ONE YEAR AGO
NOW
An alarm beeped at precisely seven am. Dean woke up in bed next to Lisa.
"You okay?" Lisa asked.
"Yeah, I'm good," Dean replied.
INT. BAR
Dean was having a beer with Sid.
Sid spoke. "And thank God this is before Facebook, right? Because it'd be me and that goat all over the Internet. Don't get me wrong, right? No complaints. But if you'd have said to me, "hey, you -- 15 years from now? Suburbia.""
"Oh. Yeah," Dean agreed.
"Right?"
"Believe me, I know."
"So, you've traveled around a lot, huh?"
"Mm-hmm. Yeah, my whole life, pretty much."
"And?"
"I don't know."
"Come on. You -- what, you moved in, what, about a year ago?"
"Yeah, thereabouts."
"So I been buying you beer for a year. And I think that means you owe me a couple of gory details."
"Oh, no. There's not much to tell, you know? It's, uh... I lived on the road... Took, uh, crap jobs that nobody else wanted."
"Like?"
"Like... Pest control."
"Really? Pest control."
"Yeah. You get to work with a partner or two. You get to help people. You have no idea what's in some people's walls. It could eat 'em alive."
"Yeesh."
"'Course, that was then. And now..."
"You're practically respectable."
"Yeah. Wow. I guess. That's kind of scary, actually."
"Thanks, guys," a waitress said.
"Thank you," Sid replied. "I think she likes you."
Dean held up the receipt with her name, Brigitta, and her phone number on it. "You think?"
"What is it with you?! Like, every time!"
"It's like chicks specifically dig unavailable." He ripped up the receipt. "Who knew?"
"I will see you tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks, man." Dean noticed a brunette woman who looked eerily similar to Elena. He shook his head a few times and left the bar.
Elena wasn't completely certain there was a job in town, but until she knew otherwise, she'd stay. It was either that or go back to Bobby's, and she had chosen the former option.
EXT. STREET
A woman screamed in the distance.
Dean got a flashlight and gun from his truck and entered a deserted building, followed by someone. He found some claw marks and blood.
Dean turned to see who'd been following him. "Kendy? What the hell are you doing here?"
"What you doing hunting?" Elena shot back.
"Habit. I thought you were in Sioux Falls."
She shrugged. "Caught a case... Maybe. Consider me curious."
"Fair. You got a ride?"
"Yeah. I'll follow you."
She followed Dean to his house.
INT. DEAN'S HOUSE
Dean sat at his computer while Elena stood behind.
Dean was on the phone. "And no one's called about a missing person?" ... "No, this would have been today." ... "So no reports of anything around Vineland and Oak Tree, near that hotel renovation?" ... "Uh, call it a hunch." ... "I've been a cop for a long time." ... "Okay, yeah." ... "No, I'll call you tomorrow. You too, man. Bye."
Dean glanced at Elena. "I think you're right. I think there might be something. Maybe. Keep digging."
Lisa stepped in the doorway. "Hey. Who was that? I see your guest are still here."
"Sid. I'm just setting up a poker game. Elena was about to leave."
"It's 11:30."
"Is it really? Well, that explains why he was asleep when I called. I'll be right up. See you later, officer."
"Okay."
Elena left the house and made her way back to the motel.
EXT. DAY
Dean was in his truck when he saw claw marks on a light pole. He investigated and was startled by a small dog in his garage.
"Dean!" Sid cried. "Is that a gun?"
"No, no," Dean said. "Yeah. Well, it's -- I got a permit for it."
"What, to shoot the Glickmans' dog?"
"I thought that was a possum. Remember when I said I was in pest control? Well, possums carry rabies, so..." He imitated a gunshot.
"I did not know that."
"Oh, yeah. Yeah. Possums -- possums kill, Sid." Something caught his eye. "Oh, crap."
"What's that?"
"Sulfur. I got to go."
"Hold on, Dean! What the hell?"
