The Winchesters get to the Roadhouse and Sam gets Libby out of her car seat while Ophelia gets out and holds Dean's hand.
"Los Angeles, California." Dean says.
"What's in L.A.?" Sam asks.
"Young girl's been kidnapped by an evil cult." Dean says.
"Yeah? Girl got a name?"
"Katie Holmes." Dean says and Sam laughs.
"That's funny. And for you, so bitchy." Sam says.
They hear glass break from inside the roadhouse.
"Of course, on the other hand -- catfight."
They walk in, finding Jacob and Larissa behind the counter, both having tired and annoyed expressions on their faces while Jo and Ellen argue.
"I am your mother, I don't have to be reasonable!"
"You can't keep me here!"
"Oh, don't you bet on that, sweetie."
Libby quietly whines, covering her ears, nestling her face into the crook of Sam's neck and he gently rests a hand on the back of her head.
"What are you going to do? Are you going to chain me up in the basement?"
"You know what, you've had worse ideas than that recently. Hey, you don't wanna stay, don't stay. Go back to school."
"I didn't belong there! I was a freak with a knife collection."
"Yeah, and getting yourself killed on some dusty back road, that's where you belong?!" Ellen turns, seeing the Winchesters. "Guys, bad time."
"Yes, ma'am." Sam says.
"Definitely." Natalie says.
"Yeah, we rarely drink before ten anyway." Dean says.
"Wait. I wanna know what they think about this." Jo says.
"I don't care what they think!" Ellen yells.
"Are you guys open?" A dad for a family of four asks. They're all wearing matching bright yellow T-shirts and the kids are around Libby's age.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"It... it is not the best time." Jacob says.
"Yeah. Yes, um... sorry." Larissa politely smiles.
"We'll just... check out the Arby's down the road." The dad says. Larissa gives him a double thumbs up and the family walks out.
The phone rings making Jo glare at it before glaring at her mother. Larissa and Jacob share a look and Larissa answers the phone.
"Harvelle's." She says. "Yeah, of course." She lowers the phone. "Ellen." She holds the phone out to her. Ellen marches over, ripping the phone away from her.
"Harvelle's. Yeah, preacher." Ellen says.
"Three weeks ago, a young girl disappears from a Philadelphia apartment." Jo holds the file folder out to Dean who doesn't move. "Take it, it won't bite."
"No, but your mom might." Dean says.
Jo doesn't back down and eventually, Dean reluctantly takes the file.
"And this girl wasn't the first. Over the past 80 years, six women have vanished. All from the same building, all young blondes." Jo says.
"Well, excellent time to be a brunette." Natalie comments.
"I hear that." Larissa high fives her.
Sam flicks Natalie in the head, giving her a look.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Insensitive. Sorry." Natalie says.
"Only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the patter. So we're either dealing with one very old serial killer or--"
"Who put this together? Ash?" Dean asks, cutting Jo off.
"I did it myself." Jo says. Dean hums, impressed.
"I gotta admit. We hit the road for a lot less." Sam says.
"Good. You like the case so much, you take it." Ellen says.
"Mom!" Jo cries.
"Joanna Beth, this family has lost enough. And I won't lose you, too. I just won't." Ellen says.
+++
Jo walks into Larissa's room.
"Pack." Jo orders.
"I'm doing great, JoJo, thanks for asking." Larissa remarks.
"Look, I am going on that case and you are coming with me." Jo says.
"Why? So your mom can kill both of us?" Larissa asks. "I know we say we're friends until the end, but I don't think this needs to be the end for both of us."
"Look, I am perfectly capable of doing this alone. I just want you. You're my friend." Jo says.
"Are you asking Jacob?" Larissa asks.
"What, are you nuts. Why would I ask Jacob?" Jo asks.
"Why would you ask Jacob what?" They turn to said man standing in the doorway.
"Nothing." Jo says.
"You're going on that case, aren't you?" Jacob asks with a knowing smirk.
"No." Jo lies.
"You're so going. I'm coming with." Jacob says.
"For what in return?" Jo asks.
"Nothing. Well, not from you." Jacob says.
"What does that mean?" Jo asks.
"It means I get to spend time Natalie." Jacob says.
"Whipped." Larissa coughs.
"Shut up." Jacob tells her. "I'm going. Meet you in 10." He walks out.
