Dean's eyes snapped open in the Chevelle. The radio was blasting Credence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising." He switched the radio off. It was dark outside, and he was parked in a vaguely familiar parking lot. The passenger seat was empty. Where was Sam? Dean leaned out the open driver's side window and looked for his brother. He saw no one around. Just one building not too far off with way too many lights on. Goodland. He was back in Kansas.
Confused, Dean leaned back into the car. He was startled to find Alex had materialized in the passenger seat next to him. He quickly realized it wasn't actually Alex.
"I'm dreaming, aren't I?" he asked Raziel.
The angel nodded at him. "I need to show you something. Follow me." She opened the passenger side door.
Dean did the same on the driver's side. He followed Raziel up to the building. As they got closer he recognized it as the funeral home he and Sam had been at just the day before. They mantled up to the side of the building.
"We're gonna go in," Raziel told Dean.
"You crazy? We're unarmed!" Dean said.
"This is just a memory, Dean. They won't be able to see us and we can't interact with them. Think of it like a video," Raziel explained.
"Whose memory?" Dean asked.
"Nathaniel's," she answered, and tapped Dean on the forehead.
******
They were transported into the room. It was the conversation Sam had seen. Nathaniel and a demon were arguing over a table in the center of the room. Ipos stood off to the side.
"Mastema is dead," Nathaniel said. "There are angels who've been called back here. They didn't come alone either. I thought we would be further along than this by now."
"We have almost all of the angels we need to raise Semiazas's army," Ipos said. "So quit your bitching."
"You shouldn't have killed off that vessel yet. Now Raziel's gone into hiding and we have no idea where. And she's the only one who knows the alchemy for the Colt bullets," Nathaniel said.
"That moron couldn't even keep up with the Winchesters after we killed the vessel. Lost them in plain sight," the demon at the table said.
Nathaniel shot the demon a dirty look. "They have cloaking symbols on their ribs. And Castiel has gone rogue. There was no way I could follow them."
"Are you sure you weren't just scared?" the demon taunted Nathaniel. "Should have just killed them off right there. Before they disappeared."
"Don't you get it, you idiot? We need them alive," Nathaniel said. "If Lucifer hears that his true vessel is wiped out and in Heaven, who's the first demons he's coming after once he's out of the cage? And if Michael's true vessel is wiped out then the host of Heaven comes after me. We need the Winchesters to think that they've been kicked out of the picture so they come after us, but not until we're ready. Not until we have the right bullets for that gun, and not until Semiazas has the right army ready to try to take down Lucifer, Michael and the rest of the angels. Why do you think I talked Mastema out of taking Azazel down in Kansas all those years ago? We weren't ready."
"Sounds like cold feet to me," the demon snarled.
Nathaniel smashed a fist into the table angrily and the demon countered, sending some trinkets flying. Nathaniel held up a hand, and the demon went crashing back against the wall. "We do this right, this whole chess game ends and we hold all the pawns. We do this wrong and we end up in places worse than the worst thing you could imagine. I didn't come back and set this whole plan in motion just to have some random mouthy demon shut me down now."
Ipos stepped forward and held both hands out. Nathaniel was pushed back against the wall and to the ground. The other demon was released from his grip, but fell down by Ipos's hand. Ipos reached down and grabbed one of the trinkets the demon had knocked off the table. It was a talisman.
"We have the last vessel we need, and all the blood spells held right here," Ipos said to Nathaniel, tapping the talisman. "We can open the gate and bring Semiazas here tonight. Or whenever you decide to grow a pair."
"Fine. Let's go then," Nathaniel said, getting up slowly.
******
Dean turned to Raziel.
"So, all of this? Mastema, Ipos, Semiazas, the whole thing, was Nathaniel's idea?" Dean asked.
"I have reason to believe he's acting under someone else's orders," Raziel said. "But I don't know whose. When this is over, maybe I can help Castiel sort it all out. This all started after you and Sam stopped Lucifer. The angels in Heaven who betrayed their loyalties to God got together and decided to try a new plan with a different set of demons. They sent Nathaniel back in time to talk to Ipos and Mastema, both of whom were roaming the Earth. They are trying to change events as you know them. They want to take down Michael, Lucifer, any and all of the angels. You can't let them succeed."
