It felt like hours before Dean returned to the motel room. I knew I needed to just stay put, I had a head injury for sure. I couldn't make it down the stairs alone if I tried, and I had already caused enough trouble for one night.
"Em, can you stand?" He asked as kneeled down in front of me.
"I think so, everything just feels like its tilted." I mumbled not meeting his eyes. My hand trying to detangle the bloody hair on the back of my head.
"Hey."
I looked up, seeing his face blur in and out of my vision.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"… I'm not mad at you."
"Why? You should be."
"I know how much you hate her Em, I do. And I know as much as you want to control it, when you let that anger take you over… that hate. You don't think clearly. It's why I can't let you be the one that takes down Lillith. I know you got the juice, you just can't use it right now."
"I'm sorry, Dean." I whispered a few moments after he finished.
"Don't be kiddo… let's just get you checked out."
"No hospital."
"Em, yo-"
"I'll stay awake. Let's get to Bobby's and if I'm still fucked up then I'll let you take me to get checked. Promise. I just wanna get away from here."
"We'll get to Bobby's, and then either Cas is healing you or you're going to a hospital. You hear me?"
"Yeah." I sighed. He pulled me up to stand and we started to make our way down to Baby one step at a time. The whole world spun… I felt sick.
"De." I mumbled as we reached the bottom and hit the parking lot. I gestured to the bushes. "I need to puke before I get in the car, or we're gonna pay for it later."
"Yeah. You do that." He nodded. I stood for only a second before I felt it crawl up my throat. After successfully emptying what little bit I did eat over the last day or so Dean handed me a bottle of water and I rinsed out my mouth.
"You good?"
I nodded.
"Okay, lets get the hell out of here."
…..
…..
…..
We were only a few more hours away from Bobby's. The ride back had been quiet… too quiet. The music on the radio was the only sound competing with the hum of the engine. I pulled out my phone ten minutes ago, and since then I've just stared at it.
What do I say…
Should I say anything at all…
How much would I hate myself if the world ended tomorrow and I didn't even hear his voice? Touch his skin, at least one more time.
I opened the text for the fifth time.
Em: Hey, we're headed to Bobby's. Do you think you could meet us there? I need to see you.
I closed it and waited.
… and waited.
After half an hour had passed I began to feel like I could puke all over again. He always answers. I knew he'd be mad. I knew he'd decide I wasn't worth this anymore. I opened the phone again.
Em: Jud? Please… there's a lot going on. I Just need to talk to you in person.
I closed the phone and set it down on the seat beside me. Unsure if I'll even get a response at this point… let alone what that response might be.
"You texted him, huh?" Dean asked.
"Yeah."
"And?"
"And he's not texting back."
"That doesn't necessarily mean anything. He could be busy. Asleep. Have no signal."
"Or he might hate me. He might have decided we weren't worth the trouble. He might be mad at me."
"Emily he has no right to hate or be mad at you. You know that."
"I told him to go."
"No. You told him you wanted space… that's different. Just give him a chance to respond before you upset yourself."
"Okay." I sighed as I leaned my head on the back of the seat and closed my eyes, still feeling the occasional tilt if I look too fast in one direction or the other. "Hey Dean."
"Hm?"
"You didn't mean it right?"
"Emily. Don't."
"Dean… I know. I'm mad at him too. But he's our brother."
"Emily. Stop."
"Dean!"
"NO! Stop. you don't bring him up again."
I closed my eyes and leaned back against the seat… praying that this phone rings. Sooner rather than later would be nice, but we don't always get what we ask for.
…..
…..
…..
We pulled up to Bobby's and I climbed out of the car slowly. Leaning against the hood for support. Bobby came out to meet us on the porch as Dean carefully helped me up the steps.
"What the hell happened…" Bobby asked coming to support my other side.
"Don't ask." I sighed as Dean handed me off and stomped inside, straight to the whiskey cabinet.
"Darling, are you okay?"
"Pretty sure I've got a concussion." I said as we stepped in and followed Dean to the living room.
"… Your brother?"
"He… hit me over the head before I got to kill Ruby." I mumbled. "Then he and Dean got into it… Dean told him that if he walked out, not to ever come back."
Bobby's shock flashed between the two of us.
"Are you fricken nuts boy?! The same words your daddy used?!"
