They had hope as they rushed through what needed to be done. They had confidence that the judge would see reason. They had laid out the issues clearly and succinctly before presenting them to the prosecuting attorney. In the end, it amounted to nothing but agonizing defeat.

Cas sat next to Sam in the courtroom staring at the back of Brady's head like he could peer past the well-coiffed hair to the devious inner workings of the man that he had come to view as the literal devil. He made Naomi stay at Gabe's place, not wanting her to be seen by anyone as dangerous as Brady. At the time, he had believed that a mistrial would be declared, but he knew better than to give Brady anything that could be useful. Cas thought that Brady should have to work a little for knowledge about his personal life.

Cas glanced down at Sam's hands gripping the armrest of the chair. He leaned into Sam's ear. "It's gonna be okay."

Sam looked back at him. "I don't think so, Cas. I just got a weird feeling that maybe it's gonna be really bad." He turned his attention back to the front of the courtroom as the judge entered. Cas did the same. He felt a certain tightening in his chest as the judge looked down at his papers and seemed reluctant to look at the people in the room. He waved to the bailiff to usher in the jurors.

"No, oh no." Cas squeezed his hands in front of him. His words were barely a whispered bit of fear, but Sam had heard it. Sam reached out to Cas and pulled his hand over and held it. "He's not making eye contact," Cas whispered again.

Then Brady turned and looked right at him. He let the stare linger. He even winked before turning back to the front of the courtroom. Sam squeezed his hand. "No matter what, we'll figure this out."

Cas felt his breathing speed up, his heartbeat drummed away the seconds that slammed away the hope that had been there before. Every sound became distant then. It was as though he was hearing the voice of the judge from the end of a long, empty corridor. There's no figuring this out. It'll never be over. His mind seemed to be catapulting into oblivion. He hadn't let his mind fully process the fact that the judge had not declared a mistrial until the jury foreman stood to speak.

A sharp cry of shock snapped him out of his moment. The jury had declared Ezra Brady not guilty. They had not handed down a single guilty verdict, even on the items that seemed absolutely certain. "No, no." Sam was mumbling as each verdict was read. Brady's attorneys were already congratulating him with shoulder slaps and smiles ever widening. When the jury foreman finished, they were escorted from the room with a few words still lingering in the air from the judge. Sam and Cas sat frozen to their spots, just watching the world in front of them.

Ezra came down the aisle and stopped near them. "Don't suppose that this is over."

Sam looked up at him, but Cas just kept his focus on the courtroom in front of him. Sam let go of Cas' hand and said, "Funny, I thought of saying the same thing to you."

Ezra just smiled down at him, half menace, half something akin to joy. He said, "Great part about our legal system is that I don't have to worry a bit about any of those charges ever coming back to bite me in the ass again. You all squandered your chance, and tried to play with the big dogs." He sauntered off down the aisle and tossed back a thought for Sam, "Good luck finding work with your useless law degree after you get disbarred. I hear the job market's rough out there, especially for someone looking to make enough to support a growing family."

Sam stood then. Ezra's words were nothing casual. They were meant to provide a message for Sam. He knew that Jess was pregnant. He knew that he only had to paint the slightest picture for Sam of what he could do to a child or to a woman in her final months of pregnancy. Sam's words fell out of gritted teeth. "You come near us and you're dead."

Ezra came back to them and said, "Watch the threats Winchester. They never work out for members of your family." With that he strolled out of the courtroom with a crowd of attorneys flanking him. Most of the audience had already left, but some had lingered. One was Deveraux.

He moved over to their side, his mess of crazy hair and thick glasses created a picture of the conspiracy theory believing man that he actually was. "Guess we all should be prepared for the defamation of character civil suits that he's likely going to levy at us next."

Sam snapped his attention from the back of the courtroom now. "Sorry, Frank. I can't even be sure what to tell you now."

Frank just shook his head and rolled his shoulders into a shrug. "I ain't worried about it. He's an asshole. I welcome the attention that a case like that'll bring to my little show. He won't crush me. I'm a bit worried about you lot though. He'll make good on having you disbarred."

"I already figured that. I'll be fine though. I don't have to work as a lawyer. I can write or do something in academia maybe. I don't know. I'll be fine though. I'm more concerned about the more subtle threats." Sam's hands clenched at his sides.

Cas reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "We need to be sure to get Jess to someplace safe. You too."

"We can't be traveling too much right now. She's got maybe a few weeks or maybe just a few days before the baby comes."

