The final chapter: Revised.

For those who remember the original ending, I feel this one does my story justice. This ending fits almost perfectly with the existing Supernatural universe in my opinion.

I didn't know the date of the episode this leads onto, 2x01 - In My Time Of Dying (so used the air date) but if anyone knows feel free to correct me.

He returned Dean to the very motel Sam and John were currently renting.

Putting Dean down on the bed closest to the door.

The door handle sounded causing Castiel to turn look as someone entered the room.

*Sam*and*John's*POV*

As they walked in all they saw was Dean on the bed, his clothes slightly ripped.

"Dean?" John said quietly out loud, not sure if he was seeing things or not.

"Dean" Sam almost squealed, and ran to his side.

Sammy started shaking Dean around trying to wake him.

Just as John was about to tell him to stop; "quit it" Dean said in a whining voice.

"Dean" Sammy exclaimed and started to hug his older brother.

"Sam...Sam...can't...breathe" Dean wheezed out.

"Oh...Sorry Dean" he said releasing his death grip and putting his hand on the back of his head slightly embarrassed.

Dean stood up but his legs buckled and he passed out again.

John caught him and put him back on the bed. Suddenly noticing the look of concern all over Sam's face he put his hand on his shoulder, "He'll be fine Sam".

"You promise?" Sam said hoping that he wouldn't lose Dean again so soon.

"Yeah I promise. He's just exhausted and so are you, so get yourself some rest" John said making sure that Sam was more at ease.

John went into the kitchen area of the room and started to make himself a cup of coffee.

Sam had only closed his eyes for a second but when he opened them again Castiel was standing over him.

Sam opened his mouth to shout for his dad but no sound came out.

He put two fingers on his head and it was lights out; Sam's head instantly lolled to the side.

John had turned around to find his sons fast asleep, well unconscious, but he didn't know that.

As soon as John had put down his cup of coffee he walked over to Sam's bed.

He whipped out his handgun upon seeing Castiel appear out of nowhere...like a demon.

"What do you want?" he said as his eyes flicked towards the unbroken lines of salt.

"I'm the one who brought Dean back to you. And I am not a demon" he said sounding slightly insulted.

"Why? Who are you? What are you?"

"It doesn't matter who or what I am. You need to keep a closer eye on your boys; they are a lot more important than even you know. Dean and Sam won't remember what happened here, but you are to remember" he said firmly, yet somehow without changing the expression on his face.

"I would die for my boys" he said truthfully.

"Just like their mother" Castiel said quietly before disappearing.

John didn't know how to take that, did he know Mary or the demon that killed her? Whilst appearing and disappearing like a demon, he didn't break the lines of salt that were still perfectly intact. And he had brought his son back to him in one piece, he owed him for that.

All he knew was that he brought Dean back to him, without a visible scratch on him. He spoke with Bobby but without a name or more key features to look for, he couldn't identify what John was dealing with but told John to be more careful, he and his boys were on the map now and there's nothing he can do to change that.

John always kept an eye on his boys, not just to keep them safe but in case the stranger who brought Dean back to him would come back for something in return. As the years passed the memory of the strange man faded, but remained at the back of his mind as he was unaccustomed to a supernatural creature that was good through and through, he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Castiel however did meet with John one last time, so to speak.

*************28th September 2006************** - In the hospital after the crash and before Sam finds his father.

John was sitting watching his two boys play; Dean looked about 6 and Sam 2. He knew this was a dream, but he would take what he could get, he missed their innocence, and the simpler, uneventful times.

"This is a nice memory, I see why you like it here" Castiel said appearing in John's dream.

"It's you. What are you doing in my head?" he said startled, unsure if this stranger was really here.

"This is real John. It's up to you to save Dean. I cannot help him this time"

"Why don't you just heal him again"

Castiel frowned at him.

"I'm not stupid. He came back without a scratch or a bruise, not even the scar he got a year before"

"I am not allowed to interfere. I am simply here to provide you with options" Castiel said adhering to his orders.

"What can I do to save him?"

"Make a deal with the demon that killed their mother, I'll show you how to summon him" Castiel said knowing that he would do whatever was necessary, which made things easier.

"I don't think he'll be willing to trade my life for Dean's, he'll know I'm desperate"

"Offer him the colt" he said emotionlessly.

John nodded, he could see the plan forming. He would try to offer just the colt, the demon will ask for more and then he'll offer himself. John knew the yellow-eyed-demon wouldn't be able to resist.

"There's one more thing. If you are to sacrifice yourself, you should know the truth about Samuel..."

John promised himself and Mary that he would take care of their sons, no matter the cost, and now he had made a deal that proved it. He was concerned what lied down the road for Sam and Dean as not only was Sam 'special' but this stranger had quite the interest in Dean and seemed to know much more than he let on.

As John's world faded away he heard some faint words from the mysterious stranger, "Don't break".

A/N – I think this explains several things in the episode, 'In My Time Of Dying', for example how John knew how to summon the demon, given that he had just been looking/hunting for the thing for years. Also how he knows more about Sam, then the boys do. This should be the final ending; it took me a while to find an ending I could live with. I would love to hear some reviews, especially from those that read the first ending.