Dean continued to pour himself another drink as he stared out the window.
"You need to call him. You need to make this right between the two of you, or he's gonna do something stupid and you'll never forgive yourself Dean."
No response… Bobby turned towards me and shook his head.
"Seriously?... Has he been this way the whole time?"
"He told me not to bring it up." I said looking down at my feet. Rubbing my head as the dull ache grew.
"Dean? Dean! You listen to a word I said?" Bobby said walking up behind him.
"Yeah, I heard you. I'm not calling him."
"Don't make me get my gun, boy."
"We are damn near kickoff for Armageddon, don't you think we got bigger fish at the moment? Besides. I need you to take her to the hospital."
"Dean! Come on!" I whined.
"That's fine, I'll take care of her… Look. I know you're pissed. And I'm not making apologies for what he's done, but he's your—"
"Blood? He's my blood, is that what you were gonna say?"
"He's your brother. And he's drowning."
"Bobby, I tried to help him, I did. Look what happened. She's barely conscious and it just got worse."
"So try again."
"It's too late."
"Dean… please." I asked exasperated. "We have to try, too late or not."
"There's no such thing." Bobby insisted.
"No, damnit! No. We gotta face the facts. Sam never wanted part of this family. He hated this life growing up. Ran away to Stanford first chance he got. Now it's like déjà vu all over again."
His words stung me in the silence as he sat back down… I knew he felt that way now. But he doesn't mean it. He won't in the morning. He'll be upset with himself for letting it get so far.
But his words circled he drain in the back of my mind. All those nights I asked why he didn't want to be my brother. Those insecure feelings… they all came back for a visit.
Not the most convenient time if I'm being honest.
"Well, I am sick and tired of chasing him. Screw him, he can do what he wants." Dean finally mumbled.
"You don't mean that." I whispered.
"Yes I do, Em. Sam's gone. He's gone. I'm not even sure if he's still our brother anymore. If he ever was."
"Dean, stop!" I begged on the verge of tears or a migraine… maybe both.
Bobby crossed the room and knocked the books off the shelf as he moves to Dean. Dean stood toe to toe with him as they grew closer.
"You stupid, stupid son of a bitch! Well, boo hoo, I am so sorry your feelings are hurt, princess! Are you under the impression that family's supposed to make you feel good?! Bake you an apple pie, maybe? They're supposed to make you miserable! That's why they're family!"
"I told him, "you walk out that door, don't come back" and he walked out anyway! That was his choice!"
"You sound like a whiny brat. No, you sound like your dad. Well, let me tell you something. Your dad was a coward."
I sat back as they pushed each other back and forth… waiting for the bomb to go off.
Another fight.
Another headache.
Another sign the worlds gonna end…
Another moment I'd give anything to have Judson walk through that door.
"My dad was a lot of things, Bobby, but a coward?"
"He'd rather push Sam away than reach out to him. Well, that don't strike me as brave. You are a better man than your daddy ever was. So you do both of us a favor. Don't be him."
Dean turned back towards the window and I stood to move towards him, but just as I took two steps the walls moved and the ground beneath me shifted, I crumpled to my knees.
But the floor wasn't the dusty hardwood I had just been standing on. It was a lush carpet rug, over dark shiny hardwood floors.
"What the fuck…" I mumbled as I looked up. The room was white with gold trim, marble tables on either side of me.
"DEAN!" I panicked standing, I turned to find him looking around confused as well.
"Em!" He said as he rushed over and helped me to stand. "What the hell is this…"
"I don't know."
"Hello, Dean. Emily. It's almost time." Castiel's voice caused us to spin, there was two of him for a moment but when I finally focused I could see him clearly.
"Cas, what the hell is this?" I asked.
"Zachariah will be here momentarily to explain."
"Cas no wh-"
But with that he was gone.
"Here, sit down kiddo." Dean said as he pulled me to a chair at the large lavish table, I just now realized the table was covered in food. Burgers. Fries. Pie. Cheesecake. Chocolate. Pizza. Pasta. Chicken Strips… everything we love to eat. Beer. A large pitcher of ice water.
"Dean.. where are we?"
"I don't know.. But I don't like it." He said as he stepped in front of a large painting of a blonde and a redhead both in bikinis by the pool.
