Chapter Text
Marie's eyes fluttered open to the warm rays of morning sunlight peeking through the curtains. Her gaze fell upon her peaceful, slumbering wife, Summer. Despite their love for each other, Marie couldn't help but feel insecure at times. As she watched Summer's flawless features, she couldn't help but wonder what her partner, a former theater nerd turned hunter, saw in her. Did they really belong together?
Marie pushed the troublesome thoughts out of her head and swung her legs off the edge of the bed. She could already hear Jess stirring in her crib, waiting impatiently for her mother to start the day. With a deep breath, Marie rose to her feet and approached the kitchen area, ready to prepare breakfast for her energetic toddler.
After some much-needed playtime in the safety of her playpen, Jess would need to be strapped into her car seat for the journey ahead. The hospital where Eileen lay in critical condition was two hours away, but Marie knew she needed to see Sam before starting her own investigation at the crime scene. As she began to cook, Marie couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and anticipation for what lay ahead.
The hunter's senses were on high alert, a familiar feeling that always accompanied her line of work. But this time, she couldn't shake the eerie sensation that someone or something was watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up like quills on a porcupine, and her skin prickled with unease.
Her eyes were drawn to the counter, where an envelope sat prominently. In their cramped motorcoach, counter space was limited, making the large envelope stand out even more. She picked up the envelope and opened it.
Marie opened the envelope to find a single sheet of paper with just a few words sloppily written on it and a photograph. The message was cryptic: "The truth is hidden below the surface." A shiver ran down her spine as she read the words, leaving her with more questions than answers.
Instinctively, Marie glanced around the motorcoach, half-expecting to find an intruder lurking in the shadows. Her eyes fell on the photo. It showed two teenage girls - one with cascading light brown hair and piercing blue eyes, the other wearing a vibrant headscarf adorned with intricate patterns but sharing the same captivating gaze. Their faces were mirror images of each other, with soft round cheeks and delicate features. Marie couldn't help but wonder if they were twins or sisters; their resemblance was uncanny. With trembling fingers, she flipped the photo over in search of more clues.
Her breath caught in her throat as she read the date, a year that seemed unfathomable: July 4th, 2044. Alongside it were the words "Luna," "Crescent," and "Don't interfere with them." How could this be? That was 24 years into the future. Her mind reeled with questions as she tried to understand everything.
"Hun!" Summer called. "Do we have time for me to take a shower?"
"Of course!" Marie answered quickly, putting the picture back in the envelope. "I still have to take care of Jess."
With a sense of urgency, Marie stashed the mysterious envelope in an old, unused cabinet. She would keep it hidden for a while before showing it to Summer. There was no need to worry her wife about this unsettling occurrence. The realization that someone had been inside their home, leaving the envelope behind, sent shivers down Marie's spine. But she could shoulder the fear for both of them.
——
Dean's heart broke as he watched young Lucifer sleep next to his unconscious mother. It was so painful to watch his nephew suffer, knowing there was nothing he could do. Dean brushed a strand of hair away from Lucifer's face, his gaze moving back to Eileen. She lay still in the hospital bed, machines beeping softly in the background. Dean had seen enough in his life as a hunter to know that miracles were rare, but he refused to give up hope.
"Mr. Winchester?" a nurse's voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"Yes?" the hunter asked, looking up.
"There is a Marie Winters here to see you," she explained.
Marie? The name struck something in Dean's mind, but he couldn't place it.
"She said you helped her with a play once," the nurse explained, seeing the confused look on the man's voice.
A play? That's when it clicked. This had to be the Marie who put on that Supernatural play. He internally cringed at the memory. Dean didn't run into fans of those books very often, but when he did, it was usually a very unusual encounter.
"Send her in," he said. What the hell was she doing there? Had Sam reached out to her? That didn't seem likely. After all, Sam hadn't mentioned her in years. Dean didn't even think he had her number.
Marie stepped into the room, her eyes immediately falling on Dean as a wave of relief washed over her. She had half-expected to be turned away or met with skepticism, but seeing Dean's familiar face gave her a sense of comfort amid the chaos that had brought her here.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Subtext herself," he couldn't help but chuckle. He never thought he'd see her again.
Marie smiled and blushed at his words. "Oh yeah, so you remember my play."
"How could I forget?" he sighed, remembering seeing his life played out on a stage. "What are you doing here anyway?"
