May 17th - May 19th, 2010

"You're serious?" Sam asked.

Dean walked up and leaned against the Impala without saying anything.

"Hey," Sam said.

Dean leaned over and pulled a beer out of the cooler but still didn't say anything.

"Dean? What's going on?" Sam asked.

Dean sighed and shrugged. "I'm in."

Sam shook his head. "In with…?"

Dean shrugged. "The whole up with Satan thing. I'm on board."

"You too? You're both gonna let me say yes?" Sam asked.

Dean shook his head. "No. That's the thing. We're not letting you." He sighed. "You're a grown… well, overgrown… man." He looked at Sam. "If this is what you want, I'll back your play."

Sam was in awe. "That's the last thing I thought you'd ever say."

Dean nodded. "Might be. I'm not gonna lie to you, though. It goes against every fiber I got. I mean, truth is…" He sighed. "Ya know, watching out for you two… it's kinda been my job, ya know? But more than that, it's— it's kinda who I am. But you're not a kid anymore, Sam, and I can't keep treating you like one." He shrugged. "Maybe I got to grow up a little, too. I don't know if we got a snowball's chance. But— But I do know that if anybody can do it… it's you."

Sam nodded. "Thank you."

"If this is what you want…" Dean paused for a second. "Is this really what you want?"

Sam shrugged. "I let him out. I got to put him back in."

Dean nodded. "Okay. That's it, then."


We drove to an old building that Bobby believed had demons inside. Sam, Dean, and Cass went inside to drain the demons of their blood. Sam needed it to be strong enough to contain and control Lucifer.

I chose to stay outside with Nate and Bobby.

Nate walked up to me as I leaned up against the Impala. "How do you feel about all of this?"

I shrugged. "Not great. It's the Devil, ya know? I'm just worried. I feel like Sam can do it. I just hope he's ready."

Sam, Dean, and Cass walked out of the building with four gallons of blood in milk jugs. Dean walked over to Bobby and Nate, and I followed, while Sam and Cass loaded the jugs into the trunk.

"I still can't get used to you at eye level," Dean said to Bobby.

Bobby chuckled. "So, was I right?"

Dean nodded. "As always, Yoda. Two stunt demons inside, just like you said."

"Did you get it?" Bobby asked.

Dean nodded. "Yeah, all the 'go juice' Sammy can drink."

"You okay?" Bobby asked.

Dean shook his head. "Not really. What do you got?"

Bobby shrugged. "Not much. These look like omens to you?" He handed Dean a newspaper. "Cyclone in Florida, temperature drop in Detroit, wildfires in LA."

"Wait. What about Detroit?" Dean asked.

"Temp's dropped about twenty degrees, but only in a five-block radius of downtown Motown," Bobby said.

Dean nodded. "That's the one. Devil's in Detroit."

Bobby furrowed his brow. "Really? As far as foreboding goes, it's a little light in the loafers. You sure?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."


On our drive to Detroit, Cass had fallen asleep next to me in the backseat. Which was honestly a little concerning. He doesn't sleep.

Dean looked at him in the rearview mirror. "Aw. Ain't he a little angel?"

"Angels don't sleep," Sam said.

Dean sighed and shook his head. "Sam, I got a bad feeling about this."

Sam nodded. "Well, you'd be nuts to have a good feeling about it."

"You know what I mean. Detroit. He always said he'd jump your bones in Detroit. Here we are," Dean said.

Sam nodded. "Here we are."

Dean shrugged. "Maybe this is him rolling out the red carpet, ya know? Maybe he knows something that we don't."

Sam nodded. "Dean, I'm sure he knows a buttload we don't. We just got to hope he doesn't know about the rings. Hey, um… on the subject, there's something I got to talk to both of you about."

"What?" Dean asked.

"This thing goes our way, and I…" Sam sighed. "Triple Lindy into that box… you— you know I'm not coming back."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, I'm aware."

"So, you both got to promise me something," Sam said.

"Yeah?" I asked.

Dean nodded. "Okay. Yeah. Anything."

"You got to promise not to try to bring me back," Sam said.

Dean looked over at him. "What? No, I didn't sign up for that."