"You seem to have it all figured out," Dean snapped. "Why don't you help us?"
"Ipos is a powerful demon," Raziel said. "If I show up in a vessel that's mixed bloodlines, he could easily cage me. Even Alex might not be enough against him. Right now there's nothing to keep me alive. They'll drag me to Hell and force me into their army. They need you and Sam alive right now. So you're the best two hunters to do this. Maybe the best two, period."
"What was with that alchemy stuff they were talking about?" Dean asked. "Lucifer told us the Colt can't take him down."
"It might not be able to," Raziel said. "But you don't use a buckshot to take down a rhino, do you? I know how to make stronger bullets for it. To take down more powerful demons. I don't think any other angels know how to do it. And I will help you make those bullets, Dean. But you need to help me first. That talisman Ipos has? It has all the blood spells in it. Break it. Even if you don't kill Ipos, it will free Alex and the rest of the vessels."
"Sure. Easy as pie," Dean muttered.
"I know you can do it, Dean," Raziel said, backing up. As she did, her voice took on an echo. "Now it's time for you to wake up. Dean, wake up! Can you hear me?"
Raziel became blurry. Dean blinked a few times. A bright light flared up, and Dean threw his arm in front of his face to shield himself.
******
Ankeny, Iowa.
"Dean? Can you hear me?" Sam was hissing as loudly as he could without yelling. With all the demons sure to be in the area, he didn't want to get too loud. Dean finally shook awake and Sam heaved a sigh of relief. The older Winchester sat up slowly.
"What happened?" Dean asked groggily.
"I don't know, man," Sam said. "One minute you were digging around in the trunk, the next you were on the ground like an amateur boxer after the opening bell. KO'ed."
"How long was I out?"
"Not long," Sam said. "Maybe a couple of minutes. I was about to abandon you for a coffee."
"Funny," Dean retorted. "Bitch."
"Jerk," Sam reflexively responded.
They heard crackling and movement off in the distance. Dean wanted to tell Sam about his dream, but it would have to wait.
Sam reached into the trunk and took out provisions. Dean did likewise.
"Ready to do this?" Dean asked.
"Not really," Sam sighed. "This is a terrible plan."
"Yep," Dean agreed. "At least we're in agreement on that. So I take it you're ready?"
"Yep," Sam said.
******
Facing the elevator music.
"Dammit, Sam, wait up!" Dean was calling, trying to keep up with his taller brother's strides. Sam pretended to ignore him, confidently striding towards the entrance to the mine. "We can't just barge in there," Dean said as he caught up to Sam, grabbing him by the shoulder. "We need to be smart about this."
"That's rich coming from you," Sam retorted sharply, and loudly. "So far your plans have gotten Dad killed, me killed and you killed more times than I can count. You know what? I'm sick of your plans. I never get a word in edgewise."
"OK, OK," Dean hissed, motioning for Sam to calm down and be quiet. "No need to wake up every freaking demon within 50 miles of the place."
Sam shrugged. "Maybe I don't care if they all come. Maybe I want them to."
"You don't mean that," Dean said.
Sam shrugged again, looking around. In the darkness he could barely make out anything. He hoped nearby demons were overhearing this. Dean shot him an equally hopeful look. They both hoped they weren't putting on a show with no one else around to hear it. They quickly put their angry faces back on.
The brothers saw a flashlight appear to their right and a man strode up to them.
"Hey there!" he called, shuffling up to them. "You boys lost?"
"We're looking for a demon, about yay high," Dean half-jokingly demonstrated Ipos's height. "Might have come down this way with a woman in tow?"
"Demon? You drunk or something?" The man asked. "There's no one around here for miles. Nothing to see here. Why don't you two just head back to town?"
"Can't do that," Dean said, bringing his gun up to the man's face. "Sam..." Dean waited for Sam to start latinating.
Instead, Sam came up beside Dean and shot him a dirty look. Alarmed, Dean gave his brother a confused look. Before Dean could take any action, Sam butted his brother over the head with his shotgun. As Dean collapsed to the ground in a heap Sam watched the other man's eyes flip beetle black.
