#smack him back into last week Sheppard

[happycabbage]

Funny... His mouth says, “Dr. Weir,” but his eyes say, “Touch her again, you old letch, and I’ll rip your arms off and beat you with them.”

Never let it be said Sheppard has no self-control. That’s his gun hand, and he’s itching to shoot someone. Or maybe that’s me. I’d really, really like to hurt that guy. A lot. Permanently.

03x03 Irresistible

[ginnyweasleywannabe]

Blackinnon Week 2021

Monday 13th “Rumor has it I make you nervous”

Word Count 1070, Can also be read on AO3 @ inthemiddle2

Marlene was standing alone in the old transfiguration classroom. It was one of her favorite classroom, even in the dark of night the big windows allowed the moon to shine in, lighting most of the room. She was standing by the window looking out enjoying her alone time. She had been in her own head too much these past few days, she wanted to be alone.

“Nice night.”

Marlene jumped at the voice that came from right behind her ear. She whirled around to smack Sirius in the chest, “Merlin you scared me!”

Sirius grabbed the hand as it went to strike again, “Odd I hadn’t heard scared but rumor has it I make you nervous.”

Marlene quirked her eyebrow at him, “What are you talking about?” She had meant for it to come out as more of an accusation but their proximity was making her flush. It was more whisper.

“James pulled me aside after dinner and asked if knew why you were acting so weird. He seemed to be under the impression that I did something wrong. He pointed out how jumpy you’ve been around me, he’s say you seem nervous.”

Marlene tried to step away from him, she need to create space but Sirius just gripped her hand, holding her flush to his chest. Looking her dead in the eyes, “I’m inclined to agree with him. You’ve been avoiding me.”

“That’s ridiculous” Still not sounding as confident as she would have liked.

“See I don’t think it is. We always run together during practice and for some reason you were hauling ass like a hippogriff was chasing you. And then at dinner I sat down and suddenly you were stuffed but you had only taken two bites and I know Sheppard’s pie is your favourite. So.. what gives McKinnon?” He finally released her hand.

Marlene shoved him, not that he moved but more it pushed her back and she was happy for the space. “God you are so full of yourself.” It was nothing she hadn’t said to him before but this time there wasn’t a teasing tone. She words were sharp. “Have you ever thought that maybe it has nothing to do with you! Or maybe I’ve just grown up. We’re in 5th year Sirius. Maybe I don’t want to deal with your immature shit. Maybe I’ve just out grown you.”

Marlene didn’t know why she was being so harsh with him. It just seemed like the safe option. For a moment she say a flash of hurt cross his face. She knew she had sounded whiny and she was regretting responding in that way. Marlene looked to the ground with shame.

A slow smirk came across Sirius’ face “Bullshit.”

Marlene’s head snapped up, “What do you mean Bullshit??”

Sirius was still just smiling at her shocked face, “You heard me, McKinnon. I’m calling bull. shit.” Marlene just glared at the unfairly content boy. “Now, come on and tell me what’s really bugging you because I happen to know you were a big fan of my immaturity last week when I charmed Knott’s hair red and his food to run away from him.”

Sirius closed the gap between them, “You were such a fan, you had pumpkin juice squirting from that cute little nose of yours.” He gave said nose a little boop.

Marlene knew he was right, she really did have pumpkin juice coming from her nose. She looked up at him and blushed but she knew she needed to tell him the truth. She looked to the ground, unable to look at him while she said it.

“ihadasexdreamaboutyou” It was a mumble but it was the best she could give.

Sirius didn’t understand a word she had said, he raised one eyebrow, “what was that McKinnon?”

Marlene groaned, running her hands across her face, “I said, I had a.. a sex dream about you.” She peaked through her fingers.

Sirius let out a bark of a laugh, “Oh that is rich McKinnon” He swung an arm around her shoulder, “I knew even you couldn’t resist all this raw sexual energy.”

He was never going to let her live this down. She didn’t have to look at him to know he was smiling, his teasing voice was enough. “Tell me what was it that did it for you? Was it at practice, running with no shirt? Or was it when me and James took a dive in the lake last week. Or” He was having trouble getting his words out, he was cracking himself up, “or was it when I punched Roiser last week. Took him down with one hit ya know”

Marlene rolled her eyes at his antics but she honestly felt better that it was out there. Him teasing her was nothing out of the ordinary and she was ready for things to go back to normal between them. She shoved his side, “You’re such a prat you know that? …but if you must know it was last Tuesday.”

Sirius thought back to Tuesday. He didn’t remember anything significant happen that day.

“Tuesday?”

“Oh Merlin… you dolt. I can’t believe you’re making me explain this.” Marlene ran a hand across her face. She was still tucked under his arm. “I had over slept and missed breakfast so I was running to potions. And you being you, were just late for potions. Anyway I…” She was going to have to rush out this last part, “I came across you helping that little first year Slytherin boy who had no idea where the McGonagall’s class was. It was really sweet and that night I had the dream so there now you know and we can move on.”

Marlene pulled away from him but Sirius grabbed her wrist, “Wait, McKinnon. It’s fine, really it happens to us all. Although a little weird that’s what got you going but hey to each their own I guess.” Her face was beat red, she turned away from him again. He was still holding her wrist when he said with a shrug, “besides it’s not like I’ve never had one about you.”

“What?!” Marlene turned around at that.

“Yeah, loads of them honestly.”

“Oh”

“Although mine were definitely not as G rated.” Sirius gave her a wink and walked out the room, leaving a red faced Marlene McKinnon standing with her mouth agape.

[3pirouette]

Fic: The Honey Trap (4/?)

Distribution: AO3 Anyone else please ask first :)

Story Summary: Peggy’d lost count. She wasn’t sure if she was a double or triple agent at this point, and in the end, it didn’t matter. What mattered was getting out of this alive.

Chapter Summary: She almost couldn’t breathe sometimes with how much it hurt to sit and wait, knowing her coworkers were now snickering behind her back at the made-up stories, and knowing none of them understood how much she cared for that 98 pound man who’d stuttered at her in the backseat of a car as he called her beautiful.

Chapter A/N: Again, eyes to the time stamps. :) Progress will be slow and steady with this, and likely interrupted by Steggy Week on Tumblr, but it is far from abandoned. Thank you for all the support with this so far.

Chapter 4: The Theatrics

October 1944

Peggy pulled the door of the bathroom shut behind her, finally letting out a shaky breath as she flipped the lock into place. She nearly stumbled to the sink, leaning her hands on the cold porcelain.

She needed something to ground her.

She looked up into the mirror, and knew it was a mistake.

Her eyes gave it all away, at least to her. They told volumes of how much it hurt, how much she was lying. She needed to get that under control, and fast, or the last four weeks of work were lost.

It hadn’t been difficult, at first, to slip into the typing pool. The work was boring and tedious but necessary, and she at least could make herself feel somewhat better knowing she was still doing important work for the war effort while she sat and waited for Wallace.

But after a few days, word got around and her co-workers got bold.

First it was Mary, at the next typewriter over, asking casually if Peggy had a beau. Then Florence from across the aisle piped in that she’d heard Peggy knew Captain America. She couldn’t exactly deny it, she needed word to get around so Wallace had a reason to talk to her, to pull her into Hydra, so she tried avoiding it. She hemmed and hawed, tried to look both lovelorn and sad.

She found that wasn’t too hard: she missed Steve terribly and the last image she had of him was burned into her brain. His sad, broken blue eyes watching her leave after smacking him wouldn’t leave her.

But then some of her co-workers got audacious.

She’d been under cover before, even deep cover where she’d had to say and do things she didn’t believe in or would have never done as herself to get information or to get what she needed. She knew this was no exception. But she’d never been in a situation where what she was lying about was so close to the truth. Pretending to betray crown and country was part of the job. She’d believed this would be no different.

Except the first time she heard one of the guys in the mailroom joke about her ‘serving under Captain America’ she felt all the air rush from her like she’d been punched in the chest.

The jokes and insinuations got bolder and filthier and just like every other female in the place, she didn’t have much she could do about it besides take it.

But every comment hidden in a joke, every insinuation that she was easy, every filthy wink and every invasive question kept the wound of leaving Steve fresh, kept the fear of him not waiting for her, of him eventually believing her betrayal, wide open.

She almost couldn’t breathe sometimes with how much it hurt to sit and wait, knowing her coworkers were now snickering behind her back at the made-up stories, and knowing none of them understood how much she cared for that 98 pound man who’d stuttered at her in the backseat of a car as he called her beautiful.

She tried to separate it, to tell herself that she’d fallen in love with Steve, that he was the man waiting for her and missing her, and that the Peggy Carter she was playing had been betrayed and played by the famous “Captain America.” It rarely worked, though.

What she did know was that it was easy now to look sad and lost and just a little bit desperate as she struggled to make friends in the typing pool. She’d come into it thinking she’d have to be standoffish, that she’d have to force the story Wallace so desperately needed to let them infiltrate Hydra, but she was sickened at how easy it was to simply let it happen and how well her co-workers played into it.

Peggy ran the cold water and let her wrists sit under it until it was almost painful, enough to recenter her and bring her mind back into focus. She’s seen Wallace around the building, but he still hadn’t made contact.

There was still so much to be done, and no room for her own life and needs to get in the way, not with Hydra still a threat.

~*~

November, 1944

She strolled the street, arm in arm with Wallace. He was rambling on about taking her somewhere to dinner, but she just kept a tight smile on her face.

She couldn’t let him know her heart skipped a beat every time she saw a set of broad shoulders and blonde hair on every GI that passed them in the street. She couldn’t let him know she was both terrified and excited about maybe seeing Steve because she knew the 107th was in London.

“Maggie?”

His voice, and concerned gaze, shook her out of her reverie. She still didn’t answer to Maggie right away, but she’d asked him to call her that. Sometimes his tone was just a little too close to Steve’s and it made her heart ache when he called her “Peg.”. She smiled up at him. “Sorry, lost in the clouds for a second.”

He hid his concern well, but she could still see the quick flicker of his eyes. “Ah, that’s my Maggie.” He laughed it off, knowing they were being watched by Hydra. He’d been romancing her for two weeks now, and Hydra was still unsure if they could trust her. Wallace was trying to keep from pushing too hard, and she knew she needed to make a convincing sell to the men who were listening to their wire for the next few dates. “Always got her beautiful head in the clouds.”

If he’d been a real suitor, she would have stepped away, unlinked their arms, and marched herself right home. As it was, she could only smile. “Oh, you know me so well.” She tried to make her voice light, but she knew it was still tight and clipped. “What had you asked?”

He turned her down the next block and pointed at two restaurants only a few doors down from each other, smiling. “Pub or French Bistro?”

They went to dinner here often, the Hydra surveillance team was centered in a building on the corner, and it made it easy for them to listen in. Peggy bit her lip and pretended to think hard between the places after she saw the curtain on the window at the corner move. She hated being watched. Though she liked the idea of wasting Hydra’s money and resources on a French bistro, she knew the poor place had just as few resources as the pub, and at least at the pub there might be more noise, more distraction. She couldn’t make it easy, though. “Oh, Richard,” she started, sounding exasperated and pulling at this coat, “We’ve come down here for dinner nearly every time we’ve been out. What about the little Italian place a few blocks down? Or a good old fish and chip?”

Richard Wallace smiled. He was a good sport, and great undercover agent. Despite her anxiety, she felt safe working with him, and he always seemed to know exactly which tactic she was taking right when she was taking it. “Aw, Mags, I was just…” he laughed anxiously, but his eyes glinted. “I know I get a little predictable sometimes, but maybe next time, ok? I was hoping you’d say the bistro this time, and maybe we could have a nice dinner, just the two of us.”

She looked at the bistro façade sadly, her eyes catching the movement in the apartment window again. She squeezed his arm and he squeezed back. “I just… what with the rationing, it just makes me sad every time I go in and it doesn’t taste the same.”

“I know,” he turned, pulling her back against the brick behind them to allow other pedestrians to pass, nodding his head. “And a Sheppard’s pie always tastes the same, no matter what.”

“Quite,” she finished with a smile.

“It’s just…” he reached down and held her hand, then tapped out a few letters in morse code against her palm as he took a slow, deep breath for their eves droppers to hear. Say no he tapped out, smiling at her. “I was just hoping if I romanced you a bit, you’d see how serious I am about you. That I’m ready to take everything to the next level.”

She didn’t have to feign the distraction, the way her eyes turned sharply from his across the street. It wasn’t Steve, but Barnes and Dugan who drew her eye, the laugh of the latter ringing out bright on the dreary night. They didn’t see her, but it was enough to send her into a tailspin.

“Maggie, are you…”

“The soldiers…” she bit out quickly, turning back to him. “There are just so many tonight. Why are there so many?” She used the anxiety, let it fuel her as she pressed forward. “Do you think there will be an attack?”

“Maggie, I…”

“I’ve been so nervous all day,” she clutched at his hands, squeezing tight. Up close, as she was, she could see the concern in his eyes for her. “When I was on the front, I knew what was coming. But now? Now I know nothing and I can’t stand not knowing and all you want to talk about is dating and duck a l’Orange?” She huffed, turning on her heel. “Richard, I—”

“I’ll take you home,” he interjected, turning her swiftly and moving her forward. “I didn’t mean to push.”

