based off 12.12

stuck in the middle (with you)

i apologize for the pain in advance

this is also a republish

~*~

"Mandy. That short for Amanda?" Dean asked lowering his menu.

"Duh," she answered.

"Yeah, I'll– I'll go with the cheeseburger," Dean told her.

"Oh, yeah," Wally said happily.

"Hey, what's the, uh, wifi password here?" Sam asked looking up at Mandy.

"Extra cheese," she said.

"No, no. Just, uh, as it is, is fine," Dean said.

"That's the password. 'Extra Cheese,'" Mandy informed them.

"You know what, that sounds good. I'm gonna change mine to a cheeseburger as well. Extra cheese. I wanna carbo-load," Wally said setting his menu down.

"Cheese isn't a carb."

"Cheese isn't a carbohydrate." Cas and Mandy had spoken at the same time, Mandy smiling at Cas.

"Steak and eggs. Bloody," Mary said shutting her menu.

"And how 'bout you, handsome?" Mandy asked taking her gaze to Cas. Juno's mouth dropped as she looked at Mandy, then took her gaze to Cas who was confused as well.

"Um, uh," Cas looked at his menu as Juno just looked at Dean who was holding back a laugh. "Uh, Sunrise Special, please."

"Nice," she said with a bright smile. Juno watched as the girl left, then leaned back.

"She didn't take me order, and she flirted with my boyfriend," Juno said with a frown.

"Oh, dude, she is into you," Dean said with a small laugh.

"Dean..." Juno warned him.

"No, this is good. We've been looking for teachable moments," Dean said waving her off. "This..." He smiled clicking his tongue. Cas leaned forward as to look at Mandy, Juno hitting his arm. He quickly looked away as Mary's phone vibrated.

"Everything all right, Mom?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, just a hunter, needs some help," Mary answered him.

"Another one?" Dean asked shocked.

"Can't have too many friends in this line of work," Mary said with a slight shrug. "Okay -"

"The internet here sucks," Sam complained. "I downloaded all the bunker's files to a new archive, but we're not getting any signal, so I'm j–" Dean cut him off by making a fake snoring sound.

"Nobody cares. Cas, here's the thing you need to know about waitresses, okay? They get hit on all day long, so you gotta bring your A game. But, upside? They always smell like food," Dean told him with a finger gun.

"They always smell like food," Wally agreed.

"Okay," Juno said leaning forward.

"Is that really an upside? They smell like food?" Sam questioned him.

"Okay– okay..." Mary said trying to get back to the matter at hand.

"Right? It's great," Dean said with a smile.

"Why would you want them to smell like food?" Juno asked looking at Dean.

"Hey," Mary said hitting the table. "Screens down, eyes up, shut up."

"Sorry, mom," Sam said.

"Sorry," Wally followed up.

"Okay, here's what we know. Our target keeps a tight schedule. He leaves every day at eight p.m. and gets back exactly at eight forty-five," Mary informed them.

"What's he doing?" Dean asked.

"Night fishing," Wally said.

"Wait a minute, you called us to– to kill a demon that likes to fish?" Castiel asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yes, I did. Look, guys. This is all new to me, all right? You got a rugaru problem, hey, I'm your guy. But demons?" Wally questioned like they were insane. "Hell. Look, I was just passing through and I heard about some cattle mutilations."

"Classic demon sign," Sam stated.

"I started to dig. A lot of virgins go missing around here, too," Wally explained.

"Classic horny demon sign," Dean said with a slight smile.

"Which is why Wally called us, asking for help. So are we all clear on the plan?" Mary asked. They all nodded slightly, Sam watching as Mandy was coming back.

"Incoming," Sam said. Mandy picked up Mary's cup of coffee, Cas leaning over and sniffing her. Juno hit his arm, Cas looking at her with wide eyes.

"Hey, Mandy. Question for you. My shy but devastatingly handsome friend here was, uh, just wondering, when do you get off?" Dean asked Mandy. Juno was about to get up, But Cas quickly put his hand on her thigh. She clenched her fist, resting an elbow on the table.

"Whenever I can," Mandy said smiling at Cas.

"Hey-o!" Dean called.

"Zing!" Wally followed up.

"Point 1 for her. Just dropped that on the table," Dean said with a laugh.

