Larissa, Bobby, and the boys break into the Campbell family's old compound. Sam leads to them to the trapdoor he knows about and they go in it.
"Welcome to the Campbell family library." Sam says.
"So, Samuel collected all this stuff, huh?" Dean asks.
"Apparently." Sam says.
"Wow. All right, well, what are we looking for?" Dean asks.
"Well, anything that'll put a run in the Octomom's stockings. Pick a row." Bobby says.
~ ~ ~
"Bingo." Bobby says. "Any of you jokers ever heard of anything about a Phoenix?"
"River, Joaquin, or the giant flaming bird?" Dean asks.
"It says here that the ashes of a Phoenix can burn the mother." Bobby says.
"The mother?" Sam asks.
"Great. Where do we get one?" Dean asks.
"You got me. I thought it was a myth." Bobby says.
"All right, great. Well, let's see if we can find something out about a Phoenix." Sam says.
~ ~ ~
"Guys. Guys, guys, guys, guys, check it out." Dean walks over to the table with a book. ""March 5, 1861. Sunrise, Wyoming. Gun killed a Phoenix today. Left a pile of smoldering ash."" He reads.
"Really? Whose gun?" Sam asks.
"Colt's." Dean informs.
"Colt? Colt like--"
"Like the Colt. From..." Dean holds the book up with a grin. "Samuel Colt's journal."
"What?" Sam grins. "That's his?"
"Yeah." Dean nods.
"Dude, no."
"Dude, yes."
"Well, let me see it." Sam reaches for the book.
"Get your own." Dean says.
"Well, what else did he say about the Phoenix? What does it look like? Has it got feathers?" Bobby asks.
"It just says Phoenix." Dean says.
"Did he say where he tracked it?" Bobby asks.
"No." Dean shakes his head.
"All right, so I guess we got to find one of our own, whatever it is." Sam says.
"I know where we can find one. March 5, 1861. Sunrise, Wyoming. We'll Star Trek IV this bitch." Dean says. Larissa and Sam share confused looks.
"I only watched Deep Space Nine." Bobby says.
"It's like I don't even know you guys anymore." Dean says. "Star Trek IV. Save the whales." The other three still give him confused looks. "We hop back in time, we join up with Samuel Colt, we hunt the Phoenix, and then we haul the ashes back home with us."
"Time travel?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah." Dean nods.
"That's a reasonable plan?" Bobby asks.
"We got a guy who can swing it." Dean says. "Castiel. The, uh, fate of the world is in the balance. So, come on down here. Come on, Cas, I Dream of Jeannie your ass down here pronto. Please."
A blonde female angel appears.
"Jeannie?" Dean asks.
"Rachel." She corrects. "I understand you need some assistance? How can I help you?"
"Well, uh, we kind of need to talk to the Big Kahuna." Dean says.
"I'm here on Castiel's behalf." Rachel says.
"Where is he?" Sam asks.
"Busy." Rachel says.
"Busy?" Dean asks.
"Yes." Rachel nods.
"Well, we've got a line on the mother of fucking everything, so--"
"I'm sure your issue's very important. But Castiel is currently commanding an army, so--"
"So, we get stuck with Miss Moneypenny."
"So, you need to learn your place."
"Look, I don't know who you think you are--"
"I'm his friend."
"What, you think we're not?" Sam asks.
"I think you call him when you need something. We're fighting a war." Rachel says.
"We get that." Sam says.
"Clearly, you don't, or you wouldn't call him every time you stub your toe, you petty, entitled little pie--"
"Rachel." Cas appears. "That's enough."
"I told you I'd take care of this." Rachel says.
"It's all right. You can go." Cas tells her.
"You're staying?" She asks.
"Go. I'll come when I can." Cas says.
Rachel disappears.
"Wow. Friend of yours?" Dean asks.
"Yes. She's, uh, my lieutenant. She's... committed to the cause." Cas says.
"You don't say." Larissa mutters.
"I... I just did say." Cas says, looking at her confused.
"Ri-right. Cas, it's a... never mind." Larissa dismisses.
"What do you need?" Cas asks.
+++
"Where the hell's Dean?" Bobby asks.
"Supply run, he said. I don't know." Sam shrugs.
"Um, about your plan. You'll only have 24 hours." Cas says.
