Then
Sam is reeling from his memory of Hell. Hoping to take advantage of Sam's unsteady state of mind, Raphael comes to Sam, revealing that his followers have stopped Castiel's plan in its tracks, by taking the blood needed for their ritual to open Purgatory. When Sam continues to defy him, Raphael destroys the blood, revealing his own plan to use Sam's blood in a similar ritual to open the Cage, and his intention to have Sam say yes to being Lucifer's vessel once more, to pick up where the Apocalypse left off. When bribery doesn't work to gain Sam's consent, Raphael threatens to unleash more of Sam's horrific memories until Sam gives in. Unwilling to budge, Sam continues to refuse Raphael, who follows through on the threat. Naomi pulls a memory of a time in the Cage where Sam was punished for his lack of consent, which, following so quickly on the heels of his last memory, starts bleeding through to Sam's reality, beginning to break down Sam's ability to tell the two apart.
Now
Notes:
Language Advisory* Continuing my pattern of allowing the Winchesters and Bobby to think and speak the way we all know they would if the CW hadn't censored the crap out of them.
Chapter Text
The motel room is silent for a moment, Cas looking sheepish and annoyed, Dean and Bobby surprised by the demon's audacity of coming within shooting distance of either of them. Crowley looks around boredly, spotting the salt line along the ground.
"Really?" He asks sardonically, raising an eyebrow as he snaps, a sharp wind whipping up and blowing across the salt, scattering it away from the entrance and allowing him to step into the room, shutting the door behind him. "I assume Moose is the one who normally wards you boys, because this is just sad." Dean snarls as his surprise starts to fade and he starts to lunge at the pompous dick, Bobby half a step behind him. "Really?" Crowley demands again, exasperated this time, and he flicks his wrist, sending both hunters crashing backwards, an invisible force pinning them both to the far wall, holding them firmly in place, but not quite crushing them, and both men begin to struggle, spitting curse words in the process. 'Fuck', and 'balls', in particular filling the air repeatedly. "If you two are the ones who raised Moose, I see where he got his manners from."
"Crowley." Cas growls, stepping in front of the demon, his own angel blade now in hand, and his eyes flaring blue with grace. "Let them go, now."
"As soon as they agree to disarm." Crowley retorts.
"Fat chance." Dean hisses, struggling harder, desperate to run his blade through the demon who has caused nothing but trouble since the day they had the misfortune to meet him. "Fine. Hang there like salami, but if you hadn't noticed, Raphael just dealt a massive blow to Feather's war efforts and captured a valuable piece off the chessboard." Crowley says drily. "Excuse me for thinking this might be a good time to regroup and come up with a strategy to get Samantha back from the tower Raphael has no doubt stashed him in."
"You think Sam is in a tower somewhere?" Cas asks seriously, lowering his blade. Crowley sighs, glancing at Bobby and Dean as they both huff impatiently.
"Someone needs to give your angel lessons in sarcasm." Crowley waves his hand, and Bobby and Dean drop back to the floor, both tensing immediately and not releasing their weapons. "Are you going to behave, or are we going to do this dance again?"
"If you are asking if I am not about to shove this knife so far up your ass-" Dean starts to say, stepping forwards but Cas moves towards him, resting a hand on his arm.
"Wait, Dean." He asks softly.
"Seriously?" Bobby and Dean demand. Cas nods sharply once, looking at them both, but focusing on Dean.
"Trust me." It isn't an order, as it has been so often between Cas and Dean lately, but a request. Shooting another death glare at Crowley, Dean reluctantly lowers his blade and steps back again, channeling his coursing anger and distrust into his senses, so that he is fully on alert for any of the bullshit that Crowley is in the habit of pulling on them. Bobby moves to Dean's side, similarly, holding his weapon out, but down, tense and alert to the situation around them. Cas looks at them both gratefully, before turning back towards the demon. Neither hunter misses how the movement puts Cas squarely between them and the threat, nor the fact the he also hasn't sheathed his weapon.
"Thank you Feathers." Crowley says, sounding pleased.
"How did you find us?" Cas demands.
