I lost track of time staying in that room. I drifted in and out of consciousness. At one point I could have sworn I heard Michael laughing at me and I nearly had a heart attack before I realized it was just in my head. At one point I heard him, still using Dean as a meatsuit, taunting me in my head.

'You're nothing, little one. They never really cared about you. They just acted like it to spare your feelings. Really, they think you're a monster and they should be hunting you instead of taking care of you.'

I sat bolt upright on the couch, cold sweat dripping off my skin. Again, I calmed down once I realized it wasn't real. However, something about this wasn't sitting right with me. Something had to have happened for Michael to not return for me sooner. Something about teasing me was just so entertaining for him.

XxX

I must have drifted off again because when I opened my eyes, a woman who I had never seen before sat across from me. I immediately sat up, brows furrowing in confusion.

"Oh, little one, it's still me in here," the woman purred, smirking at me.

"M-Michael?"

The woman nodded, standing from her seat.

"What happened to Dean?"

"I needed to lull Dean into a false sense of security. He was fighting me just a bit too much for my liking. So, I decided to let him go back to his family for a bit. Recharge so I can regain full and absolute control."

"You're insane."

"I'm a genius, little one, and your part in this will be clear soon. Right now, I must go prepare for my sword's return."

"He'll never let you back in! Not after what you did!"

"Don't you realize, little one?" Michael held onto my chin, forcing eye contact. "He has no choice. I've thought of everything."

Sam, Dean and I were in one of the lock ups John set up. Zachariah had appeared and was explaining to Dean how he was Michael's chosen vessel. Sam was currently on the ground with two broken legs while I, for some reason, so far had escaped getting hurt.

"There's a reason you're telling me this instead of just nabbing me," Dean realized. "You need my consent. Michael needs my say-so to ride around in my skin."

"Unfortunately, yes," Zachariah confirmed.

"Well there's got to be another way."

"There is no other way. There must be a battle. Michael must defeat the serpent. It is written."

"Yeah, maybe. But, on the other hand... Eat me. The answer is no."

"Okay. How about this? Your friend Bobby- we know he's gravely injured. Say yes, and we'll heal him. Say no, he'll never walk again."

Sam and I both looked up at Dean with wide eyes.

"No," Dean deadpanned.

"Then how about we heal you from..." Zachariah paused, thinking, "stage-four stomach cancer?"

Dean doubled over, coughing blood into his hand.

"No," he spat at the angel.

XxX

Dean stood in front of the broken vessel of the alternate universe Michael. Cass and I stood behind him.

"If we do this, it's a one-time deal. I'm in charge. You're the engine, but I'm behind the wheel. Understand?"

Michael nodded.

"Dean-" Cass called out.

"Then, yes," Dean said.

My eyes shot open. I was in a different room, still sitting on a couch. We were in a penthouse. The woman Michael was occupying stood staring out at the city scape. He turned, smirking when he saw I was awake and put a finger to his lips. He walked over and took a seat on the couch beside me. Before I could say anything, a man and a woman walked in carrying Jack in between them. I looked over at Michael, who's eyes were trained on Jack.

"Why am I here? Why didn't you just kill me?" Jack spat at Michael.

"In your present, powerless condition? Why would I bother?" Michael inquired, standing and heading back over to the giant windows. "Are you familiar with Kansas City- the people, the terrain? Back in my world, I enlisted a garrison to invade it. We leveled it. Death from above. But there was human resistance. Things got messy. I'm trying something different this time- an insurgency from within. My monster army turning every last man, woman and child- a wave of transformation. Vampires or werewolves- it won't matter which. Everyone they turn will be mine. No muss, no fuss."

"Why would you think I want to hear any of this?" Jack inquired. "I hate you."

Michael turned back to face him.

"Oh, but Jack, we're family. You know, in fact, we're the only kin each other has left in this world."

"My uncle's in the Cage," Jack spat, and I flinched. "And you- you're not family."

Michael glanced at me briefly, before addressing Jack once more.

