Chapter Text
Overall
- The title comes from the famous lines “Are you flesh or are you spirit” and “I am sorrow” in the film, especially as Cas is technically both flesh and spirit, or because of the union of Dean (human, so flesh) and Cas (angel, so spirit).
- Cas being a tawny owl was chosen so that his plumage would be the color/style of his trench coat
- Dean’s horse is the equine equivalent of the Impala, including her name and breed.
Where the Sun Don’t Shine
- Rather than being called “the mouse” like Phillipe was, Sam goes by “the moose” as a reference to Crowley’s/the fandom’s nickname for him.
- The mention of shapeshifters in the sewer is a reference to Phillipe’s scare with the floating log, as well as to the sewer-dwelling shapeshifter in s01e06 Skin.
- The mention of the “holy-seeming glow of the chapel” is a reference to how Phillipe climbs the tunnel and gets his fingers stepped on before finding his way out.
- The tavern Sam stops at is the Roadside instead of the unnamed place from the film.
All Hell Breaks Loose
- Azazel’s conversation with Sam in the tavern is largely taken from the Dream Sequence in s02e21 All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1.
- YED: “You’re awfully quiet, Sam. You’re not mad at me, are you?”
- Sam: “You ruined my life.”
- YED: “The cost of doing business, I’m afraid.”
- YED: “I needed you sharp, honing your skills.”
- YED: “I’m trying to help you.”
- YED: “Welcome to the Miss America pageant. This is a competition.”
- YED: “I’ve already got my army”
- YED: “What I need is a leader.”
- YED: “That’s why I’m here, Sam. I wanna give you the inside track. You’re tough. You’re smart. You’re well-trained.”
- YED: “Howdy, Sam.”
One Day
- Dean uses the alias “Serjeant-at-arms Edgar Cayce” because, in s03e03 Bad Day at Black Rock, John Winchester used that alias to rent his storage container, which is also the episode in which they met Bela for the first time.
- The description of the barn is intended to sound like a medieval equivalent of the canonical motels the Winchesters stay at.
- The garment pulled from Dean’s saddlebags is Cas’s trench coat.
On the Threshold
- Alastair is described as demanding that lights be lit to keep it warm, which was intended as a callback to his reference in s04e10 Heaven and Hell to how cold he found Earth compared to Hell. (“You know... I haven't been up here since Poland '43. Truth is, I loathe it. It's chilly.”)
- The reference to the soldiers as “children” was a reference to the fandom name for them as “Azazel’s Special Children.”
Hell-Hound on My Trail
- The title itself is at once a reference to the crossroads episode in which the audience first learned about hell-hounds, the title of a Robert Johnson song, a reference to Bela’s death, and a reference to the wolf chasing Sam.
- When Bela shows up again, she starts out using a fake accent that Sam can’t place --- intended to sound like her fake American one from the show --- then drops it for her natural English.
- The question and answer “How do you sleep at night?” and “On silk sheets, rolling naked in money” are quotes from s03e06 Red Sky at Morning.
- The conversation between Bela and Sam after the wolf showed up was taken from the conversation between Bela and Dean over the phone in s03e15 Time is On My Side discussing her demon deal as she waits to be killed by the hell-hound; similarly, her actual death is off-screen, as in the show. (Basically, the entire snippet was intended to be reminiscent of death-by-hell-hound.
- Bela: Listen, I need help
- Dean: Sweetheart, we are weeks past help. -> Sam: “We are so far past help.”
- Bela: “I know, I don’t deserve it.”
- Dean: “This can't help you, Bela, not now. Why you telling me this?” -> “This isn’t gonna help you, Bela, not now…Why are you doing this?”
The Stranger
- Castiel’s first words to Sam here are the same as his first words to Sam on the show, taken from s04e07 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester: “Hello, Sam.”
- Sam’s speculation about what the wolf was mirrors their conversations in the show (specifically, in the crossroads episode) where they at first believed the creatures to be black dogs before settling on hell-hounds. (Naturally, in this case, it is neither)
By the Dawn’s Tawny Light
- “Rise and shine, Sammy” was a reference to s03e11 Mystery Spot.
