My Home Is Always With You {8}

Chapter 12: "As Time Goes By"

Liz and the boys are in a motel when a man appears out of the closet with his nose bleeding. The man says, "Which of you is John Winchester? Please, time is of the essence! Which of you is John Winchester?" Sam says, "Uh, neither." The man says, "That's impossible. That's absolutely... what did I do wrong?" Dean says, "Who the hell are you, mister?" The man says, "Not now. I'm thinking." Dean then slams the man against the wall and the man says, "Please. I can assure there's no need for violence. One of you must know John Winchester." Sam says, "I'll tell you what-- when one of us falls out of your closet, then you can ask the questions." The man says, "Yes, my apologies. Is it absolutely essential, sir, that you keep your hands on me?" Dean then lets go of the man and the man says, "Thank you. Gentlemen and lady, in the absence of any and all other explanations, I'm afraid this has been a marvelous, tragic misunderstanding. I'll be on my way." Liz says, "That's not happening." The man says, "There are things of grave importance. I do not have time to deal with the likes of you." The boys grab him and Dean cuffs him and says, "You're not going anywhere, 007... till we get some answers." The man then removes himself from the cuffs and Dean says, "How did he do that?" Liz grabs the mans arm to stop him and the man shoves her back and she throws him against the wall with her powers and he says a spell to trap her and Liz can't move and says, "How the hell?" The man walks out the door and Dean says, "You got to be kidding me!" Liz takes out a bobby pin and gives it to the guys and they go after the man. Liz unties her boots and steps out of her shoes and the guys bring the man back inside and have him sitting in a chair. They splash holy water on him and he laughs and says, "And there with the holy water." Sam says, "He's clean." The man says, "I could have told you that." Dean says, "Yeah, well, you can start by telling us everything before I beat it out of you." The man says, "I'm quite certain this is all beyond your understanding, my alpha-male-monkey friend. And violence will not help you comprehend this any easier." Dean angrily grabs the man and points his gun at him and says, "Let me tell you what I understand! Some asshat pops out of my closet asking about my dad, smashes up my ride. So, why am I not getting violent, again?" The man says, "John Winchester is your father?" Then the room starts shaking and the man says, "What is that? Oh, my God." Liz says, "What?" The man says, "Run!" The closet door opens and out comes a red-headed woman with blood on her. The woman says, "Henry. Silly man, you forgot to lock the door. But then spells never were your best subject, were they? Why don't you be a doll and give me what I want? And I promise to kill you and your friends here quickly." The man known as Henry says, "You know I can't do that." The woman says, "You're not a fighter, Henry." As Dean goes to point his gun the woman, pushes him, Sam, and Liz away. Henry says, "Joise. I know you're still in there. You must fight this." The woman laughs and she says, "I'm afraid Josie's indisposed, pet. It looks like it's just you and me." Dean comes from behind her and stabs her with the demon blade. The woman screams and she's still alive. The woman says, "Well, that is no way to treat a lady." They all then run out the room and get in the car and drive away. They stop at a clearing and they get out and Henry's throwing up. Liz softly says, "Are you okay?" Henry says, "Yes, I will be. It's just all the adventures I enjoy are usually of the literary nature." Dean says, "Yeah, well, now that you're done blowing chunks, you want to tell us who Betty Crocker was?" Henry says, "Abaddon. She's a demon." Sam says, "No kidding. Where'd she come from?" Dean says, "Where'd you come from?" Henry says, "She's from hell. I'm from Normal, Illinois-- 1958." Dean says, "Yeah, right. Seriously? Dude's time traveling through motel-room closets? That's what we've come to?" Henry says, "If you could just take me to John, we could clear this up, I'm sure." Dean says, "I've told you that's not gonna happen." Henry says, "Why not?" Dean says, "Because he's dead!" Henry says, "No." Sam says, "What's it to you?" Henry says, "Everything. I'm his father." Liz and the boys widen there eyes and they go to a restaurant