Another Life / Book Ten / The Life Series / Supernatural

Hell's Angel

I was at home, walking downstairs into the map room.

Crowley called me. "Are you not hearing me? I said I have in my possession the solution to our collective problems. You should be doing the jig."

"I don't jig. Now, how do I know you even escaped Lucifer and he's not making you say all this?"

"Honestly, your cynicism is depressing. Why would Lucifer force me to discuss the very means of his destruction?"

"What are you talking about?"

"A weapon... one that channels divinity. Yes, powerful enough to help destroy a force like the Darkness. Or Lucifer. Tell me you haven't been searching for such a thing."

"A hand of God? Of course we have."

"Thought as much. I'll come to you to discuss our terms."

"Crowley?"

I heard the line disconnect, sighing.

  ~~~~~~~~~~  

Sam, Dean and I were in the map room of the bunker.

Crowley walked down the stairs toward us. "I see the place looks spotless." He looked at me. "The maid's day?"

I smirked sarcastically. "What are you doing here, Crowley?"

"I'm lucky to be alive," Crowley told us. "Lucifer had me trussed up like a dog in my own palace."

"Palace?" Dean repeated. "Oh, you mean the abandoned nuthouse."

"He kept me in a kennel," Crowley told us. Sam, Dean and I exchanged a look in amusement, smirking. "And he turned all his demons... my demons... against me. They scour the earth, day and night, looking to kill me. He has to be dealt with."

"So, is this why you came here?" Dean asked. "Some lousy grudge match with Lucifer?"

"Yeah, where's this, uh, hand of God you were talking about?" Sam asked.

"I'm getting to that," Crowley told us. "Your only hope of subduing the Darkness and retrieving your precious Amara is to match the level of power that she possesses."

"No kidding," Dean told him. "And?"

"And I have the horn of Joshua," Crowley answered.

"Joshua?" I repeated. "As in the Joshua that won the battle of Jericho?"

Crowley nodded. "And I'm willing to entrust it to your capable hands." Sam, Dean and I exchanged a knowing, skeptical look. "What? I just said I'd give you the thing."

Sam, Dean and I looked at Crowley. "If?"

"Is this how you say 'thank you'?" Crowley asked. "You think these things grow on bloody trees?"

"Cut the crap, Crowley," I told him. "With you, there's always an 'if'."

"Fine," Crowley told us. "I will give you the horn if you help me exorcise Lucifer from Castiel's vessel and then return him immediately to the cage."

Sam, Dean and I were surprised that his demand was what we were trying to do anyway.

"Oh, that's all?" Sam asked. "Huh."

"Okay," Dean told him. "And where is this horn?"

"Safely hidden, naturally," Crowley answered.

Dean nodded. "Yeah."