Note to the reader:

Okay first of all, I want to give you all humongous thanks for reading, reviewing, and for staying with me for so long. Every hit, viewer, and review that I see on my stories is like a little piece of magic…. Wow I know that sounds really cheesy, but it's true.

I'm soooo sorry that I took so long to post another chapter. I've had some health problems lately, but now I am back on that horse and ready to write! I hope you enjoy!

NOTE TO READER:

This is way off canon so far, but I may incorporate some things back into the story to make it follow canon a little bit more.

But in this story, Ruby is NOT evil, and Sam had NOT been drinking her blood. I can't make that work in this story, and I wont. Got it? Good.

Since I was gone so long, I wanted you guys to have a nice long chapter! Now enjoy the show… XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

John's hands on the steering wheel were so tight that his knuckles were turning white, and his arms were stiff and rigid in front of him. There was a cassette tape in the player, but he couldn't pick up the tune of the songs that were playing. They had been his for years, and he couldn't even tell what was playing.

Had John been gone that long? Had John been in hell long enough that he could forget the sweet music of Metallica or AC/DC? This car was even his. Well… it had been his. He had owned it since he was twenty-three years old, and had taught his sons to drive with it. And now… now he couldn't even take comfort in the feel of the leather seats, the smooth interior around them.

"Dad?" John became vaguely aware of his son's voice beside him, and he reached to his right to turn down the music that he wasn't even listening to anyways.

John glanced in Dean's general direction to let him know that he had heard. "Yeah?"

"I was just wondering… " Dean cleared his throat, which usually meant that he was uncomfortable. " Why are you going along with this?"

John actually looked at Dean this time. "Going along with what?"

Dean hesitated for a second, as if trying to find the right words. He obviously knew that his father's temper matched his own. "Sam's in a car with a demon … injured… and we are driving in the opposite direction."

Grumbling a little, John turned his eyes back to the road. "Don't remind me."

"Hell, I told you to agree to it in the first place." Dean's voice became a little louder when he realized that his father wasn't looking at him anymore. "But I didn't really think that you would agree. It's just not something you would do, you know? I kind of expected you to rip her head off for suggesting it."

"Well maybe I've changed, huh?" John's voice rose too, but his was a lot less gentle. "I mean… you and Sam are so dammed different now, you don't think I could change a little too?"

"Dammit dad, I didn't mean it like that" –

"You are the ones who wanted me to give her a chance in the first place, and now you're going to judge me for it? What, are you ashamed that I'm not bossing you around anymore?"

Dean didn't say anything for a long time, and eventually John had to turn to look at him. Dean was watching his father with a combination of confusion and pity. "Dad…"Dean cleared his throat again. " I'm not judging you. We've all changed. It would be stupid for me to think that you wouldn't change too."

John sighed a little, degrading his glare. He looked to the road again. "Than why did you ask?"

"Because…"Dean paused. " I'm proud of you. I know how hard it was for you to put your trust in a demon."

"Really? And why is that?" John's interest peaked; he waited for Dean to continue. Even though this was starting to sound like a chick-flick speech in the making, he was touched by the sentiment.

Dean took a deep breath, and John sensed that he had something he needed go get off his chest. "When I was a kid, your word was law. Hell, I never questioned you up until the day you died. I wanted to be just like you… And I became just like you. Whatever you believed in, I believed in…"There was a moment of silence, and then Dean continued. "But not anymore."

Okay…chick-flick moment officially over. John huffed. "Thanks a bunch son. Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Actually, yeah. It is." John sensed his son force a smile on his face. "Dad… We were right about a lot of things. Considering the circumstances I think you did right by us. What with Sam being such a humanitarian and all, somebody had to keep this family in line. But we weren't right about everything. I see that now…"

"What are you getting at?" John couldn't help but let the frustration in his voice show. "That I made mistakes? What the hell kind of pep-talk is this?"

