INNOCENCE

[ ☾]

ichael holds the phone up. "You're crazy! Just go away or I'm calling the cops." He says.

"Hang on a second. Just listen to me. You have to believe me ok? This thing came through the window and it attacked your brother. I've seen it. I know what it looks like. Cause it attacked my brother once too." Dean says.

Michael slowly hangs up the phone. "This thing...is it...like...it has this long...black robe?" He asks.

"You saw it last night didn't you?" Dean asks.

"I thought I was having a nightmare." Michael says.

"I'd give anything not to tell you this but sometimes nightmares are real." Dean says.

"So, why are you telling me?" Michael asks.

"Because we need your help." Elena says from behind Dean.

"My help?"

"We can kill it. Us, that's what we do. But we can't do it without you." Dean says.

"What? No!" Michael yells.

Dean gets closer. "Michael listen to me. This thing hurt Asher. And it's going to keep hurting kids unless we stop it, understand me?" Michael stares at Dean, horrified.

"Well that went crappy." Dean says.

"What did you expect? You can't ask a adult to do something like that, much less a kid." Sam says.

There is a knock at the door. It is Michael. "If you kill it, will Asher get better?" He asks.

"Honestly? We don't know." Dean admits.

"You said you were a big brother." Dean nods. "You'd take care of your little brother? You'd do anything for him?" Michael asks.

"Yeah I would." Dean says and Sam turns to look at his brother.

"Me too. I'll help."

n Michael's Room, Dean completes hooking up a security camera in the corner of the room, staring into the lense. Michael is behind him in bed. Sam is watching the security feed in the other room. "This camera has night vision on it so we'll be able to see clear as day." To Sam, lifting his voice. "Are we good?"

"A hair to the right." Sam says as Dean adjusts the camera. "There, there." He says.

"What do I do?" Michael asks.

Dean moves to sit in Michael's bed. "Just stay under the covers." He says.

"And if it shows up?" Michael asks.

"We'll be right in the next room. We're gunna come in with guns. So as soon as we do you roll off this bed and you crawl under it." Dean says.

"What if you shoot me?" Michael asks.

"We won't shoot you. We're good shots. We're not going to fire until you're clear ok? Have you heard a gunshot before?" Dean asks.

"Like in the movies?" Michael asks.

"It's gunna be a lot louder than in the movies. So I want you to stay under the bed, cover your ears, do not come out until we say so. Understand?" Michael nods slowly, looking scared. "Michael you sure you wanna do this? You don't have to, it's ok, I won't be mad." Dean says.

"No I'm ok. Just don't shoot me."

Dean looks sincere. "We're not going to let anything happen to you, I promise you." He says.

Later, Sam, Elena and Dean sit watching the security camera feed. "What time is it?" Dean asks.

"Almost 3. Are you sure these iron rounds are gunna work?" Sam asks.

"Consecrated iron rounds, and yeah it's what Dad used last time." Dean says.

There's a long pause. "Hey Dean I'm sorry." Sam says.

"For what?" Dean asks.

"You know, I've really given you a lot of crap, for always following Dad's orders. But I know why you do it." Sam says.

They sit in silence for a moment. "Wait, look." Dean says. There is movement outside the window. It slides open.

Sam and Dean pick up their guns. The Shtriga is inside Michael's room. "Now." Sam says.

"Not yet." Dean warns. The shtriga moves closer and leans over the bed, Michael is terrified but frozen, unable to move.

The shtriga leans closer and opens his mouth, starting to draw Michael's energy. Dean and Sam burst in. "Hey!" Sam yells.

"Michael, down!" Dean yells.

Michael rolls off and under the bed and Sam and Dean open fire, shooting the Shtriga multiple times each. It falls to the ground. "Mike, you all right?" Dean asks.

"Yeah."

"Just sit tight."

Dean approaches the shtriga, gun at the ready. There is no movement. He relaxes slightly and glances at Sam. The shtriga suddenly rises, grabs Dean by the throat and throws him against the wall.

"Dean!" Sam yells.

The shtriga moves and throws Sam to the ground, falling on him and forcing his mouth open. Sam stuggles to reach his gun. The shtriga begins drawing his energy and Sam stills and starts going grey.

"Hey!" Elena yells. The shtriga looks up and she shoots it between the eyes. He falls backwards and Sam lays gasping for breath

Dean looks down at the creature. "Damn." He says to Elena. He then goes over to Sam. "You ok little brother?" Sam nods, they both pull themselves to their feet and look to the Shtriga.

The energy the shtriga stole begins to escape from it's mouth. Dean raises his gun, shooting it three more times at point blank range.

It falls in on itself, disintergrating. Michael peeks from the side of the bed. "It's ok Michael, you can come on out." Dean says. Michael comes to stand beside them, Dean places his hand on Michael's shoulder and smiles.

ean and Sam are packing the Impala ready to head out. Michael's Mom comes out of the back of reception, talking to Elena. "Joanna. How's Asher doing?" Dean asks.

"Have you seen Michael?" Joanna asks.

Michael runs up to his mother. "Mom! Mom!" He yells.

"Hey!" She hugs her son.

"How's Ash?" Michael asks.

"Got some good news. Your brother's going to be fine." Joanna says.

Michael grins. "Really?" He asks.

"Yeah, really. No one can explain it, it's a miracle. They're going to keep him in overnight for observation and then he's coming home." Joanna says.

"That's great." Elena says.

"How are all the other kids doing?" Sam asks.

"Good. Real good. A bunch of them should be checking out in a few days. Dr Travis says the ward's going to be like a ghost town." Joanna says.

"Dr Travis? what about Dr Heidacker?" Sam asks, but he felt like he already knew the answer.

"Oh he wasn't in today. Must have been sick or something." Joanna says.

Dean nods. "Yeah. Must have." He says.

"So, did anything happen while I was gone?" Joanna asks Michael.

Michael glances at Dean. "Nah, Same old stuff." He answers.

"Ok. You can go see Ash." Joanna says.

Michael gets excited. "Now?" He asks.

"Only if you want to." Joanna says. Michael runs to the car. "I'd better get going before he hot wires the car and drives himself." She laughs.

Smiling good bye, she leaves, Sam, Elena and Dean turn back to the Impala. "It's too bad." Sam says.

"Oh, they'll be fine." Dean says.

"That's not what I meant. I meant Michael. He'll always know there are things out there in the dark, he'll never be the same, you know?" Sam pauses. "Sometimes I wish that..."

"What...?" Dean asks.

"I wish I could have that kinda innocence." Sam says.

They watch Joanna and Michael drive away. "If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could too." Dean says slowly.

They exchange a look. Dean climbs in the car and starts the engine. Sam and Elena follow and they pull out of the motel car park and back onto the freeway.