Chapter 42: Daniel's Paradiso part 3

The world doesn't function under the same time. In some places it is earlier than others while the opposite is true for those others where it is far later. In select churches and synagogues in the eastern part of the globe it became high noon and they were holding special masses in dedication to Michael. Some of the pastors and rabbis hosting and leading these masses were oblivious to the deep meaning of what they were doing while others knew the meaning better than most.

From deep in the cage, an archangel stirred. It had been roughly five years but it felt like over half a millennia down here, maybe it was longer. Time was warped here in this prison. A prison he wasn't meant to go but was placed regardless. And not alone. Lucifer was far off in some distant corner of this prison, far from his sight. Then there was the human who he was bound to since the beginning of his time here. Time that seemed to be close to ending and far sooner than his brother's time had. Was this the will of his Father? Had he meant to be tested here in the realm that claimed his younger brother? If so, then had he passed? He could feel the pull from the Earth. He traveled to where the pull was strongest. His vessel's fingers peeking out through the gaps of his prison.

Dean was restrained as his pockets and hiding spots were being emptied of everything from guns, blades and lock picks. They were being tossed unceremoniously into a box in front of him. Logan Donovan was in front of his line of sight, just standing there as he watched it take place.

"Where's your brother and Castiel?" Dean didn't say anything. Donovan waited a moment before he gave him a firm nod. "Search him good guys. Leave no square inch of him unchecked."

His friskers started to be more rough with him as they checked him for more of his hidden tools and weapons. Dean never wanted for so much than to punch that calm and smug look on his face then and there. The final thing pulled out was the First Blade which Dean had hidden in the inner lining of his leather jacket. It was tossed right on top for all to see.

"I think that's everything," said one of the men.

Donovan went through all of Dean's things with mild interest. He picked up the First Blade and gave it a once over before he tossed it in the box with the rest of his stuff. "Good," said Donovan. "Inform all the guards to stay on patrol. His angel friend and brother are surely skulking around." The man nodded before he went off. Donovan then looked to another one. "Go and tell the angels that we have Dean."

Dean snorted as the man left to follow his order. "Wow, Heaven's Cub Scouts. Two questions: Where do I sign up and are those fancy cuffs part of the signing package?"

"Why don't you shut it smart ass," Donovan spat. "For once, do what you're supposed to do. You're a prisoner, why don't you start acting the part and remain silent?"

"Oh, I have the right to remain silent, right?

"And what, you think you're the law here or something? Well I know the law and it sure isn't you. It's about damn time that this world gets back on track and not rely on temperamental drunks with daddy issues to keep it safe. "

"Whoa," Dean smirked at him nastily. "I didn't think that those angel mooks had a creative bone in their bodies but they must have something if they decided to go all Criminal Mind on everyone and bring you guys in."

Donovan's jaw stiffened. "Big talk coming from a guy proud of his GED and a give em hell attitude who was replaced by a scrawny kid barely out of school. A kid that inspired more confidence in one year than what you have in the last ten," he spitefully spat back.

"What the hell are you blubbering about?"

"It wasn't the Powers that brought us in chatterbox," Donovan exhaled harshly through his nose. "It was Daniel. He's the one who decided that the Battalion needed a new direction. That's why he brought guys like me, Richards, Ackerman and Dawson in. To help put some order in all this mess that you and your little 'Team Free Will' have been making. And I have to say, he's doing a hell of a job of picking up the wrappers that you keep tossing on the floor," he snipped.

"Then where is he if he's such a confidence builder?" Donovan was really starting to annoy him.

"Far from here," Donovan said with no effort to hide the satisfaction of that fact and what it does to Dean. Before anything else could be said, the doors to the side swung open and two new people walked in. Donovan shed the attitude and straightened himself up. "Nathaniel," he said with a small nod of his head.

Dean could just feel off the bat that they were angels without Donovan's reaction but that wasn't his main concern. No. His eyes were locked on who was walking in behind them and shut the door behind her.

"Tessa?" he gasped out.

"Hi Dean," she said softly.

Nathaniel held his hand up to block her face from him. "Enough Tessa," he said to her sternly. "You have Dean, good. What of the others?"

"He was caught alone," said Donovan.

Nathaniel shook his head. "Well, the other two can't be far. Castiel and his brother would never let him come alone."

"Well, I ditched them. They don't even know I'm here," Dean said trying to throw them off.

Donovan huffed. "Nice try Dean. We know for a fact that the both of them are here with you. Your little stroll through the park in the next county was seen."

"You are secure?" Nathaniel asked Donovan to pull him back to the main topic.

"The guards still are on alert. If they're on the grounds then it's only a matter of time."

"Copy that Agent Douche," Dean smirked over at Donovan.

"Throw this one downstairs already," Nathaniel snapped impatiently. "And be sure he's fully secured." Dean was then manhandled out of the room and bound for the basement. Nathaniel looked over to his fellow angel. "Have a few of our brothers included in their security outside. We want no problems for when Camael returns."

"Of course sir," the angel said.

"Tessa," he said drawing the reaper gaze to him. "Can I trust that you will ensure that Dean Winchester doesn't leave?"

"I don't want to see him get hurt."

"And he won't be, as long as he stays firmly secure, so, can you do that?"

Tessa was still for a moment before she nodded her head. "Yes."

"Good. Agent Donovan, come with me. We have to make report."

Nathaniel and Logan Donovan then left the room leaving Tessa to lament on everything that had just happened. She rubbed at her eyes and started to head out the room herself until her eyes caught something sticking out of the box holding Dean's things. There was something in there that seemed to be screaming out for her.

Castiel made it to the spot where Dean had told him to go. When he made it, it suddenly dawned on him that he wasn't told when exactly he was supposed to get in. The last thing he wanted was to do something that jeopardized Dean or Sam's safety. He waited for close to an hour before he decided to jump the fence. His head peered over the top of the fence to get a good glance of the grounds. It was dark but Castiel could still make out a good bit of what he was seeing. He saw that there was some activity close by the main building so there was no one near him. He finished flipping himself over the fence and he landed with his feet flat on the short grass.

Castiel felt something crawl up into him as soon as he hit the ground. It was warm and it went straight up into his head. He was feeling liberated, as if a heavy weight was being moved off his shoulders. He was feeling lighter and…stronger. The weakened grace inside him seemed to be growing slightly. The consecrated grounds seemed to be replenishing his strength. He was beginning to understand how the Powers were able to stay in hiding for so long. The holy energy of this place would've easily masked them even from him when he was powered by Purgatory's souls. He was beginning to think that this place was named well; a small piece of paradise.

This was starting to work to his advantage. Castiel darted into the cover of a somewhat thick flowerbed as he tried to observe the area. He caught sight of a small group of humans by the front door and they seemed to be armed. He could also see that an angel was among them and was coordinating them. His celestial sense of sight was also being strengthened by the power of this place to be able to make all of that out. He focused on the house to try and sense if the Powers were there but he couldn't tell. His powers hadn't been recharged that much yet. It looked like he had to get closer.

Castiel maneuvered away from the sight of the front entrance to see if there was another way of sneaking into the large mansion. He knew that the humans who built it would've made multiple ways to enter this building. He had to find one that had the least risk to himself and his friends. He came upon a pool on the opposite side of the pool that had a single human walking about. Castiel carefully stepped to a sharp corner close by as the human's back was turned. He then ran forward and clocked him over the back of the head with the butt of his angel blade. Castiel looked through the windows and nearby clear doors to see the room pitch black behind them. Castiel carefully turned the knob of the doors leading to the pool area and softly stepped in. He was in a hallway, a beautifully decorated one and there didn't seem to be anyone around. He stepped lightly for a few moments before he heard some footsteps approaching so he decided to go back the opposite way but some voices sounded from around the corner. It sounded like they were coming closer so he couldn't go further. He was trapped. Castiel quickly ran to the nearest set of doors to try and avoid being spotted. As soon as he stepped in he found himself at the edge of three angel blades.

"Ah crap," Castiel uttered as the blades pressed against the skin of his neck.

"Hello Castiel," he heard from the opposite side of the room.

Castiel saw that he was in a finely furnished looking office. The office was filled with over half a dozen angels and three of them had him at bay. There was an impressive renaissance portrait of Michael hanging over the fireplace with a polished desk beside it in front of an exquisite window. There was an angel sitting at that desk who had spoken when he first came in and that he recognized.

