Stairway to Heaven Part 2

Sam, Dean, and Castiel were still trying to get into the warehouse.

"I checked all the windows and doors." Sam sighed. "No luck. What about you? You guys find anything?"

"I think so," Castiel replied. He lit up his hand blue and revealed an Enochian spell etched above the doorway. "It's Enochian. I believe it's some sort of riddle. 'Why is six afraid of seven?' Now, I assume it's because seven is a prime number, and prime numbers can be intimidating."

"It's because seven eight nine." Dean scoffed.

Suddenly, the door opened with a loud creak.

"It's wordplay." Castiel realized. "And the answer is the key, like the doors of Durin in 'Lord of the Rings.'"

Sam and Dean frowned at each other.

"Wait a second," Sam started. "You know about 'The Lord of the Rings?'"

"I'm very pop-culture savvy now," Castiel responded.

"Right," Dean mumbled.

Suddenly, Sam's phone started blaring. "Hey." He answered.

"How is he?" Angela asked.

"He's, uh… He's Cas." Sam replied. "What about you? How's it going?"

"Great. Went out, got some air. Met an old friend. Say hi to Sam, Tessa." Angela replied.

"Your wife's a psycho, Sam!" Tessa's voice could be heard.

"Ha, ha. Stop." Angela laughed dryly.

"What's going on?" Sam frowned deeply.

"You first." Angela retorted.

~/~\~

Angela and Tessa walked into the command center.

"Tessa? What are you doing?" Hannah questioned.

"You want to tell her?" Angela quirked a brow.

Tessa remained silent so Angela pulled back the top of her shirt to reveal the sigil, which Angela had obviously cut a gash across to mark it out.

"Oh, God." Hannah gasped.

"There's no God. There's only Castiel." Tessa replied.

"Oh, and you're done." Angela scoffed.

Angela walked Tessa down a hallway and shoved her into a warded room. Hannah and the other angels followed behind.

"You wounded her," Hannah commented.

"More like 'defused,' okay?" Angela corrected. "I cut up that old testament graffiti she carved into herself. I figured that would break the spell."

"And now… what will you do to her?" another angel asked.

Angela pulled out an angel blade. "Guess."

"Torture. Predictable." Flagstaff shook her head.

"We need to know if there are other bombers out there," Angela replied.

"No." Hannah cut in. "I won't allow it. I know what Tessa was planning. It's horrible, but there's only one person who can punish her."

"Let me guess," Angela pursed her lips. "Yea big, trench coat, sensible shoes?"

"You have to understand that Castiel is the only thing holding us together," Hannah explained. "A month ago, half the angels in this place were trying to kill the other half. Castiel has given us a purpose. But more than that, he has given us a way to live in peace. We have rules. Order." She stressed. "If I let you take matters into your own hands, what's to stop one of them from doing the same? You can talk to her. You should talk to her. But leave the blade outside."

"Are you asking or telling?" Angela tilted her head.

"We're not asking." One of the angels glared.

Angela stared evenly at all the angels before her without blinking an eye. She smoothly flipped the blade handle first and handed it to Hannah. Angela then calmly walked into the room with Tessa.

~/~\~

Sam, Dean, and Castiel were searching the warehouse. Sam held Grace protectively.

"You sure you don't want to go back, Cas?" Sam asked. "Look, if Angie's right about Tessa…"

"No, I, uh… I do. I just… give me a second." Castiel murmured.

Dean noticed some writing on the wall, shining his flashlight up to it. "Only the penitent man shall pass? Cas, wait!"

Cas fell to his knees just in time to avoid two huge spinning saw blades which sprung out from the wall about neck height.

"The Last Crusade," Sam muttered.

~/~\~

Angela sat across from Tessa at the table while Hannah stood to the side.

"Okay," Angela started. "Well, let's start with an easy one. Who are you working for?"

"Castiel," Tessa answered.

"Liar." Hannah spat.

