( ALIVE )

BUNKER KITCHEN
[ ☾]

Dean is in the kitchen, taking sandwich fixings out of the fridge. His cell phone plays rock music. He picks up. "Yeah." He says.

"Squirrel!" Crowley holds the First Blade. "I've got it."

"That's good to hear." Dean says.

"Of course I'm gonna hang onto it until you work out how to get that thing off your arm." Crowley says.

DUNGEON
[ ☼ ]

"I'm guessing you're not here to reminisce." Metatron says as Dean enters.

"All right, we did what you said. We have the First Blade." Dean says.

"Not here? Not on your person."

"Not saying. So back to you. What's next?" He asks.

"This is where it gets kind of interesting." Metatron says.

"Uh-huh."

"It's very lonely here. And I have little to do but think. And it occurred to me that you really need this Mark taken off of you." He says. "And in order to do that, you really need me. So here's the deal. That first little tip I gave you? A freebie. Just cause you're you. Every future step – they're gonna cost you. Big. Oh, and FYI, there's a bunch." Dean pulls out an angel blade, slams it on the table and goes to close the door. "Whatcha doing there, Slugger?"

Dean locks the door. "I'm settling a score that's taken way too long to settle. Oh, and while I do that, I'm gonna get some information." He picks up the angel blade and walks up to Metatron. "And I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it. Because you're gonna tell me everything. All of it. And it ain't gonna cost me a damn dime. Slugger."

"All right. I'm gonna ask this exactly once, before it gets ugly. What is the next step in removing the Mark?" Dean asks.

"I repeat my offer. Each step costs you." Metatron says.

"You're confused. See, each step you don't give me – is gonna cost you. And it's been a long time coming." Dean says. "I mean, where do I begin? Stealing Cas's grace. Casting out the angels. Making Gadreel kill Kevin using my brother's hands. Starting an angel war. And, oh yeah, you killed me."

Metatron scoffs. "My morality is being judged by Dean Winchester? How many people have suffered and died because they believed in you?" He asks. "How many times have you lied to Sam, including, oh by the way, when he was possessed by an angel? And you say, 'Oh well, it's all for the greater good'. But lately, buddy? That greater good thing just went away, didn't it? Now, people die just because you want them to." Dean punches Metatron in the face. He grunts, then chuckles. "Good, Dean. Go darker." Dean punches Metatron again. "Go deeper!" Dean punches Metatron four times. "Surely you've noticed, every time you respond when the Mark gets you all twitchy, you fall deeper under its spell. You think roughing up a few humans and demons makes it worse? Try messing with the scribe of God, bucko!"

WAR ROOM
[ ☾]

"It's late. I'm gonna drive around a little bit, see if I can find Claire." Cas says.

"Right now?" Sam asks.

"I have to try."

"Well, be careful. Sam looks into the empty kitchen. "Wait, Cas? Where's Dean?" They exchange a look and take off at a run down the corridor.)

Meanwhile, Dean punches Metatron in the dungeon. He pants and bleeds from a blackened eye. "And Kevin's death? All on you. You put him in harm's way and kept him there. Gadreel possessing Sam?" Metatron asks. "Who was it that tricked Sam into letting him in? Oh, and then my personal favorite: Dean Winchester. Whose entire existence is defined by a war on the dark and monstrous – bromancing his way around the country with the king of Hell!"

Dean punches Metatron twice. "Let's try this again. What is the next step?" He asks.

"What is it you humans say so inelegantly? Oh, yes – go screw yourself."

Sam runs up outside the dungeon, followed by Cas. Dean grabs the angel blade from the table. Sam tries to open the dungeon door, but it's locked. He pounds on the door. "Dean?!" Sam yells.

"Now it's time to get serious." Dean says.

"Dean!" Elena yells from the outside.

Dean puts the blade against Metatron's throat. "What is the next step in removing this Mark from my arm?" He asks.

"Dean, open the door." Sam is pounding on the door, Cas is standing behind him. "Hey, open the door!"

Dean cuts Metatron's face. There's a glimmer of angel grace from the wound. Dean places the angel blade at Metatron's throat. "What is..." Sam bodyslams the door. "... the next step??" Dean rips Metatron's shirt open and starts cutting down his sternum. Blood and grace seeps out. Metatron screams.

Outside, Sam kicks the door to no avail. Castiel shoves him out of the way. "Move!" He raises his arm. The Mark on Dean's arm glows red.

"Behold, the river shall end at the source." Metatron says.

Castiel's eyes glow and he sends grace from the palm of his hand to shatter the dungeon door. He looks winded, and Sam runs past him into the dungeon, where Dean is holding the angel blade against Metatron's chest.

