A/N: Chapter 4 complete.

I've started Chapter 5 but I'm going to wait a little before posting it as I need to A. Finish it and B. Figure out where I was going with this.

Just to clarify, in the AU the Apocalypse is going to happen in this story but it's going to take longer.

Lucifer has his "burrowed" Vessel, but he can't find or sense Sam because of Gabriel.

Also, I want to get back on track with other stories.


Finally after a week that included a series of tests and redundant questionnaires Dean was released from hospital. His memory was far from intact but he's began to grasp at straws. It took long enough for Dean to wrap his head around being on the tail end of 2009 into 2010 but he got there eventually.

After their argument Sam had returned the next morning as promised. Dean instantly apologised for shouting, Sam did the same adding that he shouldn't have left they way he did but Dean shrugged it off. The eldest Winchester could take a hit and he knew that his family more or less if he counted the Angels - which he did as he currently didn't know any better - had to adjust and watch what they were saying around him. It was beyond annoying but Amnesia was a slow process. They were told that Dean's memory would return at its own pace. While Dean was distracted with discharge papers the Doctor ushered Sam and Bobby aside to warn them not to let Dean remember too much at once as it could cause him to have a meltdown or mental breakdown with all the information given at once.

Dean was adamant he was fine but no-one had allowed him to go anywhere near the idea of Hunting again until he got his memory back. That made him depressed - the idea of feeling useless did not settle well with Dean, trying to sneak away was no good either - he'd was caught by Gabriel and was nearly set on lockdown.

Bobby persuaded Dean to spend time catching up with himself. He was given John's journal, his own and Sam slowly briefed him on what they had recently been up to - the Lucifer and whole Apocalypse situation could wait for now. Sam needed Dean to have more of himself back than he did to deal with Lucifer, Sam was utterly terrified he would break his Brother's broken, fractured mind given what the Doctor had told him.

Cas still hadn't returned, needless to say Sam was pissed.

Gabriel was strolling through Bobby's house when he spotted Dean at the dinner table with his boyfriend and Bobby. For a moment he internally yelled for his little Brother but nothing was sent back in return, he caught everyone's attention by clearing his throat louder than he usually would.

"So, now that Dean is back and mostly well I can finally give him something"

"What?" Dean pulled a face

"Well, since your memory is crawling at a snail's pace I've decided to... have a little fun"

"What did you do?" Sam glared at his boyfriend expecting the absolute worst.

Everyone was caught off by Gabriel handing Dean a book, at first it seemed harmless until Sam recognised it as one of Carver Edlund books "No, absolutely not! Gabriel, are you kidding me?" Sam gushed out.

Gabriel laughed at Dean's bemused expression while Bobby rolled his eyes to the back of his head, groaning - Yep, totally worth it in Gabriel's mind as Sam passed him an exasperated stare after making a loud sigh in resignation.

"Wait what? Our lived were documented? Who's Carver Edlund? I'm sitting in a laundromat reading about myself, sitting in a laundromat reading about myself. My head hurts" Dean rambled off, perplexed by the book as he flicked through its content and pages. Gabriel captured a photo of Dean pulling a grimace at the over-sexualised front cover, he didn't bother reading the blurb.

"That's just one of them, if I don't cause your brain to turn into goo I'll get you the next one" Gabriel patted Dean's shoulder.

"Wait, Gabriel?" Dean grasped Gabriel's wrist.

"You heard from... Cas?" Everyone was worried that Cas' name was still a slipping point, something Dean always knew was now something Dean could barely remember. Sam and Gabriel had a sneaking suspicion that was why Cas was keeping his distance among other things.

"Not yet, sorry. You'll be the first to know if and when I do. Enjoy the read, oh and word to the wise; when you reach Mystery Spot, I'll be disappearing for a while, you'll understand when you get there and," Gabriel stretched out the word making it clear for Dean to understand him "don't scream at Sam for Ruby. He thought he was protecting you and getting stronger"

"What the Hell are you talking about?" Dean was eerily confused and near-excited to continue reading.

"Hold on now, Son. Can't inhale too much at once if your melon ain't gonna be secured" Bobby interrupted

"Fine, I'll read two chapters tonight and write down anything I remember" Dean conceded, "Since you are all forbidding me to Hunt, I'm going to make a supply run. I'll get cabin fever if I stay here much longer"

Dean was already out the front door before any protests could be made.

Sam slammed his fist into the table, causing the empty beer bottles to shake and slither to the floor

"Cas, where are you? Dean needs us all here so I suggest you show your face!" Sam burst out, his cheeks and hand reddening

Silence followed.

"Sorry, Sam-wise. Guess Cassie is being like himself and ignoring now, want me to go find him after I take care of you?" Gabriel knew exactly how to calm Sam down, holding Sam's giant hand in both of his Gabriel played with Sam's fingers while the Winchester breathed out his troubles.

"I don't understand it, Gabe. Cas should be here, helping and supporting Dean. Why isn't he here?"

"I don't know, Moose. Don't worry, I'll knock some sense into him when I find him" Gabriel winked and whisked Sam away to a relaxing Villa in Paris, seeing about six emotions spread across Sam's face in the span of seconds always delighted Gabriel, plus it was relieving to see Sam visibly relax for the first time this week.

For now everyone could spend their time how they wanted. They just wished the Apocalypse wasn't looming it's ugly face behind the curtains.