"The Crack? You're heading for the crack too." Dean glared at Dirty; suddenly he was starting to see some unsettling similarities between Gordon and her.

"Yes. Castiel does not belong here, neither do you; and the Crack is your only way out."

"And you're telling me there's no gain for you?"

"We have learnt much from Castiel already, we hope to learn more about Purgatory and our Lord, this way we may have advantages over rivalling packs. What is the point of trying to return when we will just be hunted again?" Dirty's eyes held a disdainful glint, almost challenging Dean to see if he could find any other paranoid reasons to treat them like monsters. Unfortunately Dean was struggling especially with the way Cas was looking at him, with his hopeful eyes latched onto Dean, he couldn't just tell them what he really thought.

"How are you even planning to do it? I assume the exit to Purgatory isn't exactly left half open with some neon sign." If he was going to trust the bastards, he was going to do it his way. He ignored the weird feeling in his gut as Cas gave him a half smile and turned back to his fire.

"No, the Crack moves every now and then, it was through the crack that Castiel and you appeared, that's why you were caught so quickly. Many packs live by following the crack, waiting for the day that it opens just enough. Your entry may have widened it slightly but as Cas is constantly proving, you do not fit here and the environment responds differently. This goes for the Crack too, most likely. We get you close enough, hopefully it will just swallow you back."

"And meanwhile?"
"We shall take you there and Castiel will show us his ways, tell us his stories, educate us." Dirty stood resolute, looking like a leader despite her lack of clothes and hygiene. Dean nodded.

"Fine. When do we leave?"

"Dawn. Be ready."
"Dawn being what? When the sky is most white?"

"Dean, shut up." Dean froze as Cas looked up at him, patting the seat beside him. "Sit down."

"Huh?"

"I think he's telling you to stop being such a prat and just enjoy not being some vampires bitch." Dirty leered, turning away.

"Charming." Dean commented, taking his seat. "Don't tell me you like her, Cas."

Cas shrugged, "she helped me get you back when she could have easily declined."

Again, Dean had to push away the warm fluttering in his chest.

"You're such a girl, Cas."

Cas looked up at Dean, his eyes narrowed, his mouth pulled down suggesting he was vaguely insulted. "I am not of any gender, Dean, and I don't see how my actions thus far have given you any reason to think I am a girl."

"No, I-"

"Don't bother, Dean, he enjoys playing us all up." Madeleine scoffed, eyeballing Cas who was intensely watching the fire.

"As far as I know, Cas doesn't 'play anyone up'." Dean frowned.

Maddy shrugged, "You would think so, but having been in his head I know a little more about how he works."

"You remember that?"

She nodded, her expression becoming distant, "yeah, most of us do. We were all immersed, not in control of anything. We saw the world through Cas' eyes and were overwhelmed in his thoughts and being, it was hard having to adjust after he released us back here, my pack kinda…" Madeleine blushed slightly, it was hard to tell with all the dirt but he noticed the slight flush of redness.

"became a religious cult for the crazy angel-God?" He suggested nonchalantly.

Madeleine chuckled with surprise, "uh, I guess that's how you would you see it."

"I am not crazy anymore, Dean, and nor was I ever God." Cas spoke up indignantly, glaring at Dean.

"Sorry, man, didn't mean to ruffle your feathers." Dean lifted his hands in mock surrender, smirking as Cas readjusted himself as if he really was sorting his wings.

"How come your crazy is gone by the way?" Dean nudged him.

"I couldn't hide anymore; I had to face my problems if I was going to help you." Cas shrugged.
"You realize your help would have been appreciated back home too?"

"I tried my best, Dean. I am truly sorry though, I wish I could have done more, I know I still have a lot to repent until you can forgive me but I promise-"

"Whoa! Cas, you saved my ass! I just wanna get us both out of here, no more repenting crap, okay? We've all done some pretty shitty stuff, but we've only got each other and I ain't about to lose you again." Dean said gruffly, glad to get that off his chest. It had been on his mind since he'd "lost" Cas through the ice, he'd had enough of watching his loved ones die.

Cas' expression melted slightly and real warmth crept into his eyes and though he didn't smile, Dean felt like he was. It felt as if something changed in that moment but Dean couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"What are you…?" Sam exclaimed, watching Sherlock crawling on the floor next to the bed, it turned out that Sherlock didn't have much of an alcohol tolerance.

