chapter 20 - Don't Call Me Shurley
Outfits in the external link
THEN
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", It showed Sam, Dean, Catty and the Impala in front o the Welch House from 1.01 Pilot: SUPERNATURAL By Carver Edlund
Catty: (voice over from 4.18 The Monster at the End of this Book) "'Supernatural' by Carver Edlund."
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", in Chuck's House, Chuck Shurley was writing for his stories.
Sam: (voice over from 4.18 The Monster at the End of this Book) "What's Carver Edlund's real name?"
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", in Chuck's House, Chuck opened the door for Sam, Catty and Dean.
"Chuck Shurley?" Dean asked.
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", at TJz, Ness was on the phone with Catty. "Man, I can't even imagine it. I mean, our lives in a book series?"
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", in the book store, the 'Supernatural' books were in the 'Bargain Bin'.
Castiel: (voice over from 4.18 The Monster at the End of this Book) "One day, these books?"
From 4.18 "The Monster at the End of this Book", in Chuck's House, Catty, Dean, Castiel and Chuck were talking.
"They'll be known as the Winchester Gospel," Castiel told them.
Catty and Dean spoke together. "You got to be kidding me."
From 4.22 "Lucifer Rising", in Chuck's House, the house began to shake. A blinding white light flooded in. Castiel, Ness and Chuck stood side by side to face what was to come. Chuck placed a hand on Ness' shoulder, cowering back. Ness blinked, looking at Chuck with a seriously? look. Chuck lowered his hand in embarrassment. Ness looked at the intensifying light.
From 11.01 "Out of the Darkness, into the Fire", in the flashback of the Darkness, Ness and the Darkness were standing in the middle of the black smoke.
Sabrina: (voice over from 11.09 O Brother, Where Art Thou?) "God's sister."
The Darkness turned to face Ness.
Crowley: (voice over from 11.09 O Brother, Where Art Thou?) "He has relatives?"
From 11.01 "Out of the Darkness, into the Fire" and 11.02 "Form and Void", there were flashes of the Rabids with their black veins, including Sam and Catty.
Dean: (voice over from 11.01 Out of the Darkness, into the Fire) "So, what, she shows up, and everybody goes '28 Days Later'?"
From 10.23 "Lover's Keeper", outside the restaurant, the black smoke was rolling its way through the sky toward Dean and Sabrina.
Dean: (voice over from 11.01 Out of the Darkness, into the Fire) "We didn't."
Sabrina turned toward the cloud, watching incredulously. She grabbed Dean protectively. The Darkness enveloped anything and everything around Dean and Sabrina, leaving the only thing we could see to be black.
Catty: (voice over from 11.01 Out of the Darkness, into the Fire) "Dean, you were with Sabrina, who would do anything to protect you."
From 11.01 "Out of the Darkness, into the Fire", in the flashback of the Darkness, The Darkness placed a hand on Ness' pregnant stomach. Ness started to fall unconscious instantly. The Darkness held her standing. The black smoke suddenly hurtled toward them, surrounding them even closer, as if with a place in mind to go, obscuring them completely from view.
Catty: (voice over from 11.01 Out of the Darkness, into the Fire) "And the Darkness protected Ness."
From 11.10 "The Devil in the Details", in the park, Catty, Dean, Ness and Castiel were talking, standing next to Aiden in his stroller.
"Sabrina can protect Amara while targeting the Darkness," Castiel told them.
From 11.10 "The Devil in the Details", in the desert, Amara was sleeping inside the cocoon of bright white light, the magic shield. Sabrina and Castiel stood next to her. Sabrina held her hand toward the cocoon of bright white light, absorbing the power into herself.
Castiel: (voice over from 11.10 The Devil in the Details) "Sabrina's power would have enveloped Amara so that it was like a shield of any outside forces."
From 11.09 "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", in the church, Amara/The Darkness sat in a pew, looking at the priest. "I'm looking for God."
From 11.07 "Plush", in the Bunker's library, Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness were talking.
"He didn't feel the need to show up for the Apocalypse," Dean told them.
From 5.16 "Dark Side of the Moon", in Heaven's Garden, Octavia and the Angel Joshua were talking.
"He just doesn't think it's His problem," Joshua told her.
Octavia raised her eyebrows. "Not His problem?"
From 11.07 "Plush", in the Bunker's library, Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness were talking.
"Why would He give a crap now?" Dean asked.
"I don't know," Sam told them sarcastically. "Maybe because she's His sister."
From 11.09 "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", in the park, Amara/The Darkness raised both her arms toward the sky, using magic to compel lighting bolts to strike down members of the crowd one by one.
Amara/The Darkness: (voice over from 11.09 O Brother, Where Art Thou?) "All your chosen. They are suffering."
From 11.09 "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", in the church, there were statues that had fallen over and shattered. The parishioners were all dead. Amara/The Darkness had her hands on the priest's cheeks, consuming his soul.
Dean: (voice over from 11.07 Plush) "Don't count on God. Count on us."
Amara/The Darkness stretched her arms out, looking above, screaming the words, tears in her eyes. "Show yourself!"
From 11.18 "Hell's Angel", in the old church, Octavia/Lucifer was trapped in the circle of Holy Fire. The family, Crowley and Levi stood nearby.
Octavia/Lucifer laughed. "You know, Sam, I thought that I could not take any more from you than I had taken from you while we had been in the Cage together. But this? Taking your little Ava and the lives inside Ava really takes the cake." He smirked, opening her overlapping, waterfall leather jacket to expose her torso. There was a decent-sized baby bump. The others stared in shock. Octavia/Lucifer smirked, closing her jacket. "Two little Nephilims. Half Angel, half Human."
From 11.18 "Hell's Angel", in the old church, The Darkness made Octavia/Lucifer and herself disappear with a flash of bright white light.
From 11.18 "Hell's Angel", in the warehouse, The Darkness held her hand toward Octavia/Lucifer, using magic to push them against the wall, pinning them. "As God's favorite, you may be the one thing in all of creation that He still cares about." She stepped closer. "The one thing that could finally make Him show Himself so that I can confront Him and He can acknowledge the wrongs He's done me. And then He can witness the utter destruction of all His creation, before He Himself is swept away."
