AN: Hey Fam! Soooo sorry for the wait. It's been a busy summer and I am going away next week so I pushed to get this done before I left. I really hope you enjoy it! It was fun to write, and bring in a new character. Please let me know what you think.

Vanessa

…

Chapter Sixteen: The Enemy of My Enemy

Heaven was in mayhem. With Michael on Earth, Zachariah doing his bidding and Uriel MIA, there was no leader, no commander, no direction; just a few high-ranking angels playing dress up in their father's wings. The lack of oversight provided Castiel with the perfect opportunity to implement his plan.

It was blasphemous. He could have his wings clipped for this kind of dissension, but saving Dean and Sam was his first priority. That's why he sat patiently in the coffee shop waiting for his guest to arrive.

"Coffee?" The waitress asked with a pleasant smile.

"No…thank you." He answered flatly, his eyes still scanning the room.

"Maybe something to eat then? The chicken soup is on special. It's my favorite." She tried to entice him.

"I don't eat." He responded curtly without a glance.

The girl seemed put off by his answer, her mouth opening and closing, unsure of how to respond. Another voice came from behind him. "He's on a fast. In protest. The Gandhi of the 21st century." She seemed to accept the explanation. "But that chicken soup does sound lovely, dear."

She smiled bright with a nod. "I'll put you down for one then." And she was rushing back to the kitchen.

Crowley came around to slip into the seat across from the angel. "You really need to work on your bedside manner, Castiel." He smirked. "Now…what is this about? I have a very pressing matter to attend to. The Clinton's are up for renewal and I'd be foolish not to capitalize on a juicy deal like that."

Castiel ignored the comment, not knowing who he was speaking of. "I've asked you here for your…assistance." He uttered uneasily.

"My assistance?" he seemed surprised, which for him was rare. "With what, may I ask?"

"Sam and Dean-"

Crowley chuckled. "Of course…why else. You know I would like nothing more than to see them dead. Why in Lucifer's Hell would I help the Winchester's?"

"It's in our mutual best interest."

Crowley narrowed his eyes apprehensively. The waitress came back with the cup of soup and he stirred it with the spoon in deep thought. "I can't imagine the boys would be thrilled to be a part of this odd couple team up. What did they have to say about this?"

"They don't know that I'm here." He grumbled. "I'm risking a great deal coming to you with this, Crowley. I wouldn't even consider it if I thought there was another way."

The demon smirked. "Well…I don't make deals with angels…your souls are useless to me as a nun at an orgy. So, what are your terms?"

Castiel leaned forward, speaking lowly. "I understand with Lilith dead and Lucifer tightly locked away in his cage you had free reign in Hell. But with Lucifer free, he is doing everything in his power to sit back on his throne. With him back in charge, you would be just another crossroads demon. I suppose that would impede on your rank in hierarchy…would it not?"

"It wouldn't be ideal…" he sipped the soup nonchalantly. "And how do you intend to stop him?"

"The cage. I need you to help me open it."

The demon's brows shot up. "Ooh. Interesting. And how do I know you'll hold up your end of the bargain?"

Castiel sighed disgruntled. "You don't. But Heaven and Hell need a balance to sustain each other. One cannot exist without the other. You are the lesser of two evils. Help me put Lucifer back in his cage, and Hell remains under your control."

Crowley pondered the proposition carefully. "And how do you know I'll hold up my end?"

Cas leveled him with a hard glare. "I don't. But right now, we are out of options."

"And what if Michael gets to Dean first?" The angel blinked, taken aback by his question. "I have the books, Castiel; of course I know about Michael."

"Dean would never consent. It's Sam I worry about." He admitted lowly, his gaze drifting off. He turned a determined look back to Crowley. "Will you help me or not?"

Crowley let him stew for a few moments. He'd be put through the ringer if any of his constituents caught wind of him working with the enemy, but in this case, it was in his own best interest. Hell with Lucifer at the helm was nothing short of chaos, and not the fun kind. And he couldn't imagine ol' Lucy showing him any favor when he returned. "Well…you know what they say. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." He finished with a smirk.

…

It was time to move onto the next town with a new case to crack and Bonnie packed up her bag in frustration. It was obvious that Dean was keeping something from her, and she didn't know what bothered her more, that he was lying or what he was lying about. She'd been nothing but honest with him and for some reason he couldn't trust her enough with this secret he'd been holding onto. Her mind couldn't help but look back on their time since they left Mystic Falls, pinpointing moments that now made her suspicious.

