This whole episode is wide open with fic possibilities, primarily of the Emmanuel!Cas variety. But also the ending -- watching Misha play Cas remembering who he was was so painful, and now that he's there with Lucifer, he's going to have nothing to think about but how he believes he failed (the world, heaven, DEAN) while Lucifer taunts him and Meg does ... whatever she's going to do.

I can't believe that Meg will refrain from tormenting Cas.Or the patients. Or the staff. Unless Cas is enough in control to make it clear she is in trouble if she does not stop.

I'm assuming Meg is there explicitly not to torment Cas. Can't speak for the rest of the patients, but my understanding was that the boys knew she was there--that's what they were talking about when they left, about working with a demon.

She's there to watch over Cas, kind of like she was during the entire episode, because Team Free Will is all the shot she has at self defense.

She won't be fucking with him in my scenario.

I had originally wondered if Meg was Daphne, but here's another chance for her to become curiously close to Cas, especially when his defenses are all askew.

Of everyone we met in S1, *Meg* is the only person apart from the boys Winchester that's alive and kicking and comes round to visit. Who would have thought, man? That it would have been a chick, much less her?

The boys are really lousy at watching the details in the deals they make. Meg may have agreed to protect Cas without agreeing not to torment him. I mean I hope you are right. But while the boys are great con men, and great heroes, I've never any sign they are anything but shit as negotiators.

Of everyone we met in S1, *Meg* is the only person apart from the boys Winchester that's alive and kicking and comes round to visit.

"All our friends are dead."

::sobs::

I've never any sign they are anything but shit as negotiators.

What is there to negotiate? They can't keep Cas with them in that condition, they need to figure out how to fight the Leviathans, and Meg's reasoning for looking into Emmanuel!Cas was pretty honest. He's probably her best defense (or offense) against Crowley, so I don't see any reason for her to torment him. Honestly, I'm not sure what she could do to him that would be worse than what Lucifer will.

Well I'd expect them to get an agreement from her not to hurt Cas. But your point that she could not torment him worse than Lucifer is well taken. Of course that does not apply to the staff and other patients. I hope the boys thought of that.

They've struck me as decent negotiators. What's been shit is the situations in which they had to negotiate, so there were no easy wins to be had. But allowing an easy out like "Behave as badly as you like, just keep my boyfriend safe" would strike me as the sort of bargain not made by a guy who'd give his life to save the world. He's not an idiot. I doubt he's going to give her the pretty easy watch of running amok on what's essentially their posting.

They've both dealt with (to their deep regret) a number of demons before. They know how hard it is to pull a win-win situation, and how carefully your ass has to be covered, as far as I can tell. I'd have to call them both more stupid than I've seen them act to think otherwise.

The boys are really lousy at watching the details in the deals they make

Recent examples?

So, psych wards--everybody just wanders around everywhere? I don't get as much freedom when I'm admitted, not committed.

I wouldn't say everywhere, but in the one I was in people were free to walk anywhere in the dormitory wing where they were bunked, or to the TV lounges or common waiting area with nurses' station. People's time was fairly heavily managed during the day, but at night you could wander around as long as you didn't make a nuisance of yourself or try to get out.

Why would the brothers set Meg to watch over Castiel? He's effectively invulnerable, and if any of their enemies go after him they probably get the purifying immolation treatment by reflex. I got the impression she was there all on her own.

people were free to walk anywhere in the dormitory wing where they were bunked

I wondered about that in Sam, Interrupted. I mean, people are living, not just being examined for a condition, so there must be some sort of leeway, but especially in that episode, people just seemed to be everywhere they wanted to be.

Here...I dunno. I don't want people in my room at the best of time. If I might be strapped to my bed, I don't want anyone not explicitly tasked with my care coming into the room. Vulnerability issues rampant.

I'd read somewhere that Rachel was on medication (presumably prednisone) for a back injury. The "moon" face is a pretty typical side effect.

Loved the episode! LOVED!