Down the Rabbit Hole

Ill Boding Patterns

"Madge Carrigan, a local lady. She said the wreaths were so special, she gave them to me for free."
"She didn't charge you?" Sam asked, realisation dawning.
"Nope."
"Did you sell them for free?" Dean questioned.
"Hell no. It's Christmas. People pay a buttload for this crap."
"That's the spirit." Dean smiled.

"How much do you think a meadowsweet wreath would cost?" Dean asked as he opened the door to the motel room.
"A couple hundred dollars, at least."
"This lady's giving them away for free? What do you think about that?"
"Well, sounds pretty suspicious." Sam admitted.
"Remember that wreath Dad brought home that one year?" Dean chuckled as he took his jacket off and sat down on one of the beds.
"You mean the one he stole from like, a liquor store?" Sam frowned, trying to remember.
"Yeah, it was a bunch of empty beer cans. That thing was great. I bet if I looked hard enough I could probably find one just like it."
"All right. Dude... what's going on with you?" Sam asked, sounding annoyed.
"What?"
"I mean, since when are you Bing Crosby all of a sudden? Why do you want Christmas so bad?"
"Why are you so against it? I mean, were your childhood memories that traumatic?"
"No, that has nothing to do with it." Sam argued.
"Then what?"
"I mean... I just... I don't get it. You haven't talked about Christmas in years."
"Well, yeah. This is my last." Lacey's face fell as she realised what he meant. It felt like someone had sucker punched her in the chest.
"I know." Sam admitted, his voice wavering, "That's why I can't."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I can't just site around drinking eggnog, pretending everything's okay, when I know next Christmas, you'll be dead. I just can't." Dean nodded but none of them spoke.

Lacey was quiet as they drove across town to the Carrigan household. She felt like she was intruding on a private moment but she also felt like she should be here for Dean. When they reached the house they got out of the Impala and Lacey trailed behind them up the front walk. Dean gave her a questioning look as they reached the front door, she shrugged her shoulders at him as Sam knocked on the door.
"This is where Mrs Wreath lives, huh? Can't you just feel the evil Pagan vibes?" Dean asked, sarcastically, as he looked around at the abundance of Christmas decorations. The front door open and an older woman in a Christmas cardigan greeted them.
"Yes?"
"Please tell me you're the Madge Carrigan who makes the meadowsweet wreaths." Dean smiled at her hopefully.
"Why, yes I am." Mage smiled back at him, happily.
"Ha! Bingo." Dean turned to Sam.
"Yeah? Well, we were just admiring your wreaths in Mr Sylar's place the other day."
"You were?" Her surprise was a little too over the top to Lacey. "Well, isn't that meadowsweet just the finest smelling thing you ever smelled?" She gushed.
"It is, it sure is." She could tell Sam found the woman irritating too. "But the problem is, is that all your wreaths had sold out before we got the chance to buy one."
"Oh, fudge!" Madge responded, sympathetically.
"You wouldn't have another one that we could buy from you, would you?" Dean asked.
"Oh, no, I'm afraid those were the only ones I had for the season."
"Awwww." Sam faked disappointment.
"Tell me something, why did you decide to make them out of meadowsweet?"
"Why, the smell of course! I don't think I've ever smelled anything finer."
"Yeah, you mentioned that." Sam gave her a forced smile.
"What's going on, honey?" Madge's husband appeared beside her in the door way, looking like he'd just straight out of a 1950's sit com.
"Well, just some nice boys asking about my wreaths, dear."
"Oh, the wreaths are fine, Fine wreaths. Oh, care for some peanut brittle?" He held out a tin to them. Dean's eyes lit up and he reached forward but Sam whacked his arm back.
"We're okay." He gave the two of them a sickly sweet smile.

