Dean and Larissa are in the library and packing. The room is a mess after Dean had a small breakdown. They gave Kevin a hunter's funeral and now have to find Sam.
"Dean. Larissa." The two turn to see Cas.
"Cas. Now, look at you, all suited up and back in the game." Dean says.
"I, um... I came as soon as you called. I wa--" Cas notices the mess. "Dean, what happened? What's wrong?"
~ ~ ~
"Sammy was dying. What was I supposed to do?" Dean asks after explaining everything.
"You let an angel possess him?" Cas asks.
"He said it was the only way, and I believed him. Now Sam's gone. Kevin's..." Dean trails off.
"Dean, Larissa, I'm sorry." Cas says.
"Yeah, well... sorry don't pay the bills, does it? It sure as hell ain't gonna bring Kevin back. We got to find that son of a bitch." Dean says.
"Dean. If the angel possessing Sam isn't Ezekiel, then who is it?" Cas asks.
"A dead man walking."
"What, you're gonna destroy him?"
"Damn right."
"You kill an angel, its vessel dies, too."
"Think I don't know that? If I don't end Sam and that halo burns him out and I... God, I was so damn stupid."
Larissa feels the tears well in her eyes at the thought of losing Sam. At the thought of Athena losing him.
"You were stupid for the right reasons." Cas says.
"Yeah, like that matters." Dean says.
"It does. Sometimes that's all that matters. Listen to me. Sam is strong. If he knew an angel was possessing him, he could fight. He could cast the angel out."
"Maybe. But as far as I know, he's in the dark. I don't know how we clue him in."
"Do you remember Alfie?"
"The kid angel? Yeah. Why?"
"Before he died, he told me the demons were able to dig into his mind, access his coding. We might be able to do that here. Might be able to-- to bypass the angel and talk directly to Sam."
"And you think that would work?"
"I don't know, but I think we should try."
"Okay. Um, where do we start?"
~ ~ ~
"Hello, boys, Rissa."
"Here's the deal. You're gonna tell us how to hack an angel, and I'm gonna give you some of the good stuff." Dean holds up a syringe of blood. "Human blood, fresh from the tap." He pats his arm. "Word is you're jonesing for it."
"Please. I'll pass." Crowley scoffs.
"What do you want, then?" Cas asks.
"Well, for starters... a massage. Between the sitting and the shackles, a body gets a little stiff." Crowley says.
"Yeah, I ain't rubbing you." Dean says.
"God, no. Get Kevin. His tiny fists can really work wonder--"
"Kevin is dead." Cas states.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't pretend you care. You tried to kill him."
"I told him this was gonna happen. I was the only person who tried to warn him. I told him to run."
"From what?" Dean asks.
"You." Crowley says. "How many times am I gonna have to say this? People in your general vicinity don't have much in the way of a lifespan. Now, I can't teach you how to crack open an angel. It's more... art than science. But I can do it for you. All I ask in return is a little field trip. Dying for some fresh air. Chains on, naturally."
"No." Dean denies.
"No? Of course not. Because if I'm plan A, I'm sure you have a totally viable, much better plan B." Crowley remarks. The three walk away a little.
"You can't be considering this." Cas says.
"With the chains on, he can't do anything." Dean reasons.
"It's Crowley. He can always do something." Cas says.
"I'm with Dean. I don't like it, but it's not like we have many other options." Larissa says.
"Maybe get a fourth opinion. Go get Moose, Squirrel." Crowley says. "Unless... unless, of course, you can't. That's why you're here, isn't it? The poor giant baby's in trouble again, isn't he?"
"Are you done?" Dean asks.
"Depends. Do we have a deal?" Crowley asks.
"Yeah." Dean nods.
"Excellent. When do we leave?" Crowley asks.
"Soon as I can scrounge up a ride." Dean says.
"Well, I have a vehicle. It stopped a few miles from here, inexplicably." Cas says.
"Okay. Rissa, you're staying here with the baby." Dean says.
"What? Fuck no." Larissa says.
"Rissa--"
"He's my husband... for now, anyway. I'm not just sitting this one out."
"So what are you gonna do with the fucking baby? We lost the babysitter."
"Guess we're taking a baby, then."
"Are you serious? You're gonna endanger a baby? Your baby?"
"Do you know where we can find a babysitter?"
