Winchester Rides Again.

What is this?

Lawrence, Kansas.

Joey Woodson had found Sam at the local diner, his usual haunt. It was close to midnight but he was eating breakfast. She slid into the booth and laughed as Sam recounted his latest "ghost" hunt, which had turned out to be nothing but Mrs. Gregory's cat stuck in one of the house's crawl spaces.

Sam offered to walk his downstairs neighbor home. They parted company on the driveway. Joey listened to Sam clomp up the stairs like a herd of elephants as she walked into the main house. Her mom had long ago fallen asleep so Joey quietly tiptoed her way into the laundry room to check on her sheets. She opened the dryer door and leaned in to pull the sheets out.

Behind her, a thick cloud of black smoke leaked into the room through the vent. Joey drew herself up, not from the smell of smoke but sulfur. She turned around to the vent and jumped back from the smoke. When she opened her mouth to scream the smoke rapidly flew in, drowning the sound out.

******

Somewhere deep in Yosemite. Daybreak.

Dean was concentrating on getting to Palo Alto as fast as he could. He didn't care about sleep, food or girls. He'd almost forgotten about the one in his car until she woke up and groaned.

"Where are we?" Alex asked, rolling towards him a bit.

"Nevada. About an hour away from the California border."

"Where are we going?"
"Palo Alto."
"What's in Palo Alto?"
"My brother."
"Didn't you say your brother was..."
"Look, Alex, can we stop with the 20 questions? Take another nap or something. Read a magazine. I dunno, file your nails or something."

Alex glowered at Dean. "Dean, I am super thankful that you saved my life and all. But are you gonna clue me in at any point here? All I've gotten so far from you is a snippet or two about who you are and why you need me. I get the feeling there's a lot you're not telling me."

Dean glanced over at his passenger with an annoyed look. That was true; there was plenty he wasn't telling her. Like how the Apocalypse was coming and no one but him knew it. Like how everyone he was close to was going to die. Like how he needed to change that. Like how he was going to change things for Sam. How he was going to make sure his brother got a second chance at a normal life. Like how he was going to make sure no demon harmed his family, even if he had to do it himself. Like how he shouldered the blame for failing to stop Lucifer from taking over his brother. If it meant getting some vessel hooked up with the proper angel Dean would do it. So long as that vessel wasn't him. He festered before deciding she was right.

"We need to find me in 2005...now...whatever," Dean said. "But I can't remember exactly where I'd be. So we're going to someone who can find me."
"...your brother."
"Yes. Then you're going to help me get something I need from myself."
"The amulet."
"Right."
Alex sighed. "So you're here to get something from yourself?"
"I'm here to get something I never should have lost," Dean responded.
Alex gave him the once over. She had many more questions but could tell she was getting nowhere. One nugget at a time from this guy. She pulled her hat back down over her head and went back to sleep.

******

Road through Eldorado. California.

Alex awoke again with a start to cursing outside. She stepped out of the car and found Dean kicking the right front tire that had gone flat. Dean was leaning over it, examining the tire wall. Something sharp had cut clear through it. She peered east down the road where they'd come from and then west. Yep, they were in the middle of nowhere.

Dean popped the trunk hoping to find a spare. He pushed aside a toolbox and guns and knives and knives and guns and a Busty Asian Beauties or two and popped open the false floor. Luckily there was a spare waiting for him. He heaved it out and rolled it past a slightly groggy Alex to the front right of the car. He removed his jacket and tossed it to the side of the road.

"Hey Alex," Dean called. "Could you get me the..."
"Here ya go!" She interjected, cheerfully handing him a jack that had also been in the trunk.
"Thanks," Dean said. He placed the jack beneath one of the car's sturdy frame beams and slowly pumped it up as Alex looked on bemused. Once that was done he bent back down to check the lug nuts.
"Hey Alex," Dean called again. "Could you..."
"Here ya go!" She said again, handing Dean a cross wrench.
"...get me a. Cross. Wrench. From the toolkit in the trunk." Dean shot her a look that was half-confused, half-impressed.
"Want some help?" She asked.
"Nah, I got this."
"K," she said, shrugging.

