CHAPTER 12
No one can save me the damage is done...
"What?" Sam asked, his breath catching in the back of his throat as the thunder outside faded into the background.
"That blade belongs to your brother." Gabriel repeated, swallowing hard as he watched the younger man try to grasp what he'd just said. "I left it with your mother the night she agreed to carry an angel of the Lord... I told her to keep it safe because one day her child might need it to save us all." He shook his head as he thought of the moment he'd placed the Guardian Angel's blade in the hands of the fearless young woman. "I don't know what she did with it after that and I haven't seen it since... But I do know years went by before your father found her journals and went into hunting himself... He knew about her deal with me but I doubt he knew about the blade."
"Dad never talked about angels..." Sam started softly, his eyes catching Bobby's who was obviously just as surprised.
"Why would he?" Gabriel replied. "The Earth was plagued with more demons than angels and until they pulled your brother from Hell, their presence here was scarce. We kept a very low profile."
"The first angel I've ever seen was him." Bobby added, pointing to Castiel. "Before Dean was pulled from the pit, angels were just a myth by my books."
Sam let out a sigh as he passed a hand through his hair. "Right, well I need to know how the queen of the damned got her hands on it..." Sam said, giving the door a knock before he was invited back into the room. "Bela." He started, watching as she finished buttoning her blouse and then turned to face him. "That Guardian Angel's blade... Where did you get it?"
"Sam, I've acquired thousands of sought after objects and artifacts in my lifetime..." She replied, her gaze momentarily drifting over to Ellen as the older woman dragged the chair back to the corner of the room. "You don't honestly expect me to remember where I picked up one weapon of many, do you? As far as I'm concerned, it's just a blade that can kill the angels we're up against." When his eyes narrowed, she let out a sigh. "You're a hard one to please, you know that?"
"It's one of a kind." Gabriel started, his tone of voice pulling her eyes away from Sam for only a moment.
"They all are." She continued. "But that doesn't make them any more important or valuable to me."
"I'm going to need a better answer than that, Bela." Sam growled, his tone of voice instantly wiping the smirk from her face. "Because it turns out that blade you've been swinging around was issued to my brother. Now I'm going to ask you again, where did you get that Guardian Angel's blade"
There was a moment of silence as she held his stern eyes. "I broke into a storage locker down in Lawrence Kansas years ago." She replied, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "One of my supernatural sources suggested that I check the place out, said it once belonged to a hunter who'd been dead for a decade or so... You hunters hide your life from everyone around you so well that when you die, no one knows about your storage locker full of crap somewhere along some road. It's paid well in advance and it sits forgotten for years until..."
"Someone like you breaks in and grabs whatever they can sell." Sam cut in.
"What good is anything if all it does is sit and collect dust." She was quick to reply. "Don't take it so personally Sam... I didn't know or care who that storage locker belonged to when I broke in years ago." She paused for only a moment as her gaze drifted from the man in front of her to the pair of renegade angels at his side. "And like most of you, I had no idea that blade belonged to Dean. A few days ago I didn't even know the son of a bitch was a Guardian Ange..." She trailed off as the lights suddenly flickered and went out, leaving them in complete darkness for a fraction of a second.
"Huh, that's weird." Jo started, her gaze drifting up to the light bulb hanging from the ceiling before focusing on Bobby. "The hole area's been drowning in this lightning storm for days but it's the first time I see the lights actually go out.
"It's got nothing to do with the light show sweetheart." Bela was quick to reply. "Bobby, I think you should get them down to your panic room. Now." She said pointing Ellen and Jo towards the door as her eyes nervously scanned the room they were in.
"What is it Bela?" Sam asked, reaching for his gun as he watched the trio make their way towards the door.
"I'm not sure." She was quick to reply, reaching over to grab the blade that was leaning up against the dresser nearby. As her hand wrapped around the handle, Dean's hand suddenly wrapped around her throat and pushed her up against the wall; forcing her to drop the blade as she desperately tried to pry his hand away from her throat.
"You had one job to do, ONE JOB." Dean growled, holding her in place as she struggled against his firm grip. "And you STILL managed to screw it up..."
The tone of his voice alone was enough to make Sam's heart jump to his throat. It stopped Bobby, Ellen & Jo dead in their tracks and caught Gabriel & Castiel by surprise. Staring at his older brother, who'd just stepped out of thin air, Sam wasn't quite sure how to react and judging by the dead silence that followed his words, neither did the renegade angels at his side.
"Dean, let her go." He started, feeling his words catch in the back of his throat as his brother turned slightly to catch his eyes; for a moment, he could have sworn he was looking at a stranger. "It wasn't her fault, we were ambushed."
