My Home Is Always With You {10}

Chapter 23: "My Brother's Keeper"

Henry carries his mom's body to a car and places her gently in the backseat. Henry takes the blade out of her stomach, and he washes it in the garage sink and places it into a drawer. Henry then goes to grab a box and a picture of himself. Henry then gets behind the wheel to drives away from the bunker. Henry has been practicing driving with some friends and he's okay at it. Henry then drives to the middle of nowhere and digs a hole in the middle of a crossroads and summons a demon. A young demon about Henry's age appears with a smirk and says, "Well, well, well. If it isn't a Winchester. What can I do for you?" Henry says, "I want you to bring mom back." The demon smiles and says, "Your mother is dead? Ooh, and who is the mysterious killer that killed Lucifer's daughter." The demon sees anger flash in the young Winchester's eyes, and he angrily says, "My father." The demon smiles and says, "Dean Winchester killed your mother, how terrible." Henry nods and says, "I just want my mom brought back. I don't care how many years your gonna give me." The demon smiles and says, "Okay. Well, you are pretty young for age. So, it'll be 10 years and since your mother killed some of us months ago, she'll be a little different." Henry says, "I don't care. I just want her alive." The demon smiles and says, "Okay, it's a deal." Henry nods and the demon kisses Henry and then the demon pulls away with a smile and then disappears. Henry then goes back to his mother's body and waits until she wakes up. Meanwhile with Sam, he's back at the bunker with Castiel looking at Charlie's notes and making special witch killing bullets. Sam's trying to get ahold of Liz but she's not answering. Castiel walks into the bunkers back room and he says, "Anything?" Sam says, "I've called like 10 times and she's not answering. I've also left Dean 12 voicemails. Lojack on the Impala has clearly been disabled. So, a big heaping scoop of nothing. We need Rowena to hold up her end of the bargain-- now." Castiel nods and says, "Have you tried tracking Liz?" Sam says, "Her GPS has been disabled. Cass, you saw how Liz hugged me earlier, it was like she was saying goodbye. Do you have any idea what's going on with her?" Castiel nods and says, "Yes." Sam nods and says, "Okay, what is it?" Castiel sighs and says, "Liz, said the man in her vision was Dean." Sam widens his eyes and says, "What?!" Castiel nods and says, "I know, me and Charlie couldn't believe it either." Sam says, "So, she was saying goodbye?" Castiel nods and says, "Yeah." Sam says, "You and I both know Dean and he would never hurt Liz. Dean told me one day he's going to marry her, Cass." Castiel nods and says, "But, Liz said--" Sam cuts Castiel off and says, "No, I can't believe she would think Dean would do that to her. Liz's phone probably died. Maybe that's why she's not answering." Castiel says, "I hope your right." Sam says, "Me too." Later, Sam and Castiel go see Rowena and Sam has a gun pointed at her and she says, "Hello, boys. Just in time for tea-- u-unless something on your mind?" Sam says, "Five things, actually. Hollow tips filled with witch-killing brew." Rowena says, "How exciting for you. Your NRA will be beside themselves with pride." Sam says, "No more games, Rowena. Do the spell now." Rowena says, "Or what exactly? Come on, Samuel! You and I both know that's not but a bluff. Charlie may have cracked the codex, but who's going to read it if I'm gone? Not to mention handling the ingredients, getting the measurements just right-- unless, of course, either of you have spent years of your life, studying with the greats, mastering the intricates of high witchcraft? But forgive me. Maybe you have. I know your upset. We all are. Poor Dean. Let's just have a nice wee cup of tea... and negotiate." Sam lowers his gun and puts it away and says, "What do you want?" Rowena chuckles and says, "Oh, well, we know what I wanted. Soiled the sheets on that one, didn't we? Let's talk about what I'll take-- my freedom guaranteed and the codex." Castiel looks at Sam and says, "Sam, you can't be--" Sam cuts Castiel off and says, "Do you know which spell?" Rowena says, "I do." Castiel says, "Sam. This is a mistake." Sam will do anything to get that Mark of Dean just like how Liz would risk everything for Dean." Rowena then reads the book and says, "'Sumsu mimma ezebu ilu ma ikkibu lu.' S-something made by God but forbidden to man." Sam says, "Forbidden?" Castiel says, "The forbidden fruit?" Sam chuckles and says, "No. The actual apple is the first ingredient?" Sam can't believe it and he continues to say, "Something made by man, but forbidden by God." Sam says, "Okay, well, God forbade false idols, right?" Castiel says, "The golden calf." Sam says, "Wasn't that destroyed?" Castiel nods and Rowena reads the last ingredient, and she says, "'Sumsu mimma sen arramu.'" Sam