Disclaimer: The Winchesters, no-ot mine.

A/N: Here is the next chapter. This is it! One of the BIG reveals that I have been working up to since the beginning... I sure hope it makes sense and I really hope it is a total surprise. LOL. I had this written last week and then totally redid it. It just wasn't quite as much of a build up as I wanted... *sigh* As always, watch out for lurking typos. Happy reading and let me know what you think about this twist.

Chapter 21

"Little Pocket of Peace."

After checking his cell phone and finding it completely drained, Sam went to search for his brother's. Dean however, was still dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt, he didn't even have a pocket, so no phone there either. With a resigned sigh, Sam gave up and gave in to the boredom of waiting. Within just a few quiet moments, he begin to feel the rare sense of peace washing gently over him. Sam decided that maybe sitting here with his brother lying asleep beside him (head in his lap) while he kept watch over their still out of it angel companion a few yards away, wasn't such a hardship after all. Maybe, he could just enjoy the solitude of this place and forget for a few minutes the whole chaotic mess that awaited them. The apocalypse would be there when they returned, but for now there was this tiny pocket of peace and Sam was content to take advantage of it.

Tilting his head back against the rock face, he studied the wide expanse of seemingly endless blue vista. Bright cloudless sky, robin egg blue, meeting the rippling miles of azure water, that seemed to stretch out into eternity. The view made him feel pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things, as if he were just a very small part of the world. With a smile, he realized that he liked that feeling of smallness. He and Dean had been made to feel like the fate of the universe rested solely on their shoulders alone. The weight of this unasked for destiny, had taken a heavy toll on both of them. For now, he was going to remember how massive the world was and how he and and his brother were not.

He relaxed rather bonelessly, patting his lax brother very gently, and took a deep breath. The tang of salt with a faint hint of fishiness, filled his nostrils and he breathed it in. Held it for a moment, savoring it, before letting it out. The beach was such a novelty for the Winchesters. Although they traveled, crisscrossing all over the United Sates, the times they had ended up on one of the coasts were few and far between. Sam loved the ocean though. He loved everything about it, East or West, North or South, didn't matter. He just enjoyed listening to the steady cadence of the pounding of the waves and breathing the unique scents that went along with being near the water.

When he noticed the slight movement of the trench coated lump less than an hour later, it caused him to tense up ruining the half dozing, not a thought in his head, thing he had going on. Realistically, he knew it was pointless, but he had been hoping the lull in action would last a little longer. Sam watched grumpily, as Castiel rolled up to a sitting position, stood slowly and then began a vigorous shaking of his long coat, presumably getting rid of the clinging sand.

"Y'all right Cas?" Sam inquired, observing him half heartedly.

The rumpled angel turned at the questioning voice and stared unblinking in the brothers' direction. Without answering, he came towards them, seeming to glide across the sandy terrain. He halted when he was a few inches from Sam's outstretched feet and studied the Winchesters intently as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of them.

Sam frowned, a little annoyed with Cas' stare. When the angel continued to stand silently. Sam turned away and let his mind drift again to the pleasant daze of before. A shadow fell across his face, blocking the sun and bringing him back to the present. He glanced up. The angel had moved a step closer, but was still standing and staring. With a sigh, Sam asked, "You okay? Are you hurt or something?"

Castiel canted his head in that peculiar way he had, answering in a voice that sounded strangely melodic. "I am well. Thank you Samuel. Is your brother well?"

Sam shook his head at the angel's rather formal manner, he thought they had gotten past all that; but maybe since the whole hospital fiasco, they were back to being mere acquaintances. Resigned, he gave up on enjoying the peace and replied rather grudgingly. "He's still injured. I'm just lettin' 'im rest for a little while. Do you know what happened back there or have any idea where we are?"

"Dean let loose his power." Castiel replied, as if Sam should have realized that.

Sam studied the angel contemplatively. "Yeah, Cas. I got that, but I mean I'm alive and no bullet wound and we're..." He flung out an arm indicating the beach around them. "here, wherever this is and it was a little scary right before we... uh left our... room. Anyway, do you know what happened?"

The angel nodded. "Yes, I believe I do."

When he added nothing further, Sam huffed, exasperation tinging his voice. "Cas. I can't read your mind."

Castiel made no effort to reply, instead continued to stare in rapt fascination.

It was beginning to be a bit unnerving. Clearing his throat, Sam asked a little testily. "So, could you sit down or something, instead of just looming over us?" Sam could feel all the usual tension returning. His neck was getting progressively tighter, just from having to keep looking up at the solemn angel.

Wordlessly, Castiel lowered himself gracefully to the sand near Sam's feet.

Sam distractedly kneaded the back of his neck as he studied the silent angel. Exasperated with the other man's muteness, he remarked with a puzzled frown. "You're acting a little strange. Sure you're okay?"

Casteil met Sam's gaze with a tiny smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I am very well."

"Good. That's good." Dean stirred, but when Sam glanced down at him, he appeared to still be sleeping, just restless. Carding gentle fingers through the softly spiked hair, Sam watched his slumbering brother another minute as he settled, before looking up and scrutinizing the figure next to him. It wasn't fair that Sam was fine, while his brother was still hurting. "So, since you are "very well" can you heal Dean now?" He asked hopefully.

The angel shook his head slowly, regret plain on his face.

"Okay fine. Guess you're still out of healing mojo or whatever." Sam sighed. "You can at least answer my question Cas. Do you know where we are?"

