Chapter 34: And Angels Fall

Metatron agreed to keep an eye on Kevin for the time being while the rest of them tried to figure out what curing a demon meant and how they were going to get one.

"But if we do this, you get better right?" Dean said glancing at Sam as they drove down route 34 back towards the bunker. "I mean, you stop trying to cough up a lung and, and bumping into furniture."

"I feel better, having a direction to move in," Sam said.

"Well, it doesn't sound like it's going to be a picnic the way we're headed," Andy pipped in from the back seat.

"But it is somewhere…the end," Sam said. Andy didn't like the finality in his voice. Suddenly, Dean was slamming on the breaks, the Impala skidding all over the road. When it finally came to a stop, Andy saw the figure in the road. Dean and Sam were already out of the car. She heard Dean call out.

"Cas!"

Any opened her door and looked. It was Cas, bloodied and bruised, lying in the middle of the road.

"A little help here," he said gruffly.

They got him into the back of the Impala. He was still bleeding from a wound in his stomach, so Andy worked on him while Dean drove.

"Cas, why isn't this healing?" Andy asked as she pressed gauze into the wound. Castiel grit his teeth.

"It was a bullet made from an angel blade," he said hissing in pain.

"This doesn't look like a bullet wound," Andy said carefully.

"It was, mmff, widened…Crowley stuck his hand into it," Cas groaned. Andy's eyes widened.

"Easy Cas, I've got you," she said softly.

The rest of the drive was, thankfully, uneventful. Andy got Cas patched up as much as possible as he told them what had happened.

"So, Crowley has the angel tablet now," Dean said quietly. Andy could tell he was seething. The last time they had seen Cas, he was mind controlled by some chick named Naomi, had beaten Dean nearly to unconsciousness, and had left with the angel tablet which was now lost. Dean was pissed. Andy could understand why Dean was angry, but Cas had been through some rough crap in the past few years.

Back at the bunker Andy settled Cas in one of the rooms she had cleaned out recently, while Dean got Sam sorted out. He was still pretty weak on his feet since his fever spike and Dean was being a bit protective. Andy got Castiel settled on the bed in the room. There were fresh sheets, and it was a good place for an angel to rest and recover. She checked the haphazard bandages she had slapped on him in the back of the Impala and decided they needed a change. As she worked Cas regarded her closely.

"Thank you Andy, you have been very kind to me," Cas said. Something in his voice made Andy look at him carefully.

"Cas, I know we haven't really had a chance to talk since…well since Purgatory, but you know that I forgave you right?" Andy asked. Cas tilted his head and squinted at her.

"Why?" he asked. Andy had to chuckle a little. "I have done nothing to earn your forgiveness Andy. I don't deserve it."

"Cas…you really think that?" Andy asked touching his arm lightly. He looked away from her. Clearly he did think just that. "Cas, I know we've had our…conflicts, but we have a fair amount in common as well." Cas gave her an unbelieving look. "It's true. We both have some extensive knowledge about obscure things, we both have a drive to do the right thing no matter the consequences, sometimes to our own detriment, and we both love the Winchesters," Andy said with a smile. "Like it or not Cas, you're family to me now too." Andy was a little surprised when tears came to Castiel's eyes. She kissed his cheek and was rewarded with an even more startled look. "Get some rest," she said and left. She went to check on Sam, who was already asleep, so she decided it was time for bed. She knocked on Dean's door and heard a muffled "Yea?" from inside. She pushed open the door and found Dean sitting on his bed, head in one hand looking completely done.

"You ok baby?" she asked walking in and sitting next to Dean. She ran a hand up his back and into his hair. He sighed and leaned into her.

"Yea, I'm ok…it's just…a lot," he said.

"I know, let's get some rest. We can talk about it in the morning if you want," she said and kissed him softly. Dean kissed her back, then pulled away with a massive yawn. "Uh hu, that settles it, into bed mister." Dean just chuckled and nodded. They both got changed into comfortable sleeping clothes and fell into bed, wrapping each other up and finding comfort where they could.

