Ophelia and Libby are in the car as Sam goes into the hospital to see Garth who was talked about on the police scanner. After a little while, Sam gets back in the car, letting out a heavy sigh.
"What's got you all angsty?" Ophelia asks.
"Um... your dad's here." Sam informs. Ophelia looks at him before she glances around outside, managing to catch her dad walking in the building.
"Oh." She says.
"You okay?" Sam asks.
"Uh... yeah. Yeah, no, um... good." Ophelia says and Sam gives her a look. "I've been better, but I'm not really sure what emotion I'm currently feeling so I have nothing to talk about."
"You wanna go talk to him?" Sam asks.
"No." She shakes her head. "We can, uh... we can go." She says.
"Okay." Sam mumbles.
+++
Sam and Dean walk out of Garth and his wife's apartment, going to Sam's car.
"Sam, they're not gonna wanna come with me." Dean says.
"Well, they're gonna have to. I can't exactly leave them in a car outside of the police station. It is still a crime to leave your child in the car." Sam says.
"They're double digits, man. They can handle sitting in a car." Dean says.
Sam rolls his eyes and opens the passenger door and the back door.
"Come on, you two. You're gonna go with Dean to hang out with Garth and his werewolf wife and her werewolf family." Sam says.
"What?" The girls ask.
"Garth is a werewolf." Dean states.
"What?" The girls repeat in shock.
"Yeah." Dean mutters.
"You two are gonna go with Dean. I'm gonna go talk to the cops and stuff." Sam says.
"Okay, hang on. You want me to go hang out were with werewolves?" Ophelia asks. "No, forget that. You want me to go with my dad?"
"Oh, wow. Feeling the love." Dean sarcastically says.
"I'm sorry. Which one of us left?" Ophelia fires back. Dean awkwardly avoids eye contact.
"Look, just go with him. You guys love Garth." Sam says.
Ophelia rolls her eyes and she storms over to the Impala, angrily getting in the backseat.
"Thanks, Sammy. Gonna be a fun day." Dean says sarcastically.
"Libby will keep you sane." Sam says. They both look to the ten year old who kindly smiles at them.
+++
The three get to Garth's in-laws' place. They get out and go to the trunk, Dean getting silver bullets in his gun as he's on the phone with Sam.
"You there?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, just pulled up. Nothing too sketchy yet." Dean says.
"That's a good thing, right?" Sam asks.
"Not betting on it." Dean says.
"Or are we just that jaded? I mean, maybe Garth's right." Sam says.
"Well, ain't you a glass half full. Any luck with the cops?" Dean asks.
"Uh, sheriff should be rolling up any second. Be careful."
"Yeah." They hang up, Dean and the girls heading for the house. They hear singing inside and stop behind the large bush. The singing stops a guy instructs the others what to fix before the singing resumes.
"Come on." Dean tells them, leading them to the door. Dean knocks on it and a woman answers.
"You must be Dean. Oh, and this must be Ophelia and Libby." The woman smiles at them. "I'm Joy, Garth's mother-in-law. Uh, stepmother-in-law, which I always thought sounded so silly. Please, come in. We're just finishing up."
Libby starts to walk in, but Dean grabs her arm, pulling her back.
"Why don't you just tell Garth we're here?" Dean asks.
"Dean, you have my word -- you're safe under my roof. I only ask the same in return. After all... I'm not the one carrying silver." Joy says.
Dean grabs Libby's hand and looks at Ophelia.
"I'm not holding your hand." She quietly tells him.
Dean slowly walks in, dragging Libby in behind him, and Ophelia walks in last, Joy shutting the door after them and joining the group in the living room singing and Garth is playing piano and soon they finish.
"Uh... thank you, brother Garth. Wonderful accompaniment, as usual. And I'll see the rest of you in the pews -- 9:00 a.m., sharp. No stragglers... Sister Amelia." Everybody laughs.
"Oh. Hi." Garth walks up to the Winchesters. "So, what'd I tell you? It's all good, right?"
"Everyone here's a wolf?" Dean asks quietly.
