Thirty-Four
Jenny, Sam and Dean pulled up to Carl Gully's home, the three Hunter's glancing around suspiciously before stepping out. Jenny walked up to the steps, pausing and slowly turned to look at an angel statue in Carl's yard.
"Hey, guys. I found the sign." Jenny pointed to the statue, waiting for Dean to make a remark, but nothing followed. She turned to the impala, the seats empty. She lowered her arm, looking around in confusion. "Dean? Sam?"
Jenny walked down the stairs back to the Impala, looking inside. Nothing. Not even the big dumb dragon in the backseat. Jenny stood up, quickly rushing to the trunk and popped it open. Her eyes widened when there were only two weapons in the hidden compartment.
The Colt and Dagger.
"We are nearing the end, sister." Jenny spun around quickly at the sound of her brother's voice... His brown eyes had been replaced with yellow.
"Where are Sam and Dean?" Jenny asked quietly, her brother slowly walking towards her. Jenny was quick to grab the Colt, cocking the gun and aiming it at Nathaniel. "I will shoot you!" She yelled, though her hands were trembling with the fear of killing her brother.
"You can't kill me here. Not in your mind. But you can try to, sister." He smiled wickedly, and Jenny's expression hardened, steadying her aim.
"Where are Sam and Dean?" She asked again, Nathaniel looking around.
"They're here." He snapped his fingers, the panicked voices of Sam and Dean echoing loudly throughout the neighborhood. "Right over there, actually."
Jenny paused, turning her head back to Carl's home, where she could see herself, Sam and Dean.
Dean was gripping her shoulders tightly, shaking her as Sam was pacing back and forth. They kept yelling for her, wondering why she was frozen in her spot.
"What the hell is going on?!" Jenny yelled, turning back to Nathaniel. He laughed.
"Jennifer, everything will make sense so soon. These visions, the seeing ghosts and spirits yadda yadda... The waking up in random places." Jenny's brows raised, Nathaniel laughed again. "You may be able to somehow hide it from Sam and Dean, but you can't hide it from the one that made you. The one that made your brother!"
"Why keep using him? Is he just a meat suit now?" Tears welled up in Jenny's eyes as she straightened up, the gun in her hands trembling again. "Is Nathaniel dead?"
"Oh no. No no he's not dead. In fact, that vision you had some time ago? With your brother begging for help? Wasn't me. All him. See, if you want to kill me..." He stalked towards Jenny, pressing the gun to his chest. He stared down at the girl, smiling.
"You'll have to kill your brother, too." Jenny shook her head as Nathaniel raised his fingers and snapped.
Jenny gasped, looking around to realize she was back in the real world, no longer trapped in her own mind. Fear and worry clouded Dean's eyes as his hands were still gripped tightly to Jenny's shoulders. "Jennifer what the hell was that?!"
"What?" Jenny frowned, looking between Sam and Dean. She was trying her best to play dumb again, shaking her head. "I don't— why are you gripping me so harshly?"
"Jenny, you were out for a good five minutes. What the hell happened to you?" Jenny's brows raised. It surely didn't feel like five minutes. She sighed quietly, shaking her head.
"I'll uhm... Now isn't the time." Jenny brushed Dean off of her and quickly walked around the house, trying to shake the demon's words out of her mind.
"You'll have to kill your brother, too." His words repeated in her head over and over again like a song you couldn't get enough of, except she got sick of this song very quickly. Jenny leaned against the house, holding her stomach as she fought back the urge to puke at the thought of killing both the demon and her brother.
She couldn't do something like that. She wanted to save her brother. There had to be another way to kill the demon and keep Nathaniel alive. Maybe the Dagger would do that.
"Jen? Are you sure you're okay?" Jenny turned her head to see Sam and Dean approaching her, Dean's hand extending out to comfort the crumbling woman.
"I'm okay. Lightheaded, I guess." Sam and Dean shared a look, the younger Winchester clearing his throat.
