So wow, I really have no excuse for the abysmally long wait time between updates other than life kind of struck me hard and fast.

This chapter is longer than usual and is actually the finale in this story! However, there will be a mini sequel in the coming weeks and then eventually the real sequel which takes place in season 5 and beyond.

So I hope you have enjoyed Through Night and Chaos and look for The Dark of Hell soon!

Sunlight streaming in through the blinds cast a shimmering glow on Carter's face, rousing the girl from an alcohol-induced slumber. With a deep intake of breath, she rolled to her side, gathering her pillow to her chest and finding Dean sitting at the edge of his bed, silent and motionless. For a few moments, she quietly observed him knowing full well that he realized she was awake.

"What do we do from here?" she asked in a hushed voice, almost afraid to disturb him.
"We'll go to Bobby's," he cleared his throat, standing a stuffing a couple things into his duffel, "Get dressed. We'll leave as soon as you're ready."

Using her arms as leverage, Carter heaved herself into a sitting position.

"Cas stopped by last night," she told him, tearing the covers off her legs and grabbing a pair of jeans. Dean rounded on her, his face hard.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he accused and she only frowned at him.
"You were sleeping when I came back. I'm telling you now," she bit back a little harshly and Dean's face softened as she disappeared into the bathroom.

"What did he have to say?" Dean spoke from outside the bathroom.

The white door swung open, "He threatened me," Carter threw her pajamas into her bag and collected her hair into a pony-tail. Dean curiously watched her, wondering why she didn't seem to be worried.

"You don't seem too concerned about that," he observed, swinging his duffel over his shoulder and grabbing her bag with his free hand. Carter breathed a sigh and met Dean's gaze as she tugged on her Hannah Jacket.

"He was going to tell us something once. Something important. And because of it the angels forced him to Heaven and brainwashed him or something. There's something they're not telling us, Dean," she determined, taking her bag from him and leading the way outside to the Impala.

"There's a butt-load they aren't telling us, Carter," Dean scoffed, tossing his belongings into the trunk.

"No, that's not what I mean," she shook him off, and slammed down the trunk, "Something is wrong, Dean. Very wrong. They don't want us to know something about the Apocalypse, I can feel it," her voice dropped very low, "And the way they keep threatening me? Maybe I was right to use that spell."

Her cautious tone was enough to make Dean warily glance over his shoulder.

"So what are you saying? Cas has completely flipped his lid?" Dean asked, climbing in to the driver's seat.
"No, but he's struggling. They said something to him to turn him into a dick but last night when I tried to explain myself it was like he understood. He understood but something was holding him back," she frowned, intently gazing out the window as she fell into her own thoughts. Dean thoughtfully nodded, watching her for a second before sending life throughout the black car.

"Well, you didn't get Sam back but I see you found someone just as valuable," Bobby tried to lighten the mood as Dean and Carter walked into the house.

"Hey, Bobby," Carter gave the old man a hug.
"Glad you decided to come back," he nodded.
"Me too," she flashed him a small smile, "I'm going to go toss my stuff upstairs."

The other two hunters watched her hurry up the steps, waiting for her to be out of earshot.

"How the devil did you manage to get her to come back? I thought you two had quite the argument?" Bobby incredulously asked, leading the way to the kitchen.
"I just asked," Dean shrugged his shoulders, gladly accepting the beer Bobby held out for him.
"Uh huh," Bobby nodded with a slight smile, insinuating that he thought something was going on between them.
"Oh come on, Bobby!" Dean protested, picking it up straight away.
"I didn't say anything," the elder hunter defensively held up his hands.
"There's nothing going on between me and Carter," Dean determinedly assured, taking a giant swig of his beer.

But even as he said the words, he had to admit that it wasn't nothing...otherwise he never would have called her, and she never would have come. Then his mind wandered to the events of the night before and what she asked him. He had been prone to kissing her lately but he didn't think it was because of any feelings for her. At least, at the time he didn't think so...but, now...then again...what if it's just because the connection they both have to hell? Dean chugged almost the entirety of his beer, deciding that—for the time being—it was the latter option because figuring out his feelings for Carter would be more challenging than trying to save the seals.