“No, I- I’m sorry. I’ve just been so nervous.” She stopped and took his hand gently. “I do like you, Richard.” She swallowed hard, but said the words she didn’t want to say anyway. “I was hurt, badly. And so very, very recently.” She looked down and away, with her head at just enough of an angle to see that their audience had ceased trying to hide and was watching inconspicuously from the window. “I just don’t know if I’m ready for that again.”

He lifted her chin with his hand, looking at her. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Maggie. Not like he did.”

She stared at him for a moment, then squeezed his hand. “You’re right. I think it’s best I go home tonight.”

“I’ll walk you, then,” he replied gently, moving them forward slowly.

You ok? He tapped out on her hand gently as they moved along the sidewalk.

Fine. She tapped back, head held high and straight forward.

They both knew it wasn’t the truth.

~*~

That Night

Dugan sat across from Barnes in the small Pub, eyeing his hat as the two men waited for their drinks. “You saw her, too, didn’t you?” he nearly whispered.

“I’m pretty sure it’s why Stevie didn’t want to come out tonight. He knows she’s here. Didn’t want to bump into her.” Barnes smiled up at the waiter as he dropped the mugs of beer off, pulling one towards him and taking a long pull. He winced at the warmth, but took another sip as warm beer was better than no beer.

Dugan winced himself, but was likewise undeterred. He looked at Barnes and folded his hands. “You ever get a clear story outta him about what happened?”

Bucky shook his head and looked away, smiling at a woman standing by the bar with her friend. “No.” He turned back to Dugan when another GI stepped up to the girl and her attention was pulled elsewhere. “No, I—” He sighed and stalled for time with another long drink. “Same bullshit he’s telling everyone.”

“Which is bullshit,” Dugan added, leaning on the table. “We both know the two of them weren’t just some… some…”

“She’s not some two-bit hussy sleeping with soldiers and Steve’s not an idiot.” Bucky bit out, remembering her face as he left her behind the mess, eyes wide with hurt and betrayal. “Stupid,” he mumbled, taking another sip, “but not an idiot.” Bucky shook his head and winced. “And neither is Phillips. No way the old man missed that clip in the newsreels.”

Dugan laughed, running his finger up and down the side of the mug, playing with the condensation. “Right? I was shocked as hell he let that get through.”

The two men were quiet for a moment, content to sip their warm beer and be anywhere other than a tented army base.

Bucky leaned back, spinning his empty mug and signaling for a refill. He let out a harsh sigh and shook his head as he pulled on his ear. “You don’t think… nah.”

Dugan chuckled and leaned forward. “That Phillips let that slip for a reason?”

Bucky leaned forward on the table in a flash, whispering. “It’s the only thing that makes sense- But, why?”

The men leaned back, silent, as the waiter dropped two more mugs on the table and took away the empty ones. They were ready for the warm, flat beer this time as they each took a sip, waiting and thinking.

“She is a spy,” Dugan started quietly. “Maybe she needed an out, or a cover, or something like that?”

Barnes shook his head, cradling his beer close to him. “But why drag Steve into it? Why all the theatrics?”

“She, uh…” Dugan swallowed hard and seemed a little uncomfortable bringing the obvious up. “She was with some guy. They did seem… close.”

Barnes slowly swallowed a mouthful of the beer, face sour. “I don’t like this at all.”

“The beer or the situation?” Dugan asked, trying to lighten the mood.

He winced. “Neither of them, any more than you like it.”

In one swift move Dugan drained the rest of his beer and stood, setting his bowler on his head. “C’mon. If she’s out an about, we better go keep him company inside somewhere before he gets into trouble.”

Bucky stood and drained his own mug, following out as he mumbled, “Stupid fool always seems to be getting himself in trouble, no matter what I do.”

[winchesterprincessbride]

The Contest-Part 32

To celebrate Supernatural’s 15th season, the producers have decided to hold a contest to cast an unknown in a recurring role as Sam’s rumored love interest.  They are doing open casting calls all over the country.  Your best friend Nikki wants to go and she drags you along.

A/N: My inspiration for Nikki is the one and only Red, AKA @oriona75.  So I am actually telling two stories here, Jared and Readers, and Sam and Gemini’s.  It flips back and forth, so try and keep up! : *Note: My vision for the show is different from what has actually happened, and some characters and plotlines may differ.

Characters: Jared Padalecki, Reader, Best friend Nikki(OC) Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Rory Montgomery (OC), PA Emily (OC) Cliff, Other Supernatural cast and crew, Readers sister Karen (OC)

Master List

Part 1 (all parts are linked)

Reader’s POV

“No! I can’t be. I can’t.  We were careful.”  I whispered, shaking my head in denial. Then I remembered the night Jared and Rory got into their fight. Okay, so we were mostly careful.

“You never answered my question, Y/N. How late are you?” Nikki asked softly.

With a sigh of defeat, I pulled up my calendar on my phone and counted, and counted again. “Two weeks.” I finally admitted. “I thought it was from stress.”

“Maybe we should just go to the drugstore and get a test. That way we can be sure.” Nikki said in that no-nonsense way of hers.

“What if I am? What will I do? I’m not married like you are. This wasn’t planned. And what about the show? How do I drop that little bombshell? And how do I tell Jared? He has three kids already, I have no idea if he even wants any more.” I dropped my head into my hands. “I’m really freaking out here, Nik.”

She sat down next to me and rubbed my back gently. “Well let’s find out if you are first before we panic. And as for everything else, we’ll figure it out. How about you finish packing us up for our flight and I’ll go buy the test? It will take your mind off of things for the moment.”

I nodded.  “Okay, let’s do that.  Thanks, Nikki. I don’t know what I would do without you!”

She grinned at me,  “You’d still be a nurse back in Philly, Sister.”

Gemini’s POV

They all sat around the table in the war room looking at me. 

“Can you tell us what happened back there, Gem?” Sam asked me gently.

“I don’t know,” I said softly. I really didn’t. 

“How do we know it wasn’t Rowena doing her witch mojo thing?” Dean asked.

“It didn’t feel like last time.  It felt different.” I admitted.

“I think I have an idea about what might be going on.” Cas finally said.  

“Well don’t keep us in suspense, Cas. Tell us already!” Dean snapped.

Cas shot Dean his usual look of irritation.  He continued as though Dean hadn’t spoken.  “The baby shares Sam’s blood, including the demon blood. I think the baby may also share Sam’s powers, and they are manifesting themselves through Gemini.”

The room was silent as we all processed this.  Everyone looked from Sam to me and back again.  I stared at him in confusion.   “What is he talking about?  Demon blood?  Powers?  What haven’t you told me?”

Dean coughed awkwardly before glaring at his brother.  “You didn’t tell her?”

“No, I didn’t tell her, Dean.  It happened a long time ago, and it’s not a time in my life that I like to revisit, okay?” Sam snapped.

“Would someone tell me what the hell is going on!” I demanded, smacking my palms on the table for emphasis.

A muscle in Sam’s jaw twitched, and he jumped from his chair and grabbed my wrist, pulling me with him.  “Let’s talk in our room, Gem.”

We sat down next to each other on the bed, Sam still holding my hand tightly in his much-larger one.  I opened my mouth to speak, but Sam put his finger to my lips to silence me. 

“I have a lot I need to tell you, Gem.  Some of this is pretty hard for me to talk about.  I wasn’t keeping this from you, I just never dreamed any of this would come up again.” His hazel eyes looked so troubled.

“Whatever it is, we will figure it out, together,” I told him as I gently caressed his cheek, and he closed his eyes for a minute, leaning into my touch.  Then as though steeling himself for battle, he took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked at me.

“It all started when I was six months old……” He began.

Reader’s POV

Nikki was gone for a long time.  So long that I fell asleep waiting for her to come back.  The long nights sitting up with my mother had taken their toll, and my body just finally shut down. When I woke, it was getting dark outside and I panicked.  “Crap, how long was I asleep?”

“At least three hours.  You’ve barely stopped since we got here, and it’s gonna be full-speed ahead when we get home, so I decided to let you sleep.” She pointed to a bag on the table. “The tests are in there.  I got a few different kinds, I wasn’t sure what you wanted.  Just so you know, we need to leave for the airport in about an hour.”

“Great, no pressure or anything,” I muttered. 

“So, are you gonna do it or what? I need to know if my kid is gonna have a BFF or a future spouse.”  Nikki said with a grin.

“I’m glad that you find this all so entertaining.  I’m about to lose my shit and you’re cracking jokes.  Some friend you are!” I sucked my tongue out at her childishly.

“Would you shut up and go pee on the stick already?” Nikki yelled after me as I stomped off to the bathroom to do the test.

“Die you cherry popsicle eating cow!” I screeched as I slammed the door as hard as I could. 

“Love you too, you stupid giraffe!” I heard Nikki swear at the closed door, completely unperturbed. We had been friends too long for any name calling to hurt each other’s feelings.  She knew I didn’t mean it.

I didn’t need to read the instructions, I had been doing pregnancy tests since nursing school.  I peed on the stick, capped it, and waited five of the longest minutes of my life.

Nikki was sitting on the couch quietly when I walked out.  She wasn’t on her phone texting Misha or reading emails, she was just waiting.  I sat down and immediately burst into tears.  She gathered me into her arms and rocked me as I cried.  “It’s gonna be okay, Y/N.  Jared loves you.  He will love this baby too.”

“I’m scared, Nik. I’m not ready to be anyone’s m-m-mother! I gave up everything for this stupid show. My job, my life, my friends. What if they fire me? What if Jared doesn’t want this baby?” I sobbed harder. “I should have been more careful!”

Nikki brushed my hair out of my eyes and handed me a tissue.  “It takes two to tango, girlfriend. Padaleski is a big boy.  This isn’t all on you.  The car will be here any minute to take us to the airport.  Why don’t you go wash your face and freshen up? Jared and Misha are picking us up at the airport, and you don’t want him to see you looking like a hag, do you?” 

She grinned when I cracked a smile. “Your lucky we are both pregnant, Collins, or I would bitch-slap you right now,” I said with a watery chuckle as I hugged her tightly.

Gemini’s POV

It took a long time for Sam to tell me the whole story.  I only interrupted him a few times to ask questions when I was confused about something, and he clarified for me and continued on.  His voice never wavered as he recounted the terrible story that began with the deal Mary made with Azazel to save his father’s life.  He had experienced so much pain, endured so much loss.  My heart just broke for him.  

He finally finished speaking and the silence stretched between us.  “Say something, Gem.” He demanded desperately.

“This just gets stranger and stranger,” I said quietly.

Sam’s shoulder’s slumped in defeat and he looked at the floor.  I put my hand on his cheek and whispered, “Sam, look at me.”  His eyes met mine, and they were shiny with unshed tears. I realized just what it had cost him to relive all of that again.  “I love you.  That isn’t going to change.  And we will figure all this crazy shit out together as long as we are honest with each other, okay?”

“Okay.” He agreed.

I yawned hugely. “Lay with me?” I asked him. “That demon-mojo thing really wiped me out.”

Sam put his arm around my shoulder, and I snuggled in close, burying my face into the warmth of his neck as we talked quietly.  “How are we gonna be able to do this?” He asked me suddenly.

I peeked up at him.  “Do what, exactly?”

“Parent a special kid like this.  You were raised by a witch and me by a hunter.  Not exactly the best role models.” He absently twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.  “We are way out of our league here.”

“My Gram loved Leo and me, and she gave us everything she had until the day she died.  Dean practically raised you and would move heaven and earth for you.  So we’ll make it up as we go and hopefully learn from our mistakes just like regular parents do,” I whispered, my voice fading as my eyes drifted closed and I fell into a deep sleep. 

I woke with a start, still in our bed, but Sam was gone.  There was a strange woman standing at the foot of the bed staring at me.  Blind instinct had me reaching out for my gun which I usually kept on the nightstand, but it wasn’t there.  “You won’t be needing that,” she said with a soft smile.

She was dressed is a long white gown, and her feet were bare.  “Are you an angel? Does Cas know your here?” I snapped. “How were you able to get past the wards?”

She smiled sort of sadly at the mention of Cas’ name. “I’m not an angel. I had to come to you in your dreams.  It’s the only safe place I could reach out to you without him knowing. We need to talk.”

“Who the hell are you?”

She sat down on the edge of the bed.  “My name was Kelly Kline.” She said simply.

Kelly Kline? Why did I know that name? I sat up straighter.  “Wait a minute…. you said “was”.

“Can’t get anything past you, can I? That’s right, I’m dead.” She said softly.

And then it hit me. “Wait a minute.  I know who you are.  You are Lucifer’s son’s mother.  Sam told me about you.”

She nodded. “Yes, I am Jack’s mother.  I died giving birth to him.  That’s why I am here. I know you are pregnant, and I know what your son is destined to do.  I am here to beg you, from one mother to another, to please save my son.”

Reader’s POV

I swore Nikki to secrecy on the plane, making her swear she wouldn’t tell Misha until I’d had a chance to tell Jared.  She rolled her eyes at me.  “Are you serious? Misha can’t keep a secret to save his life.”

“Neither can you, so the two of you are perfect for each other,” I said with a snort.

“Bite me, giraffe,” Nikki said out the side of her mouth.

