AN: I am soooo sorry this took so long, my laptop pooooped out on me and by some miracle I've got the oldest hunk of craptop to ever grace the face of the Earth running. Fingers crossed that it works until we can afford another one! Also, some more dialogue from the finale of season five, episode 22, I promise next chapter will be deviating from that, just needed to get this story set up in the timeline and all. This chapter may be a bit shorter, but it's really just a filler until the following chapters where we enter the Apocalypse! Anyways, hope you guys enjoy, please review and let me know how I am doing it really, really helps out! =D
P.S.- I'm using the copy paste mode since I can not save anything on this computer -hard drive is screwed- so if formatting goes to hell I am soooo sorry, just grab the salt, let me know, I'll start performing an exorcism.
-THEN-
"Dean," His voice was more gravelly than usual, bare feet plodding heavily across Bobby Singer's kitchen floor, "I believe I am ill."
Arching a brow Dean turned to look at the former Angel, his hair was beyond rumpled as was his borrowed clothing, his complexion pale and eyes half lidded. "Relax Cas." Grasping the handle of the old refrigerator he pulled it open, smirking at the familiar squeak the hinges made.
"You're voice is much more grating than usual." Running a dry tongue over the roof of his mouth he practically fell into a chair at the table.
"You're just hung over." Pulling a plastic 'THANK YOU' bag from the fridge he fished out a bottle of gatorade tossing it across the table.
Normally his reflexes were quite advanced, but in this post inebriated state he found his fingers slipping at the condensation on the plastic bottle and pressed his palms to his temples as it clattered to the floor. "I would prefer itchiness to this greatly."
Dean shook his head with a slight eye roll, turning the small television on.
Reaching down to his feet Castiel grasped the gatorade, opening it and taking a few large mouthfuls as he sat upright again. Turning his attention to the television his eyes widened at the footage playing.
"Reports are flooding in - a 7.6 earthquake in Portland, 8.1 in Boston, more in Hong Kong, Berlin, and Tehran. The U.S.G.S. has no explanation but says to expect a six-figure death toll."
"The Apocalypse," Closing the orange cap he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "it is starting."
"Other reports coming in just now are of cannibalism – some eye witnesses are describing the attackers as merciless, with black eyes. Our man on the scene in Florida Jim, what exactly is happening out there?"
"Well, I can tell you it is certainly not good and it is something straight out of Revelations-"
"A breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them." He took a deep, disapproving breath, "I highly doubt the Croatoan virus can be considered a breath from God."
"Wait a minute, I thought you guys took care of the virus last night."
"The distribution center, yeah, that don't mean there ain't others." Bobby shuffled in, moving quickly to the coffee maker.
"The son of a bitch was right." Dean ran an aggravated hand over his face, sighing into his palm. Turning his attention back to the TV he watched as the news crew was attacked, a limb flying across the screen before the feed turned into static. "Jack ass."
The sound of the front door closing garnered their attention, Bobby pushing into the hallway to find it empty. "Dean, where's Sam?"
His eyes widened as he pushed himself from the counter top, moving past Bobby to open the door and hurry down the porch. "Sam!" His voice called through the junkyard to the van currently reversing, "Sammy!" He hurried his pace, clearing the driveway and on to the road before the van sped off. Even if he were to get into the Impala there was no way he could catch up, running into the house he grabbed his keys and jacket.
"Dean, where are you going?" Cas stood from his seat, grasping his gatorade, ready to follow his charge.
The rocky voice stopped him in his tracks and shrugging his jacket on he turned, "Detroit." Pushing his hands into the pockets he cursed silently as he noted the Horseman's rings were gone.
-NOW-
"Help me understand something Sam," Lucifer brought a hand up to his face in contemplation, "stomping through my front door is a tad suicidal don't you think?"
Sam's eyes danced nervously around the room, trying desperately not to focus on the parts of Lucifer's face that were steadily rotting away. "I'm not here to fight you."
"No?" His head tilted slightly, momentarily reminiscent of Castiel. "Then why are you?"
