Hello all. I would like to thank all you lovely people who have followed and favoured this since my last up date.
So this is set at the end of season 2, episode 4 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things'. This is a long one as there was no natural break to it.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.
Morning was breaking as Sam, Dean and Castiel stood over the newly buried grave of the zombie girl they had had to stake back into her coffin to stop her from killing anyone else in town.
"Rest in peace." Sam said over the grave, thinking that one of them should say something.
"Yeah. For good this time, okay?" Dean added, taking away the sincerity from Sam's sentiments.
This hunt had been good for them. There were no questions of whether the girl should die, again. It had been straight forward and Dean had seemed more like his old self. Sam had even gotten to the point where he didn't really notice Castiel with them, or if he did, he didn't think of him as some all mighty creature, which was good. The only issue with this hunt had been Dean's refusal to visit their moms grave, claiming that she wasn't even there, that there was no body left to bury and it was just a head stone put up by an uncle they didn't even know.
But Sam had found something from coming here, from seeing her grave. He didn't remember his mom after all. The grave was all he had of her.
Turning to his brother he saw Dean look over his shoulder at the grave and Sam gave in to the impulse to talk.
"You want to stay for a while?" He asked making Dean turn back round and face the car.
"No." Dean replied. He didn't need to visit their mom's grave. He still had the fresh memory of seeing her in heaven in his mind. It was strange that he remembered that so clearly, that he remembered her so clearly from there. But that was something he couldn't discuss with his brother. He couldn't even try to explain what he had seen in heaven before Cas had pulled him out, he wouldn't know where to being. But then he guessed heaven was a private place, and something that people should only know when they get there. Plus if he was going to talk about heaven to anyone the best person would be Cas. But as he wasn't planning on discussing it, that really wasn't an issue.
"You know, I think she broke my hand." Sam said frowning down at his wrist, having taken his brother at his words. Before Dean could say anything in response Castiel had stepped up to him and touched his fingers to it, removing all the pain.
"It is healed now." The angel said in his gravelly voice.
"Wow, thanks man." Sam replied smiling at him making Dean roll his eyes.
"You know Sammy, if you keep getting yourself injured on hunts Cas is going to have to start charging you for the medical care." Dean said smirking at his brother who gave him one of his patented bitchfaces while Castiel frowned.
"I would not charge him Dean. I am happy to be able to heal either of you when you require It." The angel said in a serious tone making Dean sigh in exasperation.
"It was a joke dude, really, you need to get a sense of humour." He replied to the angel with a shake of his head. I mean did the guy take everything seriously?
At that Castiel raised his eyebrows at Dean before he spoke.
"I have one, thank you." He said pleasantly to the older Winchester.
"Yeah? Let me know when it surfaces." Dean replied with a smirk at the angel. He enjoyed bantering with him.
"I will, when you let me know you are being humorous." Castiel responded with a smirk of his own making Sam chuckle at the look of disbelief on his brother's face. Oh that was priceless.
In fact they were all so busy with this conversation and bantering between them that they didn't hear the approach of another. Until that was John Winchester was standing in front of them his loaded gun aimed at Dean's heart.
Crowley had decided to have fun with this meeting he had arranged, watching Castiel with the Winchesters he realised the angel was enjoying himself, so why shouldn't he? As such he had cloaked John from Castiel senses, and stayed back out of Castiel's range as he watched the eldest Winchester creep up on his sons with a loaded gun. Oh this was going to be such fun.
John had watched from the shadows and seen Sam with 'Dean' and another man. He couldn't believe his son had been so stupid. Why did he have to bring Dean back? How had he done it? What had it cost him? And what was going to happen now? Shaking these thoughts from his head he slowly made his way over to the three men forcing his breathing to steady. He could do this. With that the stepped in front of the three and with completely steady hands, raised the gun so that it was pointed at his eldest son's heart. Taking a deep breath he pulled back the safety so with just a twitch of his finger the bullet would unload into the chest of whatever it was that Sam had brought back from the dead. Because it wasn't Dean, it couldn't be. John refused to believe that there was a way to bring his son back and Sam had found it rather than him. It was not possible.
"Dad, don't." Sam cried out when he saw his father with the gun, but before anyone else could think or move, Castiel was standing in front of John. The muzzle of the gun lightly touching his chest as he stared at the man. It was at that point Crowley joined the party, though only Castiel knew that.
"I don't know who you are, but move. I need to kill that thing." John growled at the man who had moved extremely quickly in-between the gun and the thing that was masquerading as his son.
"I will not let you harm Dean, John. Put down the gun." Castiel said in a clam yet authoritative tone. Though he was seething inside. He wanted to turn round to Crowley and demand to know why he had given him no notice that John was on his way, but he couldn't, not right then. He couldn't let any of the Winchesters know he was working with the demon.
"No. move, I won't ask again." John growled out again glaring at the man. Just who the hell did he think he was?
"And neither will I." At that Castiel reached out and grabbed the gun. Twisting it so John had to let it go or his wrist would have broken.
"Who are you?" John asked. Though he should probably have asked what judging from the man's strength.
"I am the one who pulled your son from heaven and returned him to his body." Castiel replied unloading the gun as he had seen Dean do so many times before.
