Recap - 'Supernatural': 'Family Matters'

As the episode begins, a beaten Sam awakens, observed by Dean and Castiel. The pair question Sam and he reveals that he has not slept since his return from Hell. Castiel plunges his hand into Sam, causing him a great deal of pain. The angel explains to Dean that Sam's soul is gone and is most likely still in the cage with Michael and Lucifer. Dean is wary of Sam and wants to keep him locked up, but Sam escapes from his bonds and claims that his brother cannot hold him. Dean reluctantly agrees to work with Sam to restore his soul.

The trio visit Samuel, who claims that he does not remember his own resurrection. Castiel performs another "angel cavity search" on Samuel, revealing that his soul is intact. Samuel is unsurprised by the news of Sam's missing soul, admitting that he knew something was wrong. Castiel is forced to return to Heaven to fight in the civil war, but promises Dean that he will continue to help. With the angel gone, Samuel reveals that he and the other Campbells are putting together a hunt for the Alpha Vamp. Sam is annoyed that he was not included, but Samuel explains that he did not want to invite Dean, since he is not used to working with him. Dean promises to follow Samuel's lead, but later admits to Sam that he is suspicious of their grandfather.

At dawn, the hunting team ride out to a house where the Alpha and a dozen other vampires are hiding. Samuel orders Dean to remain behind with Gwen, while the other hunters attack the house. The pair deal with any vampires who attempt to escape, but Dean hears gunshots and rushes towards the house. From a hiding place, he spies Samuel, Sam and the hunters bundling the Alpha Vamp into the back of a van. When Dean later questions him, Samuel claims that the Alpha's body is "already on the pyre".

On the ride home, an angry Dean confronts Sam, admitting that he saw the hunters kidnap the Alpha. Sam reveals that Samuel has been kidnapping creatures and torturing them for information. Dean is determined to uncover what Samuel is up to and tells Sam that he can either be honest with him, or go work with their grandfather. Sometime later, Sam calls in on Samuel, claiming that Dean has left him after a difference of opinion. He asks to be let in on the interrogations, but Samuel refuses, claiming that Sam's lack of a soul complicates matters. Dean waits nearby in the Impala and reunites with Sam, who explains that he fired up the GPS on Samuel's cell phone. The brothers decide to track the Campbells wherever they go.

Arriving at a facility marked with dead man's blood, Sam and Dean discover Samuel interrogating the Alpha Vamp, who appears unaffected by pain. Samuel storms away and the Alpha reveals that he is aware of the hiding Sam and Dean's presence. He reveals to the brothers that the vampire race is preparing for war. When Dean questions him about Samuel, the Alpha explains that their grandfather is searching for purgatory - the realm that contains the souls of slain evil creatures. He also admits that Samuel is simply following the orders of another.

Samuel and the others hunters arrive and disarm the Winchesters. While Dean debates the Alpha's imprisonment with Samuel, the creature manages to escape his cage, killing one of the hunters. Sam, Dean, Samuel and the hunters return to find nothing but an empty cage. Samuel explains that the Alpha will be restored to full health within an hour, finally bowing to Dean's demands to kill the creature. The entire team breaks off into smaller groups to search, but the Alpha Vamp attacks first, cornering Sam, Samuel and Christian. The creature breaks Christian's neck and thrusts Sam against a wall, preparing to turn him. However, Christian - now possessing the black eyes of a demon - stabs the Alpha in the neck with a syringe of dead man's blood. In a flash, the Alpha is surrounded by a horde of black-eyed demons. In another flash, the Alpha and the Demons are gone.

Sam, Dean, Samuel and Gwen are confronted by Crowley, who reveals that Christian has been possessed for quite some time. The demon explains that Samuel is working for him, helping him to discover the location of Purgatory so that he can claim the realm. Samuel finally confesses that it was Crowley who resurrected him and Sam, using his new powers as King of Hell. Crowley offers Dean a choice - if he works for him, Sam's soul will be restored, but if he refuses, then Sam will be returned to Hell. Crowley disappears, demanding that the hunters bring him creatures that are "high on the food chain".

Dean demands to know why Samuel is working for Crowley, but he simply responds, "I got my reasons". Ordering Gwen to fetch the van, Samuel prepares to leave, but Dean stands in his way. Sam pulls a gun on his grandfather, but Dean eventually decides to let him go. As Samuel departs, Sam attempts to convince a frustrated Dean that working for Crowley appears to be their only choice, until they find another way to reclaim his soul. When Dean asks what will happen after that, Sam responds, "Then we track Crowley down, and give that son of a bitch what's coming to him. You with me, Dean?"

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