Lacey looked on in horror as Mr Carrigan picked up a pair of pliers and advanced on Sam.
"No. No. Don't." Sam exclaimed as Mr Carrigan grabbed his hand. Sam let out a shout of pain as his nail was forcefully pulled from it's bed.
"Oh! We got a winner!" He put the finger nail in a bowl, which also contained the blood they had drained from the boys.
"What else, dear?"
"Well, let's see, fingernail. Blood...Oh! Sweet Peter on a popsicle stick." He hit himself in the forehead. "I forgot the tooth!"
"Oh dear!"
"Merry Christmas, Sammy." Dean said, presuming he was still the chosen target, but Mr Carrigan picked up the pliers again and grabbed hold of Dean's chin.
"Open wide and say Aaaahh." Lacey felt her blood begin to boil as the pliers were put in Deans mouth. Suddenly the door bell rang and everyone froze.
"Somebody gonna get that?" Dean managed to get out around the pliers. "You should get that."
"Come on." Mr Carrigan said begrudgingly as he and Madge headed to the front of the house. Lacey glared after them. As soon as they had disappeared Lacey channelled her anger. The boys ropes began to slowly untie as she concentrated hard on them, her eyes clamped shut.
"Hey." Dean said softly as the boys untangled the rest of their ropes. "Thanks." You ok?" Lacey opened her eyes and found him standing in front of her.
"Yeah. Let's get out of here." The three of them headed into the adjacent room, Sam and Dean stood behind each of the doors into the room, holding them shut.
"Now, where were we?" They heard Madge's voice. The two of them slammed the doors they were standing next to and held the closed as the Carrigans began to bang on them. Dean pulled a drawer out, keeping the door blocked as he headed round to the door Sam was leaning against.
"What do we do now? The evergreen stakes are in the basement?" Dean reminded Sam.
"Well, we need more evergreen, Dean!" Sam paused thoughtfully. "I think I just found us some more. Help me get this." Sam nodded at the large cabinet next to the door and the two of them pulled it across the floor, in front of the door. They headed into the living room and began to pull the christmas tree apart. As soon as they had substantial branches in hand, they headed back towards the dining room. Before they could get there, Mr Carrigan appeared, tackling Dean to the ground. Lacey had had enough. As Sam dealt with Madge, she advanced on Mr Carrigan who had Dean cornered and was punching him in the face. Lacey channelled her anger and the branch, which Dean had dropped on the floor began to shakily float into mid air, before flying forward and impaling Mr Carrigan straight through his back and protruded out his chest. He collapsed forward, dead, and Lacey reached out a hand to help Dean to his feet.
"Thanks." Sam, short of breath from dealing with Madge, who also had also been impaled, stumbled over.
"Merry Christmas."

As the three of them headed back to the motel the snow began to fall. When they arrived Sam headed inside while Dean stayed outside to talk to Lacey.
"So... we did it. Whooo." Lacey faked excitement.
"Yeah. We did." Dean gave her his trademark smirk. "I guess you'll be taking off soon."
"Yeah, I really should get back to my Aunts." Lacey watched him for a second. "You know, we'll figure something out, Dean. No matter what happens, this won't be your last Christmas, I can promise you that at least." Dean leant down and kissed her. Lacey felt herself melt and the familiar flip-flopping feeling in her stomach. As they broke apart, Lacey smiled up at him.
"Go on, enjoy your day with Sam. I'm sure I'll see you soon." Dean grabbed her hand before she could leave.
"Thank you, for everything. Merry Christmas." Lacey nodded and smiled at him again, wider this time, before disappearing.

Lacey opened her eyes, the room around her was darker than when she'd left, the sun having set. She sat up on the bed, her mind racing. It seemed like no matter what she did, she couldn't save Dean, either version of him. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and put her head in her hands. She really did feel like giving up right now. There were loud noises coming from the other room. With a sigh she got to her feet, straightening her clothes out. She plastered a smile on her face and walked out into the hallway. Right now she just had to get through the rest of the day with her Aunts. Tomorrow was a new day to figure out a way to save Dean. She just had to make it through 'til then.