The Darkness turned away, stepping away.
Octavia/Lucifer smirked in amusement. "You're expecting Him? I'm pretty sure He caught the last train out."
"Well... we'll see, won't we?" the Darkness asked.
The Darkness turned to face Octavia/Lucifer, holding her hand toward them, using magic to cause them a great deal of agony, with white light starting to glow from Ava's chest and eyes so much it made them scream in agony.
NOW
§
Day One
Lebanon, Kansas
Morning - Park
Ness and Amara were walking through the park.
Amara was pushing Aiden in his stroller, smiling, getting him to laugh. "Here we go, Aiden."
Ness was on her phone, having it on speaker, as they were the only ones in the park.
Dean's voice was on the other line. "It seems that the fog/smoke is back from when the Darkness first came out of the hole she crawled out of."
Sam, Dean, Catty, Castiel and Sabrina were in a street together, with their phone on speaker.
"Yeah, except this is a lot worse than it was before," Catty told them. "It's driving people mad, and they don't die. They'll kill anything that comes at them, and the only way to stop them is for Sabrina to heal them and send them on their merry way."
"You can cure this, Sabrina?" Amara asked. "The last time this happened, you couldn't cure Uncle Sam or Aunt Catty."
"No, but I could protect Uncle Dean from it," Sabrina told them. "Oh, and when Mom and Uncle Sam got sick from the smoke, it was before Dad and Aunt Ava taught me how to channel every ounce of my power into a smiting storm that exorcised the Darkness the hell out of Amara's body. I'm stronger now. I'm pretty sure I can heal the effects of the fog now."
Amara nodded. "Very true."
"But, the fog's not stopping at Hope Springs," Castiel told them. "It's spreading out through states and cities. And we can't be everywhere at once."
"Oldest rule, Cas," Ness told him. "You can't save everyone. But that shouldn't stop us from trying."
"All right, we just wanted to let you know," Sam told them. "You know, in case the fog reaches Lebanon. So, get inside, lock the doors, seal the Bunker shut."
"Most of all, be safe," Dean told them.
"You, too," Ness told them, hanging up, sighing, turning to face Aiden and Amara. "Well, we should get Aiden back to the Bunker, huh, Amara?" Aiden looked behind Ness, starting to cry. "Aiden? What are you looking at?" Aiden cried louder. "Aiden? What's wrong?"
Amara looked behind Ness in horror. "Mom."
Ness turned to look behind her, seeing a deep, thick fog rolling its way through the air toward them, knowing that it was the fog from the Darkness, horrified. "No."
Ness and Amara backed away from the fog, pulling Aiden's stroller with them, turning to walk in the other direction.
Another patch of fog rolled toward them.
Ness and Amara looked from one patch of fog on one side of them to the other patch of fog on the other side of them.
The fog came very close to touching them.
§
God's Bar
(Song:) Good Vibrations - Brian Wilson
Ness, Amara and Aiden appeared in the bar, unharmed.
Aiden was in his stroller, still crying.
Amara looked around in confusion. "O... kay."
Ness slowly drew her gun protectively, not knowing what was going on. "What the hell?"
They heard a man's voice. "Not exactly."
Ness and Amara turned around.
Amara drew a knife from her jacket quickly in alarm, twirling the blade over her fingers, holding it ready.
Chuck Shurley walked closer, putting a finger to Aiden's head.
Aiden stopped crying, looking at Chuck in wonder.
Ness looked at him in shocked recognition. "Chuck?"
"Chuck?" Amara repeated.
"Yeah," Ness answered. "Uh, the Prophet that was given the task of writing the books telling the lives of the Winchesters."
"And now that includes the three of you," Chuck told them.
"What the hell is going on here?" Amara asked. "What is this place?"
"It's a bar," Chuck answered. "Actually--"
"It's not just a bar, genius," Amara told him. "We were just about to be attacked by fog created by the Darkness. How the hell did we get here?"
Chuck shrugged, walking past them. "I brought you here."
Ness turned to face him. "And how could you do that if you're just a Prophet? Because Kevin Train certainly couldn't do that, and Cas said that there could only be one Prophet at a time, which would mean that you would have to be dead in order for Kevin to be a Prophet before he died, but here you are." She realized why, as if it clicked into place, continuing on without missing a beat. "Unless you're not just a Prophet."
"You know what I find amusing about you, Ness?" Chuck asked. "You can put things together that normal people wouldn't be able to. And when you're confused one second, the next you can put the pieces together."
"So, what are you?" Ness asked.
Chuck picked up three pairs of sunglasses, one small enough for Aiden. "I think you already know the answer to that, Ness." He turned to face them, walking closer. "But, if it helps you, Amara and Aiden to accept, I'll let you see it to believe it. People can't see me unless I want them to see me." He handed Ness and Amara each a pair of sunglasses. "Here. Visual aid." He put the smaller pair on Aiden, chuckling. "Visual aid for Aiden. Put these on. It will help." Ness and Amara looked at him warily. "Go on. Just do it. It's a whole thing."
(Song Ends)
Ness and Amara put the sunglasses on.
Chuck pointed upward and down as if he flipped a switch.
(Song:) Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus "Hallelujah!" - Tallin Festival Chamber Orchestra
Chuck suddenly glowed with blindingly bright white light.
Aiden and Amara stared in shock and amazement.
Ness was stunned. "I knew it. You're God."
(Song Ends)
§ Worlds Colliding (Supernatural) §
God's Bar
Chuck turned the blindingly bright white light off.
Amara took the sunglasses off, not knowing what to do or say. "Uh... God. You've come back."
"Yeah," Chuck agreed. "Just don't use the G-word, okay, Amara? Just--just call me Chuck."
Amara looked at him in confusion. "Chuck?"
Chuck nodded. "Chuck."
Ness took off her sunglasses. "I think I need a drink."
Chuck nodded. "I support that."
Ness walked away toward the bar.
Amara looked at Chuck awkwardly, overwhelmed.
§
Flashback - 48 Hours Earlier
Morning - The Bunker - Library
Dean was ironing Sam's white shirt, sprinkling beer on it, taking a sip from the bottle.
Amara, Catty and Sabrina were sitting at the table, eating.
