**Please watch the following video, as nothing says a Supernatural finale like this intro to it.**

48. Detroit

We had everything we were going to need to end this. Ever since we all—reluctantly—mutually agreed that Sam's plan was the only plan, we got our supplies ready. One of the said supplies was enough demon's blood to make Sam at his strongest. It only took two demons to get enough. Needless to say none of us felt sorry for killing them.

Our destination was Detroit. Now, since Cas was as human as me, he took the backseat with me. Night spilled overhead, and before I knew it, Cas knocked out beside me. He ended up slipping to rest his head on my shoulder. I smiled and massaged his head. He didn't seem to mind; I actually saw him grin as he slept.

"Aw," Dean whispered. I looked at him through the mirror up front. "Ain't he a little angel?"

"Angels don't sleep," Sam pointed out.

"How you hanging back there, Dak?"

"O-okay," I said through a yawn. My hand was starting to tire from being in Cas's hair. I let it down on my lap. All he did was readjust his head against me.

"You can crash if you want, it's gonna be a while."

"I'm fine, Dean. Really." I rubbed my eyes. "I'm used to a few hours now thanks to you boys." I found my head against Cas's, but my ears were still alert. The Impala's purr didn't help me stay awake, it was almost as calming as a heartbeat.

"Sam, I got a bad feeling about this," I heard Dean say.

"Well, you'd be nuts to have a good feeling about it," Sam replied.

"You know what I mean. Detroit. He always said he'd jump your bones in Detroit. Here we are."

"Here we are."

"Maybe this is him rolling out the red carpet, you know? Maybe he knows something that we don't."

"Dean, I'm sure he knows a butt-load we don't. We just got to hope he doesn't know about the rings." Temporary silence. "Hey, um...on the subject, there's something I got to talk to you about."

"What?"

"This thing goes our way and I...Triple Lindy into that box...y-you know I'm not coming back."

Wait, wait, what? Sam had told me a while back that he "may" not be coming back. Was he just sugarcoating it for me because of that night? My stomach roiled uncomfortably. I guess I should have thought about it logically. Who would make it out of Hell if they had Satan wrestling for control of their body?

"Yeah, I'm aware."

"So you got to promise me something."

"Okay. Yeah. Anything."

"You got to promise not to try to bring me back."

I almost jumped awake and screamed at Sam. Sure, I knew the chance was high that he wouldn't come back from this. But to not want to be pulled out? He can't really mean that. He can't. My fingers twitched.

"What?" Dean asked. "No, I didn't sign up for that."

"Dean—"

"Your Hell is gonna make my tour look like Graceland. You want me to just sit by and do nothing? You want Dak to do the same?"

"Once the Cage is shut, you can't go poking at it, Dean. It's too risky."

"No, no, no, no, no. As if I'm just gonna let you rot in there."

"Yeah, you are. You don't have a choice."

"You can't ask me to do this."

"I'm sorry, Dean. You have to."

"Then what am I supposed to do? What about her? You're just gonna leave her like that? Does she even know what'll happen?"

Sam cleared his throat. "She already knows her endgame."

"You sure she was truthful about that?"

"Yeah, I know she was."

"What, you give her your puppy eyes and she said 'okay' to running away after this?"

"What makes you think that's what she wants to do?"

"I don't think she'd want to join the life, Sam. She's only tough because she's got us around. Take us away from her, what would she have left? She's hanging on because of us."

"She was managing fine before we found her."

"Before you found her, you mean. Homeless life isn't the same as ours."

"Why are you so concerned about her?" Sam didn't sound angry, just curious.

"Look, as hard as it is for her to believe, and maybe you, I've come to like our little stowaway. She's almost like the sister I never wanted, you know?"

I wanted to feel flattered by Dean's thoughts of me, but the tension and depression was still heavy in the Impala.

"As for you, Dean," Sam got back on track, "you go find Lisa. You pray to God she's dumb enough to take you in, and you—you have barbecues and go to football games. You go live some normal, apple-pie life, Dean. Promise me."

I wasn't sure what happened afterwards, sleep finally took me.

