HELL

Crowley walking down a corridor in Hell, looking scared. He is attacked by Guthrie and several other demons with knives. They stab him repeatedly.

"Son? Fergus!" Crowley wakes up, sitting on his throne. Rowena is in front of him. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Crowley Says

"Nothing? You're soaked in the horror sweat! Haven't seen that since the plague years. Darling, what can I do?" Rowena Says

"Not a thing, you evil bitch." Crowley Says

"Not a thing you evil bitch" mother." Rowena Says

"Let's not get too cozy just yet." Crowley Says

Crowley leaves the room and Rowena pulls a hex bag out from the throne and kisses it.

_________________________________

BUNKER

Dean is sitting on his bed in the bunker, holding his right arm. Images of Dean's Mark-fuelled killings. He gets up and looks at himself in a mirror, which is divided in three parts by cracks running from side to side. Meanwhile Elena is in her room on the phone with Corinna pacing back and forth.

"How bad was it exactly?" Corinna Asks

"Corinna...it was bad I mean, I've seen him kill before but this..this was different." Elena Says

"Oh god it's affecting him isn't it, the mark." Corinna Says

"Yeah and you know he tries to pretend that everything is fine, but I know him and that wasn't Dean. I just wish there was something I could do to help." Elena Says

Castiel pacing in the bunker library where Sam is sitting down on the table.

"She barely speaks to me..She's like a wounded animal, just watching me." Castiel Says

"Look, Cas, you know what? You really tried to do the right thing that night. You did. This guy Claire was hanging out with, Randy, all he did was use her." Sam Says

"Well, she thought he was kind. And for that, she loved him. Shows how little kindness there was in her life. You know, whatever Randy did, he didn't deserve –" Castiel Says

"No, yeah, I know, I know. I hear you. Dean has had to kill before. We both have. But that was –" Sam Says

"That was what?" Dean Says

Sam rises, surprised and Dean walks in from his bedroom.

"Dean." Sam Says

"That was a massacre. That's what it was." He looks from Sam to Cas "There was a time I was a hunter, not a stone-cold killer?" Elena enters the room
"You can say it. You're not wrong. I crossed the line. Guys, this thing's gotta go." Dean looks down at the Mark of Cain on his arm

"That won't be easy." Castiel Says

"Well, then burn it off! Cut it off." Dean Says

"It is more than just a physical thing. It will take a very powerful force to remove the effect." Castiel Says

"Dean, we have been through all the lore. There's nothing." Elena Says

"This reaches back to the time of creation. It may pre-date the lore. If we had the demon tablet, maybe." Castiel Says

"But you said it was missing." Elena Says

"It is."He looks reluctant to say what he says next
"There may be another way."

HELL

Crowley's throne room in Hell is empty, Rowena comes in through the door. She's looking for something, opening a chest and a closet, but not finding it.

"Ah, may I help you?" Rowena turns, surprised. Guthrie comes into view behind her. "His majesty didn't want you wandering around unattended. Certainly not in here."

"Och, I was just looking for a wee scrap of food. That swill they bring me, hardly fit for the mother of the king." Rowena Says

"I wouldn't know. I don't eat. If you please, I have my orders." Guthrie Says

"Oh, you poor dear man. Guthrie, is it? Terrified of displeasing him, aren't you? I know how my son can be. You're all scared spitless. Still, a boy listens to his mum. I'd be happy to put in a good word for you." Rowena Says

"I'm fine, thank you." Guthrie Says

Crowley opens the door and enters, holding a contract and a pen.

"Guthrie. Whatever this is, it bores me rigid. Do I sign or not?" Crowley Says

"I found it in order, sir. Do sign." Guthrie Says

Crowley signs the contract and hands it to Guthrie. Guthrie nods at Rowena and leaves.

"Mommy. Bored? Suicidal? Both?" Crowley Asks

"Hardly, my dear. I'm learning so much. This place of yours? Poor thing. I see now why you are the way you are." Crowley sits on the throne. He looks questioning. "My goodness! The discontent, the gossip, the plotting." Rowena Says

"Plotting?" Crowley Says

"Aye! And that one—" She points in the direction where Guthrie left. "Worst of the lot. Watch yourself around him, mark my word." Rowena Says

"You do realize that's exactly what you said about the guard, Gerald, down in the cells." Crowley Says

"And was I not right? I know, I know, you mistrust me, and I earned that, and it's a pity, because more than any of your other subjects, I wish you success." Rowena Says