- The chapter also had a reference to the continued argument over Sam vs. Sammy between the two.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
- The mention of the bird making sound as it lands --- since many owls move silently --- was a reference to the sound of angelic flight in the show.
- The discussion of whether Cas slept/whether Cas would watch over them was meant to be reminiscent of the similar, repeated conversation along those lines from the show.
Lift. Fall. Repeat.
- The story of Dean’s great-sword was a twist on the story of the Colt when it was created.
- “Back in 1835, when Halley's comet was overhead, the same night those men died at the Alamo. They say Samuel Colt made a gun. A special gun. He made it for a hunter, a man like us only on horseback. Story goes he made thirteen bullets, and this hunter used the gun a half dozen times before he disappeared, the gun along with him. And somehow Daniel got his hands on it…. They say... they say this gun can kill anything.”
- Dean’s comment of “Not in my experience” was a callback to what he told Cas in s04e01 Lazarus Rising when the angel claimed that good things did happen.
- Sam’s line about the “crap need-to-know deal” was originally applied to John in s01e20 Dead Man’s Blood. (“He keeps us on some crap need-to-know deal.” -> “What is it with your crap need-to-know deal, huh?”)
- Dean’s response was taken from s02e02 Everybody Loves a Clown. (“You know what, back off, all right? Just because I'm not caring and sharing like you want me to.” -> “You know what, back off, all right? Just because I’m not caring and sharing like you want me to-”)
A Sword of Damocles
- “I will leave your ass.” was a reference to Dean comment while leaving Sam in s01e11 Scarecrow.
- The conversation about going after Azazel was taken from s01e21 Salvation while discussing Dean preventing Sam from running into the Holts’ burning home after Azazel.
- Dean: “It's suicide.”
- Sam: “If you had just let me go in there, I coulda ended all this.” -> “I have to end things.”
- Dean: “Sam, the only thing you would have ended was your life.” -> “Sam, the only thing you’re going to end is your life!”
- Sam: “You don't know that.”
- Dean: ““So, what, you’re willing to sacrifice yourself, is that it?”
- Dean: “Well, that’s not gonna happen. Not while I’m around, at least.”
- Sam: “What the hell are you talking about Dean, we've been searching for this demon our whole lives. It's the only thing we've ever cared about.” -> “What the hell are you talking about, Dean? I’ve waited for this my entire life.”
- The quote about Sammy being a chubby twelve-year-old came from the pilot.
- Dean’s request that they lie low, and Sam’s subsequent agreement with and betrayal of that plan are taken from s02e10 Hunted.
- Dean: “Look, all I’m saying is, we lay low until we figure out our next move, okay?” -> “ But we lay low until we figure out our next move, okay?”
- This wasn’t an intentional reference, but something that I noticed after I’d written it and liked the symbolism of… At the end of the chapter, Sam heads “back towards Hell” as part of his quest for revenge. This is very similar to the way he could be viewed as turning to Hell/Hell’s powers during the demon blood/revenge against Lilith arc of the show; he's literally turning away from Dean and towards Hell in the story, just as he did figuratively in the show. Not necessarily a reference, but something I noticed :)
Hunted
- The conversation about Sam’s role in the military with Gordon was taken from Gordon’s speech to Dean throughout their scenes together in s02e10 Hunted, especially the line about being a scumbag for Sam’s betraying Hell.
- Gordon: “Our very own Sammy Winchester.” -> “...our very own Sammy, huh?"
- Gordon: “This demon tells me there are soldiers to fight in this coming war. Humans, fighting on hell's side. You believe that?” -> “They tell me Hell’s gotta have soldiers for a war, you know. A fight against Heaven.”
- Gordon: “This demon said I knew one of them.” -> “And they said I knew one of ‘em.”
- Gordon: What kind of worthless scumbag have you got to be to turn against your own race?” -> “What kind of worthless scumbag have you got to be to turn against your own people?”
- Gordon: “Hey, Dean. I'm not some reckless yahoo, okay? I did my homework. Made damn sure it was true.” -> “No excuses, Sammy. I’m not some reckless yahoo, okay? I did my homework. Made damn sure it was true.”