INT. GARAGE
Dean frowned, seeing Elena. "So now you're following me?"
"No," Elena answered. "You're behaving weirdly and I want to make sure my friend is okay."
"Your friend is fine." He opened the Impala's trunk from under a tarp. He started packing some weapons.
"Hey," Lisa greeted. "Hello again, officer."
"Just getting a hammer," Dean told her.
"So, I just ran into Sid. Did you almost shoot a Yorkie?"
"Technically."
"What's going on? A cop around can't be good."
"Nothing. She's just making sure the neighborhood's safe."
"How come I don't believe you?"
"I just -- I, uh, I-I got this -- I don't know, spider sense."
"Okay. Are you hunting something? Because if Elena's here, that must mean you are."
"Honestly? Uh, at first, I thought that I was. But I'm pretty sure that I got worked up over nothing. It's, uh, you know..."
"It happens."
"Are you sure? I'll tell you what -- just because, you know, I have an OCD thing about this, and because Elena is here, why don't, uh, why don't you and Ben go to the movies, hit The Cheesecake Factory -- you know, hang out with the teaming masses, and we'll do one last sweep just to be 100%."
"Okay. Be careful."
"Careful's my middle name."
Lisa left and the light crackled. As Dean and Elena searched the garage, Dean was suddenly confronted by Azazel.
"Hiya, Dean," Azazel greeted. "Look what the apocalypse shook loose. You two have fun sniffing that trail? 'Cause I sure had fun patting you around."
"You can't be..." Dean began.
"Oh, sure I can!"
"No."
"Yeah, kiddo. The big daddy brought your pal Cas back, right? So why not me? Add a little spice to all that -- that sugar."
Dean shot Azazel.
Elena stepped back, frowning. "What are you seeing, Dean?"
"Really? After all we've been through together? You know, you got a great little life here. Pretty lady -- real understanding. Hell of a kid. And how do you keep your lawn so green? I mean, come on, Dean. You've never been what I'd call brainy, but did you really think you were gonna get to keep all of this? You had to know that we were coming for you sometime, pal. You can't outrun your past."
Azazel started strangling Dean and just as he passed out, someone came from behind to save them - Sam.
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE
Dean woke up, confused.
"Hey, Dean," Sam greeted. "I was expecting, uh... I don't know, a hug, some holy water in the face -- something. Elena splashed me, then hugged me."
"So we're dead?" Dean asked. "This is Heaven? Yellow-Eyes killed me, and now-"
"Yellow-Eyes?" Sam asked. "That's what you saw?"
""Saw"?" Dean repeated.
"You were poisoned. I'm surprised Elena wasn't. So whatever kind of crazy crap you think you've been seeing, it's not real."
"So, then, are you... real?Or -- or am I still-"
"I'm real. Here. Let me save you the trouble. All me." He cut himself with a silver blade and poured some salt in a jug of water and drank it. "That's nasty."
"Sammy?" Dean asked.
"Yeah. It's me."
Dean hugged Sam.
Dean pulled away and frowned. "Wait a sec, wait a sec. You -- you -- you were -- you were gone, man. I mean, that -- that was it. How the hell are you-"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I mean, no idea. I-I'm just back."
Elena stepped closer to the brothers. "Well, was it God or maybe Cas? Does Cas know anything about it? I assure you, to the best of my knowledge, it wasn't the gods."
"You tell me. I've been calling. Cas hasn't answered my prayers. I don't even know where he is. I mean, I was... down there, and then, next minute, it's raining, and I'm lying in that field, alone. It's kind of hard to go looking for whatever saved you when you got no leads. But I looked. I mean, believe me, I looked... for weeks."
Dean frowned. "Wait, weeks? How long have you been back? How long have you been back, Sam?"
"About a year."
"About a year?" Dean repeated.
"Dean-"
Dean cut him off. "You been back for practically this whole time?! What, did you lose the ability to send a friggin' text message?! Elena, did you know?!"