"Right in front of all of us, too," Wally laughed.

"Ooh-hoo!" Dean cheered.

"Wow. All right. Internet's up. We're in business," Sam said leaning forward.

"I'm so nervous, I don't even know if I can eat," Wally said grabbing his stomach.

"Everything's gonna be fine," Mary reassured him.

Present

Juno kicked open the barn door, walking Cas in over her shoulder. Mary was on his other side, and the two dropped him on a couch.

"Where's Sam and Dean?" Castiel asked quickly.

"T-They're still out fighting the demon," Juno said quickly. She looked down at the open and gushing wound in his stomach, shaking her head quickly. "Remember this morning when that waitress was flirting with you? Then you smelled her?"

"Yes," Cas groaned out.

"Yeah, I think this is karma."

That Morning Before Breakfast

"Each of us has a time the physical body dies. We all face God's judgment in the end. There's not one of us alive walking on this earthly plane that will not pay the consequence for their actions," the man over the radio said. Juno looked up and over at Cas as he was listening intently. She saw the Impala pass, then began sitting up. "The Lord will hold us in the palm of his hand, and he'll weigh our souls. Brothers and sisters, are you worthy?" Juno leaned forward, pressing the off button on the radio. The two climbed out of the truck, beginning to approach the other four.

"Cas," Dean said. "J."

"Thanks for coming. I know you're busy," Mary said looking between Castiel and Juno.

"Well, not really," Cas said with a sigh.

"So, what? No luck with Lucifer's kid?" Sam asked them.

"No, Kelly Kline, it's like she's– just disappeared," Juno said putting her hands in her pockets.

"Lucifer's kid. That's a joke, right? The..." Wally trailed off, the four who knew staring at him. "It's not a joke."

"All right, ramblers. Let's get rambling," Dean said, turning and walking to the diner.

"Lucifer has a kid," Wally said quickly following. They all walked in a group towards the diner, almost as if it was in slow motion and a 1970's crime movie theme song was playing in the background.

Diner

"Everyone clear on the plan?" Mary asked.

"Eight forty-five, demon comes home. Sam and I will be waiting for him," Dean started.

"I scream to scare him," Juno continued.

"I'll pop him with a devil's trap bullet when he's caught off guard," Dean stated.

"I'll finish him off with the demon blade," Sam finished.

"And I will wait at the back with you in case he comes in that way," Castiel said with a nod.

"Cool, cool. What do I do?" Wally asked.

"Keep a lookout. Don't die," Dean instructed him.

"Everything is gonna be fine," Mary said reassuringly.

That Night

Juno stood in the living room with Sam and Dean, glancing to the kitchen to see Cas walking inside.

"Mary?" he called. She furrowed her eyebrows walking into the kitchen as Mary came through a door. "Where were you?"

"Bathroom. I get nervous sometimes," Mary answered him.

"Urination. I understand," Cas said with a nod.

"Not something you say to a woman, or any person in general," Juno said looking at him. Mary's phone began buzzing and she answered it quickly.

"Wally?" she questioned.

"Heads up, Mary. He's coming back early," Wally told her.

"Thanks," Mary said. She hung up, sudden whistling being heard from outside. Castiel dropped his angel blade into his hand, Juno peering out the window.

"Juno," Dean whispered. She walked back to the living room, grabbing a chair and sitting in the center of the carpet where Sam had painted a devil's trap. Footsteps began approaching the door as she whistling continued. Dean cocked his gun, pointing it right at the door. The door knob metal scraped, Juno crossing her legs over with a smirk. The demon walked in, his eyes landing on Juno.

"Hey," she said nodding at him. She leaned forward, screaming at the demon. Dean shot him, Juno stopping herself. The screen door closed as she demon touched a finger to his ear.

"You mind explainin' why you broke into my house?" he asked stepping forward. Juno stood, beginning to back up. Dean fired again, the bullets doing nothing. "I know it wasn't just to ruin the evening catch." The demon kicked the rug up, noticing the devils trap. "Hunters." Dean shot him three more times, Sam moving up and stabbing the demon in the side. The demon elbowed Sam in the face, sending him back. The demon pulled the dagger out of his side, holding his up. "Well, that didn't work." Mary and Cas stepped out from around the corner, the demon staring at Cas. "Angel." He launched himself at Castiel, tackling him into the wall. Juno the angel blade out of her jacket, twisting it between her fingers. Sam and Dean tried to walk into the room, but the doors slammed shut. The demon hit Mary's gun away, then punched Juno across the face. "Hiya, sweetheart." Castiel tackled the demon into the wall, Juno standing up quickly.

