Outfits in the external link

THE ROAD SO FAR

(Song) Carry On My Wayward Son - Kansas

From 4.04 - Metamorphosis: In the motel room, Dean punched Sam in the face, making his head turn to the side.

From 4.04 - Metamorphosis: In the Montgomery House, Sam lit the lighter, aiming the flamethrower at Jack Montgomery, setting him on fire, burning him alive.

From 4.01 - Lazarus Rising: In the gas station, a high-pitched ringing was playing loudly, as if something was coming. The sound was enough to cause pain. Catty grabbed her head, covering her ears. The glass windows all over the store shattered.

From 4.02 - Are You There, God? It's Me, Catty Winchester: In the Singer House, Meg exploded in a shotgun burst, disappearing, revealing Sam and Scarlett down the hall with their shotguns raised.

From 4.02 - Are You There, God? It's Me, Catty Winchester: In the Singer House, the two little Ghost Girls appeared behind Ness. Ness swung the iron poker through the one girl, making her disappear. She held the poker ready, looking around for the other one.

From 4.13 - After School Special: In Truman Middle School's Hallway, Dirk the Ghost was possessing a girl. Sam stood, putting his hand over the girl's mouth, making her swallow the salt. The girl gasped, lowering to her knees. A black essence was thrown backward out of her body. It continued on down the hall, disappearing.

From 4.03 - In the Beginning: In the Campbell House, Catty and 'Samuel' sat at the table. Samuel/Azazel let his eyes turn yellow, using magic to push Catty's chair against the wall, pinning her against the wall.

From 4.09 - I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scarlett Winchester: In the church, Catty, Scarlett, Sam and Dean ran toward the window, jumping through it, shattering through, falling toward the ground below.

From 4.02 - Are You There, God? It's Me, Catty Winchester: In the Singer Salvage Yard, the girls used magic to push Bobby and Dean backward onto another car below, breaking the windshield. Dean swung a crowbar through Girl 1, making her disappear. Ness sat up, grabbing a crowbar from the floor of the car, swinging it through Girl 2, making her disappear.

From 4.01 - Lazarus Rising: In the warehouse, Catty was kneeling next to Dean's unconscious body, looking at Castiel. "Who are you?"

"Castiel," Castiel answered.

Black shadow feathered wings appeared on the wall behind Castiel before fading.

Castiel: (voice over from 4.01 - Lazarus Rising) "I'm an Angel of the Lord."

From 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester: In the motel room, Octavia used Angelic power to blow a wind through the room, the wind tossling around her, Catty and Scarlett's hair, until she found what she was looking for, using magic to pull a Hex Bag from its hiding place into her hand.

Octavia: (voice over from 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester) "I'm Octavia. Specialist."

From 4.20 - The Rapture: In the warehouse, a Demon picked up a pipe, swinging it toward the unconscious Angelos. Angelos suddenly caught the pipe in one hand, placing the other on the Demon's forehead, killing him with a bright white light.

Angelos: (voice over from 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester) "I'm Angelos. Another Angel."

From 4.02 - Are You There, God? It's Me, Catty Winchester: In the Singer House's basementt, Ness shifted the books in her arms into one arm, using the other to shoot Ronald with her shotgun, making him disappear.

From 4.16 - On the Head of a Pin: In the warehouse, Sam and Scarlett raised their hands toward Alastair, making red light flare up inside him, making him scream. He fell to the floor, dead.

Sam: (voice over from 4.04 - Metamorphosis) "I've got Demon blood in me, Catty. I'm a whole new level of freak. Scar's got this power she can't stop using even if she wants to."

From 4.02 - Are You There, God? It's Me, Catty Winchester: In the Singer House's library, Catty ducked. Ness shot Meg, making her disappear. Sam, Dean, Scarlett, Catty and Ness fired off never ending rounds just to keep the Ghosts at bay.

From 4.06 - Yellow Fever: In the warehouse, Ness tore up drawings exaggeratedly to get Luther's attention, spinning around, tossing the shreds into the air and letting them rain down around her toward the floor. Ness wrapped an iron chain etched with spell work around Luther's neck from behind, locking it.

From 4.10 - Heaven and Hell: In the barn, Octavia grabbed one of the Demons, pushing him against a wooden support beam, making it break. The third Demon tried to attack Angelos. Angelos backhand punched him across the face, making him fall. Castiel punched Alastair in the face repeatedly, lying a hand on his head.

From 4.06 - Yellow Fever: In the motel room, Ness/Lilith took Dean's chin, making him look into her completely white eyes.

Anna: (voice over from 4.09 - I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scarlett Winchester) "Lilith is trying to break the 66 Seals."

From 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book: In the motel room, Lilith ran a hand up Sam's thigh, letting her eyes turn white.

Anna: (voice over from 4.09 - I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scarlett Winchester) "To free Lucifer from Hell."

From 4.10 - Heaven and Hell: In the barn, Octavia placed a hand on Demon 1's head, killing him with a bright white light, smiting him. Angelos smote Demon 2, killing him with a flash of white light.

From 4.16 - On the Head of a Pin: In the prison room, Castiel punched Uriel in the face, making him fall through the wall several feet away. Uriel stood, punching Castiel in the face. Castiel punched Uriel in the face repeatedly. Angelos punched the other Angel in the face. The Angel tried to punch him. Angelos ducked, kicking the Angel in the stomach. The Angel used his power to push Angelos through the wall, making more of the bricks shatter and making Angelos fall to the floor on the other side. Angelos flipped up to a standing position, head bleeding, grabbing the Angel to spin him into the wall, making it shatter more.

From 4.14 - Sex and Violence: In the motel room, Scarlett tried to punch Catty in the face twice. Catty ducked both times. Dean threw the knife toward Catty's head. Catty tilted her body to the side, making the knife hit the wall behind her, standing. Sam punched Catty in the face twice. Catty punched Sam in the stomach, in the face, turning around, pushing him into the wall, making him fall to the floor. Dean stepped closer, punching Catty in the stomach. Catty punched Dean in the face, kicking him in the chest so hard she made him fall. Scarlett looked at Catty, punching her in the face repeatedly, making her back away. Sam stood, grabbing Catty from behind, turning to the semi-wall, throwing her through it, breaking it, making her fall to the floor. Dean ran toward Catty, tackling her, both of them crashing through the door out into the hallway, landing on the floor.

From 4.16 - On the Head of a Pin: In the prison room, Catty stood weakly, punching Alastair in the face, the stomach, spinning around, elbowing him in the stomach, turning away, backing away. Castiel stabbed Alastair in his back with Ruby's Knife. Castiel raised his hand toward Alastair, using magic to twist the knife. Alastair groaned in pain, pulling out the knife, tossing it away, running toward Castiel. Castiel punched Alastair in the face twice, punching him in the stomach, backhand punching him in the face, making him fall to the floor.

From 4.14 - Sex and Violence: In the motel hallway, Scarlett walked closer to where Catty was on the floor, straddling her down, gripping Catty's throat in both hands to suffocate her, strangling her. Catty struggled to breathe, throwing Scarlett off of her into the wall. Dean and Scarlett wrapped their arms around Catty's waist and arms, pinning them down, restraining her. Scarlett grabbed Catty by the hair to pull her head back and expose her neck so it would be easier for Sam to decapitate her. Sam started to swing the ax toward Catty's neck. Ness arrived next to them, catching the top of the ax, making it stop before it killed Catty, jabbing Sam in the shoulder with a bronze knife. Ness threw the knife toward Nick, hitting him square in the heart through his back, killing him.

From 4.15 - Death Takes a Holiday: In the funeral home, Catty punched the man in the face. The man stood. Catty disappeared. Sam tapped on the man's shoulder, punching him in the face. Dean appeared behind him, punching him in the face. Scarlett appeared, spinning to kick the man in the back, making him back away, appearing in front of him to punch him in the stomach and kick him in the face. Catty appeared in front of him, kneeing him in the chest, making him fall to the floor, kicking him away.

From 4.17 - It's a Terrible Life: In the business building, Sandover appeared between Sam, Scarlett and Dean. Sam, Scarlett and Dean all swung the iron pokers through him, making him disappear. Catty was holding the gloves, already having them burning. Sandover caught on fire, burning into nothing.

From 4.20 - The Rapture: In the Novak House, Catty appeared behind Roger, cutting his throat with Ruby's Knife, killing him, letting him fall to the floor.