"People like you, they never understand," Tessa told Hannah. "Sacrifices have to be made."

"So, you go after one of the bad guys, and if a few humans get microwaved, no big deal, right?" Angela quirked a brow.

"In the grand scheme, they don't matter." Tessa shrugged.

"Oh, Tessa," Angela shook her head. "You are so wrong."

"When Castiel came to me and told me what I had to do, he said I was chosen because I was strong. Others… they couldn't handle this. They're too weak." Tessa looked up at Hannah.

Hannah leaped at Tessa but Angela put her arm up to stop her. Angela grabbed Hannah's shoulders and shoved her out the door and into the hallway. She stepped out too and closed the door behind her.

"Settle down!" Angela yelled.

"Is—do you think she's telling the truth?" Hannah asked quietly.

"She thinks she is," Angela replied.

~/~\~

Sam, Dean, and Castiel rounded a corner, only to find a glowing door in front of them.

"Sam. Dean. We found it." Castiel breathed out.

"What?" Sam and Dean asked simultaneously.

"It's the door to Heaven," Castiel replied.

"Seriously?" Sam quirked a brow.

"What else would Metatron go to such great lengths to protect?" Castiel asked. "I can hear it. It's calling to me. If we control this door, we can take the fight to Metatron. We may not even need to fight at all."

"Cas, wait." Dean tried to stop him.

Castiel opened the door and it was revealed to be a room with atrocious party decorations. Sam and Dean walked over to a nearby table.

"Welcome to your own personal Heaven, Castiel. Good luck finding the real one." Sam read from a card.

"But… Why?" Castiel murmured.

Sam and Dean turned around to talk to Castiel, but they startled when they noticed a badly burned man leaning against the wall. Sam immediately covered Grace's eyes.

Castiel leaned down next to the man. "It's Josiah. He reeks of holy oil."

Dean noticed an empty bucket of holy oil hung over the door. "Yeah. Looks like he got 'Home Alone'-ed."

"So, all of this—it was a lie." Castiel frowned deeply.

Josiah jerked to consciousness and grabbed Castiel's wrist. "Supposed to be here… Gate… He told me… After Ezra, he told me that I should come to him. Metatron told me that I could go home. I just wanted to go home."

Castiel went to heal Josiah. "Here. Let me—

"No!" Josiah stopped him. "I would rather die than owe my life to you, Castiel. You play at being noble. You play at being one of us. But I look into your eyes… And I don't see an angel staring back at me."

~/~\~

Angela walked back into the room with Tessa.

"Where's your friend?" Tessa asked.

"Just you and me now," Angela replied. "Here's the deal. I like you, Tess, okay? For an angel. But tell me, why are you doing this?"

"Castiel." She answered.

"No, forget Cas," Angela replied. "Why are you doing this? What would make a person want to pop their top, huh? I mean, look, I've been in bad shape. I have. But I have never been that damn low."

"I guess I just can't take the screaming," Tessa whispered.

"Who's screaming?" Angela asked.

"All of them. The lost souls." Tessa replied. "The ones that can't get into Heaven now that it's been boarded up. I hear them. They are so confused. They're in so much pain. All I want to do is help them. It's what I do. It's my job." She explained. "But I can't. So, I suffered… Until death, nothingness. Suddenly, it didn't seem so bad. It seemed quiet."

"So, why don't you just jam an angel blade in your throat and call it a day?" Angela tilted her head.

"I thought about it," Tessa admitted. "But I was too weak. Till Castiel gave me a reason to die."

"Yeah." Angela pursed her lips. "See, that just doesn't sound like the Cas I know."

"But doesn't it, though?" Tessa retorted. "And the Cas you know, would he raise an army of angels without telling you? 'Cause this Cas did. I'll tell you a secret. There's more out there… Like me. So many more."

"You got names?" Angela interrogated.

"That would ruin all the fun," Tessa smirked.

