A/N: Okay, I tried to get another chapter out before now, but I work 60 to 72 hours a week and it just didn't happen. Instead, here's a longer chapter that offers a bit more direction as to the future of this story.

I should also mention that when I conceived of my overall plot, only 5 episodes of Season 12 had been aired. Some of my ideas have actually come up on the show since but where I take them will be different. To all of you who've taken the time to read this fic, you have no idea how much it means to me so, thank you!

And if you have the time, please review as well. It means everything to authors to have feedback and insights into what you're thinking and feeling about what they've written and I am no exception. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4

Sam woke up on the floor, unchained. He sat up slowly, the immense agony registering in each and every nerve ending in his body. When he looked down at himself, he noticed with great astonishment that all of his injuries had been bandaged. Hyperventilating with the pain, he very carefully used the post behind him to pull himself to his feet, intending to take this unexpected opportunity to look for possible exit points. It was obvious that there was some other strategy at play here; there was no way they'd tended to his wounds and set him free without some kind of endgame. He didn't really have the luxury of stopping to analyse the situation for possible motives, however, he just needed to use every moment of this chance to get a lock on his surroundings. He started with the obvious, climbing up rickety steps to test an outside cellar door through which he could see slivers of sunlight. He rattled it, unsurprised to find that it was chained on the outside. He shouted for help through the narrow when he threw his body against it, not really expecting to be heard but having to do it anyway. That simple task turned out to be more difficult than he would have thought. Despite all the water they'd tried to drown him with, he was completely parched and finding it difficult to vocalise. He tried nevertheless, croaking out the word a few times before his voice gave out properly.

Sam limped back over to the now unused hose, tilted his head back and emptied the residual water into his mouth. As he smacked his lips, his eyes roamed the ceiling and he saw it. There was a camera above him, its little red recording light unwavering. He blinked. It wasn't really surprising that they were watching him but he needed to work out how to use this bit of intel to his advantage.

"Why did we let him go, again?" Jeremy asked, watching Sam through the same camera that their captive was currently studying.

"Part of my new strategy. You left Ms. Watt a message, didn't you? When she brings me Dean, we'll step it up a notch and get even more creative with the blowtorch. Those two are all about blind sacrifice, especially for each other so forcing them to watch while the other's suffering should loosen their tongues. In the meantime, if he thinks we're going to treat him better we might start to soften him up. You did a thorough job on his limbs so it's not like he's capable of fighting his way out of here anyhow."

Toni smiled at Jeremy as she stared down at the monitor. She noticed that Sam had turned away from the camera and was staring into the mirror of an old medicine cabinet. Suddenly, he smashed it with his elbow and grabbed one of the large shards of glass.

"What's he doing?" Toni asked in alarm as she moved closer to the monitor. She gasped in horror as she watched Sam draw the glass swiftly across his neck, his body hitting the ground a few seconds later.

"Oh God!" she cried, "No…NO! We have to get in there!"

She picked up the cattle prod as she and Jeremy rushed down to the cellar. Running towards Sam's body she noticed the large pool of blood near his head and cried out in frustration. Jeremy fell to his knees beside Sam's head and reached towards him to try to staunch the bleeding when all of a sudden, Sam was up and swinging at him. The attempt was clumsy but their close proximity ensured that he hit his target anyway, both men grunting with pain. Toni jumped back in shock, stunned into inactivity as the two men wrestled on the ground; Jeremy had punched Sam in the stomach from his position on his knees, the force knocking Sam to his back. But then she remembered the cattle prod in her hand and she jammed it into Sam's flank, pressing the trigger button for an extra few seconds longer than needed, angry that she'd fallen for such a stupid feint.

As Sam convulsed on the dirt floor, she helped Jeremy to stand, glaring at her prisoner all the while.

"Tie him up and leave him there," she ordered, already turning away to leave the cellar, "And find out where the hell Ms. Watt has gotten to!"

"Dean," Castiel said, hiding behind a tree 100 feet from a rundown farmhouse, "I think I've found Sam. It's a farm that was rented two weeks ago to a woman with an English accent."

"And when you looked inside….?"

"It's powerfully warded, so I h….."

"I think that was your headliner right there, Cass. Text me the address. I'm on the way."

"You're not going alone," Mary's voice called from behind him.

Dean spun around and stared at his mother.

"Oh no," he said, shaking his head furiously, "You're not coming with me."

"I'm your mother, Dean, you have to do what I say," Mary grinned at the chastened look on her son's face, "Look, they targeted the Bunker and it's clear they've been watching you and Sam for a while. They'll know what to expect from you but they'll never see me coming. I'm your best advantage, right now- a surprise guest appearance from a dead Winchester."

"I…..I don't know, Mom….."

"Did I mention I gave birth to you? Maybe you want to stop for a minute and talk about Emma's mother instead…"

"Ok, let's get this show on the road!" Dean said overenthusiastically, taking one last sip of his coffee and hopping up from the breakfast table.

Mary smirked and followed him out to the garage.

Almost three hours later, the Impala pulled up a little ways down the road from Castiel's hiding spot outside the farmhouse. The angel waved them over, his forehead creasing when he saw Mary.

"You brought your mother?" he asked, staring at Dean who opened his mouth to reply.

"Is this a misogynistic thing? Did women lose the right to vote in the last 33 years too?" Mary asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes in exasperation, "It may surprise you to know, Castiel, that I'm actually pretty good at this."

"From what I've seen, I think you can handle yourself." Castiel stared at Dean who was making the 'cut it out sign' from behind Mary's back.

