The Lord Giveth
K Hanna Korossy

Death refused to reap Samuel and Dean Winchester after Pestilence attacked them.

His little brother had always been impetuous. Scarlet fever, and meningitis, and syphilis? Talk about, well, overkill. The nurse and doctor in the hallway, it had been their time, and Death sent them onward without hesitation. But Sam and Dean he didn't touch, allowing them to face Pestilence and, with that not-quite-yet-human angel's help, take his ring.

Perhaps now Pestilence would stop giving him more work just because he could, the young upstart.

Death had no power to heal. But since he chose not to reap, the Winchesters recovered once Pestilence's source of power was removed. Which was very good.

They still had an important part to play.

00000

Death revealed his true face to that impudent demon Crowley and put him back in his place.

Hell's foremost salesman had foolishly thought he could influence the one who allowed him the return of life he needed for so many of his deals. His bargain with Robert Singer had given him the power to find Death here, amidst his reapers, but even that was only because Death had allowed it. The arrogant servant of Hell was soon cowering before him, humbly agreeing to bring Dean to Death at the restaurant.

The pizza in Chicago was supposed to be worth the visit.

Death might be leashed by that brat Lucifer, but if the fallen angel thought he had complete control over his elders, well, it would just be one more mistake he made.

Like underestimating his human opponents.

00000

Death listened to Sam vow to fight Lucifer even though he feared he wouldn't win, and approved.

Dean, obviously, saw it differently. Humans were extraordinarily near-sighted, limited as they were to their brief lives and natural world. All Dean would grasp was that his brother was doomed either way, what humans called a "Catch-22": either Sam beat Lucifer and threw himself into the cage for all eternity, or that petulant archangel would win and Sam would be crushed within his own body.

As if those were the only options.

Death knew Sam would triumph, if his brother would let him. Nor was the cage so permanent and impermeable as the Winchesters believed.

Perhaps if Dean played his part, Death would even let him make a deal for his brother's return…

00000

Death thinks he is all knowing. Thinks he has influenced these events to happen just so. Thinks one day he will even reap God.

He doesn't realize he cannot control his elders, either. That compassion and love are not weaknesses, or that only by giving up what you care about most can you keep it.

And that he's been nicely following Another's plan all along.

The End