"So...what happened?" Bobby slowly asked, not even sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"We've lost him, Bobby," Dean shook his head, his jaw clenched as he didn't really know how else to put it, "He chose a demon over his own family."
"Looks like that choice was influenced a bit," Bobby nodded to the bruises on Dean's neck and face.

Dean was about to argue back but both hunter's heard Carter thundering down the stairs and were suddenly alert as she raced into the kitchen, panic darkening the features of her face.

"What is it?" Dean asked, instantly concerned.
"Listen to this," she shoved her phone into his hand, "It's a voicemail from Damon."

Dean curiously looked at her and immediately saw the urgency written all over her face. He pressed the phone to his ear, hearing all kinds of chaos emit from the receiver and it sounded like Damon was driving.

"Carter, I don't have much time! I'm in Indianapolis! I-I think I've stumbled upon one of those seals! The entire city is in a blackout and demons are crawling everywhere downtown! Oh shit!" there was a screech of tires and a muffled sound as Damon apparently dropped his phone but then he came back, "Carter, that's not all! The angels—" but the line was cut off by a sickening crunch of metal.

Swallowing hard, Dean pulled the phone away from his ear and handed it to Bobby. He looked to Carter and could see the determination set in her face.

"I have to go find him," she asserted.
"Carter, he's probably—"
"No!" she shouted, "I have to believe he's still alive! I need to find out what he saw."
"I hate to break it to you but the seal is probably already broken," Bobby chimed in, handing the phone back to its owner.

"No, you're both not listening!" she let out a frustrated sigh, walking around in a circle, "He saw something he wasn't supposed to! About the angels! I bet you any money that it was the angels who were chasing him. First, Cas. Now Damon? They are hiding something from us and I'm going to find out what," she firmly resolved, flying out of the kitchen with Dean hot on her tail.

"Carter, just wait a second!" he latched onto her arm as she returned from upstairs with her bag in hand.
"Let go of me, Dean. I'm going, one way or another," she paused for a moment.
"But this is exactly the kind of thing Cas told you not to do," he sternly reminded her, worry edging into his voice.
"I'm sick of waiting around for the angels, Dean. The apocalypse is coming and so far they've done jack shit to help us. We need to find out just what the hell is going on," she pleaded with him, "What happened to 'angels are all dicks and they can't be trusted?'"

Dean let out a sigh, staring down at her. Everything she said was right, Dean felt it in his gut but he couldn't just let her go alone.

"You know I'm right," she quietly said.
"I know," he replied in the same hushed tone, "I just don't want you to get hurt."

She slowly nodded, breathing a small sigh of relief as she realized he was going to let her go, "I won't."

"I have to stay and figure out what to do about Sam," Dean found his full voice again.
"I know, I'm not asking you to come with me."
"That doesn't mean you need to do everything on your own though, Carter," he warned.
"I know, I'll call you 'at the first sign of trouble,'" she lightly mocked him with a smirk.
"I mean it, Barbie," he pointed a finger at her.

"You'll be the first, Lance," she swung her bag over her shoulder before walking out through the front door.

By the time Carter reached Indy, power had been restored but much of the city was still in shambles. Police tape roped off many buildings, road blocks lined many streets as cleaning crews were attempting to clean up the aftermath of looters. And along a certain stretch of road there were several ambulances and weeping families as stretcher after stretcher were loaded into the white vehicles. Carter shook away her nerves and sped past the scene, seeing no sign of any sort of demon or angel.

Damon's GPS brought Carter to a small location towards the East side of town at an abandoned warehouse. From the sounds on the voicemail, Carter had been expecting some kind of pile-up, only, there was no sign any accident ever occurred. Thoroughly confused, Carter parked and got out of the car to investigate.

Everything was in pristine condition: the grass, the road, even the warehouse. There were no signs of debris, no tire marks on the pavement. No sign of anything really.

But then she spotted it: a tiny black spot embedded in the grass on the opposite side of the road.

Forcing back a small cry, Carter sprinted to the small black iPhone. It was most certainly Damon's. She had seen him pull it out when she gave him her number. Only now the screen was devastatingly cracked and refused to turn on.