"Hello, Dean. You're looking fit." Zachariah's voice fills the silence. "Emily. Hope you've been well."
"Well I've been better." I smiled.
"Oh. Yes. Here, allow me to fix that headache of yours." He said as he trotted over to me and placed his two fingers against my forehead. Suddenly all the pain and dizziness was gone and I could stand and see clearly.
"Thank you." I sighed.
"Well, how 'bout this? The suite life of Zach and Cas." Dean smiled as he held up a beer bottle. Zachariah looked back at him confused. "It's a... never mind. So, what is this? Where the hell are we?"
"Call it a Green room. We're closing in on the grand finale, here. We want to keep you safe before showtime. Try a burger. They're your favorite. From that seaside shack in Delaware. You were 11, I think."
"I'm not hungry."
"No? How about Ginger from season 2 of "Gilligan's Island"? You do have a thing for her, don't you?"
"Ewww. Dude can I get my own room?" I asked as I fake gagged.
"Tempting. Weird." Dean tilted his head.
"We'll throw in Mary Ann for free."
"No, no. Let's... bail on the holodeck, okay? I want to know what the game plan is."
"Let us worry about that. We want you... focused, relaxed."
"Well, I'm about to be pissed and we're about to be leaving, so start talking, Chuckles."
"All the seals have fallen. Except one." Zachariah finally sighed.
"Wow." I mumbled. I knew it wasn't good… but that's really not good.
"That's an impressive score. That's... that's right up there with the Washington Generals." Dean mocked.
"You think sarcasm's appropriate, do you? Considering... you started all this? But the final seal... it'll be different."
"Hey! Lay off." I warned, seeing the flicker of guilt on Dean's face.
"Why?" Dean asked, Zachariah basically ignored me. Focused on Dean.
"Lilith has to break it. She's the only one who can. Tomorrow night - midnight."
"Where?"
"We're working on it."
"Well, work harder."
"We'll do our job. You just make sure you do yours."
"Yeah, and what is that, exactly? If I'm supposed to be the one that stops her, how? With the knife?"
"All in good time."
"Isn't now a good time?" I interrupted. "I mean, we're here… its not like we don't have time to listen."
"Have faith."
"What, in you? Give me one good reason why I should." Dean scoffed.
"Because you swore your obedience. So obey." Zachariah said as he moved until he was only inches from Dean's face. Then he vanished.
"Dammit Dean… I told you that you didn't now what you were getting us into."
"And I told you it was the only option we had! So stop bitching."
"Dean… call him."
"What?!"
"Sam… Dean look. Okay. If we're stuck here for the next 24 hours and tomorrow night is when all hell breaks loose, then don't you think regardless of whether or not he's right he shouldn't go into that fight with a heavy heart. That YOU shouldn't go into this with a heavy heart."
Dean looked at me, then back down to his feet while he paced.
"De. Please… you know I'm right. We can't. Waste our time, we don't have enough of it. There's too much going on for us to be in each other's way mentally. Just… call him. Please."
Dean paced back and forth. Not answering… but he moved to the corner of the room and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Ah, screw it." He mumbled as he picked up the phone and held it to his ear… I waited a few minutes. But I could tell Sam didn't answer. "Hey, it's me. Uh... Look, I'll just get right to it. I'm still pissed... and I owe you a serious beatdown. But... I shouldn't have said what I said. You know, I'm not Dad. We're brothers. You know, we're family. And, uh... no matter how bad it gets, that doesn't change. Sammy, I'm sorry. We just need to know you're okay."
He hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. Then he walked back towards me, sitting in the chair across from me.
"Well… I did my call. Now you do yours."
"Huh?" I asked confused.
"You're right. Whatever happens… incase shit goes south we need to know we did things with a clear mind, and right now you're stuck on the kid. Call him."
"Dean, he never responded. I don't wanna push it."
"Em. End of the world, get pushy."
"Fine." I sighed as I opened my phone.
I dialed the number, and every time it rang my heart dropped a few inches further into my ass. No answer. Voicemail…
"Hey. Jud. It's me… listen. It's important, okay? Call me back."
I hung up the phone and tossed it onto the table between us.
"Well aren't we pathetic." I smiled to him.
"Yeah." Dean nodded.
A thought struck me.
"We don't have to be."
