09x12 - Problem Child - Part Three: Flick of the Knife
Episode Number: 09x12 of Season 9 Fan Fiction (S9FF)
Title: Problem Child
Subtitle: Flick of the Knife
Author: dracox-serdriel
Word Count: 2,767
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language
Status: Complete. Feedback appreciated.
It took an entire day before the dust settled.
Dean refused to accept Kevin's involvement; he believed the Winchesters put him in enough danger already. He deserved to be Princeton-boy instead of Prophet-boy. Sam defended Kevin's choice. He had the ability and the right to take on these tasks, and as far as Sam was concerned, the Winchesters owed Kevin any support he wanted.
Castiel stayed out of the fight as much as possible. Technically, humans were supposed to decide this, not angels, and he worried his contribution would be seen as interference rather than aid.
But the dust did settle. Eventually Dean conceded that the idea was sound, but he still clearly hated the thought of Kevin taking on one of the trials.
As soon as they were alone, Dean said, "Cas, you need to go with Kevin. You need to have his back, because if anything happens to him - "
"You would feel responsible?" Cas asked.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"Because he was our responsibility, and for a year Crowley tormented the crap outta him because he helped us. And now he's got a life again, and he's being pulled back into all this - crap! I told him he could go back to school - "
"And he has, and he's safe there," Cas interrupted him. "Dean, I gave him the tablet because he's the prophet, and in many ways, it belongs to him. He translated it, and he decided that he wanted to take action. He came to you with this not because of your responsibility, but because he trusts you to help him."
Dean's face twisted from anger into confusion then into sadness.
Cas put his hand on Dean's shoulder and turned his head so their eyes met. "You still have not learned."
"Not learned?" Dean replied, barely audible.
"That not everything is on your shoulders. That not every bad thing that happens is your fault. You have not learned to stop blaming yourself."
"No, I haven't. I guess I just don't know how to not care."
"It's not about caring," the angel said. "I care."
"What is it then?"
"You take on blame that's not yours. You claim guilt that belongs to others. I used to think it was because of Hell, because of the hole inside yourself. But you've grown beyond that now, now it's - something else."
Dean didn't want to admit what it was, so all he said was, "Yeah, Cas. You're right."
Books littered the war room. Hours trickled by as pages turned. Snacks came and went, and occasionally a frustrated word or two would be exchanged.
"Nothing in here about - "
"Nada about - "
"Absolutely useless unless you're growing herbs."
And so on. The next day passed without any headway. And so did the next. It was day four when someone finally looked up from behind a book.
"I think I found something - " Dean said. He read out loud, "An innocent soul will burn purple when seen through an object scorched with holy fire." His face fell as he continued, "Only works outside of the plane of the Earth? What the hell does that mean?"
"Means we can't test them," Sam said. "But we've got x-ray specs. And we know they can see hex bags and hell hounds, why not innocent souls?"
"One trial down," Dean confirmed. "Oh, except for getting into Purgatory and back out again."
Sam asked, "Benny didn't have any insight?"
"He told me there are layers to Purgatory, and there's one where all the tame monsters wind up together eventually, but it's not like he gave me directions."
"I'm taking this one," Sam said.
"What? No way - "
"You spent a year in Purgatory chopping off heads looking for an angel. That's something people don't forget," Sam said. "Besides, I wanna call in a favor, and it won't work if you're there."
"What?"
"You remember that reaper you met trying to raise Benny?
"Uh, Kane. Yeah, he was on a leash."
"Kane," Sam repeated. He asked Kevin, "We don't have to do the trials in order, right?"
"No, order doesn't matter."
"Wait, hold on - " Dean started. "We don't even know if we can finish the others - "
"That's why you're staying, to figure out your trial," Sam said.
"What if you need backup?" Dean asked.
"I'll go with him," Castiel offered.
As they left, Dean turned to Kevin and asked, "What just happened?"
"Come on, we need to settle on who you're eliminating or whatever."
Sam took the remains of the Coptic Cross used to enslave Kane and placed it in a bowl with holy water, six stones (three white, three black), and some kind of greenery that looked like pine needles. Then he took the bowl and placed it over a series of symbols chalked out along the warehouse floor.
