In the Lethe

by teaandchess

S8: Meg's death was final. She was to remain in a strange place of peace and forgetfulness until the darkness of her soul could be cleansed and renewed. Until something begins to tear her from it and the consequences slowly become more than any could imagine. (originally written as a series of oneshots)

14. The Storm

Summary: Barely escaping his encounter with Lucifer, Castiel is protected by an unlikely ally. As Meg's time starts to draw closer, Abaddon's plans for war on the Winchesters are unleashed. Leaving them desperate for allies and having no where to turn.

---

Part 13: The Storm (When Demons War)

The entire store shook under the fury of the angels, lights flickering on and off as their Grace warred and met in a tangle of power. Lucifer twisted through the air and caught Castiel mid-leap, anchoring his fingers into his dark hair and then whipping him around. With a grunt of effort, Castiel dodged a blow to his head and slammed his elbow into the other angel's stomach, forcing him to let go. He moved fast, an uppercut slamming into his jaw, and Lucifer went to one knee in shock.

But before Castiel could draw his angel sword again, Lucifer rose back up in a blur of movement and tackled him backwards into a freezer door. The shelves crashed against one another as Lucifer's Grace lashed out, setting things on fire and destroyed the windows. With one arm clamped across his throat, Lucifer pressed until the younger angel choked on his breath. Castiel felt the glass start to shatter behind his head as Lucifer leaned his full weight into him and casually smiled down at him.

Now that they were so close, Castiel could see that Lucifer's vessel was deteriorating again. Puckered skin was starting to tear under the weight of his own grace, splitting in gashes on his face, and he smelled rotted. Horrified, he could only stare into the Archangel's eyes and try to struggle free.

"We need to have a chat again, little brother." Lucifer drew an angel sword and began to drag it over Castiel's cheek. The slow slicing blade split open his skin from the corner of his lips to his ear and he grit his teeth to bear the pain. The blade cut deeply as Lucifer made an identical mark on Castiel's other cheek. "Or rather, I'll talk. You listen."

"You're insane," Castiel hissed as his vessel repaired itself.

"Well, maybe. But I'm not the only one who does things that would make our Father sick." Lucifer's eyes glinted a little. "How is your little demon? The Winchesters? Sam is alive and his body intact, I hope."

Castiel yanked forward against the hold and before he could move far, Lucifer sliced down with the angel sword until it was deep into his shoulder. The shout of pain and Castiel's renewed struggles only made him grin wider.

"I'll take that as a yes." Lucifer tsked. "All these things you've done, Castiel, and I think you enjoy failure. Now, thanks to you, the angels are in the Lethe. All of them: the dead and the living."

Castiel squinted at him, gritting his teeth against the pain. "What?"

"Angelic essence is near impossible to snuff out completely. Let me just say that quite a few there could name you as a murderer. You would be very unpopular if I dragged you there." Lucifer leaned his weight into him again. "But I think I want you all to myself."

There was a cold but almost fanatical delight in his tone made Castiel's skin crawl as slowly the sword dug deeper and deeper into his shoulder.

"You killed Michael."

"He threatened them."

Lucifer continued as if he hadn't heard the angel, "You stole his Grace. Sinful little bastard, aren't you? First the Winchesters, then the demon, then this. How much further can you fall? What can you do, Castiel?"

The blade twisted to the left and Castiel felt it hit bone. Only some sense of control kept him from crying out and he shoved back at Lucifer though it didn't get him far. It gave him just enough room to maneuver his own blade up.

"I asked you a question," the Archangel prompted as he slowly drew the blade out of Castiel's shoulder. Castiel's eyes reopened, glowing light filling them, and Lucifer stared back, a sly smirk crossing his face. "Oh, now there's a good little soldier."

Castiel jerked the blade up between them, aiming at Lucifer's heart but the older angel was already moving backward. He didn't even flinch as the blade sunk a little into his side but when Castiel flipped his sword over and tried again, he twisted and blocked it with his own. The screech of holy metal on metal was loud and the lights overhead exploded at the sound.

Castiel leapt forward, ducking another blow and slicing his sword against Lucifer's shoulder. He felt the spurt of blood on his hands and pressed the blade in deeper. Lucifer grabbed hold of him by his coat collar and yanked him close.

"Really, Castiel?"

With a disgusted sigh, Lucifer tossed him easily across the room, half the shelves and the glass doors of the freezers shattering when he crashed into them. Once the younger angel landed, Lucifer waved his hand impatiently through the air and sent him hurtling against the opposite wall. Groaning, Castiel rolled over onto his stomach and dizzily picked himself up. He could taste fresh blood in his mouth and the open cuts on his body were starting to ooze with more blood as his vessel tried to heal. The remaining overhead lights began to crackle and he wiped at his mouth, eyeing the other angel.

With a slow roll of his shoulders, Lucifer gave him a grin and then pulled a bottle from his coat pocket. He sniffed at its contents when he uncorked the rubber stopper.

"You know, I remember what you did to Michael. I felt what you did to him." The Archangel set the bottle on fire with just a look. "It felt painful."

"He threatened my friends," Castiel answered, carefully stepping around a pile of glass. If he could just get to the door…

"And you think that committing one of the ultimate sins is worth that?" Lucifer's bright eyes fixed on Castiel's torn face. "You're not that naive, are you?"

"We don't need to fight."

"What fight?" Lucifer held his arms out to the side. "You're weaker than me, Castiel. It is like pinning a fly to the board and watching it squirm as I pull off its wings."

Clenching his fingers into fists, the angel eyed the surroundings. Lucifer watched him before smiling and continuing on. "You don't realize just what it is you set into motion, Castiel. It's a shame what is going to have to be destroyed because of you."

Lucifer turned a slow circle, tossing the bottle in the air and catching it with the casual air of a child playing with a ball. Castiel watched the movement carefully, snapping his fingers and letting his angel sword fall to his hand.

The Devil didn't even move to arm himself

"Plus, what you did? It makes no difference. And that," Lucifer pointed at the blade, "do you think it could help you?"

The rear door opened to the storage and the clerk came out, wielding a broom as a weapon. She looked around the store, her eyes widening the moment she saw the two angels and the destruction around them. "What the hell?"

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Lucifer agreed, snapping his fingers.

Castiel waved his own hand quickly and his power buffeted against Lucifer's, preventing harm from coming to the clerk. She went flying back anyway from the force of their combined Grace and he winced as she disappeared into the rear room again. But there she would be safe.

"Now where was the fun in that?" Lucifer asked. "You are worse than Michael, Cas, really."

"Why are you here?"

"Revenge, petty as it is. You committed some sins, Castiel, but the worst is you made my life far too difficult recently." The archangel stepped around a shelving unit, putting it between them. The fire-lit bottle sent a glow to his face. "I would have preferred to kill your friends in front of you though. Slowly, painfully. Especially that demon and Dean. But I can make do with just you, Castiel."

But he made no move towards him.

Castiel watched him warily. "You're stalling." His eyes widened when he realized that was exactly what Lucifer was doing. "You're trying to keep me here."

"Me?" Lucifer grinned wickedly. "Now why would I do that?"

Castiel's breathing quickened. "What have you done?"

"Set something in motion. It's what Archangels do, Castiel. We plan. We scheme." His grin was wicked. "And we watch the young eat each other."

"Meg…" Castiel's focus centred on the phone now vibrating in his pocket. "Dean and Sam."

"Unfortunate bystanders, which happens in war. Well, not Sam. He's still got a purpose, I can use him. Without her support, this vessel will collapse." Lucifer plucked at his shirt.

"Her… Sheol." Castiel stepped around him. The Archangel watched him thoughtfully. "She's been in charge of this."

"Was. She's been rather different lately. Quieter. Calmer." He shrugged. "But I'm used to taking charge when I need to."

"You're still stalling me," Castiel whispered.

"Try running." Lucifer leaned towards him and his voice lowered. "I dare you."

Castiel darted to the left and Lucifer flung the bottle, sending up an arc of flame with his power that the bottle exploded once it hit Castiel. It completely enveloped Castiel and he realized too late that the flame was actually from Holy Oil. As the oil dripped over his body, the fire followed it and sent hot trails of agony through his body. Covered from head to foot in flames, he grappled with his own power as his skin singed and charred.

Lucifer watch the spectacle with a small grin as Castiel twisted around the store, trying to use his already wild power to end the fire. But the flames continued to wrap around him like a glowing veil and no matter how he tried he couldn't escape it. Lucifer leaned back against the shelves and tipped his head on the side, waiting for him to fall.

Having no other choice, Castiel crashed through a broken window to escape the store.

Still grinning, Lucifer casually set the shelves on fire as well before he stepped through the sliding doors. But instead of a smoking body, instead of an angel, the parking lot was empty. Not a trace of Castiel anywhere. Nothing except a ruined trench coat burnt into pieces and a smoking crater where he should have been.

Far too easy, Lucifer thought.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he called out.

Silence.

"Castiel!" he shouted, spinning a slow circle and using his Grace to flatten out the distant trees in a smoking arc of fire and power. "You can't hide forever!"

---

Up the road, Castiel had flown as far as he could before he lost all control. Exhausted, he ended up lying underneath an overpass bridge, one that ran over the nearest highway. His suit coat reeked of smoke but his Grace and vessel were struggling to cope with the damage from the Holy Oil and flames. He had overextended his own Grace in fighting Lucifer,

He hadn't expected to feel so weak. Unable to control his power when faced with an Archangel who was born to it. He'd not been able to handle the burn from it, and he felt the way he was drained from using his power to heal the burns all over his body.

The damage was only on the surface but he knew how lucky he'd been. Whatever leftover power he'd had to fly off was wasted now if he couldn't rest and recover. He needed to heal before he dared to face Lucifer again.

A large shard of glass was burrowed deep into his shoulder and he yanked his angel sword out. Barely caring about the damage he could be doing, he dug the tip of it into the open would until he felt it touch the shard of glass. With a twist of his blade he popped it free and felt instant relief as his shoulder closed over when the glass and sword were pulled out.

But there was still an unreal agony from the burns of the Holy Oil.

He stared blindly at the underside of the bridge and struggled to use his Grace to heal the pain throbbing through his upper body.

In the distance, he could hear Lucifer's enraged shouting drawing closer and he closed his eyes, trying to stretch out his power to leap to the safe house.

But he stopped himself just as he nearly made contact. Lucifer could find them if he followed the signs of Castiel's wounded Grace.

He couldn't let him hurt them.

Groaning, Castiel tucked himself back as far as he could into the underpass's overhang and fell to unconsciousness.

---

"Where the hell is he?" Dean demanded, checking out the windows and adjusting the curtains irritably. "He should have heard our prayers by now or at least read my text."

"Maybe he's really into getting food?" Sam said, reading the laptop screen intently. Dean turned to see that his brother had grabbed one of his notebooks he normally used for his Letter journals. He was taking notes with the sort of interest he might have given a test, scribbling down furiously and counting out a list.

"Wait. Are you… preparing?"

"You think?" Sam nodded up to the silent loft. "Better this than not knowing anything."

Dean scoffed. "You really think that Google is going to turn you into Nurse Sam? Since when are you hard up to help Meg?"

Sam glanced up at him. "Are you just asking questions for the hell of it?"

"Fair enough." Dean took a seat beside him and made a face. "Please tell me that you didn't look for that on Youtube. There's probably only the…." Sam clicked the next window and hit play. The video that started to play immediately made Dean wince and shield his eyes. "Damn it, Sam! That's a… a…."

