With the zombie apocalypse seemingly averted, Dean and Castiel are prepared to move Heaven and Earth (and maybe even more) to find Megan and bring her back. Meanwhile, Sam makes some discoveries on Earth that may have him spiraling down a rabbit hole he never meant to fall into.

Sorry it's not he best description, but you get the idea!

This is the sequel to my other story, Dead Already. If you haven't read that one yet, go check it out before you get to this one!

For this story, I plan on making each chapter longer than Dead Already (which averaged a little over 1100 words per chapter), but that means I won't update quite as often. Sorry!

Please enjoy, and review to let me know what you think!

"Dean!"

Castiel's harsh voice came out of nowhere, almost causing Dean to lose control of the steering wheel. He had been driving down the road, in his precious Impala, alone, when suddenly, there was a passenger beside him.

"Jesus, Cas. I told you not to do that when I'm driving." Not that he could actually injure himself here. It was Heaven, after all. "At least give me a little warning."

"There's no time for that." Cas' blunt tone had Dean worried. Sure, down on Earth, Castiel was always abrasive. But ever since they had spent time together up in Heaven, the angel had seemed to soften quite a bit.

Life, or rather, lack there of, had been pretty peaceful. He and Castiel had become quite close, and Dean actually ended up liking the guy.

In fact, the only issue he had with Heaven, was that there was no Sam. It was a pretty substantial problem.

Cas wasn't always in Heaven with him. He would leave for long periods of time, and Dean wasn't entirely sure where he went. But he never bothered him about it, because he knew Cas had more important things to do than be with him.

"Well spit it out, Cas. What is it?"

"I think I may have found Megan."

The Impala came to an abrupt halt. "You found her? How? Where?"

"I am not certain, but I have reason to believe she is in Purgatory."

"Purgatory?" Dean repeated. "As in Limbo?"

"Yes, sort of. You see, Human souls end up in Heaven, like your own. Corrupted human souls go to Hell, again, like your own. They are twisted and corrupted further until they become demons. But not every soul in the universe is Human."

Dean raised his brow. "Wait, you mean... Monsters? Monsters have souls?"

Castiel nodded. "They, too, have souls. And when they die, they go to Purgatory."

"But Megan isn't a monster!" Dean protested. "And neither are you! Why would you go to Purgatory?"

"I don't have a soul, Dean." Castiel explained. "When I die... there is no soul to end up anywhere. As far as I can tell, I would simply cease to exist."

"But Megan..."

"Megan was human. For a short period of time, true, but it was enough. She gave up her grace for a soul, and although her grace was eventually returned to her body, her soul never left."

Dean shook his head. This was a lot to take in.

"Her soul and her grace... combined. She wasn't fully angelic, or fully human. I believe that's why she is now in Purgatory."

Dean stared down at the steering wheel. They knew where she was. He didn't know how to get to Purgatory, but it didn't matter. That had never stopped him before. He would figure it out.

"How do you know all of this, Cas? I thought you didn't know what happened to angels after they died?"

Castiel frowned. "I talked to another angel. A more... knowledgeable one. His name is Joshua. He... he wants to speak to you."

"To me? Why?"

"I do not know. But I think you should." Castiel looked at Dean, sympathetically. He knew how hard it was going to be to enter Purgatory. And he also knew nothing was going to stop Dean from getting there. "I can take you to him. He is in the Garden."

Dean nodded. "If he'll help us, then yes. We should talk to him."

"We? You want me to join you?" Castiel asked, surprised. Dean was quite independent. He thought this was something he would want to do alone.

"Well, yeah. Unless you have some other plans. If you haven't noticed, I don't exactly get along with the halo crowd, all that much."

"Oh, I see. We should be going then." Castiel reached forward and pressed his fingers against Deans forehead.

When Dean opened his eyes, they were not longer in his car. Suddenly they were... "Where is this place? It feels familiar."

Castiel glanced around. This was different from the Garden he had just been in. The Garden appears different to everyone, and it seemed to be listening to Dean, now.

"This, is the Cleveland Botanical Gardens." Dean turned to see a man approaching them. He was smiling, staring at Dean. "You went here on a field trip, once."