"Ugh. Fine." Jo grumbles under her breath. She gets an idea and turns to Larissa. "You know... if you went... you could spend some time with Sam." Jo hides her small smirk.
"You're evil." Larissa's eyes narrow.
"I know." Jo grins.
+++
They get into the apartment of the last missing woman. Sam is holding Libby and Ophelia lets go of Natalie's hand once they're inside.
"I feel kind of bad, snaking Jo's case." Sam says.
"Yeah. Maybe she put together a good file. But could you see her out here working one of these things? I don't think so." Dean comments.
"And just what does that mean?" Natalie questions.
"It-- it means she's inexperienced." Dean says. "Relax. I'm not being sexist."
"He's telling the truth." Ophelia says.
"Hmm. You know, her bluntness comes in handy sometimes." Dean comments. "You guys getting anything?"
"No, not yet." Sam says.
"No, no." Libby says making Sam slightly smile in amusement.
"Nada." Natalie answers.
"What's that?" Sam asks.
"What?" Natalie and Dean ask, walking over to him, Ophelia following. In the light switch, there's some sort of black goo. Sam puts a finger in it, bringing his hand back to inspect it.
"Holy crap." Sam says. Dean dips his finger in the goo.
"Ew." Ophelia grimaces, seeing the black goo on her dad and uncle's fingers.
"Why the hell are you guys touching it?" Natalie grimaces in disgust. Dean looks at her for a few moments before sticking his goo covered finger towards her. Natalie leaps back, smacking his arm away, giving him a bitch face as he laughs.
"That's ectoplasm." Dean states. "Well, twinnies, I think I know what we're dealing with here. It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man." Both twins roll their eyes.
"Dean, I've only seen this stuff, like, twice. I mean, to make this stuff you have to be one majorly pissed off spirit." Sam says.
"All right, let's find this badass before he snags any more girls." Dean says.
~ ~ ~
The Winchesters are leaving the apartment and they hear voices get closer.
"It's so convenient." They hear a woman say. Natalie recognizes the voice, but can't pinpoint it yet. They duck around the corner, Dean wrapping an arm around Ophelia's middle and holds her up. Sam keeps Libby's face hidden in his jacket so she doesn't make noise.
"Yeah, it's a great building, fixed it up real nice. All the apartments come furnished, too." The landlord says.
"Oh, that's great." Larissa says as the familiar voices finally dawn on Natalie who they are.
"It is so spacious. You know, my friend told me we absolutely have to come check it out, and I have to admit, she was right." Jo says.
"I must say, you did an excellent job with this place." Jacob comments.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Dean asks, the family coming out of hiding.
"There you are, honey." Jo smiles at Dean. She heads for Dean, subtly knocking Larissa towards Sam in the process. Larissa stumbles into Sam and he quickly wraps his free arm around her to keep her up.
"Hey, babe." Jacob smiles at Natalie, walking over to her and he kisses her on the head, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"What are you doing?" She quietly asks.
"Just play along." He says through gritted teeth.
"This is my boyfriend, Dean. Lari's boyfriend, Sam. And Jacob's girlfriend, Natalie." Jo informs. Larissa awkwardly laughs, patting Sam's side.
"Good to meet ya. Quite some gals you guys got. And a real good guy you've got." The landlord says.
"Right. Yes, yeah, uh... ri-right." Sam stammers, awkwardly clearing his throat, his arm around Larissa's shoulders, hand resting on her upper arm.
"Oh, yeah, she's a pistol." Dean smacks Jo on the ass.
"Yeah, no, he's something." Natalie scoffs.
"I'm Ophelia." The six year old smiles. "The baby's Libby."
"I not a baby." Libby pouts.
"You're close enough." Ophelia retorts and Dean gently yanks on her braided pigtail.
"Stop." He whispers to her.
"So, did you already check out the apartment?" Jo asks, earning clueless looks from the three Winchesters. "The one for rent." She specifies.
"Yeah. Yes. Loved it. Heh. Great flow." Dean says.
"How'd you get in?" The landlord asks.
"It was open." Dean says.
"Now, Ed, um, when did the last tenant move out?" Jo asks.
"Oh, about a month ago. Cut and run, too. Stiffed me for the rent." Ed says.
"Well. Her loss, our gain!" Jo grins. "Cause if Dean-o loves it, it's good enough for me."
