O Death!
(Chapter Twenty-Eight)
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Dean yelled at his brother
"Dean…" Sam started to say.
"No, don't "Dean" me. I mean, you…you have had some stupid ideas in the past, But this (to Bobby) d-did you know about this?" Dean continued.
"What?" Bobby asked.
"About Sam's genius plan to cram the devil down his throat." Dean said
Bobby nodded.
"Dean, stop yelling. I already mentioned this was on the table to back at that crack house when we were hunting Brady." Beck said handing him a beer.
"Yeah, ya did. I just didn't realize this had evolved to the talking phase. Thank you." Dean replied accepting the beer.
"Now you know. So please, babe, stop yelling." Beck said.
"You can't do this." Dean told his brother.
"That's the consensus." Sam agreed.
"All right. Awesome. Then, end of discussion." Dean said.
Dean's phone began to ring.
"Answer your phone it's Cas." Beck told Dean.
"Cas?" Dean greeted.
"Put it on speaker, baby." Beck instructed softly.
Dean put his phone on speaker so everyone could hear Cas.
"Hey Cas, it's Sam. Are you okay?" Sam asked.
"No." Cas replied.
"Everyone but Becky thought you were dead. Where the hell are you man?" Dean asked.
"A hospital." Cas answered.
"Care to elaborate." Bobby said.
"Apparently, after Van Nuys, I suddenly appeared, bloody and unconscious, on a shrimping boat off Delacroix. I'm told it upset the sailors." Cas explained.
"Uh, well, I got to tell you, man - You're just in time. We figured out a way to pop Satan's box." Dean told him.
"How?" Cas wanted to know.
"It's a long story, but, look -we're going after Pestilence now. So if you want to zap over here…" Dean started to say.
"I can't "zap" anywhere." Cas interrupted.
"What do you mean?" Dean asked.
"You could say my batteries are - are drained." Cas said tiredly
"Fuck." Beck swore softly enough for Cas not to hear.
"What do you mean? You're out of angel mojo?" Dean asked confused, frowning at Beck.
"I'm saying that I am thirsty and my headaches. I have a bug bite that itches no matter how much I scratch it, and I'm saying that I'm just incredibly…" Cas trailed off.
"Human. Wow. Sorry." Dean finished for him.
"Cas, is there a nurse or doctor nearby?" Beck asked.
"A nurse just walked in, Rebecca." Cas told her.
"Good. Put them on the phone. Dean, I need to borrow this a minute." Beck said and took the phone from Dean.
Beck took the phone off of speaker and began talking to the nurse. Beck introduced herself, spoke to both Cas's doctor and nurse about his condition, asked how soon he could be discharged, confirmed she would be on the next flight to Baton Rouge, let them know she would fill out all the necessary paperwork and pay the bill for Cas's stay along with any prescriptions he may need. She then asked for Cas to be put back on the phone.
"Rebecca." Cas greeted once on the phone again.
"Hey sweetie, just sit tight for me okay. I'm going to be on the next flight to Baton Rouge to get you." Beck told him.
"Alright. Can you put Dean back on the phone?" Cas requested.
"Of course, angel. Here he is." Beck replied and handed the phone back to Dean.
Beck went over to her laptop with Sam at her heels. She sat down, opened her laptop, started it up, and began to search for the nearest airline.
"Can you get my wallet please Sam? Dump the whole bag on the floor if you need to." Beck asked.
"Sure Becks. So what's the plan?" Sam replied.
Sam grabbed Beck's wallet easily out of her bag and brought it to her.
"Thanks, Sam. The plan is for you and Dean to drop me at the airport and then continue on to Vegas while I go get Cas. Once I've got him, barring any medical complications, we will meet up with you in Vegas and take out Pestilence." Beck explained.
"Okay, sounds good. Think Dean will pitch a fit?" Sam agreed.
"I don't know. Doesn't really matter if he does. Cas is family, angel, or human. We need each other, as simple and as complicated as that." Beck replied.
Sam nodded and smiled at his best friend. She was right, family was all that mattered right then.
"So what's going on over here?" Dean asked joining his brother and girlfriend.
"Becks needs a lift to the airport on our way to take on Pestilence, so she can go grab Cas." Sam told him.
"Thought it might be something like that. You sure you're going to be okay Becky?" Dean asked.
"Yep, I'll be fine Dean. I just need to make sure that my family is together before the clock stops. Cas and I will meet you guys in Vegas." Beck responded.
"You sure. You could always just grab Cas and come right back here." Dean suggested.
"No. I'll be there. Things are going to start getting real scary real quick, I don't want to be away from you two longer than I have to be." Beck told him.
"Alright, if that's what you want we'll drop you at the airport and see you in Vegas." Dean replied.
"Good." Beck replied.
"You finish bookin your flight, little girl?" Bobby asked joining them.
"Yes, dad." Beck smiled.
"You make sure to rent a car?" Bobby asked.
"Yes." Beck rolled her eyes.
