Thank you so much Jenjoremy for beta'ing this and Gredelinaa for helping me get it written. This is the last full chapter of the story. Buckle in and enjoy the ride.

Chapter Sixteen

Cas followed Crowley for days, but the demon gave nothing away about Lilith's plan. Cas was beginning to wonder if he even knew anything. He seemed preoccupied with making his deals, damning souls to the pit. Cas hated to watch; he wanted to intervene, to tell the people to run, that nothing could be worth their soul, but he had to remain hidden.

It occurred to him that if he killed Crowley, the demon wouldn't be there to team up with later, thereby saving that part of the future. That had been Cas's original intention in plotting with Sam, to save himself from needing to make that deal with the King of Hell. But it had become so much more than that now. They were stopping the apocalypse, saving not only the lives of people he cared for, but also millions he didn't even know the names of. Killing Crowley would not achieve that. Besides, with the smallest chance that they may fail still there, Crowley was needed. They knew how he operated and behaved, and they knew how he managed Hell. He was a good ruler, if such a thing existed when you were speaking of Hell.

And, a small voice whispered to Cas, if you do fail, you will need him to open Purgatory. How else will you defeat Raphael?

Cas tried to ignore that voice.

Each time Crowley relocated, Cas had to wait for him to arrive at his new destination before he could find him again. Though he wasn't as nearly as powerful as Lilith, Crowley was still a higher-level demon, and it made him easier to track than a demonic foot soldier. He had just left Cas in the middle of an abandoned crossroads just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, having checked in with one of his salesmen, and Cas was waiting for his essence to reveal itself. When it happened, Cas followed it to an alley in Houston. In Crowley's hands was a silver goblet, filled almost to the brim with blood. The donator of the blood was on the dirty ground at Crowley's feet with garbage bags and discarded litter, his throat slit into a wide, gaping smile.

"Where?" Crowley asked.

The blood bubbled and Cas heard a voice respond. "Peoria, Illinois. Don't keep me waiting."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Crowley said cheerfully.

Cas was already in motion. He spread his wings and took flight. He could feel Lilith's presence, and he honed in on it, allowing it to lead him to where he needed to be. He came to rest in a vast cemetery. Marble headstones were dotted around among the grander statues of angels and cherubs.

Lilith was standing beside one of the graves, her hair glinting in the early morning light like the dew on the grass. Cas looked around, wary of other demons or angels, but there were none. They were alone in the place for a moment before Crowley arrived.

"Lilith," he said, "pleasure to see you as always. What can I do for you this time?"

"For me? Nothing," Lilith said. "I just thought you'd earned the right to see the plan come together."

Crowley glanced around. "Okay," he said slowly. "And the plan comes together in a graveyard why?"

Cas already knew the answer. He could hear the scrabbling and he could see the earth bulging slightly as the occupant of the grave forced his or her way to the surface. He had seen this once before. After he had saved Dean, he had waited at that grave for him to emerge. It hadn't occurred to him then to help Dean's passage back to the world. He had watched as Dean dragged himself from his own grave, unmindful of the trauma of something like that. He would never do that again, not to a friend or foe, but he couldn't help this person without alerting Lilith and Crowley to his presence.

His eyes found the grave marker and as he read the name, he felt a shudder sweep through him. He knew this person, or more accurately knew of her. Ava Wilson. She had been one of Azazel's special children. Dragged into Cold Oak with the first group, she had fought and won each bout until Sam's group came, and then she had been killed by Jake Talley. For a moment Cas wondered how she had come to be buried here, in a respectable grave, when by rights she should still be rotting in South Dakota, and then he realized it could only have been Sam. Despite what she had done to others, despite what she had tried to do to him, he would not leave her body for animals to pick over. It would have been simple for him, an anonymous 911 call and she would have been returned to her family. It was so like Sam that it was obvious.

The earth broke and fingers scrabbled at the surface, trying to find purchase. Lilith glanced at Crowley. "This is taking too long."

Crowley bent and dug his fingers into the earth. His straightened, dragging Ava out by the wrist. When he released her, she fell to her hands and knees, panting. She was smeared with the dirt of her grave and her eyes were wide as she looked up at Lilith.

Lilith's eyes were white as she looked down at Ava and said, "My name is Lilith and I have work for you to do."

Ava stood slowly, pushing herself to her feet and straightening her spine. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to utilize those skills you developed so magnificently in Cold Oak and kill someone."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Kill who?"

"Sam Winchester," Lilith said.

Ava smiled evilly. "Consider it done."

"There's just one thing we need you to do first…" Lilith said with an indulgent air.

"Cas! Cas, you son of a bitch, get down here now!" Sam roared.

He didn't know if his Cas was even hearing him. For all he knew, his prayers could be going to the dick that had just kidnapped his brother, and it wasn't like he was going to answer.

Sam didn't know what else to do though. Anna had gone to search for Cas, to tell him what had happened, so Sam was alone. He'd called Bobby and he was on his way back, but that would take hours and there was no way to know what was happening to Dean in the meantime. Sam was anxious for the older hunter to arrive, even though he didn't know what he expected Bobby to do.

Sam was losing his mind, and though that was probably the very worst thing he could do in that moment, he couldn't help it. Dean was gone, and there was probably only one reason for the angels to step in and kidnap Michael's vessel now; Lilith was about to launch her Plan B.

He threw himself down into a chair and covered his face with his hands. He had to calm down, he needed to take a breath and think, but all he could think about was Dean being held God knew where while Lilith was being killed.

But he did know where! The answer came to him as soon as he thought about it. Last time, when Sam had been with Ruby, killing that poor girl and drinking the blood, Dean had been taken to the beautiful room. The beautiful room that Adam had been held in, too. Sam knew where that was. Van Nuys, California.

Sam was on his feet in an instant. "Anna! Come back! I know where he is!"

Anna arrived an instant later in a flurry of noise. Her expression as tense as she asked, "Where is he?"

"Van Nuys. I remembered."

"Why would Cas be in Van Nuys?"

"Not Cas," Sam said, frustrated at her slowness. "Dean. He's in that room the angels took him to last time."

"Sam, we need to focus on what matters. We need Cas, not Dean. You said yourself that the only reason the angels would come for Dean now is if Lilith is prepared to act. We need to stop Lilith, not find Dean. We have to find out where Lilith is."

But Sam already knew that, too. She would be in the convent in Maryland. Cas said there was an appointed place but not time. However she thought she was going to be killed, that was where it would happen. If he told Anna that, she would take him there, though, and he couldn't go. He needed to find Dean. If Lucifer rose, who knew what the angels would do to Dean in order to get him to say yes. Sam couldn't let that happen, not to his brother. They would get Dean back and then deal with Lilith.

Anna stiffed suddenly and flung Sam behind her. She spread her arms wide, and Sam knew what was coming—an angel.

Cas appeared and Sam was already struggling to get around Anna to attack him when he realized his mistake. Cas wasn't wearing his tie.

"Cas?" he asked.

"Yes."

They both started speaking at once.

"Lilith has resurrected Ava—"

"Castiel took Dean—"

Sam stopped, took a breath, and then started again. "Castiel came and took Dean. I think they're in Van Nuys again. We've got to go get him back."

"Sam," Cas said a little sadly. "Ava has been raised. She is Plan B. We have to stop them."

"But Dean…"

"Is not the mission," Cas said. "I know what you fear and feel, I feel the same, but we have to stop Lilith. That is why we are here."

Cas couldn't understand. They had their profound bond or whatever but Dean was Sam's brother. That mattered more than anything.

"I need to get him back, Cas."

Cas smiled sadly. "I know you do, but we cannot lose sight of what matters."

"Dean matters!"

"I know, but Lilith is more important now. That is what Dean would care about. He would make that the mission and fight for it. You have to do the same, Sam."

Sam hated it, hated it, but he knew Cas was right. He had to stow what he wanted and needed and think of the world. It was harder than almost anything, but it was what Dean would want him to do. Then an idea occurred to him. A compromise.

"Okay," he said in a defeated tone. "We'll work Lilith, I'll deal with her, but you've got to go after Dean. He needs to be safe, too."

"But Lilith—"

"No!" Sam snapped. "I will take care of her. You've got to take care of Dean." He hesitated for a moment and then made one final plea. "Please, Cas. I need to know that Dean's going to be okay."

"I think he's right, Cas," Anna said gently. "I can help Sam. You are better equipped to take care of Dean. If you are there, the other you, you can reason with him. If I go, he will kill me without question."

Cas looked torn. It was obvious he wanted to take care of Lilith, too, but Sam was right when he said Dean mattered.

"I need this, Cas," Sam said desperately.

For a long moment, Cas was silent, and then he nodded. "Okay. I will go to California but you must both go to Lilith. It will take them time to prepare. Ava will need to drink a massive amount of blood and she will probably need to practice on a few lesser demons first, but you still don't have long. Sam, you must stop Ava before she kills Lilith. Lilith must not die."

