Alright so I'm open to all sorts of criticisms on this chapter. It's a bit of a standalone in that it's not drawing from other episode scripts, which means this episode is made completely from scratch, and I'm writing these characters based off my memories of them because I'm too lazy to rewatch season 4. If I can get a feel of what you guys like, then I'll be able to adjust and see where my writing needs work, and were I'm good.

So basically, if you think this chapter is shit, I wholeheartedly agree with you and want you to tell me where exactly it's most shitty. Which parts felt awkward? Which ones were good? Were some characters OOC? How OOC?

And if Bobby comes off sounding like Dr. McCoy from Star Trek, I'm sorry but it's been occupying my mind most of this summer. The Original Series is great.

And this chapter is shorter than the rest. Sorry about that. Next chapter we'll get into more episodes

"Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery meet Loki, the Norse Trickster God."

The previous night…

Zoe found herself in the Attic again, but this time, by choice. The boys had gone to bed, as well as Travis who was crashing in the spare bed. Zoe opted to stay awake with the excuse of wanting to do more research. Meditating tended to count as research.

"Gabriel," she called.

As expected, the archangel did not appear. He had no reason to after all. Still, it never hurt to try a few more times, but all ended in failure. The angel did not appear. Zoe frowned, and thought for a moment, thinking of a way to bring Gabriel to her.

"Gabriel," she said, "perhaps I will have more luck calling you by your preferred name of Loki? Or the Trickster as the boys call you? I imagine they'll be very surprised and interested to know who you really are. Especially Michael. I mean, you're supposed to sound the horn seven times aren't you, Loki?"

She smiled, feeling the rush of adrenaline that came with taunting someone more powerful than you. The flutter of wings signaled Gabriel's arrival.

"You have my attention," he said, watching her with his golden eyes. "What do you want?"

"A favor," Zoe said.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "A favor? Why?"

"Come on," Zoe said, "Surely you know who I am? Heaven's been talking about it according to Zachariah and Castiel."

"I haven't been paying much attention," Gabriel responded, crossing his arms.

Zoe sighed, and explained to Gabriel the same story she told the Winchesters and Bobby. As she explained herself, and her reasoning for knowing Gabriel's dual identity, the archangel went from dangerously irritated to interested. He frowned, looking at her as if she was a strange creature.

"You're from another dimension." It was more of a statement than a dimension.

"Yes," Zoe said, "and I want to get back. So far you're the only one who knows how to travel through dimensions or at least powerful enough to help me."

"And if I don't help?" Gabriel asked.

Zoe shrugged, "I don't plan on telling Michael, if that's what you're worried about. If you need anything while I'm here, then I'll help in any way I can."

Gabriel considered this and said, "Why not go to Michael and ask for his help? He's got the juice."

"Because Michael is going to want me to help him with the Apocalypse," Zoe said. "I don't want anything to do with that, him or Lucifer. I just want to go back to being a regular girl and enjoy life with my girlfriend. And," Zoe added, "I don't have any leverage on Michael."

"And if I smite you?"

"Michael will want to know why I was smote," Zoe said. "Zachariah himself said Michael was interested in me. I would think my death would be enough to catch his attention."

Gabriel weighed his options before relenting.

"Alright kiddo. I'll help," Gabriel said.

Zoe grinned, "Awesome!"

"I'll see about finding a spell," Gabriel said.

"What about that spell that involves dead sea brine, bone of a lesser saint?" Zoe asked, remembering the spell Balthazar has used.

"That spell is a quick and easy one," Gabriel explained. "It sends people into a random dimension. Anyone can do that with the right power, but sending someone to a specific dimension? I'll need time."

"Take as long as you need," Zoe said. "I'm not going anywhere. And in return, I won't tell on you."

Gabriel extended his hand, "It's a deal."

They shook, and Gabriel turned to take his leave. Before he disappeared, a thought occurred to Zoe.

"Wait! Can I ask you for another favor?"

Gabriel raised an amused eyebrow, "Depends."

Present Day

"What is he doing here?" Dean asked, pointing his gun at the Trickster.

Zoe placed herself between them, raising her hands placatingly at Dean, "Dean it's okay. He's here to help."

"Help?" Sam asked, also pointing his gun at Gabriel.

The Montgomery's seemed torn between calling the police or bolting. Gabriel for his part, sucked on a lollipop, unconcerned at the weapons pointed at him.

"Yes," Zoe said. "Trust me on this. He agreed to help."

"Zoe, I don't know what you think he promised," Sam said, "but you can't trust him."

"Yes, I can," Zoe said. "Will you at least hear me out?"

"Yeah Sam," Gabriel said, sitting at the loveseat in the Montgomery's living room, "hear me out."

Sam continued to glare at the Trickster, but didn't say anything. Zoe silently hoped that everything would go right. This was a dangerous gamble, and she wasn't looking forward to the talk they were going to have once this was over.

"Loki can create pocket dimension," Zoe said. "I've seen him do it. If we place Mr. Montgomery in one of those pocket dimensions, we won't have to worry about him escaping and killing someone."