"Oh, sweetie." Dean smacks her on the ass again.
"We'll take it." Jo holds out a large roll of cash out to Ed.
~ ~ ~
"I'll flip you for the sofa." Jo tells Dean.
"Does your mother even know you three are here?" Dean asks.
"I prefer the term aunt." Larissa says. "Though, she is a mother figure, I suppose."
"Told her we were going to Vegas." Jo says.
"You think she's gonna buy that?" Dean asks.
"I'm not an idiot. I got Ash to lay credit card trails all the way to the casinos. Well, bakeries for Larissa. She hates gambling and sucks at anything that's in a casino." Jo says.
"No need to tell them." Larissa says.
"You know, you shouldn't lie to your mom. Shouldn't be here either." Dean says.
"What, because you never lied to your dad or anything?" Jacob asks.
"Well, we are. So untwist your boxers and deal with it." Jo says.
"Where'd you get all that money from, anyways?" Sam asks.
"Working at the roadhouse." Jo says.
"Hunters don't tip that well." Dean says.
"Well, they aren't that good at poker either." Jo says.
"That's the truest thing that she's ever said." Jacob agrees.
Dean's phone rings and he answers it, "Yeah."
"Are they with you?" Ellen asks.
"Oh, hi, Ellen." Dean greets.
"They left a note they're in Vegas. I don't believe it for a second. If one of them's got a stupid idea, it doesn't take much work to get the other two in on it -- especially the girls." Ellen says.
"I'm telling her." Dean states. Jo and Dean have a hushed argument.
"What are they saying?" Ophelia quietly asks.
"I don't know if they're actually speaking or just making noise." Natalie mumbles.
"Dean?" Ellen calls.
"I haven't seen 'em." Dean says.
"You sure about that?" Ellen asks.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Dean says.
"Well, please, if they show up, you'll drag their butts right back here, won't you?" Ellen asks.
"Absolutely."
"Okay. Thanks, honey."
~ ~ ~
Dean is pacing while the others sit at the table and study blueprints. The two kids are on the couch and watching TV at a low volume. Jo is flipping her knife around.
"This place was built in 1924. It was originally a warehouse, converted into apartments a few months ago." Jo explains.
"Yeah? What was here before 1924?" Dean asks.
"Nothing. Empty field." Jo says.
"So, most likely scenario, someone died bloody in the building, and now he's back and raising hell." Sam says.
"I already checked. In the past 82 years, zero violent deaths. Unless you count a janitor who slipped on a wet floor." Jo says.
"Well, that sucks." Natalie comments, Jacob nodding in agreement.
"Would you sit down, please?" Jo asks Dean. He gives her an annoyed look as he sits down. Natalie hides her amused smile, pressing her lips together.
"So, have you checked out police reports, county death records—" Dean says.
"Obituaries, mortuary reports, and seven other sources. I know what I'm doing." Jo says.
"I think the jury's still out on that one." Dean argues. "Could you put the knife down?" He asks and she does so.
"Okay! So, uh, it's something else, then. Maybe some kind of cursed object that brought a spirit with it." Sam says.
"Well, we've got to scan the whole building. Everywhere we can get to, right?" Jo asks.
"Right. So. You and me, we'll take the top two floors." Dean says, standing up.
"We'd move faster if we split up." Jo says, standing in front of him.
"Oh, this isn't negotiable." Dean declares. "Sam, you're with Jacob. Nat, you and Larissa."
"We could keep the boy/girl theme going." Jacob suggests.
"Leave you alone with my sister? Yeah, don't think so." Dean scoffs.
"Well, why should I leave you alone with my sister, then?" Jacob asks.
"Cause I'm the oldest. What I say goes." Dean says.
"Dude, that doesn't even work on siblings." Natalie says.
"Look. Girl and girl, boy and boy, girl and boy. Two little ones stay back. That's final." Dean says.
+++
Sam and Jacob are walking through the halls.
"So, uh... you seem to, uh... like Natty." Sam comments.
"Uh... yeah. Yeah, you know, she's... she's cool. Just a friend thing, dude. No need to go big brother on me." Jacob says. "Well, twin brother or whatever."
"I'm 13 minutes older." Sam says.
"And I assume you hold that over her head any possible chance." Jacob says.
