The Imaginary Friend (Chapter 24)
It was a few hours later as Chuck and I were sitting in his living room watching TV when he asked.
“Do you ever think about, you know, leaving hunting?” asked Chuck. The show we had been watching was finished and he had turned off the TV.
“Is that really possible?” I asked, turning to him.
“Is that a yes?” asked Chuck. I sighed, not really sure what to say.
“I don’t know, maybe. I just, never really had a reason to leave it before, you know? I, it’s my brothers. I just have always been taught to stay with my family.”
Chuck looked down at his lap, clearly hesitant on what he wanted to say next.
“What, what about me?” asked Chuck.
“I just, you said you never had a reason to leave before… what about me?”
“Are, are you asking me to leave hunting? Leave my brothers behind?” I asked surprised. I know Chuck wanted me to be safe but I didn’t expect this.
Chuck stood up, pacing as he turned back to me.
“No, not really. Um. I don’t know. It’s just, Red, think about it. The past few weeks that you’ve been here have been the best few weeks I’ve ever had, and I know you feel the same.”
I stood up, walking until I stood in front of him.
“You’re not wrong, Blue. I’m not going to deny that. But, I just can’t leave my brothers.” I said.
“I know, I know. I don’t know. I guess I’m just saying that if a moment were to come, it’s an option. I guess I’m just saying I’m giving you the option.” said Chuck. He leaned down, kissing the top of my head.
All of a sudden, I felt a buzz in my back pocket from my phone. I took it out, a new text from Dean.
An address was typed at the bottom, oddly close to where I was now. I knew what it meant;
I sighed, leaning my head against Chuck’s chest.
“You gotta go?” asked Chuck, not surprised at all.
“Yeah, I do.” I looked up at him.
“I’ll call you when I can, okay? So, so we can finish talking about this.”
“Calling? That’s a new one considering.”
“Yeah, well, somethings deserve to be said aloud.” I kissed him, not knowing when I’d be able to again.
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“Look what the cat dragged in.” said Sam as I walked into the hotel room Dean had texted me a few hours before.
“Hello to you, too, Sam.” I said. I don’t know what I expected honestly.
“C’mon Range it’s not like we haven’t seen you in weeks or anything. Right Dean?” said Sam.
Dean sighed looking at me.
“Sam compared to how she looked when she left and now, I’m not gonna question it.” said Dean.
“Are you okay though?” asked Dean.
“I’m, I’m better.” I said, honestly.
“That’s all I care about.” I gave my brother a grateful look as I turned to Castiel. Dean had called and filled me in on what was happening when I was driving.
“So, Really? Anna? I don’t believe it.” I said, desperately trying to change the subject.
“So, she’s gone all Glenn Close, huh? That’s awesome.” I said with a laugh.
“Who’s Glenn Close?” asked Cas.
Dean stood up, walking closer to Sam.
“No one, just this psycho bitch who likes to boil rabbits.”
“So, the plan to kill me, would it actually stop Satan?” asked Sam.
“No, Sam, come on.” said Dean.
Sam glanced at the two of us before looking back at Castiel.
“Cas, what do you think? Does Anna have a point?” asked Sam.
Cas took a moment, glancing at the three of us.
“No. She’s, uh, Glenn Close.”
“I don’t get it,” I said, “We’re looking for the chick that wants to gank Sam.”
“Why poke the bear?” asked Dean.
“Anna will keep trying. She won’t give up until Sam is dead. So, we kill her first.” Cas poured oil into the bowl sitting on the table.
“Zod ah ma ra la ee est la gi ro sa.”
Suddenly the bow shot red flame out of it, Castiel stepped back as he leaned against the chair.
“Where is she?” asked Dean.
“Not where. When. It’s 1978.”
“Good God, we’re going to have to time travel again, aren’t we?” I said, leaning my head into my hand.
“Why 1978? I wasn’t even born yet.” said Sam.
“You won’t be if she kills your parents.” said Cas.
That stopped all of us in surprise.
“What?” asked Sam, voice quivering.
“Anna can’t get to you because of me. So, she’s going after them.” said Cas.
“Take us back right now.” said Dean.
“And deliver you right to Anna? I should go alone.”
“They’re our parents. Cas, we’re going.” I said.
“It’s not that easy.” said Cas, walking a few steps away.
“Time travel was difficult even with the powers of heaven at my disposal.”
“Which got cut off.” said Sam.
“So, what, you’re like a DeLorean without enough plutonium?” asked Dean.
“I don’t understand that reference. But I’m telling you, taking this trip, with passengers no less, it will weaken me.”
I suddenly remembered that vision I had before with Dean and Michael, who was using our dad as a vessel. We had to go.
“We have to go, Cas. Trust me. I’ve seen it already.” I said, hoping he’d here me.
“They’re our mom and dad. If we can save them, and not just from Anna… I mean if we can set things right, we have to try.” Cas glanced over at me, I just nodded in response.
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“Ready?” asked Cas. It was hours later and we were all ready to go.
“Bend your knees.” said Dean.
“Yeah,” I said, “what Dean said.”
All of a sudden, Sam, Dean, and I stood in a middle of a street, jumping out of the way just in time for a car to pass by.
“Did we make it?” asked Sam.