"You gonna book a flight for you and Cas once you're in Baton Rouge?" Bobby wanted to know.
"While I'm still at the airport, picking up the car if I can." Beck replied sweetly.
"Bobby, Becky's a big girl. I think she can handle this. What's with the nagging?" Dean asked.
"She's my daughter, ya idjit. I thought I'd take a crack at being a nagging worried parent." Bobby shot back.
Beck and Sam laughed. They both knew Dean was the last person who should be saying something about nagging.
"Thanks, dad. I'm all good don't worry." Beck said and stood up.
Beck packed up everything she would need for her trip. Dean packed up his and Sam's gear. Sam helped Beck load her bag and the gear Dean packed into the Impala.
"Everything good to go?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, we're all good." Sam replied.
Beck walked up to the porch, climbed up the steps, and gave her dad a hug.
"I love you, little girl." Bobby rumbled thickly returning the hug.
"Love you back." Beck replied pulled out of the hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Dean and Sam watched the "father-daughter moment" from next to the Impala. Sam smiled and wished that he and John had had that. But since they hadn't it was nice to see that Beck did. Dean smirked at the old hunter and his girl. He didn't do "chick flick moments", but once this was all over he had a significant question to ask Becky and permission to get from her daddy.
Beck ran back to the Impala, skidded to a stop, and was caught by Sam. Sam laughed after he caught Beck, swooped her up, and spun her around once. Beck laughed and climbed in the car once she was back on the ground.
Sam looked across the hood at Dean with a worried frown. Dean gave a confused frown back. What the hell was Sam trying to tell him? Was something wrong with Becky?
"Later." Sam said to his brother.
Dean nodded, turned signaled "good-bye" to Bobby, and got in the car.
"See ya, Bobby." Sam called out and got in the car.
"Be careful!" Bobby yelled from the porch.
Dean started up "Baby", backed her up down the drive, and drove down the road out of sight of Bobby's house. Dean and Sam drove Beck to the airport. Dean parked in the loading zone for people dropping off a passenger.
"I'll grab your bag outta the backseat, Becks." Sam said.
"Thanks, Sam." Beck replied.
"So…uh I get a goodbye kiss?" Dean asked.
"Since when are you needy?" Beck teased.
"My girl's going on a flight cross country without me. Need something to keep me going." Dean replied trying to be smooth.
Beck shook her head, leaned over, and gave Dean a long slow kiss. She pulled away and smiled at him. She desperately wanted to say, "Love you." to him but was worried it would be the quickest way to get him to pull away from her.
"See you in Vegas. Be nice to Sam. And be careful." Beck said instead and slid out of the car through the passenger's side door.
Sam grabbed Beck's hand as she exited the vehicle. He handed her her bag and smiled worriedly at her.
"What's with the look, Sam? Dean's the one afraid of heights, not me." Beck laughed.
"Just making sure you're okay. I miss you when you're not with us." Sam half-lied.
"I'll miss you too, but it will only be a day and a half separation at best. We'll meet you in Las Vegas before you even have time to notice I was away." Beck grinned.
"I doubt that. Be safe." Sam said giving her a hug.
"I will. Try not to do anything too dangerous before we get there, Sammy." Beck replied returning the hug.
Beck and Sam broke their hug and Beck ran into the airport to catch her flight. Sam climbed back into the Impala and Dean drove out of the airport loading zone, headed for Las Vegas.
Dean asked thirty minutes into the ride, "So what's up?"
"I'm worried about Becks. She's lost, weight man. I felt it when I picked her up and I think she's hiding something." Sam told his brother.
"Hiding something? Don't you think that's a little paranoid, Sam? She's been tellin us everything she can. It's not her fault if we don't listen." Dean jumped to his absent girlfriend's defense.
"Yeah, I know but I still feel like something's going on. When I told everyone about my idea on how to put Lucifer back in his cage all Becks did was shake her head "no". Sam argued.
"That's because she knows it's a dumb-ass plan." Dean said.
"No, no Dean I think it's something else. Beck is not shy about expressing her opinion at all. Man, she thinks we're wrong or it's too dangerous she's always yelled or fought if need be to get her point across." Sam continued to argue.
"That's because she was spending so much of her time tyin to get me to trust her. She felt she had to get loud." Dean rationalized.
"You already trusted her Dean. You were just too busy trying to keep her…and me from getting hurt to let her see it." Sam said.
"I don't know what to tell you man." Dean replied annoyed and frustrated.
Beck was looking out the window of the airplane wondering if any of the "little toy cars" down there on the ground belonged to the two men she had recently left. Probably not, considering she was going in the opposite direction of them. Though she wouldn't put it past Dean to turn "Baby" around just to keep her safe. Or at least his idea of it.
The flight to Cas was four hours and forty-five minutes long. Beck's flight had one layover in Dallas that lasted about an hour. During that hour Beck found her next gate, sat down in the seating area, turned back on her phone, and dialed a number she had not used since coming to the Winchester's reality. She fully expected to be disappointed but decided to try anyway.
