everyonelives | for the rest of us death will be a relief

( There's a calmness that settles over you, she'd explain to anyone, when you realize the life you're living isn't yours to live. When a nondescript ship's maiden voyage was supposed to capsize. When the marriage which irked you to holy hell on its' best days, but that you'd fight tooth and nail for to keep - isn't right either. You keep it from your other half. (You're the better half and he don't forget it.) You do the kind thing. You wait for oblivion. Cause you're not gonna remember it. You're a cosmic loose end.

And then you fall into literal mud.

It's gross and damp and hot because of the trees around you. Around her. Around Ellen Harvelle.

Her first thought would be she needs a shower, but she's been through the dirt, the grime, mudwrestled a vampire before. This is nothing. )

I'm gonna kill those boys.

( She gets to her feet, wiping her hands on her pants before grabbing for her phone. )

No damn signal. 'Course not. Cause if you'dve jumped me anywhere else, you know I'd be speed dialing your sorry asses...

[Erica doesn't know how she got here. She remembers hyping herself up, while Boyd and Cora tried to talk her out of it. She remembers Kali coming into the vault, eyes red like glowing coals in the darkness, and then things get a little ... fuzzy.

The mud of the bayou sinks into the bottoms of her jeans and she's so fucking hungry, so dizzy from being upright for the first time in a while, that she stumbles some. Ellen can probably hear the splash of her moving around, but Erica can definitely hear her, so she slowly starts to wander towards the sound of the voice.

Hopefully she's safe. If not, well. Erica has claws. She won't hesitate to use them.]

Do you know where we are?

[The older woman comes into view and Erica just keeps stumbling closer.]

I ... this wasn't where I was before.

( Ellen hears the splash and whirls around. )

Cas, if you landed me in Gator-country, I will...

( There's a blonde girl trudging through the swamp asking her the very question she's asking herself. As far as Ellen knows, she's the only savable blip the boys might hide. She hasn't seen this fate girl in person, but from what she heard, she's no nonsense. And she wears glasses and a grey suit.

She's going to assume this isn't Fate. )

I don't, but I'd very much like to. I was in Sioux Falls, does that mean anything to you? How about the Titanic?

( Huge longshot, but she has to. )

Never mind that, where were you before this? ( She notices her stumbling and against her better judgment, moves closer, ready to catch her. ) Hey, you okay?

[Erica shakes her head. The most reference she has to the Titanic is the film and she may have fallen asleep halfway through. Apparently things really got good after the intermission but she was bored. She doesn't even know where Sioux Falls is.]

Beacon Hills.

[She sees the concern and she shakes her head.]

I'm fine, I just haven't really eaten well in -

[Her voice cuts out when a splash! suddenly sounds behind her and she springs forward, turning on whoever it is with golden eyes and the briefest glint of claws. What she sees looks something like a tax accountant in a trench coat, looking at them both like they're the strangest things he's ever seen, though more of his focus seems to be on the woman next to her.

"Ellen Harvelle."

That's it, that's all he says, he's waiting for her to confirm.]

( Beacon Hills rings a bell, like hunters have passed through before. It's in Northern California. Not near Sioux Falls. )

Hey!

( Ellen yells out, hearing the hint of a snarl and catching the edges of claws )

Jesus.

( Since Erica isn't lunging, attacking, or moving, Ellen keeps hurling accusations knowing Cas can take the blonde girl if she does. )

Cas, what in the hell did Sam and Dean do. Think this one hitched a ride on your relocation I never asked for. Bobby is going to kill you, you know that. Provided he doesn't kill me for keeping this Titanic-sized secret from him. Out with it.

( Mixed company or not, she needs answers. )

[Cas stares at Ellen as he processes that statement, drawing connections. Balthazar. The Titanic bit was Balthazar's, wasn't it?

But first, to address the werewolf in the room:]

I know my word may not mean much to you as a stranger, but I don't mean you any harm. My name is Castiel.

["Erica," she says as her eyes fade and the claws retract. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but I just want to go home."

She sounds every bit the teenage girl she is, and she hates it, but she's edging up, very slowly, to seriously freaking out.

Cas nods slowly, before expanding his mind outward to see what may be nearby.]

Would it be helpful if I redirected you to another wolf pack? We have allies nearby who may be able to help you.

[That makes her hesitate, because the last time she got involved with another wolf pack, she wound up tossed in a bank vault for three months, slowly starving, feeling like her wolf is itching under her skin. But what option does she have? Stay with this weird smelling accountant and this lady who is looking at her like she might be dangerous but also she might not be surprised either.