"Yeah. Her mom staying here with her."
"I'm going, Dean."
+++
They walk up to Cas' car, Dean carrying a gas can.
"Really? What are you, a pimp?" Crowley asks the angel.
"I like it." Cas defends. Dean tries and fails to start it.
"Yeah, it's out of gas." Dean says.
"Riddle me this, boy wonder. Why do you need the wheels?" Crowley asks.
"When you betray us, I'll be the one to carve out your heart." Cas threatens.
"Oh, Cas, such a flirt." Crowley says.
"All right. Let's go." Dean says after filling up the tank.
"Shotgun." Crowley calls.
"Uh, wrong. You're in the back." Dean says. Cas smirks at Crowley, going to the passenger door. "Hey. You too. Keep an eye on him." Crowley smirks at Cas before getting in the backseat.
"You're sitting in the middle. I have to put her in there." Larissa says, slightly lifting the car seat up. Cas sighs, getting in the middle. Larissa buckles the car seat in and then gets in the passenger seat.
"Watch the leg." Crowley complains.
"You're on my side." Cas says.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Dean shouts, stopping them.
+++
They're sitting in the lobby of an office building and the three guys are squished on one couch. Larissa is sitting on a different couch with Athena on her lap.
"Your source is in here?" Dean asks.
"And she can track anything you need, even our little Samantha." Crowley says.
"How?" Cas asks.
"Well, this place isn't really... this. It's a front for an N.S.A. listening post." Crowley says.
"What are they listening for?" Cas asks.
"Everything. The U.S. government is quite the voyeur these days. So I planted one of my best and let her go to work." Crowley says.
"Looking for terrorists?" Cas asks.
"Looking for marks, slow boat." Crowley says.
"Mr. Crowley? She'll see you now." A guard says. They all stand up. "Uh, just Mr. Crowley."
"I'll be listening to every word you say." Cas warns.
"Promise?" Crowley asks, following the guards off.
"Hear anything?" Dean asks.
"No. The room Crowley's in has been warded." Cas says.
"Awesome. That's fucking awesome." Dean says.
Crowley gives Dean a paper with pictures of the Impala going through an intersection.
"Your phallus on wheels just ran a red light in Somerset, Pennsylvania, 10 minutes ago." Crowley says.
"Let's go." Dean says.
"The four amigos ride again." Crowley comments.
"He's not my amigo." Cas argues.
+++
They got Gadreel and are now in an abandoned warehouse. Gadreel is restrained to a chair with warded handcuffs and a chin and head restraint. Athena is sitting in her car seat, asleep, and facing away from the others.
Gadreel begins to wake up.
"Welcome to the party, pal. Cas, how we looking?" Dean asks.
"Most of Sam's internal burns have healed. I should be able to fix the rest." Cas says. "What's your name? I thought I knew every single angel in Heaven, but I've never seen you."
"Why would I tell you anything?"
"Well, I don't give a damn who you are. You need to get out -- now!" Dean demands.
"And if I don't?" Gadreel asks.
"Then you and I will have a lovely little playdate." Crowley says.
"Even bound, I can rip this body apart. Tell them, Castiel."
"You do, you die." Dean says.
"You want this to end? Go ahead. Put a blade through your brother's heart." Gadreel says. "If it makes you feel better, I have Sam locked away in a dream. As far as he knows, the two of you are working a case right now. Something with ghouls and cheerleaders."
"Why are you doing this, huh? We fought together. And I trusted you. I thought you were one of the good guys!"
"I am doing what I have to do."
"Well, so am I." Dean nods to Crowley who gest up and picks up a large thick needle, walking to Gadreel.
"So am I." Crowley says. He sticks the needle into Gadreel's temple and moves it around. Gadreel screams in pain making Larissa winces.
~ ~ ~
There's much more needles in Gadreel -- well, Sam's head -- by now. Larissa has moved into the other room with Athena. She put soundproof headphones over Athena, her and Sam having bought some a while ago since the Impala's roaring engine used to bother Athena.
Larissa fights to keep her tears in as she hears her husband's voice scream in pain. She looks up as Dean walks into the room, shortly followed by Cas.
"Hey." Cas greets.
"I can't watch that anymore." Dean says.
"I understand. It's not Sam, but... it's still Sam." Cas says, sending a sympathetic look to Larissa.