From 4.19 - Jump the Shark: In the Milligan House, Scarlett shot Ghoul!Kate in the head, killing her, making her fall to the floor. Dean grabbed Ghoul!Adam, slamming him down, taking a metal bar, trying to slam it against his head. Ghoul!Adam rolled out of the way, standing, punching Dean in the face repeatedly. Dean punched Ghoul!Adam in the face, grabbing an angel statue from nearby, hitting Ghoul!Adam in the head repeatedly, making him fall to the floor, using it to bash his head in, killing him.

From 4.20 - The Rapture: In the warehouse, Catty pushed her girl Demon onto the floor next to them, rolling into a sitting position, straddling her to the floor, stabbing her in her heart, making her flash with red, killing her, looking up toward the others. Dean punched his Demon in the face repeatedly. Angelos appeared next to the Demon that was trying to kill Scarlett, pulling him away from her, pushing him against the wall, placing a hand on his head, smiting him with a bright white light, killing him. Sam cut the neck of his Demon, drinking his blood, falling to the floor with the Demon, holding the knife to his throat to keep him down. He looked up, mouth stained in blood to see Dean, Claire/Castiel, Angelos, Jimmy and Catty watching him in worried horror. Scarlett could no longer control her urge to lick/drink the blood from her hands, spreading a streak of blood onto her chin and lips accidentally.

From 4.16 - On the Head of a Pin: In the prison room, Uriel raised his Angel Blade to finish Castiel off. An Angel Sword pierced through Uriel's throat from behind. Octavia pulled the sword out of his neck, letting Uriel fall to the floor. The other Angel turned to try and stab Octavia with his Angel Blade. Octavia used her Angel Sword to block the move, backhand punching him in the face, making him turn away. The Angel turned back to try and punch Octavia in the face. Octavia ducked, kicking the Angel in the chest. Octavia caught his arm, twisting it behind his back so she could reach her arm around him to stab him in the chest with her Angel Sword, pushing him down next to Uriel, stepping closer to Castiel and Angelos, standing next to them, turning to watch Uriel and the Angel die. Octavia looked as if she couldn't believe what she had done, but also feeling no remorse or guilt.

Octavia: (voice over from 4.20 - The Rapture) "I killed two other Angels, and for that, I had to deal with the consequences."

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the Singer House's Basement, Scarlett and Sam walked out of the panic room, hesitating, exchanging a look. Octavia was standing next to Sam and Scarlett. Sam and Scarlett didn't seem to see Octavia, walking toward the stairs, upstairs quickly and quietly, leaving. Octavia watched them go, waiting to make sure they were gone, turning to face the panic room, using magic to break every Devil's Trap that was inside. She used magic to close the panic room door, locking it.

Catty: (voice over from 4.20 - The Rapture) "Whatever the Angels did to Ava, it had to have been serious. Acting tense and soldier-like."

From 4.20 - The Rapture: On the docks, Octavia turned to look over the water once more, looking guilty and like she hadn't wanted to do any of it.

Catty: (voice over from 4.20 - The Rapture) "That wasn't Ava."

From 4.20 - The Rapture: In the warehouse, Sam turned back and stabbed the Demon through the heart, making him flash with red, killing him, turning toward the others again. Amelia/Demon tackled Catty from behind, making them roll over the floor, straddling her to the floor, gripping her throat. Sam and Scarlett stood, holding their hands toward them, exorcising Amelia with their recharged powers, making the black Demon smoke flow out of her body and disappear.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the hotel hallway, Zane kicked Ness in the stomach, sending her flying to the floor, walking closer to fight. Ness stood. They both kicked at each other, circling around the other. Ness tried to kick him with an in to out crescent kick. Zane ducked, spinning to kick Ness. Ness ducked to the floor, spinning to try to kick Zane's legs out from underneath him. Zane jumped up to make her miss. Ness stood, running closer to punch her. Zane grabbed her arm, flipping her over his shoulder to the floor, kneeling to do so. Ness kicked her leg over her head to try to kick Zane in the face. Zane raised his arms in a cross block. Ness spun over the floor to kick Zane away.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: Outside the hotel, Catty pushed Ruby into the brick wall behind her, nearly stabbing Ruby in the heart, coming very close to it. Catty grabbed Ruby by her jacket, kneeing her in the stomach, kicking her in the face, making her fall to the ground.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the honeymoon suite, Dean punched Sam in the face twice, taking him by his jacket, kneeing him in the stomach, making him back away. Scarlett punched Dean in the face, kneeing him in the stomach twice, grabbing him, punching him in the face repeatedly, making him turn to face the mirror behind him, making him fall into it face first, making the glass shatter and cut into Dean's skin, making him bleed. Sam stood.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the hotel hallway, Ness kicked Zane back, catching his arm as Zane tried to punch her, punching him in the chest, trying to punch him again. Zane ducked, punching Ness to make her let go, spinning around her to kick her in the back. Ness turned to block a punch from Zane. Zane took Ness by the arm, twisting her arm to try to restrain her, but Ness spun out of the restraint, still holding Zane's arm to flip him to the floor. Zane jumped up, trying to flip Ness to the floor, but Ness aerialed in the air to land on her feet, spinning to kick Zane in the face, making him hit the wall and fall, running closer to try to kick him again, but Zane ducked out of the way, making her kick the wall instead, standing. Ness chased after Zane. Zane ran up the wall to backflip over Ness, landing on the floor behind her.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the honeymoon suite, Dean pushed away from the broken mirror, turning to face Sam, trying to punch him in the face. Sam ducked, grabbing Dean, throwing him into the room divider, making the wood shatter, making him fall to the floor. Dean laid there, breathing heavily, his nose bleeding, his forehead cut.

From 4.01 - Lazarus Rising: At the grave site, Catty pulled herself out of her own grave, gasping for breath.

Catty: (voice over from 4.01 - Lazarus Rising) "And why would an Angel rescue me from Hell?"

Castiel: (voice over from 4.01 - Lazarus Rising) "Because we have work for you."

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the hospital, the Demon Nurse looked at one of the babies, letting her eyes turn black.

Ruby: (voice over from 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks) "She's no nurse. She's Lilith's personal chef."

From 4.16, 4.20, 4.21, there was flashes of Sam and Scarlett drinking Demon blood from Zane, Ruby, the Demons they fought, or from flasks.

Chuck: (voice over from 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book) "Sucking blood? You've got to know that's wrong."

Scarlett: (voice over from 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book) "It scares the hell out of me."

From 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book: In the motel room, Sam looked at Chuck. "I wish to God I could stop."

From 4.04 - Metamorphosis: In the warehouse, Sam and Scarlett used magic to exorcise the Demon out of the man's body. In the window behind Sam, Dean was standing in the shadow, having witnessed everything that had just happened.

From 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester: In the crypt, Sam punched Samhain in the face, making him turn away, punching him repeatedly.

From 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester: In the crypt, Catty staked one of the Zombies with the silver stake to the heart, killing him. Dean staked another Zombie to the ground with his own right next to him.

From 4.07 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester: In the crypt, Sam stabbed Samhain with Ruby's Knife to make him let go of Scarlett. Sam and Scarlett both held a hand toward Samhain, using magic to stop him, their noses starting to bleed, grabbing their heads with the hands not holding Samhain at bay, finally able to exorcise him.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the Singer Salvage Yard, Castiel and Catty stood face to face.

"You give yourself over wholly to the service of God and His Angels?" Castiel asked.

Catty nodded. "Yes, I swear."

From 4.17 - It's a Terrible Life: In Catty Beretta's Office, Zachariah stood, putting two fingers to Catty's forehead.

Catty stood in realization. "You're an Angel, aren't you?"

"I'm Zachariah," Zachariah told her.

From 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book: In Chuck's House, Chuck was asleep on the couch, having another dream. He woke suddenly, violently.

Castiel: (voice over from 4.18 - The Monsters at the End of this Book) "This man is a Prophet of the Lord."

From 4.01 - Lazarus Rising: In Sam and Scarlett's hotel room, Sam and Scarlett embraced Catty in relief. Catty sighed, returning the embraced, pulling Dean into her other arm. Ness and Bobby smiled.

From 4.01 - Lazarus Rising: Ness' Car and The Impala drove along down the road.

From 4.19 - Jump the Shark: In the woods, Dean, Catty, Scarlett and Sam continued to watch Adam's body burn on his funeral pyre.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the Singer House's panic room, Sam and Scarlett looked into the mirror on the wall to see black veins spreading across their faces.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the basement, Sam spoke to Dean and Catty through the panic room's barred window. "We're not drinking the Demon blood for kicks."