Elena shook her head. "No. I've been hunting alone, for the most part."
"You finally had what you wanted, Dean," Sam said.
"I wanted my brother, alive!" Dean cried.
"You wanted a family. You have for a long time. I know you. You only gave it up because of the way we lived. But you had something, and you were building something. Had I shown up, Dean, you would have just run off. I'm sorry. But it felt like after everything, you deserve some regular life."
"What have you been doing?" Dean asked.
"Hunting."
"You left me alone, and you were flying solo? You couldn't even find Elena?"
"Not solo."
"What?" Dean and Elena questioned.
"I hooked up with some other people."
Dean frowned. "You? Working with strangers?"
"They're more like family. And they're here."
Sam took Dean and Elena into the adjoining room.
"Hey," Gwen greeted.
"Hi," Dean replied.
"My God, you have delicate features for a hunter. Your friend does, too."
"Excuse me?"
"Dean, Gwen Campbell. Behind him is Elena, our..." Sam trailed, catching her gaze.
"Friend," Elena finished, staring at Sam with an odd expression.
Gwen smiled. "Good to finally meet you. Sam's gone on and on."
Sam continued introducing people. "And this is Christian... and Mark. Campbell."
"Hi," Mark said.
"Camp -- Campbell?" Dean questioned. "Like..."
"Like your mom," Gwen told them.
"Third cousin." Sam pointed to Gwen. "Third cousin." He pointed to Christian. "Something, something twice removed." He pointed to Mark. "They grew up in the life, like Mom and like us."
Dean frowned. "I thought all of Mom's relatives were gone. And I'm sorry. It's just, you know, why didn't we know about any of you?"
"'Cause they didn't know about you," Samuel answered. "Not until I brought you all together."
"Samuel?" Dean asked.
"I'm your grandfather."
"Guys, give me a second with my grandsons here, please."
Mark, Christian and Gwen left. Elena stayed in the back because she was curious and wanted to see what was up.
"It's gonna take a little more than a minute," Dean said. "I mean, what the hell? I-I how did this happen?"
"We're guessing whatever pulled Sam up pulled me down," Samuel explained. "So, whatever this is, we're both a part of it."
"But you don't know what that is."
"Bingo."
"And you have no leads? Nothing? Well, this -- this is, uh... No more doornails coming out that door, is there?"
"As far as we know, it's Samuel, and it's me," Sam replied.
"Okay, am I the only one here that -- that -- that think that this can't all just be fine?"
Elena spoke up from the back. "I agree. It is a little weird, Dean."
Samuel looked between them. "Believe me, you're not. I wanted to come get you, of course. Sam was adamant about leaving you out, so we did. Until this."
"Right," Dean noted. "So, then you ended up in my garage how?"
"I got hit before you two did, few days ago," Sam answered. "Dosed up with poison."
"By?" Dean and Elena pressed.
"Couple of Djinn."
"So I was right," Elena said. "Something was going on."
"Yeah, you were right, Elena," Dean told her. "Djinn? I thought those were -- were cave-dwelling hermit-type. That's pretty exotic."
"Not anymore, at least," Sam said. "These... look like regular people. They can blend in. And all they got to do to kill is touch you. Their toxins get in your system, all of a sudden you're hallucinating your worst nightmares, and pretty soon you O.D."
"Well, then how are you breathing air?"
"Samuel had a cure."
Dean turned to his grandfather. "You got a cure for Djinn poison?"
"Oh, I know a few things," Samuel replied. "Stick around, I'll show you tricks your daddy never even dreamed of."
"Uh... Okay, why are these things after us?"
"Well, you did stake one awhile back."
"After they came after me, we were pretty certain that they were gunning for you next," Sam said.
"Lisa and Ben -- they're at the house right now. If that thing comes back-"
"It's all right," Samuel answered. "I already sent someone over there to watch 'em."
"You got to take me home right now."
INT. DEAN AND LISA'S HOUSE
In a car outside, Johnny Campbell was dead.