"Run!" he instructed Mary and Juno. Mary began running out, Juno pulling her angel blade out from under the table. She began running out of the house, then stopped when she saw Cas fly through the window and land on the ground with a thud.

"Cas!" she yelled, then watched as the demon descended the stairs.

"Juno, run!" Cas yelled. She turned, running in the direction Mary did. She climbed into the Jeep with Mary. She slammed on the gas, gunning it towards the demon. The hit him right on as Cas was crawling away. The two stepped out, Juno running around the car and bending down next to Cas.

"Cas, oh my god," she said grabbing his arm as she stared at the wound for the first time.

"Where is he?" Cas asked.

"I don't know," Mary answered.

"Where is he?" Castiel asked again.

"Come on," Juno said pulling one of his arms over her shoulder. Mary did the same, the three heading towards the car. Mary drove down to the barn, the three getting out of the car. Juno kicked open the barn door, walking Cas in over her shoulder. Mary was on his other side, and the two dropped him on a couch.

"Where's Sam and Dean?" Castiel asked quickly.

"T-They're still out fighting the demon," Juno said quickly. She looked down at the open and gushing wound in his stomach, shaking her head quickly. "Remember this morning when that waitress was flirting with you? Then you smelled her?"

"Yes," Cas groaned out.

"Yeah, I think this is karma," Juno said with a small laugh. "Can you heal yourself?"

"I tried. Something's wrong," Castiel grunted.

"How bad is it?" Mary asked. Castiel didn't answer, Mary's phone vibrating. She answered, turning away from the two. "Oh, Sam."

"Hey, where are you?" Sam asked.

"Farm down the road. It looks abandoned. Take your first left and drive until you see a barn," Mary instructed him. Castiel began pulling his shirt up, Juno helping him. He groaned in pain, Juno shaking her head quickly.

"Yeah, okay. We're on the way. Are you okay?" Sam asked. Castiel looked down at the heavily bleeding wound, closing his eyes at the immense pain.

"No," Mary answered. She hung up the phone, turning to Castiel and Juno.

"It's gonna be okay, you're fine. This is gonna be okay," Juno said as she began unbuttoning the bottom of Cas's shirt. She pulled the rest of it out, Castiel groaning in pain. "Okay, okay, just hold on." Juno stood, turning to Mary. "Do you have towels in your car?"

"Yes," Mary answered.

"Good, I'll be right back," Juno said. She ran out of the barn, opening the trunk of Mary's Jeep. She grabbed a few towels, then turned and ran back into the barn. Mary was knelt next to Cas as he was shifting uncomfortably. Juno began putting the towels over the wound, noticing the first one already soaking through. She applied two more, then began wiping the area around the wound off. Mary turned away, beginning to type something on her phone.

"Juno... Juniper," Cas said weakly.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," she said looking up at him. "How you feeling?" Castiel couldn't answer as Sam and Dean burst into the barn.

"What the hell just happened?" Dean asked.

"Where's Wally?" Mary asked.

"Wally, uh..." Sam trailed off, the message coming clear.

"Oh, God," Mary whispered. Cas grunted in pain again, Juno only nodding in response to acknowledge what was going on.

"Cas?" Dean asked walking to him. "Hey. Wow. You look like hammered crap," Dean said kneeling next to Cas.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Castiel grunted out.

"Let's see," Dean said nodding to Cas's wound. Juno began pulling up Cas's shirt, Castiel groaning in pain. There were dark grey scars on his stomach, all leading from the open wound. "All right. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, hey, you know what? I've had worse."

"Oh, yeah? When?" Cas asked breathing heavily. "Dean, something's wrong. I... I can't heal myself. I think the... I think the demon's s-spear was poisoned. I don't... I-I think I'm dying."

"No. No, you just need some time, okay? You'll heal up the old fashioned way," Dean said in denial.

"Dean," Juno said through her teeth. He looked at her as Juno was shaking her head. "It's too fast, it's too quick and there's a lot of blood. H-He's not gonna..."

