AN: Thanks a lot for the reviews as always! This is a long chapter finally! And it's totally not because I have no idea how they're going to destroy Abaddon. Okay. Well maybe it is. Anyway, enjoy the stalling chapter of stalling-ness! Also. Slash is abundant in this chapter. Also over use of 'And'.

Chapter title from Battle of the Boy Least Likely To by The Boy Least Likely To.

The fact that they now have a name doesn't seem to make much difference, research is still getting them nowhere and Rory's starting to remember why he wanted to keep his two lives separated.

Dean and Amy get along fine, they tease each other like siblings and Rory's glad about that. She's fine with Gabriel too, she even convinces him to share some of his sweets with her (something it took Rory months to accomplish). Its Sam Rory worries about.

He isn't openly mean, Sam never was, but his heckles always seem to be raised, he glares at her from across the room and answers her in a gruff, cold voice. One word answers. He acts like Amy should know far more than she ever could. It's petty and childish and Rory hates Sam for it. Though he has to admit that if their roles were reversed he'd do the same.

Amy seems to understand so she avoids Sam and gives Rory an apologetic look that breaks Rory's heart. Sorry I'm here, it says, sorry I'm in the way. He wonders if she knows that that was how he felt when he first met the Doctor. Dean seems to understand as well because half way through their third day of solid research he tugs Sam outside by his collar and Rory hears them arguing.

Part of Rory wants to say guys; we have a universe to save. We can do this later. But what if there isn't a later?

Gabriel has been gone for half an hour, looking for ancient books that Sam found on the web so Amy shuts her laptop and comes to sit next to Rory where he's sprawled out on the bed leafing through a book so ancient he's scared it'll crumble.

She runs a hand through his hair and he says, "I'm sorry the Doctor left."

Amy smiles knowingly. "He'll be back. He was just scared, that's all."

And Rory shivers. The Doctor's nine-hundred and something years old, if Abaddon can scare him this badly how is he, Rory Williams, the nurse-hunter from Leadworth supposed to stop it? He's not a Time Lord or an Archangel. He's not responsible for saving the universe or stopping the apocalypse. He's just a boy who's never known when to give up on love.

It's Sam who finally finds something; day four, hour twenty (not that Rory's been counting). Amy's asleep; Dean's gone on a food run and Gabriel is off doing whatever Gabriel did when he wasn't being helpful. Sam's sitting at the desk on his laptop so Rory comes up behind him and leans in to peer at the screen.

Sam visibly stiffens when Rory's hand brushes against his shoulder. "See?" he says, pointing to the screen. "The cult of Abaddon. Says here they used to be pretty popular during the Dark Ages, sort of a branch of Christianity who believed that God trapped an evil being under the earth before Lucifer."

"Sounds good," Rory says stupidly.

Sam frowns at him and carries on, "They say that the creature is pure chaos and destruction, like the spirit of it. Older then death and maybe even older then God. Apparently the cage would only open after a shift in time and reality. So that'd be the Doctor's doing, I guess?" when Rory nods Sam continues. "Abaddon is supposed to rise and then after seven days he'll be at his full strength."

"Wait, what? But we've wasted two days researching!"

Sam waves away his concern. "We can't worry about lost time now, Ror."

Rory's heart sings at those simple words because it's just like old times. "Does it say anything about how to stop it?" he asks, trying to keep his voice steady.

Sam frowns at the screen, "Not much, a lot of the cult's writings have been lost; it was a long time ago. Only thing I can find is a part that says 'the only thing that can destroy chaos is chaos itself.'"

"Well that's just maddeningly unhelpful," Rory mumbles and Sam nods in agreement. He sighs and goes back to the bed, "We could ask Gabriel to see if he can find something." Rory says tiredly.

Sam shakes his head, "He'd probably have to time travel. Cas said that time travel is hard for angels; the further back they want to go the harder it gets."

"Is there anything else useful on there?"

