CARIBOU, WYOMING

A white bus drives in the distance of a foggy day in Caribou, Wyoming. The bus has multiple Christian logos and writings on it: "Melody Ministry Glee Club" "Let us sing to the Lord!" "Honk if you hear Jesus" "Jesus saves!" A women's chorus is singing a popular Protestant hymn.

The bus pulls up to a roadhouse with a lot of motorcycles parked in front. The door opens, and a bunch of tough-looking male bikers in leather, chains, tattoos, piercings, shaved heads. They look in disbelief at what walks in. In the bar, "Bad Luck" by Social Distortion is playing.

The bikers line up against one wall, and about a dozen women in matching white dresses and orange cardigans line up along the other wall.

"You shouldn't be here." He Says

"We have just as much right to be here as you do, brother." She Says

Angel-blades snic into hands, from outside the bar shows brilliant white light flashing, while screams and yells are heard and the window glass is shattered. The door is opened and the sisters walk out of the roadhouse, back to their bus and their outfits are spattered with blood. Inside the roadhouse bikers' bodies are everywhere. Social Distortion plays in the background.

"All right, girls, everybody." The women's voices sing as the bus drives off.  ♪ This little light of mine ♪
♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

________________________________

ROAD

Dean is driving while Sam is in the passenger seat.

"So, he's better?" Dean Asks

"Yes. Sam is much improved. It shouldn't be much longer now." Ezekiel Says

"Okay, you know you said the same thing to me last week, right?" Dean Says

"As I told you when we met – this will take time." Ezekiel Says

"Okay, well, go then. Heal. I'd like my brother back, please." Dean Says

"I must say, Dean, I'm very uncomfortable with this whole trip. Investigating crimes involving angels – or anything involving angels – puts me, and therefore, Sam, at risk." Ezekiel Says

"Well, family business, Zeke. Okay? If we ignore this, Sam's gonna think that something fishy's going on." Dean Says

"Then I trust you will be discreet." Ezekiel Says

"Wait, if you know where we're going, that means you've been listening in. Are you – are you hearing everything between me and Sam?" Dean Asks

"No. Just a word here and there. I have better things to do with my time than eavesdrop, like heal your brother." Ezekiel Says

"Okay, 'cause here's the thing—" Dean Says

Sam's eyes flash blue as Ezekiel recedes and Sam resumes. "— you know, I was gonna say, it seems like it's getting really quiet out there, you know? Not a peep from the angels, even Buddy Boyle goes off the air and stops recruiting for them."

"Obviously calm before the storm." Dean Says

"Yeah, maybe." Sam Says Then notices something outside and stares in startlement

"What?" Dean Says

"That sign said "Fort Collins, 50 miles." Sam Says

"So?" Dean Says

"So, last time I looked, like, 12 seconds ago, uh, Fort Collins was a hundred miles." Sam Says

"Well, hey, man, ever since that goddess got her hooks into you, you know—" Dean Says

"No, it's more than Vesta! I mean, this kind of thing's been happening to me. Like, like, there are chunks of time just ... missing. Like there are times when I'm... not here." Sam Says

"Well, like I've said—" Dean Says

"Yes, the trials. I know. I heard you. I heard you when you said it the last week and the week before that and the week before that." Sam Says

"Yeah, because ... damn straight the trials. They whacked you, man. You're not up to warp speed yet, okay? But you will be.." He Smiles at Sam "Would I lie?" Dean Says As Sam looks back at him

ROADHOUSE

There's Crime-scene investigation is on. Sam and Dean pull up in the Impala, get out in suits, and flash their FBI "badges" at a uniformed cop.

"Ah, one of your guys is here already." He Says

Sam and Dean look at each other, put their ID back in their pockets, and head into the roadhouse.
Sam clears his throat, He and Dean look around, spot Castiel, and head his way.

"Ah, my colleagues." Castiel Says

Dean looks pointedly at Castiel while Sam smiles in unabashed and barely concealed pleasure, and slaps Castiel on the arm.