"Wait, what? Why?" Sam asks.
"Well, the answer to your question can best be expressed as a series of partial differential equations." Cas says.
"Yeah, aim lower." Bobby says.
"The further back I send you, the harder it becomes to retrieve you. 24 hours is all I can risk. If I don't pull you home within that time, you'll be lost without me." Cas explains.
"Well, then we better get you a watch." Dean states, walking in with some shopping bags.
"What the hell's all that?" Bobby asks.
"We are going native. Got to blend in." Dean hands Sam one bag and Larissa another.
"Uh, no, thanks. I'm fine." Sam says.
"Yeah, me, too." Larissa says.
"Guys." Dean says.
"Dean, I can-- I can wear this." Sam gestures to the clothes he has on.
"And look like a spaceman?" Dean asks.
"Look, just because you're obsessed with all that wild west stuff--"
"No, I'm not."
"You have a fetish."
"Shut up. I like old movies."
"You can recite every Clint Eastwood movie ever made, line for line." Sam says.
"Damn." Larissa mumbles.
"Even the monkey movies?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah. Especially the monkey movies." Sam says.
"His name is Clyde." Dean says. "At least wear the damn shirt." He tells Sam. "And you need to change completely." He tells Larissa.
~ ~ ~
Sam and Dean walk down the stairs. Sam is wearing a white button up shirt that has yellow roses embroidered on the shoulders. Dean has a whole western outfit on, including a cowboy hat and a sarape.
"Dean, this is stupid. I look stupid." Sam says.
"You going to a hoedown?" Bobby asks Dean.
"Now, is it-- is it customary to wear a blanket?" Cas asks.
"It's a sarape. And, yes. It's, uh... never mind." Dean says. "Rissa, running out of daylight here!" He shouts.
"Dean Winchester, I am going to literally kill you! You better enjoy the last few moments you have your manly hood!" Larissa shouts as they hear her heels click on the stairs.
Larissa reaches the bottom of the stairs, a death glare sent in the older Winchester brother's direction. She's wearing a saloon girl dress, the sleeves resting off her shoulders, the back of the somewhat poofy skirt goes down to her ankles while the front of the skirt stops just above her knees. The dress is tight around her abdomen, but she's still somehow able to breathe.
"I'm going to kill you." She growls at Dean. "I look ridiculous."
"Ah, come on. Don't be so sour. You look-- you look great." Dean says. "Right, Sammy? Huh?" He turns to his brother. "Help me before she really does shoot the mini Dean's, please." He mutters.
"I, uh... it is kind of hot." Sam admits. Larissa's eyes slightly widen, her cheeks heating up.
"It's so hot, you wear it." Larissa retorts, walking over to the rest of them.
"I don't think it would fit." Sam muses, a small smirk on his face.
""I don't think it would fit."" Larissa quietly mocks in a deep voice. "I'm killing you after I kill him." She threatens, pointing to Dean.
"Wha-- I didn't-- I didn't do anything." Sam says.
"You're both pains my ass." Larissa remarks.
"Hey, you chose him. Him and I are just stuck with each other." Dean reminds her.
"Kill 'em later. We gotta find this Phoenix first." Bobby says.
"What's this?" Dean motions to the bag that's full of gold watches and chains.
"Where you're going, they don't take plastic." Bobby says.
"I'll send you back to March 4th. That should give you time to find the colt... and this Phoenix creature." Cas says.
"All right, well, see ya at high noon tomorrow." Dean clicks his tongue.
Sam holds onto Larissa's hand and Cas touches the brothers' forehead, the three hunters appearing in a western town.
"Oh, now we're talking." Dean says. "All right. Let's go find Samuel Colt." Sam sets the timer on his watch for 24 hours. "Hey, we should try the saloon first, uh, see what we get from the locals. And, hey, you'll fit in right in." He pats Larissa on the back.
Larissa glares and lets out a quiet growl, holding her hands up to go strangle him. She charges for him, but Sam wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her back.
"Later, later, later." Sam tells her.
"Why do you always tell her "later"? How about never?" Dean suggests.
"Whatever, Sundance." Sam tells him.
"Think we'll have time to hit on saloon girls?" Dean asks. Sam gives him a look. "Oh, right, you already have one." Larissa charges at him again, Sam holding her back again. "I'm kidding. Come on."
