OFFICE

The scene opens with record-needle static and hands typing on a typewriter "Fanfare-Rondeau" by Jean-Joseph Mouret plays in the background. The camera pulls back and we see it is Metatron sitting at the typewriter. He looks straight into the camera.

"What makes a story work? Is it the plot, the characters, the text? The subtext? And who gives a story meaning? Is the writer? Or you? Tonight, I thought I would tell you a little story and let you decide." Metatron Says

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BUNKER

The scene opens with water turning on in the men of letters shower. Dean stands there under the spray and slowly drags his hands through his hair and over his eyes as the water pours over him.

He then stands in front of the mirror and wipes away the steam. He looks into his own eyes for a second and sighs. His eyes then wander to his right arm and he rubs the Mark of Cain with his left hand. Sam is talking on the phone while Elena is pouring over many files in the men of letters library.

"Yeah. All right. Thanks, Carlos. Listen, you, uh, if you catch wind of any other demon activity, give me a holler, all right? Appreciate it." Sam Says

"Morning." Elena Says

"Hey..so uh Anything?" Dean Asks

"Yeah. A dozen demon-related cases, people without souls acting out, but..." Elena Says

"But no sign of Abaddon." Dean Says

"Right. Looks like she's vanished." Sam Says

"Well, we just got to keep digging." Dean Says

"Right." Elena Says

She notices Dean rubbing absentmindedly at the Mark of Cain on his arm.

"You okay?" Elena Asks

"Yeah. I'm fine. Let's get to work." Dean Says

"All right." Sam Says

UNDERGROUND FACTORY

In a dark, underground factory Castiel is walking down a corridor. He is trying to located a pulsing sound. He catches his jacket on something and tears it, but continues to search for the origin of the sound.

He enters a room and there are bloodied bodies everywhere and on the wall is a sigil written in blood. He takes out his phone and takes a picture of it. But behind him someone is drawing an angel blade on him. He whips around and disarms a woman. She begs for her life.

"Please... please don't! Don't hurt me." Hannah Says

"I'm not gonna hurt you. It's okay. What's your name?" Castiel Asks

"Hannah." She Says

"H-Hannah, what happened here?" Hannah looks at the sigil and then back to him "Yeah, I... I heard it, too. What was it?" Castiel Says

"I don't know. It, uh, it sounded familiar. It sounded like heaven. It's so strange down here. I, uh, followed the tone and found so many of my brothers and sisters had, as well. It felt safe here, and then the doors slammed shut and a strange angel arrived. He said he worked for the new God." Hannah Says

"For Metatron?" Castiel Says

"Mm-hmm. He made us an offer... join Metatron, fight for him, and those that did would one day be allowed to return to heaven." Hannah Says

"Return to heaven?" Castiel Says

"I didn't believe him, either. But he said he would take us home. Some angels joined him. My friends and I refused, and, uh..." Hannah Says

"I'm sorry for your loss. For all our loss." Castiel reaches to Hannah and heals her wounds

"You're Castiel, aren't you?" Hannah Asks

"Yes." He Says

"You took a stand against Bartholomew. Are you going to help us, lead us against Metatron?" Hannah Asks

"I'm no leader." Castiel Says

"But you..." Hannah Says

"I am no leader, Hannah. But I will find Metatron, and I make him pay." Castiel Says

"Let me help you. Let us help you." Hannah Says

"You are safer away from me. Now, this angel who attacked you, what was his name?" Castiel Says

HOTEL ROOM

Immediately the scene changes to the Winchesters and Elena on the phone with Castiel as he enters his room.

"Gadreel? Gadreel is working for Metatron? For how long?" Sam Asks

"I don't know." Castiel Says

"So, Metatron made Gadreel kill Kevin?" Elena Says

"It would explain a lot, and there have been no new prophets, which Metatron could have fixed to his advantage." Castiel Says

"And Gadreel said that angels are returning to heaven? How? I thought that the spell was irreversible." Dean Says

"That's what Crowley said. Look, let's just find Gadreel and... and beat some answers out of him." Sam Says

"Yeah, here's something to start with that. Uh... Hold on, I'm, uh... Sending you a photo of the symbol that drew all the angels in." Castiel Says

Sam walks over to his computer, Elena and Dean looks as well "Okay. Got it."

"It's acting as some kind of angel siren. I think it's a spell. The ingredients used to create it were very odd... Griffin feathers, bones of a fairy. I've never seen it before." Castiel Says

"Yeah. Me, neither. All right. Let me see what I can find." Sam Says

Castiel looks at the honor bar fridge in the hotel room; mutters to himself.

