My Home Is Always With You {10}

Chapter 10: "The Hunter Games"

Crowley's having a nightmare where his demons kill him and Rowena wakes him up and says, "Son? Fergus! What's the matter?" Crowley says, "Nothing." Rowena says, "Nothing? You're soaked in the horror sweat. Haven't seen that since the plague years. Darlin', what can I do?" Crowley says, "Not a thing, you evil bitch." Rowena says, "'Not a thing, you evil, bitch" mother." As Crowley walks away, he says, "Let's not get too cozy just yet." Crowley walks out the room and Rowena drops her fake smile and grabs the hex bag that she put under her son's chair because she caused the nightmare.

Meanwhile with Liz, Sam, and Castiel they're all thinking about the bloodbath that Dean caused. Liz is sitting on the table, and she hasn't said a word since it happened, and Sam's really worried about her. Castiel says, "She barely speaks to me. She's like a wounded animal, just watching me." Sam says, "Look, Cass, you know what? You really tried to the right thing that night. You did. This guy Claire was hanging out with, uh, Randy-- all he did was use her." Castiel says, "Yeah, 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--" Sam cuts Castiel off and says, "No, yeah. I know. I know. I hear you. Dean has had to kill before. We-- we all have. But... that was..." Dean walks in hearing Sam and says, "That was what?" Sam says, "Dean." Dean says, "It was a massacre. That's what it was. I mean, there was a time I was a hunter, not a stone-cold killer? You can say it. You're not wrong. I crossed the line. Guys, this thing's got to go." Castiel says, "That won't be easy." Dean says, "Well, then, burn it off! Cut if off!" Castiel says, "It is more than just a physical thing. It will take a very powerful force to remove the effect." Sam says, "Dean, we have been through all the lore. There's nothing." Castiel says, "This reaches back to the time of creations. It may predate the lore. If we had the demon tablet, maybe." Liz speaks up for the first time in a while and she looks at Castiel and softly says, "I thought you said it was missing." Castiel says, "It is. There may be another way." Meanwhile with Crowley, he walks into a room and sees Guthrie with his mother and he says, "Guthrie... whatever this is, it bores me rigid. Do I sign or not?" Guthrie says, "I found it in order, sir. Do sign." Guthrie walks away and Crowley looks at his mother and says, "Mummy. Bored? Suicidal? Both?" Rowena chuckles and says, "Hardly, my dear. I'm learning so much. This place of yours, poor thing, I see now why you are the way you are. My goodness! The discontent, the gossip, the plotting." Crowley walks over his throne and sits down and says, "Plotting?" Rowena says, "Aye. And that one-- worst of the lot. Watch yourself around him, mark my world." Crowley says, "You do realize that's what you said about the guard, Gerald, down in the cells." Rowena says, "And was I not right? I know, I know you mistreat me, and I earned that. And it's a pity because more than any of your other subjects, I wish you success." Crowley nods and says, "I know what you're up to here, mother." Rowena says, "Do you, dear?" Crowley 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, thanks you." Rowena says, "Free, 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." Crowley says, "Excuse me if I don't curl up in your lap. You did manage to stay away for 300 years." Rowena 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!" Crowley says, "You could have sent for me! You could have came back and stayed when you gave birth to my sister! I honestly don't know what you left the second time." Rowena says, "Well, for you came the chance to study under the great Milanese witch, Letitia Di Albioni. And then there was the unpleasantness with the grand coven. Anyway, it was no environment for a child! As for your sister, the man that I spend the night with was a crazy man and I had to run away to keep her and Moi safe, even if that meant giving her up." Crowley shakes his head and says, "So, locking me away in a squalid workhouse was your solution?!" Rowena says, "I will not apologize for being a career woman. Besides... what's 300 years more or less to folks like us? Nothing. I'm back now. I think I deserve a chance to see my daughter. We can all can be a family." Crowley hums. Meanwhile with Liz, she's in her room, because every time she's near Dean she gets flashbacks of the bloodbath he caused. Liz can barely look at Dean let alone be in the same room as him. Liz knows it's not his fault, but she can't help but think about her future with Dean. Later, Liz and Dean walk into the dungeon because Metatron is chained up. Metatron sees thing couple walk in and he looks towards Liz and says, "I see you got your humanity back on." Liz says, "Yeah, no thanks to you." Metatron chuckles and he says, "Ain't life a bitch? Nebbishy little guy, me, always sticking it to the lunkhead jocks." Dean says, "You know what? Screw the Mark. Let's just kill him." Metatron says, "Boy, he really