"Nathaniel," he grunted out.

"How sweet, you remember me," he said emotionlessly before he gave a nod over to the others.

Castiel's blade was wretched from his hand before he was pulled over by the scruff of his coat to stand right in front of the desk. He took a moment to look around at his captures and his eyes rested on one of them. "Hezekiah."

It was the one that he had met before he had been captured by Bartholomew's faction.

"Pay him no mind," Nathaniel grunted as he slowly stood up from the chair and started to walk around the table. "It's actually funny. Here we were, discussing on how would be the best method of apprehending you and you walk right into our laps." That made a few of the angels chuckle to themselves.

Castiel's jaw tightened. "You never struck me as the comical sort Nathaniel."

"What can I say Castiel? You tend to pick up new things when you work with humans long enough as you very well know. We were fortunate with the ones we've come into contact with. While these humans may have their silly moments, they know the value and importance of duty."

Castiel's eyes went back to the portrait of Michael on the wall. "Where's Joseph? And the rest of the Powers? I don't believe that they would leave my well-being in your hands and you haven't made any effort to inform them that I've been taken."

That made Nathaniel chuckle himself. "You would think that an angel that had to stoop to stealing the grace of a renegade angel would be keeping his nose down but you are sticking it up higher than ever." His face fell into a scowl at the last part and so did a few of the other angels in the room. "You have some real nerve."

"And you're sticking your face to kiss the ass of the Powers; you must be so proud of yourselves."

Nathaniel's nose flared before he gave him a smile. He then went and struck Castiel across the jaw.

"If it were up to me I would knife you here and now but there are still rules and procedures to follow. The Powers, luckily for you, aren't even here. Neither is the saint if that's what you're wondering. Even if you and your two pets left now you wouldn't make it a quarter of the way to where they are."

Castiel eyes sharpened. "And where exactly are they?"

The gates were pushed open by a uniform cop before he turned back and waved his hand to let the SUV's in front of him through. He watched as they pulled in one after the other. After they all entered he let a yawn loose before he closed the gate. He then went to rest his eyes and slouch against the wall off to the side. Beside him was a metal plaque that read: STULL CEMETERY.

The vans pulled up to the cemetary's chapel where the doors on all of them opened and people started getting out. Some of them were finely dressed in official uniforms of officers or in suits. In the case of Callie Parker, she was in a business suit and matching skirt and she stepped out of the car followed by Daniel Leonard. He let himself stretch slightly as he squinted his eyes against the pre-dawn sky.

The chapel's front steps had well over a dozen men standing in waiting with Jedediah in the middle of all of them. On one side of him were angels and the other had humans including Dennis Richards and Phillip Dawson.

Joseph stepped out of the van and slowly made his way over. Jedediah bowed his head to him.

"Joseph," he said as he raised his head back up.

"Is everything ready at the plot?" he asked getting right to business.

"Mostly," Jedediah answered. "The rest of the angels are there to finish working on it. Originally, we weren't expecting all of you so early today."

"Yes, well circumstances changed," Joseph's jaw stiffened. He didn't want to be here any more than necessary. He hated this place considering what happened here the last time he had stepped foot on it. "But we've adjusted and nothing will stop us now." He then looked over at Dennis. "Richards, a thank you is in order for all the travel arrangements you set. It wasn't as fast as we're used to but quick nonetheless."

Richards shrugged. "Benefits of national connections."

"Well connect me to a place with a bathroom because I need to change," Daniel said stomping over.

One of the angels gestured to the church. "There's one in there for you to use. The entire building is at our disposal." He then turned to Joseph. "The garments you requested are also inside for you and the other Powers."

"Excellent."

"And for the human impaired," Dawson called out. "We have coffee, bagels, biscuits and muffins."

"Oh, thank god for that," Callie called out.

Daniel was in a small room in the chapel as he stripped and dressed up in the suit that he had picked out back at the Pavilion. He was straightening himself out when a flash went off. He looked up and let a small smile free at the sight of Callie's own smiling face.

"My, you're looking quite handsome. I would've never thought that a Man of God could be so enticing," she playfully teased.

Daniel snorted but held a finger out in warning. "Careful, you're in a church." He tried to look disapproving but his lips were fighting through a smile. He eventually let out a small squeak.

That got the two of them really going. It took about a minute before they sobered and calmed down.

Callie wiped her eyes. "You're as funny as ever."

"Thanks," he said showing his dimples as he smiled wider. He then went over to the table on the opposite side where the Angel Tablet, the Freedom Key and the Holy Grail were all sitting.

"Wow," Callie breathed as she got closer to shiniest item. "The Holy Grail."

"I know. Insane, huh?" He noticed the gaze she had on the Grail. He saw that she looked amazed but he could detect a bit of fear too. "You can touch it if you want. It won't bite."

She looked like she was going to but thought better of it. "No, I better not." Daniel then went and took her hand and brought it to the cup. She gasped as she kept her hand on the divine instrument. "Whoa." That was all she could say as her fingers grazed it.

"I know right," Daniel said smiling widely and showing his teeth.

The two of them caught each other's eyes and the smiles faded slightly as they leaned in closer to each other until their lips started to rub against one another as gently and lovingly as their hands were. The two of them separated slowly with tender smiles flashing at each other.

"Well," she said. "I didn't get struck down by lightning or anything."

"Let's try not to push it." Daniel loosened his grip on her hip. "I think we're too close to crossing the line already."

That made the two of them break into loving giggles as they pressed their foreheads together.

"My boyfriend is a saint. I'm the only one who can say that and actually mean it," she said softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "And he's hours away from freeing God's first angel to help save Heaven and Earth. Quite the crusader."

Daniel showed his teeth a bit with his smile before he sobered up and put his hands to her arms. "Yeah…" He then unhooked her arms away. "You know Callie, it still baffles me sometimes that we even met because you were spying on your sister."

"I wasn't spying on her," she defended. "I…was just-"

"Following her?" he supplied.

"Tailing her," she corrected.

"Still, if it wasn't for you 'tailing' her," he said stretching her word. "and then getting busted then you and I wouldn't have met."

That made Callie raise an eyebrow. "If I recall, your first words when you saw me were: Who is she and what is she doing here?"

"You were caught spying on a meeting with angels and it was a crazy time, did you expect I was going to give a warm welcome."

"True," she shrugged her shoulders. "But, it got better." She smiled sadly then. "It wasn't easy though."

"No. You had stumbled into all of this, not to mention that you had your job and your dream of being a photojournalist…you were going through a lot."

"And you," she said pointedly. "A young man trying to build up an ancient order from the ground, help super angels recover from anarchy and discovering you were a divine saint? I'd say that you trumped me."

Now Daniel shrugged. "No, not really."

Callie rolled her eyes at him. "Daniel."

"The point is," he cut her off. "It was hard for us…but I don't regret it." He caught her eyes. "I don't regret you. Any of it, even when you kept calling me Mr. I've-Got-A-Jesus-Complex."

A laugh escaped her on that one. "Danny," she said as she tightened her hold on his hand.

"I still remember when I said you could call me that," he whispered. "It was when you spat out that I was too good for you. We had just had our third official date. I took you to the beach and we built that sandcastle together. You said that we should just stop this. That I was just too perfect for you." His words started to make Callie leak some tears. "Remember what I said to you then?"

"You…you said that you were just you. And that if I thought you were perfect, than you must be, for me because you thought I was perfect." She then wiped her tear away. "Then I said your full name but you said to just call you Danny because I make it sound like saying your name too much like work."

"Yeah," Daniel nodded. "I thought we spent enough effort trying to be together already. I didn't want to add more to it. I just wanted for you to look forward to me, not dread me."

"I never did."

"Neither did I."

Callie's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Danny…what's going on? Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?"

She knew that she sounded a little lost and nervous but she couldn't help it. She had enough relationships to know that these kind of talks were leads and they never went anywhere good.

There was then a knock on the door and it opened a moment later with Joseph's head peering in. "Knock, knock," he said with a smile.

Callie wiped at her eyes. "Oh Joseph," she sputtered out as she fussed to make herself decent again.

