I wake up to the smell of Chinese food and it was very pleasant. "She's awake! Get the box!" I heard an excited shrill from Mindy. Okay good, Mindy is real and I didn't just dream about Gabriel having children. I turn over on the couch to face the rest of the house, feeling a blanket over me. I smiled and sat up slowly as Danny approaches me with a small brown box.
"What's that?" I asked, pointing at it obnoxiously.
"A present from us. Welcome to the family." Danny said with a huge grin on his face.
"Thank you, that means a lot to me," I said while taking the box and setting it in my lap. I casually open it and I instantly got splattered in my face with slimy green goo. "What the hell?!" I roared, hearing the twins going hysterical with laughter and high fiving each other. After a moment I feel something placed on my lap.
"There's a rag for you," I heard the voice of Danny and Mindy's mother, Carrie. "I always make sure they use a slime that comes off easy, but there's a bathroom just up the stairs if you need it."
"Thank you," I said again, getting up after wiping my face off enough to see. I giggled a little bit to let the twins know I wasn't angry. They ARE Gabriel's after all so of course they're gonna have tricks up their sleeves. I climb the stairs, gripping the handrail firmly as I went. I entered the bathroom and closed the door. It smelled like cucumber melon in here and it was clean. I turn the hot water knob on the sink to start running the water to get the rest of the green goo off me. When I finished I sighed, staring at myself in the large bathroom mirror. I haven't been taking proper care of myself lately, but learning more and more of who or what I am... what even is proper care for me?
It's time to check for that imprint. I sighed again and muttered Gabriel's magic word. At first nothing happens so I assumed I'm safe, but then I felt an enduring burning on my right side. I grip the side of my sweatpants and lower them down until the source of the burning is shown. A branded-like symbol was there on my skin, faintly glowing. I absolutely did not recognize the symbol but felt it to be Enochian.
I let a whimper escape before I pull myself together, watching the symbol fade away but I still gulp. I've been imprinted on by Teivel or as Danny called him, a double Nephilim. If Tei ever finds out about this then Gabriel said he can track me and know how I'm feeling. That is such a violation of everything about me!
He must never find out.
I return to my newfound family where they warm up the Chinese food they saved for me. The rest of my visit with the Baker family went unusually normal, considering how earlier went. After I readied up to say goodbye, Danny asked if they'd ever see me again. What is up with that? Drew said that twice, now these guys? Am I really that likable?
Mindy gave me the tightest hug ever. I ran my hand through her sandy blonde hair as I told her, "I love you guys even though we just met."
To my surprise she said, "We love you too."
Finally I fly home to Germany, a few hours further into the evening. I use my power to initiate the newly learned 'Block' so Tei doesn't see my encounter with my newfound cousins today. "Tei?" I tried to sound as casual as I could upon entering our home, removing my shoes. Immediately I see him asleep on the long sofa. I stare at him quietly, trying not to feel guilty and reminding myself he's kept many secrets from me the last fifteen years. I decide to treat myself to a real shower, so I walked around and made it upstairs to do so.
During the second week of May I get that phone call. I was in my bedroom watching the news to continue my struggling journey to learn German when I answered my cellphone. "Hello."
"Lynn it's time," I heard Dean on the other end. "Can you meet us in Detroit?"
I quickly look around. As far as I knew I last saw Tei downstairs in the living room. He was watching his own television but it was about house hunting in Germany. Did he want to move? This house was plenty big for us both, and he built it himself. Maybe he wants remodeling or upgrading ideas?
"Detroit?" I repeated quietly. "Didn't Lucifer mention that?"
"Unfortunately, but we're going in anyway. We have a plan that nobody likes. You won't like it either but it's all we got."
I wanted to know more but I couldn't risk Tei hearing me. "Send me the address." I requested before I ended the call. I use the Block so Tei would always be unaware of this phone call, then felt guilty for doing so. I remind myself Tei admitted he will try to stop me if I get in the way of Michael, so I'll have to just do this without him.