Ness was sitting at the other table, feeding Aiden baby food.
Aiden was in his high chair, making mess, smiling cutely.
"Aiden's as messy an eater as his daddy," Ness told them. "Isn't that right, Dean?"
Dean smiled. "Good boy, Aiden." He looked at the girls. "Aiden's a good boy."
Aiden laughed. Amara, Catty and Sabrina smiled. Sam and Castiel walked in.
Ness looked up. "Oh, perfect. I was about to come get you." She stood, taking her tablet from the table with a news article. "You're gonna need your suits."
"Tell me you got something on the Darkness," Sabrina told her.
"Uh, it's a long shot, but the clock's ticking, right?" Ness asked. "Whatever the Darkness is doing to Lucifer..."
"Yeah, beating on Aunt Ava and the twins in the meantime," Amara told them.
Ness handed her tablet to Catty to show her the article. "Yeah. Uh, Hope Springs, Idaho. A guy named Wes Cooper killed himself after killing a co-worker. According to the reports, though, nobody knows why. Apparently, he was a perfectly happy guy, and then... snap."
"So, what?" Castiel asked. "Possession?"
"Or he was soulless," Ness answered.
"It ain't much, but given what we got, I'll take it," Catty told them.
Amara took the tablet from Catty. "Yeah."
Dean handed Sam's shirt to him. "There you go."
"Thanks," Sam told him. Catty and Sabrina stood, cleaning up their mess from breakfast, walking out, leaving. Castiel and Dean followed, walking out, leaving. Sam looked quizzical, sniffing his shirt. "Dude, quit ironing my shirts with beer!"
Aiden laughed.
Amara smiled.
Ness turned to watch them go, smiling.
§
Now
Day - God's Bar
(Song:) Don't Answer the Door - B.B King
Amara was taking Aiden out of his stroller, holding him close. "Hey, Aiden."
Aiden looked at Chuck curiously.
Chuck smiled.
Ness was rummaging through the alcohol behind the bar. "It's been a very long time since I've been behind a bar. I kinda miss it." Chuck chuckled. Ness picked up two bottles, weighing options awkwardly. "Uh, any preferences, Chuck?"
Chuck shook his head. "Whatever you're having's fine."
Ness sighed, overwhelmed. "Okay."
"Me, too?" Amara asked.
Ness chuckled sarcastically. "Nice try, Amara." Amara sighed, looking away. Chuck smiled. Ness poured two drinks, shaking up the alcohol, looking at Chuck. "So, what you been up to?"
"Oh, I've been super busy," Chuck told them. "Yeah, I traveled."
Ness nodded. "Mm-hmm."
"I started a blog," Chuck told them. "Mostly just pictures of cats."
Amara looked up in surprise. "Oh."
"They's so cute," Chuck told them, chuckling. Ness chuckled awkwardly. "And, uh, oh, I signed up for Snapchat. A--and I started a new series of books."
"You mean, other than 'Supernatural'?" Ness asked in distaste.
Chuck frowned. "What? You don't like 'Supernatural'?"
"No, I like 'Supernatural'," Ness answered. "I just don't like our lives."
"Fair enough," Chuck told her.
"So, uh, new series?" Amara asked.
Ness slid a glass toward Chuck.
Chuck took the glass. "'Revolution'." He swiped his hand in a dramatic flourish. "But, I don't think its going anywhere."
"'Revolution'?" Amara asked.
"Yeah," Chuck answered.
"'Supernatural'?" Amara asked. Chuck nodded. "Maybe titles aren't your thing."
"You're not wrong," Chuck told her.
Ness took a drink. "Why did you put on the Chuck suit in the first place? How did that make any sense to you?"
"I like front row seats," Chuck answered. "You know, I figured I'd hide out in plain sight. You know, plus, you know, acting is fun."
Ness shrugged in agreement, walking out from behind the bar. "Well, it's an Oscar-worthy performance. But... how did nobody know? I mean, wh--what about that amulet thingy? Catty's amulet that she wears on Mary's bracelet that burned brightly in the presence of you. Catty has it. Ava had it for a little while. They were around you. How did it never--"
"I turned it off," Chuck answered.
"This all is really interesting, trust me," Ness told him. "I never thought that any of this would happen."
"Can I ask you something?" Amara asked.
"Sure," Chuck answered.
"Why did you save us?" Amara asked. "Me, Mom, Aiden. Why did you bring us here?"
Chuck didn't answer, walking past Amara and Aiden toward the stage behind them. "You know what Humanity's greatest creation has been? Music. That, and nacho cheese. Even I couldn't have dreamt up that deliciousness. But music... is magic. A lot of remarkable music was created in this space. B.G's Canteen. Now, it's not as well known as The Bitter End or The Gaslight, but some amazing musicians got their start on this stage." He turned to face them. "I'm hoping that we can tap into some of that old magic and finish what I started a few months ago."
Chuck pointed at a table.
Ness turned around, noticing a manuscript called 'God. An Autobiography'. She picked it up, looking at Chuck in surprise. "You wrote your autobiography."
Chuck shrugged. "Ish. I mean, there are chapters. It's kind of a loose structure. Uh, but, I don't know. Something's missing. I'm--I'm stuck."
"I'm not that good at writing," Ness told him.
"You don't have to be," Chuck told her. "Every writer needs a good editor." He looked at Amara. "And it doesn't hurt to have two extra pairs of eyes."
Ness didn't know what to say, looking at Amara.
Amara shrugged.
Ness sighed. "Okay. Let's do this."
(Song Ends)
§
Flashback - 24 Hours Ago
Hope Springs, Idaho
Day - Sheriff's Station
Sam, Dean and Catty were posing as FBI for the Sheriff and his main Deputy.
"Appreciate the FBI taking an interest in this case," Sheriff told them. "We don't really see things like this around here."
"Hey, you mind if I knock off, Sheriff?" the Deputy asked.
"Let me guess," Sheriff told her. "Art's back?" The Deputy nodded. Sheriff looked at Sam, Dean and Catty. "Newlyweds." Sam and Dean looked at Catty. Catty chuckled. Sheriff looked at the Deputy. "You can go home after you show Agent Walsh the ME files."
