Chapter 36: The Replacements

1 year ago

In Lucifer's crypt, Dean Winchester and Castiel were there to hunt for the angel tablet that had been hidden away by the fallen archangel himself a long time ago. Castiel was fighting through the mind control inflicted on him by Naomi to not kill Dean and, in the struggle, the angel tablet was freed from its seal. As soon as the rock holding it was shattered the sky was lit with lightning and thunder boomed through the sky that hardly had any clouds.

Meanwhile at the Paradise Pavilion Daniel Leonard was walking outside the side of the grand house alongside Joseph as they talked of their recent state of affairs.

"I hear from some of the elders that the scouting network you've been setting up for the Battalion is growing quite well."

Daniel nodded. "I've asked our scouts to immediately call or message me about any signs of demon activity if they spot any in the area."

Joseph nodded. "Good. With all these new power struggles erupting amongst the factions, we've had our hands tied and can't really put the focus we need on keeping tabs on the demons that are down here."

"Which brings me to the next thing I have to tell you. There are some scouts from the west coast that reported that there were demonic signs around. Some local Battalion members investigated those reports which they traced to a handful of demons working some kind of operation," said Daniel.

"Operation?"

"Yes, a few local people in pivotal local positions of that community were possessed and they were exhibiting odd behavior, even for demons."

"I'll send Camael and Isaac to investigate this further. In addition to the factions acting out of sorts there is the King of Hell Crowley, and his dubious association with the Winchesters and that blasphemer. If there are odd patterns in their moves then that usually means they are working to unleash a new wave of chaos for us to deal with." Joseph was breathing hard after he finished venting and looked over to see that Daniel just stood there and listened to all of it without a word. "I'm sorry."

Daniel shrugged. "Everyone has to vent some time. Even the leader of the Powers."

"That might be true for humans but not for an angel." Joseph then began walking again with Daniel on his tail. "Give me the location that scouts found the demons working from."

Daniel suddenly began looking uncomfortable under Joseph's gaze. "About that…"

Joseph froze in step to look at him hard. "What happened?" he demanded.

Daniel didn't falter under his hard gaze and answered it by looking the angel in the eyes he inherited from the vessel he was in which was hard in of itself. "The demons found them," Daniel started to explain. "and then they were attacked. They had no choice but to defend themselves. They exorcised the demons and banished them but…two of them didn't make it."

Joseph let out an annoyed huff. "I hope you appreciate the blunder that was made here. With those demons banished now we've lost a vital chance to delve into what Crowley, and by extension Castiel and the Winchesters, are really up to in the midst of all of this madness."

"Oh, don't be too torn up about the two men the Battalion lost," Daniel mumbled under his breath.

But it was all clear to Joseph and he wasn't amused. "Those men understood the risks involved when they pledged to serve the Battalion against the forces of Hell and chaos. This is war and every war has its losses. That is inevitable. Believe me, I know." Joseph then let out a huff followed by a stern glare. "Daniel, if you are that concerned for them then perhaps you shouldn't have brought them into all of this."

"I know all of that already. It's…still hard Joseph. No matter how long I've been at this, it's never easy to take. You could show some sympathy but then again that might be true for humans but not for angels, right?"

Joseph just shook his head. "You humans…you always seem to do this. You are proud to join and fight for a cause but fall into a fit and lash out at us, God, anything you can when you come face to face with the harshest demands of your choices. It was that kind of attitude from the wrong two humans that caused so much trouble in the first place. I for one was expecting more from you Daniel."

Daniel didn't know what to think. He didn't want to be compared to the Winchesters, especially the older one, Dean. That to him was a low blow. They were immature and spiteful babies when it came to them taking pain and loss. Now that he thought on it, he perhaps was acting like a baby. He couldn't cheapen the risk that the members of the Battalion took for the sake of the world. All of these members, including himself, knew the risks, knew that they could suffer pain and even die but they had to still do their duty to keep the peace and serve the laws of God and man.