"No." Angela shook her head. "No, see… the fun's just getting started."

Angela pulled the First Blade from his jacket and Tessa took a few steps back.

"Angela, what have you done?" Tessa frowned deeply.

"What I had to." Angela murmured. "Welcome to the club."

Tessa sprinted at Angela and impaled herself on the blade in Angela's hand.

"Thank you." She breathed before dying in a bright light.

Hannah and a few other angels burst into the room as Angela started to feel the high from the kill.

~/~\~

Angela was handcuffed to a chair in the warded room. She had duct tape over her mouth and her nose was bleeding. Hannah opened the door as Castiel, Dean, and Sam burst in. Sam immediately handed Grace to Dean.

"She put up a fight," Hannah commented.

"Get out," Castiel commanded.

Sam moved quickly to Angela and ripped off the duct tape.

"Ah!" Angela yelled in pain. "You should have seen the other 10 guys, babe."

"They said you killed Tessa?" Castiel questioned.

"Not so much. She knifed herself." Angela replied.

"Yeah?" Sam asked as he removed the handcuffs. "Why would she do that, Angela?"

"I don't know, Sam. She was saying all kinds of crap." Angela shrugged.

"So, that's why you brought out the First Blade?" Sam raised his brows.

"They told you about that, huh?" Angela mumbled.

"We had a deal," Sam replied firmly.

"Yeah, well, it was a stupid deal." Angela glared.

"Really?" Dean asked. "'Cause if you'd stuck to it, Tessa would still be alive. Without her, we ain't got jack."

"Yeah, you think I don't know that? You think I wanted that to happen?" Angela snapped.

"I don't know, Angie. Did you?" Sam asked.

"Alright, that's enough. Stop it." Castiel cut in.

"Commander," Hannah opened the door. "I'm sorry, but you have a call… From Metatron."

~/~\~

Castiel and the three hunters walked into the main room as Metatron waited patiently on a video call.

"Castiel." He greeted. "Bet you're not happy to see me."

"Is anyone, ever?" Dean questioned.

"Dean, always with the B-grade '80s-action-movie wit." Metatron smiled smugly.

"What do you want, Metatron?" Sam huffed.

"Just to tell ass-tiel, there, that I'm still alive. His bomber failed." Metatron replied.

"My bomber?" Castiel's brows furrowed.

"The crazy guys. Big knife. Kablooey." Metatron recapped. "I'm fine, thanks for asking, but Gadreel is wounded, and Tyrus—R.I.P. His followers are not your biggest fans, by the way. They've all come over to my team."

"I didn't send anyone to kill you." Castiel glared.

"Oh, stop lying, Castiel." Metatron chastised.

"Who are you to lecture me on lying?" Castiel demanded. "Your deception led to the fall."

"I did what I had to do," Metatron argued. "I have always done what I have to do, for God and for the angels."

"Sure. Yeah, you're mother Teresa with neck beard." Angela sassed.

"What I did was neither good nor bad. It was necessary—a small hardship to make us all stronger, to make us a family again." Metatron explained.

"Yeah, except for the angels you had Gadreel kill." Sam retorted.

"Okay, yes." Metatron rolled his eyes. "Maybe I got a little carried away at first, but those days are over. A near-death experience makes you re-evaluate. So, one time only, I'm offering amnesty. Every angel, no matter what their sin, may join me and return to Heaven. I will be their God, and they can be my heavenly host."

"Why would we follow you?" Hannah demanded.

"Well, look around. You've seen Earth. You've had a taste of free will." Metatron replied. "I got to ask you—do you like it? I mean, the way you've flocked off to follow Castiel tells me you need to follow someone. It's in your DNA. But Cas—he's not what you think he is." He explained. "He sends angels out to die. Have you told them about your stolen grace, Castiel? How it's fading away, and when it burns out so will you?" he raised a brow. "So… No, then. I'm not the best, but I'm the best you've got. You want to stay with Castiel, fine, but he's playing you, because at the end of the day, the only thing he cares about is himself, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy boys over there. You've got a choice to make. Make the right one."

