(10/4/2017) I straight up got stuck on this chapter. Who knows why.

Thank you philly cheese dude, demon19027, camagassi72, RHatch89, Sage of Wind Dragons, IoSolUno, thedarkpokemaster, Salthe guest and tullaniahgmail the guest for the reviews! And everyone favoriting and following get socks!


Sam and Dean arrived back at Angel's manor, Anna and Ruby in the backseat, early the next morning. The three humans collapsed into various comfortable surfaces to sleep off both the disappointment and the drive while Ruby paced restlessly.

Faith and Buffy had shared a sleeping place in one of the spare bedrooms; neither Angel nor Buffy had wanted to risk temptation and the presence of the other girl made for an effective barrier. Once the Impala returned the two Slayers whiled the hours away sparring, using Sam's laptop to catch up on Grey's Anatomy, and doing regular circuits around the house to check against possible attacks.

After getting a few hours' sleep, Giles buried himself up to his neck in books looking for counter tactics against the angels. Demons were easily warded against, but the centuries-long absence of the Heavenly Host meant that what was available contained primarily conjecture and had to be taken with a grain of salt. With Willow's help Giles managed to set up a Skype call with Bobby and the pair had been comparing notes since the small hours of the morning.

Once everyone was rested and had lunch, the entire group gathered in the warded mansion to plan; or, more accurately, to hear what Sam had planned.

"That's it," he concluded.

Giles pondered. "That's…"

"Really fucking stupid!" Bobby barked from Sam's laptop. "You all are either insane or suicidal!"

"Well, not exactly the phrase I had in mind but close enough."

"Okay," Sam said as he folded his arms, "then give me an alternative."

"We run," Ruby suggested.

"For how long? Or for that matter, where the hell could we even go?"

"Bobby's panic room?" Dean offered.

"Because that wouldn't get stinky and uncomfortable after a week," Buffy said wryly.

"Look," Ruby snapped, "we do not want to get between these two armies. It's Godzilla and Mothra. If one side doesn't get us, the other one will."

The others fell silent. After a few minutes, Willow tentatively asked, "Magic?"

"Ain't no magic spell I know of that'll keep out demons and angels," Bobby countered. "For that matter, don't know any witches with that kinda juice that aren't under some demon's thumb."

"Wait," Anna interjected, her hand shooting up to get their attention. Everyone quieted. "They're talking again." Her head leaned to one side as she listened to what they were all had started calling "angel radio." After several seconds she grimaced. "It's weird. Like a recording; a loop. It says, 'Dean Winchester gives us Anna by midnight, or we hurl him back to damnation.'"

The group fell silent. "Well, that's a load of crap," said the man in question.

"Anna," Sam said desperately. "Do you know of any weapon that works on an angel?"

"To what?" she replied. "To kill them?" At his answering nod she shook her head. "Nothing we could get to."

"So then we go with my plan."

"I still say your plan sucks ass," Bobby muttered. Sam reached out and slapped the laptop shut.

"Fine," Ruby sighed. "I'll be back. Hopefully."

"Be careful," said Sam.

The demon looked back at him, exasperated. "Just remember: if things go bad I offered you another way and you threw it back in my face." A moment later she was gone.

"What was that?" asked Buffy.

Sam let out a deep sigh. "She, um… she wants me to use my powers on Alastair."

"Didn't work before," Dean said suspiciously. "Back in that church?"

Sam shrugged, unwilling or unable to elaborate. "Well, we can't do anything until Ruby does her part. Might as well rest up."

Xander looked meaningfully at Willow as everyone stood, stretched, and talked among themselves. "Sandwich. Meat."

"Yeah," she said worriedly. "I know."


The gist of Sam's plan was to lure both the demons and the angels into a singular location and step back to let the predictable battle ensue. Ruby was off to entice Alastair to the Hellmouth while the rest of them tried to figure out how to bring the angels to the table. Increasingly obnoxious prayers to the "angel of trenchcoats" and the "angel of incredible douchbaggery" went unanswered.

Early in the evening, Buffy noticed Anna and Dean talking outside. She recognized the rather lascivious look in her brother's eyes and saw it mirrored in the ex-angel's. They then proceeded to walk inside, feigned the desire to find separate places to rest, and then, presumably, fell into bed together.

After several minutes of pondering, Buffy caught the despondent expression on Angel's face. Presumably her own face failed to mask her own miserable thoughts; he immediately walked over and wrapped her in his arms. The love between them was no less, but the fact remained that they would never be able to physically express their ardor for one another again.