and the boys can't believe that's their grandfather so they talk in private, Liz on the other hand is sitting next to Henry and she says, "You know, it's an honor meeting you. I mean, John has told me many stories about you." Henry looks at Liz and says, "You called him John. Are you not his daughter?" Liz softly smiles and says, "No, but I was treated like I was his daughter. I'm dating the one who tried to shoot you." Henry nods and says, "Oh. What is your name?" Liz softly says, "Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Liz." The boys come over with their food and Dean hands Liz her food and Sam says, "How are you doing?" Henry says, "I'll be fine. After all, despite everything, I've just met my grandsons, haven't I? Henry Winchester. It's a pleasure." Sam shakes his hand and says, "Sam." Henry says, "Hello, Sam." Henry has his hand out for Dean and Dean passes Henry his food and says, "Dinner." Sam says, "This is Dean." Henry says, "Right." Dean says, "Well, this has been touching. How about we figure out how to clean up your mess, huh?" Henry says, "Abaddon. Yes. She must be stopped." Dean says, "And how come she didn't die when I stabbed her?" Henry says, "Because demons can't be killed by tun-of-the-mill cutlery. At the very least, you'd need an ancient demon-killing knife of the Kurds." Dean takes the blade out and says, "That's what this is." Henry says, "Where'd you get that?" Dean says, "Demon gave it to me. We've been around this block so many times." Liz says, "Now, that portal or whatever it was you came through-- is it still open?" Henry says, "I highly doubt it. Why?" Liz says, "I'm just thinking if we can't kill this Abaddon..." Dean says, "Maybe we can shove her back where she came from. How did you do it?" Henry says, "It's a blood sigil. Blood leads to blood. Or their next of kin." Sam says, "But Abaddon came through it, also, right? So, can you create this blood sigil again?" Henry says, "My blood, an angel feather, tears of a dragon, a pinch of the sands of time-- I-I would need those and... at least a week for my soul to recharge, but, yes, it's possible." Sam says, "You tapped the power of your soul to get here? I thought only angels could do that." Henry says, "You should know this. What level are you two?" Dean says, "What level?" Henry says, "Level of knowledge. You're Men of Letters, correct?" Dean clears his throat and says, "I'm a little rusty on my boy bands. Men of what?" Henry says, "Men of Letters, like your father, who taught you, our ways." Sam says, "Our father taught us how to be hunters." Henry laughs and says, "You're not. Are you? Hunters? Well, hunters are... hunters are apes. You're supposed to-- your legacies." Dean says, "Legacies of what?" They then drive to where Henry said the Men of Letters is supposed to be. Henry touches the door where the Men of Letters were supposed to be and he says, "What's going on here? No." Dean says, "All right, well, this was enlightening. Let's hit the road, huh?" Liz says, "Give him a minute, Dean." Dean says, "We just spend four hours driving, okay? All he did was stare out the window and request Pat Boone on the radio. He had his time." Henry says, "It's just a facade, a way to rook our enemies into believing we are housed elsewhere." Dean says, "Okay, enough with the decoder talk. How about you tell us what this whole Men-of-Letters business is, or you're on your own?" Henry looks at Dean and says, "It's none of your concern." Dean says, "Why, because we're hunters? What do you have against us?" Henry says, "Aside from the unthinking, unwashed, shoot-first-and-don't-bother-to-ask-questions-later part, not much, really." Sam says, "You know what? Wait a second. We're also John's children." Henry says, "You're more than that, actually. My father and his father before him were both Men of Letters. As John and you two should have been. We're preceptors, beholders, chroniclers of all that which man does not understand. We share our findings with a few trusted hunters-- the very elite. They do the rest." Dean says, "So, you're like the Yoda's to our Jedi's. Never mind. You'll get there." Liz says, "Okay, but if you guys were such a big deal, then why haven't we-- or anyone we know-- ever heard of you?" Henry realizes and says, "Abaddon." Henry opens the door and walks through it with Liz and the boys after him. Sam says, "Henry. Why? Why'd she do