They managed to save Jody's life by agreeing to give Crowley the Demon Tablet, as long as he gave them the Angel Tablet. They met up with Kevin to get the Demon Tablet from where he stashed it when he thought Crowley was in his head. "You hid the Demon Tablet underneath the devil? Seriously?" Dean asked. Kevin was digging underneath a sign with a cartoon drawing of the devil on it. "What? I was delirious," Kevin defended himself. He placed the two pieces of the Tablet together, making them rebind to form a complete Tablet again. He handed it to Sam. "You sure this is gonna work?"

"What choice do we have?" Sam asked. Dean took out the key to the bunker Henry gave them, handing it over to Kevin. "Alright, listen, this is a secret lair. You understand me? No keggers, especially with Mack around." Kevin scowled, "I don't have any friends." Dean rolled his eyes, "Yeah, well, just lay low. Who knows? You'll be a mathlete again before you know it." He and Sam started to head back to the Impala. "You guys?" Kevin stopped them again. "You're doing the right thing." Sam and Dean shared a look, turning and heading back to the car.

Sam and Dean pulled into the remains of Singer Salvage, where they were meeting Crowley. Bobby's car was still parked out front of the burnt remains of the house. It had been overrun with weeds, dirt and rust and plants were growing through the engine. They stared at it sadly until a familiar voice sounded behind them. "Hello, boys." They turned away from the painful reminder to face the demon. He was standing a good fifty feet away from them, and after Dean glanced around to make sure there wasn't anyone or anything else that was going to jump out and surprise them, they made their way a bit closer to him.

"What's that old expression?" Crowley mused. "Success has many fathers. Failure is a Winchester." He laughed. "Where's the stone?" Dean glared at him, "You show us yours, and we'll show you ours." Crowley scoffed. "Really, Dean? I'm trying to conduct a professional negotiation here, and you want to talk dangly bits? The stone. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slowly." Sam slowly pulled the Demon Tablet from his jacket just enough that Crowley could see it. "There she is." Crowley lifted one side of his suit coat so they could see the top of the Angel Tablet peeking out of his inside pocket. "And the contract?" Dean asked.

The demon pulled out a scroll, throwing it out so it unrolled to cover the remaining ten feet between him and the brothers. Dean raised an eyebrow as he eyes the enormous contract. "Yeah, I'm sure there's no hidden agendas in there," he quipped. "The highlights- we swap Tablets, you stand down from the trials forever," Crowley summarized. "You stop killing everyone we've ever saved," Sam added. "Agreed." Dean reached into his jacket, pulling out a pen to sign the contract with. "Unh-unh-unh," Crowley protested, yanking the contract back a couple feet. "Nice try, Squirrel. Moose is doing these trials. Moose signs."

"No, no. He's not signing anything until I read the fine print."

Sam yanked the pen out of Dean's hand. "I can read it," he snapped. "Hey, you wanted me here. I'm here," Dean looked at him. "But I'll be damned if I'm gonna let him screw us even more." Crowley raised his eyebrows. "What's this?" he chuckled. "Trouble in paradise, boys?" Glaring at the demon, Dean picked up the end of the contract and started reading, mouthing the words as he moved closer and closer to Crowley until there was no more than a foot between them. "You're gonna move your lips the whole way up here, aren't you?" Crowley said as Dean read. "You know why I always defeat you? It's your humanity. It's a built-in handicap. You always put emotion ahead of good, old-fashioned common sense. Let's have the big galoot sign it now, shall we?"

Sam walked over as Crowley finished speaking, and nodded at Dean, who quickly slapped a pair of cuffs onto Crowley's right wrist. "Is this a joke? You realize all I have to do is…" Crowley snapped his fingers, but nothing happened and Dean smiled. "Unh-unh-unh. Demonic handcuffs, jackass. No flicking, no teleporting, no smoking out- oh, and… no deal. Which pretty much means that you're our bitch."

