Chapter Text
SUPERNATURAL
“BOTTLE EPISODE"
TEASER
THEN
Clip from 12.06, Celebrating The Life of Asa Fox
SAM
Did you know people tell stories about us?
DEAN
Yeah. Apparently, we're a little bit legendary.
(Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera plays)
♪♪♪
Voiceover from 4.22 Lucifer Rising
CHUCK
You guys aren't supposed to be there. You're not in this story.
CASTIEL
Yeah, well… We're making it up as we go.
Clip from 1.01 pilot. DEAN runs downstairs with SAM, watching the fire spread throughout his family home.
♪ (Come on, come on, uh, yeah) Oh-ooh, whoa-oh (Come on, come on, uh) ♪
Clip from 2.21 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part One running towards SAM as SAM is stabbed in the back, DEAN pulls his hand off SAM’S back and the shot changes---
Voiceover from 14.20 Moriah.
CHUCK
This isn't how the story is supposed to end.
CAS
The story?
---SAM’S bloody hand lifting away from DEANS back from 15.20 Carry On.
♪ I feel like I've been locked up tight, For a century of lonely nights, Waiting for someone to release me ♪
Voiceover from 14.20 Moriah continued.
DEAN
--Wait. What are you saying?
SAM
He's saying he's been playing us. This whole time. Our entire lives. Mom, Dad -- everything. This is all you because you wrote it all, right? Because -- Because what? Because we're your favorite show? Because we're part of your story? And every other bad thing we've been killing, been dying over -- (scoffs) where were you? Just sitting back and watching us suffer so we can do this over and over and over again -- fighting, losing people we love? When does it end?
DEAN
No, we're done talking. 'Cause this -- this isn't just a story. It's our lives!
♪ You're lickin' your lips and blowin' kisses my way, But that don't mean I'm gonna give it away, Baby, baby, baby (Baby, baby, baby) ♪
Then OVERHEAD LIGHTS EXPLODE! Raining SPARKS over DEAN, BOBBY, the whole room. They shield themselves. Then they see-- AT THE FAR END OF THE ROOM. The ENTRANCE. SWINGS OPEN by itself. Slow. Revealing-- a MAN. CASTIEL. He heads in, walking through a curtain of FALLING SPARKS. It's a hell of an entrance.
From 5.16 Dark Side of the Moon, The TV behind DEAN flares to life, showing a grainy black and white image of CASTIEL.
From 5.22 Swan Song, CHUCK sits behind a computer keyboard. A full glass and near empty bottle of cheap whiskey beside him.
From THE WINCHESTERS 01.13 Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye JACK--- wearing a white linen suit… then CHUCK--- from 15.19 Inherit the Earth also wearing a white linen suit
Clip from 16.01 Fuck. DEAN stands frozen against SAM’S wall, staring at the CAMERA, as he waits… JACK walks past SAM and places a hand on the door handle. JACK opens the door and--- SAM and DEAN find themselves back in the bunker. They BOTH slowly draw their gaze toward THE CAMERA.
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (My body's sayin', "Let's go"), Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (But my heart is sayin', "No, no") ♪
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
ROWENA
What's this?!
Dean Winchester, finally back in the land of the living?
And not only that, but carrying along the angel Castiel, who, also, up until now, was known to be deceased?
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. DEAN grins, licks his lips, and looks over at CAS who breathes deeply, and with brows low, a smile starts to creep up into his mouth. DEAN continues to stare at CAS as MELODY rubs her thumb against their hand.
♪ If you wanna be with me, Baby, there's a price to pay, I'm a genie in a bottle (In a bottle, baby), You gotta rub me the right way (Yeah)♪
Clip from 16.03 Mothman.
ROWENA
[...]
Let the boys know that Castiel's vessel will be ready and waiting for them when they return to the bunker.
♪ If you wanna be with me, I can make your wish come true You gotta make a big impression, (Oh yeah), Gotta like what you do ♪
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
JOHN
(Through the phone)
Let me have at least a second alone with your mother before you up and steal her away from me.
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
MARY
I was actually thinking it'd be kind of nice to head back down toward you guys.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. JOHN slams a fist onto the table, and SAM and DEAN both jump at the outburst. MARY clears her throat and looks around at the other tables. Miraculously, only a few people are staring. JOHN clears his throat and takes a beat to breathe with his eyes closed.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. JOHN looks at DEAN like he’s something stuck to the bottom of his tactical boot but DEAN just shrugs and smiles at CAS. SAM waves jerkily at the table, then leads a cackling CLAIRE toward the exit gently by her arm. DEAN nods at his mom, who looks truly distressed, and he forces himself to turn away. CAS joins him silently as he weaves his way around the other tables and out of the exit.