"Yeah and who exactly made the call to go into that building, knowing an army of demons couldn't step foot inside?" Dean snarled, his grip around her throat tightening as she struggled to free herself. "If you ask me, that's one hell of a bad call."
When the low growl of a Hell Hound caught his attention, Sam couldn't help but swear under his breath, his eyes darting to the left as a the massive beast crawled out of a shadow. Arching its back and bearing sharp teeth, the hound made its intentions quite clear as it took a step towards his brother. "Dean, let her go!" Sam demanded, swallowing hard as he watched the Hell hound snake its way over to the pair.
Holding Bela in place and ignoring his younger brother's plea, Dean casually reached for the gun that was tucked into the back of his belt. "If you slip up again..." He started quietly, his menacing tone of voice now reflecting a darker side. "...and anyone of the them is injured as a result." He continued, pausing as he loaded the gun and held it out towards the Hell hound moving in. "I will personally hunt you down and drag you kicking and screaming down to my rack." The silence that followed his words shattered as he pulled the trigger and shot dead the Hell hound that had shown up in Bela's defense. "Do I make myself clear?" He growled, releasing his tight grip.
There was a moment of silence as Bela struggle to catch her breath, her eyes locked to those of the man standing there in front of her. "I'm not afraid of you." She replied, her coarse voice barely above a whisper.
"Fuck up again and you will be." Dean growled mercilessly, tucking his gun away before turning to face his younger brother and the small crowd that was gathered behind him. "All right here's the plan." He started, his gaze momentarily drifting down to the Hell hound on the floor between them. "Midnight tonight, we need to be in Lawrence.
"Lawrence?" Sam asked, sucking in a breath as he watched the other man casually make his way over. "Why Lawrence?"
"Because that's where Michael is." Dean was quick to reply, his eyes catching Castiel's for only a moment. "Couple of unfortunate angels let it slip that that's where the boss has been hiding out. So tonight, we join the demons to back Lucifer up and take out what's left of Heaven's little crusade before they do any more damage. If Lucifer wants to talk with his brother, that's fine, but we're going over there to fight once their little chat turns ugly."
"Dean, there's something you need to know about the angels." Sam started, pausing for only a moment as lightning lit up the room. "It's the archangels that attacked us, all of the angels are gone..."
"Yeah I know." Dean replied frankly. "I'm the one that sent those sons of bitches running for Heaven. The archangels stayed behind because they're so determined to stick by Michael's side, that they'd rather die than give in... if they knew what was good for them though, they'd crawl back up to Heaven with the others."
"Where's Lucifer now?" Bela asked, pulling the young hunter's attention away from the trio for only a moment.
"In Scythe, taking care of the archangels you couldn't handle." Dean replied drily, watching as the woman reached down to grab the large blade off the floor. "To make sure they don't get the best of you again, I suggest you trade in that angel's blade for one our guns." He continued, pointing to the weapon in her hands. "The gun's much more efficient than that bulky old thing."
"I'll have you know that this isn't an ordinary angel's blade... It's one of a kind and it was meant for the finale battle between Heaven and Hell." Bela said simply, holding the large blade out towards him as she caught his eyes. "It's come to my attention, that this bulky old thing belongs in your hands, so you take it."
"What the hell are you talking about, now?" Dean was quick to reply.
"Dean, that blade is yours." Gabriel cut in, sucking in a breath as the young hunter turned to face him. "Every angel in existence was issued one, you included..." As he watched Dean's hard gaze drift over to Castiel, he couldn't help but wonder just how much more the other man could really take. The past few days had been one emotional punch after the other and each and every hit, had had startling consequences. "I placed that blade in your mother's hands the night she agreed to bare an angel as a child." He continued, only hoping the news wouldn't further deteriorate Dean's volatile state of mind.
"Is that so." Dean replied quietly, his eyes darting back towards Bela before once again focusing on the archangel in front of him. "Then tell me how queen of the underworld over here, ended up with it."
"It was misplaced after your mother died, and since the angels didn't care to see that it stays in your possession, it was eventually lost." Gabriel explain, watching nervously as Dean's eyes instantly narrowed.
"What else should I know about this angel-hybrid crap that you're not telling me, Gabe?" Dean growled, his tone of voice low. "I've already died a few times so I'm obviously mortal and I feel things that they only dream about so that makes me human. I don't have heavenly powers like they do, I can't be sent away with a Sigil, but I've got a Heaven issued blade? Does that mean that I have my very own set of wings too?"
