Outfits in the external link

THEN

From 5.01 "Sympathy for the Devil", in the motel room, Dean, Ness and Catty woke to find themselves tied to chairs, face to face. Meg and a male Demon walked in.

Ness looked at Meg in realization, tilting her head back. "Meg."

Meg smiled. "Hi."

From 5.02 "Good God, Y'All!", in the church's basement, Ness looked at Ellen in surprise. "You were hunting with Jo?"

"Yeah, for a while now," Ellen answered.

From 5.04 "The End", Catty and Castiel's phone conversation (hotel room and side of the road).

"The mooks have melted down the gun by now," Catty told him.

"Well, I hear differently," Castiel told her. "And if you are still set on the insane task of killing the Devil, this is how we do it."

From 5.09 "The Real Ghostbusters", in the hotel bar, Catty and Ness were sitting together.

"I'm okay," Catty told her.

"No, you're not," Ness told her. "You're exhausted. You look like you haven't slept in weeks. What could be so bad that you're lying to me about it now?"

Catty hesitated. "Angels can talk to us through dreams, even if they can't find us. Little did I know that they can induce dreams on you, too."

Ness already knew. "Hell. Alastair."

"On repeat, every night," Catty told her. "They don't want me to get over Hell..."

"So they can use it against you," Ness finished. "We can just go after the son of a bitch that's doing this to you right now."

Catty smirked, showing emotion again. "Yeah. Kill Zachariah. First things first."

"Kill the Devil," Ness agreed. "That's if we survive that Lucifer attack."

From 5.09 "The Real Ghostbusters", outside the hotel, Becky spoke to Sam, Dean and Ness. "In chapter 33 of Supernatural: Time is on My Side."

From 3.03 "Bad Day at Black Rock", in Bela's Apartment, Ness stepped out of hiding, aiming a gun at Bela Talbot. Bela turned to her, aiming a gun at Ness.

Becky: (voice over from 5.09 The Real Ghostbusters) "There was that girl Bela."

From 3.10 "Dream a Little Dream of Me", in the motel room, Ness pulled the safe door open to see that there was nothing inside.

Becky: (voice over from 5.09 The Real Ghostbusters) "She stole the Colt from Ness."

From 4.22 "Lucifer Rising", in St. Mary's Convent, Lilith the Demon let her eyes turn completely white.

Becky: (voice over from 5.09 The Real Ghostbusters) "And then she told you she gave it to Lilith, remember?"

From 5.09 "The Real Ghostbusters", outside the hotel, Ness nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, you know she lied, right?" Becky asked.

From 3.12 "Jus in Bello", in Bela's Car, Bela drove along. The Colt was lying in the passenger seat next to her.

Becky: (voice over from 5.09 The Real Ghostbusters) "She never really gave it to Lilith."

From 5.09 "The Real Ghostbusters", outside the hotel, Dean looked at Chuck. "What?"

"Bela gives the Colt to a Demon named Crowley," Becky told them.

"Crowley?" Ness repeated.

From 5.09 "The Real Ghostbusters", in the car park, Sam, Dean and Ness looked at Catty.

"Cat, you're not going to believe it, but we got a lead on the Colt," Ness told her.

Catty looked at them in surprise. "What?"

NOW

§

Day One

Morning - Highway

Overhead view of several highways crossing each other.

§  

Overpass

Underneath the lowest of these highways, was a Crossroads. A man got out of an expensive car, digging a hole in the dirt and gravel, burying a box, standing.

He heard a man's British accented voice behind him. "Mr. Pendleton, I presume." Pendleton turned around to face the man. "Name's Crowley."

"In my negotiations, I was, uh, dealing with a very young, attractive, uh, lady," Pendleton told him.

"Yes, I know," Crowley told him. "But you, piggy bank, you are a big fish, and I wanted to do you the honor of sealing this deal personally."

"She said the deal would be sealed with a kiss," Pendleton told him.

"That's right," Crowley told him.

Pendleton looked at Crowley uncomfortably. Crowley smirked.

"No, I mean, she said--" Pendleton started. "I don't--"

"Your choice," Crowley told him, stepping closer. "You can cling to six decades of deep-seated homophobia, or give it up and get a complete bailout for your bank's ridiculous incompetence."

Crowley stopped within inches of Pendleton.

"There are just things that I--" Pendleton started.

"Going once," Crowley told him.

"I don't think so," Pendleton told him.

"Going twice," Crowley told him.

"All right!" Pendleton told him. "All right." Crowley pulled Pendleton in. "No--"

Crowley kissed Pendleton.

Castiel was observing from a distance, on the phone. "Got him."

§ Worlds Colliding (Supernatural) §

Crossroads Overpass

Crowley released Pendleton.

Castiel spoke into the phone. "The Demon Crowley is making a deal, even as we speak. It's... going... down."

Catty was on the other line, lakeside, leaning against the Impala. "Going down? Right. Okay, Huggy Bear, just don't lose him."

Sam and Dean turned to look at Catty. Catty didn't notice because she had her back to them.

"I won't lose him," Castiel told her.

Pendleton looked at Crowley. "Damn you."

Pendleton turned around, walking back to his car.

"Enjoy the obscene wealth," Crowley told him. "See you in ten years."

Crowley fiddled with a cell phone, walking along. He disappeared from behind a beam. Castiel followed Crowley. He disappeared from behind a beam.

§  

Mansion - Outside

Castiel was standing outside the mansion, on the phone. "I followed him. It's not far, but... it's layered in Enochian warding magic." The wall was covered in blue-white geometric designs matching those seen in 4.15 Death Takes a Holiday. "I can't get in."

Catty's voice was on the other line. "That's okay, Cas. You did great. We'll take it from here."

§  

Lakeside

Catty hung up, turning to face Sam and Dean. "You guys ready for this?"

"Are you?" Dean replied.

Catty smirked, opening the passenger seat's door of the Impala.

§  

Later

The Impala drove away, leaving.

§  

Night - Crowley's Mansion

(Song:) Everybody Plays the Fool - The Main Ingredient

Crowley poured himself a drink with lemon, walking toward a chair, sitting down, watching a black and white film involving Nazis. He took a drink.