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the hotel hallway, Ness kicked over a statue to distract Zane, throwing Holy Water onto him, making him groan in agony as he burned. Zane lunged at Ness, but could barely see due to the Holy Water. Ness rolled over a table to make him miss, standing up on it, turning over her flask of Holy Water to pour more onto Zane from over his head, weakening him as he burned and screamed. Zane tried to knock Ness' legs out from underneath her. Ness jumped up to make him miss, jumping off the table to tackle Zane to the floor, pouring more Holy Water onto him to make sure he couldn't fight her off, starting the exorcism from memory.

Zane yelled out in pain, starting to shake, closing his eyes in pain. "I do care about Scar. So if you have to send me away, do it, Ness. I'll be back. Just get Sam and Scarlett away from Ruby. Do not trust her!"

"What?" Ness asked. "What do you mean? What is she gonna do?" Before Zane could answer, now that the exorcism was finished, he was exorcised, and his smoke disappeared down the hallway. "No!"

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the honeymoon suite, Sam and Scarlett walked toward the door.

"You walk out that door, don't you ever come back," Dean told them.

Sam and Scarlett stopped at the door, turning back, looking at Dean for a moment, walking out, leaving.

From 4.21 - When the Levee Breaks: In the alley, Ruby was still suffocating Catty. "Because you tried so hard to save your brother and sister... you're gonna lose them."

Catty was still pinned to the ground with Ruby's powers, unable to move. Sam and Scarlett walked closer, pulling Ruby away from Catty, making her let go and stand. Ruby smirked without humor, using magic to slam Catty's head against the concrete ground, not hard enough to kill her, but hard enough to make her fall unconscious. Sam and Scarlett looked numb, unable to react.

"Where's Zane?" Ruby asked.

Scarlett looked at Ruby. "He's gone. Ness exorcised him. It's just us now."

Ruby looked at Sam and Scarlett for a moment, walking toward her car. Sam and Scarlett looked at Catty's unconscious body for a moment, following Ruby.

(End of Song)

NOW

§

1972

Ilchester, Maryland

Night - St. Mary's Convent - Corridor

A candelabra was lit. A light breeze almost put them out. Something unseen was creeping toward the double doors at the end of the dark and silent corridor.

§

Sanctuary

A lone priest was extinguishing candles. The "something unseen" rushed toward him.

The priest was terrified. "Oh, my God. No!"

Demon smoke billowed down into his mouth, making him scream.

§

Day - Sanctuary

The Demon priest was standing at the altar, giving mass to the eight nuns seated behind him in the pews. "Our Father, who art in... Heaven. Thy kingdom come, blah, blah, blah. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from... evil." He turned around, walking down the aisle. "Truer words never spoken, Sisters. But sometimes, it seems as if it's difficult to know the creator. Sometimes I feel, in a very literal sense, that I have been wandering the desert for years. Looking for our father." He reached the door, bolting it, turning back. "Well, not our father. My father. See, he's in jail. Your Dad put him there." The nuns began to look nervous. "I almost gave up hope. But, ye of little faith, because I finally found him. Or, at least, you know, a spot where his cage door opens. It's right here. It's right here. In a damn convent, for God's sake. Life is funny."

"Um, Father?" Nun 1 asked.

"Shut your freaking pie hole, you little slut," the Demon priest told her. He smiled. "Then again, I suppose it makes sense. Folks forget my Daddy is an Angel, after all. Or was. I mean, I suppose some dumb bastard stood here, felt a jolt of his holy juice, and thought, 'I'm gonna build me a nun factory'. You know? It's the right idea. Wrong Angel." He blinked, letting his eyes turn yellow, revealing he was Azazel. He drew a large knife. "So, uh, if any of you guys are the praying type, now would be a good time to start."

§

Corridors

The shot pulled away from the double doors of the sanctuary. There were the sounds of the eight nuns screaming, begging for mercy. The shot turned to face an angel statue that had her eyes closed, hands clasped, and head bowed in prayer.

§ Worlds Colliding (Supernatural) §

Now

Day One

Morning - Hotel - Outside

Catty was leaning against the Impala, in a new change of clothes and no longer bleeding, but still slightly beaten from her fight with Ruby in 4.21 When the Levee Breaks. Ness was waiting next to her, in a new change of clothes, a little beaten up herself from her fight with Zane, but not as bad as Catty.

Dean walked out, still bleeding and beaten from his fight. "You look like crap."

"Right back at you," Catty replied, tossing a cloth to Dean. Dean caught it, starting to use it to dab his blood away.

Ness sighed. "What exactly happened with you, Scar and Sam? Why did they take off before I could tell them that Zane told me to get them away from Ruby and not to trust her before I exorcised him?" Catty and Dean looked at her in surprise. "Why did Sam and Scar just leave Catty in the middle of an alley after this Demon bitch tried to kill Cat?" Dean didn't answer. "Dean."

"I told them that if he walked out, that they shouldn't come back, okay?" Dean asked. "That was after they kicked my ass." Catty nodded to herself, shaking her head, turning away. "Look, Catty--" Catty turned back, punching Dean in the face, making his head turn to the side. Dean sighed, looking at Catty as if he knew that was coming. "You satisfied?"

"For now," Catty answered. "Ness, let's get back to your Dad so we can go look for Sam and Scar before we lose them for good."

"Look, I know you two don't trust Zane," Ness told them. "Hell, I don't. I still went through with the exorcism. But right before he was exorcised, he told me that he really does care about Scar and that we need to get her and Sam away from Ruby. That we couldn't trust her."

"And we're taking the word of the Demonic dick that did this to Sam and Scar in the first place?" Dean asked. "Zane's just as responsible as Ruby is."

"Let's just find out what Ruby wants Sam and Scar to do so we can stop them," Ness told them.

Catty and Ness turned around, getting into the Impala. Dean sighed, hesitating, walking around the car. Catty got into the passenger seat. Ness got into the backseat.

§

The Impala

Dean got into the driver's seat, about to start the car. "You know, Ness, Catty, if they don't want to be found, then we're not gonna find..." He looked at the passenger seat to find that Catty had disappeared. "Them." He looked around in confusion. "What the..."

Ness scoffed, worried and exasperation. "Angels."

Ness and Dean spoke together in worry and anger. "Son of a bitch!"

Ness and Dean exchanged a look of slight surprise.

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty looked around the large, lavishly appointed room in confusion. The walls were painted white with gold trim and accents. A marble table stood in the center. There were expensive pastoral paintings on the walls. Catty turned to face Octavia and Angelos in confusion.

"Hello, Catty," Octavia told her. "It's almost time."

"Octavia?" Catty asked. "Angelos? What is this? Where's Cas?"

"Cas isn't here right now," Angelos told her. "He has a weakness. He likes you. So, for right now... it's just you, Ava and me."

Catty wasn't sure how to react. Octavia and Angelos disappeared.

Catty looked around. "Ava? Los?"

§

Farmhouse - Outside

Sam and Scarlett were standing outside the house, next to Ruby's Car, brooding.

Ruby walked toward them. "Sam? Scarlett? Your heads in the game here?"

Sam hesitated. "We're good. Let's go."

"You okay?" Ruby asked.

"Sammy just said we were," Scarlett told her.

"Look, I know hand-holding really isn't my thing..." Ruby trailed off. "But still, Dean was wrong, saying what he said to you."

"No, he was right to say it," Sam told her. "I mean, I don't blame him after what Scar and I did."

"Well, after we're done, you two and Catty will patch things up," Ruby told them. "I mean, you always do."

"I can feel it inside me, Ruby," Sam told her. "I've changed... for good. And there's no going back now."

Scarlett turned to face him. "Sam--"

"Look, Scar, I know what we gotta do," Sam told her. "It's okay. I'm just saying, Dean and Catty, even Ness and Bobby are better off as far away from us as possible. Anyways... Doesn't matter. Let's just get this done with."

Sam, Scarlett and Ruby got into Ruby's Car.

§

Singer House - Library

Dean was looking out of the window, brooding.

Ness was sitting at the desk, researching, trying to find something. "Dean? Dean! You listen to a word I said?"

"Yeah, I heard you, Ness," Dean answered. "I'm not calling Sam and Scar. We'll just have to find Catty ourselves."

"Don't make me get my gun," Ness told him.

Dean turned to face Bobby and Ness. "We are damn near kickoff for Armageddon, and Catty has been kidnapped by the Angels. Again. Don't you think we got bigger fish at the moment?"

Ness stood, walking toward Dean. "I know you're pissed. And I'm not making apologies for what Sam and Scar's done, but they're your--"

"Blood?" Dean finished. "They're my blood? Is that what you were gonna say?"