"I followed the Impala." Crowley answers as if it should be obvious, rolling his eyes. "It isn't exactly a needle in a haystack. I thought about interrupting earlier, but you were having such a lovely, healing moment, I didn't dare."
"Crowley, I swear to God if you don't say something useful in the next five seconds, I am going to fillet you alive." Dean spits at the demon.
"Touchy." Crowley tsks, sounding annoyed even as a smirk plays along his lips. "Fine. I just thought Castiel would like to know that the blood is gone." Cas pales, looking back at Dean and Bobby and they read the worry in his eyes before he is facing forwards again.
"What? How did you let that happen?" Cas demands, anger radiating off of him again. Crowley scowls now, shoving his hands into his jacket pocket.
"What part of an archangel and his angels storming and blowing up our headquarters did you miss, exactly?" Crowley asks coldly.
"I was dealing with the angels." Cas says, just as icily. "Your job was to protect the blood for the spell."
"Well, bang up job on dealing with the angels. I had half a dozen on me when the lightning struck! Look at what they did to my suit!" Crowley says furiously, gesturing at the gashes and cuts along the fabric of his jacket, shirt and pants.
"Are we seriously not killing him, so that we can stand around listening to this?" Dean demands, looking at Cas impatiently. Cas squeezes his eyes shut, his face irritated, but seemingly ignores Dean's question, focusing on the demon king.
"What happened to the blood?" Cas asks sharply.
"Some blonde halo took it, after nearly skewering me I might add." Crowley answers. "Seemed important, had a small army with him. It took everything I had to escape there unscathed. Well, mostly unscathed." He gestures at his suit again.
"Barthalomew." Cas mutters, clenching his fists tightly.
"Who?" Bobby asks, raising an eyebrow. Cas waves his hand dismissively.
"One of Raphael's followers. Loyal and obedient, and a good fighter, but not a strategist. If he has the blood, that means so does Raphael." Cas answers grimly.
"So… you are saying now the unstable, psychotic archangel is running around with the key to Purgatory?" Dean asks, raising his eyebrows.
"No, not at all. Raphael is dangerous but he is not psychotic. He is in full control of all his mental faculties. Unfortunately for us, this attack proves he is of sound mind." Cas replies. He slides his angel blade away, rubbing his face with his hands, looking tired. "But… he doesn't just have the… key to Purgatory, as you put it."
"What do you mean, Cas?" Bobby asks warily. Cas takes a deep breath.
"I was going to mention this before Crowley arrived." Cas shoots a glare at the demon who simply smirks back, leaning against the wall and crossing one leg over the other, so he is lounging casually. "Please understand I was not hiding this from you, not anymore."
"Not hiding what?" Dean demands. Cas sighs, running a hand through his hair.
"When I was searching for ways to free Sam from the Cage, I came across a spell." Cas says slowly. "It is… similar to the one we are… were going to use to open Purgatory. Similar incantation, similar ingredients. And both spells require the full effect of the Blood Moon. That spell is actually what spawned our plan for Purgatory."
"Wait… are you talking about a spell that would… what, open a door to the Cage?" Dean asks, horror and confusion washing through him in equal parts. Cas nods, and he swallows, glancing at Bobby who looks just as flabbergasted as he feels. "So… while we were busy trying to stop Seals, and… and track down rings, and making deals with freaking Death, there was a spell that could be done to open the Cage the entire time?" Bile rises in Dean's throat. Eighteen months. Sam was trapped in Hell for eighteen months, and he could have gotten out if Dean… if Cas… It takes everything in Dean not to throw up right there and then and instead wait for Castiel to answer.
"Yes and no… see, the spell was, technically speaking, impossible to perform until a few short months ago, after which you and I had no reason to use it." Cas explains. Dean clenches his fists tightly, paling as he understands. Only one significant event happened a few months ago that could have erased any necessity for getting into that literal Hell hole.
"It needs Sam." Bobby says softly, coming to the same conclusion as Dean. Cas nods.