(Song Ends) 

§  

Outside

A young woman with her brunette hair pulled back into an up-do and a strapless black, high-low, short evening gown approached the gate, pressing a button on the intercom.

Man: (on intercom) "Hello?"

"Hello," the girl told him. "My car broke down. I--I need some help."

Man: (on intercom) "I'll be down in a minute."

The girl turned around to wait. It was Ness. She had made her voice sound slightly different when she had spoken. The gate swung open. Ness turned around. Two men approached Ness.

"Evening, pretty lady," Man 1 told her. "Get yourself on in here."

Ness smiled slightly. "I just need to make a call."

"You don't need to call anyone, baby," Man 1 told her. He looked at Man 2. "We're the only help you're ever gonna need."

"You know what?" Ness asked. "I think I should wait by my car."

Ness turned to leave.

Man 1 grabbed Ness' shoulder, letting his eyes turn completely, Demon black. "We said, get your ass in here."

"Yeah, I heard you," Ness told him, turning to face Demon 1, punching him with one hand, over his elbow, punching him in the face with the other, making him fall to the ground and groan in pain.

Catty arrived behind Demon 2, stabbing him through his neck with her knife, killing him, making him flash with red, taking the knife out, letting him fall. Demon 1 started to stand. Catty tossed the knife to Ness. Ness stepped up behind Demon 1, stabbing him in the back with the knife, killing him, making him flash with red, taking the knife out, letting him fall. Dean and Sam walked closer, looking at their handiwork.

"Nice work, ladies," Dean told them.

Catty smiled. "Thanks."

Ness took a bag from Sam, pulling out a pair of pliers. "Okay, shall we?"

§  

Inside

Crowley was still watching his film. The electricity cut out. Crowley seemed to know who was behind it, smirking.

§  

Hallway

Crowley walked out into the hall, coming to a stop.

"It's Crowley, right?" Catty asked.

"So..." Crowley trailed off, looking over the scene before him. Sam, Catty and Dean stood in front of him. Sam and Dean were aiming salt shell shotguns. Catty held her knife. "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew finally found me. Took you long enough." He walked closer, stopping when he saw the rug was rumpled, pulling the corner up to look underneath to see that a Devil's Trap had been drawn on the bottom of the rug, letting it fall. "Do you have any idea how much this rug cost? Where's Bess Marvin? Oh, I'm sorry... Ness Singer. No doubt working her way around the electricity in the joint." Ness was pulled into the room by a Demon. "Now has been found." Three Demons appeared, grabbing Sam, Catty and Dean, disarming them, pinning their arms behind them. Crowley held up the Colt. "This is it, right? This is what it's all about?" He aimed the gun at Dean. He shot all four of his Demons instead, killing them. The bodies fell to the floor. Ness, Sam, Catty and Dean exchanged a look. "We need to talk. Privately."

§  

Study

Crowley walked into another room. Ness, Sam, Catty and Dean followed. Catty had her knife back.

"What the hell is this?" Dean asked.

"Do you know how deep I could have buried this thing?" Crowley asked, using magic to close the door with a slam. "There's no reason you or anyone should know this even exists, except that I told you."

"You told us?" Sam repeated skeptically.

"Rumors, innuendo, sent out on the grapevine," Crowley told them.

"Why?" Sam asked. "Why tell us anything?"

Crowley aimed the Colt at Ness. "I want you to take this thing to Lucifer and empty it into his face."

"Uh-huh," Catty told him sarcastically. "Okay, and why exactly would you want the Devil dead?"

"It's called..." Crowley trailed off, placing the Colt down on a table. "Survival." He looked at Sam, Catty and Dean. "Well, I forgot you three at best are functioning morons--"

"You're functioning... morons," Dean told him. "Mor..."

Ness smirked and rolled her eyes.

Crowley looked at Ness. "And I also know that the only reason these three are alive is because they have you on their side." He looked at Sam, Catty and Dean. "See, without your genius best friend Ness here, you three would have died years ago."

"Well, I'm not gonna deny that," Dean told him.

"Lucifer isn't a Demon, remember?" Crowley asked. "He's an Angel. An Angel famous for his hatred of Humankind. To him, you're just filthy bags of pus. If that's the way he feels about you, what can he think about us?"

"But he created you," Ness told him.

"To him, we're just servants," Crowley told them. "Cannon fodder. If Lucifer manages to exterminate humankind, we're next. So, help me, huh? Let's all go back to simpler, better times, back to when we could all follow our natures. I'm in sales, damn it. So, what do you say? If I give you this thing, and you go kill the Devil?"

Crowley held the Colt toward Sam, handle first. Ness, Sam, Catty and Dean exchanged a look. Crowley wiggled the gun. Sam reached out to take it. Crowley took it out of his reach, holding it toward Ness.

Ness hesitantly took it. "Great."

"Great," Crowley replied.

"You wouldn't happen to know where the Devil is, by chance, would you?" Catty asked.

"Thursday, birdies tell me, there's an appointment in Carthage, Missouri," Crowley told them.

Sam looked at Ness, Catty and Dean, nodding. "Great."

Ness put the barrel between Crowley's eyes, pulling the trigger, unsurprised when it clicked, knowing that a Demon wouldn't have given her a loaded gun that could kill him.

Crowley looked at Ness impassively. "Oh, yeah, right. You'll probably need more ammunition."

Crowley walked toward his desk.

"Oh, uh, excuse me for asking, but aren't you kind of signing your own death warrant?" Dean asked. "I mean, what happens to you if we go up against the Devil and lose?"

"Number one, he's going to wipe us all out anyway," Crowley told them. "Two, after you leave here, I go on an extended vacation to all points nowhere. And three..." He raised his voice to a yell. "How about you don't miss, okay?"

Crowley tossed a box of bullets for the Colt toward Dean. Dean caught the box, opening it to reveal bullets for the Colt. They looked toward Crowley. Crowley had disappeared. Sam sighed. Ness looked at the Colt in her hands.

§  

Singer House - Living Room

(Song:) Oye Como Va - Santana

Ness was drinking.