The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Then went to voicemail where Beck heard : You've reached Ed Lindsey. Sorry, I miss your call, but I'm probably hip-deep in cow shit at the moment. Leave me a message and I'll return your call as soon as I got my waders off.
Beck gasped at hearing Pop's voice and her brain could not register how it was even possible, but she left a message: P-Pop, it's Reba. I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive and I'm okay. I found my dad and I've been staying at his place in Sioux Falls. It's called "Singer Salvage", he works outta his home. I don't know if you'd be able to visit but I can't come home for reasons that wouldn't make any sense. Please tell Mam-maw and Mother that I love them. I love you.
After leaving her message Beck hung up her cell, sat down, and softly cried for a short time. Beck got herself under control, heard the flight attendant call out that boarding had begun for her flight, and boarded the plane for Baton Rough and Cas. The flight from Dallas to Baton Rouge took only ninety minutes, just enough time for Beck to process the fact she had heard her grandfather's voice for the first time in nearly a year.
Once Beck had deplaned at the Baton Rouge Airport, she headed to the location of the car rental company inside the airport. She talked to the desk clerk, filled out the necessary paperwork, asked for directions to Cas's hospital, took the keys to her rental car, and drove for twenty-five minutes to Cas.
Beck parked her rental car in the parking lot and then went into the hospital. Beck walked up to the information desk and was greeted by the receptionist.
"Can I help you, hun?" the receptionist asked.
"Hope so. Could you please tell me what room I can find Castiel Novak?" Beck inquired.
The receptionist looked up the room number on her computer and then gave Beck directions. Beck thanked her and then followed the directions to Cas. Cas's hospital room door was closed. So Beck knocked.
"Come in." was the reply from the other side of the door.
Beck pushed the door open, saw Cas sitting on his hospital bed, and smiled.
"Rebecca." Cas said with relief in his voice.
"Hey, Cas." Beck beamed happily.
Beck walked over and gave him a hug. She knew the former angel was uncomfortable with physical affection but was so glad to see he was alright that she decided to risk it. Cas surprised Beck and hugged her back.
Beck pulled back from the hug, checked him over visually, and asked, "Ready to get outta here?"
"Yes. Hospital food is disgusting. When we get back to Bobby's can you cook?" Cas requested.
Beck laughed and replied, "It may be a little while before we're back home, but yeah, once we are I'll make you whatever you want."
The doctor came in a moment later, met Beck, and discussed what Cas needed for at-home care. Beck thanked him and waited for the nurse to come in with the billing information and Castiel's discharge papers. Beck got Cas's billing paperwork taken care of in the hall while Cas himself got dressed.
Cas came out of the hospital room, joined Beck, and said, "Ready."
"Great all done here too. Let's get our asses to the airport so we can join Sam and Dean in Las Vegas." Beck replied.
"Sounds good." Cas said.
Beck and Cas left the hospital, picked up some fast food on the way to the airport, dropped the car back off at the car rental place, and checked in for their flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. Beck helped Cas with getting through security and then guided him to the gate to wait for their flight to board. The plane boarded, Cas and Beck found their seats and the plane took off.
"We've got about ninety minutes until we reach Houston. The layover there is a little over an hour and then we have a little over three-hour flight before we touch down in Vegas." Beck told Cas going over the itinerary.
"This is ridiculous. If I was still an angel we would already be with Dean and Sam." Car grumbled.
"I know, but you're not and until you get your wings back, this is how humans get around." Beck murmured back.
"I hate this. I'm helpless, useless, and powerless. I hate this." Cas groused.
"You are not helpless or useless. Angel powerless, yes. But you were more than just an angel before you lost your powers. You're family and you're loved. All that matters, stop bitching." Beck told him unsympathetically.
"I don't know how to do anything." Cas said softly.
"Don't worry about that. Your family will teach you." Beck replied kindly and kissed him on the cheek.
The rest of the flight was quiet as Cas stayed silent contemplating his new status and staring out the window. They deplaned in Houston and wandered around the airport until boarding was called for their flight to Vegas. Once they were on their final plane, comfortably settled and in the air, Beck pushed the flight attendant button.
"How can I help you Miss?" the flight attendant asked when she arrived at their seats.
"Could I please get a cup of water for my brother? He needs to take his medication and he's not great about asking for help." Beck requested.
"Oh of course." the flight attendant replied politely.
The flight attendant walked back to the serving station; grabbed a wrapped bagel with cream cheese, a blanket, a pillow, and a small bottle of water.
She brought the items back to Beck and said, "Here ya go, hun."
Beck put Cas's tray table down and took the items from the flight attendant.
"Oh my gosh thank you. He just got out of the hospital and is probably pretty tired by now. I really appreciate the extra help." Beck told the flight attendant gratefully.