it?" Henry takes out a box and says, "I think for this." Sam says, "Okay, what's that?" Henry says, "I wish I knew. Abaddon attacked us the night of my final initiation. All secrets were to be revealed then." Dean says, "Let me get this straight. You traveled through time to protect something that does you don't know what from a demon that you know nothing about?" Henry nods and walks away and Dean says, "Good." They follow after him and Henry looks at Sam and says, "Hand me your... walkie-talkie." Sam says, "You mean my phone?" Henry says, "Even better." Henry grabs the phone and says, "Operator, I need delta 457." Dean says, "Who are you not calling?" Henry says, "Our emergency number." Dean grabs the phone and says, "Yeah. Not anymore." Henry sighs and says, "They can't all be gone. There must be another elder out there who can help us figure out how to stop Abaddon and what to do with the box." Liz walks up to the girl behind the counter and says, "Hey. Can we borrow your computer for a hot second?" Henry laughs and says, "Like you could fit a computer in this room." The girl says, "Sure." Liz says, "Thanks. All right, um... give me a name-- anybody who, uh, might have been there that night-- one of those elders." Henry says, "Uh... Ackers, David. Larry Ganem. Um, Ted--" Liz cuts him off and says, "Okay, here it is. Um, August 12, 1958. A tragic fire at a gentlemen's club. Uh, 242 Gaines Street." Henry says, "This is 242 Gaines Street... but that was no fire." Liz says, "Larry Ganem, David Ackers, Ted Bowen, and Albert Magnus-- all deceased." Henry says, "Albert Magnus." Dean says, "He a friend of yours?" Henry says, "Even better." They then drive to the cemetery and Henry says, "These were my friends, my mentors, our last defense against the Abaddon's of the world." Dean says, "Here's your buddy Albert Magnus." Henry says, "Albertus Magnus. And he was hardly a buddy. He was the greatest alchemist of the Middle Ages." Sam says, "Okay, so why is he buried here?" Henry says, "He's not. His was the alias we'd use when going incognito. I believe someone planted his name in that article...so that if a Man of Letters came looking for answers, he'd know something was amiss." Liz says, "So, someone wanted you to come to this grave." Henry says, "The questions is why." Dean points his flashlight over a symbol and says, "What is this?" Henry says, "Our crest. The Aquarian Star, representing great magic and power. They say it stood at the gates of Atlantis itself." Sam says, "Hmm. It's on all the tombstones except for this one-- uh, Larry Ganem." Henry kneels in front of the grave and says, "The Haitian symbol for speaking to the dead. This is the message. You guys ever exhume a body?" They then dig up the grave and open the casket. Dean says, "Hey, was, uh, Larry a world war I vet?" Henry says, "No." Dean says, "Well, then who's the stiff?" Henry says, "No idea." Liz sees a chain and around the body's neck and is a tag and she reads off, "Captain Thomas J. Carey III. That mean anything to you?" Henry shakes his head and Dean says, "Well, somebody wanted you to see this, so maybe that somebody is Larry." Sam says, "So, what, maybe he, uh, survives the attack and hides out with this guy's identity?" Henry says, "Okay. What are we waiting for, then? Cover this up. Let's be on our way." Later, they're back at the motel and Henry's whistling the song "As Time Goes By." Dean says, "What is that? I know that tune." Henry says, "'As Time Goes By'. I hope so. It's from 'Casablanca.'" Sam says, "Right. Dad used to whistle it from time to time." Henry says, "Your father saw 'Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy' at the drive-in one night. It scared the beeswax out of him. So, I got him this little music box that played that song to help him sleep at night. It worked like a charm." Sam chuckles and says, "Wow, it's hard to believe dad was ever scared of anything." Dean's on Sam's computer and he says, "Hey, uh, according to county records, Tom Carey lives in Lebanon, Kansas, and is a very happy 127-year-old. I say we get some shut-eye, head over first thing in the morning." Sam found something in his dad's journal and says, "Wait, wait, wait. Listen to this. According to dad's journal, he once tortured a demon that said he made his bines working for Abaddon, who, it turns out, is a Knight of Hell." Dean says, "What does that even mean?" Henry