[Peace of Mind]

HARRINGTON'S SODA SHOPPE - NIGHT

A man arrived at the door.

"Sunny? Sunny?" Conrad called.

Sunny opened the door. "Conrad? What are you -- You have to go!" Sunny cried.

"I don't want to leave without you."

"I can't. I made a promise. Conrad, go! Please."

"I love you." Conrad kissed her and ran off.

GAS STATION

"I need a phone!" Conrad cried, running inside.

"Whoa. Slow down." The clerk said as Conrad grabbed his cell phone. "Hey! That's my phone! Hey!"

"I'm gonna call 911." Conrad staggered into another room, clutching his head in pain..

After a moment, Conrad's head swelled and exploded.

"Dude? Do you need help?" The clerk asked, seeing the sight of Conrad dead on the floor, then vomited.

BUNKER - JACK'S ROOM

"Hey, Jack." Cas greeted, walking into Jack's room.

"I'm good, Castiel." Jack replied, holding the snake.

"Jack, you say that, but ever since the hunters and their funerals--How's the snake?"

"I don't think he's feeling well. He won't eat."

"Well, perhaps he misses his previous owner. He's been through a lot of change in a short period of time. I guess that's something you have in common. Jack, you killed Michael. You consumed his grace. It was enough. You have your powers back?"

"I think so. I feel different now, not like before, if that makes any sense." Jack demonstrated levitating a pencil.

"And your soul?"

"You want to know how much of my soul I had to burn off to kill Michael."

"Yes."

"I don't know. I try not to think about it."

Cas walked out of the room and made his way to the kitchen. "Oh. Thought you, uh, were gonna sleep until the cows dragged you home."

"That's not the -- Never mind. I was putting some gear away, and Rowena called." Dean replied, eating.

"How is she?"

"Not great. She's coping. But, uh, you know, at least she's not dead. How's the kid?"

"Well, he says he's good, but what about Sam? He says he's good. Or Nate and Holly? They both say they're good."

"I think they're all full of crap."

Holly walked into the kitchen and leaned against the entrance. "Yeah, well, so are you. Cas is right. I'm good, just tired, as is Nate. You try having a nearly two month old baby. Sleep is nonexistent. I need coffee."

Sam was in the map room flashing back to Maggie and the other hunters dying. He looked sad as he went to the kitchen. "Nate and I found us a case. Arkansas."

"We've just done three back-to-back hunts." Dean told him. "I need some rest. Holly and Nate need some rest. At least a night. We all do."

"Yeah, well, I'm leaving in ten."

"Like I said, not good."

"Maybe Nate and I should go with him. And you and Holly can stay with Jack." Cas suggested.

"Why?" Dean and Holly asked.

"You were right. Jack is struggling. And I've tried, but --"

"Why do you think he'll talk to me or Holly?" Dean questioned.

"Well, because he looks up to you two. And his soul -- I mean, you've both seen this before."

"No, no. No. See, she and I were -- she and I were not great with Sam, you know, when he was, uh, but Jack's soul isn't completely gone. At least I don't think so."

Holly pursed her lips. "I admit I was probably harsher on Sam than normal, but still. Pretty sure Jack still has a speck of a soul."

"W-We just don't know how much is left. It could be a speck like Holly said, or it could be more; or less."

"Well, how are supposed to figure that out?" Dean asked.

"I don't know! Just talk to him. Get him to open up. And then sleep until the cows come home."

"There it is. That's the saying."

Holly smiled tiredly. "A day spent with my adopted son and my baby girl. Sounds like the best day ever."

Nate kissed her. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Stay safe, hon."

"You too. I love my girls."

"Love you too. Keep an eye out for them; especially for Sam."

"You got it, but I don't think Sam needs protecting."

Sam, Nate, and Cas drove to a gas station outside of Charming Acres and checked it out.

"So we're looking for a witch?" Cas asked. "Exploding heads."

"Sounds like a witch. Or a demon." Sam guessed.

"Maybe."

"I'm good. I'm good, honestly."

"Yeah, I know. Everybody's good. But after this, maybe Dean's right. You two need to rest. I can see it in your eyes, Nate."

Nate shook his head. "No, we have a lot to do. Look, I'm gonna be tired. That happens with a new baby, but that doesn't mean we can stop."

"Can't. Just because I'm tired doesn't mean the monsters are gonna stop, you know? Doesn't mean anything. Plus we don't have as many hunters as we used to." Sam said, noticing a witness. "Excuse me. Griffin? - Yeah? - Griffin Tate?"

"Mm-hmm." Cas hummed.

"Agent Scholz. These are Agents Delp and Sheehan. We're, uh, FBI. We're here about the incident."

""Incident"? " Griffin repeated. "That's what we're calling it?"