"Look, we're stuck in a house, with a demon I think who is going into early labour. Or whatever it is. I just don't like the idea of getting stuck with that baby popping out." He coughed harshly and grabbed a bottle of water from the table. "We're in enough trouble seeing that Meg won't talk to us."

"We need Cas here." Dean watched the video though his expressions went between horrified and fascinated. "I mean, he's got to have seen some kids getting born. He 'observed' us all for so long."

"Yeah well, judging by the 'worst case scenarios', if we get into trouble I don't know if Cas would know what to do."

"What the worst that can happen?" his brother demanded, looking up at the ceiling. "We already have a pregnant demon ready to pop."

"I can hear you both, you know," Meg's voice snapped from overhead. She came to the loft railing and looked down at them.

"Good, I meant for you to," Dean muttered. Sam glared at him and turned back to his computer. He could hear Meg making her slow way back down the stairs.

"We're just doing some research," Sam explained loudly and she muttered something under her breath as she came into the room.

Dean watched her from where he sat beside Sam. "So. You want to try honesty for a bit or would that…?"

"Start a new habit and shock you?" Meg drawled as she sat on the armchair and propped her legs up on the coffee table.

"So you started timing. How long have these been going on?" He looked at Meg to see her giving a blank look. "Look, we're not stupid. You're…"

"Since the diner," she snapped. "Happy? I thought they were false because they didn't hurt."

"Now?"

"Definitely not painless. Uncomfortable."

"So much for demons not feeling pain as much as humans," Dean said to Sam and Meg glared at him. "I texted Cas since he wasn't answering prayers."

"And?" There was a practised apathy in Meg's voice but both men noticed how her eyes darted to the door almost hopefully. "Where is he?"

"We don't know. So I think we should get to a hospital." Sam closed his laptop and looked at Meg.

"Middle of nowhere, miles outside the nearest town, and not to mention the fact that I'm a demon? What the hell makes you think this is going to go normally?" Meg scrunched her face up a little. "Plus I hate hospitals."

"You stayed in one for how many months when we put you in charge of Cas and now you have a problem?" Dean asked. Meg rolled her eyes.

"I've had to stick around you for how many months and you think I've learned to like you just because of that?" she pointed out.

"Touché."

"I need Cas here though. I know that," Meg muttered. She stood up and slowly began to pace. Sam sighed and looked at Dean.

"Maybe you should drive out. Check to see where he is."

"He's an angel, he doesn't really get out of range, you know," he answered and Sam gave him a look that spoke volumes. Dean fidgeted a little but clearly caved when Sam's gaze turned almost puppy-eyed. "Fine. You are worse than Meg sometimes with manipulating me, I swear."

He grabbed his keys. "You stay with Meg." He looked at the demon. "And Meg, no popping out a hell-spawn, got it?"

"Oh yeah, you should have thought of that months ago before I got into this mess," she said, still pacing.

Dean rolled his eyes again and headed to the door. "I'll call if I find trouble."

Sam glanced at Meg to see her staring at him. "Give him an hour and he'll be calling in with trouble," she said darkly before heading back up the stairs.

He wasn't about to openly agree with her but he knew she had a point.

---

Standing on the hillside, Abaddon watched the Impala travel down the dirt road in the distance. She tapped a red nail against her cheek thoughtfully. The house had been so quiet lately and she'd not seen any movement near there for the past hour. The Impala was being driven fast though and it fishtailed a little as Dean turned a corner.

"Now where would you be going?" She muttered and looked back in the direction of the house.

"A diversion?" another demon asked and she shook her head.

"No. Not yet anyway." She exhaled sharply and looked around the hillside where more and more demons were slowly making their way towards her building army. The townspeople had given them more than enough for a small force and the farmers around the countryside were easy targets. But they had left just enough of the humans for blood rituals and as a means of control.

Abaddon always liked to come prepared and she didn't trust the Winchesters not to have a few tricks up their sleeves. She'd heard the stories about them, about Castiel, and she knew Meg well. She knew that putting Meg in a trap would only make her fight harder.

She and her Father were counting on that.

"Mistress?" The demon who'd spoken was a young one. She liked these young demons; all so eager to please. "We kept one or two humans. Maybe we can send a message."

"Yes." She smirked to herself. "That is an excellent idea. Bring me one."

The loud sound of someone being slapped made her turn her head a little. One of the farmers from up the road was being dragged forward. He was bleeding from a gash on his forehead but unlike the rest of his possessed family, he was still of use to her. What he'd witnessed had put him into a state of shock.

Just what she needed.

"You're going to do something for me," she told the petrified man and she turned towards him. A human could slip past the wards they'd found. "You're going to destroy the markers my men will show you and then you are going to deliver a message."

"Why should I?"

She glanced at one of the children meaningfully and he quickly nodded. Though they were demons now, all he could see was his children's faces, and he fell into line instantly. Grinning, she patted him condescendingly on the face. "Good boy," Abaddon whispered before she dug her nails into his right eye socket just to hear him scream.

This really was going to be too much fun.

---

Gentle fingers moved through his hair, stroking him like a beloved pet, and he rolled a little into the hold. With his head cushioned on a pair of legs and his body almost wrapped into a small ball, he felt warm and almost healed. The touch was so comforting.

"Meg?" he whispered. Angels didn't dream but he was sure he was hallucinating about something he needed. He could pretend for just a little longer.

The fingers stilled for a moment and then continued stroking his hair. "No, Castiel."

The unfamiliar voice was so startling that he sprang up into a crouch, his angel sword in his hand. He swung it out blindly and nearly lost his balance when his foot slipped. Shaking his head, Castiel had to blink and struggle to focus on the shadows of the bridge.

The woman sitting under the overpass with him was so pale her skin was nearly translucent, red hair curled neatly over her shoulders. She looked back at him serenely, barely flinching when he continued to threaten her with the angel sword. But it was her face that struck him, made him almost drop his weapon. Her face and her bright eyes that seemed incredibly sad.

"You don't know me, do you?" she asked curiously and he shook his head. Resting back on her hands, she smiled. "That's a shame."

Castiel looked nervously out at the road way where a storm was passing overhead. The woman rolled her eyes up as well, narrowing them thoughtfully. She waved a hand and a thick fog slowly began to crawl over the pavement.

"It's coming. Rain always tends to happen when there's a change coming."

The cryptic poetry in her words made Castiel back up another nervous step.

"Who are you?" Their eyes locked and he knew her instantly when he looked her in the eye. The jewel-bright glimmer, the power that radiated off her very body, and the knowing smirk made him too aware that he was out of his depth. They'd never met before but he knew her. "You're… You're…"

"Someone who could have ended this time and time again." Sheol clicked her tongue. "Would have too. Angels, while amusing, never had too much interest for me when their Father invested so much into their obedience."

Her red lips parted in a smirk and she eyed him. "So to speak." With a flick of her hand, she tossed her hair back over her shoulder and looked out over the highway. "He's coming for you. But as long as I'm here, he won't find you. I've no interest in killing you myself anymore."

"You set him free."

"Of course I did. He has his purpose, but unfortunately, that purpose no longer matters." Her hand waved in a circle and the fog seemed to thicken even more until Castiel could barely make out the road. "But I loved him as much as I love all those who come to Lethe."

"You tricked them. You've imprisoned the angels… you nearly ended the world!"

Castiel took one menacing step towards her but she moved faster than he could. He went flying through the air and landed on his back with a crack that splintered the cement. Sheol quickly straddled him and pinned him to the ground beneath her, her fingers wrapped around his neck and squeezing. He choked under her grip and blindly stabbed upwards with his sword. The loud squelch of the blade as it sunk deep into her belly made him think he'd caught her off guard.

But Sheol only sighed and gave him an annoyed glare. "Really?"

She drew the sword out slowly from her stomach and he swallowed as she tucked it back in his belt. With the weapon safely out of the way, she leaned against him and stroked his face with her other hand.

"Like I said. I'm not here to kill you. I cannot interfere so directly unless there is a better… reason. You aren't one for me though I agree with your Father. You are an interesting creature." She tapped her finger against his jaw. "Your struggles, they are very similar to my demon's. And you've found that you love her. How strange."

Her eyes looked into his intently. "I wonder what she sees in you. It isn't very obvious to me."

"What does Oblivion know about love?" he ground out between clenched teeth.

"Quite a bit. I know all about it though. Felt it. Mourned it. I've seen the joys it brings, and the costs it comes with." She sat up, slapped him lightly on the cheek, and then moved off of him. "It does spring up in the strangest of places."

Castiel realized that beside her his power was actually stunted completely. He felt almost powerless next to her. Carefully picking himself up, he put more space between them.

"I would not suggest for you to trust me though, Castiel."

"You're helping me now. Why?" he asked, confused by her

Her grin was wicked. "Because while I don't care for you at all, she does. And we're bound, the two of us. Have been since she entered Lethe and then left when you raised her from the river. If she dies, there are consequences."

"You're bound to Meg," Castiel whispered. Her eyebrow arched and she waited patiently. "That's why you've not…."

The loud rumble of a car approaching made him look away. Even in the distance, even through the fog, he could always recognize the Impala.

Breathless, he turned back only to find he was alone again. With it went the healing warmth he'd felt and he promptly sank to his knees. Sheol had been real though, he knew, but without her he lost that blissful numbness that had kept the pain away. The oppressive pressure on his body suddenly felt too much and he moaned, rolling down the overpass hill. The gravel dug into his hands and knees as he dragged himself over the middle of the road.

He lifted his head to see the headlights shining in his face as the car continued towards him

"Dean," he muttered and his head dropped wearily back down to the pavement.

---

The house was too quiet and still for even Sam. As much as he needed the rest, he couldn't sleep. Could barely stop his brain from turning over the past two days in his head. The problems with Meg were nothing compared to what he knew could be happening to him. He could feel the slow drain of the trials on him again. He'd made his choice but at what cost?

What if the illness brought on by the trials continued to slowly kill him?

He could still hear Lucifer demanding he fix things, demanding he give in so he could be healed. But unlike before, he was able to shove that to the back of his mind. Castiel had said he'd be safe here. He could trust Castiel and once Dean came back they could figure out the rest of the cure Castiel said Kevin had found.

Sam stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and saw what resisting Lucifer had to done to him. It was in his haunted eyes and pale skin but at the same time he was starting to see other signs. He no longer looked as ill as before, no longer as thin and tortured.

Maybe part of the cure was in saying no.

The low sound of cursing in the room beside him was enough to snap him out of it. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave himself one last look before he slowly approached the bedroom. He knocked on the open door and leaned in a bit, ready to retreat if he needed to.

Meg still sat on the bed, her head low and her toes just barely touching the hardwood. Her dark hair was swung over her shoulder, almost hiding her pale face but Sam noticed the faint line of sweat along her hair line. She looked like she was stuck in a trance and even when he cleared his throat she didn't look up.

She'd been so quiet since Dean had left to find Castiel.

"Are you just going to stare at me all night or are you going to come in?" she demanded suddenly and he shook his head. The prickly way she dealt with them hadn't changed at least, he thought as he came into the bedroom.

Meg dug her nails into her thigh, staring at the floor with an odd intensity. In front of her, Sam fidgeted a bit before he took a seat in the armchair across from the bed.