"I'm still not comfortable with Ruby being near my brother." Dean didn't answer John's question, and he was looking out the side-window into the darkness outside. "But I can handle it now. And it took me a long time to be able to do that. And then you just… You just agree to let her do this. Considering how we are so much alike and all, I know how hard it must have been. And I just wanted to let you know that I'm, you know…"

"Proud?" John finished the sentence for Dean, a hint of a smile playing up his features. Sometimes, he just wanted to smack Dean ten ways from Sunday, but other times he wanted to hug him. Right now was kind of a combination of the both. Dean was still speaking in riddles but John could tell where he was coming from. Truth was, that John had been doing a lot of thinking since he got back from hell. The things he had seen and the new things that he was still seeing were making him rethink his entire outlook on life. Dean was right… He had changed. John Winchester had finally softened up enough to set down his pride for a few minutes. It was a personal triumph, but one that his son had caught onto because Dean had had to go through the same thing.

"Yeah… I guess that's a word I could use." Dean's smile turned into a smirk, and he nodded. John couldn't help smiling too, just at the sight of him. He hadn't seen Dean smile like that in such a long time.

Suddenly Dean's head turned to the road, just as the car lights flickered and it began to slow down. "What the" –

"Oh not now…"Dean was looking out into the night with recognition in his eyes, and John looked to him in confusion.

"What? Who the hell is that?" John tried to swerve the car, moving the steering wheel while trying both the gas and the break separately. Nothing worked.

The car came to a rolling stop in front of a man with dark messy hair and a beige trench coat worn loosely over a suit. John immediately reached towards the gun in his waistband, but Dean was already opening the car door beside him. "That wont do anything," Dean gave his dad an understanding look, before jumping carelessly out of the car without a weapon. John hesitated before following.

"Cass," Dean didn't show the least bit of caution as he walked towards the man, and stood but a foot away from him. "What is it? You look like crap."

"Hello Dean," The man gave Dean a polite look of greeting, although he did not smile. He stood straight and tall, and had a slightly opposing presence although he had barely moved since they first saw him. With a calm but expectant look, he turned his head towards John, who was standing by the half-open driver's door of his car with apprehension. "John." The man's face was cold and his eyes soul-searching, but not in the same way that a demon's might be. John noticed that there were scratches on his face, and that there was a bloodstain on the right side of his shirt. "We finally meet."

John looked to his son for a second, who was standing beside this strange man with ease. Hadn't John taught him anything? Dean should be keeping his guard up around demons!

"Dad…"Dean noticed his father's caution, and looked from John to the strange man. " This is Cass."

John hesitated. What am I missing here? "…Cass?"

Cass, or whoever he really was, gave a little smile. He seemed to find this funny, for some reason. "My name is Castiel."

"Castiel?" John thought for a moment, and when he remembered the name he laughed. "Castiel the angel? That Castiel?"

Castiel's smile had faded. He didn't seem to find the speculation in John's voice funny. "Yes. I am an angel of the Lord."

"Is that so?" John took a few steps forewords, giving the man a doubtful once-over. No… He wasn't an angel. This was just some poor possessed son of a gun who had somehow convinced Dean that he was something he wasn't. "And why should I believe you?"

Dean was looking at John with wide eyes, shaking his head from side to side a fraction. What the hell was he afraid of? "Dad…"He was mouthing out the words silently. " Don't…"

Castiel noticed this, and gave Dean a look that was a combination between appreciation and understanding. He held out a graceful hand to silence Dean, and Dean actually shut up. A few carefully placed footsteps took him towards John, but he stopped when the impact of the blast from a salt-gun hit him in the chest.

"Dad!" Dean jumped to the side, staring at his father as if he had just done something awful.

The corner's of Castiel's mouth had turned down in a frown, but he was otherwise unchanged. He glared at John's hand and the sawed-off shotgun that it held, before looking down at his chest. There were little shallow bullet holes from the salt-shells, but they didn't seem to affect him at all. After a minute, a white light seemed to come from inside the wounds, and little pieces of salt fell to the ground as they healed.

