( TRUST ISSUES )

HELL
[ ☾]

      Elena is alone in the room, looking at various items that were displayed everywhere. She slams things down in frustration due to her sudden overwhelming feeling of being held prisoner. She finds a small case. Just as she reaches for it, a voice stops her.

      "I wouldn't touch that if I were you." The Scottish Man says.

      Elena turns around. "Are you like my bodyguard or something?" She asks.

      "Yes, actually." He says as he spots something on a shelf. "This might interest you." He grabs the box and puts it down on a table.

      "What is it?" Elena asks.

      "It's yours."

       Elena opens the box and finds a large silver sword inside. She picks it up, noticing that it fit perfectly in her had. The hilt of the sword had a cursive "K". Elena holds it up and towards the Man.

      "Woah, be careful." He says. "That piece of fine weaponry can kill Demons and Angels. Made by the best witch on earth."

      "Who?" Elena asks.

      "You." The Man says and looks at his watch. "Oh look at the time. It's dinner time."

      "Dinner? You guys eat?"

      The Man leads her to the room door and opens it. "Yes, but it's for you. The Master wanted you to feel...comfortable."

      "Lucifer?" Elena asks. They leave the room and pass by Demons. All of them now down when they see her. "That's not awkward or anything."

CASTLE STORAGE
[ ☾]

      Dean opens the trunk. He and Sam load guns and close the trunk. Dean unlocks the storage room, Sam standing watch. Sam and Dean enter the room, shotguns ready. They find dead demons sprawled across the floor.

      "I see you told the demons where the sword is." Zachariah says as Dean and Sam turn. He is there with two Angels escorting.

      "Oh, thank god. The angels are here." Dean says.

      "And to think...they could have grabbed it any time they wanted." Zachariah waves a hand to close the door. "It was right in front of them."

      "What do you mean?" Sam asks.

      "We may have planted that particular piece of prophecy inside Chuck's skull, but it happened to be true. We did lose the Michael sword." Zach says. "We truly couldn't find it. Until now. You've just hand-delivered it to us."

       "We don't have anything." Dean says.

       "It's you, Chucklehead. You're the Michael sword." Dean stares.

      Zachariah continues to address Dean. "What, you thought you could actually kill Lucifer? You simpering wad of insecurity and self-loathing? No. You're just a human, Dean. And not much of one." He says.

      "What do you mean, I'm the sword?" Dean asks.

      "You're Michael's weapon. Or, rather, his...receptacle." Zach says.

      "I'm a vessel?" Dean asks.

      "You're the vessel. Michael's vessel."

      "How? Why-why me?" Dean asks.

      "Because you're chosen! It's a great honor, Dean." Zachariah says.

      "Oh, yeah. Yeah, life as an angel condom. That's real fun. I think I'll pass, thanks." Dean says.

      "Joking. Always joking. Well...no more jokes." Zachariah raises one hand, fingers like a gun, and points at Dean, then shifts to Sam. "Bang."

      A loud crunch. Sam falls, unable to stand. "God!" Sam yells.

     "You son of a bitch!" Dean yells.

      "Keep mouthing off, I'll break more than his legs. I am completely and utterly through screwing around. The war has begun. We don't have our general. That's bad." Zachariah says. "Now, Michael is going to take his vessel and lead the final charge against the adversary. You understand me?"

       "How many humans die in the crossfire, huh? A million? Five, ten?" Dean asks.

      "Probably more. If Lucifer goes unchecked, you know how many die? All of them. He'll roast the planet alive."

     "There's a reason you're telling me this instead of just nabbing me. You need my consent. Michael needs my say-so to ride around in my skin." Dean says.

      "Unfortunately, yes." Says Zachariah.

      "Well, there's got to be another way."

      "There is no other way. There must be a battle. Michael must defeat the serpent. It is written." Zach says.

      "Yeah, maybe. But, on the other hand... Eat me. The answer's no." Dean says.

      "Okay. How about this? Your friend Bobby-we know he's gravely injured. Say yes, and we'll heal him. Say no, he'll never walk again."