A little while later Dean had the old tire off. He cast it aside and placed the temporary tire on the rim. Working in a star pattern he tightened the nuts one by one until he was satisfied they were as tight as his muscles would allow. Then he gently lowered the car off the jack. He reached down and picked it up.

"Our chariot is ready," he said to Alex, slightly mangling yet another saying.

She'd been watching the entire process quietly. She grabbed the wrench and followed Dean to the trunk. He put the busted tire and the jack in while she reloaded the toolkit.

"Changed a few tires?" He asked.
"Oh, I've tightened a few lug nuts in my life," she couldn't resist replying with a smile.
He matched her grin.

******

Dot Combustible Valley.

Dean and Alex sat outside of Sam's apartment in the Chevelle, freshly rejuvenated with four new tires.

"How'd we meet?" He demanded.
Alex responded through a partially put-on sweatshirt. "You and your Dad were in town on a fishing trip. You came back into town looking for some bait" -- she rolled her eyes at this part -- "and met me at the hardware store...seriously, Dean, is your brother gonna give a crap about any of this?" She emerged in a Stanford hoodie.
"Absolutely," Dean said with a faux-serious tone. "Devil's in the details."
Alex sighed.
"Soo..." Dean prompted.
"Sooo, we went to a bar and I was bowled over by your manly charms and before I knew what happened we fell into bed together."
"Annnnddd..."
"And then you left town. Then I discovered was preggo with a mini-Dashing El Deano. I didn't have your number but I remembered you telling me you had a brother at Stanford, so I looked up Winchester and found you, err, Sam."
"Make sure you mention how you're secretly pleased to be knocked up by a stud," Dean said confidently, leaning back in his seat.
Alex snorted. "Would you really tell some one-night stand your real name?" she asked.
"I can only keep track of so many lies. If you're hot enough you get the real name," Dean said.
Alex mentally recycled their first conversation.
"Just get in, get the info and get the hell out of there."
She nodded and opened the door.

Alex trotted up to the front door and rang the doorbell. Dean watched from the car, trying to see who opened it. He was hoping to catch a glimpse of his brother. It was taking every ounce of mental strength he had not to run up to the door and warn Sam what would happen to him in just a bit over a week.

The door opened halfway and Alex was met with a tall, slightly lanky guy with a mop of hair partially falling into his eye line. Sam Winchester. She threw on the puppy face immediately.

"Uh, hi..." she started cautiously, kicking out one leg slightly and tilting her head to make herself seem young and non-threatening. She squinted slightly. "Are you...Sam Winchester?" He half-smiled.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I am. Do I know you?"

She shook her head quickly. "Well, no. I, well, this is going to seem really weird but I met your brother Dean a couple of weeks back and well long story short we ended up sleeping together," she launched. Sam looked amused. "But, um, then a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant but I didn't have his number but he mentioned that he had a brother at Stanford so I know this is terribly awkward but I looked you up because I was hoping you could help me find him butifyoudon'twanttoItotallyunderstand!" She bled the last part together and called on the waterworks. Her eyes welled up with tears and Sam immediately put on his Captain Empathy cape.

"Nono, it's no problem at all," he said, reaching out to her. "Why don't you come inside?" He opened the door fully. She thanked him and followed him inside.

In the car, Dean beamed. Like a charm.

Inside a minute or so later, Alex sat on the futon while Sam grabbed a slouchy recliner kitty corner to her. He handed her a glass of water.

"So you met my brother," Sam said.
Alex noted a sympathetic tone, almost as though he felt bad for her. She was intrigued.
"Yeah, you know, he just blew into town one day and I guess I was just kinda...charmed." This elicited a sideways smile and a head shake from Sam.
"Look, I don't know how much you know about my brother but he's not exactly the communicative type."
"No kidding."
"And he's a road warrior. So I don't know what you're looking for here..."
"Sam, all I want is to find him and let him know. It's his choice after that," Alex said with as much gravitas as she could muster. She put her hand over her tummy for good effect. Seemingly convinced, Sam nodded.
"I'll call him," Sam offered with a shrug. "I just can't predict how he'll react." Sam lied. He knew exactly what his brother was going to say. Lie to her and forget she existed. The girl's hopeful glance guilted him to action.
"Thank you, Sam," Alex said. "I can't tell you how much this means to me."