"I want to talk to Ipos," Sam said. "Consider this my good faith gesture." He motioned to his unconscious brother.
The demon weighed its options. After a few moments it nodded, and picked up Dean to drag him into the mine. Sam followed slightly behind. Worst plan ever, he thought to himself.
******
Sam heard voices inside the mine. He wasn't sure how much of the ritual they'd missed. He heard the crackle of fire and the smell of smoke filled his nostrils. There was an elevator down into the mine on the left and to the right a group gathered around a fire in a prep room. Ipos was in the middle of the group, standing over a table with a few candles on it. He was holding something in his hand. A talisman.
The demon dragged Dean to the far side of the room and dumped him on the ground. Just as the Winchesters had hoped. Sam watched as the demon searched Dean for weapons, taking out his gun and Ruby's knife. Then it came back to Sam and shook him down. Sam willfully handed over his shotgun. The demon found a knife inside Sam's jacket as well. The demon took the weapons over to Ipos. As the crowd parted to let it in, Sam saw Joey tied to a chair next to Ipos. She looked unconscious. Her head was slumped forward with her hair over her face. Ipos placed the weapons and talisman on the table and moved through the crowd to face Sam.
"Sam," he said in a disappointed tone. "I thought we agreed you were not a suitable candidate for this ritual."
Sam recoiled. "I didn't come here to stop you," he said.
"I'd say that plan failed anyway," Ipos said, heading back towards his sacrificing bowl.
"You're right about the angels you know," Sam called. "They're jerks. They convinced me and my brother to say yes, just to settle some dumb sibling rivalry. And they'll never leave us alone. I'm just tired."
Sam's gaze was locked on Ipos, who turned away. The demon went back to the fire and motioned for another demon to step up. It did, and Ipos quickly slit the demon's throat and bled him out into a chalice. The demon eventually collapsed as Sam watched in horror. After a few more steps in the ritual Ipos turned back to Sam.
"So you changed your mind then? You want to lead an army now?" Ipos asked.
"I just want it to be over," Sam said. "I don't care how it happens anymore."
Ipos considered Sam's offer to surrender. "What about your brother?"
"He wants to keep fighting. I don't agree."
Off to the side of the group, Dean opened one eye to a slit, just enough to the light in. Then a bit more. He peered around from his vantage point on the ground. The entire group of demons, all five or so of them, seemed focused on Sam and Ipos. Assured no one was watching Dean opened the other eye. He felt around in his jacket. The demon had taken Ruby's knife from him, but tucked inside a zippered pocket was the ivory curved-handled knife that could put Ipos away. He palmed it and slowly sat up, watching the group around the fire intently the whole time. Five demons was less than he'd predicted but would still be a lot for Sam and him to handle. He plotted how to take them down.
Ipos lifted the chalice and began chanting. As he did, Joey groaned and lifted her head up, and then back in the chair. As Ipos continued, the five remaining demons stood in a circle around Ipos, facing him. One by one, a small blast of light pierced their skulls and each demon collapsed. Sam and Dean had seen a similar ritual performed by Lucifer once before. It was not good. Slowly smoke began to escape the body of each demon, circling around Ipos and Joey.
"How about a little test then?" Ipos called back to Sam. "Ready to spill some blood?"
Sam ruminated for a few moments to stall, and then slowly approached Ipos. The demon handed Sam Ruby's knife and held Joey's head back. Semi-conscious, her eyes opened and rolled back.
Dean crawled up to the table, trying to stay out of Ipos's peripheral vision. He reached up by feel, looking for a weapon to grab. He felt something and instinctively took hold. Suddenly Dean felt himself grabbed by invisible forces. Ipos pushed Dean away from the circle as Sam watched.
"Did you have a nice nap, Dean?" Ipos asked. "Were you ever actually knocked out?"
Ipos smashed Dean into the wall in the back of the room. Cringing in pain, Dean checked his hands to see what he's managed to grab. It was the talisman. Laughing, he held it up for Ipos to see. The demon's face dropped. Dean spun the talisman by its chain a few times to rev up, and then smashed it into the hard stone floor. It smashed, releasing black smoke that sank into the ground. The blood spells were undone.