Jared and Misha were waiting for us when we got off the plane. They must have come directly from the set because Jared was dressed in one of Sam’s flannels and jeans and Misha in Cas’ suit minus the trenchcoat.  

Jared enveloped me in his arms.  “God I missed you. How’s your Mom?”

“Better, thanks. I missed you too.” I leaned into his chest and sighed.  “How’s work been?”

Jared gave a tired sigh.  “Crazy.  We had to juggle some things to shoot around your absence.  Everyone will be happy to see you. Come on, babe.  Let’s get your bag and go home.”

I looked over at Misha. “Hey Mish. I bought your wife back in one piece. Philly is all out of red popsicles, so I had no choice.”

He chuckled as he gave me a hug.  “I hope Nikki behaved herself.  Any run-ins with Mindy while you were home?” He asked.

“Are you kidding? After the smackdown Y/N gave her at our party? Mindy didn’t come within a hundred miles of us.”  Nikki said with a smirk.  “You know your girl’s a badass, right Padaleski?”

“I’d be stupid to argue with you, Nik.” Jared agreed.

After the driver dropped the four of us off at home, we said our goodbyes to Nikki and Misha and headed up to our apartment.  Jared and I didn’t have to be on set until later tomorrow, so we had some time together.

We’d decided we were both too tired to go anywhere, so we ordered food from our favorite Italian place that delivered.  I changed into leggings and a pink Eagles sweatshirt I’d picked up at the airport just to piss Jensen off.

“Nice shirt.  Wonder how fast I can get it off you?” Jared said with a wicked grin.

“Isn’t it great? I thought I’d wear it to work tomorrow.”

Jared laughed that wonderful laugh of his. “Jensen will LOVE that.”

When our dinner came we sat on the couch eating and talking.  He offered me some wine, which I declined. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. I asked him to tell me about the wedding in an effort to change the subject.

“Gen looked beautiful and really happy.  I mostly spent my time corralling the kids.  It felt weird without you there.  I was glad I got to spend time with the kids and see everybody, but I was glad when it was over.” He looked pensive for a moment.

“Did it make you think about your wedding?” I asked quietly.

He shrugged. “Not really.  It made me realize how much I missed being married.  And how much I wished you were with me.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Jared. I know how important it was, but my Mom needed me.” 

He put his hand on my arm.  “Yes, she did. I completely understand. In fact, I’m glad you weren’t there because it helped me figure some stuff out. I need to talk to you about something.”

I put my plate down. “I have something to tell you too,” I whispered. “You go first.”

“So, seeing Gen get married made me realize that I want that again.  With you.  I know this seems sudden, but I’ve been thinking about this from practically the minute we started dating.”

He pulled a black box out of his pocket and my heart skipped a beat.  When he opened it, inside was the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen. “ I love you, Y/N. I think you are my soulmate as much Gemini is Sam’s.  Will you marry me?”

“Yes, definitely,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. I held out my hand and he slipped on the ring.  It fit perfectly.  “It’s so big!” I said in awe.  He leaned in and kissed me, his lips warm and soft on mine.  “I love you, Jared.”

“Well, I’m a big guy.  I couldn’t give you a tiny ring, now could I? So, that was my big news.  What did you want to talk to me about?” He asked curiously.

I took a deep breath.  “ So when I was home…….Nikki figured out that I…….I’m pregnant, Jared.”

(Part 33)

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[aion-rsa]

Supernatural: The Best Episodes

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This Supernatural feature contains MAJOR spoilers up to and including the series finale.

Over the course of 15 years, Supernatural aired an extraordinary 327 episodes, every single one of them starring the same two people, a quite incredible achievement (there were two attempts at backdoor pilots, but both featured Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles at least briefly).

In 327 episodes, of course, there have been some stinkers, and there have been moments of brilliance. Supernatural did scary episodes, gross-out episodes, funny episodes, tragic episodes, tragically funny episodes and episodes set on its own soundstage. Here are 25 of the very best.

25/327*. Carry On (Season 15, Episode 20)

*delete according to preference, and see “Dishonorable mentions” below

We’re being controversial right off the bat, as the series finale has fans split right down the middle between feeling pretty pleased with it and absolutely hating it. And for the many fans that hate it, they really, really hate it. If that’s you, we understand your issues with it – see our ‘Dishonorable Mentions’ list.

But for others, while this ending was somewhat marred by coronavirus restrictions (which are surely to blame for Sam’s wife being blurred in the background instead of clearly shown to be Eileen, and possibly for the absence of Castiel as well), there were also moments of emotional catharsis and beauty. Heaven has undergone some drastic improvements since we last saw it and the afterlife is no longer strangely lonely and depressing. The music choices for the episode are perfectly on point – it almost seems strange we haven’t heard ‘Brothers in Arms’ before – and finally the promise of ‘Carry On, Wayward Son’ is fulfilled, as “surely Heaven waits for you”.

Best moment: Hearing the voice of Original Bobby (not Apocalypse World Bobby) for the first time since Season 11.

Quotable: “Always keep fighting” (Dean, to Sam)

Watch if you like: Tragic melodrama, great music, Bobby

24. Devil’s Trap (Season 1, Episode 22)

Supernatural’s very first season finale set the tone for many more finales to come. The arc plot kicked up a gear, Winchesters pointed guns at each other, and the whole thing ended in a nail-biting cliff-hanger. This episode sets up much of how the show will work, including the important detail that demons possess innocent humans, which led to our heroes spending some years trying to avoid killing them where possible (before they eventually gave up on that one). Most important of all, though, this is the episode that introduces Jim Beaver’s Bobby Singer, who would become the Winchesters’ surrogate father, and whose particular brand of caring, with a hefty dose of calling them idjits, was always entertaining with a warmth underneath the humour.

Best moment: Sam refuses to kill his father – the first of many times this sort of decision will be forced on the brothers.

Quotable: “The storm’s coming, and you boys, your Daddy – you are smack in the middle of it” (Bobby)

Watch if you like: Family melodrama, demon arc plots, Bobby

23. All Along The Watchtower (Season 12, Episode 22)

Death and life have always gone hand in hand in Supernatural, and nowhere is that clearer than in this game-changing season finale. We lose one of the show’s few regular characters, Mark Sheppard’s Crowley, along with a newer, highly likeable, recurring character, Courtney Ford’s Kelly Kline, both in moving self-sacrifices that honor the characters and their development. (Oh, and Castiel dies again too, but of course that doesn’t stick). On the other hand, we gain two new characters. We meet Apocalypse World Bobby, and while he can never really replace the Bobby the boys knew and loved, he brings some essential Bobby-ness back into the show. And Jack is born, Castiel’s (and later the Winchesters’) adoptive son, whom Cas is convinced will create a paradise in the future. This episode is full of great character work featuring numerous fan favourites, along with genuinely exciting plot developments that left viewers itching for the next season to start.

Best moment: Castiel took an online doula class in preparation for Kelly going into labour, but it didn’t cover quasi-celestial beings.

Quotable: “Whenever there is a world ending crisis at hand, I know where to place my bets. It’s on you, you big beautiful lumbering piles of flannel” (Crowley)

Watch if you like: Alternate universes, self-sacrifices, Bobby

22. Don’t Call Me Shurley (Season 11, Episode 20)

This episode has shifted down the list since we last ranked it, as the plot developments of season 15 have robbed it of some of its joy, but the episode itself still stands up. It’s well known that Supernatural is often kind of a grim show, and one of the pleasures of watching it is that, however crappy your life is at that moment, it’s not as crappy as Sam and Dean’s. There are occasional moments of satisfaction (like the killing of Azazel in “All Hell Breaks Loose”) and there’s certainly plenty of humour, but real, honest to Chuck, joy? That’s rare, and the best example (Dean’s Heaven) required both main characters to be dead. So there’s something really special about this Season 11 episode, in which God finally comes back (and reveals that He has, in fact, been helping out on the odd occasion all along). The rest of the episode, in which Metatron makes the case for humankind to God, is a philosophical and meta-fictional treat as well, but it’s that conclusion that really makes it something to remember.

Best moment: Dean pulls his old amulet out of Sam’s pocket – signalling that God has returned.

Quotable: “You know what humanity’s greatest creation has been? Music. That, and nacho cheese” (Chuck)

Watch if you like: Philosophy, happy endings

21. Lebanon (Season 14, Episode 13)

Supernatural’s 100th episode (“The Point Of No Return”) was an arc-plot heavy drama; it’s 200th (‘Fan Fiction’) was a delightful and comedic take on the show. For this, the 300th episode, the series went in a different direction again, and focused on the Winchester family unit, bringing Jeffrey Dean Morgan back as John Winchester for the first time since the season 2 finale. Sam and Dean’s whole story has been driven by their broken family life, and before this the closest they’d come to being together as a family was a brief car ride with their parents’ unknowing younger selves while time travelling. Here, they get to spend some proper time together as a family, before it’s inevitably cut short – and as a bonus, we get to see Zachariah (not seen since the 100th episode) and Scary Castiel again as well.

Best moment: All four Winchesters, all alive at the same time, have dinner together. It’s lovely.

Quotable: “Now you live in a secret bunker with an angel and Lucifer’s kid” (John)

Watch if you like: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, family dinners, anniversary episodes

20. Roadkill (Season 2, Episode 16)

Many of the episodes on this list are major arc plot-related episodes, or hilariously funny format-bending episodes, or both. But it’s also worth celebrating episodes that offer just a really good Monster of the Week, and this is one of them. Supernatural was inspired early on by urban legends, and this episode is a sad, scary and effective take on a classic, the Vanishing Hitchhiker. Guest star Tricia Helfer does a great job as Molly, whose perspective we follow throughout the story, keeping her true predicament from both her and the audience until the twist ending. The episode’s conclusion was also the first time we saw a suggestion of something potentially positive waiting for human souls after death, giving all the many, many dead characters on the show a glimmer of hope.

Best moment: The reveal of Molly’s true nature isn’t really a surprise if you’ve ever read a ghost story, but it’s very well done.

Quotable: “Follow the creepy brick road” (Dean)

Watch if you like: urban legends, scary ghost stories, plot twists

19. Scoobynatural (Season 13, Episode 16)

By Season 13, inevitably some viewers had drifted away from the show, as people will when something runs as long as Supernatural has. “Scoobynatural” had a concept so enticing, it brought some of those viewers back (only out-performed in the ratings that year by the season opener). Not only was the idea of Sam and Dean in a Scooby Doo cartoon too good to miss, Supernatural also has an excellent track record in comedy episodes. These can be hit and miss on most shows, but Supernatural’s comedy misses are few and the hits are plentiful enough that six of them are on this list. Viewers trusted the show to make this work, and that trust paid off – the episode is both very funny and touching, as all the show’s best comedy episodes are.

Best moment: Sam and Dean trying to explain to the Scooby Gang that no really, ghosts are real.

Quotable: “We’ve been stopping real estate developers when we could have been hunting Dracula? Are you kidding me?! My life is meaningless!” (Fred)

Watch if you like: Scooby-Doo, crossovers

18. No Rest For The Wicked (Season 3, Episode 16)

The writers’ strike cut Season 3 short (yes, Supernatural has been going that long), which meant the planned story arc, in which Sam and Dean desperately tried to find a way to get Dean out of the deal he made with a Crossroads demon, also had to be wrapped up in fewer episodes than anticipated. The solution was truly shocking – they failed. Dean was sent to Hell and viewers were left with an image of him being tortured and screaming out Sam’s name. OK, no one really thought he was going to stay there for ever, but it was still a bold move.

Best moment: Sam joining along in a singalong to Bon Jovi’s “Wanted” with his brother, knowing they only had a few hours left.

Quotable: “Family don’t end with blood, boy” (Bobby)

Watch if you like: Dante’s Inferno, soft rock anthems

17. All Hell Breaks Loose, Parts 1&2 (Season 2, Episodes 21&22)

Like “No Rest For The Wicked,” this was a real watershed moment for the show. Sam’s death and the deal Dean makes to bring him back set in motion just about every major storyline since. But these episodes don’t make the list just for that reason. The “only one can live” set up Sam is dropped into is always an intriguing premise, and these two episodes make up a dramatic, satisfying season finale in which the bad guy of two years is dispatched, the Winchester men get some closure, and the mythology gets a bit more development.

Best moment: Sam’s first death. The regularity with which the Winchester boys die and come back to life is a long-running joke and has even been the focus of more than one episode over the years, so it’s easy to forget just what a huge, horrifying moment that first death is, back when they used to take it seriously.

Quotable: “That was for our mom, you sunnnuvabitch” (Dean, to Azazel’s dead body)

Watch if you like: The Hunger Games, Jensen Ackles emoting

16. Abandon All Hope… (Season 5, Episode 10)

Season 5 was Supernatural creator Eric Kripke’s final season as show-runner, and it was written to be the final season of the show. The story arc followed the boys’ attempts to stop the oncoming Apocalypse and recapture the Devil himself, with the stakes getting higher and higher as the season wore on. “Abandon All Hope…” is a turning point, hammering home the seriousness of the situation by killing off half the regular supporting cast, after which the story became increasingly grim until our heroes faced an impossible choice in the season finale. It’s also the episode that introduces Mark Sheppard as Crowley, King of the Crossroads Demons, who immediately cements himself as much more fun than your average demon.