"Sometimes," the Slayer whispered as she did her best to hold back her tears, "I wish you had never come here."

"Sometimes," Angel murmured as he kissed the top of her head, "I wish that, too."

Their lips met, apprehension tainting the passion that lay thick between them. They relished the feel of one another before regretfully parting. "I will always love you," said the vampire.

"I know." Buffy sighed. "We better get everybody moving soon if we want to be out of town before midnight."

"I'll go find Faith."

"I'll go… hopefully not find Dean naked."


The others ended up in the basement of the high school; Giles' books were close enough for quick transport while the proximity of the Hellmouth would hopefully hinder any attempts by the angels to scry their location. While all four of them (Xander, Willow, Oz, and Giles) objected to being left behind, Sam rightly pointed out that if his plan went sour their presence would only provide their enemies with either fodder or hostages. Faith and a load of firearms and blades were left with them for additional protection.

It would take Dean, Sam, Buffy, Angel, and Anna around an hour to get to Cachuma Lake where, they hoped, there was enough unpopulated space to weather a possible clash of supernatural powers. As they were driving, Dean related the new ultimatum that Uriel had snuck into his dreams: that it would be Sam or Buffy thrown into the Pit if Anna wasn't handed over. The best recourse, it was decided, was for the ex-angel to play ignorant and the rest of them to affect shock at the revelation. Uriel and his overinflated ego would probably assume that he had won and would therefore be off guard.

Moreover, it was the dark-skinned angel who had apparently taken Anna's Grace. Uriel was apparently strutting around with the gleaming substance displayed in a pendant on his neck like a trophy.

At the lake, Angel broke apart the gate lock to the park entry. They selected a picnic area that was isolated away from the few campers scattered about the woods and proceeded to pretend annoyance at Ruby's supposed demands that they meet her at such an inconvenient place.

Luckily they had some food and distractions. Dean plopped a cooler onto a table while he muttered "stupid demon bitch," then reached in for a beer. He used his thumb to snap the cap at Sam's head. "Hey!"

"Ten points to me," Dean said with a smirk.

Buffy sat down next to the container and pulled bottled water out for herself and Anna. "How long are we going to wait?"

"As long as we need to," Sam replied. He looked questioningly at his brother.

"Hey, she's your Hell-buddy," the eldest of them replied after he'd unplugged himself from his drink.

Their gazes jerked upwards when the dim street lamps set above the benches, turned off during the winter months, suddenly flashed on. The bulbs brightened past their intended spectrum before exploding. A shower of sparks rained down on the two angels that had appeared in their midst: Uriel and Castiel.

"Hello, Anna," the trenchcoated angel said. He was nearly amiable. "It's good to see you."

"How?" Sam asked, feigning shock. "How did you find us?" His eyes snapped over to his brother. "Dean?"

The eldest sibling swallowed and looked sorrowfully at Anna. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Buffy demanded. She gave her and her brothers all props for their acting skills.

"They gave him a choice," Angel murmured quietly. "They either kill Anna… or kill one of you two."

The ex-angel took a few steps towards Dean before giving him a lingering kiss in farewell. "You did the best you could," she whispered. "I forgive you." The red-headed woman turned towards her former subordinates. "Okay. No more tricks. No more running. I'm ready."

The smug, triumphant smirk on Uriel's face never budged, but Castiel's expression twitched. "I'm sorry," he stated.

"No, you're not," Anna countered. "Not really. You don't know the feeling."

Buffy could have sworn that the angel's blue eyes flicked towards her for a moment. "Still," he vacillated, "we have a history. It's just—"

"Orders are orders. I know. Just make it quick."

From the shadows, a grating, mocking voice called, "Don't you touch a hair on that poor girl's head!"

The siblings and the vampire all inwardly breathed sighs of relief. Out strode Alastair, his hand wrapped around the wrist of a bruised and bleeding Ruby, and several black-eyed lackeys. Sam barely restrained himself from leaping to the female demon's defense. His plan had hinged on her being able to convince Alastair to appear; it seemed that the elder demon had taken the opportunity to practice his art.

Uriel's disgust with the appearance of the hellspawn was blatant. "How dare you into our presence, you pussing sore?"

"Name-calling!" Alastair admonished. "That hurt my feelings… You sanctimonious, fanatical prick," he added scathingly.

"Turn around and walk away now," warned Castiel.