"Yeah." Garth nods.
"Yeah, not all good." Dean says.
"Oh, come on, Dean. You just got to meet them." Garth says. "That's Russ and Joba, Bess' first cousins on Sister Joy's side." He points out, the two men waving. He points to the group leader. "That's Reverend Jim, Bess' dad -- leader of the pack and a good man."
"Dean, isn't it? And, uh, Ophelia and Libby? Welcome. Jim Meyers. Folks usually call me..."
"Reverend Jim. Yeah, I got it." Dean says, not shaking Jim's outstretched hand.
"Oh. Uh, my bad. Dean's got this crazy fear of germs." Garth says.
"I understand your apprehension, Dean. Hunters and our kind don't have the best history together." Jim says.
"But I think you'll find we're not much different from you." Joy says.
"Oh, sister, I highly doubt it." Dean says.
"Why don't we break bread and see?" Jim suggests.
"Why would I do that?" Dean asks, earning an elbow to the ribs from Ophelia. Jim and Joy walk out of the room.
"Dean!" Garth quietly scolds.
"What?" Dean asks.
"Did nobody teach you manners growing up?" Ophelia asks. "Although, knowing your dad, probably not."
~ ~ ~
Everybody's sitting down at the table and they all have raw animal organs on the table for dinner, except for the Winchesters who have overcooked steak, corn, and burnt biscuits.
"Where's the bathroom?" Libby asks.
"Upstairs, first door on the left." Jim tells her.
"You look a little green." Dean quietly says.
"I am." Libby says, rushing upstairs. Dean grimaces sympathetically.
"Now, everybody eat up. But make sure to leave room for pie." Joy says.
"Sister Joy's pies are famous throughout the badger state." Jim says.
"Mm. Dean and Libby love pie." Garth says. Dean glares at him before continuing to watch them all eat.
"Don't you guys say some sort of grace or something?" Dean asks.
"We're more spiritual than we are religious. We believe, much like the American Indians did, that nature and man are one." Jim says.
"Yeah, really worked out well for them." Dean says making Garth glare at him. Dean notices them all wearing a silver bullet around their necks as necklaces. "So, why are a bunch of werewolves wearing silver bullets around their necks?"
"Sorry, Dean, but we don't use the "W" word around here. We prefer the term "lycanthrope."" Garth states.
""We"?" Dean asks.
"Well, I mean, he apparently is one now." Ophelia quietly retorts.
"He's entitled to his opinion, Garth." Jim says.
"Many of our kind see themselves as indestructible. This is a constant reminder of how precious our lives truly are." Bess says.
"Yeah, but it's silver. I mean, doesn't it burn?" Dean asks.
"Yeah, it does a bit, but that's kind of the point. It reminds us of our fragility." Garth says.
"My daughter, Bess, was born a lycanthrope. It was one of the proudest days of my life." Jim states. "Which soon turned tragic... when a hunter killed my wife. Believe me when I tell you, I wanted to make someone pay. Then I looked at Bess, and I realized the road to revenge is a dark and lonely one, which you never get off. And that hole in the pit of your stomach, you never fill it -- ever."
"Hey, no, I get it." Dean says.
"So I chose to look forward, not backwards. And the minute I did that, the powers that be brought this beautiful, compassionate, amazing woman into my life." Jim smiles at Joy. "And she helped me raise a little baby girl as if Bess were her own."
"I can't take all the credit. Daddy had a hand in it, too. He saw your potential." Joy says.
"Daddy?" Dean asks.
"My father -- bless his soul -- was the previous reverend of our church, the third generation in our family to serve." Joy informs.
"So, you're fourth generation werewolf?" Dean asks.
"Yes." Joy nods.
+++
Dean and Libby are in the kitchen and Dean opens the fridge, leaning down to look in it, seeing platters of raw organs. He looks back, seeing Libby looking in the opposite direction and studying the house.
Dean stands up and sees Russ and Joba standing in the kitchen.
"Still hungry?" Russ asks.
