Krystal had been tied to the ceiling. Her clothes were ripped and bloody and her long hair hung down like a rope. She and Meg, who tied on the floor, had been there for the past year. Not long after kidnapping them, Crowley and his Demons had begun to torture and question them about Lucifer's crypts. Only Meg knew about them, having hung out with the Archangel back in the day. At first, she had refused to even talk to them but when they turned their attention to Krystal, she had panicked, deciding to feed them lies in the hopes it would buy them more time. Having finally got his hands on Krystal, Crowley had taken delight in trying to manipulate her into turning completely but she resisted much to his disappointment. Krystal found her thoughts turning to Castiel from time to time. Where was he? Was he okay? Was he still alive? She hoped so. She missed him, missed his calm, safe presence. She missed his adorable cluelessness and his care. Wherever he was, she hoped he was safe and well.

Little did she know, he was safe but he wasn't well.

Somewhere else, Sam, Dean and Castiel stood in front of a tied up Demon in her kitchen. Each hand was fastened with her palms faced down. She chuckled. The brothers leant against the sink facing her. Castiel stood to the side. "Oh, the thoughts she had about you two. Mostly you, Sam. What can I say? She has a thing for mutton chops."

"All right, you douchebag, listen-" But before he could finish his sentence, Castiel stabbed his Angel blade into one of her hands.

"Aah!" She screamed, panting. She let out a whimper of pain as he pulled the blade out, sparks glowing from her hand.

"Who told you about the crypts?" Castiel demanded coldly.

"I thought Angels were supposed to be the good cops?' She spat angrily."Aah!" She screamed again as he stabbed her other hand. "Wait! Stop! Stop! We have a hostages!" Castiel wrenched the blade out of her hand. She panted and gasped from the pain of the Angel blade. "It's one of Crowley's pets. She's at the Murray Hotel, down by the interstate. She knows the towns where all the crypts are buried. She saw them all back in the day. There's two of em but only one of em actually hung around Lucifer." She admitted.

"And she told you about the parchment?" Sam asked.

"What parchment?!" The Demon glared.

"Hey. Hey! Think he's the only bad cop in this room? Stop lying! We know what you're really looking for." Dean snapped.

"No. I am telling you, we're looking for..."

"Kill it!" Naomi ordered.

"...for - aah!" She screamed as Castiel plunged the blade into the Demons stomach before she could finish her sentence.

"Cas! What the hell was that?!" Sam cried.

"It told us what we needed." Castiel replied emotionlessly.

"No, she didn't! You can't just-"

"I started this hunt without you because I didn't want anything to slow me down. We have to get to the motel now."

"Hold on a second-" But it was too late. Castiel was gone.

"Cas!"

"Cas? Cas? Damn it. Go. Go. Go."

They ran through a hallway and stopped outside a door. There was another flash of light coming from around the door and a cry of pain could be heard clearly. They nodded at each other and burst into the room just as a Demon with burned out eyes toppled onto the body of another dead Demon whose eyes were also burned out. Castiel stood in the middle of the room.

"Thanks for waiting," Sam said sarcastically.

Castiel pointed to another room. "The hostage is in there."

They opened the door and were stunned to see Meg with long blonde hair, tied on the ground. Her face was battered and bruised.

"Aren't you a little short for a Storm trooper?"

"Meg?"

"Who else?"

Dean scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Um, where's Kris?"

Castiel stepped back as a curtain of thick, dark hair fell in his face. He blinked and parted the hair so he could see, his fingers tangling in the knots. "Ow! Hey! Quit pulling my hair!" His gaze shot up to see Krystal spread across the ceiling in an uncomfortable position. "Can you get me down now? I'm a...little uncomfortable here," her voice was strained. Castiel waved his hands and the binds holding her up vanished. "Ahhhh! She cried as she fell towards the floor. She grunted as she fell into a pair of arms and looked up to see Castiel staring down at her.

So, I got to ask. Um... ..what's up with the hair?" Dean asked.

"Aww. Thanks for noticing, Dean. But this wasn't my idea. It was Crowley's. And it's just another reason I want to stab him in the face."

Krystal sniggered. She was sitting next to Meg on the bed. "I think it suites you, Meg."

