Supernatural

Recap:St. Mary's Convent, Ilchester, Maryland, 1972 A demonic black cloud enters a priest. Later, he leads a service for the nuns and starts rambling. He then locks the doors and talks of looking for his "father," and finally discovering a way to free him. The priest explains that the key to his father's cage is at the convent and reminds them that his father was once an angel. His eyes turn yellow and he grabs a blade. The Present Sam and Ruby prepare to leave. She wonders if he's okay and insists that Dean was wrong. Sam doesn't blame Dean and wonders if there'll be an "after" for him to patch things with his brother. He tells Ruby that it's time to go. At Bobby's place, Dean refuses to call Sam and Bobby tells him he needs to reach out to Sam. Dean notes it didn't go well the first time and Bobby tells him to try it again. Dean refuses, insisting Sam ran off just like he did when he went to college. Bobby snaps at him and tells Dean he sounds like a whiny brat, or worse, his dad. He accuses John of being a coward for pushing Sam away rather than reaching out to him. Bobby says Dean is a better man than John ever was and tells him not to be like John. Dean turns away for a moment, and then finds himself transported to a luxurious mansion. Castiel is there and tells him it's almost time. At a hospital, Lilith's demon chef is taking a baby out of the maternity ward. Suddenly Sam and Ruby arrive and Sam uses his power to slam her against a wall. He says they need to talk. Dean finds a banquet table filled with hamburgers and beer. Zachariah appears with Castiel and explains they're keeping Dean safe and offers him whatever he wants. Dean wants answers and Zachariah explains all but one seal have broken. He notes Dean is the one who started it, and Lilith will open the last seal at midnight. When Dean demands more answers, Zachariah reminds him that he swore an oath of obedience and tells him to obey. Sam tortures the demon, holding her immobile without a demon's trap. She insists she isn't scared but Sam doesn't believe it. The demon wonders what she'll get out of it but Sam tells her to worry about what happens before she dies and proceeds to torture her. As Dean waits, he finally decides to call Sam on his cell phone. He gets his brother's voice mail and leaves an apology. The demon finally agrees to tell them where Lilith is and explains she'll be at a convent in Maryland. She doesn't know what the final seal is and begs for death. Ruby says they need the demon to provide more blood for Sam. In response, the demon goes down into its host body's subconscious. The nurse, Cindy McClellan, begs them for help. St. Mary's Convent, Ilchester, Maryland, 1972 The demon-possessed priest looks at the chapel filled with slaughtered nuns and then prays to his father, Lucifer, to whisper through the door. The candles flicker out and Lucifer speaks through a dead nun. He praises the demon and tells him to find Lilith, the only one who can break the seals. Lucifer tells the yellow-eyed demon, Azazel, to find a special child. The Present Sam confirms that a priest at the convent went berserk, disemboweled eight nuns, and claimed he was possessed by a demon. He's reluctant to kill the demon now that the human host is dominant, but Ruby warns that it's a trick. Sam takes Cindy outside and puts her in the demon trap in the trunk of his car. Castiel comes to see Dean, who wants to be taken to see Sam. Castiel warns against it but Dean insists. The angel warns him of what happened the last time they met and refuses to take Dean to Sam. When Dean insists on going for a walk, Castiel insists on going with him. When Dean refuses, Castiel makes the door disappear and then vanishes himself. As they drive, Cindy continues to scream. Sam checks his voice mail and sees Dean has left him a message but doesn't listen to it. Ruby insists that it's worth the sacrifice of one woman to save the world. Sam wonders if Dean was right but Ruby asks if he plans to see it through. He considers the matter. Dean tries to hammer through the wall only to discover that it reseals itself. Zachariah appears and Dean wonders why they're keeping him safe now. He demands to see Sam but Zachariah refuses. Dean demands answers and Zachariah finally admits that Lilith is going to open the final seal: there's nothing they can do. Dean realizes Zachariah never wanted to stop the Apocalypse, and lied to the other angels on the ground. The forces of Heaven figure they'll win and it'll be paradise on Earth. A few million people will die, but it's happened before. Dean asks about Sam and Zachariah says Sam has a part to play but will need a little nudging in the right direction. The angel admits that Dean is chosen and his role is to stop Lucifer and receive a vast reward. Dean asks where God is and Zachariah says that "God has left the building," and then disappears. A security guard patrols the convent. Lilith appears to him and says she's there for Mass, and then has her demons grab him. Dean calls Sam again without success, and Castiel appears to tell him it's impossible. Dean asks what they have planned for Sam and Castiel says Sam is going to do it to himself. When Castiel refuses to answer, Dean wonders why he's there and the angel apologizes for it ending like this. Dean punches him but only hurts his hand. He insists that God isn't involved and his superiors are invoking God's name to keep him line. Castiel says he sees nothing but pain, anger, guilt, and confusion. With Armageddon, they'll all be at peace. Dean begs him for help, asking to be taken to Dean and reminding him that he tried to help Dean once before. Castiel warns that they'll all be hunted and Dean tells him they're done. He turns away… and Castiel disappears. Sam and Ruby approach the convent and Ruby asks if they're doing it. Sam wants a minute to think. He listens to Dean's message and hears Dean accusing him of being a monster and a vampire. Sam tells ruby to do it and she goes back, opens the trunk, and Cindy starts to scream. Castiel appears in the room, shoves Dean up against the wall, covers his mouth, then cuts his own arm with a knife. He then draws a symbol on the wall in his own blood. Zachariah arrives and demands answers, but the completed symbol flashes white, sending Zachariah away. Castiel warns he won't be gone long and they have to find Sam. However, he knows who does. He warns that Lilith is the final seal, and if she dies then the Apocalypse begins. Writer Chuck Shurley is at home calling an escort service after finishing his most recent story, "Lucifer Rising." Dean and Castiel appear and Chuck insists it isn't supposed to happen. Lilith's demons bring her the blood of the guard and she tells them they're going to save the world. When she turns back, she discovers that Sam has killed them all. She seals the door before he can get in. Chuck reveals that Dean and Castiel aren't supposed to be at St. Mary's, according to his visions. White light flares and the room vibrates. Castiel tells Dean he'll hold off the Archangel and the others and sends Dean to the convent to stop Sam. Chuck puts his arm (briefly) on Castiel's shoulder as they face the powers of Heaven together. Sam breaks into the convent and slams Lilith against the altar. Dean arrives down the hallway but Ruby sees him, smiles, and seals the doors. Sam moves in for the kill and begins to destroy her. However, he hears Dean call out to him and turns. Ruby tells him to finish Lilith, while Lilith laughs at him for becoming a freak that can't bring himself to do the job. Sam uses his powers again, his eyes turning black, and kills her. As Ruby and Sam look on, Lilith's blood oozes from her body to form the beginning of a portal. Ruby explains that Sam opened the door and Lucifer is free at last. She boasts of how she deceived them all. Sam tries to use his powers against her but he's used everything up against Lilith. Ruby explains that it was Sam who made the choices and that it's a miracle. She assures Sam that Lucifer will pay him in ways he can't even imagine. Dean comes in with the knife and Ruby tells him it's too late. Sam grabs her and Dean delivers the final blow. The portal starts to open and Sam says he's coming as everything glows white…