"Thank you, sir," the Deputy told him.
"Thanks," Sam told them.
The Deputy and Sam walked off to get the files.
Dean looked at Sheriff. "What do you have on Wes Cooper?"
"I talked to his friends, family," Sheriff told them. "Nobody can make heads or tails on why he did this. We have a witness who overheard Wes before he took his own life. He was saying things that sounded out of character."
"Yeah?" Catty asked. "How so?"
"Wes said that his life was meaningless, nobody loved him," Sheriff answered. "It was like every negative thought he had ever had came spilling out. The thing is..."
The Deputy and Sam walked closer.
"I knew Wes' wife," the Deputy told them. "We sang in choir together. She loved Wes till the day she died. I don't know why he'd say anything like that. And then there's this."
The Deputy showed them the files.
Sam noticed that Wes' veins were black in the autopsy photos. "Hold on a second. I've actually seen something like that before." He picked up one of the photos of Wes' arm. "Tell me, have you noticed any strange phenomena around town? Uh, sulfur smells or power outages? Maybe an unexplained fog?"
"No, sir," the Deputy answered. "It's always sunny in Hope Springs. At least, it used to be."
Sam, Dean and Catty exchanged a look.
§
Now
Day - God's Bar
Aiden was standing, holding onto the tables to walk along, wobbly.
Amara was kneeling next to Aiden, letting him walk on his own, but making sure that he didn't lose his balance. "It's okay, Aiden. I got you."
Aiden looked at Amara, smiling. "Mar."
Amara smiled. "Yeah, Mar. Can you say Amara yet?"
Aiden continued to try to say Amara, but kept coming up with: "Mar."
Amara smiled. "It's okay, Aiden." Ness was sitting at the booth next to them, smiling at their bonding, reading the manuscript, editing it with a red marker. Chuck was sitting on the other side of the booth behind her, standing, turning to look over the back of the booth to watch her work, a little impatient. Amara looked up. "Are you in a hurry or something?"
Chuck nodded. "I'm on a bit of a deadline." He walked around the booth, sitting across from Ness. "Just give me some broad strokes, first impressions. Come on, hit me."
Ness sighed. "It's good. Real good."
Chuck tilted his head. "Oh, man. You hate it."
"What?" Ness asked. "No."
"Last time I saw that look on an editor's face, I just handed in 'Bugs'," Chuck told her. "All right, come on. Safe place."
Ness put the manuscript down. "It's just... lacking in some details. Like, all of them."
Chuck took the half of the manuscript that Ness edited. "'In the beginning, there was me.'" He put the manuscript down. "Boom, detail. And what a grabber. I mean, I'm hooked, and I was there."
Ness nodded. "I'm hooked, too, and yet... details. You weren't alone in the beginning. Your sister was with you."
Chuck leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. "Who cares about her?"
"Um... us," Amara answered hesitantly. "For starters. I assume you're aware that she's... out and about. Tanned, rested and ready. I mean, that's why you're back, right?"
Chuck looked secretive and worried, looking down.
Amara and Ness exchanged a look, sighing, knowing not to push.
§
12 Hours Ago
Night - Harris House - Outside
The Deputy's car pulled over outside, getting out.
A man was waiting outside.
"Hey, Art," the Deputy told him.
"I thought you were coming home early," Art told her.
"I'm sorry" the Deputy told him. "Paperwork."
Art looked behind the Deputy. "That follow you in from town?"
The Deputy turned to look behind her, noticing a dense, white fog rolling its way toward them. "Honey, you want to head inside while I call this in?"
"It's just fog," Art told her in confusion.
"Hey, you know I'm the law, right?" the Deputy asked.
Art smiled. "See you inside, Deputy. Don't forget your cuffs."
The Deputy smiled.
Art walked into the house.
The Deputy turned on the radio on her uniform. "Hey, Dispatch, this is 3-William-56. You got your ears on?"
Dispatch: (on radio) "Aren't you done for today, Deputy?"
"I am," the Deputy told her. "Listen, I know this might sound odd, but there is a heavy fog headed my way. We expecting any weather like that?"
Dispatch: (on radio) "No. It's supposed to be clear skies all night."
The Deputy turned to see the fog had reached her. She took a breath of the fog involuntarily, starting to cough and gasp for air. She fell to her knees, continuing to gasp for air. The veins on her arm turned black, spreading quickly. She looked up, appearing to be under a trance.
§
Now
Day - God's Bar
Chuck was playing pool by himself.
Aiden was sitting on the floor, holding two drumsticks, tapping them against the floor.
Amara was pacing, drinking soda.
Ness finished editing the manuscript, walking over to the counter with her glass, filling it with another drink.
Chuck walked closer. "That bad?"
Ness shook her head, taking a drink. "I'll tell you. There's some great bones there. I'm thinking what's missing... maybe less about details and more about balance."
"How do you mean?" Chuck asked.
"You're giving the wrong stuff too much real estate," Ness told him. "Like that chapter about being Chuck."
"Mm-hmm," Chuck told her. "And what about it?"
"Once you've explained the Vonnegut performance art... that should be it," Ness told him. "No one cares about the rest."
Chuck walked across the room. "I did some great stuff as Chuck. I mean, I--I told you about my blog."
Amara nodded. "Oh, right, yeah."
"Right," Chuck told them.
"Your, uh, your cat-pic blog," Amara told him.
"Right," Chuck agreed. "They're super cute."
Amara nodded in agreement. "Yeah."
"So, there's that," Chuck told them. "And, uh, I traveled a lot, you know?"
"Right," Amara told him.
"And, uh, I dated," Chuck told them. "Yeah, I had some girlfriends."
Amara nodded. "Mm."
"Had a few boyfriends," Chuck told them.
Amara chuckled in surprise. "Oh."
Chuck walked onto the stage. "Oh, and I learned how to play guitar."
Chuck picked up a guitar, strumming a few notes.
"Hmm," Ness told him. "Yeah. That, you know, makes you seem like a really grounded, likable person."
Chuck stopped playing guitar. "Yeah, what's wrong with that?"
"You neither grounded nor a person," Ness answered.
"So, you're saying I'm likable," Chuck told her.