Castiel watched as he waited.
Finally the younger Winchester used a match to light a page with Kane's name and dropped it into the bowl, where the fire turned the paper to ash in spite of the water.
Nothing happened.
"Put the glasses on," Cas instructed.
Sam jammed his holy-fire glasses onto his face, securing them with the tight strap he and Dean added for their tussle with half a dozen hellhounds.
Kane stood in front of him, glowering. "The angel should mind his business," the reaper spat. "I don't answer to humans."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Sam started, "but I need your help."
"My help? The way that witch needed my help?"
"No," Sam said. "I'm not trying to resurrect anyone. I just need help getting into and out of Purgatory."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" Kane asked.
"I need to free an innocent soul."
"Really? And if that's all you had to do, why not just ask me to do it for you?"
"Because it has to be me."
"And why's that?"
Sam hesitated.
Kane took that as a bad sign and said, "You wish to retrieve a soul from Purgatory but don't wish to revive the individual it belongs to? Why would anyone do that?"
"Because the soul doesn't belong in Purgatory."
"He is undergoing a trial," Castiel spoke up. "That is why he can't ask you to perform the task for him."
"A trial?" Kane sounded suspicious. "Why should I believe that?"
"I was the one who closed the Gates of Hell," Sam replied. "I'm not sure what else I can say to make you believe me."
Kane considered this for a moment. "Reapers are not meant to help mortals cross planes. They are not meant to resurrect anyone, either."
"And they're not meant to be on a leash," Sam said.
"You didn't free me because it was the right thing to do, you freed me because the man who enslaved me was trying to kill your brother."
"Maybe that was true in that moment, but you're not the only reaper my brother and I have helped. I'm not... trying to make you do anything. I'm just looking for some help and thought you'd be my best bet."
Kane didn't reply right away, and several minutes passed in agonizing silence.
"I have conditions," Kane said.
"Okay."
"If you attempt to resurrect the soul from Purgatory, I reap you on the spot."
"Okay, what else?"
Kane seemed comforted by Sam's acceptance of the first condition. He continued, "I cannot protect a mortal body in any plane. If you are injured or killed, I take no responsibility."
"Agreed."
"And the angel cannot come with you," Kane stated with a tone of finality. "A mortal in Purgatory isn't right, but a seraph? That's chaos."
"Okay, how much time do I have?"
"As little as possible," the reaper replied. "And if you're ferrying a soul out of Purgatory - "
"I've done it before," Sam jumped in. "I know how to encase another soul in my own body for transport."
"How did you do it the last time?" Kane inquired.
"There's a portal that transports living humans back to earth. I used that."
"I know that place. I can get you back there, but you must traverse the portal. Otherwise, I'll be no better than... those reapers."
Kane put a special emphasis on the word 'those,' which gave Sam the distinct impression that rogue reapers were the vilest of creatures.
The reaper approached him and touched his head, and Sam's entire body vibrated with electricity. After Kane removed his hand, it all screeched to a halt.
"What was that?"
"A connection, so you can call me when you're ready for the portal," Kane explained. "I'll bring you to Purgatory, but I have charges, I can't stay with you. I've been delayed enough by human tampering."
"I understand," Sam said. He turned to the angel, "Cas, will you take my truck back home? Fill everyone in? With any luck, I'm gunna need a pickup in Maine soon."
The angel nodded and left the room.
"You ready?" Kane asked.
"There is a place, or a level, in Purgatory where all the peaceful monsters wind up. I need to go there."
Kane looked at Sam as if he was impressed. "You know a lot about Purgatory for a human," he remarked dryly. "How is that?"
"I listened to people who are more intelligent than myself," Sam replied.
"Do not break our pact, Sam Winchester," Kane said as he took his hand.
"How did you know my name?"
Kane didn't respond. Sam felt the world warp around him, and he found himself again in the long wooded space that was Purgatory.
"Maybe we're going about this all wrong," Kevin spoke as he tucked away what felt like his thirtieth book for the day. "All these books talk about traitors who have already been defeated. We need someone who we know is alive right now."
