Rating: M

A/N: Oh, Hello... remember me? First off a big HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone! No matter where you are, who you're with or what you celebrate I hope you have a fun, safe and happy day tomorrow!Secondly I would like to apologize to all of you for waiting so long to read this latest chapter. I have to admit I have many excuses about why it wasn't up earlier, but lets just settle with the fact that I wasn't going to post it until I was completely 100% happy with it.. even if it's six drafts later!

Thank you to everyone who has offered support, advice and reviews for this story. I have tried to reply to you all, and for those who didn't have a reply address - please know that I appreciate you taking the time to let me know your thoughts. They are all loved and adored. Thanks again everyone, and I'll try to have the next chapter up soon. Enjoy!

'Hallelujah'

She was too late.

Anna rushed down the unnaturally silent corridors of the ancient monastery with a heavy heart. Evidence of great violence stained her vision as she rounded the corner that led to the main communion room. She stopped short, gasping with horror. A dozen monks lay twisted, and bleeding before her like some grotesque red carpet.

They were all dead.

All of them. Tears invaded her eyes, making it difficult to navigate her way towards the large oak doors without stepping on any of the fallen. Anna held a hand to her nose, the stench of sulphur a clear indication of who had been responsible for the slaughter.

'Please God, have mercy on the souls that were lost here today', she prayed, glancing around helplessly. There was nothing she could do for them. Resuming her original mission, Anna reached out to grasp the gold door handle, her heart clenching when she realised the streaks on the door were desperate bloody handprints. Rage flared inside her at the injustice of it all, and she threw her weight against the heavy door.

It was dark inside the communion room. A single white candle spluttered pathetically on its side by her feet. Anna stepped over the thick salt line, and made her way to the middle of the room. With a wave of her hand the hundred candles encircling the small room were relit.

"Michael!"

Anna flocked to the solitary masculine figure curled up on his side. She knew before she reached him that he was already dead. A gaping hole in the back of his neck explained how such an improbable thing could happen to the strongest Archangel of them all. "No. No. No. No," she sobbed with despair, her fingers fluttering over his cold vessel uselessly. "Not you. Not this way."

"Its true, sweet cheeks. The Archangel Michael has been defeated. The earth is doomed."

Raising her tear stained face, Anna stared malevolently at the Archangel slinking out of the shadows. "Raziel," she greeted coldly. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for the same reason you are." His gaze flittered over Michael's still form, and for a split second Anna detected grief and anguish in the normally conceited Angel's green eyes. She started to wonder if she had been wrong about Raziel all these years – perhaps his arrogant behaviour was a mask for a kind sensitive soul. Raziel blinked, and he turned away from her, his swagger stiff and awkward. He approached the small window to her right, a wash of colours staining his face as he observed the sunrise before him. "I came to stop Michael from going up against our little brother," he started to explain. "But as you can see I was too late." He turned to face her and she was struck by the burning hatred seeping from his youthful features. "Now there's only one thing left to do."

Confused, Anna's gaze dropped towards Michael's vessel. She could not register how such a powerful being could have been slain so easily. She prayed for understanding, but felt the depressing absence of their long silent father. How she wished she possessed the ability to turn back time and stop all this from ever happening. "What are we going to do?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Anna repeated staring at the Archangel with her mouth agape.

"That's right – nothing." Raziel responded, a cold, deadpanned look replacing the fury. He straightened his shoulders, and turned back to the sunrise. "I'm going to sit back and watch the world burn."

***

"Well?"

All eyes focused on the guilty looking blonde. Jo swallowed. Her eyes darted towards Melakim, but the Angel only stared back at her indifferently. She couldn't believe the Angel had the nerve to try and start trouble by throwing doubts amongst the already paranoid hunters. "I-I…"

"What aren't you telling us?" Bobby pressed, tapping the spine of the book. His voice was rough, and his eyes bore the evidence of someone who was fatigued, and close to snapping. "I found this hidden amongst your things in the bedroom upstairs when I was looking for more Angel wards."

Jo felt the intrusive heat from her mom's suspicious gaze on her face – she didn't dare look at the elder Harvelle. "I wasn't hiding anything," Jo fibbed lamely, bouncing the baby gently in her arms. It figured that the one time she could have used the distraction of crying he was strangely calm and content.

"Joanna Beth, what's going on?" Ellen demanded, sharing a concerned glance with Bobby. "Is it something to do with the baby?"

'Lie', her mind chimed. 'If I tell them that the book prophesies that I will give up Anthony so he can defeat Lucifer - they will freak. They don't need to know. It's not going to happen. The prophecy is wrong. Dean has probably already stopped Sam in time, and I'll tell Dean the truth when everything has settle down.' Jo cleared her throat, deliberately focusing on the spot on Bobby's nose rather than his eyes."It's nothing. It's just-"

"SILENCE!" Melakim bellowed, holding her hand up at them imperiously. Head tilted slightly to the left, she closed her eyes, and appeared to be listening to something in the distance. Jo exchanged a worried glance with her mom, and resisted the urge to retreat towards the other side of the room.