"So… what…" He cleared his throat. "What does it feel like?"

Her eyes flicked black and then brown. "Seriously?"

"Just… you've been pretty calm."

"Demon, Samboy. My pain tolerance is high." Her back arched a bit and she stood up in an awkward movement. "Except this… is like having my spine pulled out through my stomach."

He swallowed. "Closer?"

"No, still the same. But the occasional one… just hurts like a bitch." She winced. "Maybe they're still false." He stared at her and she shrugged. "A girl can hope."

"I have no idea what to do," he admitted awkwardly. "I thought that this would be Castiel's job."

"You think I do?" Meg laughed and then groaned. Her hand whipped out and with a simple flex of her power she caused the lights in the house to flash on and off a few times. "O-okay that one was closer than before."

Sam gave her a panicked look that she ignored as she began to pace. The fact that she was so calm was only making him feel more nervous than before. Once she was pacing in the other room he almost ran down the stairs to get his laptop. "Google don't fail me now," he muttered.

Eyeing the cloudy sky and the way the wind was snapping tree branches back and forth, Sam wondered what was coming. Recently any storm had been a bad sign for them and he was coming to expect disaster. Even the thought of a storm made his stomach turn nervously.

Sam squeezed his eyes shut and prayed hard. "Come on, Cas. I don't think they can wait for you."

With nothing else to do, he turned on the old television to the local cable channel and turned back to his computer. As he worked away, jotting down notes and absorbing as much as he could, the news started to filter in. Segments on apparent arson cases, robberies, a string of strange murders; none of it registered until the weather came on.

"…a large storm system…"

Sam jerked his head up and stared at the TV, cranking the volume.

"…Headed over the region. Reports of hundreds of lightning strikes in the area damaging properties and causing small brush fires. Citizens are warned to keep indoors…"

He heard footsteps and eventually he tore his eyes away from the report to see Meg standing close to him. She was looking out the window, eyes searching the overcast sky. It was hard to tell if it was day or night just by looking outside; whatever storm was moving in was going to be heavy enough to block out natural light.

"Sky is clear here though," she muttered.

"Maybe it is south of us at least. Just a regular storm."

Her head rolled on her shoulders a bit and she gave him a look. "Come on, Sam."

"Fine." He stood up and looked as well. "Something's wrong."

"Good boy, Moose." She ignored the look he shot her and turned her head on the side a bit. "You know, in all the months Castiel kept dragging me here or I kept coming back, I never saw a human."

"Well, it is pretty remote," Sam agreed, not sure what she was getting at.

"So who do you think that guy is then?"

Startled, he looked out as well to see a solitary man slowly coming up the driveway. He was practically dragging his leg behind him like it was nothing more than a limp and useless attachment. Unarmed, from what he could see, but he was so out of place that it was hard not to notice him now. Sam tried to see through the shadows and then glanced at Meg.

"He's not a demon," she said almost too casually. "But you have to wonder, Sam, how'd he get here?"

Something about her flippancy was too practiced. He stared down at her until Meg looked up at him and shrugged, heading to the door. Sam took one last look and then followed, pausing to grab the shotgun Dean had left behind.

The man had managed to get halfway to the porch by the time Meg unlocked the door. Sam pushed her back, ignoring her complaints, and pointed the gun at him. "Hold it right there!"

Automatically, his hands went in the air and he stopped moved. The man's head lolled back, revealing a gaping wound where his eye should have been. He was clearly in shock as he slurred over his words. "I… supposed to… give a message."

Meg looked up at Sam and he glanced at her, nervously tightening his grip on the trigger of the gun.

The man's remaining eye focussed on Meg. "You're gonna be tortured. Until you beg to get that baby ripped outta you."

Meg turned her head on the side and stared closely. He was speaking almost robotically but subtly he was also pointing a little to one side. She looked in the direction he was pointing at as he continued to talk. Every word seemed to take him so much effort that he was speaking slow, letting her take in what he wanted her to see.

"Sam Winchester is to go to the woods and surrender and they'll let him live. But the woman dies."

Sam lifted the gun. "Who told you to say that?"

"Another woman. With black eyes. She's… she's got my kids."

"Five bucks says they aren't really your kids anymore, huh?" Meg ran her eyes over the hillsides in the distance and saw tiny flickers of smoke flying through the air. Whenever they struck the ground, more smoke seemed to rise. "Sam."

He looked up at well and swallowed nervously. "Damn. Demons."

"Must have tracked us here." Meg looked back at the injured man. "So, what do we do with you?"

"We can bring him in."

"Yeah, because me like this isn't going to consume enough of our time. We need a walking wounded too," Meg muttered as Sam went down a few steps towards him. She huffed but when she turned to go into the house, she heard a snick-snare, like a match being lit. Before Sam could get too far, she reached out and grabbed him by his collar, hauling him back beside her.

The hiss of fire being ignited was loud and before their eyes the man was set on fire. He screamed and Meg kept Sam back as he began to burn before their eyes.

"I can help him!" he shouted.

"How?" Meg asked calmly as the man began to move, arms flailing wildly as he twisted and turned, trying to stop the fire. He was headed for the house and through the flames they could see what the fire was doing to his flesh. "There's only one way you can help him and you know it. They turned him into a walking firebomb and he's suffering."

Sam swallowed and glanced at the gun in his hand.

Meg stared at him as if to say 'well?' but when he made no move to do what they both know had to be done, she sighed and shook her head.

"Hunters. Nobility at the worst times."

Lifting her hand, she turned her fingers sharply in a circle and they both heard the crunch of bone as she snapped his neck. The man sagged to the ground and continued to burn though there were no more screams and cries for mercy. Meg watched, the firelight putting her face into an orange glow that nearly reflected in her eyes, and flexed her fingers at her side. Neither Sam or her moved as the corpse burned. When there was nothing more than a pile of ash, the demon finally took in a deep breath.

"We need to stay in the house."

"If they're out there though…" Sam had a hard time ripping his eyes away from the pile of bones and soot in the yard.

"Cas warded this place up and…." Meg broke off and hissed in a breath, grabbing hold of the railing. He watched her stumble back to the door. "I have to… get…."

She nearly ran back into the house and Sam took one last look at the empty driveway before following her.

---

Dean drove in near silence. He hadn't questioned finding Castiel at the nearest highway, had barely said more than two words to him after dragging him into the Impala just as the rain broke out. Just shoved him in the front seat and turned the car around. Though he kept fidgeting, clearly wanting to say something, he kept focussed on the road and getting back as fast as the car could take the.

But when they were half-way back, he finally let himself really look at Castiel. The angel looked as if he was sound asleep, leaning his head back on the seat, and his eyes were closed. Dean sniffed the air and shook his head at the thick smell that lingered around Castiel. Smoke and ash, as if someone had set him on fire, but as the miles passed the more the smell faded. The wounds on his face and hands were already healing over and he was looking like Castiel again.

Dean hadn't seen him look so weak in months and if he was trying to actually sleep then it was likely he was healing. That Castiel couldn't just rejuvenate worried him. How badly had he been hurt?

"You okay?" he asked finally as they passed onto a dirt road to take a shortcut he had found earlier.

"I'm… fine…" Castiel's eyes opened a little, and he blinked a little as if he had a hard time getting himself awake.

"You look like Hell, man."

The angel ran his hand over his scruffy cheek, where the skin had finally healed normally. "I'm aware."

"Where's the…coat?" Dean eyed him as he rounded a curve on the road. "Not used to seeing you without it."

"Burned. I haven't had time to remake it." Castiel leaned back. His voice was clipped, short and dry as if he'd spent so much time screaming that he could barely control how raspy it was. "I'm tired."

The hunter glanced at him again. "You better wake up soon, Cas, Meg's not too great."

"She's not ready yet." He almost curled into the seat and shut his eyes as if to end the conversation.

"Yeah and no offence but you don't think she could have maybe lied about that?" Dean muttered and he saw Castiel look over at him again.

"Why would she?"

"Maybe she's actually scared for once."

Castiel snorted, too tired to argue. "Maybe."

"You're just a bundle of fun to talk to." Dean looked up through the windshield. "Man, the weather lately."

He pointed out at the lightning streaking the sky in horizontal lines. Castiel lazily looked out as well, eyes still drooping a little. "I know."

"You want to even guess?" he asked and the angel shrugged. " 'Course not."

"Well, if we were to look at it objectively," Castiel said, leaning his head out the window, "then you'd remember that the weather has been acting strange for several months. This is hardly unique. Perhaps you just haven't been noticing."

When he pulled his head back in, Dean was glaring at him.

"What?"

"You know, you started hanging around her more and you got a lot more snarky." Dean focussed back on the road. "Not to mention you are actually understanding the jokes."

"Someone had to take me in hand, I suppose," Castiel said. He looked out the window and squinted. "Something's standing on the road."

Instinctively, Dean slammed on his brakes and the Impala's tires screeched on the gravel, tossing up a spray as he had to spin his wheel to control the skid. The car groaned as the entire frame jerked forward once and then stopped. Castiel held on and waited patiently, eyeing Dean curiously.

"I meant further up," he said when the car settled down.

"Yeah well, I knew that," Dean muttered and he looked over Castiel out the passenger window. "Who the hell are they?"

Castiel stared as well at the line of men and women on the road, from embankment to embankment. None of them were moving but he could see what they were. His fingers flexed on his knees as if getting ready for a fight.

"Demons."

"Out this far?"

"I've not seen a demon this far out of the town since I started bringing Meg to the…" He straightened up in his seat, losing that air of exhaustion and pain instantly. "Drive."

"What?" Dean pointed at the line of demons. "Cas, there is a line of…"

The Impala's gas pedal was shoved down under his foot and the wheel turned without his grip to keep it steady. The car roared to life, engine whining at the force of the power being thrown into it, as Dean shouted for Castiel to stop. The Impala jerked left and then right until it steadied and shot off like a black bullet across the road, and headed straight for the demons. The angel's focus was solely on using his power to manipulate the car though, his eyes nearly glowing from it, and the Impala responded to the Grace controlling it. Dean grabbed at the twisting wheel, trying to stop it, but the wheel felt hot to touch.

They were getting closer and closer to the demons and the Impala was still out of his control. Castiel never relented in his concentration, fingers turning a little so the wheel turned with his power, and the accelerator touched the floor under Dean's foot. The entire car seemed to lift a little off the ground, a glow shimmering off its undercarriage and headlights. Throwing his arms up before his eyes, Dean leaned back in his seat and prepared for the inevitable crash.

"Damn it! Castiel!" he shouted as the car ploughed through the demons standing. They screamed as the glow from the car turned white-hot and flashed outwards and the ones furthest leapt to the side. The Impala struck the rest head on, sending bodies flying through the air as it rammed them and barely broke in speed. The car fishtailed a little and spun its wheels as it turned the next curve in the road, still going at high speed.

Dean looked out the rear window at the demons trying to catch up to the car and then back at the concentrating Castiel. He pointed at the demons and then at the steering wheel. "Seriously. You just Knight-rider'd my car. My car, Cas!"

"Yes." Castiel eased the power behind the car so Dean could grip the wheel again without hurting himself. They were close enough now that he could see the lights of the house just down the road. "It worked, didn't it?"

"Well, you're no Kit but it'll work," Dean muttered as he sped down the driveway to the house. "Next time, I do the driving. You probably dented her or something."

"They'll return to Abaddon. I need to get to Meg, I need to rest before that happens."

