II.

Billie, what are doing here?" Dean furrows his brow. While he considers her an ally, he regards her very cautiously. She would never idly appear before them.

"I come bearing a gift, but he comes with a hefty price tag." Billie answers, playfully.

"Well, that would make it a purchase and not a gift." Eddie interjects, rising to her feet.

Stepping towards Eddie, Billie speaks coolly. "Child, I will you have you respect that I am in fact THE rider upon a pale horse, and my name is DEATH."

Billie circles Eddie, eyeing her curiously. Eddie reacts by raising an eyebrow while crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one hip.

Billie speaks again. "My, what a peculiar creature you are! I would very much like to reap you someday, but for now I believe you can help fulfill the payment on this gift I am bestowing upon the Winchesters."

Returning her focus to the men in the room, Billie continues. "Now, you know Death would never offer you something for free, but I'm willing to extend you a fair exchange. Something you want for something I want."

"Get to the point already!" Says Cass, gruffly.

Billie glares curtly at Cass. "Don't. Rush. Me."

A wicked grin spreads over her face as she looks back at the Winchesters. "I believe you boys remember once upon a time when I told you that I wanted to reap God? Well here's your chance to make that a reality. As an incentive to help me achieve that goal, I brought you a friend from The Empty."

Moving aside, Billie gestures someone to step forward.

"Jack!" Dean says, astonished.

Tension fills the air as the men hesitate to extend a warm greeting. They're torn between rushing to hug the boy they've loved and raised versus the animosity created by all the heinous acts the soulless Jack committed.

Tears roll down Jack's face and Sam breaks. He is the first to reach out and embrace the kid. Cass follows suit, but Dean hangs back.

Billie doesn't miss the angst written all over Dean's face, so she adds, "And I've even done you something a little better than just bringing him back. I reset the foundation for his soul but he'll still need time to regrow it. You all will have to nurture it so it doesn't grow dark."

Wiping the tears away, Jack addresses Billie. "Thank you so much!"

"Oh, don't thank me just yet." Billie says. "I only brought you back because I believe you can aid the Winchesters in bagging the God for me."

Jack tilts his head trying to understand but Billie ignores him. "A nephilim is the one creature who has the potential to kill him but only if your family can foster you to your full power."

Turning her head back to Eddie, whom everybody had forgotten, Billie smirks. "How curious that the Winchesters would happen to attract the only other sort-of nephilim on this planet."

Billie steps close to Eddie again, then takes deep breaths as if she's trying to capture Eddie's scent. "Is that hints of archangel I'm picking up off you?"

Eddie gets an attitude. "What business is it of yours?"

Billie laughs. "Oh honey, I'm not just subscribed to this story! I'm an editor! Hmm, so another archangel nephilim? At least partly anyways. And… a conflicting demonic aura? That part of you I can't quite place a finger on… You're part cambion too? Oh my, you are quite the mutt!"

"Gee, thanks for noticing!" Eddie says sarcastically. "Since you're big bad death and all, aren't you supposed to be busy?"

"Never too busy to help some friends." Billie's voice sounds dangerous and her eyes flash darkly. "As I recall, cambion are most powerful when Lucifer walks the earth. Shall I fetch him from The Empty as well to give you a power up?"

The men all sound angry as they loudly contest this idea but Eddie's face lights up with fear.

"NO! No! I don't need that!" Eddie cries. "It's hard enough to keep everything in check when he's not around. I was glad when somebody finally put him away, because I finally caught a break!"

"Hmm." Billie sounds amused. "Maybe later then." Billie turns to leave but Eddie stops her.

"Wait! You said Lucifer is in The Empty? Is that where my Papa is?" Eddie asks.

"I thought you said your archangel essence wasn't any of my business?" Billie replies in a smart alecy tone with a raised brow.

"I'm sorry about that. But if you can drag Lucifer back, then surely you can bring back the archangel Gabriel?" Eddie looks hopeful.

"Ahh, that makes sense! Michael and Raphael were always far too righteous to even fathom risking anything that could result in a nephilim. But Gabriel was much more wily than his brothers. Alright then, young one. I could grant your request, IF." Billie stops impishly short.

"If what! WHAT! I'll pay whatever you want!!" Eddie pleads, reaching out to death before stopping reverently short.

"I know you have no allegiance to these four." Billie gestures at Sam, Dean, Jack, and Cass. "So I have to make you invested in my cause."

Billie smiles watching the anxiety grow on Eddie's face. "IF you help me bring down God, I will give you back your father." She finally finishes.

"Give me back Papa, and I'll help you!" Eddie barters.

"No no, you work first, then you get paid." Billie wags a finger.

"Fine!" Eddie pouts, folding her arms over her chest.

"Wonderful. I'll be checking in on you all soon." Billie says before disappearing.

The lights come back up and Dean finally moves to briefly hug Jack.

"Are you sure you're really back, kid?" The eldest Winchester asks the boy.

"Yes! And I feel so awful about everything! About Mary, and about hiding from you, and everything I did to hurt everyone!" Jack starts sobbing and Dean pats his back still not ready to completely forgive him.

Sam is more empathetic, handing Jack a handkerchief. "It's okay. We'll move forward from here. Together." Sam reassures Jack, but stares at Dean to make sure he's on board.

"Yea, together." Dean adds, giving Jack a couple more pats before stepping back.