♪ I'm a genie in a bottle, baby, You gotta rub me the right way, honey, I'm a genie in a bottle, baby, Come, come, come on and let me out ♪
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
JODY
So we gotta figure out a way for them to write us some kinda help?
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
DEAN
No more sacrificing ourselves because there’s no other option.
No more two-dollar mystery deals.
Voiceover from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together.
BOBBY
Fine.
If you’re right--
Give me my wife back, then.
[...]
Any other damn sonnofabitch, Chuck decided to kill off for character development.
Clip from 16.02 Putting The Band Back Together . Around the table sits CHARLIE in an animated conversation, introducing her parents to DONNA and ALEX.
JO and KAIA speak with CLAIRE and her mom, AMELIA, while PAMELA pours them all a glass of scotch each.
JODY'S son, OWEN, and husband, SEAN, sit listening to ASH and ELLEN explain to both, her husband BILL and KAREN SINGER, all about their new resurgence.
EILEEN talks to not only her own parents, but also to JESSICA MOORE, who sips shakily on a glass of water.
KEVIN and LINDA TRAN sporadically interject each other's sentences with further information while filling in MAGGIE, JULES and the other Apocalypse hunters, including BOBBY and CHARLIE 2.0, who holds a hand beside her eye, blocking off the other CHARLIE in her peripheral.
Both KETCH and MICK stand together restlessly, appearing as if they're each hoping to be the first to escape their conversation with, HENRY WINCHESTER, FRANK DEVERAUX and VICTOR HENDRIKSEN.
KELLY KLINE makes small talk with PATIENCE and MISSOURI and GWEN, CHRISTIAN and SAMUEL CAMPBELL sit together in silence, watching the room.
♪The music's bangin' and the lights down low, Just one more dance and then we're good to go, Waiting for someone who needs me ♪
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. LILITH easily sweeps DEAN off his feet in a backward whirl, hurtling in a tumble toward a tree.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. CAS slumps his head down in relief, when he looks back up his eyes are glassy. He does as asked and lowers his voice to a whisper.
CAS
I’m so sorry, Dean.
I’m-- I’m too weak.
… I can't heal you.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. DEAN, still crumpled at the foot of the tree, now bleeding from his mouth as he puts on his whole, over-the-top-obviously-fake-smile-and-shrug routine.
SAM
I heard everything you guys said earlier.
He looks between RUBY and LILITH.
You get one shot-- one-- to get off script… if you want it.
[...]
RUBY
Heal me!
♪Hormones racin' at the speed of light, But that don't mean it's gotta be tonight (Yeah) Baby, baby, baby (Baby, baby, baby) ♪
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. LILITH smiles at SAM, and rolls her eyes back, until her sockets fill up with only demonic whiteness. She roars in anger as she pounces toward where CLAIRE stands just beyond the boundary of a magical circle, stretching the magic outward like an elastic band.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. The smoke that was once LILITH, spews forth in a trumpet of sound, from the poor child that she had claimed as her vessel. LILITH'S essence burns into the forest floor.
Clip from 16.03 Mothman. LUCIFER raises the archangel blade to stab it into ADAM and MICHEAL, but the blade goes flying back out of LUCIFER’S grasp, and lands softly on the pine carpet, at SAM’S feet. He picks it up.
SAM
Yes, Michael, I consent!
SAM aims the blade, without even meaning to, directly at LUCIFER’S center, and watches as the light cracks out of the middle of his being, like an already broken mirror, shattered infinitely more until it returns to its former state; back into sand. What's left of THE DEVIL booms loudly, as it blasts apart, scattering into molecules in the surrounding air.
END OF TEASER
NOW
ACT ONE
INT. ??? - ???
DEAN woke knowing something was wrong. The air was thin and with each struggling breath, his tired lungs wheezed audibly. Fear. It had been a while now since he’d felt fear like this. He could taste the feeling on his tongue. It coursed through every single cell in his body, screaming at him that something was deeply, deeply wrong. The darkness surrounded him, engulfed him, and in that darkness, he was finally able to find clarity. I’ve been buried alive… again. He placed his hand above him to the lid of the coffin, expecting to feel wood or fabric, and instead his fingers pressed against the cold metal. What the hell did SAM bury me in? DEAN started to wonder with panic, his breathing increased becoming somehow even more shallow despite the fact he was noticeably filling his entire lungs, his chest rose and fell with great effort and his heartbeat drummed loudly in his ears. He smacked his fist against the metal, then began hitting it over and over again, trying desperately, albeit in vain, to make even the smallest of dents, knowing that the only alternative would be to run out of air. The metal thumps, muffled, pathetically against the six feet of soil between him and the real world. The skin on his knuckles split, stinging.
DEAN
Cas!
He called hoarsely into the nothingness.
Cas, help!