(The word hunter echoes in the back of her mind, and she tries not to spend to long wondering if this woman is going to be like Allison's family or if she's some variation of safe.)

"Yeah. Yeah, okay."

Castiel nods before reaching forward and placing a hand on both their shoulders.

And suddenly they're appearing right next to Josh and Aiden, in the middle of Victoria's backyard, with absolutely no warning.]

Hello.

Hey.

( She asked you a question. She crosses her arms, waiting while Cas talks down the baby werewolf. She has a host of other questions and is cursing herself for being on the phone and not having her gun on her. She's unarmed in a swamp with a werewolf Cas is on friendly terms with. She's going to kill Sam and Dean Winchester, resurrect em and then she's gonna kill 'em again.

He gives her an option, one Ellen doesn't see coming. )

We're working with werewolf packs, now?

( But, before he answers her, they're somewhere else. It's sunnier, because they're not under tree-cover in a swamp. Josh and Aiden are turned back at first, Aiden grabbing up a soccer ball and Josh calling out to someone who's gone inside behind the closing screen door.

"We'll be right in to say goodbye!" he says, laughing.

Aiden hears the trio appear, the familiar flutter of wings, and his husband definitely smells three new people. Turning to grab up his coat he'd thrown to the ground, Josh greets the only person he recognizes.

"Castiel?" He looks behind them back to the house. Bringing an angel and -- two women is not on Victoria's list of contingencies. He plasters on a forced smile, anyway. "Who're these people?"

Ellen waits. What's he even going to say? )

["We're working with a lot of different people now." That's all really Castiel can do to explain because well, it's complicated, Ellen, and he knows that you're from some weird AU thing, and who knows what's going on?

Aiden looks over at Erica, nose already picking up that she's a werewolf, so he can hazard a guess. But he lets Castiel continue:

"This is Ellen Harvelle and Erica. Erica seems to have gotten separated from her pack. We were hoping you might be able to help her."

Aiden nods, before holding out a hand to her.]

I'm Aiden. I'm the second of the New Orleans pack, and this is my husband Josh. Let's start with who your alpha is? And we can figure it out from there.

[Erica hesitates, because he's probably so unhappy with her for running off when he told her how dangerous it was, but she doesn't know who else's name to give. "Derek Hale?"

Aiden's eyebrows go up with confusion at first, but he nods.]

You're in luck. We can take you right to him. He's here in New Orleans.

[Some of the tension loosens in Erica's shoulders and she nods. "Thank you."

Aiden looks over at Ellen and Castiel.]

Does she need help too?

( "But Derek's not," Josh tries to say, again, through a smile and gritted teeth in his husband's ear, but knows werewolf ears. And Cas still has that look on his face, so, fine. They can get Erica to Derek.

"How about you go in and say goodbye to Errol and Victoria, and I'll take Erica around to the front and to the car," Josh offers. Translation, he doesn't need to explain a sudden, other werewolf, danger, Derek Hale, or anything else. For the time being.

Ellen glares at Cas. )

I'm fine. I got to bone to pick with this one here and I can take care of myself. Isn't that right, Castiel.

( Josh nods to Ellen and gestures for Erica to come with him. "Come on, I think I have some beef jerky in the center console," he says. She looks -- gaunt and a little weak. He wants to help.

If Erica willingly goes, when they're out of earshot, Ellen turns to face Cas squarely. )

Talk, Feathers.

[Josh walks Erica around to the car where she will devour that jerky like she hasn't had a good meal in months (because she hasn't) and Aiden leaves to conclude his werewolf business and once they're all gone, Cas turns back to Ellen.

Where to begin.

He always appreciated Ellen being rather level headed. Maybe she will appreciate him leveling with her.]

The Ellen Harvelle of this timeline has been dead for over a decade. I believe you were part of my brother Balthazar's machinations, an alternate version of Ellen with an alternate life.

[He tries to say it gently, but Castiel isn't always good with softening the blow.]

I don't know what's going on. But I can take you to Sam and Dean, and we will figure it out.

I remember. He saved everyone on the Titanic.

( He believes right. And she was resigned to accept her fate. That life wouldn't pan out. She's had worse. Whatever life was hers, she'd go to that one. She's selfless when it counts. )

Take me, how. You got another thing coming to you if you think you're just going to lay another hand on me and fly me somewhere else without my permission. Do you got sense? Don't people in this reality have phones? Or does everyone just drop people into each other's laps.

[He's just saying it would be faster!! But sigh, fine, he will do this the slow human way.