"Well, I only know of one," Dean said.
"Okay, let's - "
"Lucifer."
"Okay, not him," Kevin dropped his head. "But he can't be the only one."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because the trials are suppose to be difficult, not impossible."
A very long time ago... Metatron's hands shook. God revealed so much, and the archangel desperately wanted to know more. For some reason, this desire came with another sensation. Later, he would identify this as 'guilt,' but for now he simply accepted the uncomfortable gnawing as part of his new assignment.
"Metatron," God said, "your hands are shaking."
"Yes, sorry," Metatron replied. Then he asked without provocation, "What does this mean? To be a traitor of Heaven?"
"A traitor of Heaven," God repeated. "That's someone who vowed to serve Heaven, but instead turned against it, and allied with those who would destroy Heaven, Paradise. The betrayal could be a secret shared with an enemy or open disobedience."
Metatron became very aware of everything around him. Sharing a secret could be a betrayal? He'd never considered that before.
"Don't fret, son," God said. "Intention is everything. Many shared their secrets with Lucifer before he fell, not knowing he would turn that knowledge against them. They're not traitors."
"What about humans who take vows?" Metatron asked. "If they break them, are they traitors too?"
God took a thoughtful pause before responding. "It is very easy, sitting where you are, to see the wrong that a broken vow signifies. But humans don't have what you have, and as I said, intention is everything. Those who break vows to betray Heaven are traitors, but most humans who do so do it because they mistake the evil act for happiness. Some even believe they're doing the right thing."
"How?" Metatron asked. "They know right from wrong."
"There is much for you to learn," God said. "Your understanding is precise. Clear. Humans don't have that."
"Why not?"
"Grace is pure Creation," God explained. "Souls, human souls, are raw Energy, not skewed in any direction. That is why two souls can make a third, unique soul."
"But Grace is skewed," Metatron said. "Is that why two angels cannot produce a third?"
"That's one reason of many," God replied. "Human souls might lack the clarity of angels, but they share the same desire: to be whole. It is their choices that lead them one way or the other, ultimately."
"That sounds terrifying," Metatron said.
"And extraordinary."
Castiel returned in time for lunch.
"Why aren't you with Sam?" Dean asked by way of greeting.
"Kane agreed to assist him, but I couldn't follow. He's in Purgatory now and will need a pick up in Maine soon."
Dean's initial impulse was to rush after Sam; Purgatory was no place for people, let alone his little brother. Of course, he'd managed before, and Castiel seemed unworried.
"You think he's okay?"
"I do. He asked me to return here and assist you."
"Look at this," Kevin indicated the three white boards they'd filled with notes.
"A list of traitors and enemies of Heaven?" Castiel commented. "What is this for?"
"We need a traitor who is alive right now," Dean explained. "All these book list people who've been ganked or trapped."
"A traitor of Heaven would be anyone originally aligned with Heaven who betrayed that allegiance to support another cause," Cas said simply. "I could have told you that."
"Not exactly. You don't qualify," Dean said to Castiel.
The angel tilted his head inquisitively.
"You didn't do what the other angels wanted you to," Dean said. "Does that qualify you as a traitor to Heaven?"
Castiel blinked slowly. "I see your point. Anyone who fought on my side in the civil war would qualify - "
Dean cut Castiel off. "No, they wouldn't, Cas. You don't qualify as a traitor to Heaven. You didn't ally yourself against it."
"That eliminates a great many targets," the angel replied. "Are you certain?"
"We are. We need someone who, like you said, originally was allied to Heaven, either by creation or by oath, who allied against it."
"What about Fate?" Castiel suggested.
"Sorry, who?" Dean asked.
"You mean the woman who helped Crowley kidnap me?" Kevin asked.
"Lachesis," Cas said. "Yes, she and her sisters were appointed by God. They aligned with Heaven, but Lachesis joined with Crowley."
"But that was after the Apocalypse fell apart," Dean said. "Her job was done, wasn't it?"