Daniel reached forward and took her arm. "Relax Callie. That's not Joseph. It's David."

"Your brother?" she asked before widening her eyes. David smiled a bit more showing his teeth before he nodded. "David, hi," she said happily.

"Hi. Can I come in?" They both nodded and stepped inside. He was dressed in a set of blue robes. "Hi Callie. It's nice to see you." He then widened his arms.

"Yeah, you too," she said going over to give him a hug.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he asked when they pulled apart.

"Maybe," Daniel said slowly.

"Oh, well, Joseph let me out so I could talk with you. You know before he gets thrown into all this final preparation business."

"Then I'll leave you two alone then," Callie said. "We can talk later, right?"

"Yeah, of course," Daniel said. 'I hope,' he didn't.

Callie then walked out leaving the two brothers alone together.

"Danny, level with me," David said as soon as the door closed behind her. "Did I break up something here?"

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Seriously Dave, in a church?"

"I didn't mean that kind of serious, seriously." His face then tensed. "I meant…the other kind. The kind of serious that we had before I first prayed to Joseph." Daniel didn't say anything to that. David didn't need him to. "You were saying goodbye to Callie, weren't you? And Joseph, he's letting me have the chance to say goodbye to you, isn't he?"

Daniel refused to look at his big brother as he nodded his head. "Yeah."

"This ritual you're about to perform…it will kill you won't it?"

"There's a good chance." He then looked away from his brother to look on the Angel Tablet on the table. "I mean, the trials on the Demon Tablet to seal Hell would've cost Sam Winchester's life. Giving bail to an angel, an archangel at that, from eternal bondage is bound to do something to me. Have some kind of price."

"But," David started to argue. "You said there was a good chance. That means that there is a chance that it won't. Maybe the fact that you're the saint would protect you?"

Daniel could hear the tears behind his brother's words. "I don't think it works like that Dave. Besides….Kevin came to see me already about this. He said that he found there was more on the tablet on what happens after it."

"What?"

"He didn't know. He hadn't translated it yet and I told him not to."

"What?! Why?!" he cried.

"Because I didn't want to know. I…I don't want to be tempted away from this. Besides, we don't know if it is my death or something else. Maybe I can manage."

"And what if its not something you can manage?" David just shook his head. "We…we could find another way Danny. I mean, this ritual can't be the only way. There's more than one way to skin a cat and more than one way to open a door. There could be another way to free Michael. One that doesn't involve you maybe having to die. We'll just use that way."

"And how long will that take Dave? Another year? Five? Ten?" He burst out. Daniel's eyes started to tear up as his breathing started to quicken from both fear and anger. It actually made David take a step away from him which settled the saint a little. "I'm sorry, it's just…it's not just about freeing Michael Dave. It's about getting the world back on track from the Fall's fallout. Like getting good people whose time come to go to Heaven like they're supposed to instead of lingering around to either become vengeful spirits or worse."

"But I thought that Abaddon was destroyed," said Dave.

"She was but she left her mark. Do you really believe that the demons will stop capturing souls and twisting them just because she's gone? Any demon with any ambition for power will be after them now and the longer that all this goes on then the more people lose their afterlives." The thought of who would had died and became demons when they shouldn't the past year went to pit of his stomach. And the thousands who would die after today…if he could ensure that they could be spared of any of this then he would. "Not to mention there is what else the Fall brought, or rather who."

Samael, he didn't have to say the name for David to understand. David could feel Joseph's concern about the mad archangel brewing from within for months. His worries and fears of what he could unleash.

"I get what you're saying Dan. I really do but I still don't like it."

"Dave…you once said that being possessed by Joseph wasn't my destiny. You were right. It wasn't my destiny to give Joseph a vessel; that was my big brother's destiny. Mine was to give him, and the rest of the angels, back their big brother."

"But I don't want to lose my little brother to do it," he argued.

"I might be your little brother Dave but I'm not little anymore. Please, let's not fall into the same trap that the Winchesters fall into," he grunted before clearing his throat. "This isn't about me. It's not about us. It's not even about Michael. It's about the natural order. I know…believe me, I'm not jumping for joy on this either. I don't want to die or anything. But it's all part of the job and so many people and angels are counting on me to do it. Remember what dad used to say? About doing our duty?"

Daniel and David both said their father's words together. "If we don't do it then who will?"

"And I'm the only one who can do this. Please, let me do what I have to do. This is my destiny Dave, let me finish it."

David went and wiped out a tear that was leaking from the corner of his eye before he went over and embraced his brother in a tight, but manly, one armed hug.

Outside the fences of the perimeter there were sounds of flapping wings before three angels touched down in the middle of the street to gaze at it. Metatron gazed at the fence with a stone cold look while both Barbatos and Dagiel were looking around for anyone that might be watching. Metatron had followed the Impala since he saw Dean leaving from the diner to this place and went back for assistance. He brought Barbatos and Dagiel because he felt that he could depend on them based on their support to his dealings with Tyrus and reactions of Samael.

"This is it," said Metatron.

Barbatos nodded. "Yeah. I can practically smell Joseph's stench. He's definitely been here for a long time."

"Is he here now?" Metatron asked him finally tearing his eyes away to look at him.

Barbatos closed his eyes for a moment before he shook his head. "No. I don't sense him or any of the Powers here."

"Shouldn't we alert Samael that we found them?" asked Dagiel. "He could launch a full scale attack and bring this place to rubble."

"There's no point. Metatron huffed. "If they're not here then that could mean that the Saint isn't here either. Stopping the ritual was his main concern. And right now, his only concerns are with bedding Tyrus' faction of lonely and desperates."

"At least we have more angels on our side than we did a week ago," Barbatos said.

"Are you telling me to look at the bright side? Please," Metatron sucked on his teeth.

"Well I don't get it. Why wouldn't the Powers be here?" Dagiel barked before Barbatos could keep exchanging with Metatron. "I thought they were to free Michael today."

"Yeah but it looks like they're not doing it here. I chronicled the ritual on the Angel Tablet. I know how they're going to do it, but, unfortunately I don't know where."

"Then let's get out of here."

"No," Metatron said abruptly. "If the Powers are really gone then we have an opportunity."

"Opportunity?" Barbatos asked before he closed his eyes again.

"There's something there that we could use."

"What?"

"Wait," Barbatos said before Metatron could answer. "One's coming. Slowly and steadily."

"Which one?"

He kept his eyes closed as he tried to lock in on it. "Camael," he uttered out.

"Camael?" Dagiel lightly gasped.

Metatron understood his reaction. While Joseph was the strongest of the Powers Camael's reputation was nearly as profound.

"Don't worry Dagiel, I can handle Camael," Barbatos assured him.

"Yes. Yes you can," Metatron said. "But could you handle Camael and over a dozen other angels? It's just the three of us. I might not have your military expertise but I do know enough to know that we are outnumbered. And Samael won't be of any help to us here. We need a plan."

"Then what do we do? What's your plan if you don't mind me asking?" he asked him with the sarcasm clear for him to hear.

Metatron paid it no mind. "My plan is to use what led me here in the first place." He then went over to a parked Impala not too far from them and helped the one laid out in the back seat regain consciousness with a wave of his hand. "Make some noise," he muttered before they disappeared.

Sam stirred from the backseat and tried to raise his head before he lowered it again when a sharp pain shot from the back of it.

"Damn it Dean," Sam grumbled as he went to rub it. He sat up and squinted his eyes as he saw that dawn had already broken. "Aw crap," he said as he fought through the headache and went to grab at the bag with the supplies left in it. If this kind of time passed then who knew what kind of trouble Dean and Castiel were in?

Before Sam could get out of the car, he caught sight of vans pull up to the front gate of the estate. Sam stayed low as he saw the gate begin to slowly begin to open for them. He saw one of the windows down and saw Kevin leaning out of the window, just gazing out. Sam was relieved to see that he looked okay but now was in the thick of all of this craziness. The gates opened and soon the vans started to pull in to begin to drive for the manor. With all the vans coming in, Sam knew that there was no better chance to sneak in. He jumped the fence and carefully but quickly went through the admittedly beautiful grounds. He saw the front of the manor where the vans were pulled up and saw that the people were already leaving the vans. He caught sight of Kevin standing next to a blond woman. He wondered who or what she was when all of a sudden a shot rang out from inside the house startling everyone. Sam's insides ran cold as all the people at the front of the manor started to run ragged. Sam saw Kevin being pulled away two people while the woman started organizing everyone and took the lead into the house front door.