'Something big must be happening in Heaven,' Jo mused watching the Angel for an indication as to what she was hearing. The room fell silent – the only source of noise coming from the rain pummelling the earth outside.

Melakim's eyes snapped open. "Lucifer," she breathed, her tone infused with despair.

"Lucifer?!?" Bobby croaked, his eyes already scanning the room for an intruder. "Here?" He moved in front of Jo protectively. Ellen followed suit, pausing only to pick up her shotgun from the floor.

Melakim shook her head, confusion creasing her pale features. "No, not here… somewhere...he's free… but he's moving too fast. I can't be certain where he is going."

"Well get certain!" Bobby snarled, waving at Jo to get back. Jo's heart hammered wildly in her chest. She glanced down at Anthony, and was surprised by the pensive expression adorning her son's face. In just a few short minutes he had shed his soft pudgy newborn features, and was starting to take on lean familiar characteristics.

"You don't suppose something happened to Dean-" Ellen started to whisper to Bobby, but abruptly cut herself off after seeing the devastated look on Jo's face. The elder Harvelle grimaced and turned back around to face the Angel.

"I need you to remain quiet!" Melakim growled, pressing her fingers to her temple. Brows furrowed, she appeared to be whispering something under her breath that Jo could not make out.

"Mel-"

"Michael," the Angel moaned. A small whistle like sound escape her lips, and she slumped to her knees. Bobby glanced at Ellen, and they shared a bewildered look before turning back to the Angel. Tears streamed down Melakim's face.

"What's wrong?" Jo asked tentatively, pulling Anthony closer to her chest. She didn't know if she should be alarmed or relieved that his eyes had closed, and that he now lay very still. Before the Angel could open her mouth to answer, Jo was overcome by an unusual dizzy spell. She swayed slightly, struggling to maintain her grip on Anthony. The sensation barely lasted seconds, but when she opened her eyes she knew what had happened instantly.

She'd been transported.

Jo glowered at the all to familiar surroundings. A simple white cot now replaced the long white marble table that had once held a full banquet. Fear pierced her heart, and she clutched Anthony to her chest tightly. "It's okay sweetie, I won't let them take you."

The grand doors opened beside her. Jo quickly turned around to greet the concerned eyes of a young, red headed woman. Unlike the other Angels Jo had met of late, this one looked eerily human in her low rider jeans, and her white blouse. Upon sighting Jo's defensive stance, the young woman raised her hands in a sign of surrender. "Please, I promise I'm not a threat to either one of you." She took a small, cautious step towards Jo. "My name is Anna."

Ignoring the Angel's attempt at pleasantries, Jo glowered at the petite woman. "This wont work you know. You can't keep beaming me up here to guilt trip me into giving Anthony up."

Anna tilted her head confused until a look of comprehension crossed her small pale face. "You think I'm the one who brought you here?"

"Well if you didn't do it - who did?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Anna's eyes fell on the large bundle in her arms. Instinctively Jo's grip tightened around her son. She served the Angel with a menacing glare. "He's very intuitive," Anna remarked, a fond smile brightening her face. "He sensed danger and sought a safe place for you both."

"He's just a baby," Jo protested heatedly, backing away from the red head.

"Not for long," Anna confessed. "As soon as you relinquish him he will join the ranks of the Archangels, and take his place as Michael's predecessor."

***

"Anyone home?!?" Dean called out, helping his brother limp towards the kitchen table. Sam instantly sunk down onto a chair gratefully, and began to roll up his pant leg to inspect the damage. A sharp piece of stained glass protruded from the left side of his calf muscle.

"Something is not right," Castiel warned them, his eyes alert. "Melakim!" He barked, and no sooner had her name left his lips, the sullen Angel appeared beside him. "Where is-"

"Michael is dead!" The Angel announced hysterically, her eyes full of tears. "He's dead, Castiel. Lucifer killed him!"

Dean watched Castiel's face twist with disbelief before descending into outrage. He was about to respond to the news himself, when Castiel suddenly took the female Angel by the arm roughly, and shook her. "Where is the child?"

"DEAN!" Dean tore his astonished gaze away from Castiel when he heard the panic in Ellen's voice. Footsteps pounded up the basements steps, the door bursting open to reveal the alarmed duo. "They're gone. They disappeared."

"What?!?"

Bobby rushed to explain. "A second before you arrived Jo and Anthony disappeared. They just vanished without warning."

"Cas?" Dean gasped, turning to the Angel for answers. He felt a tightening in his chest. Dread slithered through his veins while he awaited an explanation from either Angel. "What's Bobby talking about? Where did they go?"