His hands scratched at the box, clawing across the sides, his nails bending back and bleeding as the skin peeled away. Eventually, his eyes began to adjust to the metal casket around him. The sigils seemed to stare back at him with mirrored horror. The Malak box. SAM had buried him in the Malak box. DEAN tried to swallow the bile that had risen in his throat. Why would SAM do that? Did he hallucinate the entirety of yesterday's last events? Had he, in actuality, said yes to LUCIFER and this was his first peep through the haze of THE DEVIL’S control over him? But then where was CAS? If he’d died, SAM would have got him back out of THE EMPTY with the help of CHEAT CODES, right? He had said as much. So either way, CAS and SAM would be safe now. That made sense. Sure. That's what this is. SAM buried his body in the Malak box. His breathing started to slow, despite knowing deep down that nothing had really changed for him personally, he was still very likely to die again if someone didn’t get to him very soon. He knocked against the metal three times quickly, three times slowly, then three quickly again; Morse code, SOS.
Yo, Cas.
You guys gotta speed things up a bit here.
I know you guys thought this would be a good idea, but surely we can get good old Friendly to help out with The Devil issue once you get me outta here.
He breathed. The sound of what he assumed could only be shovels, seemed to grow closer. The sic of the metal head into the dirt, the shuffling sound, the slide, then the toss of the dirt landing somewhere else, vibrating suppressed through the ground. Eventually Metal met metal, he heard the shovels being thrown aside, hands brushing hurriedly against the top of the box, and then finally, with a groan of rusted hinges, DEAN was met by the blinding light of the morning sun. A hand seized his shoulder and ripped him to his feet. He blinked at the form in front of him, his eyes still trying to adjust to the brightness.
Gotta say, it was a bit touch-and-go for a minute there.
He admitted, coughing into his elbow.
???
Was it now?
A sickening jolt ran through DEAN’S spine, exploding like lightning in his stomach. He blinked rapidly in the direction of the voice, trying desperately to clear his vision. He found himself standing alone in a treeless, empty field, that seemed to stretch on as far as he could see. He was completely and utterly alone, barring the single person standing in front of him. A smirk on his face, arms crossed against his chest, looking the same as ever, with the exception of the addition of horrific milky white irises, stood JOHN WINCHESTER.
DEAN
Dad-- Er, Sir.
I-- What have you done?
???
Dad?
I suppose you could still call me that, Dean. I mean I was like a father to you in a way, wasn't I?
Taught you the in’s and out’s of the world, of our world…
DEAN swallowed, unable to do much more than stand there, frozen, listening in pure dread and utter confusion.
And he is in here too, by the way, good ol’ Johnny Boy.
He’s telling me all sorts of fun little family secrets.
Seems that not only did you take up an appetite to the way I taught you to carve up the riff-raff, but you clearly got one hell of a kick outta me popping your rosebud.
He sighed, his smile just a touch wider than JOHN’S, his eyes disgustingly empty.
DEAN
Alistair.
DEAN barely managed in more than a whisper..
You fuckin’ bastard!
Let him go.
ALISTAIR laughed gleefully.
ALISTAIR
Let him go?
Hmm… I could do that…
Is that truly what you want, though?
You know the way he feels about you, yes?
The way that he, even now, is screaming inside me.
ALISTAIR tapped JOHN’S finger to his temple before continuing.
He's begging for me to leave you alone, you know.
Not because he’s worried about you.
No, simply so he would no longer have to look at you.
The disgust he has for you…
He sounded almost impressed.
Well... it's a special kind of hatred.
Would you really want him walking around in the world, spewing his hate to anyone that will listen?
My brand of torture is more brazen than that, but if you prefer his subtlety… I'll offer you a deal.
Your dear father--
He bowed overdramatically.
--or her.
ALISTAIR presented his hand with a twist of his body, gesturing behind him to the six-pointed star where a small blonde girl had been splayed out, nailed by her hands and feet to four of the star's points. Her head wore a crown of barbed wire, tieing her to the topmost point. Her mouth had been sewn together, crudely, with thick black, blood-soaked cotton.
DEAN
Em--Emma?!
DEAN rushed towards her without a second thought. ALISTAIR appeared at his side, JOHN’S hot breath on his neck.
ALISTAIR
So, what will it be kiddo?
Option A: Commit patricide against the man who despises you to your very core.
Or option B: Filicide against the child who already tried, and failed, to commit patricide against you?
ALISTAIR rubbed JOHN’S hands together eagerly.
The poetic justice of it all!
He grinned, again, far too widely. DEAN swallowed hard as EMMA’S eyes widened up at him in horror.
DEAN
I-- No…
DEAN murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
ALISTAIR
Come on, Deano! Times a-wastin', the train’s a-comin'!