"You're a demon." John growled out. He would exorcise this thing back to hell where it belonged.
"No, I'm an angel. Castiel." Castiel replied holding the unloaded gun out to the hunter so he could take it back.
"But… why?" John asked taking a step back. So flabbergasted by that sentence. Oh he wasn't stupid enough to think that angels didn't existence, he just never thought he would meet one. Or that one would bring his son back to life.
"I have need of him." Castiel answered honestly.
At that John looked over Castiel's shoulder at Dean who was just standing there looking at him with hard eyes. His stare then turned to Sam who was looking between all the people there with wide eyes. Johns stare returned to Dean before he turned back to the angel in front of him. He had just worked out what it was saying. He had need of Dean. And just as Sam was destined to lead the army of demons, then Dean was obviously destined to lead the armies of heaven. No, he couldn't accept that. I mean what had his family ever done to deserve this? He was fighting Sam's destiny he would fight Dean's as well.
"No." he stated. He wouldn't let this angel take his eldest son, he didn't care what he had to do to stop it.
"I am sorry John. I'm sorry all this had to happen to your family. I wish… I wish I could change it. But I can't and neither can you. All I can say is for humanity to have a chance to survive, Dean Winchester must live." Castiel replied staring back into his best friend's fathers eyes. He knew that he was saying more than he should, but he needed John to understand that he was not on heavens side in this. He was on the side of his family. The side of the Winchesters, and he would fight beside them until the very end.
"What do you mean?" John asked confused now. Because humanity? This angel wants to protect them? This wasn't about Dean leading the fight against his brother then?
With that question Castiel turned so he could look at Dean only to find the hunter already staring at him, surprise written across his face at the angel's words. And the same question his father had asked in his eyes. He stared right into those green depths as he gave the only reply he could give right then.
"Humanity is the best of my father's creations. And Dean is the embodiment of that ideal. The things that are most important to him are what makes him the only one who can do what will be needed. I can say no more than that." With that Castiel took his eyes off of Dean and turned to look at the ground as he fought to get all his thoughts under control.
"Nice and subtle there feathers. Way to not put the world on squirrels shoulders." Crowley commented from the side lines. Though he really was enjoying the show.
At that comment from Crowley Castiel growled silently, it wasn't like he could respond to the demon after all. But later he and the former king of hell would be having words about this little adventure which he was sure was all of Crowley's devising.
While these thoughts went through Castiel's mind John and Sam both turned and stared at Dean with wide eyes. Neither of them had ever considered that this Winchester was important to the world, he was just Dean after all. The dependable one, the one who was always there when they needed him to be.
And Dean, well he didn't believe any of it. There was nothing special about him. And as for him being the embodiment of humanity? Well, he had no freaking clue what that even meant. I mean, he loved his family and he fought to save people from evil, sure. But he also lied and cheated his way through life. He certainly wasn't a great example of humanity, not anywhere even close. What in the hell made him so special to Castiel?
After the staring continued for what felt like hours, but was probably just a minute at most, Dean was fed up with it. As such he moved and threw the shovel he was still carrying into the trunk of the impala before turning to Sam.
"You coming?" he asked ignoring his father completely.
"Um, yeah, sure." Sam replied moving to put his shovel with Dean's. He then made his way round to the passenger side of the car.
"Dean. How long have you been back?" John asked. It hurt him that his son had refused to acknowledge he was there. What had he done to make Dean behave this way to him?
"A while." Dean replied not turning to look at his father. He couldn't cope with seeing the man right now. Cos he knew if he did he would start to crack and thaw. And he didn't need that. He had not forgiven him for his lack of action or words when he died.
"Why didn't you call?" John asked confused by what was going on.
"Why should I?" Dean asked turning to him with a look of betrayal on his face making John's defences rise.
"Dean." He said in the voice he had always used when his eldest son had gone too far. The stern sergeant voice which Dean had always obeyed without question.
"What?" Dean asked his tone completely belligerent. He was not taking any more of this man's orders.
"We need to talk." John continued in the same tone.
"Fine, but right now I need a shower and some sleep." With that Dean got into the car.
Castiel moved to join him and Sam in the impala, but as he pasted John the man's hand shot out and grabbed his arm, making Castiel turn to him with a raised eyebrow. That grip couldn't hold him, but he was curious as to why John would try and stop him.
John leaned towards the angel and spoke in a low voice that no one else could hear.
"We need to talk as well." He said before pulling back and looking Castiel in the eye.
Castiel studied him in return. He had no experience of this man, only the memories that Sam and Dean had let slip over the years. After a minute he nodded his head causing John to release his arm. Castiel then flew to the backseat of the impala, joining the Winchester boys in the car so they could drive off to the motel they were currently staying at.
John made his way back to his truck and followed them. Now that he knew both his sons were alive he wasn't letting them out of his sight until they had explained everything to him.
And Crowley, having enjoyed the show, knew that he would soon have to have a little chat with Castiel. But he didn't really care. It was worth it after all. He had got them together and where they needed to be to make this crazy plan of the angels work. Hell, Cas should be thanking him for all he had done.