Okay, let's see what happens now after the last cliffy ;) Only one more chapter after this one! Thanks to Kathy for your guest review too, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far :)

Chapter Four

"Isn't this kind of a shot in the dark?" Dean asked as he drove down the highway, following Sam's directions as he used the GPS tracking device in Cas' phone to find the angel's location. "I mean, we don't even know for sure that the kid is with Cas."

"Well, either way, Cas is probably in some kind of trouble, and once we get to him, he can help us track down Jack if he's not there already." Sam said.

Dean tightened his jaw, but nodded. They were still only getting voicemail from Cas' phone and Dean didn't like that at all. Sure, the angel had been known to go radio silence, but after what had happened with the Colt and Dagon, Cas had gotten a lot better about not doing that. Dean was still worried that it was totally possible the angel Cas had gone to see was nothing but a trap and their friend had been dragged back to Heaven for torture.

"Well, the good news is that the location I'm getting is not at the portal to Heaven at the playground," Sam said as the program finally locked onto Cas' location. "This says he's in Kansas—actually not too far outside of Lebanon."

Dean frowned and glanced over at the tablet Sam held in his lap. "So what, he's heading home?"

Sam's brow pinched. "He's not moving, so I don't really know what he's doing."

Dean felt a sick twist in his stomach as he turned his attention back to the road and pressed his foot a little harder into the gas. Of course, Cas may have stopped to get gas or something, but it was also possible that he could be lying hurt somewhere, unable to move. Or…maybe his phone had been ditched in that spot, and Cas wasn't there at all.

"Huh," Sam said, grabbing Dean's attention away from his dark thoughts. "I pulled up an address for the spot. It's in an old warehouse lot. Seems to be abandoned."

Dean groaned. "Of course. That means he's gotta be in trouble." He gunned Baby even faster, hoping they could find Cas, and Jack both, before it was too late.


Jack fought to at least get free of the wall. He didn't know what he would do once he accomplished that, but he could at least try to distract Lucifer for a minute or two. But the hook he was attached to was too high up for him to work the chain from, and no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't break it. Not with the sigils on the cuffs sapping his power. So he could only watch helplessly as Lucifer continued to torture Castiel, seeming to enjoy it all too much.

"It's been a while since we've had some quality time together, hasn't it, Cas?" Lucifer said, taking a break from the torture to grip Castiel's chin, raising his lolling head. "I mean, last time, I didn't have much time to do anything but…stab you. Trust me, I definitely prefer this." Cas groaned as Lucifer pressed the blade into the meat of his shoulder. "We haven't had this much time together since we shared this vessel of yours."

Jack frowned, distracted for a moment from his struggles. Cas and Lucifer had shared a vessel? Why hadn't Castiel said anything?

"Well, I don't exactly miss it," Castiel grunted before letting out a sharp cry as Lucifer slashed the blade across his chest.

"Face it, Castiel, you're pathetic, and you know it," Lucifer said mockingly. "Do you really think you can control this kid?"

"I don't want to control him," Castiel gritted out. "I want to raise him well. Don't you think he deserves that?"

"Of course I do!" Lucifer snarled. "Why do you think I came for him?"

"Really?" Castiel asked, a darkness underlying his words. "Because all I see is you manipulating him and chaining him to a wall. Tell me; how does that make you any better than how you see our Father?"

"You little prick," Lucifer snarled and slammed the butt of the angel blade into the side of Castiel's face before grabbing him by the throat and raising him onto his toes. "I'm nothing like him! Nothing!"

Lucifer dug the blade into Castiel's stomach, easing it in slow and deep. Cas gave a choked-off cry.

"No!" Jack screamed, renewing his effort to get free, straining as he pulled on his chains. He tried to reach for his powers, feeling them just on the edge of his consciousness, just out of reach. He strained harder, pain piercing his skull, as the manacles around his wrists started to feel hotter.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you yet," Lucifer gritted out. "I want you to suffer first. And then…I'm going to take what's left of your grace to give myself a little recharge."

"It will just burn you out, make you sick," Castiel grunted out from between clenched teeth. "Trust me. I know."

