canon au } { post 6a, of djinn and prospective futures

[patrols]

Ben: [the alarm goes off, and his hand goes to slap at the offending phone making the noise. When he can't find it, he will open his eyes to look for it, and then freeze because this wasn't the hotel that he had been staying at for the last few days. He sits up at that, confused because this was a nice bedroom and not their bedroom at home]

Lindsay: [grumbles from where she's curled up on her side, facing away from him] Make it stop.

Ben: [oh yeah, the alarm. He will find his phone and stop it, and then look around the room again] What happened to our room, Linds?

Lindsay: Your dad redid the wallpaper two months ago, you've really got to get used to it eventually. [she doesn't even open her eyes or move, just stays resting on her side]

Ben: [that isn't computing. His Dad doing wallpaper?] No, it's something else. [in the back of his head, something was itching, trying to work it's way to the front of his mind]

Lindsay: [she sighs and shifts to look out at the rest of the room, before she wrinkles her nose] What is it then? Because I'm pretty sure this is how it looked when we went to bed last night.

Ben: [rubs at his face] I don't know. Maybe I just had a bad dream and can't shake it.

Lindsay: [she frowns and with that she'll shift over a little bit, actually revealing the small baby bump that he couldn't see while she was on her side] What did you see?

Ben: [he's going to just sit with his head in his hands for a bit] Some crappy motel in Texas, I think.

Lindsay: [she laughs] Sounds like something out of a horror movie.

Ben: Yeah, it does. [and he will go and look at her over his shoulder, smiling a bit and then frowns, because something's not right here either]

Lindsay: [frowns] What is it?

Ben: You're pregnant?

Lindsay: Yeeeeeeeah. [the word is said slowly as though this is not a new development] Have been for about six months now.

Ben: I don't know why I don't remember that.

Lindsay: [her brow furrows] Sure you didn't hit your head or something, babe? Maybe we should get you checked out before we head to your mom's.

Ben: My mom? [rubs his head] I don't know.

Lindsay: I'll call Michael. He was going to drive up with us anyway.

Ben: Why are we going to my mom's? I'm not supposed to.

Lindsay: Memorial Day Weekend. They're having that big barbecue they have every year? [she reaches for her cell phone] Yeah, I'm definitely calling Mike.

Ben: I think I just can't shake this dream. It felt so real. Like this here is the dream.

Lindsay: Are you sure?

Ben: I don't know.

Lindsay: Then let me call Mike anyway. He's a doctor now, he can tell you for sure.

Ben: [that doesn't feel right but none of this feels right] You do that. I'm going to take a hot shower and see if that helps.

Lindsay: Okay. I'll get the coffee started too.

Ben: Thanks. [and he will just get up and shower, having flashes in his head of waterfalls and river baths]

Lindsay: [and she will make coffee and talk to Michael, and then make tea for herself because she's not allowed to have coffee]

Ben: [and when he comes out he's still very confused, but his brain is trying to reconcile the realities]

Lindsay: [turns to face him as she's started on breakfast] Feel better?

Ben: Somewhat.

Lindsay: Okay. Michael'll be here in an hour, so how do you want your eggs?

Ben: Scrambled. Like my brain [bad joke]

Lindsay: Ha ha. [and she'll set out making those]

Ben: This dream I had, it was like the world had died away and I was trying to survive.

Lindsay: [frowns] So more like a nightmare, then.

Ben: Kinda. But then I was brought through a wormhole into another reality where it never happened, and I was trying to learn how to exist in it.

Lindsay: ... So sci fi?

Ben: It felt so real. You were there though. You were pretty much the main thing keeping me going.

Lindsay: [smiles a bit at that] Good to know.

Ben: You were a kickass vampire slayer.

Lindsay: Vampire slayer?

Ben: Yeah. Super human powers and you'd stake vampires and they would explode into dust.

Lindsay: I was pretty badass, huh?

Ben: Yeah, you were.

Lindsay: [and that makes her smile] Good.

Ben: But you weren't pregnant there.

Lindsay: ... Oh.

Ben: Yeah. I guess that's why waking up and seeing you that way threw me a moment. [it's still confusing him, let’s be real]

Lindsay: Well, better get used to it, because this is not a dream.

Ben: [he smiled at that] Still don't know why you'd agree to let another version of me into the world.

Lindsay: I think it was a pretty mutual decision.

Ben: Yeah, but still. Pretty sure the world will never be ready for a mini version of me. [smirks]

Lindsay: [laughs] Well, I guess we're going to find out.

Ben: God help us [laughs]

Lindsay: [serves up the eggs on a plate before leaning in for a kiss] Go eat before your cousin gets here. I'm going to shower.

Ben: Yes ma'am. [he will start to eat, but he realizes he isn't that hungry for eggs for some reason. Then there was a pawing at his leg and he looked down to see a brown lab looking up at him with sad eyes] Do I know you?

Lindsay: [frowns] Don't tell him that, you'll make him sad.

Ben: He already looks sad. [he has no idea what the dog's name is] You aren't getting my breakfast.

Lindsay: [sorry pup, mom's already in the shower. you're going to have to negotiate]

Ben: [and they will watch each other for a bit, and finally Ben's lack of appetite made him sigh.] Here, destroy the evidence and I'll pretend it was good.

Lindsay: [SIGH]

Ben: [sorry Linds, he's just not hungry for eggs. They taste weird to him. He will down the bacon though and toast before getting up to walk around the house, looking at things in the shelves as he drops breadcrumbs from the toast as he walks]

Michael: [and while he's doing that the door will open] Knock knock.

Ben: [looks over at the door, hearing the familiar voice] Hey Mikey.

Michael: Hey, dude. Lindsay said you were feeling weird?

Ben: She's just worried about me. I'm just having issues getting my brain out of a dream.

Michael: You sure? Cuz I can check you out.

Ben: You'd be wasting your time.

Michael: Suit yourself. [and if the dog requires his attention, he'll crouch down and give him some love] Hey, buddy.

Ben: [nods, watching the dog who is giving Michael love because Daddy hasn't taken him for a walk or played or anything yet] So how long you been a doctor again?