They meandered their way out of the courtroom, defeat hanging heavy on them. When they finally got back to Gabe's place, Jess and the others could already see the way that the wind blew. Jess got up with her hand pressed solidly to her back and met Sam halfway. He started to speak, but she just pulled him in and held on. Naomi came to Cas and rested a hand on his arm, giving him a little squeeze of comfort. Gabe and Kali were occupying the stools that sat in front of the little ledge that protruded from the kitchen area.

Gabe said, "We heard."

Kali spoke next, "I have to wonder if this will have an effect on the other case. I mean, A was caught red-handed."

"Guilt or innocence has no bearing on what the verdict will be." Cas ran a hand back up into his hair, thoroughly messing it up before continuing. "We've seen today what Ezra is capable of accomplishing."

Sam was holding Jess in a way that seemed to be shielding her from the room or from anything that might get into the room. He had his hands wrapped around her, and she was pulled as close to him as her belly would allow. "I think maybe we do need to leave."

Cas came over to his side. "Where would you go?"

"Somewhere that he can't find us." Sam's quick reply showed just how much Ezra's words had gotten to him.

"What happened?" Jess asked.

"He made sure that he got in just one more little comment. He's got me pinned." Sam let Jess go and proceeded to pace the room. His phone went off in his pocket. He pulled it out. "What the hell?"

Sam held out the phone to Gabe, and Gabe repeated him, "What the hell?"

Cas moved to him and looked down at the screen in Sam's hands. Crowley's name was on the screen. "What the hell?"

"Do I answer it?" Sam looked from one to the next.

"Uh, yeah. It's a little too coincidental that he's calling just after that verdict, and he's no fan of Ezra's," said Cas.

Sam answered and held the phone in a way that allowed Cas to listen at his ear. "Hello."

"Sam, this Crowley." There was a pause as if he was trying to decide how best to proceed. "I'm actually calling to speak with Cas. Is he with you?"

"He is. What do you want with him?" Sam replied and side-eyed Cas to see if he wanted to have the conversation.

"I feel like the verdict today may be problematic for the both of us. I'd like to discuss it with him. I would also welcome a conversation with you as well, but at a later date."

Sam covered the phone a little and leaned it away. "Do you want to talk with him?"

"Might as well." Sam handed him the phone then. "Crowley," Cas said.

"Good. I hoped you might be willing to chat."

"I'm not in the mood, but today is already rather shitty, so I might as well have this conversation too." Cas moved over to the couch to sit. His legs were getting stronger, but he could feel them shaking a little from all of the activity of the day and the present standing.

"I thought that we had already managed to bridge the anger gap here. I'm not the enemy, remember?" Crowley sounded a little put off, and Cas rolled his eyes.

"I think that you are far from being one of the good guys, but you're certainly not Ezra Brady. Now, what do you have to say to me?"

"Well, right to the point then. I think that Ezra will go after Mirov. I think that he'll send his lawyers after you and Sam, but that'll just be his own petty revenge for the past couple of months. What he has going with Mirov is the more worrisome."

Cas felt his chest tighten up with worry. "Why do you think he'll go after Mirov?"

"Look, you all did a lovely job of uncovering some of his many dark dealings, but you have really only seen the smallest portion of what he has done, what he's capable of doing." Crowley let out a pointed sigh into the phone and continued. "He had Mirov conducting some research. It was something that he would market. It was going to make him boatloads of cash. When he got arrested, Mirov stopped sending him the research. As you likely already heard, I've been named the CEO of Niveus which was formerly Niveus and Stiel Pharmaceuticals. Ezra's legal troubles made him too much of a liability."

"Does this mean that he's no longer in power at all?" Cas asked.

"Well, that's where it gets complicated. You see, he's already been in contact with me. I've been encouraged to step aside."

"Oh, what does he have on you?"

"Nothing I care to share. Let's just say that I will stall as long as I can, but that my leaving will be inevitable. I'd be happy though, if you lot figure out a way to make Ezra's life a little painful in some capacity."

"So, he wants to get you out of the CEO slot, and he wants to threaten Mirov back into research mode?"

"Yes."

"Pretty sure he can't get to Mirov."

"Pretty sure he can," Crowley sounded confident.

Cas thought of all of the reasons to worry over Ezra getting anywhere near Mirov's place. "Does he have anything to hold over Mirov? I mean how will he get him to work for him?"

"He would have to get to Lil. That's likely the only way that Ezra would have any chance with Mirov at this point." Cas felt his stomach drop with the pronouncement.

"You knew about him taking Lil?"

"Yeah. I keep tabs on the important things."

"You think Ezra's going to go after Lil then?" Cas asked, already knowing the answer.

"I believe that it'll be the first thing that he'll do."

