At the bunker.
I walked into the control room over to Sam and Cass.
Dean was in his room, taking a shower.
Sam looked at me "how is he?"
I shrugged "i don't know. "
Sam asked confused "weren't you with him?"
I sat down on the table "I think he's old enough to shower on his own, Sam"
He nodded "okay, i was just asking"
I took a deep breath and drove a hand through my hair "I'm sorry. But it's just-Dean has killed before. We all have. but that was-"
suddenly Dean walked inside "That was what?"
I turned to him "Dean"
Dean "that was a massacre. That's what it was. If you wanted to say that there was a time i was a hunter, not a stone-cold killer? you can say it. You're not wrong. I crossed the line. Guys, this thing has got to go"
He pulled his sleeve up.
Cass "that won't be easy"
Dean snapped "well, then, burn it off. Cut it off"
Cass "it is more than a physical thing. It will take a powerful force to remove the effect. "
Me "We've been though all the lore. There's nothing"
Cass "this reaches back to the time of creation. It may pre-date the lore. If we had the demon tablet, maybe"
Sam "but you said it was missing"
Cass nodded "it is. There may be another way."
In the basement.
I chained Metatron to the chair.
Cass and Sam had found him and brought him here.
Metatron "nice room. It's where you bring the kinky boys, am i right?"
Me "I need some information"
Metatron "well, information does happen to be a specialty. Got about 2 billion fun facts up here. of course whether i choose to cough one up or not is another matter"
Me "we need to know how to remove the Mark of Cain from Dean's arm"
Metatron froze "what? He's back? because of the Mark? so..he's a demon"
I shook my head "no"
Metatron "okay, what, then?"
I looked at him.
Metatron "What, did he "kill a human" or something?"
I didn't say anything.
Metatron gasped shocked "He's gone nuclear. Total, foaming-at-the-mouth, balls out maniac"
He laughed "That's fantastic"
Me "do you know how we can remove it or not?"
Metatron "maybe. But if you expect any help out of me you keep that crazy boyfriend of yours on a short leash. "
Me "Listen, i don't care what happens to you. You killed the man i love. "
I turned around and Dean walked into he room.
Metatron froze.
--
Metatron "ain't life a bitch? Nebbishy little guy, me always sticking it to the lunkhead jocks. "
Dean looked at me "you know what? Screw the Mark, let's just kill him"
Metatron "boy, he really is a mess"
Me "Careful, Metatron. or you're gonna find out who is more brutal, Dean with the Mark or me with Alastair's gene's running through my veins"
Metatron rolled his eyes "who knew the Mark was so toxic? Well, actually, i did. You know it is going to own you sooner than later"
Me "so how do we get rid of it?"
Metatron "what, just like that? Social hour's over?"
I nodded "Yes, and now we're moving on to our keynote speaker. "
Dean "which is you. With us asking the questions. And me taking the personal pleasure of carving the answers out of you"
Metatron gulped "just, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there, badass. Lighten up. Why do you just assume i'm not gonna be helpful?"
Me "Because you're a piece of shit"
Metatron "but i'm your piece of shit. I have a special place in my non-heart for you both and the tree you call your brother. To which end, ta-da. I would be tickled to help you pop this biblical zit. To do it, you are gonna need one specific thing"
He smiled "Your old bud, the First Blade"
I looked at Dean who tensed.
Then I shook my head "what?"
Metatron laughed "As i said, ain't life a bitch?"
In the control room.
I shook my head "not happening. You just massacred a bunch of people, and that's when the Blade was nowhere around. And now you wanna be in contact with it?"
Dean "we don't know that i have to be in contact with it. All we know is we need it"
Me "that's what he said. but we don't know what he wants us to do"
Dean "a step at a time, all right? we play it safe, we learn what the spell is, how it works and keep the Blade out of my hands"
Me "Are you sure this isn't the Mark speaking through you? Why would we trust anything that guy says?"
Dean shook his head "i don't trust Metatron"
Me "Then what?"
Dean "the Blade without me is useless. The Blade with me is trouble for him"
Me "what does he want?"
Dean "i don't know. but if we weren't willing to take a shot, what was the point of bringing him here?"
then he took his phone out and called someone.
Outside of a bar.
Crowley asked shocked "you want me to do what?"
Sam "we need you to bring back-"
Crowley "bring back the Blade? i don't think so"
Dean "no, no, just retrieve it and hang onto it until we need it"
Crowley asked me "you, princess, you're the sane one of you three. You onboard with this?"
I shook my head "no but we don't have a choice"
Crowley shook is head "insane. you want me to procure the most dangerous weapon on the planet for Dean Winchester the man who goes mental every time he touches it.I thought you wanna go for beer, catch a film"
Me "Look, if this plan works-"
Crowley "It's not a plan. It's a death sentence for me and my kinda. oh, yeah, not forget for yourself as well, Elena, or do i have to remind you that you're half demon too"
Me "If it works, it's better for you. When the Mark is gone, the Blade will be useless"
Dean "win-win, huh? win-win"
Crowley "Stop that. It can't operate. It's hidden"
Dean "the Blade might be powered down, but the Mark is not. I'm doing everything i can to keep it together. You think the body count is high right now? wait till Hal takes over"
Me "you stashed the Blade somewhere-"
Crowley "damn right. It's in a crypt with my bones"
Dean "all right, well?"
Crowley grimaced annoyed "i hate Guam this time of year"
At the bunker. Night.
We were in the control when Castiel stormed through the door "The First Blade is back in play and Crowley's getting it?"
I looked up and saw him leaning against the railing.
