Thank you so much Jenjoremy for fixing this chapter up for me. I know it was a well of a mess when you got it nd you did an awesome job making it readable.


Chapter Eleven

Naomi was bleeding from countless wounds, and Sam could tell she was close to breaking. He recognized the look in her eyes as he had felt that way himself. It was easy to start out strong under the knife, refusing to give in and beg, but there always came a point when it became impossible to resist the urge. Naomi was almost at that point. Sam just wished she would give in already. He didn't want Dean to have to do this anymore.

He had stayed in the cabin for two reasons. First, he wanted to see Naomi get what she deserved, but more importantly, he wanted Dean to understand that there was no shame in what he was doing. He knew Dean didn't want do this, no matter what he had said he felt in Hell when working on the souls. He was just doing a job, one that Sam didn't think he would have been able to do himself.

"One more time," Dean said, drawing the tip of the blade from the corner of Naomi's right eye and down her face. "Where is Michael?"

Sam knew that was one of the worst places to be hurt. Any threat to the eyes was great. As bad as it was to see what was happening to you, it was worse to be tortured in darkness. Lucifer had liked to take Sam's eyes.

"Why would I tell you?" Naomi asked, panting through pain.

"Because if you do, I'll stop," Dean said. "If you don't talk, I am going to just keep cutting away at you."

Naomi turned her head away and fixed her eyes on Sam. Perhaps she thought he was the weak link, as Bobby had been vocal about encouraging Dean whereas Sam had stayed in silent support.

He waited for her to speak, but before she could, Dean turned her face away with the blade so she was facing him again.

"You're not giving me much of a choice," she said. "I'm dead either way, aren't I?"

"Like the humans you've attacked are," Bobby said bitterly.

"I didn't hurt anyone," she said. "I am just a clerk."

"You're a monster," Dean said. "You've got to be a part of Michael's command. You were powerful in our world, screwing with the other angels' heads. There's no way you're a grunt here."

"I am!"

Dean sighed and shook his head. "I hate liars, especially people that look into my eyes while lying to me. I'm going to have to do something about that." He pointed the tip of the blade at her right eye and slowly moved it forward.

"Stop!" she screamed. "I'll tell you."

"Go ahead," Dean said, not lowering the blade. "I'm listening."

"He's in The Void!" she said.

"The Void?" Dean asked, looking at Bobby. "You know where that is?"

Bobby nodded. "It's about as cheerful a place as the name. It's what used to be Montana and Idaho. It's where Michael and Lucifer started their battle, when they were both strong and going for the full effect. It was almost completely destroyed. You think this place is bad? It's nothing compared to the Void." He fixed his attention on Naomi. "Where in the Void?"

"He has an old ski resort in Big Sky," she said. "It's where he takes reports from the generals now."

"You know it?" Dean asked Bobby,

"I knew it before the end of the world. There is a resort there that I can see Michael taking over. I think she's telling the truth."

"I am," Naomi said. "Now, get that blade away from me."

Dean looked from Bobby to Sam. "What do you think?"

"End it," Sam said. "If she's lying, we'll just get another angel and start again."

Bobby nodded. "Put her down."

Dean drew back the blade and shoved it through her chest. White light burned in her eyes and mouth and a high-pitched whine cut through the air. When Dean pulled the blade out of her, she slumped in the chair, dead.

The door flew open and Castiel burst in, his eyes wide. "What did you do?" he asked,

"Killed the dick angel," Dean said. "Why?"

"Because she put out a distress call when it happened," Gabriel said, following Castiel into the cabin. "Me, Jack and Cas heard it."

"What does it matter?" Bobby asked. "She's dead now."

"It matters because Michael will know we're coming for him," Gabriel said.

Sam's eyes widened. "Is he going to move? Have we lost him?"

"I doubt it," Gabriel said. "He probably doesn't think we're really a threat, and he doesn't know I'm here. He's expecting Jack. He'll be ready though, and that means angels."

"Jack can handle them," Dean said confidently.

"We hope," Gabriel said.

"If he can't, you can," Bobby said, "You're an archangel after all. And if he knows we're coming, we better get our butts moving. How exactly do we get the grace out of Lucifer and into you?"

"That's the easy part," Gabriel said. "You boys ready?"

"More than ready," Sam said, pushing himself up off the cot and making for the door. Dean followed him out. Mary, Cas and Jack were there, and as they approached they turned followed them with their eyes. Mary and Jack watched Dean carefully, and Dean stiffened. Sam guessed they were thinking of the sounds they'd heard from the cabin while Dean had been questioning Naomi. He couldn't see judgment in their faces, but there was something there that bothered him. Dean didn't need whatever it was on top of what was already happening, especially not from their mom.

"Mom, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, walking towards him.

Sam walked back into the cabin. When she was in, he closed the door behind her.

Mary's eyes found the dead angel in the chair, and she looked mildly revolted. Sam cleared his throat and she dragged her eyes from the angel to him. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I want to talk about Dean," Sam said.

"Is he okay?"

