Outfits in the external link

Previously on Worlds Colliding (Supernatural):

November 2, 1988

Clips from 1.01 "Pilot"

The Winchester House.

17 years ago

Young Sam walked into Baby Catty's nursery to see a man's silhouette standing over Baby Catty's crib. "Daddy?"

Mary ran toward the nursery, stopping short.

John gave Baby Catty to Young Sam. "Take your sister outside as fast as you can! Now, Sammy, go!"

Young Sam and Young Dean ran out of the house with Baby Catty.

John looked at the ceiling.

Their mother mysteriously died

John watched the nursery burn, Mary with it. "Mary! No!"

Now they are...

From 1.07 "Hook Man", in Lori and Taylor's dorm room, Dean, Catty and Sam were looking at the message on the wall.

From 1.01 "Pilot", in Sam's Apartment, Catty spoke to Sam and Jessica. "Dad's on a hunting trip."

Outside Constance's House, Catty stood outside the Impala with a shotgun, firing at Constance Welch.

In Sam's Apartment's bedroom, Sam pulled out a hook-shaped knife.

In Sam's Apartment, Catty spoke to Sam and Jessica. "And he hasn't been home in a few days."

Are on a quest for answers

In the Jericho County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff tossed down John's Journal.

From 1.02 "Wendigo", in the woods, Dean knelt in front of Sam and Catty, holding John's Journal. "This is Dad's book. I think he wants us to pick up where we left off."

From 1.07 "Hook Man", in the church, Sam slammed the basement door closed. The hook broke through the wooden door.

Sam took Lori's hand, running down the aisle of pews.

Dean: (voice over from 1.02 Wendigo) "Saving people."

Hook Man opened the basement door.

Catty shot Hook Man in the chest, making him disappear.

Dean: (voice over from 1.02 Wendigo) "Hunting things."

From 1.01 "Pilot" on the road, The Impala drove right through Constance Welch as Sam brought it to a halt.

From 1.06 "Skin", in the sewers, Dean, Sam and Catty were looking for the Shapeshifter.

From 1.01 "Pilot", in the stairwell outside Sam's Apartment, Sam spoke to Catty and Dean. "You think Mom would have wanted this for us?"

From 1.01 "Pilot", in Sam's Apartment's parking lot, Catty spoke to Sam. "We can't do this alone."

From 1.07 "Hook Man", outside the church, Dean and Catty stood at the Impala.

Catty looked at Dean. "Since it took you so long to save our lives last night, I wanna drive."

Dean rolled his eyes, smirking.

From 1.07 "Hook Man", The Impala drove away up a slightly inclined street, reaching the top of the hill, starting to go down, leaving the field of sight.

§

One Year Ago

Night - Burkitsville, Indiana - Street

A married couple were leaving a cafe, which was next to a gas station.

An older couple and a teenage blonde girl walked them to their car.

"And before you leave, one of our apple pies," the older woman told them, handing a box to the younger woman. "On the house."

"Oh, my God," the younger woman told them. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," the older woman told them.

The younger woman looked at the younger man. "Hey, we should get lost more often. I mean, everyone in this town is so nice."

"Yeah," the younger man agreed. "What's the catch?"

The older man filled the couples' car with gas. "You're all set."

"Thanks," the younger man told them.

They shook hands.

The blonde teenage girl noticed an intricate tattoo on the younger man's arm. "That's a cool tattoo."

"Thanks," the younger man told her.

"So, let's get you back to the interstate," the older man told them.

"Yeah, please," the younger man told them.

"Take Laskey straight out of town," the older man told them.

"And then you're gonna turn right on Orchard Road," the older woman told them.

"Okay," the younger man told them. "Thank you."

The younger couple waved goodbye, getting into their car, driving away.

§

On the Road - Couples' Car

The car broke down.

"What happened?" the woman asked.

"I don't know," the man told her. "Car just died." He took out his cell phone from his pocket. "Cell phone, too."

"How is that possible?" the woman asked.

They got out of the car.

§

Outside

The couple looked around the street, seeing a town orchard by the side of the road.

"Come on," the man told her. "Looks like a house over there."

The man started to walk away.

"No," the woman told him. "I'm not going down there."

"Holly, we need help," the man told her. "We can't just wait here."

Holly hesitated. "Okay."

They walked into the orchard.

§

Orchard

Holly and her husband walked along, stopping by a scarecrow raised on wooden post, exchanging a look, walking closer to it.

"Check it out," the man told her. "If I only had a brain..."

"We wouldn't be lost," Holly told him.

"Thanks," the man told her sarcastically. "That has got to be the freakiest damn scarecrow I've ever seen."

"It scares me," Holly told him. They started to walk away. Holly saw the scarecrow's head move, gasping. "Please, let's just hurry, okay?"

They started to walk away.

After a moment, they heard a rustling in the trees, turning around.

There was no one there.

"Did you hear that?" the man asked. Holly nodded. "Hello? Who's there?"

No one answered.

They started to run through the orchard.

Holly turned toward the man to see that he was gone, stopping. "Vince? Vince!"

Holly started to run in the opposite direction to try and find Vince. She tripped, falling to the ground. She turned her head to see Vince's mutilated body on the ground. She screamed, seeing the scarecrow towering over her. She continued to scream.

The scarecrow's post was now empty.

§ Worlds Colliding (Supernatural) §

Now

Day One

Morning - Motel Room - Boys' Side of the Room

Sam and Dean were asleep in their side of the joined room.

The double doors to the other side of the room were closed.