"Yes, you are, but that's not what I'm saying," Ness told him. "I am saying the chapter 'Chuckles' is devouring pounds of pages at the expense of... juicier stuff. Stuff that people might actually want to read."
"Like what?" Chuck asked.
"Well, like, uh..." Ness trailed off, turning around, picking up the manuscript. "Like the Archangels. I mean, you have got, maybe two paragraphs on them in here." Chuck started to strum more notes on the guitar. "And that's it. Don't you think they deserve a few extra words? I mean, Gabriel and Raphael are dead. And Michael's locked in the Cage in Hell. And Lucifer was, until Ava invited him into her vessel because he was going to kill Catty, Sam and Dean, so Amara, Aiden, Cas, Sabrina and I didn't lose them."
"And Aunt Ava knew Sabrina couldn't defeat the Darkness on her own, inviting Lucifer in to save Uncle Sam and Aunt Catty and my dad, and to help Sow, without knowing that Aunt Ava was pregnant with two twin Nephilims beforehand," Amara added. "Everything Aunt Ava did, it was for Uncle Sam, Aunt Catty, my dad, my mom, Aiden, Sabrina, Uncle Cas and me, to save us, to protect us, and to try to save the world. And rumor has it, Lucifer was your favorite."
Chuck stopped playing the guitar. "He wasn't my favorite."
"Your sister possessed me, Chuck," Amara told him. "I remember everything that she does." Chuck sighed. "Lucifer helped you defeat the Darkness. You trusted him with the Mark of Cain. And when you asked him to bow to mankind--"
"He refused," Chuck finished.
Amara nodded. "He rebelled. And in doing so, kinda wrecked Christmas."
"Okay, all that's in there," Chuck told them. "Except the--the bit about Christmas."
"If you say that the Darkness is off limits, fine," Ness told him. "But you know every great hero is defined by his or her villain."
Chuck looked down sadly. "Lucifer was not a villain. He--he--he's... h--he wasn't a villain."
Ness looked at the manuscript. "Okay. Real talk. Th--this is still a safe place, right?"
"Safest place ever created," Chuck answered.
"Okay," Ness told him. "There are two types of memoir. One is honest... the other, not so much. Truth and fairy tale. Now, do you want to write 'Life' by Keith Richards? Or do you want to write 'Wouldn't it Be Nice' by Brian Wilson?"
"I want to tell the truth," Chuck answered.
"Then you've got some work to do," Ness told him. "There are no revelations in this book. And that's weird, given who you are. There's no new information, no soul-bearing."
"That's because I don't have a soul," Chuck told them.
"Right," Ness agreed. "But you invented them. You invented souls. Souls. Try shining a light on that. How did that make you feel?"
Chuck thought for a moment. "Nauseous."
Ness closed her eyes in frustration, putting her hand to her head, sighing. "Oh."
"Is this G-O-D talking, or is this Chuck talking?" Amara asked. "And I get it. When you were on Earth, you had to go full method. But maybe it's time for you to get back into character."
"This is me," Chuck told them.
"Really?" Ness asked skeptically. "This?" She held up the manuscript, flipping the pages. "This pile of self-doubt and nebbishness flooded the Earth?" Chuck crossed his arms over his chest. "Followed by Sodum with a blockbuster Gomorrah? Created as much as He punished? That doesn't sound right. The guy that everyone's heard about, the stories that everyone's heard paint you as a total badass. Now, that guy... had some stories to tell. And He has a lot to answer for."
Chuck sighed, contemplating. "Okay, so..." He cleared his throat. "What do I do?"
"Hold up a mirror and show us who you are," Ness answered. "Warts and all. Write for an audience of one. You."
"Dance like no one else is watching?" Chuck asked.
"Yeah," Ness answered. "I'm gonna help you either way. But you've got to pick a lane." She handed him the manuscript. "Richards or Wilson, Chuck?"
Amara looked at Chuck expectantly.
Aiden looked up.
Chuck walked past them, thinking about what to do, looking at his manuscript, sighing, throwing the pages into the air. "Richards. All the way."
The pages rained down around Amara, Aiden and Ness to the floor.
Aiden looked at the falling pages all around him, smiling, laughing.
§
Flashback - 6 Hours Ago
Day - Harris House - Outside
A black van from the coroner's office in Howard County was parked outside.
Two men were rolling a stretcher with a dead body covered by a black trap into the van.
Sheriff was seen by his police car, watching the forensic team take the body into the van, looking worried.
The Impala pulled up to the house, parking.
Sam, Dean and Catty got out of the Impala, posing as FBI, walking toward Sheriff.
"Agent Walsh, Ehart, Greer," Sheriff told them. "Sorry I woke you guys."
"No, no, it's all right," Catty told him. "Just, uh, why don't you tell us what happened here?"
"Harris didn't show up for work this morning," Sheriff told them. "We called, tried her CB, nothing. So, I swung by here. I found Art on the kitchen floor, Harris' shotgun right next to him. She... it looks like Deputy Harris shot her husband point-blank in the face. Then left the scene."
"Did you notice anything off about Deputy Harris' behavior the last couple days?" Sam asked.
"No," Sheriff answered. "Nothing at all."
"When was the last time anyone heard from her?" Catty asked.
"Called in for the last time yesterday," Sheriff answered. "Said something about... seeing some fog rolling in. I don't know why she cared about the damn weather."
"Would you get into contact with your Dispatch officer?" Dean asked. "Tell her to let us know if she gets any more reports like that again."
"You serious?" Sheriff asked.
"Yeah, just to be safe," Dean answered.
"And do you have any idea where Harris might be now?" Catty asked.
Sheriff shook his head. "No. But we can track her vehicle from our office."
§
Now
Day - God's Bar
(Song:) Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
Chuck was writing on a computer, pouring his thoughts into every page.
A printer was nearby, printing fresh, new pages.
Ness turned off the printer, reading, chuckling in surprise. "Oh, this? This is what I was talking about."
Amara took the pages from Ness to read the chapter names. "Chapter 10. Why I Never Answer Prayers, and You Should Be Glad I Don't. And Chapter 11. The Truth About Divine Intervention and Why I Avoid It At All Costs."
"Better, right?" Chuck asked.