Sam sighed. "Dean—"

Dean shook his head. "Your Hell is gonna make my tour look like Graceland. You want me just to sit by and do nothing?"

"Once the cage is shut, you can't go poking at it." Sam shook his head. "It's too risky."

"No, no, no." Dean scoffed. "As if we're just gonna let you rot in there."

Sam nodded. "Yeah, you are. You don't have a choice."

Dean shook his head. "You can't ask us to do this."

"Dean…" I sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, Sam's right. If we get him out of the cage, there's a chance Lucifer could crawl out too. All of this would be for nothing."

I felt tears forming in my eyes. Even though Sam was right, the reality of it still hurt.

Dean looked at me in the rearview mirror.

"I'm sorry, Dean. You have to leave the cage alone," Sam said.

"So, then what are we supposed to do?" Dean asked.

"You take Maddi and go find Lisa. You pray to God she's dumb enough to take you in, and you— you have barbecues, go to football games, enroll Maddi in an actual school. Both of you go live some normal, apple-pie life. Promise me," Sam said.


We met Bobby and Nate in an alley near where they said Lucifer might be staying. When we parked, Bobby was watching the building with binoculars.

Bobby lowered the binoculars. "Demons. At least two dozen of them. Something's up."

Dean nodded. "More than something. He's here. I know it." He walked around to the trunk.

Bobby nodded at Sam. "I'll see ya around, kid."

"See ya around." Sam nodded and then pulled Bobby into a hug.

Bobby hugged him back and then pulled away. "He gets in… you fight him tooth and nail, you understand? Keep swingin'. Don't give an inch."

Sam nodded. "Yes, sir." He turned to Cass and held his hand out. "Take care of these guys, okay?"

Cass shook Sam's hand and looked directly into his eyes. "That's not possible."

Sam smirked. "Then humor me."

Cass's eyes widened. "Oh. I was supposed to lie. Uh…" He nodded. "Sure. They'll be fine."

Sam chuckled. "Just— Just stop… talking."

Then he started heading toward the trunk but stopped and turned to Nate. Sam shook his hand and pulled him into a hug, whispering something that I couldn't hear.

Then he turned to me, he didn't even need to say anything, and I already started getting teared up. So, he pulled me into a hug.

"Whatever happens… just keep fighting." I pulled away and looked up at him. "I believe in you, Sammy."

He wiped a tear from my cheek and smiled, looking a little misty himself. He grabbed the back of my head and kissed my forehead, then he turned back to the trunk.

"You mind not watching this?" he asked.

Sam picked up one of the blood-filled jugs, and Dean and I turned away.


About ten minutes later, Sam cleared his throat and slammed the trunk.

He took a deep breath and walked by us. "Okay. Let's go."

Dean looked down at me. "Just stay with Cass and Bobby for this, okay?"

I furrowed my brow at him. "Hell no, if this is where you guys go down, then I'm going with you."

Then I turned and walked off after Sam, and Dean followed quickly behind.

Bobby, Cass, and Nate stayed with the cars.

Sam raised his arms as we approached the demon-infested building. "All right! We're here, you sons of bitches! Come and get it!"

Three demons immediately ran outside and glared at us.

"Hey, guys. Is your father home?" Dean asked.

The demons grabbed each of us and manhandled us through the building, even though we weren't fighting back at all.

The building grew colder the higher we got, and then we reached a closed door. Cold air was rolling out from under the door. The demons opened it and shoved us in. That's when we saw Lucifer sitting on a windowsill.

"Hey, guys. So nice of you to drop in." Lucifer didn't turn to us, but he breathed on the windowpane and drew a pitchfork in the condensation. "Sorry if it's a bit chilly. Most people think I burn hot. It's actually quite the opposite."

"Well, I'll alert the media," Dean said.

Lucifer stood up and turned to us. The sores on his face had gotten way worse. "Help me understand something, guys. I mean, stomping through my front door is… a tad suicidal, don't you think?"

"We're not here to fight you," Sam said.

"No?" Lucifer asked, looking surprised. "Then why are you?"

"I want to say yes," Sam said.

