Chapter 6

Brooklyn

Sam and I are sitting in the Bunker library, my attention only half on Cas who was speaking and pacing. "She barely speaks to me. She's like a wounded animal, just watching me."

"Look, Cas, you know what? You really tried to do the right thing that night. You did. This guy Claire was hanging out with, Randy, all he did was use her," Sam said.

"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 cut him off, nodding, "No, yeah, I know, I know. I hear you. Dean has had to kill before. We both have. But that was..."

"That was what?" Dean's voice asked, making me turn and see Dean walking in.

"Dean," I said, his voice coming out in a mumble.

Dean glanced over at me before speaking, "That was a massacre. That's what it was." He paused and sighed, "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 gotta go."

Cas shook his head, "That won't be easy."

"Well, then burn it off! Cut it off!" Dean exclaimed.

"It is more than just a physical thing. It will take a very powerful force to remove the effect."

Sam looked at Dean and shrugged with sadness, "Dean, we have been through all the lore. There's nothing."

"But we'll figure out something," I said, eyeing Sam as I stood up and made my way to Dean. "There is a way to do and undo everything, this is just a bit harder to find."

"There may be another way," Cas says, looking reluctant while my heart filled with hope.

Cas then left, going to Heaven and retrieving Metatron. We locked him in the dungeon downstairs, Sam and I going in while Dean stayed outside.

Metatron smiled, "Ah, Brooklyn Myers. Beautiful has ever."

"Shut up," I said, crossing my arms as I cleared at him.

Sam finished chaining Metatron to the chair before taking a step back, "Your only job is to provide information."

"Ah. Well, information does happen to be a specialty. Got about two billion fun facts up here," Metatron pointed to his temple. "Of course, whether I choose to cough one up or not is another matter."

"We need to know how to remove the Mark of Cain from Dean's arm," I spoke up.

Metatron looked surprised, "What? He's back? Because of the Mark? So... he's a demon."

"No," Sam stated.

"Okay, what then?" Everyone went silent, seeming to make Metatron scruff, "What, did he kill a human or something?" Again we said nothing. "He's gone nuclear! Total, foaming at the mouth, balls-out maniac. Ah, that's fantastic!"

Sam sighed, annoyed, "Do you know how to remove it?"

Metatron shrugged, his smile still on his face, "Maybe. But here's the thing. You expect any help out of me, you keep that crazy brother of yours on a short leash."

I walked up to Metatron, giving him a hard slap across the face which surprised him. I then grabbed his face, holding it to look at me. "Either you start giving us information, or Dean Winchester will seem like a puppy compared to me."

A smirk crossed Metatron's lips, "Feisty one."

"She is," Dean's voice said, walking into the dungeon causing me to take a step away. Dean approached Metatron, "And she means every word."

Metatron sighed, glancing at all of us, "Ain't life a bitch? Nebbishy little guy – me – always sticking it to the lunkhead jocks."

Every word that left his lips seemed to make less and less sense making me irritated. It seemed I wasn't the only one because Dean spoke up, sounding irritated. "You know what, screw the Mark. Let's just kill him."

"Boy, he really is a mess," Metatron laughed. "Who knew the Mark was so toxic? Well, actually, I did. You know it is going to own you sooner than later. And no one, not even your little Brooke can stop that."

I crossed my arms, glaring at Metatron, "But there is a way, so spill it."

"What, just like that, social hour's over?"

Sam spoke up, sitting in a chair and listening to our words, "Yes, and now we're moving on to our keynote speaker."

"Which is you," Dean said. "With us asking the questions. And me taking the personal pleasure of carving the answers out of you."

Nervously, Metatron shook his head, "Now, just... hold on there, badass! Lighten up! Why do you just assume I'm not gonna be helpful?"

"Because you're a dickwad," Sam said.

"And you killed Dean and tried to kill me," I added.

Metatron smiled, "But I'm your dickwad. And I do apologize for the whole killing thing. But I have a special place in my non-heart for you three. I'd 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."

"Of course," I mumbled.

"As I said, ain't life a bitch."

Dean, Sam, and I looked at each other before one by one we were walking out of the dungeon and heading up to library of the Bunker. Dean only slightly mentioned the Blade and Sam was already knocking the idea down.

"This is the single worst idea I've ever heard. You just whacked a whole house full of people, and that's when the Blade was nowhere around. And now you wanna be in actual contact with it?"

Dean shrugged, throwing his arms out, "We don't know that I have to be in contact with it. All we know is that we need it."

Sam shook his head, "No, no, all we know is he says we need it. We don't even know what he wants us to do with it."