Cass said pissed off "i don't mean to be an alarmist, but-"
Dean "well, you know us. When we screw ourselves we like to go whole hog"
Castiel "this would be the Crowley who let the Blade turn Dean into a demon and the one who tricked Elena into turning over her soul and turn her into a demon too"
Dean "i don't have a choice. I don't do this, i'm down the rabbit hole. Hear evil, see evil, do evil. The trifecta"
Castiel walked to us.
Sam "Let us worry about this. You've got enough on your plate with Claire"
Cass "Claire's gone"
I asked confused "gone where?"
Cass "i don't know. i should have stopped her. But i am certain that she is destined for more trouble and disappointment. She is so...so full of rage"
Dean "Listen, man, if i could make it better i would"
Cass "it's actually why i'm here. I was hoping you might reach out to her"
Dean asked shocked "me?"
Cass nodded "yes. "
Dean "i'm probably the last person she would want to hear from"
Cass "thought there would be a connection. from one extremely messed up human to another. You could explain why you murdered her only friend. "
Dean took a sip of his beer "oh, yeah, when you put it like that"
Cass sat down "all i know is she won't talk to me. I thought if she understood the kind of man Randy was and the danger she was in she might-"
He sighed.
Dean "why the hell not? Long shots seem to be the theme around here. I'm gonna go make a sandwich"
He stood up.
Cass "i'll text you her number"
Dean nodded "okay"
Cass "i like texting. Emoticons"
I nodded confused. Dean walked away.
Cass looked at us "he seems calm"
Me "he's losing it inside. But he is way too calm. I know he's worried about what will happen if he pops a cork."
--
Cass stood up "It's late. I'm gonna drive around a little bit. See if i can find Claire"
Sam "right now?"
Cass "i have to try"
me "well, be careful"
He nodded "okay"
The i walked to my room.
I froze when i heard punching noises coming from the basement.
I rushed over there but the door was locked.
Me "Dean! open the door"
I hammered against the door "Dean, open the door!"
Suddenly i heard Metatron scream in pain.
I used my powers to open the door and kicked it open.
Dean was there slicing Metatron's chest open.
I rushed over there "Dean, dean, hey! stop!"
Then i grabbed him and pulled him back "you were killing him"
Sam and Cass rushed inside.
Sam "what is going on?"
Cass looked at Metatron "i have to take him back"
Me "This won't happen again, Cass"
Cass "i gave my word. i have fences to mend in Heaven and as it is, i have a lot to explain"
Metatron "if you ever ask me for help again..i will choose death. You realize, it's going to get worse, Dean. You're gonna get worse"
Cass pulled him out.
In the middle of the night. In the kitchen.
I sighed and leaned against the kitchen counter "do you really think I want him to get his hands on the blade again, Sam? Remember the last time Crowley took it away? "
Sam shook his head "I know, Lena, but what other choice do we have?"
I shook my head "I'm not saying we shouldn't do it, Sam-"
Sam nodded "I know what you're saying. But I know Dean, he couldn't live with himself if he hurt you or worse."
Me "what if he loses control? What if it doesn't work out? If the mark can't be taken off? "
Sam "Well, then you shouldn't be around"
I looked down.
Sam "If things don't work out as planned, then you should definitely be not around anymore"
I nodded "I know. But do you think that Dean would like that? "
Sam "to be honest, no. He wouldn't want you to leave "
Me "but he also knows that he wouldn't be able to control himself around me"
Sam "so we don't tell him?"
Me "he will notice, Sam, he's not stupid"
Sam "Then I'll cover you till you're out of reach"
I shook my head "god, Sam, we're talking about an escape plan here. "
He nodded "I know, Elena, "
I shook my head and drove a hand through my hair "this is all just so messed up"
He nodded "I know"
Me "I don't wanna leave, Sam"
Sam nodded "i know, but if things don't turn out as planned you won't have a choice but to leave. "
I nodded "I know. "
He looked down.
I took a deep breath "You know what, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?."
He nodded "ok"
Then i walked out.
In the control room.
I walked into the control room and saw Dean sitting there with his face in his hands.
Me "hey"
He looked at me.
I asked worried "you okay?"
Dean nodded "it's save for you, Elena, don't worry."
I nodded and walked closer to him.
Dean "he said, "the river ends at the source.""
Me "meaning what?"
Dean shook his head "maybe nothing"
I handed him a beer and sat down next to him.
Dean "it's the last thing he said before you busted in"
Me "Dean, i had no choice-"
Dean "hey, no. I get it. All right? i-i was gonna kill him. And i couldn't stop myself"
I nodded "We'll figure it out"
He looked down.
me "remember what Cass said about needing a powerful force?"
Dean "so?"
Me "'I've been thinking. Cain still has the Mark, right?And he's lived with it. For years, he's lived with it. So yeah, the Mark is strong but Dean, maybe there's a part of you that wants to give into it. And maybe you have to fight that. You know, maybe part of that powerful force has to be you. "
He looked at the beer in his hand .
Me "you wanted me to make a promise to you"
He looked at me and nodded "what about it?"
I nodded "i will do it. I promise"
Dean asked surprised "what changed your mind?"
Me "Because i will not let it come that far. Because we will find a way to get you rid of that Mark."
He nodded and looked at the beer.
I stood up and offered him my hand.
He looked at it and then at me.
Me "come on, let's go to bed. It's been a hell of a day and we all need to calm down"
Dean "you really want to sleep in the same bed with me after what you saw me do to Metatron? "
I didn't say anything.
Dean shook his head "Elena, i can't control it. You know that. you should be scared of me and not invite me to go to bed with you"
I shook my head "I'm not scared, Dean"
Dean nodded "you should be. "
I put my hands on his cheeks and made him look at me "Dean, i'm not scared of you, okay? now, can we please go to bed?"
He put his arms around my middle and hugged me.
I drove my hand through his hair and gulped down the tears.I can't stand seeing him like this. So vulnerable.
Dean "I love you so much"