"Lisa?!" Dean called. "Lisa! Ben?! Ben!"
Dean rang Lisa just before she and Ben entered and asked, "Where the hell have you been?"
"We -- we were at the movies," Lisa replied. "You knew that." He hugged her. "Dean, ow."
"What happened?" Ben questioned.
"Go upstairs and pack a bag."
"Where are we going?" Lisa wondered.
"I'm taking us to a friend's house. Go. It's okay. Go on up. I'll be there in a sec."
"What the hell?"
"Um..." Ben began.
"Oh, my God."
"Lisa, Ben, I don't know if you remember-" Dean was cut off.
"Sam."
BOBBY'S HOUSE
Bobby opened the door and muttered, "Damn it."
"It's good to see you, too, Bobby," Dean said. "It's been awhile."
"If you're here, something's wrong."
"Bobby, this is Lisa and Ben."
"Hi," Lisa greeted.
"Well, it's nice to finally meet you two. Mi casa es su casa. Maybe you want to just go upstairs. TV's broken, but there's plenty of Reader's Digest. Just don't touch the decor, okay? Assume it's all loaded."
Lisa and Ben went upstairs.
"So..." Dean began.
Elena smiled. "Hey, Bobby."
"Hey, Bobby," Sam greeted.
"Sam," Bobby said.
Dean frowned before Dean said, "You knew? You knew Sam was alive."
"Yeah."
"How long?"
"Look-"
"How long?!"
"All year."
"Oh, you got to be kidding me."
"And I'd do it again."
"Why?!"
"Because you got out, Dean! You walked away from the life. And I was so damn grateful, you got no idea."
"Do you have any clue what walking away meant for me?"
"Yeah -- a woman and a kid and not getting your guts ripped out at age 30. That's what it meant."
"That woman and that kid -- I went to them because you asked me to."
"Good."
"Good for who? I showed up on their doorstep half out of my head with grief. God knows why they even let me in. I drank too much. I had nightmares. I looked everywhere. I collected hundreds of books, trying to find anything to bust you out."
"You promised you'd leave it alone," Sam told him.
"Of course I didn't leave it alone! Sue me! A damn year? You couldn't put me out of my misery?"
Bobby looked at him. "Look, I get it wasn't easy, But that's life! And it's as close to happiness as I've ever see a hunter get. It ain't like I wanted to lie to you, son. But you were out, Dean."
"Do I look out to you?" Dean retorted.
INT. STAIRCASE
"How's he doing?" Dean asked.
"He's okay," Lisa replied. "How are you?"
"Look, I know Bobby's a little crochety, but he's great. He's gonna look after you guys. Me, Sam and Kennedy, we're gonna head out."
"For how long?"
"I'm so sorry, Lisa."
"For what?"
"Those things were coming for me. And I should've known."
"How could you know a monster was gonna show up?"
"I should've known. I should've known that if I stayed with you that something would come, because something always does. But I was stupid and reckless and... You can't outrun your past."
"You're saying goodbye."
"I'm saying I'm sorry... For everything. Everything."
"You're an idiot. I mean, I know it wasn't greeting-card perfect, but we were in it together."
"I was a wreck half the time."
"Yeah, well, the guy that basically just saved the world shows up at your door, you expect him to have a couple of issues. And you're always so amazing with Ben. You know what I wanted, more than anything was a guy that Ben could look up to like a dad. So, you're saying it's all bad, Dean? 'Cause it was the best year of my life."
INT. HOUSE
"What's the plan?" Dean and asked.
"Well, right now, we stock up, get set," Christian replied.
"So you're saying there is no plan."
"We'll find 'em. Just got to be patient."
"Yeah, okay. Oh, here's an idea. Why don't we go kill the sons of bitches that broke into my home?"
"Relax, Dean," Christian told him. "We got it handled. Djinn are hard to draw out. Now, you've been out of the game for awhile. Leave it to the professionals."