DEAN flinched as JOHN’S voice yelled at him.
Choose now, or I’ll do it for you, boy!
DEAN’S eyes remained glued to EMMA’S; The daughter he never got to know. The baby who grew up far too quickly, and the relationship that was doomed before it came into being. ALISTAIR forced something into DEAN’S hand, he ripped his eyes away from his daughters and stared in dread as his hand wrapped itself around the hilt of the familiar weapon and rose on its own accord. DEAN tried to gain control of his movement, his arm shook under the strain, attempting to hold himself back, but the FIRST BLADE continued forward until it finally hit home. He plunged the bone straight through the center of EMMA’S chest. She choked on a scream as blood gushed from her mouth. JOHN’S hand slapped hard against DEAN’S back.
That’s my boy.
DEAN turned to his father in horror, but somehow standing in JOHN’S place now stood CHUCK, grinning up at him far, far too widely.
CHUCK
I always knew you’d make the right choice.
DEAN turned back to EMMA in complete terror, pulling the blade out as if he could undo his mistake. He gazed up at her face, but instead of finding EMMA’S brown eyes, he met the burnt, empty sockets where JACK’S eyes had once been, staring blankly back at him.
JACK
Why, Dean?
JACK asked, his brow furrowing in innocent confusion.
Did I do something bad?
INT. ??? - ???
(Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera continues diegetically through the walls)
DEAN wakes in a startle when his leg slips over the side of the narrow cot. He jumps and pulls himself up into a seated position, breathing heavily and squinting around at the room in confusion, attempting to piece together how he’s ended up in the bunker sick bay once again. As if sensing DEAN’S now slowly dissolving nightmare, MIRACLE emerges from the corner of the room and leaps onto the bed. DEAN places a hand on his own chest, the other patting the length of MIRACLE, soothingly, while DEAN’S his face falls at the bombardment of memories.
DEAN
Cas?
He frowns at the lack of response. It's different this time. Not like CAS’S just ducked under a rock in his head like a blushing nun after their drunken fun. He's really gone. It’s usually hard to tell what time it is in the bunker, but with the new fake skylights that WE installed, DEAN concludes that it's at least gotta be some time within the window of night. Stars are shining down, mockingly, while he attempts to swallow the absent feeling of any celestial body inside of him. His hand falls from his chest. He’s alone. Totally empty. He tries to calm the panic rising inside of him from both the lingering after effect of his dream, and CAS’S absence, and not jump to any conclusions.
DEAN tries to swallow again, however, his throat is too dry now that his breathing’s picked up. He licks his dry-ass lips, and is at least pleased to find some water on the bedside table. He downs the whole metal liter bottle in one go, then maneuvers his dog and throws the shitty, itchy woolen blanket off him. He peers down at his body and tries to ignore the thoughts that come to him. Someone changed him. He gets why they did it. Whoever it was. He was nothing but a broken bundle of bodily fluids last time he was conscious. It was probably SAM who ended up stuck with the job, but even that’s still just… he hates the idea of it.
Obviously, he was out cold, but he’s embarrassed he couldn’t just do it himself. The whole thing is embarrassing, actually. Walking out there like that, facing RUBY and LILITH head-on, and getting a free flying lesson out of it. Puking all over himself. Mistaking LUCIFER for MOTHMAN… Well, okay, maybe that part was already starting to be a little funny… slam head against wall (or a tree, actually) funny, but funny, nevertheless. Maybe some more time would pass, and the rest of it could be shit he’d laugh at himself for. At least he’d been healed, now. Probably by MICHAEL. Maybe… maybe he healed CAS too? Got him well enough to jump bodies? It was night, so the angels were probably the ones listening to whatever the music was down the hall, right? The song sounded familiar, but DEAN couldn't quite place it with it being so muffled. Probably one from CAS'S playlist. If only there was someone who cared enough to hang around his bedside so he could figure out what the fuck was going on…
He lifts MIRACLE onto the floor, uses his, once again fully working, legs to wander out of the infirmary and head toward wherever it is the music is coming from. Little paws click along beside him. Shit as the music is, he’s thankful for it, guiding him toward civilization in the sleeping concrete. He stops outside the DEAN CAVE and considers knocking for a brief moment, before catching himself, reminding himself it's his own damn house and pushing the door open.
INT. DEAN CAVE - ???
SAM gasps at his brother as he enters the room.
SAM
Dean!
He clanks down his glass of who knows what and rushes toward him. CHARLIE 2.0 turns down the music and takes a place on SAM’S gray sofa. SAM slams his huge torso into DEAN and envelops him in a hug. DEAN grimaces at the smell of booze fumes.
CHARLIE 2.0
Sorry, if we woke you!