Meg looked at her. "Really? Well, I think the floor suites you."

Krystal was about to ask what she meant when Meg shoved her off of the bed. She landed on the floor with a grunt and a loud thump. "Ow."

"Wait a second. You've been telling Crowley the location of Lucifer's crypts?"

"What can I say? I needed a break from the constant torture. And I did visit them all during my time with Yellow Eyes. But don't worry. I haven't exactly been giving them the Glengarry leads."

"You mean you've been lying to them?" Castiel asked.

"I just get them in the ballpark. Enough time's passed and enough's changed that they bought it."

"Why lie?"

"Buy myself some time, dummy. Try to find a way to get free."

"Wait, so... A bunch of innocent people died so you could...buy yourself some time?"

"Hi. I'm Meg. I'm a Demon."

"So, what have they found?"

"Bupkis. Every crypt's been one Al Capone's vault after another. And on top of that, someone kept picking up the trail and icing Demons. I'm guessing that was you, Castiel. But Crowley just keeps sending more. He's hell bent on..."

"She's gonna tell them the truth." Castiel stated in worry. "Do I have to kill her?"

"She does know the location of the crypts. But working with a demon is...unclean." Naomi replied thoughtfully.

"Well, we could use her as Crowley did." Castiel suggested.

"Agreed."

"...finding that Angel Tablet."

"Wait a second. Did you just say Angel Tablet?"

Meg stared at Sam. "You know, I get why Crowley calls you moose now. Yes, the Angel Tablet. Crowley found out Lucifer had it, figures it's stashed in a crypt."

"Well, this is news to me, as well. Demons I interrogated, they must have been lying about their true intentions."

"Really? 'Cause I saw you Zero Dark Thirty that Demon. You were more than persuasive." Dean said suspiciously. Something was wrong here and he knew it.

"You're both missing the point. I lied to them, which means they're digging in the wrong place. But not for long. They'll be back here soon. So, who's up for fleeing?"

"I am!" Krystal called.

"She's right. We need to find those crypts before they do. Meg, you're the only one who's been there."

"We need your help."

"Any of you dummies got a map?"

"There. That's where the crypt was."

"What's there now?"

"Do I look like Google to you?" Krystal grinned at her comment. "None of these buildings were here way back in the day. Figure it out, genius. Is there any booze in this dump?"

"These wounds have festered." Castiel murmured as he finished wrapping gauze around Meg's wrist.

"You really do know how to make a girl's nethers quiver, don't you?" Meg and Krystal sat on the couch. Meh held a bottled of alcohol in her hand.

"I am aware of how to do that. Although it doesn't usually involve cleaning wounds."

"Why are you so sweet on us, Clarence?"

"I don't know. And I still don't know who Clarence is."

"I do. It's cause we're adorable and he just can't resist us."

Meg smiled. "Would it kill you to watch a movie, read a book?" She took a long swig of alcohol.

"A movie, no. But a book with the proper spells, yeah, it could, theoretically, kill me."

"You know, you're much cuter when you're shutting up. So, which Cas are you now? Original make and model or crazy town?"

Castiel sighed. "I'm just me."

"So, your noodle's back in order?"

"Yeah, my...noodle remembers everything. I think it's a pretty good noodle." He smiled.

"Really? You remember everything?

"If you're referring to the pizza man...yes, I remember the pizza man. And it's a good memory."

Krystal blushed and looked away.

"You ever miss the Apocalypse?"

"No. Why would I miss the end of times?"

"I miss the simplicity. I was bad. You were good. Kris was good. Life was easier. Now it's all so messy. I'm kind of good, which sucks. And you're kind of bad which is actually all manner of hot. We survive this I'm gonna order some pizza and we're gonna move some furniture around. You understand?" Krystal chose that moment to slap her around the head in warning. "Ow. What was that for?" She asked innocently.

"Hands off." She warned, pointing a finger at Meg.

Meg's eyes glittered mischievously. "Ohh, someone's jealous."

Krystal rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Not likely."

"Then you won't mind if I take a turn in kissing him?"

"Do you have a death wish? Do it and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

"Jealous," Meg sang.

Krystal turned to Castiel. "Is it possible to kill a Demon through strangulation? Cause I really wanna try it."

