but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[decoys]

[Eileen was after her time. But she's heard good things all the same.]

I'm glad they're in a good place. I think there were a lot of points when it didn't seem like they would get there.

[ergowwwd]

In their line of work, it is never guaranteed. One thing we all can minimally appreciate with Chuck writing the story; he kept them alive.

( Long enough to fight back. )

Dean likes to say that family doesn't end in blood. And I'm cosmic proof. As are you. And your mother. And a lot of the impending party.

[decoys]

I've got a lot of names to learn.

[But she's looking forward to it. Especially if she's going to get back out there again, it's good to have a network.]

But I think it'll be good. Getting everyone on the same page.

[ergowwwd]

Maybe they'll have name tags.

( He could just tap a finger to her head and give her pre-knowledge. But, that comes with its own problems, flooding someone's brain with information they didn't have before. )

Yeah. Or, just to party. Because, it is one. And Dean likes a party.

[decoys]

I think we all like a party. We don't get to have very many.

[She pulls out one of the bottles and smirks.]

And definitely not with booze this good. Carol has taste.

[ergowwwd]

That should change.

( But, life. )

Yes. Specific ones, but very good instincts. Or, so, Dean and Sam say.

[decoys]

It's definitely more upscale than we can usually afford. But I'm not mad about it.

[Take advantage of the ritzy life while you can get it.

As they're chatting, though, Cas and Sam come round the corner and Sam gives Jack a wave. "Hey, Jack. Merry Christmas."]

[ergowwwd]

You'll like the bunker, if that's where you're going next.

( More her speed. )

Merry Christmas, Sam. I was just telling Jo that the bunker is more a hunter's speed than the Lockwood property. And I was about to tell her that her mom's helping Carol with something in the backyard.

[decoys]

[Jo's eyebrows go up and she glances back at Sam curiously.]

Should I be concerned?

[Sam shrugs. "They seemed fine when I left them."

Jo nods, before stepping back.]

I should go make sure it stays that way. I'll see you all later. Nice meeting you, Jack.

[There's a small squeeze on his shoulder, before turning and heading out in search of her mother and Carol.]

[ergowwwd]

She's not going to shoot Tyler's mother.

( But, fine, making sure everyone is in one piece. He gets that. )

It's really good to see you, Sam. Cas was telling me Allison and you are well-suited, and I happen to agree. You look happy, too.

[imnot_likeyou]

[That, and if she continues spending time with Matt, it will probably be helpful if Caroline and Ellen get along.

That being said, Sam smiles and nods.]

I am happy. I'm glad you think so.

[He pauses, before tipping his head to the side.]

Hey, Jack - are you keeping track of any other nephilim that might be around?

[ergowwwd]

Are we worried about other nephilim being around?

( He puzzles over that, scanning - well, everywhere. )

Angels, yes, but no other nephilim. Sam, they're very rare. Do you know of another? One I can't feel?

[imnot_likeyou]

I met one. Kind of. It was in a text thread. Her name is Waverly Earp. She said her father's name is Julian, and he was one of the people recently brought back.

[Castiel's brow furrows as he considers that question. "Julian ... has been missing for a long time. Almost forty years. Are you sure?"

Sam shrugs.]

As I said, it's just a text thread. But they're both going to be here over the weekend. Figured it was worth checking out.

[ergowwwd]

You met him in a text thread?

( Is he stuck inside it? No, okay. He's a person. )

I don't know of a Julian, but my tenure's only ten years or so in. ( He turns to Castiel. ) Then we, too, will be attending Barry's evaluation. Missing from where? Heaven?

[toomuchheart]

["Her, actually," Sam interjects. "I met his daughter." But that's all of the relevant information he has, so he turns to Cas to see what he knows.

Which unfortunately isn't much.]

From his post. Julian was one of the angels stationed in the portion of the Garden that exists in the Ghost River Triangle. It is - was - a prison of sorts. A powerful shapeshifter was being held there.

[He pauses.]

The Ghost River Triangle is hard to keep an eye on from Heaven. The metaphysical leylines making it difficult to monitor from afar. But almost forty years ago, Juan Carlo sent word that Julian had gone missing, and we had been unable to find him since.

[It's possible he could have been dead the whole time, but he couldn't say for sure.]

Do we know anything about this nephilim?

[Sam shrugs. "She was connected to the group through Tyler and Liv. We could ask."]

If her last name is Earp, it's possible she could be the current wielder of Peacemaker, or related to them.

[ergowwwd]

No, she is the sister.

( It takes mere seconds for his reach to catch up to the conversation. )

Waverly Earp. ( He frowns again. ) Julian disappeared from that entrance to the garden and has now resurfaced here.

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam nods.]

I assume he's not a major player? We don't have to worry about another Jack situation?

[Cas shakes his head. "Julian isn't an archangel, no. The Garden has it's own rules and strictures and she may have abilities tied to that, but nothing to the level of what Jack was capable of."]

[ergowwwd]

Nephilim really is a term referring to a half angel-half human. I am who I am because Lucifer was my father. But, I'm curious to meet Waverly in person.

( Now he has something else to do, besides party. )

[imnot_likeyou]

She'll be here this weekend. Apparently they had family Christmas plans in New York they didn't want to miss.

[Waverly will also be curious to meet Jack, though Sam didn't want to reveal him without his permission. They mostly talked about Sam's history with angels and Waverly was appropriately horrified.]

Julian will be here too. He's one of the returned.

[ergowwwd]

These are family Christmas plans, are they not?

( It feels the same. Warm. Familial. )

And her father. An angel.

[imnot_likeyou]

Yeah, they are. Kind of a combining of families.

[The Winchesters and the Gilberts and all their assorted friends who have become family when they've had no one else.]

Yeah, that's what she says. I haven't actually talked to Julian yet, only Waverly.

[ergowwwd]

Well, then we must. But, first. We party.

( He holds out a party hat. Where did he get it? We don't know. There is only one. Maybe it is just a gesture. He does remember the series of holidays he and the Winchesters all celebrated thanks to the wood nymph. )