Michael: [poor buddy, he will give you lots of love in return] Just started my first year of residency. Why?

Ben: Nothing. Just, it's just weird thinking of you as Doctor Winchester.

Michael: Well, you better get used to it because if I have to pay as much as I do in malpractice insurance, I'm not giving it up anytime soon.

Ben: [snorts] You're also going to be paying out the ass for those student loans I bet.

Michael: My life for the foreseeable future is debt, debt and more debt.

Ben: Just keep going back to school and get more degrees and never pay it off. You're a nerd after all.

Michael: [he snorts] Nah, I like medicine. I just gotta get out of the ER and into private practice and I'll be okay.

Ben: [nods, looking at the pictures again and stopping at a large family photo of all the Winchesters and such, and he will pull it down to look at him and his mother standing there together, shock on his face.]

Michael: [will watch him for a moment before frowning] You sure you're okay dude?

Ben: Yeah, I'm fine. [he so isn't. He knew he hadn't seen his mother in forever. It was a yearning he was well familiar with, and he had thought he was hearing things when Lindsey had mentioned going up to see her, but now there was this photo and he knew that he hadn't seen her at this age. Nor had Dean, who stood next to them.]

Michael: [stands and walks over to him because he knows his cousin better than that] You sure?

Ben: When was this photo taken again?

Michael: [stares at it for a minute] Liv's high school graduation party.

Ben: [nope, he can't remember that at all. Though he does remember Liv and college] She's at Berkley now?

Michael: Well, yes and no. She's a cop there and if it weren't for her boyfriend she'd be bored out of her mind. [he squints at him, confused] You know this.

Ben: [and he puts the picture down and rubs at his eyes] Hal.

Michael: Yes. Who is actually coming today so our dads can glare at him and get it out of the way.

Ben: Her lot in life, being the girl.

Michael: Yep.

Ben: So are we supposed to like the guy?

Michael: I promised her I'd at least have a conversation with him first.

Ben: Because if we need to take him out back and you want to do the big brother threatening him bit, I'm down with it.

Michael: I will let you know.

Ben: Alright. [he was still confused about so much, and he jumped when the dog nosed at his hand]

Michael: [frowns] You keep giving Murph the cold shoulder, he might develop a complex or something.

Ben: Murphy. [he looks at the dog and OMG you said his name and he's going to wag his tail]

Michael: Yeah. You and Linds got him before you accidentally made an actual human baby.

Ben: That makes sense.

Michael: You sure you don't want me to look you over?

Ben: You might as well. It'll make you and Linds feel better if nothing else.

Michael: Okay. Go have a seat.

Ben: Just don't ask me to bend over and cough. [but he will go sit on the couch]

Michael: [he rolls his eyes before checking him over] Anything else weird other than the dreams?

Ben: I'm having a hard time remembering things.

Michael: Like what?

Ben: .....Most of the last 30 years?

Michael: [squints] Suffer any head trauma lately?

Ben: Not that I remember.

Michael: What's the last thing you seem to remember clearly?

Ben: [licks his lips] I remember going to a diner to get dinner for me and Linds. [rubs at his head] I don't remember how I got home.

Michael: What was the name of the diner?

Ben: Exit 64 Diner.

Michael: [his brow furrows] Is that around here?

Ben: Yeah, it's just ten minutes away on the way to Houston.

Michael: What'd you order?

Ben: Two burgers and fries, and half an apple pie.

Michael: Why'd you go all the way to Texas for food?

Ben: [and he thinks back] We were visiting Linds' hometown. We were in Texas.

Michael: Linds didn't mention anything about you guys taking a trip.

Ben: ... We’re not in Texas, are we?

Michael: No. We're in Lawrence.

Ben: Lawrence... Kansas.

Michael: Unless you know another Lawrence.

Ben: They probably exist. [he though, then nodded because that didn't feel wrong. Lawrence felt like home.]

Michael: Well, physically you seem fine, at least from what I can tell here without an MRI.

Ben: Is there anything that could cause me to just spontaneously forget my whole life?

Michael: Nothing good.

Ben: Like...?

Michael: [he shakes his head] I'm not going to speculate this. You come to the hospital with me tomorrow and we'll check all the boxes, but for now, don't worry about it.

Ben: I just don't want to make a fool of myself. Maybe I shouldn't go to see my mom.

Michael: I think she'd worry if you didn't.

Ben: [licks his lips] Yeah, probably.

Michael: Just relax, man. I think you're stressing yourself out too much.

Ben: Which I know isn't helping but I'm trying not to freak the fuck out.

Michael: I know. But it also might be making things worse.

Ben: And once again, people don't believe pot should be legal.

Michael: Well, I won't tell if you don't.

Ben: Yeah, but with Linds, probably shouldn't.

Michael: [he nods] Makes sense.

Lindsay: What probably shouldn't?

Ben: Get high.

Lindsay: You're right. It's rude.

Ben: I was thinking more about the baby. We were just discussing how medical marijuana for stress would be helpful.

Lindsay: Yes, it's rude because I can't get high with you. That being said, it's less obvious if you eat it rather than smoke it.

Ben: [smiles at Lindsey] This is why I love you.

Lindsay: [shakes her head] Just do it after we see your mom. If we show up and you're already stoned, she's not going to be happy with me.

Ben: Deal. Mikey, you want in on this?

Michael: [he shakes his head] I have to work tomorrow. The last time we got stoned I wound up two states over with no car.

Ben: [laughs because he remembers that somehow] Yeah, Liv was pissed.

Michael: [shakes his head] Never again.

Ben: Lightweight.

Michael: [rolls his eyes] So are you two ready to go or what?

Lindsay: I'm ready when you boys are.

Ben: I just need to go put my boots on.

Lindsay: [to Michael:] Help me get Murph ready for the car?

Ben: He may need to go for a walk or something.

Michael: Yeah, I got it. [and Murphy will get leashed up to head outside]

Ben: [and he will go get his boots on and come out of the house, looking at it a moment before joining them at the car] One of you driving?