Mary spun around to look behind her as Dean quickly turned towards the farmhouse and said, "So Cass, have you seen anyone yet?"

"No. No one's gone in or out in the past 4 hours. I can't get any closer to the house. The warding extends to the grounds as well."

"All right, enough chit chat," Mary said, pulling out her gun and taking the safety off. You go around that side, Dean, I'll take the right."

Mary ran off before Dean could say anything else and with a look of irritation directed at Castiel, he followed her. He skulked around looking through windows as he surveyed his side of the house. Dean tried a few locked doors along the way until he came across a set of padlocked external cellar doors. He pulled at them and then stopped, keeping perfectly still for a moment. He was sure he'd heard something…something like a person screaming. He listened carefully, leaning over the door a little more to see if he could make out what…

"Winchester the elder, yes?" an English male voice said from behind him, a gun barrel pressed firmly against the back of his head.

"Yeah and you're Sir Douchewad of the British Douchewads, right?" Dean sneered, slowly straightening and raising his hands, "Where's Lady Douchewad?"

"Show some respect, hunter," the man growled, slamming the butt of the gun across Dean's temple, "Lady Bevell has been expecting you. She's actually surprised it took you so long to find us but I suppose that is in keeping with your reputation as a simpleton."

Dean put his hand to his temple, feeling the goose egg that was quickly forming. "Wow, thanks for the warm hospitality! Must be those great British manners I've heard so much about," he scoffed, turning around slowly to see the behemoth behind him, "Woah! Your Mummy musta fed you a Thames-full of fish n' chips while you were a baby douche….!"

It was the adult Douche that hit him again and Dean decided to take the hint. "Fine!" he said, shaking the groggy feeling from his head, "Take me to your leader."

"Move, Winchester!"

He was marched at gunpoint through the farmhouse. Sir D. led him to what had to be the stairs to the cellar and forced him to wait as he unlocked the doors. As soon as they were opened he could hear a sound that made his blood boil. He'd definitely heard someone shouting before. It was Sam, tied to the base of a post, a woman leaning over him having just stabbed him in the leg with a knife.

"Let's try this again, shall we?" she said in a loud, agitated voice, "I would like the names and locations of every hunter, the passcodes to each and every Men of Letters database held in that Bunker and then we'll move onto a discussion about your relationship with the demon, Ruby!"

"Hey Angry Spice, get away from my brother!" Dean shouted, trying to rush down the steps but being held back by Sir D.

"Jeremy," the woman, likely Lady Bevell said brightly, "I see you've found our loose end. Well done."

"Dean!" Sam's voice was filled with shock and pain, "Oh my God! You're alive?"

"Sammy!" Dean said, allowing 'Jeremy' to push him down the stairs, "Yeah, I'm still kicking."

Sam managed a grimace through his pain to show his joy at those words.

"It's okay, little brother, I'm here to get you out."

"American bravado," Lady Bevell scoffed, "One of your greatest weaknesses, Winchesters…"

"Who the hell are you, lady?" Dean turned to look at her, officially over this whole scene, "What do you want with us?"

"I'm sorry, Dean, I forgot you're playing catch up here. My name is Lady Toni Bevell of the British Men of Letters, London branch and I'm here…"

"Yeah, I got the memo! Aren't we supposed to be on the same team?" Dean barked.

"Not…quite," she cocked her head, caught off guard by his lack of surprise at her revelation. She quickly recovered, "We're here to put an end to your reckless endangerment of innocent lives. You and your brother are toxic to our line of work, Winchester. We're hoping to reach out to any worthy hunters in this country who can help us salvage some kind of order out of the mess you've been making for years."

"You're joking, right?" Dean said, with a laugh, "Who the hell are you to come over here…."

"Concerned people with the skills and the duty to protect future victims from your incompetence," Toni interrupted, angrily, "I really don't have time for long winded explanations. I've suffered long enough in your brother's company and I don't have the patience to start all over with you. Just answer my questions and let's end this while you and your brother still have a chance…."

The ringing of her mobile phone interrupted her rant. Toni put up a finger and said, "Hold that thought!" as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled it out.

"Mick, I'm surprised to hear from you! I've got the Winchesters…don't be stupid, I've almost broken them….If you would just leave me be….Look, I've got a job to do and I don't have time for you or the Counsel second guessing every decision that I….When I've gotten my answers, I'll be happy to accept your apology….Goodbye Mick!"

Dean noticed how shaken Toni looked as she hung up. "Lover's quarrel?" he asked, snidely.

"No, just a difference of opinion about how we should proceed in this country and with you. Now, where were we?"

"We were at the part where you drop your weapons and step away from my sons!" a cold voice, came from behind them.

They all looked up the stairs to see Mary pointing two guns in their direction, one pointed at Toni and the other at Jeremy.

"Sons?" Toni was genuinely surprised, "Mary….Winchester? How is this possible?"

"Let's call it divine intervention. Right now, I need you to move your ass or we're going to see whether or not you bleed blue!"

"Jeremy?" Toni turned to him expectantly.

He didn't even move half a step before he wasn't a lump on the floor, Mary having dropped him with a shot to his left knee cap.

"Try moving again, Junior and you'll never walk without a cane again!" she taunted, training both guns on Toni now, "And you? I've had just about enough of you. Move!"

Toni began walking towards Mary, who shouted "Far enough!" to her once she'd moved a few feet away from Sam. Dean rushed to free Sam, then realised that the chains that held him were padlocked.

"Keys," he growled at Toni who looked back at him haughtily.

"You can use your teeth for all I care, Dean."

