Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. This is being done purely for amusement and nothing monetary is being exchanged for my having written this.

I just want to take a moment to thank all of the readers. All of the reviewers. Everyone who kept me going until the very end of this story. I couldn't have made it here without all of you. Enjoy the final chapter.


Dean turned away from the window and looked at his brother and mentor with his mouth open in a small 'o' shape.

"Eyes back on the road, son. You're the one that said you had to drive," Bobby said and, a little reluctantly, Dean returned to his driving.

"Alright but tell me I'm not the only one who just saw that? What was that?"

"No," Sam said, turning his head up and frowning to himself, "I'm pretty sure everyone everywhere could see a wall of fire raining down from the sky."

Currently, the brothers and Bobby were driving down an empty highway in a stolen truck on their way back to Sioux Falls having absolutely no idea what was going on and where in the hell Castiel had disappeared off to. He just brought Dean back to life and poof was gone. Again, like always.

"It's going to be a long drive boys," Bobby said, "Better get comfy before we go about summoning the boy's ass."


Almost fourteen hours later, they finally pulled up in front of what remained of the salvage yard. It was now basically reduced to just a roofless shack with half melted vehicles in the near distance and then more piles of cars further away.

"Should we fan out and start looking for supplies? Cas could be anywhere by now," Dean asked.

Bobby nodded and walked towards the front door. "Sounds like a pretty good idea to - Jody?"

"What?" both brothers asked at once and turned.

Jody exited the front door and ran to Bobby, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss that he readily reciprocated. Dean and Sam awkwardly looked at each other and waited for whatever moment this was to pass in silence.

"Boys," she said as she pulled away, "you're going to want to come inside. Someone's waiting for you."

Dean ran right past her and when he entered the crumbling building, he couldn't help but look up since the roof and ceiling were gone and only sky and passing clouds were visible overhead. Coming back to himself, he walked into the area where Bobby's den more or less used to be and, sitting on top of the singed and blackened chair behind the large desk and also studying the sky was Castiel. He was awake but he also looked incredibly exhausted. More so than Dean had ever seen him look before.

"Cas..?"

Castiel turned and smiled at him. "Hello, Dean," he said as his friend drew nearer.

Dean couldn't stop himself as he lifted Castiel from the seat and hugged him tightly. After a moment, Castiel followed suit, wrapping his own arms around Dean and giving him a quick squeeze, each glad that the other was still alive. When Dean let go of him, he fell back into the seat with a groan and shut his eyes for a minute to collect himself and his strength.

"Cas, you're alive," Sam said as he entered the room, followed by Bobby and Jody.

"I am."

"Then maybe you can explain what that fire show was yesterday," Bobby asked, crossing his arms against his chest.

Castiel swallowed and nodded. "The final act of the prophecy was to rescue the souls of the ravaged planet from the disease Eve set upon it. Herself."

No one said anything for a minute; everyone just stared at him. Castiel chuckled, knowing who was going to speak first.

"And in English please?" Dean asked.

"The Firebird needed to heal the planet at great personal cost but with one great reward," Castiel said with shining eyes. "No more monsters."

"No...None?" Sam asked incredulous.

"None. Everyone is back to the way they were originally created and those who did not survive, those too foregone are sadly now denizens of Purgatory."

"And the cost?" Bobby asked.

Here Castiel sighed. "My grace, my place in heaven - I had to give it up. I am not an angel anymore. Again."

"So, you're human," Dean said.

"No," Castiel said, almost shyly, "I have instead become a new race of species, the likes of which have never been seen on this planet nor any other before and will do everything within my power to destroy you all, one at a time."

More silence met that statement.

"You're joking right?" Sam asked.

Castiel scoffed. "Yes, of course I am joking. Maybe."

"Maybe, he says," Dean said with a groan.

Bobby sighed, looking around his ravaged home. There was a lot of work that was going to be needed to be done in the coming days. The coming weeks.

"Let me help you," Sam said and he helped Castiel back onto to his feet, holding him upright with his arm wrapped around Castiel's waist.

"Thank you, Sam."

"Why don't you boys come by my place," Jody offered. "It's getting late and tomorrow you can start going through everything salvageable."

"Well, as long as you're offering," Bobby said and, side by side, they walked out.

Dean joined Sam and Cas and he put his own arm around Castiel's shoulders. Together, the three of them walked with their heads held high, a mission done well and tomorrow looking very bright as a new beginning dawned just beyond the horizon.


And then a week later, after some much needed recuperation they were chasing after a rogue demon for the first time in so long. Together.

Dean drove, Sam rode shotgun and Castiel lounged in the backseat, his eyes staring ahead at the new addition to the front end of the rediscovered and thoroughly repaired '67 Impala. Hanging attached to the rearview mirror from a string was the single, blood red feather of the former Firebird's beautiful wings. Castiel told the others that he could feel something special emanating from that one feather. Dean and Sam trusted him at his words because why not? Cas would know, better than anyone.

The windows were turned down, the wind was in their hair and everything was the way it should be once again.


Hope you liked it. I'll see you all soon with whatever idea I come up with next.