"Is everything okay?" Dean asked concerned. "You've been acting strange all morning."

Bonnie huffed a sarcastic laugh. "I've been acting strange? I'm not the one talking to myself in the middle of the night. Something is going on, and what I don't understand is why you feel like you need to keep it from me."

He frowned evading the implication. "Where is this come from?"

Bonnie levelled her stare on him, resting her hands on the duffel bag. "Who's Michael?"

Dean's heart leapt into his chest. "Where did you hear that name?" He questioned her urgently.

She narrowed a curious stare in his direction her packing abandoned. "You call out his name in your sleep."

He avoided her eyes. "It's probably just a nightmare."

"You know I've been around long enough to know when I'm being lied to. Am I wrong?" She pressed challengingly. When he didn't answer she continued. "Fine." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out an empty vile and tossing it to him. "It had the same elixir in it that Hope's been giving to Sam. I know that because I'm the one that showed her how to make it. Dean, this isn't going to work if you can't trust me."

He stood quickly tucking the vile in his pocket, walking over to run his hands soothingly over her arms. "I do trust you. That has nothing to do with it."

"Then what is it? Because I thought we were past secrets." She asked exasperatedly.

Dean sighed, pondering his next words carefully. "Bonnie, everything I do is with your safety in mind."

"I'm a big girl…whatever it is I can handle it."

He scoffed. "I don't even know if I'm handling it. Alright…" he started hesitantly. Just rip the band-aid off. He coached himself. "Michael is an Arch Angel; Lucifer's brother, to be exact. He's been…coming to me in my dreams…showing me things. That elixir was to keep him out."

Bonnie stepped out of his arms, as if he'd burned her; eyes wide and panicked as she put the pieces together quickly. "Why would he do that?" she asked breathlessly, already knowing the answer. She felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

Dean just stared at her in silence for moment before continuing slowly. "He's the only one strong enough to defeat Lucifer." He watched as the levity of his words sunk in and her hands covered her face and her fingers dragged down her temples. "Bonnie…it's gonna be okay." Dean reassured stepping closer as he would a wounded animal; encouragingly and carefully.

"How?" She shook her head, trying to process. Anger was the first emotion that forced its way through. "How is it going to be okay? He needs you, right? Like Lucifer needs Sam? How is everything going to be okay if Michael possesses your body, Dean?!" She turned away tunneling her fingers through her hair when he reached for her again. "I can't believe you didn't tell me." She rounded on him, even more furious than the second before. "I asked you point blank if you had anything you wanted to tell me and you lied!"

"I didn't want to worry you." Dean said sadly, full of regret.

She laughed humorlessly. "Oh yeah…because that's so much better than what I'm feeling now! How long have you known? Since Chuck? Longer?" she pressed.

Dean bowed his head, knowing his answer would do nothing to ease her anger. "Since we left Mystic Falls." He answered lowly letting his gaze drift off to a spot on the motel wall. "Cas told me. Apparently, it's the start of the apocalypse…when brother meets brother in battle. Michael says it's my destiny; that every part of my life has been leading me right here, even you." The silence that followed made him glance up and he swallowed down the lump in his throat at the tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks, betrayal and anguish marring her face. "I'm so sorry, Bonnie. I wanted to tell you."

"Then why didn't you?"

He threw his hands up helplessly. "I thought the less you knew the less he could use you against me. I thought I had this under control, I thought there was a way to fight it." He pulled her into his arms, brushing the tears away and replacing them with kisses. "I was just trying to protect you." He whispered against her hair as she buried her face into his chest.

She ripped herself away to stare at him in frustration. "You don't always have to protect me, Dean. Not when this is the cost. Not when it means you lying to me." She sighed heavily, and avoided his concerned stare as she grabbed her purse and slipped it over her head to cross her shoulder. "I need to get some air…clear my head."

"Bon…" the hurt was clear in his tone. "Look, we can figure this out-"

"I know. And we will." She reassured him with a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "But right now…I just need to be alone."

He nodded, knowing that he deserved this. "Okay…" He watched her head for the door, and called out to her. "Bonnie…I love you. I'm sorry." He vowed sincerely.

This time, while her smile was still sad, it was real. "I love you too Dean. I'm not going anywhere." She emphasized glancing over her shoulder. "No matter what happens." She slipped out the door, just as Sam and Hope were approaching but she didn't acknowledge them.