"What are you, five?" he replied, disgust in his voice as he walked to Jeremy and took back his own gun. "Thanks for holding onto it for me, Jeremy. Sammy, hold your arms out behind you!"

Dean moved back to his brother, shooting the lock and helping Sam off the floor.

"Hold on, little brother," he whispered, as he wrapped Sam's arm around his shoulders, "Cass is outside so he's going to fix you right up."

"Actually, I'm right here!" Castiel was suddenly standing behind Mary, another man next to him.

"Cass?" Dean asked, warning in his voice as he eyed this potential new threat.

"It's all right, Dean," the angel replied, "This is Mick Davies of the British Men of Letters….."

"I'll take it from here, Castiel," Mick said, patting Castiel on the shoulder. "I want to start off by apologising to you all. Lady Bevell and I have different attitudes where making first impressions is concerned."

"You don't speak for me, Mick!" Toni sneered, as she glared at Sam and Dean.

"And that's a pity because I do speak for the rest of our organisation- the one you swore an allegiance to, Toni." He sounded like he was scolding a toddler. To the rest of the room, he said, "I'm sure Lady Bevell has shared the basics with you. We wanted to learn more about the two of you, given that you are the last surviving members of the Men of Letters here in the U.S."

"Yeah, well your sales pitch needs work," Sam coughed, wincing with pain.

Castiel walked down the stairs and approached Sam, concern on his face. The angel touched his fingers to the younger Winchester's forehead, the bright, white light of his healing grace blinding all of them for a second.

"Thanks Cass," Sam sighed with relief, cracking his neck and stretching his limbs. Cass nodded in acknowledgement and turned a stony glare on Lady Bevell, looking for all intents and purposes like he might attack her at any moment.

Dean touched Cass on the shoulder to help gentle the angel's stance and then turned to address Mick.

Mary beat him to it. "So exactly what makes you a better ambassador than Emma Peel over there?" she asked, placing one of her guns in her waistband but keeping the other trained on Toni.

"Well, you'll get no argument from me that Lady Bevell went too far and we'll take her back to London where she'll face the appropriate consequences. I deeply apologise for all of this and I would like to extend an olive branch. We want to work with you." Mick's tone was completely reasonable and genial, something which caused Dean to laugh.

"You know, if you're having a hard time being civil about this, we could talk about my colleague Ms. Watt…..," Mick threatened, mildly.

"What are you talking about?" Toni interjected, though she was ignored.

"Hey, that bitch came after us and….!" Dean's hostility ramped immediately up to a ten and Mick threw up his hands in supplication.

"So, uh, Mick is it?" Sam said, trying to bring tensions down a notch, "With all evidence to the contrary, what's supposed to make us believe anything you say?"

"Let's be honest, boys, if I'd really wanted you dead, you wouldn't be here having this conversation right now. As you recall, we know where you live. The protections on your Bunker are impressive to be sure, but I believe it took Toni's men maybe 45 minutes before they broke through them. If I'd been the one taking Toni's approach, I would have ripped you from your beds and forced the information out of you right there. Instead, I've come to you, unarmed with hat in hand to apologise. Your angel, here, is a formidable weapon in your arsenal, and yet I even powered down the wards so he could join us. I think that my motives are quite transparent, don't you?" Mick retorted, his eyebrows raised expectantly.

"I think that politely veiled threats are still threats even if they are delivered with an English accent," Castiel's deadpan response caused Mary to smile inwardly, despite the seriousness of the situation. The angel was really beginning to grow on her.

"Here's my number," Mick walked down to Mary, handing her a business card, "Take your time, cool down and think it over. I think we could really help each other. All we ask, is that you give us another chance to prove to you that an alliance with us can be mutually beneficial."

Mary glared at him but took the card and put it in the pocket of her shirt.

"We're leaving now," she said, turning back to glare at Toni, "If I were you, bitch, I wouldn't let us cross paths again. Next time I might forget Mick's proposed "spirit of cooperation' and just end you!"

Toni stared back stonily, refusing to be intimidated as Sam, Dean and Castiel walked past her to the stairs. Twenty minutes later, Team Winchester was back on the road on the way to the Bunker.

"This must be very difficult for you. I remember my first moments on Earth. It was jarring," Castiel's gruff voice filled the car. He sat next to Mary in the back seat of the Impala; Dean and Sam front. They were fifteen minutes away from Lebanon.

"That's one word for it. I grew up with Hunters. I've heard of people coming back from the dead before but to actually do it... after 30 odd years. A lot's changed," Mary replied, softly. The two began talking about some of the world events that she's missed, Castiel only too happy to share his knowledge with a person he was quickly beginning to admire.

"I'm glad that you're still here, Dean," Sam said quietly, looking over at his brother.

"I could say the same about you," his brother replied, a tired smile on his face.

"What happened?" Sam asked, "How did you not..die?"

"At the end, Amara and Chuck…..they were just like any other siblings having a family squabble."

"Yeah, a squabble that almost took out the sun and this planet," Sam scoffed.

"I know," Dean agreed, "but I think they were just as tired of all the death and destruction of the past few months as we were. When they were just face to face, you know, they just…. talked it out. It was some old-fashioned, honest to goodness, chick flicking, heart to hearting. They decided to go on a family vacation to work on it."

"Really?" Sam asked incredulously, "After almost destroying existence itself they just talked it out and went to Baja?"

"Celestial beings, am I right?"

"And what about Mom?" Sam whispered, so she couldn't hear, "How did this happen?"

Dean glanced in the rear view mirror and paused to ensure that his mother was otherwise occupied. She and Castiel were talking about the Macarena of all things. He stuck out his tongue in disgust and looked at Sam.