"No, hey, Juno, shut up," Dean said pointing at her. "He'll be fine."

"Mom, what the hell did you get us into?" Sam asked Mary.

"Sam. Sammy!" Dean called. Sam and Mary both walked to Cas, as he was still groaning in pain.

"You idiots!" They all looked to see Crowley standing behind them now. "You're all going to die."

"Well, this day just keeps gettin' better," Dean said standing up.

"Crowley?" Sam asked.

"You're him? The King of Hell?" Mary asked.

"You must be Mother Winchester. Pleasure. I've heard so much," Crowley said holding a hand out.

"Touch me and I'll kill you," Mary snapped.

"What's up with Feathers?" Crowley asked nodding at Castiel.

"What are you even doing here? How'd you find us?" Juno asked as she kept a hand to Cas's wound.

"Wait a second. The demons. They were yours," Sam stated.

"Obviously," Crowley said in a 'duh' tone.

"They killed my friend," Mary snapped.

"Your friend was stupid. You're all..." Crowley trailed off, everyone getting the gist. "Do you know what you've done? Does the name Ramiel mean anything to you?"

"No," everyone answered.

"Yes," Cas groaned.

"What?" Sam asked looking at him.

"Ramiel, Prince of Hell," Cas said breathing heavily.

"Ramiel, Prince of Hell. It's catchy. It rhymes. And he's going to kill each and every one of you," Crowley said slowly looking between them.

"No. The Princes are all dead," Castiel grunted.

"That's what we told people to stop them looking. But in reality, not so much," Crowley said with a sigh.

"W-what the hell is a Prince of... Hell?" Dean asked.

"The oldest of the old demons. The first generation after Lilith. Lucifer turned them himself, before the oceans.... drank Atlantis," Crowley stated sheepishly.

"They were trained to be generals, to lead demonic armies in the war against Heaven," Castiel informed them.

"Like Azazel," Mary said standing up straight.

"They even have his eyes," Crowley said raising his eyebrows. He went on to explain how they offered the Throne of Hell to Ramiel, but he turned it down. Which was turned down to Crowley. "My demons were there to keep people away from Ramiel. Believe me, that's a hornet's nest you do not want to be kicking."

"Too late," Dean mumbled.

"What happened to Cas?" Sam asked.

"You tell me," Crowley stated.

"He got stabbed with some kind of silver-tipped spear," Juno said looking over at Crowley. Castiel grunted in pain at her small hand movement, Juno frowning and shutting her eyes.

"It's not a spear. It's a lance. The Lance of Michael," Crowley informed them.

"Michael. As in Michael Michael?" Dean asked stepping forward.

"Nasty bit of business. Kills everything it touches. If you're a demon, you go up in a puff of smoke. If you're an angel, you just... rot away," Crowley said. Juno's head whipped to Castiel, her breath hitching in her throat. "Sorry, Castiel."

"No. No. There's a cure. There's always a cure, and we will find it," Dean said stepping forward.

"How?" Crowley asked.

"We trap Ramiel," Sam said like it was that easy.

"And we beat his ass until he gives it up," Dean continued.

"It's not gonna work," Crowley said looking between the two.

"We took down the Darkness, and the Devil," Sam said.

"It took you years to defeat Lucifer, and the power of God to stop the Darkness. Maybe if you had more time, you could manage Ramiel. But right now, in this barn... Hey, I was growing fond of the choir boy, too," Crowley said with a slight shrug.

"Shut up. Shut up," Juno said standing and walking towards Crowley. "We don't have time, okay, for your– for you. So either help us or get the hell out of here!" He disappeared in front of them, Juno nodding. "Yeah, figures." She turned, walking back to Cas as he was shifting uncomfortably. "Hey, hey, shh. It's okay."

"No, Juno, it's... it's not," Cas said grabbing her arm. "And you know that." She looked at him, shaking her head quickly. "You know it's not okay."

"Castiel," she whispered shaking her head. "Please don't make this any harder." He nodded slightly, leaning his head back.

"Cas, how bad is it?" Dean asked turning to him. Cas groaned in pain, loosening his tie and pulling his shirt down to reveal the wound was spread to his neck.

"Crowley's right. You should go," Cas said with a cough.

"Cas, come on," Dean started.