Familiy Business

Chapter 1

Author's Note: This story is a take on anotherversion of the future than the one Zachariah showed us in the series. I'm not sure how this is going to turn out, so please leave some feedback for me! This first chapter serves as the prologue for the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Supernatural, unfortunately.


The epiphany hit Dean in his sleep like a flash of lightning. Suddenly everything seemed so clear, so simple. It was the solution to all their problems. It was the way to stop the Apocalypse. He called Sam and Castiel as fast as he could.

"I know how we're going to stop the Apocalypse" he said plainly and Sam could see his brother's eyes shining in excitement. He had a proud look on his face.

"And how?" Sam asked back.

Dean looked at them for a while with a smug grin on his lips. "Castiel" he said like a teacher calling his student.

"Yes" the angel replied.

"You already sent us back in time two times now. And Zachariah sent me to the future."

"And?"

"Can you do it, too? Sent us to the future?"

Castiel seemed reluctant. "It would be good if you could explain your plan first."

"We'll go to the future" Dean announced "and, if it's a future in which we stopped the Apocalypse, we'll ask our future selves how we managed to do it."

Sam rolled his eyes. "That's the most ridiculous plan you ever had. And you're already had a lot of them."

"We have nothing to lose. Come on, guys, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Travelling to the future is far more difficult than travelling into the past" Castiel explained, but Dean could read in his eyes that not much persuasion would be necessary to make him agree. "I don't think I'm powerful enough anymore."

"Then I'll go by myself. It's easier for you to send a single person rather than the three of us."

"But I would have to send you far into the future" Castiel mused to himself. "Far enough to limit the danger for you ending up in the middle of Judgment Day."

"Yeah!" Dean supported.

"Come on, Cas, that's a crackpot idea." Sam couldn't believe that the angel would actually approve Dean's insane plan.

"It may actually be the key to killing the Devil, Sam" Castiel replied, pensive. He turned to Dean. "But the question is how would it be possible for you to return? I could bring you back any minute but maybe you'll need time to find our future selves. So how will I know when you're ready to return?"

"Well…" Dean looked back at him and shrugged.

"If you met my future self, he could send you back" Castiel suggested.

"Hm, I'm not sure we can rely on that." Dean shook his head. He thought back to the future Castiel he had met in Zachariah's future. Obviously Castiel wasn't even considering the possibility that he might fall sometime.

"The only alternative I can think of is giving you a small part of my Grace. We'll put it into a phial and as soon as you break it, the Grace will return to me and take you with it."

"Fine, that sounds like a plan." Dean nodded. "Then let's get down to business. Tap you mojo and off I go."

Castiel gave Dean a few last instructions as he handed him a glowing blue phial.

Sam was still shaking his head, but the angel and his brother seemed to believe they had backed the right horse. So he kept silent and prayed that Dean would return safely.

"It will be alright" Dean reassured him with a smile. "I'll see you soon." He closed his eyes as the angel touched his forehead and for a second he lost the ground under his feet, tumbling, feeling ten full years pass him in an instant.

To be continued...