"Pretty much, yeah. How are you doing?" Dean asks.
"You want to talk about me now?" Cas asks.
"I want to talk about anything that's not a demon sticking needles into my brother's brain." Dean says, turning to him. "Yeah, humor me, man. How you doing?"
"Uh... I'm okay." Cas says.
"Good. Good. That's, uh... so, what, you just change the batteries out, power back up? It's that easy?" Dean asks.
"It wasn't easy, but I didn't have a choice."
"Yeah. Well, that's usually how it goes. Cas... I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"Kicking you out of the bunker. That's, uh... you know, not telling you about Sam."
"You thought his life was at stake."
"Yeah, I got played."
"I thought I was saving Heaven. I got played, too."
"So you're saying we're both a couple of dumbasses?"
"I prefer the word "trusting." Less dumb. Less ass." Cas says. Larissa manages to slightly smile.
"Laverne! Shirley! Get in here!" Crowley calls out. The three rush back in, Larissa carrying the car seat. "Pinhead's out cold, but watch this." He moves two of the needles and Gadreel starts to say something in Enochian.
"What's he saying?" Dean asks.
"His name's Gadreel." Cas states.
"Does that mean something to you?" Dean asks.
"Well, it's why I've never seen him. He's been imprisoned since the dawn of time. Gadreel was the sentry who allowed Lucifer into the garden." Cas says.
"My, my. A celebrity." Crowley says.
"Wait, the garden? Like Eden? Adam and Eve? Fig leaves garden?" Dean asks.
"It's his fault -- all of it. The corruption of man, demons, Hell. God left because of him. The archangels-- the apocalypse. If he hadn't been so weak, none of it would have happened." He starts to shake Gadreel. "You ruined the universe, you damn son of a bitch!"
"Cas! Cas! Hey!" Dean pulls him back.
"Dean, he--"
"I get it. But you got to chill." Dean tells him. "What's taking so long?" He asks Crowley.
"Other than the fact that I'm trying to unravel a living, multidimensional knot of pure energy, not much." Crowley remarks making Larissa roll her eyes. Gadreel gasps in pain and opens his eyes.
"It won't work." Gadreel states. "You will never find your brother. Go ahead. Poke and prod. I can sit in this chair for years and watch you fail over and over again. I've endured much worse than this, Dean. So... much... worse. And I have all the time in the world."
"Shut up! All right. Plan B. Cas, you got to possess him." Dean says.
"What?" Cas asks.
"Do it now! Get in there, tell Sam what's going on, and help him kick that lying son of a bitch out!"
"It might work. But I can't possess a vessel without permission."
Crowley clears his throat and raises his hand.
"No. Not happening." Dean argues.
"Fuck no." Larissa agrees.
"Don't be daft. Demons can take what they want. I can burrow into that rat's nest of a head. I can wake Sam up. Just call me plan C." Crowley says.
"You can't--" Cas starts.
"You got a better idea?" Dean asks. He looks at Larissa who has a defeated expression. "What about the angel?" He asks Crowley.
"I'll work fast." Crowley says.
"And if he finds you?" Dean asks.
"I'll run. I'm not dying for you lot. Of course, if I do this, you're gonna have to..."
"Take off the leash. Yeah, I know."
"And it stays off. I save Sam, I leave here a free man. Do we have a deal?" Dean looks at Larissa who lightly nods.
"Cas, burn off Sam's tattoo."
"Dean." Cas says.
"Do it." Dean orders. "Do it."
"If it saves Sam, Cas... just do it, please." Larissa softly tells him.
Cas pulls down the collar of Sam's shirt and burns the anti-possession tattoo off.
"If you mess with Sam, if you try anything--" Dean starts.
"I keep my bargains. Besides, I don't want to be inside your brother any longer than I have to. I'm not one for sloppy seconds." Crowley says. Dean takes the chains off.
"When you find him, say Poughkeepsie. It's our go word. It means drop everything and run." Dean says.
"Fine. While I'm gone, hands off the suit." Crowley says.
"I will destroy you." Gadreel threatens.
"Eat me." Crowley retorts. Red smoke pours from Crowley's mouth and into Sam's.
"A demon and an angel walk into my brother. Sounds like a bad joke." Dean comments.
