Sweet As Honey

Chapter 1: The Catholic Shifter

Sam pushes Dean toward the little Methodist church. "Come on, Dean."

"Why can't we just gank this shifter right now?"

"Because, he's sitting in a service right now!"

"I don't know why he'd even bother to pray. He's not going to Hell. He's going to Purgatory." Cas states matter-of-factly.

Dean glances at him, as if to say, "Dude, what does it matter?"

Cas holds his hands up in a defensive gesture.

"I'm trying to understand this shifter's thought process. Isn't that what hunters do?"

Dean stops, and he turns to him. "He's probably just trying to be in character. Maybe the guy was a churchgoer."

Sam starts to pull Dean by the collar of his leather jacket into the church. "Stop fighting, you're making a scene. Do you want to get the shifter's attention in a bad way?" "Why don't you want to go to a church service?" Cas asks. Dean breaks Sam's hold and backs away from his brother and away from the church. "I've only been to a church- an actual service- once. With Mom. Shortly before she-" His voice cracks.

Sam grimaces. "Well, could you please deal with it? We've been working this case for days!"

Cas frowns. "If Dean wants to stay out here, then let him. I'll stay too and keep the perimeter, I think. Is that how you say it?"

Sam chuckles. "Yeah, Cas."

Dean groans. "Fine. I'll go in. Cas, you don't have to stay outside. It's your dad they're praying to. And your... Half-brother."

Sam pulls Dean into the church.

It's a small parish, with maybe fifty people sitting in the pews.

The three sit in the back row, closest to the doors, Cas, Dean, then Sam.

They tense as the high-pitched whine of a malfunctioning microphone meets their ears, and then a very embarrassed-looking preacher clicks off the microphone and starts to speak loudly.

"Sorry about that. If you'll all turn to page one hundred and thirty-four, we will be singing Holy Is The Lord. Today, we are fortunate to have the choir with us."