"It was Amara's idea actually. Said she wanted to give me what I needed most like I'd given to her. Then next thing I knew, I ran into Mom. It was like time hadn't passed for her, Sam." Dean's eyes flickered back to the road before he continued, "She was still wearing the same…the same nightgown she was wearing the night…"

"I get it," Sam said, quietly.

An uncomfortable silence fell over them. Sam looked over at Dean after a few minutes, seeing his incessant fidgeting and knowing there was something else. There was always something else.

"Just tell me, Dean," he said, knowing his brother sometimes needed a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Dean looked over at him uncertainly and waited a few moments before sighing.

"Chuck decided to leave me a parting gift too…," he started, looking like he was trying to find the right words.

"Which was?" Sam offered impatiently when Dean seemed like he was never going to finish his thought.

"You remember Lydia?" Dean whispered, checking the rear view mirror again. Castiel was showing Mary something on his phone.

"Lydia the Amazon?" Sam asked bewildered. He couldn't imagine what…"Oh my God! Emma?" he wheezed in shock, "Dean, she's dangerous. She's…"

"…a baby," Dean said flatly, the look in his eyes daring his brother to argue, "She's my baby girl and she's at the Bunker right now with Claire watching her. Chuck said he changed a few things about her. I gotta believe her need to kill me would have been on the top of his priority list."

"And if it's not?" Sam asked worriedly, knowing from experience that his stubborn brother wouldn't be seeing reason right now.

"I guess we'll find out first hand how the whole 'Nature versus Nurture' debate plays out right in our own home…."

"Dean…," Sam rebuked mildly, his brother's glib comment irritating.

"…I have to, Sammy. I know what you thought before…but she is mine."

Sam stared at his brother sympathetically and guiltily at the same time. He looked in the rear view mirror at his mother and Castiel for a long while and came to a decision. These people were his family and regardless of how she came to be, little Emma was also a member of Team Winchester. God and his sister had given Mary a second chance, so he had to believe that the same held for Dean and his daughter also. Sam half turned in his seat and put a hand on Dean's shoulder.

"I'm happy for you," he said, a genuine smile on his face now, as the notion of being someone's uncle flitted through his mind, "We can do this together."

Dean looked back at him and let out a deep breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding "Thanks man!"

Sam nodded and they both went back to staring out of the windshield in silence, the sound of Mary and Castiel's 'intense' discussion filling the car. They were talking about computers and Castiel was regaling Mary with tales that proved all the ways that those 'demon boxes' were shifty.

"Do you hear that?" Dean whispered to Sam, a grin on his face as he listened to the two in the back seat, "From what I've heard so far, it looks like I'm stuck with you, King of the Nerds, to help me teach Emma about pop-culture. It's like two Siris talking to each other back there."

"What's a Siri?" Mary asked, overhearing Dean's last comment.

"I know her," Castiel piped in earnestly, "She's the woman from the Apple Company that runs my phone."

Dean looked askance at Sam who tried his best not to laugh when he corrected Castiel. He waited for Mary and Castiel to restart their conversation before he asked Dean, "So what do you plan to do? I'm pretty sure that those two will be spending a lot of time with Emma. How are you gonna stop them from influencing how fly she is…."

"Did you just say, fly?" Dean sputtered, glancing over at Sam with disgust, "What is this, 1993?"

"Hey, you'll be losing out on two-thirds of your babysitters if you won't leave Emma with them," Sam grinned, enjoying Dean's overreaction.

"Actually, like I said, Claire's at the Bunker with her now so it's more like half. Besides, chances are she'll be fully grown soon and then she can learn all she needs to know from the best nanny there is," Dean replied cheerfully.

"I don't think any of your hookups is likely to sign on for kid duty, Dean," Sam remarked sarcastically with a smirk.

Dean glared at the overgrown Gigantor next to him, praying for patience. "You met her before- last year, when Castiel was recuperating," he replied smugly, enjoying the look of confusion on Sam's face.

"What? Who?" Sam stared back at him, bewildered.

"Two words, Sam- Net….Flix"

It was early evening when they got back to the Bunker. Dean made a beeline for Claire and Emma, who were currently sitting in the reading alcove overlooking the Map Room. Claire was entertaining Emma with excerpts from a book about werewolves, reading rather vivid passages with an overly-exuberant, animated face and voice that had Emma laughing hysterically.

Sam and Dean headed up to them, Dean's whole demeanor exuding his pride when he introduced his little girl to her uncle. Claire snickered in amusement at the petrified look on Sam's face as he held Em for the first time. He kept asking if he was holding her head correctly and saying that he didn't think he was doing it right. Dean told him to stop tittering like a little girl- then apologised to the two little girls in front of him for the insult.

When he, himself, took Emma into his own arms, she stared up at her daddy with that look she reserved especially for him. She closed her eyes after a few moments and then fell asleep.

"It's like she's just waiting for you to get home," Claire said, impressed by the way Dean had taken to Emma so easily, "How do you do that?"

Dean smiled at Claire and smirked as he answered, "I used to do the same for little Sammy. Fed him, burped him, wiped his…"

"Yeah, okay, you're older than all of us, we know," Sam interrupted, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

Claire grinned at them and then she noticed the blood all over their clothes.

"Are you two okay?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah," Dean answered looking down at his shirt, "Can you take Emma so we can go clean up?"

"Sure," she replied, her curiosity now peaked, "Are you guys gonna tell me exactly what you've been doing for the past two days? Or better yet, the details about how your Mom is still alive and…"

"We will," Sam answered quickly, "but right now, I'm beat and I need to take a shower, put on some clean clothes and eat a cheeseburger…"

"Now you're speaking my language," Dean handed Emma over to Claire, "And I didn't forget that you wanted to talk to me. Later ok?"