Best moment: Ellen staying with a mortally injured Jo as they sacrifice themselves to save the boys.

Quotable: “Your choice. You can cling to six decades of deep-seated homophobia, or give it up and get a complete bailout for your ban’s ridiculous incompetence” (Crowley)

Watch if you like: Mark Sheppard as Crowley, tear-jerkers

15. Nightshifter (Season 2, Episode 12)

Sam and Dean spent much of the first few years of the series on the run from the law, despite having several police officers in their debt. This would continue until the police thought they were dead, only for the pair of them to turn up again, and the threat of jail time if they were ever caught and identified never quite went away. This episode, in which a shape-shifter is carrying out bank robberies, really notches up the tension as they come to the attention of the FBI in the worst possible way, as well as observing the tragedy of a well meaning civilian caught up in something he doesn’t understand.

Best moment: The brothers escape to the tune of “Renegade,” by Styx.

Quotable: “We’re not working for the Mandroid!” (Sam, to Ronald)

Watch if you like: Bonnie and Clyde, The Lone Gunmen

14. Death’s Door (Season 7, Episode 10)

The decision to kill off Bobby permanently in season 7 was controversial, to say the least, but it’s hard to deny his final episode as a living member of the team is a great one. Poor Bobby’s backstory is revealed to be even more tragic than we already knew it was, but more importantly, his bond with the boys and the reasons their relationship is so important both to them and to him are explored. It also prompts the show to explore a fairly obvious question – we’ve seen plenty of ghosts on the series whose bodies were burned, so even with hunters’ funerals, how is it we haven’t seen more beloved deceased characters return after death?

Best moment: Bobby giving his alcoholic father a proper telling off in his imagination.

Quotable: “As fate would have it, I adopted two boys, and they grew up great. They grew up heroes” (Bobby)

Watch if you like: Bobby and Rufus, daddy issues

13. Dark Side Of The Moon (Season 5, Episode 16)

The earliest episode to acknowledge how often the boys have died and come back to life, “Dark Side Of The Moon” sets its cards on the table by abruptly killing them both in the first few minutes. We finally get to see what happens when you go to Heaven in the world of Supernatural, and it’s a little weird and oddly lonely (with the exception of “soulmates”, everyone is off in their own little worlds – thankfully this is eventually rectified) but it’s a satisfying journey nonetheless. Not that Dean or Castiel would agree, as this is the episode in which they give up on searching for God, having been told He isn’t interested.

Best moment: Dean’s Heaven – playing with fireworks with Young Sam. It’s a truly joyful sequence.

Quotable: “Gentlemen, I don’t mean to be a downer, but I’m sure I’ll see you again soon” (Ash)

Watch if you like: Family drama, nihilism

12. Baby (Season 11, Episode 4)

The Supernatural team have always been clear that the Impala is the third main character on the show (sorry, Castiel) so this Season 11 episode shifts focus to tell a story entirely from the car’s point of view. No, this isn’t a Herbie or Transformers situation – rather, the entire episode is shot from inside the car. What this means for the story is that we get to see different parts of Sam and Dean’s day – while they’re off investigating, we see the Impala get taken for a joy ride by a car park attendant, and Sam and Dean’s traditional emotionally-charged conversations are given a little more space to breathe. This is how you shake a show up while keeping its unique feel after eleven years.

Best moment: All of Castiel’s hilarious phone calls.

Quotable: “Never use Swayze’s name in vain, OK? Ever” (Dean) 

Watch if you like: Classic cars, Bob Seger’s “Night Moves”

11. What Is And What Should Never Be (Season 2, Episode 20)

Towards the end of season 2, as the series started to grow in confidence, Supernatural started to do slightly more experimental episodes that took us away from the straightforward “Sam and Dean hunt a monster” set-up. The first meta-fictional episode was the fun “Hollywood Babylon,” while this was an early glimpse of an alternative timeline – or, rather, an hallucination of Dean’s under the influence of a djinn. The result was a fun “what if” scenario and a lovely penultimate appearance from Adrianne Palicki as Jessica, but it culminated in a truly heart-breaking moment for Dean as he confronts everything he, Sam, and their father have had to sacrifice in their attempts to help others, and is forced to choose life at the expense of happiness.

Best moment: Dean breaks down at his father’s grave.

Quotable: “Look, whatever stupid thing you’re about to do, you’re not doing it alone. And that’s that” (Sam)

Watch if you like: Alternate timelines, wishes gone wrong

10. The French Mistake (Season 6, Episode 15)

In this episode, Sam and Dean are pulled into a parallel universe where they are the actors Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, the stars of the TV show Supernatural. The story takes the highest of high concepts and makes it work beautifully, including an appearance from Padalecki’s real life wife and former co-star Genevieve Padalecki and Misha Collins sending himself up gloriously. There’s even a clip of a much younger Jensen Ackles on Days Of Our Lives thrown in. A joy from start to finish.

Best moment: Sam and Dean trying to act. They are not good at it.

Quotable: “You married fake Ruby?!” (Dean)

Watch if you like: High concept comedy, Misha Collins

9. The End (Season 5, Episode 4)

What better way to raise the stakes early in the season than to flash forward five years and reveal what the world will look like after the Apocalypse has come about? Funny and heartfelt in equal measure, this is a classic alternate timeline story with a twist. It is also a really important episode in the development of Lucifer as a character, here played with squirming intensity by Jared Padalecki, who gets to sit out most of the story while Jensen Ackles pulls double, only to come and steal the show at the end. It also features some advice from Chuck (i.e. God) to hoard toilet paper, which turned out to be remarkably prescient.

Best moment: The reveal of Hippie Future Castiel, who has taken a surprising attitude towards the end of the world.

Quotable: “When you get back there, you hoard toilet paper. You understand me? Hoard it like it’s made of gold. Cause it is” (Chuck – some people clearly took this advice too much to heart in 2020)

Watch if you like: Dystopias, toilet paper

8. Fan Fiction (Season 10, Episode 5)

The show’s 100th episode was an important moment in its then-current story arc, but it was the 200th that really celebrated in style. Watching a girls’ school put on a musical version of the Supernatural story (the Kripke years) sounds like a terrible idea but they pull it off brilliantly, making an episode that is both funny and sweet. Most of all, though, this is just a treat for long-term fans, full of call-backs, references, and in-jokes, and that finally ties up a loose end from “Dark Side Of The Moon” in an emotionally satisfying way.

Best moment: The lovely cover of “Carry On, Wayward Son” at the end of the show.

Quotable: “That is some of the worst fan fiction I ever heard!” (Marie, on hearing what happened after the end of Season 5 – a popular take on just about everything that’s happened since then in some quarters)

Watch if you like: Musicals, subtext

7. The Monster At The End Of This Book (Season 4, Episode 18)

Neither “Don’t Call Me Shurley” nor “Fan Fiction” would have been possible without the episode that introduced Chuck in the first place, though back then he was nothing more than a cowardly writer and (apparently) reluctant prophet. Supernatural had done a few meta-fictional episodes by this point but “The Monster At The End Of This Book” was the moment they took it to new places, creating the fictional Supernatural universe within the Supernatural universe and allowing the show to explore fandom, fan fiction, fan conventions and fan musicals further down the line. The whole concept is a real treat for the show’s real life fans.

Best moment: Sam and Dean discover online fandom and slash fiction.

Quotable: “They do know we’re brothers, right?!” (Dean)

Watch if you like: Fan fiction, meta fiction

6. Faith (Season 1, Episode 12)

This low-key Season 1 episode may seem like an odd choice for the sixth best episode ever out of 327. But there are two reasons for singling out “Faith” here. One is to highlight just how good Supernatural’s early ghost stories were. We could fill a whole list with classic examples of spooky tales done really well from the show’s early years (“Dead In The Water,” “Bloody Mary,” “No Exit,” “Playthings”). “Faith,” though not strictly about a ghost, centres around a faith healer’s wife controlling a reaper. But “Faith” is more than a good yarn done well. It’s also the episode that showed what the series could be, as it started to deal with the deep and complex philosophical themes the show would later explore in more obvious, explosive ways. There’s also a great guest performance from Angel: The Series’ and Dexter’s Julie Benz, and poor Dean finds himself dying from something fairly mundane – not for the last time.

Best moment: “Don’t Fear The Reaper” is put to great use here as the reaper hunts down a jogger.

Quotable: “You better take care of that car, or I swear, I’ll haunt your ass” (Dean)

Watch if you like: Theology, Blue Oyster Cult

5. Mystery Spot (Season 3, Episode 11)

The best comedy episodes of Supernatural are not only side-splittingly funny (and they are), they also have a dramatic punch, an element of real drama behind the comedy. “Mystery Spot” is based around a twist on the Groundhog Day concept, in which Sam has to relive a day on which Dean seems doomed to die over and over and over again, unable to prevent it. Dean’s many, many deaths caused by all manner of strange things (just how did he manage fatally to slip in the shower?) are very funny, but Sam’s increasing difficulty in dealing with the situation, and then his terrible three months without Dean (this was the first time that had happened since the series began) bring sincere emotions to the table as well. 

Best moment: Sam working out that the Trickster is behind everything.

Quotable: “OK, look. Yesterday was Tuesday, right? But today is Tuesday too” (Sam)

Watch if you like: Groundhog Day, Final Destination

4. Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)

Not too many shows can claim their pilot as one of their best episodes. But Supernatural’s Pilot really is a great episode of the show. It kicks off the series’ major plot arc, of course, but it also introduces the show’s humor and heart. On top of all that, the Pilot also features a classic Ghost of the Week that’s spooky and sad and ghoulish, as all good ghost stories should be.

Best moment: Our introduction to Dean’s “mullet rock��� music collection, including two classics from AC/DC (“Back In Black” and “Highway To Hell,” of course).

Quotable: “We got work to do” (Sam)

Watch if you like: Mullet rock, ghost stories

“Swan Song” – Jared Padalecki as Sam, Jake Abel as Adam Milligan, Jensen Ackles as Dean in SUPERNATURAL on The CW. Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW ©2010 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

3. Swan Song (Season 5, Episode 22)

The episode that would have been the series finale, if the show hadn’t been renewed and taken over (first by Sera Gamble, then Jeremy Carver, and finally Andrew Dabb and Robert Singer). “Swan Song” would have made a great finale as well – it’s thrilling, satisfying, tragic and funny all at once. The main reason it’s not higher on this list is that it is a little bit of a downer – if the series had actually ended there, there would have been a lot of Fix Fic out there online, sorting it out. Granted, that’s true of the series’ actual finale as well, but honestly, think about it, and take out the sequel hook shot of a resurrected Sam at the end of “Swan Song” which presumably wouldn’t have been there – this one is even more depressing.

Best moment: The opening narration, describing how the Impala has always been the boys’ real home.

Quotable: “Hey! Assbutt!” (Castiel, to Lucifer)

Watch if you like: Supernatural. Honestly, this one is the conclusion to five years’ story-telling – don’t start here!

2. Changing Channels (Season 5, Episode 8)

Is this the funniest comedy episode of Supernatural? It’s a tough contest, but the genital herpes commercial Sam is forced to star in might just give it the win. But “Changing Channels” is more than comedy. The reveal that the Trickster is actually the Archangel Gabriel in disguise really shouldn’t work, but somehow it does, and it brings a new dimension to the Trickster’s previous appearances (especially “Mystery Spot”) as well as a solid conclusion to this one. But really, the episode’s greatness lies in the fact that it’s just. so. funny.

Best moment: The Impala/Sam as KITT from Knight Rider.

Quotable: “Should I honk?” (Sam/the Impala)

Watch if you like: Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Knight Rider, cheesy sitcoms, Japanese game shows, adverts for genital herpes treatments

1. Lazarus Rising (Season 4, Episode 1)

What with running for 15 years, Supernatural went through a fair few major upheavals and shifts that sent the show in a new direction, and several of them are on this list. Nothing, though, beats the appearance of real, possessing-someone-else’s-flesh-and-blood angels on the show. This was the episode that made Supernatural what it has become, for better or for worse.

But that alone isn’t the reason we’ve put it at Number 1 of 327 episodes. The episode is hugely emotionally satisfying – although Sam and Dean had both come back from the dead before by this point (Dean technically dozens of times) Dean coming back from being buried for months is undeniably huge. The series needed to show how much of a big deal this was, and they did. We immediately learn that angels are terrifying and that wherever they go, collateral damage follows (it’s easy to forget that the first thing Castiel does on this show is burn out an innocent woman’s eyes).

And then, we finally get to meet an angel face to face. Castiel, in his first appearance, is genuinely something to behold. The deep voice, before it became the subject of in jokes and deadpan comedy, was originally intended to convey gravitas and power, and it works. This is a force like nothing the boys have encountered before, and it is awesome in the classic sense of word – full of awe.

Later, of course, Castiel would become the third member of Team Free Will and one of the most important characters on the show, next only to Sam and Dean. Misha Collins has made the character funny and loveable and awkward and generally indispensable. We wouldn’t change Castiel for the world and certainly don’t mean to suggest that it’s all downhill from his first appearance. Indeed, that later legacy is part of what makes this episode so special.