Michael: [getting a car-ready Murphy into the backseat of Ben's car] You're going to let someone else drive?

Ben: Yeah. I don't want to get us lost or something because my brain is acting up. You can say I lost a bet or something.

Michael: ... Alright. I'll drive.

Ben: [tosses him the keys] Thanks. Move over, Murph.

Michael: [and he'll climb into the driver's seat and off they go to Dean & Lisa's]

Ben: [and he's going to watch things pass by. A lot of it is familiar, so he's going to just absently pet Murphy's head as they go]

Michael: [and they'll pull up on a fairly normal house in a fairly normal town, with a backyard and a groomed lawn with flowers that Dean is currently watering like a normal guy would do]

Ben: [and he will open the door and Murphy will get out and run RIGHT for Dean because grandpa always has meat around]

Dean: [turns at the sound of the dog before dropping down to give him some good scritches] Hey, Murph.

Ben: [smirks a bit] Dean. What are you doing? [because this is odd]

Dean: [he glances up over the top of the dogs head] You think this landscaping does itself?

Ben: Never took you as a green thumb.

Dean: [his brow furrows at that because he's always taken care of his lawn, but okay] You drunk already? Because your mom's gonna be pissed.

Ben: Why does everyone keep thinking that? I'm not a drunk.

Michael: Dean's won neighborhood awards for that landscaping, dude.

Ben: [rubs at his eyes, it's all wrong in his head] I think I'm just coming down with something.

Dean: [and then there's actual dad concern] You want to go in and lie down?

Ben: Nah, I'll be fine. Things are just foggy.

Dean: Okay. [still worried dad face] Your mom's in the kitchen if you want to go say hey.

Ben: Sure. [and he is going to head inside, and then just stop inside of the doorway because this he remembers somewhere in his mind. This was his childhood home, and it felt like he hadn't been here in a very long time. But he knew every inch of this place and he just looked around the living room in confused fascination]

Lindsay: [follows him in, and she's got her worried face on too] You sure you're okay?

Ben: I'm not sure. It feels like I'm in a dream. A really, weird dream.

Lindsay: [smirks, slightly teasing] Want me to pinch you?

Ben: Actually, yeah.

Lindsay: [... not what she was expecting, but she'll do so, right on the crook of his arm]

Ben: [and yup, as expected] Ow!

Lindsay: See? Not dreaming.

Ben: Maybe I should listen to Mike and go down and get a scan. Maybe I hit my head or something which I don't remember doing but hey, that's seeming to be my norm today.

Lindsay: It's probably a good idea.

Ben: Maybe I shouldn't have come after all.

Lindsay: Look, say hi to your mom, sit, have some food, and we'll see how you feel.

Ben: Alright. [and he will lean in to kiss her]

Lindsay: [kisses him back before nudging him towards the kitchen]

Ben: [and he is going to wander in, something in his chest wanting to run in there and another part hesitant, afraid almost. Finally he just stood in the kitchen doorway and looked in]

Lisa: [and there she is, working on getting things ready to go on the grill, and not really focusing on anything else at the moment]

Ben: [she... she looks perfect. Just as he knew she would. He went to take a step forward, then hesitated, not wanting to disturb her. But finally he just gave a small smile] Mom?

Lisa: [looks up and there's a bright smile when she sees him] Hey, sweetie. When did you get here?

Ben: Not long ago. Saw Dean working on the flowers.

Lisa: [rolls her eyes] One day he won't spend all of his time on the front lawn. [but she'll pause to dry off her hands before making her way closer to give him a hug]

Ben: At least it's not in the garage. [and he will hesitate before hugging her back, and then hugging her tightly like he hadn't held her in forever. because it felt that way]

Lisa: [she's used to these things being a formality for him at this point, but she doesn't mind when things get a little more intense. she rubs his back gently, but doesn't pull back] Everything okay?

Ben: OH yeah, totally. [lies like a Winchester]

Lisa: You sure?

Ben: Couldn't be better. [she knows that look well at this point]

Lisa: [yep, she definitely does] Uh-huh.

Ben: It's just been a crazy morning, that's all.

Ben: Not yet. We ate breakfast not that long ago. [and he barely ate any of it]

Lisa: Okay. Well your cousin's outside on the patio with Hal if you want to go see her. [and she leans over his shoulder as she nudges him past her] Be nice.

Ben: I'm not the one to be worried about. Mikey is. [he looks out a moment, but then back at his mom] Sure I can't help you with anything?

Lisa: [raises an eyebrow] You're actually offering to help?

Ben: Yeah, why not? Dean's out with the flowers so you could use it.

Lisa: Alright. there are tomatoes in the strainer. Get slicing.

Ben: I can do that. [and he is really, really good with a knife suddenly, making perfect slices]

Lisa: [she'll just chalk it up to her training him well, and they'll get to work! and maybe we can timeskip through the barbecue a bit to the next part of his djinn adventure? or cut back to the real world if you want to play that side of things]

Ben: [nope, we can totally skip the happy bbq' and even the next day with the doctor and mike concluding that Ben must have hit his head while working in the garage on the car and it was a concussion that took away his memory, and not to worry it will come back so he will go and just adjust to normal happy world and those questions will slowly just disappear and he will stop questioning his environment. Meanwhile, in the real world.....]

Lindsay: [is finally calling the Winchesters after she spent a little more than a day scouring Houston for Ben and not getting anywhere. And here she thought the worst thing that could happen on this trip is running into her old family. so ring ring ring Sam phone]

Sam: [because he is the responsible one and is working on his computer while debating on dinner. So he will answer the phone when he sees Lindsey's name pop up] Hey Lindsay.

Lindsay: I lost Ben.

Sam: Did you check the bars?

Lindsay: I'm dating a Winchester, of course I checked the bars. And the hospitals and the morgue and every goddamn burger place in Houston.

Sam: Okay. Where are you located and I'll pull up the weird things happening data.

Lindsay: [sighs and she gives him the area of the hotel they were staying at] We were only going to be here for a week.