"Fine. You wanna play chain gang. Let's." Crowley reached over, punching Dean in the face and he grunted. "You saddled yourself with the wrong bull, mate." Dean threw a punch at Crowley's face in return, grabbing the Angel Tablet from his pocket and handing it over to Sam. "I can do this all day, 'cause you know what? Damn, it feels good!" Dean said, shaking Crowley once by the lapels. "But sooner or later, you're gonna have to face it- you're ours. Which means that your demon ass is going to be a mortal ass pretty damn quick."

"What's he mouthing on about?" Crowley addressed Sam in confusion. "You're the third trial, Crowley," Sam smirked.

They found an abandoned church to do the third trial in for the consecrated ground. Dean took Crowley inside and started setting up while Sam took a minute to compose himself outside. After chaining the demon down with the handcuffs attached to both wrists instead of just one, Dean began spray painting Devil's Traps around him. Crowley rattled the chains in obvious discomfort. "You really think this is gonna hold me, that you're gonna cure me or whatever it is?" he asked. Dean ignored him, shaking the spray can one last time, then tossing it across the room. He smirked at Crowley, heading out to join Sam.

"He's primed. How you feeling?" he asked. "Honestly, for the first time in a long time, it feels like we're gonna win. I'm good." Sam chuckled a little. "Alright, well, no dancing in the end zone until we're finished. What's the good Father's playbook say now?" Sam placed a lid on a jar. "Well… Now that we got the consecrated ground, I just, uh," he cleared his throat. "I slip Crowley one dose of blood every hour for eight hours and seal the deal with a bloody-fist sandwich. That should do it."

"Your blood's supposed to be purified, isn't it? You ever, uh- you ever done the 'Forgive me, Father' before?"

"Well, once, when we were kids. Which is why I have no clue what to say now." Dean nodded. "Well, I mean, I could give you suggestions if you want." Sam turned to face him. "O-okay. Yeah, sure." Dean took a deep breath. "Alright. Well, I'm just spit-balling here, but if I were you, uh… Ruby, killing Lilith, letting Lucifer out, losing your soul, letting Mack run away and not looking for me when I went to Purgatory…"

"Yeah, thanks," Sam turned away. "... for starters. Or, hey, h-how about what you did to, uh, Penny Markle in the sixth grade? Why don't you lead with that?" Sam turned back. "Well, that was you." Dean thought about it a minute, realizing Sam was right. "Carry on," he dismissed him. Sam gave him a disdainful look, making his way into the church. While Dean waited outside, there was a sudden rustling of wings. "Dean, I need your help." Dean turned, startled, to face Cas. "Little busy, Cas," he spat. "Take a number."

"I'm afraid this can't wait. Naomi has taken Metatron."

"And you know Metatron how?"

"I've been working with him on the angel trials," Cas replied. "The what?" Dean asked in surprise. "We're gonna shut it all down- Heaven, Hell, all of it," Cas explained. Dean gaped at him. "Metatron, the guy who was full-on crazy, cat-lady-hoarder angel yesterday- now he wants to save Heaven?" Cas nodded, "Yes, he wants to. But I'm the only one who can. I can't fail, Dean, not on this one. I need your help."

"Look, Cas, that's all well and good, okay, but you're asking me to leave Sam, and we've got Crowley in there tied and trussed. Now, if anybody needs a chaperone while doing the heavy lifting, it's Sam."

"You should go."

Dean rolled his eyes, turning to face Sam, who had come out of the church and was standing behind him. "Seriously," Sam insisted. "Oh, what, and leave you here with the king of Hell? Come on," Dean protested. "I got this. And if you guys lock the angels up, too… That's a good day." Thunder crashed overhead. "Look, I… I'm down with sending the angels back to Heaven, just 'cause they're dicks," Dean began and Cas winced behind him. "But the demons? This is on us. Start the injections now. If I'm not back in eight hours, finish it, no questions, no hesitation."