At this, the angel's face creased in a bright smile. It was such a surprising phenomenon that Sam missed the first few words of the explanation and had to ask Castiel to begin again. The smile brightened a few more degrees before he resumed talking and all Sam could think was, that he wished his phone was charged so he could take a picture because Dean was never gonna believe him otherwise. Angels did not smile, they were sober and serious, but never happy. Cas looked unnaturally happy.

"Your brother was so concerned about making you safe, that he has landed us on a very small, unknown island in the Pacific. Until he has enough of his power back, we are mired here."

Sam snorted in irritation, asking gruffly, "Then what are you smiling about? That does not seem like good news. And why can't you just "poof" us back yourself?"

Smile dimming, Castiel's face transformed once again back to its usual somber expression. "I apologize. I was not making light of the situation, only pointing out that Dean never does things half way. He must always go beyond what is necessary to make sure that you come to no harm."

Now Sam was the one doing the staring, brow knit, his face scrunched speculatively.

The angel attempted to explain more clearly. "Dean could have brought you across town or even to a neighboring town. You would have been safe, but your big brother took you to a place no one, in this time, has even discovered yet. That was the reason for my smile. You two make me happy with all the care and love you show for one another. The brotherly bond that you share is a joy to me."

Sam snorted, "Sure, we bring you joy." Closing his eyes briefly, he tried to make sense of this prickly feeling that was bugging him. Something was off. Opening his eyes, he studied Castiel again. For some reason the man before him, reminded him of the difference between a cheap paperback print of a classical book as opposed to reading the unique original print of the same book. The same in may ways, but vastly different in others. This Cas, looked different, like an upgraded version of himself. He moved gracefully instead of stiffly, his voice was richer, almost musical sounding, and his face practically glowed with happiness. Sam tensed, unconsciously pulling Dean closer at the subtle threat of danger.

Castiel interrupted his anxious musings. "You do not need to be frightened Samuel. I realize that you have both been wary of me, after what took place in the hospital. For that, I am deeply remorseful that the... incident occurred. However, it was a necessary progression to bring us to this end. All is as it should be now."

The angel was giving Sam, what Sam assumed was supposed to be, a reassuring smile, but it was falling flat. He tried to shove all these thoughts, tripping messily through his head, back and concentrate on the matter at hand. Castiel wasn't acting like a demon and he really didn't seem to be posing any real danger at the moment, so Sam just needed to stay calm and deal with one thing at a time. Taking a deep breath, he met the angel's strangely encouraging gaze and asked, "So, can you take us back?" Then before Castiel had a chance to respond Sam blurted the other two questions that were uppermost on his mind. "Do you think Ellen and Bobby are all right? Do you think Lucifer hurt them after we disappeared?"

Castiel, canted his head once again and his gaze turned upward. Standing motionless, he took his time before finally replying. "Dean's power was such that it..." He paused as though searching for the best word. "shorted out every other angelic or demonic power that was near. It will take a little while for me to... re-charge, so to speak. Also, Dean has placed a shield over us. It is something I have only ever seen a few times, because it takes tremendous power to hold it in place. It is probably the reason he is still sleeping, because it is draining to exert that much power on top of healing you. This shield, while it keeps us safe, also keeps us in, until Dean chooses to release us." He met Sam's incredulous gaze, offering further information. "Your friends are more than fine Samuel. When Dean let loose all of that power, he healed everything within a very large span. He also pushed Lucifer far away. I wouldn't be surprised if people from other towns in that vicinity had, at the very least, a general feeling of good health for a few days. That was amazing, what your brother did."

Sam screwed up his face in concern. "Then, if he has all this power, why is he still in pain?"

The angel gave a sad little quirk of his lips. "Your brother did what he usually does and directed everything he had towards you, to help you. He kept nothing for himself and the only reason others were affected was because they were nearby. There was more than enough to heal you and the extra power spilled over onto anyone in its path. All the evil in the area was banished, including my brother. I am not sure where he might have ended up and well... I am once again wholly myself because of Dean."

Sam shook his head, "Why does he always do tha..." Sam stopped mid word as he realized what he had just heard. With a confused frown, he asked. "Wait, brother?"

Castiel gave Sam a level look as he answered solemnly. "Yes, Samuel, my brother. My little brother... Lucifer."

Sam stared at the man sitting on the beach with him and came to a startling realization. He did not know this person. He wasn't sure what was going on, but this was not their friend. This was not Cas. Taking a steadying breath, he worried his bottom lip as he finally decided to take the head on approach and demanded gruffly, "Who are you?"

The man or angel or whatever he was, stared intently at Sam as he replied. "I am myself, at last."

Sam, wondering if he needed to pick up his brother and make a run for it, finally asked hoarsely. "What? What do you mean? Are you Jimmy again?"

The angel's gaze seemed to lose focus for an instant as he spoke softly. "No. Jimmy has been gone a long time. He is at peace."

"If you're not Jimmy or Cas, then who... what are you?" Sam stuttered in a hoarse whisper.

Another one of those unfamiliar bright smiles, lit the angel's face. His eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire and his voice rang beautifully with power. "I am Michael." He announced firmly with something akin to wonder in his expression. "I am the third part. I am that which was lost. I am destined to aid in this battle as part of the three who are one. Because of Dean, I remember."

~TBC Thank you for reading and I would love it if you have a moment to review.