"Thought it might be something like that. Here ya go. (the flight attendant crouched down) This lever right here will put your seat back so you can rest. Have a good rest of your flight and feel free to hit the call button if you need me." the flight attendant said and walked off to answer another call bell going off.
"Thank you." Cas called.
Beck dug in her bag and pulled out Cas's medication. She then unwrapped the bagel and opened the small water bottle.
"Here I want you to eat that, take your meds and wash them down with the water. Then take a nap we still have a few hours left in our flight and you look exhausted. I know I am." Beck advised.
Cas did as Rebecca wanted, but was curious about why she had called him her brother to the flight attendant. He decided to ask her once they were back with Dean and Sam. Cas fell asleep and dreamt he was an angel again, but becoming an angel again had cost him Dean, Rebecca, Sam, and Bobby.
"Cas, wake up. It's time to deplane." Beck said waking Cas from his dream.
"Rebecca, your still here." Cas said gratefully.
"Yes, of course, I'm still here Cas. Bad dream?" Beck asked concerned.
"Yes." Cas replied.
"Well it's over now, so what'dya say we get off this plane and catch up with the guys." Beck suggested.
"Yes. That would be a good idea." Cas agreed.
Beck grinned, grabbed their belongings, and helped Cas deplane. Once in the airport, Beck tried to decide whether it was worth it to rent another car or to just pay for a cab. The cost would probably be the same as where they needed to be was thirty minutes away.
"Are you alright, Rebecca?" Cas questioned.
"Fine Cas, just trying to decide if we should grab a taxi or rent a car." Beck filled him in on her.
"Are you worried about money, Rebecca?" Cas inquired.
"Not particularly." Beck replied.
"Then let's just take a cab and get to Dean and Sam." Cas said.
"Okay, sounds good. Let's go." Beck agreed.
Beck and Cas left the airport and found plenty of cabs. Beck and Cas grabbed an available cab and got it.
"Where to?" the cabbie asked.
"Serenity Valley Convalescent Home, please. I can look it up on my phone if you need directions." Beck answered politely.
"No need ma'am. I know where it is. It's gonna be like a thirty-minute ride. It's pretty expensive, you sure?" the cabbie inquired.
"I'm sure. I have the cash to pay you with at the end of the trip. It's Vegas, who wants to spend all their time at an atm?" Beck reassured the driver.
"Alright." the cabbie amicably agreed and pulled out of the airport cab loading zone.
"Are you alright Rebecca?" Cas asked fifteen minutes into their trip.
"For the most part, yeah I'm good Cas. Why?" Beck replied.
"You have been staring out the window silently for fifteen minutes and we are halfway to Dean and Sam." Cas remarked.
"I had something unusual happen on my way to pick you up and I guess I'm still processing." Beck confessed.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Cas inquired.
"I don't know, maybe but I don't think it would make any more sense to you than it did to me." Beck replied frustrated with her feelings.
"What happened?" Cas asked.
"I called home at the Dallas airport and got Pop's voicemail." Beck said softly.
"You were able to cross the reality barrier and reach your grandfather's voicemail?" Cas asked incredulously.
"Yeah." Beck replied.
"Rebecca, you are aware that should not be possible right?" Cas asked.
"Very aware, Cas. Hence the problem with processing how it's even possible I was able to do it." Beck informed him.
"Can you put it aside for now?" Cas inquired.
"Have to. We're about to meet up with the guys and try to take down Pestilence. Not like there's any other option." Beck told him.
Cas nodded. He wanted to be supportive but had no clue how. There was also their immediate problem with a horseman to deal with. So if Rebecca said she could deal with it later he would believe her.
The rest of the trip was ridden in silence, with alternate reality girl and former angel mentally preparing themselves for the impending task. At that moment backing up, Sam and Dean had to take priority. The pair arrived at their destination, got out, Beck paid the cabbie, made their way to the building entrance, and entered the building.
"Okay, so now how do we find Sam and Dean?" Beck asked herself aloud.
"I suggest we check the security room. The cameras in the building could lead us in the right direction." Cas said unaware Beck was not addressing him.
"Clever boy. What was that about being useless?" Beck praised.
Cas smiled at the praise and led the way to the security office. Beck followed him, hoping that they weren't too far behind Sam and Dean. Beck and Cas checked over the recent video feed and found their hunters. Beck noted the room they went into and prayed they were still there.
"Ready Cas?" Beck asked her friend.
"Yes." Cas replied.
Beck and Cas left the security office and went down the same hall that Sam and Dean had gone down not too long before them. They found the room that the guys had entered, the door was closed. Beck was about to ask Cas how he wanted to do this, but Cas had other ideas and flung the door open before she could get a word out. Okay…they would go with barreling in head first, not her favorite method but if it got the job done. It nearly didn't.
Cas burst into the room and Beck heard Dean gasp out his name on the floor.
"How did you get here?" Pestilence inquired.
"I brought him." Beck replied stepping into the room.