But really, it’s that entrance we can’t get enough of. We get shivers every time.

Best moment: Castiel’s entrance, of course. Though the rest of the episode is very good as well.

Quotable: “I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition” (Castiel’s first line)

Watch if you like: Castiel, angels

Honorable mentions

There were so many great episodes we didn’t have room for here – “My Bloody Valentine” (gory and funny in equal measure), “It’s A Terrible Life” (a classic Angel Shenanigans of the Week story), ‘The Born-Again Identity’ (Castiel’s return after it looked like they really had killed him off this time), “Houses Of The Holy” (the first references to angels on the show), “Everybody Hates Hitler” (a solid adventure during the course of which the boys discover the Bunker that has become their home), and “LARP And The Real Girl” (probably the best and most fun episode featuring fan favorite Charlie, played by Felicia Day) are just a few of the other greats.

Dishonorable mentions

We don’t want to spend too much time focusing on the negative, but we should probably acknowledge that, in 327 episodes, the show has occasionally got it wrong. Generally speaking, any time the show decides to feature dogs (the domesticated variety, not werewolves) the results tend to be less than excellent – “Man’s Best Friend With Benefits” is a real low point, and while many fans love “Dog Dean Afternoon,” we find it cringe-worthy. “Bugs” and “Route 666” (the one about the racist truck) are the two most often picked on by the writers themselves as examples of terrible episodes, though since both are from Season 1, they’ve long receded into most viewers’ long-term memories.

And of course, there’s “Carry On.” For every fan who found it a flawed but satisfying ending, there’s another who ranks it somewhere up there with Game Of Thrones’ and How I Met Your Mother’s finales in the All Time Terrible Series Finales Hall of Fame. There were too many people missing (largely the fault of COVID-19, but that doesn’t really help), especially Castiel and Eileen, whose absences were palpably felt. To leave Misha Collins and Castiel out all together after years of him sharing show-leading duties with Padalecki and Ackles seems very wrong, and many fans were disappointed that we never really see Dean react to Cas’s confession of love for him in ‘Despair’. Dean’s abrupt death felt anti-climactic to many, and the fact he was robbed of the chance to live a life free of Chuck was frustrating. And on top of all that, Sam’s grey-haired wig really was quite terrible. So all in all, while we would still say that for us it felt like a fairly well played conclusion to the story, we can understand that for many, it belongs at the top of the list of Dishonorable Mentions.

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Did your favorite episode of Supernatural make the list? Let us know in the comments below…

The post Supernatural: The Best Episodes appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[bibliophileiz]

Things about Supernatural’s last episode

Isn’t it weird how every other b*cklemming episode, we’re like, “It’s not as bad as their last one.” Ringing endorsements all around.

In all honesty, it’s really not a bad episode. I did have to watch it twice to know wtf was going on with the Shidim because I found Asmodeus so hammy and uninteresting that I stopped listening during his dialogue though.

Spoilers under the cut:

Let’s start with Asmodeus: What a letdown after seven seasons of Crowley, who was interesting, sympathetic, clever (when not written by you-know-who), well-developed and played by an exceptional actor. I already said this once, but it would be just like these particular writers to screw up Crowley so much that Mark Sheppard quits and then replace him with Tropey McTroperson.

I rolled my eyes just at Asmodeus’ introduction – nice to know he has access to a smoke machine to make his entrance more dramatic. Remember when Cas made the roof rattle and the lights pop as he strode into the barn the first time we saw him? What about Rafael, who took down power in the eastern seaboard? What about Crowley, who kissed a dude then told the heroes he didn’t care for Lucifer and gave them the Colt. What about Billie, who sang a spiritual about death as she reaped souls?

Then Asmodeus turns out to be scarred, have an outrageous good ole boy Southern accent (that is fake as fuck – my job is to talk to Southerners, and none of them sound like that), wear a stupid white suit, and immediately choke to death a bunch of demons because the “hobbies” Ramiel referenced must have included watching Darth Vader’s scenes in Star Wars over and over. His dialogue is nothing I didn’t hear from Jafar the first time I saw Aladdin, and his evil plan is to become the manipulative adviser to the ruler of Hell. We just won villain stereotype bingo, and we’re only in the first scene of the episode.

It was also a letdown after Azazel, Ramiel, and Dagon … who by the way never shapeshifted. Weren’t they always in vessels? It wouldn’t be the first time this show has retrofitted its own mythology (*coughing all over the angels in Season 9*)

Do I just shrug it off and say these writers are terrible at writing villains and always have been? Not sure I can blame them entirely … if Asmodeus is going to become as big a deal this season as I think, there has to be more than just b*cklemming contributing to the character. It’s a bummer because if this was just a one-episode villain like Ramiel had been, I’d have found it hysterical. Yes, Jack, smite Big Daddy demon on your third day of existence, it’ll be hilarious! But I’m not sure I can take an entire season of this guy, especially if the only other big-time villain we get is Michael.

Speaking of Michael: Ok, if I’m going to get a showdown between the two most powerful archangels ever, I want it to be more than just … a fistfight. It needs to be at least as impressive as Castiel’s introduction in Season 4. I know the show’s special effects budget is limited, but how threatening are your villains really when Dean gets into more impressive brawls like every single episode? Let me see their wings! Let me see them try to smite each other! Let me hear them break glass and make stars go out!!

Jack is a muffin and I love him a lot: Jack was just as good in this episode as he was in the last one. I don’t know where they found Alexander Calvert but I think he was put on earth to play this role. In his first episode, he walks this fine balance between manacing and charmingly innocent. In this episode, the charming innocence is still there, but it’s slowly being clouded by this fear of his power and what it could do if he misuses it – even by accident, as we saw when he tried to free the Shidim. He’s kind of like Cas in that he wants to do the right thing and be heroic like Sam and Dean but isn’t really equipped with the decision-making skills he needs to know when he’s about to make things worse.

The scene between him and Sam in the alley is exceptional. Jared Padalecki nailed it. I loved Sam telling Jack he loved him – that’s not exactly what he said, obviously, but by equating himself with Jack’s parents with the “Your mom thought you were worth it and so did Cas and so do I” line, he basically says that. That’s why I’m much more on board with Sam becoming a parent figure for Jack than Dean. (Also because Dean always gets to be a father figure and Sam never does, but I digress.) It just goes to show b*cklemming can pull off good emotional scenes when they actually put in effort. I’m thinking specifically the two scenes in “All in the Family” when Dean is asking Chuck why he left and the scene right after when Lucifer tells Amara she may defeat God but she will never be him.  

The great Song of Solomon debate: So there’s a thing when you grow up in Sunday School where teachers tell you to open the Bible to the book of Psalms. It’s a big deal when you’re five, because it’s usually the first book in the Bible you can find on purpose – it’s right smack in the middle. But it’s close to Proverbs and Song of Solomon, so while you’re trying to find Pslams, you might first hit one of those other two. (You might also hit Ecclisiastes, but it’s like … two pages long, so probably not.)

All this is to just say I don’t think we should be reading too much into the fact Jack opened to Song of Solomon. Yes, it’s the sexy bit, but it’s also the bit little kids find when they just open the Bible to the middle, which is honestly how I took that scene. If you’re not flipping to a particular spot you’re just opening the Bible to look around like Jack was doing, you have a decent chance of landing on that book.

Also, when the camera pans back, it looks like he’s gone to the beginning to read Genesis.

I don’t know how to take the ending scene: There’s a scene in the first episode of Firefly that’s a lot like this one. If you’re not familiar with that show, it chronicles the adventures of a crew of space smugglers who are hiding fugitives on board their ship. In the scene, the captain, Mal Reynolds, tells one of the fugitives he can stay on board the ship and be their doctor. The fugitive, whose name is Simon, is skeptical because up until this point, Mal thought the fugitives were a danger to the rest of the crew (sound familiar?) and was either going to turn them over to the authorities or maroon them on a hostile planet. Simon asks Mal, “How do I know you won’t just kill me in my sleep?”

Mal says one of my favorite things ever said in a scene on TV: “You don’t know me, son, so I’m only going to say this once. If I ever kill you, you’ll know it, you’ll be facing me, and you’ll be armed.”

What Dean said to Jack kind of reminds me of that, even though the contexts of the two scenes are different. If you need killing, I’m going to make sure these are the circumstances in which it happens. It’s almost noble. There’s this understanding and respect both for killing and the person you’re killing. It’s kind of like Ned Stark says: “A leader who hides behind executioners soon forgets what death is.”

That said … Dean’s anger is misdirected in such a profound way I’m not sure we can put him in the same class as Mal Reynolds or Ned Stark, at least in this scene. He spends the entire episode going out of his way to find things wrong with Jack so that his promise comes across much more as a threat than a comfort to a kid who is terrified of his own abilities.

It also doesn’t help that it’s his response to a suicide attempt – if that’s how we’re supposed to take what Jack did. On the one hand, Jack’s already pulled an angel blade out of his chest, so he knows he’s reasonably immune to most if not all weapons, so he probably knows normal blades aren’t going to kill him. On the other hand, stabbing himself multiple times like that speaks to a desperation and hopelessness that I don’t think you’re going to find in curious experimentation.

I really do like Donatello: I find it amusing that at the end of Season 12, Andrew Dabb opens up this portal to another world, setting the stage to where beloved characters long dead might return, and everyone was like, “Eileen! Charlie! Bobby! Kevin!” and other assorted characters b*cklemming has killed. (I guess they didn’t kill Bobby, but you know what I mean.) And in their first episode, they’re like, “lol, we’re not bringing back Charlie or Eileen, we killed those mutherfuckers, but here, have Donatello.”

That said, Donatello might be like … my second favorite thing b*cklemming’s ever done. I think he’s kind of goofy and Keith Szarabajka does a great job playing him. I did get frustrated with the number of times he referenced being an atheist in his first episode (I’m watching it now and he says it at least four times.) He didn’t do that in this episode, which I was strangely disappointed by, if for no other reason than it made my “Take a shot every time Donatello references being an atheist” post kind of dumb.

Also, Keith Szarabajka did a better job playing Asmodeus than Jeffrey Vincent Parise, as did the actress playing the bartender, though that could just be because neither of them put on the atrocious accent.

Other things: Thing 1: The “make hell great again” joke was only marginally funny the first time and not funny at all the second time. I swear I saw the actor pause and mentally gear himself up to say it. Poor guy.

Thing 2: Donatello: “That’s not Donatello!” Asmodeus-disguised-as-Donatello: (pointing at Donatello) “No, that’s not Donatello!” Me: “That’s not good TV!” B*cklemming: (pointing at Robert Berens’ episodes) “No, that’s not good TV!”

Thing 3: Dean was so fucking hot it was distracting.

Thing 4: Dean got two good fight scenes in a row, between the fight with Miriam last week and the fight with the demon this week. Also, did anyone notice, he had his legs wrapped about the demon’s head and then the demon threw him on the bed? I’m just saying.

Thing 5: All that aside, Dean was a giant super bitch this episode, even to Sam.

Thing 6: “What would Mr. Rogers do?” Guys, I love Donatello even if he is the Jar Jar Binks of this series.

Thing 7: “What are you doing here?” “That’s the question we all must ask, isn’t it?” “What are you doing in Wyoming?”

Thing 8: Jack is so proud of himself for walking through the door. It’s like last week when he was pleased he understood prepositions well enough to explain to Clark that he was on a chair on the floor on the planet Earth.

[punkscowardschampions]

Janis & Jimmy

After smacking Mia one (and Jim).