Castiel smiled at her fondly.

"All right. Let's roll, campers."

"So, this is it. Basement?"

"All right, Cas and I will head in and get our Indiana Jones on. Sam, you stay outside with Meg and Krystal." Dean ordered.

"What?" Sam asked, clearly not happy.

"We got this."

"What are you talking about, Dean? I'm not letting you go in there alone."

"He won't be alone."

"That's not what I mean. Meg and Krystal can hang here, watch our backs."

"Oh, what? Now you trust them?"

"Hey!" Krystal growled.

"Hey, I got you this far."

"Shut up."

"Shut up, Meg. Dean-"

"Sam, I saw your bloody rag in the trash can, okay?"

"That wasn't-"

"Stop. Just stop. Sam, we don't know what's in there, okay? And you almost let a demon get the best of you back there."

Sam gritted his teeth. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not fine. You haven't been fine since the first trial. That's why I called Cas."

"Trial?" Meg asked.

"Shut up, Meg!" They both shouted.

"Dean, I'm telling you - I'm okay."

"No, you're not." Castiel spoke up causing Sam to look at him. "Sam...you're damaged in ways even I can't heal. Dean's right. You should stay here and protect Meg and Krystal."

"Since when do we need protecting?" Meg said.

"Since you were both held captive and tortured for over a year." Castiel snapped.

"Touché."

"All right, we'll be back."

"Hey, what did you mean back there about Sam?"

"It's difficult to say. It's something on the subatomic level and his electromagnetic field-"

"Okay, bottom-line it for me, Bill Nye. Is it lethal?"

"I don't know. Wait." They stopped at a cement wall. "There's a draft. There's something behind there. Stand back." He placed a hand on the wall and a light poured out causing the wall to crack and break.

"Wait, so we took how many bullets for you guys, and you didn't even look for us? Like, once?" Sam's silence said enough. "My hero. What's with all the trial and being damaged crap?"

"Look, no disrespect, but you haven't exactly been the most, uh, trustworthy person in our lives, Meg."

Krystal gave a harsh laugh. "Are you kidding me right now? First, you don't bother to look for us after we save your asses countless times and now you refuse to answer a simple question? Ya know, Crowley was right. You do have a habit of using people for your own ends and then leaving them to fend for themselves when you're done. It's quite sickening actually considering your supposed to be a hunter that does all this good crap." Krystal spat angrily.

"Ya know, I agree with Krystal on that one. Whatever it is, you okay dying over it? You don't want to say, fine. But remember, I spent time in that walking corpse of yours. I know your sad, little thoughts and feelings."

Sam pulled a face. "That's creepy."

"Here's what I remember. Deep down, in parts you never let see the light of day, you want to live a long, normal life away from creepy old things like me."

"I do. You know, I spent last year with...someone, and, um...now I know that's actually possible."

"Wait, that's how you spent your last year? With a chick? Lame."

"You know, how about we just wait quietly?"

"What was her name? You don't even trust me with a name? Cut me, do I not bleed, Sam? So, some chick actually got you off hunting, huh? That's one rare creature. Tell me, how'd you meet this unicorn?"

While Meg and Sam were distracted, Krystal ran off to find Castiel and Dean.

"I found it."

"Tell the Winchester the crypt is empty. Then you can come back-"

Castiel shook his head. "I can't. It's warded against Angels."

"Well, you can come back-"

"Crowley's Demons are still in town, and we're running out of time. What should I do?"

"Handle it." Naomi replied firmly.

"Dean, that's it."

Dean's flashlight fell on a small wooden box. "How do you know?"

"It's the only thing in here warded against Angels."

Dean picked up the box and placed it on the table in front of Castiel. He picked up a small dagger and used it to pry open the lid. He reached in and lifted out a rather large block of stone. "Winner, winner, chicken dinner."

"Good. Hand it to me, and I'll take it to Heaven."

"No, we will take it to Kevin so he can translate." Dean said slowly.

"Right. Of course. I'll take it to him right away. No time to waste." Castiel held out his hand.

But Dean didn't trust him. "Well, he's not that far. I've been meaning to...go check on him, bring him some supplies."

"If the Demons get their hands on the Angel Tablet, they'll kill us all. They'll destroy Heaven!" Naomi shouted.

