I said Sister Jo mode so in the chapter I will refer her as Jo :D lol. This woman means business.
Michael closes the door and gestures to the stools.
"Please have a seat."
Jo sits on one of the stools. She glances at the destroyed refrigerator.
"I assume they have already told you."
Jo turns back and sees the former archangel going behind the bar.
"Your prison?" She nods. "I'm aware."
"Hmm."
Michael gets out a glass and pours alcohol into it. He slides it over to his alternative sister. Jo thanks him and sips the glass. She then nods and puts the glass down.
"You know my drink."
"Why wouldn't I? I know everything about you Jo."
"Not creepy at all." She sighs. Jo then taps her chin and gives him a smile. "That was before your grace was taken. Now you know nothing. You can't read my mind you can't anticipate my next move." She grins at him. "You will not be able to manipulate me now."
"Oh Jo. I still know you." Michael leans forward so he is inches away from her face. "My grace might be gone but my knowledge is still up here." He taps his head and smirks at her. "So did you give into your desire?"
"My desire?"
"You know what I mean?" Michael raises his eyebrow. "Family?"
Jo's lips press into a thin line. Michael chuckles.
"I'm taking that as a no." His eyes go on her jewellery. "Do you really think this..." His fingers curl around her necklace. Jo kept a straight face she didn't want to show fear towards the former archangel. "...Will make you happy?"
"It's a nice set."
"But it's not enough." Michael shakes his head. "It will never be enough." He let's go and brushes his hand down his suit. "You want more you want..." His face turns into a look of disgust. "To be loved."
Jo wanted to deny it. She wanted to laugh and say he is crazy but she couldn't because Michael wasn't crazy he was right.
She wanted to be loved.
"If you did give in." Michael sits down. "You will only get yourself hurt. Love is a weakness. It can destroy you."
Hurt? Destroy?
That was an interesting development. Last time they had this discussion Michael said her desire was a disappointment now he is talking about it like it is the most dangerous weapon in the world. A weapon Jo should stay away from.
As Michael sips his bottle Jo notices a flash of pain in his eyes a pain Jo was very familiar with she has seen this kind of pain in her clients. It was grief, betrayal, and anger. As Jo focused on her alternative brother she noticed how pale he looked. His face is as white as a ghost and he had bags under his eyes. He looked like crap. Jo wondered if Michael would even have the energy to fight her.
Jo could go straight into questioning him she can get all the answers she needs and get the Hell out of here. That's not how business works.
It's never easy. She thought.
Michael is the type to dodge the question and try to turn the attention back on to her. Jo has met people who have tried to turn the tables on her. To be a successful businesswoman Jo had to get them right where she wanted them she had to hit their weak spots and make them crack under the pressure they are being put in.
Suddenly feeling confident she looks into the familiar green eyes and asks.
"Are you saying this because you don't want me to get hurt?"
"I'm just stating the facts." Michael replied. "I don't really care what happens to you."
"Or." Jo runs her perfectly manicured nail across the counter. "Are you saying this because it has happened to you." She then stops and her face turns serious. "God. Since the beginning of time you served Him, followed His every order what do you get in return? Nothing. You killed the brother who you loved and yet you still got nothing. God left you and never came back. Not even Lucifer's death can bring Him back. The day you realized God was never coming back that was day your heart shattered into millions of pieces. You were heartbroken, you felt betrayed you sacrificed so much for Him because you loved Him. Love!" Her lips curl upwards. "See where I'm getting at?"
Michael stared at her. His hands tightened around the bottle and his posture became rigid. Jo nods.
"When you found out the truth it destroyed you. You're love for Him was your downfall. You lost your family, your home you lost everything because of Him. Without God you lost your purpose."
"Wrong." Michael sneered. "I have actually my purpose that is to make the perfect world."
"The perfect world right yeah." Jo laughs. "Your little side project."
"Side project?"
"Oh come on we know this is a distraction. This is a mission you have thrown yourself into. You are being the new God trying to change the world you insist this is to get back at the old man but really this is just a way for you to not think about your feelings."