On the table, Five full shot glasses were in a row next to a row of three upside-down shot glasses, a gap, and a full shot glass. Another glass was place upside-down in the gap.

Ness drank from a beer bottle.

Catty took each one of her shots quickly and effectively. She looked at Castiel across the beer table in front of her. "All right, big boy."

"Well..." Castiel trailed off, taking all five of his shots in a row, just as Catty had done, tilting them upside down like she showed him. Catty waited for his reaction. "I think I'm starting to feel something."

Catty smiled, chuckling in awe.

(Song Ends)

Sam and Dean were sitting at opposite sides of Bobby's desk, both with beer bottles.

"It's gonna be a trap, right?" Sam asked.

"Sam Winchester, having trust issues with a Demon," Dean told him. "Well, better late than never."

"Thank you again for your continued support," Sam told him sarcastically.

Dean pretended not to notice the sarcasm. "You're welcome." 

They each grabbed a beer bottle, clinking them, drinking. 

Catty sat down next to them with her own beer. "You know, trap or no trap, we got a snowball's chance. We gotta take it, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Sam answered.

"Besides, I'm not sure it is a trap," Catty told him. "Check it out. Ness' research said Carthage is lit up like a Christmas tree with Revelation omens. And look at this." She pushed some papers toward Sam and Dean. "There's been six missing persons reported, in town, since Sunday. I think the Devil's there."

"Okay," Sam told them.

Dean looked at Catty. "So, last few weeks of sedative-induced sleepful nights been enough to make you gear-ready for tomorrow?"

Catty nodded. "I... I know I should've told you guys about the dreams before, but... We had just gotten things back to where we could actually work together again. We were good again. And, yeah, before, I was pretty bad, but I promise, I'm good for tomorrow."

Dean nodded. "All right. I believe you. You seem good right now." 

Catty nodded.

"How long?" Sam asked.

"What?" Catty asked.

"How long have you been having the dreams?" Sam asked.

"Sammy..." Dean trailed off.

"It's just a question," Sam told them. "How long?"

Catty hesitated, debating on telling them. She gave in. "Not too long after I ditched Zachariah and got you two to join back in the fight together."

Dean nodded. "So practically this entire time." Catty looked down. "Doesn't surprise me." He looked at Sam hesitantly. "But it makes you wonder why Lucifer isn't trying as hard to get to you like the Angels are trying to get to Catty."

"I don't know," Catty told them. "Lucifer seemed pretty damn cocky, and Zachariah seemed to be losing his head. I mean, maybe it's just that Lucifer is pretty certain that things are gonna go his way, and Zachariah has no clue. He doesn't know what's gonna happen. He just wants to get it done his way."

Dean nodded to himself. "Yeah, and maybe Lucifer's pretty sure of himself for a reason." Sam looked at him in confusion. Dean looked at Sam. "Look, when you think about it... You can't come with."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Dean..."

"Look, Catty and I go against Satan and screw the pooch?" Dean asked. "Okay. We've lost two game pieces. That we can take. But if you're there, then we are handing the Devil's vessel right over to him. That's not smart."

"Since when have we ever done anything smart?" Sam asked.

"I'm serious, Sam," Dean told him.

"So am I," Sam told him. 

"Haven't we learned a damn thing?" Catty asked. Sam and Dean looked at Catty. "If we're gonna do this, we're gonna do it together."

Dean looked away. "Okay. But it's a stupid freaking idea."

"Like me teaching an Angel how to drink?" Catty asked.

Sam and Dean chuckled.

"Definitely you teaching an Angel how to drink," Sam answered.

Catty smiled. "Speaking of Angels, what's up with Octavia lately?"

"Octavia can't come, because if she does..." Sam trailed off.

"Then the whole, uh, 'inside Angel' thing goes kaboom," Catty finished. "Even if Lucifer would want to recruit her after he killed her, the thing is... Knowing Ava, she'd say no, and then the Angels would find out, and she'd be hunted down and killed. So it's better if Octavia just stays wherever the hell she's at."

"Honestly, I didn't even tell Ava about this," Sam told them. "No one has. Because no one wants to put Ava in that kind of spot when all she's trying to do..."

"Is help save our lives, and possibly hundreds of other lives," Dean finished. "It's okay. We get it. We just have to handle this one ourselves. Without Ava this time."

Dean, Sam and Catty clinked their bottles, drinking.

§  

Library

Bobby and Ness sat across from each other at the desk, drinking.

"Look, Ness, I know there's no chance in hell I'm gonna be able to talk you out of going with those guys tomorrow to try and kill the Devil, but..." Bobby trailed off. "I just wanted to say..."

"I know, Dad," Ness told him. "I'm not gonna promise to be safe, because there is nothing safe about tomorrow, but..."

"Let's just leave it at 'don't make any promises you can't keep'," Bobby told her.

Ness slowly nodded. "Yeah. Okay." She smiled a small smile, taking a deep breath. "I love you, Dad."

Bobby smiled a small smile. "You too, Nessie."

They couldn't say goodbye. Not after everything that had happened. Ness looked down for a moment, standing, walking away. Bobby sighed.

§  

Kitchen

Ness walked into the kitchen, standing alone, taking a breather, drinking two shots. She turned around to see Dean.

"Hey," Dean told her.

"Hey," Ness told him.

"So, dangerous mission tomorrow," Dean told her. "Guess it's time to eat, drink and you know, make merry."

Ness smiled, looking away. "Is this like a new thing for us?" She looked at Dean teasingly. "The whole last-night-on-Earth thing? Yeah, sure, I'll just call you when the world's ending, or when one of us is about to die. Which, most of the time, it's gonna be you, Dean."

Dean smirked, knowing she wasn't being serious. "Yeah, well... Like it or not, it's 'Apocalypse Now'. The world's ending as we speak, Ness. And any night could be our last."

Ness nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, it could be. That's why I still like the whole idea of acting on what I feel in the moment I feel it."

Dean was within inches. "And what do you feel right now?"

Ness smiled, pulling Dean closer into a kiss for a long moment. They continued to kiss passionately.

Catty noticed from the living room, cheering.

Ellen and Jo started to cheer with her. "Yeah!"