says, "What's the third ingredient?" Rowena says, "Oh." Sam says, "What?" Rowena says, "The third ingredient, it's impossible." Sam says, "What is it?" Rowena says, "Loosely translated-- my heart." Castiel says, "It's not impossible at all." Rowena says, "Not my literal heart, feathers. Something I love, the spell calls for me to kill it." Sam says, "A sacrifice." Rowena says, "Precisely. The book will grant freedom from the curse, but it wants something in return." Sam says, "Well, then give it." Rowena says, "Bring me something I love, I'll kill it. I want my freedom too much to make a fuss over that. The-- the problem is, I don't love anything." Castiel says, "What about Crowley?" Rowena says, "Happy to kill him. Let's not call it love." Castiel says, "I don't believe you. Everyone loves something." Castiel touches Rowena's head and then he removes his fingers and says, "Polish boy. Oskar." Rowena's confused and says, "I'm sorry. Oskar? You saw Oskar?" Sam says, "Who is he?" Rowena says, "Who was he? Uh, a peasant boy-- his family helped me through some difficulties 300 years ago." Then Sam's phone rings and he steps away to answer it and he says, "Rudy. What's up?" Rudy says, "Wish I could say it was good news, Sam. I just bumped into Dean working a fang banger case in Superior." Sam says, "Dean's in Nebraska, w-working a case?" Rudy says, "Yeah, my case. And, uh... he's not playing well with others." Sam says, "Yeah, Dean's not exactly in the best place right now. You know what? Do me a favor. Just text me the details, would you?" Rudy says, "All right. Whatever you need." Sam says, "Okay. Thanks." Sam hangs up and he looks at Castiel and Castiel says, "What's going on?" Sam hands Castiel a small bag of hair and he says, "Cass, take this. It's Dean's hair. You need it for the spell. Cass, I need you to do this for me and Liz. Make the spell happen whatever it takes, please." Castiel grabs the bag and Sam nods thanking Castiel. Later, Sam drives to a motel and sees the Impala outside and he goes to the room where Dean was staying to see the place trashed and he sees a signed message with a set of keys that says, "She's all yours." Then as Sam leaves the motel room, his phone rings and he answers it and he says, "Dean." Dean says, "I gave it a shot, Sammy." Sam says, "Listen to me-- whatever you're doing, whatever you've done, please..." Dean chuckles softly and says, "Hell, I even worked a case. I gave everything I had to beat this thing down." Sam says, "I saw Rudy." Dean says, "Well, then, you saw what I did." Sam says, "No, that wasn't you." Dean says, "Sure as hell felt like me. Brother, I'm done." Sam says, "No. No, you're not. Dean." Dean says, "Grab a pen. It's time to say goodbye." Later, Sam goes to meet Dean at an old, abandoned Mexican restaurant and he walks in to see Death and he says, "Hey." Dean says, "Sam." Sam says, "What is this?" Dean says, "We need to talk." Sam says, "Whatever you are thinking of doing, don't. There is another way. You don't need to go with him. You don't need to die!" Dean says, "Funny you say that. Truth is, when I left, I thought the only way out was my death. Well, I was wrong, Sam. It's yours." Sam says, "What? He's gonna... gonna send you into outer space?" Dean says, "No, well, he didn't say outer space. " Sam says, "This is madness, Dean!" Death says, "Far from it, I'm afraid." Sam looks at Death and says, "No one's asking you." Dean says, "Hear him out!" Death says, "Our conundrum is simple, Sam. Your brother cannot be killed, and the Mark cannot be destroyed. Not without inciting a far greater evil than any of us have ever known." Sam says, "What evil?" Dean says, "The Darkness." Sam says, "What the hell is that?" Dean says, "Well, what does it sound like? Does it sound like a good thing?" Death says, "Even if I remove Dean from the playing field, we're still left with you, loyal, dogged Sam, who I suspect will never rest until he sets his brother free-- will never rest until his brother is free of the Mark, which simply cannot happen, lest the Darkness be set free. Then there was that time you stood me up." Sam walks over to Dean and says, "You traded my life." Dean says, "I'm willing to live with this thing forever, as long as I know that I and it will never hurt another living thing." Sam says, "This isn't you. This doesn't make any sense." Dean says, "No, it makes perfect sense if you stop thinking about yourself for one damn minute! It's for the greater good. Once you consider that, this makes all the sense in the world. Remember when we were in that church, making Crowley human, about to close the gates of hell? Well, you sure as hell were ready to die for the greater good then." Sam says, "Yeah, and, Dean, you pulled me back." Dean says, "And I was wrong. You were right, Sam. You knew that this world would be better without us in it." Sam says, "No, no, no, wait a second. You're twisting my