His tense shoulders deflated. "You're right of course Joseph. Sorry…I am only human after all."

Joseph sighed. He never understood how humans say that like it's a joke. "That you are. I am sorry myself. Unlike those two you actually appreciate the full truth of that fact." He patted him on the shoulder. "I'll still send Camael and Isaac. Perhaps they could find a clue and they could help see that those two men are honored in death."

He then left Daniel standing there as he headed back to the inside of the house. He was about to step inside when he felt a surge of energy begin to hover overhead. He looked to see lightning flicker across the sky. The next moment Joseph found himself surrounded by near a dozen other angels that appeared before him, his fellow Powers.

"Joseph, what is going on?" asked Ezekiel.

"I don't know," he said as he beheld all of this.

"This has the touch of God to it," Abel cried out as he stared up at the sky.

The humans of the Battalion that were here suddenly opened the windows to look out or ran out the door to the outside.

"Sirs," cried one of them. "What's happening?"

"Stay inside," he ordered them.

Just then, a pillar of white light and lightning descended down on the field right around the corner of the house. The Powers all ran to it and saw that a human was caught in it. He was lifted in the air as the power enveloped him and showered him with God's grace. The light faded and the human fell down to his knees. The humans of the Battalion followed and stood behind the Powers as they stared down at the kneeling man.

He then slowly stood and everyone saw Daniel looking back at them with a lost and confused look on his face.

"What just happened?" he asked the Powers.

Joseph and the Powers just looked at Daniel with stunned faces. Joseph recovered first and then brought his arm to his chest in salute and slowly bowed his head. The others followed his example and that did little to settle Daniel's nerves as he deepened the look of shock on his face.

Supernatural

Daniel was unconscious in a chair, tied to it with the enochian seal painted under it that they had used on Samael. Dean was standing off to the side staring at him.

"You really think we need that seal?" he asked Sam who was sitting a bit away with his computer sifting through some pages on the web.

They had searched his pockets and found both his wallet and his phone. Sam tried to access it but his phone was locked by a password so he took out the battery to make sure that the GPS couldn't be tracked by Donavan and his connections and he was currently running through his identity that was found on his license in his wallet.

"Cas didn't know what kind of powers that a Heavenly Saint had and that only the Powers really knew them. For all we know, the Powers might be able to find him somehow and this marks seals angels and their power. It pays to be careful."

Dean gave Daniel another hard look. This guy was a kid, knocked out like this only makes him look younger. Dean looked to the screen on Sam's computer and saw a picture of Daniel on some file.

"So Sam, what have found about this guy?"

Sam took the wallet and threw it for Dean to catch. "Daniel Leonard. He just turned 23 and he has an Illinois license." He then picked up some papers. "He grew up in Aurora, Illinois as the son of a deputy cop and a schoolteacher."

Dean listened as he went through the wallet and saw a photo of what seemed a much younger Daniel with a man and teenager in a backyard. The three of them seemed to be putting on a tough guy look for the camera. Dean had a feeling who the teenager in the photo was.

"What about his family?" he asked Sam.

"He only has one living relative, his brother David Leonard."

A brother. Yes, Death had warned Dean about him. If anything happened to him then they would be screwed just as much if they did anything to Daniel. "Where is he?"

"I don't know. There are no records on his brother after 2009. His last job was as a security guard but he fell off the grid. Daniel has records of being emancipated for his senior year in high school."

"Emancipated? What about his folks?"

"They're dead," Sam breathed. "His mother died when he was 7, pneumonia. And his father was shot back when he was 14 during a robbery." Sam spared a moment to look at the unconscious saint. The past he went through was awful but was much more normal than he expected from someone that was a supposed Holy Servant of Heaven. "He then went off to the University of Illinois," he said continuing on. "Majored in literature and theology. Got his degrees over a year ago."

"And what does he do now?"

"Nothing. There's no employment records…but there is something new that just popped up."

"What?"