John's eyes widened in shock. Not only were the salt-rounds useless, but Castiel had just healed his body. John had never seen a demon that could do that. No Demon could do that. He looked up to Castiel, his mouth open slightly as the arm holding the gun fell limply at his side. "You… You're an… Oh my go" –

"I wouldn't use that phrase if I were you," Castiel looked up from his freshly healed body. "Unless you are praying."

"You're an … an angel?" John wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. "You're an angel."

"I think we've established that," Castiel replied dryly. If John didn't know any better, he would have sworn that an angel was using sarcasm on him. A freaking angel!

John took another step forwards, although this time he was just taking the man in. Castiel didn't look any different than any other poor bloke out there who wore a suit. Maybe he was just coming to them in a form humans were comfortable around with.

John still couldn't wrap his head around this. An angel was here, in front of him. They were real. Mary had been right all along! Sam was right! Dean –

Suddenly John remembered something else. "You… You pulled Dean from hell."

Frowning, Castiel turned to Dean. "You didn't tell him?"

Dean shrugged, throwing his arms in the air helplessly. "Well I got a little distracted, what with Lilith's little stunt-demon sending Sam into the ER and all!"

"Tell me what?" John looked from Dean to Castiel, confused.

"Uh, I kind of forgot to tell you…"Dean cleared his throat uncomfortably. " Castiel is the one that pulled you from hell."

"I… oh." John wasn't sure what to say. He was taken off guard, and wasn't sure if surprise or gratitude was the most prominent emotion at the moment. "Uh… Thanks." Wow John, great. An angel pulled you from hell and all you can say is "Uh… Thanks"?!

Castiel nodded in John's direction, as if he had read his mind. "You're welcome, John. I appreciate your gratitude."

Dean blushed. "Uh Cass, I probably didn't thank you and all, but" –

"It's alright Dean." Castiel nodded as if he was already familiar with this information, and looked from John to Dean. "Where is Samuel now?"

"With Ruby," Dean offered, slightly taken aback by the quick change of pace. John could tell that he wasn't happy giving up this information freely. "She's meeting us at Bobby's."

Castiel sighed deeply, shaking his head slowly. His face was still calm, although he looked upset. "Dean…"

"Look, I know Cass. She's not exactly at the top of your wish list, and then again I'm not a big fan of her either, but" –

"Who you trust is your business." Castiel's voice was cold, although John suspected that it was like that all the time. "But just make sure that you really can trust her. We can't afford setbacks right now."

If there was something in the angel's voice that John had missed, it hadn't bypassed his son. "Right now?" Dean paused. "What's so different about right now?"

"That's why I'm here." Castiel addressed both of them almost hesitantly. "Fifty-four seals have been broken."

"What?" John stepped foreword, shocked. From what Dean and Bobby had told him, he knew that the breaking of seals meant the bringing of the apocalypse. But it had seemed like the angels were in control… How could they let so many seals break? "I thought you guys had this under control?"

Dean seemed to be thinking the same thing, although he didn't say so. "Fifty-four?" He looked to the angel in shock.

"I have received revelations from our superiors…"Castiel faltered. He seemed to be having trouble with what he was about to say. "We have permission to try a new tactic."

John didn't really know what "revelations" were, or who Castiel's superiors were supposed to be, but he didn't like the way that Castiel's tone portrayed them. "A… a new tactic?" He looked to the angel in confusion, unsure if he really wanted to know how angels fought battles. It was hard enough believing that Castiel was an angel in the first place, let alone that he was an angel that actually fought things.

"Many of my brother's and sisters are loosing their lives in this fight," Castiel continued soberly. "And Lilith is very skilled at keeping her actions hidden from us. We need more human assistance. There are certain things she cannot hide from humans… We can fight from both sides now, so to speak."

"I don't get it," Dean raised an eyebrow at his angel-friend. "Cass, we really are trying here. I know that there aren't enough people on board, but it's not like we can just inform the general population about hunting and hope that they sign up!"

"That's not what I mean..."Castiel took a deep breath, holding it for a second before releasing it. " We have permission to resurrect hunters. Eight of them."