Lucifer raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

Sam took a deep breath, and the demons who dragged us into the room immediately dropped dead.

"Chock-full of Ovaltine, are we?" Lucifer asked.

"You heard me," Sam snapped, "Yes."

"You're serious," Lucifer said.

Sam nodded. "Look, Judgment Day's a runaway train. We get it now. We just want off."

"Meaning?" Lucifer asked.

Sam shrugged. "Deal of the century. I give you a free ride, but when it's all over, I live, he lives, she lives, you bring our parents back—"

Lucifer shook his head. "Okay, can we please drop the telenovela? I know you have the rings, Sam."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sam said.

Lucifer rolled his eyes. "The horsemen's rings? The magic keys to my cage? Ring a bell? Come on, Sam. I've never lied to you. You could at least pay me the same respect." He shrugged. "It's okay. I'm not mad. A wrestling match inside your noggin…" He smiled. "I like the idea. Just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win… you jump in the hole. I win…" He shrugged. "Well, then, I win. What do you say, Sam? A fiddle of gold against your soul says I'm better than you.

Dean and I looked over at Sam, now more worried because Lucifer was ready for the fight.

"So, he knows. Doesn't change anything," Sam said.

Dean shook his head. "Sam—"

"We don't have any other choice," Sam said.

Dean shook his head. "No."

"Yes," Sam said.

Lucifer smiled and closed his eyes, and a bright light emanated from him. We shielded our eyes, and when I opened mine again, Sam was lying motionless on the floor.

Dean quickly pulled the Horsemen's rings out of his pocket and threw them against the wall, where they stuck. "Bvtmon… Tabges… Babalon!"

Suddenly, a hole started ripping the wall apart, sucking air, wood, and random pieces of furniture into it.

Sam started to move. Dean put his arm out, telling me not to approach as he walked up to Sam himself.

"Sammy?" he asked.

Sam sat up. "Dean!"

"Sammy!" Dean grabbed him.

Sam groaned. "I can feel him. Oh, god!"

"You got to go now! Come on!" Dean helped Sam up. "Go now, Sammy. Now!"

Sam walked toward the hole slowly and then paused. He turned back to us with a smirk on his face.

"I was just messing with you. Sammy's long gone." Lucifer turned to the hole. "Chdr bvtmon tabges babalon."

The hole closed, and then he removed the horsemen's rings from the wall.

"I told you…" He smiled at Dean. "This would always happen in Detroit." Then he disappeared.

My heart started pounding, and I felt sick to my stomach. I dropped to my knees and tried to hold back tears and anger as Dean stood there with his hands on his head in disbelief.

Dean grabbed me and pulled me up. "Come on, let's get out of here."


We went down and joined Bobby, Cass, and Nate.

Immediately after we told them what happened, it was like the light left their eyes.

We walked out of the alley and spotted a ton of people standing outside of a store watching the news from TVs in the window. We walked up and watched it with them.

"Reports are flooding in… a 7.6 earthquake in Portland, 8.1 in Boston, more in Hong Kong, Berlin, and Tehran. The USGS has no explanation but says to expect a six-figure death toll," the news anchor reported.

"It's starting," Cass said.

"Yeah, you think, genius?" Dean asked sarcastically.

"You don't have to be mean." Cass groaned.

"So, what do we do now?" Dean asked.

Cass shrugged. "I suggest we imbibe copious quantities of alcohol… just wait for the inevitable blast wave."

I felt anger building inside of me.

Dean nodded. "Yeah, swell. Thank you, Bukowski. I— I mean, how do we stop it?"

Cass shrugged. "We don't. Lucifer will meet Michael on the chosen field, and the battle of Armageddon begins."

"Okay, well, where's this chosen field?" Dean asked.

Cass shook his head. "I don't know."

"Well, there's got to be something that we can do," Dean said, desperately.

Cass shook his head. "I'm sorry, Dean. This is over."

"You listen to me, you junk-less sissy… we are not giving up!" Dean yelled. "Bobby?" He asked, but Bobby didn't respond. "Bobby?" He turned to look at him.