Lucifer laughed. "Maybe for a low level angel like you, but for an archangel, it's just like drinking a hundred Red Bulls—gives you wings. Maybe you should try one of those sometime, Castiel."

Lucifer finally drew a guttural scream from Cas as he twisted the blade up inside of him. The angel's true voice could be heard, piercing Jack's ears and making him see red.

"Stop!" Jack screamed, making one last effort to reach for his powers and then felt something break like a floodgate. Pain ripped through his skull, and he felt fire lapping at his wrists as he yanked hard on them, his hands finally falling to his sides. He cast one glance down at them, seeing the manacles around his wrists glowing red hot, the sigils starting to melt away. One of the manacles fell to the ground, leaving raw burns around his wrist. But he could feel his powers starting to come back, and he instantly strode toward Lucifer who had just pulled the blade out of Castiel and turned around.

Jack flung his hand up, feeling his previously bound power explode from him, smashing into Lucifer and sending him flying back into the wall, cracking the cinderblock behind him. The fallen archangel crashed to the ground but scrambled to his feet again almost instantly. The blade coated in Castiel's blood raised, a snarl of anger on his face.

"Jack. Don't use your powers on me, boy."

"I told you not to hurt Castiel any more," Jack said in a low, dangerous voice. "You didn't stop. Now you should leave before I hurt you."

"I'm not the one who's going to get hurt here," Lucifer said and brought the blade up again, lunging over to Castiel who was still slumped in his chains.

Jack flung up a hand again, the one free of the shackle. "No!" he shouted.

Lucifer froze, swallowed by the power Jack was emitting. Jack's head felt like it was splitting open. The second manacle was burning around his wrist, still persisting in keeping his powers slightly bound, crippling him for the moment. Lucifer was harder to hold than anyone Jack had gone up against before. He was already fighting against Jack's hold, edging the knife closer and closer to Castiel's chest. Jack forced his powers to manifest even more, urging them on, and felt something wet dripping down from his nose onto his upper lip for his troubles.

Then finally, his other shackle broke off his wrist as well and fell to the floor. Jack screamed through the pain, clenching his hands and manipulated his powers to twist Lucifer's arm around. There was a snapping sound as the archangel's arm broke.

Lucifer cried out in both shock and pain and the angel blade fell from his hand. Jack wrenched his arm to the side, flinging Lucifer flat against the wall again.

He staggered forward, grabbing his splitting head with one hand as he pushed harder, forcing Lucifer against the wall with more and more power. The cinderblocks started to crack and cave from the force.

"You really are powerful, aren't you, kiddo?" Lucifer panted and his anger turned, for the moment, into a dark chuckle.

"Yes. I am," Jack replied simply and exerted more force. He could almost feel Lucifer's ribs creaking under the pressure.

"But I think you're forgetting something—I have a failsafe," Lucifer said and his eyes flashed red and suddenly a piercing ring stabbed into Jack's head.

He cried out and instantly lost his hold on Lucifer. The archangel slumped and staggered but he kept his feet, while Jack collapsed, both hands clutching his head. More blood streamed from his nose and now his ears as well. He felt like the inside of his head was being flayed with a fiery lash.

"Lucifer stop!" Jack could barely hear Castiel cry. "You said you wouldn't hurt him! He's your son!"

"Which is exactly why I'm taking it upon myself to punish him," Lucifer said. "How else is he going to learn what is right? Who he should obey?"

Jack screamed, trying to regain his feet, or at least get to his hands and knees, but the only thing he could do was curl up, just trying to breathe through the agony in his head.


Castiel watched helplessly, only half conscious, as Lucifer turned the tables on Jack and gained control over the young nephillim by using the angelic frequency that seemed to tear into his head. Castiel wasn't sure what long term exposure would even do to Jack. Whether it would have lasting damage or not. All he knew was that in that moment he was terrified that he was going to have to watch Lucifer break his own son and then force Jack to watch as he killed Castiel. Again.

A cold dread settled deep in Castiel's chest. He didn't want to die again. He didn't want to go back to the Empty.