Dean suddenly looked up meeting my eyes.
"Tomorrow night." Dean said as he shook his head up and down.
"Cas!" He called out as he stood.
"You asked to see me?"
"Yeah, listen, I, uh, I-I need something."
"Anything you wish.
"We need you to take us to see Sam." I said as I walked up behind them.
"Why?"
"There's something I got to talk to him about." Dean answered plainly.
"What's that?"
"The B.M. I took this morning. What's it to you? Just make it snappy."
"I don't think that's wise."
"Well, we didn't ask you for your opinion." I sighed getting irritated, feeling suddenly that we weren't really getting much of a choice with what happens next.
"Have you forgotten what happened the last time you met?"
"No. That's the whole point. Listen, I'm gonna do whatever you mooks want, okay? I just need to tie up this one thing. Five minutes - that's all I need." Dean pushed.
"No."
"What do you mean, no? Are you saying that we're trapped here?"
"You can go wherever you want."
"Super. I want to go see Sam."
"Except there."
"I want to take a walk." I demanded.
"Fine. I'll go with you."
"We're fine on our own, Thanks."
"No."
"You know what? Screw this noise. We're out of here." Dean said as he grabbed me and led us towards the door.
"Through what door?"
We turned to face him, and when we looked back… the door was gone.
"Fuck…" I mumbled. "I need to see Judson. Please, Cas"
"That isn't recommended either."
"This is bullshit Cas! You know it!" I yelled, but he was gone before I finished the sentence.
"DAMMIT!" Dean groaned as he ran his hand through his short hair and spun. "There's gotta be a way out of here Em. Start pushing on walls."
I followed Dean's lead and we both started at opposite ends of the room. Pushing on walls, moving books off the shelves. Anything that would trigger a trap door.
"Dean. Somethings off here… Judson. He should have called. Us being locked up here. It's connected. I just. Feel it in my bones."
"You think he's working with them again?"
"… I don't want to. But. I don't know."
"Keep searching kiddo. There's gotta be a way out of here somewhere."
After an hour of smashing my way through everything I could get my hands on I looked at Dean. His frustration matched mine, and suddenly he picked up a chair and began bashing it into the wall, creating a hole.
"One more!" I yelled as he finally began to break through.
Dean smashed the chair against the wall with everything he had and finally he had broken through, but just as he turned and moved the chair to the side the wall became whole again.
"What the fuck!" I yelled. Feeling angry. "Move!"
I stood against the wall and raised my hand. Taking deep breaths as I willed the wood to crumble in on itself. It began to crack as the ground beneath us rumbled.
"That's it Kiddo. Keep going." Dean encouraged. Even he knew we had to get the hell out of here. I opened my eyes and just as I began to break through to the other side, the wall became whole again.
"NO!" I screamed. I reached back and picked up the chair from across the room, watching it lift into the air.
"Emily. Calm down." Dean warned.
"I want to leave!" I yelled as I threw the chair through the wall, leaving a large hole, but we could see nothing but darkness on the other side.
"Where's it go?" I asked as I looked to Dean.
"I don't know Kiddo." He said as he turned around.
"Quit hurling feces like a howler monkey, would you? It's unbecoming." Zachariah's voice caught us off guard as we turned around. I turned back in a panic ready to jump through the hole, but it was gone. And the wall intact with perfectly white paint.
"Let us out of here." Dean growled.
"Like I told you: too dangerous out there. Demons on the prowl."
"I've been getting my ass kicked all year. Now you're sweating my safety? You're lying. We want to see our brother."
"That's... ill-advised."
"You know, I am so sick of your crap riddles and your smug, fat face. What the hell is going on, huh? Why can't we see Sam?" I said crossing my arms as I came toe to toe with him.
"And how am I gonna ice Lilith?" Dean added.
"You're not. ...Going to ice Lilith." Zachariah sighed as he plastered on a guilty smile.
"What?" I scoffed. "Come again?"
"Lilith's going to break the final seal. Fait accompli at this point. Train's left the station."
That's when it hit me.
Suddenly everything fell into place and it all made sense.
"Oh my god… Dean. They don't wanna stop it." I said out loud.
"What?! Is that true? You don't want to stop Armageddon?"
"Nope. Never did. The end is nigh. The apocalypse is coming, kiddo, to a theater near you."
