Azrael sits at the table with her gaze locked on Dean. Sam eyes are locked on Azrael. Dean and Castiel are checking on some details of the ever changing landscape since Metatron's self-proclaimed introduction to humanity. The Youtube videos have gone viral.
Sam is genuinely creeped out by Azrael's fixation. Azrael actually startles Sam by suddenly getting up and walking into the kitchen. For an inexplicable reason, Dean suddenly gets up and follows her. Azrael is pacing in the kitchen like a cat on a hot tin roof and that is very unlike the Azrael that they have come to know. Castiel and Sam follow but hang just outside the threshold.
"Az, what is it." Dean is startled by her appearance. There is suddenly blood like tears running from her eyes like that had scene when Gadreel died. Azrael grabs Dean's arms.
"Promise me that you will not follow." There is an edge to her voice that they had not previously heard.
"Az, what in the hell is going on." Dean braces his own arms against hers. "Az!" He commands Azrael's attention from a glance towards the threshold.
"Promise me." The edge in her voice is now tinged with desperation.
"You are not going after him alone." Dean's booms throughout the room.
"This is not your fight." Azrael's voice radiates power and authority back at Dean.
"You are not going alone." She knows how stubborn he is. Couple that trait with the Mark of Cain and it is a lethal combination. Azrael knows this is a fight she will not win, at least not now. She surprises him and pulls Dean into a deep kiss. Dean pulls her into him and holds her solidly within his grasp. He is not going to allow Azrael to distract him even if it is in the form of protection.
"What was that for?" He is still deeply disturbed by the blood running from Azrael's eyes.
"That was for me." Azrael turns towards the doorway as she reaches up and caresses Dean's face.
"Castiel." Azrael beckons them from the threshold of the room. Castiel and Sam enter. Casteil recognizes the look of Azrael. She has become the weeping angel. The time of reckoning is upon them. Azrael breaks Dean's hold with a glance. She removes her ring and hands it to Castiel.
"You know what I ask of you." Castiel instantly drops to a position of reverence before the weeping angel. With their attention momentarily lost on Castiel, they do not see Azrael vaporize in the room.
Dean furiously looks for her. "Damn it where the hell did she go, Cass?"
Castiel holds the ring in his hands. He knows what Azrael is requesting. He must leave them now.
He places the ring on his finger. Sam is well aware of what the ring is. It is the ring of the Horsemen. It is the ring of Azrael. She just made Castiel the gatekeeper of Lucifer's Cage. Sam tries to get the words out but his are drowned out by Castiel.
"Sam, whatever you do. Do not follow. I beg of you. Please do not follow. Dean… Please my brother do not follow Azrael and do not follow me."
"Cass, do you think for one damn minute that I am going to allow you to open that cage? We sought out the blade to kill him and I am going to kill Metatron."
Castiel places the ringed hand upon Dean's shoulders. Dean can see the look in Castiel's eyes. "Dean, this is not your fight. This is not the fight of a hunter. This is our fight." Castiel knows that his words are not penetrating the rage within Dean. He also knows that he has to go and go now.
"Sam.. please." Castiel embraces Sam for the briefest of moments before opening the door and evaporating like Azrael.
They are not gone more than a minute before Dean is preparing to leave.
"Dean, this is not our fight."
"Sam, this is my fight. For what that bastard did to Kevin. This sure as hell is my fight." Dean continues to gather his tools. Sam is desperate to stop him. He heard Azrael's voice. He heard the change. That was not a request it was a command.
Sam' pleads with Dean but he can see the fixation within Dean. If he can't stop him, he is sure as hell going to go with him. They are now hot on the trail of Metatron. Sam is hoping beyond hope that Azrael gets to Metatron first.
Castiel appears in the darkness before them. Michael instantly recognizes the sound of an angel in their midst. He can see Azrael's ring on his finger.
He stands before the cage gaining the undivided attention of Lucifer and Michael.
"Azrael has sent you." Castiel nods in recognition.
"It has begun." Lucifer's voice is clear and neutral.
"Release us, my brother." Michael makes the request of Castiel. Castiel moves forward but stops sensing a presence behind him.
"Before you do that Cass, Let me have a word with my brothers." A voice comes out of the darkness. The voice instantly has the full and complete attention of Lucifer.
"Gabriel? Is that you? Is this some sort of cruel trickery, Castiel."
Lucifer strains to focus on the men in front of his cage. He cannot believe what he sees before him. He wonders if this is some kind of trick or illusion.
"It is I, my brother." Gabriel steps from the darkness into the light. Lucifer is stunned at the sight of Gabriel. He took Gabriel's life force with his own two hands. The image of his brother lying dead before him has haunted his mind since. He is convinced this must be smoke and mirrors but by who?
"She is going to do this?" Lucifer leans against the bars of the cage. He will play this game.
"Yes." Gabriel maintains a position of neutrality acknowledging the shock that Lucifer is registering. "She is the only one who can but you know what she asks of us in return." Michael feels the presence of his true brother but how? How did Gabriel resurrect? Could Azrael's plan be so stunningly simple? Why did she send Castiel? Why did she not come to release them herself?
The trio exchange knowing looks. "Do we understand each other?" Lucifer and Michael understand what needs to happen as Gabriel tells them the tale of their younger brother's misadventures. They know what Azrael is requesting. They know there is a price for all things.
"Release the Kracken, Castiel." Castiel is shocked to see Gabriel alive but right now shock and awe is the new normal. He waves his ringed finger across the doors of the cage. The latches instantly disengage and the door opens.
"'ello beasties'." Gabriel leads them into the darkness.