SAM grunts as he squeezes his brother tight. Then lets him go, keeping his hands on DEAN’S shoulders so he can look him in the eye with as much drunk-SAM style emotion as possible.
SAM
I’m not sorry we woke you!
He sighs, nodding at DEAN, who raises his brow in return.
I’m so glad you’re finally awake.
He huffs. DEAN glances at SAM’S still present hand on his shoulder, which his brother then lowers at the hint.
DEAN
Get into the wine coolers again, huh, Sam?
SAM makes a bitch face, and CHARLIE 2.0 looks up from her phone to share a smirk with DEAN. She’s clearly been having the time of her life babysitting tonight.
SAM
House full of hunters.
We ran outta beer but…
Frank-- um-- Deveraux he-- uh, he got some grappa.
DEAN
--’Course he did.
SAM
It’s good, you-- you have some.
He goes to grab his drink, DEAN opens his mouth to decline, but SAM gasps, startling DEAN a little. SAM turns back to DEAN with a snort.
You can’t have some, you were in a coma.
SAM purses his lips and pats DEAN on the upper arm.
But hey-- hey… It’s okay, Dean.
You’re okay now.
He nods as if he’s trying to cheer DEAN up.
DEAN
Uh, back up.
I was in a coma?
SAM nods sadly again, and this time does retrieve his drink, sipping some and then making a hell of a face as he tries to keep from gagging. His voice is thick when he speaks.
SAM
It's been almost a week.
DEAN raises his brows and nods slowly while he takes in that information.
You-- there was nothing wrong with you, Dean, you just didn't wake up…
We were--
SAM huffs and makes a pained face at his feet.
DEAN
Guess that tracks…
Probably just got used to oversleeping, Sam.
I was waiting ‘round in my sleep for Cas to start his midday rooster crow…
He swallows.
And-- and Cas, he-- he’s alright?
DEAN chuckles.
We don’t gotta summon him out all over again, right?
SAM is back on him, drink forgotten, hands gripping at DEAN’S arms.
SAM
Oh, hey.
His voice is overly gentle.
Don’t worry, Dean, everything is okay.
He inhales shakily.
Cas is fine.
DEAN realises he's been holding his breath, lets it out, and SAM grabs DEAN'S face between his hands and gazes glassy-eyed at him. DEAN cringes as SAM shakes DEAN’S head with each word.
Just. because. he’s. gone. from. your. body. doesn't. mean. he's. really. truly. gone.
SAM stares at him, like he's just written some Shakespeare and is waitin’ for an applause, or maybe he's just waiting for something other than disgust at his brother's breath to appear on DEAN’S face. DEAN widens his eyes in frustration and, with effort, nods under SAM’S grip, which evidently appeases him because he nods once too, and turns back to his drink. DEAN adjusts his footing.
DEAN
Any further info you're gonna share or you plannin’ on leaving it at that?
SAM squints at him blankly.
Cas, Sam!
How'd he make the jump if he was that damn unwell?!
I take it Rowena finished making his body, at least?
SAM bobs his head in understanding.
SAM
Right…
He-- Michael pulled Cas out of you and into his vessel.
He had to get Cas outta your body so he wasn't, like, trapped in there unable to move, while you were just unconscious.
DEAN nods… Guilt and shame spiraling around from his brain to his gut like a whirlpool. If he'd only been smart enough and sober enough not to show CAS off… and get CAS off… the damn night everything went down, then none of this woulda happened.
DEAN
He’s--
He balls his hands into fists and flexes them out.
--how come he's stronger without me?
--I mean, that's what you're saying, right?
He's not stuck in his own body, just star-fished on his bed, suck starin’ at the ceiling, right?
SAM
Michael, like, charged him up or somethin’.
He shrugs.
I ‘unno, but he said it would have been too dangerous to do it when he was in your body, so only just figured out he could give it a try….
He took me aside after and said Cas's battery is kinda shot, though, Dean.
Like, even at full charge he's not… Full?
DEAN
Yeah, Cas mentioned something like that before.
Not really sure what that's about, but we should add it to the list of things to worry about.
He rubs at his stubble.
Speaking of…
I'm almost afraid to ask at this point, but, uh, how’re you doing, Sammy?
SAM splutters a laugh and plonks himself onto the couch. He pouts, narrows his eyes and throws up a busted thumb as he nods.
SAM
I’m so cool.
DEAN
Right…
Only, ‘cause it’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen you get this, uh, loose… ya know?
SAM shrugs, his mouth flipping into an upside-down “U” shape. DEAN presses on.
Kinda givin’ a pretty awesome John Winchester impersonation, right now, man.
SAM
Me?!
Dean, you drink, like, every single day?!
DEAN lifts a shoulder, nonchalant.
DEAN
Exactly.
I can handle my liquor.