"A step at a time, alright. We play it safe, we learn whatever the spell is, how it works. and we keep the Blade out of my hands."

I crossed my arms, lookin at Sam with a small shrug, "Dean's got a point. We could keep the Blade locked up once we get it here."

Sam gestured towards me, then to Dean, "Yeah, and look what happened last time. You handed it over to him."

"Sam-" Dean started but was cut off by his brother.

"Yeah, I know," Sam said, waving his hand. He sighed before looking at me, "Sorry." I nodded, understanding that he was just worried. He turned back towards Dean, "It's just, are you sure the Mark isn't making you want the damn thing? I mean, why would we trust anything Metatron says?"

Dean shook his head, "I don't trust Metatron."

"Then what?"

"What's his game if he is lying, okay? The Blade without me is useless. The Blade with me is trouble for him."

I squinted my eyes, "What does he want?"

"I don't know. But if we weren't willing to take a shot, then what was the point of bringing him here? Unless you got a better idea."

Sam and I glanced at each other, neither one of us saying anything because we had no other idea.

Pulling out his phone, Dean called Crowley to meet up with us at a backroad. The three of us climbed into the car and headed over, finding Crowley already waiting for us.

Dean explained the plan, causing Crowley's mouth to part in shock and his voice to rise. "You want me to do what?"

"We need you to bring back-" Sam started.

"Bring back the Blade? I don't think so."

Dean sighed, "You don't have to give the thing to me."

Crowley scuffed, "I should say not."

"Just retrieve it and hang onto it until we need it," I said.

Crowley looked at me, surprised, "Of course, Myers agrees with Squirrel. What about you Moose? You on board with this?" Sam shrugged and nodded, causing Crowley to shake his head. "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'd wanna go for a beer, catch a film."

I rolled my eyes at his last comment, but we continued to try and get him to hand the Blade over.

"Look, if this plan works-" Sam started.

"It's not a plan. It's a probable death sentence for me and my kind."

"If it works, it's better for you. Look, when the Mark is gone, the Blade can't operate."

Dean gave Crowley a fake smile, "Win-win. Huh?"

"Stop that. It can't operate. It's hidden."

Dean sighed, "Okay, the Blade might be powered down, but the Mark is not. I'm doing everything I can to keep it together. You think the body count around me is high right now? Just wait until I can't control it."

I spoke up, not wanting to listen to what Dean could possible do if he lost control. "We figure you stashed the Blade somewhere far away."

"Damn right. It's in a crypt with my bones."

Sam shrugged, "All right, well?"

Crowley looked at each of us, seeing the seriousness in our eyes before sighing. "I hate Guam this time of year." With that, he disappeared from our eyes, leaving all of us to shift uncomfortable.

With that done, and us to wait, we headed back to the Bunker. Sam and I were sitting at the map table while Dean was grabbing a couple of drinks. Cas suddenly burst through the front door, looking down at us.

"The First Blade is back in play and Crowley is the one getting it?" He started to fast walk down the stairs, "I don't mean to be an alarmist, but you-"

Dean walked in, holding three beers. "Yeah well, you know us. When we screw ourselves we like to go whole hog." He handed Sam and I a beer before sitting down next to me, laying his hand on my knee as he took a swig.

Cas' eyes went wide, "This would be the Crowley who let the Blade turn Dean into a demon?"

I sighed, "Cas, we don't have a choice, and we're taking every precaution."

Sam gestured towards Cas who had made his way over to the table. "Cas, look. Let us worry about this. You've got enough on your plate with Claire."

Looking at the ground with a slight sadness, Cas said, "Claire is gone."

"Gone where?" I asked confused.

"I don't know, I should have stopped her. But I am certain that she is destined for more trouble and disappointment. She is so full of rage."

Dean gave my leg a small squeeze before pulling it away and leaning on the table. "Listen, man, if I could make it better I would."

"It's actually why I'm here. I was hoping you might reach out to her."

"Me?"

"Yes," Cas nodded.

Dean's eyes went wide, clearly surprised, "Seriously, I'm probably the last person she would wanna hear from. Maybe Brooke can talk to her, a little girl to girl time."

I nodded, agreeing, but Cas shook his head. "I thought there would be a connection. One extremely messed up human to another, you could explain why you murdered her only friend."

"Oh, well, yeah, when you put it like that," Dean said, making me nod slightly before taking a gulp of my beer.

Cas pulled out the chair across from Dean, "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..." He drifted off, causing Dean to hit the table and shrug.

"What the hell, why not? Long shots seem to be the theme around here." Dean tipped the rest of his beer into his mouth before standing up. "I'm gonna go make a sandwich."