Sam: Have you noticed anything weird while you've been there?

Lindsay: My Slayer senses weren't tingling, no. But Houston isn't really known for vampires. Too much sun, not enough rain.

Sam: [and he goes silent as he's in the Houston PD server] Well, it looks like two other people have gone missing without any leads. One about a week ago, and one two weeks ago. It could be nothing, but normally there are always reasons why and these have none.

Lindsay: [rubs her eyes] Any mysterious bodies turn up lately?

Sam: [click click click] And you're sure you felt no vampire killing urges?

Lindsay: Yep. I mean, there's probably a demon bar around here somewhere, but that might not help me much if the thing that took him isn't my kind of demon, and I don't want to start too much trouble unless I have to.

Sam: Well, you may have to. I have two recent deaths in the last month of severe dehydration and blood loss.

Lindsay: Wait, dehydration? A vamp wouldn't hold someone long enough for them to get dehydrated.

Sam: Unless they were toying with them, but yeah. Probably not a vampire. There's a couple of other kinds of creatures that fit the profile...

Lindsay: Like what?

Sam: [and he will list two off the top of his head and then stop abruptly] Shit.

Lindsay: What?

Sam: There's a pattern of these kinds of disappearances cutting across the state. Whatever it is, it's in the second month of a three month cycle before moving on. [deep breath] Lindsay you have a djinn.

Lindsay: Fuckballs.

Sam: You want backup?

Lindsay: Considering I've never dealt with one before and have no idea how to track it? Yeah.

Sam: I'll come down, and will probably have at least Dean, if not the calvary. More than likely the djinn will be in hiding now that he has a meal.

Lindsay: Okay. Send me the details on the other two recent vics? Maybe I can narrow down a search area while I'm waiting.

Sam: I'll get it to you in ten. You can probably see if Stilinski knows anyone in district.... six. That's the one with the missing person from last week.

Lindsay: Gotcha. Thanks. [and she will call her boss and ask him that question, and no, everything's fine, she's just looking into something]

Stilinski: [and he will... give her the name of a contact there but isn't sure he believes her]

Sam: [and he's typing up his stuff as he stands up because yeah, this is going to be the fun part] Dean!

Dean: Yeah?

Sam: [goes off to find where he is] We've got a problem.

Dean: [is watching TV] What kind?

Sam: [licks his lips] Lindsay called. Ben's gone missing.

Dean: [actually turns to look at Sam] What?

Sam: Yeah. [rubs the back of his neck] And from what I'm reading in the area, it more than likely a djinn.

Dean: Shit.

Sam: She's never dealt with one before and since the last one we dealt with was – [his hand just wanders to indicate Dean]

Dean: [deep breath] Yeah, okay. I'll pack the car. Where are they at, Beacon Hills?

Sam: Houston.

Dean: Good, then. That's not too far.

Sam: So should we call in Liv and Michael? I mean, they would be pissed if we didn't but at the same time...

Dean: Liv's hanging out with Mom right now. I don't know where Michael is. Call 'em and see but if they're too far away we need to move sooner rather than later.

Sam: I have a go bag packed already so It won't take me long to get ready. [and he will go call Michael first while heading to his room]

Michael: [it takes a few minutes but he answers] Yeah?

Sam: Where are you at the moment?

Michael: Halfway to helping Garth out with something in Atlanta. Why?

Sam: Ben's gone missing. Signs lead to it being a djinn. You ever dealt with one before you got here?

Michael: Most of the monsters went early after Lucifer took over - he hated them almost as much as us. So no, I haven't.

Sam: Alright. Well, these things pretty much suck a person dry to feed. To keep them captive, they put them into a dream coma. Dean got caught years back - it was like he had everything he could ever want. He was able to resist in knowing things were off.

Michael: [deep breath] I could turn around, but I'm already halfway to Atlanta - I'll only slow you guys down.

Sam: You keep going. Liv is nearby. I just wanted you to know, and I'll text you updates.

Michael: Okay. Sounds good. I'll see you in a week or so.

Sam: Be safe. [and he will hang up and text Liv to call him]

Olivia: [and it doesn't take her long because Mary's driving] What's up?

Sam: How far are you guys from the bunker?

Olivia: Uhhh - not very? Why?

Sam: Ben's been taken by a djinn. we're packing up to meet Lindsay in Houston.

Olivia: Oh, damn. [and Olivia twists in her seat to try and see the road sign they just passed] We're actually closer to Houston than we are the bunker, so why don't we just meet you there. Where did she want you to meet her?

Sam: I've got the hotel info where they are staying. I'll send it your way. You need me to grab you anything here to bring to you?

Olivia: No, I think we're good as far as supplies go. We'll see you there.

Sam: Be safe. See you soon.

Olivia: Yep. [hangs up and looks to Mary] Change of plans, we're going to Houston.

Mary: What happened?

Olivia: Ben's missing and we think he got grabbed by a djinn.

Mary: [takes in a sharp breath] Those things can be nasty. Have you fought one before?

Olivia: [she shakes her head] But Dad and Dean have. And Ben's girlfriend is a Slayer, so getting him back won't be an issue, we just have to find him before it's too late.

Mary: How strong is Ben really... mentally?

Olivia: [she shifts a bit] Not as strong as he used to be.

Mary: Do you think he'd be able to fight against something like that?

Olivia: I don't know. Which is why we better get there sooner rather than later.

Mary: [nods and she will be speeding up]

Olivia: [and they will probably make it to Houston ahead of the boys, so Olivia will call Lindsay and briefly coordinate with her when they get close, and Lindsay is waiting outside their hotel with a map when Mary pulls up]

Mary: [and she hasn't met Lindsay yet, but she will give the other woman a smile] Hi.

Lindsay: Hey. [and she'll get up and slide in the backseat of the car, leaning over so she can show the other two women] I think they're somewhere in here. [there's a nice ven diagram of where the victims were taken from that met out in a patch in the business district] There are some abandoned warehouses out there that would be perfect for someone to hide out in and not draw too much attention.

Mary: [nods] We can go do a drive by. See if we can pinpoint which one.