"Sure. Just give us the girl. We'll make sure she gets punished good and proper."

While the denizens of Heaven and Hell continued to threaten and bluster to each other, Sam, Dean, Buffy, and Angel slowly backed away. Anna, as the object of contention, was unfortunately stuck. Before they could get a good enough distance, however, the encounter turned violent.

Uriel smote one demon immediately, its eyes and mouth exuding a burning red light before the corpse collapsed onto the dirt. Two others then threw a flurry of blows that kept the angel preoccupied.

Castiel went directly for Alastair. He landed a punch on the demon's jaw, stunning him, then slapped the heel of his palm onto the demon's forehead in the same manner as his fellow angel. When nothing happened, Alastair sneered. His opponent, shocked at his own misfire, failed to block the demon's next blow and was sent crashing into a table.

"Sorry, kiddo," the creature commiserated as he grasped the angel's neck. "Why don't you go and run home to daddy?" He placed his own hand on Castiel's forehead and began to harshly chant in Latin, "Potestas inferma, me confirma!" The angel's eyes and mouth began to emit a bright, white gleam as his vessel convulsed.

"Potestas inferma, me confi —eh?" Alastair cut himself off when someone tapped him on the back.

"Hi!" Buffy said cheerfully before swinging the massive tree branch she'd scrounged and sending the demon flying. Her brothers withdrew handguns and chased after him.

The Slayer held out a hand to the dazed angel. He grasped it warily as she asked, "You okay?"

"Yes."

"Good." Castiel suddenly found his lapels grabbed and his face yanked down. "Now," Buffy snarled when they were nose to nose, "either we spend some time right now acquainting your face with my fist or you help your former boss get her mojo back."

More puzzled than unnerved, Castiel merely wondered, "Why?"

"You said you two had a history. That means you cared for her at some point. I don't know if that meant you two were bumping uglies or if you were talking about your whole garrison thingy, but if you've got a shred of decency then you won't do this."

"I have my orders."

"Are you kidding me? Did you not hear me make with the threat of bloodied nose?"

"I have my orders."

The repetition was tinged with desperation. Buffy released the angel and wondered why insubordination was punished so harshly among the Heavenly Host. "I'll stop you."

"You can try." Over the girl's shoulder, Castiel saw Anna sneaking over to where Uriel was busy fending off the last of the demons. At the same moment, however, Alastair gave Dean a final punch to the face and dropped him, groaning, onto the ground (Sam was prostrate a few feet away). Hell's Grand Torturer then eagerly set his sights on his desired victim and began marching towards Anna.

"I don't have time for this," Castiel said irritably. He reached out with his fingers to incapacitate the Slayer. Having anticipated the move, Buffy snatched the angel's wrist and promptly tossed him into the dirt. Without giving him time to recover, the Slayer picked up her club and continued her assault.

Alastair had nearly reached Anna when a monstrous growl alerted the woman. She snapped her head around just as Angel, his face distorted, came between her and the demon and swung his fist into the thing's face.

Alastair stumbled, chuckling. "Oh, Angelus," he purred as he wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his lips. "I would have thought after all that time we had together you'd be happier to see me."

"Yeah?" the vampire retorted. "Think again," he added as he threw another punch.

Dean finally managed to push his face off the dirt, Alastair's mocking words ringing in his ears. The ubiquitous disgust the hunter constantly directed inwards seemed amplified tenfold by the demon's presence. His body felt sluggish, weighed down by more than just the bruises that had been inflicted. Everything in him wanted to lie back down in the dirt and wait for oblivion, but Dean knew his brother and his sister needed him to move.

Before he could get fully upright, however, there was the tinkling sound of glass shattering. Anna screamed, "Shut your eyes!"and a painful white light scorched the air. Lightning snapped around them as the ex-angel's Grace floated up from its broken prison and slid between her lips.

After a deafening boom, Anna was gone. Alastair and the demons' vessels had disintegrated, the debris showering down into the dirt. The Kurdish knife, hidden in the pocket of Hell's Grand Torturer, clattered onto a table. Those that were left glared at the two remaining celestial beings.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for?" sneered Dean. "Go get Anna. Unless, of course, you're scared."

"This isn't over," Uriel snarled.

"Oh, it looks over to me, junkless." A rush of wings later and the pair was gone.

Most of those that remained commiserated over bruises and congratulated Sam on the success of his plan. Angel, however, drew Dean off to one side. "So he's really topside," the vampire said quietly.