Claire looked slightly disappointed but didn't hesitate to agree.

"I'll go put Emma in her crib," she said, preceding them down the stairs and to the living quarters. Mary had already gone to her room to change and Castiel, at his own suggestion, had gone to pick up some food from Biggerson's. Dean had been surprised but ravenous so he just thanked the angel and didn't question it any further. Ten minutes later they were all sitting in the kitchen, enjoying as many high calorie foods as they could stand. Castiel had even brought a still-warm apple pie for Dean who attacked it with a vengeance even after having already inhaled two cheeseburgers and extra-large fries.

"So, do you still like pie?" Mary asked with a laugh, watching her eldest in amusement.

Dean didn't really have a chance to reply, given that he'd just shovelled the rest of a huge slice into his mouth.

Sam looked away from Dean, disgust on his face turning to stare covertly at his mother. They ate in silence for a bit longer when Mary said, "Sam, you keep looking at me like I'm going to explode."

Sam smiled and said quietly, "I'm sorry. I…I just can't believe you're here."

She placed her hand on his and squeezed, "So, are we buying Mick's whole 'Let's be friends' routine? "

"After the way my first play-date turned out with Toni, I'm gonna have to say no. No way," Sam answered immediately, finishing up the last of his beer.

"Who's Mick?" Claire asked, her eyes widening in interest. Finally she was going to get some of the details.

"I don't think Claire needs to know the…." Castiel eyebrows furrowed, not wanting to drag her into this any further. Babysitting for a few days until they had retrieved Sam was one thing, but getting her involved with the British Men of Letters was dangerous and he wanted her back in Sioux Falls with Jody and Alex, as soon as possible.

Claire glared at Castiel, quick to anger at what she perceived to be his continued over-protectiveness, "I don't know how you keep forgetting this, Castiel, but your name is not, nor has it ever been, Jimmy Novak. You are NOT the father! No eres mi papa- how many other ways do you need me to say it? Do I need to learn Enochian for you to…!"

"Hey!" Sam and Dean admonished simultaneously, both seeing the effect of Claire's vitriol on their friend.

Claire stood up abruptly from the table, her venom now turning on them, "Of course you take his side! Why am I not surprised?"

"Claire!" Dean growled, getting angry now. He'd been sure that they were past all of this during their time back in Fall River two years ago. Obviously, something was eating at her and he cursed himself for not having found the time to hear her out since she'd gotten to the Bunker.

Dean's tone halted her rant and she quickly looked embarrassed and uncomfortable with the four pairs of eyes that were now trained on her. A wail coming from the baby monitor suddenly broke the tension. No one moved for a moment but then Mary stood up and muttered something about going to see to Emma. She left the room and Claire hugged herself, unsure what to do next.

Dean was still staring at Claire, his look one of disappointment, irritation and sternness.

Castiel stood up, the rejection somehow evident in the very way he held himself.

"I…have to go see a man about a guitar," he announced to the group, though looking at Claire with a pained expression.

"Cass…," Sam started but the angel had already disappeared.

Claire stared at the table for a moment, refusing to meet their eyes. She'd screwed up and she knew it. She had forgiven Castiel for the most part-, well 99% at least- but right now, with what she'd been going through recently she couldn't afford to get the Winchesters offside. And she wasn't oblivious to the fact that Castiel's dogged belief that he was the closest thing to a father she would ever had, was sincere. In her mind, that ship had sailed a long time ago; she had her future to think of now and angering Dean and Sam was not going to help her achieve that.

Sam excused himself after a minute, leaving the other two alone. Dean looked at her for a few seconds more and then told her to sit down. She waited a beat before sat next to him and he turned to face her.

"I'm grateful that you came and helped me out with Emma. We were in a jam and you really came through. Claire….I.."

"I'm sorry, Dean," Claire was remorseful, "I didn't mean to.. I….I've been going through…."

"You should be saying that to Cass," Dean cut in, trying to tamp down his rekindling anger, "You know, family cares about you. Family is there for the good, the bad- all of it. They got your back, even when it hurts. That's family. Sam, Me, Cass, my Mom, Emma- we're family. You, Jody, Alex.. you're our family too. So tell me, do you think he deserved any of that?"

"Uh, look Dean..."

"Answer me, Claire!"

Claire stayed silent for a moment. "No," she replied quietly.

Dean could see tears forming in her eyes when she finally looked up. They stared at each other for a minute and then he sighed, "I'm heading down to the garage. Gotta go take a look at Baby. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

Claire nodded and quickly excused herself to her room.

He'd managed to temper his tone considerably, seeing how contrite Claire was being. He figured he'd made his point anyway. To be honest, he was still a little angry but he didn't want to let himself go overboard either. Claire had a hard time with authority figures but for some reason, even though she groused at them a lot, she really responded to himself and Sam. He'd get to the bottom of what was going on with her tomorrow when he was calmer.

Sam knocked on the door and opened it when he heard the soft, "Come in."

His mother was sitting on her bed, reading a book. She quickly put it down on her far side and turned to greet him.

"How's Emma?" he asked from the doorway.

"She's sleeping…like a baby," Mary smiled and waved him in.

"Uh, am I disturbing you? I actually thought you'd be asleep by now," he said coming in and pulling up a chair to sit next to her.

"Not yet. I'm still feeling on edge after today," she smiled, patting his arm.