Dean and I looked around, taking in the sights around us.
“Unless they’re bringing Pintos back into production, I, uh, I’d say yes.” said Dean.
I took a look around, suddenly spotting Castiel slumped against a car.
“Cas?” I asked, running towards him.
“Take it easy, take it easy. Are you alright?” asked Dean and we picked the angel up.
“I’m fine. I’m much better than I expected.” said Castiel. As soon as we tried to pick him up more, he spat out blood.
“He’s breathing,” I said, putting my hand near his mouth, “What do we do?”
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Sam, Dean, and I pulled up to the address we had found in the phone book for our parents, the earlier version of the impala sitting right outside. Sam jumped right out.
“Sam. Sam. Wait, wait, wait, wait.” said Dean as he and I quickly followed our younger brother.
“Guys, Anna could be here any second.”
“What exactly are we gonna march up there and tell ‘em?” asked Dean.
“What, that their kids are back from the future to save them from an angel?” asked Dean. “Gone Terminator? Come on. Those movies haven’t even come out yet.”
“Well, then tell her demons are after ‘em. I mean, she thinks you two are hunters, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, “hunters who disappeared right when her dad died. She’s gonna love us.”
The three of us stood silent until Dean spoke up.
“Just follow my lead.” said Dean, leading the two of us to the front door.
You could see the surprise on her face the second the door opened.
“Hi, Mary.” said Dean and I at the same time.
“You can’t be here.” said Mary, the younger version of our mother stood before us.
“I’m sorry if this is a bad time.” I said.
“You don’t understand. I’m not, I don’t do that anymore. I have a normal life. You have to go.” she moved in to close the door before Dean stopped her.
“I’m sorry, but this is important, okay?”
Suddenly the sound of a throat clearing could be heard as the door swung open, the younger John Winchester appearing next to Mary. Both younger versions of our parents stood before us.
“Sorry, sweetie, they’re just…”
“Mary’s cousins.” I said quickly, cutting her off.
“Yeah,” said Dean, “we couldn’t stop through town without swinging by and saying ‘hey’, now, could we?” He held out his hand to our dad.
“You two look familiar.” said John, obviously recognizing the two of us from our previous trip back in time.
“Really? Yeah, you do too actually, you know? We must have met sometime. Small towns, right? Got to love ‘em.” I said.
John reached out his hand to shake, it wasn’t until I nudged Sam that he took it.
“Sam. Uh, Mary’s father was a Sam.”
“Uh, it’s a-it’s a family name.” said Dean.
“You okay, pal? You look a little spooked.” asked John, realizing Sam hadn’t let go of his hand.
Sam dropped his hand. “Oh. Oh, yeah. Just a…long trip.” Dean and I nodded in agreance .
“Well, Sam, Dean, and Ranger were just on their way out.” said Mary.
“What? They just got here. Real happy to meet folks from Mary’s side. Please, come on in for a beer.” said John as he leads us inside.
“So, how are you guys related?” asked John as we were all sitting in the living room.
“You know, uh, distantly.” said Dean.
“Oh. So, you knew Mary’s parents?”
“Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Mary’s dad was, uh, pretty much like a grandpa to us.” I said.
“Oh. That was tragic- that heart attack.” said John.
Dean and I remembered every minute of the last time we were here. It was definitely not a heart attack.
“So, uh, what are you guys doing in town, anyway?” asked John.
“Uh, business, you know.” said Dean.
“Oh, yeah? What line of work?”
Sam and I spoke up at the exact same time.
“Oh, gosh. It’s almost seven. I hate to be rude, but I got to get dinner ready.”
“Maybe they could stay.” said John.
“I’m sure they have to leave.”
“Uh, look, please stay,” said John, turning to the three people he had no idea were his children, “You know, it would mean a lot to me. I haven’t met much of Mary’s side of the family.” said John. He stood up, leaving the room to answer a ringing phone.
“You have to leave. Now.” said Mary, turning to us.
“Okay, just listen-.” she cut Dean off before he could continue.
“No, you listen. Last time I saw the two of you, a demon killed my parents. Now you three waltz in here like you’re family? Whatever you want-no. Leave me alone.”
“You and John are in danger.” said Sam.
“What are you talking about?”
“Something’s coming for you.” I said.
“Not exactly.” said Dean.
“Well, what, then?” asked Mary, her frustration growing by each second.
“It’s kind of hard to explain, okay? It’s-it’s-.” Sam cut Dean off.
Mary laughed. “What? There’s no such thing.”
“I wish.” said Dean. “But they’re twice as strong as demons. And bigger dicks.”
“Why would an angel want to kill us?”
“It’s a long story.” I said. “And we’ll tell you the whole thing, but right now, you’ve got to trust us, and we got to go. Look at my face and tell me if I’m lying to you.” I said.
“Out of here. We got to move now, though.” said Dean.
“Okay. But what do I tell John?” asked Mary.
“Tell him-.” I cut myself off before finishing, just now realizing how long it had been since John had been in the room with us.
“John?” I asked, directing myself to the kitchen.
The four of us walked through the hallway before Mary found the note on the phone saying John had left.
It wasn’t until we found ourselves fighting Anna in a mechanics garage that we really realized how bad it was.