"I can see I have a lot of work to do," Lucifer said to himself, shaking his head as he stood over Jack. "Castiel and the Winchesters have filled your head with lies and foolish ideals. I imagine it will take a while, longer than I want, to bring you around to my side."

Jack panted on the floor, whimpering in pain as Lucifer ceased tormenting him for the moment. Castiel felt sick. The sight of the boy lying there, blood streaming from his ears and nose made him furious. Especially because he could do nothing in his weakened and bound position.

Lucifer reached down with his uninjured arm and grabbed Jack by the front of his shirt, hauling him around to slump against the wall. He patted his cheek none-too-gently. "Come on, Jackie-boy. Open those eyes of yours. Show Daddy what a good boy you are."

Jack's eyes flickered, but didn't open, his head lolling to one side.

"Stop," Castiel gritted out. "Can't you see you've gone too far? What if you've hurt him irreparably?"

"He'll be fine, won'tcha, kiddo? You're tougher than that, if you're anything like your dad. Come on now, Jack," Lucifer said, taking hold of Jack's face and jiggling him a bit. When Jack still didn't respond Lucifer left him to fall limply back to the floor, before standing up and turning back around to Castiel, wincing slightly as he tucked his broken arm against his chest. Castiel knew he must be low on power if it still hadn't healed. "He'll come around soon. Maybe if he hears you scream it will move things along." Lucifer shot his good hand out and thrust his fingers into the deep stab wound in Castiel's stomach. The angel couldn't help the scream that was ripped from his throat as Lucifer only shoved more of his hand into the open wound, twisting his fingers in Castiel's guts.

"That's what I'm talking about," Lucifer grinned.

"Hey!"

Castiel's eyes shot upward, looking over Lucifer's shoulder as a crash was heard, and saw Sam and Dean standing in the doorway to the small closet, guns raised, looks of shock and disbelief on their faces.

"Lucifer," Sam breathed.

"Sam, Dean," Lucifer said, yanking his hand out of Castiel and turned, blood dripping from his fingers, to face the Winchesters. "So nice of you to join the party."

"How the hell are you here?" Dean demanded, his gun still held level with the archangel's head.

Lucifer grinned. "Long story. Uh, you do realize that's not going to do anything to me, right?" He cocked an eyebrow. "But you're welcome to go ahead anyway. I could use a good tickle."

Castiel watched, breathless as Sam and Dean faced Lucifer, their eyes darting to him and Jack, who still seemed to be unconscious. As if this situation wasn't already bad enough, Castiel was now going to have to watch the rest of his family be slaughtered.

Dean shrugged, some of his cocky attitude returning after the initial shock. "I don't know. It's the thought that counts, right?" He pulled the trigger and a bullet slammed into Lucifer's shoulder—the same arm that was already broken.

The archangel cried out with shock and clapped a hand to the wounded shoulder that was gushing blood. "What…the hell?" the archangel demanded.

Dean's eyes were just as wide. "Damn. Didn't think the angel bullets did that much to you."

Lucifer growled and waved a hand angrily. The gun went flying from Dean's hands and then the hunter followed, tossed into the wall, hitting hard before slumping to the ground with a grunt.

"Dean!" Castiel called frantically. "Sam!"

"Oh, don't run, Sammy," Lucifer said, striding forward after sending Sam's gun flying as well. The younger Winchester stood his ground, though Castiel could see the terror in his eyes. Sam, though weaponless, raised a first and slammed it into the side of Lucifer's face. Lucifer's head whipped to the side, but he shrugged the hit off and reached out with his good hand to grab the hunter by the throat, dragging him closer to him. "We're gonna have so much fun."

Movement caught Castiel's eye, and he glanced over to see Jack coming to, looking around to take in the situation as it was now.

"No," he grunted, and pushed himself to his feet.

Lucifer looked back over with a grin. "Oh good, look who's awake. You definitely don't want to miss this, kiddo."

Dean shook himself, grunting. "Sammy!" he cried. Lucifer only grinned at him, and tossed Dean backwards as he started forward. The hunter crashed into the wall next to Cas.

"Dean," Cas said urgently, rattling his chains. He might not be able to do much in his current state, but he would be dammed if he just waited out this fight chained to a wall. Dean cast one last glance at Sam and scrambled for a lockpick in his coat to start working on the manacles.

