that you're his real daddy," taunts demonLisa. (OMG!!! WHAT???) She laughs cruelly. "Just kidding," she says, "who knows who your real daddy is, kid, your mom's a slut!" "You shut your mouth!" says Dean. "Or what, you're her white knight now?" she teases--"she wishes she'd never met you--you're the worst mistake she ever made!--second worst, after keeping you." (Ben) "It's not your mom, Ben, she's lying," says Dean. "Says the C-minus lay with the ten miles of daddy issues," she says, "whatever gets you through the night, Tiny Tim." He tries to step forward again. "Back off, cowboy," she warns, and to Ben, "she's begging me to kill you, she says you hold her back, never had a lick of fun since you were born." "Look at me," Dean begs Ben, "look at me, you're gonna be just fine." He hurls holy water from his pocket at demonLisa, who, shocked at the pain, releases Ben. Dean shouts for Ben to grab the knife from the ground, which the boy does. DemonLisa taunts Dean to hit her, but he can't; instead he begins the exorcism. "Shut your mouth," she commands, and punches him, to her son's astonishment. It doesn't stop Dean from continuing the exorcism. She darts forward and grabs him around the throat. "Stop it, I'm warning you," she says. "You go back to hell, you black-eyed bitch," he snarls. "You sure about that?" she asks, grinning. She finds a knife and stabs herself just below her right breast. "MOM!" cries Ben, and Dean's eyes widen in horror. "Exorcise me now," says demonLisa, "she's just a dead meat-suit--and what was it you wanted to say?" Despite the stabbing, Dean finishes the exorcism. Blood gushes from Lisa's teeth, followed closely behind by the demon's smoke as it exits her body. "MOM!" cries Ben. Dean shows him where to put pressure on her wound as he calls Sam's cell. Sam, still unconscious and imprisoned, doesn't hear. "We've gotta get her out of here, Ben," says Dean, but the kid is in shock, and Dean has to smack him across the face to get him to pay attention. "You gotta be strong, your mom needs you right now. Open that duffel bag, grab the salt gun. I'm gonna carry your mom out, anything comes at us, you shoot." Ben shakes his head. "Go! Now!" orders Dean, who lifts Lisa into his arms. "Get the knife," says Dean. Just as Dean gives him brief instructions on using the gun and watching out for the kick, Ben has to use it to shoot a demon, and he uses it well, but the kid's staring at his handiwork, unable to move. "Ben! Ben! Pull it together, do you want your mother to die? Let's go!" They move, trying to go as quickly, yet stealthily, as possible. More gunshots; Ben has to shoot more demons. "DEAN!" calls Sam--"I'm in here!" Dean shoots the lock off the door keeping Sam prisoner, Sam takes the gun from Ben and steals them a car to ferry Lisa more quickly to the hospital. "You gotta go faster, man," pleads Dean, fearful of Lisa bleeding out, muttering to Ben--and himself-- "She's gonna be fine, just fine."

Gravely injured, Lisa lies in a hospital bed, on a respirator. Dean sits on one side of the bed, holding her hand, Ben the other. The boy gives Dean an icy look and leaves the room. "Ben," begs Dean. Cas enters. "What do YOU want?" demands Dean. "Listen," pleads Cas. "What do you want me to say--she'll be dead by midnight," says Dean. "I'm sorry," says Cas. "I don't care," says Dean, "it's too little, too late." "Okay," says Cas, "regardless, I didn't come for you." "Meaning?" says Dean icily. Cas touches Lisa's forehead. "She's fine now," he says, "she'll wake soon." Dean stands. "I said I'm sorry and I meant it," Cas says softly. "Thank you," says Dean, near tears, "I wish this changed anything." "I know," says Cas, "so do I. All else aside, I just wanted to fix what I could." Cas starts to WALK out. "There's one more thing you could do for me," says Dean.

From the doorway, Dean watches as Lisa awakens. "Hey Mom," greets Ben. "Hey," she greets back. "You're in the hospital," he says. "What happened?" she asks. "We were in a car crash," he says. "You okay?" she asks, worried. "I'm fine," he assures her, "you hit your head pretty bad, but you're okay now." Dean knocks. "Who are you?" asks Ben. "I'm Dean, the guy who hit you--I lost control for a minute, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. But I'm real happy you two are both okay--and I'm glad your life can get back to normal now." Lisa smiles. "We're okay," she says, "and that's what's important, right?" "Yeah," agrees Dean, trying not to cry, to let on that he's closing a door on a cherished chapter of his life forever, "anyway, I'll leave you two alone." To Ben, he says, "Take care of your mom." He leaves the hospital room, trying to compose himself, and exits the hospital.

Outside Oakview Hospital, Sam is waiting for him, towering over the top of the Impala. "Well?" he asks. "Well nothin'" says Dean. Climbing into the car beside him, Sam says, "You have pulled some shady crap before, but this has got to be the worst--white-washing their memories? Take it from somebody who knows. . ." "You ever mention Lisa and Ben to me again, I will break your nose," warns Dean. "Dean," begins Sam. "I'm not kiddin'," says Dean. Looking into his brother's teary eyes, Sam closes the car door and remains silent.

We see the license plate--CNK 80Q3--as the Impala drives away.

Ellie leaves her cabin, heading for her car. She's just about to get in when we see she has company--Castiel. He touches her shoulder and they both disappear.

Editor's comments: I guess Dean did what he felt he had to do--remove all traces of Dean Winchester from the lives of the Braeden family. Lisa and Ben would never know him beyond a guy who had a fender bender with them. Too bad Dean won't have the same luxury. Did you see his eyes when demonLisa said Ben WAS his kid? Biology or not, Dean loves that boy, and you could see how much it killed him to have Cas surgically remove him from their lives. Yes, it's best for them--as long as all demons and other monsters don't know of the connection, either. The only one who will suffer is Dean. He made a huge sacrifice here. Then again, he's used to it. Just add it to the already gigantic pile on his shoulders. Sniffle.

This was quite an episode. It wrapped up the Dean-Lisa-Ben storyline once and for all, or it sure SEEMED to. With season 7 coming up next year, who can tell for sure? Even though Castiel did everything Dean asked of him, Dean will not forgive Cas or allow him his plan for Purgatory. Not if he's working with Crowley! I sense that even if Cas cut all ties with Crowley right now, it wouldn't change anything; Dean has lost faith in Cas, and nothing can change that. Their relationship is irretrievably broken, and you can see how badly that breaks Cas' heart. He doesn't understand why Dean won't have faith in him and stand down. Cas doesn't understand that it's because Cas' request matches Crowley's, a demon's, and it's impossible for him to follow it.

Now Castiel has Ellie, and with her, the way to get to Purgatory and the souls to split with Crowley. Sounds like a sure-fire recipe for disaster to me, if not the apocalypse, then as least apocalypse lite, with a death count almost as terrifying. Then there's the matter of that wall in poor Sam's head. With the final episode coming up, what are the chances that it's going to remain solid? With Dean's heart broken and his spirits flagging, will he be able to help his brother survive?



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