"No, the sisters continued to work with Heaven. After the civil war they managed to scrape out their roles again. I imagine neither of her sisters are fairing well without her."
"So right now, on the list of living traitors of Heaven, we so far have the Devil and Fate. Literally."
"Unfortunately," Cas said, "all the angels that aided Crowley or Lucifier were killed."
"What about a rogue cupid?" Kevin suggested.
"What about people?" Dean asked. "Kevin found a priest who turned witch. He took an oath to Heaven and broke it for Hell. Right?"
"Perhaps," Castiel said. "But we would need absolute certainty that this human betrayed Heaven after taking a vow, and I don't think killing would be appropriate. It would have to be conversion."
"Conversion?"
"Turning the human back to God's work, back to the vow," said the angel. "And we'd have to be certain that the conversion is true. And by we, I mean you Dean."
"Awesome," Dean said. "You're saying it might be easier to gank Fate than to turn a single person back to a vow?"
"Humans don't just lie to each other, Dean, they lie to themselves," Cas replied. "You need to know another human's heart to know if they have truly turned back to God, and I know of nothing that will allow you to do that."
"If we find a priest-turned-witch, I could just kill him," Dean suggested.
"Castiel is right," Kevin said. "Humans are too messy to make that work. I think we should focus on Lachesis."
"Can we even kill her?" Dean asked Castiel. "She's Fate - "
"We shouldn't," Kevin interrupted.
"What do you suggest?" Cas asked.
The prophet replied, "You said she's got sisters. They're not fairing well without her."
"Indeed."
"Then maybe she needs a family reunion. A reminder of her past work. She doesn't need to die; she just can't be a traitor anymore."
Cas seemed impressed. "That would prevent Nona and Atropos from retaliation."
"And you think this bitch is just gonna sign up all over again? She left for a reason," Dean said.
"I suspect that, should her sisters fail to bring her back to Heaven, they will accept her death," the angel replied.
"You suspect? That's comforting."
Kevin dug out books on fate, the Fates, and anything that could reference the three sisters.
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Part Four: No Man's Land
Primary Post: 09x12 Problem Child
Primary Post: Season 9 Fan Fiction (S9FF)
Title: Problem Child
Subtitle: Flick of the Knife
Author: dracox-serdriel
Word Count: 2,767
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language
Status: Complete. Feedback appreciated.
It took an entire day before the dust settled.
Dean refused to accept Kevin's involvement; he believed the Winchesters put him in enough danger already. He deserved to be Princeton-boy instead of Prophet-boy. Sam defended Kevin's choice. He had the ability and the right to take on these tasks, and as far as Sam was concerned, the Winchesters owed Kevin any support he wanted.
Castiel stayed out of the fight as much as possible. Technically, humans were supposed to decide this, not angels, and he worried his contribution would be seen as interference rather than aid.
But the dust did settle. Eventually Dean conceded that the idea was sound, but he still clearly hated the thought of Kevin taking on one of the trials.
As soon as they were alone, Dean said, "Cas, you need to go with Kevin. You need to have his back, because if anything happens to him - "
"You would feel responsible?" Cas asked.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"Because he was our responsibility, and for a year Crowley tormented the crap outta him because he helped us. And now he's got a life again, and he's being pulled back into all this - crap! I told him he could go back to school - "
"And he has, and he's safe there," Cas interrupted him. "Dean, I gave him the tablet because he's the prophet, and in many ways, it belongs to him. He translated it, and he decided that he wanted to take action. He came to you with this not because of your responsibility, but because he trusts you to help him."
Dean's face twisted from anger into confusion then into sadness.
Cas put his hand on Dean's shoulder and turned his head so their eyes met. "You still have not learned."
"Not learned?" Dean replied, barely audible.
"That not everything is on your shoulders. That not every bad thing that happens is your fault. You have not learned to stop blaming yourself."
"No, I haven't. I guess I just don't know how to not care."
"It's not about caring," the angel said. "I care."
"What is it then?"
"You take on blame that's not yours. You claim guilt that belongs to others. I used to think it was because of Hell, because of the hole inside yourself. But you've grown beyond that now, now it's - something else."