"Yeah." Sam chuckles. "Yeah, sometimes. Look, just... if-if you do become a thing... you know, if you-- if you date her one day. Don't hurt her."
"Right. Right, because you and Dean'll kill me." Jacob says.
"We will. Unless Natty kills you first." Sam comments. "It's just... it's not just a big brother talk. I... she's already been hurt enough. By past boyfriends? Maybe not so much. But... but she isn't as tough as she lets on. I mean, sure, yes, she's tough, but... but she's been through a lot. She's strong, but she also can put her whole heart into something, or someone, and when it breaks, it... it really breaks."
"Any of this hurt been caused by your dad?" Jacob asks.
"Uh... I don't know how comfortable she is with me answering that. Why do you ask?" Sam asks.
"Well, I don't know many people who would make jokes about their dad being in Hell." Jacob says.
"Right. Yeah... yeah, no, he wasn't a good dad... at all." Sam says, looking down at the EMF reader. "But just... just take care of her."
"Well, then, you can take care of Larissa." Jacob says.
"What?" Sam lets out a small laugh.
"Oh, come on. There's totally something there." Jacob says.
"What? No." Sam denies, though his voice raises an octave or two. he clears his throat. "No. No, there's nothing."
"Oh, come on. All the puppy love glances and the cute little awkward waves. The drooling over each other." Jacob says.
"I haven't drooled over her." Sam argues.
"You're not denying the other things." Jacob says after a moment.
"I-- okay." Sam rolls his eyes.
"But, seriously. Try not to hurt her. She's been through a lot, too. And she loves with her whole heart. If you hurt her, Jo and I will kill you. Larissa will threaten to kill you, but she won't actually do it."
"Well, not that we'll be dating, but if it ever happens -- I promise not to hurt her." Sam says.
"And I promise not to hurt Nat." Jacob says.
+++
"You know, I was gonna dye my hair blonde a few weeks ago. Suddenly really glad I didn't." Larissa comments and Natalie lets out a quiet laugh.
"Yeah, now we just gotta worry about Jo." Natalie says.
"Oh, yeah. Her bullheaded self, she'll definitely volunteer to be the bait or something." Larissa says.
"So, uh... what's up with you and Sam?" Natalie asks.
"Nothing." Larissa quietly scoffs.
"Oh, come on. You're totally in love with him." Natalie argues.
"I am not." Larissa denies.
"Mm-hmm. Okay. Sure." Natalie mumbles.
"Well, what's up with you and Jacob?" Larissa asks.
"Nothing." Natalie says.
"You know, he really likes you." Larissa says.
"Really?" Natalie asks.
"Yeah. I mean, I can... I can kind of tell it isn't fully mutual yet. You still gotta get there. Or you at least just gotta realize it. Your gaze does linger on him occasionally." Larissa says.
"It does not." Natalie argues.
"Mm-hmm. Okay. Sure." Larissa echoes.
"Please, I can easily just ask Oph if you have feelings for Sam." Natalie quietly scoffs.
"Why would you ask a six year old about my feelings?" Larissa asks.
"Uh..." Natalie feels panic set in as she realizes her mistake. "She's, um... she's a very observant child. Super smart."
"Oh. Uh, okay." Larissa says. When she's not facing her, Natalie winces, quietly hitting her hand to her forehead, internally cursing herself out.
"Oh, also, I really like all of your bracelets." Larissa comments.
"Oh. Thanks." Natalie smiles.
"Do you make them?" Larissa asks.
"Yeah. Yeah, I, uh... I got into it when I was younger. One of the few things that brought me joy in the chaotic, abusive family life."
"Abu..." Larissa trails off, looking at her worriedly.
"Oh, don't worry, it was all my dad. Sam's an angel." Natalie remarks.
"Did he... did all three of you get hurt?" Larissa asks before wincing. "Shit. Sorry. It's none of my business."
"Um... I don't know if they'd want me to tell you if they did or didn't. But I will say Sam didn't get hit unless he was trying to protect me. I won't tell you about Dean. Which probably gives you your answer. Damn it."
"I won't tell. I'm sorry." Larissa says.
"It's whatever. He's dead now, so... can't hurt me anymore."
"Could you make me one?" Larissa asks. "A bracelet."
"Yeah. Yeah, sure." Natalie nods. "If you admit you like Sam." She smirks.