There was a strong chance that the shot had something to do with Dean and/or Castiel. But Kevin was being pulled away and this might be the only chance to get him away before all of this went crazy. Sam had a choice: Dean or Kevin. Sam soon found himself sneaking to the front door and surprising the two men left guarding the front and knocking them out.

Dean's forehead was pressed against a metal pole running from the floor to the ceiling. His arms were around it and his hands were handcuffed together. He wasn't bound to it by his back, no, he was bound to it by his front which made sitting down on the floor uncomfortable and standing the only way to be relieved but it was taxing to be doing it for hours. He had a feeling that the guys that lugged him in there had put him this way on purpose. The room itself wasn't too big and didn't have much outside the pole and four stone walls. There was a light on overhead and light was spilling from the window on the metal door opposite of where he was standing. He pulled on his wrists vainly but the handcuffs weren't going to break apart. He checked his watch. He had been down there for over four hours. By now, Sam had to have come to and who knows what he and Cas were doing now or what was being done to them.

A click came from behind the door and it creaked open for Dean to see Tessa walking right on in. "Dean, I never got to say how great it is to see you again."

"Tessa, what the hell is going on?" he hissed at her. "What's happening?"

"If you're worried about Sam, don't. He hasn't been caught. But, I have to say that if he is really here then its only a matter of time."

Dean was momentarily relieved but knew that he couldn't celebrate yet. "And Cas?"

"He's…being detained."

"Detained? Is that your way of saying that he's getting your friends' homecoming gifts?' he said holding up his cuffed hands.

"Hey, Dean, you're the ones that broke in here. They tried to cut you a break. A chance to just leave but you didn't want to take it."

"Cut us a break?" he snorted. "Is that what you call it?" He started to huff and glare angrily at her before he shook it off. "Tessa, why are you here with them?"

Tessa just stared back at Dean with that mournful stare he was so used to. "I…I didn't have anywhere else to go Dean."

"What are you talking about?"

She looked down for a moment in despair before looking back at him. "I'm a reaper Dean. I can hear the dead. After the Fall…the screams. The screams don't stop. And it only gets louder. More and more stay that shouldn't and their screams only get louder. I can't take them and ease their pain. I don't have the power. I just…want it all to stop." Tessa looked like she wanted to break down but was trying hard not to for his sake.

"So you joined them?" Dean incredulously asked.

"They promised that they could help it stop. What else can I do?"

"Tessa, this isn't the way. I promise that I'll fix all of this."

"That's just it," she whispered. "Promises. That's all any of us seem to get these days. Promises, and they are always broken. You were promised to stop the Apocalypse Dean. Castiel promised to protect Heaven. You…you promised that you learned what Death was trying to teach you. Nothing but broken promises." Tessa went over and uncuffed Dean's hands. "I'm working again for another promise and now you try to make another one. I can't take it any more Dean."

"Tessa." Dean eyes softened. If he didn't know that Tessa didn't have a heart he would swear he just heard it break. He tried to console her and leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek but Tessa moved her head away. Dean let loose a huff. As much as he felt sorry for Tessa he couldn't just stand around. Lisa and Ben's lives were still at stake. "Where are the Powers? Where's Daniel?"

She just shook her head. "You're too late Dean. They're long gone. Even if you left the Pavilion now you wouldn't even reach the state line before the ritual gets done."

Dean's stomach dropped. "So, it looks like they'll actually keep their promise."

But Tessa didn't look happy at all. "Even if they did, it won't get rid of what I felt. It's just too much. I…I just want it to stop. Help me Dean, please," she begged.

"How?"

Tessa grasped Dean's hand. "You already have." Dean then felt something land in his hand before Tessa pulled on it to her chest.

Dean gasped as Tessa gasped and light shone from within her eyes and mouth. It soon dimmed out and Tessa's body slid down out of his grip. Dean looked to his hand to find that Tessa had put the First Blade in his hand and had him kill her. Dean's breathing quickened as he looked from the blade to Tessa's corpse. He grit his teeth and hissed as he went to leave the holding room.

Dean saw no one outside the door and he guessed that Tessa must've sent them away before she came to see him. He went to the end of the hall and stomped up the stairs he found until he came to a fancy looking oak door that he was all too happy to kick down. He found himself in a hallway lite with the morning sunlight which made him blink a few times due to him being in that dim lit room for so long.

"Whoa." Dean looked to see Logan Donovan off to the side with his hands on his hips. He was surprised. He had got a call that Camael was returning with Kevin from seeing everyone off but he didn't expect to see Dean roaming free.

"Oh thank god, it's Vinnie," he said sarcastically.

Donovan refrained from rolling his eyes. "I heard that you always slip away but it's something else to actually see it."

"Then why don't you get out of my way before I show you more," he growled.

"Okay," Donovan held up a hand at him. "Slow down there. You slipped out of a basement, impressive, but you won't slip out of this place. Especially now."

Dean's back stiffened. "What, you think you can stop me wiseguy?"

Donovan's eyes narrowed. "You think I won't?"

Dean's grip on the blade tightened. "Get out of my way," he threatened.

Donovan eyed the blade in his hand. He seemed a little thrown by it but kept his stance. He then quickly reached behind him and Dean pounced. He grabbed Donovan's hand before he could aim the gun. Donovan grabbed at the hand that had the blade and pushed on it. The two of them yanked at each other to try and get the upper hand with their weapons. Donovan then threw himself at Dean so that they slammed against the wall. The blade and gun flew out of their hands and slid across the floor. The two of them rolled around the floor but Donovan managed to be on top. Dean managed to get one of his hands around Donovan's neck and tried to choke him. Donovan gagged as he grabbed at Dean's hand but his grip was iron tight. He then brought both his elbow and Dean's down onto his chest which made him yelp and let go. Donovan then quickly punched Dean across the face and threw himself away. He went for where the gun and blade were but Dean was reaching for his legs. Donovan crawled through the grabbing to reach for the gun. He cocked it and aimed it for Dean but Dean pushed it up and the shot missed. Dean twisted Donovan's hand and then slammed it to the floor to make him lose the gun. Dean then went and headbutted Donovan in the face.

"Damn you," Donovan said through the pain.

Dean's eyes fell on the blade and he went for it. Donovan felt the loss of weight and went back for his gun. Dean grabbed the blade at the same time Donovan got his gun. Donovan stood up and went to aim the gun as Dean charged at the agent. Donovan let out a gasp when he did while he looked into Dean's feral face. The two of them looked down to see the First Blade plunged into his gut. Donovan then started to gasp, almost like he was choking. He then fell down to the ground. Dean found himself shaking a bit as he gazed at Donovan struggling to breathe. Blood started to flood over Donovan's fingers as he tried to plug the wound but it did little to stop it and he was starting to cough it. He then started to go still and the light soon fled from his eyes.

Dean gazed down at the blade now damp with Donovan's blood. His hand was wet with it as well. When his eye fell on his bloodied hand his own blood started pumping hard and his insides seemed to be in flames. The mark on his arm was pulsing and glowing bright red through his sleeve.

Joseph, Jedediah, Ezekiel, Isaac and Abel were sitting together in the church with their heads bowed and closed in meditation and prayer. The five of them were in blue hooded robes and the hoods were up covering their faces as their heads were bent down in concentration. They were still and unbroken in their poses. That is until Abel's face started to tighten. His closed eyes squinted harder and soon his teeth were clenched and he then held a hand to his head and removed the hood from his head. His fellow Powers noticed and broke out of their trances.

"Abel?" Isaac called out. "What's the matter with you?"

Abel was looking out of the closest window. "Something is wrong."

"What do you mean?" Jedediah asked.

Abel's eyes narrowed. "It's strange. I…I can feel Cain."

Joseph stood up and pulled off his own hood. "You can? Where?"

"It's not close by. It's pretty far but…something is wrong. It's not him."

Joseph narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Abel turned to look back over at them. "I can feel Cain but, at the same time, I know it's not him. I know my brother and while it feels like him, I just know it isn't."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ezekiel asked him.