Marie frowned and glanced away. How could she tell him she was a hunter now? What would he think of her? She took a deep breath, steeling herself to reveal her new reality to Dean. "I'm here because of Eileen," she began, her voice slightly trembling. "I'm a hunter now, and I've been investigating what happened to her. Sam's in the dark about it all, but I felt like I needed to see her for myself before things get even more complicated."
Dean's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the revelation. He hadn't expected Marie to follow in their footsteps, diving headfirst into the dangerous world of hunting. But as he looked into her determined eyes, he knew she was no longer just a theater nerd he once knew. She had grown into a fierce hunter, willing to face whatever challenges came her way.
"Did Sam call you?" Dean couldn't help but feel a little angry at the thought. He had already told Sam not to get obsessed with this. He needed to take care of Lucifer and DJ. Sam couldn't leave those boys on their own.
"Oh no, we heard about it from another hunter," she explained. "I called him. After what you guys did for me, I just wanted to help."
"We?" He asked. "Are there other hunters with you?"
"Just my wife," Marie explained. "She took our little one to the park."
"Woah," Dean said, a little caught off guard. "You really have grown up, haven't you."
"I guess I have," she took a deep breath before looking at Lucifer and Eileen. "Is that Sam's son?"
Dean nodded, his gaze shifting to the bed where Eileen lay motionless. "Yeah, that's him," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "His name's Lucifer. He's been through a lot for a kid his age." Dean's expression softened as he watched Marie take in the sight before her, the gravity of the situation settling in.
"I heard that he's…well…the Lucifer," Marie said carefully, not wanting to upset her fellow hunter. I mean… that's what I heard."
"Yeah," Dean hadn't thought about that in a while. "He was re-born as a child. He's the same Lucifer that caused me so much pain, but he isn't if you know what I mean."
"That wasn't in the books. They didn't go that far," she explained. "But I've heard stories from other hunters."
Dean's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of the books. He still couldn't believe their lives had been turned into a series of novels, with their most personal struggles and losses laid bare for the world to read. It was a strange experience to see their own experiences fictionalized and romanticized in such a way. But as he looked at Marie, a sense of understanding passed between them – both intimately familiar with the weight of secrets and truths that went beyond what was written on those pages.
"Lucifer may be the same being in essence, but he's different now. He's just a kid trying to find his place in this messed-up world." Dean replied cryptically, his tone laced with years of hunting experience and a touch of weariness.
Marie nodded, absorbing Dean's words as she watched the boy sleep peacefully next to his mother. The complexity of their situation weighed heavily on her mind, but she knew she had come here for a reason. She needed to uncover the truth behind what had happened to Eileen; perhaps, in doing so, she could bring peace to this fractured family.
"I want to help," Marie said firmly, her gaze meeting Dean's with unwavering determination. "Whatever it takes to find out what happened to Eileen and help Lucifer, I'm in."
Dean studied her momentarily, seeing the sincerity in her eyes and recognizing a kindred spirit in hunting. Despite the dangers and uncertainties that lay ahead, he knew they needed all the help they could get. And if Marie were willing to stand alongside him in this fight, then he would welcome her without hesitation.
"Alright," Dean finally said with a nod. "Welcome aboard, Marie. We've got work to do."
——-
Sam sat in the kitchen, gently cradling little DJ in his arms as he fed him. The boy cooed softly, oblivious to the heavy weight of worry that hung in the air around him. "Dad! Green."
The hunter's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen, seeing a list of missed calls and messages from hunters across the country. Sam slid his son into the highchair.
"Green!" the child fussed again. Sam picked up a bowl of grapes and placed them on the tray. "Yum Yum, Dad."
Sam answered a call from one of his contacts with a furrowed brow. "Hey, Yima," he replied. "Any leads?" Sam kept his voice low and urgent as they discussed any leads or information regarding his ill wife. The hunters had been scouring every corner, following trails that led to dead ends and false hopes. But Sam couldn't give up; he couldn't bear the thought of losing Eileen without a fight.
"I've got word that this was a hit job," Yima said, his Irish accent so thick Sam had trouble understanding him. I have no idea who called it in or how it was done, but that's what I'm hearing."
Sam's heart sank at the news. A hit job meant this was no random attack; someone had specifically targeted Eileen. Anger and determination surged through him as he clenched his jaw, vowing to track down whoever was responsible and make them pay for what they had done to his family.
As the call ended, Sam turned his attention back to DJ, who was happily munching on grapes, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. Sam forced a smile for his son, trying to push aside the overwhelming worry that threatened to consume him.