"Honor bar." What's honorable about a miniature bar in a motel room?" Castiel Says

"Everything." Dean Says As Castiel smiles

"How are you, Dean?" Castiel Asks

"I'm fine, Cas. How 'bout you?" Dean Says

"I miss my wings. Life on the road... smells." Castiel Says

"He's right about that." Elena Says

"Hmm." Dean Says

"Yeah. Listen, I got a match, and it's not from the lore... it's from police records. Looks like that symbol you found was spotted at a handful of crime scenes the last couple days, all multiple homicides." Sam Says

"And where were these crime scenes?" Castiel Asks

"Uh, Utah... Baker, Hill Valley." Sam Says

"And I'm in Bishop's Falls, Utah." Castiel Says

"Also looks like most of the crime scenes were in industrial areas." Sam Says

Castiel walks over and checks the maps on the wall.
"Looks like Gadreel is heading north."

"What's the next big town?" Elena Asks

"There are two. It could be Auburn or Ogden." Castiel Says

"All right, you take Auburn, we'll take Ogden... meet in the middle." Dean Says

They hang up and Castiel starts to files in his case when the electricity starts to short out and buzz. He pauses and looks around.

BUNKER MAIN ROOM

"Didn't we work a case in Ogden?" Dean Asks

"Yeah. It was a... it was a witch situation, right?" Sam Says

"Yeah. There was that kid in town that helped us, wasn't there?" Dean Says

"Ahh you mean Sam's freaky Friday case..good times." Elena chuckles

"Yes. We should call him, see if he's still in business." Sam Says

"Yeah. What was his name?" Dean Says

STORE

Outside a store a car pulls up and a hooded figure walks in and addresses the man behind the counter, Ian.

"Good afternoon." He Says

"It's afternoon?" Ian Says

"I wonder if I may procure from you the feathers of a Griffin." He Says

"Uh" he chuckles "We got some off-the-menu items, but, uh, this ain't Diagon Alley, man." He Says

The hooded figure pulls back his hood and it is revealed to be Gadreel.

"I saw the Hunter signs on the door, young man. You have what I seek." Gadreel Says

"Griffin feathers, huh? Not exactly looking to trip the light fantastic, are we?" Ian Says

"Humans never cease to amaze me." Gadreel Says

"Excuse me?" Ian Says

"I'm curious... do you also have fairy bones? It does not matter what realm they were from." Gadreel Says

"Griffins and fairies... the hell you hunting, man?" Ian Asks

"Family." Gadreel Says

"Mm-kay. Let me see what we have here." Ian Says

HOTEL ROOM

Back in Castiel's hotel room he his getting ready to leave with the electricity starts to flash again. The TV pops on and starts to play Casa Erotica 14. In the video a Woman speaks "Sometimes, you need a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. #amiright Sometimes, you need #casaerotica. Casa erotica."

"That's inappropriate." Castiel Says

In the video there is a knock at the door. The woman gets up and answers the door. It is Gabriel with a porn-stache. "Hello. Remember me, bucko?" He rips the porn-stache off.

"Gabriel." Castiel Says

"I'm gonna take that as a yes." He snaps his fingers and the TV goes black. Castiel slowly turns around and Gabriel stands behind him.

"I need your help, brother." Gabriel Says

"I thought you were dead." Castiel Says

"Please. You can't take the trick out of the Trickster." Gabriel Says

"So, I assume you faked your own death?" Castiel Says

"And I assume you weren't let into Mensa while I was gone." Gabriel Says

"Where have you been?" Castiel Asks

"Ohhh, you know hither with a side of yon. I was hiding, captain side eyes, in the safest place in the universe... heaven. But then you and the other two stooges had to go and ruin Christmas, now, didn't you?" Gabriel Says

"Sorry." Castiel Says

"Oh, cry me a river. Look... I dropped, I hid, I finally watched "Downton Abbey." But then, your BFF, Metatron, sent his minions out looking for me. Apparently, he thinks since I'm an archangel that I have extra juice." Gabriel Says

"And that you're a threat?" Castiel Asks

"Yeah, but I got hurt in the fall, too, used most of my juice to get back into porn. That came out wrong. So did that. Uh, the point is, I've been on the run. But then, a few weeks ago, somebody started playing my song." Gabriel Says

"The angel siren." Castiel Says

"No. The horn of Gabriel... one of Dad's little party favors that I never got around to messing with. Metatron dug it up and started blowing, so I came out of hiding." He Says

"Why?" Castiel Asks

"There's safety in numbers. But Metatron was using it to trap angels, not unite them." Gabriel Says

"It wasn't Metatron. It was his second in command...Gadreel." Castiel Says

"Gadreel? That old Chestnut? Wow!" Gabriel Says

"What do you want from me?" Castiel Asks

"Your help, Columbo. I'm getting the band back together. We're going on the kill Metatron tour, and you're looking at the new front man." Gabriel Says

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IAN'S SHOP

Scene changes to the Impala pulling up in front of Ian's shop at night. Sam, Elena and Dean get's out and enter. They search around with flashlights

"Got an open box of feathers over here." Dean Says

Elena walks to the back and opens a closet and Ian is dead inside, his eyes angel-burned from his head.

"Sam Dean." Elena Says

"Yup He was definitely here." Sam Says

"We got to find Gadreel before he lights up the bat signal." Dean Says

CAR

Castiel and Gabriel are driving and Castiel is trying to call Dean "This is Dean's other, other cell, so you must know what to do."