"Never mind." Larissa says and Natalie laughs.
+++
Larissa, Jo, and Jacob are sitting at the table and researching. Dean and Ophelia are asleep on a recliner, Ophelia curled up against Dean's chest and his arm is resting over her as he lays in an uncomfortable position.
Natalie is still asleep and Sam walks out of the bathroom after getting Libby ready.
"Hey. Uh, I'm gonna go get some coffee." Sam says.
"Ooh, can I go?" Larissa says.
"Yeah. Yeah, sure." Sam nods. "Three year old is coming, too, though, just a... just an FYI."
"No issue there." Larissa says, getting up.
"Okay." Sam mumbles, picking Libby up.
Jacob makes kissy faces to Larissa as she walks past him and she smacks him over the head.
They leave the apartment, Sam shutting the door.
"Not a... not a reading person?" Sam asks.
"Reading? Sure. Research? No." Larissa says and Sam chuckles.
"I don't know, I kind of like it. It's... calming sometimes, honestly. Though it can get tiring when you just get dead end after dead end." Sam says.
"Okay, nerd." Larissa says and Sam laughs.
They get outside and find cops. After asking what's going on, they return to the apartment. Dean is awake and sitting at the table with Jo as Jacob walks out of the bathroom and Natalie walks out of the bedroom, Ophelia still asleep on the recliner.
"Where's the coffee?" Dean asks.
"There are cops outside. Another girl disappeared." Sam states.
~ ~ ~
"Teresa Ellis, apartment 2F. Boyfriend reported her missing around dawn." Dean informs, as he and Jacob walk into the apartment.
"And her apartment?" Jo asks.
"Cracks all over the plaster, walls, ceiling. There was ectoplasm, too." Jacob says.
"Well, between that and that tuft of hair, I'd say this sucker's coming from the walls." Sam says.
"But who is it? Building's history is totally clean." Dean says.
"Well, maybe we're looking in the wrong place." Jo says, holding a photo.
"What do you mean?" Dean asks.
"Check this out." Jo shows them the photo.
"An empty field?" Sam asks.
"It's where this building was built. Take a look at the one next door. The windows." Jo says.
"Bars." Sam notices.
"We're next door to a prison?" Dean asks.
~ ~ ~
"Thanks, Ash. And if you breathe a word of this to my mom..." Jo warns. "That's right. I will. With pliers." She hangs up. "Okay, Moyamensing Prison. Built in 1835, torn down in 1963. And get this -- they used to execute people by hanging them in the empty field next door."
"Which would explain this now." Larissa says, Jo nodding.
"Well, then, we need a list. All the people executed there." Sam says.
"Ash is already on it." Jo says.
~ ~ ~
"157 names?" Sam asks, scrolling through the list.
"We've gotta narrow that down." Dean says. "Or else we're gonna be digging up a hell of a lot of stiffs."
"Herman Webster Mudgett?" Sam asks.
"Yeah?" Jo asks.
"Wasn't that H. H. Holmes' real name?" Sam asks.
"You're joking." Larissa says and Sam shakes his head.
"You've gotta be kiddin' me." Dean mutters.
~ ~ ~
"Yep. Holmes was executed at Moyamensing, May 7, 1896." Dean states.
"H. H. Holmes himself. Come on, I mean, what are the odds?" Sam asks.
"Who is this guy?" Jo asks.
"He was America's first killer, JoJo." Larissa informs.
"Don't call me that." Jo smacks her arm.
"Don't call me Lari." Larissa retorts, smacking Jo.
"Hey, hey, ladies -- catfight later." Dean says.
"Dude." Sam rolls his eyes as Jacob shoves Dean. "Holmes confessed to 27 murders, but some put the death toll at over 100." Sam says.
"Mm, over 200, actually. And he also kept changing his answer as to how many he killed, even saying he killed people that were very much still alive. So... really nobody fully knows which confession to believe." Larissa explains.
"And his victim flavor of choice? Pretty, petite blondes. He, uh, used chloroform to kill 'em." Dean says.
"He did kill others, though. Including three children. And the only murder he got tried and executed for was the murder of his business partner. The three children were said business partner's children." Larissa informs.
"God, you two are made for each other." Natalie whispers.
"Chloroform would be what I smelled in the hallway last night." Dean realizes. "At his place, cops found human remains, bone fragments, and long locks of bloody blonde hair." He says. "Boy, you sure know how to pick 'em." He tells Jo.