Janis: Soz about the shiner, like Janis: Dunna how to dodge like a decent ref should obvs...you should work on that Janis: But forreal, you're welcome for the time you got to spend in the head's office with a cold press on #schoolboyfantasiesaremadeofthis Jimmy: 🤔 You mean this tiny insignificant scratch like Jimmy: I'd say get the pads out but between you and your nan lately I'm not sure my ego's up for that Jimmy: Your plan all along was it? 👌 she's no type of mine but I appreciate you trying to be a mate 😉 Jimmy: Best bit was Gracie doing her bit to defend my honor at the end there. Maybe I DO owe her one 😂 Janis: Alright, monty python 😂 don't be a hero on my account...oh wait, advice coming too late, my bad 😉 Janis: Ah well, if you're not fancying it like, pal, good thing I'll have her to myself all this week AND next 🙄 thanks mia... now THAT was the real plan all along 😏 Janis: At least you know what her shout is already 👍 though if you could spit in Mia's next, I think she'd take that and call it quits Janis: If you make like Rocky and get steak up on your bruises, I'll get my Da to cook it for ya after, we settled too then, yeah? 😘 Jimmy: Mia's plan 100% 🙄 Am I meant to be offended that she thinks you're a lesbian still? Because I'm taking it as a compliment #prettyboy 😂 Jimmy: Shame I've got too many disciplinaries to have her banned it'd be one less skinny latte to have to expertly craft Jimmy: Maybe. What sides are we talking about? I think one more smack down and I'll be demanding my chips triple cooked Jimmy: Warn your relatives Janis: Assumedly, pretending here her stinging text slams had her intended effect, and didn't just make me fall about, like #facesoprettyyoudontseeascar 🤞 Janis: Ugh, tell your boss to do one, 'cos they'd lose half their business if you did, think on, dickhead 😒 Janis: Know your worth, babe Janis: Gotta respect that Janis: At least my Brother doesn't need to bother fighting you now I beat him to it, ay? Jimmy: Who'd you wanna be, princess (bless Gracie Lou) and basketcase already taken and athlete being the obvious choice 💪 Jimmy: Tempting offer but you can do better Jimmy: Of course that was 1 of the 10! Should've seen that coming Jimmy: Can't lie I'd much rather take you on 😉 Janis: Never seen it 🤷 but boy is Charlie Sheen's bro, yeah? So sounds legit for the family I have to endure 😏 Janis: You're not gonna end up with Grace in the end are ya? 😤 just 'cos you wanna rock the leather fingerless gloves #lewk Janis: I'll never tell 😉 his ego definitely ain't up for that Janis: we can have a rematch any time any place Janis: i'm ready 💪 Jimmy: Me either. Still break you out though. Isn't that what they do? 🤔 I'll ask your sister but not before she gives me of precious bling to take down cash converters Jimmy: My bad boy image has taken too much of a battering, literal, for me to refuse the fashion 😎 Jimmy: Let's go then. There isn't a nurse but I can still play the concussed care and run. Say when. Janis: Probs after some cringe bonding and bants, thank GOD we got that outta the way, mate 😜 Janis: Most of her jewels are from Primark so I dunna how golden your chances are, don't tell anyone like #banginonabudget Janis: What lesson you in anyway? In PE rn so usually you wouldn't get a look-in (you ain't that special, babe) but they got me coaching the first years girls for a fucking team management module and...Give me strength Janis: we talking screaming when the ball comes their way levels Janis: so I'm making them do laps whilst I shout encouragements about how it ain't that cold from my warm as shit coat, like any gym teach worth their salt 😉 Janis: Gonna get an A, like Jimmy: Oh I dunno, you and Mia still need to hug it out 😉 bet she'd love it too 💘 Jimmy: I'm in art of course #tortured soul and everyone knows you're my muse so done deal there. Jimmy: I'd come snapping but I don't need the rep that'd come with background first years in their shorts Janis: I'd sooner watch a thousand chick flicks with Gracie Janis: amongst other fates worse than death Janis: but honestly #whyareyousoobsessedwithmehun? #toolittletoolateforthisloveaffair Janis: That's probably why you're so tortured 😉 Edie Sedgewick I ain't Janis: Nah, that wouldn't help your case, there's only so much bashing that I can be a party to in a day... Janis: I get to swap with Kayleigh Dwyer next period, meant to go write up about my experience but sure I can as easily do that wherever you need to get your inspiration from, like Jimmy: 😂 it's the curse of being so #goals, hun Jimmy: I don't have a clue who that is but like I've said before you take a decent picture. Now don't get a big head (it'd fuck with my framing terrible) but it isn't half bad being stuck with you Jimmy: There is always Mia's 🦆 pout if you're really busy but like Jimmy: Since you aren't I'm thinking back to mine? Twix will happily hear about any of your running or ball based experiences Janis: Kayleigh? Rude, she sits next to you in English, the one drooling all over you and the desk? Bless her, she'll be devvo 😂 Janis: I forgot you haven't had an Ali McKenna education, she was Andy Warhol's main bitch (aside from Basquiat, tea) in all his shit films, Bob Dylan was hard for her too but she weren't really arsed so he wrote Like A Rolling Stone about her Janis: At least you didn't come for my life that hard post-bath Janis: Bad enough like, I'd have to fake my own death forreal then Janis: She'd fucking love that...do her dirty in the edit, boo, no facetune 😂 Janis: A girl after my own heart that dog, kindred spirts 😍 Janis: sounds good, always down for being out of this dump Janis: your Da's unlikely to pop back for lunch, yeah? Jimmy: I've been calling her Kourtney #awkward Jimmy: Bet she loves it anyway Jimmy: Speaking of, I still have that project to finish up (deadlines long enough to hang yourself with cheers ms sheppard) might dedicate some space on that edit to the lot of them. Fancy helping as well as inspiring? 😈 Jimmy: #satireorshadeisit? Jimmy: Good. Keep the lovefest away from me. Last thing I need is Twix licking my wounds Jimmy: Packed up his sarnies myself so we're set Janis: The KardashiKlan clout, everyone knows she's the CLASSIEST sister, SO fitting 😂 Janis: Can't be anything but a sweetheart, can you? N'awwh! Janis: Hell yeah, you clearly need my talents for cuntery, you bring the skillz, I'll bring my winning personality and large head, like Janis: How fucking rude though, tell her to keep her antiseptic spit to herself 💅 #menaintshitbabygirl #imsorryyouhadtolearnthislessonsosoon Janis: Like I said, you're just too good for this world 😇 Janis: Maybe I'll find the time between being a muse and bad influence to make you one Janis: Its no steak apology but Jimmy: 👍 Too right Jimmy: Maybe if we take the mad bitch out she won't chew a hole in anyone's face (tempting as that'd be if it was any of Mia's squad) been enough facial damages sustained for one day Jimmy: Get some very #aesthetic shots for my A Jimmy: 😇 Always on that good boy track Jimmy: Maybe I can shout you a pie and pint in that spirit Janis: Goes without saying, need the skirting and your Da's shoes to be safe for another day Janis: Should bin off the rest of the day altogether, then you could take Twix to pick the kiddo's up, Cass would be made up getting to show her off Janis: you always after those best big bro points, I know Janis: and I know it, you always want me to protest too much the other way like 😈 Janis: wholesome afternoon of dog walking and homework with bae, no wonder the entire female population of the school is so jealous 😉😘 Jimmy: Did you just have a good idea? 😮 Jimmy: But yeah world's most bog standard bro coming through 🏆💪 get that middleschool clout cass 😎 Jimmy: We just can't stop being #goals however hard we try. Damn 😘 Janis: Don't sound so surprised dickhead! I'm a wealth of cunning plans or have you forgotten Janis: Didn't hit you that hard Janis: Now who's being modest Jimothy 😊 you know you're bestest Janis: whoda thunk it, bitch, not I Jimmy: Been a while can't blame me 😏 Jimmy: 💕 Cute Jimmy: How will I survive the aft? Janis: We can go back there if you really pining Janis: and I'M the one who's sexuality is always in question Janis: #fakebaebetterthanarealone Janis: Ha ha, keep testing me and you might not Jimmy: You'd never make it. Can't get enough of me 💋 Jimmy: If you'd rather be in school doing their tests don't let me stop you 😏 Jimmy: 😎 Jimmy: Told you i'm bad Janis: 😑 Janis: bet you break before i do Janis: we'll see how bad you are, won't we Jimmy: Last shift's 💶 on it Janis: Done Janis: I've got my eye on some new kicks Janis: At least even when you lose you can still pretend you treated me 😜 Jimmy: When you lose you can pretend you don't need a man to treat you Jimmy: so many #s in that for you Janis: Imma win when I PROVE I don't need you to treat me as much as you need me to treat you, sucka! Janis: and there ain't no point in nothing if it doesn't make your 'gram captions pop off #truerwordsneverspoken Jimmy: We'll see Jimmy: so soon too ⏲ Janis: you started your countdown already, boy? Janis: keeeeeeeen Jimmy: Not ready? Shame Janis: Born ready Janis: Admittedly, got the upper hand, nothing sexy about first year girls, despite what some fourth year boys might believe Janis: you surrounded by all them loose af art hoes Jimmy: How rude of me not to pull all your focus Jimmy: yep, those blunt fringes really get me goin Janis: Well s'why I know I got the W in the bag 🤷 Janis: Called that in the air Janis: whip off those unnecessary nerd glasses and there's real beauty under there Janis: #hotdamn Jimmy: For a rom com hater you've got all the cliches down 😂 Jimmy: Quietly confident now. That shit won't help you off screen 🏆💪 Janis: Oh, you don't recall how pushy my sister is? Janis: Let's call this off rn and she'd be happy to remind you herself I'm sure 😏 Janis: I'm sure you've learnt PLENTY off a whole different typa romcom that is all types of fucked IRL Jimmy: Only if she promises to bring Tam too. I need that model height for my shoot naturally Janis: You really wanna be that letchy photographer stereotype, huh? Janis: Get the whole squad 'round for a sesh Janis: Just know they'll start a # Jimmy: #rolloutladies Jimmy: 😂 Jimmy: I'll #bowout of that one thanks Janis: Sure? It'll give you a better chance of winning the bet Janis: #knackered Jimmy: I'd rather lose Jimmy: #takemymoneyandrunaslongasIcancomewith Janis: Sweet talker. Janis: Meant to be me with the gift of the gab 🍀 Jimmy: nope, real talker Jimmy: Got up close and personal enough with Mia today thanks. Still washing these hands Janis: Same, despite what she might think, not something I fancy repeating either Janis: Though I will if she talks shit one more time Janis: So watch out if you don't want the other side to match, like Jimmy: Don't make me say I'll do it all again Jimmy: so many stereotypes already in this chat Jimmy: 💕 Janis: Ew. 💋 Janis: Best get your chat to as high a standard as poss tho, as all the guards and other inmates will be listening in Janis: Reckon's her Da can actually get me done Janis: Bitch be serious Jimmy: Doesn't he sell cars? Janis: Lmao, no Janis: Though he is 100% a used car salesman in aesthetic, you're spot on Janis: He is a lawyer or some shit so he knows realistically who gives a shit about a playground scrap but he'll try and scare my parents like they're fucking idiots so no one is ever mean to his little princess again Janis: That type 🙄 Jimmy: She wants to be a yank so bad it must hurt Jimmy: Remind me to cut my pops so slack next time he's pissing me off Jimmy: could be so much worse Janis: Too bad she's a few hundred years late for the mass migration to the states Janis: Only looking famished, like Janis: Same, wouldn't hate being as spoilt as she is but you know Jimmy: Yep, too bad you'll be waiting for those kicks Jimmy: 🎅's your best bet Jimmy: Not too late to back out 😏 Jimmy: Keep on his good side Janis: No chance Janis: I can keep him on side by keeping away from yours, simple 😜 Jimmy: You sure? There's literally songs about how much he loves 💋 Jimmy: I think he'll be mad if you don't cave Janis: 💋 for him from MILFs maybe Janis: I don't think it'll pain him to see you go without Janis: I see no mistletoe, like #demstherules Jimmy: 👌 Bet stays on Jimmy: Take your chances Janis: Way to make me sound more predatory than the big man 😲😂 Janis: If you're that scared, we can mark it down to a lose for you by default 😉 Jimmy: Not when I'll have you begging for a draw in a bit. Easy Jimmy: Just get ready to accept your loss, not reason we should both be sore Jimmy: #bruisedandbattered Janis: Pretty cocky for a boy who can't even promise A FEW bruises, like 😜 Jimmy: Waste of a 🤞 Jimmy: why talk about it when I can just do it Janis: As long as you start it, I'm allowed to finish it Janis: win win for me 😊 Jimmy: Cocky for a lass who hasn't won anything against me yet Janis: 😡 Janis: it wasn't a fair fight all those other times, thank you very much Jimmy: Maybe you were faking the skills as well as the 💕 Jimmy: awwh Janis: You won't be finding out any time soon Janis: ✌ Jimmy: So you keep saying, all talk I think 😂 Janis: All talk no action is right Janis: Prick 🖕😂 Jimmy: 😘 Jimmy: You're about me Jimmy: unlucky ☘ Janis: Shh Janis: Not all bad, I suppose, at least you've got a cute dog 😘 Jimmy: good point, what a you offering? first year having an asthma attack? 😂 #goals Janis: I never said I had anything worth sticking 'round for Janis: More fool ye for your 😍 Jimmy: Secret's safe. I won't tell Mia Janis: I think she's pretty confident she knows where she and I lie on the pecking order already 😂 Janis: not coming for her 👑 Jimmy: just her 👃 Janis: What can I say? Save daddy the surgery fees Jimmy: you're the 😇 you think I am Janis: it has been said Janis: oh wait, no it hasn't, ever 😂 Jimmy: Only because 🐶 can't speak Janis: The love is so real Janis: Its all the treats and walkies, maybe I'll have to employ the same technique on you when the bet is up Janis: Worth a shot 🎯 Jimmy: Start now #worthashot #haveyoubeentricked? 😂 Janis: I'm not quite as easy to distract as Twix Janis: All these dog comparisons, bit rude tbh, don't think I appreciate Janis: Will piss on your boots tho Jimmy: Unless we're playing pool or darts Jimmy: Make sure they're mine. My dad has only just replaced his Janis: Wasn't even you, it was pub lighting and a prick munching on his crisps too loud at the bar #dontflatterlike Janis: Will do 👍 I'm not looking to make him dislike me anymore than I already have lol Jimmy: #surejan Jimmy: least he's never about so no drama there. Been enough for one day Janis: #ihateu Janis: what's he even do, like? dead busy Jimmy: 💕 Jimmy: Warehouse Jimmy: Very much #goals Janis: Ah fun, lots of shitty shifts and long days like, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt too for being such a prick about poor Twix then Jimmy: Probably shouldn't. He bought her Janis: True...People never think how big a commitment a dog is though Janis: Twix be giving them puppy dog eyes like a pro Jimmy: before 🎄 too though what a prick Jimmy: can't even use the excuse Janis: Bleh Janis: Shoulda clued him in like 😉 #cuffed Jimmy: if I'd known he was going to do it I would've Jimmy: done now though Janis: Yeah, its just another stress you don't need, like? 😕 Jimmy: Snagged me you so maybe she's worth keeping about 😏 Jimmy: Because yeah she does take all the credit Janis: Smooth 😋 Janis: Can't go breaking my heart now, nor the kiddo's for that Janis: I can start taking her out again in the mornings, don't miss much 'bout dem days but it was decent having a running buddy Jimmy: Fancy some company or you wanna be alone with your true love? Janis: You reckon you can keep up, yeah? Janis: Not having you slowing me down 😉 Jimmy: Can't be using me as your excuse thanks 💪 Jimmy: maybe I'll come with then when I'm not working, leave you in no doubt Janis: Its a date, mate Jimmy: 💕 Janis: That's probably them more than sufficiently warmed up Janis: Get back to work, slacker 💚 Jimmy: 🎨📷 will do Jimmy: not too hard though, gotta keep my 💪 up for the victory party you'll owe me Janis: In your dreams, baby 💋 Jimmy: see you there 😘

[anavoliselenu]

Stepping stone chapter 11

I was amazed at how fast my workdays were going at Turning Stone. Thursday went by like a blur, despite the fact that I had put in a twelve-hour day. Now here I was on Friday morning, already having almost a week under my belt. My days were jam packed, but I loved every minute of it.