"Technically it didn't have to be Sam." Crowley chimes in. Dean and Bobby glare at him as he moves closer, Cas shifting so the four of them can look at each other properly, while still keeping his protective, hovering stance between Dean and Bobby, and their unwanted guest. "Just like opening Purgatory requires the blood of a monster that has actually been there, opening the Cage requires blood of a human who has journeyed there, and, obviously, escaped. At the moment, it just so happens that there is only one human alive who fits that bill, but it could have theoretically been from any human that managed to pull off that hat trick." Dean turns away from the group, putting the demon killing blade away before he stabs someone or something, and runs his hands desperately through his hair. He tries to control his rapidly increasing breaths as fury courses through him.
"So, not only does Raphael have the ability to open Purgatory, he can also open the Cage?" Dean demands slowly, coldly, turning back to the others with a deadly gleam in his eyes.
"If he knows about the spell, yes." Cas says solemnly.
"What do you mean?" Bobby asks sharply.
"The spell was extremely well hidden, almost completely obscured from detection." Cas explains. "And I only told the very few people who may have been able to help me with it. Once I translated the spell, I destroyed it. Raphael shouldn't know it exists."
"He has to know about it. Why else would he have taken Sam? Why now, this close to the eclipse?" Dean demands angrily.
"He could be trying to use Sam as leverage." Cas suggests.
"You mean like you did?" Dean snaps. Cas frowns, but Dean is too upset, to angry to care. This can't be happening again. Sam can't be being made to open the cage. Not after fighting so hard to close it.
"Sam was never leverage, Dean. Not for me." Cas says softly. "I only said that to try and protect him. I lied to Sam as well, saying that Crowley was the one who wanted him abducted, in order to keep you both from interfering with us, but… taking Sam, it was never about that. That was just a cover, to protect his peace of mind."
"Protect it from what?" Dean demands. Crowley scoffs, and Dean shoots him a murderous look.
"Oh come on, Squirrel, you know Moose better than any of us." Crowley drawls. "Tell me, if you went up to your brother and told him he was the key to Raphael getting what he wants more than anything, because of magic in his blood, how do you think he would have handled that? Sorry, how do you think he would handle that, again, considering what he did the last time an archangel used him and his special blood to bust open that cage door?" Dean is furious with Crowley for actually making a decent point, and every bone in his body wants to stab him for it, but even through his rising fear and rage he can see how irrational he is being, because Crowley, as much as it pains him to admit it, is right. Sam would be devastated if he learns about this. It would destroy any sense of victory he earned when he defeated Lucifer and his stupid supposed destiny. Years of struggling against the world's view of him, making him feel like a freak, a monster, like he was born to be evil, and finally, finally overcoming it, would be washed down the drain. Dean snarls out a string of swear words and curses as he paces, until Bobby steps over to him, gripping his shoulder comfortingly and Dean looks up at him desperately. Bobby looks back at him, worried, but also fiercely determined, and he can read the message in his eyes. Stow your crap and pull yourself together. Fall apart after we get Sammy back, and know what kind of state he is in. Cas frowns at Crowley, before stepping closer to Dean.
"Sam has suffered through a lot, in the short time I have known him." Cas says softly. "Especially… especially at the hands of my brothers and sisters. I didn't want him to worry about being put through what Michael and Lucifer forced him to endure again."
"So you thought him feeling betrayed by you using him as a hostage was better?" Dean asks snidely, unable to stop the frustration from leaking into his voice.
"Dean, go a little easy…" Bobby says softly, but Cas shakes his head.
"No, Dean is right. I… made a mistake. I thought protecting Sam from the truth of what he might be facing, even if I knew Raphael didn't know the truth himself, was for the best, but clearly I was mistaken. Somehow, Raphael discovered what Sam can do. And by not telling Sam, or warning him, I left him defenseless and unprepared. For that, I am sorry Dean." Cas says seriously. "And I am more sorry than you know that I made him think I was betraying him. I can see now, that it would have been less painful for him to know he was targeted by an enemy, than to think he was targeted by a friend, and I promise I was going to explain all this to him, but…"
"But then Raphael happened." Dean guesses, and Cas nods.
"Which brings us back to the important bit, now that the family drama is sorted out." Crowley cuts in. "As fascinating as your moral dilemmas are, can we get back to the raving lunatic archangel who wants to end the world?" Bobby and Dean both scowl at the demon, but Cas just sighs, pinching his nose in frustration.