"A missing person's alert. A federal report was filed that listed Daniel as a witness in federal custody and he was just abducted by two heavily armed and dangerous assailants. This whole county has been put on high alert. Roadblocks have been ordered on all routes out of here. Ordered to look for the Impala and for two men with our descriptions."

The two of them looked to the still unconscious young man tied in that chair.

"Looks like Daniel's friends want to make damn sure that we don't leave here with him." Dean couldn't help but feel more annoyed. "But something tells me that they know that we won't let ourselves be caught. They'll be looking for us. Looking for him and who knows who they'll send to do that."

Two SUVs pulled up in front of a multi-story apartment complex and the doors opened and roughly 8 people pulled out. One of them was Joseph who looked at the building with heated purpose. He pushed ahead of the group and went into the building, entered and then exited the elevator with a hard and raging look slapped on his face. He reached a door and knocked on it hard. Barely two seconds later, it opened to reveal Logan Donovan.

"Joseph sir," he started but Joseph pushed passed him.

"Where is he?" Joseph demanded as he looked around for something.

Logan pointed off into the next room and Joseph stomped for it against the protests of Logan and the other men that had come in with Joseph. The angel threw open the door and came upon both Riley Ackerman and Gadreel.

"Joseph," Gadreel managed to say before a fist found its way across his jaw.

"Hey," Riley cried out but Gadreel held his hand up to tell him to stay back.

Joseph looked back at him completely livid. "I give you a second chance, by my good graces. I could simply allowed Jedediah to kill you but I decide to offer you the ultimate mercy and this is how you show your gratitude!?" he thundered as he stomped over to him a step. "Nazareth dead and Daniel taken! Is that how you repay me?"

Riley and Logan stepped in front of the angel and held their hands out to try and keep Joseph back.

"Joseph stop!" Logan yelled. "It's not Gadreel's fault."

Joseph didn't spare a moment to knock them both away. Gadreel gave a yelp of protest but Joseph still grabbed him.

"This doesn't concern humans," he spat. "Stay out of this!"

Riley got to his feet. "With all due respect sir," he choked out. "We were there. Logan and I might be humans so this may not be our business but justice still is and Gadreel doesn't deserve any."

"He's right," said Logan. "You really should be thanking him sir. Gadreel served your justice Joseph. It's thanks to him that Nazareth was avenged. He was able to kill Simon and his weapons were almost stolen by him. Gadreel was able to keep his swords from being pilfered by that angel criminal and fought him on Nazareth's behalf."

Joseph looked away from Gadreel's choking face and looked back at where Logan and Riley were standing there with concerned looks on their face as they looked at Gadreel. The other humans he arrived with had started pouring in the room and they also seemed to show some concern for Gadreel.

Joseph also started to dimly hear another human's protests. His vessel's inner voice was telling him to "calm himself" and to think rationally. This wouldn't bring Nazareth back and he was punishing the one who fought for his honor and revenge. And…this was only serving to waste time in helping to get Daniel back.

Gadreel was soon let go and he started coughing as he leaned against the wall behind him. Joseph was breathing hard himself as he tried to settle himself down. The humans all relaxed as well now that the heated tension between everyone seemed to be cooling off.

"It seems that you are making quite the impression with the humans Gadreel," said Joseph after another moment.

All Gadreel could do is nod solemnly at that.

"So how are we going to get Daniel back?" asked one of the Battalion members in the back of the room.

"As soon as I could I went to the local police department and made arrangements to have the county locked down," said Logan. "I gave them Daniel's photo and told them he was a kidnapped federal witness. They know to watch for the Winchester's car. So far they haven't left the county. They're still in the area, somewhere."

"Those two are frightfully smart though," one of the Battalion members pointed out. "That won't stop them for long. It will only be a matter of time before they leave and with Daniel."

Gadreel fixed his collar. "We might have the solution through that door," he said pointing to the door over his shoulder.

Gadreel opened the door to show everyone the trench coat wearing angel gagged and bound in a chair in the center of the small room behind it.