They didn't talk in the morning. Dean was up early digging through the Letters archive for their files on anything related to demon possession, exorcism, or omens he could find. Sam was up with him going through each file with a fine-toothed comb. Andy walked into the map room that morning where Sam had the files spread out just in time for Dean to bring another stack in.

"Good morning sleeping beauty," he said and gave her a kiss.

"Morning, what's all this?" she asked.

"Research," Sam said. "Care to join?"

"You could convince me, particularly if there is tea in my future," she said giving Dean a pointed look. Just then Sam let out a groan of pain and ran his hands over his face. Dean paused.

"How're you feeling?" he asked quietly.

"Honestly…my whole body hurts, I feel nauseous and like I'm starving at the same time and everything smells like rotting meat," Sam answered. Andy winced in sympathy.

"Maybe you should take a break…" Dean said his arms crossed against his chest.

"Dean, I'm only going to feel better once we finish this," Sam said with finality. Dean, for once, just nodded.

"Ok Sam, why don't I fix you up some grub, keep your strength up," he said and turned to head to the kitchen. Andy took a breath.

"Yes sweetheart, I'll make you some tea as well,"

"Thanks babe," Andy called after him. Sam chuckled. The sound startled Andy. It had been a while since she had heard a chuckle from him.

"Good morning," came a low voice from the library stairs.

"Hey Cas," Andy said with a smile. He came down the stairs.

"I like this bunker," he said glancing around. "It's orderly."

"Just wait," Sam said. "Dean wants to get a ping pong table."

"I've heard of that, it's a game right?" Cas asked. Andy chuckled. Cas shifted slightly and let out a soft groan.

"You ok?" Andy asked concern slipping into her tone.

"My wound isn't healing as quickly as I'd hoped. But it is getting better," Cas said sitting down a bit heavily. He looked over to Sam. "And you're getting worse."

"Wow Cas, way to be blunt," Andy said as she went over to the angel. "Alright, let me see." She gestured for Castiel to pull up his shirt.

"That is not necessary Andy," Cas said holding up a hand. She leveled a flat look at him. Castiel sighed and leaned back in the chair, rolling up his shirt so Andy could check his wound.

Dean came back sooner than expected. He had a tray with a beer, a plate with what looked like jerky and some peanut butter cups, and a mug on it. Andy eyed the tray skeptically.

"Running a little low are we?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow. Dean looked a little chagrined.

"I'll make a run," Dean said with a nod.

"Dean, I'll go with you," Cas said rising a little stiffly from his chair. Dean said nothing. He didn't even acknowledge Cas. Dean started putting his jacket on, not saying a word. "Dean…" Cas tried again. "I'm sorry." Dean sighed and turned to Cas.

"For what?" he asked simply.

"For everything," Cas answered.

"Everything, like ignoring us…bolting off with the angel tablet, then losing it. Or how about not trusting us. Not trusting me," Dean said with a harsh sarcastic smile.

"I thought I was doing the right thing Dean," Cas said.

"Yea, you always do," Dean said regarding Cas. "But that's not going to cut it this time. So, you can take your apology and cram it up your ass."

"Dean," Andy said warningly. Dean shook his head and walked up the stairs to the door.

"Andy, would you…" Sam said nodding at Dean's retreating form. "Tell him I want some help looking for room 7b." Andy nodded and went after Dean.

"Dean wait," Andy called when she got outside. Apparently Dean had needed a moment because he was leaning against the car just staring into space. He looked up at Andy, then ran a hand down his face.

"Andy, I don't want to –" he started, but she cut him off.

"Dean, go a little easier on Cas. He's one of the good guys," she said walking over and taking one of Dean's hands.

"If anyone else had pulled that kind of crap, I mean anybody I would have stabbed them in the neck on principle. Why should he get a free pass?" Dean huffed out a frustrated breath. Andy gave him a searching look.