Sam takes a step, but stops when he hears a squish. Larissa grimaces as she looks down, seeing he stepped in horse poop.
"Oh, damn it. Come on." Sam groans in disgust.
"You know what that is?" Dean asks.
"Yeah, it's horse sh--"
"Authenticity!"
Dean walks ahead and Sam quietly groans, turning to Larissa.
"I hate this." Sam says.
"Least you don't have a corset digging into your ribcage." Larissa grumbles.
"Wh-- well, can you breathe? Does it hurt?" Sam asks, concern taking over his voice.
"Yes, yes, I can breathe. I'm fine. It's just... uncomfortable." Larissa says, fidgeting with the dress. "Come on. Sooner we get through this, sooner I can go back to my clothes."
They walk to the center of town where a crowd is as they are getting ready to hang a man.
"We stand here today -- March 4th, 1861 -- to execute justice upon Elias Finch for the murder of his own wife." The judge announces.
"Wow. Talk about authenticity." Sam says.
"Sentence handed down by myself, Ty Mortimer, duly appointed judge of the Wyoming circuit. You will be hung by your neck until you die." The judge says.
"You got anything to say?" The sheriff asks.
"You're gonna burn for this. Every one of you." Elias says. They pull the lever, the floor beneath Elias opening, and he's hung, the crowd able to hear the crack of his bones.
"Good times. So, where do we find Sammy Colt?" Dean asks.
"No idea." Sam says. "I think I know who to ask, though." He says, pointing out the sheriff and judge walking down the steps from the hanging platform.
"Nice blanket." A man tells Dean sarcastically.
Dean frowns as he takes the sarape off.
~ ~ ~
"Sheriff? Can we have a word?" Dean asks, the three walking into the jail.
"Depends. Who's askin'?" The sheriff asks.
"Marshal Eastwood. Clint Eastwood." Dean says and Larissa can't help but to roll her eyes. "This here is, uh, Walker. He's a Texas Ranger. She's, uh... Walker's wife."
"We don't talk about stuff in front of non-government folks." The sheriff says.
Larissa looks at the brothers who helplessly shrug. She rolls her eyes, walking outside.
"Fucking 1800s. Stupid saloon dress. I'm sure sexism will pop up." Larissa grumbles.
"Hey, there, pretty lady." A man walks up to her with a suggestive smirk.
"Get lost." Larissa tells him.
"Oh, come on. Don't play so hard to get." The guy says, staring at her cleavage a little too long for her liking.
"I'm not playing anything. I'm telling you to leave me alone before I punch you." Larissa says.
"C'mon, gorgeous. Let's just get a room and have a little fun." He smirks.
"I think you should get a room and go have some fun by yourself." Larissa says.
"Oh, come on." He puts his hand on her waist and she punches him. "Oh!" He holds his nose. "Oh, what the hell, you crazy bitch?!"
"I told you to leave me alone." Larissa says.
"You little--" He grabs her wrists tightly, getting in her face.
"Hey." The guy turns to see Sam and Dean walking out of the jail and down the few steps. Sam bats the guy's hands off of Larissa, stepping in front of her protectively. "I think she told you to leave her alone."
Sam squares his shoulders, standing at his full height.
"Sorry, man. Just trying to help the poor girl out." The guy says.
"Don't think she needs any help." Sam says.
"Yeah, pal. Get lost before we, uh... arrest you." Dean says.
The guy scoffs and rolls his eyes, walking away.
"Are you okay?" Sam asks, turning to Larissa.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Dean assures.
"Not you, dumbass." Sam gives his brother a bitch face.
"I'm okay, Sammy. It's-- it's fine." Larissa says.
"No, it isn't. He's a dick." Sam says.
"I know. But, he's gone. I have zero permanent trauma and zero bruises. I'm okay." Larissa gives him a reassuring look.
"Fine." Sam mumbles. Larissa smiles at his worry, pecking him on the lips. However, Sam doesn't pull away, continuing the kiss.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Dean pulls them apart. "Nah-unh. Please, dear God, not when I'm right here." He grimaces. "Saloon time, sickos. I'm getting my own saloon girl." He walks off.
"Guess we gotta go." Sam says.