"Ahh, the Protectress. I was wondering if I'd get a chance to meet you." Pestilence said softly
"Here, I am. Hello." Beck greeted.
Cas went for Pestilence but was knocked down by a wave of disease.
"Well, look at that. An occupied vessel, but powerless. Oh, that's fascinating. There's not a speck of angel in you, is there?" Pestilence asked amused.
"Castiel grabbed Sam's knife and cut off Pestilence's ring finger and pinky finger.
"Oh!" Pestilence cried out.
"Maybe just a speck." Cas retorted.
"It doesn't matter. It's too late." Pestilence told him and disappeared.
A day's drive later the four of them were back at Bobby's. Dean put Pestilence's ring down on the desk in front of Bobby.
"Well, it's nice to score a homerun for once ain't it? What?" Bobby asked noticing his adopted sons' worried looks.
"They're worried because the last thing Pestilence said before he disappeared was, "It's too late." Beck told her dad.
"He get specific?" Bobby asked.
"No. But I have an idea what he meant." Beck replied.
"We're just a little concerned he might have left a bomb somewhere. Dean said to Bobby and then turning to Beck asked, What's the idea?"
"Remember we got Brady? The pharmaceutical company he was working outta is rushing a "vaccine" out on Wednesday." Beck replied dropping a newspaper down on the desk.
"Great. Just one more freakin thing!" Dean exclaimed.
Beck laughed slightly hysterically and said, "Oh wait it gets better. This dumb-ass (pointed at her father) sold his soul to Crowley so we would have the exact location of Death."
"You sold your soul!" Dean yelled.
"More like pawned it. Don't worry I fully intend to give it back." Crowley said appearing in the study doorway.
"Well, then give it back." Dean said.
"I will." Crowley assured him.
"Now!" Dean demanded.
"Did you kiss him?" Sam asked.
"Sam!" Dean admonished.
Beck laughed and asked, "What do you think, Sammy? That's how deals are sealed. Don't worry Crowley isn't a bad kisser, speaking from experience."
"Thank you my darling." Crowley smiled.
"I think I'm going to throw up." Bobby grumbled.
"All right. You know what? I'm sick of this. Give him his soul back now." Dean ordered.
"I'm sorry. I can't." Crowley said politely.
"Can't or won't?" Dean asked with a frown.
"I won't, all right? It's insurance." Crowley explained.
"Sneaky demon. Keeps me from coming after you too." Beck sighed.
You and I already have a deal, love, so I'm protected there. Gigantor over there has a temper issue about it. But you won't kill me... As long as I have that soul in the deposit box." Crowley explained.
"You son of a bitch." Bobby cussed unsurprised.
"I'll return it. After all, this is over, and I can walk safely away. Do we all understand each other?" Crowley stipulated.
Beck scrubbed her face with her hands and then said, "Okay it's been fun, but we need to load up and make a plan. Dad, can you please teach Cas how to shoot. He needs a crash course in hunting and the clock is running out."
"Right, c'mon you." Bobby said to Cas.
Cas got up and followed Bobby for a shooting lesson.
"Becks are you okay?" Sam asked.
"No. It's two minutes to midnight, Sam. I am definitely not okay." Beck replied and walked into the kitchen.
Dean followed Beck into the kitchen and watched her. Beck felt Dean watching her and smiled wearily.
"Sam thinks you've lost weight." Dean told her.
"He's probably right." Beck replied.
"What's going on sweetheart?" Dean asked concerned.
Beck huffed softly and replied, "Too much at once. We need to get to Chicago and meet up with Death. Stop Lucifer and the angels from turning our world into ground zero. Keep Sam from becoming a Muppet. Then there's an impossible shit going on as well. Like I said too much at once and we're running out of time."
"Babe will get Death's ring. We'll keep Sam from becoming Lucifer's vessel and stop the apocalypse. Now, what's the impossible shit?" Dean asked.
"When I was on my way to get Cas, on my layover in Dallas I called home. I was feeling homesick with all this shit going on and I called Pop's phone. Dean, I got his voicemail. I actually heard Pop's voice and got to leave a message." Beck told Dean looking at him shook up.
"You were able to leave a voicemail for Ed?" Dean asked.
"Yeah…wait, Ed? Dean I know I told you about people in my reality calling him that, but when you said it it sounded like you had met him." Beck replied shocked.
"Yeah, that's cause I did." Dean responded quietly.
"How?!" Beck demanded.
"Shortly after you died and we had your memorial service, Sam and I wound up at a diner. I wasn't doing so hot and there was the old guy at the counter. He bought us coffee and pie. I decided to hitch a ride with him for a little while and he told me his name was Fredrick Lindsey but folks my age called him Pop. He even talked about you." Dean explained.
"Oh my god. You really met Pop. Why didn't you tell me before?" Beck asked hurt and confused.
"Always meant to but crap kept coming up." Dean responded.
"Seems to never stop." Beck smiled softly.
"You-Your not mad?" Dean asked.