Metatron clicked off and a hush fell over the room.

"He's lying." Castiel turned to the angels.

"About the grace?" Hannah asked.

Castiel hesitated for a moment. "It's complicated."

"So, he wasn't lying," Hannah replied.

"He was about everything else," Castiel assured. "He… you believe me, don't you?"

"I want to believe you, but I… we need proof." Hannah murmured.

"Name it," Castiel replied quickly.

"Punish her." Hannah pointed to Angela.

"What?" Angela frowned deeply.

"She murdered Tessa. She broke our rules." Hannah reminded.

"Y'all can all go to hell." Angela turned to leave, but was stopped by the angels.

"Angela." Castiel murmured.

Sam and Dean went to Angela's aid, but were also subdued by the angels.

"Hey, wait a sec—

"You gave us order, Castiel, and we gave you our trust. Don't lose it over one human." Hannah handed a blade to Castiel. "This is justice."

Castiel took the blade and held it as he considered. Angela stared at him in shock.

"No." Castiel decided. "I can't."

"Goodbye, Castiel," Hannah replied sadly.

All of the angels quietly filed out of the room leaving the three hunters and Castiel standing there alone.

~/~\~

Castiel, Sam, Dean, and Angela walked into the bunker. Dean held Grace in his arms.

"I'm gonna put the munchkin to bed, let you guys talk…" Dean muttered before leaving the room.

"So, Angie, uh… are we gonna talk about this, or what?" Sam raised his brows.

"About what?" Angela retorted. "Yeah, I lied, but you were being an infant."

"Wow." Sam scoffed. "That apology—

"Oh, I'm not apologizing." Angela interrupted. "I'm telling you how it's gonna be."

"Angie, that blade—

"That blade's the only thing that can kill Metatron, and I am the only one who can use it… so, from here on out, I'm calling the shots." Angela glared darkly. "Capisce? Look, until I jam that blade through that douchebag's heart, we are not a team. This is a dictatorship." She snarled. "Now, you don't have to like it, but that's how it's gonna be."

Sam's angry look propelled him away while Angela went up the stairs and sat down across from Castiel.

"So, batteries…" she trailed off.

"I'm fine," Castiel replied.

"No, you're not." Angela sighed. "How long you got?"

"Long enough to destroy Metatron, I hope." Castiel murmured. "But without an army…"

"Well, hey, you still got us." Angela smiled a small smile.

"Angela," Castiel looked at her. "Those bombers—you don't really think that I—

"Cas, you just gave up an entire army for one person." Angela reminded. "No, there's no way that you blew those people away."

"You really believe we four will be enough?" Castiel asked.

"We always have been." Angela shrugged.

Sam and Dean walked into the room at the same time as Gadreel did. Sam shouted a warning and Dean and Angela leaped to the defense.

"Guys!" Sam yelled.

"I'm not here to fight." Gadreel held his hands up. "I thought about what you said. You're right. Metatron, he's… something needs to be done."

"And we should trust you why?" Dean glared.

"Because I can give him to you." Gadreel replied. "I know where Metatron is. I know everything. I know the bombers. They were his agents, not yours. You don't trust me, fine. I understand. I've… made mistakes. But haven't you? Haven't we all? At least give me a chance."

Dean, Sam, and Angela exchanged a look. Angela stepped forward and extended her left hand to shake Gadreel's. However, as soon as the angel grasped it, Angela yanked the First Blade out of her jacket and slashed Gadreel deeply across the chest. Sam, Dean, and Castiel all leaped at Angela and held her back as she snarled under the full power of the blade. Gadreel fell heavily to the ground.

A/N: Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know it's going up a little late, I was just exhausted after school. I absolutely loved writing this chapter, so I'm excited to hear what you think. Love you guys, xoxo :)

~Emily