"Well, we just find the bones, salt 'em and burn 'em, right?" Jo says.
"Not that easy." Larissa says.
"Yeah, he body is buried in town, but it's encased in a couple tons of concrete." Sam says.
"What? Why?" Jo asks.
"Well, see, he didn't want anybody mutilating his corpse up, like he did to other people, so... he requested it." Larissa says.
"You know something. We might have an even bigger problem than that." Sam says.
"How does this get bigger?" Jo asks.
"Holmes built an apartment building in Chicago. He called it the Murder Castle. The whole place was a death factory, they had, uh, trap doors, acid vats, quick line pits. He built these secret chambers inside the walls. He'd lock his victims in, keep them alive for days. Some he'd suffocate, others he'd let starve to death."
Everybody but Sam looks at Larissa as she nods along in confirmation to what Sam says.
"So Teresa could still be alive. She could be inside these walls." Jo says.
"It's a 50/50 chance." Larissa nods.
"We need sledgehammers, crowbars. We've got to smash these walls, anywhere thick enough to hide a girl." Dean says.
+++
Sam, Larissa, Natalie, and Jacob are walking down the hallway, having met up, and somebody bumps into Sam. They turn and see it's Dean.
"He's got Jo." Dean states.
"What?" The twins, Jacob, and Larissa ask, the last two seeming more concerned than the twins.
"How'd that happen?" Sam asks.
"I wasn't with her! I left her alone. Damn it!" Dean yells.
"Hey, hey, look, we'll find her, all right?" Sam assures. He glances back at Larissa, seeing the panic in her eyes. "We'll find her." He promises her.
"Where?" Dean asks.
"Inside the walls." Sam says.
"We've been inside the walls all night. None of the other girls were there, she won't be either." Dean says.
Jacob marches off.
"Ja-- Jacob. Jacob!" Natalie rushes after him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm finding my sister." He states.
"No, no, no, wait. Hey. Wait. You just going into a wall and walking around and possibly getting stuck isn't gonna find her." Natalie says.
"She's my sister." Jacob hisses.
"I know. I-I know. But we have to be at least somewhat smart about this. Otherwise we'll never get her back." Natalie says.
~ ~ ~
"Look, we've just gotta take a beat and think about this. Maybe we got Holmes' M.O. wrong." Sam says as they're back in the apartment. Ophelia and Libby are asleep in the bedroom.
"Yeah, well, we'd better fucking think fast." Dean says. His phone rings and he pulls it out while the others research.
"Hey." Sam gently nudges Larissa's arm, noticing her fingers nervously tap on the table. "We'll find her... alive."
"Mm-hmm. Right." Larissa nods, ignoring the sting of tears in her eyes. Sam looks back at the research, trying his best to find anything helpful.
"Ellen." They look up to Dean as he says the name.
"Ash." Larissa sighs, sharing a look with Jacob.
"No-- Ash told me everything. Man's a genius, but he folds like a cheap suit. Now you put my damn kids on the phone." Ellen orders.
Dean holds his phone out to Jacob.
"It's for you." Dean says.
"Oh, God." Jacob quietly groans. "God, I'm so dead." He whispers, taking the phone. "Hi, mom."
"Jacob. Jo? Larissa?" Ellen asks.
"Uh... two of us are here." Jacob says, putting the phone on speaker and Larissa walks over.
"Hi." Larissa mutters.
"Where's Jo?" Ellen asks.
"She, um... she's getting food." Jacob says.
"She's taking a shower." Larissa says.
The two immediately hit each other.
"Where is she?" Ellen asks, but neither of them answer. "Where is she?!"
"Okay, look, mom, don't worry. Jo's gonna be fine." Jacob says.
"Jacob Daniel Harvelle, where is your sister?" Ellen demands to know.
"Okay, we-- we'll get her back." Jacob says.
"Get her back? Back from what?" Ellen asks.
"The spirit we're hunting, it took her." Dean informs.
"Oh, my God." Ellen mutters.
"She'll be okay, I promise." Dean says.
"You promise." Ellen scoffs. "Not the first time I've heard that from a Winchester."
"What?" Dean asks.
"If anything happens to her..."
"It won't. I won't let it. Ellen, I'm sorry, I really am."
