Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… Dean approached Sam, who was sitting on the hood of the Impala drinking a beer. "Hey," Sam greeted him. Dean reached down and grabbed a beer out of the cooler and leaned against the Impala. "Dean? What's going on?" Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "I'm in," he said. "In with…" Dean swallowed, cracking open his beer. "The whole 'up with Satan' thing. I'm on board." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet…
"You're gonna let me say yes?" Sam asked in surprise. "No. That's the thing. It's not on me to let you do anything. You're a grown- well, overgrown- man. If this is what you want, I'll back your play." He glanced sidelong at Sam. Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "That's the last thing I thought you'd say."
"Might be. I'm not gonna lie to you, though. It goes against every fiber I got. I mean, truth is… Before… Before Mack came along, you know, watching out for you… it's kinda been my job, you know? But more than that, it's… it's kinda who I am. You're not a kid anymore, Sam, and I can't keep treating you like one. Maybe I got to grow up a little, too. I don't know if we got a snowball's chance. But… But I do know that if anybody can do it… it's you." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet…
"Thank you," Sam told him. "If this is what you want… Is this really what you want?" Dean looked at his baby brother, part of him hoping he would say no. "I let him out. I got to put him back in," Sam replied with determination. Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… He nodded. "Okay. That's it, then."
They ended up filling several gallon jugs with demon blood, draining two demons dry. While Sam and Cas loaded them up in the trunk, Dean headed over to Bobby. "I still can't get used to you at eye-level," he shook his head. "So was I right?" Bobby asked. "As always, Yoda. Two stunt demons inside, just like you said." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Did you get it?" Dean nodded somberly. "Yeah, all the 'go juice' Sammy can drink." He hated this part of the plan, but it was necessary. To stop Lucifer. To save Mack. Not yet… Not yet… Not yet…
"You okay?" Bobby looked at him. "Not really," he answered honestly. "What do you got?" Bobby sighed, "Not much. These look like omens to you?" He handed Dean a newspaper. "Cyclone in Florida, temperature drop in Detroit, wildfires in L.A."
"Wait, what about Detroit?"
"Temp's dropped about twenty degrees, but only in a five-block radius of downtown Motown," Bobby explained. "That's the one. Devil's in Detroit." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Really? As far as foreboding goes, it's a little light on the loafers. You sure?" Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Yeah, I'm sure."
Bobby drove ahead while Sam, Dean and Cas rode in the Impala. Dean glanced back at Cas in the rearview mirror, finding him asleep. "Aw, ain't he a little angel," he couldn't help commenting. "Angels don't sleep," Sam pointed out. "Well, yeah… I know… He… He's been practically human since Van Nuys," Dean mumbled. "Sam, I got a bad feeling about this." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Well, you'd be nuts to have a good feeling about it."
"You know what I mean. Detroit. He always said he'd jump your bones in Detroit. Here we are." Sam's mouth was drawn in a thin line, "Here we are." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Maybe this is him rolling out the red carpet, you know. Maybe he knows something we don't." Sam scoffed. "Dean, I'm sure there's a buttload we don't. We just got to hope he doesn't know about the rings. Hey, um… on the subject, there's something I got to talk to you about."
"What?"
"This thing goes our way and I… Triple Lindy into that box… y-you know I'm not coming back." Dean glanced at his brother sidelong. "Yeah, I'm aware." Sam took a deep breath. "So you gotta promise me something." Not yet… Not yet… Not yet… "Okay. Yeah. Anything." He looked over at Sam. "You got to promise not to try to bring me back." Nope. Not happening. Never in a thousand years. "What? No, I didn't sign up for that." Sam was getting frustrated, "Dean-"
"Your Hell is gonna make my tour look like Graceland," Dean growled. "You want me to sit by and do nothing?" Sam shook his head, "Once the cage is shut, you can't go poking at it, Dean. It's too risky." Absolutely not. "No, no, no, no, no. As if I'm just gonna let you rot in there," he protested. "Yeah, you are," Sam insisted. "You don't have a choice."
"You can't ask me to do this."
"I'm sorry, Dean. You have to."
"So then what am I supposed to do?"
"You take Kinley and you and Cas go get married, start a real life with her away from all this. You have barbecues, go to football games. You live a normal, apple-pie life, Dean. Promise me."
Bobby looked through binoculars at the building at the center of the five-block radius that was surrounded by demons. In the upper window, he made out the silhouette of what appeared to be a little girl. "No," he breathed. The Impala pulled into the alley behind him by his car and he hurried over as Sam, Dean and Cas got out. "We got a problem."