      Sam glances up at Dean. "No." Dean says.

      "Then how about we heal you from...stage-four stomach cancer?" Zachariah asks.

      Dean doubles over, coughing. He spits into his palm: blood. "No." He repeats.

      "Then let's get really creative. Uh, let's see how...Sam does without his lungs." Zach says as Dean turns to look at Sam, who gasps for breath. "Are we having fun yet? You're going to say yes, Dean."

      "Just kill us." Dean says.

      "Kill you? Oh, no. I'm just getting started." Bright light flashes. Zachariah turns.

      One of the Angels collapses, a bloody hole in his throat. Castiel stands beside him. The other Angel fights Castiel. Dean and Zachariah stare; Sam tries to take a breath. Castiel and the Angel slam each other around. Castiel stabs the other angel in the back. Bright light flashes. Zachariah stares. Castiel walks closer.

      In the background, Sam is still and silent. "How are you..." Zachariah asks.

      "Alive? That's a good question. How did these two end up on that airplane? Another good question." Cas asks. "Cause the angels didn't do it. I think we both know the answer, don't we?"

      "No. That's not possible."

      "It scares you. Well, it should. Now, put these boys back together and go. I won't ask twice." Castiel asks as Zachariah vanishes. Sam looks up and around, surprised. Dean and Sam stand up. "You two need to be more careful."

      "Yeah, I'm starting to get that. Your frat brothers are bigger dicks than I thought." Dean says.

      "I don't mean the angels. Lucifer is circling his vessel. And once he takes it, those hex bags won't be enough to protect you." Castiel puts one hand on Dean's chest, the other on Sam's. Dean and Sam gasp.

      "What the hell was that?" Dean asks.

      "An Enochian sigil. It'll hide you from every angel in creation, including Lucifer." Cas says.

      "What, did you just brand us with it?" Dean says.

      "No. I carved it into your ribs." Cas says. A pause.

      "Hey, Cas, were you really dead?" Sam asks.

      "Yes."

      "Then how are you back?" Dean asks. Castiel vanishes. Sam and Dean are alone with the dead.

NICK'S HOUSE
[ ☾]

      Nick lies in bed in an empty room. "Nick." Nick sits up. Sarah stands at the foot of the bed. "Nick. You're dreaming, Nick. But it doesn't mean this isn't real."

      "Sarah?" Nick asks.

      "I'm not your wife, Nick. I'm an angel."

      "An angel?" Asks Nick.

      "My name is Lucifer."

      "Sure. Naturally. Um... Could you do me a favor there, Satan, and remind me to quit drinking before I go to bed?" Nick asks.

      "I'm here because you're special, Nick. There's very, very few people like you." Says Lucifer.

      "Is that so?"

      "You're a vessel-a very powerful vessel." Lucifer says.

      Nick swings his legs off the bed. "Meaning what, exactly?" He asks.

      "I need to take control of your mind and your body. To be honest, it'll probably be unpleasant for you. But it is necessary."

      "Okay, look...if it's just the Same to you, I think I'd like to wake up now." Nick says.

      "I told you-this is real. Don't be afraid. This is your choice." Lucifer sits on the bed next to Nick. "You need to invite me in."

      "Even if this is real-which it's not, but assuming it was...why the hell would I do something like that?"

       "You people misunderstand me. You call me "Satan" and "devil", but... Do you know my crime? I loved God too much." Lucifer says. "And for that, he betrayed me-punished me. Just as he's punished you. After all, how could God stand idly by while that man broke into your home and butchered your family in their beds?" Nick swallows, not looking at her. "There are only two rational answers, Nick-either he's sadistic, or he simply doesn't care. You're angry. You have every right to be angry. I am angry, too. That's why I want to find him-hold him accountable for his actions. Just because he created us doesn't mean he can toy with us, like playthings."

      "If I help you...can you bring back my family?" Nick says.

      "I'm sorry. I can't. But I can give you the next best thing. God did this to you, Nick. And I can give you justice. Peace."