"Crowley is right. Raphael is now more dangerous than ever, and he needs to be stopped before the eclipse begins." Cas agrees. Dean studies Cas, hesitation and wariness filling him as he considers their very limited options, and every part of him hates the only one he can see just as much now as he did when he first learned about it, but with Sammy now on the hook… maybe it was time for a desperate, stupid move.
"Cas, do you really think the souls from Purgatory can make you strong enough to take on Raphael?" Dean asks softly. Three sets of shocked eyes land on him.
"Dean, you can't be serious." Bobby demands, but Dean keeps his gaze on Cas.
"They would have." Cas says slowly. "But it doesn't matter now, we don't have the blood to open the door." He shoots a pointed glare at Crowley who rolls his eyes.
"Right, because I am the only one who has made mistakes in this venture." Crowley mutters petulantly.
"Shut up." Bobby and Dean growl at him in unison. Dean turns to Cas.
"Is there any way of getting the blood back?" He asks, half hopeful that the answer will be no, and half desperate that it won't be. Even if it may be the best way to get Sam back, Dean still thinks it is a horrible idea.
"I doubt it… Raphael doesn't need the power that the souls in Purgatory would provide, and he certainly wouldn't allow any angel, even the ones under his command, to take it in." Cas reports. "My guess is his interest in it was only retrieving it so Crowley and I cannot use it. Most likely he has destroyed it. I suppose without Sam, he may have used Purgatory to give him the strength to damage the Cage enough that Michael and Lucifer would go free, but now he has a better, simpler way to do that, so Purgatory is useless to him."
"Well what about the lamia that you used? Can't you just get more blood from her?" Bobby asks, tossing a disgruntled look at Dean, clearly unhappy with the direction of the conversation but also seeming to back Dean's play.
"Er, about that…" Crowley shrugs. "We may have already burned the body."
"Seriously?!" Dean demands. The King of Hell shrugs again.
"We had what we needed, and I hate the stench of decomposing monster flesh." He says simply, as if that was a perfect excuse for getting rid of such a rare resource.
"Great." Dean growls, running a hand through his hair and once again fighting back the desire to stab Crowley. "So how do we find another Purgatory native that fits the bill?"
"We don't." Crowley says simply.
"Not talking to you, Jackass." Dean snaps.
"Dean…" Cas says calmly, slowly. Dean ignores him.
"We need a monster to open the door right? So you can juice up and stop Raphael from unleashing Hell? So, lets go. Where do we start looking?" Dean asks sharply, looking around. Bobby is watching him worriedly, Cas sympathetically. Crowley is staring at him like he is a moron. Dean growls impatiently. "Why the hell are we just standing around? Raphael has Sammy, he could be doing God knows what to him. For all we know, Sam's wall could be coming down as we speak, we need to move!"
"Dean, Raphael won't hurt Sam." Cas says softly. "Not… not seriously, at least."
"Oh really? So he invited Sam over for tea and biscuits, huh? A nice chat over coffee, to ask Sammy to politely hand over his blood?" Dean asks coldly. "For all we know, Raphael could have done what you guys did, bled Sam by now and burned, or tossed his body!"
"Don't be daft, Squirrel." Crowley says scornfully. "Raphael needs Moose alive, and in one piece. Even you have to have realized by now that using his blood for the spell is only part of the reason your brother is enjoying his hospitality right now." Dean looks at Crowley confused.
"What do you mean?" He asks. Crowley sighs as Cas and Bobby look at Dean quickly, pity in their eyes.
"No wonder Moose is the brains of the operation." Crowley mutters drily. Cas clears his throat angrily, glaring at Crowley who raises his hands in surrender and steps back, before looking more softly at Dean.