"Yeah," Sam nodded. Cas watched as Sam and Dean gathered items from the trunk. Once Dean was ready, Cas placed a hand on his shoulder, and they disappeared with a flap of his wings, returning to the bunker. "Cas!" Mack cried excitedly. "What's going on?" Kevin asked. Dean took out the Angel Tablet, setting it on the table and filling them in on the situation. "Is this a joke?" Kevin gaped. "No. It's the Word of God," Cas replied. Mack snorted and Kevin chuckled a little as he looked up at the angel. "What?"

"It's a Tablet," Dean stated. "Alright, translate. That's what you do." Kevin sighed, "Okay. Um, it's the Angel Tablet, which I've never laid eyes on in my life. You want a translation in like six hours when it took me six months and a dead mom to translate a piece of Demon Tablet?" He laughed again, pouring himself a small glass of alcohol. "And according to your words this morning… this is not what I do. It's what I did. You told me I was out, Dean."

"Yeah, well-" Dean started.

"And if this is gonna be the 'guys like us are never out' speech, save it," Kevin snapped. Cas grabbed Kevin by his sweater, yanking him up sharply out of his seat and causing his glass to crash to the floor. "Dean's right," he growled. "Cas!" Dean and Mack chorused. Cas held Kevin close to his face as he continued. "There is no out. Only duty."

"Get the hell off me," Kevin attempted to pull away. "You are a Prophet of the Lord, always and forever… until the day you cease to exist, and then another Prophet takes your place. Now, are you clear as to the task before you?" Kevin nodded. "Then do it, and let's go." Cas let the Prophet go, taking Dean away and leaving Kevin and Mack alone at the bunker. "What the hell?" Mack asked.

"It's your dad and guardian angel, isn't it?" Kevin pointed out. "Well, yeah, but…" Mack sighed. "I'll let you start translating. Want anything to eat?"

"What is there?"

"Good question… I'll be right back." She went to check the kitchen and then remembered- the pantry and fridge were empty. Cas had left to go on a supply run and never come back. And between meeting Metatron, Crowley's deal, and now Sam starting the third trial while her dad and Cas attempted to close the gates of Heaven as well, they hadn't had time to go on another supply run. She returned to the library empty handed. Kevin had grabbed a notebook and pen and had started working on translating the new Tablet. "Bad news. We haven't gone on a supply run, so the kitchen isn't stocked."

"Naturally," Kevin sighed. "So… what now?"

"Well, I know Dad said six hours, but I think we can hold off half an hour if you wanna drive me into town to pick some stuff up." Kevin set down his pen, standing up. "Yeah, alright. Let's go." He grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair and Mack went to grab her own before meeting up back at the car. "Alright, let's make this fast. In and out," Mack said as Kevin parked the car outside the local grocery store. "Right," Kevin nodded. They headed inside, Mack grabbing a shopping cart and leading the way through the isles. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you," Kevin said as Mack paused to study some items on the shelf. "What's it like?"

"What's what like?" she asked, deciding on a particular can of soup and putting several in the cart. "Being a hunter your whole life?" Kevin elaborated. "I mean, it couldn't have been easy… Especially considering, you know…" Mack glanced back at him, "I'm a Winchester?" He nodded, "Yeah." She sighed, stopping to grab some cereal next. "Yeah, it's definitely a harder experience than being thrown into it later on in life. Although Dad tried to keep my childhood as easygoing as possible. I spent a lot of time at my Grandpa Bobby's house in Sioux Falls when my dad didn't want me tagging along on hunts. And when I did tag along, I got stuck in the car a lot while he and Uncle Sammy ganked whatever monster of the week they were after. There wasn't really room to complain. Come on, we gotta get some healthy stuff for Uncle Sammy before we get any junk food."

Kevin took over pushing the cart while Mack focused on grabbing more items off the shelves. Once she was satisfied they had everything they needed, they headed to check out. "I don't remember Sam and Dean ever mentioning a Bobby," Kevin said as they waited in line. "No, he, uh… he died before we met you," Mack replied. "Sorry." She shrugged, "Not your fault."