"Oh my god." I mumbled as I spun in a circle. This is bad… so so bad. This was a trick. What the hell did they want him to agree to?! What are they expecting of him?
What the hell did he get us into now.
"What was all that crap about saving seals?" Dean asked confused.
"Our grunts on the ground - we couldn't just tell them the whole truth. We'd have a full-scale rebellion on our hands. I mean, think about it. Would we really let 65 seals get broken unless senior management wanted it that way?"
Assholes….
"But why?"
"Why not? The apocalypse? Poor name, bad marketing - puts people off. When all it is is Ali/Foreman. On a... slightly larger scale. And we like our chances. When our side wins - and we will - it's paradise on earth. Now, what's not to like about that?"
"What happens to all the people during your little pissing contest?" I asked, growing angrier and more anxious by the second.
"Well... you can't make an omelet without cracking a few eggs. In this case... truckloads of eggs, but you get the picture. Look... it happens. This isn't the first planetary enema we've delivered."
I looked between Dean and Zachariah. I noted Dean glancing and moving closer to a small statue on the table… I could see the look on his face. I knew what he wanted, and I was ready to fight.
"Uh, no, Dean. Probably shouldn't try to bash my skull in with that thing. Wouldn't end up too pleasant for you."
FUCK.
"What about Sam? He won't go quietly. He'll stop Lilith." Dean insisted.
"Sam... has a part to play. A very important part. He may need a little nudging in the right direction, but I'll make sure he plays it." Zachariah nodded. "OH! By the way, don't need to keep this in the closet now that the truth's out.
Zachariah snapped his fingers, and then suddenly Judson was at my feet, bound and gagged.
"Judson! Oh my god what did you do?!" I said as I immediately fell to the ground, untying the knots and pulling the cloth from his mouth.
"What about Sam. What does that mean? What are you gonna do to him?" Dean asked as I continued to free Judson from the ropes. He looked exhausted… dehydrated. How long have they had him?!
"Sam, Sam, Sam. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Forget about him, would you? You have larger concerns. Why do you think I'm confiding in you? You're still vital, Dean. We weren't lying about your destiny. Just... omitted a few pertinent details. But nothing's changed. You are chosen. You will stop it. Just... not Lilith, or the apocalypse. That's all."
"Which means what? Stop fucking with us!" I yelled, my voice catching as I felt the panic start to grow.
"Now Emily, take a deep breath. We don't want you getting worked up now do we? I would like to leave you here with your brother and free to do as you please. Don't make me change my mind." The warning was clear. He would tie me up next, throw me somewhere that I'd probably never see Dean again.
Every fear I had was true. Right in front of my face. I shrank down to the ground and leaned against the wall at Dean's feet. Judson quietly pulling me under his arm. I watched Dean's knuckles turn white as his hands twitched.
"Now, where was I…" Zachariah said turning back to Dean. "OH! Lucifer. You're going to stop Lucifer. You're our own little Russell Crowe, complete with surly attitude. And when it's over... and when you've won... your rewards will be... unimaginable. Peace, happiness... two virgins and seventy sluts. Trust me - one day, we'll look back on this and laugh."
"Tell me something. Where's God in all this?" Dean asked him somberly.
"God? God has left the building."
And with that he was gone again, leaving us on our own again.
"Judson, are you okay?" I said as I held his face.
"I'm sorry baby, I tried to warn you. I figured it out not long after we left the warehouse. I went to Cas… I just started to put things together, and I was on my way to Bobby's but somehow they knew."
"That was days ago. You must be exhausted." I said as I stood, pulling him to sit up in a chair. Dean reached over and handed him a glass of water off the table.
"Thanks." Judson mumbled as he accepted it and downed the entire glass.
"Dean." I whispered as I looked up to him. "Are they going to take me?"
"No. No… they're not going to touch a hair on your head or I'll blow this whole thing. I'll make sure they never take you sweetheart. I promise." He said as he placed his hands on my shoulders. Making sure I heard every word out of his mouth.
"We just gotta get out of here." He mumbled as he stood.
"We can't." Judson sighed.
"What is this? A magical lockdown."
"Welcome to a lower sector of Heaven…"
"This is heaven?!" I questioned.
