"Yeah," Runa said as she got out of the car. She checked to make sure she had her knife, just in case. She didn't trust Michael yet.

Inside, Gabriel had already managed to get a table big enough for everyone. It was a bit of a feat; small diners typically couldn't seat a group of seven all at once. But he managed, and he made sure his older brother was sitting between himself and Cas, to keep someone between Michael and the Winchesters on both sides.

Michael didn't mind, instead looking rather amused. He did watch the two girls come in and settle into their seats. He wasn't all that surprised that neither of them looked comfortable with him.

Runa did keep glancing at Michael, a bit wary, but settled into her seat between Dean and Kyra. Sam ended up on Kyra's other side, between her and Gabriel.

"Hey, look," Gabriel said brightly, pointing at the menu. "Pig'n a Poke!" He gave a shit eating grin. Sam rolled his eyes and gave him a shove.

Dean looked between the two, but he didn't ask. Instead he looked at the menu. Everything settled in peacefully for a bit.

"That infinite Tuesday loop was his fault," Sam muttered to his brother. "The pig'n a poke thing. You don't remember most of the loop."

"No," Dean said. "I don't." But he did give Gabe a Look anyway. Because while it was long past he remembered how wrecked Sammy had been for a few weeks afterward.

Gabriel easily ignored the Look. Big Brother Looks didn't bother him, not anymore. Growing up with Michael had assured that.

A few moments later, the waitress came over to take their orders.

Kyra kind of pitied the woman for having to take six orders. Michael wasn't eating, but then Gabriel ordered enough for about three people, so it evened out. Shaking her head, Kyra just got oatmeal and hot cocoa.

Runa settled on pancakes and coffee, and a glass of orange juice. Sam got a more standard breakfast of eggs and bacon to go with his coffee.

Once all the orders were taken and the waitress walked away again, Runa sighed.

"Okay," she said. "We need to figure out exactly what's going to happen now."

"How permanently do you want to stop Crowley?" Michael asked, watching them. Because there was one option he could think of. He could do it by himself; him and Gabriel taking on Crowley would be overkill.

"Don't kill him," Runa said. She ignored the incredulous looks from both Winchesters. "I'm not kidding. We need him alive, or else the sudden power vacuum would throw everything out of whack even worse than it is now. It's exactly what happened in Heaven, we don't need a second civil war happening in Hell at the same time."

Michael raised an eyebrow at her. "What solution would you suggest, then?" he asked, his voice mild enough.

"Cut him off somehow," Runa said. "Put Purgatory out of reach. Lock him in Hell. Something."

"Lock Purgatory out of his reach," Michael said, looking at Gabriel. "Without locking it up entirely."

Gabriel looked pensive, thinking about it.

"That or keep Crowley away from it somehow," Runa said.

"Or replace Crowley." Michael's gaze settled on Sam.

"What?" Sam blinked when Michael looked at him. "You mean me. Why would I be the one to replace Crowley?"

"You can't mean that," Gabriel said, looking at his brother.

"Depose Crowley..." Runa mused, actually thinking that over. She glanced at Sam, turning over a couple of thoughts in her head.

"You were bred for it," Michael said. "Originally you were supposed to take over Hell because you would be holding Lucifer. But you still have the potential." He looked at Sam evenly, ignoring Gabriel.

"Hell no," Dean snarled. "That's not an option."

"It could work," Runa ventured, still turning it over in her mind. "It wouldn't take much to get Hell to follow him, I don't think. Most of them were already used to the idea."

Surprisingly, Sam didn't immediately object.

That got Dean's attention and he turned to glare at Sam. "You're not actually considering it, are you?" he demanded.

"Think about it, Dean," Sam said. "This was the original plan. Since before we were born, this was the plan. And if it works? We'll finally have Hell under control, for good."

"There's no guarantee of that," Dean said, shaking his head. "Besides, since when have we cared about the plan? This is not okay, Sam, on so many levels. You're not doing this!"

"Dean, this could be it, this could be the answer," Sam insisted. "I take the throne from Crowley and we've done it, we won."

"It doesn't count if you're stuck in Hell," Dean argued. "Besides, that's the kind of thing that changes you, Sam." It was something they both had experience with.

"It's worth it if it means we win, Dean," Sam said stubbornly. He glanced at Runa, as if just realizing that she could get him into Hell.