sparks fly, sam winchester [ 2 ]

025. family business

"So this is it." John states as the four are in the motel room, John's research all over the place. "This is everything I know. Look, our whole lives we've been searching for this demon, right? Not a trace, just... nothing. Until about a year ago. For the first time I picked up a trail."

Miranda is sitting on the counter and Sam is next to her, leaning against the counter.

"And that's when you took off." Dean says.

"Yeah. That's right. The demon must have come out of hiding or hibernation." John says.

"All right, so what's this trail you found?" Dean asks.

"It starts in Arizona, then New Jersey, California. Houses burned down to the ground. It's going after families, just like it went after us." John says.

"Families with infants?" Sam asks.

"Yeah. The night of the kid's six month birthday." John states.

"I was six months old that night?" Sam asks.

"Exactly six months." John says.

"So, basically, this demon is going after these kids for some reason. The same way it came for me? So mom's death... Bella. It's all because of me?" Sam questions.

"Sammy--" Miranda shakes her head.

"We don't know that, Sam." Dean states.

"Oh, really? Cause I'd say we're pretty damn sure, Dean." Sam says.

"For the last time, what happened to them was not your fault." Dean states.

"Yeah, you're right, it's not my fault, but it's my problem!"

"No, it's not your problem, it's our problem!"

"Okay. That's enough." John stands up.

"Sammy." Miranda whispers, reaching out for his hand.

"So, why's it doing it? What does it want?" Sam asks.

"Look, I wish I had more answers, I do. I've always been one step behind it. Look, I've never gotten there in time to save..." John stops.

"All right, so, how do we find it before it hits again?" Dean asks.

"There's signs. It took me a while to see the pattern, but it's there in the days before these fires, signs crop up in an area. Cattle deaths, temperature fluctuations, electrical storms. And then I went back and checked and..."

"These things happened in Lawrence." Dean says.

"A week before your mother died." John nods. "And in Palo Alto... before Bella. And these signs, they're starting again."

"Where?" Sam asks.

"Salvation, Iowa." John states.

+++

They're driving and John pulls off the road and into a clearing, Dean following.

"God damnit!" John sneers, getting out, the brothers get out of the Impala, Miranda opting to stay inside.

"What is it?" Dean asks.

"Son of a bitch." John hisses, hitting his truck.

"What is it?!" Dean repeats.

"I just got a call from Caleb." John states.

"Is he okay?" Dean asks.

"He's fine. Jim Murphy's dead." John informs.

"Pastor Jim? How?" Sam asks.

"His throat was slashed. He bled out. Caleb said they found traces of sulfur at Jim's place." John says.