"No, I wish you had said something sooner, but I didn't tell dad he could walk until recently because of all the crap that keeps coming at us. Pot meet Kettle." Beck sighed.
"It'll be okay Becky. We'll figure it out." Dean told her pulling her into his arms.
"I know." Beck replied.
Beck buried her face against Dean's shoulder so he couldn't see the guilty look she had on her face. Beck had reached a decision. She would accept Lucifer's offer and become his vessel in place of Sam.
Everyone regrouped in the study. They needed to handle both the Croatoan Virus and getting Death's ring. No one could agree who should handle what or if they should just all go deal with the virus and then tackle Death.
"Sam, Cas, and dad can handle the virus. Crowley, Dean, and I will head to Chicago and deal with Death." Beck finally said cutting through the arguing and noise.
"Splendid way to take charge dear girl." Crowley praised.
"You sure about this little girl?" Bobby asked.
"Yes. Sam can't handle being around Crowley and we need at least one Winchester for this job. Otherwise, it's going to be just me and Crowley." Beck told her father.
"Sure you're just not looking for an excuse to hunt with me some more, Becky?" Dean teased.
"Sorry to put a ding in your ego hun, but Cas is still dealing with becoming human, dad is a better option to help him at the moment and Sam is not in a good head space for being around Crowley." Beck told him.
"I'll walk you out to the car, Becks." Sam said quietly.
"Good. All sorted." Crowley remarked.
"Shut up." Bobby and Dean said in unison.
Sam walked Beck out to the car. He wanted to talk to her without the others and this seemed like it may be his only opportunity. They got to the car and Beck leaned against the hood facing Sam.
"You didn't say much about my idea on how to get Lucifer back into his cage." Sam said.
"It's not something I really want to think about, to be honest." Beck replied.
"Any alternate ideas about how to pop him back into the box?" Sam asked.
"Only one and it's not much better than yours." Beck admitted.
"Care to share?" Sam requested.
"I will. After we get Death's ring, but you're the only one I'm telling." Beck responded.
"Why?" Sam asked.
"Because you're the only other person who has a right to know or make the decision. You may be on board with the whole consensus nonsense but I'm not." Beck replied.
"Okay. Well here comes Dean. Be careful Becks." Sam said and kissed Beck's forehead.
"You too. Look out for dad and Cas for me, they're gonna need you." Beck said and climbed in the Impala.
From inside the vehicle Beck watched the Winchesters bid each other goodbye. Sam offered his brother the demon blade, suddenly Crowley was there with Death's own scythe for Dean. The two brothers look astonished and were questioning Crowley about how it came into his possession. Crowley replied with, what Beck guessed was a snarky response. Beck let out an exasperated sigh and hit the horn. The two startled hunters looked at the out of patience huntress.
"Cheeky darling isn't she?" Crowley grinned.
Crowley vanished and reappeared in the back seat of the car. Beck turned around and looked at him.
"Comfortable?" Beck asked slightly sarcastic.
"As much as I going to be in this heap." Crowley returned.
Dean climbed into the car, started the engine, and drove towards Chicago.
Eight to ten hours later the Impala arrived in Chicago.
"Hey, let's stop for pizza." Crowley proposed.
"Are you kidding?" Dean asked incredulously.
"Sounds good to me. I'm starving, anyplace in particular in mind?" Beck grinned overriding Dean.
"Reapers are everywhere so I'm sure he's close by." Crowley said.
"Bobby sold his soul for this?!" Dean demanded.
"Stop the car." Beck ordered.
"What? Becky, this place is due to be wiped off the map any minute remember." Dean argued.
"Forget it." Beck said as she opened the passenger's side door and jumped out.
"Becky!" Dean yelled.
Beck hopped up and ran across the street to a small pizzeria. She glanced in the window, smiled, took a coin out of her pocket, and said to it, "Get Dean to park. I'll meet him inside."
"Looks like our clever girl has found Death." Crowley told Dean.
"How do you know that?" Dean demanded.
"Magic coin I had placed on the car. Our girl found it and just used it to communicate." Crowley explained and disappeared.
"This is just freakin' awesome." Dean complained.
Dean found a place to park the car and hurried across the street to the pizzeria Beck had entered a couple minutes before him. He went around the back of the pizzeria, hoping Beck could distract Death long enough for him to use the scythe. Dean opened the backdoor and entered the pizzeria.
Beck, on the other hand, had entered through the front door two minutes before Dean. She walked over to Death's table and took a deep breath.
"Hello, Miss Singer. Please sit down and join me." Death invited.
"Please call me Beck." Beck replied shakily sitting down.
"Have a slice of pizza, my dear. It's quite good." Death said pleasantly.
"Thank you. Um…Dean will be here in a minute and he has your scythe." Beck warned him.
"How nice of him to return it." Death replied.
"I don't think that's what he has in mind." Beck said.
"Oh, I'm sure it's not. I've been waiting to talk with him and I have to admit I was hoping you would be with him." Death soothed.