§

Catty's Side of the Room

Catty was sleeping in her side of the joined room.

Her phone was on the nightstand next to the window leading to the fire escape. It began to ring.

Catty stirred awake tiredly, still half asleep, reaching over to pick up her phone, looking at the Caller ID.

Unknown

Catty answered tiredly. "Hello?"

John was on the other end of the line, standing in a payphone. "Catty?"

Catty sat up instantly, alert, confused and surprised. "Dad? Are you hurt?"

John closed his eyes in slight guilt. "I'm fine."

Catty stood, opening the double doors.

§

Boys' Side of the Room

Catty walked into Sam and Dean's side of the room, turning on the light to wake them. "We've been looking for you everywhere. We didn't know where you were, if you were okay." 

"Catty, I'm all right," John told her. "What about you, Sam and Dean?"

"Well, we're fine," Catty answered.

"What's going on?" Sam asked.

Catty pointed at the phone. "Dad, where are you?"

Sam and Dean sat up in surprise, confused.

"Sorry, Cat, I can't tell you that," John told her.

"What?" Catty asked. "Why not?"

"Is that Dad?" Dean asked.

Catty nodded.

"Look, I know this is hard for you to understand," John told her. "You're just gonna have to trust me on this."

"You're going after it, aren't you?" Catty asked. "The thing that killed Mom and Jessica."

"Yeah," John answered. "It's a Demon, Catty."

"A Demon?" Catty repeated. "You know for sure?"

"A Demon?" Sam repeated. "What's he saying?"

"I do," John answered.

Dean pulled on a shirt.

"You know where it is?" Catty asked.

John nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm finally closing in on it."

"Let us help," Catty told him.

"You can't," John told her. "You can't be any part of it."

"Why not?" Catty asked.

Dean held his hand toward Catty. "Give me the phone." 

Catty didn't respond. 

"Listen, Catty, that's why I'm calling," John told her. "You, Sam and Dean, you've got to stop looking for me. I need you to write down these names."

"Names?" Catty repeated. "What names, Dad? Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"Look, we don't have time for this," John told her. "This is bigger than you think. They're everywhere. Even us talking right now, it's not safe."

"No," Catty told him. "All right? No way. Dad, you can't go after this thing alone. You'll get yourself killed."

"I can take care of myself," John told her.

"Dad—" Catty started.

"Catalina," John told her.

Catty sighed at her full name.

Dean stood, walking toward Catty. "Give me the phone."

"I've given you an order," John told her. "Now, you stop following me, and you do your job. You understand me?" Catty looked conflicted. "Now take down these names."

Dean took the phone from me to talk to Dad. "Dad, it's me. Where are you? Yes, sir. Uh... yeah, I got a pen." He turned around, getting a pen and paper. "What are the names?" 

§

Night - On the Road

The Impala cruised down the road.

§

The Impala

Sam was driving.

Dean was in the passenger seat.

Catty was sitting in the backseat. "All right, so the names Dad gave us, they're all couples?"

Dean nodded. "Three different couples all went missing."

"And they're all from different towns, different states?" Catty asked. 

"Yeah," Dean answered. "Washington, New York, Colorado. Each couple took a road trip cross-country. None of them arrived at their destination. None of them were ever heard from again." 

"Well, it's a big country, Dean," Sam told him. "They could have disappeared anywhere." 

"Yeah, they could have, but each one's route took them through the same part of Indiana," Dean explained. "Always on the second week of April,  one year after another after another." 

"This is the second week of April," Sam told them.

"Yep," Dean agreed. 

"So Dad is sending us to Indiana to go hunting for something before another couple vanishes?" Catty asked.

"Yahtzee," Dean answered. "Can you imagine putting together a pattern like this? The different obits Dad had to go through. The man's a master." 

Sam pulled over to the side of the road.

"What are you doing?" Catty asked.

Sam parked the car. "We're not going to Indiana."

"We're not?" Catty asked.

"No," Sam answered. "We're going to California. Dad called from a pay phone. Sacramento area code."

"You went through my phone?" Catty asked.

"Of course I did, Cat," Sam answered. 

"Sam," Dean told him. 

"If this Demon killed Mom and Jessica and Dad's closing in, we got to be there," Sam told them. "We've got to help." 

"Dad doesn't want our help," Dean told them. 

"Well, I don't care," Sam told them.

"He's given us an order," Dean told them.

"I don't care," Sam told them. "We don't always have to do what he says." 

"Sam, Dad is asking us to work jobs, to save lives," Dean told him. Catty leaned her head back against the seat behind her in annoyance. "It's important." 

"All right, I understand," Sam told them. "Believe me, I understand. "But I'm talking one week here, to get answers. To get revenge." 

"All right, look, I know how you feel," Catty told him.

"Do you?" Sam asked. "Catty, how old were you when Mom died? Six months? I was four. Dean was eight. Jessica died six months ago. How the hell would either of you know how I feel?" 

"Dad said it wasn't safe for any of us," Dean told him. "I mean, he obviously knows something that we don't. So if he says to stay away, we stay away."

"I don't understand the blind faith you have in the man," Sam told him. "I mean, Dean, it's like you don't even question him. The only one that does but doesn't do anything about it is Catty." 

"I don't do anything about it because I don't want to get all of us killed," Catty told him. 

"It's called being good kids," Dean told them.

Catty gave him a look. "Dean."

§

Outside

Sam got out of the car, walking to the trunk, opening it to get his things.

Dean and Catty got out of the car, turning after him.

