The End | {BOOK 5}

31| Three Weeks

Three weeks. That's how long it's been since Dean said yes to Michael and Michael broke the deal they made. That's how long it's been since I completely shut down. 

Ketch went back to London to see what he could dig up back there. Castiel went to Detroit. Sam's been working around the clock and my mom has been helping Bobby and the other hunters from the Apocalypse World settle in. Maddie and Zep have even been helping out. Me? I mostly just stay in my room staring blankly at the walls doing nothing.

Mom comes in sometimes to bring me food and check up on me. It's no use, though. I never speak to answer the questions she asks me and I only take one or two bites of the food so she'll get off my back. The first week, all I did was sob uncontrollably. I would put on different articles of Dean's clothes and then curl up in bed hugging his pillow and soaking it with my tears. Since then, I've just been numb.

It's better during the day, all things considered. Nights are awful because I relive Dean saying yes and seeing that awful blue light with the fluffy white wings and the fiery halo surround him. I hear my screams as I tried to stop him and he ignored me, making that stupid deal with Michael instead. I still remember when Sam and Jack returned to the Bunker.

⁘

Three Weeks Ago

My tears had subsided, leaving glistening tracks dried on my face. Cass had transferred me into my mom's arms, letting her comfort me instead. There was a noise from the top of the stairs and I lifted my head off her shoulder to look up. Jack walked in, stepping over the broken door that was still caved in from Michael. He used the railing to support himself as he made his way down the stairs.

"Jack? Where are Sam and Dean?" my mom asked.

"Um..." Jack bit his lip, giving me a sympathetic look.

Two more people walked through the door then, and my heart dropped in my chest. Sam was supporting Lucifer's vessel, who was clutching at his side.

"Dean?" I croaked, staring up at Sam hopefully.

He shook his head sadly and I felt the tears start back up again.

⁘

Now

"Ellie?" my mom asked, knocking on the door as she came in. "How you doing, sweetheart?"

I didn't say anything, hugging Dean's pillow to my chest as I stared straight ahead. The bed dipped slightly as she came over and sat on the edge.

"We're going to find him, Ellie girl. Everyone's working so hard. I know it's been three weeks since Dean..." she swallowed, studying me for a moment. "Something will break. It has to."

I looked down, hugging the pillow tighter and leaning down to bury my nose in it.

"Why don't you hop in the shower and change into some fresh clothes?" my mom suggested. "You might feel a little better."

When I didn't acknowledge the words in any way, she reached out, gently taking the pillow from my grasp. A whine escaped my lips, and I immediately reached up to clutch at my throat at the pain the noise caused after not using my vocal chords for so long.

"Come on," Mom coaxed me, taking one of my hands and guiding me from the bed.

She led me over to the bathroom, leaving me to stand in the doorway while she started the water running in the tub, testing the temperature with her hand. Once it was acceptable to her, she switched it to the shower and came back over to me. She continued to help me through the steps of undressing and climbing under the stream of water. The entire time she hummed Metallica softly, and before I knew it, she'd turned off the shower and was wrapping me in a towel.

Guiding me back into the bedroom, she went over and grabbed a pair of Dean's sweats and one of his hoodies. Once more, she helped me go through the motions and then tucked me into the bed, allowing me to go back to hugging Dean's pillow. Before she left, she pressed a kiss to the crown of my head.

"I love you, Ellie girl," she whispered.

She switched off the light, closing the door behind her. I felt a tear slip down my cheek as I buried my face in Dean's pillow.

⁘

The door creaked open and someone walked inside.

"Mama?" Zep's voice met my ears. "We think we know where Dad is."

I sat up, turning to look at my son.

"You..." I croaked, unable to continue due to my throat screaming in protest.

"Uncle Sammy got a call from Sister Jo," he explained. "She said Dad's in Duluth."

I threw off the covers, rushing out the door with Zep on my heels. When we got out to the main room, Sam, Bobby and my mom were going over weapons.

"Who goes to Duluth in October?" Bobby asked. "Sure Michael didn't touch down in Orlando?"

"Jo was pretty specific," my mom replied. "Duluth."

"Yeah, well, angel's ain't exactly known for their veracity," Bobby snorted, then turned as Cass came into the room. "No offense."

"None taken," Cass said. "I tend to agree with you."

The angel looked past the group to see me on the other side of the room.

"Eleanor."

Everyone turned to face me in shock.

"Ellie? You're up," Sam observed.

"Y-yeah," I said, one hand touching my throat as my vocal chords protested some more. "Zep said..."

Maddie walked over, grabbing my hand. Hers glowed and I felt a warmth spread through my body. I smiled down at her.

"Thanks, darling," I told her, then looked back over at the group. "Michael's in Duluth?"

"So we hear," Sam nodded. "I've been searching through police reports in Duluth. Cops just turned up a pile of corpses that was dumped near some train tracks just north of town and their eyes were burnt out."

"So Michael," Cass said. "We should go now."

"No. This isn't just Michael we're talking about."

"It's Dean," I whispered.

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Cass, you know why you can't come with us, right?"

"My angelic presence would be sensed by Michael, thereby nullifying your hopes of a sneak attack."

"Yeah, sorry."

"And you need me to stay here and babysit Nick and Jack... I suppose Eleanor will be going with you since she's up."

"It's not babysitting, Cass."

"Only in the sense that they're not infants, but they both have to be supervised. Jack is lost without his grace, Nick is... he's just a mess."

"Well, it-it's not his fault, Cass," Sam swallowed. "Nick was housing, you know. He-he deserves a shot at rebuilding his life."

"And yet every time I look at him, all I can see is the supreme agent of evil."

"You talking about my dad again?" Jack asked, entering the room. "Look, I understand. Being around Nick- it's hard for me, too."

"Uh, Jack we're going to need you to sit this mission out," my mom told him. "Not a permanent thing."

"I know last time, I sucked when it mattered, and I need to improve. So... that's what I'm gonna do."

"Alright. Okay," Sam nodded, then looked over at me. "You joining us?"

"If you'll let me."

"Of course. Let's move."