"Yeah. Sure," Dean replied. "Tiny suggestion. You see, Djinn are easier to draw out when you got bait. They want Sam and me. And they might go after Elena. They know where I live. Now, I haven't been hunting in awhile, but I'm gonna stick my neck out and guess that's a pretty good place for us to go. See? It's almost like I'm a professional."
INT. DEAN AND LISA'S HOUSE
Gwen picked up a magazine from the table. "Huh, I love this one. Yours or, uh, your wife's?"
Mark picked up a photo.
"Hey. Do me a favor -- don't touch that," Dean told him.
"Golf?" Sam asked. "Really?"
"It's a -- it's a sport."
INT. DEAN'S KITCHEN
"Nice house," Samuel commented.
"Oh, yeah," Dean stated. "Go ahead, say it -- call me a soccer mom. Whatever."
""Soccer mom," huh? Well, I'll have to look that up on the "intranet." You know, believe it or not, I... I get it, Dean. You wanted a normal life. Your mom wanted a normal life, too. You remind me of her, actually. Your friend has a similar demeanor. The attitudes, for one thing. Your brother/friend tell you two what we been dealing with the past few months?"
Elena shook her head. "No, not really."
"I've never seen anything like it. Been working 'round the clock."
"So what's going on?" Dean and Elena asked.
"We don't know. But whatever it is, it goes way past a couple of Djinn acting off -- Nocturnals attacking in broad daylight, werewolves out on the half-moon, creatures that we've never even seen before. We don't -- we don't even know what they are. I'm knee-deep in half-eaten human hearts and exsanguinated ten-year-olds, and it's all making me... Uneasy."
"So what's your theory?" Dean questioned.
"You two tell me. All we really know is it's hands on deck. We're counting on each other right now. That's how it is with Campbells. We need you, Dean. Elena, you can join if you wish."
"Look, I hear you, but..."
"You don't know what you're part of, Dean. You know, you had ancestors hacking the heads off vamps on the Mayflower. What I'm saying is that we're your blood. And we're out there dying, trying to get in front of whatever this is. Maybe not the best time for golf or to stick with one person."
EXT. OUTSIDE
Dean and Elena approached Mark who was in a truck and looking through a monocular.
"Hey," Dean greeted. "You really don't say much, do you?"
"Enough," Mark said.
"Any sign of 'em?" Elena asked.
"Three Djinn off in the trees. Here."
INT. HOUSE
"Those Djinn are just sitting out there, watching us," Dean said. "Everybody's got to clear out."
"What?" Christian questioned.
"They're not gonna come in here until me, Sam and Elena are alone."
Samuel frowned. "So, what, I'm supposed to leave you here with no backup?"
"Dean's right," Sam agreed. "They're smart. They'd wait till they weren't outnumbered."
"All right, we won't be far," Samuel told them. "You call when they come, you hear? All right, pack up. We're out of here."
INT. KITCHEN
"You two okay?" Sam questioned.
"Oh, yeah," Dean and Elena replied.
"Yeah."
"No, this is... This is crazy," Dean said. "I mean, you, Grandpa. Whoever brought you back..."
"They don't want to be found."
"Yeah, we get that. But who are they, and what do they -- what do they want? Why?"
"That's a good question."
"Do you remember it?"
"What?"
"The Cage."
"Yeah."
Elena frowned and tilted her head slightly. "You want to-"
"No."
"Well, if anybody can relate..." Dean was cut off.
"Dean, Elena, I don't want to talk about it. I'm back. I get to breathe fresh air, have a beer, hunt with my family, see you two again. So why exactly would I want to think about Hell?"
"And you really think..."
Dean and Elena looked out the window and saw Sid and his wife being attacked by a Djinn. They started running over.
"Dean, Elena, they're already dead, and you both know it," Sam told them.
"This is happening because of me!" Dean yelled.
"Dean! Elena!"
INT. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE
"Sid," Dean called.
Dean and Elena were attacked by the Djinn.