"Melakim?" Castiel snapped, his grip increasing on the Angels arms. "What happened to them? Where is Lahariel?"

"He fled when he heard the news about Lucifer," Melakim answered sourly. She attempted to shake off Castiel's grip but was unsuccessful. She glared up at him defiantly. "How could you let this happen, Castiel?" she accused scathingly. "How could you let those useless apes unleash hell onto this world?"

"Useless?" Sam defended hotly, struggling to stand up from the chair. "This was your mess to begin with! If you had of told us what was going on from the start instead of playing games, we wouldn't be here right now."

"Sam-"

"How dare you speak to me with such insolence!" Melakim snarled, shoving against Castiel furiously. "You are nothing but a stupid hairless ape. Filth. My brother, the most powerful and beautiful being in the whole universe, was slaughtered protecting you ungrateful animals! They should have let you burn in that nursery fire! You brought this upon us–"

"ENOUGH!" Castiel boomed. The walls around them trembled in response to his fury. He pushed the Angel backwards forcefully, missing Ellen by mere millimetres as Melakim crashed into the wall. A small hairline crack ran up the wall above her head.

Melakim snarled, her face warped with indignation, and she struggled to push herself upright. "Are you really going to defend these… these animals over your own family?"

Dean had never seen Castiel so angry. The Angel rose to his full height, a flicker of lightning allowing them all to catch a shadowy glimpse of the black wings spanning out from behind him menacingly. Dean felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end much like they had the first time Castiel had revealed his wings in the old barn.

Castiel towered over the smaller Angel for several tense minutes until Dean suspected the two Angels were conversing with each other internally. He glanced over at Sam to share a look of concern, and shrugged when his brother raised an eyebrow in question.

"Enough!" Abruptly Castiel moved his head away from Melakim, and turned his back on the fuming Angel. "Leave, Melakim," he ordered coldly, glancing over his shoulder briefly. "Your services are no longer required."

Melakim's eyes widened incensed. "My services?!?" she screeched, the sound piercing Dean's eardrums painfully. "Zachariah was right about you, you're nothing more than-"

The Angel's rant was abruptly cut off when she vanished into thin air. Confused, Dean turned his head towards Castiel. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted an attractive red head standing by the kitchen door. Her hand was pressed against a bloodied mess of symbols scrawled on the wall. Dean instantly recognised the symbols as the same ones Castiel had drawn on the roof of his car.

"A little time out might do her some good." The red head stepped away from the wall, dragging her bloodied hands up and down her jean-clad thighs.

"Who the hell are you?" Dean questioned gruffly. He had, had enough of Heaven's cheer squad coming and going as they pleased, and interfering with their lives.

"Anna," Castiel whispered in greeting, ignoring Dean's question completely. Surprised by the sound of the raw emotion in the Angels' voice, Dean took note of the way Castiel appeared to soften at the sight of the new comer. "It's true. You're alive."

The redhead nodded, tilting her head to the side, and serving Castiel with a exultant smile. "I am." She moved towards Castiel, and placed a hand on his bicep. "Thanks to you."

Dean smirked in reaction to Castiel ducking his head in what he assumed was embarrassment. He glanced over to see if his brother had noticed the obvious chemistry between the two Angels, but Sam was too busy examining the symbols on the kitchen wall.

"I did nothing. Your wounds were significant… how did you-"

"It was Michael," Anna interrupted sadly, and let her hand fall from his arm. "He healed me, and sent me back to Heaven to gather the others to rescue Sam. But by the time I had arrived there was news that Lucifer had risen."

Sam turned around upon hearing his name, and Dean noted that he bristled at the mention of Lucifer. He tried to catch his brother's eye, but the taller Winchester was staring at Anna. "You were coming for me?" Sam asked sounding surprised.

Anna nodded, though her eyes never quite raised enough to meet his gaze. "Yes. We knew that Lucifer was after his grace, and we knew he'd stop at nothing to procure it." She turned back to Castiel. "No one predicted that Cadmiel would relinquish her grace to save the child, so you cannot blame yourself, Castiel." Castiel shook his head in refusal to her words, but she stilled his motions by placing a tender hand to his cheek. "Castiel, you did the best you could. Melakim was just lashing out – Michael believed in your cause."

Dean cleared his throat impatiently. "Listen, I hate to interrupt whatever this is, and I'm sure it's all really important, but right now all I care about is where the hell Jo and Anthony are? Shouldn't our priority be locating them if Lucifers stomping around looking for his grace?"

"They're safe for now," Anna retorted, facing Dean. "Anthony sensed Lucifer's presence, and sought protection."

Dean baulked at the Angel's explanation. "Say again?"

"He was frightened and transported himself and Jo to Heaven."

"They're dead?!?!" Dean exclaimed, his legs threatening to buckle. It was suddenly very hard to breathe, and Dean could hear the blood pounding in his ears. 'How can they be dead? No! They can't. I knew I never should have left. I should have stayed and protected them. I failed Jo. I couldn't protect my brother, and I couldn't protect my own son-'

Anna frowned. "No. They're fine." She quickly glanced at Castiel expectantly. "Don't they know?"

Castiel grimaced, before sheepishly explaining. "There are certain parts of Heaven that one can enter without having to be deceased. There are numerous… waiting rooms… places where Angels like myself can come and go freely without having to dispose of our vessels." He attention returned to Anna once more. "But that does not make these places safe – not anymore. Not with Lucifer trying to find his way back into Heaven."

Anna nodded in agreement. "He hasn't attempted to force his way in yet, and there's talk amongst the Garrison that he is gathering his armies for a siege… but I personally think he's stalling." The Angel turned to Dean with sympathetic eyes. "He's determined to have your son."

"But I thought it was just the grace thing he wanted?" Dean countered. "Now that he has one why does Anthony matter to him?"

"Because grace or not he is still destined to be the one to slay Lucifer in the end." Castiel clarified with a quick glance at Anna. She nodded with confirmation. "And you could say that by capturing Anthony he is hedging his bets."

***

"Sshhh, baby, come on. It's ok." Jo crooned, pacing the room while gently patting Anthony's back. His tired cries continued to echo inside the room, and Jo was at a loss as to how to calm him down. She glanced nervously around the room, tired from being on a constant state of high alert for the last couple of hours. "Oh, I wish I knew what to do for you," Jo admitted sorrowfully, peeling his red face away from her shoulder. Tiny tears spilled from his eyes, and the sight caused her heart to tighten in her chest. Kissing his head softly she continued to rub his back in small soothing circles. "Shhh, sweetie. Shhhh. It's alright, I'm here. I'll keep you safe."

"Dad-d." Jo gasped, and pulled back slightly from Anthony. His fist in his mouth, he continued to cry but there was no denying the words that tumbled from his mouth next, "Dad-d Dad-d."

"Did you just say Dad?" She asked bewildered, and kissed his forehead. "You did!" Bouncing him up and down, she ran an affectionate hand through his silk like blonde hair. "So you can speak now, huh?"

"Clever little thing isn't he?"

Jo whirled around at the sound of a deep female voice behind her. She gasped at the sight of a pale blonde with a disfigured face staring at her. Anthony immediately started to scream louder, and fidgeted in her arms. Jo struggled to maintain a hold of her son, and staggered backwards. "Who are you?"

"I have many names."

"Well how about you just start with one?" Jo snapped, her stomach churning as the blonde continued to stare at her with a ravenous look. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she didn't see how that would help, and settled for placing the crib between her and the stranger. "Pick you're favourite."

The blonde smiled, and when she did so Jo couldn't help but gasp in horror. The woman's skin appeared strained and almost translucent. The strain of skin and muscle caused a tear in the skin around her lips and blood oozed from the wounds, staining the lapels of her trench coat. "Don't be alarmed," the woman remarked in response to Jo's revulsion. "I'm just running a little thin these days."

"Who… what are you?" Jo asked over the screaming in her ear. Anthony's fingers dug into her shoulder painfully, and she suspected if he could he would have crawled back insider her stomach. She wondered oddly why Anthony was unable to beam them somewhere safer like he had earlier.

The blonde continued to approach them until she was stopped by the presence of the crib. Jo jumped when, without warning, the crib buckled under an invisible force and shattered. Bits of wood and blue material flew sideways and the blonde stepped over the mess casually. Jo wrapped her arms tightly around Anthony's body and pressed an assuring kiss to his head. "How did you get in here?"

"You could say I used the house keys," the woman responded with amusement in her blood shot eyes. "But I would have preferred the master key."

"Oh my God." The disfigured blonde glared, pieces of skin flaking off her face as her forehead creased. Jo barely heard the growl emanating from the woman over Anthony's hysterical screaming. "Lucifer," she whispered. "You escaped."

"Joanna Beth Harvelle." He held out her hand politely, the scarred face of his vessel expectant. "Nice to finally meet you. I've been anticipating meeting you for a very long time." When Jo made no move to shake his hand he shrugged.

"I wont let you take Anthony."

Lucifer tilted his head to the side curiously. "Anthony? Hmmm. I like what you have named my vessel." He took a confident step towards her, and she retreated backwards towards the wall. "Don't be scared little one," he remarked kindly bending down until he was eye level with Anthony. Jo was surprised when Anthony fell silent and turned his head to face Lucifer. "I am nothing to be afraid of. You and I are made for each other."

"Stay away from us!" Jo warned petrified, her heart beating painfully. Her grip increased on Anthony. 'Somebody help us!' she prayed desperately. 'Please God, help me protect Anthony. Lucifer can kill me but please don't let him touch my baby.'

"I do not understand your fear." Lucifer paused his movements, and straightened awkwardly. If Jo didn't know any better she'd say he looked… offended. "I have simply come for what is rightfully mine."

"He is not yours to take," Jo insisted, shielding Anthony's face with her hand. "He is my son. My flesh and blood."

"And my Grace is tangled with his soul. By your measurements that makes him my son as well."

"I wont let you take him."

Lucifer smiled, and for a second the body he was wearing shuddered violently. Jo felt the urge to vomit when she heard a popping sound. Lucifer continued to roll his shoulders back and forth, unconcerned by the fact that his collarbone now protruded at an odd angle. Catching Jo's bewildered expression Lucifer chuckled. "Do not let the vulnerabilities of this… suit give you false hope for your salvation. I will simply find another vessel to posses, and I will keep on doing so until you hand over my true vessel." Lucifer paused, a glint of an evil smile staining his face. "I think for my next suit I'll start with a feisty brunette that would do anything to protect her one and only daughter."

"Stay away from my mom!"

Lucifer cackled gleefully before responding to her threat. "And just how do you plan on stopping me?" Before Jo could formulate a reply he was quick to answer for her. "You can't. You and I both know that you'll never hand Anthony over to Heaven - so why bother wasting my time by threatening me?"

"I'd give him to the Angels before I'd ever give him to you," Jo assured him with a glare. "You can trap us here for eternity but I'll never give in to you."

"Who said I'm the one keeping you here?" Lucifer asked, and reached out to touch Anthony. Jo was quick to wack Lucifer's encroaching hand away, and received a slight electrical jolt upon contact with his skin. Lucifer appeared pleased by the reaction. He grinned manically. "Ohh that tickles." Lucifer again reached out for Anthony, but Jo repeated her earlier motion, and batted his hand away. "Let me have the child."

"No."

He reached forward again, only this time he took hold of her wrist when she reached out to slap it. Jo felt what she imagined to be the equivalent to being struck by lightning. Her body shook helplessly; pain lacerating her heart. She couldn't feel her legs, but she could see them wobble, and eventually her knees bent under the force.

Arms quaking with pain, Jo struggled stop herself from dropping Anthony while slowly lowering to the ground. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound came forth. Her vision blurred.

"S-Stop!"

Lucifer instantly released Jo's hand; the sudden absence of pain leaving her stunned and vulnerable. She readjusted her grip on Anthony, his tiny fingers clutching her hair. The tears had evaporated from his face, and he pouted angrily at Lucifer.

"Give me my vessel," Lucifer demanded, raising his palm as if to strike her.

Jo squared her shoulders in defiance. Her hands were shaking. "Never."

"Give him to me, or I can promise that you will die a very slow, and painful death."

"No."

"GIVE ME THE CHILD!"

"No!"

"Fine!" Lucifer snarled, and thrust out both hands in front of him. Jo felt the impact before his fingers so much as skimmed her chest. She barely had a chance to curl herself protectively around Anthony, when the sound of thunder rippled above their heads. The pain dissolved, and Jo realised with horror that Anthony's tiny hands gripped the side of Lucifers palm. "It's for the best little one," Lucifer addressed Anthony. "Once I'm rid of her we can be together. I can give you the whole world."

Anthony closed his eyes, and for a split second Jo was petrified that Lucifer had hurt him. She made to pull her son away from Lucifer when the fallen Angel suddenly hurtled across the room, and smashed into the wall. Gasping, Jo realised what Anthony had done.

The questions and the fears screaming inside of her head fell silent. While Lucifer struggled to remain upright she quickly took hold of her son and raised his body until they were at eyelevel. "I'm sorry baby, but this is the only way to keep you safe."

Anthony raised the balled fist he had been sucking and placed his tiny fingers against her cheek. The level of wisdom shinning through from the depth of his eyes took her aback. Lips trembling, she kissed his forehead lovingly. "No matter what sweetheart, you must remember I love you more than anything." She stroked the side of his face with her shaking fingers. "If there was any other way..."

"M-Mom."

A tear escaped the confines of her lashes and dribbled down her chin. "That's right." Jo nodded, sniffing back the tears. "Mommy loves you." She glanced over hastily at Lucifer, and saw that his left arm was broken. Blood oozed for his vessel's chest. She swallowed nervously, and turned to face Lucifer.

"I, Joanna Beth Harvelle-"

"No!" Lucifer shouted alarmed, and made a dash for them. "Don't you dare!"

"…Give my son, body and soul, wholly and completely over to Heaven."

"NO!!" Lucifer lunged towards her, his fingers latching around her neck. There was a burst of pure white light. Jo barely had a chance to gasp as Anthony was torn from her arms.

The light intensified.

