ABANDONED FACTORY

In the abandoned factory, Sam, Elena and Dean have Gadreel tied up to a chair.

"If this is like looking into a fun-house mirror for me, I cannot imagine what it is like for you." Gadreel Says

"How long have you been working for Metatron?" Sam Asks

"I will not talk, and you cannot make me." Gadreel Says

"Yeah?" Sam Says

"I have been you, Sam Winchester. Your insides reek of shame and weakness." Gadreel Says

Sam jumps forward and punches Gadreel in the face. He goes to do it again but Dean jumps in front and presses his hands to his chest to stop him.

"Sam, Sam, Sam! Sam. Come here." Dean Says

METATRON'S STUDY

Back in Metatron's study he is addressing the camera again, While Castiel is still tied up and gagged

"Tonight, I thought I'd tell you a little story...Let you decide. That was my plan, anyway. I guess that's where my story failed." Metatron Says

He stops the music and removes Castiel's gag. He then pulls back Castiel's coat and looks at the torn pocket.

"Yes. This is "The Curious Incident," eh, inspector Gregory?" Metatron Says

"Who?" Castiel Says

"Inspector Gregory. Sherlock Holmes. "Silver Blaze"?" He rolls his eyes, exasperated "You have been around since scaly things crawled out of the muck. Would it have killed you to pick up a book, watch a movie? [sighs] Here. I know it's a bit of a retcon, but it's gonna make this whole conversation a lot easier." Metatron Says

He presses his fingers to Castiel's head and Castiel reels back and gasps in pain.

"I just gave you every book, movie, and TV show I have consumed in the last couple of millennia. Now do you understand that "the universe is made up of stories, not atoms"?" Metatron Says

"I understand that that's a... a quote by Muriel Rukeyser." Castiel Says

"Ah! It can be taught. Here are a few more lessons. First rule of writers club... steal from the best. Second rule? Every hero needs a villain." Metatron Says

"What are you talking you about?" Castiel Asks

"Hannah and her sisters...I set all that up, told Gadreel, "slaughter all those who will not join my army, but let one live, one...To tell the tale." Metatron Says

"Is it true? Can you bring angels back to heaven?" Castiel Asks

"Sorry. No spoilers. And you keep missing the point. You're supposed to lead the angels." Metatron Says

"I am not a leader, Metatron." Castiel Says

"Apparently. So... I did my homework." He picks up one of the books from the desk. It is Tall Tales by Carver Edlund. " "The Winchester Gospels." Pulpy stuff." He throws the book into the fire in the fireplace "Gave me an idea, though. You needed to be taught a lesson, and nobody teaches lessons better than good old Gabriel, a.k.a. The Trickster. So... I started typing." Metatron Says

"And you did all this to make me a hero?" Castiel Says As Metatron laughs

"Ah, that's priceless. Um no. You are not the hero in this mess-terpiece. You are the villain. I'm the hero." Metatron Says

________________________________

ABANDONED FACTORY

Back in the abandoned factory, Sam, Elena and Dean are discussing their next play a few steps away from Gadreel.

"He's not gonna crack that fast." Elena Says

"I know. Maybe we could hack him like Dean and Crowley hacked me." Sam Says

"No, no, no, no. Crowley's the only one who can do that. And I'm in no mood to call that dickbag. We need Cas." Dean Says

"Any word from him?" Elena Asks

"No. I tried him again. He hasn't called, he hasn't texted. I turned on the GPS on his phone. He's still in the same town where we talked to him last." Dean Says

"What the hell?" Sam Says

"I don't know. You got to go find him." Dean Says

"Wait, what?" Sam Says

"You're too close to this, man." Dean Says

"And, what, you're not?" Sam Says

"We're not at this five minutes, you're already going Liam Neeson on his ass Elena and I got this." Dean Says

Sam nods then gives Dean the Angel blade and takes off, Dean and Elena walks back over to Gadreel.

"So, he acts tough, and you show kindness. Is that how this works?" Gadreel Asks

"No. See, I don't care whether you talk. You're gonna pay for what you did to him...and Kevin." Dean Says

METATRON'S STUDY

"Do you know why I didn't kill you after I stole your Grace? I like you. Truly. Among all God's little windup toys, you were the only one with any spunk. I left you human because I was hoping you would live happily ever after, but you screwed that up, too. And now... Uh, you leave me no choice. I mean, if you want to get back on board, fine, but you're gonna have to follow my script." Metatron Says

"Well, based on your assessment, that doesn't sound like me." Castiel Says

"Lead the dumb, disenfranchised, rebellious angels against me, Castiel. They will follow you. And they'll all die, but I'm gonna save a nice, warm seat up top for you. You will be saved." Metatron Says

"No." Castiel Says

"Mm. You're gonna make me do the hard pitch, aren't you? How's that, um, stolen grace inside you working out?" Metatron Asks

"It's fine." Castiel Says

"No. It's not. It's burning out. It's gonna burn you out. But I will give you an endless supply of rechargeable batteries. Deal?" Metatron Says
As The door opens and a woman walks in

"Sorry to interrupt your writing session, sir, but something's happened." She Says

"What's wrong?" Metatron Asks

"It's Gadreel." She Says

ABANDONED FACTORY

Scene switchs to Dean drawing his angel blade deeply across Gadreel's arm as he screams in agony.