"It took you much longer to get here than I expected."

Carter whirled around, feeling the surge of angel power run hot through her body. Zachariah calmly—but smugly—smiled at the girl.

"Where is he?" she snarled.
"Sorry, who?" the angel begged for clarification.
"Damon! You pathetic ball of wings! What did you do with him!?" she started charging, unaware of the ball of light emitting from her left hand.

"Careful now," Zachariah held up his hand, stopping her in her tracks, "I wouldn't do anything rash. You're in quite enough trouble as it is!"

Carter finally noticed the warmth in her hand and jumped at the sight of the energy. She didn't even know how she did it, but Zach saw and she nervously looked back up at the angel never missing the sinister glint in his eye as he pressed his fingertips to her temple.

"You are quite the tough cookie. I underestimated how long you would last," Zach quipped, tossing the battered Carter to the ground. She was using the power her spell gave her, Zach had counted on that because it was the only thing keeping her conscious and keeping her from bleeding to the death as the angels used hellish methods to interrogate the girl.

Tears mixed with blood as Carter tiredly grasped at the white marble of the brilliant room Zachariah teleported her to. She didn't understand why he was doing this. At first, she thought it was punishment for 'turning on the angels...'

"Now," the angel grasped the back of her head by her hair, "Tell me what you remember from hell."
"I've told you everything!" she cried, feeling her face slam back into the floor.
"Liar! How are you gaining your power!?" he yelled.
"I don't know," she wept, shaking her head, "Please, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Do you know who you are?!" he raged, stomping on her shoulder and hearing her screams echo off the walls as her shoulder dislocated for the fourth time.

"Zachariah."

A new voice entered the room and Zach was distracted from his current task.

"Castiel," the superior angel replied.

Carter agonizingly lifted her head to meet the sympathetic stare of the other angel.

"Can you not see that I am busy?" Zach chided.
"Lillith is in place to break the final seal," Castiel replied.
"Good," the other angel happily replied.

"You bastard," Carter coughed, crying out in pain as Zachariah kicked in her ribs.

"Quiet! I'm not finished with you yet!"

Carter once again met Cas' eyes and in that one look begged him to help her.

"Zachariah, the girl does not know anything else," Castiel tore his gaze from the girl.
"What? You are the one who said she regained her memories from hell," Zachariah shook his head, not understanding. Carter clenched her eyes shut, focusing on trying to heal her broken bones while trying to shake off the feeling of betrayal from Cas.

"Yes, but only some. Certainly not enough to be a threat. I made sure of that when I raised her from the depths of hell," Cas explained.

For a few moments Zachariah thoughtfully tapped his chin considering a few different things mulling about his mind.

"You know what? You're right, Castiel. This girl is no threat to our cause, but he is," Zach noted before disappearing from the room.

Carter let out another cry as Castiel knelt down beside her, trying his best to sit her upright.

"What the hell is going on, Cas?" she painfully looked him dead in the eyes.
"I'm sorry, Carter," he shook his head, "this was never supposed to happen."
"Bad things tend to happen when you betray your friends," she bitterly growled, effectively telling him she was pissed he revealed her memories of hell to the angels.

Once again Carter focused on healing her body some more so that she could sit up without being in pain.

"Carter, I'm—"
"Yeah, yeah. You're sorry. But sometimes Cas, that just doesn't cut it," she determined, using the wall to get to her feet, "Just tell me one thing. Why do the angels want to start the apocalypse?"

Castiel had no answer for her. All he did was press his fingers to her temple transporting her to a room similar to the one she was just in. This time, though, she wasn't alone.

"Dean!" she gasped.
"Carter?" Dean turned around, gasping when he saw her battered state, "Carter!

Without any sort of hesitation Carter ran straight into his open arms, burying her face deep into the cotton of his shirt willing everything to just go away except the feeling of his strong arms wrapping protectively around her body.

"What the hell did they do to you?" he tilted her head so that she could look at him.
"It's ok. I'm ok," she shook her head, "Dean, the angels are trying to start the apocalypse."
"I know, you were right," he brought her head back into his chest, "And they're going to do something to Sam. We have to get to him, Carter."