"Well what would you call it?" Nate asked.

"Insane! This guy -- -"

"You mean Conrad Martin." Sam and Nate corrected.

"Right. He comes in looking like he's been running all night, asks for my phone, then he just," he imitated the explosion, "went all Scanners."

"Was it more "Scanners" 1, 2, or 3?" Cas wondered.

"Never mind that. Um, this Conrad Martin. Did you know him? No, but he was probably from Charming Acres. He had that look." Sam said.

"Charming Acres? About five miles up the road. But it's weird."

"Weird how?" Sam and Nate questioned.

EXT - DAY - SMALL TOWN BRIGHT AND HAPPY

"Good day! Good day to you! - Hey, Carl." A man repeated.

"Hi, there." A woman said.

"Nice to see you!"

"This is..." Sam began.

"Yeah. It's like we're stepping into a Saturday Evening Post." Cas noted as Sam and Nate gave Cas an odd look. "I look at them sometimes after you two fall asleep at night. They're very soothing."

Nate gave a small nod. "Yeah, my mom loved them."

"Should we call Dean or Holly? I mean--" Cas trailed.

"Nate and I've been trying, but no bars. Guess this place really is the middle of nowhere. All right. Let's get to it." Sam said.

Sam bumped into a couple walking and the woman said, "Whoa, Nelly! Excuse us."

"Sorry. You know what? A-Actually I'm sorry. D-Do you have a moment?"

"Well, we're on our way to the bake sale."

"We're FBI. We're looking into a death that happened near here."

"Wowee!" Justin exclaimed. "A few G-Men, huh? Well, I'm Justin Smith, and this is my foxy wife, Cindy."

"Sweetie, we are going to be late." Cindy told him.

"Oh, sorry, Agent. I haven't heard about anyone dying, but, uh, ask at Harrington's. And try a milkshake. They're the best! Say, what's that you two got there?"

"Our cell phones? Huh." Sam noted.

Justin acted as if he didn't know what a cell phone was. "Cell phone."

"Honey, my cakes are getting cold." Cindy warned.

"Huh. Cell phone. A cell phone?"

"What was that?" Sam wondered.

"Maybe they're Mormon?" Cas guessed. "This is weird."

"Yeah. Little bit." Nate agreed. "All right. Come on."

HARRINGTON'S SODA SHOPPE

Sam, Nate, and Cas walked into the diner.

"Oh, that's the fellas." A man noted. "Oh, I couldn't! Sweetheart, can you make sure we get some more root beer? "

"Already sent the order, Pops."

"Here you go." The woman told them, handing them milkshakes.

"Oh, no. Sorry. We didn't order --" Sam was cut off.

"First one's free. Everyone loves the milkshakes."

"Oh. Thanks. Wow. That is, uh delicious."

"See?" Sunny said.

Nate gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. It's good." His phone vibrated and he smiled wider, seeing a picture of Charlie smiling.

"Sunny, can you make me a -- A banana split with extra cherries for Miss Lewis, coming up! You know, I would lose my mind if it wasn't for that girl. You must be the flatfoots I keep hearing about." The man said.

""Keep"? We've barely been here five minutes." Sam said.

Chip walked up to them. "It's a small town. Chip Harrington. I'm the mayor."

"Oh. Um, it's a nice town you got here, Mayor."

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking.We're a little bit old-fashioned, huh? You know, people who live here -- well, we take care of each other."

"We're here about Conrad Martin. I don't know if you heard I have."

"Poor kid. You know, the police came by. They said something about an aneurysm or something?"

"Oh, no. His head exploded." Cas corrected.

"I'm sorry!"

"Like a ripe melon on the sun."

"Okay. Uh, you know what? We, uh -- We're just looking to find out everything we can about him." Sam said.

"Yeah, well, uh, I can point you to where he was staying. Would that help?" Chip asked.

"That'll work. "Like a ripe melon on the sun"?" Sam repeated.

"It was an apt metaphor."

"Okay, well, maybe next time try to be a little less apt." Nate suggested.

"The entire town is so strangely picturesque."

"Yeah, it's kind of nice. All right. Here's the plan. We go in, sweep for sulfur, hex bags. You know, the usual." Sam told them.

"Okay." Cas and Nate agreed.

BOARDING HOUSE

"Good afternoon, Agents." The woman greeted.

"Agents? Were you expecting us?" Cas asked.

"Small town. Come on in."

"Sure. Thanks." Sam and Nate answered.

BUNKER - KITCHEN

"What, you setting up a science project?" Dean asked.

"I'm trying different foods for the snake." Jack explained.

"Why?" Holly asked, slipping socks onto Charlie's feet. "Wait. Did you just say snake?"

"Yes. I think he's sad."