"What?"

"No, no. Here, look." Sam leaned over, picking him up and gently placing him on the bed. "It'll be okay. Just sleep, Sherlock."

"Of course, it'll be fine. I'm fine, I am absolutely fine."

"Yes, you're great." Sam sighed, pulling the duvet over him when Sherlock showed no sign of moving. "If you need me, I'll be next door."

"Why would I need you?" Sherlock croaked, rolling over onto his side so his back was to Sam. Sam stood there quietly for a moment, basking in the accusation and guilt. Why would Sherlock need him? He'd let his one friend get taken. John was probably dead and it was on him.

He slipped away, closing the door and trudging back to the kitchen. He stared at John's laptop, wondering if he should put it away but he imagined that would just make Sherlock stress more.

"Leave it be." The Doctor said from behind him, Sam was too tired to turn around. "You should get some sleep, Sam."

"I don't think I really want to."

The Doctor was quiet for a while before gently saying "we all have to do things we don't want to."

"John told me to get some sleep before he was taken; I took his advice and look where we are now." Sam growled bitterly, his eyes still fixed on John's laptop. It was closed, shut down, alone. Left here.

"We need you at your best, Sam, otherwise we're even more at risk. I am here; I will make sure nothing gets close." The Doctor walked in front of Sam, blocking his view of the laptop.

"Don't you need to sleep?" Sam said wearily.

"I can't sleep." The Doctor's eyes were sunken, his wrinkles seemed deeper. Sam got the feeling this man was very, very old.

"Why did you decide to help me?" Sam didn't know why he asked, it was just suddenly on his mind. The Doctor regarded him, a small smile blossomed slowly.

"Simply because of this. World is suddener than we fancy it, world is crazier and more of it than we think, Incorrigibly plural. Good poem, that. There is so much world, I'd thought I'd seen and done it all and so you came along to stump me." The Doctor paused and grinned, returning to his usual self. "Plus, you needed help. Now go sleep."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He was covered in cold sweat; he was trembling and felt sick. He hadn't dared move for hours, they'd shoved a blindfold over his eyes and so all he knew about the world around him was hard, cold stone walls and floor and a draft that stroked the exposed part of his neck with cold, unpleasant fingers. It was quiet but he wasn't alone, he'd managed to match his breathing pattern to his guard a few times but it was too calm and structured for him to last.

Occasionally he would hear other movements, they would pace or just stand, those were the creepiest moments. He imagined the creature, leviathan; he was pretty sure, just staring at him, measuring him up, wondering how he tasted. He didn't even know why he was still alive. Didn't know if he should be relieved or not.

The latest sound had been a ringtone. He'd had to suppress a sarcastic comment when he'd recognised the song.

"Now I've got you in my sights,

with these hungry eyes-"

Of all things, it was Dirty Dancing.

"Hey, boss." John shivered, it was still her. It was melty face.

"Yeah, I got him." She paused, he heard her shuffle about, felt her gaze land on him.

"Hey, short-stuff, what's your email?"

John stuttered, his mouth dry and his heart fluttering. Why his email? He considered lying but couldn't risk it.

" 221 , you sending me an ecard?" He hated how squeaky his voice sounded but at least he could talk.

"Sort of, though you won't be there to receive it, Johnny boy. It's time to have some fun with your friends." She laughed, her tone becoming ugly. John felt sick, he really hoped Sherlock could outwit this new Moriarty.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam flinched, eyes opening to a crack of white light. He groaned, shoving his face into the pillow. The last part of his dream haunting his eardrums.

"SAM! DOCTOR! GET UP, GET UP!" Or maybe not.

Sam swung himself from his bed, pushing his hair back from his eyes. He noticed the shadow at his doorway, and looked up to see the bizarre assortments of clothes that was the Doctor.

"Doc, what's happening?"

"I don't think I should describe. It could get messy." The Doctor didn't look at Sam.

Sam was instantly more alert. He leaped up, shoving the door open and caught sight of pale skin, plump butt cheeks and Sherlock's tussled hair.

"No, no! What the –?!" Out of impulse, he put a hand to the Doctor's eyes, the guy was staring unabashedly. Though Sherlock didn't seem to care, Sam felt the need to protect him somewhat anyway.