"And how do we know he won't set him lose or feed him someone?" Dean asked.

Gabriel looked appalled at this, dramatically placing a hand over his heart, "As if I would ever! The kid and I shook on it. Jack here is going to be in safe hands. I got a nice little place for him to run around."

"What happens if the legends aren't true?" Jack Montgomery asked, his voice shaky. "What if, when the days are up, I still…"

"Jack," his wife began.

"It's a possibility," Jack said. "I don't want to hurt you or our child, darling. I'd rather be dead than risk hurting you."

"It will be painless," Gabriel promised. "I will personally escort you to Valhalla if need be. Or Heaven. Whichever."

"You can't be considering this," Dean said. "You can't be thinking about actually trusting freaking Loki the Trickster God of all things."

"We made a deal," Zoe said. "Loki and me. If Mr. Montgomery would rather be placed in a pocket dimension for the hundred and one days, be chained in some obscure location where he'll suffer from some severe psychological trauma, or be burned alive by Travis. My plan ensures he'll be well taken care of."

"Because you trust him," Dean said.

"Yes Dean," Zoe said, growing angrier at Dean by the second. "Because I trust him. It's Mr. Montgomery's choice. Not mine. Not Loki's and certainly not yours or Sam's."

Mr. Montgomery looked at his wife, then at them before his eyes finally rested on Gabriel. He gripped his wife's hand tightly, and said, "What would I need to bring?"

Gabriel beamed and said, "Anything you think you'll miss. Clothes, movies, photographs, laptop. Imagine you're going on an extended vacation."

Jack Montgomery nodded and turned to his wife who didn't seem to know what to think. She didn't seem to want to let her husband go, but at the same time, knew she didn't have a choice in the matter.

"It's for the best," he said. "Stay with your mother while I'm gone. Tell her that I came down a rare disease. God willing, I'll be back."

"Okay," she replied tearfully, tightly hugging her husband. "I will, but you come back to me. Please. For our child."

"Our child," he repeated, eyes wide before turning to Loki. "My child. Will he-?"

"He won't have a hankering for people," Gabriel assured. "Promise."

The Montgomerys smiled, happy and relieve with the news.

"Thank you," they said. "Thank you for your help, all of you. Thank you so very much."

"Just doing our job," Zoe said, smiling.

"What the hell, Zoe?" where Dean's first words when the doors on the Impala closed shut. Zoe flinched at the shout, but otherwise remained silent. "What were you thinking?"

"Your plan would have involved shutting Mr. Montgomery in a cell for a hundred days," she replied. "I had to think of a better solution At least this way he won't be stuck in isolation that long. Loki will keep him entertained."

"And what makes you think the Trickster will be able to keep a Rugaru in check," Dean asked. "Or how do you know he won't set him loose?"

"We made a deal," Zoe said.

"A deal? Right. Sure" Dean said. "What? You sold your soul to the Trickster for a Rugaru? Is that it?"

"No," Zoe replied angrily.

"Then?" Dean asked with equal furor.

"I'm not going to tell you the terms of mine and Loki's deal," Zoe said. "That's between us alone."

The impala swerved, to the alarm of the passengers and the poor driver behind them. Dean parked at the side of the road, gripping the steering wheel tight.

"Get out."

"Dean—" Sam tried to argue.

"I can accept her knowing about the Witnesses and I'll even give the angel thing a pass," Dean said. "But this is too far."

"I was helping," Zoe argued. "You want to know where your plan would have gotten the Montgomery's? Dead. Travis gets impatient and tries to kill Mr. Montgomery by holding his wife hostage. He plans on killing her too. They die. All of them. My plan ensured they all stayed alive."

"Because you trust the Trickster."

"Yes, Dean," Zoe said. "Because I trust him. You should try that sometime. Not everyone is out to kill you, you know."

"Zoe," Sam said, "you have to understand that we have a history with the Trickster."

"I know about the college thing and about the mystery spot," Zoe said. "But the Trickster isn't a bad person."

"He killed me over and over—"

"To prove a point!" Zoe would have thrown her arms up if the roof allowed it. "You and Sam have an unhealthy co-dependence. You release one of the most dangerous villains in the entire show because you were willing to risk the world for each other. There has to be a point where things go far enough. You started the freaking Apocalypse because you refused to let Sam die."

She took a calming breath as her body shook. Dean wouldn't listen to her, she knew this and yet she still tried.

"Hold on—"

"No, Dean," Zoe said. "I stopped the deaths of three people by asking the Trickster for help. You're welcome."

Zoe unbuckled the seatbelt and got out of the Impala. Sam looked torn between stopping her and facing Dean's wrath, or letting her go. He flinched when the door slammed closed. Dean started the car and drove off. Zoe didn't wait to see the Impala go. Instead she took a calming breath, clenching her fist to hide the shaking in her hand.

"Wow."

"What do you want, Gabriel?" Zoe asked, as she picked a direction and started walking. With any luck, she'd find a grocery store or someone willing to drive her to a bus station.