"I can reason with Dean. He's a good man." Castiel said quickly, beginning to panic.

"Kill him." She ordered darkly.

"I can resupply the Prophet, Dean."

"You know, why don't, uh, why don't Sam and I take it over to him, and you can get back to your mission? Finding the other half of the Demon Tablet - that is priority, isn't it?"

"I can't let you take that, Dean."

Dean's eyes narrowed in distrust and fear. "Can't or won't?"

"Both."

"How did you get out of Purgatory, Cas?"

"There has to be another way." Castiel reasoned.

"You have done this a thousand times, Castiel. You're ready. Kill him. Then take the tablet and bring it home, where it belongs."

"Just tell me how you got out of Purgatory. Be honest with me - for the first time since you've been back and this is yours."

Castiel's blade slipped out of his sleeve and into his hand.

"Cas. Cas, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but if you're in there and you can hear me, you don't have to do this!" Castiel lunged at him but he blocked the attack with the stone. "Cas!"

Thunder rumbled and flashed of light emitted from the sky.

"This isn't right." Castiel paced around the room anxiously.

"Do you realize what that tablet can do for us?"

"I..."

"For Heaven?"

"I won't hurt Dean."

"Yes. You will. You are."

"Cas, fight this! This is not you! Fight it!"

Castiel struck again but Dean blocked it.

"What have you done to me?!" He gasped and held his head.

"Just relax, Castiel. Let your vessel do what you know deep down is the right thing." Naomi ordered calmly.

"What have you done to me, Naomi?"

"Who's Naomi?!"

"What have I done to you?! Do you have any idea what it's like out there? There's blood everywhere, and it's on your hands. After everything you did - to us, to Heaven. I fixed you, Castiel. I fixed you!" She yelled furiously.

Castiel stepped back, shaking his head.

"Cas!" Dean put his hand on Castiel's shoulder. Castiel backhanded him, sending him into a wall and onto the floor. He attempted to throw a punch but Castiel was faster and stronger, grabbing his forearm and breaking it. Dean dropped the stone which shattered on the floor, revealing the tablet inside. Lightening flashed.

Krystal arrived to see Castiel brutally beating Dean. She ran and tried to push him off but he easily threw her back.

"You want it?" Castiel glanced at the tablet dispassionately. "Take it! But you're gonna have to kill me first. Come on, you coward. Do it. Do it!"

He raised his fist and punched Dean in the face.

Krystal tried to grab his arm. "Stop it!"

Castiel backhanded her and she fell to the floor. She touched her mouth and pulled her hand back to see blood.

"Please."

"End this, Castiel."

"Cas...this isn't you. This isn't you." Dean gasped.

Castiel raised his fist again.

"Bring me the tablet!" Naomi cried.

Dean was on his knees on the floor. His face was badly beaten with one eye swollen shut and the rest swollen and bruised. "Cas. Cas." He weakly reached out for the Angel. "I know you're in there." Castiel raised his blade, ready to kill Dean. "I know you can hear me. Cas... It's me. We're family. We need you. I need you."

Castiel stood in Naomi's office with an unreadable look on his face.

"You have to choose, Castiel. Us or them."

In that moment, Castiel made his choice.

Castiel's blade dropped and Dean groaned in pain. Castiel's eyes fell on the tablet and he bent down to retrieve it. The tablet glowed and so did Castiel, forcing Dean to look away from the bright light.

"Aah! Aah!" Naomi cried out, flinching back and shielding her eyes at the light. When she looked back, the room was empty and Castiel had vanished. "Castiel! Castiel!"

Castiel stared at the tablet before turning to look at Dean. His expression turned to horror, guilt and sadness.

"Cas?" Dean panted, breathing heavily. "Cas?" Castiel reached out to Dean but Dean tried to pull away. "No. Cas. Cas!"

Castiel placed a hand on the injured hunters cheek and a second later, he was healed. "I'm so sorry, Dean.

"What the hell just happened?"

"Love what you've done with the place. You really think all that was gonna keep me out forever?"

"At least long enough for Dean and Cas to get the tablet and get out."

Crowley sighed. "Castiel. So, that's who's been poking my boys and not in a sexy way. Got a bone to pick with you, moose. After what you did to my poor dog."