"What feelings are you talking about?"
"Love."
Michael scoffs.
"Love?"
"You still love him. Father. You might be pissed at Him but deep down you still love Him."
Jo suddenly flinched when Michael slams his fist down on the table.
"You're wrong." He growled. "I hate Him. He doesn't care me He doesn't care about you. When I do see Him again I will kill Him."
Jo shakes her head.
"You won't."
"You won't."
"What makes you so sure."
"You were created to obey. Whatever happens you will always obey. You are daddy's loyal son after all."
"Were daddy's loyal son you mean."
"That side of you to obey will always be there. It's who you are Michael. You will never be free. Free Will is an illusion. You will always be following his plans."
Michael shakes his head and pushes that conversation to the back of his mind.
"I will." His voice sounded less confidence than before.
"Look I get it. God is an asshole I'm not His biggest fan either but...I would never kill Him sure I don't agree with everything He says but no matter what He is our Father the creator of the world. Lucifer is pissed at Him but he hasn't killed Him Lucifer might not admit it but he does love Father."
"I doubt that. If Lucifer loved God then he would have never rebelled against Him."
"That was his plan. Lucifer will always be rebellious. He and dad will not form a relationship. You Michael you will always remain loyal even when you don't even know you are being loyal. You are probably giving daddy what he wants now. I mean God is a writer remember. You and your big bad plan to destroy the world could be part of his story."
"No."
"What you did is pure entertainment for him."
"I want him dead. How would he find that entertaining?"
"He knows you will lose. He controls where the story goes. You, Lulu, Mary, everyone are just pawns to his game."
Jo suddenly goes back when the bottle shatters and goes all over the counter. She looks up and sees Michael standing in the same position.
With blood dripping out of his hand.
"Michael." Jo gestures to him. "Your hand."
"Hmm?" Michael looks and shrugs. "It will heal this place is not real remember?"
Jo frowns. Why did it take Michael so long to realize he was bleeding. Jo then thought how spaced out Michael looked like he was lost in his thoughts.
Or a memory.
"You were having a flashback." Jo says.
"A flashback?"
"I mentioned something that triggered a memory. From what I can see I'm taking it wasn't a pleasant one." She then sighs. "I seen this before with my clients their injuries brings up painful memories some of them are more severe than others. One client a former marine he ended up paralyzed and when he came to see me when he told me his story...he couldn't finish it he ended up having a panic attack. Turns out he suffered from PTSD and every day he relived through the most traumatic moments of his life. I helped him walk again I took away the physical pain but...I couldn't take away the pain from up here." She taps her head. "Those nightmares will continue to haunt him forever." Michael suddenly laughs. Jo narrows her eyes at him. "You find that funny?"
"No." Michael shakes his head. "It's just that story it brought me back to...my death. What happened afterwards."
"The Empty?" Jo straightened up with interest. "What's it like down there?"
Michael turns the other way.
"Hell." He answered. Jo tilts her head and waits for him continue. Michael grabs another bottle and opens it. "You're asleep." He says. "You relive your greatest hits. I saw myself kill Lucifer like over one hundred times. It's a popular one. Those memories they are supposed to be my regrets. The Shadow wants you to regret what you have done so in that way you will forever be suffering."
" The Empty it is like a Hell loop? "
"Exactly."
"Huh?" Jo nods. "Now it makes sense. Lucifer he said being in the Empty has made him realize he needed to do better." Michael snorted at that. "He meant it." Jo continued. "He was telling the truth. He does regret what he has done."
"The Devil has no regrets."
"Do you have regrets?"
"No."
"But the Empty..."
"Was trying to manipulate me. Trick me into becoming Father's loyal son again. I'm not doing that. No never again. I am tired of playing His games. Me, you, Lucifer everyone in this universe are all characters to His story! He created us to act like this. Lucifer is the rebellious son while I am the perfect son. Every universe I suffer I mean look at your Michael he is in the Cage. I am not meeting the same fate. So I say it's time someone stood up to the old man and end this show once and for all." Jo stared at him with a wide eyed expression. "Well?" Michael raises his eyebrow. "Say something!"