"Because it's Cas?" she said with a shrug. "We've all been through a lot over the past few years, but a lot of that we have been through with him. It's not like any of us have never made some pretty big mistakes." Dean hung his head.

"I just don't know if I can get passed this," Dean said softly. Andy put a hand on his cheek.

"Hey, we will get through this. Like we always do, right?" she asked catching Dean's eyes. He nodded and gave her a sad smile. "Now, Sam wants help finding something. Come on," she said giving Dean a little shove. Dean sighed and grumbled his way back to the bunker door.

What they found in room 7b that Sam was so curious was indeed 'Weird' with three exclamation points. It felt like some profound stroke of luck that they stumbled across exactly what they needed just weeks after finding out what the final trial was.

"The older priest died in '58, but the younger one…he's still alive. Living in St. Louis."

"Do you think it's worth the drive?" Dean asked wearily.

"Dean…what else could 'curing a demon' mean but something like this? This is something none of us have ever seen before. I'd say it's worth the drive," Andy said.

"Andy's right. That," Sam pointed at the projector screen, "that was all new. Yea it's worth the drive."

"Alright, you kids go visit the father, I have some witchy hoodoo stuff to finish to keep a certain Winchester vertical," Andy said. Dean nodded and got up. When Cas stood Dean as well turned to him.

"Not you," he said firmly.

"Dean, I just want to help," Cas said.

"We don't need your help. Just stay here," Dean said harshly. He seemed to check himself for a moment. "Get better," he finished a bit lamely and turned away. Andy watched the boys leave and watched Cas' eyes follow them as well. She felt for Cas. Dean was not in the right place to forgive him yet. Andy knew that, but it didn't make her any less annoyed with Dean for how he was treating Cas. His eyes showed what Dean's words were doing to him. Castiel truly thought he had been doing the right thing when he had run away with the angel tablet. Andy stood and put a gentle hand on Cas' shoulder.

"Come on you, we're going on a supply run," she said and pulled him up the stairs.

They drove to the closest gas station. It was easy and had most things they needed.

"Cas, I need to head to the proper grocery store for a few fresh herbs to restock. Will you be ok to pick up some essentials here?" Andy asked.

"Yes, I can do that," Castiel replied seriously.

"Ok, I shouldn't be more than half an hour. If you're done before I get back just wait for me somewhere close by. I've got my phone on me," Andy smiled at him and waved as she continued down the road.

She got what she needed quickly and was heading back towards the gas station within the time she said. But when she got back to the station there was no sign of Cas. She tried calling his phone, but it went straight to voice mail. She looked around for another half hour. Even drove back towards the center of town to see if Cas had started walking. There was no sign of him.

'This doesn't bode well,' Andy thought and headed back to the bunker.

Sam and Dean were in the map room listening to an old reel to reel audio track. Sam paused when Andy opened the door.

"Hey, have you seen Cas?" Sam asked anxiously. Andy sighed. She had hoped that some how Cas had ended up back at the bunker. She shook her head.

"Yes and no. We went for a supply run and we split up to be faster and he wasn't where I left him when I got back," she said coming down the stairs and dropping the bags.

"Yeah that sounds like him," Dean said roughly. Andy nodded at the set up.

"What's with the ancient tech?"

Sam gestured for her to sit and pushed the play button.

They all sat staring for a moment once Sam turned off the recorder.

"Did I just hear…what I think I heard?" Andy said with awe.

"Did he just cure a demon?" Sam asked with just a hint of incredulity.

"Maybe," Dean said. Andy could hear the gears turning in his head. "Could we take this hoodoo on a test drive?"

Sam quickly flipped through a notebook and nodded.

"I've got everything right here," Sam said. "We just need blood, consecrated ground and a demon to test it on."

Dean grinned slightly.