"You know how in Dante's Inferno there were 7 circles of hell?" He asked as he reached out and grabbed my hand. Damn I missed the way his touch felt.
"Yeah."
"Okay, well this isn't exactly Heaven, but its one of the bottom floors to get there. Its like a holding place, or a safe house. There's no way out of here unless someone from out there decides to let us out."
"Cas…" I whispered. "Dean. We have to get through to him. He respects you. He likes you… you have to get him to let us out."
"Cas isn't exactly on our side at the moment."
"He's sympathetic." Judson argued. "It's why they punished him. That doesn't just go away. Trust me… he's having doubts."
"Do you think he'll let us out?" I asked him honestly.
"I think he's the only one we have a chance with."
"Okay… let me think for a minute." Dean said as he got up and paced.
I moved to sit on Judson's lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Miss me?" He teased.
"Yes." I sighed. "I called. I texted… I thought you hated me because you never answered."
"Baby I would have run to get there. I wasn't far, until I was locked away."
"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault…"
"No, babe. You were right. You needed some space. It's okay."
"I didn't know that you were going to get wrapped up in all this. I never meant to put you in that position."
"You didn't babe. I put myself there… I just couldn't not tell you guys when I figured it out."
I leaned in and kissed him softly. Even when I pushed him away, he was fighting for me. He was looking out for our family. He was still on my side.
"Babe." He said calmly when I pulled away. "Where's Sam?"
My eyes watered as I debated on how to answer that question. Judson watched me carefully.
"I don't know… We. We realized he was addicted to the demon blood, and we tried to detox him. But he got out, and then we got into a big fight… and he's with Ruby somewhere. He's going to kill Lillith, but… I think it's going to kill him too. Or, turn him into something he can't undo."
"Maybe not babe. Maybe not." He sighed as he pulled me towards him and kissed my forehead.
I looked up to Dean who was pacing back and forth, his phone to his ear over and over again.
"You can't reach him, Dean. You're outside your coverage zone." Castiel says calmly. His voice interrupting my thoughts.
"What are you gonna do to Sam?" Dean asked as he put himself between Castiel and I.
"Nothing. He's gonna do it to himself."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I scoffed. He looked down. "Oh, right, right. Got to toe the company line. Why are you here, Cas?"
"We've been through much together, all of us. And I just wanted to say, I'm sorry it ended like this."
"Sorry?" Dean asked far too calmly… shit. I know what's coming. Suddenly his arm swung and connected with Castiel's face. He barely flinched. Dean turned to look at me, hiding the pain in his hand. I rolled my eyes at him as I stood.
"It's Armageddon, Cas. You need a bigger word than sorry." Dean mumbled turning back around.
"Try to understand - this is long foretold. This is your..."
"Destiny? Don't give me that "holy" crap. Destiny, God's plan... It's all a bunch of lies, you poor, stupid son of a bitch! It's just a way for your bosses to keep me and keep you in line! You know what's real? People, families - that's real. And you're gonna watch them all burn?"
"What is so worth saving? I see nothing but pain here. I see inside you. I see your guilt, your anger, confusion. In paradise, all is forgiven. You'll be at peace. Even with Sam."
"Cas… No." I said softly. "Don't you see it? Yeah life hurts like hell, but look what it gives us. Look at the love. The support. The comfort of knowing someone has your back without question. Joy. Laughter. What does any of that mean if we don't have pain to compare it to?"
I turned and looked back at Judson, who smiled at me briefly.
"There is still good left in the world Cas. And its always the good people who gets the worst of it… It's the good people who didn't ask for this, that will suffer. It doesn't have to be like that.
"Emily, please understand. There is only one way to get peace on-"
"You can take your peace... and shove it up your lily-white ass. 'Cause I'll take the pain and the guilt. I'll even take Sam as is. It's a lot better than being some Stepford bitch in paradise. This is simple, Cas! No more crap about being a good soldier. There is a right and there is a wrong here, and you know it." Dean interrupted. Cas turned away from us. "Look at me!" Dean screamed grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to turn back towards us.
Judson stood and came up behind me, I could feel that the room was growing with tension. This is fixing to go south fast… we need an exit strategy. We need a way out.
We need a fucking miracle.
"You know it! You were gonna help me once, weren't you? You were gonna warn me about all this, before they dragged you back to Bible camp. Help me - now. Please." Dean begged.