"Dean, if this doesn't work..." Cas says.
"It'll work." Dean insists.
White smoke leaves Sam's mouth and out of the warehouse. Red smoke escapes him and goes back into Crowley. Sam gasps as he regains consciousness.
"Sam!" Dean calls.
"Sammy?" Larissa puts the car seat down and rushes to him.
"Cas?" Dean calls.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Crowley quips.
"Sam, are you okay?" Cas asks while removing the needles.
"Cas?" Sam asks.
Headlights shine in the window and Cas goes to check who it is. Dean and Larissa work on getting Sam free.
"It's Abaddon." Cas states.
"Go. The back door. I'll handle this." Crowley says.
"Oh, cause you're such a good guy?" Dean asks.
"Right now, I'm the goodest guy you got." Crowley says.
"This don't make us square. I see you again--"
"I'm dead. Yes, I know. I love you, too."
Cas and Dean help Sam out while Larissa grabs Athena's car seat and follows.
+++
The four are on a dock and it's raining and still nighttime. Cas heals all of the stab wounds on Sam's head.
"You feel better?" Cas asks.
"A little, yeah." Sam answers.
"It'll take time to fully heal you. We'll have todo it in stages." Cas says. Sam nods and Cas walks a little bit away as Dean walks over to Sam.
"All right. Let me hear it." Dean says.
"What do you want me to say? That I'm pissed? Okay. I am. I'm pissed." Sam says.
"I didn't have a choice." Dean says.
"I was ready to die, Dean!" Sam states.
"I know. But I wouldn't let you because that's not in me."
"So, what? You decide to trick me into being possessed by some... psycho angel?"
"He saved your life."
"So what? I was willing to die. And now... Kevin..."
"No. That is not on you. Kevin's blood is on my hands, and that ain't ever getting clean. I'll burn for that. I will. But I'll find Gadreel. And I will end that son of a bitch. But I'll do it alone."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on, man. Can't you see? I'm... I'm poison, Sam. People get close to me, they get killed... or worse. You know, I tell myself that I-I-- I help more people than I hurt. And I tell myself that I'm-- I'm doing it all for the right reasons, and I-I believe that. But I can't-- I won't... drag anybody through the muck with me. Not anymore."
"Go. I'm not gonna stop you." Dean starts to walk away. "But don't go thinking that's the problem cause it's not."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean asks.
"Just go." Sam says.
Dean gets in the Impala and drives off.
"Sammy... I-I'm so sorry. I didn't want to lie to you, I promise. I just-- Dean said it was the only way you were gonna live. And I-- I couldn't lose you. I couldn't let Athena lose you. I just-- it wasn't the best idea, but I-- I didn't want to lie to you or anything, I... I'm sorry."
Sam looks at her teary eyes and knows she's trying to push them back.
"I just... I need some space." Sam says, looking down.
"What? Space from what?" Larissa asks.
"Us." Sam says making Larissa's heart break. "You."
"Sammy... I really didn't want to do this. If I could go back and change it, I would. I-- I wasn't there when Dean made the decision, I tried to get him to tell you, but--"
"Yeah. Yeah, I was gonna die, I know. Which I was okay with. So you... you need to go for a while." Sam says.
"And how long is a while?" Larissa asks.
"I don't know." Sam says. "But I'm keeping Athena."
"What?" Larissa asks, glancing at Athena who is asleep in her car seat, bundled under three blankets, and the hood is pulled up, keeping her dry. "No. No, y-you can't do that."
"She's my kid, too, Rissa. And you're the one who-- who's been lying for-for months." Sam says.
"Sam--"
"And you brought her with you to-to find the psycho angel that was inside of me. Are you fucking kidding me? You purposely put her in possible danger."
"Okay, I didn't want to, but--"
"No. There's no fucking "but"s about that. That makes you a pretty shitty mom." He says making her flinch.
"Sam--"
"You're the one who fucked this up!" Sam yells in her face.
Larissa ignores the tears in her eyes as she gives a small nod.
"Okay." She whispers. She sends a sad look to Cas who returns it. Larissa looks at Athena one last time before slowly walking away.
Once her back is turned to them, Larissa finally lets the tears fall down her face. She lets out a quiet sob, covering her mouth with her hand.
Now she lost her baby.
=======================
So, uh... heh, there goes that happy family