"And if they lead Lucifer here?" Dean demanded and Castiel exhaled sharply. He didn't even look at him until he stopped the car and got out near the front steps. Dean tapped the roof of the Impala to get his attention. "Cas? What if he comes here and Sam…"

"I'll take care of it."

Dean ran his eyes over Castiel who stared back at him. "Yeah. Sure."

He felt the angel at his back as they walked up the steps, the wards still creating that odd pulse of magic around them. The storm was following them in but what caught the hunter's attention was the pile of ash in the yard. He glanced at Castiel, who shrugged in response and didn't seem to have an answer.

Dean called out Sam's name as Castiel paused on the deck, looking out over the hillsides and the woods. Where before having such a remote place had been ideal, now he wondered if he should have found somewhere else, some place closer to a real city. But then he remembered the months of relative quiet, the days he could spend here without fear, and knew that it had been the only choice.

It was still the safest place he knew.

"In here," Sam answered his brother, passing the front door. "You guys okay? I was worried."

"Except for Cas looking like crap, we're fine." Dean jerked his thumb out at the front yard. "What happened?"

"The usual. Demons. Firebomb using a human and Meg had to take care of it."

"Meg?" Castiel stumbled into the house, leaning against the doorframe when he nearly fell. Sam grabbed him before he could fall and hauled him over to the couch. He eyed the lack of coat but didn't comment on it. Dean waited for Castiel to sit before he crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at him.

"Ok, we're here now. So what the hell happened to you?" he asked.

"Lucifer." Castiel lowered his head and rubbed wearily at his eyes.

"You look like you went ten rounds with Muhammad Ali and lost."

"I didn't win." His eyes drooped a little. "But I didn't lose."

"Well, that's great," Sam said. "What happened to Lucifer?"

"I don't know. Someone… came in. He was tracking me but I think I've lost him for now." He heaved for breath. "I'm still healing."

"That's really not good." Dean looked out the window. "Did you see anyone?"

"Sheol." The angel shuddered. "I was unconscious though. I've no idea where she came from."

"Seriously?" Dean blinked and looked at Sam, seeing his sudden interest. "She just showed up?"

"She hid me from Lucifer." Castiel shook his head. "None of it makes sense."

The brothers looked at each other.

"Where is Meg?" he asked and Sam nodded up to the bedroom.

"She won't come down. I think she's having real contractions."

Castiel frowned. "Why would you think that?"

"Because she actually was in pain and Meg hides that pretty well." Sam pointed outside. "I mean, she helped me earlier but now we've got a threat from Abaddon. She wants me out there, as hostage, and Meg killed. Meg thinks they're on the hillside, waiting to pounce."

"Or?"

"There really wasn't an 'or', Dean," he finished. "She seems to think we're going to do it. But what does she have to make us?"

Dean hesitated and looked at Castiel. "Lucifer. If he arrives can he get through the wards?"

"I don't know but if the demons can move closer, then they must have forced a human to destroy the wards. The house is still protected" Castiel was staring up the stairs, aware that Meg was at the top and listening. He could feel her eyes on him. "We're vulnerable here. And if we move Meg…"

"We lead them back to the bunker and that won't help us either."

"Exactly."

"We can't just fight them either," Sam said. "There's only four of us who can fight."

"Three," Dean said, jerking his chin to the stairs. "She'll be in no shape in a bit. And Cas has his power on the fritz."

Castiel shook his head and his eyes went back to where he could just make out the demon staring down at them all. "I need some time. That's all. Lucifer hasn't found us yet."

"Yet." Dean sighed and eyed Sam. "How're you holding up?"

He gave him a lazy look. "I'm not dead."

"Comforting, Sam." Dean got up. "I'm going to see what rounds we got left in the Impala. You get sleep and Cas…."

When they both looked he was gone and Sam shrugged. "One guess."

"I don't want to. Sleep. I'll count the rounds and make sure we're stocked up for a while." He grabbed his duffel bag. "Warfare and childbirth. I really can't decide which is worse."

Both brothers stared at each other.

"Childbirth," they decided together.

---

Castiel stared at Meg from the doorway and found himself content just to watch the demon. Standing in the nursery, the lamplight framing her perfectly, there was something almost ethereal in the way she glowed. Glowed but there was still that fierce undercurrent of darkness and thorns protecting her, prickling at the very air around her. Her head tilted back, Meg was watching the skyline with one hand holding the curtains back.

The angel needed time to rest, he knew it, and yet he couldn't bring himself to move away from watching her.

Her head tipped on the side and he watched the fragile line of her neck twist a little, the delicate skin and even more delicate muscle drawing his eye. The meatsuit she'd claimed had always been deceptively small but strong, and he still found it fascinating. She was the furthest thing from vulnerable or needing his protection, but he wondered if that was why he wanted her and wanted to protect her anyway.

Feeling uncomfortable without his coat, he loosened his collar and tie as he slowly crossed the hardwood floor as quietly as he could. He kept moving until he was pressed up behind her, one hand going around her to the windowsill. Meg barely flinched, just rocked back just a little into him, and he felt the press of her body into his. His hand drifted over her stomach and he felt the tiny clenches going through her when he looked for them.

He smoothed his other hand down her neck and felt the way her pulse jumped at his touch.

"What took you so long?" Meg asked, sounding distracted.

"I…" He felt her stomach seem to ripple under his fingers, an odd sensation that was more a shift of power than physical. "You're close."

"Been over a day, Cas, I'm not any closer than I was before. What happened?"

There was a flippancy in her voice that sounded off. It made him yank her around, his hands gripping her shoulders and he crouched a little to look her in the eye. "Stop lying."

"Stop avoiding," she snapped back, hands gripping his suit lapels. "It was Lucifer, wasn't it?"

He nodded and Meg breathed out slowly. She turned back around to look out the window. "And Abaddon. Great. Whole side of Hell against us. All we need now is for the angels to join in and we can have a real party."

Not knowing why, he leaned against her until he could feel her pressed against him, and closed his eyes. It was easier to try to take comfort from the thorny calm she had.

"What happened to the coat?" she asked, plucking at his suit sleeve thoughtfully.

"Lucifer. He used a sort of fire bomb on me that I wasn't expecting."

"Not a bad tactic actually." He glared at her and she patted his hand. "Bet that's like a declaration of war for you, huh? The coat?"

Meg chuckled but he shook his head. "It is just a thing."

"That's not what I… it was a…." She gave up. "So what do we do?"

"I don't know." He hesitated a little. "I saw… Sheol." Meg's entire body went tight and he wrapped his arms around her to hold her still. "She said you were connected. Is that true?"

"I don't know." Her voice was low. "I've always felt like I was still half-in-half-out of the Lethe. But I think now it is more because of you than her that I feel that way."

He stared at her profile, knowing what she really meant, and after a moment, she looked away.

"It's possible." His arms slid around her, tightened again when Meg muttered uncomfortably about him being clingy. "It seems like she is… more interested in you and Nyx than me."

"Don't let it hurt your ego, feathers," Meg said mockingly.

"Why though?"

The demon hesitated. "It's because of Nyx and she is…"

Her sudden, low cry was so pained that he jumped. "Fuck fuck fuck!" she swore under her breath and her nails dug into his hand. Castiel moved fast, not bothering to wait, and pulled her into his arms. The demon's twitching form was suddenly hot to touch and he swung her up close to him. He ignored her insults as he blinked back out again, back to the bedroom.

Her fingers grabbed his suit lapel as he set her down. "I hate you," she hissed, eyes still shut.

He nodded. "I understand." Castiel touched her stomach. "Your water isn't broken but they are stronger?"

"You think!" she shouted at him and he winced, his ears ringing.

"She's frightened. You're in pain?"

"I swear to Hell I am going to de-feather you."

Castiel pressed his fingers tighter. "Calm down."

"Calm down?" Her eyes flashed. "Here."

Her hand clamped down on his and with a twist of her power she showed him what she was only just starting to feel. The angel's eyes widened and he let her go, breathing fast.

"That is very… painful."

"Good. Maybe now you won't think I should be all sunshine about this." Meg shuddered. Castiel smoothed his hand over her forehead, feeling how feverishly hot she was now.

"There is something wrong, isn't there?"

"Month early and that one hurt like a bitch. So yeah, there's something wrong." The demon touched her stomach and shook her head. "This has to be the worst idea I've gone along with. Should have…"

Castiel ignored her rambling and cupped his hand tighter on her pelvis. He was trying to touch Nyx's tiny life, but the block of Meg's power was almost repelling him now. The way she kept trying to push him off only made it worse. He shushed her, feeling the way her body was starting to change already, and knew that Meg was closer than she'd been letting on. Still murmuring to himself, he tried to soothe the pain away but nothing seemed to work the more agitated Meg became.

The sound of Sam coming up the stairs didn't make him pull away.

"What do you want?" Meg muttered and the Winchester stared at the strange pose they made.

He cleared his throat. "How close is she, Cas?"

"I'm not sure. Nyx is… frightened, I think, but she's not moving." He looked up and Meg's eyes connected with his. He searched her gaze, seeing what she was trying to hide, and then ran his hand through her hair.

"Tell me that you know something about babies because we're hunters, not midwives," Sam said, eyeing them both.

"I'm a demon. That's out of my area of expertise," Meg said, still not looking away from Castiel.

"Great. Cas?"

"I… no. We observed but I never had need to… help." Castiel let Meg go and stood up.

They were still staring at each other when a loud crack of lightning tore through the sky and struck the ground close to the house, causing the building to shake. Meg stood up quickly and glanced out the windows to see that the storm had finally started to roll in.

The front door slammed open and they could hear the wind howling outside.

"Guys, we got demons!" Dean's voice was strained and Castiel disappeared from sight before they could stop him.

"Damn it, Cas," Meg muttered and turned to the man beside her. "Come on, Sam. Let's get ready to fight."

He looked down at her. "You… you're going to fight in this condition?"

She grinned wickedly at him. "Can you think of a way to stop me?"

---

Castiel had zapped himself outside, wanting to see for himself what Dean was warning them about. He went only so far as to stand outside the house in the front yard and he used his recovering power to wave away the mists across the fields. Staring at the line of cars parked in the nearby field and the lines of people standing close by, he realized that he'd underestimated the time it could take demons to recover. They were more than a mile out but he could see them all clearly.

Taking in a deep breath, he held it.

The numbers weren't something he'd wanted to see. Abaddon had moved fast to get them all here.

The storm wasn't because of them though; it lacked the darkness and felt strangely pure and natural. He could feel the electricity in the air, one that crackled around him and caused his dark hair to lift a little in the wind. This was something demons couldn't have done.

Knowing he was likely going to die if the demons had planned better than he had, he stepped towards them. Castiel closed his eyes at the blinding glow of another lightning strike just inches away from him and he stepped to the side.

Time froze the moment his shoe set down on the edge of the driveway.

---

"Dean's phone must be dead," Kevin shouted down to his mother from the top level. She was packing a bag of supplies but at this bit of news she nearly growled.

"They only have forty phones, they can't keep them charged?"

Kevin shrugged and jogged down the stairs. "Maybe they're busy."

"Doing what?"

"Hunter stuff, how do I know?" he countered as he hefted a bag onto his shoulders. "If we can go get those things from Garth, we can be back here by the time they get back."

"Provided he has them. Even Castiel isn't coming when we called." She shoved another bottle into her bag and grabbed the keys to the rental car she had.