is a mess. Who knew the Mark was so toxic? Well... actually, I did. You know it is going to own you sooner than later." Liz says, "Yeah, so how do we get rid of it?" Metatron says, "What, just like that, social hour's over?" Sam says, "Yes. And now we're moving on to our keynote speaker." Dean says, "Which is you... with us asking the questions and me taking the personal pleasure of carving the answers out of you." Metatron says, "Just-- whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there, badass. Lighten up. Why do you just assume I'm not gonna be helpful?" Liz says, "Because you're stalling and you haven't given us an answer on how to remove the Mark, unless you don't know how." Sam says, "And because you're a dickwad." Metatron says, "But I'm your dickwad. I have a special place in my... non-heart for you three, to which end-- ta-da! -- I would 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." Sam says, "What?" Metatron laughs and he says, "As I said... ain't life a bitch?" They walk out the dungeon and Sam says, "This is the single worst idea I've ever heard. You just whacked a whole houseful of people and that's when the blade was nowhere around, and now you want to be in actual contact with it?" Dean says, "We don't know that I have to be in contact with it. All we know is that we need it." Liz says, "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, "Okay, one step at a time, all right? We play it safe; we learn whatever this spell is, how it works, and we keep the blade out of my hand." Sam says, "Wait a second. Are you sure this isn't the Mark making you want the damn thing? I mean, why would we trust anything Metatron says?" Dean says, "I don't trust Metatron." Sam says, "You don't tr-- then what?" Dean says, "What's his game if he is lying, okay? The blade without me is useless, the blade with me is trouble for him." Sam says, "Then what does he want?" Dean says, "I don't know, but if we weren't willing to take a shot, then what was the point in bringing him here? Unless you got a better idea." Liz thinks, "I'd like to kill him." Back with Crowley and his mother. Rowena's making tea and she says, "Of course you recall the lovely lullaby I sang to you nightly after you fed the goat." Crowley says, "You never sung me a lullaby. You dosed me with whiskey until I passed out." Rowena says, "Even then, I had a touch for Pharmacology. Your mum was a prodigy." Crowley says, "Funny. Not what I called you." Rowena chuckles and Crowley's phone rings and it's Dean. Crowley looks at his mother and says, "Business. Squirrel. It's been a while. Back to your former self?" Dean says, "Crowley, we need to meet A.S.A.P." Crowley says, "Where?" Crowley hangs up and he gets off his throne and starts walking away and says, "Got to go. Urgent. A matter of state." Rowena smiles and says, "My son. So important. Shall I wait dinner for you?" Crowley says, "You don't cook. I don't eat. It's a perfect arrangement." Crowley then disappears and he meets up with Liz and the boys in an alley and Dean says, "Really, Crowley? Radio silence?" Sam says, "Look, say something?" Crowley angrily says, "You want me to do what?!" Sam says, "Okay, look, we need you to bring back--" Crowley cuts Sam off and says, "Bring back the blade? I don't think so!" Dean says, "You don't have to give the thing to me." Crowley says, "I should say not." Dean says, "No, no. Just retrieve it and hang onto it until we need it." Crowley looks at his sister and says, "Sis. You're the sane one out of the three of you. You're on board with this?! It's insane. You want me to procure the most dangerous weapon on the planet for Dean Winchester, the man who goes mental every time he touches it! I thought you wanted to go for a beer, catch a film." Sam says, "Look, if this plan works--" Crowley cuts Sam off and says, "It's not a plan. It's a probable death sentence for me and my kind." Sam says, "If it works, it's better for you. Look, when the Mark is gone, the blade can't operate." Dean says, "Win-win. Huh? Win-win!" Crowley says, "Stop that. It can't operate. It's hidden." Dean says, "Okay, look, the blade might be powered down, but the Mark is not, and I'm doing everything I can to keep it together. Now, you think the body count around me is high right now. Wait till Hal takes over." Sam says, "We figured you stashed the blade somewhere far away--" Crowley cuts Sam off and says, "Damn right. It's in a crypt with my bones." Dean says, "All right, well?" Crowley says, "I hate Guam this time of year." What none of them know is that Rowena was listening and watching the whole conversation especially about the part where Crowley called Liz sis. Rowena can't believe the young witch is her daughter. Later, Liz and the boys are back at the bunker and they're in the war room. Castiel appears and says, "The first blade is back in play, and Crowley is the one getting it? I don't mean to be an alarmist, but you--" Dean cuts Castiel off and says, "Yeah, well, you know us. When we screw ourselves, we like to go whole hog." Castiel