"They're your brother and sister," Ness told him. "They're drowning."

"Ness, I tried to help them," Dean told her. "I did. Look what happened."

"So try again," Ness told him.

"It's too late," Dean told them.

"There's no such thing," Ness told him. "Dean, we can't find Catty on our own. We need Sam and Scar--"

"No, Ness," Dean told her. "No. I gotta face the facts. Sam never wanted part of this family. He hated this life growing up. Ran away to Stanford first chance he got. Now, it's like deja vu all over again, only this time, Scar wanted to run away with him. Well, I am sick and tired of chasing Sam. Screw him. He can do what he wants. The way he and Scar have been acting lately, I don't even think that they'd care that our sister's missing."

"You don't mean that," Ness told him.

"Yes, I do, Ness," Dean told her. "You haven't seen everything they've been doing or feeling or saying lately. Sam was such a dick to Catty about everything she was going throgh with Hell, with Alastair, and eventually, Scar started to act the same way. They kicked my ass, could have killed me, and left Cat alone in an alley after Ruby tried to kill her. Sam and Scar are gone. They're gone. I'm not even sure if they're still my brother and sister anymore."

Bobby turned to the desk, leaning against it, fuming with anger. After a moment, he swept all of the books and papers off of the desk with his arms, making them fall to the floor. Ness and Dean looked at Bobby in surprise.

Bobby walked closer to Dean angrily. "You stupid, stupid son of a bitch! Well, boo hoo. I am so sorry your feelings are hurt, princess! Are you under the impression that family's supposed to make you feel good? Make you an apple pie, maybe? They're supposed to make you miserable! That's why they're family!"

"Thanks," Ness told him sarcastically.

"I told them, 'you walk out that door, don't come back', and they walked out anyway," Dean told him. "That was their choice!"

"You sound like a whiny brat," Bobby told him. "No, you sound like your Dad. Well, let me tell you something. Your Dad was a coward."

"My Dad was a lot of things, Bobby, but a coward?" Dean asked.

"He'd rather push Sam and Scar away than reach out to them," Bobby told him. "Well, that don't strike me as brave. You are a better man than your Daddy ever was. So you do all of us a favor. Don't be him."

"Dad," Ness told him. "How about we all just take a nice, long moment to calm down and try to figure a way out of the mess that we're in right now, hmm?"

Dean nodded slowly, turning away, running his hands through his hair, sighing.

Bobby sighed, calming down. "Why'd the Angels take Catty?"

"Maybe because she swore obedience to a bunch of sons of bitches," Ness answered. "And the fact that the Apocalypse might just very well be right around the corner. Might have something to do with it."

"So, Sam, Scar and Catty are all gone, and we have no idea where to find them," Bobby told them.

Ness nodded. "Yeah. Pretty much sums it up." She thought for a moment, looking at Dean in realization. "But I think I know who might." She grabbed her jacket, starting to walk past Dean. "We're taking my car, and I'm driving."

Ness walked out, leaving.

Dean looked after Ness in confusion. "What now, Ness?"

§

Hospital

The Demon Nurse from 4.21 When the Levee Breaks was wheeling an infant out of a patient's room. "We're gonna take you to the nursery, sugar. Let mommy and daddy get some sleep. You're a beautiful child. Absolutely scrumptious." She started to sing to the baby. "Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker's man / Bake me a cake as fast as you can." She pushed the bassinet through a door, into an abandoned hallway. "Pat it and roll it." She let her eyes turn black. "And mark it with a 'B' / And put it in the oven--"

The Demon Nurse was suddenly thrown against the far wall.

Sam and Scarlett approached the Demon Nurse calmly, both raising a hand toward her, obviously using their powers.

Scarlett smirked. "So." Ruby stood behind Sam and Scarlett. "We need to talk."

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty looked around the room, looking at the expensive pastoral paintings on the walls, turning back to the table, finding that it now held a silver bowl packed with ice and full of beer bottles and a large platter of hamburgers. And a bowl of salad. Catty picked up a beer bottle, looking at it. Zachariah, Angelos and Octavia appeared.

"Hello, Catty," Octavia told her.

"You're looking fit," Angelos told her.

Catty turned to face Octavia, Angelos and Zachariah, putting the beer back, looking at Octavia. "Let me guess, Ariel. This is your new Ursula?"

"Does that get funnier for you every time you say it?" Octavia asked.

Catty pretended to think about it, shaking her head. "No, not really." Octavia smirked. "Ava, Los, what is this? Where the hell am I?"

"Octavia?" Angelos asked, gesturing for her to explain.

Octavia sighed, pacing slightly. "Call it a green room. We're closing in on the grand finale, here. We want to keep you safe before showtime." She gestured to the table. "Try the food. They're your favorite. From that seaside shack in Delaware. You were 11, I think."

"I'm not hungry," Catty told them. "I was actually in the middle of talking some sense into my dimwit brother Dean, so if you can just send me back so I can help Ness convince Dean not to kill Sam and Scar?"

"I'm sorry," Angelos told her. "Can't do that."

"All right, well, let's just bail on the dramatics, shall we?" Catty asked. "I want to know what the game plan is."

"Let us worry about that," Zachariah told her. "We want you... focused, relaxed."

"Well, I'm about to be pissed and leaving, so start talking, Chuckles," Catty told him.

Angelos smirked slightly, letting it fade, sighing. "All the Seals have fallen. Except one."

"That's an impressive score," Catty told them sarcastically. "That's--That's right up there with the Washington Generals."

"You think sarcasm's appropriate, do you?" Zachariah asked. "Considering, you started all this?" Catty didn't answer, lowering her gaze. "But the final Seal... It'll be different."

"Why?" Catty asked.

"Lilith has to break it," Octavia told her. "She's the only one who can. Tomorrow night. Midnight."

"Where?" Catty asked.

"We're working on it," Octavia told her.

"Well, work harder," Catty told them.

"We'll do our job," Angelos told her. "You just make sure you do yours."

"Yeah, and what is that, exactly?" Catty asked. "If I'm supposed to be the one that stops her, how? With the knife?"

"All in good time," Angelos told her.

"Isn't now a good time?" Catty asked.

"Have faith," Zachariah told her.

"What, in you?" Catty asked, glaring at Zachariah. "Give me one good reason why I should."

Zachariah stepped closer to Catty threateningly. "Because you swore your obedience. So obey."

Catty looked at Octavia and Angelos. "Ava? Los?" Octavia looked down guiltily, not able to answer. Angelos sighed, looking away. Catty realized Zachariah being there was putting Ava and Los in trouble and danger, turning to him. "Can I talk to Ava and Los alone? Just a little talk. Human to Angels. You understand." Zachariah looked between them, disappearing. "All right, now can you talk freely or not?"

"They're watching every move Ava and I make, Catty," Angelos told her.

"Los is right," Octavia told her.

Catty sighed. "Great."

"What do you want?" Octavia asked. "Los and I can't take you to Sam and Scar. And we can't find Scar and Sam ourselves."

"Yeah, I figured," Catty told them. "Ava, Los, I just want to talk to Cas. Can you get him here? Or is that against the rules, too?"

Octavia looked around, sighing. She looked at Catty. "I'll see what I can do."

Catty managed a small smile. "Thank you, Ava." Octavia disappeared. "You too, Los."

Angelos turned to face her. "Why? I haven't done anything for you."

"Because I know you and Ava and Cas don't want this," Catty answered. "I know you're all afraid, but you don't have to be afraid, Los. Even if you don't have the Angels, you have me, Scar, Sam, Dean and Ness and Bobby, only if we can get to Sam and Scar."

Angelos didn't answer, looking conflicted, disppearing.

§

Night - Abandoned House - Cellar

There was a flickering wood fire in the corner, providing the only light for the room.

The Demon Nurse was lying out on a table, struggling to no avail, looking at Sam, Scarlett and Ruby. "What? No Devil's Trap?"

"I don't need one," Scarlett told her. "Not when I have my power to make sure you can't move a signal muscle."

"Look at you," the Demon Nurse told them. "All roided up. It's liked A-Rod and Madonna over here."

"Where's Lilith?" Sam asked.

"I'm not scared of you," the Demon Nurse told them.

"Yeah, you are, actually," Sam told her. "And with good reason."

"Look, what's my upside?" the Demon Nurse asked. "Okay, I tell you, you kill me I don't tell you, you still kill me. I get away somehow, Lilith will definitely kill me. So where's my carrot?"