"Still, I get it. That sucks." Mack smiled at him appreciatively. "Thanks." Once they checked out and got everything loaded into the car, they headed back to the bunker. Kevin buckled down and started translating while Mack got everything put away in the kitchen and started making them some dinner.

"I think I found the angel trials, but I don't see anything about a Nephilim or a Cupid's bow or anything like that," Kevin informed Dean over the phone. He was looking at the notes he made while eating a bowl of pasta across from Mack. "Oh, come on, Kev! We're on the one-line yard, here," Dean complained. "Okay, a-and I should have mentioned this six months ago, but the sports metaphors- y-you want to motivate me, 'Magic' cards, 'Skyrim', Aziz Ansari."

"What? Yeah, I don't know what those words mean," Dean said. He and Cas were in a parking lot, and Cas turned at the sound of wings to see Naomi standing there. "I'm not here to fight you, Castiel." Dean turned when he heard Naomi's voice, dropping the phone to his side but not hanging up. "Dean?" Kevin asked. Mack looked across the table at him worriedly. "Not anymore," Naomi continued addressing Cas. Kevin was still trying to get Dean's attention. "Where is Metatron?" Cas asked Naomi.

"He told you he was going to fix Heaven, didn't he? Murdering a Nephilim, cutting off a Cupid's bow- it's a lie, all of it. I've been in his head." Cas scowled, "You've been in all of our heads. That's the problem." Naomi pressed, "No, Castiel, you're wrong." Cas shook his head, "This is what you do. You twist things. I'm trying to fix Heaven. Metatron is trying to fix Heaven."

"Metatron isn't trying to fix anything. He's trying to break it- an act of revenge for driving him away." Kevin and Mack were listening intently, holding their breath on their side of the phone. "Break it how?" Dean asked. "Dean," Cas chastised, turning to look at him. "Expel all the angels from Heaven, just as God cast out Lucifer," Naomi explained. "Cast you out? To where? Hell?" Naomi shook her head. "Here. Thousands of us, walking the Earth."

"Lies," Cas spat. Cas began to charge her with his angel blade, but Dean grabbed his arm to hold him back. "Wait!" he protested. "Our mission was to protect what God created," Naomi continued. "I don't know when we forgot that. I want nothing more than to see you shut the gates of Hell, but I told you that you could trust me. If Sam completes those trials, he is going to die."

"No," Mack breathed. "What the hell are you talking about?" Dean asked on the other end of the phone. "I saw it in Metatron's head. It was always God's intention- the ultimate sacrifice. As for you, Castiel, I beg you, stop this path. Metatron has been neutralized. If you want back in, truly, I will listen." Naomi vanished and Dean put the phone back to his ear. "Hey, right now, talk to me. Is she lying?" Kevin swallowed, "I don't know."

"Well, find out!" Dean yelled, hanging up. "She's lying," Cas said. Dean rounded on him angrily.

"Take me to him."

"Dean-"

"Take me to him now!"

Cas sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder and transporting them to the church. "Dean, I'm not wrong. I'm going to fix my home." With that, Cas vanished, leaving Dean alone. "Cas!" he yelled. Without enough time, he rushed into the church to see Sam about to place his hand on Crowley. "Sammy, stop!" he cried out. He approached his brother with his hands up placatingly. "Easy there. Okay. Just take it easy. We got a slight change in plan."

"What? What's going on? Where's Cas?!" Sam asked. "Metatron lied," Dean told him. "You finish this trial, you're dead, Sam."

"So?"

Cas had appeared in Naomi's office in Heaven, finding her dead, lying with her head on her desk and the drill she used to get into the other angels' heads shoved into her skull. Metatron appeared behind him and as Cas turned to face him, he shoved an angel blade against his neck. "She told you I lied, didn't she?" Metatron smirked. "You should've listened to the bitch."