"Dean, when… if Raphael succeeds in opening the Cage, Michael will be able to leave in your half-brother Adam's vessel, since it fell into Hell with him." Cas says patiently. "But Lucifer… he is going to need a human host. One strong enough to contain him." Dean goes white, and his stomach turns nauseously. Lucifer needs a vessel… no. No, no, no. Not again. How could he have not thought of this? How could he have not realized sooner? Judging by the sympathy and pity in Bobby's eyes, he already thought about it, so how could Dean have missed it? Maybe he just refused to acknowledge that possibility. Blocked it out, because it is just too horrible to even consider. Sam already said yes to that monster once, and it killed him. Worse than that, it damned him. And Sam has only had brief flashes of his time in Hell with Lucifer, and those have almost killed him again. They can't let that psycho angel anywhere near his baby brother ever again, they just can't. And Dean knows that if asked, Sam will try to say no. He will fight, as hard as he can, because Sam more than anyone knows what's at stake, but at the same time… Sam isn't the same kid he used to be. The Sam who took Lucifer to Hell was battered, sure, and beaten by a life of hunting and tragedy and manipulation, but he was in one piece. He was whole. The Sam who came back isn't. Sure, he is just as strong as he has always been, maybe even more so, in some ways, but in others… Hell broke him. Dean knows it, deep in his gut, because Hell broke him to and his was a picnic in comparison to Sam's. The Sam that came back from Hell was shattered, literally and figuratively missing vital pieces of himself. The foundation of who he is has been cracked, and that makes him vulnerable. Fragile, in ways that Dean has desperately tried to protect. If Raphael, or God forbid Lucifer or Michael try to coerce Sam into saying yes… if they resort to applying pressure to get their way… Dean doesn't know how long Sam will last. And what infuriates Dean the most is that it wouldn't be Sam's fault. Not that the last time was either, what with the angels and the demons using Sam's emotions and grief to manipulate him like a puppet, but this is entirely different. Sam isn't being given the illusion of choice here. There is no revenge for him to seek, no self-imposed need for redemption. Sam was fine, he was safe, just yesterday for crying out loud! And now he was God knows where, and very probably about to be tortured, if he wasn't being already, into being Lucifer's meatsuit. And if Lucifer had had enough ammunition to work with to try and get that yes before… well, now he could damn well go nuclear on Sam. Dean has underestimated Sam before, undervalued and underappreciated his brave, strong little brother, but he couldn't expect Sam to successfully resist another archangel, let alone possibly three. And, in all honesty, it wouldn't be fair of him to expect Sam to try. Though Dean knows he will, because Sam is just that good. He will always, always try to put the world… to put Dean ahead of himself, and he knows that Sam is expecting him to expect Sam to fight, fair or not. Fighting back angry, hopeless tears, Dean paces away from the others until he is standing in front of the motel room's window, gazing out at the parking lot but not seeing anything, his mind starting to race a thousand miles an hour. Raphael is going to try to convince Sam to say yes to Lucifer. And, despite what Cas says, Dean has no illusions that when Sam says no, that Raphael might take it easy on him. Sam is going to be hurting. He is going to resist, though, and fight, for as long as he can. So Dean needs to fight to. He needs to get to Sam, as fast as he can, and save Sam before it is too late. Dean takes one, two, three deep, long breaths to steady himself. Sam is doing his part, holding his own, Dean has no doubt, so now it is time for him to step up and follow his brother's lead. Nothing about this situation is fair, but it's a mess that needs to be cleaned up and who else will do it, if not them? Taking another, final deep breath, Dean turns back to where Crowley, Bobby and Cas have been silently watching him.
"Okay." He says, his voice cracking slightly though he coughs, clearing it quickly. "Okay. So we can't find another Purgatory native? Why not?"
"We don't have the time." Cas explains.
"The eclipse is in five days. It took Feathers and I months to track down even the lamia." Crowley adds. "Since you wiped out my collection of creatures at that jail, we would be starting from scratch to find another creature old enough to be of any value."
"What about your friend?" Dean asks Bobby cautiously, watching as the older hunter's eyes flash dangerously back at him. "Would she be willing to donate a little? Obviously not enough to kill." He adds on quickly, watching as Bobby's face reddens in anger. Cas notices it to, because he jumps in quickly before Bobby can answer.
"Even if we did find a creature whose blood would work, I don't know if that is the right course of action anymore, anyways." Cas says thoughtfully, frowning as a look of heavy realization seems to dawn in his eyes. Dean frowns as Bobby looks slightly calmer, if slightly confused.
"Why not?" Bobby asks gruffly.
