Catching Up
Chapter 3 – Trouble Brewing

"What are you doing here Crowley?" Dean demanded, shutting off the television. "Ever heard of knocking?"

"I came by with a request and noticed you were playing your greatest hits. Which, by the way, how did you pull that off? I doubt Heaven has the interest or desire and I know Hell doesn't have the cinematic flair."

"Alternate reality," Sam answered shortly. "Now what do you want Fergus?"

"Wait this is Crowley?" Mary pointed at the man in the black.

"And you must be the one and only Mrs. Winchester," Crowley half-bowed. "A pleasure it is. I can see where your sons get their beguiling looks from."

"Oh," Mary said slightly taken aback. "I guess when the boys told me you were the 'King of Hell' I was expecting more smoke and pitchforks. Maybe a couple of horns and a tail."

"Please," Crowley scoffed. "I believe I have brought Hell to better standards than that. At any rate, I would require at least two dinners before I bring out the horns and tail though I may be persuaded…" Dean growled dangerously and he moved on, "Anyway I came to see if I can pull you away from your home movies to handle a certain Satan."

"What happened now?" Dean groaned.

"More of the same really. I've been tailing the Morning Star across the continent. At first he had trouble just finding a vessel after leaving Castiel but I think he's struck gold this time. He jumped into some musician named Vince Vincente."

"The rockstar?" Sam gasped.

"The douchebag," Dean corrected him. "Guy used to roll with purple hair down to his butt and a spiked codpiece.

"It was the 80's," Sam said on reflex earning several stares.

"WHAT?!" his brother spat horrified.

That's what you're into? Sam ignored both of them. "I thought he made peace with God, what more is there?"

"I'm not the devil's therapist," Crowley growled. "All I know is that he's managing to hold onto this one and now he's got mother who can seal the deal."

"Rowena sided with him?"

"Not exactly," Crowley actually appeared sheepish, or sheepish by his standard. "I may have left her alone with him and he took her captive."

"You left your mother at the mercy of Lucifer," Castiel surmised. "And now you're worried about mommy."

"She is the only one with enough juice on this planet to stick Lucifer back in his cage," Crowley snapped. "If something happens to her, every person standing here may as well starting packing for whichever afterlife they're destined to be sent to."

There was silence for a beat.

"I'll go with you," Castiel said at last.

"What?!" Dean repeated as if all semblance of sanity had faded from the universe.

"It's my fault Lucifer got out," Cas said plainly. "I brought him from the cage, I should see to it that he returns. Besides, this is probably the weakest we may able to catch Lucifer before Rowena can make the vessel permanent." It was obvious they weren't going to convince him otherwise.

"Be careful," Mary cautioned.

"I will," Cas patted her shoulder and nodded to the boys before heading off with the King of Hell.

They heard Crowley say on the way out, "Perhaps we can switch to plaid, you could consider growing your hair -" The door slammed shut.

"One's an angel and one's a demon," Dean shrugged.

"And apparently they solve crimes," Mary finished for him. "I don't like the idea of watching the show without Cas though. It feels like a whole family thing."

"Yeah," Dean agreed. "Maybe we should stretch our legs, if they're hunting, why can't we?"

I don't know Sam. "I don't know," Sam grimaced. "I feel safer here, especially since the Men of Letters can't get into the Bunker anymore and we have homefield advantage."

"Listen man, I know coming back here, finding Lady Toni, getting shot and flown half-way across the world has been crazy but we can't neglect who we are." Dean said reasonably. "We don't have to take on anything big, a regular old salt and burn would be just fine."

"Actually I think I found a case," Mary admitted. "Minnesota. A couple was found dead frostbitten to death. I don't sleep very much, I never feel tired enough." She tacked on by way of explanation.

Not one of ours "That doesn't sound like the Men of Letters but are you sure about this? These people are highly skilled and dangerous."

"Can't be that bad if they didn't have the sense to properly ward and bound someone they kidnapped," Dean reminded him.

Shit. "My thoughts exactly," Sam concurred on both levels. "But what if they just underestimated us? You should have heard Lady Toni, they were definitely cocky. I'm sure they won't the same mistake twice." Well-played.

"And neither will we," Mary insisted. "We'll be together. No one goes anywhere alone and we cover our tracks. Cash only, no paper trails."

"See mom's got the right idea." Dean clapped his hands together, "So, family hunting trip it is. Let's up saddle up and head out. Minnesota awaits."

Dean and Mary left and Sam braced the wall. Paranoid his family might come back, he put his cellphone to his ear. "I tried." I know. "So what now?" Go with your family, watch each other's back and above all else, if you see a black Norton Commando motorcycle get the hell out of dodge. Sam's brow furrowed, "What aren't you telling me?" Truth? A lot. But none of it I can get into right now. Just go get ready for your case, I promise I will clue you in soon. Sam sighed, "Fine I trust you." Be safe Sammy. "Thanks." He pocketed his phone and went to his room to pack…unaware of the pair of green eyes watching him from around the corner.

A/N: Hey guys, OH NO DEAN SUSPECTS SOMETHING IS UP! Sorry it took me so horrifically long to put out these chapters. Life be-eth the biggest of all bitches. Writing for you is what makes my day. Until next time, ENJOY! R&R PLZ!