Amara nodded. "Yeah. Kind of angry with a side of bitter, but, hey, it's real."
Ness sighed. "Not to overstep my bounds, but since you're on a roll, there's one thing I've always wondered. Maybe it will make a good chapter, maybe even a whole book."
"Shoot," Chuck told her.
"Why?" Ness asked.
"Can you be more specific?" Chuck asked. "I kind of get that question a lot about pretty much everything."
"Why did you create life?" Ness asked.
Chuck hesitated for a moment. "I was lonely."
"Your sister wasn't company enough?" Amara asked.
(Song Ends)
"I am being," Chuck told them. "She's nothingness. It's not exactly the makings of a fun two-hander, you know?"
"Yeah," Ness answered. "But you didn't stop at one Archangel or a handful of Angels. You created worlds."
"I thought if I could show my sister that there was something more than just us, something better than us, then maybe she'd change," Chuck told them. "Maybe she'd stop being... her. But... every time I'd build a new world... she'd destroy it."
"So, you and your Archangels locked her away," Amara told him. "And you got down to unfettered creation."
Chuck leaned forward. "Tried to, anyway. But..."
§
Mountain Range
Ness, Amara, Aiden and Chuck were suddenly in a mountain range next to a foggy lake with mountains across from it. Ness was holding Aiden. Ness and Amara were surprised with the sudden change of scenery.
Chuck walked closer. "This was as close as I got to something as good as or better than me or my sister."
Ness turned to face him. "The National Park System?"
"Nature," Chuck answered. "I mean, look at what nature created on its own. What's more, nature's smart enough to know that sometimes, there's no fixing things. Sometimes, you just have to wipe the slate clean."
Amara sighed. "Wipe the slate clean. Sure. Natural selection. Good times."
"Of course, in your case, that means flood the Earth, but build and stock a boat," Ness told him. "Start over fresh on the B-side."
"If the Darkness wipes the slate, the slate's destroyed," Amara told him. "She was inside me. She possessed me. I know what she wants to do, but I have no idea if we can stop her alone. But she wants to destroy everything. All your great work... lost forever. And you can enjoy it all one last time, before it's all gone... or you can stop her from destroying it at all."
Chuck considered what they had said.
§
Flashback - 4 Hours Ago
Day - Street
Sam, Dean, Catty, Castiel and Sabrina were standing together in the street.
It was the phone call with Ness and Amara at the beginning.
"So, get inside, lock the doors, seal the Bunker shut," Sam told them.
"Most of all, be safe," Dean told them.
Ness' voice was on the other line. "You, too."
Dean hung up.
"I saw some fog rolling in by Jasper Hills," Sabrina told them.
"Where is it headed?" Sam asked.
"West," Sabrina answered. "Towards town."
"Okay, we need to get everyone inside, shut their windows and seal it up," Catty told them. "We need to get them the hell away from that fog."
"Sabrina can protect the townspeople the same way she protected Amara after she exorcised the Darkness from Amara's body," Castiel told them. "By creating shields of magic."
"Yeah, and I found Deputy Harris," Sabrina told them. "She's on Main Street, heading right this way."
Catty looked at Sam and Dean. "All right, we'll handle Harris. Sabrina, Cas, just get everyone inside and seal up their houses so that they can't get affect by the fog."
Sabrina and Castiel nodded in agreement.
§
Main Street
Harris was inside her police van.
Pedestrians were on the sidewalk, looking at the van.
Sam and Dean walked toward Harris' van.
Sabrina, Catty and Castiel stood a little further back.
Catty looked at them. "Hey, get them out of here."
Sabrina and Castiel walked toward the pedestrians.
"Hey, guys," Castiel told them. "We don't have time to explain, but we have to get you out of here."
Sabrina teleported Castiel and everyone else in the street away, taking them someplace safe.
Sam, Dean and Catty drew their guns.
Harris got out of the car with her gun. The black veins had spread throughout her body. "I tried to kill myself. But she won't let me. She has a message for you."
"The Darkness?" Dean asked. "Is she here?"
"No," Harris answered. "But her words have been echoing in my head ever since I took a breath of that fog."
"Did she tell you to kill your husband?" Catty asked.
Harris nodded. "And I watched myself do it."
"Okay, listen to me," Sam told her. "This is an infection. Put the gun down, let us help you."
"It's not an infection," Harris told them. "She says, it's a mirror. She's showing us all the truth."
"Darkness," Dean told her.
"The Light was just a lie," Harris told them, raising her gun, aiming it at Catty. Sabrina and Castiel appeared behind Harris. Castiel used magic to make Harris drop the gun. Sabrina held her hand toward her, her hand emanating with bright white light. The black veins were starting to burn away. Harris was groaning, writhing in pain. "It will all be over soon. He's not gonna save them. It's all going away... forever." The black veins burned away completely. Sabrina let the light fade. Harris breathed heavily in pain and relief, stunned and horrified. "Why did I say that? What did I do?"
"It's okay," Sabrina told her. "We're gonna get you out of here."
Castiel looked at Sam, Dean and Catty.
Sam, Dean and Catty nodded.
Castiel looked at his daughter, nodding. "Sabrina."
Sabrina grabbed Harris and Castiel, teleporting them away to someplace safe.
Sam looked down the street, noticing something. "Dean. Catty!"
Sam pointed down the street.
Dean and Catty turned around.
A fog was rolling up from the street toward them.
Sam, Dean and Catty looked at the fog in horror.
§
Mountain Range
Chuck, Amara and Ness were walking along the lake.
Ness was holding Aiden.
Aiden looked around in awe.
"Nature?" Chuck asked. "Divine. Human nature? Toxic."
Amara shrugged. "They do like blowing stuff up."
"Yeah," Chuck agreed. "And the worst part? They do it in my name. And then they come crying to me, asking me to forgive, to fix things. Never taking any responsibility."
"What about your responsibility?" Ness asked.
"I took responsibility, by leaving," Chuck told them. "At a certain point, training wheels got to come off. No one likes a helicopter parent."
"What about the Darkness?" Amara asked. "She's your sister."
"I took responsibility for her, too," Chuck told them. "Locked her away. Barely, I might add. And who let her out?"