"Everything okay?" Sam asked worriedly.

Dean dropped into the lounge chair tunneling his hands through his hair and behind his neck in stress. "I don't know…" He caught sight of Hope about to follow Bonnie. "Just let her go. She needs some space…she'll be back." He tried to convince himself into believing it.

Sam and Hope looked at each other. "Does this have anything to do with Michael?" Hope asked tentatively.

Dean's head snapped up in surprise. "What, do I have his name stamped on my forehead or something? How do you know about Michael?"

"Lots of research paired with common sense." She held up the book. "I was looking for a weapon to use against Lucifer, and I have an idea on where we can find it."

Dean sighed relieved. "Well, that's great! Best news I've heard all week. Where we going?"

Sam winced dragging a chair over and settling in it backwards facing his brother. "Well, that's the thing, Dean…it doesn't really matter where it is. We can't use it."

The older Winchester scoffed. "Of course. Naturally. Well, who can then?"

"Michael." Hope confirmed demoralized. "And the only way Michael can weld it is-"

"If he uses me as his vessel." Dean concluded knowingly with frustration. "Well, that's not happening." He glanced at her curiously. "How did you know it was me?"

"God has a brother vs. brother obsession." She offered with a shrug. "And when you asked me about the elixir, I put it all together. So it's true? I had hoped I was wrong." She mumbled quietly staring at the ground. It was bad enough she had to watch Sam go through this, but now Dean too? For the first time she felt like she might be part of a real family and now she was worried she'd lose half of it in one fell swoop.

"Me too. The bastard's persistent too and arrogant." He cast his brother a glance. "Oh and we have a half brother dad lied about. Michael's been using him as a meat suit until I finally crack." His tone was casual but it was weighed down with the gravity of their reality. While normal people worried about paying their rent and leaving work before rush hour, Dean had to worry about an arch angel possessing the body of his estranged sibling.

Sam blinked. "Wait what? When?"

Dean shook his head. "I don't know, Sammy. But by the looks of him, early nineties? While we were learning how to paint devil's traps and spending nights alone in motel rooms, dad was taking Adam to baseball games." He explained in a clipped resentful tone.

Sam jumped to his feet, pacing suddenly uncomfortable and upset with this new information. "No…no way Dad had this whole other life with some other kid. Why wouldn't he tell us? Why would he keep our brother from us?"

"Think about it, Sam. His whole life after mom died has been a literal hell. He forced his children to follow in his footsteps. We grew up in this, Sam…maybe he was hoping Adam wouldn't have to." Dean understood it, and if he was in his father's shoes, he'd probably do the same. If he found out about Adam a few years ago he'd react differently, but the man he was today was grateful their brother was able to have a normal life…not that it did him any good now. Maybe that that just the Winchester curse.

Sam scoffed. "And look where that got him. Sitting backseat in his own body while Michael drives him to his death. If Adam isn't his true vessel, he'll burn him out."

"I know." Dean said resigned, bowing his head.

"So what are we gonna do?" Sam implored urgently. "He's our brother, Dean; whether we know him or not, we can't just leave him to rot in there."

"The only way Michael is ditching that body is if he has a better one." He met his brother's eyes pointedly. "And I ain't offerin'. I can't do that to Bonnie, and I can't do that to you."

"We'll think of something, babe." Hope promised, quietly running her hand soothingly over his back. She felt him relax at her touch, but when she met Dean's eyes, she knew that there was no way to save him.

…

It had been a couple hours, and Bonnie's wandering took her to a deserted baseball diamond. She climbed up the bleachers to sit in the top row and looked out at the falling sun. All she wanted in that moment was to talk to her friend; to do what she's always done when faced with adversity. Damon was always great to have on your side when you wanted to vent. Caroline and Matt would always tell her what she was suppose to do, while Damon offered a more controversial and unconventional opinion. He'd encourage her to do the bold thing, go against the grain, do what she wanted, not what they think she should do.

Almost unconsciously, her fingers dialed his number and it only rang once before she lost the nerve and hung up. "What am I doing?" she mumbled, beratingly to herself. It was only seconds later when her phone rang with the familiar number flashing on her phone. Bonnie let it ring once, twice, three times…she really shouldn't. He couldn't possibly know it was her, right? It was a new number. She answered but said nothing.