"He will be," Sam said. "But he just did something really hard in order to get us the information we need. That was rough on him, but he's going to be okay because he has to be. He needs you to be okay, too."

"I am," she said, clearly confused.

"Then you need to show it. It was hard for him to do that with you here, so prove that it hasn't changed anything for you."

Her face fell into lines of guilt. "How do I do that?" she asked quietly.

Sam couldn't understand how she didn't understand that already. If he understood, why didn't she? "You need to be a mom," he said. "Show him with what you do that things are okay still. He needs that."

He watched her absorb the words and nod to herself then he opened the door and walked slowly across the compound to Dean's side where he stood opposite Lucifer. "What was that about?" Dean asked.

"Just needed a minute," Sam said.

"You feeling okay?" Dean asked.

Sam nodded. "I'll be fine."

"Are we ready?" Gabriel asked, cutting off Dean's concerned queries.

Sam nodded, fixing his eyes on Lucifer. "Let's do this."

Mary came to them and stood on Dean's other side. She reached for his hand and entwined their fingers. Dean looked startled, but as he caught Mary's eye and she smiled at him, he returned it tentatively.

"What exactly are you doing?" Lucifer asked. "I can't help but notice the whole gang is here, and you all look pretty serious. Is it time to set me free so we can go after Michael? I heard your little pet's distress call."

"We're not letting you free, Lucifer," Sam said. "We're taking something from you."

"What?" Lucifer asked interestedly.

Gabriel slid the archangel blade into his hand and stepped towards Lucifer. "Your grace."

Lucifer laughed. "Haven't we done that already? It didn't work out very well for you."

"We don't want it for a spell this time," Dean said. "This time you're going to give Gabriel a top up and he is going to kill Michael."

"And here's the thing, Lucifer," Gabriel said. "This time, we're taking it all."

Lucifer gaped at him. "You wouldn't."

Sam huffed a laugh. "We wouldn't strip you of all your grace and make you human? Make you one of the things you hate so much? You're dead wrong, Lucifer. This time, we all win and you lose."

Lucifer began to struggle against his chains, his face twisted with anger. "I won't let you to this to me!" he shouted.

"Stop us then," Sam said calmly. "Oh, that's right. You can't."

"I swear if you do this, you will regret it, Gabriel," Lucifer snarled. "I will make you all pay."

Sam shrugged. "You won't have a chance. We're killing Michael then we're coming back for you."

Lucifer glared at him with more hatred than he had even shown him in the Cage. Sam started back at him without fear. Lucifer could do nothing to him now.

"I will see you dead, Sam Winchester," he threatened.

"Whatever," Sam said.

"Gabriel, let's do this," Dean said, and Sam could tell that the threat had affected him even if it hadn't Sam himself.

Gabriel bent in front of Lucifer and brought the blade to his throat. Lucifer strained away, but he couldn't escape. His eyes widened fearfully as Gabriel cut the skin of his throat and the grace began to bleed out of him. Sam had taken satisfaction seeing this happen before, knowing it was taking Lucifer's strength and opening a door for them, but now it was so much more potent. This was the end of Lucifer as he'd known him.

Gabriel opened his mouth and tilted his head back. The grace slipped from Lucifer and into Gabriel in a light show that was almost too bright to watch. Sam saw it happen through squinted eyes, and he saw the moment the last of the grace disappeared into Gabriel and Lucifer sagged in his chains with blood trickling from the wound on his throat. Gabriel had a hand raised towards Lucifer and his eyes squeezed shut.

"Gabriel?" Sam said tentatively. "Are you okay?"

Gabriel nodded and straightened up. For a moment, his eyes blazed with blue-white light and Sam thought something had gone horribly wrong, but then his eyes cleared and he grinned.

"Not just okay, Sam. Damn awesome!" he said.

Sam laughed softly. "It worked?"

"I'm brimming over with grace and feel like I could take on anything, so I'd say it worked."

"Awesome," Dean said. "We better get going then. You good for a ride?"

"Sure," Gabriel said. "Climb aboard the Archangel Express."

There was a low laugh, and then Lucifer spoke, his voice weaker than Sam had ever heard. "You're all going to die. Michael is going to shred Gabriel to pieces in the sky and then he will come back for you all."

Sam stepped forward and bent down to Lucifer's face. "Fuck you," he sneered, then swung out a fist at Lucifer and slammed it into his jaw. Lucifer's head rocked to the side and then he fell forward unconscious. Sam felt a surge of triumph that became horror when he swayed and Dean steadied him and spoke.

"Mom, you need to stay with Sam."

"What?" Sam and Mary asked at the same time.

"You need to stay with Sam," Dean said again.

"I'm not staying here," Sam said, taking in his mother's stunned expression. He could tell she liked the idea no more than he did.

"Sammy," Dean said consolingly. "This is going to be dangerous. I know you're feeling better, but you're not back at full power yet. It won't be safe for you."

"So?" Sam asked. "When are we ever safe?"

Dean looked hesitant and Mary said, "Sam can come and just stay back from the actual fight. He'll be fine."