He reaches into the pocket of his coat for his phone and calls ... Dean. Because who else is he going to call? (Also this avoids the narration having to talk to themselves.]

( On the phone, the call rings once before Dean answers, "Yeah," a little exasperated.

Ellen waits, tapping a foot. She takes Cas by the shoulder to walk him further away and out of this lady's backyard. She doesn't need any more questions about them, and again, flying's going to be on her terms! )

Ellen Harvelle appeared suddenly in the New Orleans bayou.

[Might as well get to the point, Dean doesn't seem like he's in the mood for pleasantries. But he does follow when Ellen guides him away from the backyard, feet moving on autopilot and offering her no resistance.]

She wasn't alone, but the young werewolf is being taken to Derek Hale.

( In the mansion, Dean watches as Jo walks away from him and toward Matt Donovan. He beckons Sam closer. )

Ellen got dropped into New Orleans. The bayou. With some random werewolf. Sounds like she or he's young.

( He walks him and his brother out front, away from any prying ears and puts the phone on speaker. )

You're with Ellen now? Jo Harvelle just popped up here. Right outside. That can't be a coincidence. Can you get her here?

[Cas' eyes swing back to Ellen.]

If she'll let me.

[He then pulls the phone away from his ear and addresses Ellen directly.]

Your daughter is with Sam and Dean in Baltimore. Would you like me to take you there?

( "Jo's with the boys," she says, hearing her daughter's mixed up with the Winchesters all over again. Last she knew, Jo was working a job out of California. But, that was her world. Doesn't matter. Her daughter's her daughter in any world. "All angels ask stupid questions, or am I your kryptonite? If you think I'm getting on a bus or a plane when I got a free flight to my daughter right here, then you really don't know me, Cas."

She supposes, he doesn't know her. This is an alternate version of her. Her hand shoots up.

"Wait, I'm not --" how does she word this. "There another me out there, or did I end up in her body?" Cause if this isn't her -- well, they have bigger problems. She doesn't think that she might not even be there. She almost asks about Bobby. "If she wants to see me, I'll be there in half a heartbeat. But, I don't want to step on any cosmic toes." )

Well? Cas?

[Cas's expression softens at Ellen's statement, because he understands the complications of what Ellen is asking.]

As far as we know, you are the only Ellen Harvelle currently present. So I think Jo will take you in whatever form she can get. Just be aware that some things might be different from what you expect.

[And once she agrees to still go, Cas lifts the phone back to his ear and tells Dean:]

We'll be there shortly.

[And then he will reach out a hand and place a hand on her shoulder and they disappear from the bayou to head to Baltimore.

In the meanwhile, coming down the stairs to Virginia's house, Aiden pulls out his phone before he gets in a car, dialing Derek's number.]

( Derek picks the phone up, setting his book down. )

Aiden.

Hey, man.

[There's a pauses he tries to figure out how to start this conversation. Seems like the best way is to rip the band-aid off.]

Weird question, but do you have a beta named Erica?

( He almost hears her name, but he shouldn't. It's been so long. )

I did, at one time. I could've done better for her. Why, who's bringing up her name?

[Aiden swallows, because given that Cas was involved, with the Winchesters, it could mean a lot of things. But probably best to rip off my band-aid.]

She's in my car. Wolfing down my spare beef jerky like no one's fed her in months.

[He should have noticed something was off when she said Derek was her alpha. Derek hasn't been an alpha for a long time and she's so young. There's no way he could have turned her and her still be a teenager if she hadn't died. Or fallen through a hole in time. Or whatever other craziness seems to be on the table these days.

But he won't say anything else. Just give Derek a chance to process.]

( He relives that saga all over again in an instant, turning Erica, Isaac, and Boyd, training them. Losing Isaac, Erica and Boyd. Finding his sister and Boyd, finding Erica dead. Throwing a glass at Isaac to get him to leave him - he failed as alpha four times over. With Scott, too. )

I'm at Hayley's.

( He finally remembers to use words. )

You're sure it's Erica. Erica Reyes.

[Aiden sneakily snaps a picture of her from the angle that he has, which is mostly a side profile, from the shoulders up, but he does catch her smile as she laughs at a joke Josh told, and then texts it to Derek.]

She didn't give a last name, but I sent you a picture.

( He brings down the phone, doesn't react, and brings it back up. )

That's Erica. Where did she come from?

( Among other questions. ) Are you coming back into the quarter?

NEW ORLEANS | THE BAYOU | ELLEN AND ERICA

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