What is to Come

By: Ridley C. James & Tidia

A/N: Happy 4th of July to those in the United States! It has been a great weekend so far and I hope you all enjoy this part. Thank you for the alerts, favorite stories, reviews and reading. It is all incredibly awesome.

SPN*thebrotherhood*SPN

"To hope means to be ready at every moment for that which is not yet born, and yet not become desperate if there is no birth in our lifetime." –Emily Dickinson

CALEB

"Deuce…" Caleb coughed, lifting his head as the vice grip around his skull was loosened, he no longer felt like his brain was being liquefied. The room was filled with smoke, the heat of flames easily felt through his clothes. He couldn't see Dean, barely made out Sam, or rather James, standing two feet in front of him. Caleb ignored the blinding agony in his head, opening himself up to search for his connection to The Guardian. It was there, but weak.

"Shit!" Dean was down, crumpled at James's feet. Malachi Harris's body was half on top of him, blocking Caleb's view. He shoved to his knees, crawling his way to his best friend's side. "Dean!"

Caleb pulled at Harris, while James dropped to his knees, coughing, looking pale and half out of it.

"There's something wrong."

With Malachi pushed to the side, Caleb laid his hand over Dean's chest, glaring at James. "What the hell happened?"

"I killed him. I killed Malachi."

"To Dean, James. What happened to Dean?" Caleb could see the kid was trying to process all that had occurred, the fact he was the one to kill the demon. It made sense, neither he nor Dean wrote about Malachi's death in their journals. They didn't witness it.

"Malachi hit him with some sort of ball of psychic energy. I've never felt anything like it."

"Fuck!" Caleb remembered wielding Harris's telekinetic ability when they stormed Rose's fortress. He'd used it to kill anything in his path. Dean's chest wasn't moving. "He's not breathing."

"What?" James placed his fingers against Dean's throat. "Oh, God. I can't find his pulse. Dad!" James shook Dean's shoulder. "Dad!"

"Dad?" Caleb blinked at James.

"Do something!" James met his gaze, Sam's eyes reflecting sheer panic. "Don't just sit there!" James started compressions.

Caleb tilted Dean's head back, pinched his nose and was about to start mouth to mouth when Dean started to cough. With the mansion burning down around them, he grabbed Dean's arm. "We've got to get out of here. Get his feet."

"But…"

"No buts, Kid. This place is coming down around us." Caleb needed to get to a safe place to help Dean. It would do no good if they all ended up under a pile of smoldering rubble. He hoped the Triad trap was broken when Malachi was killed. If not, it would be a very short trip. Joshua was struggling to his feet when they barreled unimpeded into the corridor. The smoke was already filling the hallway,

"Thank God." He coughed, squinting. "I thought…"

"Get a move on." Caleb confirmed Joshua could move on his own, then hefted The Guardian's body higher. "Dean's hurt."

The night air was cool and sweet after choking on hot ash. Caleb stumbled down the mansion's front porch, out into the yard where he and James lowered Dean gently to the ground.

"Uncle Caleb, please, he's got to be okay."

Caleb's chest tightened at the title, the tone in Sam's voice one he'd never heard. "He's not going anywhere."

"Caleb?" Joshua knelt beside them.

"Malachi stopped his heart." Caleb placed his cheek near Dean's mouth and could feel the weak exhale of breath. "Come on, Deuce. Don't you dare think of running out just when things are getting interesting. Open your eyes." He rubbed his knuckles down Dean's sternum hoping for a response.

Dean's body jerked, he pulled in one heaving gasp, then another. His eyes opened wide, searching out Caleb's gaze. "Easy, kiddo. You're alright. Just keep breathing." Caleb slid a hand through his hair, watching as Dean grimaced, his eyes fluttering before they closed again.

"No!" James grabbed Dean's hand, bringing it to his chest. "Don't go."

"It's alright, Jimmy." Caleb met James's gaze. He tapped his head, pointing to Dean's chest which now rose and fell. "He's back with us."

Joshua exhaled a heavy breath. "I'll call 911."

"We need to be gone before they get here." Caleb rested a hand on Dean's arm. "Get the Impala, pull it as close as you can get. Call the hospital. Tell them we have a blunt trauma victim."

Joshua nodded. "I'll be back." He stumbled off to the direction of the car.

"Is he going to be okay?" James held on to Dean's hand.

