I see an ending in the horizon – but it won't be for several more chapters. Thank you so much to all those who are reading this story! Here's chapter twenty-five.

Chapter 25

In which Shawn dislikes the fact that he is technically acting prudent

When they reappeared at the Psych office they found one very worried, pissed off Dean waiting for them. "All right, somebody better tell me where Sam is or I'll—what the hell happened to you guys?" he asked, looking at their blood-spattered clothing.

"Demon dog guts," Shawn explained, even as Gus gagged, clutched at his mouth, and ran for the bathroom. Shawn looked at Azrael and asked, "Any chance you could do that finger snap thing of yours and get me all nice and clean and Downy soft again?"

"Oh, I'm a maid now?" Azrael said to him with a glare.

"Just thought I'd ask," Shawn said quickly, picking up one of Gus' shirts and beginning to wipe himself clean with it.

"Is that my sawed-off?" Dean demanded of Shawn.

Shawn grinned, holding up the gun. "Yeah. Dude, thanks for the loaner – came in really handy." Dean held out his hand, but Shawn, suddenly attached to the firearm, said as a distraction, "Oh, and Gus said that Zachariah paid a visit and kidnapped your brother."

Dean's displeasure was evident at that, the scowl on his face growing fiercer. "Did he say where he went?"

"Actually Gus didn't get that far before he had to, you know," Shawn said, gesturing to where Gus, looking noticeably cleaner after having pulled some fresh clothes on, was finally getting out of the bathroom.

"He didn't," Gus said, coming back up to them. "All he said was to make sure you knew he had Sam." He looked at what Shawn had been using to wipe himself off and asked, "Is that my shirt?"

Dean grabbed his duffel bag, no doubt stocked with appropriate weaponry, and was about to leave when Shawn called out, "Dude, you're just going to go out there blind? For all you know Zach's got Sam hanging from a redwood at Yosemite or something. At least ask Cas or Azzie here if they can track him for you."

"Can't," Azrael said, going to drop into a chair, "Not on account of those pretty little carvings on your ribs, am I right, Dean?"

"Look, if you're not going to be helpful, then in the very least shut up," Dean told her gruffly.

She gave him an annoyed look. "Listen, I know you've probably had some piss-poor encounters with other archangels, but I suggest you get more respectful of me considering I'm technically on your damn side. Now if I know Zachariah, and I unfortunately do, he won't harm your brother, at least not yet. He's going to use Sam as leverage against you, but before that he'll let you stew a little bit. The best thing to do now is to get comfortable and wait until he contacts you."

"You expect me to sit on my ass and twiddle my thumbs while my brother is out there with that asshole?"

"It's better than sitting on your thumbs and twiddling your ass," Shawn said, drawing weird looks from both Gus and Dean. "What?"

Azrael had pulled out the magic coin again and was studying it. "Cas, Cas… there you are. Cas, honey, I believe you're in an adult shop. No, no I will not. There are a multitude of reasons why a sister cannot explain things like that to a brother. I think Dean would be happy to answer your questions (here Dean balked). Please come over here before the other shady men in trench coats around you start wondering why you're talking to yourself."

There was a flutter of wings and Castiel appeared. Before he could say anything Dean held up an index finger and said, "Cas, no, just NO."

Castiel gave him a confused look and instead turned to Azrael, the magic coin in hand. "Did Gabriel slip me this?"

"Yes. Apparently he thinks we need to keep an eye on each other. Gus has the third one," Azrael said.

"And Zachariah's got Sam," Dean said, "And your sister here thinks it's a good idea to sit around and wait for him to tell us what he wants us to do."

"It might be the prudent thing to do," Castiel admitted.

"In the past year or so that you've known me, Cas, when have I ever been 'prudent'?" Dean pointed out.

"It's true," Castiel conceded with a sigh, "You aren't."

Azrael regarded the two of them, amused. "It's a wonder you two haven't tried to maim each other yet."

"You should talk – what about your buddy?" Dean said, referring to Shawn.

"Shawn and I came to an understanding."

"Yeah, when she threw me on the fucking Alps," Shawn said. When Azrael looked like she would say something, he said to her, "No, I will never let it go."

Dean shook his head, irritated, and said to Castiel, "I know you can't find Sam, but can you at least try and track Zachariah?"

"Already tried that," Azrael interjected. "He's temporarily cloaked himself, strong enough to fly under my radar – he's prepared for me, thanks to that boob Gabriel. You don't have many options here, Dean."

Dean clenched his jaw, but Shawn finally clapped a hand to his shoulder and said, "Hey, man, I know we don't know each other that well, but if you don't trust Azzie, or me, or Gus, at least trust the trench coat-wearing angel on your shoulder."

Dean looked at Castiel, who nodded at him. "We play Zachariah's game – for now," he said.

The elder Winchester didn't look too happy, but he relented. "Fine," he said, dropping his duffel bag back on the floor.

"Great," Shawn said, spreading his hands. "So, who's up for a parlor game while we wait? Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Anyone?" he inquired, causing Dean, Gus and Azrael to give him annoyed looks while Castiel gave him one of confusion. "Anyone?"

Continued