He got up to get the phone and Alex let the smile she'd been stifling escape. Sam walked out of the room to make the call, peeking through the front window. It was then that he noticed the car outside. A Chevelle. With a man inside -- was he looking at Sam? Sam pulled the curtain back a bit to check. Too dark to see for sure. His phone connected and the other end started ringing. Then there was a pickup.

"Hey, Dean!" Sam said with as much friendliness as he could muster.
Alex listened intently from the next room as Sam chatted with his brother.
"Yeah! Long time no chat I know...yeah, yeah, school's good. No, I'm doing fine. Right..."
Sam dropped his voice. "Where are you?" He was still fixated on the car until he saw two figures walking towards his house. He let the curtain drop and walked deeper into the room. "Oh, really? I...look, could we meet up? That's only 40 miles away...a beer, that sounds good. What time? OK. Meet me at the Firehouse. Yep. See you then." He hung up as the door opened.

Alex turned. A girl and a guy entered. Though she tried to avoid it, she couldn't help but recoil at the guy. For while the girl was beautiful, the guy's face was twisted with sunken eyes and gray skin. She gasped and quickly turned away to compose herself. Didn't the others see it?
Sam re-entered, kissed the girl and exchanged a multi-step handshake with the man. Apparently no one else did. The girl shot a confused look towards Alex.

"Jess, Brady," Sam said. "This is Alex." He motioned towards the couch. "She's a classmate of mine. Just transferred in. I told her I'd take her to our study group tonight." He shot her a look that meant, don't question me.

Alex stared at Jess. This girl clearly had no clue about her fate. Dean had mentioned that Sam had nightmares for weeks before it happened. She didn't see any visible signs of it. Would she though?

"Yeah," Alex agreed. "Sam is really nice. He talks about you non-stop Jess." She threw the last part in for good effect.
Jess beamed and relaxed. "Such a nice guy, Sam," she said as she playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "Brady and I are headed out to the pool hall. Wanna meet up after study group?"
Sam nodded and they kissed quickly. Jess ran upstairs to grab something. Alex could feel Brady's eyes burning into her a bit. She did not return the glare.

A few minutes later Dean saw Sam and Alex emerge from the apartment together and get into a car. That was not part of the plan -- where were they going?

Alex's cell phone rang. She smiled awkwardly at Sam. "Hello?" She said, knowing full well who it was.
"What the hell are you doing?" Dean hissed.
"Oh, hi, Dad!" Alex said loudly. "No, I'm just with my classmate Sam, headed to the Firehouse for a little after-class get-together. Don't worry, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Do not let Sam go in there with you, do you understand?"
"Sure, Dad, no problem. Love you!" Alex killed the call.
"Sonofabitch," Dean muttered and brought the car to life.
Alex's mind raced, trying to think of a quick escape. By the time they pulled into a spot near the bar she had her plan.

"We're here," Sam said, smiling supportively.
Alex put her hand on his forearm. "Sam, I know how weird this must be for you," she said compassionately. "How about this. Could you go in there and warm up Dean with a drink or two? And then you can say you have to leave and then I'll make my move."
Sam shook his head. "You shouldn't have to go through theatrics, Alex. Just tell Dean what happened. I'll be there to mediate," he said.
"No, no, really, I don't want you to be in the middle. Trust me, it will be better with my plan." Alex insisted. Sam relented.
"OK," he said. "Why don't you hang out somewhere around here for an hour? Give me your number; I'll text you when we're ready."
Alex nodded. They exchanged numbers and then Alex got out of the car. She leaned down before closing the door. "Thanks Sam!" He waved to her and watched her walk off.