"Agent." Sam Says

"Agent." Castiel Says

"Cas. What the hell are you doing?" Dean Asks

"Um, I still have that badge you gave me." Castiel Says

"Yeah. Uh, what the hell are you doing?" Dean Asks

"The murders were all over the news. I, I thought I might be of help." Castiel Says

"Yeah, but Cas, you know that this is an angel situation, right? I mean, you left that night because angels were on your ass." Sam Says

"Yeah, and you were living the life, you know? Early retirement, working your way up the Gas-n-Sip ladder." Dean Says

"If angels are slaughtering one another, I have to do what I can to help. It is a risk we should be willing to take, don't you think?" Sam shrugs in agreement, seeing the point "Hey. Cas is back in town."

"Seriously, did you – did he just say that?" Dean Says

"These angels, uh, they were butchered. Much more violence than was required." Castiel Says handing Sam photos of the crime scene

"Definitely took more than one or two killers to pull this off." Sam Says

"Hit squad? Bartholomew's people?" Dean Says

"Well, Bartholomew has a faction we know about, but this could be somebody else entirely we don't know." Sam Says

Castiel patting both boys on their shoulders
"Well, whoever it is... We'll find them."

"We'll" find them. That's great." Dean Says

Ezekiel takes over and looks disapproving, Dean sees his disapproving look, and slinks off.

INDUSTRIAL SITES

Two cars pull up in a deserted industrial location for a rendezvous. The drivers get out and open the doors for each car. Out of one car, steps the blonde Glee Clubber, and a weedy-haired man in a leather jacket and goatee.

The weedy-haired man, Malachi, is flanked by Blonde Glee Club Angel and a very tall, butch, male angel.Out of the other car steps Bartholomew's Assistant, a woman, flanked by two more men; all are in corporate-style suits.

"Good evening, Malachi." She Says

"Where is he?" Malachi Asks

"Bartholomew is quite busy tonight. With such a large following, well, the responsibilities are enormous." She Says

"I called for a top-level summit. I don't deal with hand maidens." Malachi Says

"I'll convey your thoughts to Bartholomew." She Says

"He'll regret the disrespect." Malachi Says

"You speak of disrespect, Malachi? After the bloodbath two nights ago?" She Says

"Bartholomew's naked grab for power was nothing but disrespect! He and I ultimately want the same thing. The only way we can take Heaven back from Metatron is to unite. And if Bartholomew wants to avoid all-out warfare on Earth, he'll meet personally with me to negotiate terms." Malachi Says

"I'm sorry. I should've mentioned earlier, Bartholomew said to tell you he doesn't negotiate with street thugs..Are we done here?" She Says

"Yes, we are." Malachi Says

Malachi's hench-angels throw angel-knives at Bartholomew's two people; they die, white light streaming out of their corpses. She screams as Malachi rushes at her and stabs her himself.
Her body drops to the ground, Malachi wipes his blade.

"And so it begins." Malachi Says he drops the blood-stained kerchief on her corpse.

CORINNA'S HOUSE

Corinna is busy baking a cake listening to music, Parker looks up at something and begins barking. She turns down the music and looks at him.

"Parker what's wrong buddy?" Parker walks into the living room, he walks around in a circle and wines "..Hey what's the matter, and when did it get so cold in here." Corinna Says

Corinna walks back into the kitchen, she picks back up the frosting spatula and resumes her cooking.
Parker watches her then lays down on the couch, meanwhile over by the recliner someone is sitting there, and that person is Denny's ghost.

BAR

Inside the bar Sam, Castiel, and Dean, are at a having a beer.

"It is so good being together again. You know, this is my first beer as a human. I hope it's okay, me joining you?" Castiel Says

"Why wouldn't it be okay?" Sam Asks

"You know, Cas, are you sure you're ready to jump back into all this? I mean, it seemed to me like you'd actually found some peace." Dean Says

"Hey, you once told me that you don't choose what you do. It chooses you." Castiel Says

"Huh?" Dean Says

"I'm a part of this." He clinks beer bottles with Dean "Like it or not." Castiel Says

"All right, well, then, in that case, we have to figure out, uh, who are we up against, what do they want, and how do we stop them." Sam Says

"Well, Bartholomew wants to reverse Metatron's spell. Presumably to – to retake Heaven once his following is large enough. That's according to April." Castiel Says