"Word around the campfire is, you let the snake into the garden, ruined it for all humanity." Dean Says as he cleans the blood off his blade

"I set them free. I loved humanity!" Gadreel Says

"Well, you sure got got a funny way of showing it, asshat. Now, look, you tell me about this "getting back into heaven" crap and I'll end this quick. Otherwise, you can sit here and rot in those chains forever. Up to you." Dean Says

"All your talk, all your bluster... you think you are invincible. The three of you against the world, right?" Gadreel Says

"Damn straight." Dean Says

"You really think Sam would do anything for you?" Gadreel Says

Dean's face is completely broken but his walls come up again as he turns back to face Gadreel.

"Oh, I know he would." Dean Says

"I have been in your brother's body, Dean. He would not trade his life for yours." Gadreel Says

"Well, thanks for the rerun, pal. Sam's already told me all that crap. Hell, he's told me worse." Dean Says

"He told you that he has always felt that way,
that he thinks you are just a scared little boy who's afraid to be on his own because daddy never loved him enough? And he is right, isn't he? Right to think you are a coward, a sad, clingy, needy..." Gadreel Says

Dean's fist crashed into Gadreel's face and his mouth bleeds profusely.

"Keep it up!" Dean Says

"Pathetic bottom-feeder who cannot even take care of himself, who would rather drag everyone through the mud than be alone, who would let everyone around him die!" Gadreel Says

Dean can't take it anymore and swings his angel blade to stap Gadreel in the chest. But just before he reaches him, Elena jumps in front of him to stop Dean. She notices Gadreel has his eyes close waiting for the death strike, Dean stops in an instant.

"No. Do it. Do it! Kill me!" Gadreel Says

"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? That's what that whole speech was about? You're not afraid to die, are you? You're afraid to be left in these chains forever." Elena Says

"Yeah Well, you can sit here and rot, you son of bitch." Dean Says

HOTEL ROOM

Sam pulls up to Castiel's hotel and gets out and enters the room. Dean enters the filthy restroom in the factory. Sam looks around the room and sees Castiel's phone on the table. Dean sets his cell down on the sink and splashes water on his face.

He looks up into the mirror and stares at the reflection of the Mark of Cain. Sam picks up Castiel's phone and notes there are 6 missed calls from Dean. Sam suddenly hears someone behind him and he draws his gun and turns in a second.

"Easy there, tiger. I'm here to trade. You have something of mine, and I have something of yours. Bring him here tomorrow, say...6:00-ish? If not, Castiel dies. No comebacks this time." Metatron Says

"An even trade?" Sam Says

"I'm an entity of my word." Metatron Says

Dean's phone vibrates on the sink as Sam tries to reach him but Dean is grasping his right arm, holding the angel blade and headed back to Gadreel.
The Impala pulls up to the factory.

ABANDONED FACTORY

Sam enters the room where Gadreel was tied up but the chair is overturned and there is a lot of blood pooling on the floor.

"Dean? Dean! Elena!" Sam Says

Sam looks around wildly and notices his brother on the other side of the room, propped against the wall looking unconscious as Elena lifts him up, Sam rushes to them as we can see Dean stir.

"Dean. Hey!, Elena what happened?" Sam Asks

"I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen to me, I'm sorry." Elena Says

"Are....are you okay?" Sam Asks

Dean right hand is all bloody as he looks at it
"Yeah. Yeah, you got to stop asking me that."

"I've been calling you. I mean, w-why didn't you, uh..." Sam Says

He looks over at Gadreel who is lying by Dean very bloody and unconscious.

"He won't talk." Dean Says

"I figured." Sam Says

"He wanted to die, and I was gonna kill him. I was. But then I stopped 'cause I know we need him to talk." Dean Says

"Dean Elena, listen. Metatron has Cas. He's offering up a trade." Sam Says

"We can't trust Metatron." Dean Says

"I-I know that. Obviously. But look, this is the first time we're gonna know for sure where Metatron is. Let's take Gadreel to the meet-up, make the exchange, and then trap Metatron." Sam Says

"Trapping Metatron, won't that be too easy?" Elena Says

"Elena when has anything ever been too easy for us?" Sam Asks

"Fair point." Elena Says

_________________________________

HOTEL PARKING LOT

Back at Castiel's hotel, the Winchesters and Elena wait next to the Impala.