"You're a selfish bastard," Dean told him. "You know that? You just do whatever you want. You don't care what anybody thinks."

"Dean," Catty told him, trying to get him to stop.

"That's what you really think?" Sam asked.

"Yes, it is," Dean answered.

Sam scoffed. "Well, this selfish bastard is going to California." 

Sam turned around, walking back in the direction they had came. 

Catty turned after Sam. "Come on. You're not serious." 

"I am serious," Sam told them.

"It's the middle of the night," Catty told him. 

"Hey, I'm taking off," Dean told him. "I will leave your ass. Catty, if you want to go with Sam, I will leave yours, too." 

Sam turned to face them. "I want you to leave me, Dean." 

Catty looked between them in exasperation. "Are you guys kidding me?" 

"Nope," Dean answered. "Goodbye, Sam."

Dean closed the trunk, walking around to the driver's side. 

Catty sighed. "Sam—" 

"Just get in the car, Catty," Sam told her. "You know as well as I do that Dean is going on that hunt. He can't go alone. And Dad can't be alone right now either, because he's going to get himself killed. You said that yourself. You take care of Dean. I'll take care of our dad." Catty opened her mouth to argue. "Just go, Catty." 

Catty exhaled, nodding. "Be safe." 

"You, too," Sam told her. 

Catty sighed, walking toward the passenger seat, getting inside, closing the door.

The Impala drove away, leaving.

Sam watched them go, turning around in the opposite direction, walking away.

§

Burkitsville, Indiana

Day Two

Morning - Scotty's Cafe - Outside - The Impala

Dean pulled to a stop, looking at Catty."You're still gonna go with the silent treatment?" Catty didn't answer. "Catty, I know you've got a lot to say. If you keep it any longer, you're gonna explode. Out with it." 

"What the hell is wrong with you, Dean?" Catty asked. "You are the reason that Sam set out on his own, to go and find Dad, and he told me to go with you because you were too stubborn to listen to him, but so willing to listen to Dad? Sam and Dad could die, Dean, and you're not even doing anything about it. And I get that we save people, that this is what we do, and that there are people here that need saving, but you know who else need saving? Sam and Dad. They're so set out on revenge that they're gonna get themselves killed. Dean, do you even care?" 

Dean nodded absentmindedly, looking away. "There we go. I was beginning to worry about you."

Catty looked at Dean in exasperation, punching him in the stomach, making him groan in pain. "Is this a joke to you?" 

Dean recovered. "Dad gave us an order. I intend on following it." 

"Even if it means that Sam and Dad both die?" Catty asked.

Dean didn't answer.

Catty scoffed, shaking her head, getting out of the car, slamming the door closed behind her, walking around the car toward the cafe.

§

Outside

Dean got out of the car. "Cat, don't slam the doors to my car." 

"Dean, don't be an outrageous dumbass," Catty replied, approaching the man sitting outside of the cafe, pretending as if everything was okay, smiling. "Let me guess. Scotty." 

The man looked from the sign to Dean and Catty "Yep." 

"Hi," Catty told him. "My name is Debbie Harry." Dean approached them. Catty used her thumb to point at Dean. "He's my brother, Chris Stein."

Scotty looked between them. "Aren't those the lead singer and the guitarist from Blondie?"

"Wow," Dean told him. "Classic rock fan."

"Siblings, huh?" Scotty asked.

"I just got married," Catty told him. "No biggie."

Catty chuckled, smiling.

"What can I do for you two?" Scotty asked.

Dean pulled out two pictures of the couple, Holly and Vince, that had went missing from last year. "We were wondering if you've seen these people, by chance." 

Scotty shook his head. "Nope. Who are they?" 

"Friends of ours," Catty told him. "They went missing about a year ago. They passed through somewhere around here. We've already asked around Scottsburg and Salem." 

"Sorry," Scotty told them, handing Catty the flyers. "We don't get many strangers around here." 

Catty nodded, unconvinced. "See you around." 

Catty pushed the flyers into Dean's chest, walking past him, without a glance. 

§

Highway

Sam was standing on the side of the road, turning around to see a young girl with short blonde hair, sitting with her back to him, listening to music through her headphones.

(Song:) Puppet - Colepitz

"Hey," Sam told her.

The girl couldn't hear him.

Sam walked closer, putting his hand on her shoulder.

(Song Ends)

The girl jumped, taking off her headphones. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry," Sam told her. "I just thought you might need some help."

"I'm good, thanks," the girl told him, wrapping up her headphones around her iPod, putting it into her hoodie pocket.

"Uh, so, where are you headed?" Sam asked.

"No offense, but no way I'm telling you," the girl told him.

"Why not?" Sam asked.

The girl tilted her head. "You could be some kind of freak. I mean, you are hitchhiking."

Sam chuckled. "Well, so are you."

The girl chuckled.

A van pulled over next to them, honking. A man was inside. "Need a ride?"

Sam and the girl spoke together. "Yeah."

The van driver looked at Sam. "Just her. I ain't taking you."

The girl gathered her things, getting into the van.

Sam looked at the girl in amusement. "You trust shady van guy and not me?"

The girl smirked. "Definitely."

The van pulled away, leaving Sam alone at the side of the road.

§

Burkitsville, Indiana 

Jorgeson General Store

Dean and Catty were talking to the older couple from the beginning.

"You sure they didn't stop for gas or something?" Dean asked.

The older women shook her head.

The older man turned to face Dean and Catty. "Nope. Don't remember them. You say they were friends of yours?" 

"That's right," Catty told him, taking the flyers back. 