Dean didn't want to admit what it was, so all he said was, "Yeah, Cas. You're right."
Books littered the war room. Hours trickled by as pages turned. Snacks came and went, and occasionally a frustrated word or two would be exchanged.
"Nothing in here about - "
"Nada about - "
"Absolutely useless unless you're growing herbs."
And so on. The next day passed without any headway. And so did the next. It was day four when someone finally looked up from behind a book.
"I think I found something - " Dean said. He read out loud, "An innocent soul will burn purple when seen through an object scorched with holy fire." His face fell as he continued, "Only works outside of the plane of the Earth? What the hell does that mean?"
"Means we can't test them," Sam said. "But we've got x-ray specs. And we know they can see hex bags and hell hounds, why not innocent souls?"
"One trial down," Dean confirmed. "Oh, except for getting into Purgatory and back out again."
Sam asked, "Benny didn't have any insight?"
"He told me there are layers to Purgatory, and there's one where all the tame monsters wind up together eventually, but it's not like he gave me directions."
"I'm taking this one," Sam said.
"What? No way - "
"You spent a year in Purgatory chopping off heads looking for an angel. That's something people don't forget," Sam said. "Besides, I wanna call in a favor, and it won't work if you're there."
"What?"
"You remember that reaper you met trying to raise Benny?
"Uh, Kane. Yeah, he was on a leash."
"Kane," Sam repeated. He asked Kevin, "We don't have to do the trials in order, right?"
"No, order doesn't matter."
"Wait, hold on - " Dean started. "We don't even know if we can finish the others - "
"That's why you're staying, to figure out your trial," Sam said.
"What if you need backup?" Dean asked.
"I'll go with him," Castiel offered.
As they left, Dean turned to Kevin and asked, "What just happened?"
"Come on, we need to settle on who you're eliminating or whatever."
Sam took the remains of the Coptic Cross used to enslave Kane and placed it in a bowl with holy water, six stones (three white, three black), and some kind of greenery that looked like pine needles. Then he took the bowl and placed it over a series of symbols chalked out along the warehouse floor.
Castiel watched as he waited.
Finally the younger Winchester used a match to light a page with Kane's name and dropped it into the bowl, where the fire turned the paper to ash in spite of the water.
Nothing happened.
"Put the glasses on," Cas instructed.
Sam jammed his holy-fire glasses onto his face, securing them with the tight strap he and Dean added for their tussle with half a dozen hellhounds.
Kane stood in front of him, glowering. "The angel should mind his business," the reaper spat. "I don't answer to humans."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Sam started, "but I need your help."
"My help? The way that witch needed my help?"
"No," Sam said. "I'm not trying to resurrect anyone. I just need help getting into and out of Purgatory."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" Kane asked.
"I need to free an innocent soul."
"Really? And if that's all you had to do, why not just ask me to do it for you?"
"Because it has to be me."
"And why's that?"
Sam hesitated.
Kane took that as a bad sign and said, "You wish to retrieve a soul from Purgatory but don't wish to revive the individual it belongs to? Why would anyone do that?"
"Because the soul doesn't belong in Purgatory."
"He is undergoing a trial," Castiel spoke up. "That is why he can't ask you to perform the task for him."
"A trial?" Kane sounded suspicious. "Why should I believe that?"
"I was the one who closed the Gates of Hell," Sam replied. "I'm not sure what else I can say to make you believe me."
Kane considered this for a moment. "Reapers are not meant to help mortals cross planes. They are not meant to resurrect anyone, either."
"And they're not meant to be on a leash," Sam said.
"You didn't free me because it was the right thing to do, you freed me because the man who enslaved me was trying to kill your brother."
"Maybe that was true in that moment, but you're not the only reaper my brother and I have helped. I'm not... trying to make you do anything. I'm just looking for some help and thought you'd be my best bet."
Kane didn't reply right away, and several minutes passed in agonizing silence.
"I have conditions," Kane said.
"Okay."
"If you attempt to resurrect the soul from Purgatory, I reap you on the spot."
"Okay, what else?"
