A/N: I'm not gonna lie...these next couple of chapters are not my faves. I struggled with them but I like what comes after. :)


It was three days before Castiel was able to return to the bunker. So much had happened in Heaven and whether he wanted to be one or not, the angels all looked to him as their leader. He'd appointed some of them as his lieutenants and left them in charge so he could find out what had happened with Sam and Dean. He refused to believe what Metatron had said but when he arrived at the bunker he knew something was terribly wrong.

The living area had been demolished. Chairs and tables were overthrown and books were strewn everywhere. Various spell ingredients were spread out on the only table that was still upright. The book lying next to them was opened to a summoning spell…...one Castiel hadn't seen used in ages.

Castiel quietly made his way through the hallway. He wasn't sure if Sam or Dean had caused this mess or if something else had invaded the bunker. He peered into Sam's bedroom but it was empty. In Dean's bedroom, he found more books covering the floor and the mirror over the sink had been smashed to pieces. Sam was curled into a ball on Dean's bed, his eyes closed, Dean's pillow clutched tightly in his arms.

"Sam?" Cas knelt in front of the sleeping man and studied his haggard face. "Sam?"

Sam opened his eyes and stared blankly at Cas.

"Sam, are you okay?"

"Cas?" Recognition flashed in Sam's eyes and he sat straight up, grasping the angel's face in between both his hands. "Cas, you're alive!"

"Yes, I am. Gadreel didn't make it. He sacrificed himself to save me."

"I'm sorry." Sam's eyes clouded over.

"Sam, Metatron said Dean…..."

"He's gone, Cas." Sam's voice was thick with emotion.

Castiel was at a loss for words. Dean Winchester could not be dead. He could not have been killed by the likes of Metatron. He could not…...

"He's a demon."

"What? How is that even possible?"

"Crowley said it's the Mark. It won't let him go." Sam's shoulders slumped and Cas could see how weary he was.

"What happened to the bunker, Sam?"

Sam gave him a sheepish look. "Me. I tried every summoning spell I could find but I can't summon Dean. I guess I went a little crazy. I don't know how to find him, Cas."

"He's not just a demon, Sam. With that Mark, he's something more. It's possible he's even a knight of hell and I don't think they can be summoned by anyone but Lucifer."

Sam shuddered at the mention of Lucifer.

"We'll find him, Sam." Cas patted Sam on the arm, wanting to offer some sort of encouragement, while hoping desperately he wasn't lying to the youngest Winchester.

"I thought you were dead, too." Sam whispered.

"I should have come right away. I'm so sorry."

"No, you had business to take care of. I understand. It's just…..." Sam swallowed hard, his eyes shining with tears.

"What?"

"I thought I was alone."

Sam began to sob and although Castiel had never fully understood the human need to shed tears he understood Sam had been scared. His brother was gone and he thought he was going to have to endure this by himself. Cas knew he would have done so if that had been the case but at what cost to his sanity? The Winchesters were highly resilient humans but everyone had a breaking point.

"No, Sam, you're not alone."

Cas sat on the edge of the bed, his arms awkwardly encircling Sam Winchester until his tears had subsided and then, even though Cas knew he shouldn't use his powers because of his waning grace, he touched Sam's forehead and made him fall into a peaceful sleep…...one that was untouched by death and destruction.


Crowley finally found Dean in what he assumed had once been a sleazy little bar. Now it was nothing but death and destruction, decorated in blood. Dean was hunkered in a corner, a half full bottle of Jack in one hand, the First Blade in the other.

"Dean?" Crowley approached him cautiously. "What happened here?"

Dean shrugged. "I killed some people."

"I can see that." Crowley stepped over a young brunette sprawled on the floor. "Mind telling me why you killed all these people?

"You know what your problem is, Crowley? You don't even know what a demon does and you are one!"

Crowley flinched at the tone. He couldn't deny he had wanted Dean to awaken as a demon once he had been killed. He hadn't gone into this wishing Dean would die, even though he knew he'd never be able to convince Sam otherwise, but once it happened, Crowley had been ecstatic at the thought. Dean Winchester, the best hunter to ever walk the earth, could be his second in command. Now he wasn't so sure. Dean seemed pretty unstable, even for a demon.