says, "This would be the Crowley who let the blade turn Dean into a demon?" Dean says, "I don't have a choice, okay? I don't do this, I'm down the rabbit hole. Hear evil, see evil, do evil-- the trifecta." Sam says, "Cass, look, let us worry about this. You've got enough on your plate with Claire." Castiel says, "Claire is gone." Liz says, "Where'd she go?" Castiel says, "I don't know. I-I-I should have stopped her, but I am certain that she is destined for more trouble and disappointment. She is so... so full of rage." Dean says, "Listen, man, if I could make it better, I would." Castiel says, "That's actually why I'm here. I was hoping you might reach out to her." Dean says, "Me?" Castiel says, "Yes." Dean says, "Seriously, I'm probably the last person she would want to hear from." Castiel says, "I thought there would be a connection-- one extremely messed-up human to another. You could explain why you murdered her only friend." Dean sarcastically says, "Oh, well, yeah, when you put it like that." Castiel says, "All I know... is she won't talk to me. I thought if she understood the kind of man Randy was and the danger she was in, she might..." Dean says, "What the hell? Why not? Long shots seem to be the theme around here. I'm gonna go make a sandwich." Dean gets up and Castiel says, "I'll, uh-- I'll text you, her number." Dean says, "Okay." Castiel says, "I like texting. Emoticons." Dean walks out the room and Castiel says, "He seems calm... considering the effect of the Mark and Metatron in proximity." Liz softly says, "Too calm. I think he's worried about what will happen if he pops the cork." Meanwhile with Crowley, he walks to his crypt and opens it up to get the first blade only to find it not there. Crowley then walks to his throne room to find Guthrie dead with an angel blade wedged through his stomach and he says, "What in the hell?!" Rowena fakes being emotional says, "Exactly! What in the hell is going on in hell?! You said Guthrie was one of your best, your most trusted, and-- and yet I found him inciting unrest amongst the court." Crowley says, "Can't be true." Rowena says, "Can't it? He-- he said you were colluding with someone called Winchester? Y-yes? And that you were going to fetch him-- oh, oh, what was it? The first blade, which could kill us all. He said he got it first because you wouldn't be trusted. Naturally, I confronted him, and he attacked me. I had no choice." Crowley says, "I had a vision of Guthrie attacking me." Rowena says, "A prophecy. I am an interpreter of signs." Crowley then takes the first blade out from Guthrie's jacket, and he says, "It's not possible." Rowena says, "I know, Sonny. And yet--" Crowley cuts his mother off and says, "How could he have known?" Rowena says, "Spies everywhere. I did try to warn you. Fergus, these Winchesters he mentioned, they're not the hunter Winchesters with their companion who's a witch, are they? Because they, too, can be a great danger for us. I mean, today we got lucky, but tomorrow, who knows? Who is there left for you to trust?" Meanwhile back with Liz, both Sam and Castiel know that Liz is having trouble sleeping and Sam looks at a tired Liz and softly says, "Liz?" Liz hums and Sam says, "You should get some sleep. You look exhausted." Liz says, "I can't." Sam slowly nods and says, "Well, maybe just go lay down and try and relax your mind. Please, I'm worried about you." Liz sighs and nods. Liz gets up and goes to her room and takes her shoes off and lays on her bed trying to block everything out. Later, Dean's in the library and Sam walks in with two beers and says, "Hey. You, okay?" Dean says, "He said, 'The river ends at the source.'" Sam says, "What does that mean?" Dean says, "Maybe nothing. It's the last thing he said before you guys' busted in." Sam places a beer in front of Dean, and he says, "Dean... look, man, we had to." Dean says, "Hey. No. I get it, all right? I... I was gonna kill him. And I couldn't stop myself." Sam says, "We'll figure it out, all right? Remember what Cass said about needing a-a powerful force?" Dean says, "Yeah. So?" Sam says, "So... I've been thinking. Look... Cain still has the Mark, right? And he's lived with it. For years, he's lived with it. So, yeah, the-- the Mark is... strong, but... Dean, maybe there's a part of you that... wants to give into it. And maybe you have to fight that, you know? Maybe... part of that powerful force has to be you. Also, Dean about Liz. I'm really worried about her." Dean nods and says, "Yeah, she can barely look me." Sam nods and says, "Right, but we both know she's having trouble sleeping and she's also thinking about what she did with her humanity turned off. I wish we could know who the man is in her vision because if we knew maybe we could talk some sense into him or--" Dean cuts Sam off and says, "Or we could kill him." Sam nods and says, "Yeah." What they both don't know is that the man's Dean and Liz isn't gonna plan on telling either of them about it, but she does want to tell someone about it she's just not sure who.