"I'll text you her number."

"Okay," Dean said, walking away and disappearing into the hallway.

There was a moment of silence before Cas spoke up, "He seems calm. Considering the effects of the Mark. Metatron in proximity."

Sam's eyes squinted, "Too calm. I think he's worried about what'll happen if he pops the cork."

I stay silent, looking off as my mind wanders, seeming to follow Dean as he walks down the hallway.

"Brooke, what is it?" Cas asked, pulling me back to reality and away from Dean.

"Nothing. I'll be in my room," I said, standing up and walking away in silence.

Silently, and almost in a haze, I make my way to my room, closing the door behind me and laying down on my bed. I let out a heavy breath before my eyes close, seeming to drift off instantly. I'm pulled away from my room and down the hallway like a heavy magnet.

Being pulled, I come to a halt in the dungeon room, finding Dean vigorously punching a bloody Metatron. I flash to see Dean's face, finding them red.

Quickly, my eyes fly open and I gasp as I sit up. "Dean," I mumble.

I quickly run out of my room and down the hallway to the dungeon door. I try to open it but it's no use. "Dean! Dean! Dean! Open the door! Dean!" I yell, banging on the door.

Sam suddenly starts running towards me with Cas to follow, having heard the yelling and banging.

"What happened?" Sam asked?

"Something's going on. I can't open the door," I said, pulling at the handle again.

Sam starts to yell to Dean as well, also banging on the door in hopes to getting him to stop his actions and open the door.

Cas gets tired of waiting and grabs Sam and I, pushing us away, "Move!" He raises his arms towards the door, causing his eyes to glow as he sends grace from the palm of his hand to shatter the dungeon door.

Quickly, Sam and I push pass and inside, my feet coming to a halt as Dean holds the angel blade against Metatron's chest.

"No, Dean!" Sam yells, but Dean raises the blade.

"Dean!" I yell, causing his movements to stop and him to turn, meeting my eyes as he breaths heavily. "You're a good man, your better than this. Fight it."

Shakenly, Dean glances at the ground then at the blade. Sam takes that moment and walks slowly towards his brother, taking the blade from him. Once the blade is out of his hands, I take one of them, holding it tightly as I lead him away from Metatron.

Castiel runs in, checking on Metatron before undoing his restraints, "I have to take him back."

Sam looks at Cas, regret in his eyes, "Cas, this won't happen again."

"I gave my word. I have fences to mend in Heaven, and as it is, I have a lot to explain."

Metatron, weakly, glares at Dean, "If you ever ask me for help again, I will choose death. You realize it's going to get worse, Dean. You're gonna get worse!" With that, Cas dragged Metatron away, leaving me to hold Dean's arm, keeping him in place.

It wasn't until I knew Metatron and Cas were gone did I finally release Dean, letting him walk out of the dungeon with anger in his step. I looked at Dean, worried before we both followed. By the time we caught up with Dean he was in the library with his head in his hands.

Making my way over to him, I sat down next to him, rubbing his back as I watch him.

"Hey. You okay?" Sam asked, worried.

Dean rose his head, looking distant at first, "He said the river ends at the source."

"What does that mean?"

"Maybe nothing. It was the last thing he said before you guys busted in," Dean said, looking at his brother then at me.

Sam sighed, "Dean. Look, man, we had to..."

"Hey, no. I get it, all right. I was gonna kill him. And I couldn't stop myself."

I moved my head, meeting Dean's eyes and making him turn towards me, "We'll figure it out, all right?"

There was a pause in the room before Sam spoke up, "You know what Cas said about needing a powerful force?"

"Yeah, so?"

Sam moves and sits down across from us, "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 Mark is strong, but Dean, maybe there's a part of you that wants to give in to it. And maybe you have to fight that, you know? Maybe, part of that powerful force has to be you."

Dean said nothing, but I knew Sam was right as did Dean know. Suddenly, Dean's phone going off made us all jump slightly before Dean picked up.

"Yeah?" He paused, "Yeah, okay, where do you wanna meet?" He paused again before standing up and grabbing his coat. "Claire wants to talk."

Looking at his brother worriedly, Sam said, "Dean, are you sure that's a good idea right now?"

I looked at Dean, feeling what he was feeling. All he wanted right now was to either kill someone or save someone, and I had to believe in him enough that he would choose save.

"Be careful," I said, making him nod.

"Always am," With that he turned and left.

So sorry it's been taking me so long. I have the chapters planned out, it's just getting the motivation to write them. I've got a lot to come that I hope you guys enjoy!