CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: An Inconvenient Truth

Have you ever experienced excruciating pain? Something that made your whole body fold in on itself? One where you couldn't even scream because fire was surging through your veins, causing your blood to boil? One that was just blinding hot, sending pulses of suffering throughout your body, seeping into your soul?

That's how Dean Winchester was feeling at the moment.

He had his eyes squeezed shut, hoping that he could make everything go away if he just kept his eyes closed.

He could faintly hear his father talking to him, begging for him to just tell him what was going on. An ear piercing scream ripped itself from the Knight's throat as he sat there shackled to the chair.

"The- the mark-" He managed to get out, his eyes wide open and focusing on John. "Cut it off!" He pleaded, his black orbs begging his father to help him and put him out of his misery. "Burn it, do something!" His voice was gruff with pain as he spoke, silently praying to whatever God was listening that the Mark of Cain would just kill him.

He vaguely recalls John telling Mary to go fetch Sam, his mother taking off. But there was nothing that Sam could do. He was just a normal demon.

Dean knew who he needed, although he'd never admit it to any of the others. He was positive Cain wouldn't remove but if not Cain…

That line of thinking would get him nowhere. There was no way in Hell he'd help him.

"Dean?" John began, crouching slightly so he was eye level with the eldest demon who was breathing hard. "Dean!" He tried again, the Knight finally lifting his agonized gaze to meet his father's. "When was the last time you killed?"

Dean paused, taken aback by the odd question. He racked his brain, trying to remember but everything was still a little fuzzy. "I- I don't know. A while?" He guessed, having not really paid attention.

John straightened, running a shaky hand down his face as he exhaled deeply. "The Mark…"

"Wants me to kill, I know." Dean finished for him. "This was happening before, that's why I… Allison was gonna… Gonna calm the Mark. At least, she was supposed to." He swallowed, waiting for John to scold him.

Instead, the aged hunter nodded with understanding before glancing behind him, wondering what was taking Sam so long. "It's alright son, we're gonna fix this." With a strained smile, John turned and left, closing the shelving with a loud clank.

…

As John was securing the door behind him, Sam walked up looking as if he had ran. He looked slightly pale and obvious worry and panic was written all over his face.

"John, what happened? Mom wouldn't tell me anything." The demon stated, trying to push his way to the door when the hunter placed a hand on his chest. The youngest Winchester gave him a quizzical look, thinking that John had wanted him to go in there.

"Sam, we need to talk. Can you do me a favor and gather everybody up?" The bearded man asked vaguely, waiting to make sure his son would listen to him and not go in to see his brother.

Sam looked conflicted as his eyes darted between his father and the door where Dean waited. He weighed his options, thinking there was probably a good reason John wanted to talk. With a solemn nod, the demon turned and walked to the Bunker's kitchen where he knew most of the crew was preparing lunch.

…

"Tim calm down!" Allison chastised from her sitting position on the bed her and her fiancé shared.

"Calm- Calm down?!" He barked, rage evident in his hazel eyes. "That- that monster," He spat the word, pointing an accusatory finger in the general area of the dungeon. "Kidnapped and almost killed you, Ally! How can you think that's okay?"He questioned, his voice rising in volume as he spoke.

The brunette huffed in aggravation, standing up to glare at her soon-to-be-husband more effectively. "You can't honestly blame him for what happened." She said, exasperated that he was being so close-minded about the whole situation.

"How can I not again? Tell me why he should be let off the hook." He demanded, some of the edge in his tone lessening.

Allison took a calming breath, trying hard to see this from Tim's perspective but she was having some trouble. "I'm not saying that. All I'm saying, is that maybe you can take into account he wasn't completely in control? He has the Mark of Cain or whatever and from what Ellen told us, it takes over."

Tim scoffed, rolling his eyes as he shook his head. "So now we trust what a bunch of hunters have to say?"

"I'm not saying we trust anyone!" She snapped, losing her patience. "I just think we shouldn't draw conclusions just because they are hunters or because Dean…" She trailed off, unable to speak as the tears started to fall and her throat closed up while memories of her torture came rushing back.

Tim's features softened as he saw his future wife begin to crumble. Taking a step forward, he enveloped Allison in his arms and held her tight, planting a kiss on top of her head.

The brunette sniffled, burying her head in his chest as they stood there, wondering how their lives had changed so dramatically in the span of four days.

There was a soft knock at the door causing the two to pull apart, Tim's hand lingering on the small of Allison's back as she granted the person entrance.

Sam peeked his head in, looking extremely uncomfortable as he gave them a thin-lipped smile. "Uh, we called a meeting." He said sheepishly as the brunette smiled at him. "You two are invited."

"We'll be out in a minute Sam." She answered politely and grabbed her fiancés hand, dragging him through the door after the demon.

…

"So, let me get this straight." Crowley began, pouring himself a scotch before sitting down at his polished desk down in Hell. "You're telling me that Ruby, one of my best demons, was killed by one of the Winchester's hunter friends? And that they rescued Jo and Sam? And that they have now dropped off the face of the Earth, along with Dean, my latest investment?"

Meg shrugged, seeming bored by everything as she plopped heavily in one of the plush seats, crossing her legs. "What can I say, your 0 for 3." She quipped, narrowly dodging the glass that was flung at her by the furious King of Hell.

"The only reason you were sent topside was to make sure things like that didn't happen." Crowley emphasized, his face turning red as he gripped the edge of his desk hard enough to turn his knuckles white.

The brunette rolled her eyes and gave the King a pitiful look. "Are you really that scared of two demons?"