"I eavesdropped on your little…discussion," Gabriel said. "And to tell you the Rugaru is settling in nicely in the little shed I fixed up for him."

"Thanks," Zoe said.

Gabriel unwrapped a candy bar and took a bite out of it. He assumed a thoughtful look before he said, "So what are you going to do?"'

"I don't know," Zoe replied. "Head to Bobby's?"

"So, you're not sure?" Gabriel asked.

"No." Zoe sat down at the bus stop. The next bus wasn't due for another hour according to the schedule. "I doubt he's going to want to take me in if the boys told him about our deal."

"Only one way to find out," Gabriel said, straightening up. "As a gesture of my oh so great benevolence, I shall drop you off at his house."

"Thanks, Gabriel."

Gabriel smiled, "Thank me after I cash in my favors."

The next thing she knew, Zoe stood in front of Bobby's house. One thing the show underestimated was the side effects of flying Angel Airlines. Zoe leant against the porch as she tried to regain sensation in her legs. Her lungs greedily took in the oxygen that had been taken from them so suddenly.

Once Zoe was sure she wasn't going to pass out, she made her way to Bobby's front door and prepared herself. There was no guarantee Bobby was going to take her back. The Winchesters no doubt told him about what had happened with Gabriel. Perhaps the old hunter would turn her away at the door.

If worse came to worse, Zoe planned to track down Garth. He would take her in.

Bobby answered on the first few knocks, no doubt watching her from his window. His face held no expression and for a moment, Zoe's stomach dropped. This was a bad idea. Bobby wouldn't take her in. Why would he?

"Well?" he asked.

"Can I come in?" she asked. "Or are you going to tell me to fuck off too?"

"How'd you get here so fast?" Bobby asked, looking around for any sign of transportation.

"Castiel dropped me off here," Zoe lied easily.

Bobby accepted the answer and allowed her inside.

"I just got off the phone with Sam and Dean," he said, pulling out a bottle of whiskey.

"Oh," Zoe said, lingering at the door.

"Close the door," Bobby said, motioning for her to take a seat and poured the whiskey in two glasses. "Sit."

Zoe did, keeping her hands on her knees as she faced Bobby. Her heart hammered away at her chest causing her hands to shake and the whiskey to slosh about in the glass Bobby gave her.

"What were you thinking?" He asked her.

Zoe flinched, though Bobby didn't raise his voice. She could tell, however. He was mad. Furious.

"Do you want the whole story?" Zoe asked.

"If that will help me understand why you're working with the Trickster, then yes," Bobby said.

"So, you can lecture me?" Zoe asked.

"So, I can know why you did it," Bobby said. If what you're saying about the TV show is true, then you know what he's capable of."

"You do realize I'm not even old enough to drink, right?" Zoe said.

"And?"

Zoe shrugged, and took a drink, cringing as it burned its way down her throat. Bobby simply poured her another.

"I asked for his help because I know what he's capable of," Zoe said. "I know what he becomes, and it's not a villain. When the boys need his help the most, he pulls through for them. He dies for them, Bobby. He's funny and sweet when you're not fighting him. It's one of the reasons why he's a fan favorite."

Bobby scoffed, "You're pulling my leg."

"I'll tell you the story if you want," Zoe said. "I doubt it'll do much to change it."

Bobby leant back on the chair, watching Zoe expectantly. Zoe placed her glass on the table.

"About a year from now, Sam and Dean are forced to stay in a hotel," Zoe began. "Because a storm caused them to take a detour from the highway, the hotel was the only place they found to spend the night. Turns out the hotel was run by pagan gods, many who were either heads of their pantheons or representing them. They capture Sam and Dean via blood spell thanks to Kali. Then Loki shows up to try and rescue them. He gets caught in the process. He manages to fake his death to escape Kali. Then in turns out that Mercury contacted Lucifer to hand over Sam, his vessel. Sam and Dean manage to escape only because Loki stayed behind to distract Lucifer. He died for them in that hotel."

"Do the boys know that? Does he know that?" Bobby asked.

"Loki doesn't know about his future," Zoe said. "And honestly it's for the best. He's been confirmed dead by the show runners for a while now, but he's been brought back once to trick Castiel."

"You do realize how crazy this sounds," Bobby said.

Zoe smiled. "Trust me, I know. But it's the truth. Loki dies for the Winchesters. He's not the most stellar of people but he's dependable, Bobby. I trust him. I wouldn't place the life of Jack Montgomery in the hands of anyone else, not even Castiel. Loki will keep his end of our deal."

"And what did you offer him?"

"Promised I'd keep his secret. And if he needed me, I'd help him, provided it was reasonable."

"You sound confident he's not going to betray you."

"I trust the Trickster with my life, Bobby. He's not dangerous. Not really. He's troublesome and irritating but not dangerous. The whole Dean thing was to prove a point to Sam. The Winchester's codependency is dangerous. It causes a second Apocalypse, releasing one of the most dangerous monsters of all time, all because they can't stand the thought of losing each other."

"I just hope you know what you're doing kid. Messing with gods is dirty business."

"Trust me. I know."