There was a moment of silence and Sam closed his eyes as he felt a chill run down his spine. The thought of his brother having wings like the rest of them had never even crossed his mind. When Gabriel hesitated, he felt the atmosphere in the room take a freighting turn.
"Dean, you're a Guardian Angel in the flesh and blood, a big part of you is human and..."
"And a big part of me isn't." Dean snapped, his tone forcing the archangel's eyes to the floor at his feet. "Just answer the question Gabe... Do I have wings on my back or not?"
When Gabriel didn't offer an answer, Castiel swallowed hard. "Before Alastair got his hands on you, you did have a set of wings like the rest of us." He started softly, pulling Dean's attention away from the archangel he had corned with his question. "But when I pulled you from Hell, there was nothing left of them." The uncomfortable silence that followed his words was like the calm before the storm; an eerie moment of peace before the ominous clouds rolled in.
"Well I'm glad that they're gone." Dean was quick to reply, his tone of voice underling his thoughts of any ties he had to Heaven. "Because if I still had them on my back, I'd want to rip them out myself too." He continued, pausing as he turned slightly to catch Bela's eyes. "I don't give a shit if it's mine, you can keep the blade."
"Dean that blade was made for you, it belongs in your han..." Gabriel silenced as the other man turned to face him.
"If it's got anything to do with Heaven, then I don't want it." Dean growled, thunder following his words as the continuous storm raged overhead. "If my mother knew what was in store, I somehow doubt she would of agreed to anything." He held the archangel's eyes for a moment before letting his gaze drift over to Sam and the small group that was gathered behind him in the doorway. "I'll bring the Impala around the back, gather your things and meet me out there." He started, putting a hand out to take the car keys from his younger brother. "Sam, Cas & Gabe are going to be coming with me in; Ellen, Jo & Bela, are going with Bobby... Oh and Bobby, get these ladies weapons they can actually use." He waited for the veteran hunter to give him a nod before turning his attention back to the woman sent from Hell to watch over them. "You only get one more shot at this, so don't mess it up."
Moving aside as Dean made his way through the door and down the hall, Bobby and Sam couldn't help but exchange a quick glance. Nothing needed to be said to understand that there was something different in Dean's voice and in his actions, something Gabriel had warned them about when the deal with Lucifer had been made. "When this is over." Sam started softly, swallowing hard as he watched his brother disappear down the stairs. "Is he going to be able to break out of this?" There was a moment of silence as he watched Gabriel's eyes drift over to Castiel. "Can he recover?"
"That depends on him." Castiel replied quietly. "If he's first willing and then strong enough."
"You guys get organized, I need to go talk to him before we..."
"Aside from wasting time we don't have, what's talking to him going to do?" Bela cut in, tucking the blade away as she made her way over. "This might be a whole new side of him to you, but it isn't to me... this is who your brother really is and he's not going to change." She paused for only a moment as her mind drifted back to the torture she'd endured at his hands. "He's ruthless, Sam and I doubt you'll ever get him back now that he's had a second chance with Hell. Hate to say it, but I think it's time for you to cut your loss' and just focus on putting Michael back in his..."
"I'm not turning my back on him." Sam interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he watched Bela cross her arms. "So you can keep the damn opinions to yourself and just do your job."
"You want to go talk to him? Fine, then take your renegade angels with you." Bela snapped as she pointed towards the pair. "I can't be in two places at once and as far as Dean's concerned, you're safer with him anyway. It's a lost cause but if it'll make you feel better about what you overlooked, then by all means."
When Sam's hands clenched into fists and another Hell Hound stepped out of the shadows, Bobby quickly moved in between the young hunter and the woman standing in front of him. "You guys go, we'll meet you out back once I have Ellen & Jo ready for a war."
Sam held Bela's eyes for a moment before he turned and made his way down the hall, her words about Dean circling in his troubled mind. Though they had vowed to stop the Apocalypse at any cost, the steps his brother was talking were both drastic and worrisome. With Castiel and Gabriel at his side, he climbed down the back steps, taking notice of the idling Impala parked near the end of the scrap yard; the headlights casting their shadows against Bobby's house behind them as they started walking towards it. As they approached the car, the trunk slammed shut and Dean stepped out, gun in hand. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" Sam started, shoving his hands into his pocket as he watched his brothers eyes drift over to the angels beside him. "About what happened back there between you and Bela?"
"There's not much to talk about." Dean was quick to reply as he tucked his gun away.
"You killed a Hell hound and you threatened the one Lucifer sent to watch over us..." Sam started, pausing for only a moment as he caught his older brother's eyes. "She's got an army of demons behind her, I mean you might as well have just grabbed the Devil by the throat; it would have been just as dangerous."