"No, Dean! Hey, stop, stop." Sam grabs Dean and pulls him away. Castiel checks on Metatron. "You were killing him."

"I have to take him back." Castiel says.

"Cas, this won't happen again."

"I gave my word. I have fences to mend in Heaven, and as it is, I have a lot to explain." Cas says.

"If you ever ask me for help again, I will choose death." Metatron says. "You realize it's going to get worse, Dean. You're gonna get worse!" Castiel drags Metatron away.

Dean is sitting at the table, holding his head in his hands. Sam walks in. "Hey. You okay?" He asks.

"He said the river ends at the source."

"What does that mean?" Sam asks.

"Maybe nothing. It was the last thing he said before you guys busted in." Dean says.

"Dean. Look, man, we had to..."

"Hey, no. I get it, all right. I – I was gonna kill him. And I couldn't stop myself." He says.

"We'll figure it out, all right?" Elena says.

"You know what Cas said about needing a powerful force?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, so?"

"So, I've been thinking. Look. Cain still has the Mark, right?" Sam asks and Dean nods. "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 in to it. And maybe you have to fight that, you know? Maybe... part of that powerful force has to be you"

Dean's cell phone plays rock music. He picks up. "Yeah." He says.

"It's Claire." She is in the camp ground. "I've thought it over." Claire walks up to Tony, sitting by the camp fire. "Maybe it's only fair to hear your side of it. I mean, Castiel seemed to trust you, a lot." Claire sits down between Tony and Brit.

"Yeah, okay, where do you wanna meet?" Dean asks.

LAKESIDE
[ ☼ ]

The Impala drives up to Tony's and Brit's camper. Dean is with Elena in the car. She demanded that she'd come just in case something went down. Claire looks at him through the camper window. Dean gets out of the car.

Brit is lurking in the bushes, holding a bat. Dean sits on the park bench. Tony is also lurking behind him. Claire watches them sneak up on Dean. Tony is holding an axe.

Suddenly, Claire gets up and runs to the open camper door. "No!" She yells.

Dean turns his head, sees her, then looks around, alarmed. Brit swings her bat for him, but he ducks. Tony and Claire run toward Dean, who takes Brit in a choke hold using the bat. Tony attacks Elena, who shoves Brit to the side and, after a brief struggle, shoves Tony down on the ground next to her. Dean picks up the axe.

"No!" Claire yells. Dean raises the axe and Tony flinches. "No, no!"

Dean forcefully swings the axe – into the park bench. Tony and Brit run off, unharmed. Dean faces Claire. She turns around and goes back into the camper. Dean goes to Elena who is slumped against a tree.

       "Okay, okay." Dean says as Elena gasps in pain. "What? What's wrong?"

       "I think that chick stabbed me." Elena's breathing is labored.

      "What?" He starts feeling around Elena, looking for the knife. "No. No, no, no, no. Hey, look at me. I'll get it."

      Elena shakes her head, gasping in pain. "If there's any-anything you need to say—"

      "What? I'll find it, Elena."

      "Now's the time." She says.

      "Come on. No." Dean says. Elena is breathing hard and it slowly turns to laughter. He looks at her and starts smiling, relaxing. "Seriously?"

      Elena nods, still laughing. "Yeah." She playfully slaps Dean on the shoulder. "Oldest trick in the book."

      Dean's hand lingers on Elena's leg and her hand on top of his. They're looking into each other's eyes, smiling. He tilts his head. "Elena, are you okay?" He asks.

      Elena is holding his hand, smiling. "I've never felt more alive."

      Castiel's Lincoln drives into view and Claire walks along the road. Castiel talks to her through the driver's side window while coasting alongside her. "Claire!" He yells.

      "How the hell did you find me?" Claire asks.

      "Angels are able to find those who pray to them." He says.

      "Pray? Oh believe me, I gave up praying a long time ago." She says.

      "Well, it doesn't have to be a formal prayer. I could pick up on a – a longing... Perhaps you wanted to tell me something?" Cas asks.

      "No." Claire stops walking. "I don't know. Maybe." Castiel turns off the car engine. "I guess I just..." Castiel gets out of the car. "...wanted to tell you that I – I thought about what you said. I'm gonna try doing things a little bit different. Let go of the little bit of monster in me."

      "Well, I could try to help you with that." He says.

      "I still gotta go it alone. But I could – maybe call sometime?" Claire asks. "Now get out of here, would you? No one's gonna pick me up with that butt-ugly car sitting there."

      "I'll see you, Claire."

      "Oh, hey. Not that you care, but I like you better in a tie." Claire says. Castiel smiles. He gets back in the car and drives off.