Blinded and deaf, Jo opened her mouth to cry out as the air inside her lungs began to burn. Pain slashed through her stomach, and she doubled over. The last thing she heard before she succumbed to unconsciousness was a strong male voice that whispered Thank You into her ear.

Then… there was nothing.

***

"Something's wrong," Anna announced quietly, opening her eyes. Dean was far beyond caring. He'd spent the last ten minutes trying to pry an answer he liked from the tight-lipped red head, until Castiel had warned him that 'patience was a virtue'. Dean was ready to tell Castiel where he could stick his virtue.

"What does it have to do with us?"

Anna opened her eyes long enough to serve him with a disapproving glance. She closed her eyes again. "I can't find her. It's like…" The red head paused, leaning forward in her chair in the study to press two fingers to either temple. Brows furrowed, she took a deep breath, and released it slowly. Dean rolled his eyes and returned to the window. Aside from the occasional lightning illuminated glimpses of the rain-drenched junkyard, it was too dark to make anything out clearly. But that didn't stop Dean from trying.

He was worried.

With Lucifer out on the loose, and Jo and his son missing, each beat of his heart felt like a year had passed. Castiel tried assuring him they were safe, but Dean wasn't convinced. The only way he would believe they were safe was if she was standing in front of him, and Anthony was in his arms.

"What is it Anna?" Castiel's sombre tone brought Dean out of his reverie, and he turned around to see the red head slump in her seat frustrated.

"I can't find either of them! It's like…they've disappeared."

"How can they just disappear?" Ellen quizzed, looking distressed. She had been diligently cleaning Sam's wound (despite his embarrassed refusal), and had just finished sewing his last stich, when she heard Anna's dejected answer. Bobby placed a comforting hand on Ellen's shoulder. "They can't just-"

"Raziel," Castiel interrupted, face turned towards Dean. Dean frowned with confusion until he realised the Angel was actually looking out the window over his shoulder. Anna jumped to her feet as Castiel strode purposely towards the back door. Dean was quick to follow the Angel outside.

"Dean, wait!" Sam cried out after him, but the door slammed heavily behind him. It was alarmingly hot outside. Despite the fat, cold raindrops hurtling from the sky, the air was thick with humidity.

"Stay here," Castiel instructed Dean before stepping off the porch. Dean squinted into the darkness, trying to determine what the Angel's purpose was - until he saw it.

Eyes widening with fear, Dean leapt from the porch. Slipping and sliding in the mud, he sprinted towards the tall stranger dressed in a soaked business suit. Lighting streaked overhead, allowing Dean to recognize the limp female form dangling in the man's arms. Head bowed against the persistent rain, the stranger continued to stride through the mud towards them.

"What have you done to her, you son of a bitch?!" Dean demanded enraged, shoving Castiel aside roughly when the Angel reached out to restrain him. Jo's eyes fluttered deliriously. "Jo?" Dean gasped, his hand cupping the side of her cold face. The lighting overhead allowed him a split second peek at the violent finger shaped bruises staining both sides of her neck. "Give her to me," Dean hissed with trembling fingers. He held his arms out to the stranger, and the man deposited Jo heavily in to his arms.

"Raziel," Castiel greeted formally, unperturbed by the wind and rain slapping against his face. "I thought you had abandoned us."

"I did."

Dean curled Jo into his arms, trying to shield her face from the elements. She moaned as if in pain, and buried her face into the crook of his arms. Dean glared up the stranger with suspicious eyes. "What's wrong with her? Where's my son?"

Raziel did not answer him.

Instead the stranger kneeled in front of him, eyes cast respectfully towards the ground. Confused and panicked, Dean turned his head to find Castiel frowning. "What happened?" Castiel questioned Raziel with a hint of quiet fury in his tone.

"She made a choice, and so I made mine." The stranger answered gravely, lifting his head. He stood up, shoulders straightening. Dean caught sight of a long sword sheathed by the strangers' side. "I must go and join the Garrison. I have done as he asked, and returned his mother." The stranger nodded at someone over Dean's shoulder, and when he turned his head he caught a glimpse of red hair. "He has requested that you and Anna depart with me immediately."

"What's going on?" Dean demanded, glancing from face to face. None of them reacted like they had heard his question. Dean fumed. "Where the hell is my son?!" The sudden increase in wind and rain made it difficult to maintain his grip on Jo, and he started to back towards the house when Anna spoke up.

"What about Lucifer?"

"He is regrouping," Raziel responded, his next couple of words drowned out by the deep rumble of thunder above their heads. "…Raphael managed to expel him temporarily, but he is gathering force and might at an alarming rate…" A powerful roar followed another shriek of lightning. "…Angels have been recalled from Earth."

"JO!" Dean heard Ellen's boots splashing through the mud as she hurried towards them with an umbrella. "Dean, what happened?" she asked breathlessly, holding the umbrella over their bent heads. "Where's the baby?"