"Why? He doesn't need anymore money. He could do nothing for the rest of his life. I don't get this."

"It's not about the money." Crowley adopted a tone that said he was talking with an idiot. "It's never been about the money. Ezra is an angry, bitter man. He likes power and what he can do with it. He likes crushing people. Sometimes I think that he just hates people in general. For him, it is about the manipulations. Yes, he wants to get Mirov's research so he can make a ton of money that he doesn't need, but he also just wants to make Mirov do something that he doesn't want to do. Same with me too. Ezra's a sadistic bastard, but he knows how to look like something respectable."

"So, tell me what I can do. Give me something to use against him."

"I don't have anything that you can use against him. I just have advice."

Cas was feeling frustrated, but he asked anyway. "Great. What's your advice?"

"I won't repeat this, and I'll deny it to the bitter end. As long as Ezra is alive, no one that has ever crossed him will be safe."

"That's not advice, that's just a statement of fact."

"Like I said, as long as he's alive." Crowley stopped then and waited for Cas to pick up the unspoken implication.

Cas picked it up. "I have no way of accomplishing anything on that front."

"I know, but maybe someone else might. It's literally the only way."

"Who are you suggesting?"

"I have no contact with Mirov, nor can I get in touch with him without it being noted. Before, I had A and Al hovering, watching my every move. I played it off like they were my henchmen, but they had a different purpose. They watched me for Ezra. Now, though, he has others that keep me in check. I had to ditch them rather cleverly this afternoon in order to make this call. I'll likely pay the price later if they tell him." Crowley took a deep breath and continued, "You need to get in contact with Mirov. Impress upon him the need to take out Ezra. He'll do it for Lil. She was the reason that Ezra got what he wanted for so long, her and also M."

Cas felt the sickness stirring up inside of him. He had no way of contacting Mirov. If he had, he would have as soon as he was conscious. He knew where he was located. He knew that Dean was about to get Lil back. He knew that it was all going to go to Hell soon. At any moment, events would unfurl that would make Mirov hate him even more than he likely already did. Asking him to kill Ezra would accomplish nothing. Still. He looked up at Gabe and noted how they all were watching him, picking up on just the one half of the conversation. "I'll see what I can do."

"It'll likely be impossible, but here's to hoping. I mean, he hates Ezra as much as we do." Crowley sounded a little hopeful.

"Like I said, I'll see what I can do." With some hesitation Cas said goodbye and hung up. What have I just agreed to? He knew it was likely the only way that any of them would ever be safe. He looked at Gabe, and decided that they would need to make the trip to Brazil. He hoped that Gabe would not make this difficult. He had to be the one to do this. If anyone else asked it would fail. He also needed to talk with Dean.

The next night there was thunder. It rattled the windows and made her feel like demons were growling for her in the night. When she awoke the next morning, it was to a knock at the door. She called out that whoever was knocking that they could come in. Eli pushed open the door and asked, "May I come in?" before he moved more fully into the room.

Nanna B had gone off ahead of her to get her book bag together. Lil had left it in the dining room the night before. "Yes." She stepped aside and Eli came in.

"I need you to stay close to me at all times today. I've noted some things that have seemed strange." He stood near the door, imposing in his stance. "Today, you must be extra conscious of your surroundings."

"Maybe we should just stay here today." Lil felt the crawl of nerves up her back.

"Wish we could darlin' but I don't have anything more than a feeling to go on regarding the situation. I spoke with your grandfather, and he said to just make sure that nothing happens to you." He glanced up at the cameras and then back at her. "I told him that I would be discussing our plans for today before we got going." He glanced at the camera again and then back at her.

"I understand." She moved past him to the door and added, "Thank you, Eli. You always make me feel safer." They moved out into the hall together and toward the dining room. Nanna B was standing off to the side of the room, holding the bag. Mirov was at the table, reading a newspaper. Eli took up a spot next to the door and pretended to look off out the window. Lil took her seat at the table. "Good morning, grandfather."

"Good morning, Lilith." He used her more formal name sometimes when others were around, likely hoping that they would treat her more formally too. It would never feel anything but odd. "Eli spoke with you about the need for extra vigilance?"

"He told me to remain at his side and to be conscious of my surroundings." Lil looked back at him and then returned her attention to her grandfather. "Eli makes me feel safer."

Mirov looked over toward Eli, "Thank you." His words felt forced. He returned his attentions to his newspaper and coffee.

Lil made an effort to eat her breakfast. Periodically, she looked out the window at the patchy sky. Mirov had only been back home for one night. He had been 'traveling.' At least that was the vague bit of information that she had been given. "Did you have a nice trip?" Lil asked.