"Because both doors, to the Cage and to Purgatory, need to be opened at three am during the eclipse." Cas explains. Dean groans in a mix of annoyance and despair, understanding immediately what Cas has just grasped.
"So even if we get you everything you need, by the time you do the spell and take in the souls…" Dean starts.
"Raphael will have opened the Cage." Cas finishes, frowning as he nods. "Yes, exactly."
"Okay." Bobby claps his hands together. "That makes things simple then. We stop Raphael before anyone can use the eclipse to open anything. Any ideas on how we do that?" Crowley raises a hand.
"Anyone else?" Dean asks, looking hopefully at Cas and Bobby.
"Oh, don't be like that Squirrel." Crowley scoffs. "I've been plenty helpful to you and the Scooby gang."
"You've been plenty helpful to yourself, asshole." Dean growls.
"Tomato, tomato." Crowley waves him off dismissively. "Like it or not, me helping myself has helped you lot out plenty."
"Oh like the time you gave us the Colt that didn't actually take out Lucifer and got two of our friends killed?" Dean demands. "Or the time you made a deal with Bobby here and then tried to weasel your way out of it? Or how about when you lied about being able to rescue Sam's soul so you could manipulate us into doing your dirty work for you? Where in all of that did anything you did help us out?" Crowley watches Dean coolly, the smug exterior fading slightly as his expression turns annoyed.
"It may have escaped your notice, Dean, but I am not your sidekick." Crowley says impatiently. "I am not one of your little friends you can bully and drag along on your misguided adventures. I don't need to be here, trying to help save your asses once more. I could just as easily not be here right now and sit back and watch as your little brother breaks the world again." Dean is moving before anyone can stop him and he grabs Crowley, unable to restrain his violent urges anymore and his fist slams into Crowley's face, shattering the demon's nose, before he shoves him back up against the wall, hard, holding onto Crowley's jacket to pin him in place.
"Say one more word about Sammy breaking anything and I will gut you." Dean snarls furiously. "He didn't break anything, ever. He saved your ungrateful ass, remember? Lucifer was going to wipe out demons as easily as humans, and he didn't because Sammy stopped him."
"Yes, he did." Crowley says smoothly, touching his nose slightly and winching at the feel of broken bones, carelessly wiping the blood away before glowering up at Dean. "Sam stopped Lucifer, and Michael, making him the only one in all of creation I believe, to have ever defeated an archangel, let alone two at once. Outside of other archangels, of course."
"So?" Dean snarls.
"So." Crowley drags out the word, sounding like he is impatiently explaining something that should be blindingly obvious. "Don't you think we should be consulting someone with actual experience in defeating archangels on how to defeat Raphael?" Dean drops Crowley, stepping back and huffing impatiently as Bobby voices his thoughts.
"Sure, that sounds great. Let's go ask him right now. Oh wait, we don't know where he is." Bobby says sarcastically. Crowley sighs again.
"How did either of you get along without Sam's brains for a year?" Crowley demands. "Honestly, it's pathetic. Clearly someone in Feather's ranks turned spy, and told Raphael about Moose in the first place, and I think both Cassie and I have a good idea of who it was. I am willing to bet they know where the giant is being hidden." Crowley glances at Cas, whose expression has darkened.
"They wouldn't." Cas says firmly.
"Wouldn't they?" Crowley asks, raising his eyebrows. Doubt flickers across Cas' expression. "They already let slip to Raphael's followers where we were hiding."
"That was an accident." Cas states again, but his voice is unsure, hesitant this time. Crowley shrugs.
"If you say so." Crowley says smugly.
"Who are you two idjits talking about?" Bobby demands, but Dean thinks he might know. If he is guessing right, and Raphael only recently learned about what Sam's blood could do, then the spy would have had to have recently betrayed Cas. Within the last couple of weeks, there was one angel who had agreed to help them fight against Cas' plan, to be their double agent, but what if he wasn't actually working with them? Cas is a dangerous angel, with the King of Hell as an ally. Maybe this angel thought he needed some heavy power in his corner as well, and went to the only other player on the board? It wouldn't be the first time they were motivated by self-preservation. And they certainly didn't have any problems messing with Sam and Dean or letting them suffer.