"Busy too. He's got Meg, remember?"

Linda shrugged as they headed to the hatch door. "I guess. They've still got a month anyway."

Kevin ignored her annoyed muttering and waited for her to get outside before setting the alarm again.

"Everything will be safe in the bunker. Tablet is there and we've got the formula memorized for the spell. So let's just… get this done." He locked the door behind him and turned to find her staring at a woman. Instinctively, he knew it was another angel and he quickly stepped in front of his mother to protect her.

The blonde smiled at them both. "Hello, Kevin Tran."

"Who're you?"

"I was instructed to take you to a safe place. Both of you. As things have taken a turn for War."

"We're busy," Linda snapped but the angel smiled. Unlike the few times he'd met the angels, Kevin found that there was nothing threatening in this one. She simply nodded and then shrugged, like a human hearing something she expected.

"Unfortunately, that hardly matters." She snapped her fingers and two other angels appeared, suited and dark haired. "Take them."

---

On the hillside, Crowley watched as Kevin and Linda were zapped out from in front of the bunker. He hadn't moved for hours. His cure was down there and he hadn't moved. He had to wait. Whatever had been done to him could be cured and in his already hazy brain he could understand that.

The side of him that was slowly turning to insanity was lucid enough to wait until there was no threat. When the angels disappeared from view, even the ones that had been guarding the bunker, he finally moved. Getting to his feet, he groaned and started down the hill.

All the time hearing the singing of the tablet in his ears beckoning him for his own cure.

---

When the white light cleared, Castiel opened his eyes to see his surroundings had changed completely. It took him a moment to realize it, the ringing roar of the lightning and thunder still causing his head to ache. Gone was the overcast sky, the distant demons and cars, the smell of rain and grass.

The white surroundings were unfamiliar, the lights too brilliant and reminding him of Naomi's office in Heaven; it was all stark and sterile. But there was also a warmth here, buzzing against his Grace and settling close to his vessel's skin. He could hear the distant crash and roar of thunderous waves on the shore and smell salt water. The strangest feeling though was a numb sensation crawling over his skin, something unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

There was a rustle in the corner and he spun to face the new threat. It was Death and the sight of him made Castiel swallow nervously. The entity was sitting on a low divan, one hand resting on his knee and looking amused to see him.

"Hello, Castiel."

"You…" He had to narrow his eyes a bit to see clearly through the haze in the air. "Why am I here? They need me."

"Oh, you won't be missed. They won't even know you were gone."

"Time's stopped," a female voice, familiar and powerful, drawled behind him and he turned to face Sheol. Dressed in black silk, she resembled a shadow moving through the white room. "We can do such things."

"Why am I here?" Castiel demanded. He backed away slowly from both of them.

"What exactly is it that you plan to do, Castiel?" Death asked.

"Stop what she put into motion." He glared at Sheol and she arched a brow.

Death followed his gaze. "This was not just her doing but your beloved Father's."

"God spoke to me," Castiel said and Death sighed, shaking his head.

"God has not cared what happens, only that his experiment may or may not be interrupted. So trust me when I tell you that God was not who spoke to you. He only recently decided that he has to take more interest in this."

Confused, Castiel looked around the white room and then back at the entity.

"So why? You have all this omnipotent knowledge. Tell me why."

For the first time, Death smiled. "Because, Castiel, you broke the rules. Not just by bringing her back from the Lethe. But by caring for your natural enemy in the first place."

"And your father broke his rules. Repeatedly." Sheol stepped out. "So, in light of the fact that I may have to accept a loss, though I have one more attempt to use, I am willing to give you a choice bit of information. But I am going to ask you one thing. I will know if you are lying to me."

Castiel stared at her as she approached him and put one hand on his chest.

"You love her. Does she love you?"

Castiel blinked at her, completely unprepared for that.

"Tick tock, Castiel." Sheol tapped her fingers over his heart. "It should be an easy question."

"Why does it matter?" he demanded back of her and Sheol smiled.

"Because it does. She's always been an uncommon demon otherwise. But you think I'll answer you with my reasons? Child, please." Sheol turned her head on the side. "Did you know that that love is the one emotion I've always found intriguing?"

"Sister." Death tapped his cane on the ground. "Get to the point."

"I am waiting for Castiel's answer."

"I don't speak for Meg." He thought back to the last few weeks, to the weeks long before. Every flicker of her expression, the caustic way she'd respond to his affection, the slight slips of the tongue that had betrayed her, even the way he'd felt her no longer pull away from his comfort. "But she does."

Sheol clapped her hands sarcastically. "How precious."

Castiel gave her a confused look and looked at Death. The thin-faced man simply shrugged. "She is very tired."

"So tell me, Castiel." Sheol turned from him and began to walk a slow circle around the room. "What are you willing to do to save them? Your humans? Your demon?"

"Anything."

She gave him a look and Death rolled his eyes. "So eager," the entity muttered.

Castiel ignored that. "Though why should I trust you? You wanted to kill Nyx. Kill Meg."

"Nyx?" Sheol's head bent. "Nyx. Oh, that is a perfect name for what she is."

"What is she?"

"A choice." She smiled and her eyes glinted dangerously. "Everything is a balance and a choice. A shadow of something else, or someone else in this case."

Castiel became aware of her approaching while Death went to stand behind him.

"You can choose to rewind this all, so that the coming pain won't happen. So that it all becomes nothing but a dream. One you relive in your darkest hours." She reached out and touched his forehead and Castiel was thrown back into a multitude of flashbacks. Out of order and jumbled, it seemed that they were rewinding time before his eyes as voices stayed in his head and reminded him of all that had happened.

"I am doing this for Sam as well as you, Dean. Something is wrong."

Flash.

"Clarence, what have you done?"

Flash.

"This sort of thing does not happen. Not between our kind. Ever."

Flash.

"Lethe itself doesn't deal in that good and evil thing. It doesn't matter to her. What matters is purifying and protecting."

Flash.

"Because she's a demon and we all know they would love to get their hands on something like this."

Flash.

"Where did you go? Where are you now?"

Flash.

"I wanted you back and I'm going to see this through until you can fight with us again. Until you can forgive me."

Flash.

"I do love you."

Flash.

"Why are you so sweet on me, Clarence?"

"I don't know."

He broke back from Sheol, trying to catch his breath as he stared at her. All of that. Erased from existence. Erased to the point where he'd left Meg outside the crypt with Sam, where she'd died at Crowley's hand. He would never know of her death; he would simply run to another point in time where his life was slowly consumed by his mission to protect the tablet instead of protecting her and the Winchesters. Where things could and inevitably would fall apart in a very different way.

How differently it could turn out.

He would never know what it was like to be here.

He would lose so much more.

Castiel stared Sheol in the eye. "No."

Death looked at him. "Are you sure?" But one look at Castiel made him smile. "I see. You always do the unexpected, Castiel."

The entity turned to his sister and she sighed, shaking her head and walking away until she evaporated completely. Castiel watched in open confusion and then turned towards Death.

"She…"

"Is not well. But no matter. That is my concern and God's. Yours should be over your angels and friends. Lucifer is about to find you. Bringing with him all his power that you still don't know how to use."

"I will…" Castiel started, insulted by Death's lack of faith but not surprised either.

"Likely get the others killed. And unfortunately, I have a slight investment in this now." Death picked up his bag from the floor and opened it. "Now. You have bore Michael's Grace inside of you. And interestingly, Sheol tied the Cage to his Grace, and to Lucifer's."

He picked up the four keys to the Cage out of his bag and held the rings out to the angel. Castiel stared at them as if expecting them to bite him.

"That's too easy."

"Smart angel. Of course it is. You have to be willing to die a little death yourself. Because something has to go with him into the Cage. His brother's Grace, for example." Death dropped the rings into Castiel's hand. "Be sure it is the right Grace that goes with him, would you?"

"That's…"

"Not so easy. Only someone of incredible power can separate your Grace from Michael's now." Death finished with a smirk. "Remember, Lucifer always has been arrogant and it just takes the right slip up for him to be thrown back in the Cage." His dark eyes fixed on Castiel's face. "Though you may not like what the slip up is, trust me, it is necessary."

---

Castiel came back with a snap into his reality, one hand still clutching the rings. He had to shake his head a little to get himself back completely, slipping the rings into his pocket before he lost them. His skin felt strangely cold now outside of the Lethe, and he had to shift his shoulders a little, his suit jacket not warm enough. With a snap of his fingers, he rebuilt his coat and let its comforting weight settle close and warm around his body.

Thank Father for that.

"Cas?" Dean shouted, coming up beside him with Sam just at his heels. "What the hell are you doing out here?"

The angel glanced at them and then out at the demons slowly moving toward them. "I… You should be back with Meg."

"Yeah, leaving you out where the demons can just swarm you, right?" Dean rolled his eyes. "Makes so much sense."

"What matters is saving you and saving Sam, keeping Meg safe." Castiel pulled out his angel sword and stared at the shining blade thoughtfully.

"Right." Dean shook his head and looked at Sam. "Can you imagine what Meg will do to us?"

Sam nodded. "Why do you think I'm out here?"

"Dean, this isn't your fight," Castiel muttered as he watched the line of demons approach. He was no longer exhausted by his battle with Lucifer but his mind was split in what it had to do. He could feel Meg's pain almost as if it was part of him, Nyx's fear at what was happening, and his own hesitance frightened him.

What had Sheol and Death done to him?

"Doesn't matter." Dean picked up the old demon bomb he'd found in the Impala, his other hand holding Ruby's knife. "It's your fight and I'm making it mine."

Castiel stared at him.

"Right, Sam?"

"Family and all that," Sam agreed. He shook his head and hefted the salt round gun onto his shoulder. "Let's do it. We've got to keep them from the house. Wear them down. If we can buy some time, then maybe we can figure out what to do."

"If Lucifer shows, I need you both back at the house… and who is watching Meg?" Castiel demanded but before either brother could answer, Abaddon appeared before them. She simply zapped in, dressed in black leather and looking as wicked as ever. Her expression were actually amused as she stared at all three of them.

"Hello, boys." She looked at the younger Winchester, licking her lower lip. "I take it Sam thought over my offer."

"Not much of one," Sam countered and she smirked.

"Let's just do the math, okay? I have nearly five hundred demons at my back. All very eager to kill you all and take the demon you're hiding to our Father. You have two hunters and one angel who looks a bit worse for wear as our Father wore him down nicely. I mean, yes, he could do some damage but not before I rip your pretty faces off." Abaddon smirked, taking a few steps close so they could see the slant to her red lips and the vicious twist of her white teeth like fangs. "Could make this real easy, boys."

"Really doubt that," Dean muttered.

"Leave," Castiel warned and she arched her brow.

"I don't think so, angel."

Beside Dean, Sam reached into his coat pocket and held tightly to the bottle he'd stuffed there at Meg's instruction. Abaddon's eyes never left Castiel.

"This is a shame," she said mockingly.

"Yeah, it is." Meg's voice was alarming in the silence and they all turned to see her standing behind the Winchesters. She swayed a little on her feet, wrapped in a heavy coat and pale to the point of her skin being translucent, but her eyes were on Abaddon.

"Meg." Castiel reached out to her and she ignored him to stand beside Sam.

"So glad you could join us," Abaddon said with a grin.

"Figured it concerned me. Why not?" Meg answered and Castiel stepped back beside her.

