Sam reaches for the next ball and finds himself sitting back at a table in Manny's Roadhouse. Sam hears Dean's exuberant whoop from the bar and sees Castiel slugging back a shooter.

"Do you see," Metatron cocks an eyebrow. "That delight you felt, the lightening of spirit in the moment when you understood what would save you, save Dean; that was faith, as solid and eternal as the weight of a red wooden ball."

"Sammy, you need to check this out, Cas is trying to hustle some local at pool, he's had 15 tequila shooters and told the guy his name is Larry." Dean's is giddy, exuberant, and Sam can smell the tang of tequila hanging around his mouth from across the table. "Emo-boy, cheer up, if I get drunk enough, I'll let you take advantage of me." Dean swings toward Metatron and unleashes what he intends to be brilliant smile but turns out to be a goofy half-grin.

"Hey, Meta…Meta…Voice-guy is it true you're all angel in there? Cas says that's why you can't drink, you're not riding some chump like a flesh pony…heh, heh…I said flesh pony." Dean leans in and pinches Sam on the hip and leers at him with drunken frivolity.

Cas' voice rises above the Guns and Roses song screeching from the juke box, slurred and tight."Please sir, Dean did mention that he would cover any losses I incurred from hitting those little balls with this odd stick."

"That's my cue." Dean lurches off the chair.

"He's cute, in a chipper serial killer kind of way." Sam shrugs at Metatron in apology.

"Well, Samuel Winchester." Metatron stands. "I must be on my way. Good luck to you."

"Wait. I...but…I have so many questions, you can't go yet."

"Funny, that's what Mary said." Metatron smirks. "No, I have to get Castiel's vessel back to his family before he wrecks it."

"One question?"

"One more."

"We're good…right? Dean and I, we're not…going to hell or anything?"

Metatron places a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Yes, you're good. No, you're not going to hell. But please, attempt to keep that one from selling his soul again, it really has been bothersome."

"Will do. Will we see you again?"

A sly grin breaks across Metatron's face. "I think we may run into each other after a time."

XXXX

Sam and Dean stare at each other across the bench seat of the Impala and then look out to see the rusted sign for Singer's Salvage yard 10 yards from the car.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"How did we get to South Dakota?"

"Dude, this has been by far the weirdest week in the history of the Winchester family."

"No kidding."

"I love you, Dean."

Dean brushes his fingertips across Sam's jaw, ecstatic and gloriously terrified of the new future that is stretched out before them.

"I love you to Sammy."

"Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you like skee ball?"

------The End...For Now---------