      "How do I know you're telling the truth?" Asks Nick.

      "Because, contrary to popular belief, I don't lie. I don't need to. What I need...is you. Nick, I need you to say yes." Lucifer says.

      Nick remembers the empty baby rocker, the blood pouring from the crib, the empty crib. "Then yes." He says.

      The high-pitched screech of angel speech. White light flares from all the upper windows of Nick's house.

HOSPITAL
[ ☾]

      A Nurse walks down a hospital corridor past a patient with a mobile IV stand. Both pass a closed door, behind which Bobby is heard yelling. "Unlikely to walk again"?! Why, you snot-nosed son of a bitch! Wait till I get out of this bed!" Bobby yells. The door bursts open and a Doctor flees.

      Inside, Bobby sits in a hospital bed and Sam and Dean stand by the window. "I'll use my game leg and kick your friggin' ass! Yeah, you better run!" He yells. He looks over at Sam and Dean. "You believe that yahoo?"

      "Screw him. You'll be fine." Dean says.

      "So, let me ask the million-dollar question. What do we do now?" Sam asks.

       "Well... We save as many as we can for as long as we can, I guess. It's bad. Whoever wins, heaven or hell, we're boned." Bobby says.

      "What if we win?" Dean asks as Bobby stares at him. Sam turns to face Dean, who sounds a bit too confident. "I'm serious. I mean, screw the angels and the demons and their crap apocalypse. Hell, they want to fight a war, they can find their own planet. This one's ours, and I say they get the hell off it. We take 'em all on. We kill the devil. Hell, we even kill Michael if we have to. But we do it our own damn selves."

      "And how are we supposed to do all this, genius?" Asks Bobby.

      "I got no idea. But what I do have is a GED and a give-'em-hell attitude, and I'll figure it out." Dean says.

      "You are nine kinds of crazy, boy."

      "It's been said." Dean pats Bobby on the shoulder. "Listen, you stay on the mend. We'll see you in a bit." Dean heads for the door. Sam follows.

      "Sam?" Bobby says and Sam stops. "I was awake. I know what I said back there. I just want you to know that...that was the demon talking. I ain't cutting you out, boy. Not ever." A long pause.

      Sam sighs. "Thanks, Bobby." He says.

      "You're welcome. I deserve a damn medal for this, but...you're welcome." Dean and Sam leave.

PARKING LOT
[ ☾]

      An ambulance drives past. Sam and Dean walk out to the cars. "You know, I was thinking, Dean-maybe we could go after the Colt." Sam says.

      "Why? What difference would that make?" Dean asks.

      "Well, we could use it on Lucifer. I mean, you just said back there-"

      "I just said a bunch of crap for Bobby's benefit." Dean stops in the middle of the road. Sam stops, looking at him. "I mean, I'll fight. I'll fight till the last man, but let's at least be honest. I mean, we don't stand a snowball's chance, and you know that. I mean, hell, you of all people know that." Dean goes around Sam.

      "Dean..." Sam says as Dean stops and turns back. Is there something you want to say to me?" A long pause.

      "I tried, Sammy. I mean, I really tried. But I just can't keep pretending that everything's all right. Because it's not." Says Dean. "And it's never going to be. You chose a demon over your own brother-" Sam rolls his eyes. "-and look what happened."

      "I would give anything-anything-to take it all back." Sam says.

      "I know you would. And I know how sorry you are. I do. But, man...you were the one that I depended on the most. And you let me down in ways that I can't even..." Dean pauses, struggling for words. "I'm just-I'm having a hard time forgiving and forgetting here. You know?"

      "What can I do?" Sam asks.

      "Honestly? Nothing." Dean says and Sam nods a little, looking down: this doesn't surprise him. "I just don't...I don't think that we can ever be what we were. You know?"!Sam nods again: this isn't a surprise either. "I just don't think I can trust you." Sam looks up: this he wasn't expecting. Dean shakes his head and walks away, pausing at the trunk of the Impala to look back, then gets into the driver's seat.