"You should be back there."

She eyed him. "Pregnant. Not helpless."

"Oh but she can't go back, can she?" Abaddon stepped forward towards them. "Because she's somehow decided to be… noble. She thinks she has a place here."

Her disgust was open on her face.

"Maybe I'm just tired of hiding," Meg thought aloud.

"Maybe. Doesn't make this any less sweet."

Abaddon lifted her hand in the air and clenched her fist. The demons behind her started to move slowly at her unspoken order and Dean eyed them nervously, stepping beside Sam. Castiel went to touch Meg, to get her back to the house, but the demon was reaching into Sam's coat. Before he could stop her, she grabbed the bottle and sent it hurtling through the air into Abaddon.

The demon shrieked as her face and chest were coated in engine oil, her mouth hanging open in surprise. She mouthed bitch at the other demon and Meg glared back at her before she snapped her fingers. Instantly, the Queen of Hell was set afire and she howled in fury from the pain as the hiss of flames climbed up her body and started to scorch her meatsuit. Castiel grabbed Meg's arm and pulled her back further as the demon's body went careening around.

"Don't think she was expecting that," Dean muttered as Abaddon flickered out of sight.

"Just bought us some time, that's all. She'll come back." They all eyed the horde again but they were paused, unsure what to do without their leader. Meg twined her fingers through Castiel. "We can get back and set up some wards, something. We came out to get you. Let's go."

He nodded and felt her step backwards, while he kept one eye on the demons and readied himself to zap them all back to the house.

Her startled gasp and the way his hand was gripped tightly made him think she'd felt another contraction.

But then her hand let him go and he knew something was wrong even before he turned around.

"Clarence," Meg whispered and he turned to see her being clutched tightly by Lucifer, his arm around her throat. The Archangel kissed the side of her head affectionately and then grinned at Castiel. The demon wasn't fighting him, was barely moving. But the sight of her pained eyes her made him realize that it was more than just Lucifer's hold keeping her from fighting.

It was loud, how he heard the slip of metal into flesh and the soft squelch of it being twisted. Eyes widening, he made a soft sound deep in his throat as Meg stared back at him. Her pained moan made him launch forward but Dean and Sam grabbed Castiel to hold him back when Lucifer held the angel sword up between them. He sliced it through the air, just missing Castiel's face, and kept it up as a warning.

"You see, Castiel, all I had to do was be patient and I knew you would bring me to her." He grinned as the other angel twisted against Dean's arms. "It never was just about you."

He dragged the bloody blade sharply down Meg's cheek. "It was always about her and her little bastard. The blocks that were holding back the trial's being finished. Holding her back."

"You son of a bitch," Dean hissed and he let Castiel go.

"Ah ah," Lucifer held Meg even tighter though her eyes were starting to droop from the blow he'd already given her. "Crowley killed you once, sweet Meg." His mouth brushed her ear. "But this time? I get to do it in front of an angel who will be very upset about this. Take one last look, lovers. Make it worth it."

He stabbed up with his angel sword straight into her abdomen and jerked it up in a killing blow.

Castiel's scream exploded into the air and Dean and Sam had to hold their hands over their heads as his true voice escaped him.

Meg stared at him, blood bubbling up from her mouth, but she didn't scream.

"You never did scream well, I guess," the Devil whispered as he dropped her to the dirt like garbage.

That there were no sparks meant nothing to him.

He'd won. Her and her bastard were dead and this time they would stay dead. Lucifer checked her one last time but her eyes were sightless, her chest not moving as blood slowly pumped out of the deep wound.

Rolling his shoulders back and stretching, he turned with a grin to Castiel. "Come on, did you think this would have a happy ending?"

The moment their eyes met, he saw Castiel's start to glow almost gold and the wings that suddenly appeared as lightning crashed across the sky were flared out. Lucifer sneered at the display but took a single step back.

There was only blind rage in Castiel now and he shot forward before the Winchesters could stop him. Lucifer was ready for him but the sheer strength behind Castiel now was overwhelming. The angels went flying through the air together, a drag of dirt following them as Castiel pinned Lucifer to the ground and threw him to the other side, his fist slamming into his face.

Dean and Sam stared in shock, Sam cocking the shotgun, when they heard the low hum of the demons starting behind them. Both turned to face the demons looking at them as they parted the line a little. A burnt looking Abaddon was slowly walking through the lines, her eyes black and her mouth parted in a snarl. Dean grabbed the demon bomb he still held and quickly Sam ignited it.

"Better work after all these months." He nodded to Sam to back away and then spun a little, hurtling it through the air. Abaddon followed the path of it with her eyes and then looked back at Dean.

"You little fuc…"

The bomb twisted mid-air and the loud shriek of it igniting perfectly made every demon look up. The fuse burned out and then in a soft way the bomb landed in the centre of the horde. Dean retreated beside Sam just before the bomb exploded and sent a wave of light over the demons and a heat blast that caused them to shriek as those nearest were incinerated where they stood.

Flinging himself over Sam, Dean flattened himself out and felt the heat actually touch his back. Lifting his head just a little, he could see Castiel straddling Lucifer, fists a blur as he pummelled him until Lucifer tossed him off. The angels were throwing each other around the ground, causing massive ruts wherever they landed, and with each blow the earth seemed to shake.

"Cas," he mouthed and he looked at Meg's body. Her eyes were open and staring at the sky, but as he watched, they actually closed slowly. "Meg?"

A hand dove into his hair and wrenched him off of Sam and onto his back.

"Dean, Dean, Dean," Abaddon chided as she straddled him, several demons at her back. "You never learn. Numbers aren't your strong suit, are they?"

She slammed her fist into his jaw and he felt his teeth rattle in his head from the force of it.

"You never." A blow to his nose, breaking it. "Ever." Another, this time to his temple and making him almost black out. "Ever learn."

Abaddon yanked him up close and planted a bloody kiss on his mouth, biting so hard into his lower lip that it split. "Do you?"

Before he could open his mouth, she punched him again, breaking his cheek bone. She did it again and again, until his face was swollen up and he could barely move, his body twitching as the demons held him down.

Sam struggled to get to them and the demons that had been coming toward them snarled and leapt on him in a pile. The rest formed a loose half-circle around the rest, shouting encouragement for them to ripped apart. Abaddon took pleasure in Dean's silence as she beat him closer and closer to death and Sam saw his brother's swollen eyes dart over to him.

"Cas!" Sam shouted as he was dragged under and demons began to use him as a punching bag as well.

The angel was lost in his own battle, naked rage and anguish making his face twisted and his eyes glowed with power. Lucifer, bleeding from his head, reached between them and a flash of light exploded Castiel off him. The angel went flying back through the air and landed in the pile of demons. They shrieked and grabbed at him, snarling like animals, so lost in their bloodlust. Castiel's hands sent out beams of light and they struck the demons, disintegrating them and he spun on his heel, focussing on the ones grabbing Sam. But before he could do anything, Lucifer waved his hand and sent him to his back again.

Nearby, Abaddon laughed in delight as Dean groaned out Sam's name.

"You know." Lucifer spat out a mouthful of black blood. "You had it in you all along. Just like little Sammy and Dean there."

Castiel picked himself up and stared at the Devil.

"How does it feel, though, Castiel? To lose what you love and realize you are hopelessly alone and outnumbered?" Lucifer asked, almost sounding sincere. "I can imagine how it feels. Trust me."

Wiping at his mouth, Castiel stared at Lucifer and realized the damage he'd done to him. Lucifer's vessel was a mass of blood and bruises, much like Castiel's. But unlike Castiel, he wasn't able to heal as fast.

His hopeless rage was making him more powerful than Lucifer.

"Come on." Lucifer spread his arms out to the side. "Surrender is much easier. What else do you have to fight for? Your hunters are nearly dead. You'll be all alone. Give me Sam Winchester and I'll let you and Dean die without too much torture."

The cajoling note in Lucifer's voice made Castiel breathe harder, struggling to control his anger and urge to attack the Archangel. Lucifer was still more dangerous than anything else he'd known. Instead, Castiel looked at where Meg still lay, forgotten and still, and the grief was so blinding, so painful, that he nearly dropped his sword.

"Meg," he whispered. "Nyx."

Lucifer grinned in delight but slowly the grin faded as the storm that had been holding off exploded around them. This storm was unnatural and he looked up at the sky. Torrential rain began to fall as the sky turned black, as the lightning struck the ground close to them. With a loud snap and hiss, bolts of lightning struck several demons and they screamed as they exploded in a spray of ash.

In their place, angels began to appear.

Lucifer stared at the other angels in surprise, at the red haired angel who grabbed hold of Abaddon off of Dean and tossed her back into her small army. The soaked demons stared in surprise at the ring of angels now surrounding their still massive group, and Abaddon looked over at Lucifer for orders. The rest of the demons let go of the Winchesters and Sam grabbed hold of Dean, supporting his weight as they limped towards Castiel.

Castiel wiped at his mouth again and faced Naomi, rain running into his eyes and through his bloodstained clothes. Slowly being soaked herself, she smiled at him through the rain.

"We remembered what we were meant to do," she offered by way of explaining and he stared at her in shock. "We were meant to protect life. Creation. Your child, Castiel, is a life."

Her eyes fixed on Lucifer, not shocked by his appearance. "We protect our Father's creations. We threw you out of Heaven. We can cast you down again."

"Oh, a little Daddy's girl." He reached out and his power caught her, sending her to her knees. The other angels pulled their swords but none moved further. Abaddon looked at them all and saw Lucifer's furious expression, one that chilled her. "I think I need a good example of an angel defying an Archangel."

He snapped his fingers but nothing happened. Nothing but the sound that echoed through the rain. Naomi still gasped for her breath and stared at his face without any fear.

But it was Castiel who caught his attention. The angel was staring behind him.

"Let me guess. Someone is behind me?" he asked and he turned around abruptly, sword lifting in defence.

Meg stood behind him and he could only stare in shock. She stared up at him, black eyes unreadable.

"Oh Lucifer," she muttered as if disappointed. With a casual wave of her hand, she sent him to his knees and Naomi felt her power return to her. Castiel swallowed and whispered her name.

Meg's eyes closed and her head did a twitch to the side. Her body did an odd twist as she took another step forward and Castiel cradled his side as he stared at her. Lucifer managed to get back to his feet and he raked his eyes over her tiny soaked body.

"You aren't her." He could feel it.

"Not true," Meg's voice had a strange echo behind it, as if there was a feedback and another voice echoing hers. "We're one and the same. Thanks to him."

Her gaze swung towards Castiel and he could only stare back and realize that Meg had been saved. That Death had in a way manipulated them all to make Sheol interfere.

Lucifer knew immediately that something was very wrong. This wasn't an easy target. This wasn't just Meg. This was the only being he had left to fear.

"Come now, dear boy. Try again." She walked towards Lucifer and reality began to bend around her slowly. Even Sam and Dean, slowly recovering, saw what it did to the flat ground around her, causing it to buckle and the ground to turn black. "I warned you. I had warned you to find a way without touching Meg."

"I was following your orders."

"No. You disobeyed them. As always." She held out her hand and Castiel felt the rings he'd carried leave his suit coat. "I warned you, Lucifer."

"No." He snarled and backed up as she tossed the rings to the ground. "It's not fair."