He felt the vibration of a muffled moan against his chest, and looked down at Jo. Her eyes were squeezed shut in what looked like pain. "Cas-" Dean started, and was livid when he realized the Angel's had disappeared without warning. "God Dammit!" He cursed stamping his foot. Mud sprayed up the inside of his already soaked jeans.

"Quickly! Let's get her inside!" Ellen shouted over another rumble of thunder. Dean nodded, and the elder Harvelle guided them back to the house while attempting to shield them from the hounding rain.

Bobby held the back door open, blankets ready in his arms. Dean squeezed past him. "What happened?" Sam asked, limping towards them ready to help. He hurried past Sam, and was careful not to slip as he lowered Jo onto the couch. Immediately he started to pull at her soaked shoes, and heavy denim. Ellen wordlessly assisted him, while Bobby went to fetch dry clothes from upstairs.

"Jesus, what did they do to you baby girl?" Ellen murmured, taking hold of Jo's arm, and extending it so that Dean could see the dark mottled bruises on her pale skin.

"I'm going to rip their damn feathers out one by one if I found out that they did this to her," Dean promised with a growl, taking the offered clothes from Bobby. With the help of Ellen, he quickly dressed her, and once finished they had Jo wrapped in a warm cacoon of blankets.

"Do you think they kidnapped Anthony?" Ellen whispered to Dean, pushing the wet strands of hair from Jo's face. Jo moaned in answer to her question, and curled into the back of the couch, her back to them.

"Jo?" Dean urged, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Can you tell us what happened?"

Ellen shook her head furiously at him. He understood her concern, but if their son was in danger, he needed to know. "Dean," the elder Harvelle warned. "She's obviously not in the position to-"

"He's gone."

Dean leaned forward, barely able to decipher the pained whisper. "What?" Jo's body went rigid, her breathing shallow. Dean swallowed thickly, the desire to shake a clear response from her squashed by his fear of the truth. "W-What?" he repeated apprehensively.

"Dean's, she's out of it," Bobby remarked, pulling on his shoulder. "There's no point jumping to conclusions when it's just delirious talk."

"She's asleep." Ellen withdrew her hand from Jo's forehead. She stood up and gave them all a pointed look. Dean didn't budge. Instead he placed a hand on Jo's blanket bound stomach.

"Jo, please… talk to me. What happened?"

"Dean!" Ellen barked, grabbing him by the collar. Dean barely had a chance to stop himself from falling flat on his ass before she towed him into the kitchen away from Jo. Once they were in the next room he shook her off.

"Dammit Ellen, I'm not five! You can't just drag people-"

"And you can't just pester an unconscious person!" Ellen lectured, pointing a finger at the couch in the study. "I'm just as worried about Anthony as you are, but that's also my daughter in there, and I'm not having you jump up and down on her when's she obviously not in the right frame of mind to tell you anything. Just give her a few minutes, alright?"

"But if Lucifer has Anthony then we should-" Sam interjected, and was abruptly silenced when Ellen turned on him.

"Lucifer can kiss my lily white ass! There's no way that evil bastard has my grandson. If he did I'm sure we'd all by the first to know about it. Do you see any of Dean's Angel buddies running around like chickens with their heads cut off?" She glowered at the Winchester brothers. "No – we don't, and since we're not all dead right now, I'd say that the chances are that Anthony is still alive and safe."

Unconvinced, Dean shook his head. "How come they dumped Jo back on us looking like someone had used her as a bowling ball?" Dean countered, beginning to pace again. "If Anthony was safe, he'd be with us, and he's not. So I say either Lucifer has him or the Archangels took off with him. Both are unacceptable scenarios."

"He's with the Angels."

Dean whirled around. Jo was leaning heavily against the doorway, her eyes cast down to the floor.

"Jo, honey," Ellen soothed, winding an arm around her daughter. "Come and sit down. You look like you're about to collapse."

"I'm fine," Jo responded, her voice devoid of any emotion. She shook her mom's hand off her shoulder, and retreated backwards. Ellen dropped her arms confused. "I'm fine."

Dean's instincts went on high alert. He tried to catch her eye, but she continued to stare transfixed at the tiles. He approached her cautiously in the same way he might approach a frightened wild animal. "Jo? What happened? Did they take him from you?"

Jo flinched as his open hand brushed her shoulder, and she shook her head profusely. Dean felt the air squeezed from his lungs. He ran his arm down the length of her arm, his eyes pondering the deep bruises on her wrists, until he gently took hold of her fingers.

They were ice cold.

"I gave them permission."

He blinked. Once, twice, and a third time before he could register what she had murmured. "What did you say?"

Jo finally raised her face, revealing fresh tear tracks on her cheeks. "I said yes," she confessed regretfully. Dean heard Ellen gasp behind him. "It was the only way."

"I don't understand."