You get all deceptively nice and overly handsy.
SAM frowns.
SAM
I am nice.
His older brother chortles.
DEAN
Okay, dumbass, you’re a saint, but… you know what I mean.
DEAN continues through a laugh.
Someone die or something?
SAM scoffs.
SAM
I wish.
He throws his feet up onto the coffee table.
DEAN
Wow.
Not me, I hope.
He grins as SAM falls straight back into adult puppy mode.
SAM
N-Never you.
He inhales loudly.
Even-- Even when you-- the worst times!
Never you!
He sighs out his breath.
I was talking about… Ruby…
DEAN narrows his eyes as he stares blankly at his brother.
DEAN
She got away?
Last I saw, you had resurrected your inner Carrie and were smoking their demon asses… literally.
SAM shakes his head solemnly, he grabs DEAN'S eye line with urgency.
SAM
You can't get mad at me, okay?
Even Oasis are-- they're not fighting anymore, so we-- we can never be worse th’n that.
CHARLIE 2.0 snorts, clearly overhearing their conversation. She makes eye contact with DEAN, points toward the door, and squints at him in question. He pulls his lips into a line, rolls his eyes and nods subtly, once. SAM notices zero of this.
Promise me, Dean!
DEAN nods slowly, taking it seriously, and CHARLIE promptly ducks the hell out.
DEAN
Sure, Sam… We'll never be worse than Oasis, okay?
SAM nods, satisfied. His voice is small and low when he speaks.
SAM
… I have to save her.
He sniffs and pulls his eyebrows together, tilting his head to the side like he's in physical pain and is trying desperately not to make a sound. DEAN blinks, inhales sharply to say something, but doesn't know what the hell to say to that… He figures he’s just confused. SAM’S drunk. He’s not making a lick of sense. This conversation’s going all over the place. DEAN wanders over to take a seat by SAM with MIRACLE in tow.
DEAN
Save who, Sam?
Save Jess?
SAM slides his drink over to DEAN, offering it to him automatically, forgetting already that he's just decided against it. DEAN pushes the glass of cleaning fluid the hell away from him. Then pats his lap giving MIRACLE the okay to jump up onto it.
Sorry, must still be a bit fuzzy from the coma, Sammy… ‘Cause for a second there it sounded like you were saying you let Ruby walk…
SAM
I-- you can't have this.
He shrugs, embarrassed at his drunken short term memory loss. DEAN clicks his fingers three times, then rakes them through MIRACLES fur.
DEAN
Big Friendly Giant, stay on task.
SAM beams, his body bounces as he laughs, silently.
SAM
Remember when you helped me with that book report in grade school?
DEAN closes his eyes and raises his brows, pinching the bridge of his nose and focusing on counting to ten in his head, trying to calm his frustration.
Okay!
God, I’m just trying to talk about nicer things, Dean.
He rolls his eyes. DEAN wants to hit him.
Yes, I'm healing Ruby.
DEAN’S eyes widen.
Before you even say it-- you're probably right, maybe it's a bad idea, but I have to try!
DEAN’S voice is bordering on hysterical.
DEAN
No!
No, you don't!
He throws his arms up.
How?!--
Why would--
SAM
--Listen.
I get that you think things are easier black ‘n’ white.
Ya always have, Dean.
He shakes his head.
But for me, being someone who went down that road?
I gotta believe others deserve to come back from it, ‘cause if they deserve to, then… I do too.
DEAN drops his head back and squeezes his eyes closed tight.
DEAN
It's not the same!
He stays there a moment.
She's the whole reason you went down that road, Sam!
SAM
No, she's not!
At least not completely!
Some of it was Chuck, and well-- the rest… that's on me.
SAM grabs at DEAN'S wrist, mid self-stoothing stoke of dog fur, and DEAN reluctantly lowers his head and opens his eyes. SAM’S nose is flaring with the depth of his breathing, his eyebrows are set low. He's looking desperately for approval from DEAN, and DEAN knows that. He shakes his head.
DEAN
I don't like it.
This why you've up and decided you gotta get hammered?
All that traumatic shit slappin’ you in the face every time you--
DEAN breathes.
--She in the basement?
SAM
Yeah-- but don't worry, we're taking turns keepin’ an eye on her.
SAM’S oblivious to DEAN'S face as it pales.
Well, Michael, is mainly but-- either way-- she's not stepping foot out of that devil’s trap until we wan’ ‘er to.
DEAN blinks. Dazed.
DEAN
Right…
Good.
Uh, and what else--
What other…
Brain back up and running… Basement, not a shrine. People use it. He's used it. No big deal… CAS is fine. CAS is MIA. CAS is a coward. CAS is a dick. BUT CAS is alive.
Hang on.
It took a day to clear the black outta my eyes, how long you been donating your O neg?
