Two Birds, One Stone

By Carol M.

See first part for disclaimers…

Part 3

Dean gazed up at Michael with dreamlike fascination from his dazed position on the floor. The angel, or his vessel that is, was younger than Dean had previously guessed, probably only about 21 or 22. He was built long and lean and tattoos covered both of his arms. His eyes flashed with hunger and life as if he was always going to be cock of the walk, no matter what room he was in or who else was there. He reminded Dean of himself.

Michael peered down at him, sizing him up. "Interesting to meet you, Dean Winchester."

"But…I thought…I'm your vessel," said Dean, barely able to get out the words.

Zachariah piped up. "It's a rental. Desperate times and all that."

Michael moved closer to Dean and stood over him like a towering giant. He shook his finger down at him slightly. "You're sure as hell lucky that a gang banger found God and prayed to do his part to save the world. Course, I'm only at half speed. You say yes and all that pain goes away. We go over there, kick my darling baby brother back where he belongs and end the apocalypse right here in this room. You up for it, brother?"

"Being your brother…doesn't," Dean coughed, "seem to end all that well. Gonna pass."

"Suit yourself. When things get bad enough, you'll change your mind. In the meantime, enjoy your healing. Your natural healing. Looks like it's gonna take awhile," said Michael in a sarcastic tone.

"Michael, perhaps he just needs a little more convincing. From the looks of him, I don't think it'll take much," said Zachariah.

"Oh please," said Michael. "I want a vessel that's strong of mind and body and not some wimp who's afraid to get a little blood on their hands. He's not ready. Gang banger Christopher will have to do for now."

Michael's gaze shifted intently over to Lucifer and Dean felt a slight chill run through his body at the look. "You ready little brother?" asked Michael.

Lucifer sighed dramatically. "Why are you always against me? Always. Can't you just see my side…for once."

"No. I can't," said Michael matter of factly. "Play time is over. Either get in line or go back down under Lucifer."

"You're going to have to make me Michael. I don't answer to you or to our father anymore," said Lucifer.

"Fine," said Michael. He beamed himself across the room and landed right in front of Lucifer.

"You're not at full capacity," said Lucifer.

"Neither are you," said Michael as he landed a savage blow against Lucifer's cheek that sent the devil flying across the room. A few moments later, Lucifer had recovered and the two brothers began trading punches like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed.

Moments later, Dean felt himself being scooped up by his own brother's mess of arms and pulled into his lap, obviously freed of Lucifer's pull. "Dean…oh god," said Sam as he examined Dean's injuries.

Zachariah bent down over them, giving Dean a deathly glare. "He's going to look a lot worse than that when I'm through with him."

Dean felt himself being pulled from the protective grasp of his brother and suspended in the air again, this time by Zachariah.

"Let him go!" screamed Sam. He struggled to get up, but once again had been put in his place.

Zachariah ignored him and nodded towards the battling brothers. Michael was starting to look a little bloodied. "Look at that! Look at that! We can end all of this right now. Stop being so damn stubborn and embrace your destiny!"

"Screw my destiny," mumbled Dean.

Zachariah glared at him and then touched his hand to Dean's chest. It felt like a bomb had gone off inside him. The pain was so intense it brought tears to Dean's eyes. "No," he gasped.

"Want more? I can give you more," said Zachariah. This time he touched Dean's back and Dean felt flames of fire burn through his skin. He whimpered in sheer misery.

"Stop it!" growled Sam.

"What's it going to take Dean?" asked Zachariah. "Want me to kill your brother?"

Dean managed to lock eyes with Sam. "Sammy," he gasped.

"Let him kill me Dean," said Sam in a defiant tone. "Be worth it just so the bastard doesn't get what he wants."

Dean felt himself gain a little strength from that statement. He gave Sam a slight nod and turned back to Zachariah. "Kill us both you balding pile of crap," he wheezed.

Zachariah stepped back for a moment, glancing over at Michael and Lucifer, who by now were throwing each other into the stain glass windows of the cathedral. He grimaced tightly and then looked back at Dean, a murderous look in his eye. "Alright Dean, enough screwing around. Time to go for the jugular."

Dean had no time to react as a he felt Zachariah place a hand on his forehead, followed by a giant flash of light. He heard Sam shout in the distance as his mind went on a trip somewhere else.

**

Castiel's throat was burning from over usage. "Father!"

Over and over and over again he yelled. His voice was so hoarse and shallow now he supposed the point was probably moot. That was until he felt something akin to a hot coal burning in his jacket pocket. Curiously, he reached inside and pulled out Dean's amulet, which he had kept on him for so many months. It was burning bright red.

"My child," came a deep but soft voice from behind him.

He turned around and saw a man in his early fifties with brown hair and brown eyes. The face seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place the vessel.

"Father?" said Castiel with the gentleness of a child. "I knew you'd come."

"I want you to help me fix things, Castiel," said God.

"I don't know how," said Castiel.

"Sure you do. You've had it right all along. Have a little faith…in yourself."