"What are you doing? Where are your clothes, Sherlock?" Sam stared at his head. His curly, brown hair. Nothing else.

"No time for clothes, Sam. Moriarty emailed John! From a separate account, right?" Sam nodded, seeing where Sherlock was coming from but he also knew how different it was in reality. How easily a temporary email account could be made. They would have got John's email from somewhere on the internet.

"We can track the email, yes?"

"I could, but Sherlock, what makes you think that Moriarty would use the same email? What makes you think this at all?"

"I emailed him back." Sherlock finally turned around and Sam had to concentrate on keeping his sights up.

"Wowza! John's a lucky guy!" Sam elbowed the Doctor hard, "not helping."
"You emailed him? How could you? He could easily track us back, you realize?" Sam advanced. Sherlock may be grieving but he could not put them in danger and get them all killed. That was selfish and stupid and not what Sam needed right now.

"I used a temporary email account. It lasted 3 minutes then ceased to exist."

"Why didn't you tell me you were gonna do that?"

"You were sleeping; don't you want to know what happened?"

"Yes, just tell us already." The Doctor intervened, he had also moved forward, and thankfully his eyes were positioned upwards.

"He emailed back." Sherlock turned the laptop so they could see the screen.

Sam ducked his head, pushing the laptop screen down so the light didn't reflect off it.

From: unknown

To: 221

Subject: -

John's here, but I prefer your company vastly. He isn't very chatty, disappointing really.

If you'd like to switch places, I wouldn't say no, but then I wouldn't say yes either. Despite his quiet nature, I'm growing quite attached. Make your offer, Sherlock. The world awaits.

"Did you offer to switch places?" The Doctor looked up at Sherlock from his bent over position.

"I wanted him to respond, didn't I? I had to make it convincing." Sherlock's eyes stayed sharp, no emotion dared compromise him.

"I could try to track it. It won't be easy but give me some time. I suppose you have to keep him interested so you guys should think of an offer." Sam deliberated, begrudgingly admitting Sherlock had done alright.

"What does a psychopath inside a people-eating monster chained to a demon-lord really want?" The Doctor murmured, swivelling on his left foot, and swishing his long, brown coat (he seemed to have acquired a taste for coats suddenly).

"My burning heart, apparently."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"That's Lily, over there by Alice-"

"Oh, the one with the freckly back?" Dean nodded at the woman's bare back where she had a large sprinkle of brown dots, Cas looked at him and Dean grinned. He had been acting weirdly ever since being rescued; he was becoming happier and cheerful. When he stepped back for a moment, it freaked him out a bit so he tended not to do that and just go along with things.

"Yes, Lily and Madeleine were the most helpful during my first days. If I wasn't for them I might have killed Ruth and headed out on my own to find you but they convinced me to stay and heal and bide my strength."

Dean didn't really know how to respond to that, he was partly grateful as if Cas had gone on his own he'd probably still be with Gordon but Cas would be hauling ass with him, still he couldn't help the empty abandonment that came with being left behind.

"I'm still going to make you and Sam pie when we get back." Dean stalled; it was such a strange, unannounced thing to say especially in Cas' mild tone. That conversation felt like years ago, Dean had all but forgotten Cas had promised that.

Cas had slowed down to match Dean, "is that okay?"

Dean didn't even think. He wrapped an arm around Cas' shoulders, pulling him in close.

"Of course, it's okay. You can make all the pie you want to, I would never get in the way of pie." Dean smiled, Cas' warmth next to his side felt good and steady and real. Cas wasn't standing as stiffly as usual either, instead his shoulders relaxed under his arm and he fit snugly against Dean.

"Good. It shouldn't be long; you can see the City now." Dean squinted upwards, trying to make out anything against the white and then he caught a flicker of blue. Luminous blue fog that was just in sight then disappeared into the white sky.

"Why does it look like that? What's the blue stuff?"

Cas frowned and Dean grew nervous as the silence grew longer and more intense.

"Are you okay, Cas?"

"No. I can hear…" Cas' voice sounded strained and Dean leaned in closer.

"Cas?"
"I don't know, it's too high pitched but it sounds like…" Deans stomach fell, Cas sounded like he was gonna hurl.

"What is it?"

"Screaming."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx