Staying up all night between night shifts has given me a terrible case of the What-Ifs. Keep in mind this is what my sleep deprived brain came up with.

Point of No Return What If

What if during the escape in PONR, Dean, thinking of his brothers' safety, pushed Sam and Adam out the door, leaving Dean behind to be taken as Michael's vessel?

Dean looked between his brothers and Zachariah and was filled with complete panic. Sam was choking on blood in one corner, Adam in another. And before him was Zachariah, controlling everything.

"Stop it. Stop it right now!" Dean begged, unable to bear the sight of his brothers in so much pain.

"In exchange for what?" Zachariah asked, advancing towards Dean.

"Damn it, Zachariah." Dean replied in disgust. "Stop it, please. I'll do it."

Dean could hear Sam telling him not to, could hear Zachariah's taunting words, but Dean just wanted Sam and Adam to be safe. "The answer is yes." Dean knew his fate was sealed with those four simple words.

He tried to glance at Sam but couldn't bear to look at him and instead looked to Adam, who turned away under the strain of what the angel was doing to his body.

"How do I know you're not lying?" Zachariah asked.

"Do I look like I'm lying?" Dean said, angry that the angel would doubt his intentions to do anything and everything possible to save his brothers.

Seemingly satisfied with Dean's answer, Zachariah turned away and started chanting, summoning Michael. Dean glanced one last time to Sam, who turned away in pain. Whether from Dean's betrayal or from the angel's magic, Dean wasn't sure. But as he continued to watch Sam, a thought came to his head. This stupid son-of-a-bitch brought me here. I can't let him down by giving in.

Dean knew there was a change in his own expression when Sam's face went from anguished to confused. Dean winked at him, having a plan set in his mind.

"Of course I have a few conditions. A few people whose safety you have to guarantee before I say yes." Dean said, all pain and panic gone from his voice. Zachariah was flippant to his request so Dean continued, trying to lure Zachariah closer. "But most of all, Michael can't have me until he disintegrates you."

Zachariah seemed only slightly phased by Dean's request, so Dean continued. He needed him close for this to work, needed the angel right in front of him.

"Before Michael gets one piece of this sweet ass, he has to turn you into a piece of charcoal."

Zachariah rebuffed him, professing his own importance now that he had convinced the true vessel to agree. All Dean had to do was remind him that it was now Dean who was more important, as the one true vessel, not the lesser seraph. That got Zachariah to come closer, to grab Dean and shove him to the table, continuing to proclaim his own self-importance.
"Do you know who I am after I deliver you to Michael?" The angel asked.

"Expendable." Dean replied with a snarl.

"Michael's not going to kill me!" Zachariah professed.

"Maybe not." Dean said, the blade falling to his hand. "But I am."

Dean thrust the blade into Zachariah's head. He watched the blindingly bright light explode from his body, yet Dean somehow managed to keep his eyes open to watch it. The light exploded, knocking Dean back as the body fell to the floor, the imprint of burnt wings stretching out over the wall and the floor. It was then that Dean noticed the room shaking, noticed the high pitch screech of angel voices getting louder.

Another bright light started to fill the room from above. Adam was closest to Dean, so he went to the youngest Winchester first. Pulling him up and heading for Sam, he sent Adam to the door to open it and keep it open.

Dean pulled Sam and slung Sam's arm around his shoulder, helping his brother to where Adam was waiting. He motioned for Adam to leave, placing himself at the door to keep it open for Sam. As Dean pushed Sam out the door he was knocked back by an invisible force. Dean watched the door slam shut, locking him in the room. He could hear Sam's please from the other side but they were quickly being drowned out by the loud noise.

The light was blinding, the noise unbearable. Yet Dean didn't seem as effected by it as he had before, as he had when Cas tried to approach him the first time. Soon there was nothingness.

Dun-dun-dunnnnnn. Did you like it? More chapters to come, most will focus on Sam's journey to find and save Dean. We'll see Dean again tho.