Samael was in a bed with a girl, just resting after their hour of semi-illegal fun between the sheets.

"What's that?" the girl said worn out.

"It's mine," Samael said reaching for his discarded pants. "Don't worry. Just rest. I know you need it," he said with a naughty grin thrown her way.

The girl just giggled as she turned in her bed to go back to sleep. Samael dropped his smile when he saw that it was Metatron that was calling him. He went off into the bathroom to take the call.

"This better be important," he said making it clear that he didn't appreciate the interruption.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt some important night business of yours? Here I am, working to get you what you need for your plans that you have been unwilling to share I might add and you're being short with me."

"Who's short?" Samael quipped.

"Ha ha," Metatron said sarcastically into the phone.

"Metatron, I trust that there is more to your call than a chance for you to complain."

"I just thought that you should know that I've found Barbatos and Marilyn."

That made him straighten up. "You found them? Good. That's good."

"Yes, thank you," Metatron huffed.

Samael ignored it. "Good, now, do they have vessels?"

"Yes."

"Alright, tell them to ditch them. There are two certain vessels that I've picked out for them. Help them acquire them."

"This vessel, that vessel, what does it matter?"

Samael glared out even though Metatron couldn't see it. "It does matter Metatron. It's an integral part of my plans to force the Winchesters to do away with that troublesome saint."

"And how exactly will new vessels for Barbatos and Marilyn do that?"

"You like good stories don't you Metatron? You might call it a climatic twist in the story of Dean Winchester."

Joseph was looking solemnly down at the body of Nazareth. Donovan and Ackerman had laid him down on a table and had cleaned the blood off the body and given him a new change of clothes. Nazareth's arms were crossed over his chest with both of his swords in their grip. They honored him like a warrior. Joseph stood over his brother's body and was bowing his head in grief. He didn't know how long he stayed that way but it ended when there was a gentle knock on the door which opened a second later.

It was one of the humans. "Joseph sir." Joseph turned to look at him. "I didn't mean to disturb you but we thought you should know that the prisoner is awake."

Castiel awoke to find himself bound in a wooden chair. There were leather straps wrapped around his wrists that had enochian sigils carved into them that seemed to be keeping him tied down there. He couldn't snap them. He also found that he was gagged.

He looked about to see that he was in a carpeted room and there was a human in the room that was watching him. He was sitting off in corner and seemed to be on his phone. Castiel could see the leather cuff of the humans belonging to the Battalion he heard about. He tried to say something to the human but the gag only made him grunt. The sound of it made the human look away from his phone and catch Castiel's eye. He stood up and then left the room.

Now that he was alone he tried harder to fight against his restraints but he wasn't able to budge them in the least. He was completely bound by these humans and they didn't even need Holy fire or a binding seal to do it.

Soon enough the door opened and Castiel's eyes widened at who walked through it.

Joseph had a hard look on his face. "Hello Castiel. I don't think we ever had the chance to formally meet."

He then went over and removed the gag from Castiel's mouth.

"Joseph," he grunted out as soon as he was free to talk. "Your reputation as the leader of the Powers precedes you."

"Yes…as does yours Castiel. Though your reputation isn't one to really be proud of, is it?" His tone was between mocking and angry.

Castiel ignored that. "How are you still alive?" he asked back. "I was sure that I decimated Raphael's camp and all of his followers."

Joseph straightened himself. "Oh yes…Raphael." He started to walk around Castiel. "Another one whose reputation is as renowned as yours. That of an opportunist and power hungry worm."

"As I recall you and the other Powers fought proudly for that so called worm in the war."

"Fought for, yes. Proudly, no. We had abandoned Raphael's camp in the early stages of the war. Did you never wonder why you never really saw us after that iconic battle where we defeated four of your garrisons?"

Castiel flinched. "I must admit, I didn't want to think too much of any of you after that."

