Prologue

Dean stretches his aching legs out and puts them up on the table, leaning back in the old mahogany chair. The bartender throws him a disapproving glance from behind the safety of his bar. Dean of course ignores him.

"You're making a habit out of this."

A voice softly echoes by his side, Dean doesn't need to look up from his shot glass to know who it belongs to. "This being what?"

"Drinking alone?"

Dean downs his drink and licks his lips. "You're just worried I'm not watching Sammy."

"Well, that too. But mostly I'm just worried you'd be too busy attending AA meetings while the rest of us are fending off the apocalypse."

Dean snorts. "That's… that's a good one. You're getting better every day, Cas."

Castiel looks around the bar, spots the nosey bartender staring at him, wondering where in hell the angel came from, and just smiles back.

"By the way, why is it the apocalypse hasn't hit us already, huh?" Dean asks, a deep frown etched into his forehead as he narrows his eyes at Castiel.

"It's been a month. What is He waiting for anyway?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

"Maybe He doesn't want to end the world after all? I mean, come on… what would He do – where will He find his daily dose of entertainment if He kills us all, huh?"

Dean is only half-joking at this point, and in response Castiel just sighs and looks around the seedy little joint.

"According to the writings of Gregory of Nyssa, all sins may be redeemed after the passage of two ages. There are several interpretations of the text of course. But most of them agree the 'ages' here refers to the age of life itself. Every last living being on this planet, born and annihilated and re-born from the ashes. Only to be destroyed again. After which…"

"After which?"

"After which, they say God will give up on mankind for good, and the Devil and all the fallen angels will eventually be saved."

Dean frowns. "That's the most fucked up thing I've ever heard my whole life. One, your precious God's already given up on us. And two, does He really expect to be forgiven after destroying life twice? Woah, wait a minute… why does the Devil want to be saved at all??"

Castiel smiles at him eerily. "Everyone seeks salvation and forgiveness from God, Dean. Even Lucifer. Word is, He's been infinitely miserable since Father cast Him out of heaven. He misses him."

"Tell Him to join the club."

Castiel ignores the interruption. "Apart from the fact that His dearest brother, one they say He couldn't be without, is now also turned dead against Him…"

Dean thinks about it, swishes it around in his mouth with his liquor, blinks once, and pours himself another shot of Jack. "Well, boo-hoo." He throws it down in one go. "Brothers are so fucking overrated."

Castiel shakes his head again. "You shouldn't have left Sam alone."

"Relax. He's at the next bar."

"You're supposed to be watching him."

Dean smiles, and it's the first genuine expression he's flashed Castiel with all night.

"When did I ever stop?"

***