I keep my cellphone on my bed as I got up. I have to just leave right now, and deal with it later if Tei finds me. I nod to myself and zap away to Detroit, Michigan. It's dark and it appears I'm in an alley. I notice a van Dean is standing behind, getting a few things from the trunk. Cas, now back from sacrificing himself to try to save Adam, is staring down the other end of the alley at an apartment complex directly across. Sam and Bobby are hugging.
"I sense powerful Grace ahead," I pointed where Cas was looking. "I think he's there."
"Told you." I heard Dean mutter.
"When he gets in you fight him tooth and nail, got it?" Bobby orders Sam. "Keep swinging."
I stared at Dean. "What is he talking about?"
"The plan I told you nobody liked?" Dean reminded me.
"Don't tell me-" I realized.
"He's gonna say yes. He retains control, we use the Horsemen's Rings to open the Cage, he jumps in willingly."
"WHAT?" I nearly screeched. "YOU GUYS ARE ALL JUST OKAY WITH THIS?"
"I just said nobody likes it!" Dean scolded me.
"What if Lucifer wins? Is that what the rest of us are here for? The backup team?" I assumed angrily.
"You got a better idea?" Bobby asked me sarcastically.
"Yeah I do. I'm going in there and killing him, or fighting him down to where you can toss him back into his cage." I explained.
"You sound very cocky." Cas warned me with his hands in his pockets - hands in his pockets?
"Wait a minute," I stopped completely and looked at everyone. "What the hell is going on? I don't sense any angelic power from Cas, and Bobby can walk?!"
"Bobby made a deal with Crowley." Dean admitted, receiving a scolding glare from Bobby.
"The demon who provided the Colt gun?" I vaguely recalled. I didn't actually meet the demon himself. "This is ridiculous!" I threw my arms up. "I didn't go through everything I did in the last year just for it to be like this. Stay here. I'm going up there." I didn't give them a chance to say or do anything; I disappeared and reappeared by the closest demon I could sense inside the apartment building ahead.
The demons literally jumped back at my sudden appearance. "Hello," I said to them. "I don't want to kill you, so just take me to him okay?"
They both hesitated but eventually nodded. They were possessing two tall males in fancy black suits. I followed the demons into what was maybe a darkened old kitchen or dining room. Lucifer is across the room, gazing out the window.
"They sent you in first, huh?" He asked without even turning around. I heard the demons exit behind me so we were alone.
"I'm not here to talk," I snapped at him. "Get ready!" Everything I've learned from Cas and Tei in the last year was about to (hopefully) unfold. My plan was to hit him so hard he went right out that window he was in front of. I nearly jumped forward when I made my lunge at him, concentrating my holy power into my right fist just before I make contact with his face. However, Teivel appears in front of my father and holds his hand up so my punch goes into his palm, stopping me completely. Our opposing forces were so strong my fist now stung when I stepped back, pulling away and looking very surprised to see Tei. How did he know I was here?
"I told you we are not to interfere, and that I would stop you." He uttered to me with absolute anger in his orange eyes. From behind him Lucifer is watching us silently. I'm almost intrigued but I've no time to think about it.
"Don't do this," I said to Tei, preparing another punch.
Tei looked almost disappointed I was ready to resist him. "I'm sorry love." He whispered, closing his eyes. When they reopen I saw that they were now glowing brighter than before, and he unleashes a small angelic shockwave onto me - a minor one compared to the ones Anna and Sachiel suffered, but I think this still hurt just the same so goddamn, they suffered greatly before their deaths. I get blasted against the room so hard I tear right through and end up in a hallway.
"Teivel," Lucifer spoke sharply, forcing him to turn to face him. "What is your interest in my child? Also, don't ever do that to her again."
The Nephilim almost sneered at the Archangel. "I am the only one who cares about her. She is everything to me." He let out before he ventured out into the hallway. Lucifer remained where he was, full of questions. Azazel had told him long ago the results of the Nephilim War - every single one had been taken care of per Gabriel. Was Gabriel wrong? Did he let some live? Was he deceitful from the beginning? In the end, Lucifer wanted to know how Teivel was here and what his purpose was.