"Yeah, I was just, uh... seeing if you had any beer." Dean says, shutting the fridge. Russ and Joba step towards them in a threatening manner making Libby shuffle back and behind Dean.
"The sooner you realize that all is good here, the sooner you can go." Russ says.
"Don't you two have a chew toy or something to go play with?" Dean asks.
"Hey, guys." Garth walks in. "You mind if I grab a second with Dean here?" Russ and Joba leave and Garth waits for the door to shut before talking. "Why are you being so hard on everyone?"
"He's always hard on everyone." Libby comments.
"Because there's no way that all of this is what it looks like. No way." Dean says.
"Why not?" Garth asks.
"Come on, man. I know you drank the Kool-Aid, okay? But come on." Dean says.
"Look, amigo... I know this all looks nuts, but I found it. Love and a family? Who cares where that comes from?"
"I do."
"I get it. When I first got here, I couldn't let go either. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. But when it didn't, I had to accept the truth."
"Well, I got another truth for you -- we were all left in the dark when you went AWOL. I didn't know whether you were dead or worse. You should have reached out and sent someone a message."
"And said what, Dean? That I was a werewolf? I was embarrassed. I thought it best for everyone if I just stayed away. But that doesn't mean that I didn't think about and miss you and Sam and the girls... Kevin."
Libby looks down at the prophet's name, picking at her nail polish.
"Kevin's gone." Dean states.
"What?" Garth asks.
"Gone for good." Dean says.
"What happened?" Garth asks.
"When he needed me, I wasn't there. That's what." Dean says.
+++
It's nighttime and the girls are asleep in the back of the Impala. The brothers were staking out the house until Sam got a call from the sheriff so they went where he told them that he found a dead cow.
The sheriff ended up being a werewolf and about to kill them, but luckily Dean managed to kill him first. The girls had woken up at some point, going with Sam to get Garth and Bess while Dean went to the church.
The three walk through the hall that leads to Garth's apartment. Sam tries to open it, but it's locked so he takes his lock pick out. After getting it, he opens the door, the three slowly going in.
"Garth?" Sam calls out. He calls Dean, not finding anything or anyone.
"Hey. Did you find the lovebirds?" Dean asks.
"No. Place is a wreck. No Garth, no Bess." Sam states.
"What, they were taken? Well, that's fan-friggin-tastic." Dean says.
"Tell me you got something." Sam says.
"Well, this, uh... Ragnarok, end of days crap -- star of the story is a wolf named Fenris, who kills the God Odin before the world ends." Dean says.
"Okay. And that helps us how?" Sam asks.
"There are cults that consider Fenris a wolf deity and worship him. They call themselves the maw of Fenris."
"A cult of werewolves? What do they want?" Sam asks.
"Well, Ragnarok is not just a Bible story to these nutjobs. It's an action plan -- human extinction, total and complete werewolf domination." Dean states.
"And... what? This is the-- the ground zero for their movement?" Sam asks.
"Freakin' Wisconsin, man. Well, time for Reverend Jim to go down."
"Yeah. Need any help?"
"No, no, no, I got it. You just, uh, you find Garth."
"All right." Sam hangs up.
The three walk out of the apartment, immediately greeted by Russ and Sam is hit in the back of the head, falling unconscious. Before the girls can do anything, they're hit over their heads.
+++
Russ and Joba drag Sam's unconscious body in, Russ carrying Libby in his other arm, and Joba has Ophelia slung over his shoulder.
They drop the girls onto the ground and tie Sam to a tractor. Russ ties Ophelia up to the other end of the tractor and Joba ties Libby to a post.
"What are you two doing? Russ? Joba?!" Bess asks before seeing Joy walk in with a smile. "Mom? What is going on?" Joy slaps Bess across the face.
"Hey!" Garth yells.
"First off, I'm not your mother." Joy says.
"You leave her alone! You hear me?! You want to hurt somebody, you hurt me!" Garth shouts.
"Oh, that is so sweet." Joy laughs. "But I am going to hurt her. And him." She points to Sam. "And her and her." She points to Ophelia and then Libby. "But especially you, for bringing these hunters here. I'm gonna hurt all of you." She chuckles.