"I think what you should be worrying about is what happens before you die," Scarlett told her, reaching a hand toward the Demon Nurse, closing her eyes in concentration.

The Demon Nurse began to scream in agony.

§

On the Road

Ness' Car drove down the road quickly.

§

Ness' Car

Ness was driving.

Dean was in the passenger seat. "So, you really think that Chuck is gonna know where Sam, Scar and Catty are?"

"Chuck hasn't been wrong before," Ness pointed out. "I mean, Catty told me everything about Chuck's books, and it still kinda creeps me out, but in this situation, Chuck can be very helpful. But we still have about an hour to spare, Dean, which gives you enough time to call Sam and Scar and ask for help, or at the very least, apologize."

Dean sighed. "Ness..."

"You wanna stop the Apocalypse or not?" Ness asked. "I mean, hey, we need all the help we can get, and you know it." Dean hesitated. Ness gave him a look, tilting her head. "Dean."

Dean relented, sighing. "All right." He pulled out his phone, dialing the number. Ness looked out the windshield, smirking smugly. Dean noticed. "Shut up."

Ness smiled, shaking her head. "I didn't say anything."

"Yeah, well, you didn't have to," Dean replied, putting his phone to his ear.

Ness smirked.

Sam: (voicemail) "It's Sam. Leave me a message." (beep).

Dean cleared his throat. "Hey, it's me. Uh... Look, I'll just get right to it. I'm still pissed... and I owe you a serious beat down." Ness rolled her eyes, tilting her head slightly. Dean looked at Ness, sighing. "But... I shouldn't have said what I said to you and Scar. You know, I'm not Dad. We're siblings. You know, we're family. And, uh... no matter how bad it gets, that doesn't change." Ness smiled a small smile. Dean took a deep breath. "And, uh... I'm not just saying this because I need your help, and Scar's help, but it has something to do with it. The Angels took Catty again, and Ness and I have got a lead to find her, but it would be easier with your help. Sammy, Scar, I'm sorry."

Voice mail: (beep)

Dean hung up, looking out the windshield.

§

On the Road

Ness' Car continued to drive down the road.

§

Abandoned House - Cellar

The Demon Nurse was screaming in agony. "Stop! Stop! Please!"

"You'll tell us where she is?" Sam asked.

"Fine," the Demon Nurse told them. "Fine. Just... let me die."

Scarlett lowered her hand to her side. "Deal."

The Demon Nurse breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath. "Tomorrow night. Midnight. She's gonna be at a convent. St. Mary's, Ilchester, Maryland."

"A convent?" Sam repeated.

"Lilith... she's gonna break the final Seal," the Demon Nurse told them.

"And what is the final Seal?" Scarlett asked.

"I don't know," the Demon Nurse told them. Scarlett raised his hand, using magic to torture her again, making her scream. "I don't know! I don't know!" The Demon Nurse sobbed. "I don't know. I swear. Please. I'm begging you. Kill me, please!"

"Fine," Sam told her, raising a hand toward the Demon Nurse to kill her.

Ruby grabbed his arm to stop him. "Wait. You can't."

"Why not?" Scarlett asked.

"Because we've got to take her with us," Ruby answered. "It's the final run on the Death Star, and you need more juice than I got. With Zane gone now, thanks to Ness, I don't have enough juice for both of you."

"You promised," the Demon Nurse told them.

"Sorry, sister," Ruby told her. "You're a walking, talking can of whup-ass."

"You bitch!" the Demon Nurse told her.

"I know," Ruby told her. "Just can't trust anyone these days."

The Demon Nurse settled back. "Well, least you won't be able to crack me open that easy."

"That so?" Ruby asked.

"Don't forget, it's not just me you're bleeding," the Demon Nurse told them. "In fact, I think I'm gonna take a little... siesta in the subconscious. Hand over the wheel for a little bit."

"What are you talking about?" Scarlett asked.

The Demon Nurse looked at the ceiling smugly. "Cindy McClellan, RN, come on down!" She closed her eyes, relaxing back. The host woke up with a gasp. "What?" Cindy groaned. "Where am I?" She struggled to no avail. "Oh, my God. I can't move." She looked at Sam, Scarlett and Ruby. "What's going on? Help! Help me, please."

Ruby sighed in annoyance. "Great."

§

1972

Ilchester, Maryland

Night - St. Mary's Convent - Sanctuary

Azazel knelt before the altar. The bloody bodies of the nuns were sprawled around him. One nun's body was splayed out on the altar, facing him in a reverse-crucifixion pose.

Azazel looked at the nun in front of him on the altar. "Father, look... I'm not exactly the praying type, but still... I made the sacrifice. I got you a bagful of nuns. So, uh... Can you hear me? Can you whisper through the door?"

The dead nun spoke in a distorted, gender-ambiguous voice, revealing that she was channeling Lucifer through the sacrifice. "I'm here, my son."

"It's so good to hear your voice, Padre," Azazel told him. "I have been searching for you for so long. You have no idea. The others have lost faith. Dickless heathens. But not me."

"You've done well," Lucifer told him.

"So, uh... how do I bust you out?" Azazel asked.

"Lilith," Lucifer answered.

"Lilith?" Azazel repeated. "Father, she's... trapped neck-deep in the Pit. It won't be easy."

"Lilith," Lucifer told him. "Lilith can break the Seals."

"Yeah, okay," Azazel told him. "But what do I do?"

"You must find me a child," Lucifer told him. "A very special child."

Azazel let his eyes turn yellow. "What do you mean? What child?"

§

Now

Day Two

Morning - Abandoned House - Living Room

Sam was doing research on his laptop. "You got to be kidding me."

Scarlett stood nearby. "What?"

"Get this," Sam told them. "St. Mary's. Abandoned in '72 after a priest disemboweled eight nuns."

Ruby smirked. "What's black and white and red all over?"

"That's not funny," Sam told her. He continued to read. "The priest said it wasn't his fault. He said a Demon made him do it. And that he even remembered the Demon's name."

"Yeah?" Scarlett asked.

"Azazel," Sam told her.

"Wow," Scarlett told him. "So, Lilith, Yellow-Eyes... All the A-listers are paying visits. Certainly gives the joint credibility."

"As a place where the final Seal goes down," Sam told them.

"Well, it's good enough for me," Ruby told them. "Let's pack up Nurse Betty and hit the road."

"Hey, maybe, um..." Scarlett trailed off. "Look..."

"What?" Ruby asked.

"M--maybe we can find another Demon," Scarlett told her.

"Sam, Scarlett, no," Ruby told them. "That blubbery 'don't hurt me' crap? It's just an act. She's playing you."

"I'm not so sure," Sam told her.

"Even if she's not, there's still a Hell-bitch snoozing in there," Ruby told them. "I mean, come on. It's not like you haven't done this before, right? With me, with Zane, with other Demons."

Sam and Scarlett didn't answer, looking at each other, troubled.

§

Outside

Sam manhandled Cindy down the steps, out to Ruby's Car.

Cindy was struggling, pleading with him and Scarlett. "No. Please don't. Just listen to me, okay?" Sam and Scarlett were trying very hard to ignore her. "My name is Cindy McClellan. I'm a nurse in the NICU over at Enfield Memorial. I have a husband named Matthew, okay? We've been married six years. He's got to be worried sick about me. And I don't even know who you are, and I'm not gonna tell anybody anything. Please just let me go." Sam reached Ruby's Car, opening the trunk to put Cindy inside. "No! No! Please, no! Please!" Sam pushed her inside, closing the trunk lid over her. Cindy's pleading, screaming voice was muffled. "Help!"

Sam and Scarlett leaned on the trunk, breathing heavily.

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty was pacing in frustration, looking at one of the numerous figurines on one of the many mantelpieces that seemed to be watching her. "Creepy figurine with creepy doll eyes." She walked closer. "What are you looking at?"

The figurine seemed to be watching Catty creepily. Catty tipped the figurine deliberately to the floor, making it fall to the floor and break it.

Castiel appeared behind her. "Octavia found me. You asked her to see if I could come here?"

Catty turned to face Castiel, only slightly guilty, having a 'busted' expression. She cleared her throat. "Yeah, listen, I, uh... I--I need something."

"Anything you wish," Castiel told her.

"I need you to take me to see Sam, Scar and Dean," Catty told him. "Ness is probably with them trying to figure out how to stop the start of the end of the world, so you would be taking me to Ness, too."

"Why?" Castiel asked.

"There's something I got to talk to them about," Catty answered.

"What's that?" Castiel asked.