Lindsay: Sounds good. I'm Lindsay, by the way.

Mary: Mary. Nice to meet you.

Lindsay: You too. So how do we kill these things?

Mary: Stake with lambs blood.

Lindsay: Great. I know a butcher we can stop at.

Mary: Did the boys figure out if it was acting alone or in a group?

Lindsay: There are at least three bodies that haven't been dropped so either we've got a really big glutton, or they're feeding a family.

Mary: We're going to need a lot of blood.

Lindsay: Yep. But as I said, I know a guy. [looks up and points towards the main road] Take a left out of here.

Mary: [does so] So Sam says you're a slayer?

Lindsay: Yep. One of 'em, anyway.

Mary: Probably makes it a lot easier to keep up with a hunter boyfriend.

Lindsay: [she smirks] Something like that.

Mary: I haven't met Ben yet, so I don't know a lot about him beyond what Dean's told me.

Lindsay: He's a lot like Dean actually. So if you can handle him, then you can handle Ben.

Olivia: Just don't tell him that unless you want his pissy face.

Mary: [smiles] Apple doesn't fall far from the tree?

Olivia: More like some things are just genetic.

Mary: Well, Michael does take after his father for sure. [looks at Liv and smiles] I think you take after your mother more.

Olivia: [she laughs] I'm pretty sure she says that I take after Dean too.

Lindsay: It's a hard call - Bela's got a little more finesse.

Mary: She's British, so the finesse is expected.

Olivia: I just don't care.

Mary: [laughs] Now I see the Dean.

Lindsay: She's also the girl who thought breaking things would be a good way to deal with the Wild Hunt.

Olivia: Hey, it worked. Sort of.

Mary: Breaking things is always a valid action.

Olivia: Thank you!

Mary: [and she will see the butcher shop coming up] That where we're going?

Lindsay: Yep. I should only be five minutes. How far out are Sam and Dean?

Olivia: I'll check with them while you're in there. [pulls out her phone and texts her dad: "Lindsay's picking up the lamb's blood and we have a search area. ETA?"]

Sam: "At least three hours. As long as Dean doesn't get pulled over."

Mary: If they are too far out, we might do good with some coffee and a nap so we're on our game.

Olivia: Dad says about three hours. I don't know if Linds will want to wait that long.

Mary: I know, but at the same time if we're walking into a horde we should wait for backup.

Olivia: [she nods] I know. Maybe we could recon at least? I'm definitely for coffee though.

Mary: Coffee, recon, wait for the boys as long as we can. Plus we'll still need t get stakes.

Lindsay: [returns to the car with her bucket of lambs blood] What kind of Slayer do you think I am? I've got stakes in the trunk of my car.

Mary: So we'll need to go back to your car first then.

Lindsay: [she nods] Either that, or there's a Slayer stash house not too far from here, so we don't have to back track.

Mary: Okay. But still, coffee next.

Lindsay: Definitely coffee.

Mary: [and she will look for the next available diner]

Lindsay: [there's one not too far from the butcher's, and it has a window seat so they an keep an eye out for weird stuff]

Mary: [and she will then get coffee and a muffin] They won't come out usually during the daytime. They are very noticeable.

Olivia: Not anymore. After the apocalypse didn't happen they ... evolved, I guess is the right word? They blend in pretty well now.

Mary: That's not at all comforting.

Olivia: Nope. But there are other ways to pick them out.

Mary: How's that?

Olivia: Their eyes glow blue and their tattoos move.

Mary: But if they control their eyes and are wearing clothing?

Olivia: It gets harder. But if you start hallucinating dead people, let us know.

Mary: I will.

Lindsay: [sighs as she studies the map some more, drumming her fingers against the table anxiously]

Mary: [and after a while a woman will come into the diner, keeping her face hidden by a hoodie as she orders four meals to go]

Lindsay: [her eyes look up from the map as she notices, not saying anything and just watching to see what happens]

Woman: [she is a normal, human woman. So why is she looking shifty as she takes the four to-go meals and walks off to a beat up pickup that has very interesting dents in the hood]

Lindsay: [yeah, if there's a plate on the truck she's going to scribble that down on her napkin]

Woman: [there is, and hey, it belongs to the guy who disappeared 2 weeks ago when she goes to run it]

Lindsay: [and she'll ask if the cop friend that she made can find recent activity of the car]

Sam: [and the brothers would be pulling up as they get back to her with that info and asking her for information on where it went]

Lindsay: [and she'll be able to lead them to a more precise location of the warehouse?]

Sam: [yup, because they will find that it's one of the few with faint light flicking like from a television, and the truck is parked outside.]

Lindsay: [whispers] Everybody come get your lamb's blood.

Sam: [he will let the others do that, but something is odd as he looks in the window] Are you sure we're in the right place? Because in there is a mother with two kids playing an X-Box.

Lindsay: [frowns as she looks over the truck again] The truck belongs to one of the missing vics. So unless this is a really freaky coincidence ...

Sam: Something's not adding up. [what Sam can't see is that one of those teenagers is a baby djinn]

Lindsay: [glances around and makes her way around to the other side of the warehouse and sees a series of smaller windows on the dark side of the building. she then reaches back and places a hand on his shoulder] Give me a boost.

Sam: [which he will do]

Lindsay: [and she will peer inside, taking advantage of her Slayer night vision]

Woman: [and she will see a human mother, and then twin teenage boys but one is human, one djinn. And then from a metal freezer door comes two other adult men, both djinn]

Lindsay: [and she'll drop back down and nod] Yep, this is definitely the place. But they're not all djinn, some of them are human - or at least passing.

Mary: How many humans?

Lindsay: Two. The female and one of the kids. The other is a djinn, and there's two adult males.

Mary: It's a family. [looks at her boys]

Dean: [yep, he acknowledges that, but at the same time, they have their family] Did you see Ben?

Lindsay: [shakes her head] But the two males were coming out of a metal freezer in the back - it's probably where they're keeping dinner. [she glances between them all for a moment] If you guys want to just let me do this, I can. [Slayers are used to rolling alone and she's gotten pretty good at seeing the monster rather than the human side when she needs to]

Sam: What are you going to do about the humans. And the teenager?