- Sam’s response/the subsequent exchange was taken from s02e07 The Usual Suspects.
- Sam: “So I'm taking a road trip with my brother.” -> “I was taking a road trip with him.”
- Detective: “How’s that going for you?” -> Gordon: “And how’s that going for you?”
- Sam: “Great. I mean... we saw the second largest ball of twine in the continental US. Awesome.” -> “Great. I mean… we saw the largest ball of twine in these parts. Awesome.”
Strike of the Owl
- Sam riding a charger was a reference to his car in the show.
- Gordon’s death (beheading) was meant to be evocative of his death on the show, though, here, Dean was the one to ultimately kill him.
- Dean’s “Don’t you talk about him like that” after Sam insists that Cas is done for was a twist on Dean and Sam discussing Mary in the pilot.
Revelations
- The line about mud monkeys from Uriel was a reference to s04e07 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester. (“We're wasting time with these mud monkeys.”
I’m Sorry
- John’s first comments to Sam on the porch were taken from their conversation in s01e20 Dead Man’s Blood.
- John: “...this is never the life that I wanted for you.”
- John: “You gotta understand something. After your mother passed all I saw was evil, everywhere. And all I cared about was keeping you boys alive. I wanted you...prepared. Ready. Except somewhere along the line I ... uh ... I stopped being your father and I ... I became your… your drill sergeant. So when you said that you wanted to go away to school, all I could think about, my only thought was, that you were gonna be alone. Vulnerable.” -> “You gotta understand: after your mother passed, all I could see was evil. Everywhere. And I wanted you safe and alive. Prepared. Ready. You were supposed to stay where I could watch over you. And when you went missing… All I could think was that you were alone. Vulnerable.”
- Sam’s response (“Your son is cursed and you’re still worried about revenge?”) was taken from s02e01 In My Time of Dying, a paraphrasing of “Your son is dying, and you’re worried about the Colt?”
- John’s response (“We don’t know how to break the curse. Killing Azazel might be the only play we’ve got left.”) was also a reference to a line from that episode: “We're hunting this demon, and maybe it's hunting us too. That gun may be our only card.”)
- The woman speaking to Sam through his dream was meant to be Mary, specifically referencing s01e09 Home (given her “I’m sorry” and her being engulfed in flame).
Flight
- Bobby’s comments came from s01e22 Devil’s Gate (“You think you guys invented lying to the cops? I’ll figure something out.”) and s02e15 Tall Tales (“You guys are breaking my heart. Can we please just leave?”)
- The conversation between Sam and Dean about the bitch-jerk exchange was taken from s02e20 What Is and What Should Never Be.
- Dean: “Bitch.”
- Sam: “W–hat are you calling me a bitch for?”
- Dean: “You're supposed to say jerk.”
- Dean: “Never mind.”
Choice Strategies
- The conversation about Sam’s visions with Bobby and John was taken from s01e09 Home.
- Sam: “I have these nightmares.”
- Dean: “I’ve noticed.” -> Bobby: “I’ve noticed.”
- Sam: “And sometimes… they come true.”
- Dean: “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.” -> John: “Coinci--”
- Sam: “No, I dreamt about the blood dripping, her on the ceiling, the fire, everything, and I didn’t do anything about it ‘cause I didn’t believe it. And now I’m dreaming about that tree, about our house, and about some woman inside screaming for help. I mean, that’s where it all started, man, this has to mean something, right?” -> “No, I dreamt about the curse, about the owl, the wolf, about Cas getting hit, everything… And I didn’t do anything about it ‘cause I didn’t believe it. And now I’m dreaming about a way out of the curse about some woman telling me what to do to stop it… I mean, that’s where it all started, right? It’s got to mean something?”
Taking Orders
- The dialogue between Dean and Sam about John's orders was taken from s01e20 Dead Man’s Blood.
- Dean: “Oh, don’t tell me it’s already starting.”
- Sam: “What’s starting?”
- Dean: “Sam, we've been looking for Dad all year. Now we're not with him for more than a couple of hours and there's static already?” -> “We’re not with D--... John for more than a few hours and there’s static already?”
