A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated... been kinda crazy. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. Title and song lyrics are "Let it Be" by The Beatles. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and please review. :D

Let it Be

Dean rolls over in bed, finding someone sitting next to him on his bed. He jumps up into a sitting position, his breath caught in his throat.

"Dean," Mary says sweetly.

"Mom?" Dean replies, rubbing his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. My boys. With everything that's going on…"

Dean frowns. "Mom, can you tell me something?"

"Anything."

"Do you think we can do this?"

She smiles. "If anyone can, it's you guys. But you're going to need to trust each other."

"I don't know that I can trust Sammy, Mom."

"I know it's tough. But Sam's committed to working with you." She strokes his hair gently.

He says nothing, just closing his eyes.

"You two will work this out. You know that, Dean."

"I know, Mom," he says softly.

"And Sam still loves and respects you," she tells him.

"I know. I just wish I could've done something. Stopped him."

She smiles sadly. "I know."

"A lot of innocent people are all gonna die, Mom."

"Dean, you need to be strong and have faith."

"I know."

"You can do this." She squeezes his shoulder gently, giving him a small smile for strength. "You and Sam are stubborn enough to do this."

Dean smirks. "Thanks, Mom."

She smiles and kisses him gently on the cheek. "Good luck."

*~*~*~*

Dean rolls over, waking up in the darkness of the motel room. Stretched out on the other bed is Castiel, and Sam is curled up on the cot. Sam had opted to let Castiel take the other bed as the angel continues to recover from the demon attack of two days ago. Castiel had put up a bit of an argument otherwise, but Sam's stubbornness won out in the end, sending the taller man onto the smaller cot.

Dean sits up on the edge of his bed, watching the other two men in the room sleep while he thinks about what his mother said.

What a dream.

*~*~*~*

Castiel walks along the water's edge, watching the small, mild waves crash against the sandy shore with utter satisfaction. There is something so beautiful and serene about blue waters washing slowly into white sands. Castiel allows the water to roll over his bare feet, the cool trickle contrasting with the warmth of the sand.

Everything is so stunning.

The blue skies start to turn a dull gray as clouds roll in over the horizon. Yet, Castiel still feels calm and peaceful. This is his serenity. Thunder crackles from the coming clouds, and the rain begins to pour down in sheets so thick they threaten to drown the only person left on the beach.

The water crashing over his feet grows warmer with each wave. The waves are growing taller, greedier, swallowing more of the beach as they assault the shore with deadly force. The once calm ocean is now a bubbling stew, and it isn't long before the waves finally reach out and grab Castiel, pulling him into the boiling water and swallowing him whole.

Castiel thrashes, caught in the torrid ocean and not sure how to get out. His body is searing amidst the salty water, and he can hear the screams and thrashing of other victims. The other people the ocean decides to claim. The other innocent individuals.

"Cas?"

The voice breaks into the water, and Castiel hears it, but he can't discern who the voice belongs to. Hands grab his shoulders, and he feels them pushing him down into the water. Drowning him further. He thrashes wildly, struggling to break the surface. Anything for a breath and some cool air.

"Cas?"

*~*~*~*

"Cas," Dean hisses, trying to wake the angel up without waking up his brother. Finally Castiel gasps sharply and snaps his eyes open. Dean can feel the angel trembling in his hands as Castiel struggles to catch his breath.

"Dean?" he whispers, his voice hoarse with terror.

"Yeah." Dean furrows his brow, just watching the other man.

"What was that?"

"I'm guessing a nightmare."

Castiel takes a few shaky breaths as Dean keeps his hands on the angel's shoulders.

"What was it about?" Dean asks.

"I was at the beach," Castiel replies.

Dean smirks lightly, thinking of a way to lighten the mood. "With fat, naked people?"

Castiel shakes his head, relieved for Dean's humor but finding that it's not quite enough to quell the terror within him. "No. I was alone. And it was beautiful. Until… the sky got gray. It started raining. And then I started drowning in boiling water."

Dean arches his eyebrows in the darkness. "The Apocalypse?"

Castiel shrugs. "I think so."

Dean somewhat frowns. "I would say it was just a dream, but…"

"The Apocalypse is real," Castiel finishes for Dean.

Dean sighs, moving his hands off of Castiel's shoulders and onto his lap.

Castiel slides back, sitting with his back against the pillows. He instinctively pulls his knees toward his chest without even realizing he's doing it. Nor does he have any idea why he would want to sit in such a position, except that it's oddly slightly comforting.

Dean watches quietly with a familiar brotherly concern, understanding what a first nightmare can do to a person. He couldn't remember the first time he'd ever had one, but he had been there the first time Sam did. John had been out on a hunt, and Dean had to find a way to comfort the terrified two-year-old from a dream where monsters had reigned supreme. It had been easier to pacify the small child with hugs, a teddy bear, a cup of warm milk, and the promises that it was just a dream and that Sammy could sleep in Dean's bed with him.