* * *

We met up with Bobby, parked both vehicles in a dark alleyway. All of us got out. I bounced nervously in place. It's the beginning of the end. It's really here. The big finale.

While Bobby scoped out a nearby building, I leaned against the Impala, keeping my fist pressed to my mouth. I wanted to be with the brothers through this. I got into this mess with them, it was only fair that I finished it out with them too. Besides, I'd love to see Lucifer get thrown back into the Cage. I'd love to see the look on his face when we came out the victors in this and not him.

I wasn't too keen on looking into the long future right now, the present was more important to me.

"Demons," Bobby reported once he came back. "At least two dozen of them. You were right—something's up."

"More than something," Dean guessed. "He's here. I know it." Dean lumbered over towards me, towards the trunk of the Impala. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sam and Bobby have a quick discussion followed by a hug.

"You ready for this?" Dean asked from the trunk.

"Are you?" I asked weakly as I saw Sam talk to Cas next.

"We're the experienced ones, you're still a newbie."

I chuckled dryly. "You would rather want me out of the action. I'm not stupid, Dean. I want to finish this my way."

My eyes met Sam's as he came to the trunk. I looked inside then quickly away. My stomach knotted. I hadn't realized Dean was opening the jugs of demon blood. My nose wrinkled. Right. Sam's got to be at the top of his game for this. I remembered how he had been when he got his fill. He was dangerous, almost wild and unpredictable. But he had gotten himself under control with a little intervention from me.

"You mind not watching this?" Sam asked us both.

With a gesture from Dean, he and I slid towards the hood of the car while Sam did his thing. I looked up at the night sky. It couldn't provide me placidity. Nothing could. My body was live wires right now. I was nervous but ready to go at the same time. Was this how the brothers felt every time they went on a hunt?

The slam of the Impala's trunk told me Sam was finished. I looked at him sorrowfully.

"Okay," he said. "Let's go."

He almost walked past me, but he stopped long enough to grab my hand. Sam and I took lead with Dean lingering in the back. I could feel Cas's eyes and Bobby's on us as we headed for the demon-infested building.

"All right!" Sam bellowed, way loud enough for the demons to hear. He dropped my hand in the process so he could raise both his arms. "We're here, you sons of bitches! Come and get it!"

Subtle. I swallowed and took a step back as three demons came out to greet us. I sidestepped to be behind Sam.

"Hey, guys," Dean said. "Is your father home?"

We took it as a "yes" when we got manhandled and shoved into the building. I gave the most struggle which gave me little result. Maybe I should have stayed behind with Bobby and Cas. No. I'm with them through it all. I stand by it.

"Ouch, watch it!" I snarled as nails dug into my skin.

I nearly tripped up so many stairs. I wasn't calm, I felt wired still. I could feel the anger bubbling slowly.

We were led into a rather crappy-looking room. I stood between the brothers, and my body went rigid. Even though his back was turned, we all knew who we were in the presence of. The son of a bitch is about to go down. My hands turned into fists.

"Hey, guys," he said. "So nice of you to drop in." I saw the window he stood in front of fog up. He drew a figure into it which I couldn't see right away. "Sorry if it's a bit chilly. Most people think I burn hot. It's actually quite the opposite."

"Well, I'll alert the media," Dean deadpanned.

My gray eyes bugged. Lucifer was facing us, and he looked even worse than the last time we'd seen him. There were more sores prominent on him now, some looked immensely large. Now I could see the picture on the window—it was a pitchfork.

"You'd know the best about my temperature, wouldn't you, princess? I'm surprised you're still kicking. I thought after our last encounter, it'd done some damage."

I tossed my head. "As you can see, I'm still in one piece."

"Are you sure about that?" He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can trust these guys?"

"Enough." I closed my eyes before opening them. "That Jedi mind trick won't work. This isn't about me."

"Fine. Then help me understand something, guys," he said. "I mean, stomping through my front door is...a tad suicidal, don't you think?"

"We're not here to fight you," I squeaked.

"No? Then why are you?"

"I want to say 'yes,'" Sam spoke up.

"Excuse me?" Lucifer looked as though he wasn't convinced.