Lindsay: [she rolls her eyes over to the truck for a moment] If anything the humans are at least accomplices. And who's to say the kid is more or less innocent than the adults are? If Theo Raeken is any indication, kids are capable of being just as shitty, if not worse. [she takes deep breath] I can detain the humans and pass a tip off to the cop who's been helping me once we get Ben out of there, but do you really think that arresting a teenage djinn is going to work?

Mary: And if it's a mother trying to do what she needs to help her child survive?

Lindsay: She's still killing people and needs to answer for that. [she glances between them for a moment] You tell me. Are djinn like werewolves where they can control this shit or live another way? Because if that's possible, then we can adjust, but right now all the training I have is telling me that people would be safer if they're put down rather than trying to make it work.

Sam: We're here to save people, so we find out their part first. I'd rather we leave the humans to the cops than kill them. But yeah, all creatures have a capacity to live normally in this world. We've seen it many times.

Lindsay: ... I wasn't suggesting we kill the humans. I was talking about the teenager. [that's the Slayer code - no humans, no matter how shitty they are. She takes a deep breath] Then fine. Why don't I take the two males in the back, and you four sort out the kids. Is that subjective enough for everyone? [she doesn't mean to sound pissy but the longer they stand around debating this the more Ben is bleeding out]

Mary: Sam and I will handle them.

Lindsay: Good. [and she spins the stake anxiously in one hand before reaching behind her to pull out a set of handcuffs] If you need them. Dean, Liv and I will clear the back and get Ben and whoever else may be back there. Once everything is clear, I'll call the detective I was talking to and let him clean up the rest.

Sam: [nods] Alright. Just be careful. You don't know if there is anything else in there.

Lindsay: [she nods and with that she, Dean and Liv will head to the back where she will kick the door in and come in ready for a brawl. she's been itching to punch something all day]

Sam: [and he and Mary will deal with the mother who takes both the teens and goes to try and hide, and then beg for her sons lives]

Ben: [and he will pretty much be strung up and held to a post with duct tape, including a strip over his mouth, and a port on his neck for them to feed from. He's pale and his lips are dry, his eyes in a deep and active dream twitching state]

Olivia: [and while Dean and Lindsay handle the fighting, she'll sneak over to Ben and gently pull the tape off his mouth, moving delicately so as not to disturb the port] Ben? Ben!

Ben: [and nope, no response. He's too far under, and with three feeding on him, he's borderline comatose.]

Olivia: Shit. [and there's nothing she can really do for him right now, so she's going to think of the next best person who can. Cas can't get here in time, but Willow might be able to work over long distances, so after a very brief conversation, Ben might feel a strong warm sensation as some of Willow's good juju starts to work it's magic. no pun intended]

Ben: [and he will groan as the dream world starts to shatter around him, but he struggles to hold onto it, which shows as he groans and rolls a bit on Olivia's arms]

Olivia: Ben! Ben, c'mon, follow my voice. Please. Do not make me punch you, I don't think you could take a bruise right now. [if she has to slap him to snap him out of it she will, but she really doesn't want to]

Ben: [and in his head he can hear Olivia. The walls of the perfect world start to fade, leading to the apocalypse world and images of Michael and Liv fighting against Samifer and his memories flooding back and he is going to scream which will lead him to actually screaming though it's a crackling one as his throat is dry. But his eyes will start to force themselves open]

Olivia: [she's sorry she's so bad at this, but she'll brush a hand over the top of his head as his eyes start to open, forcing him to look at her] It's okay. It's okay, it's just me. It's me, Ben.

Ben: [he sees her, but his eyes aren't good at focusing at the moment. He's just going to nod, but he's freezing and it's too bright for him so he's going to just curl up a bit, shivering.]

Olivia: [and she will feel that and try to wrap herself around him, instinctively using body heat to try and keep him warm] It's okay. We'll get you out of here and you'll be fine.

Sam: [meanwhile the story is pretty much that the djinn men are brothers, and the woman is pretty much been forced to give them kids and raise them. She doesn't care about the men but her children she's scared for, especially the one who is just becoming djinn and doesn't know how to survive. The other boy may or may not become djinn as it's not like a "gene comes out at age 14" thing.]

Lindsay: [well, the dudes are dead and Lindsay comes in on the tail end of the story] You were living with them. You were seen using the victim's car. You're going to have to deal with this somehow.

Woman: If I go to jail, who's going to take care of them?

Lindsay: [takes a deep breath and sighs again] I may know a guy who can set them up someone who can teach them to handle what they are. He's a vampire, but he's got connections.

Mary: You know though that if your boys keep up a life like this, we will come back.

Woman: I'll make sure they don't.

Sam: [watching Lindsay and Dean carefully] Make the call.

Lindsay: [nods and reaches for her phone] You have to stay here and wait for a detective. Elocute to him about everything that happened - you can leave the djinn part out of it, but tell him that you were held against your will. If the evidence supports it, you should get a pretty lenient deal, not a lot of jail time. [she snaps a picture with her phone] If you bail and run with your kids, he has your face, he will put out an APB and he will find you and you won't see your kids for a lot longer. You understand what I'm saying?

Woman: [just nods]

Lindsay: [and she'll quickly make the phone calls, one to Angel and one to the detective. and once that's all settled:] Angel's going to have someone meet your kids at the station. Once you have a deal, they'll set them up with people like them and teach them how to control it.

Woman: I can do that. [just keeping her boys close]

Mary: [and she is going to just go outside to get some fresh air]

Lindsay: [exhales slowly, before turning to Sam] I need to stay here and wait for my contact. You should help Liv with Ben.

Sam: Yeah. [and he will leave to go help Liv]

Olivia: [and she, Sam and Dean will wrangle Ben into the Impala and take him to the hospital?]