"It doesn't make sense." Jo replied.
"About God? I know it is a lot to process."
"No not that. I mean the Empty. Why would they show you the things you regret if it is not true."
"I told you the Empty..."
"Would it really go into all that trouble?" Jo questioned. She then had a thought. "Is that why you look like crap?"
"I'm fine."
"Is that why you're here drowning your sorrows?" Jo taps the table and a big smile forms on her face. "You do have regrets."
"No I do not."
"Yes you do." Jo smirks. "You're in denial."
"Denial?"
"It's a thing humans do. It happens when they can't accept the truth. You." She points at him. "You can't accept the fact that you regret everything that you have done including this crazy monster plan."
"If I did regret that I would put a stop to my plans but I didn't. I do want to change this world I want Father to come down and see me changing His story. I also want to Him to see that I have changed as well!"
"So let me get this straight you think because you changed your character God will come down? Sorry Michael but that is not going to happen."
"How do you know that? Huh? You're nothing."
"I might be nothing but at least I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. Unlike you."
Michael frowns.
"Excuse me."
"You are trying to be someone you are not. Michael all this destroying the world, killing humans, helping monsters that's not you."
"For your Michael perhaps but not me."
"You said God created us all the same. There is a time where you were like my Michael. Now you are forcing yourself to be someone else. You are trying to be like Lucifer."
"How dare you compare me to him."
"It's true right? You now hate humanity, you already destroyed one world and on the verge of destroying another one, while Lucifer has an army of demons you have an army of monsters. You rebelled against God! I get you are pissed but becoming this...thing this monster." She shakes her head. "It's not a good look."
A flash of rage goes across Michael's eyes. He suddenly goes round the counter and grabs Jo by the throat.
"Monster." He lifts her up and slams her into the wall. Jo places her hands on his and tries to push him off her. "That's what you think I am."
"MICHAEL!" Jo cried. "LET ME GO!"
"Michael." Raphael raises his hands. "Let me go."
"Why? So then you can stab me in the back? Try to take my throne?"
"I'm not going to do anything brother." Raphael shakes his head. "I would never betray you."
"YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK!"
"I am worried about you. We are all worried about you. You haven't been the same since..."
"Since what?"
"Since...his death." Michael gave a dry laugh. "Michael." Raphael continued. "You need help."
"No." Michael increases his grip. "What I need is for you to stay out of my way."
"Brother. I do respect you and I do love you but I can't let you go on like this. When you killed Gabriel...That...That was the last straw."
"Gabriel did that to himself."
"He was tired of us fighting! I thought everything would be better now that Lucifer is dead." He sighs . "Turns out I was wrong. Please Michael come back to us I know you are in there somewhere. The big brother I always looked up to he's there I just know it." He smiles. "Please Michael this isn't you."
Michael stared at his brother. The blade trembled in his grasp.
"Don't make me do this brother." Michael shakes his head. "I'm warning you now back off."
"I would rather die than see you turn into this monster. Right now it feels like I am looking at a stranger not my brother. So go ahead kill me if that makes you feel better. Just remember one of these days you are going to be alone and you are going to regret everything you have done my death included."
Michael raises his blade. His face is blank.
"I'm sorry brother."
Michael pulls away and releases Jo from his grasp. Jo drops on the ground and gasps for air. Seconds later Sam and Dean burst through the door. They both grab Michael and pin him against the wall.
"I knew this was a bad idea." Dean growled. He then looks over his shoulder. "You okay?"
Jo stands up. She takes a shaky breath and nods.
"I'm fine."
"Get your hands off me." Michael growled.
"Not until you tell us what the Hell you are up to!" Dean yelled. "Let's start with Jo now shall we? Why do you need her?"
"W...What?"