As Dean and Sam watched, a familiar black hole grew in the burned grass, causing all of them to back away. The wind that tore through the air was familiar and Sam felt every dark memory of his own descent into Hell come back to his mind. He shuddered and gripped Dean tighter, feeling his brother return the tight hold on his arm.

"You won't be alone though," she was saying. Her fingers snapped and though he resisted visibly, Lucifer came beside her until he was within reach. "I am willing to give you something."

She looked over at Castiel and he found himself stepping towards the Meg creature. Until he stood so close he could feel her body and feel her hand pressed against his chest, just over his vessel's heart. She smiled at him and for a second he could almost see Meg in there with whatever it was controlling her.

"I saved her for you this time. Just this time. How many deaths should she suffer for you, Castiel?"

Before he could answer, her hand dove into his chest and he screamed in pain, frozen by her power. The Grace he'd stolen from Michael, once so entwined with his own, was slowly being ripped away from him and her other hand stole into Lucifer's chest. He didn't scream at first, not until her fingers wrapped around his Grace and started to yank.

It was like seeing a line of sewing slowly being unravelled, white tendrils of light slowly being pulled free of their bodies in long ropy strands. Dean and Sam couldn't look at it head on, focussed instead on Castiel's agonized face. Abaddon shouted at her demons to close their eyes but the angels still watched, fascinated.

The two angels screamed as she worked, but the Meg creature simply pushed her power into them until their screams began to echo through the air. The rings still on the ground glowed bright and Dean and Sam had to shield their eyes as a brilliant light filled the air. There was a loud pop and crackle and the sound of a scream that was full of agony.

When the light disappeared, Dean looked again through his swollen eyes and felt Sam still gripping his arm tight. Castiel was on his knees in front of Meg, swaying a little though his eyes still glowed and shadows of wings still were at his back. Lucifer was gone, the rings with him, and the black hole in the ground was gone and replaced by green grass once more.

Behind the Winchesters, Abaddon and her demons stared as the angels surrounding them shifted uneasily in the rain.

Meg rolled her head on her shoulders and then turned away, shakily walking a few steps. Castiel stood up and blocked Dean and Sam from the wave of pain she was sending their way to keep them from interfering.

Slowly, they could hear two voices starting to grow louder as she spoke to herself slowly.

"Is this worth an absent father?" she was saying to herself, that monotone voice of Sheol clear and loud. She held an angel sword in one hand.

"What have you done to me?" Meg whimpered and turned around.

"We're one and the same, Meg. I chose you because of what you could be if you only remembered." Sheol's mind link deepened with the demon until they were one again. "I can bring you peace if you want."

She made their hand steal down to her belly, still holding the knife. "Choose me. One last time."

Meg's eyes dragged open slowly to meet Castiel's. He stared at her and then stepped forward when she lifted the blade point down against her stomach.

"Meg, please," he whispered, moving slowly towards her. If it happened again he knew he could lose his mind. "Please no."

In retaliation, Sheol did what she had never done to the demon before. A hot flash of agony ripped through the demon and sent her sprawling to the ground, knife still hovering over her belly. For every whisper Castiel made of her name, the sharper and more painful the flashes were, until she was lying in the rain, weeping for relief as she brought the knife to her belly. The pain relented and Meg looked up at Castiel, her eyes black with despair.

"I'm sorry."

He stared at her, wanting to cry out her name because for a moment he'd thought he had seen her there.

But the knife fell uselessly from her hand and she shook her head. "No. I made my choice."

Almost instantly she sagged back down, all strength gone. A light flickered out over her body and then was gone. Taking with it that strange powerful presence and leaving only the demon behind that Castiel could see. After a moment her eyes opened and she began to cough loudly.

"Damn."

The storm overhead began to coat them with more rain, with something more cold and chilling, and Castiel looked at Dean and Sam. Dean gazed back at him from bruised eyes and they nodded at each other before the angel turned away to go to the demon.

"Meg," he muttered and he crept over to her, kneeling down and picking her up into his arms. His hand pushed her soaked hair away from her face and he stared at her true face with open affection, seeing the demonic soul and darkness and loving it all the more. "You're still in there."

She was leaning against his knee and she gave him a sleepy eyed look, her old prickly humour showing in the slant of her grin. "Still here, Castiel. I never left. Not really. I was just behind some sort of… haze she protected me behind."

"Nyx?"

"I protected her," she muttered and he touched her stomach, feeling that throb of life there. "We protected each other."

Unsure why the relief that flooded through him felt so good yet so painful, he bent his head and kissed her, tasting rainwater on her lips and her familiar darkness. She clutched at his soaked shirt and he felt himself shudder again at her touch, at how utterly alive she felt. With a broken sound, he broke the kiss and pressed his head to her shoulder, feeling her arms hold him just as tightly back.

Behind him Naomi turned away to face the demons.

Abaddon snarled at her. "Come on, pretty bird, we really need to fight this out."

Naomi nodded. "If we must."

Dean jumped when he realized the angels were now surrounding them protectively while Castiel stayed crouched beside Meg. One of them, Inias he recognized, reached out and touched his forehead, healing him with a foreign push of power. He blinked and worked his once broken jaw curiously before grinning at the angel in thanks.

"Go." Naomi turned to face Castiel. "We will protect you both and the demon while she heals."

Castiel smoothed the demon's hair out of her face and studied her. "She was ready to…"

Meg gave a low, sudden moan. "That never really stopped. Just delayed."

Naomi's eyes widened in understanding. "Go then."

Abaddon glared at her. "You just think you'll win."

The angel smirked. "I know we will."

"Get her back to the house," Castiel ordered, lifting Meg into his arms. She fought weakly as he passed her over to Sam but he ignored her. He touched where the gap of a wound should have been in her body. Smooth skin met his touch and he looked at her, as if unable to believe she was still alive.

But Meg's eyes were half shut and she was cursing under her breath.

"Go," he ordered Sam, voice hardening to the tone of a soldier going to war.

"But, Cas, you…"

"I need to fight with them. Go."

Sam brought Meg closer into his own body to keep her steady and with Dean at his back they began to trudge back over the soaked grass to the house.

Two demons went to follow and in response, Castiel appeared behind them, gripping them by their necks. By the time they turned to fight his hands slammed down onto their faces and he quickly burned them from their bodies. Abaddon's eyes widened, blood lust still making her look maniacal, and she turned to Naomi. The angel stared back at her and an angel sword slid out from her sleeve.

The demon grinned at the sight of it. "I love a good fight."

"Good. So do I," Naomi said as Castiel stepped beside her. She glanced at her brother and he nodded to her, the renewed purpose radiating from him making him appear far more fierce than any Archangel.

As one, the angels attacked the demons.

---

Meg was taking in deep breaths by the time they reached the house but Dean kept up a low conversation, mostly to distract her.

"How the hell are you still alive?"

"I found Jesus," she snapped, grabbing Sam's coat tight as he nudged the door open. "No, that's a lie."

"Was it…."

"It wasn't just her. It was me. And Nyx."

Dean frowned. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Dean?" Sam looked at him over his shoulder. "Maybe you can leave the questions till later."

As if to punctuate his words, Meg gave a low cry as she felt another contraction like the one she'd felt outside. "Okay, this is…ow, fuck… no… Damn, all that rest and she still wants out. Son of a bitch!"

Dean swallowed and looked at Sam. His brother shrugged and lifted Meg up tighter to him as he started up the steps, ignoring her half-hearted attempts to get him to put her down.

"Get me towels from the closet and my laptop."

"We just battled demons and now we've got to do this?" Dean followed him up the stairs after he'd grabbed the laptop. "Right. Leave it to Meg and her timing."

"Shut up!" Meg shouted. "Goddamn it!"

Both men flinched and Sam finished climbing the stairs to the bedroom. Putting the laptop on the small table, Dean quickly ran to the closet down the hall at Sam's order.

"This is really, really sudden. Can't say I memorized what to do," Sam muttered as he put her down on the bed. Meg swatted at him to get away but he gave her a look and tossed the heavy comforter off the bed.

"You think it's sudden?" She hissed and began to quickly shed her clothes, ignoring his uncomfortable wince. She grabbed one of the dry shirts on the floor and pulled it on, but even Sam could see the sweat starting to glimmer on her skin. "Just so… warm…"

She grabbed the bed sheet and wrapped it around herself. Sam could only watch as the demon fell down on the bed, bewildered by the change in her. It had just been minutes since she'd been, well, possessed.

It was likely a sign of how far along she was that she wasn't lingering over it.

He opened his laptop and stared at the page he'd left on. Reading it, he shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and carefully sat down beside Meg on the bed.

"I… I think I have to check you."

Her eyes snapped open. "Say what?" He glanced down between her legs and the demon gave him a horrified glare. "Oh no, you're not."

He pointed to the screen. "You have a better idea? Are you really that flexible to check yourself?"

The demon opened her mouth to answer as she read the page but the snarky answer became a soft groan at the same time a loud pop was heard. Almost reluctantly, Sam looked away from her and stared at the soaked sheet between her legs. Meg looked as well and then back up at him. They both realized what it meant.

Just coming into the room, Dean made a soft curse when he saw what had happened.

"Oh… shit."

---

Standing in the Lethe, Sheol looked up at the stormy sky and exhaled sharply. Meg's defiance had lasted to the end, as Death said it would, and now she had nothing she could do but wait.

She could feel the pull now, so sharp, that it was a part of her and she smiled.

"Just another change," she said. "That's all."

The souls wandering the Lethe paused just long enough to stare at their Keeper as she stood in her gazebo. Together, they all watched the storm begin to erupt in the normally peaceful Lethe.

"You're taking forever, Sam," Dean snapped. "Hurry up."

Kneeling at the end of the bed with a clean towel, Sam looked up at his brother and glared. It had been hard enough to convince Meg to let them check her, hard enough to keep her calm, and Dean's sarcasm wasn't helping.

So instead, Sam decided to go with something he knew would shut Dean up.

"You think this is easy?" he asked incredulously. "Fine. You check."

Dean's eyes widened. "I don't have to do that."

"No, I insist," Sam snapped and he stood up, gesturing at Meg. "Since you think it is easy."

Meg was barely making a noise as Dean nervously turned back the clean sheet Sam had spread over her legs. The demon was now calm, taking in deep breaths in rhythm. Her eyes were shut, her brow wrinkled in concentration, and just judging by the general calm in her expression, he could have figured her for asleep. Taking in a deep breath, he looked under the sheet.

When he saw the blood and what Sam had been checking, he jerked his head up and his brother waited patiently.

"Well?"

"I…" Dean pointed. "That…"

Sam squinted at him. "You okay? You're kind of pale."

"That… was…"

Dean's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped face forward onto the bed beside Meg. The demon's eyes opened automatically and she glared at his face beside her on the bed. She looked back at Sam and he was struggling not to laugh. Especially when he saw how ready to kill Meg was.

"You're kidding me. How much blood do you guys deal with on a daily basis?" she asked furiously and Sam shrugged and bit back his grin. "What the hell is wrong with him?"

"Guess he wasn't expecting that."

"I'm the one having the kid. The least he can do is suck it up."

Meg gave the unconscious hunter a rough shove and toppled him off the bed, waking him up when his head struck corner of the night table. His embarrassed grunt as he picked himself up didn't give her any satisfaction. Her fingers sunk into the thin sheet on her legs and she hissed in a breath as another closer contraction clamped down on her. Sam saw her face and checked the clock.

"You're closer than before."