"I'm taking the first flight out. I'll be there in a few hours." She hangs up.
"Damn it!" Dean exclaims.
"Fuck." Jacob whispers.
"Don't beat yourself up, Dean. There's nothing you could have done." Sam says.
"Tell me you've got something." Dean says.
"Uh, maybe. Look, you look at the layout of the Holmes murder castle, there's all the torture chambers inside the walls, right?" Sam asks.
"Right." Dean nods.
"But there's one we haven't considered yet. The one in the basement." Sam says.
"This building doesn't have a basement." Dean says.
"You're right, it doesn't. But I just noticed this. Beneath the foundation, it looks like part of an old sewer system that hasn't been used for--"
"Let's go." Dean says, grabbing his jacket. Jacob and Larissa head for the door. "No. No, you two are staying here."
"What?" Jacob asks, scoffing.
"Hell no." Larissa argues.
"We lost Jo, I'm not letting Ellen skin my ass alive for losing you guys too." Dean says.
"Oh, so this is just to save your ass?" Larissa asks.
"Dean, she is my little sister. If it were Nat, would you let somebody bench you?" Jacob asks. Dean opens his mouth to answer, but no words come out since he knows he'd do anything to save Natalie if she were to be in danger.
"Exactly." Jacob says, storming out.
"Fine. But you're staying." Dean tells Larissa.
"I am so not staying. Dean, I'm not some damsel in distress. I am helping save Jo because she is my best friend, practically my sister, and I'll be damned if I let your cocky ass control me. I don't care what you or Ellen do, neither of you scare me enough to stop me from doing this and I sure as hell don't care what Ellen's gonna do to you. You try to stop me, I'll shoot you in your dick."
Larissa marches out of the room.
"Sam?" Natalie turns to her twin and she points to where Larissa just walked out. "Marry that girl."
+++
They found a way to get into the sewers and dug a hole until they were able to find a trap door. They get in and all have shotguns full of rock salt and their flashlights.
They crawl along the narrow sewer tunnels, soon finding Holmes in a part of the sewers, reaching into a cell.
"Hey!" Dean shouts. He shoots Holmes, sending him flying back and he disappears.
"Jo!" Jacob calls out.
"Jo?" Larissa calls.
"I'm here!" Jo yells out. Dean, Jacob, and Larissa immediately rush to where her voice came from. Sam and Natalie look around, seeing if Teresa is in any of the other prisons.
Dean finds an iron bar and pries Jo's prison open.
"Sam!" Dean calls, giving Sam the iron bar after he's done. Dean and Larissa open Jo's prison, Jacob pulling his sister out of the cage and he tightly hugs her.
"Dude, now that you're alive, you are so dead." Jacob says, letting go of her.
"You all right?" Dean asks as Larissa hugs Jo.
"Been better." Jo says. "Let's get the hell out of here before he comes back." She says, pulling away from Larissa.
"Actually, I don't think you're leaving here just yet." Dean says.
"What?" Jo asks.
"Remember when I said you being bait was a bad plan? Now it's kind of the only one we got." Dean says.
~ ~ ~
They got Teresa out and now the Winchesters, Jacob, and Larissa are hiding while Jo sits in the middle of the room. Holmes appears behind her and walks towards her.
"Now!" Dean shouts. Jo divers forward and out of the way, Sam, Natalie, and Dean firing their guns. Larissa and Jacob help Jo to them, pulling her slightly behind the brothers.
Salt falls into a perfect circle around Holmes who screams.
"Scream all you want, you dick, but there's no way you're stepping over that salt!" Jo yells. A grate slams shut, cutting them off from the room.
+++
Jo, Natalie, Jacob, Larissa, and Sam are standing by the entrance to the sewers. Sam is holding Libby and Ophelia is leaning against her aunt, her arms around Natalie's waist and Natalie is resting a hand on Ophelia's back.
"So? This job as glamorous as you thought it would be?" Sam asks.
"Well, except for all the pee your pants terror, yeah. Sure." Jo says. "But that Teresa girl's gonna live a life because of us. It's worth it, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it is." Sam nods.
"Hey, what if somebody finds that sewer down there or a storm washes the salt away?" Jo asks.
"Both very fine points. Which is why we're waiting here." Sam tells the two.
"For what?" Jo asks, sharing a confused look with Jacob and Larissa.