"Yeah, I know the feeling," he chuckled, though sobering quickly. "Uh, I wanted to say... if you ever want to talk, I know what it's like to come back to this and not feel like you really fit."

Mary nodded. "I just have so much to catch up on with you two boys. Mother stuff, you know? First tooth, first crush, Emma's mother, how Castiel became so close to you….."

"Yeah," Sam agreed.

"It's just so overwhelming….I don't really know where to start…"

"Right, uh... about that. I have something that might help," Sam pulled his father's journal from under his arm and handed it to Mary.

"This is Dad's journal. It has a lot of his thoughts about hunting and about…a lot of other things. It's helped me fill in some blanks over the years. And, most importantly, it, sort of, uh, keeps him with us."

"Thank you, Sammy," she said.

"Good night, Mom," he said, liking the sound of the hated nickname when it came from her.

He got up and returned the chair, about to leave the room when she said, "Dean said you got out of hunting."

Sam put his hand in his pockets, bracing himself. "Yeah?" he answered.

"And yet here you are."

"Well, in this family, we hunt things, you know? It's what we do," Sam realised that he sounded a little defensive and immediately felt ashamed.

His mother shook her head and looked at the journal.

"Mom," he said softly, "For me... just, um... having you here... fills in the biggest blank."

His eyes filled with tears as he walked towards her. She stood up straight into his open arms. They hugged for a minute and then he kissed the top of her head and left the room in search of Dean.

Sam found his brother in the garage, beating out the Impala's damaged panel, baby monitor on one side of his work bench and a small radio playing AC/DC softly on the far end. Dean looked like he was taking out a bit of pent up frustration on the sheet of metal and Sam knew that the talk he was hoping to have might not go down so smoothly.

Dean raised his chin in acknowledgement when Sam appeared at his side.

"How's it coming?" Sam asked, nodding towards the panel.

"Should have this done soon, then I'll get the sanding and base coat on tomorrow. How's it going up there?" Dean paused to look at Sam

"I saw Claire slink off to her room before I went in to check on Emma," Sam replied, "How'd it go?"

"Claire and I are gonna talk tomorrow when I don't feel like wringing her neck," Dean smiled grimly, "You know, she reminds me of you during your angsty teen years when you couldn't decide how much of a pain in the ass you wanted to be from day to day…"

"Jerk!" Sam scowled with narrowed eyes.

"Bitch!" Dean grinned and slapped his brother's shoulder amicably.

They shared a companionable silence for a few moments before Sam started again.

"I just wanted to say that I'm really happy for you. Really. Having Emma here, having a chance at a life beyond hunting…..it's something I never thought we'd have, you know? I mean, you had Lisa and Ben and I had Amelia…we had snapshots of what it could be like. But with Em, your daughter….man, there's no take backs. She's yours…"

"Ours," Dean corrected, a small smile on his face.

"…I'm grateful you can say that after what I did the first time…"

"Sammy….she was about to try to kill me. I understand what you did. Please don't beat yourself up about trying to save my life. We've just gotta accept the fact that we'll always try to save the other, no matter what. But that little girl up there? She's my shot, you know? My way to atone for everything I've ever done. Raising her right, seeing her grow up, knowing that when we're gone, there'll still be a Winchester …."

"You're planning on teaching her how to hunt?" Sam raised his eyebrows, surprised.

Dean contemplated the question for a second, "I don't really know. Right now, I gotta see what happens. Last time she aged every three days or so and by the end of the week she was trying to kill me. I gotta believe that Chuck wouldn't let that happen to me again otherwise Emma'll be the worst 'thank you' in the history of thank yous."

"It'll be okay, Dean," Sammy paused for a beat, "….about Mom…."

"Having her here is gonna be good for Emma. A strong female role model and she's had two kids. Now I'll have help parenting you and Emma…."

"Oh ha, ha!" Sam rolled his eyes at his smirking brother.

"Hey man, it takes a village!" Dean replied with fake seriousness, shrugging his shoulders.

"What I was going to say…," Sam said quickly before Dean could continue his poor attempt at stand up comedy, "…is that I don't know what to feel about Mom being back. Obviously I never got to know her and now I look at her and all I feel is guilty because her death was my fault. I mean, she died trying to protect me….."

"No," Dean said, the look on his face hard and determined, "Our mother was a hunter- you know that. We met her when she was barely more than a kid, remember? And she was kicking ass and taking names even back then. She made the deal with Azazel to save Dad's life and she paid the price. I made a deal with a Crossroads demon to save you and went to Hell for a year. You took on the trials because I made you feel like you'd let me down and it almost killed you….that's what we do in this family. It's built into our DNA….!"

Dean paused, knowing that his brother was still beating himself up. "Sam, we've gotta take this blessing for what it is. You need to get over it and enjoy getting to know Mom now."

"I realise that, Dean. That's obvious in my head, but actually figuring out how to do it…"

"Give it time, Sammy."

"Yeah," Sam nodded and looked over at the panel, "You should call it a night and get some sleep. We've had a pretty long haul recently- we've earned the R & R."

"I'm almost done, anyways," Dean wiped his hands on one of the rags on the bench, "Goodnight little brother."

"Goodnight, Dean."

Sam left the garage and stopped to check on the Bunker's other occupants. Claire was asleep in her room and his mother was in her room, sitting in the soft glow of a nightlight with an awake Emma in her arms. She was murmuring to the little girl who was staring up at her grandmother with a little smile on her face.

"You are so beautiful, little Em…," Mary said, tickling the baby's chin and making her giggle, "….but there's something different about you, isn't there? I know Daddy's friend wasn't human and I just can't imagine why he'd be the one bringing you to Dean…."

