"So we kill Lilith," Sam said. "We kill Lilith, and no one is left to break the seals."
"Don't pretend that killing Lilith is going to be an easy feat, Sam," Dean growled from behind the wheel of the Impala as they drove slowly through the center of a town. They had been battling demons for weeks now, with Cas popping in every now and again to let them know when they needed to stop another seal from being broken. They had been doing the best they could, but there were hundreds of seals that could be broken and Lilith only needed to break sixty-six. "We can't just exorcise her, we have to kill her. And I don't know if even the Colt can do something like that."
Sam was quiet for a while before he said, "Dean. I think…well, this is a really bad time to say anything, I know it is, but I have to tell you something."
Dean's chest seized up with fear. "Oh, God, Sam, what?"
Sam took a breath. "Well, remember how you told me never to use my psychic powers?"
"Sam!" Dean roared, and pulled the Impala to the side of the road. Sam had braced himself for this conversation and how badly Dean was going to chew him out, but he knew what he was doing was necessary. If he could kill demons with the power of his mind, then who was Dean to stop him?
"It's…not…natural!" Dean spluttered, finally making coherent words. "It's probably hurting you on the inside, and you don't even know it! Only bad things can come of this, Sam."
"You say that without even really understanding what's going on," Sam argued. "I'm killing demons and most of the time I can save the people they possessed. It's a good thing. I'm making use of the fact that I have demon blood inside of me and the fact that I'll always be a freak of nature, and turning it into something helpful. Why can't you just understand?"
"Because!" Dean shouted, running his hand over his neck. "Because demon blood never did anything good for anyone. And I'm sure that if you left it alone it'd be fine. But you're just provoking it, Sam. You're just asking it to eat you from the inside out and turn you into a demon yourself."
"So you think that I would just give into evil?" Sam said quietly. "You really think that little of me, Dean?"
"Come on, Sammy, I don't mean-"
"Okay, Dean. Okay. I'll take what you said into consideration."
Dean stopped talking, and bit his lip. "You're just saying that, aren't you?"
"Dean, let's just get to the motel, alright? It's late, it was a bad time to have this conversation," Sam said tiredly, motioning down the street.
"I think it's just a bad conversation to have," Dean said, "but this isn't over. You can't just drop a bomb like that and then run away without an explanation."
"Look, Dean, I'm exhausted, alright?" Sam snapped. "We can talk more in the morning. Hell, maybe you're right, maybe I just need some sense talked into me, I don't know. But you can choose whether you want to keep talking about something or not, and so I'm going to take that liberty now."
"This isn't over," Dean repeated, but continued driving to the motel. They pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later. The two brothers were wordless for the rest of the night.
Sam waited until Dean was snoring before he grabbed his duffel and the keys to the Impala. Dean still didn't know that Ruby was back, and she had already told Sam where Lilith was. All Sam needed was a hit of demon blood, and he'd be able to take down Lilith before she could spring Lucifer from his cage. Everything would be settled and Dean wouldn't need to worry about it. Sam would prove to Dean that his psychic powers were a good thing, no matter what it took.
xxxxxxxxxxx
The TARDIS landed, and the Doctor grabbed Clara by the hand and dragged her out. They stepped blinking into the sun. They were in a field, which stretched on unbroken by trees in all directions. The grass was tall and browned and tickled their shins.
"Where are we?" Clara asked, gazing at the scene.
"Somewhere in Kansas," the Doctor answered grimly.
"America?" Clara asked incredulously.
The Doctor nodded. "Yeah, the angels have this weird thing about America, it's usually easier to call them around here."
"So you can just call them and they show up?"
"Only if they want to show up," the Doctor said darkly. He closed his eyes. "Raphael, I'm praying to you. It's the Doctor. I would appreciate it if you would get down here so we can have a little chat."
"Well, well, Doctor. I couldn't say it's a pleasure."
Clara gasped as three angels appeared out of thin air with a whooshing sound. The two standing closest to the Doctor were dark-skinned. The one had a sharp and severe face, with a muscular build and a glint in his eye. The other had a wide face with a sickening grin. The third angel stood closer to Clara. He had messy dark hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a faded trench coat.
"Raphael," the Doctor said stiffly, addressing the severe-faced one. "I see you've brought friends."
Raphael smiled in an unfriendly way. "This is Uriel," he said, gesturing to the dark-skinned angel next to him, "and Castiel." The trench-coated angel bristled at the sound of his name.