says, "Knights of Hell are hand-picked by Lucifer himself. They are the first-fallen, first-born demons." Liz says, "So, very pure, very strong." Henry says, "Legend has it that archangels had killed all of them, which, as we have witnessed, is not the case." Liz says, "Unless she's the last of her kind." Henry looks at Sam and says, "You say that belonged to your father?" Sam says, "Yeah." Henry says, "May I?" Sam slides the journal to Henry and Sam says, "It's a hunter's journal. I assume Men of Letters-- you use journals, too?" Henry says, "I intended to. I sent away for one day before my initiation. As a matter of fact, judging by my initials here, this one, I believe." Dean says, "That was yours?" Henry says, "It must have arrived after... I'm beginning to gather I don't make it back from this time, do I?" Sam says, "We don't know for sure. All we do know is that dad never saw you again." Henry says, "What did he think happened to me?" Dean says, "He thought you ran out on him." Henry sits down and says, "John was a legacy. I was supposed to teach him the ways of the Letters." Dean says, "Well, he learned things a little differently." Henry says, "How?" Dean says, "The hard way. Surviving a lonely childhood, a stinking war... only to get married, have his wife taken by a demon... and later killed by one himself. That man got a bum rap around every turn. But you know what? He kept going. And in the end, he did a hell of a lot more good than he did bad." Henry says, "I'm sorry. I wish I had been there for him." Dean says, "Yeah, it's a little late for that now, don't you think?" Dean gets up and walks way and Henry says, "It's the price we pay for upholding great responsibility. We know that." Dean looks angrily at Henry and says, "Your responsibility was to your family, not some glorified book club!" Henry says, "I was a legacy. I had no choice." Dean says, "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that." Dean then looks at Liz and says, "Out of all the names you picked for our son, why Henry?" Dean walks out the door and Sam goes to the bathroom. Henry looks at Liz and says, "You and Dean have a son named Henry?" Liz softly smiles and says, "Yeah, he's named after you." Henry says, "I'm honored, but why me?" Liz says, "As I said earlier, John told me many great stories about you. He just didn't understand why you abandoned him and I told John that maybe you were trying to protect him. Now, here you are and it's true you not only protected John, but also the world. You're a hero." Henry sighs and says, "Dean doesn't sure see it that way." Liz says, "That's just the way Dean is. He's lost so much that he doesn't have much family left. He has his brother, his girlfriend, his best friend, his son and his daughter." Henry says, "At least he has a family of his own. Would you tell me about my great-grandchildren?" Liz smiles and says, "Sure. Well, you're great-granddaughter's name is Winter Samantha Winchester, she is 18 years old and she is studying at Oxford University." Henry's impressed and says, "Is she hunter?" Liz says, "Yeah, she stopped to go to school instead, but she has her powers. So, I'm not too worried about her." Henry furrows his brows and says, "Powers?" Liz says, "Well, you saw earlier that I through against the wall. I'm a witch and... I'm also an angel." Henry says, "Really? An angel that's fascinating." Liz smiles and says, "Yeah. Oh, that reminds me. Here." Liz gives him one of her feathers and says, "That's one of the ingredients that you need for the blood sigil." Henry says, "Thank you. What can you tell me about Henry?" Liz softly smiles and says, "Well, he's 10 years old. He's human as far as I know but he grows times two a year." Henry looks at her confused and Liz says, "It's pretty complicated, last year he was 2 years old and now he's 10." Henry says, "How can that be?" Liz says, "Well, I think it has to do with me. See since I'm half angel, I'm something called a Nephilim." Henry says, "I've heard of them, but I've never met one. You're one of the most powerful beings." Liz nods and says, "Yeah. Anyway, Henry's on the soccer team and he's a very smart kid." Henry says, "It sounds like he would be a very great Men of Letter." Liz smiles and says, "Yeah. I'd like to know more about these Men of Letters." Henry says, "If we find out about this box and then it could be the key to your answer." Liz nods.