Fog rolled in like it was alive, moving, dancing in non-existant wind. Maliciousness seemed to radiate from it. Amara. Her weapon of choice to wipe out mankind until God got off His ass and did something about it.

His son...Ben. He is out there on his own. Panic clawed at Dean's throat as he watched national news as Amara's fog engulfed downs and cities, killing thousands at a time, and there is no one to help them. How can they fight fog? Or even Amara? They're human. Flesh and blood and bone with nothing truly special about them in all actuality. How can he protect his son from her? How can they stop this?

"Help us, please?" Dean prayed just loud enough to be considered audible. "Save my son. Just save him. Please, just save him."

Sam turned his head to see his brother mumbling under his breath, hands clenched together so hard they're as white as the fog outside the police station, not that Dean noticed. His gaze is locked on the TV, brows furrowed in worry over his wayward son. Not that Sam can blame him.

Amara has upped her game. Full on assault now. No more playing around. The black veins of the infected blood, skin, whatever, are a deep contrast on his skin. How can he tell Dean he's infected? That the voices in his head are damning him for everything he's done wrong since he was born. That he is such a horrible person for wanting to leave Ben out there on his own. Or that he only wanted to find his only nephew to keep his brother from doing something stupid instead of finding him to keep Ben safe.

He's a horrible, horrible person.

BW

Chuck heard Dean's prayer, a rarity if there ever was one, but it's not like Dean hasn't prayed for a loved one before. He can hear the desperation, the guilt, in the Righteous Man's voice as all thoughts were of his missing son and his safety. A constant stream of "Save him, please" sounds loudly in Chuck's mind.

Metatron had called him a coward, he had been angry at the implication then but now he can admit he is, in fact, cowardly.

In a moment of ...nostalgia, Chuck whisked Ben away to safety only to have the boy embrace his inner Winchester and try and break out. It served only to alert Amara to where he was, and she took him. She now has the leverage she needed to get Dean to join her.

And he let it happen.

He could have stopped it. He could have stopped the boy from using the sigil but he didn't because he had been afraid Amara would find him. He let an innocent child get taken by a creature that knows only destruction. She cannot create. Or love. She doesn't understand what that means. She won't understand why Dean fought so hard to fight their attraction, their bond, to one another because he had something stronger worth fighting for.

Paternal instinct. Maternal instinct. That's something not even He understands completely. If he doesn't understand it, how can Amara? But now that she has Ben, Dean won't fight anymore.

And instead of doing something about it, here he is, sitting in the safe haven he created with Metatron, and writing his autobiography. Conflict rages through him. He is just so tired. He had heard Dean's thoughts about always fighting and fighting and fighting only to have more adversaries take each others' place. That soul deep weariness he admitted to, and despite not having a soul himself, Chuck feels that. He gets it. He sympathizes with the hunter. There comes a time when the urge - the instinct - to fight is no longer there.

Dean's prayers are picking up in intensity and desperation. He wonders if the hunter realizes his brother is slowly succumbing to Amara's influence or that he didn't seal the door correctly and the people inside are being infected as well.

A sudden jolt of panic shoots through Dean when he realizes what's going on and that he's seemingly immune to the fog, and Chuck hears the hunter's demands for him to stop it. Being called a dick is not called for but he understands Dean's reasonings. To the human, yeah, he dropped the ball big time, but name calling is not cool.

He can also hear Sam and Ben's prayers pick up in volume. Sam wants him to save Dean and keep Ben safe, and Ben is begging to see his dad one last time if he is to die.

Winchesters.

What was he thinking in allowing them to be born? They have him wrapped around their fingers. His children as well are equally whipped.

Time to face the music and own up to his mistakes.

BW

Ben cowered in terror, watching Amara create fog and sending it away with a smirk on her face.

"He has to show himself now," she told him. "He can't let all those people die."

The power she contained rippled off her body in waves, almost like her vessel can barely contain it, or maybe that she's allowing it escape to scare him. She's showing him just how powerful she is by letting Ben experience it for himself.

Castiel isn't faring much better. Or Lucifer. Whoever.

Amara has been getting her jollies by torturing Castiel's vessel. He hopes the angel is okay and that it's Lucifer feeling the pain. He told the archangel is dad is going to come for them. The reassurance got a wet chuckle and a disbelieving snort, but Ben knows his dad will come and save the both of them. ...The three of them?

"My dad's going to stop you," Ben told her, his voice breaking as more power rippled off of her. He ducked down and drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his shins, pulling them tight to his body. "He will. He'll find a way to kill you. He's going to save me, and Cas, and he's going to save the world from you. Just go back to where you belong."

The Darkness smiled fondly in amusement at him. They've only known each other for a few hours now but she seems to have taken a liking to him.

"Your father will do no such thing. He will join me to keep you safe. I will find a place for you to live out the rest of your life because I will not break a promise to Dean," Amara said. She rolled her neck, making a gesture with her hands, and created more fog before sending it out into the world.