Kane seemed comforted by Sam's acceptance of the first condition. He continued, "I cannot protect a mortal body in any plane. If you are injured or killed, I take no responsibility."
"Agreed."
"And the angel cannot come with you," Kane stated with a tone of finality. "A mortal in Purgatory isn't right, but a seraph? That's chaos."
"Okay, how much time do I have?"
"As little as possible," the reaper replied. "And if you're ferrying a soul out of Purgatory - "
"I've done it before," Sam jumped in. "I know how to encase another soul in my own body for transport."
"How did you do it the last time?" Kane inquired.
"There's a portal that transports living humans back to earth. I used that."
"I know that place. I can get you back there, but you must traverse the portal. Otherwise, I'll be no better than... those reapers."
Kane put a special emphasis on the word 'those,' which gave Sam the distinct impression that rogue reapers were the vilest of creatures.
The reaper approached him and touched his head, and Sam's entire body vibrated with electricity. After Kane removed his hand, it all screeched to a halt.
"What was that?"
"A connection, so you can call me when you're ready for the portal," Kane explained. "I'll bring you to Purgatory, but I have charges, I can't stay with you. I've been delayed enough by human tampering."
"I understand," Sam said. He turned to the angel, "Cas, will you take my truck back home? Fill everyone in? With any luck, I'm gunna need a pickup in Maine soon."
The angel nodded and left the room.
"You ready?" Kane asked.
"There is a place, or a level, in Purgatory where all the peaceful monsters wind up. I need to go there."
Kane looked at Sam as if he was impressed. "You know a lot about Purgatory for a human," he remarked dryly. "How is that?"
"I listened to people who are more intelligent than myself," Sam replied.
"Do not break our pact, Sam Winchester," Kane said as he took his hand.
"How did you know my name?"
Kane didn't respond. Sam felt the world warp around him, and he found himself again in the long wooded space that was Purgatory.
"Maybe we're going about this all wrong," Kevin spoke as he tucked away what felt like his thirtieth book for the day. "All these books talk about traitors who have already been defeated. We need someone who we know is alive right now."
"Well, I only know of one," Dean said.
"Okay, let's - "
"Lucifer."
"Okay, not him," Kevin dropped his head. "But he can't be the only one."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because the trials are suppose to be difficult, not impossible."
A very long time ago... Metatron's hands shook. God revealed so much, and the archangel desperately wanted to know more. For some reason, this desire came with another sensation. Later, he would identify this as 'guilt,' but for now he simply accepted the uncomfortable gnawing as part of his new assignment.
"Metatron," God said, "your hands are shaking."
"Yes, sorry," Metatron replied. Then he asked without provocation, "What does this mean? To be a traitor of Heaven?"
"A traitor of Heaven," God repeated. "That's someone who vowed to serve Heaven, but instead turned against it, and allied with those who would destroy Heaven, Paradise. The betrayal could be a secret shared with an enemy or open disobedience."
Metatron became very aware of everything around him. Sharing a secret could be a betrayal? He'd never considered that before.
"Don't fret, son," God said. "Intention is everything. Many shared their secrets with Lucifer before he fell, not knowing he would turn that knowledge against them. They're not traitors."
"What about humans who take vows?" Metatron asked. "If they break them, are they traitors too?"
God took a thoughtful pause before responding. "It is very easy, sitting where you are, to see the wrong that a broken vow signifies. But humans don't have what you have, and as I said, intention is everything. Those who break vows to betray Heaven are traitors, but most humans who do so do it because they mistake the evil act for happiness. Some even believe they're doing the right thing."
"How?" Metatron asked. "They know right from wrong."
"There is much for you to learn," God said. "Your understanding is precise. Clear. Humans don't have that."
"Why not?"
"Grace is pure Creation," God explained. "Souls, human souls, are raw Energy, not skewed in any direction. That is why two souls can make a third, unique soul."
"But Grace is skewed," Metatron said. "Is that why two angels cannot produce a third?"
"That's one reason of many," God replied. "Human souls might lack the clarity of angels, but they share the same desire: to be whole. It is their choices that lead them one way or the other, ultimately."