Ben: [yup, where they are going to pump him full of fluids and blood and ask questions about what happened and side-eye the neck port. They will also point out that he has a concussion and want to do an MRI to make sure there is no brain damage]

Dean: [which Dean will give permission for, go for it]

Ben: [and hey look, the Winchester isn't brain damaged, but there is some evidence that he was electrocuted so they warn them he may not remember some things due to the trauma.]

Dean: [that's cool, they'll just all hunker down in the hospital room and eventually Lindsay and Mary will join them as they were left together with a car? or do you want to jump back to them and work through some stuff?]

Ben: [nope, that works, and eventually Ben will groaned and blink awake] Gang's all here.

Olivia: [is the closest so] You okay?

Ben: Did you get the plate of that truck?

Olivia: [smirks] That would be D-J-I-N-N.

Ben: [closes his eyes and groans] Fuck.

Olivia: Yep. You had us worried there for a bit.

Ben: How long...?

Olivia: Couple days?

Ben: [his eyes take in the hospital room] Well, that explains this place. [he looks around, trying to find someone his brain isn't sure should be there or not]

Olivia: [she frowns at that, before brushing a hand against the top of his head] Well, I'm starving. You should rest up. We'll go grab some dinner and see you in a bit, okay?

Ben: Yeah, sure. I doubt I'm going anywhere.

Sam: Don't try to escape either.

Lindsay: I'll stay with him and make sure he stays put.

Sam: You should eat too.

Lindsay: I will. But I'm good for now.

Sam: Okay. Just text me if you want us to bring you back something. [and he will nudge Olivia and Dean out. Mary is sitting in the hallway to not overwhelm or confuse Ben]

Lindsay: [and once they're gone, she'll take Olivia's seat next to the bed and pull one leg up to her chest] Hey.

Ben: Hey.

Lindsay: How you doing?

Ben: Feel like crap.

Lindsay: [sympathetic face before she reaches over to take his hand] Get some rest. You'll feel better.

Ben: [threads his fingers with hers] I don't want to go to sleep.

Lindsay: Why's that?

Ben: I don't want to dream right now.

Lindsay: Okay. [she shifts to face him more] You want to talk?

Ben: I was able to pull myself out of it at the end.... but it was a long time I didn't fight. I didn't think to.

Lindsay: What was it like?

Ben: It was just... perfect. Too perfect, now that I think about it. But hey, you're still my dream girl. [smiles]

Lindsay: [she laughs] Good to know.

Ben: [he looks at their hands, thinking a bit] Dean was such a homebody. He was a fricken horticulturist. I don't even know where the hell that came from.

Lindsay: [she laughs] Probably because that's what most normal dads do.

Ben: He won awards for that shit.

Lindsay: Good for him.

Ben: [he was quiet for a minute] My mom was proud of him.

Lindsay: [pauses for a moment before giving his hand a small squeeze]

Ben: Yeah. [he reached up to rub at his eyes] You guys got along well.

Lindsay: That's good. It would suck if we didn't.

Ben: She said you kept me honest.

Lindsay: I don't know about that, but maybe.

Ben: You try. [gives her a small smirk]

Lindsay: I guess. I don't think Mary would agree.

Ben: Mary?

Lindsay: Yeah. She came with Liv to help get you back.

Ben: Just living up to the great first impressions I make.

Lindsay: It could have been worse.

Ben: I could have been dead?

Lindsay: Or possessed.

Ben: Or naked.

Lindsay: Unconscious may actually be putting one of your better feet forward. [teasing]

Ben: [smiles] Probably. Since I usually screw things up once I open my mouth.

Lindsay: Not too bad.

Ben: [squeezed her hand] Do you want to know what I saw about us?

Lindsay: Only if you want to tell me.

Ben: We totally lived in sin.

Lindsay: And that's different from now how?

Ben: [he licked his lips a moment] We had a kid.

Lindsay: [... and that is not what she was expecting so...] Oh.

Ben: Yeah.

Lindsay: Wow.

Ben: Little girl. Pretty much if you put Liv in a karate gi with a tutu.

Lindsay: [and just nods, because she doesn't really know what to say]

Ben: But it wasn't real. So yeah. [sighs]

Lindsay: Yeah. [swallows] I'm sorry.

Ben: Hey, don't be sorry. You're real. [he looks at her] What we got... that's the reality. Not someone fucking with my head.

Lindsay: [she takes a deep breath because she could put this off, but she doesn't] Yeah, but ... it means part of you wants that somewhere in there. [a beat] And I don't.

Ben: Linds - you don't need to have a kid. I already raised two. Mikey and Liv are pretty much my kids just as much as they are my cousins. And they'll both probably go on to have kids I can spoil rotten and then hand back to them for the dirty work. Plus here - I probably can't anyway because that'll bring a whole level of complications to the version of me running around here that belongs in this world. I've already thought about that. Maybe it'd be nice, sure, but it's not something I need.

Lindsay: You sure?

Ben: Yeah. I'm sure. I've been thinking about it for awhile, along with the whole bit of wanting to talk to you about if you want to get married or not.

Lindsay: That we can do, if you really want to. And I'm not opposed to furry children. But with the whole Slayer thing, I don't think it's a good idea. Dangerous job, dangerous life, and if I have a daughter, I don't want this to be passed down to her.

Ben: I get it. I don't want to make any of them have to bear the Michael sword vessel

Lindsay: So we have furry children.

Ben: Totally. Cats?

Lindsay: Sure.

Ben: We can totally name them after all the agent names Dean and Sam go by.

Lindsay: [she laughs] Perfect.

Ben: So I guess I better go and hussle up a diamond ring for you when I get out of here, huh? [smiles]

Lindsay: [she laughs] If you want. I don't really need one.

Ben: Well, it would save me a few grand. All I need is you. [smiles]

Lindsay: Same here.

Ben: Bet you never saw this coming the day you found me storming around Beacon Hills angry at the world.

Lindsay: Hell no.

Ben: Good. I like to keep people guessing. Now you going to lean down here and kiss me?