He just shook his head. "I don't know. It's hard for me to describe. What I do know is that it sets me on edge." He caught Joseph's eye. "I should look into this."

"No," Joseph shook his head. "Not now."

"We shouldn't ignore this, should we?" he tried to reason.

"Not ignore, postpone. We can't let ourselves be diverted from course right now. Cain may be your mission Abel but he isn't your present priority. All things in their own time Abel. Don't fall into the same trap as your flannel loving descendants and put your personal matters over the greater good."

Abel straightened up a bit and then nodded after a moment. He was an anointed member of the Powers now. He has to keep reminding himself about it.

"You're right."

"Come on then," Joseph said as he turned to look at the image of an angel designed on the window. "It's time to go."

The angels had spent the last few hours taking turns punching Castiel across the face. His face was bruised and his lip and nose were bleeding. Nathaniel was leaning against the wall watching it with a small degree of pleasure. It only took a pause when the shot echoed through the halls.

"What was that?" asked one of the angels.

Nathaniel stiffened. "I have a wild guess," he uttered to himself. He then pointed to Hezekiah. "You, watch him," he ordered. "The rest of you, come with me."

They ran out of the office leaving the two of them alone.

"It seems as if your favorite human is making noise, like usual."

"Yes, well, Dean never was a considerate guest," Castiel exchanged indifferently. He then softened his posture. "What happened to you Hezekiah? You told me you were done with fighting. That you wanted to live peacefully with the humans."

"I was and I did. That is until I saw how foolish it was."

"Foolish?"

"Yes Castiel. I mean, what did I or my fellow faction members expect? That we were going to settle down? Form families? Bask in human pleasures and wonders? Looking back, I see how naïve and foolish we were being. We were pretending that we were human. We're not human and we should stop trying to convince ourselves otherwise. I think you above all could appreciate that. After all, you actually became human, didn't you? And yet, you worked and became an angel again no matter the cost; even stealing another angel's grace, a renegade's at that to do it."

Castiel couldn't help but see where Hezekiah was trying to go with this. When he became human, yes, he found wonder in it. But, after the initial shocks died down he began to feel…wrong. When he appropriated Azrael's grace, even though it wasn't his he had felt like he had regained a limb he had lost.

"So you decided to jump your Penitence Loveboat and boarded the Powers' Battleship?"

Hezekiah was taken aback. "Loveboat?"

"Nevermind," Castiel mumbled. Thanks to Metatron he found himself to be quite pop culture savvy now and it still seemed somewhat foreign to him.

"This is where I and my fellow angels are meant to be. What we were always meant to be." Hezekiah's tone was rising. "It's all finally starting to be clear again! Everything was fine until thanks to those Winchesters you started to get in our heads and corrupt us!"

"I wasn't trying to corrupt you," he defended. "I only have ever tried to help you! All of you!"

Hezekiah's turned away from him to gaze at the opposite side of the room. "Have you? Is that what you were doing when you helped Metatron with the Fall? Is that what you and those two maggots of yours are doing here now?"

He was ranting and raving before he looked down. Castiel's felt a tingle in his spine and instinct took him over. He was ready to catch him when Hezekiah charged at him with an angel blade. "What are you doing?" Castiel grunted as he struggled against him.

"I'm finally ending this now! Once and for all!" His face was almost feral. "Even if I'm punished by the Powers for this I will finally make sure Heaven is safe once and for all!"

The point of the blade was inching closer to his heart. "Hezekiah…stop!" Castiel said as he struggled against him. Hezekiah wasn't letting up. Castiel wasn't seeing any other choice. He twisted his body and quickly pulled instead of pushed on the blade to make Hezekiah stumble before he turned Hezekiah's own blade on him. Hezekiah screamed as the grace in him imploded. Castiel looked down at Hezekiah's body. "I'm sorry."

Castiel then ran out of the room to try to find Dean. But he stopped in his tracks at the sight of a small group of angels. One of them a blond woman whose grace he recognized as one of the Powers; Camael. They were gazing down at a body lying in a pool of its own blood. Castiel knew it to be one of the humans who had guarded him when he had been captured a number of weeks ago.

His presence was soon noticed and Camael narrowed her eyes. "Seize him!" she cried.

Castiel ran in the opposite direction as two angels ran off after him.

Camael then looked for the others. "Splinter off and find the others," she ordered before they and she too split off to search the whole manor.

Dean had stared down at Donovan's bleeding corpse with bated breath for what seemed like an eternity. The blood was rushing to his head and he felt like his insides were burning out. He stepped away from the pool of blood that was starting to leak out. It was maybe a few seconds after that when he heard the sound of rushing people. Dean instead of running away rushed towards it. He ran into what looked like a library where he collided with a man who had a shotgun strapped to his side and made him fall down on his back. Dean took the blade and drove it down on the guy's heart before he could even react. He heard another man's voice asking for what had happened and went to the doorway where he went and slashed at the entering guy's chest with a small spray of blood splashing on Dean's face.

A guy further back in the next room drew his gun and started to fire on Dean and he doubled back behind the corner to dodge them. He reached for one of the first guy's strapped gun and then took it and let loose a shot at his shooter's direction. He managed to get the guy on the leg and keel over in pain. Dean then stomped over and emotionlessly watched as he writhed on the floor grasping his leg. He looked up at Dean and tried to reach for his fallen pistol. Dean growled through his clenched teeth as he brought the First Blade down to cut the man's throat.

Three more men stumbled into the hallway and their faces dropped at the sight of the blood that was covering him. The three of them were still for a moment before they hardened and angel blades fell into their hands.

"You monster," one of them called out.

Dean stood up straight to face them with a hard, hungry look on his blood stained face.

Nathaniel was in the middle of them as he looked at the blood crazed human. He didn't understand what was with Dean Winchester until he lifted his hand to reveal a frighteningly familiar weapon. "Bring him down," he ordered the other two.

The two charged at Dean with their blades ready. Dean darted between them and quickly struck them both down. He struck the first across the chest as he ducked from a swipe the second one had at him before he went and drove the blade into his back. Nathaniel panted a bit quickly at the sight of his fallen brothers before he rushed at Dean himself. Dean swiped at him but he ducked and tried to drive his blade into Dean's gut but he grabbed Nathaniel's wrist with his free hand. Nathaniel yelped when Dean's grip tightened it forcing him to let his blade fall from his hold to the floor. He then felt the edge of the First Blade caressing his face.

Nathaniel's eyes went from it to Dean's eyes. "Castiel's maggot has finally grown his wings," he hissed at him

Dean just huffed before he stuck the blade into his heart. Nathaniel's screams echoed through the halls. Dean pushed his body unceremoniously away and looked around at the trail of bodies and blood he had left in his wake. He didn't feel nervous, or scared or even concerned by the sight at all. He felt...calm.

Metatron, Barbatos and Dagiel were strolling down the main road right to the main house and strolled right on in through the open front door, passed the two guards that were knocked out.

"Quite the nice place," Metatron commented as he looked at the manor's entrance hall that had Michael's symbol sewn into the carpet before the stairs. "Better than ours for sure. Except for all the gunfire and screams."

"Seems the Powers have really been living it up since our imprisonment," Dagiel said a little bitter.

"Quite," Barbatos uttered until the sound of more gunfire made him use his vessel's young face to smirk. "Having the Winchesters go through first was a brilliant move."

"Yes, that should give use plenty of time then," said Metatron.

Barbatos raised an eyebrow. "For what exactly?"

Metatron didn't answer but simply directed them up the stairs. To Barbatos and Dagiel, it looked like he didn't know quite where he was going but they could hear him muttering to himself things like: 'It's close', and 'I know it's here'. As they walked through what seemed to be a trophy room the door opposite them opened and in came an angel that Barbatos knew too well.

"Well, well," she said as she strolled in with three other angels at her back. "Look whose come crawling back," she said with no hidden trace of disgust.

"Camael," Barbatos said keeping his composure. "You look well. You have yourself quite the appealing vessel if I must say so myself."

"And you Barbatos? Quite young for what I expected of you."

He shrugged. "I'll admit, not my first choice but," he then fixed the collar of the leather jacket he was wearing. "It's growing on me."

"I see that you have your wings back as well, "she continued as if Barbatos hadn't even said anything. "Samael's handiwork no doubt."

"Of course." Barbatos smirked as he let his grace glow and the shadows of his rebuilt wings towered behind him on the walls of the room. "Does it make you want to rethink our rightful place?"

"Not at all," she said defiantly. She then looked upon Dagiel and Metatron huddled further behind him. "You have unexpected company as well. Another of your fellow jailbirds and a hack who calls himself the Scribe of God."

"Hey, I resent that," Metatron chided.

"Shut it," Barbatos barked at him before looking to re-face Camael. "You don't know how long I've wanted to see one of you again. One of my fellow Powers who chose to forgo honor for two legged hairless apes. I'll admit, I would've preferred Joseph but you will more than do for besmirching the honor of the Powers." He then brought down his twin angel swords.

Camael drew both of hers as well. "Honor? You haven't had honor for the longest time Barbatos. Just misplaced pride. And we all know how that went for Lucifer, don't we?"

Barbatos roared as he charged for Camael who intercepted his blow. The two of them sliced and slashed their swords for one another but they both were able to defend and were intercepted by the other. Their angelic witnesses were again reminded of just who both these angels were. The very elite of Heaven's warriors. Dagiel made to move forward but Metatron held a hand to stop him.

"Better not get in the middle of this," he muttered before he led him out the way they came to go around all of this.

"Where are we going?" Dagiel demanded. "What is this even about Metatron?"

Metatron then stopped in front of a random door. "Wait...this is it."

They entered but Dagiel only saw what looked like a bedroom. While bigger than most, he would swear that it belonged to a young man based on the juvenile like décor. "What so special here that you had to use the Winchesters for diversions and for us to still risk the Powers' wrath?"

Metatron went over to a desk and picked up a slab of rock next to a photo of a smiling Prophet with a smiling Saint. "Not the one I preferred but its a lot better than nothing."

"What?" Dagiel asked him impatiently.

"Power," Metatron answered simply. "And I'll need your help with it."

Dagiel narrowed his eyes before he felt a tickle in the back of his head that made him look over his shoulder.

After that first shot was heard, Kevin was taken in through an entrance at the side of the house opposite of its direction to be herded to safety. Kevin was now up in some corner of the second floor of the manor being shielded by an angel and a Battalion member.

"What the hell is happening?" he asked when some more shots were fired from downstairs.

The angel stayed quiet but the human didn't. "You see Kevin, you were sleeping at the time but on the way back we got a call from Agent Donovan. He said that they had caught Dean Winchester trying to break in."

"Dean? He found us? What about Sam? Was he caught too?" he asked all in one breath.

"No. I'm not sure," the man said shaking his head. "All I know right now is that hell is breaking loose."

"You don't know the half of it," said a new voice.

Kevin and his two guards turned to look at the new arrival. Kevin didn't recognize him and neither did the Battalion member. However, the angel stiffened. "Dagiel," he muttered.

"Dagiel?" Kevin said. "Wasn't that the name of one of those renegades from Heaven's Prison."

"So, my reputation precedes me." Dagiel had a smirk on his face.

Yes, Kevin had heard of him from stories that the Powers shared with them. Dagiel had an altercation with Noah during the Deluge when he tried to sabotage the Ark. He had been a little shocked to learn that the Ark had actually been for people rather than animals to be safe from the flood but it wasn't among the biggest surprises in his life. Dagiel was stopped and captured because of Noah so he would understandably have a grudge against Saints over that.

"What do you want here renegade?!" the angel with Kevin demanded.

"Him." His eyes narrowed as he zoned in on Kevin. "I thought I felt one of you so called special humans. I would've preferred meeting the Saint but a prophet will do."

"Over my dead body," the man said blocking Kevin from his sight.

"I'd be happy to arrange that." Dagiel then brought out his blade.

Kevin was told to run by the angel before he and the Battalion member ran at Dagiel. Kevin ran into the next room and shut the door behind him. He heard screaming behind the door and he heard the sound of glass breaking. Kevin ran to the door on the other side of the room, ready to keep running but he froze as soon as his hand wrapped around the doorknob. He could hear the sounds of that angel and man fighting this Dagiel and looked back for the door the sounds of fighting were leaking through. Kevin's eyes scanned the room and fell on a letter opener on a table close by.

Dagiel soon kicked the door down to see Kevin jump in fright in the middle of the room.

"What do you want with me?!" Kevin frightfully demanded.

"They say you're supposed to be smart. If you really were told about me then I think it would be obvious." He might not be a saint but he was the next best thing. He's wanted to cut into a human like this since Noah had humiliated him during the Deluge. He then held his bloodstained blade for Kevin to see as he angled it to point at him. "Don't worry, it'll be nice and slow so you won't miss a thing."

"I never did anything to you. I wasn't even born yet when that stuff happened."

"You breathing is insulting enough to me," he growled. "You humans think you're so special when you're really dirty life-sucking leeches. The difference with you 'special' holy humans is that you're clean life-sucking leeches."

Kevin backed away slowly with a tensed expression on his face. Dagiel stepped closer to him like a lion stalking its prey. He made it to the doorway where the door was open and Dagiel thought he was going to try to run into the next room but was thrown when the young prophet's scared look melted away and became cocky.

"So then you better believe that we know how you tick," he said before he went and pulled the open door closed.

Dagiel gasped as he saw that the door had a blood painted Banishing Sigil. He barely shouted "No!" before Kevin slammed his hand and activated it. He vanished with a yell. Kevin then ran to see that the angel with him was clutching his side where Dagiel appeared to have wounded him and saw the Battalion guard was lying among the broken pieces of the mirror he'd been thrown into with cuts bleeding from his head and back. Kevin looked up when some more angels came rushing in.

"What the hell is going on?" he cried to them.

"We're under attack," one of them said. "And not just from the Winchesters."

Sam silently and carefully wormed his way through the manor with his shotgun in hand. He had to admit that the manor was designed in good taste. It almost reminded him of the Bunker back in Lebanon. He heard footsteps and he ducked behind a corner. The steps were coming closer so Sam raised his arms a little higher, ready to strike whoever was coming with the butt of his gun. When they were right on him he quickly stepped out to strike but his gun was grabbed before it could make contact with their face. Sam froze when he saw that the one who he tried to whack was Castiel.

"Oh, Cas," he breathed. "Crap, I didn't know it was you." He then lowered the gun.

"There's no time," Castiel hissed as he pulled Sam back to where he had hidden.

"What?" Sam tried to ask before Castiel shushed him.

The two of them stayed quiet when more steps were heard and three angels ran passed them.

"Sam, are you alright?" Castiel asked when the coast was clear.

"Yeah. You?"

"More or less," he grunted.

"What's been going on?" Sam whispered angrily as they walked on.

"I was about to ask you the same question. I was held captive by some of my brothers for the last few hours. What's been happening? Where's Dean?"

"I don't know. After you left us he knocked me out."

"Why would he do that?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I think he didn't want me to get in his way. He's...not thinking straight right now. With what's happened with Lisa and Ben, I think its getting to be too much for him now."

"Well, it will make little difference now. Daniel, Joseph and most of the Powers and other angels aren't even here."

"What? Then where the hell are they?"

"That wasn't exactly shared but they were ready for us. They knew we were coming somehow."

"We gotta find Dean and get out of here. But this place is huge and they're looking for us now."

Sam turned down for a certain hallway but Castiel pulled on his arms. "No, not that way. We should try looking upstairs."

Castiel then moved them a different direction and Sam gave the way he almost went a look before he followed after Castiel. The angel didn't want Sam to go that way and see the body that he found.

Camael and Barbatos were still locked in heated combat that was starting to carry them through the halls of the second floor. The angels with her had scattered when they heard screaming and felt a rush of power from an angel being banished close by them and she screamed at them to see to it while she kept at her opponent. The two of them brought their battle to an atrium where there was an open circular space with beautiful white columns spread around. Barbatos made a swipe for her head but Camael took a sidestep to avoid it before she struck and grazed Barbatos' right arm. He jumped back as he yelped in surprise.

"Ugh, it seems you've improved," he growled as he lightly touched his wound.

"I haven't been slacking all these centuries," she said like he just insulted her.

Barbatos glared. "Oh? You make it sound like I've been lounging about all this time? Need I remind you that I was locked away in that abysmal cell?!"

"No less what you deserved for betraying us Barbatos," she screeched.

"Yes, I see I betrayed so much," he said sarcastically. "Don't be so cocky just because you got a lucky hit out on me."

Metatron stumbled upon them and was watching from a safe distance away hidden behind a column. He didn't think anyone noticed him but a dark figure was silently stalking him with a blood stained jawbone in his hand. Dean was itching to slit Metatron's throat and jab the blade into every square inch of his body to finally pay the bastard back for everything. For not warning them about the trials, for taking Cas's grace, for screwing around with Heaven and making that prick Daniel look like such a godsend. If he couldn't have him then he was the next best thing.

Yet, he froze when he caught sight of what he was looking at. It was Ben, or rather Barbatos' and he looked like he had been hurt. Dean saw red when he looked on the blond bitch that was standing not too far with two fancy looking swords that he knew already belonged to the Powers. He shifted his course and ran for her. This surprised the three other angels but Camael quickly got over it and intercepted him. Barbatos stepped back a bit until he came upon Metatron.

"When did you get here?" he spat at him.

"Long enough to see that she got a scrape on you," he criticized.

Barbatos scoffed. "Like you would've done better. Your talents are merely taking notes Metatron. There's nothing special about you."

Metatron face went into a scowl as he looked back at the fighting Power and human.

Camael pushed her sword to the blade to keep it away before she tried to impale Dean with her second sword. Dean twisted his body so she would miss and locked her arm in with his. Once he did he then went forward and headbutted Camael. The shock of it sent her stumbling back a bit and he struck at her with the blade. The blade grazed at her chest but didn't manage to go too deep. Yet the shock was enough to send her down to the floor.

Sam and Castiel entered the atrium and Sam froze at the sight of his brother. He was covered and stained in blood and something screamed at him that hardly any of it was Dean's. He had the First Blade tight in his grip and was leering over a wounded woman, a Power judging from the fallen angel swords near her. Castiel was shocked at how Dean seemed to have disabled a member of the Powers as renowned as Camael but how he was acting didn't sit right with him. Dean didn't seem like a hunter, he looked more like a predator that was enjoying stalking his prey and delaying the fatal pounce as much as possible to stretch the moment. What was happening to him?

Dean grit his teeth and was ready to gut the angel but he felt a sharp pain. Everyone watching him was stunned and unprepared for when Metatron suddenly ran forward and jabbed his angel blade to Dean's gut from behind. Dean shakingly turned around and Metatron went and plunged the blade into him again but this time into his chest. Dean started to choke before his feet gave out and he fell on his back.

"Dean!" Sam cried as he ran and dropped down to Dean's side. Dean was looking at him but he was gagging. Sam started to cry when blood started flooding his brother's mouth.

Everyone else was looking at Metatron in shock. He was glaring at Dean's attempt to try to keep breathing before looking about at everyone else. "You see?" he declared. "You see what I've just done. You think I have no skill. No talent! I've just done what no one else seems to be able to do! Finally ended Dean Winchester once and for all!"

"You!" Castiel cried as he brought his blade out and stomped for him.

But before he could get more than two feet forward Metatron let out a scream. Metatron was screaming as a sword end was sticking out from his shoulder and he was looking at it in pained horror. It was then pulled out and he fell down to his knees.

"Barbatos," he hissed. "Why?"

Barbatos simply stepped backwards and sent everyone a sinister smile. "Samael sends his regards," he declared. Barbatos then looked at a surprised Camael still on the floor. "Tell Joseph that I'll see him soon." Then he was gone with a flap of his wings.

Camael got to her feet and collected her swords. She then went for the pained scribe and kicked at him so that his back was flat on the floor. "You're finally ours," she hissed.

"No, he's mine," Castiel roared as he started over for them.

"No Cas," Sam cried grabbing him. "We got to get Dean out of here!"

Castiel looked from Metatron to Dean a few times before he let out an impatient grunt and went to scoop Dean up over his shoulder and he and Sam ran out to escape the manor.

"Somebody stop them!" Camael roared out as she kept a sword end firmly at Metatron's throat.

Sam was leading the way as they darted through the halls for the stairs. He came upon a Battalion member that grabbed at him but Sam punched him and pushed him off into the wall and they resumed running. They shot out the front door and Sam went to one of the vans he saw the others arrive in earlier.

"In here Cas," he cried back as he ran to the closest one.

Sam got into the driver's seat and was relieved to see that the keys were still in the ignition. He started the car as Castiel carried Dean inside and threw himself in. He then floored it. Two Battalion members flew out the front door with guns drawn. One of them an automatic with a silencer and let loose at the car. A window from the second floor facing the front opened and another man with a rifle started shooting at them too.

Kevin heard the rapid shooting and went to the closest window and saw the van rushing down the main road of the grounds and saw some of the Battalion men shooting at it. He knew that Sam and Dean were in there and wasn't sure how he should feel at that moment.

Sam drove the van down the path as he blinked through the bullets flying for them. The iron gates were shut but Sam didn't let up on the speed. He floored it.

"Brace yourself," he yelled back to Cas.

The van collided the gate and broke the bars off its hinges. The van's front was all but flattened as Sam tried to drive further out but the smoking engine told him that it wouldn't be far. Then again, they didn't need to go that far. He stopped the van next to the Impala.

"Bring him Cas," he said as he unbuckled his seat belt.

At noon, the churchbells in every church around the country rang. The services and prayers of so many people started as they were unaware that they were giving energy and direction to one of the most powerful beings that God had created. Lebanon's churchbells rang loud and proud and the echo of the nearby church could be heard by everyone at the site in Stull Cemetery. The Powers had dreaded being here. At the site of where they had lost their leader five years ago. It was poetic to get him back at the place where they had lost him.

In the open plot the audience of people had parted to leave a small walkway for their saint to walk through. Daniel tried very hard not to ruin the moment and throw up despite how much he felt like it. He was slowly stepping forward in the path made by everyone watching with the eyes of the Battalion and Angels following him. It made the short path seem to stretch on forever. He caught the gaze of Callie who was standing beside Phil Dawson and both of them were giving him a soft smile while Callie's eyes looked a bit worried. He saw Gadreel who gave him a slight nod when they caught eye contact.

In his arms he carried both the 'key' and the Holy Grail in his arms for all to see. At the front of the gathering were the Powers and Joseph was staring at him with a grim look in his eyes. Daniel took a moment to stop to stare back at those eyes, the eyes of his older brother. Daniel closed his eyes and forced himself to finish moving forward. He reached the spot in front of everyone and set the Grail down. He then took the key and started to dig into the ground. It had been softened with holy water so it was like cutting through soft butter. Daniel dragged the dagger to make a large circle and then carved in the familiar symbol of the angel he was trying to liberate. Liberate him from the very spot that he had fallen into the cage in the first place. Daniel set down the dagger and reached for the Holy Grail and opened a bottle of flammable oil. He then poured the oil into the golden cup and started to swirl it when it was full. Daniel saw the oil shimmer as it became consecrated into holy oil. He then started to pour it into the lines of the symbol he dug into the ground. He then went into his pocket and lit a match and threw it down.

There was a flare as the circled symbol came into a light blaze of Holy Fire. Michael's fiery symbol glowed and burned even in the noon light. Daniel then took the key and held it close to his heart as he stood before the symbol. On the floor on either side of him laid both the Holy Grail and the Angel Tablet. He took one last look at everyone else before he turned to look back at the blazing symbol. He began to chant. The enochian he had been rehearsing for days started to spill out, firm and strong through the sounds of the echoing church bells.

Daniel's tone was firm and steady. He heeded Kevin's advice and just focused on doing his job without worrying about how he looked or seemed to everyone while he did it. All the angels weren't focused on how he looked as he did the ritual anyway but on the burning symbol on the ground where Michael would emerge from. The humans watching Daniel couldn't understand what he was saying but the words were clear to Joseph and his fellow angels. The enochian was coming off perfectly. The nerves and feelings of inadequacy that Daniel was feeling a few days ago seemed like a distant memory. He was looking strong and dignified to the assembly of angels and humans witnessing him perform the ritual. They didn't see some lost boy there. They saw the Heavenly Saint.