"Let me talk to me dad," Ben demanded stupidly. He's demanding something to a creature as old as God. He can practically feel the headslaps from Claire and Krissy.

"No. Not yet. Let me have my fun, little one."

She smiled at him and held her arms out, only to make a fist and slam her arms down. A boom rattled the abandoned and rusting oil tankard, drum thingy. Whatever it is, it's huge. Cavernous even. Why the Darkness chose this as her base of opperations, Ben'll never understand. With the amount of power she has, she can conjure something a little more impressive than a derelict creation of man.

At least she's focused on having fun instead of making Lucifer cry out in agony.

He really should have listened to the Dude and stayed at the cabin in the Beginning of Time, and yes, Ben is using capitals to describe that place. It fits.

Plus, he has a sneaking feeling, a dreadful and terrifyingly awesome inkling, that the Dude is in fact God. God made him supper. God gave him back his memories of his dad. God sent him away for his safety and he stupidly threw it away because he wanted to be involved instead of being on the peripheral of what's been going on.

He wanted to prove to himself and to his dad and uncle that he's a Winchester through and through.

All in all, Ben doesn't think he's doing too bad of a job at acting like a Winchester.

Lucifer let out a pained groan before spitting out blood. He even chuckled, lolling his head to look at Ben sitting on the ground in as small a ball as he could make his body go without damaging anything. He grinned at Ben.

"So, you're Dean Winchester's spawn then, huh? I don't get the big deal. You look like him, I'll give you that, but you don't have his fighting spirit. Your dad wouldn't be cowering in a tiny ball of fear. No. Your dad would be sassing the crap out of dear Auntie Amara." He tsked at Ben. "And he would have some Hail Mary that would get him out of this spot."

"That would be Castiel," Ben shot back without thinking, "but since you're in his vessel, I guess that plan's off the list. Great going."

The Lightbringer chuckled. "Oh, yeah. You're Dean's boy, all right." He winced when he shifted his weight. "Family reunions are not fun, kid. Are you sure you want to see your dad and uncle again? Look at how Aunt Amara is treating me? Imagine how Sam will act."

Ben flipped him off.

"They are so co-dependent, Benny boy. Your dad will never choose you over Sam. I mean, he chose Sam over you and your mom all those years ago, didn't he? He promised you he'd be back. You just have to wait a little bit longer," Lucifer mocked in a sickeningly sweet and caring voice, a caricature of his dad's from a memory so long ago.

Ben went rigid, as if he'd be tazed. Blood pounded in his ears, drowning out all other noise. His face felt weird and he couldn't think straight.

He exploded to his feet and grabbed a pipe to swing at the fallen angel's face when he froze mid-swing. No matter how hard he struggled he couldn't move and it the bastard in the face. He couldn't even move his pinky.

"What are you doing, young one?" Amara asked nicely. She moved forward to stand between them.

"Trying to hit your nephew in the face with this rusted pipe," Ben answered mildly. "If you just let me take one good swing, I'd be much obliged." He paused for a second and frowned. "Did I use that expression right?" Amara stared at him with a confused look and Lucifer rolled his eyes. "You're a dick," Ben informed him, earning a smirk from Amara.

"Sticks and stones, Winchester junior," Lucifer sing-songed then groaned in pain when Amara thrust her hand towards him before turning away and focusing on raising havoc to earn God's attention.

Ben remained frozen mid-swing long enough that his muscles burned from holding the position without relief, and he daydreamed about getting a massage to work all the kinks he's undoubtedly accruing. Lucifer isn't faring much better. Poor Cas's arms must be super extended by now.

A snap of fingers had Ben dropping to the ground in pain as his muscles seized in protest. He clapped his hands over his ears when Lucifer started to scream in agony, ignoring his cramped muscles as best he could.

Air displacement above his covered head had Ben curling tighter into a ball. His muscles cramped some more but like hell is Ben moving from his position. Pain clawed at his throat but he refused to move. His muscles spasmed again, sending new waves of agony through his body, and Ben bit his lip hard enough to draw blood to keep from crying out. He didn't want to draw anymore attention to himself. Amara's been fairly ignoring him. He's not sure how he feels about that.

He just needs to keep quiet enough until his dad comes.

His dad will come. He knows he will. He won't leave Ben with Amara. He won't.

BW

Amara found her gaze yet again settling on Benjamin Winchester, Dean's son. Even if the boy hadn't've looked almost like a carbon copy of Dean, Amara would have known the boy was Dean's by the sheer brightness of his soul. In some places the boy's soul shone brighter than Dean's, it must be a product of the mother, she raised a good son. It shows.

Her brother might have actually done something right by allowing Dean and his brother to be born. Ben is a testament to nature and nurture.