"What would you have me do?"
"Get them to Sam. We can stop this before it's too late." Judson added.
"I do that, we will all be hunted. We'll all be killed. You especially, Judson. You know that."
"If there is anything worth dying for... this is it." Judson assured him as he squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. … Dammit I love him.
But Cas only shook his head and looked down.
"You spineless... soulless son of a bitch. What do you care about dying? You're already dead. We're done." Dean said as he turned form Cas.
"Dean I-"
"We're done!"
And with that he was gone again. Shit.
"I think we better get comfy, Em." Judson sighed as he led us back over to the chairs at the table.
"Just a minute." I said as I left him and moved towards Dean.
"De." I whispered coming up behind him. He turned to face me. "There's still a chance. Sam, he's the smartest guy we know. Maybe… maybe he'll figure it out. He'll come for us."
"Em sweetheart. He's strung out… he's not Sammy right now. As much as I wish he was."
"I know but. What if he realizes it? I mean. Judson connected the dots. So could Sam."
"I don't know kiddo." Dean said as he pulled me against him. He held me for a long minute, rocking us back and forth.
If could choose to be with anyone at the end of the world, it was the man who raised me. Along with the man I fell in love with, and I wanted so desperately for the man who taught me I was capable of anything to be in this room with us. I wanted my brother. I wanted our family.
I wanted my fucking life back.
…..
…..
…..
"De… just sit down. Eat something." I begged after watching him pace for the last 3 hours. He sighed and rolled his eyes as he looked up towards us.
Finally, he reached for a burger, but then he is swung around by Cas, who shoves him against the wall and puts a hand over his mouth as he pulls the demon knife from his pocket.
"CAS!" I jumped up but he turned and held his hand out towards me. I froze, and then I watched as he placed the keys to baby in Dean's hands. They looked at each other and nodded. Castiel still had the knife in his other hand, he stands back from Dean and drags it across his own forearm.
Dean moved towards Judson and I.
We were ready… we're going to run.
Castiel began using his blood to smear a pattern on the wall, the same ones I've seen before. The ones Anna used.
Suddenly Zachariah appeared behind us.
"Castiel! Would you mind explaining just what the hell you're doing?"
But before he could say another word Cas slammed his hand against the bloody sigil and in a flash of white light Zachariah was gone.
"He won't be gone long. We have to find Sam now." Cas said as he rushed us towards a door that appeared at the end of the room.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. But I know who does. We have to stop him, Dean, from killing Lilith." Cas said as we rushed out the door, which lead us to an empty dark warehouse, and parked outside of it was Baby. We ran for the car at full speed.
"But Lilith's gonna break the final seal?" I asked confused as Dean started the car.
"Lilith is the final seal. She dies, the end begins."
"Oh my God… Dean. Sam. He's going to be the one that ends the world."
Dean looked at me, sharing my panic in his face. Then he slammed the car in reverse and peeled out onto the road.
…..
…..
…..
"How much farther?" I asked nervously.
"An hour tops." Dean said, baby hadn't seen double digits on the speedometer since we left. We've quite literally been going 100 miles an hour. Judson asleep in the backseat, Castiel vanished to cover our tracks, and I sat up front next to Dean, my knee shaking with nerves.
"Dean. We have to stop him. He'll never forgive himself."
"I think we have a bigger problem Emily." Dean sighed. "If Lillith WANTS to die… Ruby's been playing him this whole time. She's working for her."
"Shit." I sighed, realizing he was right. "She's been planning this all along. She set a trap for him."
"Well we knew she didn't have good intentions kiddo. I just didn't realize it was working for Lillith to start the apocalypse."
My brain was a waterfall of thoughts, drowning one another to reach the only clear spot in my mind. Sam, he's been lied to for so long. Manipulated… he's going to realize what he's done. He's going to see that she never cared for him. What if she kills him?
What if he becomes a monster like her?
"He doesn't stand a chance does he?" I whimpered as I felt my eyes begin to sting.
"Yeah he does, Em. He's got us." He said as he reached over and swung his arm behind me. I leaned against it as we continued to drive in the darkness.
…..
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…..
Finally we reached Chuck's house, before I could knock on the door Cas swung it open and we rushed in. Chuck was there, in a robe with a bottle of vodka in one hand and his phone up to his ear in the other.