He got Cas strapped down in the operating chair in the corner of the office. "You promised," Cas snarled, tugging against the restraints. "Shh!" Metatron slammed his head back against the headrest, holding him down. "Castiel, I want you to stop thinking about master plans, Heaven and angels, and all this. That doesn't concern you anymore." He pulled out his angel blade, cutting Cas' neck and causing grace to seep out through the cut. "These were never trials, Castiel. This is a spell. And what I'm taking from you know- your essence, your grace- is the last piece."

Metatron held a small vial to his neck, collecting the grace as it left Cas' body. Cas could feel himself getting weaker as his power drained from his body. As soon as Metatron had taken it all, he placed his hand against Cas' neck, healing the cut. "And now something wonderful is going to happen, for me and for you," he smiled. "I want you to live this new life to the fullest. Marry Dean. Raise Mckinley together. And when you die and your soul comes to Heaven, find me. Tell me your story?"

"Hmm?" Cas hummed groggily, disoriented from the loss of his grace. "Now go," Metatron commanded, placing his hand to Cas' forehead and sending him down to Earth.

"Look at him. Look at him!" Sam gestured to the mostly-human demon chained up. "Look at how close we are! Other people will die if I don't finish this!" Dean swallowed, keeping his voice calm as he tried to talk Sam away from the ledge. "Think about it. Think about what we know, huh? Pulling souls from Hell, curing demons, ganking a hellhound! We have enough knowledge on our side to turn the tide here. But I can't do it without you."

"You can barely do it with me," Sam argued. "I mean, you think I screw up everything I try. You think I need a chaperone, remember?" Dean shook his head, "Come on, man. That's not what I meant." Sam scoffed, "No, it's exactly what you meant. You want to know what I confessed in there? What my greatest sin was? It was how many times I let you down. I can't do that again."

"Sam-"

"What happens when you've decided I can't be trusted again?" Sam asked, beginning to cry. "I mean, who are you gonna turn to next time instead of me? Another angel, another- another vampire? Do you have any idea what it feels like to watch your brother just-"

"Hold on, hold on! You seriously think that? Because none of it- none of it- is true. Listen, man, I know we've had our disagreements, okay? Hell, I know I've said some junk that's sent you back on your heels. But, Sammy… come on. I killed Benny to save you. I'm willing to let this bastard and all the sons of bitches that killed mom walk because of you. Don't you dare think there is anything, past or present, that I would put in front of you. It has never been like that, ever! I need you to see that. I'm begging you."

"How do I stop?" Sam choked, squeezing his hand as blood dripped to the floor. The orange glow under his skin became a little brighter and then started to fade. "Just let it go," Dean answered. "I can't. It's in me, Dean. You don't know what this feels like." Dean reached out gently, wrapping a bandana around Sam's cut on his palm. "Hey, listen, we will figure it out, okay, just like we always do. Come on." He grabbed Sam, pulling him into a tight hug. "Come on. Let it go, okay? Let it go, brother." As Sam pulled back, the orange glow faded from his arms. "Hey, Dean."

"See?" Dean smiled. Sam suddenly doubled over in pain, and Dean grabbed him, guiding him out of the church. "Sam? I got you, little brother. You're gonna be just fine." Sam groaned, falling down next to the Impala in intense pain. "Sam, Sam? Cas?!" Sam began to wheeze as Dean looked around. "Castiel?! Where the hell are you?" Thousands of miles away, Cas was laying on the ground, beginning to stir. Meanwhile, back at the bunker, Kevin and Mack were starting to freak out as machines started turning on by themselves and lighting up. Alarms blared and the map table started lighting up with red dots.

"Sammy!" Dean shook his brother. He looked up at the sky to see streaks of light falling from the sky. "No, Cas," he breathed. "What's happening?" Sam asked, looking up at the streaks of light. "Angels," Dean swallowed. "They're falling."