"Yes, well I'm sure that Raphael went to great lengths to cover up our desertion. You see, before we publicly made our support of Raphael clear I made sure that I had spies put on both your camps as well as within Raphael's ranks. Not too long after that victory against your followers one of my spies, Stephen, he managed to learn that Raphael had new plans after the war was over. Plans that would establish himself permanently as the new ruler of Heaven but he would have to move steadily as not to incur any retribution from me or my fellow Powers. When we learned of this, we immediately deserted him without another word. To be honest, I wasn't surprised by any of this. From the start I never trusted Raphael, hence the spies. Michael made sure of that as he never really trusted him either, did you know that?"

No, he didn't. That was a bit surprising but he wouldn't share that. "Then why did you pledge support to him in the first place?" Castiel asked feeling lost. If Joseph had that kind of feeling against Raphael then why join him at all?

"Because it was a choice between the archangel that was claiming to wish for Michael's freedom or the heretic that thought he should be the new ruler of Heaven now that he helped lock away its rightful leader."

"Rightful leader?" Castiel repeated with some bite. "You call the one that helped bring the Apocalypse the rightful leader?"

"Michael brought the Apocalypse did he?" Joseph scoffed as he put his hands to his hips. "Funny, I thought it was that flannel wearing maggot that you so desperately care about that started it when he jammed that razor into that soul in Hell, you know, where he went after selling his soul to a demon."

"And Michael let that happen, didn't he?" argued Castiel.

Joseph snorted. "You can believe that if you want but I think you know the real truth and you don't want to admit it to me. It's okay, I know the truth."

"You know the truth? Maybe it's you who is hiding from the truth. The truth that Michael was far from the perfect son he wanted everyone to think he was. He was a self-serving bastard."

Castiel then felt the full force of the punch that followed. Joseph's single hit caused some blood to start flowing from the corner of Castiel's mouth.

"No. One. Ever. Disrespects Michael in my presence like that. No one!" Joseph sight was red as he glared at Castiel.

Castiel spit up some of the blood that gathered on his lip before looking back at Joseph's face. "I must say, your loyalty to Michael seems as firm as ever."

"As it should be," he spat at him.

"He was a corrupt leader for Heaven that cared only about himself and his fight that he viewed as his birthright. He cared nothing for us or for the humans."

"And you could know all this from Michael by you and the Winchesters being in his presence for a collective five minutes?" Joseph raged. "I was at his side for thousands of years and let me tell you that what you said couldn't be further from the truth."

"It's sad to see you try so hard to defend that fallen idol of yours." Castiel scoffed but Joseph rolled his eyes at him.

"It's easy to criticize Michael until you spend millennia of ignoring your personal needs to manage Heaven, all the angels, and mentally preparing for future battles to determine the fate of the world every day. Then you'll start asking: How did he ever do it?" He then stepped back from Castiel a bit. "I would think that you would understand. After all, didn't you take the mantle yourself? Despite having the nerve to call yourself 'God', something that Michael never had to do I might add, you held the position of ruler of Heaven yourself. You are happy to mock Michael but don't forget that he held the seat for millennia. Then came you, the Great Castiel, to take the reins yourself. Your followers, all the angels that died for you to be placed in that position which you held for a glorious reign of…three weeks," he said the last part in a dull voice. "Slaughtering preachers and destroying anything and anyone that didn't use the word God with the right frame of reference."

Castiel breathed out hard. "It was more complicated than that," he tried to defend himself.

"Oh, yes, I know. You went and released the Leviathan onto the Earth. Tell me Castiel, did you know that God had created us Powers to assist Michael in the unfortunate event of that happening? That was just one of his many responsibilities that our old 'corrupt' leader had on his shoulders. Without him, we still fought the Leviathan, on our own. All of that while our brothers and sisters were topside fighting for their chance to sit on a throne that was not rightfully theirs."

"No, Dean, Sam and I took care of the Leviathan," Castiel argued.