"Balthazar." Dean growls, and Cas looks at Dean, looking stricken and doubtful and hurt, while Crowley looks mildly impressed.
"Maybe you aren't as stupid as you look after all Squirrel." Crowley says in an almost complimentary way.
"No, Balthazar wouldn't do that." Cas insists. "He is a friend, and a good soldier. He wouldn't betray me."
"Then there shouldn't be any harm in asking." Crowley points out. "But he is the most likely option. You told him about the spell to open the Cage, and he helped you destroy it. He also stupidly revealed our hideout, though maybe that wasn't as stupid a mistake as we thought. At the very least, it is more suspicious."
"I hate to say this, but Crowley has a point." Bobby says grudgingly. Crowley beams smugly. Cas scowls and Dean looks at Bobby disbelievingly. "He is worth talking to, at any rate. But if Cas is right, and Balthazar doesn't know anything, we need to find another way to get to Sam. Again, I hate to agree with him, but Crowley isn't wrong that Sam has a track record with outwitting the archangels. And he has eyes on the situation right now, he might be able to tell us where to find him, or how to get him out of wherever he has been stashed. Hell, he might even have an idea on how we can take down Raphael for good, once the eclipse passes." Cas watches Bobby, his scowl slowly fading into a mere frown, a thoughtful look entering his eyes.
"Agreeing with Crowley twice, it really is the end of the world again." Dean mutters, unable to stop himself.
"Rude." Crowley complains. Bobby ignores both of them.
"Here is what is going to happen. Dean and I are gonna crash, for a few hours at least, so neither of us drops dead of exhaustion. Then Cas, you and Dean are going to go find Balthazar, see if he knows anything. Crowley and I will stay here and look into other ways to at least try and contact Sam, if not track down where he is." Bobby orders. Dean looks at him, shocked.
"You want to crash? Bobby, no. We need to move now." Dean argues. "Sammy doesn't have time for us to lie around sleeping."
"Dean, if we try to go after Sam right now, both of us are getting captured at best, wiped out completely at worst." Bobby says grimly. "Neither of us are near our peak form right now, and Sam is going to need us at the top of our games because we both know he won't be." Dean scowls, hating Bobby's logic, and hating not being able to disagree with it. Damn him for knowing Dean so well. Under almost any other circumstances, Dean wouldn't be able to rest right now, not with Sammy in danger. But if it is for Sam? If it is so Dean can better protect his little brother? How could he do anything else? Reluctantly, Dean nods, and as if the acceptance has let some of his adrenaline finally start to wane out of his system, he starts to feel the heavy weight of exhaustion starting to creep in. Still, he can't rest just yet.
"Are you sure you are going to be good here with Crowley?" Dean asks seriously.
"Again, rude." Crowley complains. Bobby and Dean ignore him.
"I'll be fine. It's in Crowley's best interests to bring Sam home safe, and keep him away from Raphael, let alone the other archangels." Bobby says.
"I am right here." Crowley interjects, but again they ignore him.
"Don't worry Dean. Crowley won't do anything against Bobby, you have my word. Both of you will be safe here." Cas says calmly.
"Unbelievable." Crowley mutters in irritation, disappearing without another word.
"He'll be back." Cas says confidently, glancing at where the demon had stood. "He is just surly."
"Well, let him be." Dean says dismissively. He knows the demon won't betray them, not on this at least. He doesn't trust Crowley of course, in any way except to know that at the moment, all of their interests are the same, like Bobby said. As long as that remains true, he can be as pissy as he wants but he will show up when needed. And since that isn't right now, let him go wherever it is demons go to pout. At least with him gone, Dean might be able to sleep more easily. Dean fights back a yawn, kicking off his boots as he moves towards the bed. "Wake us up in four hours, Cas. Then we can head out."
"Of course." Cas agrees, and Dean hears Bobby moving around, getting ready to lay down himself. Dean simply falls into his bed, fully clothes and on top of the blanket, but uncaring. As he closes his eyes, and lets the long, sleepless night wash over him at last, all he can think of is Sammy, alone and scared. Hold on Sammy, he thinks, praying desperately that he hasn't been hurt too badly yet. Just hold on a little longer. We are coming.