- Sam: “It's just the way he treats us, like we're children.” -> “It’s just the way he treats you… he treats you like a soldier…”
- Sam: “He barks orders at us Dean, he expects us to follow 'em without question.” -> “He barks orders at you and expects you to follow them without question.”
- Dean: “He does what he does for a reason.”
- Sam: “What reason?”
- Dean: “Our job!... That’s just the way the old man runs things.” -> “My job! That’s just the way the old man runs things.”
- Sam: “I mean, are you telling me you're cool with just falling into line, and letting him run the whole show?” -> “Are you telling me you’re cool with just falling into line and letting him run the show?”
- Dean: “If that’s what it takes.”
- The comment about brushing down Baby the horse was a distortion of John’s comment to Dean about Baby the Impala in a different scene of s01e20 Dead Man’s Blood. (“Hey Dean why don't you touch up your car before you get rust? I wouldn't have given you the damn thing if I thought you were going to ruin it.” -> “You should brush off your horse before she gets dirty. I wouldn’t have given it to you if I thought you were gonna douche her up.”
Bad Company
- The line about “imbibe copious amounts of alcohol” was taken from s05e22 Swan Song. (“I suggest we imbibe copious quantities of alcohol.”)
- The line about sharing “a more profound bond” was taken from s06e03 The Third Man. (“Dean and I do share a more profound bond.”)
Hunted Hunters
- Most of the scenes with Uriel are references to/taken from s04e16 On the Head of a Pin.
- Cas: “Fought by each other's sides, served together away from home, for what seems like forever. We're brothers, Uriel. Pay me that respect. Tell me the truth.” -> “We served together, away from home, for what seems like forever. We were brothers, Uriel. Why do this?”
- Uriel: “Alastair was much more powerful than we had imagined.” -> “He was… much more powerful than we had imagined.”
- Uriel: “Something is wrong up there. I mean, can you feel it?” -> “Heaven… Something is wrong there. I mean, can you feel it?”
- Uriel: “The truth is, the only thing that can kill an angel is another angel.” -> “Truth is, the only thing that can catch a wolf is another wolf.”
Blood and Water
- John’s statement about Sam leaving and not coming back was a reference to the pre-Stanford fight.
- Bobby’s comment that, “family don’t end in blood,” was a reference to multiple episodes, starting with s03e16 No Rest for the Wicket.
To Catch a Wolf
- The comment about something not being deja vu was a reference to the argument between Sam and Dean in s03e11 Mystery Spot.
- Dean: “You mean like déjà vu?”
- Sam: “No, I mean like, like it's really happened before.”
- Dean: “Yeah. Like déjà vu.”
- Sam: “No, forget about déjà vu. I'm asking you if it feels like, like we're living yesterday all over again.”
- Dean: “Okay, how is that not dé--"
- Sam: “Don't, don't say it! Just don't even…”
Zenith
- John’s line about, “something like this happens to your brother, you tell me,” was referencing s01e21 Salvation. (“All right, something like this starts happening to your brother, you pick up the phone and you call me.”
A Death Knell at the Gallows
- Alastair’s line about “I really shouldn’t laugh… It’s just that… I mean, is he serious? He
- sent you to kill me?” was distorted from s04e16 On the Head of a Pin. (“I'm sorry. This is a very serious, very emotional situation for you. I shouldn't laugh, it's just that—I mean, are they serious? They sent you to torture me?”)
- Azazel’s line about, “Did you really think you could trap me?” was taken from s02e01 In My Time of Dying, as was John’s response.
On the Head of a Pin
- Dean telling Alastair “You won’t be there to see it” as he tested the sharpness of the blade was a reference to their exchange in s04e16 On the Head of a Pin.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
- Alastair’s use of, “Sorry, kiddo,” was purposefully taken from s04e10 Heaven and Hell, just after Cas had tried to exorcise him. This was intentional, as Alastair was talking about them being unable to hurt him thanks to the curse.
- The entire scene of Alastair attacking Dean, then Cas, then getting killed by Sam was meant to be an homage to s04e16 On the Head of a Pin, including some of the dialogue.
- Alastair: “You got a lot to learn, boy. So I'll see you back in class bright and early Monday morning.” -> “You got a lot to learn, boy--”