Bobby, Castiel and Sam chuckled.

Dean and Ness pulled away, smiling.

Ness looked at Dean, laughing quietly. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that Cat's feeling back to her normal self now."

Dean and Ness chuckled.

§  

Living Room

Bobby looked toward Dean and Ness. "All right, you two, get in here. It's time for the lineup. Usual suspects in the corner."

Castiel, Catty, Sam, Ellen and Jo started to gather around Bobby. Ness and Dean walked in.

"Oh, come on, Dad," Ness told him. "Nobody wants their picture taken."

"Hear, hear," Jo agreed.

Jo, Ness and Ellen embraced, smiling.

"Shut up," Bobby told them. "You're drinking my beer." He fiddled with a camera on a tripod, rolling his wheelchair back. "Anyway, I'm gonna need something to remember your sorry asses by."

Ellen, Jo, Castiel, Catty, Sam, Dean and Ness stood together. Bobby was sitting in his wheelchair in front of Dean and Ness. They were getting prepared for the picture, smiling.

Ellen laughed sarcastically. "Always good to have an optimist around."

"Bobby's right," Castiel told them. "Tomorrow we hunt the Devil. This is our last night on Earth."

The smiles faded. The camera flashed, taking their picture.

§  

Carthage, Missouri

Day Two

Morning - Street

Missing posters were tacked to a telephone phone. There were signs all over the trashed, deserted street. Anti-God is Anti-American. The Impala and Ness' Car pulled up to the street. Dean was driving the Impala. Sam was in the passenger seat. Castiel and Catty were in the backseat. Ness was driving Ness' Car. Ellen was in the passenger seat. Jo was in the backseat. The girls had their hands out of the windows with phones in hand.

"You getting a signal?" Ness asked.

"No, nothing," Jo answered.

"Nice and spooky," Ness told them.

Dean waved Ness' Car up next to them.

"Place seem a little empty to you?" Ellen asked.

"We're gonna go check out the PD," Dean told them. "You guys stay here, see if you can find anybody."

"Okay," Ness told them. Sam, Dean and Catty drove off. Ness parked the car, parking. She got out of the car, looking forward to see Castiel in front of her. "Ever heard of a door handle?"

"Of course I have," Castiel answered, looking around.

Ellen and Jo got out of Ness' Car.

"What is it, Cas?" Ness asked.

"This town's not empty," Castiel answered. From Cas' POV, the town was filled with dozens of old white men in suits, all standing still, attention fixed on something in the distance. "Reapers."

"Reapers?" Ellen repeated. "As in more than one?"

"They only gather like this at time of great catastrophe," Castiel told them. "Chicago Fire, San Francisco Quake, Pompeii. Excuse me. I need to find out why they're here."

Castiel walked away, pausing to look at the nearest Reaper. Jo, Ellen and Ness exchanged a look. Castiel noticed a Reaper inside a building. The Reaper turned away from the window, the first of the dozens to show any signs of life. The building margquee read: Jesus Saves

§ 

Inside

Castiel appeared inside the building at the window. He walked down the hallway, looking around.

He heard Lucifer's voice. "Hello, brother."

A beautiful blindingly bright white filled the entire room, illuminating Castiel.

§ 

Street

Ness' Car drove up to the Impala, stopping. Ness was driving again. Ellen was in the passenger seat. Jo was in the backseat. Dean was still driving the Impala. Sam was still in the passenger seat. Catty was still in the backseat.

"Station's empty," Dean told them.

"So's everything else," Jo told them.

"Have you seen Cas?" Ness asked.

"What?" Catty asked. "He was with you."

"Nope," Ellen told them. "He went after the Reapers."

"Reapers?" Catty repeated.

"He saw Reapers?" Sam asked. "Where?"

"Well, kind of everywhere," Ness answered.

Sam, Catty and Dean exchanged a look.

§ 

Building

The room was dark, lit mostly by firelight.

Castiel was trapped within a circle of Holy Fire. He looked at the only other person in the room. "Lucifer."

"So I take it you're here with Sam, Dean and Catty Winchester, and Ness Singer," Lucifer told him.

"I came alone," Castiel told him.

"Loyalty," Lucifer told him. "Such a nice quality to see in this day and age. Castiel, right?" Castiel didn't answer. "Castiel. I'm told you came here in an automobile."

"Yes," Castiel answered.

"What was that like?" Lucifer asked.

Castiel looked around. "Um, slow. Confining."

"What a peculiar thing you are," Lucifer told him.

Lucifer did not look healthy. His face was fading and burned, falling apart.

"What's wrong with your vessel?" Castiel asked.

Lucifer hummed. "Yes. Nick is wearing a bit thin, I'm afraid. He can't contain me forever, so--"

"You--" Castiel started, stepping forward in defense, only to be brought short by the Holy Fire. "You are not taking Sam Winchester. I won't let you."

"Castiel, I don't understand why you're fighting me, of all the Angels," Lucifer told him.

"You really have to ask?" Castiel asked.

"I killed your friend, Octavia, was it?" Lucifer asked. Castiel didn't answer. "But that wasn't on purpose. Octavia got caught in the light that she couldn't escape, the first light since I had been put into the Cage. I couldn't control that. Neither could Octavia, since she wasn't allowed to leave. But I also know that she was brought back, just as you were. And I rebelled. I was cast out. You rebelled, you were cast out. Almost all of Heaven wants to see me dead, and if they succeed, guess what? Octavia will be killed for even the smallest of doubts, and you're their new public enemy number one. We're on the same side, like it or not, so why not just serve your own best interests? Which in this case just happen to be mine?"

"I'll die first," Castiel told him.

Lucifer considered this, unsurprised. "I suppose you will."

§ 

Street

Ellen, Dean, Ness, Catty, Sam and Jo were walking down the street with shotguns in hands and bags over their shoulders, looking around, searching for any sign of threat.

"Well, this is great," Dean told them sarcastically. "Been in town 20 minutes, and already lost the Angel up our sleeve."

"You think, uh, you think Lucifer got him?" Ness asked.

"I don't know what else to think," Catty told them.

They heard a girl's voice. "There you are."