 “Regina,” I called out to my secretary, having barely gotten used to the idea that I even had a secretary.

 “Yes, ma’am,” she said, peeking her head into my office. It was strange to be called ma’am, especially considering the fact that she was easily twenty years my senior.

 “I have an appointment with Walter Roberts this morning to go over the advertising strategy for Wally’s. It’s tough for him to get out of the store, so I’m going to meet him at his office. I should be back no later than two o’clock. Please forward any calls to my cell.”

 “Will do. Anything else?”

 “Actually, yes. Did you get a chance to read the email that I sent you about Sheppard’s Cuisine?”

 “I did, and I was already working on it.”

 “Great. Any luck finding info on their competitors markets?”

 “Oh, a ton! I already sent a lot of information over to Clive,” she told me, referring to Turning Stone’s lead marketing coordinator. “I’ll tell you, I remember a day when that task would have taken days worth of legwork. I might be showing my age when I say this, but thank heavens for the invention of the Internet. It made the research a breeze.”

 I laughed and was about to thank her, but stopped short as her words reminded me of all the trouble I was having with my attempt to research the murder of Justin’s father online.

 That’s it! The Internet is my problem!

 The Internet was barely in existence twenty-five years ago, so there wouldn’t be any information available for me to find. I thought about the time that I had wasted last night trying to find information. Justin wanted me to spend the night at his place, but I had made the excuse of being too tired from a long day.

 I’m so stupid…I can’t believe that I didn’t think about that!

 I would need to go to the library and look at newspaper archives.

 “Uh, thanks, Regina. One more thing,” I said absently. “I may not be back as soon as I expected. I just thought of another stop that I have to make.”

 “Take your time. We’ll hold up the fort,” she joked before returning to her office.

 I grabbed my purse and made my way towards the elevator. I was looking forward to seeing and working with Mr. Roberts, but I hoped that he wasn’t feeling particularly chatty this afternoon. I suddenly had a more pressing matter to attend to. If I balanced my time with him efficiently, I just might be able to squeeze in an hour at the library before having to get ready for the charity gala.

 The elevator doors opened and, in my mad rush to leave, I smacked right into Hale.

 “Oh! Hale,” I said, feeling embarrassed for not paying attention. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

 “It’s okay, Miss. I was actually just on my way to see you. Mr. Stone requested that I give these to you.”

 He held out a set of keys.

 “What are these for?” I asked in confusion as I took the keys from him.

 “There is a car in the parking garage for you. It’s located in spot D36. Since I’m not always available for you, Mr. Stone prefers that you utilize this going forward. He is concerned about your safety on the subway or in a taxi.”

 “That sounds like something he would say,” I said with a frown. Something wasn’t sitting right with me. “Hale, is this just on loan until I can get my car fixed?”

 “I can’t say for sure, Miss. We didn’t discuss it. I was only told to retrieve the Porsche Boxster from his storage facility and bring the keys to you.”

 A Porsche. That sneaky bastard.

 Most likely, the car was not a loaner, but a gift. Justin knew about the secret love affair that I had for the German car manufacturer. I recalled how he had once told me that collecting cars was a hobby of his. I was curious about the extent of this collection, as well as whether or not the Porsche was a part of it. However, no matter how much I was tempted, a car was one gift that I simply could not accept.

 “Hale, please tell Mr. Stone that I said thank you for the offer, but I prefer the cab. Besides, it’s easier than trying to find a parking spot.”

 “Miss Cole –.”

 “Hale,” I said and reached for his hand. I placed the keys back into his palm. “I’m taking a taxi.”

 “He will not be very pleased about this.”

 “Oh, I’m sure that he’ll be furious. But I can handle it,” I added with a wink and pressed the button to call up the elevator once again. The corners of Hale’s mouth turned up in the subtlest way. It wasn’t quite a smile, but there was a hint of humor in his eyes that gave him away.

 “Have a good day, Miss.”

 “Thanks. You too,” I said as I stepped into the elevator.

 Before the elevator even reached the ground floor, my cell pinged with a text notification. As I walked through the lobby, I pulled my cell from my purse. Not surprisingly, the text was from Justin.

   9:51 AM, Justin: Must you always be so difficult?

   I smiled to myself. Rather than have a battle of wills, I responded with only a kissy-face emoticon and tossed the phone back in to my purse. He could either laugh at what I sent, or get mad. Either way, I had a busy day lined up and fighting over a car was not on my agenda.

 I walked out the main doors and was happy to see that there was already a cab parked at the curb. I quickly climbed in.

 “Wally’s on 57th please,” I told the driver.

 I sat back in my seat and thought about Walter Roberts. I hadn’t seen my old boss in weeks. I was looking forward to working with him again, even if the context was different than before.

 My cell phone began to ring. I groaned to myself, thinking that it was Justin calling me about the Porsche. However, when I looked at the screen, I saw that it was my mother calling. A part of me wished that it were Justin, as that conversation would have been easier. I hadn’t spoken with my mother since she left after her last visit, and things were strained to say the least.

 “Hi, mom,” I greeted tentatively.

 “Hello, love. How are you? I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

 “Sorry, things have been a little hectic. I started a new job,” I told her, hoping that she’d be happy to hear the news. “The pay is really good. You can tell Frank that I’ll take care of my rent from now on.”

 “Good for you. I’ll let him know. Anything else new and exciting?”

 That’s it?

 She had been hounding me about a job for months. I was shocked that she wasn’t pressing me for details. The cab driver took a sharp right, forcing me hard against the passenger door.

 Maybe Justin is right to have concern over my safety in a cab.

 “Um…not really. Same old,” I told her.

 I wasn’t sure what else to say. My mother usually talked my ear off, and I could rarely ever get a word in edgewise.

 “Are you still seeing Justin?”

 Ah…now we might be getting somewhere.

 “Actually, I am. Why do you ask?” I said, feeling somewhat guarded.

 “Well, I was thinking about Thanksgiving. You usually come home for the holiday. I thought that you could invite him to join us.”

 What is this?

 It was like she was encouraging me to have a relationship. She was always so full of doom and gloom whenever the opposite sex came up, and I wondered what brought on this one-eighty.

 “I could ask him. I’m not sure if he has plans or not,” I said somewhat distractedly as I looked at the road ahead. I gripped the door handle for dear life as the cab came to a sudden stop.

 “Excellent. Let me know when you find out. Now, I know how busy you are so I won’t keep you.”

 Okay, now this is just beyond the point of bizarre.

 I found it hard to believe that I was speaking to Elizabeth Long, the bitter woman who all but claimed that all men were evil and that I should steer clear of the lot of them. I pulled the phone away from my ear just to make sure that it was her name on the display.

 “Mom, is everything okay?” I asked her before she could hang up.

 “Yes, love. Why wouldn’t it be?”

 “I don’t know. You’re just acting kind of weird,” I said, feeling totally bewildered. The line went quiet. “Mom, are you still there?”

 I heard her sigh.

 “I’m here. I’m sorry if you think that I’m acting strange. Maybe I am, but it’s only because I’m trying to just let you be. I was left with a lot to think about after my last visit.”

 “Mom –.”

 “Just hear me out for a minute. I was really upset and had a long talk with Frank on the drive home from the city. And then, over the course of the past few weeks, he eventually made me see things a bit differently. I didn’t realize how hard I was being on you. You know that I love you, right?”

 “Of course I do, mom. I love you too.”

 “I really only want what’s best for you, but I know that I need to take a step back. You’re an adult and I can’t keep telling you what to do. It’s well past time that I let you decide what is best for you.”

 “Uh, thanks I guess,” I said with a small laugh, lacking any other thing to say. This was so out of character for her, and I wasn’t sure what to think.

 “You’ll call me when you have an answer about Thanksgiving?”

 “Yeah, sure. No problem.”

 “Alright, love. Then I’ll talk to you soon. Bye now.”

 “Bye, mom.”

 I hit the end button on my cell and just sat there staring at the screen. Traffic passed by and horns blared, but I was seeing and hearing none of it. I was happy that my mother was finally loosening the reins a bit. After all, I stopped being a child long ago. But even so, it may have been the weirdest conversation that I ever had with her.

     ****

     It was nearing three o’clock and I was finishing up my weekly recap with Laura in order to set up priorities for the following week.

 “Were you able to get a crew for The Lucy?”

 “I did find one, sir,” Laura told me. “The company comes with good references and are fully insured. They suggested that you dock her in the Florida Keys rather than the Caribbean because of crime concerns. If you’d like to discuss it in more detail, I have already scheduled a meeting for you with them next week on Tuesday.”

 “Good. Where do we stand on the building permits?” I asked, moving on to the next order of business. “I need to know who’s palm I have to grease to get things moving along.”

 She flipped tabs in the binder that she held in her lap and ran a finger down a page.

 “All of the permits for the old Rushmore building have come through from the city ordinance, Mr. Stone. I’m just waiting on your go ahead to give the contractors clearance to begin work,” Laura told me.

 “It’s about damn time, too,” I bit out in annoyance. “I bought that building nearly two years ago.”

 She sighed.

 “I understand your frustrations, but there was no way that you could have known about the structural concerns of the building, sir,” she tried to assure. “It wasn’t disclosed and it was missed by the inspectors.”

 “Either way, the hold up is irritating, not to mention extremely costly. Where is Stephen on the legal end of that?”

 “I only know that he’s been hitting wall after wall with trying to get compensation from Rushmore Industries. Their bankruptcy is putting a monkey wrench in anything Stephen tries to present to the judge.”

 “Alright. I’ll get with him on that later. What else do you have for me?”

 “The roof construction permits for Wally’s Grocery have been applied for, and I do not expect any hold up there. The Mayor’s interest in that deal has really helped to move things along.”

 “Good. I’ll take that one step further. Call his office and try to set up a lunch meeting for us next week. I want to ensure that his interest remains steadfast.”

 “Will do, sir. Anything else?”

 “Yes. I emailed you a list of properties in lower Manhattan. I’ll need all the background information pertaining to them. Scratch anything that will be a headache and then send me an updated list of what looks promising. I’ll do site visits with Hale next week.”

 “I’ll have the information by Monday morn –.”

 A knock on my office door interrupted her.

 “Come in,” I barked, annoyed by the interruption. Selena was due to arrive here soon and I wanted to finish business for the week. I was going on a seven-day stretch and was looking forward to taking a day or two off. The image of Selena bound and naked had been like a carrot dangling in front of my face all day.

 “Mr. Stone,” said Hale as he stepped into the office.

 “Oh, Hale. Good. I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to speak with you before tonight. Laura,” I said, turning back to my assistant. “Unless there is anything more pressing that you can think of, I think we can wrap things up.”

 “No, sir. I’m set,” she affirmed.

 After Laura left, I motioned for Hale to have a seat across from me.

 “Are we all set for tonight?” I asked him.

 “Yes, sir. Justine would like you to be dropped off at the main doors. I didn’t give her an affirmative answer to that. I thought that it was safe to assume that you would want to survey the press presence first. There is a back door if needed.”

 “Good call on that. Selena has reservations about the media. An alternate entrance just may be needed,” I contemplated. “What about the Bugatti?”

 “I’ve already been to the storage garage and have had the car prepared as you requested.”

 I laughed.

 “You’ve had a busy day over at the garage site, haven’t you?”

 “Just a bit,” Hale said and afforded me a rare smile.

 “Tell me about your conversation with Selena earlier. Was she mad about the Porsche?”

 “She didn’t seem upset, but she was hard to read. We didn’t talk for that long,” he admitted and furrowed his brow. I sat back in my chair and listened while Hale gave a brief recap about Selena’s refusal to take the Porsche.

 “I figured she would be resistant, but I thought she’d be more apt to take it from you over me. I’ll handle it from here,” I told him. “How are we on security for later?”