"You took care of one Leviathan," Joseph said holding a finger up. "It may have been the head but the main body was still there. Like a worm, cut off the head but the rest of the body can survive on its own. Contrary to the belief that the Winchesters seem to have ingrained into their and your head as well, the world doesn't revolve around the three of you." Joseph went off to look out the nearby window. "Just over five years ago, we had over fifty angels in our choir. Thanks to the so called heroics of the Winchesters, we are now down to eleven…ten now with the loss of Nazareth. Fighting against the beasts that you and the Winchesters dug up and one of the renegades that you and Metatron help spring loose. Now we find ourselves fighting against a Knight of Hell's science experiments, who came back thanks again to all of you."

Castiel bit back some discomfort with how Joseph just threw all those problems and issues at his face but he wouldn't falter under this angel's scrutiny against him and his friends. "I'm sure that you suffered but you can't blame everything on me and the Winchesters."

"Sure I can, because you are to blame. Especially with how you've recently taken Daniel, our saint, no, our true salvation from us."

Castiel noted the passion in Joseph's voice as he talked of Daniel. It was a passion and feeling Castiel was all too familiar with. "You're fond of him, aren't you?"

Joseph closed his eyes and let out a calming breath before he opened his eyes to stare back at Castiel. "I'll admit that I've grown to be quite fond of him. I dare say that we've become best friends over the years. I'm sure that it didn't help that I took his older brother as my vessel."

Daniel was slowly opening his eyes to see that he was in some dimly lit looking storehouse or barn. He tried to move and found that he was tied up in a chair. His focused sharpened and he realized that he was bound up and alone wherever he was. Daniel immediately let out a calming breath and began to pray out loud.

Yet, he didn't feel any responses back or even sense anything remotely telling him that his prayer was getting through. He then looked down to see that he was in a binding sigil. It must be blocking his prayers and even Joseph and the others from sensing his presence.

"You got to be kidding me."

"Fraid not."

Daniel looked up to see Dean Winchester walking into the barn with his brother Sam right behind him.

"You're finally awake."

"Yes, well your brother throws one heck of a punch," Daniel slurred out at him. When Daniel set his eyes on Dean, his eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right with him. Daniel could see something surrounding him.

"Count yourself lucky that was all you got."

Daniel snapped out of his stupor on Dean and just rolled his eyes as he fidgeted against the ropes for them to see. "Yeah…I feel real lucky right now." He then cleared his throat. "So, the infamous Sam and Dean. We finally meet."

"Yeah, and you better believe that we have some questions for you," Dean said as he moved in closer to him.

"And what if I don't feel like answering them? What are you going to do? Torture me?"

"That's up to you but if you want to play that game."

Sam grabbed his brother by the shoulder. "Dean," he whispered to him. "Tell me you're not serious."

Dean didn't answer his brother. He just kept his eye on Daniel.

"I think he is," said Daniel making it clear that he heard him. "I guess that you two spent too much time fighting against demons and monsters that you don't know how to deal with people anymore."

Sam stepped forward. "Look Daniel. We don't want to hurt you. We just want some answers."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Then try saying please."

Sam and Dean looked at him incredulously. Was he for real?

"You got to be kidding me," Dean grunted as he put pressure behind his closed eyes to keep from exploding.

"Do you hear me laughing?" Daniel said with a raised eyebrow.

"Please," Sam just grunted out. "Just tell us what's going on? What do the Powers want with you?"

"See? Sometimes, you just have to ask," relented Daniel.

"You're really just going to tell us?" Dean asked skeptically.

Daniel nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Why? asked Sam.

"There's no need to hide it. Know it or not, there's nothing you can do to stop it."

'Yeah? We'll see', Dean thought to himself.

"Well, I'm sure that you must know by now about Heavenly Saints and that I am one. I was chosen last year."

"How?" Dean asked roughly.

"There's no need for that tone considering that it was you that had me chosen in the first place."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "I did?" he asked looking to his brother that seemed as confused as him.

Daniel nodded his head. "Yes…when you and your angel buddy broke the angel tablet free. Didn't the lightshow that happened after you did raise any questions to you?"

"So that's what happened?" Sam mumbled.