"I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance," Ipos said, starting to move towards Dean.
The demon twisted his fist and Dean started choking. Smoke was still circling Ipos and Joey with Sam just outside. Sam lunged forward, grabbing the demon from behind. He smashed Ipos down into the ground and then pushed the demon's head down hard. Sam pulled him back up by the hair. The grip on Dean released, allowing him to stand and run over to Sam. He quickly pulled the ivory-handled knife.
"Here goes nothing," Dean said, and plunged the knife into Ipos's neck.
The demon screamed, and a reddish light lit up its face momentarily. Then the demon's host body went limp as Ipos died.
Sam let go of the body and stood up. He ran over to Joey. Dean grabbed their guns off the table.
"You alright?" Sam said, pulling Joey to her feet gently.
"No," she said, rubbing her arm.
Dean joined them. "How did you end up here?" he asked Joey.
"I don't know," she said. "I waited for a few hours after you boys left. Then I got a call to come to Goodland to meet up with my contact. When I got there a pack of demons was waiting instead."
"I'm just glad you're OK," Sam said. "Let us help you back."
"Where you boys off to? Maybe I can help?" Joey asked.
To both Joey and Sam's surprise, Dean brandished his gun.
"Don't tell her anything, Sam."
"What are you doing?" Sam protested.
"You said you headed to Goodland to meet up with your contact. How'd you beat us there?" Dean asked.
Joey shrugged. "Guess I knew a shortcut you boys didn't."
"Yeah, I'll bet you did," Dean said. "Some of that good ol' demon hoodoo, right?"
Joey smirked. "OK, you got me. Right after you left, these two men knocked on the door. Said they were there to pick me up," she said. "Next thing I know I'm sitting in this meatsuit and listening to that fool try to open a gate," she said, motioning in Ipos's direction.
Dean and Sam watched in horror as Joey's eyes turned into liquid black pools.
"Thanks for taking care of Mastema and Ipos for me by the way. They had outlived their usefulness."
"Semiazas. How long have you been in Joey?" Sam demanded to know.
"Not too long. This poor thing, she's been around the demon block, hasn't she?" Semiazas said. "She makes a nice host though. Almost used to it by now."
Sam charged Joey and landed a punch to her face. Dean pulled him back and aimed the gun back at Joey.
"Tell ya what, I like it when you boys do my dirty work for me," Semiazas said. "And the way I hear things you boys are gonna try to take care of Lucifer too. That's great. I like the idea of taking him on weakened. I think I'll lay low until after that. Unlike those two, I can wait."
Before Sam or Dean could see anything, Semiazas-in-Joey grabbed the gun her captor had been holding and slammed each of the boys in the head with it. When they woke up she was long gone. Dean shook his head and took out his cellphone to call Castiel.
******
Lush Coastal Rainforests of Central South Dakota.
At an open area in Great Bear Park, Castiel materialized in a small cluster of trees. Just in front of him, several trees had very recently fallen. An inquisitive group of onlookers had gathered and, deciding the fallen trees were an odd coincidence, had selected that area as their play spot. Around him, children ran around playing games as a cluster of parents sat on fallen tree trunks in the sun.
There was a patch of recovering mud, dirt and earth that had been recently disturbed. A child was pushing a bulldozer along the top it, complete with sound effects. When a small patch of dirt began to rise and fall, he quickly ran the bulldozer over it to press the ground down. It continued to move on its own. The mud split apart slightly and more of the ground began to move.
"Mom!" The child called, quickly jumping up and running away. He ran to his mother and pointed back to the spot where he'd been playing.
Castiel saw this unfold and knew that was the spot. He approached the earth as it continued to breathe. A small group watched him from a seemingly safe distance. A hand broke through the earth and reached up. Castiel grabbed it and pulled upwards. The ground rose and then broke apart as Castiel pulled Alex out. She cleared the emergence hole and fell to her knees on the ground, coughing.