"I know what you're up to here, mother." Crowley Says

"Do you, dear?" Rowena Says

"You are shamelessly sucking up so that I'll free you, so you can run amok and gum up my operation once again. No, thank you." Crowley Says

"Flee schmee. Why would I want to be free when I can be here with my son? Does it hurt that you are the king and there are advantages for me in that? No. But more important, I'm a mother. Sue me, I'm proud." Rowena Says

"Excuse me if I don't curl up in your lap. You did manage to stay away for three hundred years." Crowley Says

"Please, we've been over this. The locals were going to try me for witchcraft and that never ends well. I had to flee." Rowena Says

"You could have sent for me!" Crowley Says

"Well, then came the chance to study under the great Milanese witch, Leticia D'albioni... And then there was unpleasantness with the grand coven. Anyway, it was no environment for a child!" Rowena Says

"So locking me away in a squalid workhouse was your solution?" Crowley Says

"I will not apologize for being a career woman! Besides, what's three hundred years, more or less, to folks like us? Nothing. I'm back now." She licks her thumb and smooths Crowley's eyebrow with it.
"We can be a family." Rowena Says As Crowley scoffs mildly

PLAYGROUND

At the playground with the portal to Heaven, Castiel paces. He is watched by two guard angels, one in a woman's vessel, the other in a little girl's.

"They should be here by now. Was there word of a delay?" Castiel Says

"All I do is watch the door. Who are you expecting, Castiel?" She Asks

The portal opens and Ingrid and another angel come through escorting a prisoner with a hood over his head.

"Thank you, Ingrid." Castiel Says

"I did as you asked at great risk, Castiel." Ingrid Says

"I know. I approached you because I know you share my belief that it is angels' mission to protect humans. It's possible I can eliminate a great threat to them, but I will need his help." Castiel Says

"He must be returned intact. Is that clear?" Ingrid Says

"Yes." Castiel Says

Castiel takes the prisoner. Ingrid and her companion leave through the portal. Castiel takes off the prisoner's hood and reveals Metatron.

"Told you last time I saw you I'd get out of the slammer." Metatron Says

"It's temporary, trust me." Castiel Says

"Well, speaking of temporary, you must've borrowed some more grace. You're looking very good. Of course, we both know that won't last. Is that why I'm here? You think I'm gonna help you?" Metatron Says

"This isn't about me." Castiel Says

"Of course not. The great Castiel never stoops to such selfishness. So what is it then?" Metatron Says

Castiel and Metatron walks over to his Lincoln, Sam opens the front passenger door and gets out.

"Oh, I see. I'm betting you didn't tell Ingrid about him. Hello, Sam! Here to kill me?" Metatron Says

BUNKER DUNGEON

Metatron is sitting in a chair in the MoL dungeon. Sam approaches him.

"Lovely room, It's where you bring the kinky chicks, am I right?" Metatron Asks

"I'll ask the questions here." He puts chains around Metatron "You... Your only job is to provide information." Sam Says

"Ah. Well, information does happen to be a specialty. Got about two billion fun facts up here." He points to his temple "Of course, whether I choose to cough one up or not is another matter." Metatron Says

"We need to know how to remove the Mark of Cain from Dean's arm." Sam Says

"What? He's back? Because of the Mark? So... he's a demon." Metatron Says

"No." Sam Says

"Okay, what then?" Sam looks troubled. "What, did he "kill a human" or something?" Sam crosses his arms "He's gone nuclear! Total, foaming at the mouth, balls-out maniac. Ah, haha – that's fantastic!" Metatron Says

"Do you know how to remove it?" Sam Asks

"Maybe. But here's the thing. You expect any help out of me, you keep that crazy brother of yours on a short leash." Metatron Says

"Buddy, I don't care what happens to you. You killed my brother." Sam Says

Sam turns around to face Dean, who is walking into the dungeon.

_______________________________

HOTEL ASTORIA

Inside a hotel room, where Claire is hurriedly packing. There's a knock on the door, the door opens and Castiel enters.