Alex made her way around the corner and ducked into the idling Chevelle.
"That was close!" She exhaled to Dean.
"What happened? How did you end up outside some bar? And you let Sam go in there?" Dean asked accusingly.
"Whoa, calm down," Alex said. "I guess you were somewhere near town. You and Sam agreed to meet up at this bar. Sam's gonna text me in about an hour."
Dean searched his memory for a hunt near Palo Alto circa 2005. He slapped his forehead. He rubbed his eyes. Then he made the connection.
"Of course," he said. "I'm a goddamn idiot."
Alex wrinkled her face in confusion.
"My Dad, he'd picked up the yellow-eyed demon and was near Jericho."
"Ah...and you?"
Dean shifted uncomfortably. "...had just about caught up with him. I was tailing him from the north. Not too far outside Palo Alto." Dean laughed.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I'm just surprised I took Sam's call," he replied with a chuckle. "Guess it was because I was so close. Just a few days before I ended up coming down here anyway." He looked back to Alex. "You gotta get ready."
"In the car?!?"
"Your bag's in the backseat."
"Dean, unless you want me to end up looking like a cross between a clown and a tranny hooker, no!"
"Alright, alright. You women. There's a hotel a couple of blocks over. We don't have much time though."
Alex waved him off. They peeled out of the lot.

******

Hotel room o'the Episode.

Dean was trying to stifle his boredom as Alex got ready. He checked the time on his phone. He looked out the window, trying to let time pass. He checked his phone again. He whistled and closed his eyes. They opened again quickly. He checked his phone. Finally, after what seemed like ages Alex emerged from the bathroom in a short skirt and a cleavage-displaying top. Dean nodded approvingly.

"Sam is going to see right through this," Alex moaned.
"Who cares? You're not trying to impress him," Dean countered.
"I did get his number though," she said, waving her phone in front of Dean teasingly. Dean grabbed the phone.
"What??!" He said, shocked.
"Relax, it's just so he can text me after he warms you up," she said with a laugh.
"You need to hike up your skirt a bit," Dean teased.
"Yeah thanks." She replied. "Seriously though, is this going to grab your attention?"
Dean used the opportunity for an inappropriate once or twice-over. "How many drinks have I had?" He replied callously.
She threw a pillow at him.
"Oh, Dean, there's something I wanted to mention...one of Sam's friends...his face." She said.
Dean's eyes widened. "Brady."
"You know him? Is it one of the demons you..." Alex was cut off by the text message incoming tone. "That's your brother. Guess he's about ready for me."
Dean nodded and stood up. "Let's get this show on the road."

******

Bar of this fire is outta control.

They had talked about their Dad, Dean's last hunt and Sam's school. Then after awkwardly filling the remaining 50 or so minutes Sam was ready to beg off this mini-family reunion. He loved his brother and all but they had nothing in common. Dean was carrying on the family business. Sam was carrying on a life. He didn't bother mentioning Jess or his intentions. He didn't think Dean would care or understand.

Alex strolled into the bar and placed herself strategically within Sam's sight line but with Dean's back to her. Sam saw her and momentarily reacted to her change in appearance. Yet he was not surprised at the type of girl Dean attracted. He sighed.

"Well, bro, I gotta get back to the books," Sam said.
"Aw c'mon Sammy," past Dean said. "We just got started!" Sam frowned at the childhood nickname that he never liked.
"Sorry dude, big test tomorrow. But if you're still in town next week you should call me."
"Yeah, yeah," Dean said with a smile, polishing off his beer. He got up to hug Sam goodbye. Sam ordered one more for Dean. They embraced briefly and then Sam made his exit.
Alex didn't wait long to swoop in.
She sidled up to spot Sam had left open. She motioned for the bartender as she felt Dean's eyes looking her over.
"Jack and Coke," she ordered, as Dean had instructed.
"Takes a feisty gal to order a drink like that," Dean said, as his later self had promised he would.
Alex threw him a flirty glance. "What can I say? It's like you already know me..." She said.
He tapped the empty barstool and Alex slid on, exposing a bit more leg than she was comfortable with. It seemed to do the trick.