"You two made it through that last trip, so how about a big, fat double dose?" The Djinn suggested. "The good news? At least you'll both go fast. That's for our father, you sons of bitches."
Dean started hallucinating Lisa and Ben while Elena began hallucinating Sam.
"I just -- I-I couldn't sleep at that house," Lisa said. "It's okay. Don't worry. We'll call Dean."
"Elena, come on," Sam stated.
"Ah, don't worry about him, them, Dean, Elena," Azazel told them.
"No!" Dean and Elena cried.
Dean saw Azazel grab Ben and Lisa was dragged up the wall.
"There, there, kiddo," Azazel encouraged.
"You stay away from him!" Dean ordered. "Lisa!"
"Drink it."
"Ben, no!"
"You'll feel better."
"No!" Dean cried as Lisa sobbed.
"It's all your fault."
"Lisa!" She sobbed.
"This, something else -- we both know that's details. There's something coming for this one, and you can't stop it. It's all your fault."
"Lisa!"
"Drink it. You'll feel better."
"Ben, don't!"
"Your fault. Can't stop it."
Lisa screamed as she burned on the ceiling.
"No!"
Elena, meanwhile, was seeing Sam's body on the ground.
She began shaking him. "Sammy?! Sam?! No, not like this. Not like this! Please, you have to wake up. Wake up!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't lose you. Not again."
INT. DEAN'S HOUSE
Samuel and Sam fought Brigitta.
"I got her," Samuel said. "Go get Dean and Kennedy. Got her. Relax, hon. We're not gonna kill you. Get her in the van. Quick, now, before the boys and girl get back."
"Come on," Christian muttered, ushering her to the van. "Come on."
LATER
"So, Samuel and the cuzzes?" Dean questioned.
"Don't know," Sam replied. "They left in a hurry. I'm meeting them back at their place. You two, uh, you three coming with me?"
"No. No, I'm going back for Lisa and Ben."
Elena shook her head, doing her best to avoid Sam's gaze. "No, I'm going to do my own hunting."
Sam frowned. "I thought you two said-"
"I did," Dean interrupted. "I changed my mind. And clearly Elena has as well."
"Look, I practically shoved you at them."
"That's a funny way to put it, but all right."
"I'm just saying, I really wanted that for you. And when I told you two to go, I-I thought... You could have it, you know? But now I'm not so sure. I mean, you got to consider the fact that you'll be putting them in danger if you go back."
"So, what, it's better to leave them alone, unprotected, and then they're not in danger? I made them vulnerable the moment I knocked on their door, and I can't undo that. But what I can do is go with the best option."
"I hear you. I guess I just, wish you two were coming, that's all."
"Why?" Dean and Elena asked.
"Don't be stupid."
"No, I mean it," Dean said. "I mean, you know plenty of good hunters. I'm rusty. Elena's too hopeful, impulsive and spontaneous. Elena and I did something seriously stupid going out there. We almost got us each killed."
"And that's exactly why I want you two."
Elena frowned. "Dean, too much hope isn't a bad thing. Sam, what are you talking about?"
"You two just went. You two didn't hesitate. Because you two care, and that's who you two are. Me? I wouldn't even think to try."
"Yes, you would," Dean and Elena replied.
"No, Dean, Elena. I'm telling you two, it's just better with you two around. That's all."
"Listen..." Dean held out the keys to the Impala. "She should be hunting. Take her."
"Thanks. Really. But I already got my car set up how I like it. I should hit the road."
"I'll walk you out. Keep in touch, you hear?"
"'Course. It was really good to see you again, Dean. You as well, Elena." He drove off.
Dean held out the keys to Elena. "Like I told Sam, she should be hunting."
Elena stared at the keys and shook her head. "As much as I love her, it feels wrong to drive her."
"Yeah. Stay safe, you hear?"
"You too."
Elena walked away, a confused smile on her face. She had certainly missed hunting with the brothers, but how had Sam gotten back? More importantly, who had brought him back?