words here, Dean." Dean says, "Why? Because we-- we track evil and kill it? The family business? Is that it? Look at the tape, Sam. Evil tracks us. And it nukes everything in our vicinity-- our family, our friends. It's time we put a proper name to what we really are, and we deal with it." Sam says, "Wait a second. We are not evil. Listen... we're far from perfect, but we are good. That thing on your arm is evil, but not you, not me." Dean says, "I let Rudy die. I hurt Liz. How was that not evil? I know what I am, Sam. But who were you when you-- when you drove that man to sell his soul... Sam, how is that not evil? I have this thing on my arm, and you and Liz are willing to let the Darkness into the world." Sam says, "You were also willing to summon Death to make sure you could never do any more harm. You summoned me because you knew I would do anything to protect you. Just like Liz. That's not evil, Dean. That's not an evil man. That is a good man crying to be heard, searching for... some other way." Dean says, "No, there is no other way, Sam. I'm sorry." Sam then punches Dean in the face and Dean says, "Good. Fight." Dean then punches Sam in the face and starts beating the crap out of him until Sam's face is bloody and he's on his knees and he says, "Okay, that's enough. Hey, that's enough. You'll never, ever hear me say that you-- the real you-- is anything but good." Sam coughs and then spits out blood and he says, "But you're right. Before you hurt... anyone else, you have to be stopped at any cost. I understand. Do it." Death hands Dean his scythe and Death says, "Please. Do me the honor." Sam gulps and stares teary eyed at Dean and Dean says, "Close your eyes. Sammy, close your eyes." Sam then takes out the pictures of Dean and his family and says, "Wait. Take these. And one day, when you find your way back... let these be your guide. And they can help you remember what it was to be good... what it was to love." Sam places the pictures on the ground in front of him and Sam sighs. Death says, "It's for family you must proceed, Dean. To be what you are, to become what you've become is a stain on their memory. Do it." Dean looks at a smiling Liz and himself with Henry smiling on his lap with Winter sitting in front of Liz smiling. There's a couple with pictures of him when he was little with his mom and Sam. Death continues to say, "Or I will." Sam nods his head at Dean to do it and Dean says, "Forgive me." As Sam closes his eyes ready to be killed, Dean swings the scythe at Death, and he turns to ash. Dean then helps Sam up and he says, "You, okay?" Sam says, "I'll live. You?" Dean says, "Fantastic. I think I just killed Death." They then hear a chilling sound and Dean says, "That sound right to you?" Then a bolt of lightning strucks Dean's arm and the Mark of Cain's gone. They then walk outside, and Sam says, "This is good. Dean, this is good. The-- the Mark is off your arm. Nothing crazy happened, you get your Baby back." Sam places the keys in Dean's hands, and he says, "Yeah. I'm sure everything's perfectly fine." Then lightning happens in the sky and starts striking the ground. Sam says, "What did Death call this?" Dean says, "The Darkness." Then the ground starts rumbling and dark smoke starts coming out of the ground creating a large black smoke that's headed straight toward them. Dean says, "Get in the car. Let's go, let's go!" They get into the car and Dean backs out only to drive into a hole and the boys brace themselves for the large storm of the Darkness. Meanwhile with Liz, she wakes up in a dark room and she says, "Hello?" Then a dark figure approaches her and makes themselves like her and Liz looks at the being confused and she says, "Who are you? Where am I?" The being says, "You are in the Empty and you have disrupted my sleep. This is a place where angels and demons come to go when they die." Liz says, "What? Oh, my God." Liz then feels pain her stomach and he grunts and falls to her knees and says, "Oh! What's happening?" The Empty smirks and says, "I'm killing you, so you don't bother me." Liz groans and then Liz feels the pain stop and the Empty says, "Oh, great. You're lucky this time." Liz is confused and says, "What are you talking--" Liz gets cut off and she disappears from the Empty and she wakes up confused in the backseat of a car and she looks over to see Henry fast asleep in the passenger seat. Liz gently touches Henry's head to see if he's real and he is, and she looks down at her stomach to see no wound and she could've have sworn Dean stabbed her. Liz is so confused because one second, she was in something called the Empty and now she's back alive. Liz is going to find out how she's alive once Henry's awake, but she's not gonna disturb his sleep and she gets into the front seat and starts driving. Liz checks her phone and sees it's dead and she says, "Great." Liz tosses her phone behind her and goes to drive home.