A stunned group of onlookers watched this all unfold. A concerned parent grabbed his child and quickly backed away.
Castiel helped Alex to her feet and dusted her off. Mud remained caked to her. Cas tapped her on the forehead and she disappeared. He himself vanished shortly after, leaving a confused group of people and a six-foot hole in the ground.
******
Dean laid down rubber turning into Bobby's. He sloppily parked the Chevelle, threw the car into park and practically exited the car while it was still running. Sam grabbed his laptop from the back seat and followed Dean to the house.
"Calvary's here!" Dean called as he entered the house.
He and Sam made their way into the den. Bobby was slumped over his desk. Castiel stood in front of one of the bookcases. Alex sat on the bench in front of the window, freshly showered. She looked at them with an empty stare. The Winchesters knew right away something was off.
"You didn't have to come all this way to thank us," Dean snarked at Raziel.
"I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it," Raziel replied.
"I made one too, to Alex," Dean said. "She alright in there?"
"She's fine," the angel replied, standing up.
"Bobby OK?" Sam asked.
"He's fine too. But he's not going to remember anything having to do the Winchesters from the future when he wakes up."
Dean shot an angry look at Castiel. His friend shrugged in return. Nothing he could do.
Spotting his amulet still around Raziel's neck, Dean stepped forward to take it back. "Guess you won't be needing that anymore," he said. Raziel put her hand over Dean's and smiled.
"Just a few more minutes," she said. She stood up and walked to the kitchen.
Sam, Dean and Castiel followed. Raziel took a pan out from the stove drawer and set it on one of the burners. She turned on the burner and set the heat to high. She turned the oven knob to preheat.
Sam and Dean exchanged looks.
"Making us a celebratory dinner?" Sam asked.
"Sort of," Raziel said. "Can you grab me that mold off the kitchen table please?"
Sam went to the kitchen table and found a mold in the shape of six bullets. He brought it over to Raziel. Castiel watched the exchange, intrigued. The pan started to give off heat. Raziel took a hex bag out of her pocket and opened it. Inside were what looked like minerals. She dropped them into the pan, held her hand over it, and gave a command in Enochian. The fire under the pan intensified and the minerals began to melt. She took off the amulet and removed it from its string. Then she dropped it in too. Dean grimaced.
The metals melted and mixed together. Raziel never took her eyes off the pan. Castiel moved closer to the stove to get a better look. The Winchesters inched forward too. Raziel lifted the pan, mixing the elements together until they bled from three colors into one. When the mixture was complete, the soup bubbled and gave off steam. She quickly took the pan to the mold and poured the mixture into each of the six molds. Then she put them in the oven.
"A parting gift for you," she said to the Winchesters.
"Where are you going?" Dean asked.
"Not me, you," she said. "You're going back to where you came from. For now the threat is over. And these bullets -- for the Colt -- will be waiting for you here at Bobby's when you need them. In a familiar glove compartment. Did you tell Sam everything you saw when we last met?"
"In the dream? Yeah," Dean said. "So things are changing from here on out, then? Because I'm gonna notice not having that amulet around."
"No, you won't," Raziel replied with a small smile. "Castiel helped me slip a replacement to your past self a couple of weeks ago."
Sam frowned. "I guess we know why the God GPS didn't work now."
Dean pursed his lips and agreed.
Raziel nodded. "It's time for you two to go back. I have some things to discuss with Castiel. He'll follow not too long after."
"We promised Alex we'd make sure she's OK," Sam insisted.
"She's fine," Raziel assured him. "You guys did what I needed you to do."
"What about Nathaniel?" Dean asked.
"That's part of what I have to talk to Castiel about. And no offense, but you guys aren't a part of that."
"The hell we're not," Dean said.
Raziel put her hand up, and neither Dean nor Sam could move. "The time will come for you to finish this job. But that time has not come today. When it does, you'll know."
She walked towards Sam and Dean, and placed a hand on each of their foreheads. "Thank you," she said. "Sorry about the rough landings when you both arrived back in time. I'll try to do better this time." Everything around them faded into a white light. The last thing the Winchesters saw were the .
******
Cicero, Indiana.