He lowered his newspaper. "I did not accomplish what I set out to accomplish." Lil just waited for him to explain. He never told her why he was gone, just that he was. "I did manage to send a message to our enemies though. Sadly, I couldn't send a more permanent message."

"What did you do?" Lil set down her spoon and gave up on the cereal in front of her.

"I sent one of my people into Ezra's home to let him know that I had received his message." Mirov paused, took a deep breath and continued, "He has good security."

It had been ten days since the attack. It was also September, and Eli had said that she'd be going home soon. Fear was no small thing. It was a constant scratch at the back of her neck. She felt the hands that might grab her and pull her off into the darkest of nights. She felt the hot breath on her cheek as the slow slide of a blade pierced her skin. She knew fear in a deeper sense, having experienced so much that was worthy of fear. For a moment, she thought about not going to school. She could convince her grandfather if she tried. It wasn't like he was much of a fan of the institution. He did want to draw out his enemies though, and she was bait. Then she thought of Dean. He couldn't save her if she stayed in the compound.

She got up from the table. "I'm ready."

"You haven't eaten anything." Mirov stared steadily at her.

"I'm not hungry." She moved to Nanna B's side and took her bag from her outstretched hand. Eli looked like he was ready to leave with her.

Mirov got up and approached her. He looked to Nanna B and Eli and said, "Would you two give us a moment?" They stepped out into the hall. He came down to her level and balanced there. He set his hands on her shoulders and said, "We won't let anything happen to you."

She wanted to say so many things then, but instead she kept quiet until he continued.

"I've spoken with Eli. You will never be alone or in any dangerous places. I promise you that I've seen to your safety. You really have nothing to fear." He sounded sincere, his words a breath of air between them.

"If someone wants to kill me, then they will." Lil moved like she was going to break contact and just go.

Mirov tightened his hold on her, but not in a menacing way. He said, "They wouldn't dare to kill you. They know that you're the only thing that I care about anymore. If they killed you, they'd have nothing over me."

She gazed steadily at him, not sure if she was supposed to feel comforted by this. "So, they just want to kidnap me to torture you. That's not better."

"They won't get you. I promise." He held the gaze a little longer.

Before he stood back up, Lil said, "Let me call Cas."

He stood. "Why?"

"I want him to know that I'm okay. I want him to know that he shouldn't worry about me. I want him to just worry about himself." When she finished speaking, she held her breath and waited for his response.

The look on his face shifted minutely. "I will have to do a little research to find his number."

"I know his number." Lil tried not to look too excited by the prospect.

"When should we call him?" He looked a little hesitant.

"Now."

"Hmm." He pulled out his phone and tapped in a number. He then handed it to her. "Go ahead and dial his number. I put in the first numbers."

She took the phone and looked down at the numbers that he had typed in. She added the rest, hoping that it would work and that he would still be in possession of this phone and number. She hit send and waited as it rang, once, twice, three times. A voiced graveled out, "Hello." She recognized it at once, but didn't have words. "Hello," Cas repeated.

"Dad," she finally whispered into the phone. Mirov sat down and watched her.

"Lil? Lil?" He said it twice like he couldn't believe it.

"It's me. I'm okay." She felt the sudden need to reassure him.

"Lil." He said it again, and he sounded like he was crying. "Where are you?"

"I'm with my grandfather at his home." She noticed the way that he became quiet all of a sudden.

"I had hoped that you were somewhere else, somewhere closer to home." They both fell silent for a moment. "I wish you were here. Are you okay?"

"I am. I heard that you were in a hospital, and at one point I thought that you were dead."

"Not dead," he said. "I was injured when Al attacked me. We fell from a window in the bank downtown. He did not make it. I did. Dean told me that he searched for you everywhere when you left the cabin. I'm so proud of you for remembering the escape plan."

"I was found though." She had often felt like she had failed him when she had been found by Mirov.

"A didn't find you though." Mirov shifted about a little across from her. "Has your grandfather been kind to you?"

"Yes. I want to be with you though." Mirov shifted a bit more in his seat. "Dad?"

"I will get you back Lil. I will do whatever it takes." His emotion was heavy in his voice.

"I don't want you to get hurt. I heard about the trial. Will you be careful?" She worried that he might focus so much on getting her back that he'd forget to watch out for himself.

"I don't want you worrying about me. I'm always careful. Are you being watched over properly? Do you feel safe?"

She didn't know how to answer him. "Grandfather has a lot of security. I'm never alone." Mirov stood then and took the phone from her. "No. You have to let me say goodbye. You have to let me tell him that I love him." She started crying, and she thought that she might not be able to stop.