"Yes you do," Jo insisted, dropping her gaze back to the floor. "I gave Heaven my permission to take him."

"No," Dean growled, stepping forward to grasp hold of Jo's shoulders tightly. Ellen gasped her objections to his rough handling - but he ignored her. "You're lying. You wouldn't do this to us. You wouldn't do that to him. He's our son."

"I had no choice!" Jo sobbed, her eyes stained with grief. He could feel her shaking underneath his iron grip. "Dean, please-"

"No," he whispered, his eyes widening as the truth of her words finally sunk in. "No!" He shook her shoulders, willing her to take back the poisonous words.

"Dean, there was nothing we could have done," she cried. "We knew this day was coming from the start. Castiel warned us that there was a choice I had to make-"

"It was our choice to make!" Dean snarled and shoved her backwards.

Startled by his sudden action, Jo bumped into the doorframe. She stared back at him, a flame of anger drying the tears on her face. He clenched his fists frustrated. He hadn't meant to push her so hard. He hadn't meant to push her at all, but…

"It was always my choice to make, Dean," Jo hissed, straightening her shoulders, and stepping away from the wall. She advanced on him, and shoved him backwards. "And it was either good or evil. So I chose good."

"You should have chosen neither!" Dean protested heatedly. He barely acknowledged Bobby's restraining hand on his bicep. "You're his mother!" He shouted at her. "You're supposed to protect him. He's just a baby – an innocent. How could you be so heartless and cold?"

"Heartless?" Jo raged taking a furious step towards him. Bobby's worn hands clamped down on his shoulders while Ellen appeared from nowhere to wrap a hand around Jo's arm. "I did it to save him!" Jo defended, her eyes flicking to her mom's face for understanding.

Ellen was staring at her feet.

Jo's face twisted with hurt from the betrayal. She frowned at the elder Harvelle, before facing Dean. "I did what I had to in order to protect our son," she said, and continued despite the fact that Dean was shaking his head. "Lucifer was there, Dean. He had me cornered. He never would have stopped." Dean scoffed at her words, and she scowled. "He would have killed Anthony, and millions of other children like him in a heart beat. He would have destroyed the world, Dean."

"So instead you played chess with our son?" Dean snipped. "Did you even pause for a second before you tossed him over? Did you stop for a second to think about the sacrifice? Why does he have to die so that you can live? It's supposed to be the other way around." He paused, glancing at Ellen for support. "Any good mother knows that."

Jo reacted exactly how he had expected. She recoiled into Ellen as if Dean had physically struck her. He took pleasure in the small victory of her pain, before her devastated brown eyes got the better of him, and he forced himself to turn away from her in disgust. Bobby's hand fell from his arm in what he suspected was shock.

"Dean-" Sam breathed, his tone full of disapproval and disbelief.

"You weren't there, Dean," Jo's pained filled voice whispered. "I made the choice you never would have been able to make."

Dean turned on her. "Because I would have protected him! He's my son, and I would have done everything in my power to keep him safe."

"I did do everything in my power!"

"Bullshit!" He snarled, pointing an accusing finger at her. "Things got a little scary, and the first chance you got you tossed him and ran!"

"Dean, you know that's not what-"

"Enough!" Dean snapped, stepping backwards abruptly. He bumped into Sam, accidentally kneeing the fresh stitched wound on his leg. He moved away from his brother, but his eyes never left Jo. After a few tense seconds, he took a deep breath, and turned his back on her. "You make me sick."

"Dean-"

"Sam," Dean called out, heading to the backdoor. He paused, waiting only for his brother. "We're leaving," He announced.

"Dean, you're not going anywhere." Bobby argued. "You're not thinking clearly."

"Sam!"

"Everyone just stop for a second!" Ellen cried out, and hurried to Dean's side. "Honey, I know you're upset and confused. We all are – but running away isn't the answer. Let's just talk about it."

"You stay. You talk. I'm done," Dean responded coldly. He glanced over his shoulder, and met Jo's tear soaked face with a vindictive snarl. "We're done."

Throwing the door open, he allowed it to slam into the wall. Wind and rain instantly whipped towards his face in greeting. He barely felt it. Sam was behind him, mumbling something to Bobby – but Dean wasn't interested. He stepped off the porch, and marched to the waiting Impala. The familiar squeak was comforting.

"DEAN!" He slammed his door shut on her petrified cry. Starting the engine, he barely waited long enough for Sam to slide inside before slamming his foot down on the accelerator. The tyres spun wildly in the mud before finding purchase on the gravel. He didn't bother looking back as they hurtled down the driveway.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked quietly when they reached the road.

"To hell," Dean replied through gritted teeth.

"Should we stop and get some snacks?"

"Sam."

"Got it. Driver. Cakehole. Shutting it."

Was it worth the wait? No? LOL! My bad. More on the way...!