"Jenny, maybe you should wait—"
"I said I'm fine, Sam. I don't need to sit and wait anywhere." Jenny stepped away from the wall, walking towards a wooden storm cellar. "Look. Something suspicious."
Sam and Dean were both hesitant for Jenny, looking at her nervously, waiting for something. to happen. Maybe she'd start coughing up blood, or pass out. Maybe just drop dead altogether. She just turned to them, starting to become irritated.
"Guys. I. Am. Oh. Kay." She threw the cellar doors open, looking down at the darkness. "Let's go."
Jenny walked down the stairs, Sam and Dean slowly following. Jenny pulled out a small flashlight from her inner jacket pocket, flickering it on.
Dean stood close to Jenny, attempting to play it off by looking around for anything. Jenny grumbled something under her breath, stepping away only for Dean to trail behind.
"Hey." Sam called out, Jenny and Dean turning to him.
"You got something?" Dean asked, watching Sam dig at the wall and pull something out of it. The older two walked towards him, looking at the thing in his hand.
"It's a fingernail." Sam stated the obvious, the three giving each other the same look. Dean walked over to the opposite wall, grabbing the two shovels and tossed one to Sam.
Over the course of the next 20 or so minutes, Jenny paced back and forth as Sam and Dean dug at the wall. About every minute, Dean would look back at her, waiting for the moment she was sucked back into her own mind, but she appeared to be fine, just annoyed and impatient.
"So much for the innocent churchgoing librarian." Sam exhaled as they dug up a pile of skeletons. Jenny moved to stand between them, brows raising.
"Yeah, well, whatever spoke to Gloria about this knew what it was talking about, I'll give you that."
———
Jenny and Dean were sitting in the motel, staring at the police radio, looking painfully bored.
"We've got a minor TA, involving a motorcycle and a, uh van, this is at the corner of 28th and Pine, 28th and Pine—" Dean clicked off the radio, looking to the Magic Fingers bed controller with a solemn expression.
Sam finally entered the motel again, Dean eagerly looking to his brother. "D'you bring quarters?" He smiled, waving the controller as Sam frowned. "Dude! I'm not enabling your sick habit." Dean huffed, catching the sandwich Sam tossed to him, Jenny doing the same. "You're like one of those lab rats that pushes the pleasure button instead of the food button until it dies."
"What are you talking about? I eat. And Jen and I got news." Dean spoke through a mouthful of sandwich, Jenny nodding. Sam nodded as well.
"Me too."
"All right, you go first." Dean gestured to his brother.
"Three students have disappeared off the college campus in the last year. All of them were last seen at the library." Sam started, Dean and Jenny sharing a look.
"Where Carl Gully worked." The two spoke in unison, Sam nodded. "Sick bastard." Dean mumbled, turning away.
"So Gloria's angel—"
"Angel?" Dean interrupted skeptically. Sam rolled his eyes.
"Okay. Whatever this thing is—"
"Okay, well, whatever it is, it's struck again." Jenny then spoke up, standing. Sam looked at her, confused.
"Jen and I were listening to the police radio before you got here. There was this guy, uh, Zach Smith, some local drunk; he went up to a stranger's front door last night, stabbed him in the heart." Dean explained, watching as Jenny scribbled something in her journal.
"And then I'm guessing he went to the police and confessed?" Sam asked. For a moment, Dean didn't answer, too busy watching Jenny nervously.
"Yep. Roma Downey made him do it." Dean crossed the room to the dresser, taking a Post-It note off of the mirror. "Now, we, uh . . . got the victim's address."
———
Jenny walked around Frank's house, her flashlight flailing around through the room as she searched for anything. She picked up a photo on the fireplace, staring down at a kid in a cap and gown. She hummed quietly, an unnerved feeling settling in her stomach.
Jenny put the photo back on the mantle, entering the room Sam and Dean were in. "Found nothing." Jenny spoke up, Dean raising his hand.