"Those that aren't loyal to me, need to be afraid of me..." Dean started, a slight smile creeping up from the corner of his lips as he leaned back against the Impala.
Sam felt the hair on the back of his neck stand as he watched the other man cross his arms in front of his chest. Perhaps more cold and calloused than he'd ever been before, the tone of his voice alone had him walking on pins & needles. "Dean, I don't like the way you're dealing with this..."
"Would you relax, I was bluffing, Sammy." Dean casually replied as he caught his brother's eyes. "To pull this off and not get us killed, I need to convince 'em that I'm just as harsh and ruthless as they are... so what better way?" He explained, pausing for only a moment as lightning lit up the sky. "I'm playing the part, because if I don't scare them like I did when I worked the pit, we're done."
"You tortured angels in Hell, Dean." Sam continued, his voice dropping slightly as the twisted thought crossed his mind. "I know stopping the Apocalypse was at any cost but I think you're taking it too far... The things you're willing to do lately, since you found out you were a Guardian Angel, are scaring me a little."
There was a moment of silence as Dean offered a nod. "So it's working then, isn't it?" He said with a grin. "If I've got you fooled, that must mean I've got them fooled too."
"I don't think you're acting." Sam replied bluntly, his words forcing Dean to straighten out and take a step forward. "You might have been when you first made that deal with Lucifer, heck you might have been when you signed his damn contract, but not anymore." He paused as he felt his breath catch in the back of his throat, just the thought of what his older brother had been up to, made his stomach turn. "Cas told me what you did to Zachariah... how you enjoyed it."
"C'mon Sam, after everything that SOB put me through... of course I enjoyed it, you would have too."
"What about the other two angels Bela sent down to you then?" Sam was quick to reply, watching as his older brother's eyes momentarily drifted from Gabriel to Castiel. "Tell me what they did to deserve being..."
"I tortured them because I had to, Sam." Dean explained simply, knowing that the lack of remorse in his voice wouldn't be lost on his younger brother. "We needed an answer out of them and that's the only way we were going to get it. "
"You were only down there for a little over twenty-four hours and in that time, you managed to not only get Michael's location, but send the angels running back up to Heaven." Sam replied curtly. "I know time's different in the pit, but in the three weeks or so you spent down there, you did more than Lucifer's army was able to do since the whole Apocalypse started." He paused for a moment as he tried to keep his voice from rising. His fear, his anger and his disappointment were a tangled mess that was threatening to surface at any moment the more he learned of his older brother's darker side.
"I guess that just means I'm good at what I do."
"How many of them did you get your hands on, Dean?" Sam asked, his words just as sharp as his tone. "How many of them ended up dead because of you?"
"You don't really want to know." Dean replied frankly.
"Actually I do, because I need to know if..."
"We had a deal, Sam." Dean suddenly growled, his hard gaze fixed on the younger man. "You fight with me for Hell and I call the shots. We do what I say; no questions asked."
"Yeah and I was ok with that, until I watched you changed right before my eyes." Sam was quick to reply. "Dean I'm not the only one worried here." He continued, watching as his brother's gaze first drifted to Castiel and then Gabriel. "Your way of thinking, of rationalizing this, is scaring the crap out us; you're not who you were when you made that deal with Lucifer, you're not..."
"SAM." Dean interrupted, instantly silencing the other man. "I did what needed to be done so we can put an end to the Apocalypse; I got the angels out of the way so that we would outnumber Michael and his archangels. That's all there is to it. I'm not saying that the things I've done were right, but they worked." He paused for only a moment as thunder growled overhead. "I'm not going to deny the fact that I'll be coming out of this a little more messed up than I was going in... but if we can save the world, then it's worth the price. I hear what you're saying, I really do, and to be honest, I'm a little worried about the things going through my head right now too; but I've walked away from this life once before. You're just going to have to trust that I can walk away from it again when all this is over."
Dean had barely finished his sentence when a luminous bolt of lightning ripped through the sky above them. In a fraction of a second, it slammed into the ground nearby and sparked a fire that traveled just as quickly as the sound of thunder echoed in the scrap yard. Though Sam & Dean were mesmerized by the flame's path as it made its way around them and the Impala, Gabriel & Castiel weren't quite as transfixed on the sight as they reached for their weapons. "This isn't good." Gabriel started, the panic in his voice hard to miss as he loaded the gun in his hands.
"Well, that depends on what side of the Holy fire you're on I guess." Michael started calmly as he stepped out of the shadows.