Castiel grunted as Dean undid the cuffs and then he slumped, unable to hold himself upright. Dean swiftly stepped in and got a shoulder under his arm, keeping him up, looking around for some kind of weapon.

"Ah, where do you think you're going?" Lucifer demanded of them, glancing around from where he was still choking Sam out, the younger Winchester clawing at his hand. Lucifer waved his hand again and Castiel felt a force slam into him and Dean, sending them flying backwards. Sam soon followed, all three of them lying in a heap on the ground, dazed, and in Castiel's case, singing with pain.

"Son of a bitch," Dean grunted.

Jack was on his feet now, looking anxious as he glanced between Lucifer and the others, still unsteady and looking about ready to drop again.

Lucifer glanced at him with a small smirk. The archangel was a mess himself with one arm broken, and the bullet wound in the same shoulder.

"See son? This is what happens to people who cross me. I'm afraid there's no room for these chronic rebels in our new world, Jack. They'll have to be done away with." Lucifer strode over, and picked up Castiel by the back of his ruined shirt, dragging him a few feet from the Winchesters who protested. "Starting with the weakest link."

Castiel grunted as Lucifer gripped a fistful of his hair and pulled him to his knees, wrenching his head back to expose his neck. Lucifer had grabbed hold of a blade again and settled the cold steel against Castiel's skin. The archangel's broken arm seemed to have started to heal, unfortunately.

"No!" Dean shouted.

"Lucifer stop!" Sam gasped out, still getting his breath back.

"Sorry, boys. Time to say goodbye to your pet angel," Lucifer said with a dark glee. "Maybe it will actually stick this time. Don't worry, Cas. Your grace will be much appreciated."

"No!" Jack screamed.

Castiel felt the blade pierce his skin and then nothing. He was swallowed by a sonic wave, but it was only washing over him, concentrating on Lucifer instead. Castiel glanced over his shoulder to see Lucifer standing with his eyes wide, one hand clutching at his throat as if he couldn't breath or talk. He was swallowed by the waves of Jack's power and was immobile. Lucifer's eyes flashed red briefly, but sizzled out. Castiel could feel a slight prickle of angelic frequency as Lucifer tried to use the same trick he had last time, but it didn't seem to be able to pass through the shield of power Jack had created. Instead, Lucifer seemed only to get more furious, when he saw that his only option of gaining the upper hand was not going to work. Castiel thought he might have even seen a little fear in the Devil's eyes.

Castiel then glanced over to the young nephillim then, watching the boy manipulate his power with a snarl on his lips.

"Don't touch my family," Jack said and then flicked his wrist to one side. Lucifer flew out the door of the closet and a crash was heard from the warehouse beyond. Sam and Dean quickly scrambled to their feet, grabbing their guns on the way out, as Jack staggered against the wall to support himself but still simply ended up slumping to the ground again. Fresh blood was streaming from his nose and he looked exhausted.

"Jack," Castiel called softly, slowly making his way over to the nephillim, his body protesting mightily.

Running footsteps came back inside the room. "He's gone," Dean said grimly. "Flew the coop."

Castiel didn't really care at the moment. They would deal with Lucifer later. He would be off licking his wounds for a while yet. Right now they had more important things to take care of. Like family.

"Jack," Castiel said again, trying to get the boy's attention. He reached out and touched the nephillim's shoulder. Jack started slightly and looked up at Castiel with tears shining in his eyes. He didn't say anything; he didn't need to. Castiel knew exactly what was going through his head.

"Oh, Jack. I'm so sorry," Castiel said softly and simply wrapped his arms around the nephillim, pulling him close to his chest, despite his injuries. Jack rested his head on Castiel's shoulder and closed his eyes as Castiel felt him shudder against him from the shock. He brought a hand up and carded his fingers through Jack's hair before cupping the back of his head

and looked over the boy's shoulder to see Sam and Dean standing there, brows pinched with sympathy for the newest member of their family.

Once Jack finally pulled away, scrubbing at his eyes, Sam stepped forward and reached down to settle a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, let's go home."