"What?" Dean asked. "There are demons, at least two dozen of 'em. And… he's got Mack up there. I saw her in the upper window." Dean swallowed, reaching out and grabbing Cas' hand like a lifeline. "D- did you see him?" Bobby shook his head. "No, just her… You'll need to be careful when you get in there." Dean let go of Cas' hand, retreating to stand at the trunk. Sam turned to Bobby.
"I'll see ya around, kid," Bobby told him. "See ya around." They embraced. "He gets in… You fight him tooth and nail, you understand. Keep swingin'. Don't give an inch," Bobby said in his ear. "Yes, sir," Sam replied, pulling back. He turned to Cas next. "Take care of these guys, okay?" he told him. "I'll try my best," Cas replied sincerely. Sam clapped him on the shoulder as he headed over to Dean. "You mind not watching this?" he requested. Dean nodded, walking over to stand with Cas.
"Dean, I should go in there with you to get Mack out," Cas said. "No, Cas. Sammy and I've got this. We'll get her. It'll be okay." Cas frowned, but relented. "Okay." Sam slammed the trunk shut, clearing his throat. "Okay, let's go." He led the way, and after taking a moment to squeeze Cas' hand, Dean followed him. Sam raised his arms as he approached the building. "Alright! We're here, you sons of bitches! Come and get it!"
Two demons came outside and Dean forced a smirk on his face. "Hey, guys. Is your father home?" The demons grabbed them, manhandling them through the door and up a flight of stairs. An old shelving unit was against the back wall to their left, the stairs they'd come up to their right. Directly in front of them, standing in front of the window was Mack, but there was no sign of Lucifer- and then Mack turned around and Dean's heart stopped in his chest.
She looked so sick. Her skin was an ashy gray, sores on her face like Nick, Lucifer's old vessel. There was a cold glint in her eyes. "Hey, guys," she spoke, the cadence and tone of her voice all wrong. "So nice of you to drop in." Dead? No… Not yet, anyway. This couldn't be happening. "Oh, right," she chuckled a little when neither of them said anything. "You like the new vessel? Figured it was time to ditch Nick. He was getting a bit… defective."
"You son of a bitch," Dean growled, fighting against the demon holding him. "You let her go!" Lucifer smiled and it looked so wrong on Mack's face. "'Fraid I can't do that, Dean-o. Not yet, anyway. I'd need a new volunteer." His- her- eyes flicked to Sam and she smirked. "What do you think, Sammy?" Sam was gaping at Lucifer, completely forgetting the script he and Dean had planned out. Lucifer had possessed Mack. "H-how'd you… Why would she say yes to you?" Lucifer chuckled.
"Oh, genius, that one… I just had to poke in the right places. Little threat here, little hallucination there… She would have said anything to make it stop." Sam swallowed, "But why?" Lucifer grinned, "Isn't it obvious? I knew if I possessed this precious little bug-a bee, you'd be begging to take her place, Sammy boy."
"I was going to say yes anyway! You didn't have to… to…"
"What'd you do to her?" Dean choked out. "Hmm? Oh," Lucifer looked down, seeming to remember how sick Mack looked. "Right… Nasty little side effect, I'm afraid. All that demon blood… Her body didn't take it very well… She may not survive if I were to leave her."
"I'm gonna kill you!" Dean roared, trying to get out of the demon's grip once more. Lucifer just laughed, delighting in his pain. Sam closed his eyes, both demons restraining him and Dean dropping dead. Lucifer's mouth fell open in surprise, "Chock full of Ovaltine, are we?"
"I told you. I was already planning on saying yes," Sam growled. "I'm sure," Lucifer mocked, nodding. "Look, Judgement Day's a runaway train. We get it now. We just want off," Sam told him. "Meaning?"
"Deal of the century. I give you a free ride, and when it's all over, I live, he lives, Kinley lives, you bring back our parents-"
"Okay, can we please drop the telenovela? I know you have the rings, Sam." Dean stopped breathing. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Sam bluffed. "The Horsemen's rings? The magic keys to my cage? Ring a bell? Come on, Sam. I never lied to you. You could at least pay me the same respect. It's okay. I'm not mad. A wrestling match inside your noggin… I like the idea. Just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win, you jump in the hole. I win… Well, then I win." Dean flinched, the words too close to Lucifer's from 2014. "What do you say, Sam? A fiddle of gold against your soul says I'm better than you-oou."
"Will she really not survive?" Sam asked, mostly for Dean's benefit. They had to know if Lucifer abandoning her would be fatal. "If you jump ship for me, does she have any chance at all?" Lucifer hummed, seeming to contemplate it. "I suppose she would stick around for a little bit, but she'll be a dead girl walking…" Sam swallowed, glancing sidelong at his brother. Dean had tears in his eyes as he stared from his daughter to him and back. "Yes."
