Love Never Fails

08. Just My Imagination

MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN

"Here you go," Maddie said. "One spoonful of sugar or two?"

"Maddie, Daddy and I are ready to go to dinner now," Ms. Berman told her daughter. "So whenever you're ready, you just let us know."

"Sparkle and me aren't done with tea, mommy."

"Well... When you're ready."

"We have reservations," Maddie's dad reminded his wife.

"The RIE Manual says to be patient."

"So now we have to wait for her to have fake tea with her fake imaginary friend? Perfect."

"We can part forever, while mommy and daddy eat Cheerios for dinner!" Maddie exclaimed.

"It's cool, Maddie," Sparkle told her. "Go with your mom and dad. I'll clean up."

"I love you, Sparkle."

LATER

Sparkle was along reading The Velveteen Rabbit. The door opened.

"Hiya, Maddie!" Sparkle greeted. "-You're not Madd..." He was stabbed.

HALLWAY

"Don't forget to brush your teeth, sweetie," Ms. Bergman reminded her daughter.

Maddie opened the door to her room. "Sparkle!" She screamed.

BUNKER

Sam's phone buzzed. He'd set an alarm for 6:30 AM. He got out of bed and went into the kitchen, followed by an unnoticed shadowy figure. He didn't notice the buffet of childish treats set out on the kitchen table - until he did.

"Surprise!" Sully cried before Sam, surprised, punched him.

Sam held Sully by the collar and demanded, "Who are you??"

"It's me, Sam! It's Sully!"

"What?"

"You remember me, right? I made all your favorite snacks. We're friends. Like best friends. You remember?"

"Sully."

"Yeah."

"No. You're not real."

"Oh. Well, how'd you punch me, then?"

Dean and Aiden walked into the kitchen, seeing Sam holding onto empty air with a threatening stance.

Aiden tilted his head, staring at Sully. "Mom? Aunt Sylvie? Adah! Gidey! Bri! Maren!"

"This can't be happening," Sam said.

"Dude, who you talking to?" Dean asked. "Aiden, bud, who are you staring at?"

"Him?"

"Are you having a stroke? Do you smell toast?"

"He can't see me unless I want him to," Sully explained, waving at Aiden, then the other kids and Sylvie who entered the room.

Aiden ran to help his mother enter. "Mom, there's a weird guy in the kitchen."

"What weird guy?" Alana asked.

"I dunno. But I think Uncle Sammy knows him."

Dean looked at the table, pulling Adah's hands away. "What is all of this crap? When did you start eating this stuff? Is that marshmallows on nachos? Adah, sweetie, let's not have a bunch of junk food."

"Yeah, this wasn't me," Sam said.

Sully appeared to Dean. "It was me. And those are delicious."

"Wait a second. Can you two see him?"