"That sounds terrifying," Metatron said.
"And extraordinary."
Castiel returned in time for lunch.
"Why aren't you with Sam?" Dean asked by way of greeting.
"Kane agreed to assist him, but I couldn't follow. He's in Purgatory now and will need a pick up in Maine soon."
Dean's initial impulse was to rush after Sam; Purgatory was no place for people, let alone his little brother. Of course, he'd managed before, and Castiel seemed unworried.
"You think he's okay?"
"I do. He asked me to return here and assist you."
"Look at this," Kevin indicated the three white boards they'd filled with notes.
"A list of traitors and enemies of Heaven?" Castiel commented. "What is this for?"
"We need a traitor who is alive right now," Dean explained. "All these book list people who've been ganked or trapped."
"A traitor of Heaven would be anyone originally aligned with Heaven who betrayed that allegiance to support another cause," Cas said simply. "I could have told you that."
"Not exactly. You don't qualify," Dean said to Castiel.
The angel tilted his head inquisitively.
"You didn't do what the other angels wanted you to," Dean said. "Does that qualify you as a traitor to Heaven?"
Castiel blinked slowly. "I see your point. Anyone who fought on my side in the civil war would qualify - "
Dean cut Castiel off. "No, they wouldn't, Cas. You don't qualify as a traitor to Heaven. You didn't ally yourself against it."
"That eliminates a great many targets," the angel replied. "Are you certain?"
"We are. We need someone who, like you said, originally was allied to Heaven, either by creation or by oath, who allied against it."
"What about Fate?" Castiel suggested.
"Sorry, who?" Dean asked.
"You mean the woman who helped Crowley kidnap me?" Kevin asked.
"Lachesis," Cas said. "Yes, she and her sisters were appointed by God. They aligned with Heaven, but Lachesis joined with Crowley."
"But that was after the Apocalypse fell apart," Dean said. "Her job was done, wasn't it?"
"No, the sisters continued to work with Heaven. After the civil war they managed to scrape out their roles again. I imagine neither of her sisters are fairing well without her."
"So right now, on the list of living traitors of Heaven, we so far have the Devil and Fate. Literally."
"Unfortunately," Cas said, "all the angels that aided Crowley or Lucifier were killed."
"What about a rogue cupid?" Kevin suggested.
"What about people?" Dean asked. "Kevin found a priest who turned witch. He took an oath to Heaven and broke it for Hell. Right?"
"Perhaps," Castiel said. "But we would need absolute certainty that this human betrayed Heaven after taking a vow, and I don't think killing would be appropriate. It would have to be conversion."
"Conversion?"
"Turning the human back to God's work, back to the vow," said the angel. "And we'd have to be certain that the conversion is true. And by we, I mean you Dean."
"Awesome," Dean said. "You're saying it might be easier to gank Fate than to turn a single person back to a vow?"
"Humans don't just lie to each other, Dean, they lie to themselves," Cas replied. "You need to know another human's heart to know if they have truly turned back to God, and I know of nothing that will allow you to do that."
"If we find a priest-turned-witch, I could just kill him," Dean suggested.
"Castiel is right," Kevin said. "Humans are too messy to make that work. I think we should focus on Lachesis."
"Can we even kill her?" Dean asked Castiel. "She's Fate - "
"We shouldn't," Kevin interrupted.
"What do you suggest?" Cas asked.
The prophet replied, "You said she's got sisters. They're not fairing well without her."
"Indeed."
"Then maybe she needs a family reunion. A reminder of her past work. She doesn't need to die; she just can't be a traitor anymore."
Cas seemed impressed. "That would prevent Nona and Atropos from retaliation."
"And you think this bitch is just gonna sign up all over again? She left for a reason," Dean said.
"I suspect that, should her sisters fail to bring her back to Heaven, they will accept her death," the angel replied.
"You suspect? That's comforting."
Kevin dug out books on fate, the Fates, and anything that could reference the three sisters.
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Primary Post: 09x12 Problem Child
Primary Post: Season 9 Fan Fiction (S9FF)