Lucifer closed his eyes and a bright light emanated from Mack's body. When it faded, both Mack and Sam were motionless on the floor. Dean hurried over to Mack. "Bug? Bug, can you hear me?" Her eyes fluttered open and she gave a weak cough. "D-Daddy," she whimpered. Without Lucifer in her, she looked even sicker than before. "It's gonna be okay, bug." While cradling her in his arms, he pulled out the Horsemen's rings, throwing them at the wall where they stuck. "Bvtmon… Tabges… Babalon." A hole appeared in the wall where the rings were. Air was getting sucked into it. Sam had begun to stir on the floor.
"Sammy!" Dean cried, still cradling Mack close in his arms. "Dean!" Sam winced, getting to his feet. "Sammy!" Mack whimpered again, coughing and Dean pulled her closer to his body to guard her against the portal into the cage. "I can feel him," Sam groaned. "Oh, God!"
"You got to go now! Go, Sammy," Dean urged his brother. Sam stumbled toward the hole in the wall, taking several deep breaths. And then he smiled, turning back to face Dean and Mack. "I was just messing with you. Sammy's long gone." Lucifer turned back to the hole, reciting the counterspell. "Chdr bvtmon tabges babalon." The hole closed and Lucifer took the Horsemen's rings, sticking them in his pocket. "I told you… this would always happen in Detroit."
With that, he vanished, leaving Dean alone there holding his dying daughter.
"What the hell happened to her?"
"Lucifer," Dean growled. He'd carried Mack out of the building to where Cas and Bobby were waiting. "He possessed her. She… She's dying." God, it hurt to say it out loud. "Where's Sam?" Bobby asked. "Gone. He couldn't… Lucifer…" He was going to have a freaking breakdown. His brother possessed by the devil, his daughter fighting to stay alive… They headed over to where a store window displayed several televisions playing the news. "Reports are flooding in- a 7.6 earthquake in Poland, 8.1 in Boston, more in Hong Kong, and Tehron," the reporter was saying. "The U.S.G.S. have no explanation but says to expect a six-figure death toll."
"It's starting," Cas said. "Yeah, you think, genius?" Dean snapped. "You don't have to be mean," Cas told him gently. Mack coughed and whimpered again, shivering as she curled into his chest. "Shh, bug," he whispered, tears springing to his eyes again. "So what do we do?"
"I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol… Just wait for the inevitable blast wave," Cas stated. "Yeah, swell. Thank you, Bukowski. I-I mean, how do we stop it?" Cas took a deep breath. "We don't. Lucifer will meet Michael on the chosen field, and the battle of Armageddon begins." Dean swallowed, "Okay, well, where's this chosen field?"
"I don't know."
"Well there's gotta be something we can do," Dean insisted. "I'm sorry, Dean. This is over." In his grief and anger, Dean lashed out. "You listen to me, you junkless sissy- we're not giving up! Bobby? Bobby?" Bobby sighed, shaking his head. "There was never much hope to begin with. I don't know what to do." Another cough from Mack made Dean's shoulders slump in defeat. "Take her, I'll be right back."
He handed Mack over to Cas, who cradled her to his chest just like Dean had been doing. Dean headed back toward the alley where the cars were parked. "C-Cas," Mack wheezed, coughing some more. "Shh, bee, don't talk," he murmured. "Save your strength." Her hands fisted his trench coat weakly. "I'm s-so c-cold," she continued anyway. She was indeed shaking violently in his arms, but as he pressed a kiss to her temple her skin was warmer than usual. "Why'd you do it, bee?" he asked sadly.
"T-to s-save you and D-Daddy," she managed to whisper, barely audible. "H-he said h-he would h-hurt y-you." Cas' heart broke. He blamed himself; if he'd been around after Van Nuys, then Mack might not have been taken by Lucifer which was what led to this state she was in. Holding her close, he and Bobby made their way over to the alley to join Dean. "You goin' someplace?" Bobby asked Dean. "You're goin' to do somethin' stupid. You got that look."
"I'm gonna go talk to Sam," Dean replied. "You just don't give up," Bobby shook his head. "It's Sam!" Dean yelled and Mack flinched violently in Cas' arms, whimpering after. "If you couldn't reach him here, you're certainly not gonna be able to on the battlefield," Cas informed him grimly. "Well, if we've already lost, I guess I got nothing to lose, right?"