"It's okay. We can kiss more later." Larissa grins and Sam smiles back at her. He lets her grab his hand, dragging him to the saloon.
The three walk into the saloon, finding the bartender behind the counter and two saloon girls by a piano.
"This is not awesome." Dean says. Larissa quietly laughs at his expectations being crushed.
"Hi." Sam greets the bartender.
"What'll you have?" Elkins asks.
"Oh, uh, okay. Great. I'll have your top shelf whiskey." Dean says.
"Only have the one shelf." Elkins says.
"That'll do just fine. And they'll have some sarsaparillas." Dean points to the couple.
"You Elkins?" Sam asks.
"One and only." Elkins says.
"You know a man named Samuel Colt?" Dean asks.
"He passed through here about four years ago." Elkins says.
"He still around?" Sam asks.
"Rumor is he's building a railroad stop 20 miles out of town, just by the postal road. Middle of nowhere." Elkins says.
"The devil's gate?" Sam whispers.
"Location fits." Dean whispers back.
"Howdy, boys." A saloon girl walks up to them.
"Darla's my best girl." Elkins says.
"Try me. You want a kiss?" Darla asks, leaning towards Dean who leans away from her. Sam tries not to laugh at his brother's discomfort.
"S-So much germier than I pictured." Dean says with a disgusted look.
"Darla!" A man calls.
"Judge." She turns to him. "Nice to see you." Darla says.
"I thought we had a date." The judge says. Darla slowly walks up the stairs, winking at Dean, as the judge follows her.
"Wow. That was a close one." Dean says.
"I guess it's good to be judge." Sam says.
"Yeah." Dean takes a drink of whiskey, but immediately spits it out, groaning in disgust. "It's like gasoline."
"Sarsaparilla ain't half bad." Sam smirks at his brother. Larissa smirks in amusement and the couple clink their glasses together, both enjoying Dean's pain.
They hear a scream from upstairs and rush upstairs. They race into the room Darla and the judge were in, finding Darla in the corner and a skeleton that's half ash on the bed.
~ ~ ~
"You okay, sheriff?" Dean asks.
"Of course I'm okay." He says.
"It was a ghost." Darla insists.
"It wasn't a ghost. Unless ghosts leave footprints." The sheriff motions to the footprints on the floor, leading out of the room.
"I am telling you, Elias Finch was here. He did... that, and then he walked out that door." Darla says.
"Rope didn't kill him. Seen it before." The sheriff says.
"Well, you got an idea where he could be?" Sam asks.
"Could be a thousand places." The sheriff says.
"Well, you got a way to flush him out?" Dean asks.
"Course. We're gonna form a posse. Then we're gonna string Finch up right. Put a bullet in his head for good measure." The sheriff says.
"That actually sounds like a good plan." Dean says.
"You two should come along. Meet downstairs at dawn." The sheriff tells the brothers.
"Yeah, we'll be there." Dean says.
"Get yourselves some real gear first, huh?" The sheriff suggests.
"Well, I think we ought to pay our respects to Finch." Dean says.
"I was thinking the same thing." Sam says.
+++
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Sam asks as the three walk in the cemetery.
"Rose from the ashes, burned up its victims? You know, maybe we're not looking for a flaming bird. Maybe the Phoenix is actually walking around in cowboy boots." Dean says.
"That makes sense, right? Could be Finch. So, question is, how do we put this thing out?" Sam asks.
"Well, we do know one thing that'll kill fucking anything, right?" Dean says.
"Yeah, the colt."
"So, you go get the gun."
"But isn't the gun coming here? I mean, according to Samuel Colt's journal?"
"Yeah, but people here barely even know who Colt is. Maybe you got to go find him and make history."
"I'll stay here, hook up with the posse. Cause you know me... I'm a posse magnet." Dean grins, the two younger adults rolling their eyes. "I mean, I love posse. Make that into a T-shirt."
"You done?" Sam asks and Dean loses his smile. "Look, the problem is, Colt's 20 miles outside of town. How are we supposed to get there and back before noon?"
They turn when they hear a horse neigh a few yards away.
"Ride 'em, cowboy." Dean says.
~ ~ ~
They bought the horse, the guy who sold it walking away. Sam goes to get on the horse, but Dean stops him.