Caleb wanted to make contact, to get past James's blocks. "You know your old man. He's tough."

"What?" James blinked up at him with Sam's most innocent gaze.

Caleb leaned in closer, just in case Dean woke up to overhear them. "You called him Dad. I heard you."

James shook his head, dropped Dean's hand suddenly, then tucked it so it rested on Dean's chest. "I was upset…you were upset. It was loud."

He had a nephew, Dean had a son. Caleb felt pride, and awe for his friend and in the possibilities of the future. "You called me Uncle Caleb."

"You're mistaken." James eyes grew brighter. "I could ruin everything."

"You're Dean's son." Caleb reached out grasping James's wrist. He kept his other hand on Dean. The similar thread was undeniable. Even with his abilities hampered from Malachi's attack he could feel the truth. "My God, Deuce has a kid. You said you had brothers. There are more of you."

"Caleb…" James pulled his wrist away, rubbing it.

Faith, which had been so elusive to him of late, was being restored by James, who he would lay money, had been named after Pastor Jim. "I mean I hoped, but after all that's happened I started to believe we were all cursed."

"You're not cursed." James looked at Dean, placing a hand on Dean's chest. "He's not cursed. Dean Winchester is the best Guardian The Brotherhood has ever known. He's an even better Dad."

"I bet he is." Caleb gave a watery laugh. "He raised one hell of smartass."

James coughed out a laugh. "He blames that on my godfather."

Caleb swallowed the lump in his throat, his grip on Dean tightening. "Your godfather the artist?"

"He's also The Knight." James held Caleb's gaze, and Caleb could see something other than Sam. "Go figure."

Caleb cupped the side of James's face. "I'll be damned."

"Only if you give up." James reached up, laying his fingers over Caleb's. "We're definitely one possibility, but you guys have to keep fighting. Nothing is guaranteed-that whole time continuum thing. You can't lose hope. You can't let Dad and Uncle Sam lose hope either. They're going to need you now more than ever."

Caleb could hear the roar of the Impala. It was time to go. "Help me with your father."

James went to Dean's feet, but instead of picking up Dean, he put his hands on his head. "Uncle Caleb?" He groaned in pain.

Caleb reached out just as James's eyes rolled back and he slumped to the ground out of Caleb's grasp.

Joshua opened the door, his hand to the back of his head. "What happened now?"

"James passed out," Caleb explained, leaving Dean's side to check on what had happened to James.

Joshua brought his hand to Sam's neck, and was taken aback when his wrist was gripped by Sam.

"James!"

"Sammy?" Caleb immediately sensed the difference. Sam was back in his body; James was gone, hopefully returned safely to his time.

Sam's hands went to his hair, almost ripping it with intensity. "Oh God. What did I do? What did I do?" he sobbed. "Dean?" He moved his head around to find his brother laid out, still. He crawled to Dean's side. "I'm so sorry, Dean. I'm sorry."

"He's okay, Sammy. He's hurt, but we're going to get him fixed up." Caleb tried to calm him, imagining how confusing it was to travel in time. The mansion was burning brightly, and although set back, the fire department would be getting to them soon.

"You don't understand…you don't know what I sent James back to." Sam's crazed gaze met Caleb's. "The book? Where's the damn book?" Sam asked, wildly lurching at Joshua. "I know you have it. You always have it." Sam removed it from Joshua's coat pocket and wrapped his arms around The Vangelo.

Caleb grabbed Sam's shoulders. In that moment of contact he saw too much-Joshua's death, a blonde man's brutal murder, another man bleeding to death in the arms of another as a fire roared behind them. Dean's other sons. It would explain Sam's hysteria. Caleb quickly dropped the connection.

Joshua was trying to pry Sam's fingers from the book. "That book could be the key to The Triad Power. You're not in your right mind."

"Nothing good comes from this book." Sam had found his knife. "Every choice we make now changes what's to come."

Caleb placed an arm in front of Joshua in order to protect him, and allow Sam to finish his task.

"What if we need it in the future…" The Advisor demanded.

"I'm doing this for our future." Sam stabbed the book, and at the point of contact it erupted into a blue flame, which quickly burned into cinders.

"Sam?"