Sam nodded jerkily and grabbed the Impala keys from the counter. He jogged outside and opened the trunk, taking in the wealth of weapons on offer. He stuffed his favored Taurus in the back of his pants and then stuffed a knife in his boot.

Anna and Cas had followed him outside and they stood waiting as he stared into the trunk at Dean's gun. He had no weapon with him. Bobby's house was supposed to be their safe haven. He'd been taken without even his gun to defend himself.

"Sam?" Cas said.

Sam shook his head and slammed the trunk closed. "I'm ready. Cas, just… get him out, please."

"I will," Cas vowed. "And you… stop her."

Sam nodded. "Consider it done."

Cas stared into his eyes for a moment and then he was gone. Anna stepped to Sam's side and intertwined her fingers with his. There was a moment of weightlessness and then they were standing outside the convent. A chill of horror swept through Sam at being back in this place. It was steeped in the memories of his greatest mistake.

He had no time to dwell on it though. He shoved at the heavy wooden doors, but they would not budge. "Anna?" he said pointedly.

She walked forward and shoved them open with one hand, breaking the heavy bolt that held them closed from the inside. Sam ran through into the long hall. His heart pounded against his ribs. What was he going to find at the end? Would Lilith already be dead? Would he be too late? Would Lucifer already be there waiting for him and his consent? There was another set of doors, and he shoved them open, breath held tight in his chest.

The room was empty.

It looked the same as it had last time, with the heavy altar covered with cloth, but there was no one there. Not yet anyway.

"We're not too late," Anna said. "Lucifer hasn't risen."

Sam knew that. There would be blood if he had. Lilith's blood spilled into an intricate pattern on the floor.

"Good," Sam said brutally.

Just then, Sam heard footsteps coming along the hall.

"It's Castiel," Anna said in a fearful tone.

"Run!" Sam ordered. "Go! Help Cas and Dean!"

She didn't move though. She drew her blade and squared her stance, preparing to fight. Sam moved to stand behind the door and drew the knife from his pocket. He cut across his palm, drawing a thick stream of blood and he began to daub on the wall. Anna shook her head, but he ignored her.

"I am not here to fight, Anna," Castiel said, hurrying into the room.

Sam deliberated for a moment, unsure what to do. It could be a trick or a trap, or this could be Castiel's redemption. He stared at this young version of his friend.

Cas had made a deal; Sam was to stop Ava and he was to save Dean. It was the right thing to do, but that didn't stop him from wishing he hadn't done it. He wished he had made any other deal, one that would have enabled him to stay with Sam. He wanted to be there to protect and support. Sam needed him, but here he was, standing outside a dingy warehouse in Van Nuys.

He didn't know what he was going to face when he went into that place, but he knew it was less frightening to him than the idea that Sam would fail. He would gladly give his life if it meant Sam would succeed. It would be worth it. He only hoped Anna would have the same dedication to the cause.

There was a very real possibility that he was going to face himself now, the version that belonged in this time. How would that end? Perhaps in some crazy twist of fate, he would be killed by his own hand. He tried to imagine how he would react if he met himself spouting a story about time travel and saving the world—there was no way his past self would believe it. He was still faithful to the rules of the changeless universe.

Cas took a deep breath and entered the warehouse. He remembered the last time he had been here, banishing spell carved into his flesh. It cost him almost the last of his grace to do it. It had been worth it.

The warehouse was much as he remembered, rust pitted walls and grimy floor, but he cast the place no more than a passing glance as he walked towards the door that possibly led to his death.

It opened to his touch and he stepped through, feeling the touch of the divine as he entered. The room was exactly the same, priceless works of art on the walls, antique furniture and marble floors. Dean was sitting with his back to him with his head in his hands. Cas had all of a moment to appreciate the sight of his friend unhurt before he realized Dean wasn't alone. How could he have forgotten?

Zachariah stood across the room, examining one of the paintings on the wall. He turned and frowned. "Castiel. What are you doing here?"

Cas understood at once and he blessed his luck. Zachariah thought he was the Castiel of this time.

Dean spun in his chair to look at him. For a moment he looked furious and then his eyes widened as comprehension dawned on him. Cas had not replaced his tie; the only differing feature to his past self was obvious to Dean but it would be no more than a curiosity to Zachariah if he even noticed it at all. Dean got to his feet and moved to stand against the wall.

"I ran into a complication," Cas said, pulling the words out of nowhere. "There were many demons."

