WARNING: Major spoilers for season 10!

This fic ignores the last 3 1/2 minutes of the season 10 finale. Why? Because I have NO idea what the darkness is gonna be like so I have nothing to go on.

Also, I'm not doing super powerful Rowena. I'm just not. I can't stand the bitch. So in my version of events she merely escaped by teleporting out of the room after the removal spell was cast.

I hope you enjoy this story and please review. Reviews make my day. Thanks! ^_^

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Sam and Dean wandered out of the building in disbelief. The mark was gone and nothing bad had happened. Although Sam was worried about the repercussions of Dean having killed Death.

Dean looked around, expecting something to jump out at them. "I don't get it, Sammy. Death said removing the mark would release some kind of big bad. He said the mark was a seal keeping 'the darkness' in check. I was the only one left with the seal so..." Dean's expression suddenly indicated he'd realized something.

"Dean?"

"He said Lucifer had the mark too. It's what made him go bat shit crazy. So maybe because he still has the mark the seal wasn't broken."

"Maybe, but why would Death lie about that then? Wait...what if he didn't know? What if he thought Lucifer transferred the mark instead of creating a copy of it like Cain did."

Dean's mouth twisted sideways in thought. "Good a theory as any I guess."

"We should get back to Cas," Sam said.

Dean nodded. "Yeah."

After driving for almost an hour Sam couldn't take the silence anymore. "Dean...?"

Dean sighed. "Don't, Sammy. Just don't. I...I need time to process everything before we talk about it," he said quietly.

Sam sighed in defeat. "Okay." The silence settled back in for only two minutes before he saw their turn. "Take a right here."

Castiel looked up from his seat at the table when Sam and Dean walked in. "Sam. Dean." He stood up and walked over to them. "Did it...did it work?" he asked, his eyes desperate.

Dean took a breath and held up his arm for the angel to see.

Cas' face broke into a wide smile as he hugged Dean.

Dean was surprised for a moment because he hadn't expected such a warm welcome. But the surprise wore off quickly and he pushed Cas back. "Cas..." His expression was full of regret and sadness. "Don't."

"Why not? You're my friend," Cas said with genuine confusion.

Dean gritted his teeth in anger at himself. "Because I don't deserve it alright!?" he said with rising volume. "I almost killed both of you!"

Cas looked pained. "Dean. It was the mark. It wasn't your fault."

Dean looked down and away. Sam took this as an opportunity to interject.

"Cas is right. It's the same as when you were a demon. It wasn't you. So please," he put his hand on his brother's shoulder, "just accept that we forgive you and that we're happy you're you again," he finished with a warm smile.

Dean looked into Sam's eyes and tears began to fall. "You can forgive me all you want. It doesn't mean I forgive myself."

Four days later Sam, Dean, and Cas were resting in the bunker. "I'm going on a beer run. You want some pie, Dean?" Sam said as he walked into the main hall of the bunker.

Dean was silent for a moment then turned to Sam. "Sammy I...I wanted ta talk to you about what I said when we were burning Charlie's body."

Sam's eyebrows rose in surprise. Dean was reaching out and that didn't happen too often; not unless Sam had nagged him for days on end first. He sat down next to Dean at the long table. "Okay."

"When I said you should be the one up there...I...I would never wish that. I'm so sorry I said it," Dean said, his eyes misting over.

Sam smiled. "It's okay, Dean. I know that was the mark talking. Especially after what you said to me in that church. You're my brother. I'd never stop loving you for something you did when you had so little control over your actions."

Dean's comfort level dropped a few points. Of course he loved Sam but neither of them really said it to each other directly. It was a little weird but he managed a small, ghost of a smile in spite of it. "Thanks."

"At least now I know you can still smile. Now we just need to get you to the point where you stop avoiding Cas."

Dean shook his head sadly. "You don't know what I did to him. I beat the shit outta him." He sighed heavily. "And I came this close," he said as he held his thumb and index finger about a quarter inch apart, "to stabbing him with an angel blade."

Sam set his jaw. "You know what? I think the fact that you didn't kill him says a lot. It says that you care about Cas and you'll fight for him...for both of us. I was gonna let you kill me, but you turned around and killed Death instead. Trust me. We're good. And I'm sure Cas feels the same way."

"He's right, Dean," Cas said from behind the older hunter as he entered the hall.

Dean stiffened slightly but stood and turned toward the angel. "Cas..."

Cas smiled and hugged Dean. "You're my friend and that's not going to change." He broke the hug and stood back a bit.

"Thanks, man," Dean said with another small smile. He turned to Sam. "Hey Sammy, how bout that pie?"

Sam grinned. "You got it."

A week later the three were eating breakfast together. Well, Sam and Dean were eating it anyway, Cas just stared at his pancakes and sausage, desperately wishing he had human taste buds again.

"Come on, Cas. Try 'em," Sam prodded.

Cas sighed. "It's no use. Everything tastes disgusting."

Sam twisted his mouth sideways in thought. "Couldn't you just change your taste buds to work like a human's?"

"I wish that were possible."

"Well why not?" Dean asked.

"An angel's grace permeates every part of a vessel. Unfortunately this includes the taste buds."

"Maybe you could make your grace flow away from your mouth?" Sam offered.

Cas considered this for a moment. "I can try." He concentrated then tentatively took a bite of a sausage.

Dean and Sam smiled as Cas' eyes lit up.

"It's wonderful," Cas said happily. He took another bite but his joy was interrupted when he saw Sam's eyes close and his head droop a bit. "Are you alright, Sam?"

"Uh, yeah, I just feel really tired all of a sudden," Sam replied.

"You been sleepin' okay, man?" Dean asked.

"Yeah. Maybe I'm comin' down with something." Sam let out a tired sigh. "I think I'm gonna go back to bed for a bit."

"Actually, Sam, I can make you better," Cas offered.

"That'd be great, Cas. Thanks." Sam stood and started walking toward the angel but didn't make it more than two steps before his eyes rolled upward and he collapsed onto the floor.

Dean was at his brother's side in an instant. "Sammy!" He checked for pulse and breathing. Both were present but this didn't ease his anxiety because Sam was still unconscious. "Sammy?"

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((Hides from angry glares in reader proof bunker)) Okay, I know. It's a mean cliffy but I'll get the next chap out as soon as I can. Keep in mind no matter what happens that I love happy endings. I also will never abandon this story. :)