"I'm sorry." Garth tells Bess.
Joy slaps Garth.
"Please... don't do this. Not to Bess. She's your daughter." Garth says.
"How many times do I have to say this? Stepdaughter! I'm the last of my bloodline, thanks to you and your kind out there." Joy says.
"They're awake." Russ says, seeing Sam and Ophelia wake up.
"Well, don't you two just look good enough to eat." Joy says. She turns to see Libby waking up. "And the little one would make lovely dessert."
"Why are you doing this?" Sam asks. "I mean, me, I understand, the girls... as cold as it is, I kind of get. But these people are your family. Your pack."
"Last winter, my little brother, Charlie, was killed by a hunter." Joy states. "My husband counseled patience, restraint. Just as when he took over our beloved church, he preached a new direction -- lycanthropes and man would co-exist. Peace was more important than dominance."
"I tried so hard to make his way work... to be a preacher's wife. But then... Charlie was murdered. And I couldn't help remembering my daddy's sermons. And, by golly, turns out he was right. As long as there is a man, there can be no peace. Because man destroys. And I, for one, am sick of it."
"I get it now. Why co-exist when you can rule?" Sam asks.
"Bingo. But my husband doesn't see it that way. See, he was bitten, not born into it, like I was. He still holds on to his humanity. Which is why I am so pleased it will be his claws that start Ragnarok, not mine. You and your brother and little family coming here was a blessing from Fenris above."
"The four of you cornered Garth here, and then when Bess came running in to see what the fuss was about... you killed her."
"No!" Garth cries out.
"Here. Silver to the heart." Joy says.
"You're gonna frame their murders on me." Sam says.
"My husband turned his cheek once. I don't think he can do it again." Joy says. She walks over to Bess and aims the gun at her.
"Hey! Get away from her!" Garth yells.
"Killing you gives me no joy, but Ragnarok -- it's bigger than all of us." Joy says.
"You're sick." Bess says.
Joy aims her gun at her and as she's about to pull the trigger, Ophelia tilts her head to the side, sending the gun flying. Joy turns to her and Sam, a heated glare set on Ophelia.
"You're just dying for me to get my claws dirty, aren't you?" Joy asks, her fangs and claws showing and her eyes yellow. She moves to Ophelia, squeezing her jaw, her claws digging into the teenager's cheeks making her whine.
Joy goes to bite her, but is distracted, turning to see Joba attacking Dean. As Joba goes to scratch Dean, the hunter quickly grabs a knife, stabbing Joba in the side.
Joba falls to the ground, dad, and Dean gets up.
"Wearing Russ' coat to hide your scent -- smart." Joy says, her claws still drawing a little bit of blood from Ophelia's cheeks.
"Oh, I'm full of surprises." Dean says.
"As am I." Joy says. Dean dives for his gun and Joy's grip on Ophelia's face tightens. As Joy goes to bite her, Dean fires his gun, shooting the woman in the side.
Joy gasps and falls back, Dean shooting her again, in the heart this time.
Dean quickly rushes over to Ophelia who is sitting with her back pressed against the tractor as far back as she can manage, her wide eyes staring at where Joy's body is.
"Hey." Dean puts his hand on the side of her neck, getting her to look at him, knocking her out of her state of shock. "Hey, you good?" He asks. He gets a bandana out and wipes the blood off her cheeks.
"I, uh... yeah. Yeah, I'm good." Ophelia nods.
"Okay." Dean mutters. He quickly unties her before untying Sam, the two brothers getting the other three untied.
+++
Dean and Ophelia are sitting outside of the house, Garth and Bess inside, Bess comforting her father after explaining everything about Joy. Sam is inside with Libby, managing to get her to sleep.
"How you holding up?" Dean asks.
"I told you, I'm fine." Ophelia says.
"That's what we always say." Dean says.
"Well, sometimes I mean it." Ophelia says. "What's on your arm?" She asks, wanting to change the subject.