"Nah, just a link to poem. Doesn't seem relevant at all." Sam's voice is tight and Rory can tell that the poem must hold some relevance. He stands up and Sam glances quickly at him, "It's just a silly kid's rhyme; the one about the two dead boys."

Flagstaff. Rory breaths in sharply. Sam's watching him closely and Rory's not sure what he's searching for. Rory looks at Sam and there's so many things he wants to say but he can't say any of them because they've all piled together and become tangled up and he can't string them back together.

"Sam..." he begins.

But they're interrupted as Dean slams through the door with an armful of unhealthy food.

Gabriel can't find anything more on the cult; it's strange, almost as if it had been erased from time itself, so they decide their only possible way forward is to analyse the hell out of what they've got. And what they've got isn't much.

Gabriel's told them that the rhyme is probably relevant, these things do happen. "Like Demons Run." Amy points out brightly. He's also told them that the two dead boys are Rory and Sam (although Dean's died far more times than Sam, Gabriel should now). Gabriel's not sure why, it's just the way things are meant to be.

He has no idea what they're supposed to do though. The rhyme says, "back to back they faced each other, pulled out their swords and shot each other." They have no idea what it means. The website says the only thing that can destroy chaos is chaos itself, Sam suggests that that might mean that only something of the creatures can destroy it. But they have nothing of Abaddon's. And Gabriel can't find anything.

To everyone's surprise its Sam who finally says it. He sighs and shuts his laptop, "Guys, we might as well face it. We're screwed."

Gabriel looks up at him and says, "Sam's right."

Dean and Rory nod although Rory thinks he should probably try and get everyone to carry on with the research just in case they find something. But he doesn't. He's given up on the Doctor coming back. He's given up on saving the universe.

Gabriel stands up and salutes, "It's been an honour serving with you all!" he says.

Dean pushes him over and says, "Welp. Guess we better start on the last-night-on-earth-activities. Namely drinking. I'll go get supplies."

Sam stands up and leaves with his brother and Gabriel says, "There are a few people I want to warn. Be back in a few."

Amy comes to sit next to Rory and leans on him. He puts his arms around her. "Should we keep trying, Amy?" he asks shakily. "Should we give up this easily?"

She smiles at him and kisses him on the cheek, "Oh, Rory. You never did know when to give up. We've done all we can."

Rory frowns at her, "But it's the universe. Amy, the universe is about to end because we're too stupid to figure it out!"

Amy chuckles slightly and ruffles his hair fondly. "Rory there are thousands of things out there, humans and angels and aliens. Do you really think they're going to lie down and die without a fight?"

"But Gabriel said..."

"So what? He's just an angel. An earth angel. What about all the other Gods and religions out there? They all have their own myths, Ror. We'll be okay, I know we will. The Doctor will come back."

And Rory realises that Amy truly does believe he'll come back. She doesn't think that this is the end of the world, she doesn't realise. "Amy..."

She holds up a hand to stop him and says, "I know. But he'll be here and I'm going to go wait for him."

"You're going to sit outside all night, again?" He asks dismayed.

She smiles again. It reminds him of the way River would smile wisely and knowingly say, "Spoilers." Thinking of River breaks his heart. The universe might end and he'll never get to say goodbye. "Rory. You don't want to spend tonight with me. I'm not stupid. And you know what; you'll hate me for saying this but its okay. I don't mind sharing you with Sam."

Rory splutters and she laughs at him, "I love you, Rory."

"I-I love you, Amy." He squeaks.

Amy steps out into the chilly night air and smiles. She knew it would be there. The TARDIS. It's hidden slightly in the small wooded area across from the motel. The doors open so strides across to it and steps through, the doors swing shut behind her.

The Doctor is leaning sulkily on the console. "She brought me back." He mutters childishly.

Amy crosses her arms.

He sighs. "Amy, I'm sorry. But I don't-"

"No," she cuts him off. "You don't get to run away this time Doctor. You're going to help us take this thing down because you I know you love us."

