Lucifer summoned Atropos.

"What do you want?" she asked when she appeared.

"I hear you're pretty mad that fate was averted and you're out of a job," Lucifer said.

"Yeah? And?" Ever since the whole Titanic incident, she hated all angels. Fallen angels, rogue angels, dutiful soldier angels. All of them.

"Well, I'm back up and have a way to become pretty powerful. If I succeed, I'll make sure you have a job again. But, I need your help first."

Atropos had felt totally helpless and worthless since the averted Apocalypse. "What do you need?"

"I know you have potions. You have one that will allow someone to overcome a traumatic episode for 24 hours, and you have one that will revert someone to a point in time when they were still innocent. I'll take both of those and decide which one will work best for my purposes."

"What for?" Atropos asked.

"That's for me to worry about. You know I always keep my bargains."

That was true enough. The devil was evil, but he had to keep his deals. It was the rule of Hell. It was kind of ironic that those ruled by Heaven could do whatever they wanted, but Hell had to follow rules. She shrugged and handed him the potions. She flitted back to home and smiled. She was about to get off the unemployment line.

SSS

Dean read the words again. The way to lock Lucifer back in his cage was to have Michael's vessel murder 13 children. One that was one year old, one that was two, one that was three, and so on and so on. No wonder Crowley hadn't told him the rest of the spell. He had to find him and stop him.

He read the rest of the section and found out another spell. This one resulted in making Lucifer all powerful and involved vessels killing each other. He shuddered with horror, thinking of the time he and Sam had almost killed each other when under the siren's spell. He had been sick enough with the thought of either of them being directly responsible for the death of the other, but to know the consequences would have been so much graver gave him a new chill.

SSS

Lucifer had given Delores one of the potions. He held one back in reserve in case Crowley failed and he needed to take matters into his own hands. She was explaining to Crowley.

"If you give Adam this potion he will overcome his trauma, but only for 24 hours."

"Great. Now all we have to do is find Sam and Lucifer."

"I know where they are. They're in a warehouse in Detroit."

"Great. I'll give Adam the potion and then transport us there."

Delores smiled. All was going according to plan.

SSS

Meg had to feed Sam, but she decided to do it intravenously rather than with food. She figured that would be easier for her, plus she would be able to see his detect his fear when the needle was inserted. After all, he wouldn't know it was for food. It could be for anything.

Sam hadn't felt anything for a while. He had no concept of time right now. But he felt a needle going into his arm. He tried to jerk his arm away, but of course he couldn't. He struggled as best he could being tied down as he was.

Meg laughed as she watched Sam's helpless struggles. She finished inserting the IV and injected some drugs in also. Sam was tricky. It wouldn't hurt for him to be a bit woozy even while strapped down.

SSS

Dean remembered the spell Bobby had performed when they were looking for Lillith. He performed it again to find Crowley. He shook his head in disbelief. The bastard was about two miles away. He hopped in his latest stolen car and hoped he wasn't too late.

SSS

Crowley gave the potion to Adam. Adam stopped screaming and his eyes flew open.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Name's Crowley. I got you out of Hell."

"Thanks," Adam said and really meant it. Hell had been hell.

"There's something you have to do if you want to stay out, though."

"What?" Adam asked. He should have known this wasn't a freebie. Spending a couple of centuries with Michael and Lucifer was enough to make anyone see the worst in everyone and no good in the world.

"You need to kill Sam."

"No problem," Adam responded. Sam was responsible for him being in the cage in the first place. He felt no remorse in killing him to stay out.

"Let's go, then," Crowley said.

He touched Adam's forehead. They popped up outside the warehouse.

Dean rushed in the cabin in time to watch Adam and Crowley disappear. He'd been so close.

SSS

Lucifer had arrived at the warehouse a few minutes earlier. Sam was strapped down to the table. "It's almost time. Set him free."

"Set him free? But isn't Adam coming to kill him. It would be easier if he's strapped down," Meg pointed out.

"He doesn't just have to kill him. He has to do it in a certain manner," Lucifer said.

"Does Crowley know that?" Meg asked.

"I've taken care of everything. You needn't worry. Let him up."

Meg undid Sam's restraints. She helped him up as he swayed.

"What's wrong with him?" Lucifer asked.

"I drugged him," Meg said.

"Sit him in the middle of that circle," Lucifer pointed. He hoped the drugs didn't interfere with his plan.

Sam half-heartedly tried to escape Meg. She was too strong and he was too weak.

SSS

Dean performed the ritual again and found that Crowley was now in Detroit. That was three hours away. It was times like this he really missed Cas.

SSS

"Ready?" Crowley asked Adam.

"I want to eat first."

"What?"Crowley barked. "Time is of the essence. You can eat later.'

"Not if I fail," Adam pointed out. "I've been in Hell two centuries. I want a burger."

Crowley knew he wouldn't talk him out of this. He had 24 hours, but he wasn't sure how long Sam had. He walked up to the window and peeked. Sam was sitting in the middle of a circle with Lucifer and Meg standing near the walls. They didn't look like they were planning on doing anything. He figured the circle was some kind of magic keeping Sam in.

"OK, but let's hurry," Crowley said.