Daniel then felt the dagger grow hot as he finished the enochian incantation. He moved his finger to the point of the dagger until a drop of blood started to flow down the side of the blade. It was time. Daniel's heart was pounding. This was it, both for the chaos…and maybe even for him. He could die, but, if he didn't do this then everyone could die. He promised, not just the Powers, the Battalion, Kevin and even the Winchesters that he wouldn't turn away, but he promised himself that he wouldn't. Daniel gave a shout as he raised the blade.

Abel turned back to the humans. "Shut your eyes!" he commanded.

Richards, Dawson and all the other Battalion members dropped their heads down as Daniel kneeled down to shove the dagger at the base of the symbol. As soon as the key struck the ground, there was a pulse that flung Daniel back. The dagger started to sink into the ground until it was fully swallowed and symbol of fire was replaced by bright golden light that started to spew out in the shape of the circle. A loud static noise started to vibrate in the ears of the Battalion which had most of them go to cover their ears as they kept their eyes firmly shut.

All the angels were staring unflinchingly into the light. The Powers all had eager smiles on their faces and Joseph even started to cry a few tears as he let out a soft laugh. Daniel was staring at the light as he got back to his feet. The light didn't burn his eyes and the static didn't hurt his ears. His jaw started to drop a bit as he stared in awe as he could make out something rising out of the ground behind the veil of light.

The light dimmed out and the noise died out soon enough. All the humans slowly raised their heads and squinted their eyes opened and most of them literally fell back in awe at what they were seeing. The Powers had deep smiles on their faces and the lower angels like Gadreel were looking wide-eyed with awe and even fear. Daniel was still as a picture. The circle that Daniel carved into the ground was now a hole that had red light coming out like an opening to a volcano, or a hellpit. Above it was a young man in somewhat dirty clothes hovering in the air. Michael was before them now in the form of his vessel Adam Milligan. On either side of him were golden flames blazing out in the shape of wings. His face was passive but his eyes were closed. The hole soon started to close in on itself until the firm ground was back and the archangel lightly descended until his feet were firmly back on the ground.

All the angels immediately kneeled down on one knee and bowed their heads at the return of their original leader. The Battalion immediately followed suit. The only one who didn't was Daniel. He just kept staring. Everything around the archangel was blurred but he was completely in focus. At least until even he was blurring and everything started to go dark. His head was starting to feel as light as a cloud and his feet were like paper.

"Michael," he managed to gasp out before he collapsed from where he stood.

That pulled Joseph's eyes off his returned leader.

Samael was lounging out the back porch of a cabin when the sound of wings stirred him from his daydreaming.

"Hey Barbatos."

"Did you feel that?" he said dropping the formalities.

"Yeah," he nodded looking up at the afternoon sun. "Big Bro is back. Don't worry," he said sensing Barbatos' shaken nerves. "I'll handle him when the time comes. I wasn't quick to jump into action after the Fall. Michael won't be either with his imprisonment. He'll need time and he'll set priorities and we won't be the immediate one. In the meantime, let's just make ourselves as ready as possible and deal with what we can. Speaking of which."

Barbatos nodded. "Metatron has been taken. Just like you wanted."

"Was he surprised?"

"Oh yes," Barbatos said with a small bit of pleasure leaking through.

Samael smirked. "Oh I wish I could've seen the look on his face. Was it good?"

"I don't know. I struck him from behind."

"Stabbed in the back. Oh how poetic," he laughed. "I'm sure, story wise, he could appreciate that little twist."

"Actually, it was in the shoulder."

Samael stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes. "Don't ruin it."

"Of course," he said quickly. "But, I'm still at a loss of why all of this? Why did you throw Metatron to them and why you wanted me to be opposed to you during the meeting with Tyrus to make Metatron think he could trust me? I don't get it."

"Hmph…Barbatos, do you remember what I told the Winchesters?"

Barbatos thought on it for a moment. "You said a lot of things," he answered.

"What I roared at them?" he said, throwing him a bone.

Barbatos narrowed his eyes. "You said you do the screwing and-

"No one screws with me," Samael nodded. "Metatron thought he could. Thought he was being so clever. Probably thought I was as easy to use and manipulate like Castiel. He thought that he could backstab me once I took care of all the opposition for him. Well, now he knows better."

"I must say that I'm impressed."

"Did you hear Metatron tell you exactly what it was he was trying to do to screw me over?"

Barbatos shook his head. "Unfortunately, he was annoyingly cryptic about it. Oh, and I believe I should tell you, he did manage to fatally stab Dean Winchester."

"Really? Well…this should make things more interesting," Samael mumbled before he started to look around. "What happened to Dagiel? Was he killed?"

"No. I felt him get banished when we were there. He might still be licking his wounds somewhere."

"Do you think he might be a risk?"

"No. Metatron didn't seem to share more with him than he did with me."

Over in a library Dagiel was staggering down one of the aisles and leaned on one of the cases. He was breathing a little hard but he was still standing. He then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the Demon Tablet.

Dean's body was laid out in the bed of his room while Castiel and Sam were off to mourn him.

Castiel was pacing through the Bunker's library until he came by a small pile of books stacked on the table. He glared at it for a moment before he went and angrily pushed it away. He cut his hand on the sharp edge of a nearby lamp and just watched as his hand leaked out a drop of blood. He began to wipe his hand before he stomped for the bunker's front door to try and walk off his building frustration.

Sam was off in a dark corner of his room, with a half empty bottle of scotch in his hand as he angrily glared at the wall. Nothing. That's what they got out of this. Nothing but Dean dead. No tablets. No Powers stopped. No Saint. No Lisa or Ben free. No Kevin either. Just Dean…dead. Sam slammed the scotch down hard on his bedside table letting some spill out of the mouth of the bottle before he went off for the dungeon. He came upon the materials that were still laid out by Dean when they had locked him in there. The stuff he used to call Crowley.

"Damn it Crowley. You brought him into all of this mess. You will get him out." He wasn't asking for his help. He was ordering it. Promising it. "Or so help me God." He then went to start calling for him.

What he didn't know was that Crowley was already in the Bunker.

"Your brother, bless his soul is summoning me as I speak. Make a deal, bring you back. This is exactly what I was talking about, isn't it? It's all become so…expectant. You have to believe me, when I first put you on Cain's trail I didn't know this was going to happen. Actually, that's a lie. Not the knowing part, but the putting you on it part. I might not have told you the entire truth that night. I didn't do it because I thought Cain was a wild card. It was because he was a play, from Samael. You see…all the stories of Cain and his mark…there is one that…I might've neglected to mention. Apparently, he too was willing to fight against the blood that the mark wanted him to take. Fought hard against it. Bared it. He thought that he deserved it after killing his dear little brother Abel. That is…until his daddy and mummy went and had a new little bundle of joy. A joy named Seth. After that, Cain couldn't bear it and was happy to accept death. He turned the blade on himself. He died too. Except, rumor has it…the mark never let him go. I think you can understand why I or even dear Cas never said anything." He then pulled out the First Blade. "Why set hearts a flutter on mere speculation. It wasn't until the moment that I saw you leave that cheeseburger uneaten-" He then walked over and put the blade in his cold, dead hands. "That I began to believe that, maybe, miracles do come true. That's what you are Dean. You are Samael's miracle. Say what you want about the guy but he still an archangel and they do deliver miracles." His tone then changed to something harder. "Listen to me Dean Winchester. What you're feeling right now, it's not death. It's life. A new kind of life. Open your eyes Dean. See what I see. Feel what I feel." He then settled a bit. "Let's go take a howl at that moon."

At that moment, Dean's eyes popped open. As black and empty as any demon's he had ever come across.

End of Chapter 42

A/N: That wraps up this season. I know it's been over a month since my last chapter but with the holidays and all I didn't have much time. Plus, this chapter went through so many revisions until I was finally happy with it. I wanted it to be worthy of a patented Supernatural finale, and what a finale. Michael is free, Donovan is dead, Daniel has fallen, Metatron is caught and Dean is screwed. I hope you guys liked the Wiseguy references I put in there.

There have been new changes to The End (Again) pages on the fanon wiki site for Supernatural and I hope you like them as well as the new pictures that a few pages now have.

The next story will be coming and will take place during Season 10. A season of blood, both literally and figuratively.