Sam closed the door before she spotted him. His brother was going to have to come clean with Mary about his daughter, soon. If she stayed true to her DNA, Emma would be twice her size in a day or two and then it would be too late. Sam wasn't sure how well their mother would take being excluded like that. He'd speak to Dean in the morning.

"You have to tell her soon, Dean," Sam was tired of Dean's seemingly nonchalant attitude, "Emma's likely going to force your hand anyway, so you may as well get ahead of it…"

"Get ahead of what?" Mary asked, walking into the library, book in hand.

Sam glared at his brother in exasperation when Dean quickly answered, "Nothing."

"Dean!"

"Shut up, Sam!"

"Is this about Emma?" Mary asked, seeing the angry look on Dean's face and making an educated guess.

"No!" "Yes!"

Her sons stared intensely at each other, the tension thick and uncomfortable. Mary stared between them and, seeing that Winchester-Campbell stubbornness beginning to set in, decided to jump in quickly to break the deadlock.

"I know that there's something different about her, Dean. She's not quite…human, right?" Mary may have only spent four years with Dean before she died in 1983, but she knew exactly how to read his facial expressions; she'd spent years seeing the same ones on both her father and John's faces.

"Mom.."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" she asked, her tone wounded.

Dean looked away and sighed. He really wasn't ready for this conversation as much as he knew they'd have to have it eventually. Mary was a born and bred hunter. Dean had met his grandfather Samuel Campbell; a man deeply protective of his family, Sam's namesake had been singular in his mission to secure his daughter's resurrection via a deal made with Crowley. In the time that Dean had gotten to know him, his grandfather hadn't hidden his absolute abhorrence of Supernatural creatures one iota. Dean hated himself for it but, having watched his mother in action over the past few days, he couldn't help but feel that the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree. He, himself, had shared that point of view before meeting Benny, ironically, but had since learned to moderate his intolerance because life wasn't always black and white. Mary and Samuel had wanted to protect each other in the past, Dean wanted to do the same for his child….even if that meant alienating his mother right now. Not that he was going to tell her that.

"Look Mom," he started, giving Sam a glower that promised retribution, "You just got back and with everything that's been happening with The Darkness and God, Sammy being gone and those British dicks…, there really hasn't been time for us to talk about…everything and I didn't want to rush a conversation about where Emma…"

"What is she, Dean?" Mary knew her son was dissembling. It was time to just rip the Band-Aid off quickly.

Dean stopped talking, a little frustrated that his excuses hadn't worked.

"She's an Amazon," Sammy piped up, knowing that Dean's temper was about to get the best of him.

"What?" Mary exclaimed genuinely perplexed, "You mean like Wonder Woman?"

Sam smiled inwardly, wondering if his mother and brother realised just how alike they were.

"Well, the comics are based on real lore so….." Sam replied, watching the mix of emotions that played on Dean's face. He knew Dean was going to make him pay for this, he just had no idea how painful it was going to be.

"I don't think my family ever encountered one before….," Mary mumbled, almost to herself.

"I met one named Lydia. We…spent the night together and Emma was the result. Her mother is out of the picture now and I'm all she has."

Though he was addressing his mother, Dean stared at Sam daring him to contradict this partial truth. The look in his brother's eyes told him all he needed to know; Sammy was finally going to back off and let him deal with telling their mother in his own time and in his own way.

"What happened to her?" Mary's eyes were piercing and Dean looked away.

He didn't really want to lie to his mother but he felt an overwhelming need to protect his daughter's story for now.

"She died," Dean replied simply and then, "Look Mom, it doesn't really matter. Emma is my daughter and she needs me. There really isn't anything more to say."

"No… you're right, Dean," Mary nodded, averting her eyes, "Uh…look, I'm going to go take a drive up to Lawrence this morning. Thought I would take a look around the old place. I…I'll see you later!"

Mary spun around and walked swiftly from the room towards the garage. Dean and Sam stared after her for a beat, and then Dean looked at Sam accusingly.

"Really, Sam?" he said, the disappointment heavy in his tone, "I can't believe you did that!"

"Dean, you know that the longer you wait, the more difficult it's going to make things between you. Don't you get it? You're just like Mom and as I recall, you've hated any time that I've kept something from you." Sam knew that he had to do some damage control before his inevitable fight with Dean had a chance to get fully underway.

Sam's earnest tone, far from calming him, was grating on Dean's nerves. He hadn't really had time to process this whole thing for himself, yet. If Emma turned out to be more Amazon than Winchester, he had no idea how he was going to handle it. All of the fear, uncertainty and despair he'd felt over the past few days with the near end of the world, his brother's kidnapping and his mother and daughter's resurrections, had left him drained. As was his way, there was only one means to deal with situations like this, and that was gathering up all the unwanted emotions and channeling them into a fight instead. Unfortunately, Sam was a deserving and geographically convenient target right now.

"It wasn't your place Sam and you know it. My relationship with my mother is my business…"

"Dean, I wasn't trying to…."

"I don't really care what you were trying to do, just stay out of it!" Dean snapped, then condescendingly, "Besides, I think I've had more experience dealing with our mother than you do..."

Dean knew that he'd scored a direct hit by the way his brother visibly recoiled. Sam's eyes reflected that hurt but rather than engage any further, he stood up from the table and walked away. Dean's self-righteous anger made him feel justified…initially, but then, as the repetitive task of sanding the metal panel gave him enough time to calm down and self-reflect, he had to acknowledge that he'd just been a major dick. With a huge sigh, he abandoned the garage and headed off to the kitchen. At times like these, the only thing that made him feel better was a glass of whiskey and a slice of pie.