SAM swallows and shakes his head.
SAM
Yeah, I ‘unno.
I think maybe because she's been a demon longer?
I started it straight away and she--
DEAN
--and Crowley, he was almost healed in a day!
SAM
--Maybe, I still have her blood in me!?
Maybe it's not working ‘cause my blood isn't pure enough to save her!
That what you wanna hear?!
DEAN flinches.
DEAN
Wha-- no!
Sam--
He laughs.
-- that's just bullshit!
Your blood sure as hell was pure enough to save me, you drunk idiot.
SAM nods, jerkily, thankful.
She's probably just defective or something.
Gotta do a Sam Special and get a dialysis machine pumpin’ that sludge of hers clean.
SAM sighs.
What about Lucifer?
DEAN cuts SAM off before he can speak, with an accompanying raise of his hand.
No, let me guess.
You two are booked in to go visit some healing retreat for the weekend.
SAM
No.
I did kinda hope… given everything, maybe he'd grown, you know?
I guess, I thought we'd had some kinda understanding, after everything we'd all been through.
DEAN can’t believe what he's hearing. He simply blinks at SAM, wide-eyed.
A-And I thought that maybe he'd be able to help us take on Chuck again… You know?
SAM swallows, then inhales sharply.
Do'e'n't matter ‘cause he’s dead, now.
Like… dead, dead, I think.
DEAN squints at him.
DEAN
Meaning?
SAM
Meaning…
He shrugs.
I don't know…
I have to talk to Rowena more ‘cause I-- I have no clue what I'm doing here, but it-- it felt like I scattered him…
Like, I somehow, someway, managed to stop him from being taken to the empty and instead he just--
He pushes his hands away, wiggling his fingers, and makes a fart noise with his tongue.
--gone.
Thin air.
Same with Lilith.
DEAN frowns.
DEAN
Not that that's not-- I mean that a huge win if-- if Chuck can't bring them back, if he can't just keep recycling the same old traps for us until he’s strong enough to drop the Jack act… hell, I’d be--
He shakes his head.
You should definitely talk to Rowena, is what I'm gettin’ at, ‘cause that-- that just seems a little too good to be true, you know?
SAM pulls his face tight and nods like he’s just received an order from his drill Sergeant. DEAN wants to crawl under the table.
Uh, yeah, that's cool, though, man.
He clears his throat.
Max and Alicia, they make it out, okay?
SAM speaks through a yawn.
SAM
Yeah.
Ruby is the demon who made the borrower ring Max has, so they're both here now.
Oh--
He slaps the back of his hand on DEAN’S arm to get his attention… unnecessarily. DEAN scowls and rubs it.
So, like, everyone's gone, pretty much.
DEAN
Huh?
SAM
Everyone Cheat Codes brought back?
They've all pretty much left.
He pops his bottom lip out and raises his brows, like he too is just finding this information out.
DEAN
Oh, uh, who-- who's…
He lets his question trail off, unsure if he’ll sound more needy and clingy if he asks who’s left, or who's stayed. SAM pouts and looks off to the side as he thinks.
SAM
So, uh, Charlie-- our Charlie-- though, I think the Apocalypse world Charlie is starting to warm up to me…
He nods with a sly grin, and DEAN wonders if SAM will feel the same when he wakes up in the morning, sober.
--She’s staying with her parents, don’t know where, but they wanted some time alone.
Wouldn't be too surprised if Charlie’s kept her family home though somehow, all this time, using some hacking and a little fraud.
He grins, and DEAN does too. He thinks perhaps SAM could be spot on about that one.
Uh, Amelia and Jimmy are gone, thankfully.
It’s just too weird seeing Cas’s twin walking around…
Claire wouldn't budge, which is it's own whole thing...
Um, Jody left with her husband and kid, which you know about…
DEAN nods, continuing to pull lines into MIRACLES fur.
Who else?
Oh, Donna took in Kaia, and Alex…
Patience and Missouri are also staying with Donna.
SAM smacks DEAN’S arm again, DEAN hits him back, this time with a furrowed brow. SAM laughs.
No, Dean, get this!
Pamela and Ash are out there somewhere… together.
Some music festival or something… I'm pretty certain they're… involved.
DEAN fake gasps.
DEAN
Somebody call the damn cops!
SAM grins and rolls his eyes. He goes for another sip of his drink and physically recoils at the resulting burn.
Wow.
You’re definitely makin’ me want some of that.
DEAN shakes his head and gets another classic SAM pursed-lipped bitch face, in return. Although, beggers can't get choosie and DEAN'S starting to need a drink...
SAM
Anyway…
Kevin left with Mrs. Tran, which Kevin seemed unsure of and kept asking, and asking, if I was sure we didn’t need him for anything and I--
I swear I almost lost it at him…
Which was kinda funny…
SAM chortles drunkenly in memory and DEAN scoffs.