"Calm yourself, Lilith. I'll only speak with him for a moment, and then you can say goodbye before you go to school." She took a few gulped breaths.

"Mr. Novak. This will not be a habit, but Lilith needed to know that you were okay. I would like to reassure you that she is also okay and always will be." There was a pause where he just listened. "I'm afraid I won't be considering that. You are not her father, and this call would not have been made had I not felt as if I owed you something. You did care for her when I couldn't. I do appreciate your effort. She is home now though, and your services are no longer needed." He listened again and then said, "Where you are will never be safe." He listened again. "That is not something that I need to discuss with you, but yes, I was responsible for the recent failed attempt on Ezra's life."

Lil looked over her shoulder to the hall and saw Eli standing there clearly listening. He gave her a slight nod, and she turned her attention back to her grandfather and the conversation that he was having with Cas. The last thing that he said was, "Perhaps, I can allow that. It would have to be here though. It might also be better if it occurred after I settled things with Ezra." He looked down at Lil and said, "We will need to continue this conversation later. Lilith wants to say goodbye before she heads off for school." He handed the phone to her and took his seat at the table again.

"I love you, daddy." She waited for his voice and felt herself shaking a little with the emotions that threatened to consume her.

"I love you too, munchkin. I might get to see you soon. Your grandfather said, that we might be able to arrange something." He paused and she read something in the silence. Eli had said that Dean would get her home soon. Cas had to know about that.

"How is Dean?" She wanted to read into the answer. She hoped that he could tell her something.

"He's been traveling. He misses you too. He said that he'd be home in September though. I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings home from his travels." The silence stretched again, and she felt herself smile minutely at the hope that was in his tone. He would not travel to Brazil, but she would travel to him. Her grandfather stood now and made a motion with his hand to encourage her to wrap up the talk.

"I have to go. I don't want to be late to school." She didn't want to hang up. She waited.

"Talk to you soon. I love you," Cas said.

"I love you too, so much." Lil waited for more and then the line went dead as Cas hung up. She handed the phone back to her grandfather. She moved out to the hall and took her bag from Nanna B. She made her way back to her room before she left for school. There was no special reason for her choices now, but something told her that she now had to be prepared even more for the unexpected. Eli followed her to her room and hovered in the doorway as she pulled her old backpack out of the closet. It was the one that Cas had packed for her. She transferred her school items to the old pack and slung it over her shoulders. It was heavy with her books and a lunch and also a great deal of cash and a knife in the hidden pouch at the bottom. She didn't think that she'd need it, but one could never be too careful.

The smell that greeted his nose was rich and earthy and far too much like the outdoors. He cracked his eyes open a little and closed them again to ward off the brightness of the day that was fully blanketing his face. He opened his eyes again and took in his surroundings. He was in a clean room with a big window, wide open to let in a cool breeze.

He closed his eyes and tried to collect his memories, piece together where he was and how had gotten here. He remembered the attack. He knew it was coming. He was following the caravan of vehicles as they left the school. The chilled air of the day bit into him much like the breeze from the window now was calling forth goosebumps. The first shot had pierced the atmosphere and the cars were all racing away from the scene. Dean had picked up the pace, hoping that none of the shots would take out Lil's car.

She was in the third car with two more cars behind hers. Men were on the rooftops, looking down at the road that was between the buildings. They shot down to the tires, but that didn't slow up the caravan. The blast did that job. They had rigged up an explosion that shot the first car several feet up into the air. They had taken a chance with the explosives. They could have killed her. Dean believed that they didn't want her dead. Lil was worth more alive to whoever was doing this. He was certain that Brady had a hand in this.

There were additional explosions and a world of chaos and gunfire. He had made his way to Lil's car, no longer careful about being seen. He snapped out of the memory and sat up in the crisp, cool room. Where's Lil? He shoved the blankets aside and wanted to toss his legs over the side to get up. His one leg though sent a sharp, shooting pain all through him with the barest movement. It was enough to make him cry out a little.

The door opened and a short brown haired man bumbled into the space. He put his hand on Dean's forehead and pushed him back down to the bed that he had been on. "You'll be okay, but you shouldn't be moving right now. Your leg needs to heal."

Dean wanted to fight him, wanted to try getting up again. "Where's Lil?"

"She's fine. Just lay down." That wasn't enough for him. He started to try sitting up again, despite the man's hand on his shoulder that was now keeping him down. Then he felt the prick of a needle in his arm, and soon enough the world was swimming in front of him before it went dark.