"Bonnie? Is that you?" She could hear the hope in his voice. "If it isn't, I'm probably going to end up embarrassing myself here, but if this is the only chance I get, I'll take it." He joked and she couldn't help but crack a smile. She missed the sound of his voice, but she worried about him. She didn't want to break the progress he was making in her absence. She may need the space from him, but she still had to get updates from their mutual blonde friend. "I miss you. A lot. Caroline isn't the best drinking partner." She had to bite her lips to keep from laughing. "I hear you're really happy; saving people, working your magic…" he chuckled. "It's all I really wanted for you anyway…and I'm doing okay too, if you were wondering. Better than I thought I would be. I work at the school now. Blondie's idea…I won't admit it to her but I'm actually enjoying it." She loved that she hadn't said a word still it felt like they were deep in conversation. "It's weird having these tiny little minds look up to you like you have all the answers. I never felt like I had a purpose before…I guess I have you to thank for that. Seeing how happy it made you was the reason I finally said yes." There was a long pause, like he was hoping she would finally say something, but the words just wouldn't come out. Damon released a resigned sigh. "Okay…well…I guess that's it. I hope you're okay Bonnie." She heard a shuffling, and she panicked sensing the end of the call.

"Damon? I miss you too." She admitted.

"I'm happy to hear that." She could hear the relief in his voice. "So, was that a butt dial, or did you mean to call and hang up?" he teased her.

"I meant to. Things have been…difficult lately, and you were the only one I thought I could talk to about it." Even after months, she fell into easy conversation with him.

"Why's that?"

She scoffed. "Because you're the only one that will be honest with me."

"Always." He confirmed without hesitation.

"Dean and Sam are in trouble and I don't know what to do about it." She spent the next eight minutes recapping the highlights of their predicament, and the vampire on the other end silently listened. "Usually when someone I love is in danger there's something I can do to save them; there's a spell or some way that I can help, but this…" she trailed off hopelessly, brushing a tear from her eye. "This is bigger than me, Damon. And I know I try to put on a brave face and fight my way through it, but I don't know if I have it in me this time." The words got caught in throat painfully. "If Michael takes Dean over…I'll lose him forever. And I don't know if I can handle watching that happen."

While it was agonizing to hear Bonnie's heart break, and over losing another man no less, he had promised to be there for her no matter the circumstances, and if being her friend was the only capacity he could do that, then so be it. "Bonnie…you are hands down the strongest woman I know, and I can promise you with completely certainty that no matter what you face, you will get through it. It may not seem that way now, but just look at what you've been through, how far you've come. You're a fighter, Bon, you never give up and I sure as hell am not going to let you stop now."

It was overwhelmingly reassuring to hear him talk her up, but she was mildly surprised. "I thought you'd be encouraging me to bail out and come home."

"I would want nothing more but…" he sighed. "I know you, and there's no way you'd walk away from someone you love so..." There was a pang of hurt in his tone that rippled right through her. If he thought that it was easy for her to walk away from him, he was sorely mistaken. "Even if Michael wins, you stay until the curtains close, do you hear me? He wouldn't give up on you..." It was the hardest thing he'd ever told her but he knew that she'd regret anything less. "and you wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you did."

Even as the tears streamed down her cheeks, a sad smile pulled at her lips. "I know that wasn't easy for you to say…thank you." She whispered.

Damon swallowed through the lump in his throat. "Anytime. Look I have a class in a few minutes. Evening field trip. But I'm always a call away…"

A weight seemed to lift off her shoulders, knowing she hadn't completely lost him. "I promise not to hang up next time." She teased quietly. "Goodbye Damon."

"Goodbye Bon."

She hung up and got so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the person sitting on the bleacher step behind her. "That was touching."

Bonnie jumped to her feet startled, staring down at the man casually reclined with his hands folding in his lap. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm hurt. I mean we're practically family now, Bonnie." He shot her a condescending grin.

"Lucifer?" she questioned, backing up slowly and carefully.

"Wrong. But you're close!" he continued his teasing. "Try again."

Bonnie's heart dropped to her feet. "Michael." She barely whispered it but he heard it loud and clear. She turned and ran her way down the bleachers, but almost immediately upon touching the ground, Michael was in front of her. She tried to melt his brain, but he only cocked his head.

"Your magic doesn't work on me, darling. It's child's play in comparison to my gifts. Come now…" He grabbed her arm roughly, tugging her painfully closer to him. "Dean must be worried sick about you." He added with a mocking and scolding tone.

Bonnie was powerless to stop him, and in a flap of his broad wings, they were gone.

…