(1) The Devil's Hybrid (D. Winchester)

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Dean sits on the hood of the Impala pondering everything that has happened when Sam approaches him, determined and concerned in one expression. Something so uniquely Sam. Dean looks at him and raises an eyebrow. 

"Let me guess. We're about to have a talk" Dean states.

"Look, Dean, um...For the record...I agree with you. About me. You think I'm too weak to take on Lucifer. Well, so do I. Believe me, I know exactly how screwed up I am. You, Bobby, Eri, Cas...I'm the least of any of you"

"Oh, Sam..."

"No, it's true. It is. But...I'm also all we got. If there was another way...But I don't think there is. There's just me. So I don't know what else to do. Except just try t-to do what's got to be done"

"And...Scene. There's something you need to see" Crowley hands newspaper to Sam.

"Niveus pharmaceuticals is rushing delivery of its new swine-flu vaccine to 'stem the tide of the unprecedented outbreak.' Uh, shipments leave Wednesday" Sam reads the article.

"Niveus pharmaceuticals. Get it? You two are lucky you have your looks. Your demon lover, Brady? V.P. of distribution, Niveus. Ah, yes, that the sound of the abacus clacking? We all caught up?" Crowley explains. 

"So, pestilence"

"..was spreading swine flu"

"Yeah, but not just for giggles. That was step one. Step two is the vaccine. And you think..." Dean starts.

"I know. I'll stake my reputation -- That vaccine is chock-full of grade-a, farm-fresh Croatoan virus" Crowley tells them.

"Simultaneous, countrywide distribution. It's quite a plan"

"They don't get to be horsemen for nothing. So, you boys better stock up on...Well, everything. This time next Thursday, we'll all be living in Zombieland" Crowley tells them

...................

Erika stands with Bobby and Castiel, she touches Lucifer's ring on her finger.

"What's your problem?" Bobby asks Castiel.

"This is what they mean by "the 11th hour," right?" Castiel asks.

"Pretty much"

"Well, it's the 11th hour, and I am useless. All I have is this" Castiel waves a shotgun. "What am I even supposed to do with it?"

"Point it and shoot"

"What I used to be..."

"Are you really gonna bitch --to me? Quit pining for the varsity years...And load the damn truck" Bobby tells Castiel. Dean, Sam and Crowley approach, Dean looks to Erika who offers him a small smile, he offers one back as he moves to her, holds up his hand and drops her necklace between his fingers.

"'Bout time you took this back," he tells her, she nods and lifts her hair turning around, Dean drapes it around her neck and does it up before kissing her neck. "Be careful" he whispers.

"Immortal, love" she reminds them as she turns back to him. "And I'm not the one going after Death" he takes her hand. "You have to be careful" she reminds him. "I'm not there to take the shots" he smirks and kisses her.

"I have Crowley" he tells her, she shoots him a look.

"And I'm not remotely comforted by that thought" she tells him, he touches her arm softly and turns to Sam.

"All right, well...Good luck stopping the whole zombie apocalypse" he tells them.

"Yeah. Good luck killing Death" Sam responds.