Raised by a good woman, taught right from wrong and how to genuinely a good man, and having the Righteous Man as a father had culminated in Ben having a uniquely bright and pure soul. That pureness called out to her that she didn't know what to do with. If it wasn't for her bond with Dean, she might have chosen Ben as the one she wants to keep. He's not as strong as his father or uncle but he has the ability to be so with some training. Perhaps even stronger.

From what she has observed and learned about Dean and Samuel Winchester is that they'll damn the world to keep each other safe. They are so co-dependent, that many times, things that have gone horribly gone could have been prevented by merely being unselfish.

Lisa Braeden raised a boy who would choose the many over the one, no matter what. In that way he is stronger and braver than his father and uncle could ever hope to be.

She had been jealous of Ben, Amara can admit that freely, and she had wanted nothing more than to wipe the boy from existence but as soon as she saw him, and his brilliantly shining soul, she know she couldn't do that. She wanted him to join her. She would have both Dean and Ben. Her brother can't have them, but they have to choose her. Free will, her brother's favorite thing. It'll hurt him so much more if Dean and Ben choose her over him.

Dean will choose her for Ben and Ben will choose her for his dad.

It will all work out in the end.

Her revenge will be so much sweeter when she kills her dear brother. With Dean and Ben, she'll never be alone again. They'll always be with her, safe, happy, and together. Ben's soul will no longer cry out for his father and Dean's soul won't be as laden down with the guilt of abandoning Ben when the boy needed him the most. They'll never be a part again.

Amara'll ensure it. That'll be the greatest gift she could ever give Dean. He'll truly love her for it, and will never want for anything else in his life.

"I'm hungry," came the plaintive whine of Ben. Oh, yes. She forgot that humans have to eat.

"Come here, little one," she ordered, and the boy put on his brave face. He strode towards her with as much courage as he can muster. More fondness shot through her. It's a foreign emotion. She's not sure she likes it.

"Little nephew here had money in his pocket. I'm trusting you to go buy your own food and come back. You do not want me to come find you," she warned him, and Ben nodded. "Go."

Ben took off like a shot, probably happy to go get food.

Lucifer coughed, intentionally splattering her with blood. "You know the only reason the boy is staying with you is because it's the fastest way for him to see dear old dad, right? I mean, seriously, Auntie, you can't believe he's sticking around you because he has a crush on you. That boy will turn on you in a heartbeat if it means keeping daddy dearest safe."

"Perhaps," Amara played along, "or perhaps the boy might see something you can't. He won't leave my side."

Her nephew scoffed. "Sure. Dean'll kill you. Even little Cassie thinks so."

"Dean will come, and Ben will stay. Dean will stay so Ben won't be alone," Amara almost sing-songed. So sure that that's how things will play out that not even Lucifer could bring her down from her happy little high. "None of us will ever be alone again. I thought that's something you'd understand."

Lucifer shut his mouth, grimacing in pain when he shifted to alleviate some pressure on his ribs. He can hear Castiel grumbling about bad reception. The Lightbringer doesn't know why but he's been keeping his baby brother locked in his room, so to speak. If Little Cassie finds out that Ben Winchester, the very person he'd been protecting is here...with Amara...and him...but mostly Amara. Little brother might just bust lose and get the both of them killed. So, keeping him distracted and not bothering him, Lucifer is saving them both.

He's an awesome big brother, thank you very much.

Amara flicked her wrist and a cloud of darkness appeared, seemingly dancing around her, almost like puppies greeting their master, complete with nuzzling. Urging the cloud to the center of her hands, Amara focused on it before throwing her arms up and the cloud of darkness shot to the sky, going through the celing of the massive drum they're in, and a sonic boom is heard.

"What did you do?" quieried Lucifer. Craning his head up, he tried to decipher what just happened, and coming up with nothing. "Dear old Dad won't come just because you keep making loud noises to catch his attention. That doesn't work with him," he said sagely.

A gesture he couldn't make out hit Lucifer as agony rippled across his skin before sinking down to the very fiber of his being, even Castiel shifted in discomfort, forcing Lucifer to shield his little brother from the brunt of it. Not out of concern for baby bro, no, hell no, but for his own safety. Cassie would make things worse if he tried to take over, and it would be just his luck that baby Winchester would show up when Cassie makes his appearance known.

"Mind your own, Lucifer," Amara ordered then went back to work doing whatever the hell she's doing. "Or I'll kill you and your little brother in front of the boy."

Normally the last statement wouldn't be needed but it strikes him nonetheless with a surprisingly powerful blow. Lucifer wished he could dissect that.

Amara hummed a song to herself, ignoring Lucifer while at the same time keeping track of Dean's son by the unique brilliance of his soul, readying herself to come to the boy's aid the second he needs her, or if Dean shows up. She'll be able to grab him and present him to Dean.

She'll get her brother's attention, just you wait and see.

If not by her then by his favored son or by Dean's innocent one. There is no way he'll allow Ben to be hurt by her, not if he wants to keep his champions by his side. Sam and Dean will not tolerate it.

Everything will work out in the end. God will see and so will Dean.