Work Text:
As the season's umpteenth snow lightly dusted her property, Baby quietly contemplated the ninety long years she'd been rumbling down highways and byways of the North American continent. She'd seen tremendous change among not only the natural landscape, but its people and their expansion of the countryside via the incredible things they'd built. Mostly, she thought of her boys.
Knowing how blessed she'd been to stay in the Winchester family instead of changing hands from old biddies with no enthusiasm for the open road to wealthy collectors who refused to take her out, for fear the mileage increase would devalue her, she considered herself damn lucky. It was that Bible salesman who'd spoiled her from the get go.
Her boys, her family, had known how to treat a lady of her pedigree; by feeding her the good stuff, letting her run wild on the backroads of Americana with the wind tickling her undercarriage and getting dirty playing as only impalas can.
Yes, she was blessed. It'd been a good run. So come first light there'd be no tears. When the trailer came and loaded her up, she'd greet the hauler like an old friend, hoping that wherever her boys were, they were healthy and happy. Lord, how she missed them dearly. It'd been ages since-
"Good Evening, Madame. Are you Hero "Baby" 1, original license plate KAZ Y25?" A kind looking, blonde, curly haired man suddenly appeared before her, interrupting her thoughts.
She immediately straightened her suspension and slid her wipers across the windshield, politely looking him in the eye. "Yes. To whom am I speaking?"
The man, donning a tan robe and gold cap, held a scroll of parchment in his hand.
Years had passed since she'd last spoken to anyone and she'd hoped the man didn't mind as she cleared her muffler of its minor amount of dust, so as to more clearly communicate.
"Excellent. My name is Christopher-"
"THE Patron Saint of Travellers?" She was suddenly so excited her engine revolutions greatly increased in volume. It was embarrassing how starstruck she sounded.
Christopher was taken aback, clearly unaccustomed to automobiles being aware of his esteemed personage. "How did you…"
"Every word uttered within me, I paid attention. Every shred of lore discussed within my doors was mine to remember and keep. Everything the Winchesters had dealings with, held fascination for me."
"Intriguing. I'm here to offer a unique opportunity. Tomorrow you're scheduled for the scrap yard, is this true?"
"It is. I heard two men this morning confirm the appointment."
A chair appeared in the space before her and he sat down, adjusting himself for comfort which implied this wasn't a brief social call. "In very special cases, I'm summoned to hear a vehicle's testimony. If you wish it, you may plead your case."
"I don't understand," she idled uncomfortably, "plead for what?"
"My dear Lady, I have the power to overturn your sentence. You're a Hand of God and as such, you're entitled to provide testimony in a formal plea for a stay of execution."
"I-I am?! I...don't have to die, just yet? You mean I might be of service, for a little while longer?" Baby's revolutions were increasing in speed the more excited she grew.
"If I accept your plea, then if you wish it, yes."
"Oh I do! Yes, I do! But I have one question."
"Of course, please ask," Christopher graciously gestured for her to inquire.
"Am I permitted to select my own defense?"
"If you'd like, certainly. Although you may find some of those I plan on questioning may already be on your list."
"Alright then," she politely agreed.
Christopher closed his eyes, in prayer or meditation it was uncertain, but when opening, he stood, leaving the parchment and a quill floating, and walked to the barn door.
When he opened it, the person who walked in was someone she knew but hadn't seen in eons. The quill began moving of its own accord as Christopher announced, "Let the record show that a Mr. Robert Singer has been called to speak in the Lady's defense."
Baby shook with joy, minor paint flecks and a smidge of rust falling off her undercarriage, softly landing on the concrete floor beneath her.
"Defendant against what exactly?" Bobby asked.
Christopher elucidated, "Retirement. The universe demands it for all, at some point. Being a hand of God, she is entitled to plead her case and provide sufficient reason to stay, if she doesn't want to go just yet."
Baby swished her chrome mirrors up and down, in a brief wave to the dear, trusted friend of the Winchesters. "Hello Robert, been a long time."
Doing a double take, he balked at her. Then waltzed up, laying a warm hand on her hood. Her wipers slowly crossed her windshield, as she took a moment to appreciate his small, kind gesture.
"It has. You're looking well," he complimented, knowing she'd looked better.
Once more she straightened herself up. "You're kind."
Bobby stood up straight. "Start askin' so I can get defending."
Christopher looked over his scroll and then asked, "You've seen her in a variety of conditions.."
"I've seen far worse than this, your honor. Seen her practically in pieces."
Christopher stared at Bobby, waiting until he was finished.
"Sorry Sir, er, Your Honor.."
Moving right along, Christopher inquired, "How was her performance, after her pieces were put back together?"
Bobby crossed his arms, but tried not looking personally offended. "Good as new. She could plow through a Croatoan Apocalypse, clipping bodies left and right. She even dragged a ghost to shreds...again. I've worked on her with John and then with his boys, Sam and Dean. More Dean, less Sam, but they took care of her too. Best of..if ya ask me."
As to demonstrate that fact, Baby straightened herself up as much as she possibly could without pulling something out of alignment.
"Very well. My Lady, do you have anything you wish to add?" Christopher turned to her and asked.
"Only to say that Bobby taught Dean and Sam a lot about how to treat a lady, of both human and vehicular varieties. They learned that communication was key. I sure spoke up when I needed something, and they listened well."
Christopher seemed satisfied. "Very well. Thank you Robert, you're free to go."
Bobby lightly pressed his hand on her hood once more and said,"Thanks for taking care of my boys for so long after...after I left."
She put the gas down and her parking brake up, sending her engine into high revolutions, in her best "Yes, Sir!" salute she could manage.
"It was my honor to do so, Bobby."
"You take care, old gal." He patted her softly one last time and exited the barn with a tight jaw.
"Christopher, may I ask Mary and John Winchester to speak on my behalf?"
"You certainly may, my dear. The court calls Mary and John Winchester for their testimony," Christopher announced in a stately voice and manner.
Sure enough, Mary and John entered through the same barn door as Bobby disappeared through.
Baby tried to contain herself, but she hoped nobody noticed she leaked a few pools of oil when seeing them greet her warmly with loving smiles and gestures. She swished her mirrors and flashed her high beams in an emotional tremble.
John greeted her with overwhelming cheer. He even leaned over her hood as if giving her a hug. Mary ran her hand atop her roof, like a mother soothing her troubled child.
"Hey, Sweetie. Looking pretty good for almost one hundred. It's so good to see you again," Mary cooed.
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Winchester. Thank you for coming. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Go right ahead, we'll tell you anything you want to know," John stated matter of factly.
"I appreciate your cooperation. You bought her second hand I see," Christopher mentioned, looking down at his scroll, "Were there any issues brought to your attention during the sale from the dealership?"
"Yes, Sir. The salesman told me that she was sensitive enough that if I tightened the gas cap too much, it could send her 'Check engine light' blinking on the dash panel occasionally. I found that useful and made sure not to do that. But I also had him check the dash panel wiring before driving her off the lot."
"Any other troubles he warned you about, Mr. Winchester?"
"The coolant indicators would sometimes come on, giving improper readings, but he also had that repaired when he found an issue with the electrical check before I drove off. Then around the time Dean started driving, the key would get stuck inside her ignition," John calmly relayed.
Baby wanted to pipe up in John's defense, letting him know it was the equivalent of what she imagined ear wax was like for people and she just needed the ignition switch replaced every ten years, give or take. But she feared that might be tallied against her overall performance, and so she remained silent.
"Is there a problem, my Lady?" She heard Christopher ask.
She was brought back into the moment by the question. "No, why do you ask?"
"Your left tail light is blinking…"
"Oh! My apologies..no no, I'm simply...um, twiddling my proverbial thumbs, as it were." Baby could feel her engine blushing, but thankfully she kept her temperature gauge in check. She carefully tightened her distributor cap, much like Mary would often place both hands on her lap during long drives.
Christopher returned to his line of questioning,"I see, Mr. Winchester, how did you remedy that particular issue?"
"We just disconnected, then reconnected her battery."
"Did this happen often?"
"Just a few times that I can recall. But in all fairness I drove her across the country and back multiple times. I kept her in as good a shape as I possibly could. Sometimes a motel was out of the question so she did in a pinch and then some."
Mary piped up, "Your Honor, may I have permission to speak freely?"
"You may, of course," Christopher granted with ease.
"Baby is family. She was with us before our children were and at least one, possibly both were conceived within her solid frame," Mary admitted with rosy cheeks.
"Both!" Baby proudly declared, but then realized she sounded like she hadn't been minding her own business during the said conception,"...I was um...stargazing for those times, but I assure you both, I gave you all the privacy I could."
Mary looked even more embarrassed, but John mischievously grinned.
"I'd also like to add that ah..I know I made some bad choices with my boys, but uh..as far as cars go, she took care of my boys when I wasn't always there and should've been. She went above and beyond what was expected of her, and if she's still got some years left she should have them."
"Thank you, Mr. Winchester," Saint Christopher stated as he scribbled on the parchment, "your words have been noted."
Next Saint Christopher addressed Baby. "Your choice, my Lady."
She knew exactly who she wished to call for a testimony on her behalf. "Castiel, please."
Moments later the angel walked through the door and peered at her oh so very fondly. "Baby, it's lovely seeing you again."
"You too, angel." Her heating coils had turned on which thankfully didn't reveal any color blemishes, but her frame did warm rather quickly, as if blushing.
"Castiel, angel of the Lord. You've been summoned to speak in testimony for the Lady you see here."
Castiel straightened his trenchcoat, which Baby observed was rare for him to do. Saint Christopher then prompted him to speak on his experiences with Baby.
"She's always been Dean's pride and joy. My observations led me to believe she was very much a home to the boys, who most certainly led unconventional lives. While I knew them, she took great care of them, she even took great care of me."
"How so?" Saint Christopher invited him to elaborate.
"At times when my powers were low, or even non existent, Baby's back seat was exceptionally comfortable and allowed me the needed rest and recuperation to get better. But I also know there were times she shielded us, but the boys in particular, from certain threats."
"Such as?" Christopher prodded him to continue.
"She's shielded them from a swarm of demons, twice. And at her own peril, one of those times she was flipped and Dean had to fix her. But she held fast and kept them safe."
All Baby could do was flex a little with an engine revolution as if to drive home her sentiments, "What he said."
Castiel reached behind himself and deftly touched her hood, then continued. "John likely made enemies when they were younger and she shielded them then too. And one time I had to teleport all of us into the bunker garage which could have been disastrous, and yet again, she protected Sam and Dean, sustaining damage in the process. She's far exceeded the expectations of her model for natural circumstances, and that of the supernatural. My feeling is that she very much deserves clemency."
"The court thanks you for your testimony, Castiel," Saint Christopher kindly affirmed, then continued, "Will Dean and Sam Winchester please enter for their testimony."
Baby's dash went haywire in anticipation of even just a glimpse at her boys. She knew she wasn't a mother, it wasn't in her nature, and yet, if she were, they were her children. She held them no less dear to her heart.
And there they were, walking through the barn door. Tall, young, and just as handsome as she remembered. She shook with joy as she said to them, "Come here boys, sink into my well worn upholstery, turn over my ignition, and sing along to your cassettes and smile just like you used to."
She saw her Dean's thousand watt smile beaming back at her, and Sam's face turned to shock at hearing her actually speak.
"Oh, Baby, you're so beautiful. How are you doing?" Dean wondered, delicately touching different parts of her frame in cautious inspection and tender care. She recognized that he was close to tears.
"H-how can you talk.. Was it something you always did and we couldn't hear you?" Sam just had to know.
"I remember when you were in here with me and it was your voice Dean heard. You didn't like it at the time, but it still makes me laugh," she giggled through her horn.
Sam smirked, "Yeah, fair enough, damn archangel."
Sam wanted to say more, as did Dean, but this business was important.
"Good evening. The court recognizes Sam and Dean Winchester, and extends the invitation to testify on Baby's behalf."
She watched Dean step right up with zero hesitation and begin to speak. "It's really great seeing my best girl again. I left her in good shape, in the capable hands of my brother, who stood guard over her until the day the elevator to up here dinged for him to take the ride."
"Saint Christopher, I assure you my condition is not Sam's fault. He cared for me better than even Dean would expect. He grew old and fell ill, his wife had passed, it wasn't his fault! And Dean Jr. was away in another country doing important work. He came back near the end, and he cared for both Sam and I. But he couldn't stay forever…" she desperately pleaded.
Sam made a sincere plea, "Growing up, pretty much one of the only constants Dean and I had was that weren't hardly any constants in our lives. But she was one of them. She was our home for so much of our childhoods. When we needed a hospital, she got us there. When we were in school, she took us there and sometimes she even waited for us in the parking lot. When we were upset, she let us cry and when we were excited, she celebrated with us."
Then Dean started in, "Your honor, er, Saint..whatever, this car is the most significant, most important thing on the planet. We're the guys who saved the world and I promise on my life- no Hell, my soul, it wouldn't have happened without her."
Baby spoke up again. "When I needed something I spoke up, and Dean and Sam listened. When they needed something I could give, it was theirs. They needed shelter? I provided it, keeping them dry and warm. They needed to get away from a monster? I became a speed demon and flew them far away like a bat out of Hell. They needed an ear? I listened, and when they needed to rail and shout in frustration I held them in silence, loving them with everything I had! I will ALWAYS give my everything as long as there is a Team Free Will to give it to!"
Saint Christopher stood and walked over to her. "My dear Lady, you are an inspiration to us all."
"Sam and Dean claimed me as theirs when they carved their initials on my interior. I belong to a Winchester or I belong to no one!"
Her wiper fluid exploded all over the windshield and hood, pouring like tears as she rumbled and gasped in her wild emotional state. She missed her boys so much.
Saint Christopher mentioned, "Yes, it's clear you do have an incredible bond with them, more than anyone. I feel your case is indeed unique."
The barn door opened and in walked someone Baby did not expect.
"Hullo," he sang with a raised hand and gap-toothed grin, "I'm Jack, and I wanted to say a few words on behalf of Baby."
She was so monumentally touched at everyone who came to her rescue in her hour of need. Once again her wiper fluid burst forth, but this time Sam offered her a handkerchief and she swished her mirrors in Jack's general direction.
"As God, you are of course entitled to give your testimony, many thanks for blessing us with your presence, your Lordship," Saint Christopher bowed in reverence.
"Just Jack, please. One of my first impressions of earth was Baby. I was born at a time of great sorrow for Sam and Dean. Our beginnings weren't very easy but often, in the middle on the night when I missed my mom, I would lay in her back seat and she'd let me cry myself to sleep. For what little time I had need of it."
He too laid his hand on her hood, and she immediately warmed it for him.
"Over time, things got better. I'm happy to say my favorite memory of Earth was when Dean taught me how to drive her. She was very forgiving of my mistakes and the longer I'm in charge, the more important forgiveness is for me. She has Chuck's status as a Hand of God, but may I erase that and gift her with mine, as a symbol of renewal and faith, no matter the verdict?"
"Please," Saint Christopher happily gestured.
Jack pressed both hands on her hood and bent down close. "Thank you for being my friend when I needed it most, Baby."
Straightening herself once more, she sniffled through her muffler. Dean and Sam came over, laying their hands on her too. "Thank you for always being there for us."
"You're the best, Baby," Dean cooed.
She was getting...sleepy? What was happening?! Her visions blurred and she was certain all the pleas had fallen on deaf ears. She tried to apologize but everyone became a small dot and then there was complete darkness.
Baby became aware of a soft blanket being removed from her frame. Then the blanket was folded and set in her trunk. She was back in her real barn now, a blustery, freezing wind blew against the exterior, making its wooden planks creak.
The engine within her had been rebuilt. Her odometer left alone, many parts had been replaced or restored. She felt a life within her bones she hadn't in ages!
Her hood was up and her fluids were being checked. She desperately wanted to know who was there, tending to her, when the rumble tumble of another vehicle pulled in outside. Whomever had begun showing her TLC shuffled over to the barn door and opened it.
"Would you look at that, Fitzgerald One and Two finally made it. Sam. Cas. How are ya?"
Dean? Dean Jr.! Her Dean was back home? And Garth's boys were here too?! She couldn't believe it! Three more boys she watched grow to young men and considered family were back!
"Dean! Hey man, how was the Peace Corps? We miss you, buddy!" Sam exclaimed.
"It was good. How's your dad?" Dean Jr. inquired about Garth.
"He's holding up. You know him, long as mom's still around, he's got a smile on his face," Cas sang.
"So get this," Sam Jr. began with unbridled enthusiasm, "that vic I was telling you about in Toledo? Turns out his blood was chock full of venom. Think just maybe a-"
Vitalia, Sam…Baby thought to him.
"Vitalia."
"Yeah, man, could be. Let's check the cams on the nearby truck stops though, just to be sure," Dean Jr. encouraged, "Got the Holy Bible for the trip."
It wasn't a Bible, Baby observed. The leather bound journal was John's, and she was damn proud Dean Jr had such faith in his family's heritage.
"Brought a cooler with us, I'll go grab it from the truck," Cas mentioned, and she heard the crunch of gravel under his feet when he walked off.
"Good, that green one in her truck's been cracking and falling apart for ages now," Dean Jr. told Sam.
When they loaded her up and turned her ignition over, she practically purred. Then she felt the familiar sensation of a cassette being gently pushed into her deck. Seconds later the familiar, beginning tune of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" floated within her as they turned out of the driveway and onto the road, presumably towards Toledo. Thank the heavens they'd been raised right with proper music.
She was finally happy again, rumbling down a two lane road with great music, a Dean Winchester behind the wheel, a Sam at his side, and a Castiel nestled comfortably in the backseat. Things were now exactly as they should be.
The nostalgia nearly sent her to the moon, but instead she doubled down and decided with this gift of renewal for the open road, she'd utilize this second chance to keep her Team Free Will Jr's safe and secure, so they in turn could continue saving people and hunting things, the Family Business.