When I started to recover from the Nephilim shockwave, I felt Tei lifting me up by my wrists. I tried to resist and fight back but that shockwave really messed me up. Before I knew it, we were home and I felt a moment of terror - Cas and the others had to face Lucifer without me.
CRAP.
SAM!
Tei forces me to sit on the long sofa before he stands back. By now I was at least able to move so I attempted to get up, but I was too slow. Tei unleashed an omnibus protegat and I am now stuck in the dome.
"All you had to do was stay here with me and be happy," Tei said to me coldly. "We stay out of the Apocalypse."
"For what Tei?" I started to yell at him. "What happens when they end the world? How can I be happy with that?!"
"Your safety is what's important, and I will always keep you safe." Tei reassured, even though it had absolutely nothing to do with what I just said. I know by now he won't be reasoned with, so I might as well just... sit here.
I sighed. "Can you at least turn the news on?"
Tei narrowed his eyes at me. "You can't even understand what they're saying."
"I don't need to!" I fold my arms over my chest like a pouting child. Maybe acting like his old angel bug will get me out of this situation.
He shook his head. "Fine." He sits on one of the opposite love seats and snaps his fingers to turn one of the news channels on, and things were looking bad. I hated to admit it but Tei was right, I couldn't translate a damn thing any reporter said.
After an hour I asked if he would undo the dome. "No." Was his answer. When it was well into the night, I asked again and received the same answer. The news did not let up, instead worsened. Disasters were ravaging the entire planet, even here in Germany. Earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, all the awful wonders of mother nature. I felt a dull aching through all my worry over Danny, Mindy, Carrie and even Drew. I hope they were all safe and I hate that I can't go check on any of them.
My cellphone then rings but it's not with me, and I didn't think of that until now. Tei must have snagged it off my bed before we got into this situation; he digs into his own pocket to read the number calling. "Restricted." He announced, looking over at me for clarification but I just shrugged at him. I don't know who would call my phone from a restricted number. Tei decides to answer. "Who is this?" He demanded.
I can hear a sort of squeaky voice on the other end, but I can't make anything out. After a few moments of Tei listening he finally looks at me, his eyes glowing again. My own eyes widen as the dome suddenly comes undone. Tei holds my cellphone out and puts it on speakerphone. "Speak." He bellowed.
"Oh? Oh, okay. Hi, hiya! Lynn are you there? It's me, Chuck."
What in the actual hell? "I remember you. Hello Prophet." I spoke loudly.
"That's... good? I have to tell you something from a vision I saw of you," Chuck admitted. "When you enter the Domain, stay there until you see the Chosen One."
"What does that mean?" I asked in pure confusion.
"I'm not sure really, but from what I saw... it was dark and scary."
"Oh great," I let out sarcastically. Teivel rolled his eyes. "Thanks Chuck. Stay safe."
"You too." He said quickly before he hung up. Tei returns my phone back into his pocket.
"Please don't bring that dome back Tei." I requested almost beggingly. Chuck's strange words will have to linger my thoughts another time.
"Do you promise not to sneak off on me again?" He raises an eyebrow at me in suspicion.
I nodded at him. "Yes love, I promise." I answered, almost amused at how wide his eyes got just now.
"What?" He almost said in a shriek. "You just said-!" I have NEVER seen him this flustered. I wish I had known it was this easy a long time ago.
"Did I?" I asked, tilting my head. To my brief surprise Tei gently takes both of my hands into his.
"Can you say it again?" He whispered.
"If you tell me why you're afraid of Michael." I offered. I watched him hesitate, gently squeezing my hands in his before he sighed.
"Michael is powerful and has resources very few know about. He can hurt me, and he can very easily kill you." He answered many of my questions with just that sentence. That was it, that was why he was so stubborn and against everything I did - Tei has been trying to simply protect me this entire time, and I've been too stupid to see it. "You are not stupid, but yes." Tei confirmed those thoughts, reading them loud and clear.
This is really how it has to be?
I turn to the TV to glance at the continuing news about the world disasters and then face Tei once more. "If the world ends then I don't want to be anywhere else but here with you." I admitted to him.