He looks at her through his wide blue eyes and she says, "I know you're scared but isn't that the point? Fighting your fears, yeah?"

It takes a long time but eventually the Doctor smiles slightly, "Oh, Amelia. How could I say no?" But then he sighs, "I need some time, will you give me time?"

She smiles. "Of course, but I'm coming too. You're taking me to see my daughter."

The Doctor laughs, "And Rory?"

"He's where he needs to be."

They've drunk far too much and for a while it made them forget. But they've run out of booze and money and they're all suffering from what Gabriel's affectionately dubbed 'The End of the World Blues'.

Rory and Sam are a tangle of limbs on the couch. His head's on Sam's chest and listening to the steady beat of Sam's heart. It's reassuring, the universe is still here. Sam's still here. And it's like they were never apart and nothing's changed.

Except everything has changed.

Dean's spread-eagled on the floor and Gabriel's sat staring moodily into his empty beer bottle. They're swapping stories about adventures. It's funny and sad at the same time. Dean's telling them about the time he and Sam almost died because of a cursed rabbit's foot and it's making Sam laugh. Rory's missed that sound.

"I'm gonna go get some air," Gabriel says, abruptly leaving.

They all stare after him for a few minutes and after an awkward silence Dean stands up and mumbles something about finding more money and booze. When he leaves Sam sighs, "Guess he felt like a third wheel."

And Rory laughs even though it's wrong and asks quietly, "Did you ever think we'd be here?"

Sam chuckles, "I think so, yeah. I mean think about it Ror, me being a lawyer, you a doctor. 2.5 kids and a white picket fence? That was never going to be us."

"Yeah..." Rory mumbles. He thinks about trying to explain River to Sam but he's far too drunk to even attempt it so he keeps silent.

"You know I almost got married," Sam says quietly. "Her name was Jess. She's dead now. I loved her a lot but...I don't know. I don't think I could have actually married her."

Rory shifts slightly, so that his head is against Sam's shoulder and he can look up at him. Godammit. He shouldn't be doing this. He's married. He loves Amy. HelovesAmy. "Why?" he asks.

Sam looks at Rory and says, "She wasn't you." As though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Rory loves Amy Pond. But he loves Sam Winchester too. So he doesn't pull away when Sam kisses him. And he doesn't stop Sam from dragging him to one of the bedrooms.

Dean watches Gabriel stare up at the stars from for a few minutes before approaching him.

"You know most of the stars you can see here are already dead," the archangel says as Dean stops beside him.

"Well that's...cheery," Dean says, frowning at the trickster. "You know I never thanked you for, you know, standing up to Lucifer like that. Saving our lives." He says awkwardly.

Gabriel turns to him and smirks, leaning back on the wall behind him. "No problem big boy. Now, unless you're going to actually do something to show your gratitude I suggest you go find more alcohol."

Dean looks at the smirking archangel and makes a split second decision. He leans in and pins Gabriel against the wall before crushing their mouths together.

It's not a soft kiss. It's all teeth and violence and anger and desperation and it leaves Dean breathless. He runs a hand down Gabriel's back, where he imagines Gabriel's wings would be and Gabriel shivers and groans. When Dean pulls away Gabriel looks slightly dazed and Dean inwardly celebrates this as a victory against the angel.

Then Gabriel looks at Dean pointedly, "I'm not Cas, you know." He says.

Dean frowns and pretends the name doesn't shatter his heart further. "I know," he replies, keeping Gabriel boxed up against the wall. He leans in to kiss him again but Gabriel turns away and for a moment Dean catches a flicker of emotion in Gabriel's golden eyes. Hurthopelustconfusion.

He takes Gabriel by the shoulders and leans in to look him straight in the eye. "Cas was my best friend but if I was ever going to do this with an angel it would be you." He says before adding, "Idiot," for good measure.

Gabriel doesn't look very convinced but this time when Dean leans in he doesn't pull away.