"What?" Dean asks.
"The red thing... on your arm. Looks kind of an like an "F." What is it?" Ophelia asks.
"It-- it's nothing. Nothing super important." Dean dismisses, his hand subconsciously going to where the mark is. Ophelia scoffs and rolls her eyes at him not telling her.
"Okay, fine. It-- it's a mark that Cain gave me. The Biblical Cain." Dean informs.
"Cain... gave you a mark?" Ophelia asks.
"Yes. To, uh... to be able to ice Abaddon." Dean states.
"I'm assuming there are side effects to this mark." Ophelia says.
"No clue. I, uh... I don't really know anything about it... aside from the, uh, killing Abaddon part." Dean says.
"Oh, well, that's a smart move." Ophelia sarcastically remarks.
"Look, O, I... I didn't know that you were... you were holding all of that in. Hurting so much." Dean says.
"Why would you? Not like you're the psychic... or as observant as Uncle Sam." Ophelia says.
"I still should've noticed. I'm your dad, I'm supposed to notice stuff." Dean says.
"You're also supposed to not leave." Ophelia retorts, looking up at him, Dean easily able to see the pain in her eyes.
"I can't drag you through my crap, baby. I-- I had to leave to protect you." Dean says.
"From what?" Ophelia asks.
"Me. I've been hurting you for most of your life. I didn't want to hurt you anymore." Dean says and Ophelia lets out a humorless laugh.
"You left. That hurt." She states, her eyes watering.
Dean frowns, his eyes conveying sadness.
"O--"
"You're doing a stellar job at not causing any more pain." Ophelia bites. She jumps off the hood of the car and quickly makes her way inside the house.
+++
After bidding goodbye to Garth, Dean drives to where Sam parked his car in the parking lot of the apartment complex Garth lives in. Ophelia gets out of the car, going over to Sam's.
"I'll send you that postcard." Sam says.
"Yeah." Dean says as Sam gets out.
"Bye, Uncle Dean." Libby tells her.
"Bye, sweetheart." Dean quietly tells her.
Dean watches the two walk to the car where Ophelia is already waiting. Dean quickly gets out.
"Hey." He calls making Sam and Libby turn around, their and Ophelia's attention on him. "Uh, listen, that night that, uh... you know, we went our-our separate ways--"
"You mean the night you split?" Sam asks.
Dean doesn't say anything for a moment, looking over at Ophelia who is staring at her hand that taps against the roof of Sam's car.
"Fair enough." Dean says. "I was messed up, man. Kevin was dead, and I... I don't know what I was."
"Okay." Sam says.
"Hell, maybe I still don't. But, uh... I know I took a piece of you in the process, and for that..." Dean trails off, struggling with what to say. "Somebody changed the playbook, man, you know? It's like what-what-- what's right is wrong and what's wrong is more wrong, and... I just know that when... when we rode together..."
"We split the crappiness." Sam says.
"Yeah. So..."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"But something's broken here, Dean."
"I'm not saying that it's not. I... I just think maybe we need to put a couple W's on the board and we get past all this."
"I don't think so. No, I-I wish, but... we don't... see things the same way anymore -- our roles in this whole thing. Back in that church, talking me out of boarding up Hell? Or-or tricking me into letting Gadreel possess me? I can't trust you -- not the way I thought I could, not the way I should be able to."
"Okay, look. Whatever happened... we are family, okay?"
"That's not a great defense when half of our extended family is full psycho jackasses." Ophelia interjects.
"You say that like it's some sort of cure-all, like it can change the fact that everything that has ever gone wrong between us has been because we're family." Sam says.
"So, what? We're not family now?" Dean asks.
"I'm saying, you want to work? Let's work. If you want to be brothers..." Sam trails off, letting Dean fill in the blank himself. "Those are my terms." Dean stays silent for a few moments before nodding.
Sam grabs Libby's hand and opens the back door for her, shutting it after she climbs in, and he gets in the passenger seat.
Ophelia sighs, walking to the Impala and getting in the backseat without a word.