Caleb watched Sam dust the ashes from his hand. He looked from his blade to Dean's still form. "I hope it was enough…"

Caleb caught him as he fell forward. For a second he closed his eyes, holding the younger hunter to him. He was thankful Sam was back, praying James and their future were safe. "Me too, Runt. Me too."

Somehow they managed to make it away from the mansion to the hospital avoiding the fire department as they came up the main road to get to the mansion. Sam had regained consciousness, but Joshua and Caleb suggested he get checked out just in case.

Dean was admitted, severe bruising to his sternum but no hemorrhaging. He'd be staying a couple of nights for observation and tests to ensure no complications arose from the force of the injury. Sam had taken the uncomfortable green chair by his brother's bed, head bent. Joshua pulled up another chair, forgoing being treated for the mild concussion while Caleb sat on the edge of Dean's bed.

"So James went back to his time?" Dean was awake, but groggy from the pain medication. He rubbed his chest.

"I don't know. I don't know who James is." Sam lifted his head. "Caleb told me he was in my body, like Gary, but claimed he was from the future."

"That's right," Dean confirmed.

"And you believed him?" Sam still had a look of confusion. Caleb wondered when he would lose it.

Dean looked at Caleb. "Damien?"

"Sam doesn't remember his little trip into the future. Joshua and I explained what happened on the ride here. He feels a little betrayed that we let someone use his shell as temporary living quarters," Caleb explained, adding a snort at the end. They did not have a choice but to let James stay in Sam's body.

"You really don't remember any of it?" Dean pushed the button to raise his bed. Caleb didn't bother with a reprimand, knowing his friend wouldn't get the rest he needed until he had the answers he wanted.

Sam shook his head. "The last thing I remember is going to the pond after Benjamin Mosley's funeral. I woke up in the backseat of the Impala."

"You sure they checked his head?"

"The doctor gave him the all clear, Deuce." Caleb rubbed his neck, the last of the adrenaline leaving him tired, and more than a little ready to ask Joshua for some of his miracle tea. Now that everyone was safe, Caleb was ready to crash. He'd take the recliner in the corner, certain he might even squeeze in a few hours nightmare free.

"What did this James say about the future? What about Lucifer? Do we get the rings?" Sam was becoming agitated, scooting forward on the chair.

"No specifics, something about the space, time continuum," Dean answered, echoing his frustration in the lack of answers.

But Caleb still had hope. "He said everything turns out okay. We all make it."

Sam relaxed back in the chair, momentarily assuaged. "I guess the fact there is a future is good."

"You need to fill in the missing blanks for both of us." Dean brought a hand to his chest with a wince.

Caleb touched the mojo bag around his neck, thinking of James. "Future Scholar saved our asses, iced Malachi like a pro." He winked at Dean. "Obviously, thanks to the current Knight, he was well trained. He helped me haul you out of the fire."

"And?" Dean rolled his hand.

Caleb chose to look at Sam instead of his best friend. Dean was the more likely of the two to realize he was editing. He would take his cue from his godson and leave some of the details out, just in case. Caleb now understood why James was so reticent to risk changing anything. "Next thing I know he passed out, and Sammy was back. He called James's name when he came to, said some stuff that didn't make much sense."

"Don't leave out the part where he was acting like a crazy person, a man possessed. Sam destroyed The Vangelo. It's gone." Joshua scooted his chair closer to the bed, his brow furrowing when the movement against the floor made a grinding noise that must have been a bitch with the headache he was bound to have. Caleb noted his stepbrother was quick to point the finger of blame to someone else for a change. "Your brother stabbed it with Ruby's knife."

"What the hell, Sam?" Dean leveled his gaze at his brother, then glared at Caleb. "Why didn't you stop him? You know what we went through to get that. Benjamin Mosley paid the ultimate price in the end."

"Which is why the runt must have had one hell of a reason to get rid of it." Caleb folded his arms over his chest, nodding his head at Sam. The images he'd read from The Scholar were strong, violent and gory like most of his visions. Knowing the people involved most likely were Dean's sons made the impact staggering. It was that breath stealing realization combined with Sam's reaction, the echo of grief and disbelief rolling off him that staggered Caleb. It was too much like the time when Dean died. He had to trust Sam to do the right thing for all of them. Maybe the fact Sam didn't remember was evidence they had prevented the worst from happening.

Dean arched a brow, his narrowed gaze shifting from Caleb to Sam. "Why do I get the feeling you know something you're not telling me?"

