5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight

{{Episode |Infobox=

300px
Title	Two Minutes to Midnight
Episode #	Season 5, Episode 21
First aired	May 6, 2010
Directed by	Phil Sgriccia
Written by	Sera Gamble
On IMDB	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1626754/
Outline	The Winchesters and Bobby are reunited with Castiel, and get close to collecting the rings from the Four Horsemen.
Monster	Pestilence, Death
Timeline	sometime in May 2010
Location(s)	Davenport, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois
[[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]]

|Synopsis=

Inside interior of Bobby's House. Dean finds out about Sam's proposal to give Lucifer permission to use him a Vessel. In the midst of their disputes, Dean receives a phone call from Castiel, temporarily pausing the discussion. In their conversation, Castiel reveals that following his actions in California, he has become effectively mortal. He apologizes for doubting Dean in assuming that he was going to assent to Michael.

Dean and Sam travel to Serenity Valley Convalescent Home in the Impala in search of Pestilence. Doctor Green returns to Serenity Valley Convalescent Home in Davenport, Iowa, claiming that his activities were quite productive to Celeste. She asks him if he'll cure her and Doctor Green openly admits that he's not going to cure her condition; instead, he inflicts multiple diseases on her and she dies, coughing up green slime. Dean and Sam continue traveling through the facility searching for Pestilence, and as they pass a room, a demonic nurse senses their presence and reports to Pestilence. In their discussion, Pestilence activates his ring, inflicting pain and sickness on doctors, nurses and patients. As they get closer to the Horseman, they too become sick and their sickness greatly escalates as they get closer to Pestilence. Once they reach him, they both faint and are dragged in by the the demon assistant. They quickly awaken and Pestilence converses with them. He is then about to kill them when Castiel appears, claiming that he was transported here by a bus. The Horseman verbally acknowledges that Castiel isn't a full angel anymore. In desperation to defeat the Horseman, Castiel cuts off Pestilence's ring-finger, separating him from his ring, effectively disabling his essential capabilities. The demon charges at Castiel and is killed with Ruby's Knife. Pestilence warns them that it's too late and vanishes. Dean, Sam and Castiel return to Bobby's house with Pestilence's ring. Bobby reveals that Chicago is going to be blown off the map by Death. They question where he got that information, forcing Crowley to appear and at his request, Bobby reveals that he sold his soul for Death's location. Dean, Sam and Crowley discuss matters concerning the swine flu.

In Chicago, Illinois, Death exits his automobile and ambulates on the sidewalk, killing a man who rudely brushed past him. The song "O Death" can be heard in back round which heralds his arrival. Back at Bobby's Salvage Yard, Sam, Castiel and Bobby depart from Dean going to stop a virus outbreak, while Dean and Crowley are going to locate Death to stop him from destroying a whole state.

In the van, Castiel contemplates Sam's plan to assent to Lucifer and jump in Lucifer's Cage while hosting him. Castiel reveals that Lucifer's older brother, Michael, has found and is using another Vessel - Adam Milligan - Dean and Sam's half-brother. Castiel also reveals that if Sam assents to Lucifer and fails, that the fight between the Two Archangels with occur and will have destructive collateral effects. Castiel also informs Sam that in order for him to successfully contain Lucifer, he would need to consume a very large amount of Demon blood, as it strengthens the vessel. At the distribution center, they notice that demons are loading the "vaccine" into the market. They enter the market and dispatch many Croatoan-infected people. In the search for the last Horseman, Dean and Crowley travel to a location where Crowley believes Death is present, as he sees many Reapers surrounding the vicinity. But Crowley bashfully admits that he was mistaken in his assumption. In Chicago, Crowley finally locates Death and Dean goes in to meet him. Back at the market, Sam saves more people, releasing them. Sam is brought to the ground and is caught off-guard by a zombie. Castiel intervenes and shoots its head, killing it. At the pizzeria, Dean approaches Death with Death's Scythe, but as he gets closer to the Horseman, the handle burns hot and reappears in Death's possession and Dean, on Death's request, joins him in eating. Death mentions that he is very old and and also states that in comparison to him, the universe and Earth are barely out of the