"Same here. But, Frank really liked catalog shopping. But that's about all I got." Dean pressed his lips together and sat down next to Sam.
"Not much here. Except he's got this one locked file on his computer, I can't . . . . hold on." Sam pressed a few buttons on Frank's computer, grinning in triumph after a few seconds. "Not anymore— God." The grin was quickly replaced with disgust, shaking his head as Jenny walked over.
"Oh that is all kinds of disgusting." Jenny retched back, shaking her own head as Dean frowned.
"What?" He asked, taking the computer to see.
"Well, he's got all these emails. Dozens, to this lady named Jennifer." Jenny's eyes suddenly widened, Dean looking to her suspiciously.
"There's like a million Jennifer's, Dean. This isn't me." Jenny gestured to the computer, and Sam nodded.
"This Jennifer is also thirteen years old." Dean shut his eyes tightly, pushing the computer away.
"Oh, I don't want to hear this."
"Looks like they met in a chat room. These emails are pretty personal, Dean. Look at that. Setting up a time and place to meet." Sam pointed to the computer screen and his brother shook his head.
"They were supposed to meet today."
"Huh. Well, I guess if you're gonna stab someone, good timing. I don't know, man, this is weird, you know? I mean, sure, some spirits are out for vengeance, but this one's almost like a do-gooder, you know? Like, like a—"
"Vengeful Spirit." Jenny spoke.
"Avenging angel?" Sam said at the same time as Jenny, turning to her. "I think avenging angel is a better guess."
"Right. Because Angel's exist and I slept with Paris Hilton." Jenny rolled her eyes, sitting down on the desk.
"Well, how else do you explain it, Jenny? Three guys, not connected to each other, all stabbed through the heart? At least two were world-class pervs, and I bet if you dug deep enough on the other guy—"
"Hey." Dean interrupted, Sam turning to him.
"What?"
"You said Carl Gully was a churchgoer, right?" Dean asked, and Sam slowly nodded. "What was the name of his church?"
"Uh ... Our Lady of the Angels?" Dean and Jenny rolled their eyes.
"Of course that'd be the name." Dean held up a church flier, raising his brows. "Looks like Frank went to the same church."
"Well, then I think we should go." Jenny suggested, standing up. She glanced at Sam for a moment before shaking her head. "Angels." She mumbled, walking out.
———
Jenny, Sam and Dean were walking through the sanctuary of the church, talking to a friendly-looking priest, Father Reynolds as they looked around.
"So you're interested in joining the parish?" Reynolds asked, Jenny nodding.
"Yeah, well, you know, we just don't feel right unless we hit church every Sunday." Dean smiled, and Father Reynolds hummed, pleased with the answer.
"Where'd you say you lived before?" Reynolds asked, looking to them. Jenny and Sam turned to Dean, hoping he'd answer.
"Fremont, Texas." He said after a short beat of silence, Reynolds nodding.
"Really? That's a nice town. St. Teresa's parish, you must know the priest there." Reynolds smiled again, and Dean nodded.
"Sure, yeah, no it's uh, Father O'Malley." Reynolds frowned at Dean's answer, humming.
"Hmm, I know a Father Shaughnessy."
"Shaughnessy, exactly. What'd I say?" Dean asked, looking to Jenny. She jabbed him nonchalantly in the side.
"You know, we're just happy to be here now, Father." Sam spoke up, and the Father nodded again.
"And we're happy to have you, we could use some young blood around here." Jenny looked at Reynolds suspiciously, continuing their walk.
"Hey, listen, I gotta ask — no offense, but uh, the neighborhood?" Dean spoke again. Father Reynolds clicked his tongue, looking down solemnly.
"Well, it's gone to seed a little, there's no denying that, but that's why what the church does here is so important. Like I always say, you can expect a miracle, but in the meantime you work your butt off." He grinned, Jenny glancing to Sam and Dean.