"I was hoping to be gone by the time you got back." Claire Says As Castiel closes the door behind him

"If you don't like the room, we can find another one." Castiel Says

"It's not the room, Castiel. It's you. This isn't going to work. I mean, come on. You look like my father. It is his body. But he's dead, and I get it, you feel bad, but you... whoever you are, are nothing to me." Claire Says

"Claire, that's not true. I'm in large part responsible for the way your life has unfolded. I... I have a responsibility to help you." Castiel Says

"No, you don't." Claire Says

"Claire. You have seen things, you've been through things that no one your age should have. And you are adrift. I wanna – I wanna help you have a life." Castiel Says

"I have a life. I'm good with it. If what you mean is a normal life, well. That ship has sailed." Claire Says

"Doesn't have to be the case. You're still young." Castiel Says

"Stop talking to me like you're my father. You killed my father. And that friend of yours killed the last thing I had closest to family." Claire Says

"Are you speaking of Randy? Family? A man had you in that room and Randy didn't make a move to help you." Castiel Says

"Maybe because he was at gunpoint. Dean Winchester is a monster." Claire Says

"It's possible there is a little monster in all of us." Castiel Says

"You want me to trust you, and the fact that you'd even try to defend him just proves to me that I can't." Claire Says

"Claire..." Castiel Says

"No, Castiel, I'm done! I have to be on my own." Claire Says

Claire leaves and closes the door behind her, the camera closes in on Castiel's sorrowful face.

BUNKER DUNGEON

"Ain't life a bitch?, Nebbishy little guy – me – always sticking it to the lunkhead jocks." Metatron Says

"You know what, screw the Mark. Let's just kill him." Dean Says

"Boy, he really is a mess." Sam and Elena is sitting on a table corner next to Dean. "Who knew the Mark was so toxic? Well, actually, I did. You know it is going to own you sooner than later." Metatron Says

"Yeah, so how do we get rid of it?" Elena Asks

"What, just like that, social hour's over?" Metatron Says

"Yes, and now we're moving on to our keynote speaker." Sam Says

"Which is you. With us asking the questions. And me taking the personal pleasure of carving the answers out of you." Dean Says

"Now, just – whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there, badass! Lighten up! Why do you just assume I'm not gonna be helpful?" Metatron Says

"Because you're a dickwad." Sam Says

"But I'm your dickwad. I have a special place in my non-heart for you three. To which end – ta-daa! I'd be tickled to help you pop this biblical zit. To do it, you are gonna need one specific thing. Your old bud – the First Blade." Metatron Says

"What?" Elena Says

"As I said: ain't life a bitch." Metatron laughs

Upstairs Dean, Elena and Sam walk into the bunker library.

"This is the single worst idea I've ever heard. You just whacked a whole house full of people, and that's when the Blade was nowhere around. And now you wanna be in actual contact with it?" Sam Says

"We don't know that I have to be in contact with it. All we know is that we need it." Dean Says

"No no, all we know is he says we need it. We don't even know what he wants us to do with it." Dean Says

"A step at a time, allright. We play it safe, we learn whatever the spell is, how it works and we keep the Blade out of my hands." Dean takes out his cell phone

"Are you sure this isn't the Mark making you want the damn thing? I mean, why would we trust anything Metatron says?" Elena Says

"I don't trust Metatron." Dean Says

"You don't tru– Then what?" Sam Says

"What's his game if he is lying, okay? The Blade without me is useless. The Blade with me is trouble for him." Dean makes a call and puts his phone to his ear

"What does he want?" Elena Asks

"I don't know. But if we weren't willing to take a shot, then what was the point of bringing him here? Unless you guys got a better idea." Dean Says

HELL

Rowena is pouring tea, using a golden tea set, in Crowley's throne room in Hell.

"Of course you recall the lovely lullaby I sang to you nightly after you fed the goat." Rowena Says

"You never sung me a lullaby. You dosed me with whiskey until I passed out." Crowley Says

"Even then, I had a touch for pharmacology. Your mum was a prodigy." Rowena Says

"Funny. Not what I called you." His cell phone rings.
"Business..Squirrel. It's been a while. Back to your former self?" Crowley Says

In the bunker corridor Dean is on his cell phone, Sam Elena are behind him.

"Crowley. We need to meet ASAP." Dean Says

"Where?"

Crowley listens while Rowena watches him. Crowley ends the call and gets up from the throne.

"I got to go. Urgent. Matter of state." Crowley Says

"My son." She straightens Crowley's lapels "So important. Shall I wait dinner for you?" Rowena Says

"You don't cook. I don't eat. It's a perfect arrangement." Crowley teleports away

"Not even a goodbye." Rowena Says

Rowena looks around; she's alone. She opens a drawer and takes out a pair of scissors. Humming The Road to Loch Lomond, she opens Crowley's closet where at least six identical dark blue paisley ties are hanging side by side. Rowena cuts a strip of fabric from one of them.