"Uh, try the other side." Dean says. Sam nods and goes to the other side while Dean pets the horse's face. "Yeah, good boy."
Sam gets on the horse and he grabs the reigns.
"Hey. This actually feels all right." Sam says.
"All right, take it-- just take it easy." Dean says.
"Yeah, you bet. I'm good." Sam says. "Lissy?"
the woman grimaces a little, but puts one foot in the stirrup, holding onto the saddle.
"It's not gonna like... freak out or anything, right?" Larissa asks.
"What, are you scared of horses? Just get on." Dean tells her.
Larissa huffs and pulls herself up, swinging a leg over the saddle. She wraps her arms around Sam's waist, keeping somewhat of a tight grip to reduce the risk of falling off.
"All right, 11:00 AM, right?" Sam asks.
"Don't be late." Dean warns.
"Okay." Sam nods.
"All right. Go on. Go. Hyah!" Dean watches the horse trot off. Sam struggles to balance, Larissa tightening her grip out of anxiety.
"I'm okay!" Sam calls out to Dean.
"That poor horse." Dean says.
+++
Sam and Larissa get to Samuel's house and go in, looking around inside.
"Hello?" Sam asks. They both get splashed with water. "Okay, not a demon! Not demons! Just-- just hunters."
"You're what?" Samuel asks.
"You Samuel Colt?" Sam asks. "My name is Sam Winchester. This is my-my... my girlfriend, Larissa Brewster." He smiles a little, realizing it's the first time he ever called her that. Larissa ignores her small blush at the term. "We're-- we're hunters from the year 2011."
"Prove it." Samuel says.
"Uh... phone." Sam mumbles.
"I don't have it. I have zero pockets." Larissa whispers.
Sam takes his phone out and shows it to Samuel who grabs it.
"All right." Samuel puts the phone on a bookshelf behind the desk.
"A-All right? That's, uh... that's it?" Sam asks.
"Well, when you've done this job as long as I have... a giant and his girl from the future with some magic brick doesn't exactly give you vapors." Samuel says.
"We need your help killing a phoenix." Sam says.
"A Phoenix? They exist?" Samuel asks.
"Well, you shoot one in about three hours." Sam says.
"If you say so." Samuel says.
"I don't. You do." Sam gives him his journal.
"That's..." Samuel looks at his journal he already had. "I'm either too drunk or not trunk enough. So, what is it I'm about to exactly do?"
"Well, the Phoenix is in Sunrise, so, uh, if we leave now, you can--"
"I appreciate your situation, but I'm not gonna be of any help to you. I'm booked."
"Right, but-but you say right here--"
"Don't believe everything that you read."
"But you're a hunter."
"Retired."
"There's no such thing."
"I'm out."
"There is no getting out. Look, for what it's worth, in my time, you're a hero."
"Me?"
"Yes, sir." Sam nods and Samuel laughs. "Now, look, we-we need to kill this Phoenix. Its ashes are the only thing that can kill the monster I'm hunting. So stow your crap for a few hours, and let's go. We got to go now. So, either you're coming with us, or we need the gun."
"What gun?"
"The gun."
"Oh, that gun. I lost it in a game of Stud."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Now, that doesn't sound like me."
"You shot a couple of demons with it less than an hour ago."
"How do you figure?"
"Two pairs of bootprints. Cabin reeks of sulfur." Sam says.
"Not bad." Samuel muses. "You don't want it. It's a curse. Believe me."
"Great. Then let me take it off your hands." Sam says.
"You go put on a few more miles and come back, and we'll talk." Samuel says.
"Trust me, I've got plenty of mileage."
"I'm doing you a favor. Believe me."
"So, what? You can really just sit there?"
"I've given my whole life to this. I'm done."
"So, it doesn't matter what happens."
"No, it doesn't."
"So, everything you did, it all means nothing? Give me the gun."
+++
"Dean!" Sam calls.
"Sam, come on, come on!" Dean calls, the two rushing over to him. "Hey, where's Colt?"
"He's not coming." Sam says.
"What?" Dean asks.
"But he sent this." Sam takes the Colt out, giving it to Dean.
"Oh, hello, beautiful." Dean greets. "Come on."
Sam and Larissa stay hidden while Dean walks out to the main road.
"Get out here, Finch!" Dean shouts.