"After what happened after the last two tablets were freed, didn't you think that the angel tablet being freed would do something?"

"What are you talking about?" Dean asked.

"When you freed the Leviathan tablet, Kevin was chosen as the new prophet and when Azazel freed the Demon tablet your old friend Chuck was made the new prophet."

"What?" they both asked.

Daniel widened his eyes. "You didn't know? Old Yellow Eyes freed the Demon Tablet almost ten years ago to use its power to pull demons out of Hell for his plans to start. After you killed him, it went to Lillith and then to Crowley when she bit the dust."

Sam and Dean didn't know that and it actually made everything a bit more clearer but they had other things to worry about now.

Daniel continued. "After that, signs were felt and pieces were put in place."

"For what? What exactly are the Powers trying to have you do?" Sam asked him.

"Clean up the mess." He now had their undivided attention. "Thanks to all of you and Metatron, Heaven has been in chaos for the last four years and now the angels have fallen and souls are being restricted from going on up. It's only getting worse. Those new demons are testament to that."

That made Dean raise his head slightly. "What do they have to do with this?"

"They're made by Heaven bound souls that Abaddon managed to capture. We captured one of her demon flunkies and he told us everything. Who knows how many more innocent souls have been turned into those things? That's why I'm here now. To fix everything and make it right again."

"Again? And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Sam asked him.

"By helping the Powers free the only one who has the power to go to Heaven and undo Metatron's spell. And the only one who has the strength to stop a mad archangel like Samael."

Sam was lost. "Who? Who exactly could do all of-" He froze. Sam then turned his gaze to the leather cuff that was on Daniel's right wrist. The symbol of an angel. An archangel. "You can't be serious?" he gasped at him.

Daniel knew that Sam understood. "I am."

"What?" Dean asked. "What is he going to do?"

Daniel answered him. "I'm going to free the Archangel Michael from the cage you banished him to so he could lead the Powers and Heaven once again. So, if you don't mind, let me go because I do still have some things to do before I can."

No. No, Daniel couldn't be serious. He really couldn't free Michael, could he? But then again, he was a Heavenly Saint and who knew what he was able to do?

Dean scoffed at him angrily. "Do you really think we're just going to let you go so you could free that royal prick!? No way in Hell."

He just shook his head. "Whoa, Kevin was spot on with you. You really don't have any self-control."

At the mention of Kevin the two of them snapped their necks to look at him.

"So, you do have Kevin," Dean said.

"Have him? Kevin chose to come with me."

"You?" they both said.

"You're the one that took Kevin?" Sam asked.

"You're making it sound like I dragged him from the scruff of his neck. I'm the one that offered Kevin a place with us. He chose to come with me and help me and the Powers. It's thanks to his help that we found what we needed to free Michael from the Cage. Unlike you two who did practically pull him by the scruff of his neck and throw him in the back of your junker and drove off with him so you could play with the tablets."

Dean was starting to lose his patience. "Okay, Sam he's asking for it now."

Sam stopped Dean from moving another step to Daniel. Daniel just watched it all calmly.

"Where is he?" Dean asked him.

"No offense but there's no way in Hell I'm telling you two. Especially Mr. Personality over here," he said looking at Dean. "You're the last one he wants to ever see again. Since you made him lose his girlfriend and mother for you and you betrayed him."

"That's it!" Dean said jumping for him.

"Dean!" Sam grabbed Dean by the arms and tried to pull him back.

"No, Sam, I'm not just going to just let him say all of this crap!"

Daniel just stared at him, not bothered by Dean's outburst. "I'm just repeating what Kevin told me. These are his words, not mine. He believed in you. Put his faith in you Dean and you went and spat in his face. He had to lose his mother and girlfriend, all because he believed that he was helping you stop demons for good. But, you losing Sam or risk losing Sam wasn't worth it while him losing his mother and Channing definitely were. Thanks to you they died…for nothing. But what do you care about him? Him and them…what's another nightmare, right?"