"The reaper you banged." Dean Says

"Yeah, and you stabbed." Castiel Says

"Yeah..She was hot." Dean Says

"So hot. And very nice." Castiel Says

"Mm." Dean Says

"Up to the point she started torturing me." Castiel Says

"Yeah. Well, not every hookup's perfect." Dean pats Castiel's arm

"All right. I'm gonna get us another round." Sam Says

"Nah. I'll get it." He hops off his bar stool, then returns "Mm." Finishing the last of his old beer, and setting the bottle on the table. "You know, I've never done this before." Castiel Says

"One beer, he's hammered." Blue light flashes in Sam's eyes, Ezekiel is back. "Oh, boy." Dean Says

"Well? What are you going to do about this?" Ezekiel Asks

"About Cas?" Dean Says

"He is a beacon, Dean, pulling every angel for miles down on our heads." Ezekiel Says

"All right, you know what, Zeke? Level with me. What is it that you're so afraid of?" Dean Asks

"I told you. When I chose to answer your prayers and heal Sam, I chose sides. That means I'm not in good standing with certain angels." Ezekiel Says

"Okay, well, you know what? Cas isn't in good standing with any angel, all right? But here he is, ass on the line, fighting the fight. So tell me, what makes you so special?" Dean Says

"Here we go. Three brewskies." Castiel Says

"I'm going to get something out of the car." Ezekiel
Says

Outside The bar Ezekiel is walking around, He hears something approaching him and slows down.

"Well, I'm really looking forward to this." Metatron Says

"Excuse me?" Ezekiel Says

"Oh, please. I know who you really are. And it isn't Ezekiel." Metatron Says

________________________________

THE BAR

Dean and Castiel at their table sharing a few cold ones.

"I, um, I noticed you look... kind of uncomfortable whenever Sam mentions my leaving. Doesn't he know that you told me to leave?" Castiel Says

"Here's the deal. When Sam was doing the trials to seal up Hell, it messed him up. Okay? The third one nearly killed him. If I'd let him finish, it would have. He's still messed up, bad." Dean Says

"You said the angel, Ezekiel, helped heal him." Castiel Says As Dean looks down, avoiding the question

"Look, I got to do anything I can to get him back. Now, if that means that we keep our distance from you for a little while, then... Then I don't have a choice. I don't feel good about it, but I don't have a choice. It's great to have your help, Cas. Okay, but we just can't work together." Dean Says As Castiel looks sad

Outside the bar Metatron and Ezekiel are speaking.

"Relax. I'm not here to out you. But I am curious, why Ezekiel?" Metatron Asks

"They say he is a good, and ... honorable angel." He Says

"Ahhhh. Everything they say you are not. I see your point... Gadreel." Metatron Says

"The stories about me – they are not true!" Gadreel Says

"And yet you spent countless thousands of years locked in Heaven's darkest dungeon. And now you're hiding in this human, posing as Ezekiel..Tragic.
It broke His heart to lock you away, you know? You were God's most trusted. That's why He chose you to protect the garden. Your one task was to keep evil from entering... from befouling His cherished creation, mankind, and you failed Him!" Metatron Says

"Not my doing." Gadreel Says

"Well, for whatever reason, the serpent entered. The Earth is cursed with evil. Someone had to be blamed." Metatron Says

"What is it you want of me, Metatron?" Gadreel Asks

"Just to be your friend. You and I go back a long way. I was actually the one who freed you." Metatron Says

"You?" Gadreel Says

"I was the one who caused all the angels to fall. Including the imprisoned ones. You're welcome." Metatron Says

"No angels are in Heaven? None at all?" Gadreel Says

"No, and you know, at first, I thought I would love it. But it's a big place. My solitude is getting tedious." Metatron Says

"And so?" Gadreel Says

"And so ... Plan "B." Rebuild Heaven as the place God envisioned it, only with a handpicked few. No more anemic functionaries like Bartholomew. And no more stupid angels. Maybe some funny ones. You were His most trusted, Gadreel. You want to take back your reputation? You want to reclaim the Heaven that was? We could do this together." Metatron Says As Gadreel looks intrigued