"Huh. Yeah, we uh... heard about the murders." Jenny finally said, Father Reynolds nodding solemnly.
"Yes. The victims were parishioners of mine, I'd known them for years."
"And the killers said that an angel made them do that?" Sam frowned, the Father shrugging.
"Yes. Misguided souls, to think that God's messenger would appear and incite people to murder. It's tragic." Jenny gave Sam a knowing look, and he blew her off, rolling his eyes.
"So you don't believe in those angel yarns, huh?"
"Oh, no, I absolutely believe. Kind of goes with the job description." Reynolds laughed, the three Hunters awkwardly joining. Sam looked around again, pointing to a painting on the wall.
"Father, that's Michael, right?" Reynolds turned to the painting and nodded.
"That's right. The archangel Michael, with the flaming sword. The fighter of demons. Holy force against evil."
"So they're not really the Hallmark card version that everybody thinks? They're fierce, right? Vigilant?" Jenny gave Sam another look, to which he ignored.
"Well, I like to think of them as more loving than wrathful. But, uh, yes, a lot of Scripture paints angels as God's warriors. "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, the glory of the Lord shone down upon them, and they were terrified."" As Sam and Jenny nodded, Dean looked at the Father, confused. "Luke. Two nine."
The four all started heading out of the church, Sam turning to Reynolds.
"Well, thank you for speaking with us, Father." Sam smiled, and the man returned it.
"Oh, it' s my pleasure. Hope to see you again."
"Hey, Father, what's, what is all that for?" Dean asked, gesturing to the tribute of items at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh, that's for Father Gregory. He was a priest here." Jenny looked to Father Reynolds, glaring in the sun.
"'Was?'" She repeated, and the father nodded slowly.
"He passed away right on these steps. He's interred in the church crypt." Jenny and Dean gave each other a look, turning back to Father Reynolds.
"Father... When did this happen?" Jenny asked as he thought about it for a moment.
"Two months ago. He was shot for his car keys. He was a good friend. I didn't even have time to administer his last rites. But like I said, it's a tough neighborhood. Ever since he died I've been praying my heart out." Father Reynolds shook his head solemnly, Sam frowning.
"For what?" Sam wondered, the Father looking down.
"For deliverance. From the violence and the bloodshed around here. We could use a little divine intervention, I s'pose."
"Well, Padre, thanks. We'll see you again." As Father Reynolds went back inside the church, the three Hunters approached the shrine.
"Told you it was a vengeful spirit." Jenny spoke quietly as Sam shook his head. Dean nodded.
"Makes sense. Devoted priest dies a violent death? That's vengeful spirit material right there." Sam shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms. "And he knew all the other stiffs, because they went to church here, in fact I'm willing to bet that because he was their priest, he knew things about them that nobody else knew."
"Then again, Father Reynolds started praying for God's help about two months ago, right? Right about the time all this started happening?" Jenny flailed her arms up, stepping away for a moment as she rubbed her eyes.
"Aw, come on, man, what's your deal?" Dean asked his brother, who scoffed.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked as Jenny turned back.
"The full belief that an angel of God would go around telling people to kill a sinner or two?"Jenny asked as Dean raised his hand out to her.
"Look, I'll admit... the two of us are a bit of some skeptics, but since when are you all Mr., uh, 700 Club?" Sam shook his head, turning to walk away. "No, seriously. From the git-go you've been willing to buy this angel crap, man. I mean, what's next, are you going to start praying every day?" Dean scoffed, Sam pausing.
"I do." Sam answered quietly, Jenny and Dean frowning. "I do pray every day. I have for a long time."
Dean looked more startled than shocked by his brothers answer. While Jenny looked about as shocked as she was after discovering her brother wasn't dead.
Dean shook his head, speaking. "The things you learn about a guy. Well, come on, let's go check out Father Gregory's grave."
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