"He's late." Sam Says

"Or he's not gonna show." Dean Says

"Of course I'm gonna show. I was just waiting for you three to finished setting up your little trap for me. Uh... Am I hitting my mark? Well, come on. Let's go. I'm waiting." Metatron Says

"Told you." Elena mumbled As Sam looks at her

Dean throws down a lit lighter and it lights up a burning holy fire circle around Metatron. He fakes agony and then laughs.

"Either of you bring s'mores? Holy Fire always gives them a delightful minty aftertaste. Make a wish, boys and girls." Metatron Says

Metatron blows out the holy flames with a breath. The Winchesters jump forward with their angel blades but Metatron sends them flying back into the Impala with a flick of his wrist.

"No, thanks!" He walks to the Impala's trunk and opens it. He flicks away the angel warding "Bye-bye." Metatron Says

Gadreel gets out of the trunk as a car pulls up and Castiel gets out, He quickly walks over to Elena, Sam and Dean.

"Well, a deal is a deal." Metatron Says

"Why are you doing this?" Dean Asks

"Because I can. Because you and your little brother, your enchantress and your fine, feathered friend and all those secrets you've got locked away in your bunker can't stop me. But I am gonna enjoy watching you try. It's gonna be a hell of a show. I'll see you around, Castiel. Never forget I gave you a chance." Metatron Says

Metatron walks away and gets in the car with Gadreel and his minions, a few hours later the three hunters try asking Castiel what's going on.

"Okay Somebody want to tell me what the hell's going on here?" Dean Asks

"Metatron is trying to play God." Castiel Says

"Play God? Cas, he erased angel warding. He friggin' blew out Holy Fire. He is God." Elena Says

"Yea and he's powering up with the angel tablet. How the hell are we supposed to stop this guy?" Sam Says

"All right, so what if there is a stairway to heaven? We find it and get a drop on the guy." Dean Says

"You want to sneak onto the Death Star, take out the emperor?" Sam Asks

"Okay I... I'm not sure what a fictional battle station in space has to do with this, but if taking out the emperor means taking out Metatron, I'm on board." Castiel Says

"Wait, did you... did you just understand a Death Star reference?" Dean Says

"Yeah, I think so. But I don't understand what that has to do with heaven." Castiel Says

"It's halfway, I guess." Elena Says

"You sure you're all right?" Dean Asks

"Yes. Are you? There's something different about you." Castiel Says

Dean pats Castiel on the shoulder with his right hand "I'm fine."

Castiel grabs his arm and pushes up his sleeve revealing the Mark. Castiel's eyes darken as his stares at Dean.

"What have you done?" Castiel Asks

Dean yanks his hand back "It's a means to an end."

"Damn it, Dean." Castiel Says

"Look, you find heaven, you drop a dime. Meantime, I got a knight to kill." Dean Says Then stomps to the driver's side of the car

"Bye Cas." Elena hugs him

"Be safe out there." Sam Says

"You, too. Hey, Elena Sam, you keep an eye on him." Castiel Says As Sam & Elena nods

METATRON'S STUDY

Metatron is typing on his typewriter, the door opens and it's his secretary and Gadreel. Metatron nods as she closes the door behind Gadreel.

"Is the door secure?" Metatron Asks

"Yes. The way home is safe." Gadreel Says

"Thank you, Gadreel." Metatron Says

"How did your play turn out?" Gadreel Asks

"Didn't quite turn out as I'd planned, but that is why we rewrite. That was God's problem, you know... he published the first draft. You got to keep at it till you get all your ducks in a row." Metatron Says

"Was the Winchesters grabbing me part of your plan?" Gadreel Asks

"That was a surprise. But, hey, what writer doesn't love a good twist? My job is to set up interesting characters and see where they lead me. The by-product of having well-drawn characters is...They may surprise you. But I know something they don't know...the ending. How I get there doesn't matter as long as everybody plays their part." Metatron Says

Gadreel nods and leaves as Metatron goes over to his phonograph player and starts the music again. As it plays we see Sam, Elena and Dean driving in the dark. Sam is watching his older brother with a worried expression as Dean stares straight ahead.

Then we see Castiel back in his hotel room. He tears down all the maps from the wall. Then the Impala cruises by with a sunrise in the background. Metatron is typing. Castiel has drawn the angel beacon sigil on the wall. When he opens the door, 20+ angels are standing outside. He motions them in. Metatron continues typing...