"I think it's time to put humpty dumpty back together again," he said with a smirk and was out of his chair before either Sam or Andy could say a word. They exchanged glances and Sam got up to follow Dean. Andy paused. Cas, we found something big. Any chance you might come back and help us out here? She prayed. She couldn't remember the last time she had prayed to Cas. It might have been in Purgatory; it might have been when she was working for him. All she knew, was that they needed him. Even if Dean didn't see it right then, Andy was pretty sure they would need Cas before the end of this.

"Oh, I am so not a fan of this idea," Andy said shaking her head and pacing back and forth while Sam hauled the box over to Dean.

"It's the fastest way to try this ritual out Andy," Dean said as he prepped the needles and suture supplies.

"But she isn't a problem when she's on ice. Putting her back together now is like asking for trouble in the future. There are so many ways this could go wrong."

"I don't see a better option right now," Dean said while Sam opened the box that held Abadon's head. Andy grimaced as she looked inside.

"You two are on your own for this part," she said with a small gag. She went outside and let the boys deal with the gross part.

Andy was never the one to say, 'I told you so,' but she was very tempted this time. Abadon managed to dig the devils trap slug out of her skull while Crowley distracted the boys with an out of the blue phone call. When the text message with the address in Prosperity, Indian came through and the potential for another demon capture, they high tailed it out there.

They couldn't save Jenny. They couldn't save Sarah. Andy hadn't met either of them before, but she remembered Sam talking about Sarah. It was heartbreaking to watch her die like that. With Crowley monologuing to them on the phone. Sarah choking.

"You want those people alive. I want your complete and utter surrender. The tablet. The trials. You'll give them up. Or we'll keep doing this dance. Your choice, my darlings."

Crowley's voice was smooth. Harsh. With no thought of bending. Once again. Andy wished fervently that she had stuck an angel blade in him the moment she had a chance.

It was a long 9 hours back to the bunker. It was quiet and tensions were high. Dean of course, the perpetual protector, had to ask if Sam was ok. Andy nearly smacked him because of course Sam was not ok. He looked broken, and defeated, and sick as hell.

"Maybe we should just…take the deal," he said with a sigh. Andy could feel Dean shift and harden.

"We'll figure this out," Dean started. Sam looked away. "We will. We'll kick it in the ass, like we always do." Dean said with all the confidence of someone who has fought long and hard and can almost see the end. "Are you with me?"

Sam looked long and hard at his brother. Andy watched his face. She could see he was hurting, and he wasn't sure. But in the end. Sam would always be with his brother.

There was something rather poetic meeting Crowley at Bobby's place. Andy wasn't quite sure what that was, but it felt poetic.

"Hello boys," Crowley drawled. He glanced at Andy for a moment. "And you." Andy rolled her eyes. Crowley looked between Sam and Dean. "The stone?"

"You show us your and we'll show you ours," Dean said gruffly.

"Really Dean. I'm trying to conduct a professional negotiation here and you want to talk dangly bits?" Crowley said.

"What's the matter Crowley. Afraid you won't measure up?" Andy quipped back. He glared at her.

"The stone," he ground out. Sam flashed the demon tablet, and Crowley did the same with the angel.

Andy nearly lost her shit when Crowley unrolled the contract and while Dean worked his way up, muttering to himself reading the thing. The spelled handcuff worked wonderfully. Seeing Dean trade punches with the King of Hell was a lovely sight. For a moment Andy actually felt optimistic.

The church was a bit sad, but it would do in a pinch. Andy and Sam prepped everything Sam would need for the ritual while Dean set up Crowley.

"How're you feeling?" Andy asked Sam while he poured holy oil into a mason jar.

"Honestly…it feels like we finally might win," Sam said in a hoarse voice. Andy gave him a small smile.

"You ready for your…" she cleared her throat, "confession?"

Sam gave her a sidelong look and shrugged.

Dean came out of the church and told them Crowley was ready to go and Sam went in with his duffle bag full of supplies. Andy leaned against the car for a moment. Arms crossed over her chest.