"I feel the same, but we will survive," Tei reassured me, smiling so greatly it was beginning to creep me out a bit. "Also I answered your question so you need to hold up your end of the deal."
I chuckled at his eagerness to hear me call him my love. "I'll give you one even better," I offered, leaning in to break our hand holding so I could hug him. "I love you, Tei."
I didn't get a response for a short while so I continued to hug him until he would. Eventually, he spoke again but this time in a tone I have never, ever heard him speak in before. It was so sweet and gentle I could almost melt. "You have no idea how long I have been waiting to hear that. I love you too."
By the time it's the early afternoon here it's still morning across the United States. We left the news on the entire time. If I heard anything about New York or Virginia I was going to fly over there no matter what. But then, out of nowhere it all seemingly stopped. We flipped through several news stations to confirm the whole world was puzzled at how sudden everything stopped.
I go out the front door without shoes and onto the porch, looking up at the sky. We'd only been suffering a massive thunderstorm up here in the mountains from the Apocalypse. Now it was gone but everything was soaked outside. It still sprinkled lightly from the storm suddenly letting up and it heavily smelled of that after rain out here. Tei joins me but he put shoes on beforehand. "I don't understand." He said, looking around with me.
"They must have done it," I realized. "They opened the way to the cage and Sam-" I looked down at various puddles over the dirt and gravel that was technically our driveway even though neither of us owned a vehicle. I don't even know how to drive and I doubt Tei does either - not that we need cars anyway.
"A human retaining control over an Archangel?" Tei thought aloud curiously.
I needed to confirm this. "My phone please?" I asked.
"Of course," he surprised me with that response, handing me back my cellular device. I thank him and call every number that has ever been recorded into the phone's call history until someone I know answers.
"That you Lynn?" Bobby answers after the first couple of numbers.
"Yes it's me!" I nearly screeched. "Are you okay? Is everyone okay? Is it over?"
I could tell from the background Bobby was in a moving vehicle. "Yeah it's over. No big fight, no end of the world."
My excitement starts to fade. "Sam?"
"He did it. He took Michael and Adam down with him." Bobby admitted.
"They're gone?" I gulped.
"Gone kid. Gone. Dean's taking me home. Maybe stop by in a while if you can." Bobby suggested quietly. No, it was sadness that made him sound like that. He missed Sam, and I can't imagine how Dean feels or can I? My brother didn't sacrifice himself to save the world, but he was taken from me just the same. I end the call with Bobby while thinking of JD.
"The Apocalypse is over Tei," I announced. "Lucifer and Michael are in the cage."
"Michael too?" Tei said in astonishment.
"Does that mean it's safe again?" I realized, widening my eyes when Tei nodded at me. I bit my lip before I said, "Then I want to go home."
He looks at me in confusion. "You are home."
I shook my head. "I meant our old home in Delaware."
"There is nothing for you in Pike Creek." Tei tried to hide the intensity of his scowl.
"I have friends there," I corrected him. "You weren't my only best friend, you know."
"Please do not say you want to go see Adelina." Tei said in fake horror.
"As a matter of fact I do. I've been waiting for this moment. Lucifer is gone so there's no threat anymore. I can even tell her the truth about me! I don't have to hide anymore, right?"
Tei shook his head. "We are free."
"Then I want you to go with me. You owe Alice an apology anyway."
"You didn't erase her memory of that day?" Tei scowled again.
"I had no reason to. She kept it a secret as promised," I told him. "Now will you please go with me, love?" I asked nicely.
"Yes, I will go anywhere with you." Tei promised. We quickly went back inside so I could get socks and my shoes on. I was eager to see Alice and even her dad. She's been my best friend since literally kindergarten, and I'll always respect her for not being afraid of me after I helped her on that day Tei mentioned before. "Are we returning here after the visit?" He asked me just before we left.
I shook my head. "One more person I want to see when we're over there."
Tei glared at me. "You are not going to see that woman."
"Yes I am. Grandma needs to know the truth about me and the truth about Angie. If I tell her Heaven's real maybe she'll be comforted knowing our family is at peace at least." I explained.
Tei sighed in quick defeat. "Very well, love."