"Dean, Mack needs you with her, not going after long shots." Dean glared at the angel. "I will be with her, on the road, heading to see my brother." Cas returned Dean's glare with a melancholy expression. "I just want you to understand- the only thing you're gonna see out there is Michael killing your brother."
"Well, then I ain't gonna let him die alone." Dean took Mack back from Cas, laying her gently in the back of the Impala. Then, without so much as a last glance at Cas or Bobby, he got behind the wheel and started driving.
"Hang on, bug, we're almost there," Dean assured his daughter. Her fever had only gotten worse as they drove. He'd paused only briefly at a rest stop to wet some cold paper towels to try and cool her off. Her skin heated them up in seconds, and knowing they were on a deadline, he murmured apologies and had started back on the road with her once more. There was no answering whimper from his daughter. "Bug?"
He glanced back at her in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were closed and she didn't look like she was breathing. "Mack? Mckinley?!" He reached a hand over the seat, holding it close to her mouth. He could feel her breathing, but only barely. "Just a bit further," he muttered, pulling his hand back. "We just have to get a little bit further." They had reached their destination less than an hour later: Stull Cemetery, just outside of Lawrence, Kansas.
Dean put a tape in the tape deck, turning up the volume. The windows were rolled down as he pulled into the cemetery, driving up to where Michael and Lucifer, in Adam and Sam's bodies respectively, were standing. "Howdy, boys," he greeted them, getting out of the car. "Sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He shut his door, leaving Mack in the backseat as he approached the two archangels. "Hey, we need to talk."
"Dean. Even for you, this is a whole new mountain of stupid," Lucifer said. "I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to Sam," he returned coldly. "You're no longer the vessel, Dean," Michael glared at him. "You got no right to be here."
"Adam, if you're in there somewhere, I'm sorry," Dean apologized. "Adam isn't home right now," Michael answered. "Well, then you're next on my list, buttercup. But right now, I need five minutes with him." Michael became angry, "You little maggot. You are no longer a part of this story!"
"Hey, ass-butt!"
Cas and Bobby had showed up, Cas holding a Molotov cocktail in one hand. He threw the bottle at Michael, who screamed as he went up in flames. "'Ass-butt'?" Dean echoed, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice, despite the situation. "He'll be back- and upset- but you got your five minutes," Cas said. "Castiel," Lucifer set his sights on the other angel. "Did you just Molotov my brother with holy fire?"
"Uh… no?" Cas shook his head, taking a step back. "No one dicks with Michael but me," Lucifer growled. "Cas!" Dean cried as Lucifer snapped his fingers, causing Cas to explode. "Sammy, can you hear me?" Dean asked. "You know… I tried to be nice… for Sammy's sake. But you… are such a pain… in my ass." Lucifer threw Dean into the windshield of the Impala, which shattered. Inside the vehicle, the girl in the backseat had completely stopped breathing, unbeknownst to the people fighting outside of it. Bobby shot Lucifer in the back, and when he turned, Bobby shot him again in the front.
Lucifer made a twisting motion with his hand, and Bobby's neck snapped. "Noooooo!" Dean cried. "Yes," Lucifer hissed. The devil grabbed Dean's legs, pulling him off the hood of the Impala. He punched him hard, and Dean fell back against the car, spitting blood. "Sammy? Are you in there?" Lucifer smiled sinisterly, "Oh, he's in here, alright." He threw another punch. "And he's gonna feel the snap of your bones." Another punch, and Dean fell to the ground. "Every single one." Lucifer hauled Dean to his feet. "We're gonna take our time."
Lucifer punched Dean another ten times. Dean's face was very swollen and bleeding, and he reached out, putting a hand on Lucifer's jacket. "Sam, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here. I'm not gonna leave you." Lucifer punched him two more times. "I'm not gonna leave you." Lucifer drew his arm back for another punch. However, at that moment, sunlight glinted off the roof of the Impala, catching Lucifer's eye. Through the window, the lifeless body of Mack lay on the back bench.
In an unassuming motel room, Sam and Dean sat opposite each other, their legs spread to create a type of cage for a one and half year old Mckinley. It was a few weeks after they'd ditched Stanford, after Jess' death. The young girl was standing, holding her father's fingers facing her uncle as she attempted to take her first steps. "Come on, Kinley," Sam encouraged her. "Come to Uncle Sammy." He reached out to her as she moved further away from Dean. A giant grin on her face featuring mostly gums with her front top and bottom teeth appeared as she let go of Dean's fingers and grabbed Sam's instead. "Good job!" he cried, both he and Dean grinning proudly….
