Standing Outside the Fire

38

"What is it?" He picked up the envelope and opened it.

"My sources tell me you're applying to Princeton. Letter of recommendation like that from a man like me - done."

"I can't do it."

"I admire your gumption, kid. But I still think there's some wiggle room here. I tell you what - let's kick it up a notch. See if I can't change your mind. Edgar, that live feed up yet?"

"'Course," Edgar answered, hitting a button on a remote and footage of someone holding a knife to Mrs. Tran's throat appeared on a large screen.

"Ma? Mom?!" Kevin called.

"Well, I think this negotiation is concluded," Dick decided as Kevin whimpered in distress. "You drive a hard bargain, kid."

EXT. RUFUS' CABIN - DAY

A red car was parked outside.

INT. RUFUS' CABIN - DAY

Sam and Francesca were typing on their laptops at the table. Dean was on the sofa reading the notebook in which Kevin had translated the Word of God.

"Okay, man, I have read this more times that the Playboy I found in Dad's duffel," Dean said.

"Anna Nicole?" Sam questioned.

"Anna Nicole. Oh, the good - they die young, huh? Sorry, Frankie." Sam and Francesca exhaled and grimaced. "Look, we can read this till our eyes bleed. It ain't getting any clearer."

"Okay," Sam stated. "Then what does that mean?"

"Uh... Cut off the head, and the body will flounder."

"Yeah," Sam and Francesca confirmed.

Dean looked between them. "Okay. Well, I think we all agree that the, uh, the head is Dick. Right?"

"Right."

"So, bottom line, we grab the stuff, mix ourselves a weapon. End of story." He took a drink from a beer bottle.

Sam met his eyes. "Look, Frankie and I are all for killing Dick. I'm just saying, what then? I mean, what about the rest of the Leviathan? What, are they gonna just... drop dead?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe?" Francesca repeated. ""Maybe" is good enough for you two right now?"

"One problem at a time, right?"

"Okay," Sam said. "But it's not a crazy idea to try and figure out what the catch is before we go crashing the gate."

"Maybe this is the catch. God's not telling us every detail. You know? The word is from God. I don't know how much better it's gonna get."

Bobby stood behind the sofa.

Dean made his way to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. As he spit into the sink, the mirror above him misted over. When Dean exhaled, his breath was visible.

He turned and said, "Hey, Bobby. How you feeling?"

"Stronger than ever," Bobby replied. "Now, while you three have been chasing your tails, I've been thinking on that weapon."

"Wait a second. Don't you think you should be saving your strength?"

"For what?"

"I'm just saying you might want to slow down. You don't look so hot."

"I'm in the Veil. My Brad Pitt days are over. Now, the kid says that the only way to kill Leviathan is with a bone washed in the three bloods of the fallen. It's got to be from a human as light and good as the Leviathan are hungry and dark."