"Dean, it's me. I'm..." Castiel Says Then Gabriel snatches the phone from his hand

"Ho, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hands-free much? Both on the wheel. I'm precious cargo. Hey, what's up, shorties? Remember me, the guy who died for your sins? No, not the cat with the beard and sandals... the hot one. Hey, thank you so much for the flowers and condolences... really meant a lot to the fam. Any old how, your boy toy and I are rolling our way towards your top-secret domicile. Ooh! Call to discuss." he hangs up "Those kooky kids." Gabriel Says

"So, you've been back for months. What have you seen out there?" Castiel Asks

"After it was raining winged men, hallelujah? Well, you know... total nigh-biblical chaos, Crowley and Aba-douche duking it out. Good times. And then there's our peeps, scattered like confetti." Gabriel Says

"There has been a lot of confusion." Castiel Says

"You think? Most angels aren't like us, Castiel. They can't handle this whole free-will thing. They're sheep, drones. But us? We're different. We're rebels... one without a 'cause, one with." Gabriel Says

"I'm just a soldier." Castiel Says

"Bitch, please. You've been God more often than Dad has." Gabriel Says

"Yeah. Look how that worked out." Castiel Says

"Well, go ahead. Be a soldier all you want. I'm gonna need as many as I can find." Gabriel Says

"Why are you doing this, Gabriel?" Castiel Asks

"I always run...From Dad, from the family. I don't want to run anymore. I want to do what I was meant to do... lead." Gabriel Says

"Well, we need a leader. And I'm happy it's gonna be you." Castiel Says

"A little low on gas, aren't we?" Gabriel Says

GAS N SIP

They pull up to a Gas-n-Sip and enter the station.

"Ooh, smell that cancer. Delicious!" Gabriel Says

Suddenly a truck pulls up outside and people jump off and approach the door.

"Uh... Remember the minions of Metatron I mentioned?" Gabriel Says

He runs to the door and locks it as Suspenseful music plays as the camera changes to Gadreel walking to his car in a dark alley. But he looks up to see Sam walking around a corner, apparently having no idea Gadreel is there and Sam takes out his phone and calls.

"Cas, it's Sam again. Call us. We need your help." Sam Says

He hangs up and then jumps as Gadreel is right in front of him. Gadreel smiles menacingly. But before he can make a move a lighter clicks open and Dean drops it from above igniting a ring of holy fire around Gadreel.

"Hey, douchebag." Dean Says

"Remember me?" Sam Says

Back at the Gas-n-Sip, Castiel and Gabriel are working on a battle plan.

"We'll never keep these guys out of here." Gabriel Says

"I know. So... We fight." Castiel Says

"No. I fight. I lied before. I never watched "Downton Abbey." I was just trying to fit in. Oh, and I do have some archangel juice left. I can hold these boneheads off long enough." Gabriel Says

"Long enough for what?" Castiel Says

"For you to get out of here." Gabriel Says

"No, I'm not leaving you." Castiel Says

"Yes, you are." Gabriel Says

"Those guys will cut you to ribbons." Castiel Says

"But I can stall them long enough for you to amscray. And you can take my place." Gabriel Says

"What are you talking about?" Castiel Asks

"The angels need a leader, and it's got to be somebody like us... somebody different." Gabriel Says

"No." Castiel Says

"I know you don't want this burden, Castiel. Neither do I." Gabriel Says

"What if I fail again?" Castiel Says

"You won't. You can't." Gabriel Says As Castiel suddenly pulls him into a hug.

"Thank you." Castiel Says

"Shut up." Gabriel Says

Castiel turns to leave and as he does he goes to put his drawn angel blade into his coat but notices that it is no longer torn from earlier. He turns back around, suddenly suspicious.

"Haven't got all day, hotpants." Gabriel Says

"Was any of this real?" Castiel Asks

"What the hell are you talking about? Cas, go!" Castiel doesn't move "So, what...we both die here?" Gabriel Says

Castiel sadly sliding his blade into Gabriel and it does nothing "No. You're already dead."

"Well." He snaps his fingers and the minions bursting in the door disappear "What gave it all away?" Gabriel Asks

"My coat was torn earlier today." Castiel Says

"Ah, crap. I really hate continuity errors." Gabriel Says

"So, none of this is real, and I'm guessing I'm no longer in the motel." Castiel Says

"Here's the thing... none of it was real, but all of it was true." Gabriel Says

"Whose truth...yours or Metatron's?" Castiel Asks

"Just hear him out, would you? He's just trying to help you." Gabriel Says

"Really? How?" Castiel Asks

"Sorry... didn't read the whole script, just, uh, skimmed for my parts. Well, it's good to see you, old bean." Gabriel Says he goes to snap his fingers but Castiel stops him

"Wait. Are you dead?" Castiel Asks

Gabriel smirks and snaps his fingers. Everything disappears and Castiel is gagged and tied to a chair in Metatron's study. Metatron is still typing. He looks up and takes his glasses off smiling at Castiel.

"What makes a story work?" Metatron Asks