…. A now two and a half year old Mack laughed loudly as Sam gave her a piggyback ride around yet another motel room. He was making horse noises as they galloped in circles, weaving between the beds and around the table in the kitchenette. "Gi-yap, Unca Sammy!" she urged him, hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt on his shoulders. He suddenly tipped sideways, making them fall on to one of the beds and sending her into another fit of giggles as he tickled her sides…
… Three and a half years old, Mack cried into his chest in the middle of the night. Dean had gone out drinking somewhere and she had had another nightmare about his pending death date. "Shh. It's gonna be okay, Kinley," he reassured her, rocking her gently on his lap. "I d-don't want Daddy to d-die." His heart clenched in his chest, a few tears of his own slipping down his cheeks. "I know, Kinley. I don't want him to die, either"….
In the present, Lucifer stared at Mack's body and slowly unclenched his fist. He let go of Dean, who fell back against the Impala. "It's okay, Dean," Sam reassured his brother. "It's gonna be okay. I've got him." He took out the Horsemen's rings and tossed them on the ground. "Bvtmon tabges babalon." The ground caved in around the rings, air getting sucked into the hole. Sam and Dean looked at each other as the hole widened. Sam took a deep breath. "Sam!" Michael yelled, reappearing. "It's not gonna end this way! Step back!"
"You're gonna have to make me!" Sam challenged him. "I have to fight my brother, Sam! Here and now! It's my destiny!" Sam looked back at Dean, then closed his eyes and spread his arms wide. Michael lunged forward, grabbing Sam's jacket. Sam grabbed onto Michael's arm, and together, they fell into the hole. After a few moments, the hold closed in a flash of blinding light. The Horsemen's rings burned bright in the grass on the ground where the hole was. Dean closed his eyes, leaning back against the Impala.
Gathering his strength, he crawled closer to where the rings were, kneeling there in the dead grass. Cas suddenly appeared next to him and he looked up in surprise. "Cas, you're alive?" Cas smiled a little, "I'm better than that." He touched Dean's forehead, healing him instantly. Dean stood up, staring at the angel incredulously. "Cas, are you God?"
"That's a nice compliment, but no," the angel shook his head. "Although I do believe he brought me back. New and improved." He walked over to Bobby, resurrecting him and then headed to the Impala and did the same with Mack in the backseat. She sat up with a gasp, staring at Cas with wide eyes. "Cas?" she asked. "Hello, bee." She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. She then spotted her father, and left Cas, running over to give him a hug next. "Daddy."
"Hey, bug," he whispered, voice breaking. He was so overwhelmed. In a matter of an hour, he'd watched everyone he loved die and then almost all of them get brought back. Sam was stuck in the cage. Adam with him. After hugging Bobby, they went their separate ways to each of their cars. Mack got back in the back while Cas sat shotgun and Dean drove. "What are you gonna do now?" Dean asked Cas curiously. He had promised Sam that he would get out with Mack and Cas, but now that Cas was a full-fledged angel again, he wondered if that promise would have to be broken.
"Return to Heaven, I suppose," Cas mused. "Heaven?" Cas nodded, "With Michael in the cage, I'm sure it's total anarchy up there." Dean swallowed, the weight of it all settling on his chest and threatening to suffocate him. "So, what, you're the new sheriff in town?" he asked, trying to sound lighthearted and not give away his true feelings. "I like that," Cas smiled softly. "Yeah. I suppose I am." God, that smile made his heart hurt even more. "Wow. God gives you a brand-new, shiny set of wings, and suddenly you're his bitch again," he bit out.
"I don't know what God wants. I don't know if he'll even return. It just… seems like the right thing to do." Would the pain never end? Every word coming out of Cas' mouth just twisted the knife and made the weight increase. "Well, if you do see him, tell him I'm coming for him next," he growled. "You're angry," Cas observed. "That's an understatement." He was depressed, he was angry, he was overwhelmed… he just wanted it to end. "He helped. Maybe more than we realize."
"That's easy for you to say. He brought you back. But what about Sam? What about me, huh? Where's my grand prize? All I got is my brother in a hole!" Cas frowned, "You got what you asked for, Dean. No paradise. No Hell. Just more of the same. I mean it, Dean. What would you rather have? Peace or freedom?" Dean looked over, ready to make another retort, but the angel had vanished. "Well, you really suck at goodbyes, you know that?"
"D-Daddy? What are we gonna do now?" Mack asked. Dean's eyes flickered to hers in the rearview mirror as he thought about the question. What did they do now? He couldn't keep his promise to Sam… not completely, anyway, now that Cas had ditched. But maybe he could still keep it partially. With that thought in mind, he gunned it down the highway, making the drive to the home of Lisa and Benjamin Braeden.