"You gonna talk us to death or get down to it already?" Meg demanded.

Crowley pointed a finger at her. "There's my whore. I'm not here for my dearly departed, though. I'm here for the stone with the funny scribbles on it."

"That's not gonna happen." Sam said confidently.

"Love it when you get all tough. Touches me right where my bathing suit goes."

Meg turned her head to look at Sam. She gave him a sad smile. "Go. Save your brother and tell Kris I said I love her."

Sam was stunned at Meg's last words. Any other time and he wouldn't believe it but he knew how Meg felt about Krystal and vice versa. He nodded and ran off.

"Timon and Pumbaa...tell you their big plan? Did they share that little chestnut with you? They mean to close the Gates of Hell, sweetheart. They mean to kill me and all the Demons - you included."

"You had me at kill you, Crowley." She smiled.

Crowley struck.

"So, this Naomi has been controlling you since she got you out of Purgatory?"

"Yeah."

"Well, w-what broke the connection?"

"I don't know. I just know that I have to protect this tablet now."

"From Naomi?"

"Yes. And from you."

Dean was surprised. "From me? What are you talking about?" Castiel vanished. "Cas? Cas! Damn it."

"Dean! Dean. Where's Cas?"

"He's gone. Meg?"

Sam shook his head. "We got to go - now."

Krystal ran out of the crypt as fast as she could. There was no way in hell she was gonna leave her with Crowley. She arrived in time to see him stab Meg in the stomach. "No!" Meg's lifeless body dropped to the ground. Sam and Dean stopped behind her. For the first time in a long time, Krystal felt pure rage and hatred. Much to everyone else's surprise, she raised her hand and easily threw Crowley through the air. She disappeared and reappeared next to the Demon and grabbed him by his collar. "You're gonna pay for that," she snarled vengefully. She pulled back her fist and began to beat the Demon, punching him in the face and stomach. She threw him to the ground and stamped hard on his leg, breaking it.

"Ahh! Bitch!"

Sam and Dean watched on. "Wait, didn't Cas and Meg both say she would turn completely if she lets herself? Like through torture?"

Dean thought back and nodded. "We gotta stop her."

Easier said then done though. When they tried to intervene she simply threw them against a wall.

"What do we do?" Sam asked as Krystal continued beating Crowley.

"I dunno."

Crowley slumped to the floor, bleeding. He smirked up at her. "Gee, if I knew killing that little whore would make you change, I would have done it ages ago," he goaded.

"Krystal, stop!"

Krystal ignored them.

"C'mon, do it. Do it!"

A blade slipped into her hand and she raised it in the air. Just as she was about to kill him, he kicked her knee and used that distraction to vanish. Full of revenge but unable to get it, Krystal was left with loneliness and pain. Now that Meg was gone, she had no one left. They gasped as they fell to the ground. She ignored them and placed a hand on Meg's arm.

Sam and Dean watched in sadness as she disappeared.

"So... what happened? I mean, Cas touched the tablet, and it reset him to his factory settings or something?"

"I don't know. And I don't care. All I know is that he is off the reservation with a heavenly WMD. Listen, man, I can't take any more lies - from anyone."

"Yeah. Um... I know. I'm sorry. I should have told you. I... just wanted to believe I was okay. I don't know."

"Well, you heard what Cas said - that that first trial hurt you in ways that even he can't heal. Sammy, I need you to be honest with me from here on out, man."

"You're right. And I will be. What about Krystal? Think she's gonna be okay?"

"Listen, I may not be able to carry the burden that comes along with these trials...but I can carry you. I'm not sure about Krystal, I mean she just lost her best friend. We can only hope she'll be fine but if she comes back, we'll be there for her. Yeah?

"You... realize you kind of just quoted Lord of the Rings, right? And yeah, we will."

"Good. Come on, man. But it's the Rudy Hobbit, all right? Rudy Hobbit always gets a pass." Sam laughed. "Shut up."

Dean turned up the radio.

Castiel sat on a moving bus, the angel tablet still in his hands. He put the tablet into a bag and closed the zipper. His thoughts were on Dean, Naomi, the tablet and on Krystal. He wondered where she and Meg were now. Hopefully he would see them again soon.