"Am I the only one who doesn't underestimate those denim wrapped nightmares?!" Crowley yelled as he threw his hands out to the side, losing all of his patience. After taking a deep breath, he smoothed out his suit coat which had gotten wrinkled from his outburst. "I'm assuming they know about what the angels are planning." The gruff looking man guessed, surprised when Meg gave him a quizzical look. "Squirrel's been keeping them busy enough to where they don't know that the Apocalypse is upon us?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" The brunette demanded, standing up.

Crowley looked amused as he watched panic flash in the demon's eyes. "The angels plan on starting Armageddon. Raising Lucifer, Hell on Earth, the whole sha-bang." He ended dramatically.

Although Crowley was radiating confidence, Meg could see a trace of fear in his hardened eyes. The King knew full well that if Lucifer was to be raised, he would no longer be in his position.

"Why would the angels want to start an all out war on Earth?" Meg asked skeptically, not completely buying what Crowley was telling her.

The grizzly man shrugged casually as a sly grin tugged at his lips. "Why don't you ask one?"

…

"I just want to start off by saying that for now, it's actually Dean up there." John began, standing at the head of the long table in order to address the group before him. Meg had appeared a few minutes ago before they started and had insisted to sit next to Castiel.

To John's left sat Allison, Tim, Sam, and Mary and to his right sat Meg, Castiel, Bobby, and Ellen.

"Can we skip the pleasantries and get to what is going on?" Sam said a little harshly, not fond of the idea that his father wouldn't let him see Dean.

The aged hunter nodded in understanding before bringing his gaze to Tim. "I just want to make sure we are all on the same page. We are going to save Dean and we need all hands on deck. If anybody isn't okay with that…" He trailed off, waiting for the Man of Letters to object. When he didn't, John gave him a small smile before clearing his throat to continue. "The Mark is physically causing Dean harm, pushing him to go out and kill. The more he kills the better he feels, the less he kills…"

"The less better he feels." Meg chimed in, shrinking a little in her seat when John shot her a glare.

"How much less better?" Mary asked, sounding hesitant at wanting to know the answer.

"The least best better." The brunette offered, receiving harsh gazes from around the table.

"So, dead?" John verified. Meg nodded, remembering Crowley mentioning something about this to her a week or two ago. The eldest Winchester ran a calloused hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "We need to get rid of the Mark."

Even though Mary had something she wanted to add, she held her tongue. She knew that it would just get shot down so she figured she would talk about it privately with Dean. Shaking her head, she returned her attention back to the conversation.

Tim raised his hand a little awkwardly as an idea came to mind. The hunter gestured with his hand for him to speak, the Man of Letters standing up as if he was in a classroom. "The Bunker has thousands of books and journals, I can start searching for anything that has to do with the Mark in those." He offered, smiling slightly at the end. Allison smiled up at him fondly, glad to see he was at least trying to be okay with the situation.

Everyone agreed, thinking that was the best place then any to start before Bobby put in his two cents.

"I got an old huntin' buddy a few states over, says he's got a demon trapped who might know somethin'. Ellen and I planned on goin' to check it out." Bobby explained, adjusting his cap.

John dismissed the pair, figuring they might as well get on the road as soon as possible. Turning to those who remained, his earnest gaze landed on Castiel. "I'm assuming getting any help from the angels is off the table?"

"Unless you wish to have Dean held captive in Heaven's Prison till the end of time, I suggest we keep him out of their arm's reach." The angel stated with a flash of pain going across his impassive gaze. Although Cas would never admit it, there were times when he missed being amongst his kind. But, he knew full well that he could never go back.

Feeling only slightly more hopeful, John dismissed everyone. He saw Mary out of the corner of his eyes head down the hall towards the dungeon but said nothing of it.

…

Mary made her way slowly down the long narrow hallways so she had enough time to think of what she was going to say to her son. She brushed some of her soft blonde curls out of her face, the strands unkempt from the amount of times she's ran her hands through them.

She took a deep breath as she mentally prepared herself when she stopped outside the door, her hands inches from the handle as she readied her thoughts. After what felt like centuries, she walked in.

The demon glanced around at the multiple shelves that were spaced throughout the small room, admiring all the Intel the Men of Letter's had collected over the years.

The sound of someone panting made its way to her ears, causing Mary to rush over to the hidden door. She pulled it open dramatically, her breath catching in her throat when she took in Dean's state.

There was dried blood around his mouth that went along with the scarlet puddle at his feet, the Mark of Cain obviously doing more damage to him than they originally thought. His complexion was pale and he had beads of sweat dripping down his face.

Dean's head shot up, black eyes locking with blue before they melted back into the brilliant green shade. "Mom?" He asked quietly as the blonde approached him.

"Are you…?" She trailed off, not really wanting to ask the question if this was really her Dean sitting before her.

"Am I me?" He scoffed, an underlying malice to the small act. "Yeah, for now at least. Being in here, I think it helps calm the beast or some other crap."

Mary just nodded before she figured that she might as well say what she had come here for. "Dean, I have a plan."

The Knight's brows creased with confusion, not following her thought process. "A plan for what?"

Mary swallowed, the idea in her head seeming radical and suicidal. But she had to tell someone and who better than the one person affected the most. "Removing the mark. I know how, who, can take it away from you."

Dean stiffened in the uncomfortable metal chair, not sure he wanted to hear that someone had the same idea as he did. "Cain won't." He said plainly, his face looking defeated when Mary shook her head.

"Not Cain." She admitted, biting the inside of her lip.

Although he really didn't want to, the middle Winchester couldn't help but ask. "Then who?" He said carefully, realization dawning on Mary's features when she understood her son had already thought of it.

"Lucifer."

…

TBC

Are we tired of this yet guys? Should I be trying to wrap this story up soon? Let me know in either a review or a Private Message if you guys are still interested or not interested. I continuously thank you for your continued support, you all are lovely. Thanks for reading, have a good week.