"Because you're paranoid and on drugs." Caleb patted his friend's leg. "In a few minutes you'll be as loopy as Sammy."

"Maybe I did it to stop the spell from being cast?" Sam's suggestion had all eyes focusing on him.

"What are you talking about?" Joshua rubbed a spot on the back of his head, squinting as if the lights were too bright.

"If I destroyed the Vangelo, then there was not a spell for you to learn to cast, or even a need for you to cast it to send this James person here and me wherever I went. Malachi no longer exists in the future. I changed that."

"He has a point. This was your fault," Caleb added, his stepbrother narrowing his eyes in response. Caleb corrected himself, not wanting to risk his best man title being taken away. "Future you's fault. Now maybe you won't screw up."

"Thank you for that grand gesture of confidence." Joshua rubbed a hand on his temple.

Dean looked at Caleb. "You sure that bastard Harris is gone?"

"James killed him with Ruby's knife. Anything left of Malachi went up in that fire." Caleb replied.

"What fire?" Sam sat up straighter.

"The fire that burned down the mansion," Caleb said. He forgot that Sam had been so out of it that he didn't notice that the building was on fire. "I told you why we all smelled like charcoal."

Sam picked at his shirt again. "You said there was a fire, not that we burned down a mansion. What mansion?"

"The Barnwell Mansion," Joshua answered with a sigh, he was rubbing his forehead so much he was getting a red spot. "Where Carolyn and I were to be married in 14 days, 18 hours and thirty four minutes. The wedding won't be taking place now."

"You're not getting married?" Dean looked as distraught as Joshua.

"Believe it or not Carolyn's going to go through with it." Caleb snorted. "Josh gave her the sob story about how you almost died. She still feels guilty for giving you attitude before your last untimely demise. You should have heard his spin."

Joshua crossed his arms. "It was not a spin, and you shouldn't be eavesdropping on other's conversations."

"The curtains in the examination area aren't sound proof, genius." Caleb reached out and kicked Joshua's shin playfully.

Joshua ignored Caleb, turning his gaze to Dean. "She will rally. I'm sure there are other appropriate venues in the area, in the height of wedding season, with only two weeks to spare."

"I know a place." Dean grinned. "How about the farm? I mean it's not a mansion, but it's home."

Josh was taken aback. It was uncommon for The Advisor to show genuine surprise. "That's very generous of you."

Dean gave a nod. "The least I could do seeing as how I burned down Carolyn's dream location. Besides, it will be nice to make some good memories at the place again-that is if we survive Lucifer."

"James said we all live." Caleb knew he was witnessing a moment where the future was developing before his eyes. "Too bad the kid couldn't have stayed for the festivities."

"Hello," Sam waved a hand, looking more with it. "I'm the body he hijacked. I would think you all would have been a little more concerned about where I was-that you would be glad I'm back."

"We were concerned," Dean was relaxing into the pillows as the drugs were taking effect.

"Deuce liked him better." Caleb was going to enjoy Sam's discomfort, gladly grasping for the temporary normalcy. "I think he might have been okay with the swap on a more permanent basis."

"Thanks a lot."

Caleb smirked at Sam's jealousy because Sam was not one to value his family. His family, The Brotherhood, had always been secondary with Sam's concerns first. He may not have remembered what happened to him, but the events had obviously had some effect. Caleb thought it would help them in the final showdown.

Dean smiled at his brother. "He was a damn good cook-made me breakfast and everything."

"I found him odd," Joshua replied, returning to rubbing the back of his neck. "A little standoffish."

"Not someone you'd pick to date your daughter, Mama's Boy?" Dean asked, and Caleb wondered what his best friend was alluding to.

Joshua gestured to Dean. "What is it with you and your obsession with my prodigy?"

"Your daughter could do a hell of a lot worse than James." Caleb suddenly felt defensive, which was ridiculous because James, nor Joshua's imaginary daughter, existed.

"I didn't think you liked the kid, Damien?" Dean stared at him. "You're singing a new tune."

"Just listening to The Guardian, Deuce." Caleb smiled. "That kid is our future. Someday he may be important to me." Caleb reached up and touched the mojo bag around his neck. Nothing was more important to Caleb than family.

SPN*BROTHERHOOD*SPN

A/N: It's not over yet…one more chapter to go!