"The food I ate this morning," Catty told him sarcastically. "What's it to you?"

"I don't think that's wise," Castiel told her.

"Well, I didn't ask you for your opinion," Catty told him.

"Have you forgotten what happened the last time you were with your siblings and Ness?" Castiel asked.

"No," Catty answered. "That's the whole point. Listen, I'm gonna do whatever you mooks want, okay? I just need to tie some things up. Five minutes. That's all I need."

"No," Castiel told her.

Catty looked at Castiel in confusion. "What do you mean, no? Are you saying that I'm trapped here?"

"You can go wherever you want," Castiel told her.

"Super," Catty told him. "I want to go see Sam, Scar, Dean and Ness."

"Except there," Castiel told her.

"I want to take a walk," Catty told him.

"Fine," Castiel told her. "I'll go with you."

"Alone," Catty told him.

"No," Castiel told her.

"You know what?" Catty asked. "Screw this noise. I'm out of here."

Catty walked toward the door.

"Through what door?" Castiel asked.

Catty turned to face Castiel in confusion. When she turned back, the door hand been replaced by a smooth wall. She turned back to face Castiel to see that he had disappeared. "Damn it."

§

Chuck's House

Chuck was on the phone with was appeared to be an escort service, pacing. "Oh, yeah? Really? At the same time? Really? Wow. T--that sounds... moist."

The manuscript on his desk read: Supernatural - Lucifer Rising by Carver Edlund

The document on his computer screen read: Supernatural - Sympathy for the Devil by Carver Edlund

A woman's voice was on the other end of the phone line. "Well, it can be."

"Uh, what are your rates?" Chuck asked.

"We can get you one girl, one hour, $1,000," the woman told him.

"Okay," Chuck told her. "Then, uh, I'll take 20 girls for the whole night."

"I'm not sure you can afford that," the woman told him.

"Lady, sometimes you got to live like there's no tomorrow," Chuck told him.

Dean and Ness walked in.

"Hiya, Chuck," Ness told him. "Please tell me that you can help us."

Chuck looked at Dean and Ness in shock. "Wait. T--th--this isn't supposed to happen."

"Sir?" the woman asked.

Chuck spoke into the phone. "No, lady this is definitely supposed to happen, but I just got to call you back." He hung up slowly, looking at Ness. "Wait. You're Ness, aren't you?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ness told him sarcastically, taking the pendant of her necklace to show Chuck. "You tell me."

"What are you guys doing here?" Chuck asked.

"Do you know where Sam, Scar and Catty are right now?" Ness asked.

"Yeah," Chuck answered. "But you guys aren't supposed to be there. You're not supposed to find them. You're not in this story."

"Yeah, well..." Ness trailed off, looking at Dean. "We're making it up as we go."

Dean smirked. He looked at Chuck. "Can you tell us where they are or not?"

Chuck hesitated. "No."

Dean raised his eyebrows. "No?" He stepped closer to Chuck. "What do you mean, no?"

Chuck started to back away, using Zachariah's words from 4.18 The Monsters at the End of this Book. "People shouldn't know too much about their own destiny."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Dean asked.

"It means... that I can't tell you," Chuck told them. "I'm a lot more scared of the Angels than I am of you guys."

Ness raised her gaze toward the ceiling in annoyance, tilting her head slightly in acknowledgement. Dean looked at Chuck angrily.

§

On the Road

Ruby's Car came driving down the road.

§

Ruby's Car

Ruby was driving. Sam was in the passenger seat, looking at his phone: 1 new voicemail from: Dean. Scarlett was in the backseat. Cindy screamed in the trunk.

Ruby looked at Sam. "What are you, a 12-year-old girl? Just play it already."

"Mind your own business," Sam told her.

Cindy screamed from the trunk. "Let me out! Let me out!"

They heard thumping on the roof of the trunk.

"God, I wish she would just shut up," Scarlett told them.

"Well, that can be arranged," Ruby told them. Sam gave her a look. "I don't get it. All the Demons you cut with the knife, what do you think happens to the host? How is this any different?"

"Is that supposed to make us feel better?" Scarlett asked.

"I know that you're having a tough time here, Sam, Scarlett, but we're in the final lap here," Ruby told them. "Now is not the time to grow a persqueeter."

"Would you drop the freaking attitude?" Sam asked. "We're about to bleed and drink an innocent woman. While she watches."

"And save the world as a result," Ruby told them.

"I don't know," Sam told her. "I--I just... I'm starting to think... maybe Dean and Catty, even Bobby and Ness, were right."

"About what?" Ruby asked.

"About everything," Sam answered.

"They're right about everything," Scarlett agreed.

Ruby considered this. "Sam. Scarlett. We're gonna see this through, right?" Sam and Scarlett didn't answer. "Sam? Scarlett?"

They heard Cindy screaming and thumping on the roof of the trunk. "Let me out! Let me out!"

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty took a pedestal, attempting to break through the wall, smashing it through to the foundations, pausing. When she looked up, the wall repaired itself. She threw the pedestal to the floor. "Son of a bitch."

Zachariah appeared. "Quit hurling feces like a howler monkey, would you? It's unbecoming."

"Let me out of here," Catty told him.

"Like I told you, too dangerous out there," Zachariah told her. "Demons on the prowl."

"I've been getting my ass kicked all year," Catty told him. "Now you're sweating my safety?"

"And why do you think that is?" Zachariah asked. "You haven't been up to your full game, but it's not because you're not strong enough. You think that death is an easier ordeal to go through than what you are already going through, isn't that right?" Catty looked away in irritated annoyance. "Although you might not have realized it before, but you're realizing it now, your subconscious was trying to get you killed. Trying to take the easy way out. You're a threat to yourself, Catty, whether you realize it or not." Zachariah started to circle around Catty slowly. "I mean, just last night, you nearly got yourself killed by Ruby when you easily could have killed her with the element of surprise, like you're so good at doing. But, no. You got her attention, drug out the fight, let her get the upper hand. Now, why do you think that is?" Catty looked down in denial, as if trying to convince herself that wasn't true. "Part of you just wants it gone, and the only way it will be gone is if you are gone."

"Zachariah," Catty told him. "Shut up."

Zachariah smirked, trailing a finger along her shoulder blades, making Catty tense reflexively, turn to face him defensively. "You don't even realize it, what you're actually doing, until it's already over, and the damage is caused. But the damage that you let happen to yourself isn't enough to make the pain end." Catty looked down, as if the truth was just now setting in, in denial, trying very hard not to show a reaction. Zachariah noticed, smirking. "Oh, there it is. You're realizing that I'm right and what your inner you had really been up to for the past year." Catty glared at him. Zachariah stopped in front of her, facing Catty. "That is why you're here. Consider this your own little suicide watch."

"You're lying," Catty told him. "I want to see Ness and my siblings."

"That's... ill-advised," Zachariah told her.

"You know, I am so sick of your crap riddles and logic and your smug, fat face," Catty told him. "What the hell is going on, huh? Why can't I see Ness, Scar, Sam and Dean? And how am I gonna ice Lilith?"

Zachariah sighed. "You're not... going to ice Lilith."

"What?" Catty asked.

"Lilith's going to break the final Seal," Zachariah told her. "Fait accompli at this point. Train's left the station."

Zachariah sat down on the couch.

"But me, Ness, Scar, Sam and Dean, we can stop..." Catty trailed off, looking at Zachariah in realization. "You don't want to stop it, do you?"

"Nope," Zachariah answered. "Never did. The end is nigh. The Apocalypse is coming, kiddo, to a theater near you."

"What was all that crap about saving Seals?" Catty asked.

"Our grunts on the ground," Zachariah told her. "Like Castiel and Octavia and Angelos. They didn't know the truth either. We couldn't just tell them the whole truth. We'd have a full-scale rebellion on our hands. I mean, think about it. Would we really let 65 Seals get broken unless senior management wanted it that way?"

"Why?" Catty asked tightly.

"Why not?" Zachariah asked. "The Apocalypse. Poor name, bad marketing. Puts people off. When all it is is Ali/Foreman. On a... slightly larger scale. And we like our chances. When our side wins... and we will... it's paradise on Earth. Now, what's not to like about that?"

"What happens to all the people during your little pissing contest?" Catty asked.

"Well..." Zachariah trailed off, standing. "You can't make an omelet without cracking a few eggs. In this case... truckloads of eggs, but you get the picture. Look... it happens. This isn't the first planetary enema we've delivered." Catty looked away angrily, staying calm, noticing a statue on a mantelpiece. Zachariah followed her gaze, knowing what she was thinking. "Uh, no, Catty. Probably shouldn't try to bash my skull in with that thing. Wouldn't end up too pleasant for you."