"SAM!" Dean's voice echoed downstairs, footfalls approaching the room they were currently in.
"I want to say yes." His tone held the most conviction he had spoken with in months, he'd spent countless hours now pouring over this plan. Although he hadn't expected Dean to catch up quite so soon.
"SAMMY NO!" Rounding the corner at the top stair he took a few running paces into the room, recoiling in the direction of his brother at Lucifer's heated stare.
-SUPERNATURAL-
Castiel picked his head up as Dean approached, "Where is Sam?"
"Gone." It was the only reply Dean had to offer at the moment, he was trying desperately to contain his emotions, gritting his teeth as hard as he could.
Bobby sighed, wrenching open the passenger door to the Impala and got in. "The look on your face pretty much says it all boy, but I gotta ask-"
"He said yes." Dean slid into the seat, pulling the door closed and started the car. His fingers turned yellow as he gripped the wheel, starting the long drive back to Bobby's.
"Dean." Castiel peered at the eldest of the brothers through the rear view mirror, doing his best to convey his condolences for the situation.
"Can it Cas, I'm not in the mood."
Looking down to his hands that he'd folded neatly in his lap he felt a stab of bereavement for Sam, turning to take in the scenery that was quickly passing them by. "I am sorry-"
"Cas." He looked back at the angel through the rear view mirror, shaking his head slightly before returning his attention back to the road.
-SUPERNATURAL-
Castiel propped himself against the counter of Bobby's kitchen, fork scooping noodles out of the Chinese take out container. The television was on again displaying images of what the media was calling zombie attacks, couldn't they see that these demonoid creatures were clearly a different species of supernatural threat entirely? From what he had witnessed of the news program thus far it seemed as though the Croatoan virus was spreading through Georgia now, the Federal Government evacuating millions of people to so called safe zones. He knew it would only be days before their safe zones were contaminated, they knew nothing of demons and the preventative actions it would take to keep the nation safe.
Bringing the last forkful to his mouth he swallowed it down, sipping at the Budweiser container to wash it down and moved to the kitchen table, grabbing a notepad. Tearing off a blank piece he grabbed a pen, sketching the layout to a camp he had glimpsed in Jimmy Novak's memories. He made appropriate symbols for cabins, the mess hall and storage before drawing out the wards they would need to keep the demonic creatures out.
"Cas?" Bobby craned his head slightly at the sight of the former angel resorting to a pen and paper, grabbing a beer out of the fridge.
"Hm?" He continued sketching, finishing the last devil's trap at the weak point of their defenses.
"What are you doin' boy?" Pulling out a chair he sat across from Castiel, leaning forward slightly to try and get a look at it.
Scrawling the name across the top of the paper he smirked happily at his handy work before sliding it forward to Bobby. "You know as well as I with the Croatoan virus spreading so rapidly we will be unable to stay here long term. We need some kind of stronghold if our aim is to survive."
Bobby looked over the paper, "Where'd you come up with this?"
"Borrowed memories, mostly."
The answer wasn't what he was looking for but he accepted it with a nod, "Cas, I gotta hand it to you, this is good stuff. But, how do you plan on keeping these devils traps up?"
"Iron." He said it simply as if that was all the explaining that needed to be done, pleased with himself smile sticking around for a few moments more. Noting Bobby's look however deflated it, "If we act now we can enlist the help of others, craftsmen that have yet to be infected." He let the thought settle for a moment, perhaps sinking iron pipes that had been heated into the shape of a devils trap with salt on the inside wasn't the best of his plans. "I've heard rumblings of a powerful witch that resides in New York, she might help us if the price is right. With the correct wards and symbols we can effectively keep the infected out for good while taking in survivors, maybe even find a way to beat Lucifer."
Cas had obviously put some thought into it and it wasn't as if they had any other options currently. "Alright." He took a long drink from his beer, it would be a week, maybe more before they'd hit Camp Chitaqua, there were a lot of supplies to gather. Grasping up the notepad he took a fresh sheet, "Start thinking of recruits, I'll go fill Dean in and see what he thinks."