"The oldest." Natalie comments.
There's a loud beeping of a truck and they turn to see a cement truck backing up.
"For that." Sam smiles. He motions for Dean to keep going before motioning for him to stop. "Whoa!"
Dean gets out and walks over to the others, him and Jacob setting the cement mixer up over the entrance.
"You ripped off a cement truck?" Jo asks.
"I'll give it back." Dean says, the group watching the cement pour down. "Well, that oughta keep him down there till Hell freezes over."
+++
Dean is driving and it's nighttime. Ellen sits in the passenger seat and Larissa and Natalie are sat between the two. Libby is in her car seat and Sam, Jacob, and Jo are in the backseat and Ophelia is on Sam's lap. The car is engulfed in silence, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife.
"Boy, you-you really weren't kidding about flying out, were you?" Dean awkwardly asks. Ellen doesn't show any form of reaction. Sam exchanges a look with the two Harvelle siblings.
"How about we listen to some music?" Dean turns the radio on, "Cold as Ice" playing. Larissa chokes on her laugh, quickly covering it up with a cough. Ellen reaches over, turning the radio off.
"This is gonna be a long drive." Dean says.
Natalie internally groans, her head falling onto Dean's shoulder, wishing she could jump out of the car. Dean gently pats her on the head.
"I can't go to sleep." Libby whines.
"I don't blame you." Ophelia mumbles.
"Why not, baby?" Sam quietly asks, brushing some of Libby's hair out of her face.
"Ms. Ellen mad." Libby says.
"Yeah. Yeah, uh... here, just try, okay, honey?" Sam says. He runs his hand over her head, hopefully it helps her fall asleep.
+++
They get to the roadhouse, Ellen dragging her two children inside by the arm and Larissa follows close behind, the Winchesters walking in last.
"Ellen, this is my fault, okay? I lied to you and I'm sorry. But Jo did good out there, I think her dad would be proud. Same for Larissa and Jacob." Dean says.
"Don't you dare say that. Not you." Ellen demands. "I need a moment with my children. Alone." Sam offers Larissa a weak smile who returns it. The Winchesters go outside.
"I do not wanna be on her bad side." Ophelia comments, shaking her head.
"I'll, uh, go to my--"
"You stay." Ellen tells Larissa.
"You're angry. I understand." Jo tells her mom.
"Angry? Angry doesn't begin to touch it." Ellen says.
"Let's just think about this. Everything's okay, we're all alive--"
"Not after I'm through with you."
"Is this about me hunting or something else?"
"You let those boys use you as bait!"
"They were right there, backing me up the whole time. So were Jacob and Lari."
"It was initially her idea." Jacob says.
"That is why you do not have the sense to do this job, you're trusting your life to them." Ellen says
"What are you talking about?" Jo asks.
"Like father, like children, that is what I'm talking about." Ellen says.
"What?" Jacob asks.
"John? I thought you and John were friends." Jo says.
"Yeah, we were." Ellen bites. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--"
"Mom? What aren't you telling me?" Jo asks.
Ellen then explains about what happened on William's last hunt, the hunt that got him killed. Jo storms out of the roadhouse.
"I don't think you can hate Sam and Dean for that." Larissa says.
"Yeah. And-- and trust me, there's no way they're anything like him." Jacob says.
"Yeah, they hate him. Especially Natalie." Larissa says.
"Just because John fucked up big time doesn't mean his kids have to pay for it." Jacob says.
"Plus, Dean was, like, super distraught after Jo got taken. Almost as bad as us. I don't think he would be like that if he was like his dad." Larissa says.
Ellen doesn't say anything making Jacob go to his room and Larissa goes outside, seeing Jo march off. She walks over to where Sam is standing by the Impala, Dean standing off near where Jo was. Natalie and the girls are in the Impala, Natalie distracting them with a coloring book.
"Hey." Larissa greets.
"Hey. Um... is everything okay? Or even just one thing?" Sam asks.
"It's, uh... a long story." Larissa says.
"Got it." Sam nods.
"Let's go, Sam." Dean says, walking back over and getting in the car.
"Um... that, uh... that seems to be my que." Sam says.
"Yeah. Right, yeah. I'll-I'll talk to you later." Larissa says.
"Yeah." Sam nods before getting in the car and Dean speeds off.