"Wait. T-t-this isn't supposed to happen." He mumbled in fear, backing against the wall. "No, lady, this is definitely supposed to happen, but I just got to call you back."
He hung up the phone and turned to us.
"I…"
"Where is Sam?" I asked bluntly before he could start asking questions.
"He, he's at St. Mary's but you can't ge-"
"St. Mary's? What is that, a convent?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, but you guys aren't supposed to be there. You're not in this story."
"Yeah, well... We're making it up as we go." Cas chimed in.
Before anyone could respond the computer screen across the room began to flicker, and then the ground rumbled beneath us.
"Em?!" Dean called out.
"Not me!"
Just as I answered him a large flash of white light appeared outside of the windows.
"Aw, man! Not again! No!" Chuck cowered against the wall.
"It's the Archangel!" Cas turned towards us. "I'll hold him off! I'll hold them all off! Just stop Sam!"
"I'll stay and fight." Judson said as he moved away from Dean and I.
Before I could reach out to grab him, or say another word Castiel tapped his hands against Dean and I and as fast as I could blink Dean and I were standing outside of the St. Mary's Convent.
"Whoa…" I said as Dean and I stood for a moment to gather our bearings.
"Come on, we gotta go!" He said as he pushed me towards the door.
As we rushed in we could see the convent was mostly empty, we wandered until we found a hall, I followed Dean quietly.
"You hear that?" I asked as I grabbed his arm to hold him still.
A struggle in the distance, voices. They're here. Dean nodded and we charged towards the sounds. As we rounded the corner I could see Lillith slammed against a concrete Altar, Sam standing in front of her, and Ruby looking back at us before she lifts her hands and slams the doors shut.
"Sam!" Dean yelled as we beat against the door. "SAMMY!"
"SAM! Please! Sam stop!" I cried out as Dean threw his body weight against the door, but it was bolted shut.
Suddenly there was a scream, and then silence… Dean and I froze. I placed my ear against the door. It was hard to hear, but I picked out Sam's voice.
"He's alive." I mumbled to Dean, who continued to pull at the door.
"You opened the door. And now he's free at last. He's free at last! You don't even know how hard this was! All the demons out for my head. No one knew. I was the best of those sons of bitches! The most loyal! Not even Alastair knew! Only Lilith! Yeah, I'm sure you're a little angry right now, but, I mean, come on, Sam! Even you have to admit - I'm - I'm awesome!" Ruby cheered.
"You bitch. You lying bitch!"
"Don't hurt yourself, Sammy. It's useless. You shot your payload on the boss."
All I could do was stare at Dean's face. We were too late. She's dead.
"The blood... You poisoned me."
Sam's voice pulled my attention back again
"No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who could do it."
I could hear Ruby laugh from the other side. This was enough to push me over the edge. To push every thing I had left through my body and into my hands.
"Move!" I said as I pushed Dean aside. I reached up with both hands and waited until it felt so strong I could hardly control it, and with everything I had I focused on the door and threw my hands forward. I watch as the doors blew apart into pieces. Dean charged forward.
"You're too late." She smirked at us.
"I don't care." I snarled as I held her in place with just the cold hard gaze from the back of the room. I watched as Dean advanced towards her, Sam stood from behind her, grabbing her arms. Holding her. I released and watched as Dean thrust the knife into her chest. Sam dropped her to the floor.
Finally, that bitch is dead.
I took four steps to close the gap between my brothers and I. Sam looked between us.
"I'm sorry." He said barely above a whisper. I immediately moved to wrap my arms around him. I felt as he softly wept, but a sound form behind us caused us all to blood from Lillith's vessel had filled a large pattern across the bottom of the concrete. The ground beneath us rumbled and the walls shook. White light began to push through the cracks.
"We gotta go." Dean said pulling us backwards.
"Dean I'm so sorry." Sam said as he let me go and grabbed onto Dean's shoulders.
"De…" I cried. "I can feel him."
"Come on… COME ON!" He said pulling us backwards. But I felt drawn to the light.
I felt drawn to him.
"EMILY! Let's go!" Dean said as he and Sam pulled at my arms, but I couldn't look away.
"Emily." He whispered… I could hear him.
"Dean... he's coming."