Starstruck II: Saruman's Curse

Hotel Winchester (Hotel Manager AU)

Sam and Dean sat across from the young man, eyeing him warily. He had brought his surfboard inside with him. It was propped up next to him, dripping.

"Ok, Steve, so what special qualifications do you bring that would make you a good addition to the Hotel Winchester family?"

The young man swung his head, sending a wave of blond bangs to go flying. "I was thinking I would make a good lifeguard. I'm a surfer, so...yea."

Sam and Dean exchanged strange looks. Sam spoke first, "This is Michigan. Lake Huron doesn't exactly throw the wicked curls."

The three men sat looking at each other for several protracted seconds. Finally Steve responded.

"Yea, still, right? I can swim well and isn't that what counts?"

The brothers scanned over Steve's job app and both heaved a sigh. Dean said, "Ok, dude, you're hired. And if you mentioned being a surfer so we would eventually transfer you to one of our tropical hotels—well, what the hell, can't hurt to try, right? Head over to the front desk and ask Helen to hook you up with your paperwork. Show up here tomorrow at 8 am for training."

Steve stood up and shook the brothers hands. "Cool. So wait, you guys own hotels in the tropics too...?"

Dean turn Steve toward the front desk and gave him a little shove. "Don't play brand new, Steve. And, welcome aboard."

The two men turned to head toward the hotel restaurant but were met by the chef as he stormed toward them. Chef Potter was smoking at the collar.

"Misters Winchester! May I have a word with you?" The brothers barely nodded before he launched into his tirade.

"I have asked repeatedly for my spice order to be expedited! How am I supposed to bring life to our Mediterranean menu without my Machalepi?"

"I did order your Kala Jeera and Grains of Paradise, Harry. Your spices aren't always easy to locate, especially since you want them all organic."

"It is obvious you do not understand my peril! Grains of Paradise and Kala Jeera for Mediterranean cooking? You know nothing of international cuisine. I am a chemist in the kitchen. An alchemist! I make magic, yes, but I am no wizard! I need the proper spice!"

"Ok, got it Harry. You'll get your Machalepi. Relax. Now, what's for lunch?"

"Nothing right now. Don't come until later—my flavors haven't had time to marry. I am going over to Kevin's yoga class to regain my spiritual balance. See me after." With that Harry Potter stormed away.

Sam and Dean walked through the hotel lobby toward the hallway leading to all the choicest hotel amenities. A line of people snaked through the hallway, leaning against the wall, some chatting amongst themselves, others slouched down, reading or playing on their phones.

Dean scrunched his face. "What is this about? Are we selling tickets to a Justin Timberlake concert, or something? What's with the line of people?"

Sam shook his head. "No concert. They are waiting in line for a reading with our new in-house psychic."

"You gotta be kidding."

They walked up to the office door just as a woman was walking out, her face in her hands and her chest heaving with sobs. She bumped into the brothers in the doorway, looked up with tear-stained eyes and screamed, "Oh my god, he's a freak. An amazing freak!!!"

The brothers walked into the office and could hear the collective objections of the waiting line. Sam stuck his head out the door. "Give us five minutes...company business." The people at the front of the line rolled their eyes in unison.

"Hello, Dean. Sam." Cas looked up from the table, a smile splitting his face. "Thankfully I was able to give that last woman some good news. I was starting to fear for my life."

Dean looked at Sam. "I don't believe we've net yet...?"

Cas crinkled his nose. "Dang, I forgot," he whispered under his breath. He reset his approach.

"Hi, I'm Castiel. You're Sam, and you're Dean." He extended his hand to each.

Dean looked at Sam again. "Who hired him? If neither of us knows him?"

"Guys, please, sit and let me give you a reading. Don't worry about that line out there, I'll be quick."

Sam and Dean gave each other a look and a shrug, and sat down.

Cas began, facing first toward Sam. "Ok, let me short-story this: Sam, you like your life as a hotelier, it's fun and who can complain about the world travel to exotic and exciting places, right? You like the semblance of normalcy although most people wouldn't consider sleeping in different beds all the time normal. But the work is a little under the level of your intellect, so you enjoy scouting and negotiating your new acquisitions best. Kind of like hunting new properties. Good so far?"

Sam nodded, and Cas continued. "Dean, you like the luxury your lifestyle allows you, not least of which is the all the attention from beautiful women. You have everything at your disposal but you feel restless all the time. You aren't tied down to one location because you travel between all your hotels frequently. But that isn't enough to scratch the itch that you should be more productive as you move from place to place. Supplying people with powder soft beaches and umbrelled drinks isn't serving your life's purpose, is it? You are always hunting for something to fill that hole."

Dean frowned.

"What I'm getting at, gentlemen, is deep down you know something is out of whack. You aren't where you're supposed to be. You have gone into some rip in the time/space continuum and I need to get you out. I need to return you to your normal life, which is far less luxurious and far more dangerous. So, what do ya say? On board?"

"Who are you? Captain Kirk or something? What the hell is going on?" There was actual fear in Dean's eyes. Sam looked equally perplexed. Cas knew he had hit a chord. Dawning began to show in their eyes.

"I know it's way out there, but it has a ring of truth nonetheless, doesn't it?"

Silence bloomed between them.

"Oh, my god."

"Yep."

"You're something more than...human. I remember, I think?"

"Yes, Sam. I'm an Angel."

"Well, that explains the line outside for your psychic readings." Cas and Sam looked at Dean, then nodded resignedly.

Suddenly Sam was seized by a gripping pain, and he thrashed his head from side to side. Dean grabbed him by his shoulders, and pulled him close.

"Sammy! Are you ok?"

"Dean, he's telling the truth. I see it, I see what he is saying."

Cas spoke softly. "He's having a vision, Dean. This is a gift Sam has in his true life."

"Wow, a gift that kicks you in the head. Musta come from Bad Santa."

Suddenly Sam grabbed Dean by the head and pulled their foreheads together. The vision was transferred into Dean's mind. When it ended they shot apart from each other, falling back into their chairs.

"Oh, Damn. Damn, Damn, Damn. What the hell are we supposed to do now?"

Cas felt sympathy, but knew better than anyone what came next. "Go about this life as you know it. Enjoy what's left of it as we hunt for our portal and our way back home. All things considered, this is one of the better alternative lives we've fallen into."

By: Mozy