"Well, not literally, no. Our connection, our relation is more of a matter of scale of power. Haven't you learned yet? In this reality, monsters, humans, even angels- they are insects, atoms compared to us. But you," he chuckled, "- you're just a child, a mere infant. For you, the past two years- the entirety of your existence- feel like eons. You don't even know what time is. But you will. Real time, the time that makes mountains, that wipes out species. You'll see it all with me."

"No," Jack hissed, but Michael just continued his rant.

"Year by year, century by century, and as your power returns and grows, we'll only become more alike. Oh, I know. Your loyalty to Castiel, the Winchesters, the rest of humanity? It will fade. And so will the minor differences- angel armies versus monster armies, this Kansas City or that Kansas City, one world from another- they'll fade, too."

"Sam, Dean, and Castiel. They'll come for me," Jack insisted.

"Mm," Michael hummed, looking to me and beckoning with a finger.

I felt myself stand and follow him out against my own volition.

"Time for you to discover your part in this, little one," he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling the back of my neck.

A chill ran down my spine and I swallowed, fearful of what Michael had planned for me.

XxX

Michael had me bound and gagged to the side. I couldn't move and couldn't make a sound. He was pouring himself a drink as sirens and horns sounded in the distance.

"Come on, fellas. You're going to miss the show," he said to the room.

He took a seat, fidgeting in the chair.

"Mm," he closed his eyes, then smiled. "There he is."

When his eyes opened they were glowing blue and every instinct I had told me to shrink away, despite the fact that I was immobile per his orders. When he spoke, it was in a singsong.

"Castiel. You do realize I can feel you in here. There's no need to be," Castiel materialized attacking Michael, "coy."

"Michael," Cass hissed.

They continued to fight, all the while Michael taunting Cass.

"Tell me something, Cass. Why'd you come alone? Advance scout?" Michael threw Cass into a wall. "Not that strong. But, hey, if they want to miss all the festivities, well, that's their loss."

The woman he was possessing was wearing a rather large cocktail ring, which he managed to nail Cass in the face with.

"But I got a schedule to keep," he continued, dragging the limp angel over so he lay next to me.

He pulled my gag away and nodded, giving me my cue as Sam, Dean and Jack burst through the door.

"NO!" I screamed, as Michael used his powers to stop Sam and Jack.

Dean surged forward out of the shadows, a spear in his hands.

"Dean, stop!" I yelled, but it was too late.

Michael managed to block the first several lunges.

"You got it," he stated the obvious.

"I sure did," Dean replied, continuing to miss Michael with each swing.

Michael managed to seize Dean by the throat, forcing him to drop the spear.

"I'm so glad you could make it tonight," Michael told him. "I know you hate me, Dean, but don't forget- you let me in."

He dropped Dean unceremoniously to the floor and continued to talk.

"And now you get to see it- everything your mistake will make possible- all the bloodshed, all the death- all on you."

I managed to snap the bonds around my wrists and slid the spear closer to Dean.

"Dean!" I called to him.

He grabbed it, taking a swing and managing to cut Michael's arm, relinquishing his hold on Sam and Jack.

"Trust me, that's going to leave a scar," Dean spat at the archangel.

He aimed the spear at Michael's throat.

"Kill him!" Jack shouted.

It was like time stood still. No one moved and then...

"Dean?"

There was a crackle of energy as Dean broke the spear. He turned around to face everyone, eyes glowing blue.

"No," Sam breathed.

Michael smirked, "Yeah. When I gave up Dean, you didn't think to question it, to ask why? Dean was resisting me. He was too attached to you, to all of you. He wouldn't stop squirming- to get out, to get back. So I left, but not without leaving the door open just a crack."

"Why wait?" Cass snarled.

"To break him, to crush and disappoint him so completely that, this time, he'll be nice and quiet for a change- buried. And he is. He's gone."

Michael downed the remainder of the whiskey glass. "And now I have a whole army out there, waiting, ready for my command, ready for this."

Winking at me, he raised a hand and snapped his fingers together.