They turned to face the new threat. Meg in her vessel from 5.01 "Sympathy for the Devil."

Ness glared at her angrily. "Meg."

Meg smirked at the reaction she had gotten from Ness. "Shouldn't have come here, guys."

"Hell, I could say the same thing for you," Ness told her, aiming the Colt at Meg.

"Didn't come here alone, Ness," Meg told her.

Someone splashed in a puddle near Meg's feet. The sounds of dogs growling, barking started. Jo, Sam, Ness, Dean and Ellen looked around.

Catty looked around, pretending to be unfazed. "Hellhounds."

"Yeah, Catty," Meg told her. "Your favorite. Come on, guys. My father wants to see you."

"I think we'll pass, thanks," Sam told her.

"Your call," Meg told them. "You can make this easy, or you can make it really, really hard."

Dean looked at Jo, Ness and Ellen. Ness nodded.

Dean looked at Meg. "When have you known us to ever make anything easy?"

Meg smirked, shaking her head. Ness shifted aim, firing at the sound of the growling and barking came from. Blood spurted from the Hellhound next to Meg's feet, but they couldn't see if it got killed or not.

Meg was surprised but couldn't help but be a little impressed. "Bad Nessie."

They didn't know how many Hellhounds there were.

"Run!" Sam told them.

Ellen, Dean, Ness, Catty, Sam and Jo ran away as fast as they could. A Hellhound tackled Dean to the ground.

Ness looked back. "Dean!"

"Ness, stay back!" Dean told her.

Ness closed her eyes, focusing, aiming the Colt in the Hellhound's direction, firing. It seemed to hit the Hellhound in the right way. Energy crackled through the air where it was supposed to be. It sounded as if something fell to the ground. Jo, Sam, Catty and Ellen turned back. Ness helped Dean stand, both of them backing away quickly. Jo was suddenly attacked from the side. Ness and Dean turned to see what was going on. Jo's side was being shredded. Sam, Catty, Ellen, Ness and Dean ran toward them.

"No!" Ellen told them.

"Jo!" Ness told her.

The Hellhound tackled Jo, shredding her side. Sam, Catty and Ellen were firing shotguns. Dean picked Jo up in a cradle, running past them, toward the nearest store. Ellen, Ness, Catty, and Sam followed as fast as they could. Ellen ran to open the door to the store for Dean. Sam and Catty were still firing shotguns to keep the Hellhounds back.

§ 

Inside

Dean and Ellen ran in, carrying Jo, leaning her against the counter on the floor.

Ellen knelt next to Jo worriedly, losing her mind. "Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, breathe now—"

Ness, Catty and Sam ran inside. Sam and Catty closed the double doors, struggling to keep them closed.

Ness chained the doors closed. "Okay."

"Ness, need some help here!" Ellen told her.

Dean, Sam and Catty grabbed bags of rock salt.

"Go, go, go," Sam told them.

They slit the bags open, frantically lining the doorways and windows. Ellen pulled Jo's hand away from the fatal injury. Blood gushed from the wound. Ness ran closer to help Ellen manage the Hellhound wound as much as she could while they were trapped. Dean, Sam  and Catty looked at Ness, Ellen and Jo worriedly, desperate. Ellen looked over her shoulder toward them, horrified.

§ 

Ness had gotten Jo bandaged up. "You're gonna be all right."

Ness handed a bowl to Ellen.

"Thank you," Ellen told her.

Ness didn't answer, looking in denial, standing, walking toward Catty, Dean and Sam. Sam and Dean were fiddling with something electronic.

Catty looked at Ness. "How's she holding up?"

Ness hesitated. She didn't answer, changing the subject. "Salt lines are holding up."

"Safe for now," Dean told them.

"Safe?" Sam repeated. "Trapped like rats."

"Hey, you heard Meg," Dean told him. "Her father's here. This is our one shot, guys. We gotta take it, no matter what." There was a long moment of silence. "Here we go."

"Ness, some help here, please?" Ellen asked.

Sam and Dean's gadget squealed. Ness walked toward Ellen and Jo. Catty was helping Sam and Dean rewire the radio to make a call through radio stations.

§ 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Singer House - Living Room

Bobby was trying to make a call.

Man: (on phone) "The number you dialed is unavailable. Please try your call again."

Bobby sighed, hanging up. "Damn it, Ness."

There was static from the next room. Bobby wheeled over, moving a book off a CB radio like the one Sam, Dean and Ness were trying to fix.

Ness' voice was on the other line. "K C 5 Fox Delta Oscar, come in."

Bobby picked up the mouth piece, speaking into it. "K C 5 Delta Oscar, go ahead."

"Dad, it's me," Ness told him. "We got problems."

Bobby sighed, looking Heavenward. He spoke into the mouthpiece. "It's okay, Nessie. That's why I'm here." In the hardware store in Carthage, Ness was standing alone with the radio. "Is everyone all right?"

Ness looked emotional, trying to remain professional. "No. It's--it's--it's Jo. Dad, it's pretty bad."

Bobby considered this. "Okay. Copy that. So, now we figure out what we do next."

"Dad, I don't think she's..." Ness trailed off, unable to finish, looking down with tears in her eyes.

"I said, what do we do next," Bobby told her. "Vanessa Claire, you with me?"

Ness leaned her head on her hand for a moment, taking that moment to pull herself together. "Yeah. Okay, right."

"Ness..." Bobby trailed off. "Tell me what you got."

Ness looked up, looking around, taking a deep breath.

§ 

Later

Ness had told Bobby everything. Sam, Dean and Catty stood with her.

"Before he went missing, did Cas say how many Reapers?" Bobby asked.

"I don't--" Ness started. "I don't know. He said a lot of things, I guess. Does the number matter right now?"

"Devil's in the details, Ness," Bobby told her.

Ness nodded to herself, thinking. "The way he was looking, the number of places Cas' eyes went, I'd say we're talking over a dozen Reapers, probably more."

Bobby looked as if he was trying not to panic, sighing, putting a hand to his head. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Nobody likes the sound of that, Bobby," Dean told him. "But, what--wha--what does that sound like?"

"It sounds like Death, Dean," Ness answered. "I think Lucifer's in town to work a ritual."