"I can't believe we're here," she said quietly.

Dean, who had been doing his best to reorganize the impala's trunk looked up at her.

"What do you mean?"

"On the verge of closing up hell…for good," Andy said. She sighed. "Who would have thought that little Sam would do something so world changing one day."

Dean stood and looked at her. His face was unreadable, but she could feel the nervous energy coming off him. A bit to her surprise, Dean reached out to her and pulled her into a firm embrace and held her for a long moment.

"Thank you," Dean mumbled into her hair. Andy ran a hand down his back.

"For what sweetheart?"

"For having faith in him. For knowing he can do this."

Dean pulled back from her and kissed her on the forehead. A moment later there was a swirl of air and the sound of wings and Castiel's voice spoke.

"Dean, I need your help."

"Cas?" Andy started. "Where the hell have you been?"

"We're kinda busy Cas, take a number," Dean said curtly.

"I'm afraid this can't wait," Cas said impatiently. "Naomi has Metatron." Cas shifted his eyes to Andy. "I've been working with him on the angel trials."

"The what?" Dean and Andy said together.

"We can shut it all down, heaven and hell, all of it," Cas said firmly.

"So the guy who has been hiding out for eons suddenly wants to save heaven?" Andy asked. Castiel nodded.

"Yes, he does. I need your help."

"Cas, we have Crowley tied and tressed in there. You're asking me to leave Sam, and if anybody needs a chaperone while doing the heavy lifting it's Sam," Dean said earnestly. Andy winced. She was pretty sure Dean hadn't meant that comment the way it had sounded, but even still.

"You should go," Sam said from behind them. Andy winced again, knowing Sam had probably heard his brother say he needed a chaperone. She turned and looked at him. He looked like shit, but he had a look on his face that said 'I've got this.'

"What and leave you here?"

"I'll stay with him," Andy said putting hand on Dean's arm. Sam looked like he was about to protest, but Andy gave him a sharp look of her own.

"You've got a chance to board up heaven. That sounds like a good day," Sam said. Dean thought for a second.

"Ok," he sighed, "start the injections now. If I'm not back in eight hours, finish it. No hesitation." Dean looked at Andy. "You keep an eye on him." She reached up to him and kissed him soundly.

"You know I will," she said.

Dean grabbed the angel tablet and stepped towards Cas. In a blink they were gone.

Sam turned with out a word and walked back to the church. Andy sighed and followed him. It was going to be a long eight hours.

Andy sat in the pews of the church watching Sam slowly get paler, and Crowley become more of an ass. When he bit Sam after the second dose she had to forcibly hold herself back from punching him. She went after Sam to help bandage him up.

"You ok?" she asked softly as she took the gauze from his shaking hands. Sam gave her a look that said Seriously? Andy sighed.

"Yea yea, ok," she said and patched the gnarly bite mark up. She looked up at her friend and winced when she saw the haggard look in his eyes, the sheen of sweat on his face. Sam was not doing well. She reached up and touched his cheek gently. "I'm right here for you kid. You just tell me what you need. Any time."

Sam met her eyes and gave her a small, pained smile and nodded. Then he turned and went back into the church. Andy let him go alone. She ran a hand over her face and leaned heavily against the car. She stayed there for a moment. Wallowing in the feeling of uselessness that was washing over her, when she heard a whisper.

"Prophet."

She looked around her. There was no one and nothing there.

"Prophet."

She blinked and the church disappeared. She was in a bleak grey landscape. Dead, skeletal trees dotted here and there. Snow was softly falling around her. She looked left. A tree was close. It was massive, gnarled, and dead. Something caught her eye at the base of it. Buried in twisting roots. A shimmer of reflected light. She moved towards it slowly. When she reached the tree she saw it was a shimmering pool of water. Curious, she leaned over and looked into the water.

A flash of images:

Dean, face covered in blood. Haunted eyes. A knife in his hands and bodies all around.