But, this is different. Castiel's a grown man, which means that he's not likely to be as easily pacified by hugs and teddy bears. Not to mention that Castiel's dream is very likely to come true, in the sense that the oceans will boil over and people will drown while they are steamed to death. Dean's not sure there actually are words that could make Castiel feel better.

"You wanna watch some TV?" Dean asks.

"Huh?" Castiel asks, looking over. He forgot that Dean was awake with him because he had zoned out.

"TV? Help get your mind off the dream?"

Castiel is surprised to find Dean being so patient, as Castiel has had far more experience with Dean's short side. Yet, Castiel says to the hunter, "Won't we wake Sam?"

Dean looks over at his sleeping brother, who has somehow managed to make his 6 foot, 4 inch frame fit on a 5 foot, 10 inch long cot. The younger Winchester is sleeping in the most uncomfortable position Dean has ever seen him sleep in while laying in a bed, but Sam is snoring and practically unconscious.

"He'll be fine," Dean says. "And, he'd understand."

Castiel nods, and Dean switches on the TV, keeping the volume low and flipping through the channels until they find reruns of an old show to keep them entertained.

*~*~*~*

Sam is sitting in a park, staring out across the empty field. Mary smiles as she sits down next to him. "Sam," she says softly.

"Hey Mom," Sam replies dismally. His depression even permeates into his dreams.

"You need to find a way to get past this."

Sam sighs, his breath coming out dark and heavy. "Mom, I started the Apocalypse. Millions of innocent people are going to die, and it's all my fault. How am I supposed to move on from that?"

"Dean's going to need your help to end this. You're not going to be able to help him like this."

He scoffs lightly. "I don't think Dean really wants my help."

"Dean still loves you, Sam," she insists.

"I don't know, Mom."

She smiles sadly. "I do. And a mother knows."

Sam manages a small smile.

"You started this, but you can also end it. And Dean knows that he's going to need all the help he can get. That includes you, Sam."

"But, he doesn't trust me. And right now, I'm not even sure I trust myself."

Mary reaches up, stroking her hand through Sam's hair. "Give it time, Sam," she says softly. "Everything will be clear soon."

Sam frowns, his fears bubbling up in his veins and spewing out as he says, "are we going to die, Mom?"

She shakes her head. "You two can stop this, Sam." She kisses his cheek gently. "Good luck."

*~*~*~*

Sam wakes up, finding Castiel practically tucked in a ball against his pillows while Dean is sitting on the edge of the same bed, watching the angel more than the quiet TV. Sam stretches, having cramped from the uncomfortable sleeping position.

"You alright?" Dean asks, looking over and catching Sam off-guard. Sam's mind hadn't registered that Dean had been watching him, too.

"Fine," Sam grunts, still stretching. "Just slept funny."

"Take the bed." Dean nods at the one he had been sleeping in. "I'll take the cot."

"It's okay. I'm fine."

Dean shrugs, as if to say 'suit yourself.'

"Thanks, though," Sam adds politely.

Dean just nods.

Sam sighs, readjusting to be lying on his stomach with his feet dangling off the edge. Once settled, he finally looks over at where Castiel is staring blankly at the flickering TV screen. Sam furrows his brow before looking over to Dean for an explanation. The older Winchester doesn't respond.

"You okay, Cas?" Sam asks, looking back at the angel.

"Hmm?" Castiel replies, turning to look at Sam.

Sam watches as the blankness in Castiel's expression dissipates in realization of who is asking the question.

"When did you wake up?" Castiel asks.

Sam glances to Dean before looking back to Castiel. "About a minute or two ago," Sam replies.

"Did we wake you?"

"Not at all."

Castiel nods, looking back at the TV.

"You alright?" Sam asks again.

"Yeah," Castiel replies. "Just thinking."

Sam nods, closing his eyes. The image of the serene park flashes into his head, and he half-smiles. Mom, he thinks.

*~*~*~*

Dean stays sitting on Castiel's bed while watching his younger brother fall back asleep. There is always this strange feeling that Dean gets when he watches Sam sleep. It's like Sam is suddenly his baby brother again, so quiet and so innocent, even though said baby brother now practically towers over him. And isn't exactly innocent anymore.

How times change.

Dean looks back over at Castiel, finding the angel now actually watching the TV more than just staring at it. Dean nods to himself, moving back to his own bed as he reconciles that the angel will be okay. But Castiel just learned arguably the hardest lesson a human has to learn.

Sometimes the mind is a person's worst enemy.

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be