"Oh. Have you tried bacon? Do snakes like bacon?" Dean wondered.

"I don't know."

"Holly and I like bacon. I'm sure Charlie will eventually like bacon. Well, anyway, you three and the, uh, snake want to go for a little dri-ive?"

"You mean a hunt."

"Uh, more like a field trip."

"Okay."

"Yeah. Good. All right. I'm gonna make some bacon now. I'm assuming you want some?"

Holly nodded as Jack asked the snake. "Would you like some bacon?"

INT. BOARDING HOUSE

"This is Conrad's room. He was such a nice young man. Oh, what happened to him is a shame. He'd only been in town for a few weeks." Ms Dowling informed.

"Do you have many people come through here?" Sam asked.

"Not people. Men. I only rent to young men. It's not proper -- young women living alone? Morals. You got to have morals. You know."

"Ms. Dowling? May I have some coffee, please?"

"Of course, dear."

"Hey." Cas and Nate greeted.

"What'd you find?"

"Love letters that were under the bed. They're from Sunny." Cas replied.

"Sunny. Sunny, the milkshake waitress?"

Nate nodded. "Yeah, and they're surprisingly passionate."

"Passionate how?"

"She spends, uh, quite a bit of time talking about the -- the shape and the heft of his --" Cas was cut off.

"Okay! Got it, yep, passionate."

"Understood. Well, I say we should definitely check that out tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"It's getting late, Cas. And you're right. I-I probably need some rest. Nate, you need rest too."

"You want to stay here?"

"Why not? Ms. Dowling's making pot roast."

Nate sighed. "Sam, I don't know if there's anything here. Yeah, I'm tired, but I also really want to see my girls. Holly's been sending me pictures of Charlie laughing and smiling."

Sam looked at him. "Nate, it's just a night, okay? You'll see them soon."

HARRINGTON HOME

"Justin." Cindy called.

"Cell phone. Cell. Cell phone." Justin repeated as Cindy served pot roast.

"Is something wrong, darling?"

"I -- I bought a cell phone. Hmm? In Houston. For my daughter."

"Daughter?"

"My daughter. Rose. My daughter -- My -- Who are you? What am I doing here? What? This -- This isn't my house! Help! Help me! Aah! Ohh! Help me! Aaaah!"

"Honey? Why don't you grub up? We still got another couple hours."

Justin ran out of the house, yelling for help. He was bleeding. Cindy watched as he ran down the street and his head exploded.

IMPALA

"I'm not really hungry." Jack admitted.

"Well, maybe feed the snake something." Dean suggested.

"Yeah."

"Here. Give him one of these. I bet he's never had that before." Dean held out two snack cakes.

"I don't think you have a firm grasp on what snakes eat." Jack replied, looking at the two cakes in a packages.

"Yeah, no. Yeah, I always thought they were kind of cool, though. Holly's terrified of them."

"Well, most people think they're dangerous. Holly's not alone in her fear."

"Mm. Well, it's not the snake that's dangerous. It's their bite."

Holly frowned. "Yeah, Jack, you're keeping that snake away from Charlie. And from me. Is that understood?"

"Yes." Jack turned to Dean. "Is -- Is that a saying?"

"It is now. You try one of those." Dean said.

"Great." Jack decided on the angel food cake over devil food cake, much to the relief of Dean and Holly.

BOARDING HOUSE

"Sam? Sam? Excuse me." Cas and Nate called, seeing that Sam's bed hadn't been slept on. They continued to call out the woman vacuuming and singing, then shouted, "HELLO?!"

"Oh, hello, dears." Ms. Dowling replied. "Good morning. Are you two hungry? I made some johnnycakes."

"No, I don't eat. He's not hungry. We're looking for our partner."

"Oh. The very nice, the very tall fella?"

"That's the one." Nate confirmed.

"Hm. He said he's going for a walk. And a milkshake." Cas glanced at Nate as they started to realize something might be wrong and left to find Sam. They entered the 50's diner, hearing Sunny coming out singing.

"Oh! Hi! Uh, welcome to Harrington's. How can I help you?" Sunny asked.

"We're looking for our partner." Cas informed.

"Who?"

"The man we came in with yesterday."

"Oh, the tall man."

"Yes, the very tall man."

"He was here a little while ago."

"And do you know where he is now?" Nate asked.

"Uh, he left when, um, when what?"

"You heard what happened to Mr. Smith?" Cas questioned.

"What happened to Mr. Smith?"

HARRINGTON HOME

"Oh! Agents! Mrs. Smith. Please. Come in." Cindy offered.

"Thank you." Cas and Nate replied.

"Would you two like a martini?"

"Uh, no, thank you. I, um I don't mean to bother you, but we're, uh -- we're looking for our partner." Nate told her.