"We don't usually kill without a reason, Dean." Crowley stopped just out of Dean's reach. "Even demons like to have a reason…...it may be a far-fetched one, but still, we do like to maintain some semblance of control."

"Why? Oh, because that's the way you run things? You want a reason? Okay, then." Dean waved the Blade in the general direction of the bar. "Those two dicks needed killing. I owed them from a long time ago. You happy now?"

"And what about the rest of these people?"

Dean slammed his bottle against the floor. "They got in the way."

Crowley backed up a step or two. "I think you should come with me, Dean. I meant what I said. I can help you."

Dean stood up from his corner and Crowley backed farther away. "Oh, yeah, you can definitely help me, Crowley. I've been thinking a lot and I've made some plans. Let's talk about Hell."


When Sam stumbled into the kitchen, he found Castiel attempting to prepare breakfast. Sam glanced at whatever was floating in the pan of grease Cas was heating on the stove and grimaced.

"I'll just make some coffee, Cas."

Cas looked disappointed. "You need to eat, Sam."

"I'll get something later. You don't need to cook for me." He started scooping coffee into the coffee maker.

"But Dean did."

The scoop in Sam's hand clattered to the floor.

"I'm sorry. I've upset you."

Sam bent to retrieve the scoop, relieved to see his hand wasn't shaking even though inside he felt as if he was falling apart. "No, Cas, it's just…...I can take care of myself, okay?"

"Dean would want me to look after you."

Sam smiled bitterly. "Yes, he would but I'm fine. Whatever angel mojo you hit me with last night helped me get a good night's sleep and I feel better."

"Sam, you've been asleep for two days."

"What? Why did you let me sleep so long?"

"You were exhausted."

"I need to be looking for Dean!" Sam jabbed the start button on the coffee maker, fuming inwardly. He knew Cas had only been trying to help but he didn't need to waste time sleeping while his brother was out there facing the world as a demon.

"Is that what Dean always refers to as your bitchface?"

Sam wasn't sure whether he should laugh or cry but for now he chose laughter. "Probably."

"Ah, now I get it."

Even though Cas understood a lot more about being human than he used to, he still had his moments. Right now, Sam was grateful for that.


"Dean, I think…..."

"I'm not asking you to think, Crowley." Dean walked up and down the line of demons, surveying them with his black, dead eyes.

It took everything Crowley had not to tell Dean exactly what he thought, whether Dean wanted to hear it or not. This was not what Crowley had expected. Dean Winchester, the hunter, had been willing to work with him and listen to him at times. Dean Winchester, the demon, didn't want to hear a word he said and worse than that, he wanted to run Hell himself. Crowley wasn't a fan of that in any sense of the word.

"Okay, listen up. You guys…...girls…...demons…...whatever the hell you want to be called, have been recommended to me as being rather enthusiastic about your jobs."

The demons gave each other confused looks but none of them said a word. A few glanced at Crowley for guidance which made him realize all wasn't lost. Not everyone would follow Dean Winchester. He just had to find out who those demons were.

"Do you know who I am?" asked Dean.

All of the demons but one nodded. Dean pointed the First Blade at the one lone demon that was unlucky enough not to know who Dean was…... or was it lucky? Crowley couldn't decide.

"You. You don't know me?"

"Um…no….sir."

"Well, I used to be a hunter and I'm guessing that's how all of your friends here know me." The other demons nodded in agreement. "I'm Dean Winchester and from now on, you report to me. Ain't that right, Crowley?"

Crowley thought he was in danger of biting off his own tongue because of all the retorts sitting there on the edge of it, waiting to fly out of his mouth, but he replied with what he thought was a very calm tone, all things considered. "As you say, Dean."

"Damn straight. Everything will be as I say from now on. I've done some time down here and I know what Hell is supposed to be like. What he's been doing?" Dean motioned toward Crowley. "That ain't hell. So, get ready for a new way of life because things are about to change."

Crowley wondered for the hundredth time if Dean were parted from the First Blade what the result would be. Would it be more of the demon Dean Winchester he had hoped for? And if so, how was he ever going to manage to get that damn Blade away from him?


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Until next week...