"How? There's no way out," she glanced around the room finding no kind of door or window.
"I don't know," Dean began pacing, "I was hoping Cas—"

"Cas is the reason I was an angel's punching bag," Carter hollowly commented.
"You didn't try punching him, did you?" Dean suddenly asked and Carter gave him a funny look, "It didn't end too well for me."

Despite the situation, Carter couldn't suppress the small smirk from playing her lips but it quickly turned to a frown as the aforementioned angel swooped in and pinned Dean brutally to the wall.

"What th—" Cas held up his hand and Carter was rendered silent and she was forced to watch as he cut his own arm with the enchanted knife, furiously drawing symbols on the wall with the blood.

"Castiel!" Carter clung to Dean as Zachariah appeared again, "Would you mind explaining just what the hell you're—" but in a flash of bright white light Zachariah disappeared.

"He won't be gone long," Castiel finally spoke, "We have to find Sam now."
"Where is he?" Dean asked.
"I don't know. But I know who does. We have to stop him, from killing Lillith."
"What? But that doesn't—" Carter sputtered.
"Lillith is going to break the final seal," Dean agreed.
"Lillith is the final seal. She dies, the end begins," Castiel revealed.

Neither Carter nor Dean could say anything else. Everything they had been working up to until this point was to kill Lillith and to find out she was the end of it all...was unimaginable.

"Then how do we find Sam?" Dean grit his teeth.
"Chuck!" Carter piped up, "He knows, Dean."
"Precisely," Castiel nodded, immediately pressing his fingers to their foreheads, sending them spinning through time and space to instantly land them in Chuck's den.

The trio caught Chuck speaking on the phone and he was all too shocked to see them.

"Th-this isn't supposed to happen," he uttered, a woman on the other line muttering something, "No, lady this is definitely supposed to happen but I just gotta call you back."

"You gotta help us, Chuck," Carter pleaded, the first to speak, "We need to find Sam."
"B-but you can't be here. You're not supposed to be here," he nervously mumbled pacing back and forth.
"The devil is coming, Chuck!" Dean urgently barked, "You need to tell us where Sam is so we can stop it all."

The smarmy writer jumped at the sound of Dean's voice but he nonetheless retrieved a single page from the table, pointing to something so Dean could see.

"St. Mary's? What is that a convent?" Dean wondered aloud.
"Yeah, but, you guys aren't supposed to be there. You're not in this story," the writer repeated.
"Yeah, well, we're making it up as we go," Cas replied, sounding much like his former self.

The ghost of a smirk formed on Carter's face but was all too quickly erased as the table began to shudder and a white light flared in through the window. What Dean heard as an incessantly loud ringing, Carter began to hear words...none of which sounded friendly.

"Oh no," she began to feel her body tense and her throat close as the archangel violently threatened her.

"What? Aw man, not again!" Chuck yelled.
"It's the archangel! I'll hold him off, I'll hold them all off!" Castiel shouted, Dean instantly grabbing Carter's hand, "Just stop Sam!"
"I'm staying with you!" Carter called back, Dean crushing her hand in his.

"No—"
"This isn't an argument!" she barked back, "I can feel them and I can help! Go, Dean!"

Dean only had a few seconds to gaze upon the girl's face seeing a braveness and determination he had never seen before. But he also caught a glimpse fear in her eyes, not from the archangel but fear that she may never see him again. He had only just wrapped his arms around her when Cas whisked him away in a flash.

A small tear briefly escaped from her eyes before she knocked it away, looking hesitantly at Castiel.

"Stay close to me," he instructed, gently moving a strand of hair from her face and she silently nodded, feeling an almost painful wave of power course through her body as the archangel drew ever nearer.

Carter didn't even see when the archangel appeared, she just knew that suddenly Cas was no longer at her side and she was struggling to keep the angel's blows at bay. There was a blade in her hand for a time but even that was struck down and she was left defenseless and backed into a corner the white light in her hands her only saving grace. All she could see what the brightest light imaginable and nothing more, but it spoke to her.

"Not yet. It is not time."

The light abruptly embedded itself deep within Carter's chest, the girl's screams echoing all around the room before blackness took her.