Bobby was standing there, looking thoroughly lost, with tears in his eyes. "There was never much hope, to begin with. I don't know what to do."

I looked at Nate, who didn't say anything, but also looked like he was at a loss. I shook my head.

"No. No, we are not doing this. Sam is still in there, and he's still fighting. I know he is. And if he can keep fighting Lucifer for us, then we are not giving up on him!" I looked at Dean. "Call Chuck. He's gotta know something."

Dean shot Bobby and Cass a look and then gestured for me to follow. "All right, let's go."

The two of us walked back to the car and got in. Dean dialed Chuck's number and put it on speaker.

After a couple rings, Chuck answered, "Mistress Magda?"

Dean and I shot each other a look.

"Um, no, Chuck," Dean said.

"Oh, uh, Dean." Chuck cleared his throat. "Uh, wow. I, uh, I didn't know that you'd call."

"Who's Mistress Magda?" I asked.

"Maddison?" Chuck's voice squeaked. "Nothing. She's a, uh— a— just a— uh… a close friend."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, I'll bet… real close. Whatever happened to Becky?"

"Didn't work out. I had too much respect for her," Chuck said.

Dean raised his eyebrows. "Boy, you really got a whole virgin-hooker thing going on, don't you?"

"Okay, this can't be why you called," Chuck said.

Dean sighed. "Sam said, 'yes.'"

"I know. I saw it. I'm just working on the pages," Chuck said.

"Did you see where the title fight goes down?" Dean asked.

"The angels are keeping it top secret… very hush-hush," Chuck said.

"Aw, crap." Dean groaned.

"But I saw it anyway. Perks of being a prophet," Chuck said.

I rolled my eyes. "You couldn't've led with that?"

"Sorry, it's tomorrow, high noon… place called Stull Cemetery," Chuck said.

"Stull Ceme—" Dean realized something. "Wait. I know that— That's— That's an old boneyard outside of Lawrence. Why Lawrence?"

"I don't know. It all has to end where it started, I guess," Chuck said.

"All right, Chuck. You know of any way to short-circuit this thing?" Dean asked.

"Besides the rings?" Chuck asked. "No. I'm sorry."

"Well, do you have any idea what's gonna happen next?" Dean asked.

"I wish that I did. But I— I just— I honestly don't know yet," Chuck said.

"All right. Thanks, Chuck," Dean said and then hung up.

Dean and I stepped out of the car and started going through the trunk to make sure we had what we needed before leaving for the cemetery.

"You goin' someplace?" Bobby asked, causing us to see that Cass, Nate, and he had approached us. "You're goin' to do somethin' stupid. You got that look."

Dean hesitated and then nodded. "We're gonna go talk to Sam."

Bobby shook his head. "You just don't give up."

"We've come this far. Why would we lay down now?!" I shouted.

"It's over," Bobby said sadly.

"It's Sam!" Dean yelled.

Cass shook his head. "If you couldn't reach him here, you're certainly not gonna be able to on the battlefield."

"Well, if we've already lost, I guess we've got nothing to lose, right?" Dean asked.

Cass sighed. "I just want you to understand… the only thing that you're gonna see out there is Michael killing your brother."

Dean sighed. "Well, then I ain't gonna let him die alone."


We stopped just outside of the cemetery.

"Are you ready for this?" Dean asked.

I nodded. "Whatever it takes."

Dean nodded, then popped one of his cassettes in and turned up the volume. Immediately, Rock of Ages by Def Leppard started playing.

"Let's do this," I said.

Dean put the car in drive, and we drove right into the cemetery.

We parked right in front of Lucifer in Sam's body and Michael in Adam's body. We stepped out of the Impala and walked around to the front, where Lucifer and Michael glared at us.

"Howdy, boys." Dean shrugged. "Sorry. Are we interrupting something?"

Lucifer tilted his head in confusion.

"Hey. We need to talk," Dean said, looking at Lucifer.

Lucifer shook his head. "Dean. Even for you, this is a whole new mountain of stupid."

"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to Sam," Dean said.

"You're no longer the vessel, Dean," Michael growled, "You got no right to be here."