Zachariah scoffed. "Lilith going with minions? I never imagined she would be so cowardly. Still, I do not understand why that should have stopped you. You have never been a coward before."

"I was almost expelled from my vessel. I thought it prudent to return for assistance and instruction."

Zachariah nodded slowly. "Okay. Well, my instruction is that you return and remained concealed. If the other Winchester comes, kill him."

"You bastard!" Dean shouted, picking up a heavy vase and throwing it to the ground in an inexplicable show of anger. Dean was usually more controlled. Then Cas noticed him shifting his feet, dragging a large shard of porcelain towards him. Cas wasn't entirely sure what his plan was, but he knew keeping Zachariah distracted was vital.

"You want me to kill Sam Winchester?" Cas asked, walking towards Zachariah, ensuring he was facing Dean so Zachariah would have to look away to meet his eye. Behind him, Dean nodded and bent to pick up the shard.

"Of course," Zachariah said. "He is a nuisance and a menace. If he is dead, he will be out of the way until the pertinent moment. He can be resurrected just in time for Lucifer to take him over."

Dean had cut across his palm. Cas understood. He was going to banish them.

"How do you know he will give his consent?" Cas asked.

"Because he is weak," Zachariah said. "And there is only so much any man can take before he breaks. Isn't that right, Dean?"

Zachariah turned and Cas saw his shoulders stiffen. "What do you think you're doing, ant?" He started walking forward at a steady yet menacing pace.

Cas froze for a moment before launching into action. He ran forward, right up to Zachariah and his blade slid into his hand. In a swift, smooth movement, he plunged it into the back of Zachariah's neck. It pierced muscle and flesh and scraped against bone. Cas heard a faint gasp, a gurgle, and then Zachariah fell forward, hitting the ground with a thud. Bright light spilled around the body and Dean covered his eyes.

"Cas," Dean breathed, slowly lowering his arm from his face.

Cas looked down at his dead brother and nodded. "He is dead."

"Yeah, I can see that. Kinda hard to live through a sword through the neck." Dean shook his head, becoming serious at once. "Where's Sam?"

"He is with Anna," Cas said. "They are going to stop Lilith. Ava has been raised and she is to kill Lilith."

"You sent him after Lilith alone?" Dean growled. "Are you insane? He's going to get killed. What the hell were you thinking? He's come all this way to save and you sacrificed him to Lilith like it was nothing!"

Cas stiffened. "I have sacrificed nothing, least of all Sam. You are not the only person who cares about him, Dean."

"Yeah? Prove it. Take me to my damn brother right now!"

"I am not here to fight," Castiel said almost desperately. "I want to help."

Sam froze. The sigil was drawn on the wall and his palm was bloody, but he didn't know whether to use it now. This could be Castiel's redemption. This was the point when he had chosen the right side last time, but this Castiel seemed so different. Was he lying? Sam was torn.

Anna glanced at Sam and he saw the same indecision in her face. He needed guidance but there was none to be had.

"Please, Anna," Castiel said. "Let me help you. Lilith is coming."

He waved his hand and the door concealing Sam swung closed. He looked at Sam with imploring eyes. "I can help, Sam."

Sam lowered his bloody hand and nodded slowly. He believed. He had to believe. This was Castiel, not the right version perhaps, but still Castiel. If this was his redeeming moment, he needed a chance.

He breathed a short sigh of relief and then, once again, it all went wrong.

Castiel and Anna gasped in unison and Cas breathed, "Lilith."

It took Sam all of a second to decide what to do. Angels couldn't kill Lilith. They hadn't even been able to kill Alastair; he'd almost expelled Castiel from his body when they'd come face to face. It played out like a slideshow in his mind. Castiel facing Lilith. Lilith snatching the blade. Castiel dead on the floor, his magnificent wings as ashy marks on the floor. If Castiel died now, not only would Sam lose family, he would lose his chance to change the future. There would be no do-over. There would be no help. The world would be doomed. He couldn't let it happen. He had to act. He slammed his hand on the sigil and the force swept through the room, dragging Castiel and Anna away.

He was alone for a moment, and then the door swung open and Lilith and Ava walked into the room. Lilith was in the body of a young woman, a beautiful woman, and Sam felt a pang of guilt for her fate.

"Sam," Lilith said with glee when she spotted him. "Here for the big finish?"

Sam shook his head, his hand creeping to the small of his back where his gun was concealed.

Lilith laughed softly. "You can't shoot me, Sam. I am not some monster that can be slain with a silver bullet. I know you're desperate, but this is just stupid."