Lindsay: [smirks a bit before she leans in and does just that]

Ben: [and he will smile into it, running his hand along her cheek] I love you. [and he will rest back into his bed once he's exhausted]

Lindsay: [yep, and she will sit with him until someone comes and relieves him for food]

Sam: [and he will probably try to convince Dean to sit with him for a bit because Dean knows what it's like]

Dean: [which he will, but do you really expect him to initiate a conversation, Sam?]

Sam: [no, but it's his son so suck it up and make sure he knows that he will be okay, dumbass]

Dean: [fine, he will, but he will do it the Dean Winchester way]

Sam: [wouldn't expect anything different]

Dean: [good]

Ben: [and he's still fighting against going to sleep]

Dean: [sighs and shakes his head] You need to sleep.

Ben: I've been asleep for days.

Dean: No, you've been drugged for days. There's a difference.

Ben: Not by much.

Dean: One actually rests your brain, the other doesn't.

Ben: Yeah, well right now I'm not sure i trust my brain.

Dean: You don't have to trust your brain when you're dreaming. That's not what it's there for.

Ben: Yeah, but I don't want to go back to that dream.

Dean: Why not?

Ben: It felt too real. It was real.

Dean: No, it wasn't. [he takes a deep breath] You ever heard of lucid dreaming?

Ben: No.

Dean: [he takes a deep breath] It's this ... phenomenon where you're dreaming, but you're just awake enough that you can interact with it. Most people are usually more aware when they do it, but it's not all that different from being put under because of a djinn.

Ben: Isn't that just hallucinating?

Dean: [he shakes his head] Nope. Hallucinating happens when you're conscious.

Ben: You just said the person is just awake enough. Means they're conscious.

Dean: [shakes his head] No, I mean ... [he huffs] I'm shit at explaining stuff like this, but it's more like The Wizard of Oz than Fight Club.

Ben: Those are movies, right?

Dean: Yes, those are movies.

Ben: Oz is the one with the tiny people and the crappy lion?

Dean: Yes.

Ben: Yeah I didn't see any of those. You in a lot of dad jeans and bad shorts.

Dean: My point is, Dorothy was unconscious, but Oz was real to her. Her choices were still her choices and when she chose to come home, she did.

Ben: I... I didn't think I was somewhere else. I always believed I was supposed to be there. I didn't think I had to choose to come home

Dean: [frowns] There weren't things that itched at you? Little inconsistencies.

Ben: [he thinks back a bit] At the end, yeah. But I heard Willow was responsible for that.

Dean: Willow was just making sure you didn't die.

Ben: I had a good life there. Weird, looking back at it... but it was good. Better than I probably deserve.

Dean: Yeah, I had a good life in mine too. But it being good doesn't make it real - even if the real stuff kind of sucks.

Ben: like not being able to see your mom because she belongs to teenage version of yourself and not you? Like that kind of suckage?

Dean: [nods a bit] My mom was dead, but yeah. That sounds about right.

Ben: Yeah, but hey, you got her back. [and so did Mike and Olivia but never him]

Dean: Yeah, but we don't know how or why and I'm pretty sure it'll blow up in our faces eventually.

Ben: But you still get to have time with her.

Dean: [sighs] It's not as great as it sounds, is all I'm saying.

Ben: I was happy there. We all were, even if it wasn't real, it's hard not to want that.

Dean: Then you find ways to be happy here. Real happiness, not something that some djinn poison cooked up in your brain.

Ben: I'm working on that. Or will when I'm not tied to a bed.

Dean: Well, a way to do that faster? Get some sleep.

Ben: [he looks up at the monitor a moment] I'm worried I won't wake up again.

Dean: [glances down at his watch] If you're not up in twelve hours, I'll wake you up.

Ben: [looks at his dad, because he isn't sure but he does trust his father. maybe more than before] Alright.

Dean: [nods and settles in to get comfortable, reaching for the remote to find something worth watching] Alright.

Ben: [and he will lay back, looking at the television as well, but he is really that exhausted and he will pass out pretty quickly]

Dean: [and he will hang out and watch TV and probably eventually pass out himself but will wake him up twelve hours later as promised]

Ben: [and he is still exhausted and it takes him a minute, fumbling and trying to turn over, and being unable to because of the iv and he is going to paw at it while half awake]

Dean: Hey, hey hey. Don't do that.

Ben: It's in da way

Dean: Yeah, to make you feel better.

Ben: I want to sleep on my side.

Dean: Sleep on the other side.

Ben: I don't want to.

Dean: Oh my God, what are you five?

Ben: Just ten more minutes. [still trying to turn over]

Dean: [sighs and throws up his hands] I tried.

Ben: [and he will just slip back out again into sleep]

Dean: [and he will resettle on the chair and wait for him to actually wake up]

Ben: [which may be awhile because his body is really that weak and since he doesn't have his own healing factor anymore, it takes awhile. And after a bit he'll shiver because he kicked the blanket off]

Dean: [and he'll roll his eyes before going to tuck him in again]

Ben: [and he will resettle in at that and mutter] Thanks, Dad.

Dean: [and he'll sigh before going back to settle into his seat again]

Ben: [and eventually he will wake up, groaning and reaching up to rub at his eyes]

Dean: Morning sunshine.

Ben: Don't you have some gardening to do?

Dean: Excuse me?

Ben: [groans, rubbing at his face] Sorry, wrong you.

Dean: The me in your brain gardened?

Ben: Yeah, I didn't get it either. But you loved your fucken petunias.

Dean: Okay.

Ben: What time is it?

Dean: [glances at his watch] Almost dinner.

Ben: [and his stomach is going to growl] Think I can get something solid?

Dean: We'll see what the nurse says when they get here. Should be around soon.

Ben: Alright. [and he will go to sit up and scratch at the iv catheter] This is going to drive me crazy.

Dean: If you're good enough to eat solid food, then you shouldn't need it much longer.

Ben: Think positive thoughts.

Dean: [nods and crosses his fingers]

Ben: Hopefully Lindsay is getting some rest too.

Dean: Yeah, Liv forced her to go back to the hotel to sleep.

Ben: Good.

Dean: So. Feeling better?

Ben: Yeah, a bit.

Dean: Good.