"The tall man. Hair? He has beautiful hair?" Cas added.

"What?" Cindy questioned.

"Uhh. This is complicated. Mrs. Smith."

"NO!!" Cindy screamed as Cas started to sit down. "That's my husband's chair."

"Okay, um, we think our partner wanted to talk to you about your husband." Nate said.

"Justin? What about him?"

"I'm so sorry, but last night, his head, um -- Your husband -- he died last night." Cas told her.

"Ohh. I think you're confused. Have you two already had your martinis today?"

"N-No, I'm -- I'm not. He really died."

"No, my husband, he's good."

"No, he's not."

"Honey? Is something wrong? Oh, hi, there." Sam appeared, wearing glasses and his hair was pinned back, shocking Nate and Cas.

"Agent." Cas and Nate said.

"Justin. Justin Smith. And you two are?"

"Your partners."

"Y-- Partners? Huh! Super! That's swell. Great. Tell you what. Why don't you two stick around? We're having pot roast. Honey. Make me a martini?"

"Who does she think you are?" Cas asked.

"Well, I'm her husband, of course." Sam replied.

Nate shook his head. "This is not your house."

"I see. You're right. This is my wife's house. I am simply living here."

"Oh, you!" Cindy teased.

"Oh, you!"

"Oh, no. Something terrible's happened." Cas realized.

"Hon, we're low on olives." Cindy informed.

"Well, that is terrible." Sam said.

"One or two?"

"Uh, three? I'm feeling adventurous."

"Rowr!"

"Rar." He looked at Cas and Nate as Cindy left. "Would you two like one?"

"Your name is Sam Winchester." Cas told him. "That's Nate, your brother-in-law."

"So that's a no-no on the hooch?"

"Sam, we don't know what's happened. We don't know if this is a spell or a curse or -- or what's happened, but you will snap the hell out of it!"

"Get your crap together, Sam!" Nate yelled.

"Sirs, you watch your mouths. If we cannot remain civil, then you both can skedaddle."

"Sam --" Cas and Nate began.

"That's not my name! - Cindy, grab their hats! -"

"We don't wear a hat!" Cas cried.

"Honey, I don't think they wore a hat!" Cindy called.

"Fine! Sirs, using language like, uh, "H-E-double hockey sticks" and C-R-A-P-- You two should have your mouths washed out with soap." Sam led them out.

"Sam -- -" Cas and Nate began again.

"It's Justin." Sam corrected.

"I'm gonna -- Double hockey sticks?" Cas repeated, frowning.

Nate glanced at Cas. "The polite way to say hell."

DONATELLO'S HOUSE

"Dean! Holly! Jack! Great to see you! Who's the little one?" Donatello asked.

"Donny, good to see you up and around." Dean replied. "This is Charlie, Holly's daughter."

"Sweet little thing. Ah, I am just the picture of health. Except for my prostate. It's shaped like a papaya."

"Wow." Dean and Holly commented.

"Our field trip is to see Donatello?" Jack questioned.

"Well, with this whole soul thing, it's, uh -- We're worried about you, okay? And when it comes to souls or not having them, Donny here's an expert." Dean told him.

"He is?"

"Please. Come on in." Donatello offered.

"Actually, you know what? We're gonna -- We're gonna let you guys talk. I'll, uh, keep an eye on the snake."

"I'm gonna walk around with Charlie." Holly said.

INTERIOR - DONATELLO'S HOUSE

"Okay." Jack said.

"Come on, Jack. So, you took this snake in, and now it gets to go on road trips? Fun!" Donatello exclaimed, serving Jack coffee.

"Can I ask you something?"

"That's what you're here for, isn't it?"

"How did you lose your soul?"

"God's sister ripped it right out of me That wasn't my best day. But oddly, it wasn't my worst day, either."

"And when it was gone, how did you -- how'd you feel?"

"Like the galaxy. You know, Jack, our galaxy's all bright and shiny and spinny, but in its center lies this very large black hole. It's the same with me. I'm all bright and shiny, obviously -- Not so much spinny." Donatello explained, pouring cream into his coffee.

"But inside?"

"Empty."

"So you feel bad?"

"I feel nothing. Losing your soul doesn't make you bad. It doesn't make you anything. It's, um an absence of of pity, of empathy of humanity. How do you feel, Jack?"

"I don't know. I know I don't feel nothing, but I don't feel the same, either. And maybe I just don't know what nothing feels like. Mostly, I just don't want Sam and Holly and Nate and Dean and Cas to worry."

"They're your family. Families worry."

"But I just -- I need time and space to figure things out on my own, but everywhere I go, there's someone looking over my shoulder."

"Ah. When I need to, uh, "blend," I ask myself,