Ava was watching their exchange with a furrowed brow. "What's going on?"

"Did she tell you what would happen if you did it, Ava?" Sam asked. "What will happen to the world? If she dies, Lucifer will rise. The Devil will walk the earth and we will all be doomed. The apocalypse will happen, and millions will die in the first year alone."

Ava glanced at Lilith. "Is this true?"

"Of course not," Lilith said. "I told you, Ava, this is for me and me alone. I have lived a long time, too long, and I wish for peace. You are not dooming the world. You are setting me free."

"Think!" Sam snapped. "Why else would I be here to stop it? I want Lilith dead more than anything, but I can't do it."

"Because you're dried out?" Ava asked. "She told me about that."

Sam shook his head dolefully. "No. Because it's wrong." He sucked in a breath. "I am not Sam of this time. I have come back from years ahead to stop this. The apocalypse, the death, the disasters, they will happen if you do this."

Sam saw the realization settle over Lilith, but only for a moment. She was soon smiling again. "Time travel? Really? You're insane, Sam. I have suspected it for a long time, but you just proved it. Even if time travel was possible, you can't change the future."

"That's where you're wrong." Sam turned his attention to Ava again. "Don't do this, Ava."

"I have to," Ava said in a mournful tone. "It's the only way I can live again. She told me if I did this I would get to live again. I can't go back to that place, Sam. I can't bear it."

She turned to Lilith and Sam knew further argument was pointless. Ava was going to do it and there was nothing he could say that would stop her.

The worst part was that this could have been him. It would have been him if he had been through what she had. She'd been ripped from her home. Her fiancé had been killed. She had been trapped in Cold Oak for months, fighting to the death against who knew how many other special children. She'd been forced to change to survive. It could have been Sam if he hadn't had Dean to protect him.

He raised the gun and pointed it at her head. He squeezed the trigger. Lilith screamed out but Sam barely heard it over the report of the gun. Ava dropped to the floor, a perfect hole in her temple and a gaping hole at the back. She was dead.

Lilith looked from her to Sam and her lips were pulled back in a snarl that destroyed her beauty. "How dare you?" she screeched.

"I dare because I know what will happen," Sam said dully. "I wasn't lying. I have seen it all before."

Lilith laughed a little hysterically. "You're insane."

"Perhaps," Sam said. "But you're alive. Which of us will suffer more?"

She glared at him as if willing him dead through thought alone. Sam stared back, seeing her pain and relishing it.

"It's done," he said. "You will live knowing you failed, and I will live in a better future."

Lilith's hands were fisted and her expression was furious. "This isn't the end, Winchester."

Sam smiled grimly. "That's where you're wrong. This is exactly where it ends."

Cas and Dean arrived at the doors of the convent and Dean took off running inside before Cas had even drawn a breath. He followed, afraid of what he would see. Could Sam have done it? Would Lilith still be there? Worst of all, was Sam even alive anymore?

That thought made him run instead of walk.

He heard Dean's breathless whisper of his brother's name, and he almost froze. Only the need to know made it possible for him to keep going.

Dean was standing motionless in the doorway to the chapel. Cas shoved him aside roughly and sighed with relief at what he saw.

Sam was alive.

He was sitting on the floor with the body of Ava held against his chest. His face was buried against her shoulder and he was shaking with sobs.

"Sam," he said sadly.

Sam looked up and Cas saw the tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I did it," he said but there was no joy in his voice. "I stopped her."

Dean walked forward and knelt beside him. "You did it, Sammy. We won."

Sam sniffed. "Doesn't feel like winning, Dean. Feels a lot like failure."

Dean frowned.

"Don't you see?" Sam asked. "This was murder. It was for the world, but it was still murder. Ava wasn't evil. She was going to do it because she thought it would save her. She was an innocent. She was sweet." He looked up at Cas, searching for understanding. "She saved my life once, a complete stranger. She left her fiancé and came to me to warn me, and it saved me. Her fiancé was killed and she was taken, and none of it was her fault."

"I know," Cas said solemnly.

Sam locked his eyes on Dean. "If I didn't have you, this would have been me. Do you understand?"

Dean was silent for a long moment and then he nodded. He gripped the back of Sam's neck and said, "I understand, Sammy. I know it hurts, but you did it. You saved the world."

"Again," Cas added.

Sam nodded slightly and buried his face in Ava's shoulder once again, victorious but mourning.

So… How was that? I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I'm hoping you all enjoyed reading.

Until next time which is the last time for this one…

Clowns or Midgets xxx