Dean came in through the kitchen door and slowly crept to where Death and Beck were seated. He was ten or twenty feet from the final horseman when the handle of the scythe began to burn in his hand. Dean dropped the scythe.
"Thanks for returning that. Join us, Dean. We should talk." Death said as pleasantly as he had to Beck.
Dean walked over to the table and sat in a chair next to Beck and across from Beck.
"I got to say -I have mixed feelings about that. S-so is this the part where...where you kill me and Becky?" Dean asked shakily.
"You have an inflated sense of your own importance and hers. To a thing like me, things like the two of you, well...Think how you'd feel if a couple of bacteria sat at your table and one of them started to get snarky. This is one little planet in one tiny solar system in a galaxy that's barely out of its diapers. I'm old, Dean. Very old. So I invite you to contemplate how insignificant I find you and your little sweetheart. (Death gestured to the pizza) Eat. (Dean and Beck looked at each other and took a bite of their pizzas) Good, isn't it?" Death answered.
"Well, I got to ask. How old are you?" Dean inquired impertinently.
"Dean!" Beck hissed shocked.
"Never mind my dear. To answer your question as old as God. Maybe older. Neither of us can remember anymore. Life, death, chicken, egg. Regardless - in the end, I'll reap him, too." Death responded slightly amused.
"God? You'll reap God?" Dean choked out.
"Oh, yes. God will die, too, Dean." Death confirmed.
"Everything does." Beck said stunned.
"Well, this is way above my pay grade." Dean said as stunned as Beck.
"Just a bit." Death agreed.
"So, then why are we still breathing, sitting here with you? Uh...w-what do you want?" Dean asked suspicious of the horseman.
"The leash around my neck -off. Lucifer has me bound to him. Some unseemly little spell. He has me where he wants when he wants. That's why I couldn't go to you, either of you. I had to wait for you to catch up. He made me his weapon. Hurricanes, floods, raising the dead. I'm more powerful than you can process, and I'm enslaved to a bratty child with a temper tantrum." Death quietly raged.
"And you think...we can unbind you?" Dean asked incredulously.
"There's your ridiculous bravado again. Of course, you can't. But you can help me take the bullets out of Lucifer's gun. I understand you want this."Death said as he held up his ring.
"Yeah." Dean agreed.
Beck nodded silently.
"I'm inclined to give it to you." Death told them.
"To give it to me?" Dean asked surprised.
"No, to her." Death said turning his gaze on Beck.
"Me? Why?" Beck asked shocked.
"You already know the answer to that. But I need your promise before I give it to you." Death stipulated.
Beck pushed back her seat, stood up, and walked to Death's side.
She bent down to his ear and whispered, "Yes. I promise to become Lucifer's vessel in Sam's place. And do whatever it takes to put Lucifer back in his cage."
"We have a deal then. Here my dear, allow me." Death said as he slipped the ring from his finger onto the middle finger of Beck's left hand.
Dean watched shocked but surprisingly kept his mouth shut. He fully intended to interrogate Becky when they were back at Bobby's.
"Chicago can stay. I like the pizza. Remember though you can't cheat death. Now, would you like the instruction manual?" Death asked politely
Dean and Beck nodded quietly.
Dean and Beck spent the eight to ten-hour drive back to Bobby's in relative silence. Beck was quietly thinking about the promise she had given Death and the conversation she was due for with Sam. Dean was trying to concentrate on driving, but his mind often wandered back to the moment he watched Becky whisper in Death's ear. That and watching Death himself put his ring on Becky's hand. She had made some type of deal with the horseman and he was damn sure going to get out of her what it was. First, he wanted back up.
They pulled up to Bobby's place and Dean parked the car. Dean and Beck both exited the Impala from the driver's side. Beck stopped Dean before he could walk off to talk to Bobby, pulled him against her by the collar of his jacket, and gave him a long steamy kiss before walking off herself to find Sam. Dean watched the woman he loved walk away with a confused look on his face. He loved those kisses from her but this one tasted like a mixture of guilt and passion. The passion part he was used to from the first moment they had become intimate it was obvious that there was a current of desire that swept between them. The guilt part was what troubled him. Sam was right she was hiding something and he was worried.
Dean walked up to Bobby and asked, "Well how'd it go at the Rockette's audition?"
"Well, high kicks - fair. Boobs need work. I walked up and down stairs all night for no damn reason. I'm sore. Feels so good, I'm still worried about how my little girl made a deal with that demon for this. But then I remember that the world's dying bloody, so, drink?" Bobby returned.
Bobby handed Dean a beer and examined his face. The boy was worried, but the apocalypse was right on their asses so Bobby knew he had reason to be.
"We got Death's ring and the instructions on how to turn all four into the cage key." Dean told him.
"Great, so where the hell is it?" Bobby asked.
"On you're daughter's finger. It's weird man…I think she made some type of deal with Death." Dean replied taking a long drink from his beer.