"Okaaay..." Dean glanced at Castiel. "So I'm guessing you must be Joshua, then."

Joshua nodded. "That, I am. It's good to meet you, Dean Winchester."

Dean gave him a weird look, but did not return the greeting. "Cas said you wanted to talk to me."

"I did. But I think it is you who wants to speak with me."

Dean sighed. "See, Cas. This is why I need you. Angels like to talk in riddles."

"We need to get to Megan, the angel. You said she was in Purgatory." Castiel explained to Joshua.

"Oh, yes, Nisroc. And you think I can help you?"

"You tell me. You seem to know enough about it." Dean didn't want to chat with the angel. He just wanted to find Megan.

Joshua paused. "Yes, I can help you find your friend. But I can only do so much. The rest is up to you." Dean got a weird feeling as Joshua's' eyes tracked him. He could feel the angel staring at him, studying him like an animal. He often got that feeling around angels- even Cas at first. It as like they were trying to figure him out, decipher his mannerisms and read his mind. He really, really hated that.

"Look, I'll do whatever it takes. I just need to know what I'm doing."

Joshua smiled at him. "I knew I would like you, Dean. So strong-willed. So naive. I have a spell. A spell that will open the gates to Purgatory. I have already discussed it with your friend, here. The spell itself won't be too hard, but the rest..."

"Never mind that. That's up to me." Castiel interrupted. "You said you needed to ask Dean something."

Joshua's gaze flickered between the two of them. "No, it's quite alright. I believe I already have my answer. I suppose you're ready to go?"

"Yes, just as we discussed."

"Wait, you already discussed?" Dean looked to Castiel for confirmation.

"Yes, when I talked to him last. It's all worked out, already. The only reason I brought you to him was so he could meet you." Castiel heard something he couldn't quite recognize in Dean's voice, and he didn't like it.

"You plan on going into Purgatory? Alone?"

"It's the only way." Castiel explained. He didn't know exactly why Dean was angry about this, but he could tell he was. "The angels won't spare anyone else. It's too dangerous, and in their eyes, unnecessary."

"You won't go?" Dean challenged Joshua. "You said you wanted to help."

"I'm sorry, Dean. I would, but it is not possible right now. I have other matters to tend to."

"Like what?"

"I cannot say."

Dean groaned. Angels were never straightforward. "Fine. I'll go."

Castiel's eyes widened in surprise. "Dean, I don't think that is the best idea."

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous-"

"Exactly! I can't just let you go alone, Cas. This is at least a two person job." There was no way Dean was going to hang back safely in Heaven while Cas dove into the hells of Purgatory without so much as a sidekick. Not that Dean was his sidekick- of anything in was the other way around, Dean noted to himself- but regardless, he needed someone with him, and Dean was willing to be that someone.

"I don't know..." Castiel had never been in Purgatory, but he had heard plenty about it. It was a dangerous place, full of ancient and modern monsters alike. Dean was a decent hunter, but he had never dealt with anything like this.

"Come on, Cas. You're my friend. Let me do this."

Castiel frowned. "How would that work?" He asked Joshua. "Can we do that? Bring a human soul to Purgatory?"

"Humans are not meant to be in Purgatory," Joshua admitted. "But then again, neither are angels. If we can get you in, we can get him in."

"So you'll help us open Purgatory with that spell?"

Joshua nodded. "I can give it to you. But you must hurry to gather the supplies. The spell will only work when performed during the eclipse."

"That only gives us a couple of days," Castiel muttered to himself, thinking. "I must go to Earth now. Dean, are you ready to go?"

"Now? To Earth?" Dean didn't think he'd ever be going back to Earth. Purgatory was one thing, but Earth... Earth was home. He wasn't sure he'd want to go back upstairs after spending time down there again.

"Yes. The ritual must take place there, anyway. You won't be in your body, of course... you'll just be a spirit."

Dean nodded. That was better, really. It wouldn't feel as permanent. "I guess we should go, then."

"Good luck to the both of you," Joshua put his hand on their shoulders. "Come back and see me when you find Nisroc- or, Megan, sorry. I'd like to see her, again "

The title of this story is taken from the poem "It's Ok to Go" by Lori Daoust.