Bobby turned pages in his book to one marked with a Post-It that read: Seventh Seal. "I think Nessie's right. He's planning to unleash Death. The Horseman. The pale rider in the flesh."

"Unleash?" Sam repeated. "I mean, h--hasn't Death been tromping all over the place? Hell, we've died several times ourselves."

"Not this guy," Ness told them. "This is the Angel of Death. Big Daddy Reaper."

Bobby nodded, reading from his book. "They keep this guy chained in a box six hundred feet under. Last time they hauled him up, Noah was building a boat. That's why the place is crawling with Reapers. They're waiting on the big boss to show."

Catty took this in, still trying to keep herself together, trying to be sarcastic. "You have any other good news?"

"Well, in a manner of speaking," Bobby told them, closing the book. It was, unsurprisingly, a large leather-bound Holy Bible. Bobby turned to another one that was already open to a page headed: The Battle of Carthage. "I've been researching Carthage since you've been gone, trying to suss out what the Devil might want there. What you just said drops the last piece of the puzzle in place. The Angel of Death must be brought into the world at midnight through a place of awful carnage. Now, back during the Civil War, there was a battle in Carthage. A battle so intense the soldiers called it the Battle of Hellhole."

"Where'd the massacre go down?" Ness asked.

"On the land of William Jasper's farm," Bobby answered.

Bobby looked at an illustration of the battle in his book. Several people were dead. Others were on horseback, preparing to fight against the other side.

§ 

Carthage, Missouri

Building

Castiel was still trapped in the circle of Holy Fire. Lucifer was still watching him.

Meg walked in. "I got Sam, Dean and Catty Winchester, Ness Singer and friends pinned down. For now, at least. What should I do with them?"

"Leave them alone," Lucifer answered.

"I--I'm sorry, but are you sure?" Meg asked. "Shouldn't we--"

"Trust me, child," Lucifer told her. "Everything happens for a reason." He slid a hand along Meg's cheek. Castiel looked around, seeing a pipe bolted into the wall. The bolt was turning quietly and carefully, spinning slowly. Castiel looked confused. He couldn't have done this while trapped in the circle of Holy Fire. "Well, Castiel, you have some time. Time to change your mind."

Castiel didn't answer, looking at Meg and Lucifer. He looked at the bolt that was spinning slowly, undetected by the others. He kept his voice a whisper. "Ava."

Lucifer misunderstood what he meant. "I'd be happy to accept any other fallen Angels like you, or potentially fallen, like Octavia. Think it through."

§ 

Hardware Store

Jo looked no better.

Ellen knelt next to her. "That's my girl. You're okay, honey."

Sam, Dean, Ness and Catty stood several feet away, watching them in worried regret, guilty.

"Now we know where the Devil's gonna be, we know when, and we have the Colt," Dean told them.

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "We just have to get past eight or so Hellhounds and get to the farm by midnight."

"Yeah, and that's after we get Jo and Ellen the hell out of town," Ness told them.

"Won't be easy," Catty told them. "Stretcher?"

"I'll see what we got," Ness told them, turning to go looking.

"Stop," Jo told them."Guys, stop." Ellen looked between Sam, Dean, Ness, Catty and Jo. "Can we, uh, be realistic about this, please?" Sam, Dean, Ness and Catty walked toward them. Jo groaned in pain. "I can't move my legs. I can't be moved. My guts are being held in by an ace bandage. We gotta--we gotta get our priorities straight here." Sam, Dean and Catty exchanged a look, looking at Jo. Ness looked at Jo expressionlessly, guilty and saddened. "Number one, I'm not going anywhere."

"Joanna Beth, you stop talking like that," Ellen told her.

"Mom," Jo told her. "I can't fight. I can't walk. But I can do something. We got propane, wiring, rock salt, iron nails, everything we need."

"Everything we need?" Sam repeated.

"To build a bomb, Sam," Jo told him.

"No," Ness told her. "Jo, no."

"You got another plan?" Jo asked. "You got any other plan? Those are Hellhounds out there, Ness. They've got all of our scents. Those bitches will never stop coming after you. We let the dogs in, you guys hit the roof, make a break for the building next over. I can wait here with my finger on the button, rip those mutts a new one. Or at least get you a few minutes' head start, anyway."

"No," Ellen told her. "I--I won't let you."

"This is why we're here, right?" Jo asked. Ness shook her head, starting to cry silently. Jo noticed. "If I can get us a shot on the Devil... Ness, we have to take it."

Ness looked away, putting a hand over her lips.

"No!" Ellen told her. She looked at Sam, Dean, Ness and Catty. "That's not--"

"Mom," Jo told her. "This might literally be your last chance to treat me like an adult. Might wanna take it."

Jo forced herself to smile through the pain.

Ellen started to cry, sobbing, looking at Sam, Dean, Ness and Catty. "You heard her. Get to work."

§ 

Night - Later

Sam, Dean, Ness and Catty grabbed the materials to assemble the bombs, filling them with nails and rock salt for shrapnel. Catty knelt next to Jo, taking her hand.

Dean strung the wire to the button Jo would hold. "Okay, this is it. I'll see you on the other side. Probably sooner than later."

"Make it later," Jo told them. Dean put the button in Jo's hand, holding on. Jo was crying silently, trying to be strong. Dean kissed Jo once on the forehead sadly, hesitating, standing, backing away. Catty let her hand go, standing, backing away. Sam pulled back a piece of Jo's hair from her face, looking at her sadly. Jo smiled sadly. Sam backed away next to Dean and Catty. Ness knelt in front of Jo sadly, breathing deeply, trying not to cry, holding her hand, wanting to hug her but not wanting to hurt her more. Jo smiled sadly. "You know, the first day you walked into the Roadhouse almost 14 years ago, I knew that there was gonna be a lot of adventure. You gave me purpose, Ness. You gave me a girl to look up to as a sister. A mentor. Don't feel guilty about it."

Ness chuckled sadly, looking down. "Bye, Jo."

"Bye, Ness," Jo told her. They embraced carefully as much as they could. Ness let her Jo go, standing, backing away, breathing deeply. Ellen walked toward Jo, sitting next to her. Ellen and Jo looked at each other for a moment. Ellen forced herself to smile. Jo realized what she was doing. "Mom, no."