"Clara," the Doctor said suddenly, and Clara jumped, startled by her introduction.
"Hello," she said lamely. Raphael and Uriel paid her no attention, but Castiel paid her a small stare.
"So, Raphael, I received your message," the Doctor continued, his eyes distrustful. "I think I deserve an explanation about all this."
"Deserve?" Uriel smirked.
"You hardly deserve anything at all, Doctor, Enemy of the Angels," Raphael said, his voice snide as ever.
"I never declared myself an enemy of the angels, I just made the observation that we often have opposite intentions," the Doctor said, his tone growing impatient. "Now I want to know: what are you planning to do with Donna Noble?"
"Ah, yes," Raphael spoke softly, "the Most Important Woman in the Universe." He began to stride around the TARDIS, looking it up and down. "There are plans for her, indeed."
"What are they?" the Doctor snarled. "I won't let you hurt her."
Uriel barked a laugh, and Raphael cocked his head. "Quite the contrary, Doctor. You're going to do everything we say, and here's why: the apocalypse is about to begin."
Clara heard Castiel's sharp intake of breath, and she felt like she stopped breathing altogether.
"You bloody idiots," the Doctor hissed. "You bloody idiots let it get this far out of hand? I could have helped before, I could have done something."
"We specifically did not tell you for that reason," Raphael said. "We want the apocalypse to happen."
"No," Castiel whispered.
"Why?" the Doctor exploded, marching up to Raphael until he was inches from his nose. "Why would you want that? You're supposed to protect the Earth."
"That is why." Raphael did not back down an inch. "We were created just to love humans, to serve humans, and we're tired of it. When Lucifer comes, Michael will face him. Their battle will bring the apocalypse and leave the world in ruins, to be rebuilt by the angels. Mankind will be eradicated."
"But surely God can't want this," Castiel shouted, speaking up for the first time.
Raphael laughed. "What has God even got to do with it anymore? God is gone, Castiel, and if you weren't so caught up in your lovesick fantasies about the Winchester boys, you would have noticed. The angels have assisted in breaking sixty-five of the seals, and today the sixty-sixth will be broken by none other than your precious little Sam. He is preparing to kill Lilith at the St. Mary's Convent in that dreary little Maryland town as we speak."
Castiel looked shocked and alarmed. "I have to find Dean," he muttered quickly, before disappearing completely.
Uriel moved forward as though he was preparing to go after Castiel, but Raphael held him back. "I'll send some others after him," Raphael said carelessly. "I need you here, Uriel."
"You can't do this!" the Doctor yelled, clutching at his hair, his sonic screwdriver, the side of the TARDIS, everything. "You can't!"
"Yes, we are aware humans are your precious little pets," Raphael said, sounding bored. "But we also need Donna Noble for the prophecy, and you are the only one who can get through to her."
"And what if I refuse? Because I most certainly am," the Doctor bellowed stoically.
Raphael gave a small smile. "We knew you would. Which is why we're taking this one for insurance."
Uriel's arm appeared around Clara's neck, half-choking her. The Doctor looked absolutely and utterly heartbroken.
Raphael inspected his nails. "If you do as we say with Donna Noble, we will allow you to spare the life of this…Clara." He sniffed out her name disdainfully. "We will also allow you to take…well, who were they now. They are on Earth at the moment, anyway…ah, yes. I believe their names were Martha Jones, Mickey Smith, and Jack Harkness?"
Tears rushed down the Doctor's face with fervor, and he didn't wipe them away.
Raphael's teeth flashed a perfect white. "Good. Now, we have an old friend waiting at Donna Noble's house as we speak. I would like you to go and assist him in any way you can. He will explain more to you when you arrive."
The Doctor was breathing heavily. He looked from Raphael to Clara and back again.
"She'll be fine as long as you do what you're told," Raphael cooed.
"Doctor," Clara managed to stammer.
The Doctor eyes locked on Clara's. "Clara," he whispered, and he moved to her and cradled her face in his hands. Clara scrabbled weakly at Uriel's arm, still secured around her. "Clara," he murmured again, "listen to me. It's time for you to be very, very brave. I promise you, I will be back for you, and you will not be harmed. Do you understand?"
"Doctor," Clara said again, her eyes shining.
The Doctor grabbed her hands in his.
Clara whispered, "I'll be fine. You have to run now, though. Run off and save the world. Run, you clever boy, and remember. Remember me."