The blonde teenage girl walked closer with a stack of boxes in hand. "Did the guy have a tattoo?" 

"Yes, he did," Catty answered. 

The girl placed the boxes on the counter in front of the older woman, walking closer to Dean and Catty, taking the flyers. She looked at the picture of Vince, looking up at the older couple. "You remember? They were just married." 

The older man took a deep breath, looking at the pictures again. "You're right. They did stop for gas. Weren't here more than ten minutes." 

"Do you remember anything else?" Dean asked. 

"Well, I told them how to get back to the interstate," the older man explained. "They left town." 

"Could you point us in that same direction?" Catty asked.

"Sure," the older man answered. 

Catty smiled a small smile. 

§

On the Road - The Impala

Dean was driving.

Catty was in the passenger seat.

"Catty, you think there's something up with the uncle?" Dean asked.

"You saw his reaction, Dean," Catty told him. "Harley looked disappointed that Emily told us exactly what we wanted to know, and so did Stacey. Like they were trying to keep it a secret." 

"Well, secrets are meant to be revealed," Dean told them. "Care to tell me how much farther?" 

Catty looked at the map in her hand, looking at a mile marker on the road. "Not far. We're closing in." 

The EMF started to go off from the backseat, from Dean's bag. 

"What the hell?" Dean asked, pulling over to the side of the road, pulling the EMF out of his bag. 

Catty sighed, getting out of the car, closing the door behind her.

§

Orchard

Dean followed Catty into the orchard by the side of the road, looking around for any sign of anything.

Catty noticed the scarecrow perched up onto a stand. "Dude, you're fugly." 

Dean walked closer. "You're talking to the scarecrow, right?" 

"Why?" Catty asked. "Feeling a little insecure?" 

Catty looked at the scythe in the scarecrow's hand, grabbing a ladder from nearby, setting it in front of it.

"What are you doing?" Dean asked. 

"Checking something," Catty answered, climbing up the ladder, looking at the creepy face for a moment weirdly, pulling back the sleeve of the shirt to reveal a tattoo. She pulled out the flyers to compare the tattoo on Vince's arm to the tattoo on the scarecrow's arm.  It was exactly the same. Catty looked at the scarecrow. "Nice tat." 

§

Jurgenson General Store - Outside

The Impala pulled up outside. Catty and Dean got out of the car.

The blonde teenage girl, as Catty and Dean had called her earlier, Emily, was standing outside. "You're back."

"Never left," Catty told her.

"You still looking for your friends?" Emily asked.

Dean nodded. "You mind filling it up, there, Emily?" Emily nodded, filling the tank. "So, did you grow up here?" 

"I came here when I was 13," Emily explained. "I lost my parents. Car accident. My aunt and uncle took me in." 

"They're nice people," Catty told her. 

"Everybody's nice here," Emily told them. 

"So, what?" Dean asked. "It's the perfect little town?" 

"You know, it's the boonies, but I love it," Emily told them. "I mean, the towns around us, people are losing their homes, their farms. But here... it's almost like we're blessed."

"Hey, you been out to the orchard?" Catty asked. "Seen that scarecrow?" 

Emily sighed, nodding. "Yeah, it creeps me out." 

Catty chuckled. "You and me both, sister. Whose is it?" 

Emily shook her head. "I don't know. It's just always been there." 

"That your aunt and uncle's?" Dean asked, nodding to the red SUV behind her. 

"Customer," Emily answered. "They had some car troubles." 

"It's not a couple, is it?" Catty asked. "A guy and a girl?" 

Emily nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Catty and Dean exchanged a look, looking concerned.

§

Bus Station

(Song:) Lodi - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Sam was talking to the clerk.

"Sorry," the clerk told him. "The Sacramento bus doesn't run again till tomorrow." She checked the schedule. "Uh, 5:05 PM."

"Tomorrow?" Sam repeated. "There's got to be another way."

"Well, there is," the clerk told him. "Buy a car."

Sam turned away in annoyance, talking out his phone, about to pick Catty's number.

The blonde girl from the side of the road was sitting on the floor with her bags. "Hey."

Sam looked at the girl in confusion, turning off his phone. "Hey."

"You again," the girl told him.

"What happened to your ride?" Sam asked.

"You were right," the girl told him. "That guy was shady. He was all hands." Sam raised his eyebrows. "I cut him loose." Sam looked around, disappointed. "What's the matter?"

"Just trying to get to California," Sam answered.

"No way," the girl told him.

"Yeah," Sam answered.

"Me, too," the girl told him, standing, walking toward Sam. "You know, the next bus isn't until tomorrow."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Yeah, that's the problem."

"Why?" the girl asked. "What's in Cali that's so important?"

"Just something I've been looking for," Sam told her. "For a long time."

"Well, then, I'm sure it can wait one more day, right?" the girl asked. Sam chuckled. The girl offered her hand. "I'm Meg."

Sam shook her hand. "Sam."

§

Burkitsville, Indiana

Scotty's Cafe

Scotty was serving the couple whose car broke down, putting two plates of apple pie in front of them. "We're famous for our apples, so you got to try this pie." 

"Oh, no," the girl told him. "Please." 

"Nope, it's on the house," Scotty told her.

Dean and Catty walked in.

"Hiya, Scotty," Dean told him. "Can I get a coffee, black?" 

Scotty looked disappointed that they were here. "And what can I get for the sister?"

"I'll just take a soda, thanks," Catty answered. Scotty nodded, turning around, walking away. Dean and Catty sat at the table next to the couple. "Oh, and some of that pie, too, while you're at it." 

Dean looked at the couple. "How you doing? Just passing through?" 

"Road trip," the girl answered. 

Catty nodded. "Mm. Yeah, us, too."

Scotty approached the couple, refilling their drinks, looking at Dean and Catty. "I'm sure these people want to eat in peace." 

"Just a little friendly conversation," Dean told him. Scotty started to walk away. "Oh, and that coffee and soda, too. Thanks." Dean looked at the couple. "So, what brings you to town?" 

"We just stopped for gas, and the guy at the gas station saved our lives," the girl answered. 

"Is that right?" Catty asked. 

The guy nodded. "Yeah, one of our brake lines was leaking. We had no idea. He's fixing it for us." 

Catty smiled a forced smile. "Nice people." 

The guy nodded, looking at his food. "Yeah." 

"So, how long until you're up and running?" Catty asked. 

"Sundown," the guy answered. 

Dean raised his eyebrows. "Really?" He leaned closer to them in skeptic confusion. "To fix a brake line?"

"Mm-hmm," the guy answered. 

"I know a thing or two about cars," Dean told them. "I could probably have you up and running in about an hour and wouldn't charge you anything." 

"You know, thanks a lot, but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it," the girl told them.

"Sure," Dean agreed. "Catty, give them the puppy dog look. They'll just buy right into it."

Catty looked at the couple. "You know, it's just these roads, they're not real safe at night."

The couple exchanged a look.

The girl looked at Catty. "I'm sorry?" 

"I know it sounds strange," Catty told them. "But, uh, you might be in danger." 

"What are you talking about?" the guy asked. 

Catty opened her mouth to speak. 

The Sheriff walked in.

"Thanks for coming, Sheriff," Scotty told him, walking closer to him, whispering. 

Dean and Catty exchanged a look, knowing they were about to get thrown out. 

Sheriff walked toward Dean and Catty. "I'd like a word, please." 

"Come on," Catty told them. "I'm having a bad day already." 

Sheriff leaned forward against their table. "You don't want to make it worse." 

§

Interstate

The Sheriff's car escorted the Impala out of Burkitsville, his sirens blaring.

The Impala drove out of city limits.

The Sheriff turned the lights and sirens off, turning around, driving back into town.

§

Bus Station

Sam and Meg were sitting at a table with beers and different foods around them.

"So, what, are you on some kind of vacation or something?" Sam asked.

Meg chuckled. "Yeah, right. It's all sipping Cristal poolside for me." They laughed. "No. I had to get away from my family."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"I love my parents," Meg told him. "And they wanted what's best for me. They just didn't care if I wanted it. I was supposed to be smart. But not smart enough to scare away a husband." Sam smiled. "It's just... because my family said so, I was supposed to sit there and do what I was told. So, I just went my own way instead." Sam looked at her. "I'm sorry. The things you say to people you hardly know."

"No, no, it's okay," Sam told her. "I know how you feel. Remember that brother I mentioned before, that I was road-tripping with, Dean?" Meg nodded. "It's, uh, it's kind of the same deal. My sister Catty is the only one who seems to think that we should have a choice other than me. But she chooses to go with the family."

"And that's why you're not riding with them anymore?" Meg asked. Sam didn't answer, looking thoughtful. Meg raised her beer bottle. "Here's to us. The food might be bad, and the beds might be hard. But at least we're living our own lives. And nobody else's."

Sam clinked his beer bottle against Meg's.

Sam and Meg both drank.

§

Burkitsville, Indiana

Night - Interstate - The Impala

Dean drove them back into down.

"Okay, no more trying to convince them, Dean," Catty told him. "If we're right about this, then that couple is going to be dead by the end of the night. We find them and get them the hell out." 

"Agreed," Dean told her.

Catty nodded. 

§

Orchard

The couple's car had broken down. They were walking through the orchard.

"I can't believe it," the girl told him. "We just got the car fixed."

"This way," the guy told her.

They walked toward a clearing.

The scarecrow moved quickly behind them.

The girl gasped, turning around. "Steve?"

Steve turned around. "Who's there?"

Steve and the girl looked around.

The scarecrow come out of hiding from behind the trees, walking toward Steve and the girl.

Steve and the girl turned around, running away as fast as they could, almost at the clearing.

Dean and Catty ran out in front of them, making them stop, shotguns in hand.

"Get back to your car," Catty told them. The scarecrow stalked closer. "Go, go!" 

Steve and the girl ran around Dean and Catty toward their car. 

Dean shot the scarecrow.

The scarecrow growled, stalking toward them with the scythe. 

Dean and Catty turned, following the couple. 

As she ran, Catty aimed the shotgun at the scarecrow, firing. 

Dean and Catty continued to fire at the scarecrow as they continued to run toward the cars.

The scarecrow continued to stalk after them, unaffected. 

Catty looked at Steve and the girl ahead of them. "Go, go!" 

They ran outside of the gate of the orchard, turning to look back inside, aiming the guns. 

The scarecrow had disappeared.

"What?" Steve asked breathlessly. "What—what the hell was that?" 

"Don't ask," Dean told him. 

Catty shook her head.

§

Day Three

Morning - On the Road - Impala

Dean was driving.

Catty was on the phone.

Sam's voice was on the other line. "The scarecrow climbed off it's cross?"

"Hey, I'm telling you, Burkitsville, Indiana, fun town," Catty told him.

Sam was still in the bus station, watching a sleeping Meg so he knew that she wasn't listening. "It didn't kill the couple, did it?"

"No," Catty answered. "Dean and I can cope without you, you know."

"So, something must be animating it," Sam told her. "A Spirit."

"No, it's more than a Spirit," Catty told him. "It's a God. A Pagan God, anyway."

"What makes you say that?" Sam asked.

"The annual cycle of its killings, and the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman, like some kind of fertility rite," Catty answered. "And you should see the locals. The way they treated this couple, fattening them up like a Christmas turkey."

"The last meal... given to sacrificial victims," Sam realized.

"Yeah," Catty answered. "I'm thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan God."

"So, a God possesses the scarecrow..." Sam trailed off.

"The scarecrow takes its sacrifice," Catty finished. "And for another year, the crops won't wilt and disease won't spread."

"You know which God you're dealing with?" Sam asked.

"Nope, not yet," Catty answered.

"You figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it," Sam told her.

"I know," Catty told him. "Dean's actually driving me to a local community college. I got an appointment with a professor. You know, since we don't have our trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research."

Sam chuckled. "Says the valedictorian, Catty. You know, if you're hinting you need my help, just ask."

"You and Dean are not even on speaking terms, let alone hunting terms," Catty told him. "You might even turn around and hunt each other." Sam chuckled. Dean tilted his head slightly. "I wouldn't dare to hint at anything right now. Sam, I'm on the case. You know that Dean would be completely lost without both of us. We're the brains of the operation."

"Cat," Dean told her in defense.

Catty raised her eyebrows at Dean, holding the phone toward him, waiting for him to take it and apologize.

Dean shook his head.

Catty nodded, speaking to Sam over the phone. "Actually, Dean wants to talk to you."

Catty held the phone toward Dean more persistently.

Dean sighed, taking the phone to speak to Sam. "Hi, Sam. Catty won't let what happened the other night go, and I want you to know.... I mean, don't think..." 

"Yeah," Sam said. "I'm sorry, too."

Catty took the phone, holding it between her and Dean, hesitating. "Sam... you were right. You got to do your own thing. You got to live your own life."

"Dean agree with you there, Cat?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, Dean does," Dean answered.

"You serious?" Sam asked.

"You've always known what you want, and you go after it," Catty told him. "You stand up to Dad. I mean, you always have. Hell, I wish I... Anyway, I admire that about you." 

"I'm proud of you, Sammy," Dean told him.

"I don't even know what to say," Sam told them.

"Say you'll take care of yourself," Dean told him.

"I will," Sam told them. "Say that you both will too." 

"We will," Catty told him. She took a deep breath. "Call us when you find Dad." 

"Okay," Sam told them. "Bye." 

Catty hung up, looking forward. 

Dean looked at Catty. "You okay?" 

Catty didn't look at Dean. "Just keep driving." 

§

Bus Station

Sam hung up, looking just as affected as Catty and Dean did.

Meg slowly woke, standing, grabbing her bag, walking closer to Sam. "Who was that?"

Meg sat nearby Sam.

"Dean and Catty," Sam answered.

"What did they say?" Meg asked.

Sam hesitated. "Goodbye."

§

University - Hallway

A professor and Catty walked down a staircase.

"It's not everyday I get a research question on Pagan idolatry," Professor told her.

"Yeah, well, call it a hobby," Catty told him. 

"But you said you were interested in local lore," Professor told her. 

Catty nodded. "Mm-hmm." 

"I'm afraid Indiana isn't really known for its Pagan worship," Professor told her. 

"What if it was imported?" Catty asked. "You know, like the pilgrims brought their religion over. Wasn't a lot of this area settled by immigrants?" 

"Mm-hmm," Professor answered.

"Like that town near here, Burkitsville," Catty told him. "Where are their ancestors from?" 

They started to walk down a hall.

"Northern Europe, I believe," Professor answered. "Scandinavia." 

"What could you tell me about those Pagan Gods?" Catty asked. 

"Well, there are hundreds of Norse Gods and Goddesses," Professor told her. 

"I'm actually looking for one," Catty told him. "Might live in an orchard." 

§

Professor's Office

Professor led Catty to his office, setting down an old-fashioned book, opening it. "A Woods God. Well, let's see." 

Professor started to flip through the pages.

Catty stopped him when she saw a scarecrow on one of the pages. "Wait, wait, wait. What's that one?" 

"That's not a Woods God, per se," Professor explained. 

"'The Vanir'?" Catty read in confusion. He nodded. "'Vanir were Norse Gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villages practiced Human sacrifice, one male and one female.' Does that mean any man and woman?" 

"Yes," Professor answered. "Married couples, high school sweethearts, brothers and sisters, total strangers. As long as there's one of each gender, it doesn't matter as long as it's..." He pointed at the figure. "Fed."

"It kind of looks like a scarecrow, huh?" Catty asked. 

"Well, I suppose," Professor told her.

"'This particular Vanir, its energy sprung from a sacred tree'?" Catty read in confusion. 

"Well, Pagans believed all sorts of things were infused with magic," Professor told her. 

"So, what would happen if the sacred tree was torched?" Catty asked. "Do you think it would kill the God?" 

Professor chuckled. "These are just legends we're discussing here." 

"Oh, of course," Catty told him. "Yeah, you're right." She pulled out her phone, texting. "Listen, thank you very much."

Catty put her phone away, shaking his hand. 

"Glad I could help," Professor told her.

Catty walked out of the office.

§

Lobby

Dean was talking to a brunette PA. "Do you know anything about the orchard at the edge of the woods, or the First Tree?"

"Yeah, actually," the girl answered, leading Dean toward a shelf of maps. "These are just... maps to everything in that orchard. Trees included." She turned to face Dean, smiling a small smile. "The orchard used to draw a lot of attention. People wanted to know a lot about it."

The girl picked up a map, handing it to Dean.

Dean took it, taking out his phone, texting. "Thank you."

§

Upstairs Hallway

Catty walked down the hall, getting a text, seeing it was from Dean.

Got it.

Catty nodded to herself, typing a reply.

Harley appeared from behind the corner, pushing a stun gun into Catty's stomach to make her weak enough to fall into his arms. He pushed it into Catty's side to make her unconscious. 

§

Downstairs

Dean walked toward the door, waiting at the door frame, sighing impatiently. "Come on, Catty."

After a moment, Dean became irritated, opening the door to wait outside for Catty.

Sheriff was standing on the other side of the door, using the butt of his shotgun to hit Dean in the head, making him fall unconscious. He lowered his shotgun to his side, looking up.

Harley walked closer, holding unconscious Catty in his arms.

They exchanged a long look.

§

Orchard

Harley, Stacey, Scotty and the Sheriff were standing in the rain with umbrellas over their heads, upset.

"You don't understand, Harley," Scotty told him. "All of us here? It's our responsibility to protect the town."

"I understand," Harley told them. "Better than all of you. I'm the one that gives them directions. I'm the one that sends them down to the orchard."

"Harley, please," Sheriff told him.

"We all close our doors," Harley told them. "Look the other way. Pretend we can't hear the screams. But this is different. This? This is murder."

"It's angry with us," Stacey told him. "Already, the trees are beginning to die. Tonight's the seventh night of the cycle. Our last chance. They have to die."

They looked into the open root cellar doors into the ground below to reveal that Catty and Dean were lying unconscious inside, closing the doors.

§

Bus Station

Meg was gathering her things.

Sam was trying to make a call.

"Hey," Meg told him. "Our bus came in."

Sam hung up, shaking his head. "You better catch it. I gotta go."

Sam put on his backpack.

"Go where?" Meg asked.

"Burkitsville," Sam answered.

"Sam, wait," Meg told him.

"I've been trying to call Dean and Catty for the last three hours," Sam told her. "I'm just getting their voice mails."

"Well, maybe their phones are turned off," Meg told him.

"No, that's not like them," Sam told her. "I think they might be in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Meg asked.

"I can't really explain right now," Sam told her. "I'm sorry. Look, I don't want you to miss your bus."

"But I don't understand," Meg told him. "You're running back to Dean and Catty? The people you ran away from? Why, because they won't pick up their phones? Sam... Come with me to California."

"I can't," Sam told her. "I'm sorry."

"Why not?" Meg asked.

"They're my family," Sam answered, walking out, leaving.

Meg watched him go.

§

Burkitsville, Indiana 

Root Cellar

Dean was awake, looking up to the locked doors above them.

Catty slowly woke. "Okay, I'm gonna kill that bastard. Dean, I told you something was fishy with Harley." 

"Yeah, well, while you got shocked by Grandpa, I got cold-clocked by Deputy Dewey, Cat, so don't feel bad," Dean told her.

"At least tell me that you got it," Catty told him. 

Dean patted his pockets. "As planned." Catty smirked. Dean looked up in annoyed realization. "And they took it away from me while I was out. Of course they did."

"Dean, tell me that you remember something," Catty told him.

Dean nodded. "They call it the First Tree. The immigrants brought it over with them."

"Is it somewhere in the orchard?" Catty asked.

"Yeah," Dean answered. "I just have no idea where. Cat, if we don't find it before then, they're gonna kill us." 

"Sacrifice us," Catty corrected. "Which is... I don't know, classier, I guess." 

Catty started to walk up the steps to the gated door above them.

Dean grabbed her arm to stop her. "I wouldn't. I already tried getting out of here, Cat."

"Well, do you have any other bright ideas, Dean?" Catty asked.

The door hinges creaked opened, revealing Scotty, Harley, Stacey and the Sheriff all waiting there outside with guns pointed at them.

"It's time," Stacey told them.

 Dean and Catty exchanged a look.

§

Orchard

They had taken Dean and Catty outside and tied them to trees, sitting on the ground, helpless victims for when the sun went down and the scarecrow came back to life. Their hands were bound above their heads. 

"How many people have you killed, Sheriff?" Dean asked. "How much blood is on your hands?" 

"We don't kill them," Sheriff told them.

"No, but you sure cover up after," Dean told him. "I mean, how many cars have you hidden or clothes have you buried?" 

No one answered.

"Try to understand," Stacey told them. "It's our responsibility. And there's just no other choice. There's nobody else but the two of you." 

"Yeah, serving up innocent people to be killed sounds like a stellar way to keep your town safe," Catty told her sarcastically.

"That's what sacrifice means," Stacey told them. "Serving a purpose for the greater good. A necessary evil. The town needs to be safe. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one."

Everyone walked away, leaving.

"Hope your apple pie is freaking worth it!" Dean told them. He sighed, looking toward Catty. "So, what's the plan?"

Catty looked up at the tree branches above her head within grabbing distance. "I'm working on it." 

Catty had to twist her wrist painfully to grab one of the branches, breaking it off nice and sharp, turning it carefully around to aim it at the rope surrounding her wrists, starting to cut through the ropes.

"Seriously?" Dean asked.

"Hey, Dean, if you have another idea, please, I'm all ears," Catty told him.

Dean sighed, looking up at the branches above his head, twisting his wrist to grab one, turning it to aim at the rope surrounding his wrists. When he started to cut through, he dropped the branch in front of him, unable to reach any of the others. "Uh... yeah, that's all you, Catty."

§

Night

Catty was still cutting the rope. 

"All right, any other plan that is quicker than the impossible?" Dean asked.

"I'm working on it," Catty told him. They heard twigs snapping out in the distance. Catty looked around. "Can you see?" 

"What?" Dean asked.

"Is he moving yet?" Catty asked.

Dean tried to look toward it. "I can't see." 

They heard footsteps approaching. 

Catty struggled to finish cutting the rope, but unable to get out.

"Catty?" Sam asked. "Dean?" 

"Sam, I have never been happier to see you," Catty told him. "You got a knife?"

Sam took out a knife, starting to cut the remainder of the rope around her wrists.

"I take everything back I said," Dean told him. "I'm so happy to see you. Come on." 

Catty looked at Sam. "How did you get here?" 

"I, uh, stole a car," Sam answered. 

Dean laughed. "That's my boy." 

Sam finally got Catty free.

Catty pulled her arms down, groaning, taking the knife from Sam, standing, kneeling next to Dean, cutting through his binds. She glanced at Sam while she continued to cut the ropes. "Keep an eye on that scarecrow." Catty finally got Dean free. Dean lowered his arms to his side. "It could come alive at any minute." 

Sam looked toward the cross. "What scarecrow?"  

Dean stood, both he and Catty following Sam's gaze.

The scarecrow was gone. 

§

Sam, Catty and Dean ran through the orchard.

"Now, this sacred tree you're talking about," Sam told them.

"It's the source of its power," Catty explained. 

"So let's find it and burn it," Sam told them.

"In the morning," Dean told them. "Let's just shag ass before Leatherface catches up." 

They were stopped by Harley and Stacey. Harley was pointing a gun at them.

"This way," Catty told them, leading the way to the side. 

Only to be stopped by Scotty, with a gun aimed at them.

Sam, Catty and Dean turned in the other direction to see the Sheriff with another gun pointed at them.

They heard the scarecrow growling. 

"It will be over quickly," Harley told them. "I promise. You have to let him take you. You have to—"

The scarecrow's scythe slashed through Harley's chest from behind, killing him. 

Stacey screamed. 

The scarecrow let Harley fall, grabbing Stacey, beginning to pull her away, even while she was screaming. He stabbed the scythe into Harley's foot, dragging his dead body with them.

Everyone else ran away, leaving before they got killed, too.

"Let's go," Dean told them.

They ran out of the gate of the orchard, turning around to look back, knowing that they were safe now. 

§

Day Four

Morning - Orchard

Sam, Catty and Dean walked back into the orchard to see that the scarecrow was perched up on the cross, holding gasoline cans, looking around the trees.

Catty saw one that looked older than the rest, with a symbol carved into the side. 

Sam poured gasoline over the tree. 

Dean used a lighter to light the end of a tree branch. "The whole town is gonna die." 

Catty took the branch. "Good." 

Sam stepped away from the tree.

Catty tossed the burning branch onto it, setting the tree ablaze. 

Sam, Catty and Dean stood there, watching it burn. 

§

On the Road

The Impala came driving down the road.

§

The Impala

Dean was driving.

Catty was in the passenger seat.

Sam was in the backseat. "So the townspeople, they'll just get away with it?" 

"What will happen to the town will have to be punishment enough," Catty told them. 

Dean looked at Sam. "So... can we drop you off somewhere?" 

"No, I think you're stuck with me," Sam answered. 

Dean raised his eyebrows, looking back at him. "What made you change your mind?" 

"I didn't," Sam told him. "I still want to find Dad. Dean you're still a pain in the ass. Just like Catty's still the one who has to try to stop the fights that erupts between the family."

"Yeah, well, I fail most of the time, Sam," Catty told him. 

"Aw, don't be too hard on yourself, Catty," Sam told her. "This family has been too broken to fix for a long time. But Jessica and Mom... they're both gone. Dad is God knows where. The three of us... we're all that left." He sighed. "So, uh, if we're gonna see this through... we're gonna do it together." 

Catty smiled a small smile. "Hold me, Sam. That was beautiful." 

Catty and Dean laughed.

"You two should be kissing my ass," Sam told them. "You were dead meat, guys." 

"Yeah, right," Dean told him sarcastically.

"I almost got out," Catty told him. "And I would have if you hadn't showed up, Sam." 

"Sure you would have, Cat," Sam told her sarcastically. 

Catty, Sam and Dean smiled, continuing to drive off.

§

Night - On the Road - Van

(Song:) Bad Company - Bad Company

Another shady guy was giving Meg a ride. "So, where to, pretty lady?"

"How about you pull over?" Meg asked.

The guy looked at Meg. "Okay. That works." He pulled over. Meg reached into her bag, pulling out a silver bowl. "What's that?"

"I've got to make a call," Meg told him, reaching into the bowl to get something.

"I've got a cell phone you could use," the guy told her.

"It's not that kind of call," Meg told him, pulling out a knife, slitting his throat. She held the bowl under his neck, letting the blood pour into it. "Thanks for the ride." She began to stir the blood in the blood with her finger. "Tire quiero patern me a di." The blood swirled around. A silver orb appeared in the middle of the blood. "It makes no sense. I could've stopped Sam. Hell, I could've taken all three of them. Why let them go." She paused, seemingly listening to someone. "Yes. Yes. Yes, Father."