Dean glared at her, betrayed. "You really think that or are you just worried about saving everyone else?"

"Dean," Sam said. "It's doesn't…"

"It matters," Dean interrupted angrily. "She's choosing strangers over us again, Sam."

"That's not it," Mary said quickly. "I'm thinking of Sam."

Dean looked furious, but Sam didn't feel any anger, just disappointment. Perhaps it was because he had no memory of her as a child, but he could accept that Mary wasn't like them. Whereas Dean and Sam would give anything for each other, she would put more before few. She was a hunter the way they perhaps should be. Dean could still remember her when she and John had been his whole childish world. He wanted that feeling of devotion again. That wasn't the Mary that had been brought back. Sam didn't like it, but he understood it.

"If you were thinking of him, you'd be staying and protecting him," Dean spat.

"I don't need…" Sam started, and then he trailed off. He could see the fear in Dean's eyes, and the need in his mother's. Dean was scared for him and Mary was scared for the people around them. It wasn't that she didn't care about him; it was that she cared too much for everyone.

"You died, Sam," Dean said softly.

Sam sighed as he realized this wasn't about what he wanted; it was about them all. He had died, and Dean had had to live with that knowledge for the hours it took him to get back to them. He had to put his brother first. If Dean needed him to stay back, he would have to.

"I get it," he said.

"Sammy," Mary said gently.

Sam shook his head. "No. I mean, yeah. I'm in no shape to fight. It's fine. I'll stay back. You should do what you need for these people. You guys go."

Dean stared into his eyes, and Sam tried to hide how deeply he felt the denial. He was going to have to watch the people he loved go off to fight, and he would be left alone to wait for them to return. He would have no idea what was happening to them while they were gone. He wouldn't be able to help them. Of course that would be true whether he was there or not; he wasn't strong enough.

"We should hurry," Gabriel said. "The longer we give Michael, the more angels he's going to amass."

Dean looked torn. Sam didn't understand why. He has said he would stay now. What else did Dean need? What he didn't understand, Castiel did.

"I will stay with Sam," he said. "I can keep him safe. I want to."

Sam stiffened. He didn't want to be kept safe, and he didn't want to deny his family a fighter. "No," he said. "If I'm not coming, you are all going. I'm not taking someone out of the fight to babysit me. Maybe I can't join you against Michael, but I can stay here and do what I have to for myself."

"I can't leave you here alone," Dean said.

"You can," Sam said. "Trust me, Dean. I can handle it."

Dean seemed to be grappling for words to argue, but Gabriel spoke. "Then you're going to need a weapon." He bent and lifted Lucifer's floppy arm. He reached up his sleeve and pulled out a long silver angel blade. It was longer than any Sam had seen before, and he knew at once that it was something more powerful than he had ever handled. It was Lucifer's own archangel blade. Gabriel held it out to him. "Mind you don't cut yourself. It's sharp."

Sam shook his head in the face of Gabriel's attempt at humor. "Thanks. I'll be careful."

"Load up people," Gabriel said. "Angel blades all around."

Dean pulled his from his inside pocket. "I'm ready."

"I'll get some more," Mary said, walking to the cabin with Jack.

Dean gestured and jerked his head. "Come with me a minute," he said.

Sam followed him away from the group and then frowned as Dean came to an abrupt halt. "What…" he started, and then cut off as Dean dragged him into a hug. He patted his back and then smiled as Dean pulled away.

"You better be safe when I get back, Sammy, or I swear to god I'll…" He trailed off as he struggled to find a suitable threat.

"I'll be fine," Sam said. "You're the ones facing off against an archangel. I'll probably just go have a nap."

Dean forced a laugh. "Sounds good to me. Maybe track down some beers for when we get back."

"Not sure I'll be able to find beer here," Sam said. "But we can split a candy bar,"

Dean nodded. "The beer can wait until we get home then."

"Dean," Gabriel called, and Sam saw Bobby, Charlie, Mary were waiting with angel blades ready in their hands, Jack standing with them.

"I better go," Dean said.

"Okay," Sam said heavily. "See you real soon." Dean turned and started to walk away, but Sam caught his arm. "Don't be too mad at Mom, okay?"

Dean frowned. "How can you not be mad?"

Sam shrugged. "I understand it. She's not like us."

"She's our mom. She should be."

"She was gone too long," Sam said in explanation. "It's not the same for her."

Dean shook his head. "Whatever, man."

Dean walked back to the group of fighters and Sam smiled as Mary waved a hand in farewell to him. He tried to hide how scared he was at the sight of them preparing to leave. He wished he was going with them. He didn't think time would move at all for him until they were back.

"See you on the flipside, Sam," Gabriel called.

"Yeah, see you all soon," Sam said.

He turned the blade in his hand, trying to look confident and calm for them, but that was the moment all hell broke loose and calm and confidence was lost in panic.

They were coming.


So… We all love a cliffhanger ending, right? Maybe not. There's one more chapter and an epilogue now. I will get them up soon.

Until next time…

Clowns or Midgets xxx