"You realise, of course, that I don't actually have to get on that plane," Toni hissed at Mick, looking back at the two goon enforcers that were steadily herding Jeremy and herself towards the tarmac, "My clearance is just as high as yours- you're my peer not my superior- at least not yet. You think I don't know what you're doing? When my grandfather died, his seat on the Executive of our organisation was my mine to inherit! If you hadn't stuck your nose in and suggested that my youth was some kind of hindrance….!"

"I suggested that your inexperience might make you unqualified for the position, yes, but you will also recall that I offered this mission in the U.S. as a way for you to prove yourself to the Counsel. And what did you do? You were supposed to gain their trust not try to kill them!" Mick replied tersely.

"Have you even read their dossier? The Winchesters are almost worse than the things they hunt!"

"…They've also had their fair share of successes, Toni," Mick admonished with a tone that was entirely too condescending for Toni's liking.

She sneered when she shot back, "If our goal is to end the supernatural threat in this country, we need to destroy every obstacle. The Winchesters are one of the biggest obstacles, Mick and you know that!"

"I've already taken steps to rectify the damage you've done. Mr. Ketch…."

"Mr. Ketch?" Toni exclaimed, completely astonished, "You'll release your psychopath on these 'good ole' boys', but I try to ask them a few direct questions and suddenly I'm sent to my room in disgrace? You're such a hypocrite, Mick! You'll do anything to steal my birth right from me, won't you?"

They'd reached the steps of the Gulfstream G550 and Toni stopped to glare at him.

"Goodbye, Toni," Mick replied with a smirk.

With one last look, she boarded the plane, Jeremy following closely behind her. About ten minutes later, they were in the air. Toni stared out of the window, seething. She snapped at the flight attendant, Lucy, who offered her something to drink and held up her hand to stave off any subsequent comments from Jeremy. She turned to stare blankly through the partially open cockpit door, watching Lucy bringing the occupants water bottles. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Being made to run back to London after only a few days with her tail between her legs, was a humiliation that she would never be able to live down with the other Men of Letters, with her family and most importantly, with the Executive Counsel. She closed her eyes, her mind racing. She vaguely heard Jeremy flirting with Lucy, the tinkling of their wine glasses, the whirring of the engines, the voice of the pilot through the still open cockpit…..She opened her eyes and stared through the door. That voice! She fairly bolted out of her seat and approached them.

"Anthony?" she exclaimed with delight, "How are you?"

"Lady Bevell?" the pilot replied, startled, "I haven't seen you since you were ten years old! I didn't realise you were my passenger otherwise I would have come back there to say hello. Mr Davies just said we were taking some members back to London."

"I'm sure he just didn't think of it," Toni answered with a smile, "I was so sorry to hear about Alice."

"Thank you, Lady Bevell, after those years of watching my poor wife suffer, the end came quickly. I have to be thankful for that."

"It must be such a comfort to know that she's at peace and in a better place," Toni patted the Captain on the shoulder and he nodded, unshed tears forming in his eyes.

After a few minutes, she ventured on, "How long have you been back?"

"Only a few weeks," Anthony replied, getting himself back under control, "How've you been, Miss?"

"Actually, quite well…now" Toni's optimism was growing due to the plan forming in her mind, "I've just gotten some happy news. My mother's been very ill over the last few months and Mr. Davies came from London to carry on some work I was doing for the Council so I could go home to be with her because her condition worsened…."

"Lady Bevell, I'm so sorry!" Captain Anthony Keys had been the Bevell family's private pilot for twenty years before he'd had to take extended leave to care for his dying wife. Toni hadn't realised that he'd come back to work for the Men of Letters. She was banking on his family loyalty and how unlikely it was that the newly reinstated Captain Keys would have any idea about the Counsel recalling her to London.

"Well, I just found a missed text and got some happy news. My mother's rallied and is doing much better. Of course, I want to rush back to her side anyways but Father tells me she's adamant that I stay and finish my work. I won't need to go back to London now but I could use a ride to New York to follow up on some leads…"

Anthony didn't even hesitate, "That's wonderful news, Lady Bevell, I'd be happy to. I'll just let Mr. Davies know about our change of plans and….."

"…I've already emailed him," Toni replied quickly, almost too quickly. "He knew this was only temporary anyway. Now he can get on with his own mission and I'll just pick up where I left off."

The captain and co-pilot looked at each other. Lady Bevell's great, great, grandfather had been one of the founding members of the British Men of Letters and her family's influence had spread far and wide across Europe ever since- across monarchies, governments, the military- through every corridor of power across the pond and beyond. Requests from her were really orders and there was no way that Anthony, as a member ever dedicated to her family, would take them as anything else.

"We'll radio the tower and make it happen," the first officer piped in, receiving a nod from the Captain in return.

"Thank you both," she responded with a genuine smile.

"You go sit down, Lady Bevell, we'll have our new flight path in no time." The Captain patted her hand and Toni turned back to the cabin.

Jeremy cocked his head questioningly as Toni approached him, a huge grin on her face. Lucy had gone by this time and Jeremy had obviously been listening to the exchange in the cockpit.

"What are you doing?" he muttered, when Toni dropped into her seat.

"Getting us back on track," she whispered, her tone triumphant, "I've gotten them to take us to New York. By the time Mick realises what we've done, we'll be long gone from there. We've got work to do and those two buffoons are the key to everything."

"Okay, I'm in," Jeremy nodded, "Where do we start?"

"Glad you asked..," Toni smirked, "…because we need to talk about Mary Winchester."