"Yeah."

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Like what?"

Angel lifted an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"Man," Dean sighed, "you really think I want to go chasing after that son of a bitch? We don't got the Colt, demon knife did fuck-all. I ain't that suicidal yet."

The vampire nodded, his brow creasing from worry. He placed a hand on the hunter's shoulder. "Dean…"

"Don't, okay?" Dean jerked himself away. "Just fucking don't." After a final, pleading glare, Buffy's eldest brother strode back to the others. The vampire shook his head in consternation before following.

"So, I guess she's some big-time angel now, huh?" Sam was saying. "She must be happy… Wherever she is."

"I doubt it," Dean mumbled.

"Ugh," Buffy moaned as she pulled leaves from her hair. "I so need, like, an hour's soak in the tub."

Ruby swiped dried blood from her arm. "For once I'm with blondie."

"Well," Sam said as he rubbed the back of his hair. A puff of dirt floated out from the strands. "We can head on back, get cleaned up. Then we need to hit the road."

"What?" his sister complained. "Why?"

"The seals. We need to get back to looking for them."

"Fine." Buffy pouted. "Can you at least try and come back in a week for my birthday?"

The group began heading back towards the Impala. "Maybe," Dean said. "Long as there's beer."

"I'm turning eighteen."

"Perfect age to start drinkin'."


The meeting taking place at Town Hall was unusual in terms of both the hour and its participants; government officials rarely met with representatives of the Heavenly Host past midnight.

"Now I'm not happy about this, not one bit!" the Mayor scolded. He emphasized his displeasure by stabbing a finger at his desk. "There was a plan made and you bungled it up! If I didn't know any better I would say that you weren't up for the task."

"You dare —"

"You're damn right I do, you weak, brainless, sorry excuse for an angel!" Wilkins roared.

Uriel glowered, his teeth audibly grinding together. His alliance with the thing before him had been sanctioned by his superiors, but being in its filthy presence made him want to vomit. It stank of the unholy rituals it had undertaken, for what reason the angel couldn't say, and it stank of humanity. For the thousandth time, Uriel wondered what possessed their Father to ask his children to bow down before such putrid animals.

The angel also had reason to be cautious; with the eminent arrival of the Abomination, the creature's power was growing exponentially. Already it was at a level that Uriel would be hard pressed to defeat. Given a few more months and the blasphemous thing might be capable of easily taking down the weaker of his brothers and sisters.

In an alarming change of demeanor, the Mayor began chuckling. "Now, now, let's not be rude to one another. We decided to cooperate because our goals aligned, yes? And I'm assuming they still do." He popped open a small glass container. "Lemon drop?"

When Uriel deigned to respond, Wilkins tossed a candy into his own mouth. "You know, I think there's not a single situation that isn't made better with something tasty and sweet. Now," he continued as he noisily crunched up his treat, "we failed to get that Grace, but there are others just waiting to be scooped up."

"You ask me to mutilate my brothers and sisters."

"No, of course not!" Wilkins swallowed his candy. "Just one!" he added cheerfully.

Rage swept across Uriel's face before stoicism asserted itself. "Very well. But only so you will be certain the seal around the Slayer is broken."

"I have never broken a campaign promise, Uriel," the Mayor admonished. "Don't worry. I'll see to it that one of those little girls does as she's supposed to."

Without further conversation, the angel departed. Wilkins huffed out an indignant, "How very impolite! Centuries away from Earth and their manners need some severe readjustment."

From the corner darkness emerged a vampire in an immaculate suit. He adjusted his lapels. "Give me the right tools and I'll see to it."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Trick," the Mayor sighed, "my resources to tackle that particular job are sadly lacking. Besides, there are two issues with that suggestion, the first being that you and yours are a little too… combustible to go against the might of Heaven."

"Can't argue with that."

Wilkins gave his underling a knowing smirk. "The second is that those ill-mannered boys will get their lesson fairly soon. You see, their big brother is on the way back home, and he has no tolerance for such disrespect. I'm fairly certain most of them are in for quite a spanking." He held out his glass bowl. "Lemon drop?"


Acknowledgement : Some lines of dialogue are taken directly from the episode, "Heaven and Hell" (SPN 4.10).

Author's note : The original episode of "Heaven and Hell" didn't include the whole light thingy when Alastair tried to exorcise Cass, but seeing as how it showed up two episodes later I figured I'd retcon it.