"Somebody's gotta let them in," Ellen told her. "Like you said, you're not moving. You got me, Jo. And you're right. This is important." Jo nodded. "But I will not leave you here alone."

"Guys..." Sam trailed off.

"Get going now, you three," Ellen told them.

"Ellen--" Ness started.

"I said go," Ellen told them. Sam, Dean and Catty exchanged a pained look, starting to walk away with their things. Ness turned to follow. "Vanessa Claire." Ness looked at Ellen. "Kick it in the ass. Don't miss."

Ness nodded sadly, looking at Ellen and Jo sadly.

"Goodbye, Ness," Jo told her. "It's been worth it."

Ness tried not to cry, nodding. "Yeah. It's been more than worth it to have you like family."

Jo, Ellen and Ness were all close to crying. Sam, Dean and Catty watched sadly in sympathy, pained by the pain they were in. Sam and Catty looked at them for a moment, walking out, leaving.

Dean was about to follow, realizing who wasn't following. "Ness."

Ness took a deep breath, nodding, walking toward the door. Dean handed Ness her bag. Ness saw the Colt in Dean's hand, raising her gaze to meet his, looking more angry than sad now, taking the Colt, walking out, leaving. Dean nodded to himself knowingly, following.

Ellen unchained the doors, sweeping away the salt line, opening the propane tanks. She sat down with Jo, wrapping her arm around her. "I will always love you, baby." The Hellhounds were audible again. Ellen looked at Jo to see that she wasn't moving. "Honey?" There was no answer. "Jo..." Jo wasn't breathing. Ellen sobbed in realization that her daughter had died in her arms. "It's okay. It's okay." She kissed Jo on her head. "That's my good girl."

The doors burst open. Ellen looked toward them. Hellhounds slammed into the open doors.

§ 

Outside

Catty and Sam ran across the fire escape. 

§ 

Hardware Store

The Hellhounds stalked in closer. They looked around, snarling.

§ 

Outside

Ness and Dean followed Catty and Sam down the fire escape.

§ 

Hardware Store

Things were falling over as the Hellhounds brushed past. Ellen was no longer crying. She had tears in her eyes, looking around, unable to see them.

§ 

Outside

Catty and Sam waited at the bottom of the fire escape for Dean and Ness. Dean climbed down. Ness slid down the ramp of a fire escape to the ground below.

§ 

Hardware Store

Jo's hand still held the button trigger for the bombs. Ellen held Jo's finger over the button, holding Jo's hand in her own, getting ready. The Hellhounds were snarling, taking their time.

§ 

Outside

Catty, Sam, Dean and Ness ran down the alley.

§ 

Hardware Store

From the Hellhound's POV, he could see Ellen, standing right next to her, growling.

Ellen forced her to smirk, terrified and rageful. "You can go straight back to Hell, you ugly bitch!"

Ellen let go of Jo's hand and the button. The hardware store exploded, glass shattering, fire spreading, killing everyone inside.

§ 

Outside

Just outside the store several feet away, across the street, Catty, Sam, Dean and Ness were turning around a corner, hearing the explosion. Catty, Sam, Dean and Ness couldn't help but stop, looking back into the flames to watch it blow, knowing that Ellen and Jo were gone, breathing heavily, mourning their loss silently, numbly. Ness was crying silently, still looking more angry than sad, but despaired all the same. She looked at the Colt in her hands, turning around, running past Catty, Sam and Dean, leading the way down the rest of the street. Catty, Sam and Dean looked at each other, turning around, running away, following Ness. Flames and smoke continued to rise into the sky.

§ 

William Jasper's Farm - Field

Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness snuck through the bushes. Dozens of men stood in the field, attention on something out of sight.

"Guess we know what happened to some of the townspeople," Dean told them.

"Okay," Sam told them.

"Okay," Catty repeated. "Last words?"

Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness looked at each other.

"I think I'm good," Ness told them.

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Me, too."

"So am I," Catty told them, taking a deep, steadying breath. 

"Here goes nothing," Dean told them.

Lucifer was filing a hole with dirt.

Sam walked toward Lucifer with shot gun in hand, pointed at him. "Hey!" Lucifer turned to face him, dropping the shovel. "You wanted to see me?"

"Oh, Sam, you don't need that gun here," Lucifer told him. "You know I'd never hurt you. Not really."

Dean and Catty stood on either side of Sam, aiming shotguns at Lucifer.

Ness stood behind Lucifer, aiming the Colt at the back of his head. "Yeah? Well, I'd hurt you, you son of a bitch."

Ness shot Lucifer in the back of the head. Lucifer fell to the ground, his head wound sparking. None of the men did anything. Ness circled around Lucifer to stand next to Dean.

Lucifer opened his eyes, gasping, shifting position. "Ow." He stood. Ness, Dean, Sam and Catty watched, horrified. "Where did you get that?" Lucifer used magic to push Ness, Dean and Catty back, making them hit into different trees and fall to the ground, unconscious. Sam watched them, turning back to Lucifer, horrified. "Now, where were we?"

§ 

Sam still looked terrified.

"Don't feel too bad, Sam," Lucifer told him. "There's only five things in all of creation that that gun can't kill, and I just happen to be one of them. But if you give me a minute, I'm almost done." He picked up the shovel, moving two scoops of dirt. Sam walked toward Ness, Dean and Catty, kneeling in between Dean and Catty, using both hands to check for their pulses. He looked at Ness, seeing her chest move in shallow breaths, sighing in relief that they were alive. "You know, I don't suppose you'd just say yes here and now?" Sam stood. "End this whole tiresome discussion. That's crazy, right?"

"It's never gonna happen!" Sam told him.

Lucifer went back to filling the hole. "Oh, I don't know, Sam. I think it will. I think it'll happen soon. Within six months. And I think it'll happen in Detroit."

"You listen to me, you son of a bitch," Sam told him. "I'm gonna kill you myself. You understand me? I'm going to rip your heart out!"