John frowned, as the seriousness of the situation dawned on him. Wow… this really was bad. He had been stuck inside his own little bubble so long that he had neglected to notice that the world was ending… The world was ending! If they were bring hunters back from the dead, than that meant things were getting rough. Really rough. The fact that Dean and John had been pulled from hell was tribute enough to that fact.

"Eight is a lot of people to be bringing back to life." Dean spoke, sounding almost angry. "Why are you just deciding this just now?"

"It was a hard choice to make, Dean." Castiel acknowledged the question but didn't seem shaken by Dean's anger. On the contrary, he seemed to be pleased by it. "I'm sure you both understand the seriousness of the situation. It was a very controversial decision, and one that in my opinion was made too hastily… But these are desperate times. We spent a lot of time deciding whom we would choose. It was not an easy choice to make."

"So… What do you want us to do about this?" John asked.

"Nothing, for now. Some of the hunters may try to contact you in time. Uriel or I may do the same. He informs me that seven of the eight are already alive. Three of my brothers and I are going after the eighth tonight."

Dean raised an eyebrow in false sarcasm, clearly trying to hide his confusion. "What Cas, Uriel can raise seven souls from the dead on his own and you need back-up to after one dead bloke?"

Castiel didn't seem to find this funny. On the contrary, he seemed even more serious than ever. "Yes Dean. The last soul will be… harder to attain."

"And why is that?" Dean was still using his angry-yet-sarcastic voice, and John could tell that this was a shock for him too.

"Because we will need to fight our way to get to it." John noticed that the angel didn't move a lot, but Castiel seemed even more reluctant to move now. If he didn't know better, he would have thought that Castiel was purposely not meeting their eyes. "Her situation is different than the others."

John didn't know why, but suddenly this seemed familiar. His throat felt tight, and he swallowed deeply as he tried to comprehend what this had to do with him. "Different how…?" He eventually piped up, knowing that if he didn't than the question would never get asked.

"You said that some of the hunters might try to contact us." Dean asked his own question, but it came out as more of a statement. "Did we know them?"

Castiel looked to both of them, as if unsure which to answer first, if he was going to answer either at all. His brow furrowed, and for a moment there was silence. "Yes, Dean, you knew some of the hunters." Castiel raised his eyes to Dean, and paused for a minute to let the information sink in.

Both men hesitated, unsure how to respond. Truth was, they shouldn't have been surprised but of course the information was a bit of a shock. Who would it be? People that they knew, people that they perhaps cared about and befriended, were being raised from the dead. And the list of the diseased was a long one to choose from.

"And the situation is different…"Castiel cleared his throat softly, his jaw working in thought. " Because the eighth soul is in hell."

There it was. John nodded slowly, processing the information with a slight grimace. Of course. There had to have been a reason why the angel was so remorseful, and why he had seemed to avoid their questions like the plague. Castiel was about to go down into hell and fight to pull a soul free. It was a strange realization, but it was one that made sense. Why would Dean and John be the only ones set free? There had to be at least one more soul down there that wasn't completely corrupt and evil. He sighed. "Who?" He asked, his voice harder than he had intended. The question, in his mind, was completely logical. Angels were about to pull a soul free from hell, so that meant that this person was still considered good. He had only been in hell for a year in earth years, and he knew well enough how bad it was. People lost themselves very easily. So whoever this was, and however long they had been down there, deserved some recognition if their soul was still intact. "Who is it?"

"You already know her," Castiel answered calmly. John looked up with confusion, but then he realized that the angel was looking at Dean. "Her name is Abby."

For a second, Dean didn't seem to process the name. But then, as if a switch had flipped, his eyes widened with recognition. "Bela…" the word was barely a whisper, but they all heard it.

"Yes, I suppose you would know her by that name…"Castiel nodded slowly, acknowledging the recognition on Dean's face. " Bela Talbot is the eighth soul."

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Clifhanger? Surprize? Weird? Review and tell me what you think!

For those of you who like guessing, I want to hear from you. Who are some of the other souls? What happened to Bela in hell? What is going on with Sam and Ruby? How will they stop Lilith?

All these answers and more, soon to come!