Out in the car Dean was stewing. Ruminating. And also staring. Specifically at the Impala, his baby, which was sitting just a few spots away. He was endlessly tempted to steal his car from his earlier self. He got out of the Chevelle. He walked over to it. "Hi baby," he said gently. "I've missed you." He ran a finger through the grime on the car's roof. Until the truck accident he had been somewhat neglectful of the car. Dean hated his own carelessness. That would change.

After a few minutes he tore himself away and walked back to his temporary time-displaced ride. And he thought some more. The yellow-eyed demon was somewhere nearby. Sam was just a couple of weeks away from a life-altering tragedy. Dean's intention had been just to meet back up with his brother and return to the time they'd expected to land in together -- just before the Apocalypse, so they could stop it. But maybe this was a blessing in disguise. If Dean could stop the demon from getting to Jess, and thereby Sam, maybe he could stop the whole cycle before it started. Yet Dean found himself wondering if he even wanted to. Hunting with Sam was better than any life he'd ever known. Maybe the solution was to save Jess but still pull Sam away -- no, that wouldn’t last too long. Sam would bitch and bitch until Dean let Sam get back to her.

And then there was Castiel. Why did he say not to go back to Bobby's? And what was Dean's amulet the key to? He'd heard promises of its importance before. And where the hell was the Sam Dean knew? Dean got lost in his own thoughts. He must have lost track of time too because next thing he knew Alex was coming out arm in arm with past Dean. Dean instinctively ducked -- was he not supposed to see himself? He wasn't sure so he played it safe.

When he heard the unmistakable sound of the Impala starting Dean sat back up. He waited to see which way Metallicar turned and then started the Chevelle to follow. He waited until they had rounded the corner and then followed. Dean had instructed Alex to text him their location but the truth was Dean knew himself well enough to know which hotel they'd be at and his probable check in name. Sure enough after a short drive he spotted the Impala banking into the last strip hotel on the right.

He parked a row behind the Impala and his phone chimed with a text message -- room 107. Just off to his left. He peered expectantly. He saw one figure through the sheer curtains, and then a second. And then they joined. Then the heavier curtains were drawn. Dean shook his head and leaned back to wait.

Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour. "Well," Dean said out loud to no one in particular. "Dean Winchester rides again." And then, after a moment: "Guess we'll meet up in the morning." He started the engine and put the Chevelle into gear to head back to his hotel.

Though Dean didn't see it, not too far behind was another car. He'd been a tail but he'd had a tail too. It was Sam's friend Brady -- demonically enhanced.

******

Kansas apartment where Ginormotron and His Hair Sleep.

Sam hadn't slept the night before and he doubted he would sleep on this night either. There were nightmares every night that were now haunting him during the day too. Sam had kept his mind otherwise occupied at work (the garage) and other work ("ghost" hunting). Sometimes the hunts were legit. Sometimes they were just someone looking for company. He groggily made his way up the stairs to his apartment. It was just over 24 hours before the Baby Sam Winchester would turn 6 months, and the adult one was just as crabby and ready for a nap. He collapsed onto his bed hoping that his tiredness would allow him a few hours of sleep.

"Sam?" He heard a voice from downstairs.
"Yeah?" he called down, not wanting to move.
"Sorry to bug you..." Joey called up. "I just, I could use your help in the house if you have a few minutes."

Sam groaned. He was tempted to put it off until the morning, but it would be one more task weighing on his mind. He ruefully forced himself to get off the bed and traipsed down the stairs. Joey shot him a small smile and thanked him. Sam followed her into the house. It was completely dark.

"I think the circuit panel blew," Joey said. "But I'm scared to even touch it."
"I'm not exactly an electrician," Sam replied.
"That's OK. Could you just take a look?"
They continued on in the dark. Sam could barely see so he followed Joey closely as she guided him through the rooms. He smelled something burning before they made it to the utility room. There were no windows to let even ambient light in. Sam couldn't see anything. He let Joey know as much and she trotted off to get a flashlight.