"What are you doing?" Sam calls.
"Come on! Let's do this!" Dean shouts.
"What is he doing?" Sam hisses to Larissa.
"It's a showdown." Larissa informs.
"Why do you know that?" Sam asks.
"I saw it on an episode of Psych. The bad dude actually looked a lot like Bobby." Larissa says.
"So, this is how you want to die. Fine." Elias says.
Dean and Elias stand opposite of each other, a few yards in between them. When the clock strikes twelve, they pull their guns out and shoot. Dean gets the shot in before Elias, killing him as he bursts into flames, leaving a pile of ashes behind.
"Yipee-ki-yay, motherfucker."
"Dean! The ashes!" Sam shouts. The three run towards the ashes. Dean crashes to the ground, but they realize they stopped in Bobby's house.
Larissa sees Bobby and Cas. She looks over, seeing the bottle that Dean had empty -- zero Phoenix ashes.
~ ~ ~
"You gotta send us back." Dean tells Cas.
"Dean, look at him. He's fried." Sam says.
"Bobby, you--" Dean starts.
"I'm still kicking, Annie Oakley. Be back good as new in... a decade or two." Bobby says.
"And we screwed the pooch. Bobby, I'm sorry." Dean tells him.
There's a knock on the door and Sam goes to answer it. He soon returns with a package and puts it on the desk, opening it. He takes his phone out before taking a note out.
""Dear Sam, I got this address and date off your thingamjig, and I thought the enclosed might come in handy. Regards, Samuel Colt."" Sam reads.
Sam pulls out a bottle that's full of Phoenix ashes.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bobby asks.
"Ashes of a Phoenix." Dean says. "Know what this means?"
"Yeah, I didn't get a soulonoscopy for nothing." Bobby says.
"Yes. And... it means we take the fight to her." Dean says.
+++
Larissa walks into the spare bedroom she uses, Sam already lying on it. She has a few cookies on a plate.
"I can breathe freely." She lets out a breath of relief, a relaxed smile on her face. Sam quietly chuckles and sits up as she sits on the bed.
"So... you want cookies? Or you wanna continue that kissing we were doing earlier?" Larissa asks.
"Um..." Sam pretends to think about it before smiling and kissing Larissa, a hand going to the side of her neck. Larissa smiles into the kiss, blindly dropping the plate onto the floor, her arms wrapping around Sam.
They continue to make out, Larissa falling onto the soft bed with Sam hovering over her. One of his arms rests above Larissa's head to support himself, and he still has his other hand on the side of her head.
Sam slowly trails his hand down Larissa's arm, putting his hand on her hip. His hand drifts down a little when they shuffle around. He lets his hand fall to the bed, making contact with Larissa's butt. Feeling his hand be too close for liking, Larissa slaps his hand.
"Ow!" He shakes his hand out.
"Shit! I'm sorry." Larissa winces. "I'm-I'm so sorry. It was-- it was a little too close, I... I didn't mean to hit you, though."
"No, no, no, it's-- it's okay. It's my fault. I didn't realize it would touch you there. I should've just kept it shoulders up." Sam says as he sits up. Larissa sits up.
"I'm sorry. I-I really didn't mean to. I thought I was comfortable, but I'm not. I mean, I'm-- I'm comfortable with you, you know, I feel safe. But the whole sex thing, I-I don't feel comfortable with. It's mostly the trauma from Liam, not from soulless you, I promise. And-And I really did not mean to slap you, I don't know what came over me, I--"
"Hey, hey, hey. Lissy, hey." Sam cradles her face with his good hand. "It's okay. It's okay."
"Really?" She quietly asks.
"Yes. You're not okay with it, we aren't doing it." Sam says.
"Are you sure? I mean, if you want--"
"No. No, if it brings you any discomfort, I don't wanna do anything." Sam states.
"Really?" She asks. The shock in her eyes pulls at Sam's heart.
"Really." He nods. "I want you for much more than just sex." Larissa softly smiles and kisses Sam.
"Thank you." She whispers.
"How about we just watch a movie and eat some cookies?" Sam suggests, lightly brushing his thumb over her cheekbone.
"Okay." Larissa smiles and nods. Sam gently smiles and kisses her on the forehead before getting up to get his laptop.