"What about Sam and Scar?" Catty asked. "They won't go quietly. They'll stop Lilith."

Zachariah took a deep breath. "Sam and Scarlett... have a part to play. A very important part. They may need a little nudging in the right direction, but I'll make sure they play it."

"What does that mean?" Catty asked. "What are you gonna do to them?" Zachariah didn't answer, smirking, walking past her. Catty turned to face him in realization. "Wait a minute. That's why you brought me here. You want to keep me separate and occupied so me, Ness, Scar, Sam and Dean are separated so we can't stop what you or the Demons are trying to do here."

Zachariah turned to face Catty. "Sam, Sam, Sam. Dean, Dean, Dean. Scar, Scar, Scar. Ness, Ness, Ness. Forget about them, would you? You have larger concerns. Why do you think I'm confiding in you? You're still vital, Catty. We weren't lying about your destiny. Just... omitted a few pertinent details. But nothing's changed. You will stop it. Just... not Lilith, or the Apocalypse. That's all."

"Which means?" Catty asked.

Zachariah gestured to a painting on the wall: Saint Michel terrassant le Dragon by Josse Lieferinxe. "Lucifer. You're going to stop Lucifer. You're our own little Sarah Michelle Gellar, complete with surly attitude. And when it's over... and when you've won... your rewards will be... unimaginable. Peace, happiness. You might even be vital in helping the next generation along." He chuckled. "Trust me. One day, we'll look back on this and laugh."

Zachariah turned around, walking away.

Catty turned to face Zachariah, keeping anger under control. "Tell me something. Where's God in all this?"

Zachariah kept his back turned to Catty. "God? God has left the building."

Zachariah disappeared. Catty looked at the painting of Michael striking down Lucifer.

§

St. Mary's Convent - Corridors

A night guard was patrolling the abandoned corridors, seemingly alone. Lilith (4.18 The Monsters at the End of this Book) appeared, wearing a white sleeveless gown. The guard turned to face her.

Lilith smiled innocently. "Howdy."

"Lady, this is private property," the guard told her. "You're not supposed to be here."

"But I'm here for mass," Lilith told him. "And so are you."

Lilith let her eyes turn white. The shot turned away. The guard screamed.

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty was trying to call Ness and Dean, but she could only hear static. She hung up, trying to call Sam and Scarlett, but she could only hear static.

Castiel appeared behind her. "You can't reach them, Catty." Catty looked up in slight annoyance, hanging up. "You're outside your coverage zone."

Catty turned to face Castiel. "What are you gonna do to Sam and Scar?"

"Nothing," Castiel answered. "They're gonna do it to themselves."

"What's the supposed to mean?" Catty asked. Castiel didn't answer, looking down. "Oh, right, right. Got to toe the company line. Why are you here, Cas?"

"We've been through much together, you and I," Castiel told her. "And I just wanted to say, I'm sorry it ended like this."

"'Sorry'?" Catty repeated. "It's Armageddon, Cas. You need a bigger word that 'Sorry'."

"Try to understand," Castiel told her. "This is long foretold. This is your--"

"Destiny?" Catty finished. "Don't give me that 'holy' crap. Destiny, God's plan... It's all a bunch of lies, you poor, stupid son of a bitch! It's just a way for your bosses to keep me and keep you in line! You know what's real? People, families--that's real. And you're gonna watch them all burn. You, Angelos and Octavia? What do you and Ava and Los really think about all this?"

"What is so worth saving?" Castiel asked. "I see nothing but pain here. I see inside you. I see your guilt, your anger, your agony, confusion. In paradise, all is forgiven. You'll be at peace. Even with Ness, Scarlett, Sam, Dean, Bobby. The family and friends you've lost."

"You can take your peace... and shove it up your ass," Catty told him. "'Cause I'll take the pain and the guilt. I'll even take my siblings and my friends as is. It's a lot better than being some Stepford bitch in paradise. This is simple, Cas! No more crap about being a good soldier. There is a right and there is a wrong here, and you know it." Castiel turned away. "Look at me." Catty grabbed Castiel's shoulders, turning him to face her. "You know it! You were gonna help me once, weren't you? You were gonna warn me about all this, before they dragged you and Los back to Bible camp and did after they did to Ava to you and Los. Help me. Now. Please."

"What would you have me do?" Castiel asked.

"Get me to Ness, Sam, Scar and Dean," Catty told him. "We can stop this before it's too late."

"I do that, we will all be hunted," Castiel told her. "We'll all be killed."

"If there is anything worth dying for..." Catty trailed off, letting go of his shoulders. "This is it." Castiel barely shook his head, looking down. "You spineless..." Catty turned around, walking away. "Soulless son of a bitch. What do you care about dying? You're already dead. We're done."

"Catty--" Castiel started.

"We're done," Catty told him, turning to face him.

Castiel had disappeared.

§

Road

Sam and Scarlett stood before a sign that read: St. Mary's Convent - 2 miles. Ruby was a few paces behind them, by her car. They could still faintly hear Cindy pounding and screaming in the trunk.

"Sam, Scarlett, it's time," Ruby told them. "Are we doing this or not?"

"Give us a minute to think," Sam told her.

"Sam--" Ruby started.

"Give us a damn minute, Ruby," Sam told her.

"Better think fast," Ruby told them.

Sam hesitantly pulled his phone from his pocket, pressing a button, having his phone on speaker so Scarlett could hear.

Voice on phone: "First unheard message."

Dean: (faked voice mail) "Listen to me, you bloodsucking freaks. Dad always said I'd either have to save you or kill you. Well, I'm giving you fair warning. I'm done trying to save you. You're a monster, Sam. You and Scar. A Vampire. You're not you anymore. And there's no going back." (beep)

Ruby smirked behind their backs. Sam and Scarlett were close to tears. Sam sighed, slowly lowering the phone, hanging up.

Scarlett looked at Ruby. "Do it."

"Thank God," Ruby told them, opening the trunk.

Cindy screamed and struggled. "No!"

§

Angelic Green Room

Catty paced in frustration, pausing in front of the food table, considering, taking a hamburger and a beer. "Great."

Castiel appeared, grabbing Catty's shoulder, pushing her against the wall, making her drop them, the beer bottle shattering. He put a hand over Catty's mouth to keep her from making a sound, taking out Ruby's Knife, looking at her seriously.

Catty looked at Castiel in realization, nodding slightly.

Castiel let her go, cutting the knife across his arm, taking the blood with his other hand, smearing it on the wall to form the Angel Banishing Sigil.

Catty pushed away from the wall, watching Castiel draw the Sigil.

Octavia and Angelos appeared. "Cas..."

Castiel and Catty looked at Octavia and Angelos.

Octavia barely moved her head in a nod, nearly nonexistent. "Hurry. They're coming. Los, go with them."

Castiel nodded, drawing the Sigil quicker than before.

Catty nodded barely. "Thank you, Ava."

"Don't thank me until we stop the start of the end of the world and we all make it out alive, Catty," Octavia told her.

"Sure thing," Catty told her.

"Los, go," Octavia told him.

Angelos nodded, helping Castiel finish the sigil. "Ava, be careful back here."

Octavia stepped closer, acting as if she would try to stop them. Zachariah and three more Angels appeared.

"Castiel, Angelos, would you mind explaining just what the hell you're doing?" Zachariah asked. "Octavia, stop him."

Catty nodded to Octavia barely in thanks. Castiel and Angelos slammed their bleeding hands over the sigil, both of them so that neither of them would be sent away like the other Angels were. Zachariah, Octavia and the other Angels disappeared with a violent flash of bright white light.

Angelos turned to Catty. "They won't be gone long. We have to find Sam and Scarlett now."

"Where are they?" Catty asked.

"We don't know," Castiel told her. "But we know who does. We have to stop them, Catty, from killing Lilith."

"But Lilith's gonna break the final Seal," Catty told them.

"Lilith is the final Seal," Castiel told her. "She dies, the end begins."

Catty was in shock, processing. She started to realize something.

§

Chuck's House

Chuck was backing away from Dean and Ness. "I said that I couldn't tell you where they are."

"Yeah, I heard you the first time," Dean told him, grabbing Chuck by the collar of his shirt, pushing him against the wall.

"And we said we wanted to know where Sam, Scar and Catty are," Ness told him.

"I can't tell you!" Chuck told them nervously. "That Angel said that if I did..."