Dean looked at Michael. "Adam, if you're in there somewhere, I am so sorry."

Michael shrugged. "Adam isn't home right now."

Dean nodded. "Well, then you're next on my list, buttercup. But right now, I need five minutes with him." He pointed to Lucifer.

Michael glared at him. "You little maggot. You are no longer a part of this story!"

"Hey, ass-butt!" Cass yelled.

I turned to see Cass, Nate, and Bobby standing together. Cass held up a bottle with a towel hanging out of it and lit the towel on fire. Then he threw the Molotov at Michael, causing him to go up in flames. He screamed and exploded and then vanished.

"Ass-butt?" Dean asked.

Cass shrugged. "He'll be back… and upset… but you got your five minutes."

Lucifer glared at Cass. "Castiel. Did you just Molotov my brother with holy fire?"

Cass raised his eyebrows. "Uh… no."

"No one dicks with Michael but me." Lucifer snapped his fingers, causing Cass to explode.

I jumped as the explosion splattered blood and chunks of flesh on Bobby and Nate.

Dean took a deep breath and turned back to Lucifer. "Sammy, can you hear me?"

"You know…" Lucifer said through gritted teeth. "I tried to be nice… for Sammy's sake. But you… are such a pain… in my ass."

Lucifer stepped forward and threw Dean onto the windshield of the Impala, causing it to crack.

Bobby and Nate raised their shotguns and shot Lucifer in the back. Lucifer glared and turned to them. He raised both hands, twisted one, and sliced the other through the air. Bobby's neck immediately snapped, and blood poured out of a slit in Nate's throat.

"No!" I screamed and tried to run for them, but Lucifer caught me by my face.

"Yes." He smiled.

"Don't touch her!" Dean yelled.

He tried to sit up, but Lucifer raised his hand and sent Dean back into the windshield, smashing his head against the glass again.

Lucifer gripped my face hard and examined me. "So, young and beautiful for a human." He shook his head and frowned. "Such a shame, really." He glared at me. "You had your chance, but you didn't follow through. You're a disloyal little brat."

"I was never loyal to you." I scowled.

Lucifer laughed. "You really thought you were going to win, but your brother just wasn't strong enough."

He puckered his bottom lip to mock me and then smirked, and I suddenly appeared in the front seat of the Impala.

I moved to open the doors, but the handles were missing like they had never existed. Then the car started filling with smoke, and I began coughing and choking.

Lucifer walked around to the window. "Now, you get to die slowly while you and Sammy watch me break every bone in Dean's body."

He walked over, grabbed Dean's leg, and dragged him off of the hood of the Impala. He started punching Dean, over and over again, until he started spitting up blood.

I smacked at the window as I choked for air. "Please, Sam!"

"Sammy? Are you in there?" Dean coughed.

"Oh, he's in here, all right," Lucifer said and punched him again. "And he's gonna feel the snap of your bones." He punched him again. "Every single one." He pulled Dean up against the window. "We're gonna take our time." He hit Dean about ten more times.

"Dean!" I cried.

I laid down in the front seat and started kicking the windshield as hard as possible, where it was already cracked. My vision was becoming blurry, and my lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. I was starting to feel extremely tired, but I didn't want to let go. I wasn't ready.

"Sam, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here. I'm not gonna leave you," Dean said as Lucifer continued to beat him. "I'm not gonna leave you."

As I continued to kick, I could feel my legs growing heavy. It was like I just didn't have any more energy. My body was beyond tired.

Then the windshield was suddenly completely repaired like it had never been cracked. That's when I realized it was over. I couldn't fight anymore.

I pulled my legs down and laid on the front seat. I let the tears roll down my face. I had lived my whole life in this car, and now I was going to die in it. My breathing slowed to an extreme, and then I just couldn't take another breath.


When I opened my eyes, I was standing in Bobby's house, looking at Nate.

"If I die tomorrow and I never did this…" Nate looked into my eyes. "I could never forgive myself."

I shook my head, and tears streamed down my face. "No…"

"This…" He put his hand on my cheek, leaned in, and kissed me.

I kissed him back, sad that I would never be able to again. That I would never be able to make new memories with him or anyone I cared about again.