"One of your monsters told us Jo was part of the plan." Sam says.
"Jo?" Michael's face turns puzzled. "Jo is nothing to do with me."
"That's bullshit." Dean says. "Your monsters tried to kidnap her."
"I don't know why they would do that."
"They are doing it for you Michael so it must mean something." Sam says.
"No." Michael shakes his head. "I swear to you I have no plans for Jo. Whoever gave out that order was nothing to do with me."
"You're serious?" Jo asks.
"Very serious."
"I don't understand." Jo frowns. "Out all the angels you chose to see me. Why? I'm not special."
Michael looks away. Jo signs.
"So if this is not Michael's doing." Sam frowns. "Who's in charge of the monsters then?"
"I might have an idea." Michael turns his head back round. "I think deep down you know as well."
Dean's face hardened while Sam shakes his head.
"No. No he wouldn't..."
"He has my grace." Michael smiles. "My army is his army he is continuing where I left off." His smile turns into a grin. "He is going to change the world."
Dean hits Michael in the jaw. The former archangel crashes into the table. Michael looks up and laughs at the hunter. Dean goes to attack but Sam grabs him by the arm and shakes his head.
"Don't. Let's go."
Dean gives Michael one last look before leaving the bar.
"Give me a minute." Jo says. Sam opens mouth but Jo cuts him off. "Please. It will be quick."
"Jo he hurt you."
"I'll be fine Sam." She assured him. "Just wait please."
Sam sighs.
"Fine. One minute."
He opens the door and leaves the bar. As soon as Sam left the smile fades from Michael's face and he slumps back against the wall and sighs heavily. He then looks up at his alternative sister's face.
"Why are you still here?"
"Another flashback?" Jo asks.
"What?"
"When you attacked me you spaced out again. Another flashback? Another regret?" Michael again sighs. Jo folds her arms and frowns at him. "You can't fool me Michael. This act you are putting on its killing you. You need to stop."
"I have come this far I am not backing out now."
"So you are gonna let the nephilim destroy the planet?"
"Yes."
"No." Jo shakes her head. "That's not what you really want?"
Michael gets to his feet.
"What do I want?" He said with amusement.
Jo steps towards him. Michael cups her cheek and gets her to look at him.
"I figured it out." Jo smiles. "I know why you came to see me. You see yourself in me."
"Do I?"
Michael twirls his fingers in her hair. Jo reaches out and grabs on to his hand.
"Yes." She nods. "You are on this mission to change the world, you are building this army, you have your Sword, you have the nephilim. You think this all makes you happy but it doesn't. Like my trinkets they are just there to pass the time. What you really want is love, to belong, to have a place, home and a family."
Michael goes back like he has received a slap to the face.
"This trip to the Empty." Jo continued. "It wasn't a punishment. It was trying to show you that this person you have become it's not who you are."
"We're not doing this again. I already told you..."
"I'm not telling you to be God's little perfect boy." Jo cuts him off. "I wouldn't expect you to. Think of me I rebelled against Him I chose to stay on Earth and help His creations. We are not supposed to interfere but I say screw it. Why have these powers if we can't use them? Every time I heal someone that's me saying fuck you God. What I am saying is there are other paths you can choose from it doesn't always have to involve a War. You are the Archangel Michael you are the hero everyone looks up to. If you don't want to do this for God then do it for us. You never know one day your desire might come true." Jo smiles. "Think about it."
Jo walks towards the door and opens it. She looks over her shoulder and sees Michael staring at her. Jo looks away and goes through the door.
The door closes and Michael is left alone once again.
Michael goes to the bar and grabs another bottle. He sits down and replays the conversation over in his head. The former archangel closes his eyes.
Then the tears begin to fall.
Damm I will admit this conversation was hard to write. Jo is not exactly the comforting type lol. At least it is done :) Everyone thinks it's Jack. *Sighs* They still have no idea about Dumah. Question is what is going to happen now? Well...You will have to find out in the next chapter. :)