"We did," Ness answered. "And I'm sorry. I really, really am. We didn't even know about the Darkness until Rowena was in the middle of doing the spell to take the Mark off of me. And I would have gladly gave up on trying to cure myself of the Mark if it was just my life on the line. But it wasn't."
"I know, Ness," Chuck told her. "Aiden and Amara's lives were on the line, as well."
"And they paid for letting the Darkness out," Amara told him. "They did. The Darkness took possession of me before I was even born. But we're trying to fix this."
"Sabrina rescued you, Amara," Chuck told her. "She came close to killing my sister when she exorcised her from you, took a very big toll out of my sister, left her out of commission for months where she couldn't harm anyone, until Rowena healed her. Truth be told, the Darkness would still be injured if it wasn't for the Witch healing her. In all my time, I never saw anyone else capable of doing that to my sister. Not the Archangels. But Sabrina did. The only one strong enough besides me to stand up to her. But even Sabrina and I wouldn't be able to do it alone."
§
God's Bar
Chuck took Ness, Amara and Aiden back to the bar, walking toward them. "I think we're finally getting somewhere."
"You started writing the second she came back, didn't you?" Ness asked. Chuck put his hands in his pockets. "No wonder you're on a deadline. Now I understand why you're masquerading in that sad, little meat suit. For the same reason you created this nostalgic bar to write your masterpiece in. You're hiding."
"Okay," Chuck told them. "First of all, this gift?" He pointed at his face. "Is super cute. Secondly, I'm not hiding. I just like the ambiance in here."
Ness put Aiden down.
Amara pointed at Chuck. "You said... the safest place ever created. Created by you... to keep you safe from the Darkness. She can't touch you in here, can she?"
"You're upset," Chuck told them. "I--I understand. And it's good to let it out." He started to walk away. "But, uh, let's focus on, uh, finishing my book."
Chuck clapped his hands.
"No, there's a reason that you saved me, Mom and Aiden," Amara told him. "There's gotta be. And it's not just for Mom to edit your autobiography. You could have chosen anyone for that job, and you chose Ness Singer-Winchester, the mother of your sister's previous vessel Amara."
"You know the things that I can say to get through to people," Ness told him. "Even Sabrina, Amara, Sam, Dean and Catty Winchester. Even the Angels Cas and Ava, Levi. Even Cain and Crowley, the Knight and King of Hell. You were hoping that I could get through to you." Chuck looked at them. "You don't need me for that, Chuck. All you gotta do is know that the Darkness has Lucifer, Ava, and Sam and Ava's two little twin magical babies in her possession. And maybe watch the news."
Amara grabbed the remote, turning it onto a news station. "You want to watch? Be my guest."
The three TVs showed the events that the Darkness was causing.
News Reporter: (on TV) "Reports are that there wasn't a cloud in the sky, but as we know, a dense fog did roll in. And many citizens also are feeling some sort of impact from this fog. Which leads us to believe that there is some sort of..."
Amara looked at Chuck. "If you ask me, they're all reruns."
News Reporter: (on TV) "Have been overwhelmed as the National Guard has been brought in."
Chuck looked worried.
§
Hope Springs Sheriff's Station
Sabrina and Castiel took everyone to the police station, having them inside.
Sheriff walked toward them, looking at Castiel. "Where are the other Agents?"
"Out there helping more people," Castiel answered. "Where else is there to take people so they can be safe from the fog?"
"I--I'm not even sure that this place is safe enough," Sheriff told them. "There's windows and creaks and doors everywhere."
Sabrina sighed. "So, I gotta do this by magic. Okay. That's fine. No one leaves."
"All right," Sheriff told them, walking away toward the others.
Sabrina and Castiel exchanged a look.
§
Outside
Sabrina and Castiel appeared outside.
Sabrina tilted her head back, closing her eyes, raising her arms on either side of her toward the buildings on both sides of the street, focusing on using her power to create glowing cocoons of magic that surrounded each building.
The glowing power was leaking out of Sabrina, creating the cocoons around each building so that no fog could pass the shields to get inside, so that no one could get hurt or infected.
§
Main Street
Sam, Dean and Catty turned away from the fog in front of them, running down the street away from the fog.
The ground was starting to shake, making it hard for them to keep their balance. It started to shake more prominently.
Dean and Catty caught themselves against cars parked at the side of the street.
Sam wasn't nearby a car, falling to the ground.
The fog rolled up behind Sam.
Dean and Catty looked toward him desperately, worriedly.
"Sam!" Dean told him.
"Sammy!" Catty told him.
Dean and Catty ran toward Sam.
Sam held his hands toward them to keep them back. "No, no! Get back! Don't!"
Dean and Catty didn't listen, pulling Sam away from the fog before he could inhale any of it. They turned to run down the street in the opposite direction, only to be stopped by fog behind them.
The fog surrounded them.
§
Sam, Dean and Catty looked around as the fog closed in around them.
Sabrina and Castiel appeared in front of them, using a magical wind to push the fog back away from them, keeping it at bay.
"Sabrina?" Catty asked worriedly. "Cas?"
"Stay back," Castiel told them.
Sam, Dean and Catty backed away, trying to stay away from the fog.
Sabrina held her hand toward Sam, Dean and Catty, using a cocoon of magic to surround the three of them completely to protect them from the fog.
§
God's Bar
Chuck was typing on his computer.
Ness and Amara were sitting at another table.
Amara had Aiden in her lap, holding him close, tilting her head against his. "Hey, Aiden."
"You know, you really are a terrific editor, Ness," Chuck told her. "You could be a great writer and not even know it. You really do sell yourself too short."
Ness chuckled. "Thanks. I think." She hesitated for a moment. "You want to sell the best-selling autobiography of all time? You explain why you abandoned us. Were you disappointed in us?"
"No," Chuck answered. "Humanity is my greatest creation because they're better than I am. You're all better. Yeah, sure, you're weak and you cheat and steal and... destroy and disappoint. But you also give and create and sing and dance and love. And above all, you never give up." He looked devastated. "But I did. I guess I couldn't live with what happened with me and my sister. And now because of the aftermath of what I did, you're all suffering."
Chuck put his glasses on, clearing his throat, starting to type with determination in his eyes.