"What the hell? Where is she?!" Bobby demanded.
"Think she went in the house to talk to Sam." Dean replied.
"Well c'mon boy." Bobby said and headed to the house.
Beck took a beer from Sam and smiled. She was happy to see him again and Cas seemed to be doing better as well.
"I've explained to Sam what it would take for him to say yes to Lucifer." Cas told her.
"Yeah, we need to still talk about that." Beck said looking at Sam.
"I know you think this is a bad idea Rebecca, but I think it could work." Cas argued.
"Yes, I think it's a bad idea. I have no doubt it will work. I just don't want Sam to do it." Beck sighed and explained.
"If you think it will work, why are you against it? I don't understand." Cas said.
"No matter what we do we're going to lose. If Sam says yes to Lucifer, he goes in the cage with him. Dean loses his brother and I lose my best friend." Beck said.
"I see your point, but unless you have an alternative I don't see how we can prevent that." Cas said.
"She does have an alternative. But I'm getting the idea it's about as bad as mine." Sam said.
"Nearly. Come out back with me and I'll tell you what happened with Death. I need a smoke." Beck said to Sam.
"Okay, Becks." Sam agreed.
Sam and Beck went through the back door in the kitchen into the junkyard. Beck wound around some old cars and various other things until she found the spot she was looking for. Sam followed her and watched as she climbed up onto the roof of an ancient truck. Once she was seated and had lit her cigarette, Sam followed her up and sat next to her.
"We found Death at a pizzeria in Chicago. Dean tried to sneak up behind him, didn't work. I on the other hand walked right up to him through the front door. We were both invited to sit down and have some pizza. Dean was being Dean and Death seemed to find it amusing. I kept my mouth shut." Beck told Sam.
"So you didn't kill Death. Then how did you get his ring…wait did you get his ring?" Sam asked anxiously.
Beck held up her left hand and showed Sam Death's ring. Sam looked at Beck's hand shocked. She was wearing the fourth horseman's ring.
"Death said he would give it to us, more specifically to me. I asked why and he reminded me that I already knew the answer to my own question. He required a promise from me before he gave it to me though, so I stood up, bent over, and whispered the promise he wanted in his ear. I sat back down again and Death slipped his ring on my hand." Beck finished her recount of recent events.
"What did he make you promise Becks?" Sam asked worriedly.
"Do you remember our adventure with "The Whore of Babylon"?" Beck asked.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with Death's promise?" Sam wanted to know.
"Everything. Listen for a minute and you'll understand. You're a very smart guy Sammy." Beck answered.
"I went back into the church after "Leah" issued her bans on 90% of Dean's personality after going off on him, right?" Beck reminded Sam.
"I remember. Dean was drinking the Kool-Aid, I was frustrated, and you were on edge just trying to keep us together." Sam agreed.
"Right, anyway. I went to Pastor Gideon's office. I had a feeling "Leah" would be there. I already knew who she was before we met her. Once in the office, we talked and I told her that I already knew she wasn't the real Leah." Beck continued.
"You didn't tell us because you thought we wouldn't listen." Sam said softly.
"I thought you might, but you were so worried about Dean and everything going on, I didn't think it would be worth trying to tell you until I got Cas with us. I knew telling Dean would be a waste of breath." Beck informed Sam putting out her cigarette.
"So what happened next?" Sam asked.
"She told me she had a message to give me from Lucifer. She told me that my bloodline was just as viable as yours and Deans. All I had to do was say yes and he was willing to accept it through a messenger of his. So when we met up with Death to get his ring that's exactly what I did." Beck finished.
"So…the deal you made to get Death's ring was to become Satan's ride instead of me?" Sam gulped.
Beck pressed her lips together and said, "There's a little more to it than that. I said yes to becoming Lucifer's vessel, but I also promised to do whatever it took to put him back in his cage."
"Why? Why would you do this Becks?" Sam begged to know sounding heartbroken.
"I love you and Dean." Beck replied simply.
"We love you too. So does Bobby, remember you're dad. Did you even think how this would affect any of us?" Sam asked upset.
"I've done nothing but since the Whore gave me the option. I owe you my life, Sam. You saved me from drowning and have been my best friend from the moment I came to your reality. I got what I always wanted, to know my dad. Six or so months of actually being his daughter may be a short time but I still got that. As for Dean, he's had other relationships with other women and walked away. I'm just one in the queue." Beck responded tears silently streaking down her cheeks.
Sam grabbed Beck's hand and kissed the back of it silently. They knew she had been sent here for a reason. If this was it and she was willing to do it how could he stop her. He of all people know what the kind of sacrifice she was taking on meant.
"If it looks for even a second that this is going to fail, you tag out and I tag in." Sam told her.
"How?" Beck asked thickly.
"I don't know, but we're both pretty smart we'll come up with something." Sam answered.
Beck nodded her head. She didn't do consensus but Sam was the only one who had the right to say and if this was his condition she'd agree.