I jumped away as the three demons behind us all fell after a flash of light. Stay calm, Dakota. He's in control.

"Chock-full of Ovaltine, are we?"

"You heard me. Yes."

"You're serious."

"Look, Judgment Day's a runaway train. We get it now. We just want off."

"Meaning?"

"Deal of the century. I give you a free ride, but when it's all over, I live, they live, you bring our parents back—"

"Okay, can we please drop the telenovela? I know you have the rings, Sam."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"The Horsemen's rings? The magic keys to my Cage? Ring a bell? Come on, Sam. I've never lied to you. You could at least pay me the same respect. It's okay. I'm not mad. A wrestling match inside your noggin...I like the idea. Just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win, you jump in the hole. I win...Well, then I win.

"What do you say, Sam? A fiddle of gold against your soul says I'm better than you."

"So he knows," Sam muttered. "Doesn't change anything."

"Sam," Dean and I said warningly.

"We don't have any other choice."

"No."

"Yes."

I stepped closer to Sam as a bright light came from Lucifer. Dean and I shielded our eyes until the light dimmed, then stopped all together. I stood straight, looking around. Lucifer had disappeared, and Sam was collapsed on the floor beside me.

"Do it now, Dean," I urged as I knelt down beside Sam. I watched as Dean threw the rings—all together—at the wall. They stuck.

"Bvtmon...Tabges...Babalon."

I turned away as a hole ate away at the wall the rings once were. This was it. The portal to send Lucifer away for good.

Beside me, Sam stirred.

"Sam?" I panicked.

"Sammy!" I heard Dean come for us.

"Dean! Dakota!"

"Oh God, Sam," I whimpered.

He groaned. "I can feel him. Oh, God!"

"You got to go now!" Dean shouted over the winds, helping Sam up. "Come on! Go now, Sammy."

Even though he should have just gone to the hole in the wall, Sam didn't. I was a bit irritated, and I was sure Dean was too, but my irritation dissolved with the frantic kiss. If the situation was different, I would have gladly continued the session.

"Now!" Dean broke the moment up. As insurance, he held me back so I wouldn't stop Sam. But why would I stop this? I knew a part of me wanted to, but I knew this was for the better. This would keep Lucifer from destroying the world.

Dean kept me anchored as Sam made his way towards the hole. My heart ran faster with each step that he took. I could feel the tears pooling. I should have said goodbye. I should have that night. I should have said everything.

Sam was so close now. Just a few more steps.

But he stopped, turning towards Dean and me. My body turned to ice as I saw the smile on his face. It's not Sam. Oh, God. Oh, no. No, no, no, no.

"I was just messing with you." His voice sounded menacingly softly. "Sammy's long gone." He turned back to the hole in the wall. "Chdr bvtmon tabges bablon."

The hole closed, leaving the rings stuck to the wall before Sam—no, Lucifer now, not Sam—took them off the wall. I could feel my heart shattering.

"I told you...this would always happen in Detroit." I swore the wink was intended for me.

"No!" I screamed as Lucifer disappeared. I let out a choked noise and felt my knees buckle. Dean went down with me, and my arms hugged my waist. This is really happening. My nightmares are real. Sam lost. Even with demon blood, he lost.

I let out a cry as I realized something: he had called me Dakota. Sam rarely used my full name, he'd grown attached to the nickname I'd gotten in high school. Sam only used my name for any sort of reprimanding, not in casual conversation. It was another obvious flaw in Lucifer's acting that I should have picked up on. Now, I was oh-for-two. And Satan frigging kissed me. Again. He'd fooled me twice now. I bet once was all he needed to find a way in...

I sobbed. "I—I should have known when he said...He...he never stood a chance. This was such a stupid idea!"

"Dak, get a hold of yourself." Dean could barely put strength into his words. Lucifer winning Sam's body took it out of him.

There was a chance of this happening, we knew there was. But now that it happened, we were fishing for our next move.

**And so it begins, the grand finale of all finales. I couldn't resist a little LuciferxKota in there.

Still stings a bit, though, doesn't it? Poor Sammy. Poor Kota. Poor Dean.

But we all know how it ends. The question is...

How will this end for Kota?**