Sam, eyes hard looking at his brother. Shifting uncomfortably. His voice, cold "If you wanna work, let's work. If you wanna be brothers…"

Kevin, on his back, staring up at her. No life in his eyes.

Charlie in a bathtub, blood all over. No life in her eyes.

She pulled away with a gasp. Looking around wildly for anything that might be coming for her. There was nothing. Just the same grey landscape. Breathing heavily, she looked back at the pool. The water was still now and nothing else flashed across the surface.

What the fuck just happened? She thought. The she heard something. A muffled call.

She turned towards it and looked. She couldn't see anything. She heard it again.

Dee?

She still couldn't see anyone.

Ndee?

She started moving towards the sound.

Andy?

She finally made it out. Someone was calling her name.

Andy?

It was Sam.

Reality crashed back into her. She was standing well away from the church, staring off into the distance. She heard Sam call her again and she turned to see him moving quickly to her. His eyes were a bit wild. She couldn't get her brain working right. Why did Sam seem so scared?

"Andy! Are you ok? Did she see you?"

"What?" Andy mumbled looking around. Sam was at her now. He reached out to her and patted her down looking for any injuries.

"Did she hurt you? Are you ok?" Sam asked frantically.

"Who, Sam? What?"

"Abadon!" Sam said harshly. Andy's mind stuttered.

"Abadon?"

"Yes! She was here, did you not…Andy are you ok?" Sam said finally taking in her dazed expression. Andy nodded absently and reached out to brush some glass out of Sam's hair.

"Why do you have glass in your hair?" she asked. Sam looked at her confused.

"Abadon threw me threw a window. Andy, what the hell happened out here?"

Andy looked around, finally registering that she was not in the grey scape anymore.

"Honestly, I have no idea…" Andy said. "Maybe…a really intense vision or something."

Andy seemed to finally really come back to herself and she looked up at Sam. He was shivering, sweating, and looking even more worn than usual. Andy watched as he swayed slightly and closed his eyes.

"Shit Sam, I'm sorry. Come on," she said and tucked herself into his side to help him back into the church.

Luckily, it was quiet after that. No weird tree visions for Andy, and Sam kept up the steady doses of blood for Crowley. Watching him seem to fall back into his humanity was a strange experience, but it gave her hope that they might actually pull this off. What she hated, was how bad Sam was looking. It was slow, but more and more he seemed to be fading away.

It was the last dose. Held her breath as Sam recited the altered exorcism and cut his palm open. The glow running up his arms made Andy's heartbeat just a little harder. Crowley looked like he was almost welcoming it.

Then she heard Dean shout outside.

He burst through the door.

"Sammy stop!"

Andy's head snapped to the door. Dean had that look in his eyes. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"We've had a slight change of plan. Metatron lied."

"What?" Sam said frantically.

"You finish this trial you're dead Sam."

All of the air left Andy. She had guessed this was coming. Deep down she thought there was no way someone who does these trials survives. Then she heard a word that broke her heart.

"So?" Sam said incredulously.

Andy's mind went blank. She knew Sam was saying more. That Dean was responding. But she couldn't hear any of it. All she could hear was the high pitched whine of angels grace. A cry of thousands of voices all at once. She couldn't move. Couldn't speak. She stood frozen. Seeing nothing. Until it suddenly stopped.

She sank onto a pew and focused back in time to hear her own words coming out of Dean.

"Don't you dare think that 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." Andy looked at Dean. His eyes were pleading with Sam. "I'm begging you."

And Sam let it go.

"I hate to do this, but we have a–" Andy was cut off when Sam screamed and crumpled to the floor.

Andy rushed to Sam's side and helped Dean get him out of the church. As Dean yelled for Castiel, Sam gasped for breath and Andy watched the sky.

Streaks of light, like falling meteors, broke through the clouds.

"No Cas," she heard Dean say.

"What? Dean, what's happening?" Andy said as something hit the river close by.

"Angels. They're falling."