"I recruited Zachariah and Michael to save the Winchesters. But I'm afraid I've made a terrible mistake. I didn't know what to do and I was desperate," said Castiel.

"This isn't Sam and Dean's fight. Not now at least. The time may come when it will be," said God.

"Why don't you know??" asked Castiel. "Aren't you supposed to have all the answers!"

"Free will Castiel. Every being…angel, demon, human…has their own set of choices to make. Contrary to popular belief, I merely provide guidance. I don't have control over the whole universe. I just have better powers of persuasion than most. And a talent for creation. But beyond that, I exert no more power over anyone than you do. I'm just God."

"No you're not! You're supposed to be more than that! You're supposed to be everything!"

"I am what I am Castiel, just like you. I do the best I can. That's all I can do. That's all anyone can do," said God.

"What's my best father?" asked Castiel.

For a moment, the amulet's glow fizzled out, like a candle flickering. Castiel could swear he could see the man behind the vessel of God. "Keep those boys safe. Protect them. Do everything you can to make sure nothing bad happens to them. They're good boys. Both of them. They'll do what needs to be done when the time comes."

"How am I supposed to get them back?" asked Castiel.

The amulet glowed red again. "You'll find a way Castiel."

"We need your help, father. We need you to help us stop this," said Castiel.

"Everything will work out as it should. Have a little faith." God put his hand on Castiel's forehead and then there was a flash of light.

**

Dean's physical pain was gone, instead replaced with a deep panicked sorrow in his heart. It was the feeling he got whenever he had failed, especially his father or his brother. Or when he had broken in hell. It was the good old let's pick on Dean Winchester hate fest. And no one did a better job of that then Dean himself. From the scene in front of him, he had failed big time.

Sam was the one fighting Michael in the cathedral. He had said yes apparently. And he was kicking Michael's ass. And it was all Dean's fault.

His father was standing next to him, looking at him with such disgust and disappointment, he wanted to crawl into a hole and die. "You did this Dean," said John.

Dean started to cry. He couldn't help it. He was weak and a loser and nothing. He had failed everyone he loved and because of it, the world was going to end. "I'm sorry, dad," he sobbed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I tried so hard."

"You finish it then," said John firmly. "You say yes to Michael right now and finish this."

Something inside Dean paused. "We'll destroy half the world, dad. It's not right."

"Fix your mess, Dean," said John. "Now!"

"No," murmured Dean. "This isn't the right play, dad."

"You've left us no choice. Now say yes!"

"No!"

"Damn it, Dean!"

"No, I can't," sobbed Dean, shaking his head violently. "This isn't right, dad. You taught me better than this. You want me to kill Sam, fine I'll…I'll…kill him. But I won't say yes. Not now, not ever."

"You're ending the world Dean," said John. "Look at them. Lucifer…your brother…he's winning. Are you going to let it all end? Fail not only your family, but the whole world?"

"I can't say yes, dad," sobbed Dean in a whisper. "I won't. I'm sorry."

There was a brilliant flash of light. Dean fell to the ground in confusion, his physical pain hitting him full force. He glanced over at the fight between the angels and realized with a start that it wasn't Sam and Michael fighting. It was the other vessel.

"Dean!"

He looked in the direction of the voice and saw Sam, tears of concern sparkling in his eyes. "Sammy?" said Dean, relief flooding through him like he had just woken up from a nightmare. He looked up to see Zachariah standing over him. It had been a trick. And behind Zachariah, stood Castiel. He reached a singular hand out to Zachariah's forehead and his head began to glow brightly, brighter than any angel flash Dean had ever witnessed. Then Zachariah was gone.

Lucifer and Michael abruptly stopped their fighting, eyeing Castiel strangely. Then, Lucifer quickly did a disappearing act of his own.

Michael sighed in exhaustion and staggered over towards Dean, who felt himself being pulled protectively into Sam's arms. "This isn't over," said Michael. He leaned down and got right in Dean's face. He felt Sam pull him back. "You'll wish that this had ended right here. Believe me." He looked up and gave Castiel a death glare. "You too, Castiel." Then, he was gone.

Dean groaned in relief and sagged all the way into Sam's arms, completely spent.

"It's over, Dean, it's over. You can let go. I got you now. I'll protect us both," whispered Sam. Normally, Dean would have protested the tender words, but quite honestly, it's what he needed to hear. He needed permission to take his body and his mind off Death Con 1.

"Cas," slurred Dean. "You're timing…

"Rocks," finished Sam. "How'd you do it?"

Castiel pulled the amulet out of his pocket and gently hung it back around Dean's neck. The moment the amulet hit his chest, he felt a part of himself return.

Castiel gave them both the closest thing he had ever seen to a smile. "Call it divine intervention."

Dean fingered the amulet and looked up at Castiel in surprise when he realized then amulet was still warm.

"You'll be protected," said Castiel, acknowledging Dean's silent inquiry. "Both of you."

Dean felt Sam's grip tighten on him for the briefest of moments. "Thanks," said Sam.

It was the last thing Dean heard before he let himself shut down and slip into blissful, pain free unconsciousness.

TBC