She was panting for breath. "You think? Fucking A plus for you and figuring shit out."

Her eyes closed and she slumped forward as far as she could. Awkwardly, Sam reached out and touched her leg, squeezing her ankle to try to comfort the demon.

"This shouldn't hurt so much. I'm a demon! I've been through thousands of years of torture!" Meg groaned and she panted for breath. Dean tried to think of some way to comfort her, knowing how the tortures in Hell had felt.

"Well, when you think about it, something the size of a baby exiting out of something the size of your…" Dean started and shut himself up at Meg's murderous look. "I think I feel sick again."

"I should do this by myself." Meg's eyes went black. "Better than you two dorks."

Sam sighed and passed her a towel to wipe the sweat off her neck. She was shaking now and he pressed his thumb into the pulse on her leg, feeling the meatsuit's blood pumping fiercely.

"Your heart rate is up," he whispered to himself. "When did your water break again?"

"When I get a chance to record it next time, I will. I thought you were paying attention." Her head dropped low and Dean nervously looked at the laptop Sam had brought up. His face closed over a bit, a look Sam knew meant he was ready to assume control. Dean nodded and clapped his hands once.

"Ok, I got this. I think. I just need to read it again and we'll be good."

Sam and Meg both looked at him.

"Look, how hard can it be?"

"You just fainted at the sight of Meg's…" Sam cleared his throat. "You know."

"First time jitters. I'll grin and bear it for the sake of Meg shutting up for a bit about doing this herself." Dean squinted and read the warning signs on the page Sam had brought up. "Gonna be soon, I bet."

"Need Cas here," Meg muttered.

"He had to get the angels…"

"He needs to be here!" Meg shouted and then broke off into a groan. She sucked in a deep breath. Sam frowned and leaned forward to hear her muttering. "Needs to. I need him."

There was a strange fear in her voice and Sam nervously looked at Dean, who was clearly memorizing instructions to himself.

"I need to just… I need to breathe," Meg muttered and she moved away from them both, hands on her stomach. Her legs swung away from them.

"Dean, come on. Let's give Meg a bit of alone time. We'll call Cas."

"This is gonna be…. interesting." Dean sighed and glanced at the window. "Storm's getting worse."

Neither noticed as they left that Meg curled herself into a small ball and muttered Castiel's name.

---

Staring at the bodies of now unpossessed humans, Castiel exhaled sharply and stretched his nearly exhausted Grace out. The angels, fewer in number now, bracketed him with Naomi at his side, and across from them, Abaddon stood. There were more demons now but they were rapidly losing their faith in her. These were the weaker ones. The rain felt ice cold against his back as Castiel stepped forward.

"Leave."

The demon grinned, broken teeth flashing at him though she had lost more of her bravado. "Don't think so, sugar."

Castiel made to answer but he felt the soft niggle in the back of his head. A murmured prayer, desperate and familiar, pained. Followed by another from Dean and Sam.

He looked at Naomi and the angel nodded in understanding.

"Go. We will take care of them."

"Take care of us?" Abaddon demanded but Castiel was already gone. "You don't have as many angels as we have demons."

Naomi gave her a smile. "These weren't my only angels left, demon."

She snapped her fingers and lightning struck the ground again. More angels, the ones that had been hidden around the world and resisting the call of Lethe, appeared.

Abaddon's eyes widened at the sight of fresh reinforcements but Naomi remained cold and aloof.

"Flee. Or die."

---

Meg curled up on her side, struggling to find a way to ease the pain. Nyx's fear, a real and tangible thing now, was increasing the pain and she wondered if it was a sign. Wondered if something else was wrong.

Where was he?

Fingers digging into the sheet over her legs, she wondered if he was dead. If the angels had turned on him, if the demons had succeeded, if…

Soft fingers drifted through her hair and she felt a pair of lips touch her cheek. "I only wanted your peace, my dove," Sheol's soft voice murmured in her ear and she opened her eyes to see only the bedside lamp. The comfort was instantly gone and she groaned, turning over and pressing her face into the pillow.

The fear was real now and the pain moving closer and closer, the heaviness in her womb reaching the point of agony.

Why the hell had she let this happen?

Needed to happen. Not just for you but for the angels and demons, a different, male and smug voice muttered in her ear and she looked back to see the shadows flickering. Overhead, the skylight was brilliantly lit by the lightning and she sucked in a deep breath at the sight.

Smoke shot through the sky through the skylight and she watched pure light chase it, as if angels were chasing demons, and she sank her fingers into her stomach, wanting to stop that pain from reaching higher. She shifted forward and pushed up from the bed, teeth clenching as a contraction rippled through her womb.

The hysterical thought that she could be in trouble, that this time there was no out, pricked at her a little.

The door opened and the light flicked on.

"Son of a bitch, what are you doing out of bed?" Dean demanded from the doorway and she winced, covering her eyes against the too bright of light.

But the arms picking her up weren't Dean or Sam's. The strength was something she knew intimately, the crackle of power under the skin comforting, and even the press of cloth on her cheek was something familiar.

"Clarence?"

She heard the brief murmur of her name in answer and she lifted her head to see his profile half-hidden in the light's glare.

"You waited," he said in a perfunctory way, sounding amused by it.

Something strange and nearly human touched her and she latched her arms around his neck as he continued to pull her up on the bed. When her nose brushed his neck she could smell blood on him, demon, human and angel, and smell something else that wasn't of this world. Something that reminded her of Lethe, of water and heat.

"Meg." His arms tightened around her, mouth brushing her ear. "I'm here."

Sam cleared his throat. "We're here too, you know."

"Don't care," Meg muttered in answer but she pulled back to see Castiel staring at her with that unfathomable look and strange smirk of his. "Stop that."

He simply fixed her legs on the bed and gingerly checked her pale skin. "You're cold."

Her eyes drooped a little as the heat pulsing off him soothed the pain. "I thought…"

He waited patiently but her loud groan made him grip her tighter. "Meg?"

"I think it's about to happen." She hissed. "Whether I want to or not. Chitchat later, feathers."

He looked up at Dean and Sam, both of them seeing the need in his eyes. Exhausted as he was, he wasn't about to let her go. Sam nodded and quickly brought his laptop back in, Dean grabbing a few blankets and towels.

"Thank you for waiting," Castiel muttered against her hair as he pulled her up on the beside him.

"Oh sure. It's been a cakewalk," Meg snapped back. Her eyes shut and she supported herself as he sat just behind her, discarding his coat and tossing it onto the armchair. Dean and Sam glanced at each other, wondering at the gesture, and then Meg's curses drew their attention back to her.

Sucking in a deep breath, Dean slowly settled at the end of the bed and helped Meg plant her feet on the mattress. Sam stared at him and saw the ripple of disgust and fascination in his eyes.

"She wasn't kidding," Dean said. He looked up at Meg and their eyes met. "Don't take this any of this personally, got it?"

"Considering I'm…" She groaned and reached out to grip Castiel's fingers in hers. "Doing the hard work, shut up."

Dean grinned and snapped his fingers at Sam. "Come on, Sam. Hurry up!"

Meg's low cry was pitched so perfectly that the rumble of thunder in the distance echoed it. Letting her slowly break his fingers as fast as he could heal them, Castiel felt every part of her pain in an unexpectedly intimate way. He could feel, nearly smell, the agony and fear as acutely as he could smell the blood.

He hadn't been prepared to actually feel afraid for Meg.

"She's bleeding too much," Dean muttered and he glanced at the laptop. "I think. Cas?"

"This might hurt," the angel whispered to her, reaching out and brushing his hand over her stomach. She laughed, a hysterical note edging her voice.

"You think that's bad? Really, Clarence?" He shook his head and tightened his arms around her to support her as she lurched forward again. "You know how bad I wish I could smoke out right now?"

"I know," he answered, struggling to use his exhausted Grace to force her meatsuit's arteries to obey and heal. Her own power was so focussed on getting through this that it was no longer obeying her. "Just a little longer."

"Kid's moving fast," Sam said, watching the clock.

"Push," Dean snapped at Meg.

It wasn't just Meg's fear Castiel could feel now. The fear from Nyx was so strong that he kept his hand on Meg's stomach. Her hand latched onto his and held it there as she cried out again.

"I told you I hated you lately?" she demanded when she was able to catch her breath and he shrugged.

"It has been a few hours."

"I'd really like to rewind this," she was panting as she spoke, "so next time I take a male vessel and you get the female, so I can knock you up."

Before he could think of a reply, she was slumping against him and he felt her clenching up. Dean was muttering to himself and something he said made Sam go wide-eyed. Dean ducked his head down and Castiel could only see the way his hands disappeared as well. The hunter was doing something and Castiel felt Meg's discomfort instantly.

"Dean?" Castiel demanded just as she relaxed and started pushing again.

"Got the head coming already, she was turned a bit. That's why it's gotten messy. Just so you know, this is one big- big - favour you are owing me, Cas. I'm gonna have to scrub my hands raw after this," Dean said, rambling to keep himself focussed. "This is messed up. I'm helping a demon give birth."

"How do… you think I feel?" Meg snapped back and her body lurched a little as she sat up. "It…"

She cried out and Castiel felt a ripple go through her lower body. "Maybe talking right now is a poor decision," he muttered against her ear.

"I'm going to kill you someday," she gasped.

"I'll let you. Push."

"What Cas said. Push with the contractions, that's what the page says."

"Fuck you, and fuck some stupid blogger, I'm the one actually doing this!"

"Then suck it up and push, damn it. Stop arguing with us," Dean snapped and they all heard a squelch. His eyes shut a little in disgust. "Yeah, gonna owe me big time."

Still wide-eyed, Sam handed him a clean towel and took away one that was dark with fluid.

Meg's eyes closed, her jaw setting and Castiel felt her fingers dig so sharp into his hand that the skin broke. His other hand stayed on her stomach, repairing the damage as it was done. He could feel each time she pushed and each time more movement went through her.

"Jesus, I can't believe I'm doing this," Dean muttered. He was talking to himself to keep calm and he slipped his hand down from her thigh as Meg pushed again. "Okay, this time I mean it, Meg. You push, I catch."

His green eyes flicked up at her and he grinned. "Miss the rack now?"

"Fuck you have no idea," Meg moaned. Her moan escalated to a sharp cry and her hands clenched into fists. Castiel closed his eyes and felt the strain in her body as she went whipcord tight against him. Sam quickly grabbed another towel, one of the last in the pile, and knelt beside Dean. With his other hand, he grabbed Castiel's coat and held it ready as well.

"Come on," Meg was muttering to herself. Pressing his head against her shoulder, Castiel gripped her tightly. Her hand grabbed his wrist and clenched hard.

"Push," Dean ordered and with his arms around her Castiel felt her actually do so with her entire body. Her back arched and bowed and he felt the actual real strength she hid so well in her body, the pure power that he'd never thought of.

"Again," Dean snapped when Meg slumped a little and she actually screamed, eyes going black to try to conceal the pain. Sam reached out with the towel between her legs and Castiel felt her head tilt back, her back still bowed and her body so tight he thought she might shatter. Fingers splayed on her stomach, he felt for that power and found nothing.

He saw Dean start to tell the demon to push but his mouth snapped shut with an audible click as Meg groaned. All the tension went out of her as she fell backwards into Castiel and let his hand go. The room went still and quiet for a heartbeat.

The silence in the room was broken by the piercing wail of a baby and the loud crack of lightning across the sky.