Left alone, Sam felt around for the electrical panel. Joey had said it was right in front of him. He nearly tripped as he slowly shuffled forward. There was something blocking his path. She returned with a flashlight and turned it on. She shone it onto the electrical panel. Sam made his way to it. The casing was dented and it was hard to open. It felt a bit slippery. He finally forced the metal door outward and noticed that the master switch had tripped. With a deep breath and a healthy fear of getting electrocuted, Sam flipped the breaker fully back to the "OFF" position, and then flipped it to "ON." The lights buzzed and then a single chain-powered light came on the room.

Satisfied, Sam closed the door to the panel. He saw the trail immediately. That slippery stuff he'd felt? Blood. He looked down. The thing he'd tripped over? A man's body.

He wheeled around and was met once again with Joey, eyes beetle black.

"Thanks," she sneered at him. Before Sam could react, she held her hand out and slammed him back against the panel. He hit his head against it and collapsed to the ground, almost falling on top of the body below.
"Who are you?" Sam demanded to know.
"Friend of Lucifer," demonically-enhanced Joey said. "Thought at all about my offer?"
"I'm going to have to pass," Sam said, launching himself at Joey. He caught her and she fell out of the room backwards. Sam landing on top of her and, with a touch of regret, landed a punch.
"Joey? Are you in there?"

The demon sneered. "Joey can't talk right now." It reached for a magazine rack leaning against the wall, grabbed it, and struck Sam across the face. He fell over sideways and the demon slipped out from under him. It ran back into the darkness.

With a hand still over his face, Sam staggered to his feet and hit the switch. The demon was frozen in the center of the living room.

"I see you found one of the Devil's Traps I added after the last time you visited Joey," Sam said with a small smile. "Ups the resale value. Not really great for the everyday though, so I hid it under the rug." Sam wiped a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth and took his hand away as the stinging subsided.

The demon turned to face Sam, eyes still black. Then Sam watched as they brightened to red.
"Let's try this again. Who are you?" Sam asked. The demon didn't answer. "OK, who's that?" He asked, pointing back to the body in the utility room.
"Azazel," the demon inside Joey said coldly.
Sam's face flickered with anger. "I don't believe you," he said.
"It was like a workplace reunion," it continued. "See, demons can't travel through time like you can Sam, but we have angels working for us who can. So when one of the angels true to my Lord said you were back here, plans changed. Lucifer spoke to my boss who sent me here to let Azazel know he'd been replaced. He didn't take it very well though. I tried to talk him down from the ledge but he attacked me. I had to defend myself."

Sam felt the anger boiling inside of him.

"You should be thanking me Sam. I did what you always wanted. I saved your family. For the time being anyway."
"If I am spared from the demon blood why do you still give a damn about me?" Sam asked.
"Lucifer has his favorites I suppose. Besides, from what I hear, you two didn't exactly part on good terms. You owe him, Sam. It's a debt that will be paid. Now why don't you let me out of this silly thing and we can negotiate. I'm sure we can work something out."
"To lead some army of demons? No thanks," Sam growled.

The demon laughed. "Demons are yesterday's news. I have a brother like you do. He and I go around collecting angels and their vessels. Sometimes they're already one and the same. Know what happens when you combine an angel and a demon in Hell? Resistance to that which harms either. That's the army that's being built as we speak. An army I will join and you will lead."

Sam's face fell. This was getting bigger and badder by the second. Castiel had been right.

"Getting kind of bored here, Sam," the demon said. It looked up. The house started shaking.
Sam knew he'd drawn all the information out of the demon he could. He was sorely tempted to grab the Colt from his apartment but he resisted to save his friend. He started Latinating to exorcise the demon. After the first verse, it coughed a little black smoke. During the second it keeled over and as Sam polished off the fastest exorcism he'd ever chanted Joey's head flew back and the demon was once again expelled. Joey collapsed in a heap. The house stopped shaking, with only a small crack in the ceiling as evidence.

Sam rushed over. "Joey," he said, holding her limp body. He shook her gently. After a moment Joey coughed and started gasping for air. Sam heaved a sigh of relief as the girl returned to consciousness. He quickly looked back to the utility room where Azazel's body had been.

Except the body was gone. And Sam was confused.