Dean awoke with a start, feeling the world spin around him. He sat up slowly, groaning. Once again he found himself next to a tree, a tall oak. But this time at least he wasn't in a crater below ground level. He got himself up to his feet and looked around. It was either late afternoon or early morning. After some internal compass adjustment he decided it was early morning. Dean wasn't sure exactly where he was at first. He exited the cluster of trees and found himself near the Bear Slide Golf Course. Not too far of a walk from where he'd last parked his truck. Assuming it was when he thought it was.
He started walking up East 75th Street. His phone rang. He snapped it open.
"Yeah?" he said gruffly.
"Dean?"
"Sam?"
"Yeah."
"Where are you?"
"Uh, Noblesville. Indiana. Where are you?"
"Cicero. Don't move. I'll come pick you up."
"K."
Dean picked up the pace. He ended up at the construction site. His truck was waiting for him, just where he'd left it. He hopped into the cab, grabbed the keys out of the glove compartment and fired it up. Then he headed south towards Noblesville. When he got to where Sam was, it took his brother a moment to recognize Dean.
"Where's the Impala?" Sam said with a slight degree of shock as he jumped into the cab.
"Sold it for scrap metal," Dean said with a sly grin.
Sam's eyes went wide, showing the whites.
"No, not really," Dean quickly said. "She's safe at Bobby's. Under a tarp."
Sam got in and buckled up. He looked to the radio. "Is that...an iPod dock?" he asked incredulously.
Dean shrugged. "Ben likes to listen to old AC/DC. The radio stations around here suck," Dean said.
Sam bitchfaced. He wished he had one of his emo albums with him for payback.
******
Pig 'N A Pokeless Diner.
After confirming that they were in fact in 2010, Dean and Sam each had a coffee in front of them. Every so often one of them would take a sip. They were still trying to reconcile the events of what to them were the past few weeks. To the rest of the world, everything was the same and not much time had passed at all.
"Heard from Cas?" Sam asked Dean.
"Nope," Dean replied.
Sam scratched his head. He processed their options. He shrugged.
"You think it means something, that we got plucked from now, back to then, and then sent back to now?" Dean asked, hoping that made sense.
"You think this is when Semiazas makes his reappearance?" Sam asked in return.
Dean nodded.
"I think so too," Sam agreed.
"Well, if Cas isn't here, then I know of one other person who might be able to help us," Dean said.
"Alex," Sam agreed. "Wish I had my laptop."
Dean pointed at Sam to wait, and then reached into the bag he had with him. He pulled Sam's laptop out.
"Huh? Huh?" Dean said proudly as he handed it over to Sam.
"Should I be worried about viruses?" Sam asked.
"Not the kind you get on a computer," Dean cracked.
Sam rolled his eyes and opened the laptop. He started researching Alexis Parker.
An hour and a half later, he still hadn't found anything recent. The last information he could find was from late 2008, when she checked into a hospital in Nebraska. Dean told Sam to try Tom Bello. Sam wasn't able to find much recent info on him either. In 2005 he'd plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and served 2 years in a state penitentiary followed by 9 months in a halfway house. His last known address was in Omaha from 2008.
"I say we head that way," Dean said.
Sam agreed.
******
Omaha, Nebraska.
Dean and Sam pulled up in front of Tom Bello's last known address. On the way Dean had filled Sam in on who Tom was. And what he was. They were in FBI suits just in case. No way of knowing whether Tom would remember Dean. And if he did remember Dean, no way of knowing what his reaction would be to seeing Dean again.
"This place is familiar," Dean said. "It's where his parents lived."
"Well, guess we oughta check it out," Sam said, exiting the truck.
They walked up to the front porch. The EMF in Sam's pocket stayed quiet. Sam knocked on the door. "Hello," he called in. "Tom Bello?"
They waited. Nothing. They knocked again.
"Sir," Dean tried. "We'd like to talk to you about Alex Parker."
Still nothing.
"He's not there," a voice finally called from not too far away. The neighbor, an older man.
"Is this where Tom Bello lives?" Sam asked.
"Yes, but he's away right now," the neighbor said.