DEAN
Yeah, sounds hilarious.
SAM snorts, then lowers his voice so it's almost a whisper.
SAM
Uh, Eileen's parents hover a lot compared to mom, when she came back, and met her new--
He catches himself with a face.
--old-- kids... as adults.
Which is fine, but, like, every time I walk to talk to Eileen alone, they're either popping up outta nowhere, or she’s just complaining about how much they keep popping up outta nowhere.
His voice raises even louder than it initially was by the end of his sentence. SAM frowns down at MIRACLE, he takes a quick shot of his drink, preparing himself to say something important.
SAM
Dean, I--
He turns away, thinking-- incorrectly-- that he’s hiding the pain on his face.
DEAN
What?
DEAN lifts one of his hands from MIRACLE to start patting both SAM’S back and the dog, simultaneously.
SAM
Miracle…
I--
SAM looks into THE DOG’S eyes. His own eyes welling with tears.
After everythin’, he just reminded me of--
He breathes in twice like he’s about to start bawling, and DEAN starts to guess where this is headed. SAM gave his dog away. Free to a good home, just get him the hell--
--I got ‘im put down.
DEAN stares blankly down at the dog in his lap...
I mean-- I-- I think I did…
It-- after the guilt of what I did--
I sent him to a shelter and--
I doubt, Cheat Codes woulda just stolen him from his new family, you know?
I just-- I couldn’t look at him… knowing what I’d done--
DEAN gapes at his brother.
DEAN
... What d’you mean, Sam?
Wha-What did you do...?
SAM scoffs a laugh.
SAM
I shoulda never…
He blinks and a tear rolls down his cheek. He swipes it away, angrily, then grits his teeth and turns to peer up at DEAN.
You told me to say it was okay…
You asked me to let you die and I--
He looks closer to hurling than he has all night, so far. DEAN closes his eyes and breathes.
DEAN
Don’t Sam.
A sarcastic chuckle bursts from SAM in a sob.
I--
It’s--
He opens his eyes and looks down at his MIRACLE dog, silently begging for some help, his hands still running up and down the pair of them.
How about this…
I promise, I will tell you everything at some point, okay.
But for now, you’re gonna have to just trust me when I say that--
He breathes out and lowers his hand from SAM’S back now that it’s started to cramp.
If anyone has any apologizing to do about any of that, it's me, not you.
I shouldn’t have left.
I should have come to you, been honest about some things.
Things...
He laughs.
--Things, I’m still not ready to be honest about…
Things, I think you probably know about already.
He shrugs.
You just gotta give me some time, okay, Sammy?
SAM’S face wavers between understanding, curiosity, and pain, but he pulls his lips in tight and nods twice with a sniff and wipes at his tears. DEAN mirrors his nod.
DEAN
Good.
Uh, thanks…
So, uh--
Back to lighter topics--
He chuckles.
--anyone else gone or…
SAM thinks about it for a minute.
SAM
Think that's it…
Oh!
He hits DEAN’S arm a third time, and DEAN’S mouth falls open as he stares incredulous, yet bemused, daggers at SAM. SAM shrinks into the couch and tries not to laugh.
…Apocalypse Bobby…
He, um, he went to see Rufus.
DEAN shakes his head.
DEAN
‘Course he has.
When’d that mean old bastard get back down to the main lobby?
SAM bobs his head, realising his mistake.
SAM
Oh, yeah, Bobby mentioned it to me a ways back, forgot, sorry.
Think he must have been with the group… just left separate ‘cause--
He chuckles and sniffs, spluttering some left over, residual tears.
--Well ‘cause he's a mean old bastard.
DEAN rolls his head as he speaks, stretching his neck.
DEAN
So, we have no real way of knowing just how many people Friendly did bring back, is what you're sayin’?
SAM
Guess so.
He considers this, then gingerly, shakily, places his hand upon MIRACLE’S head. The dog nuzzles into the pat, and SAM’S eyes start to spill over with silent tears as he smiles. He sniffs and clears his throat loudly.
Haven't heard anything about the dead suddenly popping up outta nowhere.
Have you?
DEAN
Not while I was looking earlier.
Been a minute, though, since I looked.
SAM nods solemnly, gives MIRACLE a grin as if to thank him for accepting his apology, then pulls out his phone and immediately gets into his favorite news apps. He frowns and flips his phone around, raising it to DEAN’S eye line, and DEAN has to grab at the damn thing to steady his brother's hand long enough to see what the phone even says.
EXTREME TORNADO WARNING FOR KANSAS CENTRAL NORTH - ADVICE - STAY INFORMED - WATCH AND ACT.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT ONE