 “Security is in place. I spoke to Justine and she shared a few additional concerns that I’ve made accommodations for. I’ll be there to keep an eye on things all night. If Charlie makes an appearance, we’ll be all over it.”

 “I don’t think he’ll come around,” I dismissed.

 “Well, if he does, we’ll be ready to toss him back out to the street,” Hale assured. “Did you get my email on Trevor Hamilton?”

 “I did, but I haven’t had the chance to look it over yet. Did you find anything on him?”

 “Quite a bit, sir. In fact, it’s quite disturbing. That’s why I asked if you received it. I have a hard time picturing someone like Miss Cole being with a man like him.”

 I pressed my lips together and frowned. No matter what Hale found in Hamilton’s background, I didn’t like picturing her with any man other than myself.

 My phone buzzed and I glanced down at the screen. It was from Selena and instantly my mood lightened.

   3:07 PM, Selena: Mr. Roberts kept me longer than I planned. On my way up now.

   Hamilton could take a flying leap. She was mine now.

   3:08 PM, Me: See you in a few.

   On impulse, I added the same kissy-faced emoticon that she sent to me earlier. I smiled, thinking about how she had the ability to bring out an uncharacteristically playful side in me.

 I looked back to Hale. He wore a peculiar expression on his face and I quickly wiped the soppy grin off my face.

 “That was Selena,” I told him seriously. “She’s on her way up. We plan to get ready for the gala at the penthouse. You can pick us up there at six o’clock.”

 “Yes, sir,” he replied, but he was eyeing me with a knowing look.

 “What?”

 “Nothing, sir. Nothing at all.”

 I narrowed my gaze, fully aware of what he was thinking.

 Yes, Hale. I’m completely smitten by an angel.

 I honestly didn’t care what he thought. In fact, I didn’t really care what anyone thought. I was in love with a woman, even if she didn’t know it yet. If people wanted to judge me for that, so be it.

As we neared the hotel that would be hosting the charity gala, I was already feeling like a princess. It was hard to believe that I was arriving in a 1931 Bugatti. Between that and our vintage attire, I would bet that even members of the British Royal Family would experience a twinge of envy. I was starting to learn very quickly that Justin never did anything small.

 When we pulled up, I glanced out the window. A sea of news reporters were there at the ready. All of my excitement instantly vanished.

 “Justin,” I said warily as I took in the crowd that lined a Hollywood style red carpet. “Are those all reporters?”

 “Most likely. There was a lot of hype surrounding this event,” he said with a frown. “But I will admit, I didn’t expect to see so many.”

 “Shall I pull around back, Mr. Stone?” Hale asked from the front seat.

 “The publicity will be good. I shouldn’t avoid them,” Justin mused before turning to me. “Selena, I’ll need their coverage to capture the interest of future donors if tonight’s silent auction doesn’t pull in as much as we hope it will.”

 “It’s okay. I understand. I can handle it.”

 I hope.

 “Hale, we’ll just get out here.”

 “Yes, sir,” Hale replied.

 Hale got out of the car and walked around to open the door for us. Justin climbed out first then turned around to take my hand. The minute I stepped out of the vehicle, the press pounced.

 “Mr. Stone, can you comment on Stone Arena?”

 “What are your community outreach plans for the women’s shelter?”

 “Mr. Stone, when are you going to begin work on the Rushmore building?”

 Question after question was fired at him, but he didn’t bat an eye. Instead, he just smiled as we walked up the red carpet hand in hand. Hale trailed very closely behind, keeping a watchful eye on the scene.

 Holy crap. This is absolutely nuts!

 Cameras flashed. The entire thing felt surreal. I literally felt like a celebrity.

 “Mr. Stone, some have been calling you a venture capitalist,” a reporter called out. “What’s your position on that?”

 Justin paused at the question and turned to face the reporter. He was a tall and thin man, looking to be in his mid-forties. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he held out a microphone in anticipation of what Justin might say.

 “My business has always been real estate. It always will be.” More questions came flying, and Justin held up his hand to silence them. “I cannot discuss the details about Stone Arena at this time. But rest assured. As soon as I can, a press conference will be scheduled.”

 “Mr. Stone, can you tell us the name of your date for this evening?” said a woman from behind the man with the glasses. Justin paused and seemed to be contemplating his words before he spoke.

 “This is Selena Cole. My girlfriend,” he added.

 I almost started choking as the press buzzed to life once more.

 “Who designed her dress?” shouted someone from the crowd.

 “Her dress was purchased at 25th Street Vintage, from a lovely woman named Dejah. Now, if you’ll excuse us. Stone’s Hope Gala awaits us,” he said before turning back to me and lowering his voice so that only I could hear. “Let’s go, angel.”

 “I thought you said that boyfriend and girlfriend sounded childish,” I whispered once we were out of earshot from the press.

 “I did.”

 “What made you change your mind?”

 “I don’t know to be honest. Would you have preferred something different?”

 I smiled to myself.

 Not at all.

 “Oh, I could get used to it I suppose,” I said nonchalantly.

 “Maybe I should have stuck with arm candy,” he mused. However, he couldn’t keep the smile from showing through in his voice. I looked up at him as we walked through the entry doors that Hale held open for us. Justin’s eyes twinkled bright with amusement.

 “The day you refer to me as your arm candy is the day I start calling you cupcake,” I joked.

 He laughed, the sound echoing through the lobby of the hotel.

 “You really are something, Miss Cole. It’s occurred to me that I might actually enjoy myself tonight.” He stopped walking as we came upon a set of great double doors. He bent at the waist and made an exaggerated swooping motion with his arm. “My lady, I am honored to have you here as my date.”

 Looping his arm in mine, we walked through the doors of the ballroom. When we entered, I was completely awestruck.

 “Oh, wow!”

 Deep red and black satin swooped down from the ceiling, with an ornate crystal chandelier as the centerpiece. The same deep red covered the tables, accented with black and white dinnerware. Roses set in gemstone colored vases adorned each table.

 Framed replicas of Toulouse-Lautrec posters covered the walls, adding to the authenticity of the setting. There was a massive stage at the far end of the room, with a backdrop of red velvet curtains lined with gold sequins. A band of musicians wearing top hats and three-piece suits with striped vests was already playing. Their lead singer was a woman decked out in swanky black dress and long strands of pearls. They swayed around her neck as she sang a cover of “Alone” by Patricia Kaas.

 “It looks like my sister has out done herself,” Justin commented.

 “You can say that again! This place looks amazing! Actually, glamorous would be a better word for it. I feel like I’ve just walked into a turn of the century movie.”

 People mingled about wearing elaborate attire. The women wore everything from the sleek and sexy dresses of a courtesan, to the more revealing burlesque fashions of the time. The men were in costume as well, their style similar to Justin’s striped tuxedo and top hat. Any reservations that I may have had about my costume vanished. I was dressed perfectly for the occasion.

 “Justin!” called a female voice. I turned and saw Justine coming towards us. She looked striking in a long gown of deep purple, the coloring complimenting her jet-black hair that was twisted into a stylish knot with pin curls on top of her head.

 “Justine, you look lovely,” Justin complimented and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “You remember Selena, right?”

 “Yes, of course,” she said and turned to me. “I just love your dress! How was Dejah? She didn’t talk your ear off, did she?”

 “She was fine,” I said and laughed. “Justin was sure to keep her in line.”

 “I bet he did!”

 “Alright, alright. No tag teaming allowed tonight,” Justin joked. “Selena, let’s head over to our table and leave Justine to do whatever it is she needs to do.”

 “Actually, I need you to come with me,” Justine interjected. She made a quick glance over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Mrs. Van Rensselaer is already here. I could use your help with persuading her to open her checkbook. You know how she is. I need you to work your magic on her.”

 Justin looked to me.

 “It’s okay,” I assured him. “Go on ahead. I can find our table without you.”

 “Are you sure?” He looked doubtful, ignoring Justine as she tugged on his arm.

 “I’ll be fine, Justin. Go work your magic on Mrs. Van Rensselaer,” I teased with a wink.

 “I won’t be long.”

 After Justin and Justine walked away, I headed over to the table that held our seating place cards. I located our table assignment easily enough, as we were seated at the head table near the stage. When I sat down, I fought the urge to kick off my shoes. They had been on my feet for barely an hour, but I was already feeling the pinch in my toes. I was regretting my choice to give in to Dejah’s insistence over the Edwardian era shoe.

 “Justine said that you didn’t look his type,” said a female voice from behind me.

 I turned to see who was speaking. A slender red headed woman in a royal blue dress leaned against the table behind me. She was drinking from a champagne flute. I recognized her immediately as the woman that Justine was with at The Mandarin Day Spa. She was also the woman whose face appeared in news articles, photographed next to Justin, on numerous occasions.

 Suzanne Jacobs.

 Since we had never been formally introduced, I played the innocent card.

 “Hello. I’m Selena Cole,” I said and stood to offer my hand to her.

 She glanced down at my hand, but didn’t accept the handshake. Instead, she polished off what little amount was left in her champagne glass and signaled a waiter for another.

 “You’re a little young for Justin,” she drawled. She peered at me through glassy eyes. It was then that I realized that she was well on her way to being drunk.

 Already? The night has barely gotten started.

 “I’m sure that I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told her.

 The situation had disaster written all over it. I turned my back to her and reclaimed my seat. I was not about to have a confrontation with a drunken woman that I had never met before. But, much to my dismay, she pulled out the chair next to me.

 “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Suzanne. Suzanne Jacobs.”

 I know that already, you nitwit.

 I smiled sweetly at her.

 “It’s nice to meet you,” I stated, trying to be polite as possible.

 “Look at you, sitting there all sweet and innocent,” she said. Her voice dripped with contempt. “Have you ever been to an event like this?”

 “Um, no. I haven’t.”

 “Honey, you have no idea what you’re in for. Trust me. I know. In fact, I know a lot of things about these sorts of affairs. Just like I know a lot about Justin,” she snorted in the most unbecoming way. “And I know that he will break your pretty little heart.”

 She leaned forward and poked me relatively hard in the chest. I sat back, startled by this woman’s aggressive behavior. It was not the time, nor the place. I looked around for Justin and spotted him on the other side of the room engaged in conversation with someone.

 I tried to remember the names of the people that were assigned to sit at the same table as Justin and me. Justine had a place card, as well as Justin’s accountant and lawyer, Bryan and Stephen. There were also other names that I did not recognize, but I would have remembered reading the name Suzanne Jacobs. She was definitely in the wrong place.

 “You might want to go find out what table you were assigned to. I don’t recall seeing your name listed for this one,” I told her, hoping that she would take the hint.

 “Trying to get rid of me already? Oh, no honey. I’m just getting warmed up.”

 “No you’re not. This conversation is over,” I told her and stood up. If she wasn’t going to leave the table, then I would.

 She grabbed hold of my wrist, her grip remarkably strong considering how boney and frail her hand looked.

 “Don’t be fooled by him,” she warned me. I ripped my hand out of her grasp.

 “It’s you who are the fool,” I said, careful to keep my voice quiet and even. The last thing that Justin needed was a scene on such an important night. “Don’t pretend to think you know everything about him. I know him. Justin Stone is a good man.”

 “Stone? You really are naïve,” she laughed loudly at some private joke. “You obviously don’t know as much as you think.”

 I looked up when I saw someone approaching out of the corner of my eye. Justine was making a beeline towards us.

 Oh, thank god.

 “Suzy!” she hissed. “What are you doing?”

 “Oh, relax!” Suzanne waved off.

 Justine looked more closely at her friend.

 “Shit. You’re drunk,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you! You, of all people, know how much work that I put into tonight. I told you that Justin was bringing someone and you promised that you wouldn’t do anything stupid! And here I was worried about Charlie ruining everything!”

 Who is Charlie?

 I looked back and forth between the two women, not sure what to make of the situation, when Justin came strolling up.

 “Suzanne,” he said with a nod. His greeting was pleasant enough, but I knew otherwise from the strained tick in his jaw. It was his telltale sign that he was angry.

 “Justin, call Hale immediately,” Justine ordered. “Suzanne needs to be taken home. Now.”

 Justin looked over to the left. I followed his gaze and saw Hale standing against a wall nearby. The two men nodded to one another, before Hale came over to the table.

 Hale didn’t say a word, but simply took Suzanne by the arm and steered her towards the main doors. She, of course, did not want to go willingly and protested the entire way. A few guests glanced in their direction, but for the most part, their exit was made quickly and quietly.

 “I’m very sorry about that, Selena,” Justine apologized. “Suzanne is…bitter. Let’s just say there’s something to be said about a scorned woman.”

 “Don’t make excuses for her, Justine,” Justin quipped. “She’s a grown woman. She should know how to behave.”

 “Justin, I tried to warn –.”

 The loud static from a microphone being adjusted interrupted whatever it was Justine was going to say. The female lead singer from the band had left the stage and was now behind the podium. In all the commotion with Suzanne, I hadn’t even realized that the music stopped.

 “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats,” she announced. “Dinner will be served momentarily. In the meantime, I’d like to welcome up to the stage the man who has made all of this possible. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Stone Enterprise and the founder of The Stoneworks Foundation. Without him, none of us would be here tonight. So, without further ado, please put your hands together for Mr. Justin Stone.”

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