"Do you know when he's coming back?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Monday. He's at the Nebraska Medical Center, just like he is every weekend."
The Winchesters traded looks. They thanked the neighbor and headed back to Dean's truck.
"That's Alex's last known location," Sam said as they climbed in.
******
Nebraska Medical Center.
Still in their FBI suits, agents Tyler and Perry found out that Alexis Parker was a patient in the mental ward, and had been there since late 2008. The head doctor grudgingly allowed them to visit the patient.
"We're not concerned about dangerous patients, doc," Dean said. "We've seen them before."
The doctor eyed Dean. "She's hardly dangerous. Just don't expect her to carry on a conversation with you either."
They walked through the ward and to a quiet wing. An orderly showed them to Alex's room. The door was already open. Alex was in a wheelchair, facing the television. Her back was to Dean and Sam.
"Ms. Parker," Dean said sternly for good effect.
The orderly scoffed, shot Sam a look and left the room.
Dean approached Alex. "Alex," he whispered, bending down to be at eye level with her.
Sam moved in closer as well.
Dean twisted himself to face Alex. She continued to stare straight ahead, at the television. Dean's face fell. Sam bent down and saw the same. He waved a hand in front of Alex's face. Nothing. Dean shook her lightly. No response. Her body was there, but it appeared her mind was gone. Sam watched his brother's body sag. Dean's face turned stony.
"I can't fucking believe it," Dean said. "But I should have known."
"At least she's alive," Sam tried.
"You call this alive?" Dean asked. "She's one vegetable short of a salad. Who knows if she's actually awake in there or not?"
"Probably not," Sam lamented.
"They use them and then they dump 'em," Dean said angrily. "Angels are dicks."
"Maybe Cas can help her," Sam said after a minute.
Dean, who'd been pacing in front of the window, stopped. "You think?" He asked optimistically.
"I don't really know," Sam said. "But maybe he could, or Bobby. I just...don't want to leave her like this."
Dean nodded in agreement. "Alright, we're busting her out."
"You don't just want to bring them back here?" Sam asked.
"No, I think we take her with us. Now."
Sam stood up and nodded. "Think you can manage that thing yourself?" he asked of the wheelchair.
Dean nodded.
"OK," Sam said. "Meet you out front in 2 minutes." He went outside the room to the waiting orderly and started asking questions. As he asked, Sam led the orderly down the hall and away from the room.
Once they were out of earshot, Dean leaned out of the room to check the area. There were two nurses in the hall he was sure he could sweet talk. No one else. Alex wasn't hooked up to any machines which made it easier. He carefully wheeled her out into the hallway, and took off in the opposite direction from the way Sam had led the orderly. Dean made it through one set of double doors, staring straight ahead and trying not to make eye contact with anyone. That plan was blown in the next hallway as he wheeled by a security guard staring intently at him. Dean met the man’s eyes. The guard watched Dean wheel Alex past and then called after them. Dean picked up the pace. The guard started walking after him. Dean started running.
The guard gave chase but Dean was faster. He wheeled Alex around a corner and out of the hospital wing. Sam was already out front waiting. They ran to Dean's truck and Sam started loading Alex in.
"Hurry," Dean urged him, getting into the driver's seat and starting the truck.
Sam was lifting Alex in when he saw what looked like movement in her face An expression. Confusion? Or recognition? She took Sam's arm. He heard yells from security behind him and wheeled around. He saw the guards running their way and he saw the building in an entirely new light.
"Dean," Sam said. "The wing -- it's covered in Enochian warding magic!"
"How can you tell?" Dean asked, squinting to try to see it.
"It's Alex, she's showing me somehow."
"Well great," Dean said. "We can play charades later. Can we just get the hell outta here already?"
Sam belted Alex in on the cab's back bench and then slid the passenger seat back into place. He climbed into the truck and Dean quickly peeled out of the spot and sped off. The guards were unarmed so they gave chase for a bit before giving up.
"Bobby's?" Dean asked Sam.
"Yeah," Sam said. "You might want to make a stop to trade plates though."
Dean nodded. Then he laughed. "On the road again, Sammy!"
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