"Everybody, get in here!" Bobby yelled from the other room. "It's time for the lineup. Usual suspects in the corner."

Nate pulled away from me, and he smiled.

As I looked into his eyes, I just broke down. I collapsed to the floor and started crying. I wished this trip to Heaven was as peaceful as it was my first time. I wished that Joshua didn't make me remember being here. Maybe then it wouldn't hurt so much to know I was never going back.

"Maddison," Cass's gruff voice said beside me.

I looked up at him. "This wasn't part of this memory."

"I know," he said and leaned down to touch my forehead.


My eyes snapped open with a gasp. I was looking up at Dean. He was holding me in his arms as he cried.

His face was completely broken. He was a bloody, battered mess. It looked like all of the bones in his face had been shattered. He barely looked like himself. Then I realized Cass was standing there too.

"Cass, are you God?" Dean asked.

Cass smiled and put his fingers to Dean's forehead, healing him and putting him back together.

"That's a nice compliment. But no. Although, I do believe he brought me back. New and improved." He walked over to Bobby and resurrected him and then did the same for Nate.

I sat up and looked at Dean. "Did he do it?"

Dean nodded and opened his hand to show me the horsemen's rings. I nodded, and tears stung my eyes, then I hugged him. He held me firmly in his arms and kissed the top of my head.


I was just kind of numb on our drive back to Bobby's house.

Sam had won control over Lucifer and opened the cage. Just as he was about to jump in, Michael returned, but Sam pulled him down into the cage too.

I knew Sam could do it, and I knew what would happen once he did, but the reality of it was hitting me really hard.

"What are you gonna do now?" Dean asked Cass.

"Return to Heaven, I suppose," Cass said.

"Heaven?" Dean asked.

Cass nodded. "With Michael in the cage, I'm sure it's total anarchy up there."

"So, what, you're the new sheriff in town?" Dean asked.

"I like that." Cass nodded. "Yeah. I suppose I am."

"Wow. God gives you a brand-new, shiny set of wings, and suddenly you're his bitch again," Dean said.

Cass shook his head. "I don't know what God wants. I don't know if he'll even return. It just… seems like the right thing to do."

"Well, if you do see him, you tell him I'm coming for him next," Dean said.

"You're angry," Cass said.

Dean scoffed. "That's an understatement."

"He helped. Maybe even more than we realize," Cass said.

"That's easy for you to say. He brought you back. But what about Sam?" Dean asked, "What about us, huh? Where's our grand prize? All we got is our brother in a hole!"

"You got what you asked for, Dean. No paradise. No Hell. Just more of the same. I mean it, Dean. What would you rather have? Peace or freedom?" Cass asked and then disappeared.

Dean looked over and shook his head. "Well, you really suck at goodbyes, you know that?"


We stopped at Bobby's salvage yard to say goodbye to him and Nate.

"You take care of yourself and that little girl," Bobby said and pulled Dean into a hug.

"I will," Dean said as he patted Bobby on the back.

"You gonna be okay?" Nate asked.

I shrugged. "I'll get through it… eventually… hopefully."

Nate pulled me into a hug. "I'll always be here for you."

I nodded, and then he pulled back, but I started crying.

He pulled me back into him. "I'm so sorry." He kissed the side of my head.

I pulled away and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Come on." Dean held his hand out to me, and I took it.

As we walked back to the Impala, he swung his arm around my shoulders.


We walked up to a nice house in a pretty neighborhood we had visited years before, and Dean knocked on the door.

Lisa opened it a moment later and looked us up and down.

"Hey, Lisa," Dean said, his voice breaking.

"Oh, thank god. Are you all right?" Lisa asked, looking at us, worried.

"Yeah. Uh, if it's not too late, I… think I'd like to take you up on that beer," Dean said, heartbroken.

Lisa shook her head and opened the door for us. "It's never too late."

Dean and I stepped in.

Lisa pulled Dean into a hug. "Shh. It's okay. It's gonna be okay."

I walked away from them and found myself in her living room. I sat down on the couch and then curled up and started crying quietly to myself.