"That's good, Sam," Lucifer told him. "You keep fanning that fire in your belly. All that pent-up rage. I'm gonna need it."

Sam visibly calmed. He looked around at the men. "What did you do? What did you do to this town?"

"Oh, I was very generous with this town," Lucifer told him.  "One Demon for every able-bodied man."

"And the rest of them?" Sam asked.

Lucifer looked at the hole. "In there. I know, it's awful, but these Horsemen are so demanding. So it was women and children first. I know what you must think of me, Sam. But I have to do this. I have to. You of all people should understand."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam asked.

Lucifer put the shovel down. "I was a son. A brother, like you. A younger brother, and I had an older brother who I loved. Idolized, in fact. And one day, I went to him, and I begged him to stand with me. And Michael? Michael turned on me. Called me a freak. A monster. And then he beat me down. All because I was different. Because I had a mind of my own. Tell me something, Sam. Any of this sound familiar? Anyway, you'll have to excuse me. Midnight is calling, and I have a ritual to finish. Don't go anywhere. Not that you could if you would." Sam walked toward Ness, Dean and Catty's unconscious bodies. Lucifer turned to his hole, chanting, turning to his Demons. "Now repeat after me. We offer up our lives, blood, souls."

Dean stirred awake, looking at Sam.

The Demons repeated. "We offer up our lives, blood, souls."

Dean and Sam noticed that Ness and Catty were still unconscious.

Lucifer spoke to the Demons. "To complete this tribute."

The Demons repeated. "To complete this tribute."

Dean and Sam gently, quietly, woke up Ness and Catty, helping them sit up. One by one, the Demons flashed gold, all of them falling, dead. Ness, Dean, Sam and Catty watched in horror.

Lucifer looked at Ness, Dean, Sam and Catty. "What? They're just Demons."

§ 

Building

The bolt on the pipe was still spinning. Castiel was still trapped by the circle of Holy Fire. Meg and two Demons were watching.

"You seem pleased," Castiel told them.

"We're gonna win," Demon 1 told him. "Can you feel it? You cloud-hopping pansies lost the whole damn universe."

Meg smiled. "Lucifer's gonna take over Heaven. Demons are going to Heaven."

"Strange, because I heard a different theory from a Demon named Crowley," Castiel told them.

"You don't know Crowley," Meg told him.

"He believes Lucifer is just using Demons to achieve an end, and that, once he does, he'll destroy you all," Castiel told them.

"You're wrong," Meg told him. "Lucifer is the father of our race. Our creator."

Demon 2 smirked. "Your God may be a deadbeat. Ours? Ours walks the Earth."

Octavia appeared, using her Angel Sword to stab Demon 1 in the back through his chest, killing him with a bright flash of light. "All of you Demons talk so much. You love the sounds of your voices, don't you?" Demon 2 turned toward Octavia, trying to attack. Octavia slashed her Angel Sword across his legs, making him fall to his knees, putting her hand to his head, smiting him with a bright flash of white light, killing him. Meg ran toward Octavia. Octavia raised a hand toward her, magically pushing Meg against the wall, magically ripping the bolt from the pipe in the wall, telekinetically throwing it like a spear into Meg's chest to pin her against the wall. "That bolt was taking too long to do it from a distance."

Castiel chuckled in relief. "Ava."

Octavia turned to face Castiel, crossing her arms over her chest. "Sorry it took so long, Cas." She held up a Hex Bag to prove her point. "I had to get away from Angel superiors to make sure they couldn't watch or listen to the mission of trying to kill Lucifer."

"Who the hell are you?" Meg asked, pulling the pipe free from her chest, groaning in pain.

"I'm Octavia," Octavia answered. "And you might have pissed Sam, Dean, Catty, Ness and Castiel off, Meg, but I'm one that you don't want to piss off. Cas, I know you, Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness kept the mission to kill Lucifer a secret from me so that you wouldn't put me in danger. But for now, I am fine, and you're the ones that need saving." Meg tried to attack Octavia. Octavia held her hand toward Meg, magically throwing her into the fire of the Holy Fire around Castiel, making her scream in agony. Octavia looked at Castiel. "Maybe you'll remember that the next time you try a suicide mission like this. Killing Lucifer alone, Cas? Really?"

"We were trying to protect you, Ava," Castiel told her.

"Then remember that I don't need to be protected, Cas," Octavia told him. "Now let's get the hell out of here and save Sam, Dean, Catty and Ness from Lucifer."

Octavia held her hand toward the Holy Fire, magically dispelling it, releasing Castiel. Meg was burned, nearly dead, but still alive. Octavia and Castiel disappeared.

§ 

William Jasper Farm - Field

Lucifer looked at the mass grave. Sam looked at Lucifer. Ness, Dean and Catty looked between them. The ground rumbled violently. Octavia and Castiel appeared behind Dean, Ness, Sam and Catty, kneeling next to them.

Dean, Ness, Sam and Catty were surprised to see who was there. "Ava?"

Octavia held a finger to her lips to tell them to be quiet, placing a hand on Sam and Dean's shoulders. Castiel placed a hand on Ness and Catty's shoulders. Lucifer turned to see that the six of them were gone now, walking forward. Lucifer turned to see that the five of them were gone now. He walked forward.

Something rose from underneath the ground, unseen.

Lucifer smiled. "Oh, hello, Death."

§ 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Day Three

Morning - Singer House - Library

The glasses from Catty and Castiel's drinking competition were still on the table. The TV was on the news channel, showing a tornado, the captions reading: State of Emergency, Paulding County and KOUA 16. 

Man: (on TV) "Just received an update that the governor has declared a state of emergency for Paulding County, including the towns of Marion, Fetterville, and Carthage. The storm system has reportedly touched off a number of tornadoes in the area."

Bobby, Ness, Dean, Sam and Catty were gathered around the fireplace. Bobby held a copy of the photograph taken earlier in the episode.

Man: (on TV) "Death tolls have yet to be estimated, but state officials expect the loss of life and property to be staggering."

None of them spoke, mourning the loss of Ellen and Jo. Bobby leaned forward, putting the picture of all of them into the flames. Bobby, Ness, Dean, Sam and Catty watched the picture burn away into nothing.