That made the two of them freeze. Those words. Sam and Dean remembered those words because Dean had said them himself, right after Crowley had gotten away from possessing Kevin's mom and they were alone…or at least they thought they were. Kevin must've heard Dean say that. Dean broke free from Sam and pulled the knife on him.

"No Dean!" Sam shouted.

Dean glared at Daniel who just stared back at him blankly. He seemed nervous, but not afraid at the fact that a blade was pressed against his throat.

"Go ahead," he said as he looked Dean in the eye. "Do it. Kill me, go ahead. Just remember, I die because of you and then you say goodbye to Sam, for good this time and he won't be on Cloud 9 but the Motel 666."

Dean actually flinched. He then backed off and stepped back slowly. How did this twerp know about that?

"What's he talking about?" Sam barked out.

Daniel raised his eyebrow. "You didn't tell Sam? Wow, shocker," he said rolling his eyes. "That's how you two operate after all. You can't go one year without one of you hiding something from the other. If it's not Sam keeping something then it's Dean. Sometimes even both. I wonder what this one is. Is it just you keeping something or is Sam keeping something from you as well?"

Sam spared a moment to remember that while Dean seemed to be hiding something from him, he was keeping something from Dean as well. What Samael had done to him when he left his body by taking his fertility to undo his castration. But that wasn't important now. "Dean, what the hell is he talking about?"

Like before it was Daniel that answered for the other brother. "I'm talking about the fact that you two have been marked by Death because of the little stunt that Dean pulled by having Samael possess you to save your life when your time was up. He told me all about it and Kevin helped fill in the blanks. He actually had half a mind to go all Final Destination on you two but I talked him into taking a different route."

Dean's eyes widened. "That was your idea?"

"Well the killing me and my brother and getting the other to drop was my idea but Death tweaked the price for you two himself. He wanted to try and punish you two like you were naughty children. He figured it was the only way to finally get you two to listen."

Sam had enough. "Dean, what the hell is going on? And I want to hear it from you, not him," he said before Daniel could open his mouth.

Dean huffed. He hoped he would never have to talk about this but he was officially screwed. "Death, he said that if we did...if anything happened to this holy ass or his brother, because of us…if I kill either of them then you die and fall into the Cage where he took you out of." Sam froze in shock. Dean forced himself to keep going. "And, if you kill either of them then he'll haul my ass back to Purgatory, for good."

Now everything was making sense. So that's why Dean had acted strange about looking for the Saint all this time. Because of Death's threat.

Daniel scoffed at the two of them. "Let me give you both a tip that you should remember the next time either of you screw around with the rules and laws without giving a damn. Eventually, everything comes back on you and won't just go away with punching or threatening the right people. It will be there to stay no matter how hard you wish it went away."

Metatron stood outside a suburban house with a bored look on his face.

"This wasn't how I envisioned the story. Samael was supposed to be my 'god out of the machine' and he's busy using his parts on bedding skanks and has me out to get him two plot coupons," he grunted to himself. "I just hope they're Wonka's golden tickets and not cut ups from the junk mail."

Metatron then looked up to see two shapeless masses of light. A slight ringing was heard from them which had the scribe nod.

"Go on. The both of you. Your vessels are waiting," Metatron ordered them.

The two shapeless angels then flew into the house. The two of them caused the ground to shake a bit when they both entered the building together. Moments later, the house shook even harder and the windows shattered and blew out. It all shook the mailbox hanging by the door off its hinges. A mailbox that was labeled Braeden.

End of Chapter 36

A/N: The plot thickens. So Daniel's brother is Joseph's vessel. And it looks like people that Dean seemed resigned to never see again are about to make a comeback. Not to mention tensions seem to be rising between the two groups and their prisoners. The family photo that Daniel carries with him, the link to it could be found on my profile. I hope you like it.

The next chapter will have things heat up between Dean and Daniel. Conditions are arranged to have both Castiel and Daniel returned to where they belong. Also, we see two old faces return.