"What Angel?" Ness asked. "Who told you all of this, Chuck? Who are you so afraid of?"

They heard Castiel's voice. "Zachariah."

Ness turned to face Angelos, Castiel and Catty. "Los? Catty? Cas?"

"Hi," Angelos told them. "Hello, Dean. Hello, Ness."

Dean let go of Chuck.

Chuck shook his head. "No, no, no. This isn't supposed to happen."

"I don't suppose Ava came with you guys," Ness told them.

"I'm afraid not, Ness," Castiel answered. "Ava made sure that Los and I could get Catty and ourselves away from the the Angels, but she has to keep up pretenses if she is to stay alive. If we're all to stay alive."

"Wait," Ness told them. "So Ava is basically being our girl on the inside risking her life to help us in secret?"

"Yeah," Catty answered.

"Well, you and Scar call Ava 'Ariel', Cat," Ness told her. "I'm thinking Ava's more like Kim Possible."

Catty smiled. Dean smirked. Castiel and Angelos were confused but amusement.

§

St. Mary's Convent - Sanctuary

Lilith had acquired a number of Demon Minions, setting up a ritual at the altar. A Demon approached Lilith nervously, holding a chalice full of blood, handing it to Lilith, looking down.

Lilith smiled. "Don't be afraid. We're going to save the world."

The Demon walked away. Lilith faced forward. There was a sudden deep rumbling noise. Lilith turned to find that all of the minions that had been lining the hallway had collapsed to the floor. Sam and Scarlett walked around the corner, stalking toward Lilith deliberately. Lilith raised a hand, using magic to slam the double doors between her and them closed.

§

Chuck's House

Ness looked at Chuck. "St. Mary's? What is that, a convent?"

"Yeah," Chuck answered.

"And was that so hard to tell us?" Ness asked.

"I don't know," Chuck told them. "Zachariah's pretty scary..." Catty scoffed. "Well, to me, anyway."

"All right, let's go," Dean told them.

Chuck's computer screen flickered. The house began to shake. A blinding white light flooded in.

"Aw, man!" Chuck said. "Not again! No!"

"It's the Archangel," Angelos told them. He looked at Dean and Catty. "We'll hold him off! We'll hold them all off!"

"Just stop Sam and Scar!" Ness told them.

Dean looked around worriedly. "Ness..."

"Dean, you have to go," Ness told him anxiously. "I'll be fine."

Castiel and Angelos put two fingers to either of Dean and Catty's foreheads.

§

St. Mary's - Corridor

Dean and Catty appeared in the empty corridor of the convent, looking around.

"Well, that was a lot faster than I expected," Dean told her.

"Do I have to tell you that we're going to stop Sam and Scar and nothing else?" Catty asked.

"No," Dean answered. "Ness was right. As per usual. I shouldn't have started the fight last night."

"Oh, you think?" Catty asked.

"Let's just go," Dean told her.

Dean and Catty walked down the hall, searching.

§

Chuck's House

Castiel, Angelos, Ness and Chuck stood side by side to face what was to come. Chuck placed a hand on Ness' shoulder, cowering back. Ness blinked, looking at Chuck with a seriously? look. Chuck lowered his hand in embarrassment. Ness looked back at the intensifying light. She saw a book cover with the Angel Banishing Sigil on it nearby.

§

St. Mary's Convent - Sanctuary

Sam and Scarlett walked in, raising a hand toward Lilith, using magic to throw her across the room, making her hit the altar and fall to the floor. Ruby, Sam and Scarlett walked toward Lilith. Sam and Scarlett raised their hands toward Lilith, using magic to pin her against the altar. Ruby looked back to see Dean and Catty in the corridor behind her, smiling, raising a hand toward them, using magic to slam the double doors between them closed.

Sam walked toward Lilith, hearing a loud, gradually quickening heartbeat. "Scar and I've been waiting for this... for a very long time."

Scarlett walked toward Lilith, hearing a loud, gradually quickening heartbeat. "This is for Catty and Ness."

"Then give me your best shot," Lilith told them.

Sam and Scarlett both raised a hand toward Lilith, using magic against her. White light shone from inside Lilith's body, making her cry out in pain. Sam and Scarlett lowered their hands. The light faded. The heartbeats slowed.

They could hear Dean from the other side of the bolted doors. "Sam! Scar!"

Sam and Scarlett turned to look at the door.

They could hear Dean and Catty from the other side of the bolted doors. "Sammy! Scarlett!" They could hear them pounding on the doors. "Sam! Scar! Sam! Scar!"

From Sam and Scarlett's POV, the sound of the heartbeats took over almost all other sound. Dean and Catty's voices and pounding were distant and faint.

Sam and Scarlett turned to the doors in confusion. "Dean? Catty?"

In Sam and Scarlett's POV, Ruby's voice was even more faint than Dean and Catty's. "What are you waiting for? Now! Sam, Scarlett, now!"

Lilith laughed. "You turned yourselves into freaks. Monsters. And now you're not gonna bite? I'm sorry, but that is honestly adorable."

The heartbeats quickened. Sam and Scarlett turned to face Lilith, raising their hands toward her, concentrating. Their eyes turned black. Lilith started to glow with white light. She convulsed in pain. The glowing light flickered. She gasped for breath in pain. At last, she fell to the floor, fading into nothing. Sam and Scarlett's eyes returned normal. The sound of the heartbeats slowed.

§

Blood was pouring out of Lilith's body in a steady stream. The blood stream was flowing in what looked like a very deliberate direction.

"What the hell?" Scarlett asked.

"I can't believe it," Ruby told them.

"Ruby, what's going on?" Sam asked.

"You did it," Ruby told them. "I mean, it was a little touch-and-go there for a while, but... you did it."

"What?" Sam asked. "What--What did we do?"

"You opened the door," Ruby answered. "And now he's free at last. He's free at last!"

Sam was in denial. "No, no, no. No, he--Lilith--we stopped her. We killed her!"

Ruby spoke fervently. "And it is written that the first Demon shall be the last Seal. And you bust her open." Sam put his hands to his head. Scarlett held her head in absolute pain. "Now guess who's coming to dinner."

"Oh, my God," Scarlett told her.

Ruby smirked. "Guess again."

§

Corridor

Dean pounded at one of the doors with a large candelabra. Catty was kicking the other door.

§

Sanctuary

Ruby spoke loud enough to make sure that Dean and Catty would hear her, too. "You don't even know how hard this was, for me and for Zane! All the Demons out for our heads. No one knew. Zane got conflicted when he started to really fall for you, Scarlett. It was almost like he was backing out. I'm sure he would have if Ness didn't already exorcise him. But me? I was the best of those sons of bitches! The most loyal! Not even Alastair knew! Only Lilith! Yeah, I'm sure you're a little angry right now, but, I mean, come on! Even you have to admit. I'm--I'm awesome!"

"You bitch," Sam told her. "You lying bitch!"

Sam and Scarlett raised their hands toward Ruby, trying to use magic. They fell to the floor weakly, clutching their heads.

"You and Scar don't need to hurt yourselves, Sammy," Ruby told him. "It's useless. You two shot your payload on the boss."

"The blood..." Scarlett trailed off. "You and Zane poisoned us."

Ruby knelt next to Sam and Scarlett. "No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. Zane and I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbos. I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only ones who could do it."

"Why?" Sam demanded. "W--Why us?"

"Because..." Ruby trailed off. "Because it had to be you and Scar, Sam. It always had to be you. You saved us. You set him free. And he's gonna be grateful. He's gonna repay you in ways that you can't even imagine." Dean and Catty finally broke the doors in. Catty stormed in angrily, drawing Ruby's Knife. Ruby stood to confront Catty. "You're too late."

"I don't care," Catty told her, walking closer angrily.

Sam and Scarlett stood, grabbing Ruby from behind, restraining her. Catty stabbed Ruby in the heart with her own knife, killing her. Ruby looked at Catty in shock, flashing with red light, dying. Sam and Scarlett let Ruby's body fall to the floor. Dean walked in slowly.

Sam looked at Catty and Dean brokenly. "I'm sorry."

Scarlett started to cry. "Cat... Dean..."

The blood pouring out of Lilith had finished its pattern on the floor, almost like a vortex of a door. A brilliant white light flowed from the central point of the pattern. The convent began to tremble.

"Guys, let's go," Dean told them, grabbing Catty's jacket.

Catty grabbed Sam's shirt and Scarlett's arm. Scarlett held both of Sam and Catty's arms.

Sam looked at the vortex in shock. "Catty... Dean... he's coming."

There was another bright flash of blinding white light.