Ness and Amara looked at Chuck curiously, stunned by his response.
§
Main Street
Sam, Dean and Catty were still surrounded by the cocoon of magic that acted as a shield to protect them from the fog.
Cocoons of magic still surrounded the buildings all around.
Castiel stood in front of Sam, Dean and Catty protectively. "We're gonna make it. Do you hear me? We're gonna make it out of this. We're gonna save all of the people in this town, and everyone else that is in danger because of this."
Catty nodded. "We're gonna win."
Sabrina closed her eyes, raising her arms at shoulder level, looking into the sky, shouting so the Darkness would be able to hear her. "Stop this! You hear me, you bitch?"
The ground started to shake as if in response.
Sam, Dean and Catty had trouble standing.
Castiel held his hands to the cocoon of magic surrounding them to help them stand so they wouldn't fall out of the shield.
Sabrina closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, focusing intently as the fog swirled around them and the ground continued to shake.
§
God's Bar
Chuck took out the last page from the printer. He placed it on his new manuscript, smiling at his accomplishment, patting himself on the chest.
Amara was holding Aiden.
Ness was drinking whiskey.
Chuck cleared his throat, standing, stretching. "Oh. Yeah. Ah." He looked at Ness and Amara. "You know, I lied before." He walked toward the stage. "I didn't really learn to play guitar." He took off his coat, letting it fall to the ground. "I just kind of... gave myself the ability. I did the same when I 'learned' French. Man..." He clapped his hands. "This whole honesty thing... it's really freeing." He picked up his guitar, sitting down on the stool on the stage. "Come on. Take a look at the new pages. You know you want to." He strummed a few notes, speaking through the microphone, high pitched. "I think you're really gonna like them." There was feedback from the mic. Amara winced at the sound. Aiden fussed once in complaint at the painful noise. Chuck cleared his throat, fixing the mic. "You're right. It's--it's a little high." He started to play 'Far Thee Well (Dink's Song) by Rob Benedict, starting to sing. "If I had wings like Noah's dove / I'd fly up the river to the one I love." Ness stood, walking toward Chuck's workspace, looking at the manuscript. "Fare thee well / Oh, honey, fare thee well."
§
Main Street
The cocoons of magic still surrounded all of the buildings protectively.
Sam, Dean and Catty were still surrounded by the cocoon of magic that acted as a shield against the fog.
The ground was shaking.
Castiel was holding his hands against the cocoon of magic around Sam, Dean and Catty so they wouldn't fall out of the shield and into the fog.
Sabrina had her head tilted back, her arms raised. She started to emanate with bright white light that shone through the fog that surrounded the town.
Chuck: (voice over) "Member one night, in the drizzling rain."
Wind was blowing everywhere, whipping their hair around.
Chuck: (voice over) "And around my heart, I felt an aching pain."
The cocoons of magic around the buildings stayed strong.
Chuck: (voice over) "Fare thee well."
The cocoon of magic stayed strong around Sam, Dean and Catty.
Chuck: (voice over) "Oh, honey, fare thee well."
§
God's Bar
Amara and Aiden were sitting at their table, listening to Chuck's singing intently.
Ness sat at the table where Chuck had been working, going through the manuscript, looking at Chuck, surprised and touched.
Chuck continued to play the song. "One of these days, and it won't be long / You'll call my name, and I'll be gone."
§
Main Street
The cocoons of magic still surrounded all of the buildings protectively.
Sam, Dean and Catty were still surrounded by the cocoon of magic that acted as a shield against the fog.
The ground was shaking.
Castiel was holding his hands against the cocoon of magic around Sam, Dean and Catty so they wouldn't fall out of the shield and into the fog.
Sabrina had her head tilted back, her arms raised. She was emanating with bright white light that shone through the fog that surrounded the town.
The fog started to disperse, though it was thick, heavy, and very, very strong.
Sabrina was able to make the fog fade out of existence completely.
Chuck: (voice over) "Fare thee well."
The fog was completely gone now.
The ground stopped shaking.
Sabrina let the light fade and the wind disperse. She turned to face Sam, Dean, Catty and Castiel, drawing the magic from the cocoon into herself to free them. She walked down the road, stopping in the middle of all of the buildings that were still surrounded with the cocoons of magic. She looked around at all of the brightly glowing lights, raising her arms on either side of her, drawing the magic back into herself to free the people inside.
Chuck: (voice over) "Oh, honey, fare thee well."
Sam, Dean, Catty and Castiel walked toward Sabrina.
Sabrina turned to face them, smiling.
"That was awesome," Dean told her.
Sam nodded. "That was amazing, Sabrina." Sabrina smiled, embracing Catty and Castiel in relief. Catty and Castiel returned the embrace happily, contently and proudly. "It's okay. It's all right. It's over."
Castiel looked at Catty's wrist. "Catty."
Catty held her wrist in front of her, showing them Mary's old bracelet that she had found in John's old lockup when she and Sabrina and been on the run for two years. Her amulet pendant was on the bracelet as another charm. Catty's Amulet was glowing with bright white light.
Everyone walked out of the places that Sabrina had sent them to to protect them, crowding through the street.
Sabrina looked as if she could feel a flood of power, closing her eyes at the feeling, turning around, walking away through the crowd of people, down the street.
Castiel followed Sabrina.
Sam, Dean and Catty looked at each other curiously, following Sabrina and Castiel.
A man was helping a teenage girl off the ground. "You okay?"
The teenage girl nodded. "Thanks." She ran over to her mother. "Mom!"
The teenage girl and her mother embraced in relief.
Ness and Amara were standing nearby, holding Aiden.
The man turned to face them, revealing it was Chuck. He looked behind Ness, Amara and Aiden.
Ness, Amara and Aiden turned to see Sam, Dean, Catty, Castiel and Sabrina walking closer.
Sabrina and Castiel looked at Chuck in shock and awe, looking as if they could see something that they couldn't.
Sam, Dean and Catty realized Chuck was God, looking at him in shock.
Ness and Amara smiled, walking closer in relief.
Dean wrapped his arms around Ness and Amara, holding them and Aiden close.
They looked at Chuck.
Chuck walked closer. "We should probably talk."
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro